Jack of Diamonds Page 21

  Jack stared down at his phone, his chest tightening. “She does fit. I just got a text from my fiancée. Alyssa and her husband renewed their vows when he got cancer. That was a year ago tomorrow.” Jack turned and started running down the hall.

  “Where are you going?” Thomas yelled after him.

  Jack rushed out the side door and sprinted for the Charger. Thomas was a fool. Jack just hoped that his mistake didn’t get Alyssa Snyder killed.

  44

  Sitting in my car parked across the street from Sara McCorkle’s house, it’s hard not to get too excited. I thought I’d be more devastated that my grand wedding had been spoiled, but . . . c’est la vie. My new wedding will be better.

  Minimalistic. Intimate.

  Stupid Jack Stratton. It still bothers me that I had to abandon my masterpiece, but I have to focus on my new plans. There isn’t much time.

  I take out my phone. There’s still a policeman inside the house. At least the other ones left. I turn up the police scanner and smile. Of course, I knew Philip was a pervert all along. Now the police think he’s responsible for everything and they’ve let their guard down. It wouldn’t have mattered if they hadn’t. They can’t stop me. But it’ll make my job easier.

  It’s almost too easy now.

  They’re guarding Sara like I’m going to come into the house with guns blazing. How stupid. How foolish. They think they can keep me out.

  I unlock my phone and pull up my camera app. I miss not being able to check on The Wedding, but I’ll be able to see my new wedding soon enough. I switch camera views to the ones I hid inside Sara’s house. Sara is upstairs in her bedroom. She’s yawning. Getting sleepy. It’s almost time.

  I switch to the camera in the living room—the screen flashes. A pretty picture of Sara’s husband asleep on the couch. He’s got a bad heart, so the carbon monoxide affected him first. The policeman is yawning, too. He’s nodding off in his chair beside the window. He’ll be asleep soon.

  I love Facebook. People always say where they’re going and when they won’t be home. When Sara posted that she was going to dinner with her brother and his new girlfriend two weeks ago, I hurried right over. Installing the remote damper on the furnace took less than ten minutes.

  Oh, I almost forgot.

  I switch cameras over to the one at Alyssa Snyder’s home. She’s all alone. I turn on the damper for that furnace, too. I’ll head over there after I pick up Sara.

  The policeman nods off. That’s my cue.

  I put the car into gear and drive right up to the house. I shut off the damper and take out my gas mask. Carbon monoxide gives me a vicious headache. I’m not in the mood to carry Sara to the car, so I hope she’s not completely out yet. It’ll be easier to get her to walk out. Then I can stuff her in the trunk.

  I check the cameras one last time. Sara’s eyes are heavy and her head is getting droopy. She probably thinks she’s just tired because of all the stress. But she’s still conscious.

  Slipping inside the house, I leave the back door open to let out a little of the gas-rich air. I don’t want to kill the policeman unless I have to. The husband I couldn’t care less about.

  As I walk past the living room, neither man stirs. A mirror in the hallway catches my reflection. The gas mask ruins the look of my suit, but it can’t be helped. I walk up the stairs and stop in the bedroom doorway.

  Sara slowly turns her head to stare at me. A puzzled look crosses her face before her mouth twists into the beginnings of a scream.

  I hold a finger in front of my mouth. “Silence,” I whisper. “Stand up.” I aim the gun at her head, and shockingly, she obeys. How convenient.

  “Happy anniversary, Sara.”

  45

  The Charger’s tires screeched and the muscles in Jack’s forearms flexed as he clamped his fingers around the steering wheel to power through a turn. He was five minutes out from Alyssa Snyder’s house, which made him her best chance. The closest cruiser was more than ten minutes away.

  He dialed Alyssa’s number again, but the call went straight to voice mail.

  Lady barked in the back seat. She was still fired up from catching Poole. She liked to run, and Poole hadn’t given her the chance to show off. Jack’s radio crackled to life.

  “Unit 11, please respond to 173 Cloudy Creek Lane immediately.” Jack inhaled sharply. That was Sara McCorkle’s address.

