Page 233 of Show Me

Lindsey keeps staring toward the porch, listening as Samson and Delilah squeal and slam against their trough. I stretch my fingers another inch.

Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Four

Ruby

Lindsey’s attention stays fixed on the window. My pulse pounds violently.

Now.

The sound of the knife sliding out of the block sends a drop of sweat slipping down my back.

And just like that, it’s on the counter behind me, the pill in my hand plinks into the sink, and I’m facing her as if nothing happened.

As if she’s decided the intrusion wasn’t intended for here, Lindsey stomps to the side window and glares at the pigs. “If they don’t shut up, I’m going to put a bullet in each of their heads.”

I lift my chin as bile rises in my throat. “That would defeat the purpose of staging a suicide, wouldn’t it?”

“I’d think of something.” Her narrowed eyes remain locked on the pig pen. “Maybe you were so devastated over Xavier that you took the pigs out with you.”

I cough, nearly choking on the pill dissolving against my cheek. She’s not going to back down. I need to make my move before it’s too late.

The knife handle presses against my back. Cold metal. Sharp. Dangerous. But not as terrifying as the gun in Lindsey’s hand.

She looks back. “You swallowed it?”

“Yes.”

Her shoulders loosen. Good. She believes me.

Another pill is snatched off the table and dropped into my open hand. “Take another.”

I stare at it for a second too long.

Lindsey’s expression hardens. “Don’t start.”

“I’m not.” My voice shakes convincingly because this time I don’t have to fake it. Fear claws through every inch of me. Not for myself. For the baby.

Buy time. Think. Stall.

“How did you even do all of this?”

The question catches her off guard. “What?”

I force my voice to be quieter. “How did you do everything you did and nobody caught you?”

Something dangerous flickers across her face. Pride. There it is. Keep her talking.

“I was careful.” The gun lowers another inch.

My pulse jumps. “You broke into my house more than once.”

Lindsey laughs. “I’m getting good at it. Last night was a bit of a challenge. Today….” She shrugs. “Piece of cake.”

“Last night?”

Cold slides down my spine. Xavier.

My entire body feels like it might drop to the floor. What if she did something to him too? Drugged him. Shot him.