He moaned, trying to keep his legs together and twist away. I grabbed the shotgun stock and jerked. He suddenly let go of the weapon, and I tumbled backwards off of him, the gun in my hands, and my back slammed into the step ladder. The wind burst out of me, and my diaphragm spasmed. I tried to suck in a breath and couldn't.
Taylor got to his knees, snarling, and lunged. I raised the gun, my fingers seeking the trigger, but he easily knocked it away. Then he was straddling me, and I still couldn't breathe-a task that became even more difficult when his hands found my throat.
"You're gonna set a world fucking record on how long it takes to die."
Then Candi dropped onto his back.
Taylor immediately released his grip, trying to reach around and get her off. But Candi clung on like a monkey, one hand around his neck, the other pressing a wet paper towel to his face.
He fell on all fours and bucked rodeo bull-style. Candi held tight. I blinked away the stars and managed to suck in some air, my hands seeking out the dropped shotgun. It was too dangerous to shoot him with Candi so close, so I held it by the short barrel, took aim, and cracked him in the temple with the wooden stock.
Taylor crumpled.
I gasped for oxygen, my heart threatening to break through my ribs because it was beating so hard. Candi kept the rag on Taylor 's face, and part of me wanted to let her keep it there, let her kill him. But my better judgment took over.
"Candi." I lightly touched her shoulder. "It's over."
"It'll be over when I bite one of his goddamn toes off."
I shook my head. "Give me the rag, Candi. He's going away for the rest of his life. Depending on the jurisdictions, he might even get the death penalty."
She looked at me. Then she handed over the rag and burst into tears.
That's when Donaldson stepped into the cab. He took a quick look around, then pointed my gun at me.
"Well what do we have here? How about you drop that shotgun, Lieutenant."
I looked at him, and then got a ridiculously big grin on my face.
"You gave him the bullets, asshole."
Donaldson's eyes got comically wide, and I brought up the shotgun and fired just as he was diving backward out the door. The dashboard exploded, and the sound was a force that punched me in my ears. Candi slapped her hands to the sides of her head. I ignored the ringing and pumped another slug into the chamber, already moving after him.
Something stopped me.
Taylor. Grabbing my leg.
Candi pounced on him, tangled her fingers in his hair, and bounced his head against the floor until he released his grip.
I stumbled out of the cab, stepping onto the pavement. My.38 was on the road, discarded. I looked left, then right, then under the truck.
Donaldson was gone.
A few seconds later, I saw a police car tearing up the highway, lights flashing, coming our way.
– 11-
"Thank you, honey."
I took the offered wine glass and Latham climbed into bed next to me. The fireplace was roaring, the chardonnay was cold, and when Latham slipped his hand around my waist I sighed. For a moment, at least, everything was right with the world. Candi had been reunited with her children. Taylor was eagerly confessing to a string of murders going back fifteen years, and ten states were fighting to have first crack at prosecuting him. No charges were filed against me for my attack on the pimp, because Fran the waitress had sworn he shoved me first. My various aches and pains were all healing nicely, and I even got all of my things back, including my missing shoe. It was five days into my vacation, and I was feeling positively glorious.
The only loose end was Donaldson. But he'd get his, eventually. It was only a matter of time until someone picked him up.
"You know, technically, you never thanked me for saving your life," Latham said.
"Is that what you did?" I asked, giving him a playful poke in the chest. "I thought I was the one who did all the saving."
"After that man called me, I called the police, told them you were at Murray 's and someone had you."
"The police arrived after I'd already taken control of the situation."
"Still, I deserve some sort of reward for my cool-headedness and grace under pressure, don't you think?"
"What have you got in mind?"
He whispered something filthy in my ear.
"You pervert," I said, smiling then kissing him.
Then I took another sip of wine and followed his suggestion.
PART FOUR
Utah, One Week Later
– 1-
Donaldson kept one hand on the wheel. The other caressed the cell phone.
The cell phone with Jack Daniels's number on it.
It had been over a week since that fateful meeting. He'd headed southwest, knowing there was a nationwide manhunt going on, knowing they really didn't have anything on him. A description and a name, nothing more.
He'd been aching to call the Lieutenant. But it wasn't the right time yet. First he had to let things cool down.
Maybe in another week or so, he'd give her a ring. Just to chit-chat, no threats at all.
The threats would come later, when he went to visit her.
He felt a tinge of sadness about Taylor 's arrest. A shame, losing a kindred spirit like that. But if the man had been willing to share, he wouldn't be in custody right now.
At least he kept quiet about me, Donaldson thought.
But that hadn't stopped Donaldson from putting as much road between him and Wisconsin as he could. He'd been so busy running from the authorities, covering his tracks, Donaldson hadn't had any time to indulge in his particular appetites. He kept an eye open for likely prospects, but they were few and far between.
The hardest thing about killing a hitchhiker was finding one to pick up.
Donaldson could remember just ten years ago, when interstates boasted a hitcher every ten miles, and a discriminating killer could pick and choose who looked the easiest, the most fun, the juiciest. These days, cops kept the expressways clear of easy marks, and Donaldson was forced to cruise off-ramps, underpasses, and rest areas, prowl back roads, take one hour coffee breaks at oases. Recreational murder was becoming more trouble than it was worth.
He'd finally found one standing in a Cracker Barrel parking lot. The kid had been obvious, leaning against the cement ashtray near the entrance, an oversize hiking pack strapped to his back. He was approaching every patron leaving the restaurant, practicing his grin between rejections.
A ripe plum, ready to pluck.
Donaldson tucked the cell phone into his pocket and got out of the car. He didn't even have to initiate contact. He walked in to use the bathroom and strolled out with his car keys in hand, letting them jingle a bit. The kid solicited him almost immediately.
"Excuse me, sir. Are you heading up north?"
Donaldson stopped, pretending to notice the man for the first time. He was young, maybe mid-twenties. Short, reddish hair, a few freckles on his face, mostly hidden by glasses. His clothing looked worn but of good quality. Donaldson was twice his age, and damn near twice his weight.
Donaldson rubbed his chin, which he knew softened his harsh features.
"In fact I am, son."
The boy's eyes lit up, but he kept a lid on his excitement. Any hitcher worth his salt knew to test the waters before sealing the deal.
"I am, too. If you'd like some company, I can chip in for gas." He hooded his eyes and quickly added, "No funny stuff. I'm just looking for a ride. I was hoping to get to Ogden by midnight. Got family up there. My name's Brett, by the way."
Well played, Donaldson thought. Friendly, a little desperate, making clear this wasn't a sexual hookup and that he had people waiting for him.