Read Six Killer Bodies Online

Authors: Stephanie Bond

Six Killer Bodies (34 page)

get rid of you early on, but you’re like a damn cat with

nine lives.”

She tried to calculate which life she was on, then gave up

in lieu of screaming again. “Help me! Help me, he has a

knife! He’s going to kil me!”

“You’re right,” he said, then glanced at his watch. “I have

to be back to the morgue soon. I’m thinking about calling

Coop to pick up your body, what do you think? Or maybe

your brother.”

She lunged for the doorway, but he body-slammed her

against the wall and held the knife to her throat.

“I’l even do your autopsy myself,” he whispered. “I’l get

to touch every inch of your body, and cut you up, inside

and out, any way I want to.”

Tears slid down her cheeks. “Don’t…please…let me go.”

“Nope. You’re going to be the random victim of a random

crime in a questionable neighborhood. Your death

probably won’t even make the newspaper. Goodbye,

Carlotta.”

Suddenly the front door burst open and a man barreled

inside, startling Abrams enough that he loosened his grip

on her. Carlotta tore away, but felt a stinging slice to her

shoulder. A shot rang out, and she heard the thud of a

body fall. When she swung around, Abrams lay on the

floor, clutching his bloody groin.

“Ja—” Carlotta looked up, but stopped short when she

saw the shooter wasn’t Jack.

She blinked, not trusting her eyes, stil disoriented from

the blow. But when the man didn’t disappear or morph

into anyone else, she tested the word on her tongue.

“Daddy?”

34

Stil tall and stil handsome, Randolph Wren gave her a

shaky smile. “Hi, Sweetheart.”

“Where…how…?” She couldn’t find the words.

“I told you I was keeping tabs on you and Wesley. I tried to

do little things to help…like taking care of those fire ants.”

“The listening device?”

He gestured to her shoulder and walked closer. “You’re

bleeding.” He shoved his gun down in the waistband of his

jeans and walked to the kitchen. He came back with a

towel and pressed it gently against the wound. “Can you

hold it?”

She nodded, drinking in the sight of him. She scanned his

face, every feature, again and again, half thril ed, half

terrified. It was surreal, having him close enough to touch.

“You should sit down,” he said, leading her to a chair.

“Freeze.”

Carlotta looked up to see Jack’s broad shoulders

silhouetted in the open door. He had a gun trained on

Randolph. “Place your hands on your head and get on your

knees.”

“Jack—” she protested.

“Do it!” he shouted.

Randolph obeyed.

“Slowly, place the weapon on the floor,” Jack said.

Randolph did, wordlessly.

Jack pul ed out his radio and gave the address. “I need a

bus, and I need backup.” He replaced the radio. “Carlotta,

are you okay?”

“She’s bleeding,” Randolph said. “That man stabbed her.”

“Shut up,” Jack said. “Carlotta?”

“I’m bleeding, but I don’t think it’s serious.” She looked

down at Abrams, who was either dead or had passed out.

“He framed Coop, Jack. He admitted everything to me.”

Jack nodded as the sound of sirens rent the air. “I know. I

traced the bomb parts to Abrams, too.”

So that’s what Abrams had meant when he said he’d tried

to get rid of her. “How did you know I was here?”

“Peter told me you were stopping by on the way to the

airport. I took a chance.”

He took a chance…“Dr. Abrams kil ed all those women,”

she said, tears sliding down her cheeks.

“We’ll sort it out later, darlin’,” Jack soothed. He pul ed

handcuffs from his belt. “Get on your feet,” he said to

Randolph. “And turn around.”

Randolph did as he was ordered, but with a little smile.

“Do you know who I am?”

Jack holstered his weapon. “I should, you son of a bitch.

I’ve looked at your photo enough in the criminal file that

I’ve memorized.” Jack snapped on the handcuffs.

“Randolph Wren, you’re under arrest. You have the right

to remain silent. Anything you say can and wil be used

against you in a court of law in which I wil be in the front

row. You have the right to an attorney. If you can’t afford

an attorney, one wil be appointed for you. Do you

understand these rights?”

“Yes,” Randolph said, darting a look to Carlotta as Jack led

him toward the door.

She lunged to her feet, but she was light-headed and had

to lean into the wall for support. “Jack, he saved my life.”

“He’s stil a criminal.”

“Don’t take him yet,” she pleaded.

“I have to,” Jack said, leveling his gaze on her. “Don’t make

this harder than it already is.”

Carlotta stumbled to the door and caught herself to keep

from fainting. She watched Jack lead Randolph to the

police car and realized that her life had been leading up to

this moment all along. She’d always known that Jack

would be the one taking her father into custody.

“Daddy!” she yel ed, feeling as if her heart was being

wrenched out of her body.

Randolph turned and gave her a bittersweet smile. “Come

and see me, Sweetheart. We have a lot to talk about.”

Document Outline

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