  “Please reconfirm that request,” replied the responding officer.

  “Unit 11, you are requested to respond to 173 Cloudy Creek Lane immediately. Officer there is not responsive.”

  Jack mashed the gas pedal to the floor. The Charger roared through a red light and down Alyssa’s street. He pumped the brakes, cut the wheel, and skidded to a stop in the driveway. He pressed the release switch and ran for the front door as he unholstered his weapon.

  “To me!” Jack called out to Lady as he raced up the front steps and pounded on the door.

  He heard a noise inside. Lady growled. Jack pounded on the door again and peered through the little window beside it. Alyssa Snyder stood at the end of the hallway, leaning against the wall. She had her back to him. Jack tried the doorknob—it was locked. Alyssa turned around, squinting as she looked toward the door.

  Jack motioned to her. “Alyssa Snyder? I’m with the police!”

  Alyssa nodded, but as she stepped forward, her legs wobbled and she slid down the wall. Jack stepped back and kicked the door open. Alyssa didn’t even lift her head as the doorframe splintered and the door slammed against the wall.

  Lady sniffed, then clawed the air and barked. That was her signal that she had found a scent. She raced through the living room and disappeared into the kitchen, followed by a loud crash.

  “Lady! Stop!” Jack called after her, but it was too late. The huge dog had leapt through the screen door and was racing across the backyard.

  Jack rushed over to Alyssa and called for an ambulance.

  From somewhere in the backyard, Lady howled. She was on the hunt.

  46

  Lady’s paws dug into the grass as she lowered her head and sped across the backyard. Her muscles stretched, flexed, and felt wonderful as the ground raced by underneath her. The wind against her face made her eyes water, but she pushed herself even harder in the direction the smell was leading her, the stinky odor from the bottle. Jack had wanted her to find that smell at the death house, and now it was here.

  Up ahead, a person was getting into a car.

  The smell was bad. Death was bad. The person getting in the car must be bad, too!

  The ground became a blur. Lady dug down even deeper and picked up more speed.

  Run. Run faster.

  She gulped in huge breaths and felt power course through her. Her paws sank into the turf and threw up clods of dirt behind her. Her body stretched in full extension. Blood surged into Lady’s muscles, and her sharp canine teeth flashed as the need to protect her owners drove her forward. She lowered her head and concentrated on one thing: speed.

  The vehicle pulled out onto the road, reached the end of the street, and stopped. Finding new hope, Lady laid her ears flat back against her head and dug in harder. But just as she narrowed the gap, the vehicle moved again, taking a right onto the main road.

  Lady’s weight shifted, and she cut into the woods to try to cut off the fleeing vehicle. Branches scraped at her face as she raced through the underbrush and bounded over a log.

  I can make it.

  She burst onto the road just behind the vehicle and let out a roar that echoed off the trees. The vehicle slowed and stopped.

  A loud bang sounded, and Lady yelped as something slammed into her side, knocking her sideways. Pain raced across her chest and her legs tangled together. She tripped and crashed into the dirt.

  A cloud of dust stung her nose and eyes. Her chest burned. She roared. That only made it hurt more. She did it again anyway.

  The vehicle was moving.

  Lady got to her feet. But when s
he put weight on her front left leg, it wobbled beneath her. Her leg hurt. Her ribs hurt. She whined.

  She hopped forward on three legs. A car honked its horn. She stumbled to the side and fell again to the dust, barely daring to breathe through the pain.

  Where is Jack? I need him.

  Lady closed her eyes.

  47

  Stupid Jack Stratton! My hands are shaking. That was too close. I had barely walked in through the back door when Jack started pounding on the front door. I have to get out of here.

  I stuff the gun under my seat as best as I can with trembling fingers and scan the road. The gunshot was loud. The last thing I need is to get pulled over with Sara’s body in the trunk.

  I didn’t really want to kill the dog.

  That’s on Jack, too.

  Now what I am going to do? I need another witness.

  The ring!

