by DK Herman
“Do either of you need anything?” I asked. They both seemed calm but clung to each other.
“Would you check on the Liv and the dogs?” Gram asked. “Doc said that she put the dogs in the backyard. Liv went to her room after supper, I haven’t seen her since.”
“Sure, I’ll be right back.” I kissed Gram’s cheek and went downstairs. The patrolmen in the hall stared as I walked by. First, I stopped in the kitchen and found Liv making an urn of coffee. “Your awake,” I said.
“A shotgun blast over my head, would wake up anybody,” Liv said dryly. “Some of the shot came through my bedroom ceiling.”
“You weren’t hit, were you?” I looked her over for signs of an injury. I forgot, Liv’s rooms were directly beneath Gram’s.
“There’s not a scratch on me, honey, but my naked farmer lamp was shot to shit,” Liv said with a chuckle. “The cops wouldn’t let me go upstairs. How’s your grandmother holding up?”
“She seems ok,” I said. “They’re in George’s suite. Gram asked me to check on you and the dogs.” I got left-over sausage links out of the fridge and went to the patio doors. Stepping outside, Buddy and Princess were delighted to see me. I sat on a bench and fed them pieces of sausage. I petted their soft ears and remembered that Rupert should be out here, too. I stood and wiped my hands on my jeans. Calling Rupert’s name, I walked into the yard. The other two dogs hid under the picnic table instead of following me into the grass.
“Rupert, “I called, getting a little worried. Gram was fond of the little monster. Hopefully, he was ok, just sleeping somewhere. There was no sign of him, so I decided to ask Liv if she’d seen him.
Back inside the house, I heard a yapping bark coming from inside a hall closet. When I opened the door, Rupert charged out and grabbed my big toe with his tiny, crocodile teeth. Damn it, I left my shoes on the front porch.
“Rupert, you’re an ungrateful little shit. I was worried, thinking Doc hurt you.,” I grumbled. I grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and pulled him off my toe. He immediately went limp in my hand and blinked his brown button eyes. He looked so cute and a little scared. Wow! Maybe I just need to show him who’s boss. I brought him up, level to my face and looked him in his eyes. “I live here now, you little twerp. I’m a person and one of your masters. I’m the boss. Got it?”
Suddenly, Rupert went from limp, to Tasmanian devil in my hands. He little paws flailed wildly. Then snarling with fury, his pointy little teeth clamped down on my nose.
“Help!” I yelled. My eyes were watering and dog spit flew over my upper lip, every time Rupert shook his head. “That hurts asshole, let go of me!”
“What are you doing to that little dog?” A young cop asked. He was the smart ass from the night of the garage fire, Jason Brady. “Let him go, you’re hurting him.” He glared at me. “I’ll arrest you for animal abuse.”
So, I let go, but Rupert didn’t. I had a dog hanging off my face. Rupert’s small front paws, beat frantically on my forehead while his rear paws stood on my boobs. “A little help please,” I whimpered.
Officer Brady took two strides and pulled Rupert into his arms. “What in the hell is wrong with you?” He glared at me and shaking his head, walked away. “It’s ok. I won’t let her hurt you,” He cooed to the dog.
“He hates me!” I protested. “Take him upstairs to my grandmother.”
Officer Brady ignored me but walked up the stairs.
“The pit bulls love me,” I called after him in my defense. I went into the kitchen, looking for soap and water and paper towels. My nose was throbbing and my face was covered with devil-dog spit.
“Why does your nose look like something was chewing on it?” Liv asked.
“Rupert, “I said, grabbing a paper towel.
“How did he get hold of your nose?” Liv turned on the kitchen faucet.
“I’m a dumb ass.” I went to the sink and stuck my face under the running water.
SIXTEEN
There was no sleep for me that night. Detectives Kasey and Krause arrived while I was in the kitchen. They questioned everyone, including Andy and Chief Woods. The house was searched for evidence, pictures were taken, and our hands were checked for gun powder residue. Finally, Kasey was convinced that Doc was the murderer and Ryan Murphy was her accomplice.
Arrangements were made to search the woods for more bodies, first thing in the morning. Other teams were immediately sent to search Doc’s and Ryan’s homes, properties, and vehicles.
I felt sorry for Ryan’s wife. She was awakened in the middle of the night with the news that her husband had been shot, and the cops searched her home. When we got the news that Ryan didn’t make it through surgery, I felt even worse for her and George. George cried in Gram’s arms, maybe for the little boy Ryan had been.
Doc came through her surgery and was expected to live. She would be under guard in the hospital and arraigned for multiple murders in her bed.
The next afternoon, Gram, George, and I went to the police station to read and sign our official statements. Andy was at his desk again, so we went to him first.
“Have you heard anything about your sister?” I said. There had been an army of cops in the woods since early that morning.
“The team in the woods found three more bodies, buried deeper than the others were. But evidence from Doc’s house, suggests there are at least five more victims,” Andy said. “Tests must be done to identify them, but Heathers drivers permit and a necklace she always wore, were found in a baggie in Doc’s basement.
