second chance. Another game and another chance to save a poor girl from the streets. You can give her your winnings and a better life. That’s part of the reason you took the last one.”
“I wanted to help her.”
“Don’t feed me any of your noble bullshit. You wanted to win. To beat me.” The Shark pulled in a deep breath. “You and I aren’t that different. We’re addicted to the game. Knowing the turn of the cards could mean life or death is too much of a thrill for people like us to pass up.”
Kevin rose, glancing at his trembling hand. As much as the idea of killing repelled him, playing again excited him more. Trying to contain his excitement, he said, “Would the same rules apply?”
“They would. You win and I’ll see that the girl lives a long, full life. I’ve let a girl free once before. I can do it again.”
Kevin hesitated, disgusted with addiction and fading remorse.
“Think what you can do for that other girl’s family. You can help them with some of your winnings. Ease their pain. Your pain.”
“I can atone for her death.”
“Exactly.”
“Okay.” A calmness washed over him.
“I’ll find the girl this time.”
“Where?”
“I have a source.”
Kevin was relieved. Trolling for the other girl had created a connection between them. This time it would be more impersonal. It was the edge he needed to beat the Shark. “Okay.”
“Meet me at the same place in twenty-four hours. Lady Luck does owe you, doesn’t she?”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Thursday, September 15, 4:30 a.m.
Riley rose early, her eyes opening minutes before her alarm. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and willed herself to stand and get moving. After she dressed in running clothes, she passed Hanna’s door and peeked inside. She found the girl sprawled on her stomach across her bed, her hair draped over her face and both arms tucked under her pillow.
As she moved into the kitchen, Cooper rose in his crate, his tail thumping. She grabbed his red tracking line and, opening the crate, hooked his collar. “Ready, Coop?”
She strapped on her headlight as the two headed out the back door. Their initial pace was always slow, but it quickly sped up.
After they looped around the track for four miles’ worth of laps, she tied his line to a fence and then did a set of fast sprints. By the time she was finished, sweat dripped from her body.
As she collected the dog’s leash she stood for a moment, staring at the nearby woods. A sense of unease crept up her spine. Cooper raised his head and sniffed, forcing air from his nose as he did when he picked up a scent. Cooper had also picked up on her tension.
Five years together had taught her to never doubt Cooper. His body, when it tensed, sent a message up the line, vibrating up her sinew and bone. She stared toward the park, wishing now she’d brought her gun.
Feeling exposed, she tugged him. “Let’s get out of here, Coop.”
The dog barked and glared at the woods for another tense second before turning. They jogged across the lot to the street toward her house. She looked over her shoulder several times, expecting to see trouble, but the area around her remained still. But there was no doubt Cooper had picked up something.
Inside the back door she fed Cooper and then hustled into the shower.
Fifteen minutes later, her still-moist hair was twisted into a bun at the base of her head and she’d dressed in slim brown slacks, a white shirt, and a blazer. She was cooking eggs and toast when she heard Hanna stumble out of her room and into the shower.
“Shake a leg, kid,” she shouted as she glanced at the clock on the stove. “Your ride will be here in twenty minutes.”
Ten minutes later Hanna sat at the table. “I hate breakfast.”
Riley set scrambled eggs in front of her. “Think of it as a late dinner.”
Hanna stabbed an egg and ate.
“What’s on the docket today?” Riley asked.
“Math test.”
“Ready?”
“Yes. School is
“I wanted to help her.”
“Don’t feed me any of your noble bullshit. You wanted to win. To beat me.” The Shark pulled in a deep breath. “You and I aren’t that different. We’re addicted to the game. Knowing the turn of the cards could mean life or death is too much of a thrill for people like us to pass up.”
Kevin rose, glancing at his trembling hand. As much as the idea of killing repelled him, playing again excited him more. Trying to contain his excitement, he said, “Would the same rules apply?”
“They would. You win and I’ll see that the girl lives a long, full life. I’ve let a girl free once before. I can do it again.”
Kevin hesitated, disgusted with addiction and fading remorse.
“Think what you can do for that other girl’s family. You can help them with some of your winnings. Ease their pain. Your pain.”
“I can atone for her death.”
“Exactly.”
“Okay.” A calmness washed over him.
“I’ll find the girl this time.”
“Where?”
“I have a source.”
Kevin was relieved. Trolling for the other girl had created a connection between them. This time it would be more impersonal. It was the edge he needed to beat the Shark. “Okay.”
“Meet me at the same place in twenty-four hours. Lady Luck does owe you, doesn’t she?”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Thursday, September 15, 4:30 a.m.
Riley rose early, her eyes opening minutes before her alarm. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and willed herself to stand and get moving. After she dressed in running clothes, she passed Hanna’s door and peeked inside. She found the girl sprawled on her stomach across her bed, her hair draped over her face and both arms tucked under her pillow.
As she moved into the kitchen, Cooper rose in his crate, his tail thumping. She grabbed his red tracking line and, opening the crate, hooked his collar. “Ready, Coop?”
She strapped on her headlight as the two headed out the back door. Their initial pace was always slow, but it quickly sped up.
After they looped around the track for four miles’ worth of laps, she tied his line to a fence and then did a set of fast sprints. By the time she was finished, sweat dripped from her body.
As she collected the dog’s leash she stood for a moment, staring at the nearby woods. A sense of unease crept up her spine. Cooper raised his head and sniffed, forcing air from his nose as he did when he picked up a scent. Cooper had also picked up on her tension.
Five years together had taught her to never doubt Cooper. His body, when it tensed, sent a message up the line, vibrating up her sinew and bone. She stared toward the park, wishing now she’d brought her gun.
Feeling exposed, she tugged him. “Let’s get out of here, Coop.”
The dog barked and glared at the woods for another tense second before turning. They jogged across the lot to the street toward her house. She looked over her shoulder several times, expecting to see trouble, but the area around her remained still. But there was no doubt Cooper had picked up something.
Inside the back door she fed Cooper and then hustled into the shower.
Fifteen minutes later, her still-moist hair was twisted into a bun at the base of her head and she’d dressed in slim brown slacks, a white shirt, and a blazer. She was cooking eggs and toast when she heard Hanna stumble out of her room and into the shower.
“Shake a leg, kid,” she shouted as she glanced at the clock on the stove. “Your ride will be here in twenty minutes.”
Ten minutes later Hanna sat at the table. “I hate breakfast.”
Riley set scrambled eggs in front of her. “Think of it as a late dinner.”
Hanna stabbed an egg and ate.
“What’s on the docket today?” Riley asked.
“Math test.”
“Ready?”
“Yes. School is
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