Phish NET Stalkings
Page 32
“Then why did you murder her?” Jane demanded with a fierceness that surprised her.
“Because she knew too much. Because she came to me to tell me she was going to go to the FBI and blow the whistle. I couldn’t let her do that. I had a family to protect, men to shield. Besides, who were we hurting?”
“Are you crazy? You trafficked children to pornographers and pedophiles and drug lords. You killed innocent children.”
“I did no such thing,” he snapped with a wave of the gun. “Move into the other room. I want that FLASH drive once and for all.”
Shivering, Jane walked into the living room and sat in the spot she had vacated mere minutes before. If she could just distract him, she could get her gun.
“Keep your hands where I can see them,” he ordered. “All you have to do is eject the FLASH drive and hand it to me.”
That wasn’t all. She had waited for this moment all her life. “Why did you kill Granny Pearl? She didn’t know anything. She couldn’t hurt you and your band of assholes.”
“The old lady?” He shrugged. “It was expedient. If she had just told us where you were then maybe she would have lived.”
Jane narrowed her gaze on the older man. “Liar.”
“Shut up and give me the damn FLASH drive.”
Bide your time, she told herself. You’ll get your chance. With shaky hands, she tugged the drive from its slot and her mother’s voice disappeared. Suddenly she felt alone.
“Hand it over,” Callahan held his hand out for her to drop the device into his palm.
She leaned forward, holding out her left hand, reaching beside her when the front door slammed open and Cooper fell into the entry.
She pulled the 9-millimeter from its hiding place and brought it up as the old man turned to aim the gun at the intruder. She pulled the trigger. At the same time, Cooper pulled the trigger.
Callahan crumpled to the floor as Jane still held her gun at the man sprawled on the floor bleeding and screaming in pain. She blinked at the blood that splattered her face, but she refused to release her weapon. What if the monster comes back?
Cooper, who had almost lost ten years off his life when he found out that Lieutenant Callahan had been at the station when Jane was there. He almost lost her twice in one day, he thought as he bent to pick up the weapon Callahan dropped when he hit the floor.
Then he saw Jane’s face. It was covered with the blood of Lieutenant Callahan. Her eyes had a glazed look about them. She looked shocked as she held the gun still aimed at the old man.
“Jane?”
She didn’t answer.
“Jane, honey? It’s okay. He can’t hurt you anymore.” He eased his way to her, ignoring the screaming, bleeding Callahan. With his hand out in front of him, he reached out for her weapon. Her arm went limp when his fingers wrapped around the barrel of her CZ-9.
“Cooper. Oh, Cooper.” She plastered herself against his chest, wound her arms around his neck and wouldn’t let go. Not that he wanted her to.
He heard Jack and the others come in and he ignored them as he wrapped the woman of his dreams in his arms and pledged his undying love to her.
“I love you, Jane. I will never let you go. I will protect you always.”
“Protect and serve,” she murmured.
He chuckled and held her even tighter. “Protect and serve.”
“I love you, too.”
ABOUT AUTHOR DENISE ROBBINS
Denise Robbins, born and raised in the Midwest, migrated to Florida, and finally settled down to her home in New Hampshire that she shares with her kittens Mischief and Mayhem.
From her back deck, she sits outside, listens as the old roller coaster from the local amusement park inches its way up the wooden structure on its clanking chains, and waits to hear the kids scream in terror and delight. The best mental therapy a girl could ask for. The long, cold winters in New Hampshire provide the serenity and motivation to write excitement into the night.
After twenty years in the computer technology industry, Denise decided to use that experience and her passion for mysteries and suspense to write her first techno-romantic thriller novel, IT HAPPENS IN THREES and her subsequent novels, KILLER BUNNY HILL, CONNECT THE DOTS, and NEVER TEMPT DANGER. In addition to writing, Denise enjoys scuba diving (only in warm water), snowboarding, and playing in her garden.
It Happens in Threes
ISBN Print—978-1-60318-086-3 Ebook—978-1-60318-087-0
Killer Bunny Hill
ISBN Print—978-1-60318-130-3 Ebook—978-1-60318-131-0
Connect the Dots
ISBN Print—978-1-60318-164-8 Ebook—978-1-60318-165-5
Never Tempt Danger
ISBN Print—978-1-60318-260-7 Ebook—978-1-60318-261-4