by Makenzi Fisk
I snatch up the bag with a pang of regret that it’ll be my last payment. It doesn’t feel heavy enough, or the correct shape. It had better be right. The note tears off and flies to the ground. There’s no time and I don’t care what he had to say, anyway. All I want is the money. I run on panther’s feet to a row of bushes and stash it inside.
A moment later, I spring up beside Nina’s window and scare the crap out of her. She didn’t even see me coming. I’m that good.
She creaks the door open, eyes wide, face pale as the moon, knife in her hand. “Where is he?”
“He’s hammered. Totally passed out.”
She nods her head like she’s not at all surprised that her father is drunk.
“Come on.” I hold the door and she hops along behind me in a crouch. At the van, I pop the gas hatch open and unscrew the lid. I stuff the ducky cloth into the hole with my fingers and leave the tail hanging out. I point to the driver’s door and give her a shove. “Go kill him.”
She stares at me, eyes ready to pop out of their sockets. “Wha… How?”
With one arm around her waist, I steer her to the door and open it, letting it swing wide. I hold my hand like I’ve got a huge butcher knife and mimic overhand thrusting motions.
She draws in a sharp breath and her whole body trembles. She better not turn pussy now.
“Do it!” I hiss through my teeth, although an atomic bomb wouldn’t wake him now. I jab her in the ribs. “Hurry up!”
She opens her mouth and sucks in another breath. “I—”
“Do it!” I close my hand around hers and thrust the knife toward her dad’s throat.
She pulls away but it nicks the skin near the collar of his shirt. A drop of blood appears and she rears back. “I changed my—”
With my arm around her waist and my hand wrapped around hers, I push forward again. The knife tears a hole in his breast pocket.
“Nooo!” This time she fights me. Even with my sore shoulder, I’m stronger. I put my weight into it and the knife plunges into his chest.
He groans. There’s blood. Lots of it. Just like I hoped.
“Look what you did!” Excitement like I never thought possible sears my veins and my throat opens to howl.
“Stop!” She twists in my arms and pain shoots through my injured shoulder. “You’re crazy.”
“What did you say?” I slap her in the back of the head.
The knife falls but she doesn’t even apologize. She presses her hands to the hole in his shirt. “No! Daddy.” Blood gushes between her fingers. She’s not supposed to do this. Why isn’t she happy?
This is not part of my plan. I slap her again. “Let go. I’m going to torch this.”
“Daddy. Daddy. Daddy.” She crawls halfway over him, one hand on his chest and one reaching for the seatbelt.
“Let’s get out of here.” I tug at her ankle but she won’t listen. What is wrong with her? We got what we came for. “Let’s go!”
I release her leg. She’s not who I thought she was. She’s a loser. Just like him. I can’t believe I fell for it.
I’ve already got my money. What am I waiting for? I snatch up the knife and wipe the blood on his shirt. My grandfather said you must always keep the blade clean. I shove it into the front of my pants, between the belt and buckle.
I don’t need her. I don’t need anyone.
I reach into my pocket for the lighter and flick it.
CHAPTER 31
“Turn left, no right.” Allie clutched the dog to her chest. He nosed the air and his tail stood straight up.
Halfway into a turn, Erin wrenched the wheel the opposite direction and made the corner, tires bumping over the curb. “I called Zimmerman before we left. He gave me the mobile number of his Winnipeg Police contact, in case…”
The image of a laughing, curly-haired baby boy materialized in Allie’s mind. The baby suddenly turned blue. “Is Gina okay?” she blurted. Where had that thought come from? Why was she thinking of Gina at a time like this?
“Uh, he did mention Gina. She’s had premature contractions. Nothing to worry about, the doctor said.” Erin frowned. “Can we stay on task and worry about your baby fixation later?”
“I’m sorry. It just popped into my mind. I’m having trouble focusing. I’ll try harder.” She hugged the dog and he peered left. Allie pointed in that direction. “Go over the bridge and take the first left.”
“Attagirl. That dog’s like a cross between my dad’s fish finder and the radar I use to catch speeders.”
