Page 96 of I'm Watching You

The instant she touched the newsprint, she knew something was terribly wrong. The paper was too heavy and bulky, and it was wet.

She glanced down and saw the red stain of blood seeping through the newsprint and onto her hand. Terrified, she screamed and dropped the paper.

Her hand was covered in blood.

And at her feet lay a severed hand.

Warwick’s cell phone rang as Zack pulled the Impala into Lindsay’s neighborhood. ‘Warwick.’

The cop’s face tightened as he listened. ‘Right. We’re minutes away.’

Zack sensed the shift in Warwick’s tone instantly. Warwick hung up. ‘What happened?’

‘You were right. Lindsay O’Neil just got another delivery. A hand wrapped in her morning newspaper.’

A protective urge exploded in Zack. ‘Is she all right?’

‘Yeah, she’s fine, but the patrolman says she looks like she’s about to freak.’

Zack maneuvered the Impala down the side streets. As he rounded the final corner to Lindsay’s cul-de-sac, he saw the blue and white patrol cars and their flashing blue lights. He parked the car and he and Warwick got out.

Yellow tape looped around bushes and a light post and blocked the sidewalk leading to Lindsay’s town house. A crowd had gathered.

Lindsay sat in the backseat of a patrol car. The door was open and her head rested in her hands. Even from fifty feet away, she looked rattled.

He strode to Lindsay and crouched by the open door. He wanted to touch her but was careful not to. He was mindful that Warwick’s gaze was trained on him. ‘Are you all right?’

Lindsay lifted her head. Her eyes were red as if she’d been crying. ‘No, I’mnotall right. I’m completely freaked out.’

‘What happened?’

‘I was on my way to a meeting with my boss. I spotted the paper and picked it up. Immediately, it felt wrong. Then I saw the blood. I dropped it, and then I saw thehand and screamed. The maintenance man heard me and called the police.’

‘Did you notice anyone different standing around?’ The question came from Warwick, who now stood behind Zack.

‘No. But I was running late and I was distracted. And then after I saw the hand, I didn’t see anything else.’

‘When’s the last time you saw Burt Saunders?’ Warwick asked.

Her lips flattened. ‘You were there yesterday. He attacked me in the parking lot at Mental Health Services.’

‘You haven’t seen him since?’ Warwick said.

She glared up at him. ‘No.’ She paled. ‘Is that his hand?’

Zack rose and faced Warwick. ‘Did anyone call the EMTs? Lindsay should be checked out.’

Warwick frowned. ‘She looks fine to me.’

Lindsay got out of the car. ‘Iamfine. Do you know whom that hand belongs to?’

‘Do you have an alibi for last night?’ Warwick said.

‘I was out with a friend.’ She sighed. ‘Dr Sam Begley.’

Zack frowned but said nothing.

‘He’s at Mercy Hospital?’ Warwick said.

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