“Or dogs.”
“Or microchips.”
“Or”-
At last she was close enough that he pounced. He leapt off the couch in one smooth motion and scooped her up into his arms. She squealed in surprise and he carried her to the bedroom where he dropped her unceremoniously on the bed before retreating to the doorway.
“No sneaking up on ex-assassins in the middle of the night when they’re sleeping on your couch,” he said.
She gave him a pouty face. “Boo! No fun.” She grabbed a pillow from her bed and hurled it in his direction. He jumped into the hallway and laughed as he walked back to the family room.
~
Mark’s phone rang jolting him out of a deep sleep. He grabbed at it, nearly dropping it on the floor before getting a good grip on it.
“Hello?” he asked, slurring the word.
“Mark! You need to get down to the station right now,” Liam said, voice terse.
“Why? What’s going on?” Mark said, glancing at the alarm clock. It was one in the morning.
“Curtis is dead.”
“What? How?” Mark said, sitting straight up as he came fully awake.
“He burned to death.”
12
Mark was on his feet in a moment.
“Where?” he asked.
“In his car,” Liam said.
“At home?”
“No. At work.”
Mark swore and hung up. “Honey, get up,” he said as he called Jeremiah’s cell.
“Mark, is everything okay?” Jeremiah asked sounding more awake than Mark felt.
“No. I think our arsonist has just graduated to murderer. Get Cindy, get out of there. Come here and pick up Traci and the kids and head for Geanie and Joseph’s. He knows me and he knows you guys, but he shouldn’t know them.”
“On it,” Jeremiah said before hanging up.
“Mark, what’s happening?” Traci asked, fear in her voice.
“One of our computer guys who was working on the arson case was just killed while still at work,” he said. “I just want you guys all somewhere safe as a precaution.”
Traci was on her feet in an instant. She came over and wrapped her arms around him. “Are you okay?” she asked.
“No, I’m not,” he said.
He was completely rattled by the fact that Curtis had been killed in the station parking lot. That meant all the assumptions he’d been making about the arsonist were wrong. Terror had its grip on him and he was struggling to shake it.
“It’s going to be okay. You’ll catch this guy,” she said, the earlier fear gone from her voice and replaced by cool, quiet confidence.
He hugged her tight. “Thank God for you,” he whispered against her hair because he had no idea what else to say.
They stood there for a moment and he could feel her giving him strength and courage. She had always been his rock, but he had never felt it more than in that moment.
“Was he your friend?” she asked.
“Curtis, no,” he said. “He was a pain in the neck, but he was a good cop. I never saw it coming. I underestimated this guy.”
“No, he underestimated you. He just messed with the wrong people,” Traci said.
“You’re right. Now I just have to catch him before Jeremiah kills him.”
“Yes, good. That. Excellent plan. Now, let’s turn on the light so we can get dressed and packed.”
“Good plan.”
~
She was walking through a nightmare landscape. Everywhere she looked the world was sooty and ash-covered. She swerved to the side as a giant man stepped out suddenly in front of her. She wanted to run, but something about him made her stop. He opened his hand and in it was a tiny flame that seemed to dance along his skin.
“Look closer,” he said, his voice deep and calm.
She found herself stepping forward as she stared intently at the flame. For just a moment she thought she spied a figure dancing within it. Then for a moment she thought she saw something else. She saw—
“Cindy, wake up!”
She snapped awake, the dream dissolving into mist around her and disappearing entirely as she opened her eyes.
Jeremiah was standing in the doorway to her bedroom and she could tell by the way he was holding himself that something was wrong.
“What is it?” she asked, struggling to sit up.
“Mark has asked us to pick up Traci and the kids and head up to Geanie and Joseph’s.”
She stared at him for a moment. “It’s time to retreat?”
“It’s time to retreat,” he affirmed.
She should be more frightened, but her head felt like it was full of cotton and her limbs felt like they weighed a hundred pounds.
Jeremiah left the room and she managed to get her clothes on. She should put together an overnight bag, but she just couldn’t get herself to wake up enough to think it through. She picked up her purse in one hand and Blackie in the other and headed out to the family room.
As soon as she got there Jeremiah slung his overnight bag over his shoulder and took Blackie from her. The little ball of fur made a slight squeaking sound as she transferred him but didn’t rouse from his slumber. Jeremiah didn’t say anything but he nudged her toward the front door. Moments later they were in his car and on the road.
“So much for standing my ground,” she said as she yawned and struggled to wake up.
Blackie wasn’t helpful in that regard. He was asleep on her lap and snoring softly.
“Captain, shouldn’t we get Captain?”
“He’s already at Joseph and Geanie’s. I took him there yesterday morning just in case.”
“Is that why he didn’t come with you,” Cindy said, yawning again. “I wondered. Because you know, it’s going to be his home next year, too.”
“I know,” Jeremiah said.
Slowly she felt like she was being able to fight through the cobwebs in her head. She looked at Jeremiah and saw the tension in his jawline.
“What’s happened?” she asked.
“All Mark said was that the arsonist murdered someone.”
“Oh no! He didn’t say who?”
