“This situation feels surreal,” Peter said. “I should never have had an affair with Jerod.”
“Why did you?” Nikki asked.
“Jerod’s very handsome and he paid me a lot of attention. We worked out together, played pickleball, met for dinner.”
“Yeah, so? Friends do that,” Nikki replied.
“He seduced me, led me to believe what we had was real.” Hirzog brought over a tray with three coffees, a small pitcher with creamer, and a bowl of sugar. He set a mug down for Simone, one for Nikki, then joined them at the table.
Simone pushed hers away. She couldn’t stomach a thing. Nikki drizzled in cream, added a little sugar. In silence, they sipped their hot drinks. When Nikki had finished hers, Hirzog held up the carafe, but she waved it away.
“Excuse me,” Nikki said. “I’m going to the restroom.”
Simone checked the time. Five past eight. Adrenaline powered through her. She was ready to arrest Jerod, Hirzog too. She’d followed the white rabbit and it had led her to these two men, but there were so many others shedidn’tknow about.
I’ll find them too.
She and Hirzog sat in silence. She had nothing left to say to him. A few minutes passed, but Nikki hadn’t returned.
THUD!
“What was that?” Simone asked.
“I didn’t hear anything,” Hirzog replied.
She hurried to the closed bathroom door. “Nikki, you okay?”
The door opened. A glassy-eyed Nikki said, “I lost my balance.”
Simone helped her back to the table. Nikki sat in the chair and slumped over. “I don’t feel so good,” she mumbled.
After a quick glance at Hirzog—who appeared oblivious to Nikki’s situation—Simone hurried to her handbag, rifled through it, but her Glock was missing. A punch of fear pounded through her.
“I moved your gun,” Peter said. “I don’t want things to get violent.”
A growl shot out of her. “Where’s my service weapon, Peter?”
“You won’t be needing that.”
POP! POP! POP! POP!
Simone jerked her head toward the sound. The front door burst open and a man strode into the kitchen, eyed the three of them, and drew his lips back into a sinister smile, like a dog baring its teeth.
Dread filled her to the depths of her soul.
His dark hair fell to his shoulders. He wore tinted eyeglasses, dressed in an expensive-looking suit, bright white shirt, and shiny, black loafers. In the low-lit kitchen, he appeared very tan, but his complexion looked more orange than sun-kissed.
She glanced at his hand. On his pinky, he wore a flashy diamond ring.
Her heart dropped.
Ohgod, It’s The Bomb Maker.
Hirzog looked flat-out confused. “Who the hell are you?”
“Who am I?” barked the stranger.
Ohgod, no.
