AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Julian’s jaw goes tight. “Seems like he had a hard time narrowing it down.”
“Then he’s exactly where he belongs.” I pull the collar of my coat higher, blocking out the cold night air as we move deeper into the park. Between the time and the cold, the place is all but deserted, but the evidence of the day’s visitors is stomped through the piles of snow covering the ground. Very little of it is untouched at this point, so my footsteps blend in with all the rest.
At least they will until the snow begins falling in another hour.
And we’ll be long gone by then.
“How long have you been here?” I don’t want any of my men spending too much time here. The longer they stay, the greater the risk someone will see them, and I’m not interested in any reports of strange men lurking in this vicinity.
I want this to be a clear-cut situation, with no loose ends and no questions to be asked.
“Not long.” Julian points toward a small copse of trees tucked away from the main path, but still close enough to be well-traveled. “He’s back there.”
I walk a little faster, propelled forward by a rage I haven’t felt in years.
The need to dole out the kind of justice that would make most people flinch.
The second I break the trees I see him, strung up on a thick branch, arms bound to his body, gag over his mouth, toes balanced on a plastic stool.
I kick it away without saying a word then stand and watch as he writhes in the air, fighting the thick band of rope around his neck.
I watch as his kicks lose momentum and his face turns red, eyes bulging as the tiny vessels inside them burst at the edges.
Watching my father die was satisfying in a way few people would understand.
I waited years to force him from this earth. Dreamed of it nearly every night.
The moment was well-deserved on both our parts.
But this moment is better.
Because I’m not doing this for myself.
When he’s still I turn to Julian. “Collect the bindings and get out of here.”
The satisfaction on his face is similar to my own as he stares at Dr. Marshall’s lifeless body. “I’ll be gone in under two minutes.”
“Good.” I turn and walk in the opposite direction, following a different path out of the park so that if someone did see me once, they won’t see me twice.
I doubt anyone will question the suicide of a physician being investigated for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars, but I’m not willing to take that risk.
For the first time in my life I have too much to lose.
Sal picks me up two blocks away and takes me home. When he pulls up in front of my building I start to get out but remember the instructions Paisley had for me as I left.
I turn to him. “We are having a Christmas party Saturday. Paisley and I would love it if you and your wife would join us.”
Sal doesn’t hide his surprise. “Oh.” He gives me a smile. “We’ll be there.”
I nod and offer him a smile in return. “I will let her know.”
Sal pulls away as I step into the building, shaking the snowflakes from my coat on my way to the elevator.
I go in search of her as soon as I walk in, checking the place she’s been spending most of her time first.
As I suspected, Paisley’s curled up beside her mother, both of them asleep while the television plays quietly in the background.
Tamara, the night nurse, sits in the recliner in the corner, crocheting a blanket for her new granddaughter.
