Karen Rose - I’m Watching You

Jack bagged the picture frames. „Let’s cross our ringers because we got nothin’ else.“

„Detective Reagan?“ A uniform appeared at the front door. „There’s a call on the radio for you. It’s Spinnelli. He says you need to call him when you’re done here. It’s important.“

Kristen . Abe’s heart dropped in his chest and he forced himself to take a canning breath. „Did he say important or urgent?“

„He said ‘important.’“

Kristen was all right, he thought. If she’d been in trouble, Spinnelli would have said „urgent.“ Abe looked at Mia. „Are we done here?“

She nodded. „Yeah. Let’s call Spinnelli.“

Wednesday, February 25,

6:15 p.m.

He’d been late and missed the judge going into the hotel. He glanced up at the wall of windows. But it wouldn’t matter. According to Skinner’s notes, Hillman never stayed the night.

He’d used the waiting time productively, rerunning through his mind the transcripts of the trial that should have guaranteed Leah her justice. But there had been no justice. The jury had done their job, returning a guilty verdict. But in a rarely seen move, Hillman rejected the verdict, citing a technicality. The monster that raped Leah walked out of the court a free man.

He hadn’t known Leah then. He’d met her after the trial, when she was just a shadow of the woman she’d been. He’d read the transcripts, felt the clawing anger of helplessness as he turned each page.

He wasn’t helpless now. Now, it would be Hillman who would be helpless.

He waited patiently until Hillman came strolling out, a distinctive spring to his step. Hillman stopped next to an old Dodge. A pathetic attempt at subterfuge that fooled no one. Especially me . He started the van and pulled up next to where Hillman had parked. His head ached, but he pushed the pain away and focused on his quarry.

He saw the alarm in Hillman’s eyes in the instant he stepped from the van, his revolver in plain view, its silencer gleaming in the parking lot lights. „Keep your hands where I can see them,“ he said evenly. Hillman reached for his pockets and he poked the gun in the judge’s gut, with much more force than necessary, but then again, he was angry both at the judge and the events of the day. „I said where I can see them. If I pull the trigger right now, you die. Right here in this parking lot next to a car you wouldn’t be caught dead driving if it weren’t so important to keep your wife from suspecting your affair.“

Hillman’s eyes widened. „If it’s money you want – “

„I’m no mugger, Judge Hillman.“ He slid the side door open and watched Hillman pale as his eyes registered recognition of what was to come. „Take off your coat.“ He nudged the gun deeper into Hillman’s gut when the judge just stood there. „Now, please.“

Hillman tugged at the buttons on his expensive wool coat with shaking hands. „You won’t get away with this,“ he said unevenly.

This made him smile. „I got away with Skinner. Of course it was a shame that Carson’s bodyguard had to die instead of Carson, but one must break a few eggs to make an omelette. So I will most likely get away with this. And even if I don’t, you’ll still die.“

Hillman went even more pale. „Oh, my God.“

„I sincerely hope you’re prepared to meet your Maker, Judge Hillman, because meet Him you shall. Climb in and have a seat“

Hillman looked around frantically, but of course there was no one around. It was as Hillman designed, week after week. A deserted parking lot where no one would see him meeting his mistress. „I’ll scream,“ Hillman promised, his voice cracking.

„No one will hear you and you’ll die just the same. Too bad you were so concerned with anonymity when meeting your Miss Quincy.“ He smiled cruelly. „Rather ironic, don’t you think?“ He shoved the gun harder. „If I squeeze the trigger, you’re dead.“

„If I go with you, I’m dead.“

He raised his brows. „But you’re a coward and you’ll hope up until the end that someone will come and save you. On the count of three, Judge Hillman. One, two – “

The judge pulled himself into the van as he’d known he would. With practiced efficiency, he reached to fasten the handcuffs that would trap Hillman on the floor of his van. He fastened a second wrist cuff, then moved to Hillman’s feet. Hillman kicked, sending an unexpected shudder of pain through his body.

„You’ll pay for that, Hillman,“ he vowed. „Just like you’ll pay for everything else.“

Hillman’s brow glistened. „But what have I done?“

He cut a piece of duct tape to cover Hillman’s mouth. „Leah Broderick.“

Hillman’s eyes registered no recognition and that made him even more coldly furious. „You don’t remember her, but you will. Before this is all over, you all will.“ He pressed the tape to Hillman’s mouth, making sure to cover his pencil-thin mustache. It would hurt when he yanked the tape later. Such a small thing, some might call it petty.

But it had just been that kind of day.

Wednesday, February 25,

6:30 p.m.

Abe heard the pounding as soon as he got out of his SUV. He parked on the street as Aidan’s Camaro filled Kristen’s driveway. Abe stopped at the cruiser, back in position at the curb, and Mclntyre rolled down the window.

„Anything new?“ Abe asked and Mclntyre shrugged.

„Nobody came close with any boxes. She had a visit from the man who lives two doors down, but she didn’t let him inside. Your brother brought her home from the hospital a few hours ago. I did check on her when the pounding started, but your brother said she’s all right, just working out some stress. I guess she’s got a right.“

Abe agreed. Spinnelli had told him about her friends, the men who ran the diner. He could only imagine what she was going through. „Thanks.“ Abe jogged up the driveway, slowing when he came to the carport. Behind the rental car was a pile of smashed cabinets and her ancient oven, turned on its side. Cautiously, he opened the kitchen door and saw Aidan pulling on her equally ancient refrigerator. Aidan caught his eye, breathing heavily.

„Damn thing doesn’t have casters,“ Aidan grumbled. „Weighs a fucking ton. Close the door. You’re going to give us pneumonia.“

Abe obeyed, then blinked as the pounding stilled. A layer of white dust covered the kitchen and everything in it, including Aidan and Kristen, who stood at the far wall with a hammer in her hand. He could see part of the old parlor through the major hole in the wall.

Kristen turned around, her pinned-up hair no longer red, but white. Streams of sweat streaked her face, red from exertion, and her breasts rose and fell under a thin tank top. Under a very thin tank top. And a sports bra. And very tight biker shorts. In the space of two heartbeats the very thin tank top revealed how glad she was to see him. With an effort he jerked his eyes from her clearly visible nipples back up to her face. Her eyes were clear, green, and hot. Slowly she lowered the hammer, holding it limply at her side.

Aidan cleared his throat. „I’ll be going to work now. Bye.“

Abe just looked at Aidan as he backed out the kitchen door, noticing Aidan carefully averting his eyes from Kristen’s very thin tank top. „See you. Call me if you need… anything.“ The last was uttered on a cough that Abe was quite certain muffled a laugh. The door closed behind Aidan and he and Kristen were alone in the wreck of her kitchen.

Abe wasn’t sure what to say. He opened his mouth, closed it, then gave up and let his eyes drop back to her breasts.

„What did you find?“ she asked, huskily.

Again he jerked his eyes back up to her face. „We found his target range, but he wasn’t there.“ She absorbed this in silence, not moving a muscle. Awkwardly he gestured to the mess. „What is this?“