  It’s not on the passenger seat. Did it fall out? I frantically feel the fabric of the seat, jamming my fingers between the cushion and the seat back. I feel something smooth and metal and pull it out.

  I still have it.

  I start breathing again.

  A horn honks in front of me. I’ve drifted into the oncoming lane. I quickly yank the car back onto my side of the road. The other driver swerves onto the shoulder, kicking up dirt and dust. He’s screaming and swearing and making all sorts of gestures.

  I hope he turns around. I hope he follows me.

  I’m so angry now I’d love to shoot him in the face. That would help. That would make me feel better. I’d pretend it was Jack.

  I check the rearview mirror. The other car kept going. Coward.

  I open my hand again and look at my prize. It has to be more than luck. Alyssa must have taken off her precious ring to do the dishes. How sickeningly sweet. She cares so much about this little rock that she removes it and puts it in a special dish so it won’t get dirty.

  These people make me sick. They don’t realize what true art is or what’s truly valuable.

  A rock?

  The thought leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

  I didn’t want to kill the dog.

  Or did I?

  The dog’s death will hurt Jack especially and I want to hurt him since he’s caused me so much pain. All that work . . . I was so close to completing The Wedding, and he ruined it.

  But I will complete my piece. I’m almost there. It will be a very intimate ceremony. Alice, Sara, me . . . and one more.

  I pull up my notes. Social media is such a gift. Aunt Haddie’s nursing home lists all its staff, along with their pictures. They’re even so helpful as to list their positions. Looks like Susan Brown is working the front desk today. Cute girl, pleasant face. Young. And she’s friends with Alice. I saw her name on the wedding guest list.

  My heart starts beating faster as I pull into the parking lot and pick up the other phone. I’ve never used it, but I need it now.

  Texting is hard with shaking fingers, but I manage it. HI SUE, 4GOT 2 TELL U WE NEED AUNT HADDIE 4 REHEARSAL. SRY! PLS HAVE HER READY IN 15. SENDING CAR 4 HER. THX, ALICE

  I read it over before hitting send. Then I hold my breath as I wait for the response.

  It arrives a moment later: NP :)

  A smile spreads across my face.

  My little wedding is coming together.

  And once I have Aunt Haddie, getting Alice will be easy.

  48

  Alyssa Snyder was breathing shallowly but unresponsive. Through the open front door, Jack saw the ambulance crew pull into the driveway and laid Alyssa’s head down gently as the EMTs rushed in. Jack recognized both men from his days on the force, though he couldn’t remember their names. There was still no sign of the police.

  “We have to get you two out of here,” one of them said. “Carbon monoxide.”

  That’s what killed Delores Gill.

  “How do you know it’s carbon monoxide?” Jack asked as they carried Alyssa outside.

  “Can’t be certain, but the same thing happened at 173 Cloudy Creek Lane. There’s another EMT crew over there. They gave us the heads-up just as we arrived here. Apparently both houses are related to a case the cops are working on. You probably know more than I do. How do you feel? Were you in there long?”

  “I’m fine,” Jack said. “I was only inside a few minutes. Is everyone all right at the other house?”

  “Two men are receiving treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning. One’s an officer.”

  They laid Alyssa down in the grass and the EMTs started administering oxygen.

  “What about the woman? Sara McCorkle?” Jack asked.

  The EMT glanced up and shook his head. “They didn’t mention a woman.”

  Jack dialed Castillo. When he picked up, Jack could hear the sirens in the background. “Ed, it’s Jack. The guy came after Alyssa Snyder. I scared him off but . . .” He covered the phone and shouted, “Lady!” then continued, “EMTs are treating Alyssa now. She’s okay.”

  “Well, that’s one bit of good news. I’m en route to the McCorkles’. Sara is missing, and her husband and Officer Geer are being treated by EMTs. Was it carbon monoxide at Alyssa’s?”

  “That’s what the EMTs are saying, but only because that’s what it was at the McCorkles’. No confirmation.” He covered the phone. “Lady!” Jack called out, his voice growing rawer with each scream.

  “All right. Listen, I’m pulling in now. I’ll call you later.” Castillo hung up.

