Sunken Graves, Alan Lee [all ebook reader .txt] 📗

check is paid. We’re getting the hell out and we aren’t coming back.”

“Sure.” Feeling numb, Hathaway nodded. “I’m ready.”

She reached by the waitress for her phone. Picked it up and water trickled…

Oh no.

“Is it wet? Better leave it turned off, Daisy,” said Lynch. “If there’s water inside, it’ll short-circuit. Leave it off and dry it before trying.”

But Daisy couldn’t help herself. The phone was her lifeline, the only thing keeping her buoyant. She had to know. She pressed the button but nothing happened.

No no.

Again. Pressed it again and again. But the device was cooked.

“See what you did.” Lynch said it in a low snarl. “You ruined her phone.”

The waitress, “Sir, I’m so sorry.”

Fear and frustration ate her courage away and Hathaway felt weak. She had nothing. No recording, no evidence, no proof he hurt women.

Lynch gripped her upper arm. Steered her toward the side door, closest to his car. His voice hot near her ear.

“Daisy, I have several unopened phones at my office. You can take your pick. We aren’t using them. I’m taking you there now. You get a phone and I get…whatever I like.”

She said, “No that’s okay,” or she thought she did but maybe nothing came out.

She was propelled across the restaurant and into the cold before she knew it.

Lewis’ teeth stopped chattering. “Something is happening.”

“Craig, Daisy’s gone from my map.”

“Mine too,” said Murray.

Lewis pressed himself against the brick to peer into the corner of Bloom. “Mr. Lynch is berating the waitress. There’s been a spill or…I can’t be sure. Something happened. Here comes Ms. Hathaway back from the restroom.”

Jennings cursed. Said, “Without that dot, I think we need two cars tailing her. I’m en route. ETA five minutes.”

“Mr. Lynch is furious. Poor Daisy looks wiped out.”

Murray grunted. “I would be too.”

“Lynch is taking her…oh dear, is he taking her back to the restroom?”

“Find out,” said Jennings.

“I am.”

“If they both go into the restroom, you go too.”

"I’m moving for a better view. He’s…no, the date must be over. They left, went out the side.”

“Damn it.”

Lewis ran stiffly to the corner of Bloom and peeked around. After staring into the bright restaurant, his night vision was ruined. He searched the alley and said, “I don’t see them.”

“Where the hell is her dot?” said Jennings.

Movement near the Getty Mart. Found them, the hurrying couple.

“There!” Lewis’ harsh whisper. “I see her. Almost to his car.”

“Roger that. Keep your eyes on that Jaguar.”

“She’s getting in,” said Lewis.

“Murray, ready to follow?”

“Bet your ass.”

Lewis crept down the sidewalk, shivering, watching. The Jaguar’s engine roared to life.

“They’re leaving. Mr. Lynch is pulling out from his parking spot on the street. He’s reversing. He’s…no, what’s he doing? He’s…oh dear.”

“What? Details, Craig.”

“He’s making an illegal u-turn.”

“Driving west?’

“Which way is—”

“Driving away from Main Street?” said Jennings.

“Yes!”

Murray shouting, “She still ain’t on my damn map!”

“Move your butt, Coach, double-time.” Jennings driving and giving orders over the phone, watching the map in his mind. “Get behind them before they reach 10th Street.”

“I can’t! I was parked to turn right onto Main, turn onto Wasena! There’s a light and there’s traffic. Gimme a sec.”

“We don’t have seconds. Daisy’s in the car with a sociopath and we’re about to lose her. Force the issue.”

“I’m trying!”

Jennings sounding calm. “Craig, you chasing her?”

“I’m chasing!” The sound of his frantic breathing distorted their call. “I’m chasing! Trying to get my gun!”

Jennings ran the red light at Grandin, racing by Patrick Henry High School, accelerating through seventy in a thirty-five. But he was too far.

The con had failed.

Daisy held the dead phone. Speechless. Watching Lynch make a u-turn, away from Lewis, away from Murray. Lynch was driving angry.

She understood her life balanced on a knife.

The Jaguar reached 10th and turned right without slowing. She fumbled in her purse for the can of mace but her fingers weren’t working. Sending no haptic feedback. She had to get out.

Had to get out of his car right NOW.

“Mr. Lynch, where are we going?”

No response.

She placed a hand on his arm. “Peter?”

“I’m taking you to my office. The scenic route.”

His office. Late on a Sunday night. She might not come out whole.

“Do you think…” Her voice failed her and she tried again. “This street has shadows.”

“So it does.”

“Let’s park,” she said.

His foot came off the accelerator.

“Park?”

“You know.” She forced another smile, trying for lecherous, feeling like a sick fraud. “Park. With you and me in the backseat.”

“Right now. In the backseat.”

“Why not?”

Lynch pulled over near the Winchester intersection. Two blocks from Bloom, the Jaguar parked beside a privacy row of hedges. 10th was a side street, none of the houses facing them. He twisted to regard her.

His mouth was bleeding into his beard. Like he’d gorged on a living animal. She did her best not to scream.

“Daisy Hathaway. You’re a slut.”

“Could be fun. Just a few minutes?”

“In the backseat. You need it now,” he said.

“Yes.”

“Not exactly romantic, Daisy. But romance is for the weak.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and set it in the cup holder between them. Opened his driver door and got out.

The cabin light came on and she opened her purse. Peered inside. Rooted with her hand.

There, the mace, thank God. Her fingers were shaking. She gripped it but her thumb refused to push off the safety.

Her door opened. Lynch offered his hand. His hairy hand.

“Looking for a condom?” He was giggling again. The sound revolted her. “I don’t do romance and I don’t do condoms.”

He pulled her out and she lost the mace.

She gulped the cold air. Couldn’t get enough. He tried to kiss her but she ducked her head. His fur was everywhere. She couldn’t see past it.

“So nervous, little girl.” He opened the back door. Pushed her down.

“Let’s walk first.”

“Get in now.”

“Peter—”

“Do as you’re told.”

“Walk. Then the backseat.”

He shoved her head down under the car’s roof and suddenly they were both in the backseat. Daisy scooting backward on her elbows, him crawling over her on all fours like a bear.

She had the absurd notion that she was