by Jenifer Ruff
“Since I’m the one holding the gun, you don’t really get to ask questions.” She scanned the kitchen and gestured toward the leather bar chairs. “Go sit down on that chair thing over there.”
The dogs swarmed back into the house, a caravan of twisting and turning, sniffing and snorting, hyper creatures.
Beth jumped back. “What the hell?”
“Dog door.” Ned tilted his head toward a giant rectangular hole in the wall.
“Get them out of here right now. Get them out!” She kept the gun pointed on him. “Or I’ll finish off what you started today.”
“What I started?” He walked toward one of the doors leading out of the kitchen. “Come on, dogs. This way. Come on.”
Beth followed close behind, keeping his body in the range of what she could hit without missing. “Don’t try anything.”
The dogs followed him. He shut the door and turned around to face her. “What’s going on?”
“That’s exactly what I’m here to find out. But not without Agent Heslin. Call her and tell her to come here.”
“Tell her to walk into a potential ambush? I’m not doing that.”
Now what? Without taking her eyes off him, she paced the floor. “Listen, Ned. You might be so stupid and brave that you’re willing to sacrifice your life so your girlfriend doesn’t get hurt, but are you willing to sacrifice one of her dogs? Seems to me she really cares about them. What would she think if all her dogs died because you wouldn’t cooperate? Guess she wouldn’t need you anymore if that happened. In fact, maybe that’s a great idea. Maybe that’s what’s best for everyone. If I kill them all now, you can go before you’ve ruined Agent Heslin’s whole relationship with Rivera.”
“Wait. Calm down. There’s no reason to hurt the dogs. And I really have no idea what you’re talking about.” Ned shook his head.
“Don’t look at me like I’m stupid. Make the call!”
Frowning, Ned reached for his phone on the counter.
“Wait! Let those dogs back in.”
“Now you want them back in?”
“Just let them in! Some of them.”
Ned opened the door and called to the dogs. They all rushed in. Beth took a step back, cringing at their exuberance. “Not all of them!”
“Oops,” he said, not sounding one bit sorry that he hadn’t done exactly what she told him to do.
Beth shifted the gun’s aim to the pack of dogs bouncing and leaping around Ned. “Now call Agent Heslin and tell her to come home because one of the dogs is hurt and you need her help. Do not say anything else. Do not tell her I’m here. Do not mention anything about a gun. One wrong word and I will start shooting these dogs. I will. I really, really will. Is that understood?”
Ned’s face hardened. He moved his gaze over the dogs. They were all looking up at him like he was royalty, although they occasionally eyed Beth in a way that bothered her immensely. The two smaller ones resumed snarling at her.
Ned glared at Beth as he picked up his phone.
# # #
After thirty minutes, Beth’s arms ached with exhaustion, tired from holding the gun raised for so long. “Where is she?”
“She said she was coming.” Ned sighed. A big white dog rested its head on Ned’s lap. Ned stroked its neck. “You know she’s a Federal Agent, right?”
“Of course I know that. Where was she when you talked to her?”
“I already told you. I have no idea.”
Through the floor to ceiling windows, a bolt of lightning illuminated the sky in shades of deep purple. With a backdrop of ghostly black branches, shadows moved around the patio. Beth wasn’t sure if there was really something out there, or if it was just an illusion. In the corner of the kitchen, the two little dogs hadn’t stopped barking and snarling since she arrived. “Shut up, shut up, shut up,” she hissed at them. Their yapping only grew louder. “What the hell is their problem? Why are they doing that to me?”
Ned shrugged. “They’ve been nothing but friendly and submissive, until you came along.”
With no warning, all the big dogs jumped up and ran toward the back door.
“Why did they do that?” Beth kept her finger on the trigger, lest Ned forget who was in charge.
The backdoor opened with a soft, almost undiscernible crick. The dogs’ panting and huffing escalated. A repeated slapping noise echoed into the room. Someone was moving slowly toward the kitchen.
“Ned?” came a female voice from the entry way. Agent Heslin.