“No. It was a real short conversation.”
Cindy’s thoughts flew to Ezra and Frida as she wondered if he’d attacked their synagogue again. She sent a prayer up for their safety.
They made it to Mark and Traci’s a few minutes later. Mark had already left but Traci was inside finishing packing. Cindy moved to help her, grabbing up stuff for the twins that they might need while Jeremiah walked Buster before putting him in the car.
“I don’t know why Mark had you guys come here. I’m perfectly capable of driving to Geanie and Joseph’s,” Traci said as she finished stuffing her bag of toiletries and threw it into her suitcase.
“He probably didn’t want you to be alone,” Cindy said.
“For fifteen minutes? It’s paranoid, even for him. Something about this guy has gotten under his skin.
Jeremiah walked into the bedroom. “Traci, do you want me to move the carseats to my car? If so, I’ll need your keys.”
“I think we’ll just follow you in there. That way we’ll have both cars if we need them and we don’t have to move anything around,” she said.
Jeremiah looked like he was about to object, but he didn’t. Instead he said, “We should be going soon.”
“Almost done,” Cindy reassured him.
Traci zipped up her suitcase and handed it to him. “If you could grab the diaper bag from the living room and some bottles from the fridge that would be great.”
“On it,” Jeremiah said, hurrying from the room.
Cindy zipped up the bag that she’d been working on as Traci looked around the room. “I’m sure I’m forgetting a few things.”
“As long as you have what you need tonight we can sort it out in the morning,” Cindy said.
Jeremiah
’s edginess was rubbing off and she was starting to wish they were off and driving already.
“Okay, let’s go wake up Rachel and Ryan,” Traci said.
Cindy followed her out of the room but headed for the front of the house. Jeremiah was just coming back inside and she handed him the bag with things for the twins in it.
“We’re getting the twins and we’ll be ready,” she said.
He nodded. “I put the luggage in my trunk. Buster’s in my car currently curled up on the backseat with Blackie.”
“Good. I think I’m going to ride with Traci,” Cindy said.
Jeremiah nodded. “I was going to suggest it.”
On the kitchen table next to her purse Traci’s phone began to ring.
“Traci, your phone!” Cindy called.
“Can you answer it?” Traci called back from the other room.
Cindy picked up the phone. “It’s Liam,” she told Jeremiah.
“Hello, Liam.”
“Cindy? Is that you?”
“Yes, we’re here with Traci helping her pack up.”
“Is Mark there?”
“No.”
“When did he leave?” Liam asked tersely.
“Traci, when did Mark leave?” Cindy called out.
“Four minutes after he got off the phone with Jeremiah,” Traci called back.
“About half an hour,” Jeremiah said softly.
“About half an hour ago,” Cindy said.
There was a pause and then Liam said, “Put Jeremiah on the phone.”
Cindy’s hand shook as she passed the phone to Jeremiah. Something was clearly wrong.
Jeremiah took the phone and his face settled into an expressionless mask. He listened for several seconds and then said, “Understood.” He hung up.
“What is it?” Cindy asked.
“He never made it to the police station and he’s not answering his phone,” Jeremiah said quietly enough that his voice wouldn’t carry to the other room.
Cindy’s stomach twisted hard and for a moment she thought she was going to be sick.
“What do we do?” she asked.
“Get out of here. Now,” he said.
Cindy turned and half ran to the twin’s room. “Here, let me take one,” she said, trying to control the fear in her voice.
“Here, take Ryan,” Traci said.
Rachel had woken up and was screaming. Traci picked up her and rocked her, trying to calm her. Cindy was just grateful she wasn’t asking about the phone call.
“Jeremiah wants to get going,” she said, trying not to sound panicky.
“Okay. Hopefully they’ll fall back asleep in the car,” Traci said. “I think Ryan’s diaper might need to be changed, but it’s not that long a ride and we can take care of them both once they get there.”
“Good idea.”
Cindy turned and hurried back to the family room, clutching Ryan who was starting to squirm pretty hard.
“I’ll put you down and you can crawl all you want once you get to Uncle Joseph and Aunt Geanie’s,” Cindy said.
“Jo-Jo,” Ryan said and laughed.
“Yes, Uncle Jo-Jo,” she said.
“I’ve got your purse. Ready?” Jeremiah asked, his hand on the front door. He was holding Traci’s purse and phone.
“Yes,” Traci said, following Cindy.
They all went out the front door and Jeremiah swiftly closed and locked it behind them.
Cindy moved toward Traci’s car which was parked in the driveway. She stopped at the back door on the passenger’s side.
She wrinkled her nose as the scent of gasoline filled it.
“Do you smell that?” she asked.
“What?” Traci asked as she walked toward her.
“Gasoline.”
Jeremiah had been standing by his car. He suddenly was running toward them and shouting something. He grabbed her shoulders and shoved her toward his car so hard she almost fell. She struggled to keep hold of Ryan as she staggered. She finally slammed against the car.
She twisted and saw Jeremiah run past Traci’s car to where Traci had stopped. He snatched Rachel from her arms, stooped and grabbed Traci around the knees. She folded over his shoulder as he stood up and ran toward the car.
