Page 47 of Just Tonight

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

This was a breakneck ride. Cami braced herself against the car’s door as Connor flew around a bend, siren blaring, tires wailing. They were heading for the house where she knew the killer was at work.

Other police were on their way too, converging from other areas, in response to Connor’s urgent pleas over the radio. But he was there now, Cami knew it. If this woman was not already dead, he was going to be commandeering her smart home, taking over its functionality, creating a terrifying scenario that would disorient her – and then, letting himself in for the final deed.

“No,” Cami muttered.

She had the code. Surely there was something she could do to stop him? She could control the smart home just the same as he could, with that master code. Cami managed, bracing herself even more firmly against the seat, to get the code in.

Now she had to ping the code, and that would set up a communication gateway via the app. Cami did it. It took a long moment, and then she was there. Now, what could she find? She hung onto her phone, trying to keep it steady as Connor whipped around another corner.

No internal cameras in the home, so she couldn’t get a look at what was happening inside. But, taking a look at the controls, she saw with a sick feeling that the front door was open. He was in. This could take seconds to play out.

What could she do?

Disorient him, just the same way he’s doing with her, she thought. Get him off balance, make it harder for him, do whatever you can to make him hesitate.

She snapped off all the lights, hoping it was the right decision, that it would slow him down and not harm her. Without being there, she didn’t know what would be the best – but she had to do something.

What else? What could distract him? The television she knew he’d already done, but she stabbed her finger down on it again. Let it blare out, let him think someone else was already here.

Sprinklers? Fire sprinklers?

She activated those as well. Make the house scary for him, make him believe someone else is inside. The words ran through Cami’s mind like a mantra. That was her only hope. Slow him down. Mess with his mind.

She flashed the lights off and on again. Off and on, then off. If a neighbor saw this disco show, then so much the better. Anyone arriving at the doorstep now would be good.

Then they were swerving into the road where she lived, veering along it, racing to the house. Headlights blazed in the opposite direction. Another car was arriving. Police were on the scene. Cami couldn’t even breathe, she felt so tense, and she was begging to herself again and again, Please, let us not be too late.

Connor slammed on brakes, jumped out of the car, and raced for the house.

“Stay there!” he shouted to Cami.

She watched him power up the path to the front door, closely followed by one of the cops. As he got there, she turned the lights on, the sprinklers off. No way could she stay in the car. She walked tentatively toward the house. Was that a scream coming from inside?

Still holding her phone, Cami walked around the house, staring at the windows, trying to see what was happening. There were cops in the living room, milling around downstairs. She couldn’t see Connor. Where was the killer?

Cami was feeling edgy about this. This man was so sneaky, and when he didn't prepare well, he still thought on his feet. She didn't think he was out of options. She might be in the way inside, and more of a liability than a help, but outside, she could surely provide another set of eyes?

Cami walked around the house, staring anxiously at the windows.

And then, she froze, staring up.

One of the upper windows was opening. It was a sash window on the side of the house, facing the neighbor's garage opposite, and with a walkway in between. Now, she could see the bottom half rising, and a dark figure beyond. He was making his getaway from upstairs, and was going to scramble out! He was going to shimmy down the drainpipe and disappear along the paved path leading behind the house, and he was going to be gone, disappearing into the forested hills that formed the backdrop to these elegant houses.

The stealth with which he was moving left Cami in no doubt that he had a plan of action and he was executing it. If he escaped the police now, what if they didn't catch him again? She had no idea what car he drove or where it was right now. There was still a lot they didn't know about him, and a lot of chances for him to become invisible.

What could she do?

She couldn't call the police. They were all around the front. She was sure in a few moments they'd storm upstairs to search for him, but by then, he'd be gone.

Upstairs window? Had she seen that on the console?

Could she shut him in?

Cami’s attention whipped back to her phone screen. There was something there. Upstairs Blinds – and then yes. Upstairs Window. The home was automated in that regard.

She stabbed the button as hard as she could, anxiety flaring, but it was too late. He had his leg over the sill, and he was already moving his foot to rest on the drainpipe.

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