“Finally,” Beth whispered. She gestured to Ned with her gun. “Stand up slowly and turn around.” She twirled her hand to get him going, keeping enough distance so that he couldn’t grab the gun, but close enough that she could still shoot him without missing. When he was facing the entry, she stood behind him, pressing the gun into the back of his neck. “Tell her you’re in here.”
“Don’t come in here,” Ned shouted.
“That’s not—damn it!” Beth whipped the back of his knee with the gun.
Ned groaned. His knees buckled from the blow.
“Get up.” Beth grabbed his T-shirt, peering around him, suddenly nervous about catching her first real-life glimpse of the FBI agent. “You’re going to be sorry if you don’t do what I tell you.” She cocked her weapon. “And don’t you worry about Agent Heslin. She can take care of herself. Let’s just hope she’ll tell me the truth. I need to hear what she has to say.”
Agent Heslin crept around the corner, her gun stretched out in front of her, surrounded by all the dogs except the two littlest, meanest ones. Kudos to the agent for being so calm and well prepared. But what had Beth expected? Victoria Heslin was a real agent. She’d had actual training.
“What did you tell her, Ned?” Beth poked his shoulder with the muzzle. “How did she know I was here?”
“Because she’s good at her job. And you better listen to her.” He shifted his weight to one leg, favoring the one Beth hit.
Beth huffed. “Aren’t you a brave man for someone who could have their brains blown out at any second. How many warnings do you need?”
“I’m a Federal Agent. Drop your gun. Let him go and we can talk.” It was the same voice from the news interviews. And the agent was even prettier and more polished in person.
Beth gripped her gun tighter. “Oh, I know exactly who you are. But do you know who I am?”
“I’m not sure that I do, but I’d like to know. Put your gun down so we can talk.” Agent Heslin took a few steps forward.
“I’m the one who tried to warn you. I told you to watch your back. I was protecting you.” Beth angled her body sideways, making herself as small as possible behind Ned’s body, keeping the muzzle of her gun on his back. “You never know who you can trust, and who wants you dead. But little did I know that it was you who couldn’t be trusted.”
“I can be trusted.” Agent Heslin came closer. “Put the gun down.”
She looked so calm and yet so serious. How did she do it? Beth squared her shoulders and leaned into Ned’s body. She was completely shielded. “I want the truth from you, Agent Heslin. Only the truth.”
“You’ve got it, as soon as you put the gun down. Whatever it is you need to know, I’ll tell you. Only the truth. What’s your name?”
Beth had to admire the agent’s intense focus. No freaking out. She acted like they were having a normal conversation. Well, if that’s how it was done, Beth could do the same. “I’m not going to let go of my gun because I don’t know who deserves to live yet. Maybe Ned does, maybe he doesn’t. You see, I thought we could be friends, Agent Heslin. Now, well, I just hope you aren’t about to disappoint everyone. It’s not fair to Agent Rivera. And I won’t let him suffer.”
“Agent Rivera isn’t suffering. Agent Rivera and I are colleagues. Nothing more.”
“Oh, really? Is that what you want me to believe now? Don’t patronize me. Do you think I’m that stupid? Do you?” I’m shouting. I need to calm down, not lose my cool. She took a deep br
eath. “I need to know who this man is, and what’s he doing here at your house. But first, make those dogs shut up.”
Agent Heslin didn’t respond. She moved slowly forward, her progress so slight, Beth wouldn’t have noticed if she wasn’t so astute. One step, two steps, three steps, four . . . “Stop right there. Don’t come any closer or I will kill this man. I swear to it, I will blow his brains out just like I did with Meiser and the Cossmans and the rest of them. Where is your partner?”
Agent Heslin’s eyes flickered away from Beth’s for a nanosecond to look at Ned.
“He’s out trying to catch the Numbers Killer, right? He is, isn’t he?” Beth snorted. “How about that. Well, he’s in the wrong place.”
The agent’s phone rang from insider her coat pocket. She ignored it.
Beth let go of the gun with one hand to wipe her sweaty palm on her pants. “So—who is he?”
“His name is Ned. He’s a vet. He takes care of my dogs.”
“Ha! A vet? At least your stories line up, but I’m not sure if I believe them. So, let’s say your GQ model boy-toy really is your dog walker and a vet . . .” She trailed the butt of her gun up Ned’s back between his shoulders until it was pressing against the back of his neck.