“I hope he’s as accurate.” Allie stroked a velvety ear.
“Actually, I don’t think he’s the one locating Lily at all. You’re doing all the work. All he’s doing is reading you.”
“Do you imagine that’s how it works?” Allie didn’t fully understand how her gift worked. It just was.
“You know how dogs can sense things people can’t?”
“Of course. Dogs have a keen sense of smell. Some can detect cancer, or even if their owner is about to have a seizure.”
“Well, I think this is like that.” Erin shrugged.
Was it that simple?
“I think the dog is reading you. He can sense some sort of energy or scent, or whatever you give off, long before you’re aware.”
“Really?” Pressure in her skull increased and Allie massaged a temple. “Drive faster.”
Stopped at a red light, Erin looked both ways and then snuck through. “Your foster parents used to joke about your two-second warning for trouble.” She pressed the gas pedal and the truck grumbled with the increased speed. “Maybe the dog can give you more time.”
Allie stared at her. More time. That could change everything.
Frown lines marred Erin’s smooth forehead. “Should I be turning or something? We’re almost at the park.”
On Allie’s lap, the dog whined and climbed on the door to see out the window. “The park. Yes. That’s where we need to go.” They left the residential area behind and now trees dotted both sides of the road. With streetlights spread further apart, it appeared dark, ominous.
“Are you ready for this?” Erin reached over to touch Allie’s hand and drew in a breath. “Your hand is hot.” She laid her fingers against Allie’s cheek. “Your face is flushed. You’re burning up. Do you feel it?”
“Fire.” Allie saw orange flames licking, black smoke curling into the air. “Hurry, we must stop her.”
Erin put her hand back on the steering wheel and rounded the last corner. She braked behind a white luxury car and pulled the door latch to get out.
Allie laid a hand on her thigh. “No, leave this one.” She pointed ahead to where the truck’s headlamps splashed light on a dirty work van.
Figures silhouetted in the driver’s open doorway. The girl with hair like fire. Her father.
Lily overpowered the whole scene with the stench of her hate. She separated from the others and flitted into the darkness.
Erin slammed the shifter into park and wrenched her door open.
“Catch her.” Allie urged.
Erin sprinted as soon as her runners hit the pavement.
* * *
I hold the flame to the cloth stuffed in the gas tank and the tip glows red. Lights from a truck expose me. Someone’s coming.
Vaulting over the fence, I make for the bushes where I’ve stashed the money and grab the bag. Excitement bubbles in my veins. I’ll sit on the hill and watch the fire as I count my million dollars. That’s what I’ll do.
I find a spot with a good view of the parking lot and settle down. Something rustles in the leaves and I freeze but it’s only a rabbit. At least it’s not a bird. I hate birds. There’s just something about them that freaks me out.
I settle in a new spot. Nina is still trying to stop the bleeding, trying to pull her dad out. Two losers, together.
Sparks spurt from the back of the van where the rag is smoldering. Why does it take so long? Is it because I stole it from a church? Is God angry?
Is the ghost of my mother out there, working against me? Nah, there’s no such thing as ghosts.
I force a smile to my face and untie the knot in the top of the bag. This is the big time. I never imagined a million dollars would feel like this. It’s so light. Maybe it’s all hundreds. Or thousand dollar bills. I saw one once on TV. It was sweet.
What’s this? I rip the folded up newspaper from the bag and tear it apart. Horrible smelling goo is at the center. There is no money. Wrapped inside is a pile of dog shit! This is like Nina’s dad sticking his middle finger up at me. He was never going to pay. I jump to my feet. I hate him so much. I want to run back down this hill right now and stab him in the neck a million times. Once for every dollar he owes me.
My body shakes but I don’t move a muscle. There are people down there. One of them turns and starts toward me.
It’s her.
* * *
Allie shifted the dog from her lap and locked the door behind her. She ran to the figures in the van. Light spilled from the open doorway onto a gruesome scene. A young girl with red hair worked frantically to stem the flow of blood from a man’s chest. He batted her with a dazed fist. The stench of liquor stung her nostrils.
