and began to run, toward the door to the stairwell.
Within seconds he was behind her, grabbing her by the shoulder. As he yanked her backward, she swung around, striking him with her open arm. She started to run again, but he hurled himself at her, sending her sprawling to the ground. Pain shot from one end of her body to the other.
Before she knew it, he had her by both feet, dragging her backward, her arms outstretched. “Help!” she screamed.
“Shut up,” he said, “or I’ll make you regret it.”
She let her body go limp, trying to think. He’d nearly reached the bedroom, gripping her hard by the ankles. She could feel his rage surging through his hands. He was going to kill her, she knew, snap her neck in two.
She saw the ladder then, propped against the wall. She reached for it with her hand, bringing it toppling down on both of them. It rammed into her head and her arm, sending a bolt of pain through her. Behind her Holt yelped and let go of her feet. She sensed him falling backward. She scrambled up, then bolted toward the stairwell door. This time she reached it. After flinging the door wide, she clattered down the stairs. Her lungs felt as if they were about to explode.
In no time he was behind her again—she could hear his feet pounding on the stairs. She made it down to one landing, and then another flight of steps, but as she reached the next floor, he caught up to her, yanked her hard again by the back of her jacket.
Her body lurched backward, the jacket choking her. She wrestled away from him and spun around. Blood was running into his eyes from a gash on his head.
Kit clenched her fist and tried to strike out, but the blow only grazed him. He grabbed her arm and shoved her against the handrail. With all the strength she could muster, she brought up her foot and kicked him hard in the knee. It thrust him backward. He reached out, trying to grab onto her for support, but he couldn’t reach her, couldn’t even see with the blood in his eyes. He staggered backward and went tumbling down the stairs.
He landed in a heap on the next landing, groaning. She couldn’t take the chance of trying to maneuver by him. Grabbing a breath, she tore up the stairs, one flight, then another and another. She was on six finally. She burst into the apartment and raced to the main door and into the hallway.
She jabbed frantically at the elevator button and saw to her dismay it was on one. But there was no sign of Holt behind her. Finally the elevator reached the floor. She threw herself inside and pressed one. When she reached the ground floor, she held her breath and peered out. Still no sign of Holt. She charged through the lobby and out the main door.
It was dark, but there were people in the street. She ran toward Broadway, her lungs on fire. And then up ahead, rushing toward her with his phone in his hand was Garrett Kelman. Tears of relief welled in her eyes.
“Are you okay?” he yelled.
“Yes.” She touched her head. There was already a lump from where the ladder had rammed into her.
“The building number you gave me was wrong. I was rushing up and down the street trying to find you.”
“He tried to kill me. My doctor client. He was involved with Healy.”
“Where is he?”
“Still in the building, I think. He’s injured. He fell down the stairs.”
“I called the cops. They say they’re coming.”
“He killed Healy. And Avery, too.”
He pulled her into his arms, pressing her against his chest. The leather of his jacket was cool from the night air.
“I felt so helpless,” he said. “I could hear you, but I had no idea where you were. Just tell me you’re really okay.”
She pulled back for a moment and looked at him.
“Yes,” she said, a smile forming on her face. “I kind of managed to beat the shit out of him.”
He smiled. “Way to go.”
And then, not far from them, they heard sirens.
“It must be the cops,” Kelman said. “I told them to come midway down the block. We better go meet them.”
chapter 24
Two and a half weeks later Kit moved back to her apartment.
Baby came down with her that day, along with her housekeeper, who Baby had enlisted to help not only haul bags but Swiffer away