“Shame on them,” the female said, laughing.
My God. As the killer’s picture was placed on the screen, I pressed my shaking fingers across my mouth. Maybe to keep from screaming. Or crying hysterically.
He could be anyone. A next-door neighbor. A schoolteacher. A doctor. Anyone. With mousy brown hair and basic features, he was the kind of man who you’d pass on the street and never think twice. I walked closer, studying the killer’s smile.
Of all the images that had faded to black, I’d never forgotten his smile. However, with the television screen only a few inches away, this time his eyes grabbed my attention. A flash slammed into the forefront of my mind.
Another image and one that hadn’t been shown before.
His eyes. They were… wrong. No. That wasn’t possible.
By the time I blinked, his photograph was no longer on the screen. Gasping, I reached out before I realized what I was doing, almost able to hear his laugh echoing in my mind.
I fisted my hand, bringing it to my mouth. It had been a very long time since I’d experienced such a strong reaction.
The female anchor looked directly at the camera. “Let’s hope his execution brings some peace and closure to the families of the victims.”
A swirl of light formed around my head, vivid colors shimmering as the forms danced and changed shapes every few seconds. I managed to turn off the television. Now the quiet was deafening.
“Do you dream in color?”
“I’m sorry?” I looked up from the book, immediately noticing the stranger’s kind smile.
He nodded toward what I was holding. “Quite a book for someone so young.”
“Oh,” I said, laughing. The title of the book I was holding wasAll Things Bright and Colorful. “It’s for a school project. The importance of color within poetry.”
He pulled a book from the shelf, fingering the cover. “Absolutely beautiful. Just remember that when you dream in color, all things are possible.”
I watched as he walked away, realizing I’d been holding my breath.
As the memory faded, I could no longer feel my legs.
The man’s upcoming execution had opened floodgates. I could barely breathe.
One. Two. Three. Four.
With my eyes closed, I concentrated on my breathing. And counting. Seconds ticked by.
Maybe minutes. Finally, I was able to take deep breaths as anger replaced terror. I’d worked far too hard in my life to allow the motherfucker to derail everything. Never again. To hell with him.
Still unable to focus, I moved my hands along the counter until I reached the kitchen door. Somehow, I stumbled into the living room and toward the picture window staring out at my front lawn. With rain pelting against the glass, it was impossible to seeanything, but just for a few seconds, I could swear a face formed in the distant fog.
A man’s face.
And he was smiling.
“Hey, Jessica. Can you do me a favor and set up a meeting with Molly Sims next week?” As soon as I took a sip of coffee, I groaned. Why did I bother drinking the horrible brew from the office? Like ever? I had no idea if our office manager had gotten a deal on a crate of stale Keurig pods, but the java had a bitter acrid taste.
The day had all but gotten away from me. With depositions and an unexpected new client, I was shocked I’d gotten anything accomplished.
Especially since the fog had refused to completely leave.
How many years had I managed to stay free from the horrible vacuum that had come close to destroying my life? Long enough the freedom meant the world to me. That’s why I refused to take the day off, wallowing in self-pity. If I’d done so, the bastard would have won.
One step in front of the other. He could no longer hurt me.
Besides tomorrow was another day, including stepping foot inside a courtroom after the contentious loss. I’d need to be on my game. It made me furious that the wheels of justice seemed to be sliding in every scumbag’s way. I made it my personal mission to keep that from happening.
