Page 46 of Landon (In Safe Hands)
I’venever actually killed anyone, or even been a part of a person’s death. I’veonly been brought in after to help dispose of the body. A small part of me isworried I won’t be able to go through with it. I just need to keep that kid’sface in my thoughts, remember the damage this pervert has done. I’m not killinga man, I’m killing a monster.
Jeremywaits down the street from the county jail and just after three, sends us themessage we’ve been waiting on.
-Onhis way. North side of street.-
Withouthis wife to pick him up, he’s walking home, just like we hoped. He’ll walkright across the bridge, where we’re waiting for him.
It’schilly out, but I’m sweating like I’ve run a marathon and I can feel every beatof my heart. Adrenalin floods through me when I see him approaching. He’swalking with his head down, arms tucked around his middle for warmth, and hedoesn’t even register our presence until he’s a few feet away. He nods andcontinues with barely a glance in our direction.
Justuswastes no time. “What the fuck!” Arlen shouts as Justus grabs him and drags himto the guardrail. The guy is skinny as a meth head. He has no chance againsteither of us.
“Asmuch as I’d love to think of you getting ass fucked in prison, I’d rather savethe taxpayers the cost. A baby rapist like you doesn’t deserve a trial,” Justusspits, his face contorted in anger. Normally, Justus is the most laid back guyyou could meet, but when it comes to pedophiles and rapists, he has no mercy.“Grab his legs.”
Icomply, grabbing his legs and helping Justus get him on the far side of therail. Arlen’s body is stiff as a board as he tries frantically to get back onthe road. “No! I never touched that lying little brat! He wanted it!”
Anyapprehension I may have felt dissolves at his words. Justus chuckles andgoosebumps race up my arms at the bitterness in his laugh. “Well, I want this.”Justus nods at me and as soon as he manages to peel Arlen’s fingers from therail, breaking at least one from the sharp snapping sound, I shove him betweenthe shoulder blades.
Hegoes over easily. The sound of his head cracking against the rocks before hisbody tumbles into the river will haunt me the rest of my life. For a second,I’m afraid I’ll puke, but the feeling passes as Justus grabs my arm and pullsme away. “Just walk like nothing happened.”
Sittingin my hotel room an hour later, it feels like it didn’t really happen. Like Iwas watching it from a distance or on a movie screen. I killed a man. I shouldcare. I should feel bad, but every time that asshole’s last words come back tome, I only feel relief. He’ll never hurt anyone again.
It’sjust past dawn when I shower and climb into bed. I’m afraid the dead man willhaunt my dreams, but instead I dream of Zoe’s big brown eyes. Fuck, I miss her,but I have to know I’m going to get away with last night before I get in touchwith her. Before I tell her I’m in love with her. I can’t drag her into this.
It’slate afternoon when I wake and after a visit to the gym and a quick swim in thehotel pool, it’s dark enough to venture out. Most people love summer, but fallhas always been my favorite. It gets dark earlier and earlier, but the bittercold hasn’t set in yet. A cool breeze ruffles my hair as I approach my house tocheck how the repairs are coming along.
I’venever been very concerned with having money and when I inherited my uncle’smassive estate, I took it with a grain of salt. No amount of money will really changemy life. You can’t buy a cure for XP. It seems money is good for some things,though.
Theconstruction crew has been hard at work the past few weeks, and my house lookslike a house again. They are still finishing the drywall in the kitchen, andit’ll need painted, but all in all, the repairs have gone well. I’ve also takenthe opportunity to start a remodel on my office, knocking down a wall to make alarger workspace for ISH. We can’t keep using Dare’s apartment. The workmenwith the UV proof windows are coming tomorrow. I should’ve had it done before,but I’m used to just keeping the curtains closed. It wasn’t until I barked atZoe for opening them, that I realized most people need to see the sunlight.
Iguess I should be looking for a new house since I really don’t want to live atISH headquarters, but I’m just not in the mood to house hunt. All I can thinkabout is Zoe. How am I going to manage a relationship with her and still hidethe darker side of ISH? It’s bad enough she has to overlook my sunlight issue,knowing I’m a criminal on top of that may send her running. And I can’t waitlong. She’s beautiful, caring, and smart. It won’t take long for some otherasshole to steal her away.
Asif she can feel me thinking about her, Zoe calls my phone. My finger hoversover the accept button, but my indecision doesn’t last long. I need to hear hervoice. “Hello?”
“Landon…I…weneed to talk. Are you at your hotel?”
Shit.There’s no way she’s figured it out already. Whatever she has to say can’t begood. “Are you okay? Did something happen?”
“I’mfine. I just don’t want to have this conversation over the phone.” She soundstired. She was probably up all night consoling Ethan.
“I’mat my house. Do you want to come here, or should I stop by?”
“No,I’ll come to you. Be there in a few minutes.”
“Seeyou then.” Damn. My anxiety shoots through the roof. What does she want to talkabout? The way I cut off all communication with her? How I got cops to thehospital so quickly? I have no idea what to tell her on either subject.
Assoon as we hang up, my phone rings again. This time it’s Justus. “Hey, Albino.Did you see the five o’clock news?”
“Fuckoff, stripper. Albinos can go in the sun. And no, I haven’t been near a T.V.What’s going on?”
“Copsfound a body under the bridge. They’re calling it a suicide.” Relief floodsthrough me. At least I won’t have cops at my door.
“Happensall the time,” I reply. There’s very little chance anyone has tapped into ourconversation, but it’s better to be safe.
“Yep.Listen, Dare’s getting the guys together for poker later. You in?” There’snothing surreptitious in this question. We get together for a poker game aboutonce a month.
“I’llbe there.”
Abright red sedan rolls up my driveway and it takes a second for me to realizeit’s Zoe. My eyes are glued to her as she approaches me, her hair blowingaround her face. With a cute little frown, she slides a band from her wrist andhastily pulls her hair into a ponytail. I want to grab her and kiss her untilshe begs for air, but I’m sure she won’t appreciate it after my recentbehavior.
