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Stroke. Stroke.
Around a final bend, he caught a glimpse of his destination and his heart soared at the sight of a small, forgotten monastery. In truth it was never completed, and what had been built had fallen into ruin, crumbling into the surrounding water, the only access by water. But time hadn’t completely destroyed the building, the rock walls and rotting timbers. He’d managed to save what he could, salvaging the heart of the ruins, and here, he thought, he would be safe to finish what he’d started so many years ago.
He smiled. Sent up a quick, precise prayer for guidance.
Stroke. Stroke. Stroke.
Soon, so very soon, he would have his long-awaited vengeance.
CHAPTER 33
“Okay, okay, I forgive you,” Kristi said into the phone as she crossed the trolley tracks on the way back to her house. Dusk was settling over the city, Kristi’s heart rate was back to normal, and Dave was trotting beside her.
Bella let out an unconvinced sigh. “I feel like a loser.”
“Get over it.”
“So you’re not mad?”
“No. I’m not. Not anymore. I told you, I was pretty pissed to be set up for the interview that way, but I’m over it.”
“Seriously?” How many times did Kristi have to tell Bella that she wasn’t angry?
“It was an awful thing to do. Blindsiding you like that. And with Dr. Cooke.”
“Again, just so it doesn’t happen again.”
“It won’t. Oh, no. It won’t.” Kristi rounded the corner to her house and eyed the coming darkness. Pumpkins and lanterns were glowing, patches of light from the windows on the street, a few cars passing under the streetlamps.
It appeared quiet.
It appeared safe.
And yet she felt her nerves tighten.
Glancing down at the dog, she noted that he wasn’t on guard tonight, his hackles weren’t up and he wasn’t staring down into the neighbor’s alley.
Good.
“Okay, but drinks are on me,” Bella said a little more brightly. “This weekend—oh! How about Halloween?”
“Can’t. It’s Ginny’s birthday.”
“Oh. Right. I forget you have a sister. She’s just a baby.”
For a second Kristi thought about blurting out that she was going to have a child herself, but held it back. Better to tell Bella in person. “Right. She’s turning one, so I really need to be there, but maybe the next week?”
“I would love it. I need some girl time. To be honest, things aren’t great with Sean right now. I don’t want to bug you about it, you know, since you lost Jay so recently, but sometimes . . .” Her voice faded for a second, then she cleared her throat. “Just so you know why I can’t lose my job. Anyway, the first weekend in November, right? I’m holding you to it. I’ll call Sarah and Jess, too.”
“Good.” May as well tell the whole group her secret before she began to show.
“I’ll see you then.” Bella cut the connection just as Kristi reached her house. She let herself in, disengaged the alarm, and poured herself a tall glass of water while Dave lapped noisily from his dish near the back door. After running through the shower, slipping on pj’s, and paying attention to Lenore, she made a microwave dinner that tasted like cardboard, drank a bottle of juice, and wished for a glass of wine. Those days, at least for the next year, were long gone.
As she pulled the kitchen trash can from under the sink, she recoiled from the odor. “Wow.” How long had it been since she’d emptied it? Didn’t want to think, just pulled the plastic sack from the bin, tied it, and carried it through the garage. Dave, of course, padded after her as she slipped outside to the area where she kept the big bins. As she did, Dave barked loudly.
“What?”
He was staring at the plastic garbage can. Still barking.
