*Big Jim's POV.*
We were able to figure out that Randolph had used a dummy trail thanks to Barbie. So me and the others went in the opposite direction.
We see Randolph up ahead. We move in quietly. But the Roger steps on a twig and Randolph runs behind a tree. Roger fires but misses. I see someone else with him. A girl with long blonde hair. I can't tell who it is though, but it doesn't look like she is trying to help him.
"Don't shoot! I've got a hostage!"
He yells. "Hostage?" Barbie questions. I shrug. Why would anybody be out here? We told everyone to stay in there homes. No one in there right mind would- Unless.
"Damn it, Katie." I say. Paul shoots Roger in the knee.
"Leave me alone, or next time I'll aim higher!" He says.
I tell Ollie to take Roger back to town while Barbie and I continue to look for Randolph.
I don't care what Barbie says. There is no way we are taking him alive.
*Katie's POV.*
"Leave me alone, or next time I'll aim higher!" Paul shouts. "Come on Randolph, don't make this any worse for yourself." I say pleading with him. He completely ignores me and fires again. "I don't wanna hurt anyone else!" He says.
"Then let Katie Hart go," I hear Barbie's voice say. Randolph grabs my arm a pulls me along with him as he runs.
We get pretty far, my arm really hurts now. "Paul, stop." I say out of breath. "Keep moving," he he says. "No." I try to jerk my arm away but he grips tighter.
"You know what? I'm done." He says pulling me towards a skinny tree.
"Wait, what are you doing?" I ask. He takes out his hand cuffs. He cuffs my hands behind the tree.
"Now, if you somehow manage to get free of these, do not follow me." He says.
"Wait Paul, you can't just leave me here." I protest. "Don't worry, I'm sure they'll find you after." He says. "Paul, when they find you, and they will find you. Jim will kill you without a second thought." I say, and it's true.
"It doesn't matter. I was never getting out of this alive. None of us are. It's like I said before. This dome will never leave and we all are going to die." He says before taking off.
"Randolph!" I yell. He doesn't stop. "Randolph!"
It's been an hour and I'm still stuck to this stupid tree. Then I hear rustling in the bushes. And a familiarface steps into view.
"Linda!" I say loudly. "Katie? What the hell are you doing here? Don't you know Paul Randolph is on the loose?" She says. "Yeah, that's sorta why I'm hand cuffed to a tree." I say. She takes out the hand cuff keys and unlocks me.
"Thank you," I say rubbing my wrists. "No problem. Now can I get an explanation as to why you are out here?" She asks.I sigh and begin to tell her how I had a plan to try and reason with Paul and how it didn't work out the way I wanted it to and he took me hostage for a little
Once I finish she just stares at me in disbelief. "Are you out of your mind?" She asks loudly. "I admit, I didn't really think it all the way through." I say. "You think?" "I mean honestly Hart of all the reckless, irresponsible, stupid things you have ever done, this is definitely at the top of the list." She says. "I know I'm sorry. It was stupid. I should have let you guys handle it." I say.
"You know what? I'm gonna be nice and let you of with a warning. You did manage to slow Paul down a little." She says. I nod. "Come on, I'll give you a ride back-" She stops mid sentence because we hear shouting up ahead. It sounds like Randolph.
"Do not move," She tells me. "I won't." "I mean it Katie." She says before leaving. I wait a couple minutes then I hear a gun shot. Then Linda comes back with Barbie and Big Jim.
"You all right Katie?" Barbie asks. "Yeah," I say.
"Katherine Hart, what the hell were you thinking?" Jim asks me clearly angry. "You were o-" I cut Big Jim off before he can say anything else.
"Two things. Firstly Linda already gave me a lecture. And secondly, don't call me Katherine." I say.
Yes, Katherine is my real name. But nobody calls me that. I hate that name. So people just call me Katie.
"You shouldn't have been out here you could have gotten yourself killed." He says. "You could have mentioned he had a rifle." I shot back. "What does it matter if he had a rifle or not? I told you to go home, that we didn't want, or need your help."
He says. "Oh that's right, I forgot. You don't care what people say. Do you?" "I made a decision for myself. I know it was reckless and somewhat stupid but I was just trying to get him to turn himself in."
"Look how well that turned out. H-"
"Alright, will the two of you stop?" Linda asks. "Come on Katie."
I ride with Linda because Big Jim and Barbie have to take Randolph's body to Reverend Coggins funeral home.
*In the car with Linda.*
"Look, despite almost getting yourself killed, that was pretty brave." Linda says. "Call it what you want. It was still a dumb idea." I say mad at myself for thinking it would actually work.
"Yeah, but your a pretty good tracker. You found Paul before any of us. How'd you know where to look?" She asks. "Well, I know he liked to hunt in the Blackridge woods so that was where I checked first. Then I saw the trail and I figured that he wouldn't do something that obvious. So, I just went in the other direction and I found him." I explaine.
"I gotta say I'm impressed." She tells me. "Thanks, that means a lot coming from you, sheriff. " I add.
She just scoffs. "Yeah, but none of this would have even happened if I didn't let Paul escape in the first place." She says sadly.
"Come on, he had a gun on Big Jim and Barbie. I was cuffed to a tree. You kinda saved us all from getting killed." I say. "You know I never thought anyone would replace Duke but honestly, I'm glad it's gonna be you." I tell her. She smiles a little. "Thanks," She says.
We're coming up on Joe's house.
"You can just drop me off here," I say. "Alright," She pulls over and I get out.
"There's a new sheriff in town and her name is Linda Esquivel." I say. She laughs. "Duke would be proud of you," I say. "Thanks, again," she adds.
There is loud music playing from the house. "Looks like McAlister is having a party." She says. "Yeah." I say. "Don't worry, if it gets out of hand, I'll deal with it." I say. She looks a little skeptical. "You sure?" She asks. "Yeah, I got this." I say. She still doesn't look convinced. "Please," I say. "I need to do something right today." I say.
She nods. "Alright. I'll see you around." She says. "See you sheriff Esquivel." I say as she drives away.
