Page 91 of Hunting Justice
Her lids fluttered and popped open. She whimpered and tried to pull away.
“That’s right. It’s me.”
She squirmed under his hold. “What do you want?” Her words slurred from the effects of the chloroform that remained in her system.
“For you to die.” Her wide eyes made him smile. “Dad never got over losing you. The one blemish on his mission.”
“What mission?” she mumbled.
“Mom cheated on him. When he confronted her, she lied. The next day, she was gone. Dad always did have a mean streak in him, but Mom deserved what she got.”
“But why me? Why any of us?”
Jack laughed. “You? Right place, right time. Plus, you look like her. The rest?” He shrugged. “Who knows where he found them? He took that secret to his grave. It doesn’t matter. He rid the world of liars.” He threw her chin to the side, whipping her head. His tools sat on a small table a few feet away. “I didn’t have time to grab everything, but I have enough. Besides, dear ol’ Dad already marked you.”
He felt her eyes on him, watching every move he made. Good. He wanted her to know what he had in store for her.
“I don’t understand.”
Jack picked up the knife and studied the blade. “All my father ever wanted was the truth from my mother.”
“That’s why he tattooed the Chinese symbol for truth?” Her glazed eyes stared at him.
“Yes. Unfortunately, I don’t have those skills, so I use a hot iron. It’s fascinating how the skin sizzles and puckers against the heat. Too bad I can’t show you. But my skills with the knife will do.” He flicked the blade with his thumbnail.
She scrambled to push away from him, but he had her zip-tied to the chair with no way to escape. He chuckled. They always tried to get away.
His watch beeped. Someone had breached the perimeter. He tapped the tiny screen and checked the video from the cameras he’d strategically placed at the entrance of the driveway.
How had the cops found him?
Jack tossed the knife down, grabbed the gun from the small table, and threaded the suppressor onto the barrel of his weapon. They might be in the middle of nowhere, but he refused to take the chance of someone hearing a gunshot. “So much for all the fun I had intended for you.” He shrugged. “But plans change.” He lifted the weapon.
The woman bolted toward him, chair and all, tackling him to the ground.
He hit the ground, wheezing out a breath, and squeezed the trigger. He shook off the ringing in his ears and shoved her off him. Pushing up on all fours, he glanced at her still form.
Blood pooled on the floor next to her body. Good riddance.
It’s done, Dad. I got the one that got away for you.
He took off out the back door, into the woods behind the cabin.
* * *
Jonah stared at the cabin with a detached garage. He itched to get inside. Who knew what horrible things Noelle could be experiencing while he and Matt waited on Decia? He leaned against the car at the entrance to the property, then pushed off and paced, unable to contain the jolt of energy shooting through him.
“You’re making me edgy.” Matt checked his weapon and holstered it.
In the distance, birds screeched and scattered.
Jonah’s gut screamed at him that something was wrong. “We have to get in there.”
“We will. Once we have backup.” Matt flipped his wrist and glanced at his watch. “Decia will be here in a couple of minutes.”
He ran his fingers through his hair. What if Noelle didn’t have that much time?
“There she is.”