Page 115 of I'm Watching You

‘You can’t fix what I don’t want fixed.’

He didn’t move toward her. ‘It took me months to screw things up between us. It’ll take at least that long to fix it, but I will.’ He moved toward the front door. So arrogant.

She stood her ground. ‘Let it go, Zack. Letusgo.’

He opened the front door. ‘No.’

He strode inside.

Numb, she followed and found him lecturing his mother about lending out her car. Audrey got the message loud and clear. Lindsay was to stay put.

Zack kissed his mother. ‘I’ll be back later tonight.’

‘Don’t strand me here,’ Lindsay said.

‘You’re safe with my folks.’

Eleanor came around the corner with the gamesOperationandMonopolyin hand. ‘Lindsay, don’t be worried. Nicole’s awake and ready to play a game. This is going to be fun family time.’

There was no escaping the Kiers.

Richard Braxton sat in the back of his Gulf Stream plane. The pilot he’d hired was waiting for clearance from the San Francisco tower.

He picked up the morning edition of theSan Francisco Chroniclerand reread the article on page A3. He smiled. According to the article, the fire had destroyed most of the evidence and the lone victim’s identity had yet to be confirmed.

He licked his bottom lip, remembering the way the woman had whimpered as he’d sliced the flesh on her face. The killing had been thrilling, more exciting than anything he’d ever done. Already he wanted to kill again.

Beyond the pure entertainment value, though, torturing the woman had not gotten him what he’d wanted. She had been a stubborn bitch and had refused to tell him anything about Christina.

However, Carmichael’s cell phone had told him quite a bit. Her ‘address book’ hadn’t panned out, nor had ‘recent calls.’ But under ‘missed calls,’ there had been a call from a number in Richmond, Virginia.

Richard had been unable to resist and had called thenumber as a dying Claire had watched. There had been no answer. He’d then called Vincent and had given him the number. Twenty minutes later, Vincent had a name. The number, along with another number, belonged to Lindsay O’Neil. Richard had called her, half expecting to hear Christina’s voice. When he hadn’t recognized the voice, he’d hung up.

Three hours later, Vincent had called him with a great deal of information about Lindsay O’Neil, including the fact that she’d gone toUSCwith Christina and was now the suspect in two local murders. Vincent believed Christina was staying with Lindsay.

Richard tapped his finger on the morning paper. Soon he’d be in Richmond. Soon he’d find Lindsay O’Neil and his wife. Soon both women would curse the day they’d crossed him.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Wednesday, July 9, 8:15P.M.

Marcus Greenland came out of the convenience store with a six-pack of beer and a bag of chips tucked under his arm. He had seen the evening news. That reporter had talked about that bitch O’Neil – the one who had hid his wife and kids from him. It figured the cunt had some kind of screwed-up past that made her hate men. Bitch.

But he’d be damned if he’d end up one of her victims. She’d not get her hooks into him.

‘Hey, are you looking to make some money?’ The raspy voice had Greenland whirling around. An old white guy stood directly behind him. The stranger had come up behind him without making a sound.

Shit.There was a time when no one snuck up on Marcus Greenland. His heart hammering, he said, ‘What the hell do you want?’

The guy flashed a lopsided grin that was almost apologetic. ‘I’m looking for a strong man who can do some heavy lifting. I’ve got a piano to move.’

Greenland glared at the old man. He had stooped shoulders, gray hair, and horn-rimmed glasses. The son of a bitch didn’t look like he could lift a bag of sugar. ‘It’s after eight o’clock at night. Who the hell moves a piano late at night?’

The old man shrugged and smiled sheepishly as if he was embarrassed. ‘Hey, it’s not me. It’s my wife. She wants the damn thing moved before a party she’s having this weekend. Personally, I think it looks fine where it is, but she wants it moved. Just between you and me, my wife can be a pain in the ass when she doesn’t get what she wants, so I’m not arguing with her.’

‘Can’t live with ’em, can’t shoot ’em.’ Greenland laughed at his own joke.

The stranger hesitated before he laughed. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a hundred-dollar bill. ‘It won’t take more than an hour of your time.’

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