“I’m sorry, Andy,” I said.
A tall, dark haired man came out of Chief Woods’ office. My heart beat faster when I realized it was Hank. I walked up to him with a big smile and my arms open. He walked past me without saying a word. He said good bye to his brother and left the building without even a glance in my direction.
“Andy, what’s wrong with Hank? He blew me off, like he didn’t know me,” I said.
“It’s all been too much for him,” Andy said. “Being in jail, finding out our sister’s dead, plus Kasey will say anything to get a confession.”
“Yeah, I noticed.” I saw Andy was holding something back. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“Kasey told Hank that you made a deal for a lighter sentence. He said that you confessed to helping Hank kill the girls, but it was all Hank’s idea.”
“And he believed him?” Incredible, didn’t Hank watch cop shows on TV?
Andy nodded. “Sorry.”
“That idiot!” I fumed.
“I told him that Kasey lied,” Andy said. He put a hand on my shoulder. “But with everything that’s happened, he’s not thinking straight. Give it a little time, Hallie. He’ll come around eventually.”
I nodded and followed Gram into Chief Woods’ office.
After we were done, I drove us home. Gram and George went to his rooms to rest. I went to mine and dug out my bottle of tequila.
Wallowing in self-pity, I sat on my bed, crying and swilling tequila. I thought of food but didn’t want to slow down my buzz. I wanted to stop thinking for a while. In one day, I lost Doc and Hank. I felt so empty, and unsure about the future again.
What should I do now? I still had my PI’s license. I loved the work, but there were no private investigation firms nearby. If you needed an investigators services around Herville, you hired from a city. And I didn’t want to commute that far. Besides, all I had to drive was Chitty. I wrinkled my nose at the thought of driving to meet clients in the RV. Not to mention, when the snow started flying, Chitty wasn’t going anywhere.
I took another swig from the bottle. My eyes were getting heavy, maybe I should lay down. I kicked off my shoes and my phone rang. I ignored it until it stopped. It was probably Gabi, and I wasn’t up to dishing details or being supportive. I understood that she was going to be upset, but she has a caring husband to help her. I’d call her after I got a little sleep.
I rolled onto my back and closed my eyes. My phone
rang again. “Damn it.” I sat up again. It might be Gram. Looking at the caller ID, I was surprised to see it was Ben calling.
“Hello,” my voice was husky whisper.
“Hallie, were you sleeping?” Ben said. It was so good to hear his voice.
“No,” I said. “What’s going on?”
“I got a call this morning from the Herville cops. They said that Cara’s killer is in custody. Did you find him?”
I started crying again. I grabbed the tequila bottle and took a big swallow.
“Hallie, are you there?” Ben’s voice was concerned.
“I’m here,” I squeaked. “So much has happened that I don’t know where to start.”
“The cops didn’t give us a name. They just said that they have a suspect in custody. Who is he?” Ben sounded excited.
“She,” I corrected.” My best friend killed Cara and the others.” I broke into sobs.
“Tell me everything,” Ben said gently. “You’ll feel better if you get it out.”
I told him everything he’d missed, starting with me hacking into Cara’s email. Ben listened, making sympathetic sounds when I got to Hank snubbing me in the police station. After everything poured out of me, I did feel a little better. “I’m really sorry. I never suspected Doc was capable of such brutality. Maybe if I’d been paying more attention, I would have seen what her mother was doing to her. Then I could have gotten her help long ago before she killed anyone.”
“None of this is your fault. Bad family secrets, run deep. If you’re from a nice normal family, you’d never see the signs,” Ben said. “And Hank’s an idiot, but he’ll come around.”
“How did you get so wise for your age?” I blew my nose.
“Ok, Granny Hallie,” Ben said with a sigh.
I laughed. “I’m glad you called. Thanks, I do feel better.”
“Anytime,” he said. “Since you’re feeling better, there’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Ok,” I said. I wished Ben lived closer. He was a terrific friend and so easy to be with.
“Mom and I agree, it’s time to make some changes. Cara’s funeral is tomorrow, and it’s time to move on with our lives. She’s going to sell the dry-cleaning business and give me half the money. She’s been seeing someone for two years, and they want to get married.”
“That’s great. Good for her,” I said.
“So, now I can do anything I want,” Ben said enthusiastically. “Hallie, will you teach me to be a private investigator? I’d have enough money to move to Herville and you wouldn’t have to pay me. Well, not until I got good at it.”
“Have you ever been arrested?”
“Nope,” Ben said.
I capped the tequila bottle and sat up straight. There had to be a way to open my own office, right here in Herville. There was no competition for fifty miles. Ben could do his three years training with me. Maybe, he could eventually become a partner.
I could sell Chitty and my jewelry. Or, I could try getting a business loan. If a bank said no, I would swallow my pride and ask Gram for a loan.
“Hallie,” Ben’s voice broke into my thoughts. “Are you still there?”
“Yes I am. When can you move to Herville?”
Coming soon
Run Faster
A Hallie James Mystery
DK Herman
Thanks for reading.
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Table of Contents
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN