times than I could count. Then again, he was the one that got me into the shit in the first place. "Do a drive by. If I'm up, I'll make you a pot." I laughed.
"I'm just yanking your chain, I'm going prowling tonight." He stood up and threw a plastic bag at me. "Maggie sent these for Max."
Maggie Neville was like no other. She knew everyone's favorite cake and baked it to perfection. Not one birthday was ever missed, including shit bird Ward’s. And how she managed to put up with Mike's shenanigans, I will never understand. "Send Maggie instead," I said, lifting the bag of peanut butter doggy treats to my nose and heading out the door.
I pulled in the driveway ten minutes after dark. I was surprised that I’d still had enough sense to leave a light on. I was exhausted, but I could finally feel the weight of the past week fall away. I cut Max loose and she took off down the winding path towards the river. I didn't have the energy to follow. It was quiet and the moist air coming from the water washed over me like a soothing bath. I took every bit of it in, knowing that the sedating effect would wear off before I had a chance to heal from the wounds. Max raced back and we wrestled our way through the only door that offered retreat. I switched my cell to silent and shut the blinds one by one, cutting us off from the outside world.
***
The party came to an abrupt halt Sunday night. The clock raced forward and my time was limited. My heart doubled its pace. Tomorrow, I would have to face the music, dodge the backlash, and come up with a better plan of attack. The thought of reliving the treacherous course of last week’s defeat settled back in place and cranked my blood pressure beyond the normal limits. It was the Harper case all over again.
I didn't want my little vacation to end. I fought my way up the stairs, kicking and screaming with every step I took. I was grateful for the time and no disruptions. I stopped in front of the huge mirror in my room. That was a mistake. The reflection scared me. I looked like I’d aged ten years. Lines I hadn't noticed before. Purple and black puffy stuff under my eyes. I turned to the side and lifted my shirt. The stress diet took at least five pounds. "Who are you?" I whispered to the face that I didn't recognize. "What the hell happened to you?"
I crawled into bed next to Max and buried myself under the covers. It wasn't long before I was rehashing the conversation that I’d had with Ivy on Friday. I turned to the other side. Her source? Right. I was her source and I’d kept my mouth shut and it pissed her off. Someone was feeding her some shit. I turned back. I loved her like a sister. She didn't lie to me, but I didn't know if I could trust her anymore. Not when it came to this case and her latest reporting skills. I pulled the covers further over my head and turned back to the other side. I heard Max crawl as I discharged myself from the conversation.
Chapter 16
T he sound of a motor hummed in my ears and it was getting louder as I approached the cemetery. The sun danced on the tips of the trees along the edge of the forest and the gates were closing faster than I could run. My heart was pushing out through my chest and my lungs burned from the forced pressure. A few more minutes and I would make it. Please, just a few more minutes. "Wait," I screamed, but was met with only silence. I saw a girl stretching her arms out to me, but I couldn't reach her. I heard the rustling of footsteps and the snap of branches behind me, lunging closer. My legs were working against my will and slowing me down. I felt the jagged nails latch onto my back and rip pieces of my flesh.
The motor roared again and pulled me from my nightmare. Max scratched at my back. I sat straight up, laboring for air, choking on the horror of the nightmare, and Max was now growling at the end of the bed.
I managed to catch my breath and sat silent to listen for the sound that Max was trained on. I couldn't match
"I'm just yanking your chain, I'm going prowling tonight." He stood up and threw a plastic bag at me. "Maggie sent these for Max."
Maggie Neville was like no other. She knew everyone's favorite cake and baked it to perfection. Not one birthday was ever missed, including shit bird Ward’s. And how she managed to put up with Mike's shenanigans, I will never understand. "Send Maggie instead," I said, lifting the bag of peanut butter doggy treats to my nose and heading out the door.
I pulled in the driveway ten minutes after dark. I was surprised that I’d still had enough sense to leave a light on. I was exhausted, but I could finally feel the weight of the past week fall away. I cut Max loose and she took off down the winding path towards the river. I didn't have the energy to follow. It was quiet and the moist air coming from the water washed over me like a soothing bath. I took every bit of it in, knowing that the sedating effect would wear off before I had a chance to heal from the wounds. Max raced back and we wrestled our way through the only door that offered retreat. I switched my cell to silent and shut the blinds one by one, cutting us off from the outside world.
***
The party came to an abrupt halt Sunday night. The clock raced forward and my time was limited. My heart doubled its pace. Tomorrow, I would have to face the music, dodge the backlash, and come up with a better plan of attack. The thought of reliving the treacherous course of last week’s defeat settled back in place and cranked my blood pressure beyond the normal limits. It was the Harper case all over again.
I didn't want my little vacation to end. I fought my way up the stairs, kicking and screaming with every step I took. I was grateful for the time and no disruptions. I stopped in front of the huge mirror in my room. That was a mistake. The reflection scared me. I looked like I’d aged ten years. Lines I hadn't noticed before. Purple and black puffy stuff under my eyes. I turned to the side and lifted my shirt. The stress diet took at least five pounds. "Who are you?" I whispered to the face that I didn't recognize. "What the hell happened to you?"
I crawled into bed next to Max and buried myself under the covers. It wasn't long before I was rehashing the conversation that I’d had with Ivy on Friday. I turned to the other side. Her source? Right. I was her source and I’d kept my mouth shut and it pissed her off. Someone was feeding her some shit. I turned back. I loved her like a sister. She didn't lie to me, but I didn't know if I could trust her anymore. Not when it came to this case and her latest reporting skills. I pulled the covers further over my head and turned back to the other side. I heard Max crawl as I discharged myself from the conversation.
Chapter 16
T he sound of a motor hummed in my ears and it was getting louder as I approached the cemetery. The sun danced on the tips of the trees along the edge of the forest and the gates were closing faster than I could run. My heart was pushing out through my chest and my lungs burned from the forced pressure. A few more minutes and I would make it. Please, just a few more minutes. "Wait," I screamed, but was met with only silence. I saw a girl stretching her arms out to me, but I couldn't reach her. I heard the rustling of footsteps and the snap of branches behind me, lunging closer. My legs were working against my will and slowing me down. I felt the jagged nails latch onto my back and rip pieces of my flesh.
The motor roared again and pulled me from my nightmare. Max scratched at my back. I sat straight up, laboring for air, choking on the horror of the nightmare, and Max was now growling at the end of the bed.
I managed to catch my breath and sat silent to listen for the sound that Max was trained on. I couldn't match
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