“Get in!” Jeremiah screamed.
Cindy opened the door, shoved the front seat forward, and dove forward. She half-climbed, half-fell into the backseat of the Mustang trying to shield Ryan as she did. She landed on Buster’s tail and he yipped as he freed it and retreated to the other side of the backseat along with Blackie who was now thoroughly awake.
Cindy pulled the front seat back into position just as Jeremiah reached the car. He shoved Traci into the passenger seat then practically dropped Rachel in Traci’s arms before sliding across the hood of the car and getting in the driver’s seat.
“What on earth are you doing!” Traci screamed as Jeremiah hit the gas and pealed away from the curb.
An explosion threw Cindy to the side. She managed to hold firmly onto Ryan but her head slammed into the side of the car. She straightened up and twisted around.
Traci’s car was a ball of fire. A moment later there was a second explosion and flames shot up through the roof of the house.
Traci turned and screamed as she saw her home destroyed.
13
Jeremiah drove as fast as he could away from the burning house. Beside him Traci was sobbing. Both children were crying and Buster had begun to howl. He glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Cindy, her face completely pale, staring back at him.
He was so grateful that she had smelled the gasoline and said something. He didn’t know when the arsonist had been there or if he still was. All he knew was that they needed to get away fast and to make sure not to lead anyone to their next destination.
After a couple of minutes he slowed down and got onto the freeway heading toward Los Angles. It would be easier to give anyone following the slip in the stream of speeding cars who were taking advantage of the one time of the day when the freeways weren’t jammed.
Slowly it got quiet in the car. The babies fell asleep which helped Buster settle down. Traci stopped sobbing and just stared straight ahead as she clutched Rachel.
After fifteen miles on the freeway he took an exit he had long ago chosen for just such an emergency. He got off and immediately turned off the car’s lights. It was an area between towns that didn’t get a lot of traffic. Street lights were few and far between and he relied on his excellent vision and the sensation of the road beneath him to find his way.
After he was satisfied that no one could have possibly followed them he slowly began to loop back toward the freeway. Once he made it there, he turned the car lights back on and headed for Joseph and Geanie’s.
He dearly wanted to call Liam and see if he had figured out what happened to Mark. He didn’t want to alarm Traci until he had to, though. It was bad enough he and Cindy were worried for the detective’s safety.
Mark was a resourceful man. He had to trust that if he’d run into trouble he’d find a way out of it.
Or at least find a way to survive until help arrives, Jeremiah thought.
He glanced again at Cindy. She was quiet, but unlike Traci she was looking around, actively thinking and engaging with her environment. He was just grateful she didn’t speak right then. They had a very fragile peace in the car and he wanted to keep it as long as possible.
Nearly an hour after they’d raced away from Traci’s house they turned up the hill to their destination. The mansion at the top of the hill was ablaze with light. Joseph and Geanie were probably starting to wonder what was taking them so long. Fortunately neither had tried calling.
He pulled up as close to the front door as he could. It flew open and Geanie ran out, face ashen. She took one look at Traci sitting in the front seat clutching Rachel and she stopped.
Jeremiah got out of the car and met Geanie’s ey
es. He gave her a slight nod and she moved forward and opened the car door.
“There’s my favorite niece,” she said softly, her voice low and soothing as she reached for Rachel.
For a moment Traci resisted, as though she didn’t realize what was happening. Then she seemed to wake up. She turned and looked at Geanie and handed Rachel to her.
“Someone needs to go upstairs and go to sleep,” Geanie said, turning and carrying Rachel into the house.
Jeremiah moved around and helped Traci out of the car. He steadied her as she wobbled slightly on her feet.
“Are you okay?” Joseph asked, eyes wide.
“House blew up,” Traci said woodenly.
Joseph’s eyes got wide as saucers, but to his credit all he did was nod. Jeremiah walked Traci to the house and into the kitchen. He put her in a chair and then returned in time to see Joseph pulling Ryan out of Cindy’s arms.
“Don’t worry. Uncle Jo-Jo’s got you,” he said when the little boy started to stir.
Joseph walked past him into the house.
Jeremiah helped Cindy out of the car. She then turned and picked up Blackie. Buster jumped out and bounded into the mansion. Cindy looked up at Jeremiah and her lips quivered slightly. She was on the verge of crying but struggling to hold it together.
“I know,” he said softly.
“If we hadn’t gone over there.”
“I know.”
“Do you think Mark is okay?”
“I pray so,” he said.
She nodded and then headed into the house.
~
Cindy was barely keeping it together. She noticed Jeremiah didn’t follow her inside and figured he was probably calling Liam to check up on Mark.
Dear God, please protect him. Protect all of us, she prayed fervently. She walked into the kitchen and set Blackie down on the ground. He went scampering off either in search of his friends or food. Cindy sat down on one of the chairs next to Traci.
“How are you holding up?” she asked.
Traci exhaled a long, shuddering breath. “I’m not sure.”
“Fair enough.”
“I just keep replaying it over and over in my mind and then thanking God that none of us were hurt or killed.”
Anointest My Head With Oil Page 10