Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 52447 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 262(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52447 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 262(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
He smirks. “You think that would bother me?”
Now I smirk. “It’s not the same as what you’ve seen and done, Kit.”
“She’s right,” Jay chimes in. “There’s something about the body in the middle of a room of people who are collecting evidence. It’s really fucking cold. It’s like that person isn’t a person anymore.”
“They’re dead, Jay,” Kit says. “They’re not a person anymore.”
A few minutes later we’re in the car, stuck in traffic, when my phone buzzes with a text message from Jack: I’ve been thinking about the old lady and the missing receipt—and yes, I know about it—I have my ways, which is why I should be your assistant. But anyway, I am headed over there, to try to hire her to help me with some random tasks. I’m going to gain her trust. And then—
Lord, help me, not only is he an idiot, he rambles on text messages. I punch his number and he doesn’t answer. I’m going to kill him. I am. I made this pact with myself to arrest the bad guys, not kill them, but Jack is going to make me step outside every part of that criteria and kill him for being stupid. The call goes straight to voicemail. “Damn it.”
I shoot him a text: Do not go to Cathy’s door. I’m on my way there now. Wait, Jack. I mean it. If you ignore me, there is a locked closet in your future and not a key in sight.
I wait for a reply that doesn’t come. “Damn it.” I eye the traffic. “Don’t freak out, Kit, but I have to get out. Jay can go with me. We’ll meet you at the house.”
“We’re almost there, Lilah,” Kit bitches.
“A lot can go wrong in a few minutes. I’m not stupid, Kit. Something is not right about everything going on right now.” I exit the vehicle and there are rows of cars in front of us.
Kit exits, too.
“What are you doing?” I demand.
“Jay can drive. I’m going with you.”
“Whatever,” I say and I start walking.
“What’s happening?” Jay calls out.
“Drive!” Kit yells, keeping pace with me.
“I don’t like this, Lilah,” Kit says as we step onto the sidewalk.
“It’s called a badge, Kit. My job is not to cower in the back of your SUV.”
He grunts. I check my phone for anything from Jack and when there is nothing, I dial him again. I’m back in voicemail. “Damn it,” I murmur again.
“If you were Jay, I’d ask you what the next horror movie killer would be,” I say, as we turn right toward Cathy’s place.
“Me,” he says. “I’m the next horror movie killer if this asshole tries to touch you.”
“I’m fairly certain we both know I can handle myself.” I scan the street, looking for trouble but find nothing but a man walking his beagle.
Cathy’s little row house comes into view, and I halt and face Kit. “My Spidey senses are going nuts. Go around back. Just in case. But don’t come in. Be ready if you hear anything off or if I don’t reply to a message within ten minutes.”
“I’d rather go right through the front door with you.”
“This may be nothing but Cathy giving me the info I need. There are too many lives on the line for me to risk spooking her and therefore take her to the station and potentially be forced to get a warrant to get what I need.”
“She’s an old lady and the only way I get to the back is to go back down the street and around. They’re row houses. I’m not even sure there’s a rear access at all.”
“Then you better get moving and find out. Go around back,” I snap.
He purses his lips and gives me a sharp nod, taking off down the street. There isn’t a rear entrance but he’s not exactly what I’d call a person with good listening skills. I cannot have him fucking up my investigation. And he’ll be back to save whoever I’m about to kill anyway.
I step in front of Cathy’s gate and open it, shutting it behind me, before I move forward. I reach the door and I’m about to ring the bell when I realize the door is cracked. Just barely but it’s cracked. God, is Jack the killer? Is he in there killing Cathy right now? While that doesn’t feel right, something is very wrong. Jack sent me a text, and just like Cathy did, after contact, he stopped communicating.
Yes.
Something is very wrong. Cathy could be in danger and every second counts.
My heart races and I slip out of my coat, allowing it to fall to the ground and drawing my weapon from the holster at my side. If this is nothing, I’m going to scare the hell out of Cathy, especially when Kit comes blasting in the back door to back me up, but at this point, it’s better safe than sorry.