Danny meandered into the room freshly showered and wearing clean clothes.
He rubbed his hands together, looking from Jacob to her and back to Jacob. A devilish smirk played on lips as he squatted next to her, his face a whisper from hers.
“I hope you enjoy the show today. None of this would be possible if it weren’t for your meddling. Thank you.” He tilted his head back and laughed.
Her attempt to move away from the garbage spewing from his mouth proved futile. Danny sat back on his heels and dangled a large needle threaded with fishing line.
Danny took great pleasure in seeing sheer terror in the eyes of Ms. Hoity Toity Detective. He swung the polished steel instrument in front of her face back and forth, back and forth. Big, fat tears spilled onto her flushed cheeks, and he leaned forward to lick them away, jumping back just in time to miss the puke spewing from her mouth.
He laughed so hard tears came to his eyes. Things were moving along even better than he’d hoped. All color drained from her face, and yellowish, green spittle dripped from her chin.
“Aw, I’m sorry darlin’. If that was enough to make you sick just wait ‘til you see what happens next.”
He looked down at Jacob. “It’s time for you to pay the piper. Did you really think I’d just sit back and let you take Jeffery from me? Lord knows what kind of crap you’ve poisoned his mind with about me. I’ll be sure to set things straight in due time, but first thing’s first.”
Danny scooped up the smaller black bag and set it next to the couch. He then straddled Jacob and sat on his chest. Was it fear or anger he saw in Jacob’s eyes? He shrugged.
Once he’d put on his gloves, he took a pack of baby wipes from the bag and set them on Jacob’s chest. With two fingers, he pulled the man’s lips out and held them together.
“We’ll just see how well you can use your mouth after I’m through with you.”
Danny curled his lip in a snarl as he pushed the needle through and out the bottom, drawing the long thread out dramatically. “Now that wasn’t so bad, was it?”
Jacob’s pupils were so big he couldn’t see the color of his eyes.
“Perfect.”
Danny set to work, stopping every few stitches to look into Jacob’s frozen features. “Are you going fucking nuts in there? I sure hope so. You’re not such a pretty boy now, are you?” He took a wipe and cleaned the blood from his mouth.
Becca stared blankly. What he wouldn’t give to read her mind. “Are you enjoying the show, honey? I need a drink. Can I get you something while I’m up? No? Okay, don’t say I didn’t offer.” He got up from the sofa and stared down at Jacob. “How about you, buddy. Want a drink?” His hand fluttered to his mouth. “Oops, how rude of me. I guess you can’t. ”
His laughter rang off the walls on his way to the picture window. He looked out across the lush meadows. The smile froze on his face, and he squinted against the setting sun to see between the trees.
Flashing lights slowly passed by only to reappear seconds later. A SUV now sat idling out front. Danny stepped away from the window.
“Fuck!” He scrambled for a plan of action. His gaze zeroed in on the truck, and he blew out a rush of air as he watched the SUV carry on down the road. “Phew!”
Chapter Twenty-Five
“Look, over there.” Randy pointed at the old Brinkly homestead. “I think I saw him.”
“You think you saw who?” Chief’s gaze followed the direction he pointed.
“Back up to the gap between the trees.” Adrenaline gushed through his veins as he straightened in his seat. “He was standing right there in the picture window.”
Chief rolled his eyes in obvious disbelief. “I don’t see anything. Besides, those windows haven’t been cleaned in years. How could you see anything through them?”
“I’m not seeing things. I
Chief put the truck in drive and eased away from the side of the road. “If, and I mean
They drove a good distance up the road before pulling over. Chief called in for backup in unmarked cars.
“We don’t want to spook him and give him the opportunity to slip away again.”
“You believe me?” The corner of Randy’s mouth lifted. “I’m going to cut through the woods and see if I can get a look inside.”
His boss reached over him and locked the door. “You aren’t going anywhere without backup. How are you going to feel if you act impulsively and he gets away?”
Randy flopped back in his seat. “How are you going to feel if we get to them a few minutes too late?”
His boss rubbed his scruffy jaw. “Touche. Let’s get out and stretch our legs. I feel like I’ve been driving for days.”
He didn’t need to be told twice. “It will be dark soon. I think that’ll work in our favor in getting a closer look.”
The unmarked cars arrived casually to not draw attention. Things weren’t moving fast enough for Randy’s liking, but he knew how important it was for them all to be on the same page.
Chief kept Larry with them since he grew up in the area and knew the land better than most. “I want the rest of you to set up on the others side of the property so you have Danny’s vehicle in sight.”
The team quickly followed the chief’s orders and dispersed. Randy ran close behind Larry through the wooded area while his boss lagged behind a few yards until they reached a cluster of bushes in direct line with the car.
His boss struggled to catch his breath. “I think I’m getting too old for this shit.”
Randy patted his back. “Are you going to be okay, ol’ man?”
He waved Randy off. “It’s been awhile.” He nodded toward the house. “His car is still there.”
“I can get in there and fix it so he can’t make a run for it.” Larry crouched next to them.
“Okay, but any sign of Danny and I want you to take cover. I do not want anyone confronting him alone.”
“Copy that.” Larry set out obscured by the shadows.
Randy looked from the car to the house and noticed an amber glow coming from a room at the front. “I can’t just sit here and do nothing.”
Chief sighed resignedly and drew his gun. “Go check out that light and be careful. I’ve got your back.”
He took the same approach as Larry. He pressed his back against the cool stone wall and gave the chief a thumbs up before crawling under the windows to the front. His heart hammered against his rib cage as he inched his way up to the window ledge.
Atop a stool a lantern sat bathing the room in an amber hue. His gaze settled on a sofa where someone lay perfectly still, but he couldn’t make out whom.
He let his gaze travel around the poorly lit room. A dark shadow filled the doorway.
Danny walked into the room and over to the side too dark to see what he was doing. There was definitely someone else with him. Randy squinted and made out what looked to be someone sitting in a chair.
Randy retraced his steps until he met up with Larry, who had just disabled the car.
“There’s someone on the sofa and someone else sitting on a chair while that whack job walks around laughing his sorry ass off.” He balled his hands into fists. “I can’t tell if they’re alive or dead.”