This was the girl she had dreamt of. The name that had been on the tip of her tongue formed in her mind. Could it be Nina? The man inside was her father, and he was dying. Nina tugged at his shoulders and his head bobbed forward. Foam flecked with pink spewed from his mouth to his chin. Already he was taking his last breaths. His energy waned to a pinprick and folded into itself. There was a disturbance in the atmosphere and then a moment of stillness. It was as if time stopped.
Allie held her breath. She had never before witnessed death. Never at the point where life left the body, yet she knew it had happened. There were no angels with trumpets here to claim his soul. No demons rising up to claw him home. Just the snuffing of his energy, like a match that has burned and fizzles out. He was gone.
“Daddy!” Nina screamed. The color in the girl’s skin blanched and pale interior light cast angular shadows to the ground. Her tangled red hair bobbed when she spotted Allie. “Help me.” Her panicked energy was a solar flare in the dark.
“Run!” Allie shouted. She wanted to hold up her arm to shield her eyes. “Run now.” She grabbed the girl around the waist and tugged. There was no hope for the man and there was no time. They must get away.
“No.”
Ephemeral colors swirled around her in a haze of greasy black smoke. Allie bit down hard, trapping her tongue between her teeth. She tasted blood. They were in danger.
She wrapped her arms around the girl and tore her away from the van, from her father. The girl screamed and flailed against her but Allie didn’t stop until they were safely behind Erin’s truck.
Inside, the little dog pressed his nose against the glass. His inquisitive energy soothed her. Her breath was ragged, adrenaline surged, and every nerve ending tingled, yet she felt strong.
“Nina. We must stay here.”
The girl’s head jerked upright at the sound of her name, eyes wide with the shock.
“There is danger.” Allie held her when she struggled. “Your father is gone.”
Tears streaked the girl’s freckled cheeks. “It’s my fault.”
We’ll be safe here. Allie nodded at the thought and sank down, taking the girl with her.
Nina melted into her arms.
* * *
Gravel spun from Erin’s runners. Damn, what she wouldn’t do to have her pistol with her right now. There was a spark, a flash, and the shadowy figure ducked behind the van. She could hear Allie’s raised voice, and she almost turned back. Did her girlfriend need help? Should she abandon pursuit? No, her directions had been loud and clear.
Stop her.
Erin circled the van. Flames spurted from the gas tank. In moments, they would reach the fuel.
“Allie! It’s going to burn! Get away!” Could she hear? Was she listening? Did she already know?
On the other side of the van, there was a commotion as Allie struggled with someone. She took a step toward her and stopped.
Catch her.
She had to trust Allie’s intuition. She turned and ran to the last spot she’d seen the escaping shadow.
Away from the streetlights, the trees stood in darkness. Erin hurdled the steel cable joining the posts that served as the perimeter of the parking lot.
“Holy shit!” Lily’s voice came from up the hill to the right. A grouse sheltered for the night startled into flight, breaking out of a thicket where the girl must be hiding.
Erin stood still and tracked the origin of the sound. The bird’s wings beat in a particular thrum that she knew well. Lily was not the only one who had grown up in the woods. Erin raced for the thicket but Lily was gone. She squatted, slid her cell phone from her pocket and dialed the number Zimmerman had given her.
“Constable Audette.” His greeting was instantaneous, and brief.
“This is Erin Ericsson, from—”
“I know who you are.”
“I got your number—”
“What can I do for you?” His question was polite, the tone abrupt.
“I’m at Riverbank Park. The one past the bridge—”
“I know where it is. What’s the problem?”
Erin took a breath. Wherever Lily was, she wasn’t making a sound. She had gone to ground. “There is a van on fire here. People are in danger. I’m in foot pursuit of the suspect—”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes! We need backup.” Would her tainted reputation get her any help? Had he even listened to what she’d said? “Hurry.” She pressed the icon to disconnect and put the phone away. She breathed in and held it. In the distance, a branch creaked. Lily had surfaced and was on the move.
