Page 82 of The Mermaid Murder

Misty closed her eyes and had a vision of running back to where Jen had left her car and finding it with the keys still inside. She would take it and go find her family.

When she thought enough time had passed, she pushed up to her feet, and started back the way she’d come, toward Jen Scott’s car.

“There you are.”

Misty spun around so fast she wrenched her neck and saw Jen Scott standing in the mouth of the culvert, holding a handgun pointed right at her.

“This is the perfect spot.”

A hammer hit her in the chest. The sound of the gunshot followed, but Misty was already on the ground by the time she heard it. Her eyes were wide. The sky was full of stars. She hadn’t even noticed them. She couldn’t remember the last time she had. There were so many!

Footsteps in the grasses. She closed her eyes, or she hoped she did. She told her eyes to close, but it seemed like communication between her mind and her body had been cut off. She couldn’t feel anything. No pain, which was good, and not even the chilly night air.

Then there was a sensation— movement, and a tug near her scalp, then harder. Jen was dragging her by her ponytail. What a shitty thing to do. It should probably hurt more.

There was cold and wet on her back. The culvert. Jen was dragging her inside. And then she stopped and Misty heard, “It’s too bad, blondie. You weren’t a bad mermaid. Nothing like Eva, but still.”

She dragged her a little farther, then let go of her hair. Misty lay faceup in the icy, shallow water, willing her eyes not to flutter and her muscles not to shiver.

“The coyotes’ll take care of your body before anyone ever looks way the hell out here,” Jen Scott went on. “I kept Eva too long. Way too long. Not gonna make that mistake again. Or any others. I have two loose ends left. I’m gonna turn on a phone and lure your rookie and your partner right up here where I want them. A little more food for the coyotes.” She delivered a kick to Misty’s side that flipped her right over, facedown in the water, and then as she sloshed away, “I think I’ve actually got this. Finally. It’s almost over.”

Chapter 14

RACHEL

We divided ourselves between Misty’s Jeep and Jeremy’s Firebird and headed back to the house where Christy’s car awaited.

When we all got out, I said, “Christy and I need dry clothes?—”

“You need your arm bandaged,” Mason said.

“And Myrtle needs a walk, and food, and then bed with the TV on, and one of her four-hour dog chews. Did you bring some, Jere?”

“Of course I did,” Jeremy replied. “I’ll walk her while you change.”

Mason nodded at him. “Did I hear you say you didn’t bring your sidearm?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll grab my spare for you.” We walked inside, Mason and I, to the master bedroom. I started trying to strip off my soaking wet clothes one-handed.

“Hey, hey,” he said as I struggled. Then he took my blouse and pulled it over my head, dropped it on the floor, and walked me into the attached bathroom. He rummaged in the cabinet for bandages, found a nice roll of gauze, some thick pads, adhesive tape, and disinfectant, which he poured on the cut before I could pull away.

I hissed.

“Sorry,” he said. Then he pressed on the thick pads and started wrapping.

“Hurry,” I said. “We have to go after her.”

“We don’t know where to go.” He finished wrapping and sealed the deal with several strips of tape. “There. You can get dressed now.”

“Thanks.” I headed back into the bedroom, located a clean pair of jeans, a sweater, thick socks, and a dry pair shoes. Then I grabbed my denim jacket. Mason was rummaging in the closet where he’d stashed his locked gun box as soon as we’d arrived, arming himself for whatever we were about to face.

Jeremy tapped on the door, and when Mason said, “Come,” he entered with Myrtle at his side.

“Okay, good. Put her here.” I patted the dog bed, atop the people bed, and I tuned the TV to animal planet.

She was exhausted from all the excitement, and I thought she’d sleep for a day. I just didn’t know if she’d do it here. I left water and a long lasting chew and kissed her face. “I’ll be back soon,” I said.

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