Evil bastards.
They reached the front of the house.
Where were the cops?How long did it take to respond to a murder call?
The security lights were still on, illuminating the entire front drive.
Rav’s body lay undisturbed in the broad pool of blood.
“They killed him?”Luke whispered.
“He didn’t have a chance.They jumped him as soon as we arrived.”
Hudson looked all around for signs of the killer.Just like his movie idol, this Baby Face was a master of concealment, until the moment came to strike.When he’d attacked Rav, he’d come from the undergrowth along the side of the property.Was he hiding there now?
“Is that Rav’s car?”Luke asked.
“Yes.”
“Keys?”
With dismay, Hudson pointed to the body.“He had them on him when we got out.”
Luke spun his head in either direction, tightening the grip on the knife.“Okay.”He bit his lip.“If we get his keys, we can lock ourselves in the car until the cops arrive.”
“Or get the fuck away from here.”
“Even better,” Luke said.
They approached slowly.Hudson stayed alert, trying to look everywhere at once.The front door of the house was open.Shit.It had been closed earlier.He checked the broken living room window.There was nothing but darkness within.Corman could be hiding in there too.He could come at them from anywhere.
Every shadow seemed to contain danger.Every rustle of the leaves made him edgy.Cold sweat trickled down his spine.He glanced at Luke, who appeared just as tense, but showed a steely determination to survive.
As they moved forward, they stepped into the pool of blood that surrounded Rav’s body.Luke was not deterred.His courage strengthened Hudson’s resolve too.They were going to get through this.Get out of here and make sure Corman paid for everything he and Amber had done.
Luke stood confidently, feet apart, the knife held steadily in front of him.“Get the keys,” he said.“I’ll cover you.”
Hudson didn’t hesitate.He squatted over Rav’s body and tried not to look at the brutal mess that was his head.Rav was lying face down, his arms splayed beside him.Hudson couldn’t remember what he’d done with the keys when they got out of the car.Had he kept hold of them?Put them in his pocket?He checked his hands first.The right was open, palm facing upwards, empty.The left hand was clenched into a fist.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered, taking hold of his hand.Rav’s skin was still warm.“I’ll get the bastard who did this to you.I’ll make them pay.”
Carefully, he unfurled Rav’s stiff, bloodied fingers.There was no car key.
“They must be in his pocket,” he told Luke.
“Keep looking.I’ve got you.”
Fighting against his natural squeamishness, Hudson put his hands beneath Rav’s hips, squirming to feel his pelvis and thighs, searching for the sharpness of a key.There was something hard in the left pocket.He pulled his hand back, feeling for the opening of the pocket, sliding inside.What he pulled out was a phone.From the right side, he produced Rav’s wallet.He put them both to the side and slid his hands back into the pockets.
“I can’t find the key,” he said in frustration, still searching, going deeper.
Suddenly, he was caught in the glare of headlights, dazzled by the full beam.
He turned his head, screwing up his eyes as the engine roared.
He knew instantly that Corman had the key and was behind the wheel of Rav’s car.
The noise was deafening.The glare of light became even harsher as it came towards him, the dazzle painful.
