Page 23 of Nothing Left

Looking at their innocent, smiling faces, the acrobat felt a pang of something that he couldn't quite identify. It was a feeling that he rarely experienced, a feeling that was both foreign and uncomfortable. It was a highly unwanted feeling of self-doubt as if his father was standing over him with the stick in his hand, chastising him in that rough, sharp voice and telling him he needed to relook at all his life decisions, that he was a clumsy failure, that all he was doing was sowing sadness.

But he wasn't, he thought defiantly. He was not sowing sadness. He was nobody's disappointment. He was his own person now, on a mission that was bringing him joy and that was so skilled only he could accomplish it.

Firmly, he pushed the feeling of inadequacy aside. It was of no use to him, and he didn't need it. He was talented, he was accomplished, and he could do whatever he needed to.

In fact, he was the only one who could do this.

The acrobat grinned to himself, feeling that familiar rush of adrenaline. This was what it was all about - what was happening here and now. The moment he lived for. This was the dare, and it was becoming more thrilling every time.

It made him feel part of a new, exciting edge in life. An experience that was becoming like an obsession for him. He was gambling, he knew, and the stakes were everything.

He approached the bed silently, his breathing steady and controlled. Then, he stood over her. He watched and waited. She remained fast asleep, but even so, his hand hovered over the hilt of his knife.

“I dare you to wake,” he whispered. “I dare you! Can you hear me!”

If she woke, if she woke...

He waited, standing stock still because making more noise would be cheating.

Oh, how he hoped she would wake, and open her eyes, and see him there. It would be the last move she ever made.

But she didn’t. She didn’t take the dare. She turned over without waking, sighing, her eyes remaining closed.

He shook his head, disappointment filling him. She hadn’t taken his dare, and now he would have to turn away. Those were the rules he’d made for himself, and he had to keep them.

The risk, and the excitement of what he was doing, was becoming addictive. As he stealthily left the room, the acrobat promised himself that he was going to do it again as soon as he could and tomorrow if it was possible. Next time, perhaps the woman he was daring would wake. And then he could kill her.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

"I can't get Heather, and her predicament, out of my head," Juliette told the others. She was sitting with Wyatt and Sierra at a restaurant next door to the small hotel they'd checked into. Luckily, with its siesta culture and its legendary nightlife, Barcelona’s eateries were still open close to midnight, as Juliette saw it was now.

"I know," Sierra said. "I feel guilty ordering this nice food and enjoying myself while she's in jail."

Heather was on all their minds. The more the details of the case unfolded, the more certain Juliette was that the young woman had been framed and that someone else had committed this crime.

Next to the restaurant was a bar, and through the glass door, Juliette could see the television mounted on the wall. It wasn't playing sports. Instead, it was on a news channel and playing an update on the case. Yet again, Heather's face was all over the media.

The food orders had been a typical overview of the three's approach to Spanish cuisine, Juliette thought as their dishes arrived.

Juliette and Sierra had ordered a paella to share, and even though the circumstances were not ideal for the enjoyment of the food, Juliette had to admit that the oversized dish for two looked delicious. The saffron-flavored rice, the mix of vegetables, the pieces of chicken, and the delicious morsels of seafood. She dug her spoon in, transferring a large helping to her plate.

Wyatt had ordered a steak with cheese sauce and fries. Good solid American food, and he was already attacking it hungrily.

Juliette decided that she wouldn't share her fears with the others about this being a possible serial. It was just an extra worry that would help nobody. If it ended up escalating to that, she'd deal with it.

"I spoke to Suzy just now," Wyatt said, changing the subject to a more positive one as he shook salt over his fries. "She's had a great day out. She went boating on the Seine with a couple of her new friends. And then, I went on to dinner with them at a fancy restaurant. I told her to do that while I'm away. The food would be wasted on me," he grinned.

"I've been thinking of doing one of those boat trips," Sierra said. "I actually put it off in midsummer because it was so busy and so fully booked. But now, toward fall, would probably be a better time. Quieter."

"I'll ask her which one she did and tell you. It wasn't too expensive. It wasn't cheap either, I mean, nothing in Europe is cheap, but it didn't break the bank, and the service was excellent. The tour guide was great. She learned a lot," Wyatt encouraged.

Juliette forced herself to eat and relax, and join in the chit-chat, letting the tension of the day ease out of her as she enjoyed the delicious food.

And then, with their plates empty, it was time for bed. Now, they all needed to get some rest so that whatever happened tomorrow, they would be prepared.

Juliette wished the others goodnight and headed up to her tiny room on the third floor of the hotel. She hoped she'd sleep well despite the pressure that was bearing down on them, and she hoped that she wouldn't be woken by any bad news.

As she got herself ready for bed, she had another thought - a more positive one this time.

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