Page 74 of D for Dead

Leon grunted, surprised by the strength of the arm around his neck, and lurched forward, attempting to throw his attacker over his shoulder. Something hard pressed into his side, below his ribcage. It zapped into him, pulsating into his body, and he stiffened like a board.

Fuck, no, stop. Dear God, no, please stop, please!

He thought he’d said the words aloud, but realised they were in his head.

After what seemed like minutes, but was probably only seconds, the zapping stopped. The arm eased around his neck and, although he remained coherent, Leon felt his body give out as he fell to the floor.

Unable to defend himself; he stared up into the face of his attacker, noting the cold smile and the dead eyes, and a shiver ran down his spine.

23

Leon Pruitt’s body was discovered Tuesday morning by a jogger, and Jake was being bored senseless by Declan Rivers about the Trail Blazers’ game when the call came in. He didn’t hate basketball, but Rivers hadn’t stopped talking about the damn game since the weekend. Jake understood the kid was enthusiastic, but he needed to quit being such a geek and go get laid or something.

He’s not the only one, Sullivan.

His thoughts briefly turned to Amy. He’d last seen her working in the Velvet Lounge on Saturday night, and had made an effort to stay away from her since. It had been stupid going to the bar. Deep down he knew he hadn’t gone there as backup for Peterson, and so did Rebecca.

She’d been decidedly frosty with him, annoyed he wasn’t heeding her warnings about getting personally involved.

Jake knew she was right and it pissed him off. He also knew she was irritated he’d caught her out with Hickok. There was something going on with the two of them; she just wasn’t admitting it. He didn’t miss the exchanged look between them when Hickok came into the office with the announcement that another body had been found.

‘We’ve got a call about another vic.’

‘What do we know?’ Rebecca asked.

‘Male, late twenties, body dumped in the woods.’

‘You think it’s our guy?’

‘I’d say so. Throat has been slit. That and the location would match book three.’ Hickok scowled at Rivers, who already had his notebook open, scribbling. ‘Hey, Boy Wonder, there’s not gonna be a test.’

Rivers glanced up, cheeks reddening, as Hickok shook his head.

‘Come on, people, let’s get moving. Withers is gonna meet us at the crime scene.’ He glanced briefly at Jake. ‘You’re gonna love where that is.’

Jake narrowed his eyes. ‘Go on.’

‘Our unsub has played things closer to home this time.’

Hickok gave a twisted smile. ‘He dumped the body in the woods across the road from Amy Gallaty’s apartment.’

* * *

Vic fetched Amy’s mail in the mornings, figuring it was safer she stay in her apartment. He always insisted she lock the door behind him and, since Sullivan had pointed it out to him, always check the peephole before letting him back in. They couldn’t afford to take any risks.

He knew he was taking on the protector role, but that was fine because he knew women ate that shit up and he still harboured desires of getting Amy into bed, even if Sullivan was giving him a bit of competition.

Play it slow, Vic, buddy. Keep looking after her, lay on the charm and reel her in.

She was in her bedroom when he went down for the mail. Over the past couple of days she had taken to locking herself away for a few hours. Vic guessed she needed her own space, probably in order to write, and the TV disturbed her.

He knocked twice on her bedroom door before quickly pushing it open, half wishing, and a little disappointed when he didn’t, catch her in some state of undress. Instead she sat on her bed, cross-legged, hunched over her laptop, reading glasses on and a frown on her face as she studied the screen.

She looked kind of geeky, but there was still something sexy about her, even with the glasses. He coughed loudly and she glanced up, startled.

‘I’m heading down to get the mail,’ he told her.

‘Okay.’ She looked a little annoyed he’d disturbed her and Vic guessed he’d interrupted her mid-flow.