Page 83 of A Seer and Present Danger

Shoot. Yes, I’d been looking. Unfortunately Detective Despicable could sense when I did it.

Should I stand and fight? With what? He had a knife. All I had were some keys⁠—

—no, I had something better than that. I had an idea.

I eased back down the hall and studied how the fire extinguisher was attached.

All I’d have to do was yank it off the wall mount, then pull the tab, aim and fire before Dirty Detective could get within knifing distance.

I shook out my hands. Easy. I could do this. Easy.

Three…two…one!

I grabbed the extinguisher, yanked, (why was it so loud?) then pulled the tab.

I spun toward the room and rushed forward.

Lightning flashed just as the main door swung shut.

Vandre was gone out the door.

Or Vandre was hiding in the room and had opened and shut the door to try and trick me into thinking he was outside.

I’d just exposed myself to a killer. I had no idea where he was, but I was standing out in the open, in plain sight.

I gulped down air and wished I had someone to help me.

But this was on me. I was alone, in the middle of nowhere, in a raging storm.

I could call for help if the land line was still working. If I could reach the land line.

I positioned the extinguisher in front of me like a pointed a gun, then slowly walked into the room.

Vandre was not at the tables in the middle of the room, not under the tables. I eased up to the rear booth.

No one there.

I started toward the front of the room angling toward the kitchen.

No one.

No one.

No one.

I made a run for the kitchen.

And realized my mistake as soon as I crossed the entryway.

Vandre was in the kitchen.

Vandre was holding the knife.

Vandre was…bleeding?

“Piper,” he gasped. “She….”

Then his eyes rolled back into his head and he crumpled to the floor.