Page 148 of The Morning After (Savannah 2)

Because Reed and his partner didn’t do their job.

Because Judge Gillette didn’t preside correctly.

Because Nikki Gillette blundered with her story.

Because the jury was weak.

So they had to be killed. One by one. Twelve spineless jurors, a worthless judge, two inept detectives, a bungling reporter and of course, the monster himself—LeRoy Chevalier, the worst kind of scum that had ever walked the planet.

Even now he heard Chevalier’s raspy voice: What are you a girl? A stupid girl? Just before the belt would snake from its worn loops.

Never again! Never!

With all the mistakes at the trial, it had been a miracle he’d gotten three life sentences in prison.

But it hadn’t stuck, had it? And now, all those who hadn’t done their jobs, those who had sworn to protect the victims and justice, the jurors, the judge, the cops and even a reporter who almost blew the whole damned trial were paying. Along with the monster.

After swinging the gate wide, he drove through the muddy grass. His throat tightened a bit as he noticed the three twelve-year-old graves. Carol Legittel and two of her three children, poor Marlin and Becky. So foolish. Where had they been when he’d needed them? Why hadn’t they stopped the sickness? In his mind’s eye he remembered Chevalier ordering him onto his knees, then into bed…with…

He pounded a fist on the steering wheel and tears burned in his eyes.

Don’t think about it. Don’t think about what he forced you to do. Don’t think about the pain and humiliation and the fact that no one helped you. Not your mother, not your brother, not your sister, not even the police. Pierce Reed, coming to the house, feigning concern, offering his card…his damned card…when he suspected what was going on! What a joke. What a fucking pathetic joke.

In his mind’s eye he saw the sweaty, scared bodies of his sister and brother and mother, the naked skin, the twisted bedsheets and he heard Chevalier’s wicked grunts and laughter.

No more. NO MORE!

He caught a glimpse of his reflection in the rearview mirror and saw the redness in his eyes. The useless tears.

Maybe he was a stupid-ass girl after all.

Blinking rapidly, he turned his attention to the small cemetery and did a quick U-turn. The deep hole he had dug was visible in his backup lights and he rolled across the graves of his mother, brother and stupid sister before stomping on the parking brake and cutting the engine.

He didn’t have much time. Reed would figure out what was happening as soon as he uncovered LeRoy Chevalier’s body at Le Blanc Cemetery.

He had to work fast.

All motion ceased.

The drone of the engine was extinguished.

The coffin stopped moving.

Nikki’s muscles froze.

Every nerve ending jittered.

She didn’t have to be told that he’d brought her to a cemetery. That within minutes, perhaps seconds, he’d start burying her alive. She was shaking. Now was the time to act. But what?

A loud creak and bang, like a tailgate of a truck opening. Suddenly the casket was moving again, scraping, being pulled out of its transport.

God help me!

Should she call out to him? Beg him to let her go? She knew it wouldn’t do any good, but she had to do something. Anything.

A sharp rap.

“Hey, Nikki, you still awake?” the bastard asked.

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