  Jack touched the EMT’s shoulder. “Can you take it from here?”

  He nodded, and Jack bolted around the house to find Lady. It had been nearly ten minutes since she ran off, and he had no idea where she’d gone to. And he wouldn’t leave his partner. “Lady!” he shouted.

  He jogged to the residential street behind the house. There was no sign of Lady. The main road was off to Jack’s right, so he went that way. When he reached the intersection, he spotted a car pulled to the side of the road with its hazard lights on. A middle-aged woman with a white shirt and blue jeans was standing behind it, looking down at something lying on the ground.

  Jack broke into a sprint.

  The woman looked up as he approached, but Jack barely even noticed her. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from Lady.

  “It’s some kind of police dog, I think,” the woman said.

  Jack dropped to his knees beside Lady. “Oh, girl. Oh, please.”

  Lady whined but didn’t open her eyes. Jack’s hand hovered over her as he scanned her body for injuries. His breath caught in his throat when he saw the bullet impact crater in her Kevlar vest. He couldn’t tell if the bullet had gone through or not. He reached out to try to put his fingers under the vest.

  Lady’s eyes snapped open and her head jerked up. Her jaws chomped the air so close to his face that Jack’s hair blew back. The woman beside him shrieked.

  “Good girl.” Jack’s hand shook as he gently touched Lady’s head. She whimpered and closed her eyes again, breathing soft, shallow breaths.

  “Ma’am, I need you to give me a ride to the vet.” Jack was in triage mode and all business, his directives clear and concise.

  “Of course.” The woman nodded but didn’t come any closer.

  “Move your car right up next to the dog, and I’ll put her in your backseat.”

  As the woman got in her car, Jack examined the wound. Regardless of whether the bullet had penetrated the vest, Lady’s ribs could be broken, so he wanted to move her as little as possible. A broken rib could easily puncture a lung.

  The woman backed up her car, and when Jack opened the rear door, he caught the frightened look in her eyes. He had seen it a thousand times on too many faces of soldiers, officers, victims. Jack knew he needed to keep her calm.

  “I apologize,” he said. “But she’s hurt, and she’s going to bark a lot. Don’t be scared. Just drive.” He then started to give her directions to the vet.

  “I know where it is. Do you want to lay her down in the backseat?�
�

  “I’m going to hold her.”

  The woman went pale. “Is that safe?”

  For him, it wasn’t—in Lady’s condition, she might lash out. But it was the safest thing for Lady. It was dangerous enough to lift her once; he didn’t want to have to do it again. He’d do his best to keep her immobile.

  Jack opened the front passenger-side door and moved the front seat forward as far as it would go. Then he knelt down beside his fallen partner. “This is going to hurt, girl. I’m sorry. I’m trying to help you.” He slid his arms underneath her front legs and lifted them up and over his shoulders.

  Lady’s jaws chomped the air, and she howled in his ear. Jack wrapped his strong arms around her, pulling her toward him as he struggled to stand. His thighs and lower back burned as he hoisted her one hundred twenty pounds and backed toward the back seat. An image of Alice dancing with Lady like this in the living room flashed in his mind.

  Alice is going to be heartbroken.

  “We’re gonna take a ride, Lady,” Jack said in a hushed voice before lowering himself onto the edge of the backseat. Then, moving as gently as he could, he leaned back, planted his heels against the bottom of the doorframe, and pushed with all his might, sliding the two of them into the car, like a stretcher into an ambulance.

  Lady’s whole body shook on top of him. Jack spoke softly, trying to soothe her, as the Good Samaritan came around and closed the car door. He held Lady’s harness, trying to keep her immobile and not put any stress on her side, but there was no adjusting to being beneath Lady’s weight.

  The woman got back in the driver’s seat, and the car started forward. At one point they struck a pothole and Lady’s jaws clamped down on Jack’s hand. Her teeth punctured the skin, and Jack felt like the bones in his hand would snap. But he held on and managed not to scream.

  “Easy, Lady. Easy, girl. Let go, please.” Lady opened her mouth and whined.