Page 24 of Devious Gambit

“Because I saw him do something.”

“What?”

I swallowed back the guilt that had been ulcerating my stomach lining. “I saw him and three others try to rape that girl on Friday night.”

Lise gasped. “You saw that?”

“Yes and I feel terrible that I haven’t spoken to the police, but he came after me and threatened to kill me.” I broke down into a blubbering heap.

“Don’t cry, baby girl,” Lise consoled me, giving me a big hug. “It’s not your fault. Trust me I know what this man is capable of and I’m glad he’s dead.”

“This is all fine and dandy, kids,” Marjorie started, “but I need to get this man off my property. So you need to figure out what you’re going to do with him.”

“I say we dump him in Lake Superior,” Lise suggested.

“I like the way this girl thinks,” Marjorie said.

“Got a reason in your psycho brain cells why we shouldn’t call the police?” Tris asked her.

“Oh where should I start? One,” holding up a finger, “his father was just recently murdered by my father and it’s a little too close to home for authorities, I would think. They’d get suspicious, thinking that we planned it.”

Tris groaned.

“Two. He’s a Hawk.”

“That’s what I said,” Marjorie cut in.

Lise continued, “Not just any Hawk, but the best OT they’ve got, apparently.”

“They’ve got an early flight this morning,” I added, “they’re going to wonder where he is.”

“Since when did you follow football?” Tris scrutinized, narrowing his eyes at me.

“Three,” Lise continued, “he’s the son of ex-Snake and Chalice, which means he’s got some hefty, rich dudes backing him up.” She slapped her hands on her hips. “Since when did you own a gun?”

“It’s my pistol,” Marjorie informed her. “I gave it to her to protect herself.”

“You know Rhys can’t even shoot a ball in one of those kiddy sized basketball hoops,” Tris told her. “How is she going to hit a moving target?”

“Well, she did. One bullet and he’s dead,” Marjorie said, steeping over to Sweeney’s body. “He dang-well stained the duvet cover and probably the blankets underneath. I’ll have to burn them all.”

“I’m s-sorry, Mrs. Dwight,” I stuttered, feeling terrible about the whole situation.

“Now, now, dear, it’s not your fault,” the old lady patted my arm.

“I say we dump him in the lake,” Lise said again.

“Well, if that’s your decision we need to get our stories straight, so we all collaborate when the police start sniffing around,” Marjorie suggested. I got the distinct feeling she’s done this before. My hunch was verified when she added, “I know where some big rocks are.”

“What for?” Lise asked.

“To weigh the man down. You’re also going to need a rowboat. I know where you can find one of those too,” Marjorie told us.

I noticed Tris was going a little green around the gills, whereas Lise seemed to be on damn high, all chatty and excited and hanging off Marjorie’s every word.

What the heck had I got myself into.

“And then there’s his car,” Marjorie added. “You’ll have to get rid of that too.”

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