“He is.” The Agent’s gaze didn’t waver.
“Does Rivera even know about him? I wonder how he feels about you hiring someone so handsome? I don’t think he likes it much. Now he always has to wonder. Why would you do that to him?”
Victoria didn’t respond.
“I’ve never even met Rivera,” Ned said, sounding exasperated instead of terrified, which made Beth very angry. “I think I’d have met him here if they were a couple. Don’t you?”
“Shut your mouth.” Beth snarled. “You’re the cause of all this. You don’t belong here, and I know what you’re planning. Don’t think I’m going to believe anything you have to say about Rivera.”
Agent Heslin took a step closer.
Why isn’t she putting down her gun? Doesn’t she care that Ned could get killed right in front of her? What do I have to do to make her cooperate? She lowered her gaze. All the dogs were lined up in front of Agent Heslin, staring at Beth. Their skinny, half-starved muscular bodies creeped her out. And the little ones were still doing all they could to drive her off the edge. Sharp intermittent yaps, coming at her in odd numbers, like screeching fingernails on a blackboard. She tried to find a pattern, a way to add the barks together in a rhythm that ended up even. They were fraying her nerves with their yapping, yapping, yapping.
From somewhere beyond the kitchen, she heard the voice she did not need to hear. Not now. Oh, God. Not now!
“You’re losing it, Beth.” Danny laughed. “You’re counting, aren’t you? I know you are. Better drop the gun. You’re no match for her.”
Beth cringed. She didn’t know how he’d gotten there, but it was just like Danny to show up right when she was starting to really stress out. She gritted her teeth. He was trying to mess with her confidence, like always. Wouldn’t he just love to see me fail.
“Agent Heslin is not going to put her gun down, Beth. FBI agents don’t do that. You’re the one who needs to do what she says.” Danny’s tone was mocking, like he was enjoying her anguish.
“Get out of here,” hissed Beth through clenched teeth. “I mean it. I do not need you here right now.”
“You want us to leave?” Agent Heslin still sounded calm, like everything happening in the kitchen was normal. Like Beth was no big threat.
“I’m not talking to you.” Beth shot daggers through her eyes at Agent Heslin.
“She’s going to beat you, Beth. You’re going to jail,” Danny said.
From behind Ned, Beth cocked her head toward Danny’s voice. “Get out! I don’t need you. I never have. You’ve ruined everything, and I know what you were planning! You thought I’d get caught, didn’t you? That’s why you wanted me to kill them.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” Agent Heslin said. “But drop the gun and we’ll talk about it. You can explain everything. I’m a very good listener.”
“Listen to the lovely, calm agent and drop your gun, Beth,” Danny said. “I’m damn sure she has more experience than you, in spite of your little killing spree this weekend.”
Beth grimaced, her face contorting with rising anger. “Shut up, Danny! Just get out of here! I’ll never trust you again. Never!”
Victoria and Ned exchanged glances. “With whom are you speaking?” Victoria asked.
The agent’s snooty arrangement of words sparked a flame of anger inside Beth. What the hell?
“Do you think I’m someone named Danny?” Ned’s voice had the bite of being placating. There was an edge of condescension, not just fear. He thinks he’s better than me.
“He’s asking who you’re talking to, Beth. Are you gonna tell him?” Danny’s voice rose. “He feels bad for you. He thinks you’re crazy. Can’t you hear it in his tone? He thinks you’re a nut case who hears voices.”
“Go back outside!” Beth shouted.
Victoria moved her eyes slightly to the right, just over Beth’s shoulder.
“Is there someone with you?” Victoria’s tone was even calmer now. She spoke as if she was consoling a child.
Why were they acting so strangely now that Danny was here? Was he hiding behind something so they couldn’t see him? She didn’t dare risk turning around to look. She was not going to take her eyes off the agent for a second. Were they trying to trick her? Of course they were. Everyone was out to trick her. It was Beth against the world. Always had been. Well, she wasn’t going to fall for it. Not for a second.
