Page 93 of Jon's Helter Skelter Cold Case

It felt like eons, but within a minute, he was on the ground, passed out cold. I stood there, shaking, panting for breath.

I could hear sirens incoming, but my attention wasn’t on them. Solomon wasn’t a threat at the moment, and I had to check on my family.

“Jon?”

He threw both arms around me, hugging me tight. I latched on, my hands not able to bring him in close enough. For a long second, we just held each other, my nose buried against his hair, breathing him in.

“I’m okay.” He turned his head, not releasing me, and called, “Skylar, Abby, it’s safe.”

Their heads popped out over the back of the couch, and they took in the sight of Solomon with relief.

“Told you Uncle Donovan would take him out,” Skylar said matter-of-factly. “Good timing, Uncle Donovan.”

My head jerked back in surprise, not expecting her to call me uncle, but I was absolutely giddy because of it. Jon grinned too,but he wasn’t surprised, which meant he somehow knew she now thought of me as her uncle. I seriously loved this girl.

I unbent enough to grin. “I do try. You two okay?”

“I mean, I’d rather not be under gunpoint again, but yeah? Abs?”

Abby stood up fully, and while she did look unnerved, she also looked mad.

“Donovan? Can we accidentally put a bullet in him before the police get here?”

So when Abby got scared, she got violent. Good to know.

Jon sighed and let go of me a little. Just so he could face the girls easier.

“Abby, let’s maybe not end the day with murder?”

“It would save us the cost of a trial,” she suggested hopefully.

Solomon groaned, stirring. It was unfortunate that when someone was choked out, they woke up as soon as the pressure was lifted. Without compunction, I coldcocked Solomon, and he was back out for the count.

The cops burst inside a moment later. Fortunately. Because frankly, I saw Abby’s point on this one.

I recognized the first two cops through the door. Franky and his partner, Shelly. I gestured to the unconscious man near my feet.

“It’s fine. He’s knocked out cold.”

They went from guns out to more relaxed, although Shelly still came straight for Solomon, pulling out cuffs. No trust there, huh? Well, I didn’t blame her. Rather, I was relieved to have him in cuffs.

“What the hell’s going on?” Franky demanded. Then did a double take upon seeing Abby. “Shit! You girls okay?”

Abby waved him down. “We’re fine. He just yelled a lot and waved a gun, didn’t touch any of us. I feel like I need therapy after this, but it’s fine.”

She’d undoubtedly get therapy after this. No one should have to deal with an armed lunatic.

Jon sighed and started filling them in.

“Solomon snuck in the back door and told me he was going to kill me because I ruined his life. In a nutshell. I mean, he had a lot to say—”

“I recorded half of it,” Skylar offered.

Jon stopped mid-sentence, head whipping around. “You did what?”

Now, trust Skylar to have the wherewithal to eventhinkof recording a raving madman.

Her expression was a thundercloud of anger. “If he did kill us, you think I’m letting him off scot-free? Hell no. I hit record as soon as we got behind the couch. Angled my camera so it caught him full-on while he ranted. Also caught it when Uncle Donovan got him in the stranglehold. The move was beautiful, Uncle Donovan. You’ll teach me how to do that next, right?”

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