Erin rose to her feet and wove her way through the trees. She heard the soft whip of a conifer branch and changed direction. Brush divided ahead and dark branches jittered against the night sky. Even with a partial moon, her vision adjusted to the dark. She bounded over a fallen tree to soft earth.
Something skittered to her left. A rodent. Or a rabbit. Not a girl. She ignored it and kept true to her course. Near the rise, a twig snapped and then there was silence. The river was not far away now. If Lily made it there, she could escape, carried downstream by the current faster than Erin could follow. If the kid was a good swimmer.
Ahead another twig snapped. Erin broke into a gallop. Lily had the same idea.
At the top of the rise, Erin stumbled and fell to her knees. Over the riverbank, black water rippled. Eddies curled and vanished. Crests in the shallow rapids glittered. The water was fast, and it was high. The bank would be unstable.
Lily was not at the river’s edge. A movement in Erin’s peripheral vision caught her attention, and she blocked with her forearm. Pain shot to her elbow like an electric bolt. She bent double, cradling her arm.
Lily stepped from her hiding spot, holding a crooked stick. The cold-eyed glare reminded Erin of Derek Peterson, back on the Morley Falls River. He’d attacked her the same way. Like father, like daughter.
“Want more?” Lily swung again, but pulled the strike at the last second.
Erin blocked air.
“Ha.” Lily assumed a predator’s stance, eerily pale eyes intense in the moonlight. The knees of her dirty jeans were torn and mud smeared her face. Disheveled hair stuck out from her hood. Was she trying to camouflage herself? Had she been sleeping on the street? The smell of liquor wafted between them. She’d been drinking.
Lily circled and Erin pivoted to keep her in front. She jabbed with the end of the stick and Erin dodged. Lily seemed to be favoring one arm. She was injured. Did this teenager believe she could fight a police officer and win? With a stick?
Erin waited. The girl jabbed once more and Erin sidestepped to come in on her left. With one hand on her shoulder and the other on the hem of her hoodie, Erin whirled and threw her into the dirt. A classic judo hip thr
ow. The stick careened into the air, out of reach.
“Fuck!” Beneath her weight, Lily squirmed. She thrashed her legs. She spat. She screamed.
“Stop it.”
“I’ll kill you, you witch! I’ll kill you.”
“Hold still. You’re hurting yourself,” Erin ordered. She adjusted her position and pinned the girl’s arms to her body.
A rumble shook the ground, and they both looked to the rise where a black cloud smeared the sky. The burning wick had finally ignited the tank. Sirens wailed. Were they coming? Or going somewhere else?
The girl laughed. “It worked.”
Where was Allie? Was she safe?
Lily twisted under her and freed an arm. She raked at Erin’s face, nails gouging the skin under her eye.
Close. Erin turned her head.
Lily bared her teeth and bit down on Erin’s arm, jaw clamped like a dog. She’d learned that from her Dad too. Her teeth shredded fabric, missing Erin’s flesh.
Erin opened her hand and drove her palm into Lily’s temple. A stun. The girl’s head sank and her eyes rolled back. There would be mere seconds to gain control. Erin flipped her over and brought her to her knees. She wished she had time to search her but Lily was coming around. What she wouldn’t give for a set of handcuffs. Zip ties would work too. Why hadn’t Allie told her to bring zip ties?
With Lily’s arm behind her back, wrist locked for control, Erin waited for the girl to get her bearings and hauled her to her feet. Lily came to her senses, growling like an animal. The hair on the back of Erin’s neck prickled. She steered her toward the approaching sirens. They were coming. Thank God for Constable Audette.
Red and blue lights bounced off trees and Erin picked up the pace. They stumbled over a rock and Lily drove her skull backward. Erin evaded the head butt. The kid was relentless. Being this close made her uncomfortable, and it wasn’t just the mud Lily had slathered over her face. Was it her vile body odor or her vicious personality? Erin needed a shower. She couldn’t wait to turn her over to the local PD.