Too Late for Regret (Annalise and Roger) novel Chapter 136

Charlie’s POV

We’ve dealt with the main threat. Eddie turned the corner at the top of the stairs, and Rita dropped down from the top of the hallway and knocked him out. It was quick and quiet. Colby and I caught him as he fell. We disarmed him and put zip ties on his wrists. We needed him neutralized in case he woke up before we were finished.

Rita had suggested doing this, and we all thought it was a great idea. We needed to take him out quietly. I needed to give Ana time to get into position, and getting Eddie out of the way was the right direction to go. She had been sitting between Seth and Holden. She wasn’t going to be able to pull her gun at that awkward angle. We needed her to be ready to go when Tiffany decided to make her move.

We all knew something was coming; we just didn’t know what it would be. But we couldn’t let Eddie come up here and catch us. I was impressed with Rita’s idea. Eddie was looking down the hallway, trying to see if anyone was up here, when she dropped down on top of him. Rita had climbed up the wall using her arms and legs when he started up the stairs. Eddie had come up the stairs slowly. He was being careful. It was clear that he was nervous. He had been taking this situation seriously, as he should.

We listened, hoping that Tiffany would come up to check on Eddie. But in my heart, I doubted she would. Tiffany might not be book smart, but she was street smart. She had a mind to work through problems like this, and I knew she wasn’t going to come upstairs. She would be sending the expendable one up. Tiffany was already suspicious about what was happening. She wasn’t going to hesitate to hurt Ana. She was probably going to send Gretchen up, and when Gretchen didn’t come back down, Tiffany was going to leave, right after she hurt Ana.

She’d better just run because I swear if she ends up hurting my wife and child. I would end her. I just hope Ana was ready for her. I don’t think Tiffany’s going to give her very much time. I can tell that with each passing moment, Tiffany is getting more concerned. She’s smarter than Gretchen, and I wouldn’t put it past her to just leave her behind. I heard their argument and knew that Tiffany is about to make her move.

I had told my men to come in closer, but stay hidden. They knew what Tiffany looked like, but anyone who exited and wasn’t my wife would be stopped. I believe that Tiffany is about to cut and run. My men informed me that the police were present and were ready to enter the house. But I told him to have them hold back until Tiffany exits. I won’t take a chance on Ana getting hurt.

It seems like everything is crashing and burning with our plan at the moment. But we have one down, and Gretchen isn’t a true threat. She is unarmed, and she will likely flee if confronted. She’s only staying with Tiffany now because she needs to leave with Tiffany. She doesn’t want to be left behind. So she won’t be coming upstairs. She is going to stick to Tiffany like glue. We heard their voices rise again.

“Let’s just take their car,” Gretchen suggested.

“That’s actually a good idea, Gretchen. I know we’re not alone anymore. Eddie is out, so he’s getting left behind. Well, Ana, it looks like this is the end for you. I would have liked a little extra time with you. But I think my parting gift will still be good enough for you to remember me by,” Tiffany said as she pulled some thick industrial gloves out of her pocket.

We were all watching what she was doing on Colby’s screen. None of us had a good feeling about this, as Tiffany was still way too confident. Even with Eddie gone, she acts like she is still in control, and that is not a good thing. She has a trick up her sleeve, and I doubt that it will be a good one.

She turned around to face Ana and mockingly said, “Why are you standing, Ana? Do you want to hug me goodbye?”

“Hardly, I don’t want to be anywhere near you. But how are you so confident that you’re just going to leave? There are three of us, and two of you. Gretchen, you should take note. The moment she doesn’t need your help, you’ll be out too, just like your friend upstairs. You have to know that, right? Tiffany was going to leave you when you went upstairs. She had already figured out she could take their vehicle. She was just impressed that you thought of it. Didn’t you see the surprise on her face? Are you sure you want to be on the run with someone who would leave you behind so easily?” Ana asked.

That was a good idea. This caused doubt and dissension to grow between them. We watched as Gretchen looked at Tiffany. The question she had was clear, even without her saying the words.

Tiffany was angry at Ana’s ploy and snapped out at Gretchen, “Just get their keys. Be ready to go, this won’t take long.”

“What is that?” Seth asked with concern.

“Scared? You should be Seth. It’s sulfuric acid,” Tiffany answered with a smirk.

“Tiffany, have you lost your damn mind? How did you get your hands on that? Don’t you know how dangerous it is? Don’t move, and do not open it. I can’t believe that What is wrong with you?” Holden insisted.

He was just as stunned as Ana and Seth were, and the situation had just become a whole lot more dangerous. I knew she was unhinged, but I couldn’t believe she would pull something like that. Doesn’t she realize that she can get some of the lacid on herself as well? It’s a dangerous substance, and I realized what she is planning to do now. She wants to throw it at my wife. My heart stopped at the thought of her hurting Ana like that. I swore to Ana that I wouldn’t let Tiffany hurt her again. I stand by my word. I can’t let that happen.

Rita pointed at herself and nodded. The look she gave me silently asked if I wanted her to creep down the stairs, to take Tiffany out. The threat level had increased, and I was worried. Ana was armed, but if Tiffany threw the contents of that bottle on her, Ana’s shot could go wild and hit someone else. Rita pulled her pants leg up and unsheathed a large knife secured at her calf. She motioned to me that she could throw it.

I was thinking fast, that could help. If she could get Rita to hit Tiffany’s hand, it could make her drop the bottle. I don’t mind it hitting the floor; I just couldn’t allow that liquid to hit my wife. I knew that Rita was just as skilled with knives as she was with a handgun. I knew Rita could hit her mark. We needed to act before Tiffany removed the lid. I knew Tiffany was going to act very soon. She needed to leave. But before I could nod to tell Rita to do it, Tiffany unscrewed the lid. The situation is now uncertain. I wish Rita had thought of her plan sooner.

We all held our breath as we watched in horror as Tiffany started toying with them. Waving the bottle around and acting like she was going to throw it at them. We need to develop a solid plan very quickly.