“It would be a better thing if he was still around to see the best in people,” Andy said, his voice sad. “But I hear what you’re saying, Maddy. Jake was one of the most trusting people I’ve ever known. Even when they started to gain fame in the rap industry, he never lost that. He, honestly, thought that people had good intentions and were doing the best they could.”
“You know it’s going to be standing room only at his funeral this week, don’t you?” Maddy smiled wistfully. “I’ve even heard rumors that some of the national television stations are going to show up to cover it. A lot of people loved your brother, Andy. We have to take comfort in that.”
“I know, we’ll definitely be there,” Kari told them, and Kasi nodded. “I’m sure Hunter would love to say a few words about him if you wanted him to. Jake really was one of his best friends.”
Andy smiled at her. “I’ve already asked him, and he said he would.”
He lowered his head for a moment. “I can’t believe we were going to have Russell get up and talk about how much Jake meant to him.”
He looked at Maddy. “That would have been…terrible.”
“Well, we don’t have to worry about that now,” Maddy told him. “Russell will be nowhere near that funeral. In fact, Russell will be nowhere near anywhere but jail—hopefully for the rest of his life.”
She looked at Kari, as if wanting confirmation.
“I’m sure you’re right,” Kari assured her. “Not only did he confess to a police officer, but my sister also got a video of it. I don’t see how it could be possible that he’s got anything in his future except life in prison.”
“Are you girls ready to go home?” Pete asked them. “I’ve been instructed to offer rides home for everyone here at the house. Just as a precaution. I’m sure Hunter can give you a ride back to your Jeep tomorrow.”
“Or our parents could give us a ride, too,” Kasi said, then she gave Kari a worried look.
“Oh, boy. We’re going to have another lengthy conversation with Mom and Dad when we get there, aren’t we? I bet they’ve already heard what happened and are climbing the walls with worry.”
She checked her cell phone. “Ooops. Yep, 25 missed calls.”
She looked at Kari. “We might as well just wait until we get there to tell them the whole story. I’ll shoot them a quick text that we’re okay and headed their way.”
Kari nodded and looked at Pete. “We’re actually staying with our parents for a few days. They were worried about us being alone with a killer on the loose, so we bunked there last night.”
“Well, I’m happy to take you both there,” Pete said. “Probably a good idea that you aren’t alone tonight. Even though the killer has been caught, it’s always nice to be around family during times like this.”
He turned to Maddy and Andy. “I’ll have one of my other officers take you guys where you need to go.”
As Kari and Kasi gathered up their purses, they looked around at the half-eaten dinner still sitting on the dining room table.
“How does this work?” Kasi asked, gesturing at the glasses of wine and pieces of steak. “I mean, Russell isn’t coming back here, right?”
“Did you want to pack up doggie bags?” Kari asked her, shaking her head with a laugh.
Leave it to her sister to worry about the food in a situation like this.
“No, I’m just wondering if it all sits out? Will the crime lab do anything about it?”
Kari shrugged. “I guess I never really thought about it. Someone in Russell’s family will probably have to go through all his things and put the house on the market. As for the food on the kitchen table…I have no idea.”
“You should ask Hunter,” Kasi told her sister, following her and Pete Michaels out of the house. “I’m totally curious now!”
The girls clambered into the back of the police car as Pete slid behind the wheel.
“I feel, kind of, like a criminal,” Kari told him. “The last time I was in a police car was during the fake nun case.”
“You could never be a criminal, Kari,” Pete assured her, smiling over his shoulder. “You or your sister. You’re two of the nicest ladies I’ve ever known.”
As Pete pulled out of the driveway, the silence loomed heavily over them. It had been a bad night on many levels, yet, catching the killer and having a night to celebrate Jake had all mixed into the picture, making it an emotional roller coaster.
“You think you can turn on the radio?” Kasi finally asked. She clearly wanted something to take her mind off the night’s occurrences as well.
“You bet.” Pete switched on the radio, and they all started when they heard the song that was playing.
Mills is where I pay my bills
Mills is where I honed by skills
“Can you believe it?” Kasi asked, wonder in her voice.
“Well, they have been playing a lot of Fire Spitters songs ever since…” Pete trailed off. “I wonder if they still will? Since half the team turned out to be a murderer and all.”
Wow, that’s true, Kari thought.
The reputation of the Fire Spitters is ruined forever. Not only did Russell take Jake’s life, but he also took everything Jake had worked so hard to build. It just doesn’t seem fair.
The three of them listened for a few more seconds to the song.
When Russell’s voice started rapping, Pete didn’t even have to ask.
He simply shut the radio off, and they rode the rest of the way in silence.
Chapter 28
Killer
“Did you hear it was his business partner?” a woman asked, her voice hushed, but not so low that the killer couldn’t hear it over the booth.
He was at Sally’s Diner, enjoying the special for the day: a medium rare steak, baked potato, and garden salad.
“I know!” the woman’s companion exclaimed. “So terrible. Why would he do something like that? I heard they were just about to make it big.”
“I think that was the reason right there,” the first woman replied. “Fame can do terrible things to a person. You know, he was never as talented as Dragon. Everyone said so. Even my daughter kept telling me he needed to drop the dead weight.” She chuckled nervously at her choice of words. “You know what I mean.”
After a moment, during which the killer could hear both ladies eating their lunches, the second one said, “Are you as scared about what’s happening to this town as I am? It used to be so safe here. I wouldn’t have batted an eyelash, if I’d left my purse in my unlocked car all night. But ever since those Sweet girls came back to town, things have changed.”
“People are saying they brought a curse to the town,” the first woman said.
“Though, I don’t know if I believe in such things. I do, however, believe in protecting myself. I’m enrolling in some self-defense classes, and Jerry is even talking about getting a gun.”
I don’t think Kari and Kasi Sweet cursed this town, the killer thought as he finished his lunch and put some bills on the table to cover the tab. But people are going to be wondering that more and more—especially after what I have planned.
The killer got up and made his way casually to the bathroom, putting the strap of the backpack he was carrying over his shoulder.
He checked each cubicle to make sure he was alone, then quickly splashed his face with water from the sink faucet.
After checking the door once more, he pulled a canister and a box of rat poison out of his backpack and carefully poured half of the poison into the container.
This is the right thing to do, he told himself. This is the ONLY thing to do.
The door swung open, and the killer hurriedly placed the items back in his backpack, offering the stranger who walked in a smile.
“Have a wonderful day!” he said cheerily. “Looks like it’s going to be another beautiful one in Mills Township.”
Thank you for reading!
Grab the next book in the series here:
Hot Choco
late, Hissy Fits & Murder
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© Sara Bourgeois 2019
This story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons alive or dead is a coincidence.
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