Run Like Hell (18 page)

After a wonderfully delicious dinner, Mom and I arrive at home the same time Dad pulls into the driveway.

“How are my two favorite ladies?” Dad beams, handsome and dazzling in his suit, button down shirt, and tie.

“Wonderful. How’s my gorgeous husband?” Mom croons, linking her arm through his and kissing his cheek.

“Great, now that I’m home with the two of you. Plus, I scored a big account over dinner.” Dad always wins his accounts with his industry knowledge, charm, and engaging smile.

Lately, I’ve wondered if my relationship would’ve improved with my mother if I hadn’t been grounded. My parents and I have been getting along better since I’ve been home. I miss seeing my friends and going to parties but I admit that it’s been nice at home without arguing with Mom or dealing with her bad attitude. She’s more relaxed and hasn’t raised her voice at me in ages. Even she and Dad are getting along better. There’s a happy vibe in the house that I want to last.

We’re greeted at the door by Tiger. “Morgan, do you have a minute to walk Tiger? I’d really like to change my clothes and talk to your mother.”

“Sure Dad.” I leash Tiger and head out the door. At the end of the driveway I realize I should have grabbed a flashlight on the way out because it’s dark outside. I continue ahead. I know these streets like the back of my hand and besides, it’s only a short walk. I want to change out of my work clothes too and call Jack.

“Come on, Tiger,” I urge, anxious to get the walk over with.

The night is quiet and the half-moon casts a familiar glow over the neighborhood. A quiet summer breeze kisses my skin. Tiger and I are the only ones roaming the streets at this hour. A nearby bush rustles. Tiger barks and sniffs around, searching for the source of the disturbance. I suspect it’s a rabbit but stop and let the dog investigate. Darkness cloaks us as we stand beside a neighbor’s wooden fence.

I tug the leash, anxious to move on and go somewhere more lit. “Tiger,” I hiss but he ignores me as he sniffs the ground.

“Come on,” I tug the leash again. This time he stops and turns. He walks away from the bushes and stands beside me. His growl resonates throughout the silent night.

I realize I’m not the one who distracted him. Behind me, I hear the shuffling of footsteps. A familiar scent of clove cigarettes lingers nearby. Tiger’s growl rumbles deeper in his chest followed by a warning bark. Slowly, I turn and face the figure that steps from behind a tree and blocks my path.

“Hello, Caroline.” The voice shatters the evening’s peacefulness. The person steps out of the shadows. Moonlight brushes his face.

Shocked, my heart hammers in my chest as I stare into Brian’s dark, menacing eyes.

“How did you—” he begins to ask.

“I’m not Caroline,” I stammer as I glance around for a way to escape. His hands are clenched at his sides. Is he concealing a weapon? Tiger advances and protectively stands in front of me.

“This time you’re not getting away,” he threatens and glances down at the dog.

Regaining my senses, I drop the leash and bolt for home. My injuries have healed so I’m faster and stronger. I race toward my house. Tiger yelps, halting me. I stop and turn but can’t see him or Brian. I shouldn’t have dropped his leash. Without hesitating, I run toward the sound of Tiger’s yelp.

Out of the shadows, Brian plows into me, knocking me on my side in the middle of the road. My shoulder bears the impact of the fall. He straddles me and his hands hover over my throat. I imagine Tommy’s hands clenched on my neck, blocking my breath. Not again. I jerk my hips up forcefully, throwing Brian off balance. Seizing the opportunity, I shove him to the side and roll from under him.

His powerful grasp clamps onto my arm but I counteract by shoving my fingers in his eyes. His scream pierces the night and I scramble to my feet. Shouting at the top of my lungs, I race down the street. Dad’s form is silhouetted against the porch light as he steps outside.

“Call 911,” I scream. “Brian’s after me!”

Glancing back, I spy Brian chasing me. Tiger emerges from the shadows, biting at his heels. This will end tonight, I resolve. Caroline and I are not destined for the same fate. I’ll fight him with every ounce of strength I have.

Dad runs toward me, fury etched on his face. My heart swells as he runs to my aide. Bravely, I turn to confront Brian but he’s gone. Scanning the surrounding houses, I can’t see him or Tiger. They’ve disappeared. Even Tiger’s barks are hushed.

“Are you hurt, Morgan?” Dad asks, rushing to my side.

“Just my shoulder,” I groan. The street is suddenly silent other than our labored breathing.

“Where’d he go?”

“I don’t know.” I breathe. “He was right behind me. Tiger too.” I don’t trust Brian. He attacked me before from the shadows when I stopped to help Tiger. “Let’s get back to the house.”

“Mom called the police. They’ll be here any minute,” Dad confirms as we cautiously head home.

Sirens scream through the neighborhood and the constant red and blue lights flash in front of my house. I relay my story to the police. Squad cars disperse in search of Brian and Tiger.

Officer Whitman arrives at the house with Rory. They were on a dinner date when he got a call informing him Brian attacked me. An EMT is bandaging my shoulder as he approaches. Déjà vu. It was only recently when he questioned me outside an ambulance after Tommy attacked me.

I relay the exact words Brian spoke to me. Officer Whitman’s jaw tenses but he lays a reassuring hand on my good shoulder. In my gut, I know Brian hurt Caroline. He had me mistaken for her and meant to harm me the same way he harmed her. I pray he’s caught and confesses what he did to Caroline.

A squad car parks in front of my house. Brian’s glaring at me from the backseat. The officer informs us he hid in some bushes but Tiger cornered him.

Tiger! Where is he? Another police car pulls up and Tiger’s sitting in the backseat. The officer jumps out of his vehicle and opens the back door. Tiger bolts from the car directly toward me. I immediately notice the stain on his black and tan coat. He’s hurt.

Dad helps me calm him down so an EMT can examine him. It appears to be a knife wound. Brian stabbed him? Fury and rage builds deep within me as I stand and begin walking determinedly toward the car he’s locked in. I can hear Dad calling my name and Mom yells for me to come back. It’s Rory, though, who steps in front of me. I don’t even know what I intend to do. I want to hurt him the way he’s hurt me, and Tiger, and Caroline. I want him to suffer too.

“He’s not worth it, Morgan,” Rory says as she presses her palm against my chest to halt me.

“He’s not getting away with this,” I yell, outraged by the smug expression on his face as he watches me.

“He’s not. The police arrested him. This time he’s getting locked up.”

“It’s not enough,” I cry.

Rory wraps her arm around my shoulder and guides me inside the house, away from his ugly gaze and the curious stares from my neighbors.

The rest of the night is a blur. I call Jack at some point and tell him what happened. Shortly after, he arrives at my house, accompanied by Traci and Carlos. The three of them are a great comfort to me. We sit in the living room with Rory and my parents. Officer Whitman went back to the police station.

Later that night while we’re all watching TV the phone rings. Rory jumps off the couch to answer it. Dad puts the television on mute while we all listen in as she says one or two sentences, nods and then is quiet on the phone. After she hangs up, she glances at us.

“That was Todd. He called to let us know Brian confessed,” she says quietly. “He killed Caroline.”

Dad turns the TV off and a sorrowful hush lingers in the room. Caroline is dead. Sadness swells in my chest as I think about her family, Ricky, and his mother. Knowing she’s dead is devastating.

“What happened?” I ask quietly.

Rory slumps on the couch beside my mother and is enveloped in her arms.

“He told the police they’d argued. He struck her and she’d fallen and hit her head. He hadn’t meant to kill her. He told the police where he buried her body.”

A heavy silence hangs in the room. My heart pounds fiercely.

He would’ve killed me. I know it.

I hitched a ride with a killer and I survived.