The little dogs kept barking. Barking and barking at the top of their stupid, puny lungs. Beth pressed her lips together so tight her teeth dug into her lips. “I’m going to kill those dogs if they don’t shut up.”
Victoria’s lips quivered, but her voice remained steady. The gun didn’t waver. “If you hurt one of those dogs, I will shoot you. So that’s your decision to make. I hope you do the right thing and choose wisely.”
Beth laughed, a high-pitched frightening sound that surprised her. “But you don’t mind if I shoot your boy-toy?”
A muffled sneeze startled Beth. She stepped backward, pulling Ned with her. “Who’s there?”
No one answered.
“Danny? Is that you? For once in your life, help me out for a change. Go outside and tell me what’s going on.”
Rivera entered, his gun also drawn in front of him.
Beth laughed again. She sounded unhinged, even to her own ears. “Oh, now it’s really going to get interesting.”
“Ma’am, please set the gun down and let’s talk.” Rivera spoke calmly, politely. He kept his eyes locked on hers. “You’re outnumbered. If you shoot at any of us, you will die. We don’t want you to die. We want to hear about what you did and why you did it.”
“I’m here for you, Agent Rivera. You!” pleaded Beth. “I know how much you love her! I’ve seen it with my own eyes. I’m here to warn you that you can’t trust her.”
“I appreciate that, Elizabeth.” Rivera took a step closer. “And I want to hear your advice, but it’s hard to talk when we’re aiming weapons—"
“How did you know my name?” Beth shouted.
“You’re famous now. Really.” Rivera’s nose twitched, his face contorted, and he sneezed but went on as if it never happened. “I want to hear what you did, and why you did it. Everyone does.”
“You know what I did, then. I killed all of them who saw me. Almost all of them. Jason and Kelly Smith got away. But not for long. And that Butler guy had nothing to do with any of it.”
“We know. We know it was all you,” Rivera said, as if she had done something wonderful. But did he really appreciate what she’d done, that she’d had the strength to do it all by herself, identifying them and tracking them down, or was he placating her so he could put her in jail?
“You killed Todd Meiser, the Cossmans, Ste
ve Horrigan, and Arnold Gomez?” Agent Heslin asked.
“Yes. All of them. By myself.”
“No wonder their dogs despise you,” Ned muttered.
“What was it they saw you do?” Agent Heslin was still watching Beth closely.
Beth lowered her gaze for a second, but the gun against Ned’s back didn’t waver. “I—I had to do it. Danny said they saw me.”
“Who is Danny?” Agent Heslin asked.
“Tell her who I am,” Danny shouted. “Tell her what you did.”
Beth’s hands were cramping around the gun. She’d been holding it in a death grip since Agent Heslin came in. “You said they saw me!”
Danny laughed and slapped his leg. “That’s not what I mean, and you know it. And you really are the stupidest woman on this earth. No one saw you! You killed them because I told you to. No other reason. You didn’t want to go to jail. Guess you really wanted to do it, didn’t you? You wanted to know what it was like to have the power.”
“That’s not true! The first one, Todd Meiser—before I killed him, he begged me—said he wouldn’t tell what he saw if I let him live.”
“He was about to testify against the mob, Beth. Surely, with all your insane counting, you can put two and two together. Or can’t you?”
“Who is Danny?” Victoria asked again.
“You want to know who he is? You want to know who Danny is?” Beth screamed. Her face contorted in anguish. “He’s my worthless cheating husband. But why don’t you ask him who he is for yourself.” She laughed, a high-pitched crazy sound. “I’d love to hear what he has to say.”
“We can’t ask him.” Rivera edged toward her. “I found your husband, Elizabeth. I found him in the woods behind the Sonesta Hotel.”
Something snapped inside Beth. Again. And this time, she felt it happen. A giant dam broke inside her mind, spewing forth a torrent of filthy memories. An ache spread through her chest, her lungs, her throat. The truth left her shocked and gasping, with nowhere to hide from it, no way to avoid the drenching in pure heart-breaking nastiness.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Last Friday night. That’s when it all happened. Just four days ago, but it seemed like ages. Beth had been innocent and stupid. Well, maybe not innocent, but certainly unaware.
