“Woof.” He rushes off as my would-be killer’s footsteps crunch the snow, a few feet from my hiding spot.
“This is none of your affair! Go home, city girl.” Recognizing the voice, I take a deep breath, and crawl behind my pine tree refuge.
My teeth remove my gloves, I blow in air, and shove my hands back in. Curling and straightening, I regain some the feeling and reach for my rifle.
“Don’t.” Alisha Zhinn, Kincaid’s graduate assistant points the tip of her long gun to my nose.
“So, itisyou.” I rise slowly, balanced on one leg.
“You should’ve stayed out of this, deputy.” She shifts her stance, her eyes devoid of emotion.
I’ve seen that look at war. Unless I can stall, I have seconds left to live “Listen, none of this is your fault. I understand what you’re going through.”
“You can’t possibly.” Her finger wraps around the trigger.
Heart racing, I shove my palms forward and calm her as I might a frightened horse. “Wait, wait. You’re right. I can’t.”
“But I bet you’re just dying to.” Giggling, her rifle slants to my midsection. “I see what you’re doing. I’m not stupid, you know.”
“I never said you were. So, tell me, Alisha, how did you kill Stacy?”
She hesitates, purses her lips, and shrugs. “Oh, I guess it doesn’t matter. It’s not like you’re ever going to tell someone. On your knees, hands behind your head.”
Facing her, I do as she says and wait for her arms to tire but her index finger stays glued to the trigger.
Elbows out, she tightens the rifle stock to her shoulder. “Jeff and I are in love. He refused to see how Stacy was holding him back. She had to go.”
“Kincaid gave you his key?”
She shakes her head back and forth. “Him? Hell, no. I made a copy ages ago. He is such a weak, weak, man. He was never going to have the balls to divorce her.”
“So, you helped him out by killing her?”
“Exactly. Earlier in the day I slipped into his house, loosened the railing, and polished the floor. After Jeff and I made love, he wanted to finish grading papers so I went back and waited outside. When the bedroom lights went out, I snuck in his kitchen, put his cell phone on the counter, and called his number. It took a few tries but it worked. Stacy woke and started down the stairs.”
Her eyes glaze over, spittle drips down her chin, and she wipes it away with an angry swipe. “Can you believe she made it to the bottom and never missed a step?”
“No shit.” I inch forward. “How unfortunate.”
“You’re telling me? Well, I pointed my rifle, walked her right up those stairs, and pushed hard. She grabbed for the railing and this time, it broke the way it was supposed to. I had a heck of a time trying to set it to normal.”
She inhales and sets her sights on me. “Buh-bye.”
As I spring for my life, a thunderous roar deafens me. Blood splatters everywhere, the top of my head connects with her chest, and she tumbles back. Mouth and eyes wide, she gurgles some undecipherable last words, and goes silent.
Warm liquid pools on the ground and yet, surprisingly, nothing hurts.
I must be dead because there’s no way she missed me. I wait for the fabled white escalator or a deceased member of my family to guide me to heaven. When nothing appears, I roll off her body, and stare up at the falling snow.
God? You there?
“Woof.” Toby licks my face.
“Cole? You with me?” Danni kicks Alisha’s weapon out of her hands, squats and two warm fingers press my neck.
“Where are you hit?” Frantic fingers search my body until I get ahold of her wrist.
“Stop.” With my leg aching like a mother fucker, I sit.
