|
|
|
|
|
|
|
hand connected with the speaker's nose. Chris heard the crunch of the bone breaking all the way into the woods. D.J. flinched, and he put his hand on her shoulder to calm her. She shifted and linked her fingers with his. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Shit!" the man shrieked. "What did you do that for?" |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rich stepped toward the man and the three others fell back. The injured man went very still, then glanced up at Rich. Though Halloran spoke softly, the menace in his words punctuated them enough so Chris, and D.J., could hear him quite well. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"We aren't going anywhere until they're both dead. Can you get that through your thick skull? I paid you guys well to do the job, but you screwed up. Now I have to do it myself. There is no statute of limitations on murder. And though I won't fry in this state, I don't plan to spend the rest of my life behind bars. McCall and my sweet little bitch of a wife are going to die. Tonight or tomorrow, I don't care which. But they're going to be dead." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"All right, all right." The man sidled away from Halloran and walked into the cabin, holding his hands to his bleeding nose. The other three followed, and seconds later the lights inside the house flared to life. Rich stood outside a moment longer. He turned and swept his flashlight around the perimeter of the woods. D.J. shrank back from the searching light. Chris squeezed her fingers, warning her not to move. For a long minute, Rich stared into the darkness, and Chris could almost feel the man's evil gaze creep over them before moving on. Seconds later, Halloran looked their way again, and |
|
|
|
|
|