Nada vai te machucar de David Morrell. Eu li na antologia Assombrações editado por Ellen Datlow
O pai é Chad e a filha Stephanie - acho que não aprendemos o sobrenome deles. O assassino é um psicopata chamado Richard Putnam, também conhecido como The Biter.
Após o assassinato, Chad desmorona. Ele fica obcecado em pegar The Biter e isso afasta sua esposa e amigos. Seu único conforto é que Stephanie lhe pareça uma luz dourada para tranquilizá-lo de que ela está em paz. Eventualmente, o mordedor é pego, condenado e sentenciado à prisão perpétua. Chad está irritado com isso e se junta a um grupo de pressão que faz campanha para que Putnam seja executado, embora Stephanie implore para que ele não:
At three a.m., in Chad’s gloomy New Haven apartment, he raised his haggard face from where he’d been dozing at the kitchen table. He smiled toward Stephanie’s speck of light.
“Hi, dear. It’s wonderful to see you. Where have you been? How I’ve missed you.”
“You’ve got to stop doing this!”
“I’m getting even for you.”
“You’re making me scared!”
“For me. Of course. I understand. But as soon as I know that he’s punished, I’ll put my life in order. I promise I’ll clean up my act.”
“That’s not what I mean! I don’t have time to explain! I’m soaring so fast! So brilliantly! Stop what you’re doing!”
“I can’t. How can you rest in peace if he isn’t -”
“I’m afraid!”
Putnam é executado uniformemente por cadeira elétrica, mas naquela noite Stephanie aterrorizada o visita e diz:
“He’s free! He’s coming for me! Don’t you remember? I told you he doesn’t feel emotion except when he kills! And now that he’s been released, he can’t wait to do it again! He’s coming for me!”
“But you said you’re soaring so brilliantly! How can he catch up to you?”
“Two thousand volts! He’s like a rocket! He’s grinning! He’s reaching out his arms! Help me, Daddy! You promised!”
A resposta do Chade é:
Based on the note Chad left, his psychiatrist concluded that Chad’s final act made perfect, irrational sense. Chad bled profusely as he struggled over the barbed-wire fence. His hands were mangled. That didn’t matter. Nor did his fear of heights matter as he climbed the high tower while guards shouted for him to stop. All that mattered was that Stephanie was in danger. What choice did he have? Except to grasp the high-voltage lines.
To be struck by twenty thousand volts. Ten times the power that had launched the Biter toward Stephanie. Chad’s body burst into flames, but his agony meant nothing. The impetus of his soul meant everything.
Keep speeding, sweetheart! As fast as you can!
But I’ll speed faster! The monster won’t catch you! Nothing will hurt you!
Not while I can help it.