“I don’t have time for the long way?”
“Trust me, it will be the short way.”
“How long will it take Charles from the Richmond District?”
“Five minutes.”
“Motherfuck.”
“I’ll send you the address to plug into your phone.”
“It’s a burner. I don’t even have GPS or anything.”
“Okay. I’ll walk you through it.”
I grabbed another phone and dialed 911 again.
“There’s about to be a murder at this address,” I said and reeled off the address.
“What's your name?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“What number are you calling from?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“We are going to need more information?”
“You fucking kidding me? I just said someone is about to die at that address. Even if you think I’m a nut job, could you at least do me a favor and have someone call or check on Mr. Hollingsworth. Do one of those…what do you call it? Welfare checks. Yes. Do a welfare check on him. Please!”
Meanwhile, Danny was yelling in my ear. “Turn right on Union. No…left. Shit. Keep going and then make your next left.”
I wanted to scream.
I called 911 again on the other phone, and this time it was busy.
“What is wrong with a city, if it’s 911 line is busy? I’m calling the mayor,” I shouted to nobody.
“Turn right.”
I had nearly gone past the street, so I yanked the steering wheel, and the tires laid rubber down and squealed. An older man gave me a dirty look.
Oops.
“Turn left.”
It was the street.
“I’m close.”
“Can you find it now?” Danny asked.
I looked at the addresses. “Yes. It’s on this block.”
I slowed down. Then I saw Charles’s car. It was parked in front of a very large four-story house, towering over the other very large houses in the neighborhood.
There was a familiar redhead in the passenger seat.
I parked right behind her, grabbing James’s gun and racing toward the door without bothering to close the door to the van. As I passed, I caught a glimpse of her face as she saw me, and her mouth opened into a wide O.
I was worried I was too late.
Forty
The front door was locked. I didn’t have time to fuck around with picking the lock, so I fired my gun and blew it right off the door. I didn’t care about drawing attention to myself. In fact, I was hoping the neighbors would call the cops.
I raced inside and then stopped. I had no idea where to go. There was an elevator to my right. That’s when I saw it was on the third floor. I assumed that’s where the bedrooms were. Beside the elevator was a set of stairs. I raced up the stairs, keeping the gun in front of me. At the top of the landing for the third floor, I paused, heart racing. I heard the sound of a floor creaking down the hall, so I swiftly headed that way, keeping my back to the wall.
Even though it wasn’t dark outside yet, the third floor was dim. Heavy, light-blocking drapes covered all the windows. As I came to each door, I quickly looked inside. There were bedrooms and sitting rooms and even two libraries. I heard another sound. A low murmur. It was coming from the end of the hall. Then I heard a clear voice say, “Let’s get you tucked in.”
Charles.
I raced to the end of the hall.
I stepped into the doorway in time to see Charles place a pillow over Hollingsworth’s face. He was holding it with one hand. His other hand was clutching a handgun. I could see Hollingsworth’s feet under the covers at the foot of the bed, kicking.
“Stop!” I shouted and pointed my gun at Charles.
But it’s too late. I watched in horror as the pillow exploded in a pink puff of blood and feathers.
My finger was about to squeeze off a round when I hear a low familiar voice behind me.
“Drop the gun.”
It’s Nicoletta.
I whirled. She was holding a small handgun. It’s pointed at my forehead.
I felt another gun in the small of my back.
I crouched and gently set my gun on the floor.
“Stay down,” Charles said, drawing back a few feet but keeping the gun pointed at me.
“Fuck you.” I scrambled on all fours to the corner. I wanted something solid behind my back. I’m frantically thinking of how to get out of this situation.
Nicoletta tucked her gun back into a small handbag. But then didn’t move. She stood and stared at me.
“What are you going to do with her?” she said.
“Get back in the car. Now. You can’t be here. I don’t want them to think you’re involved.”
“Don’t worry, baby,” she says. “I just called James and told him that Gia Santella told me she was going to kill herself by jumping off the Golden Gate bridge. They all went there instead. We have a few minutes.”
“You’re so smart,” Charles said. “I need to clean up a few things around here so go wait in the car. Okay?”
She hesitated. “What about her?”
She was looking at me.
“I’ll take care of her. I’ve got a plan. She’s going to do exactly what you said, ‘Kill herself.’ But she’s going to do it right here. Remorse and all that.”
“Oh good.”
“Go on, now,” he said. “This isn’t something you want to see.”
Nicoletta hesitated and then I heard her heels click-clacking down the hall.
Charles waited a beat and then reached over and shoved the end of his gun into my mouth. I gagged and tasted metal.
Then he grabbed the neck of my shirt, ripping it down to my waist and started to tug down my pants.
When I tried to fight back, he withdrew the gun and in one smooth motion pistol whipped me. For a second I saw stars and realized I was now flat on my back on the wooden floor. Meanwhile, Charles was above me, straddling my chest, mumbling obscenities.
He talked about wanting to fuck me since the first time he saw me and a bunch of other bullshit. I glared up at him and tried
