Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 72945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
“He probably wasn’t lying. As far as I know, Cowan really did live and work in Philly for years.” I lean forward and let out a long breath. “What do you two think? Is he inside right now?”
“That’s his car,” Kenny says and groans. “If he sees me with you two, I’m dead. He’ll ruin me. Or maybe he’ll skip all that and just kill me outright. God, I hope he just makes it quick.”
Blair gives me a look. She’s smiling slightly, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “I don’t think you need to worry about that, Kenny.”
“We’ll handle Cowan,” I say and open my door. “You stay here and keep the doors unlocked.”
“Unlocked?” Kenny looks bewildered. “Why the hell?”
“We might need to drive away in a hurry,” Blair says and winks at Kenny before she gets out of the car.
Kenny stares at her wide-eyed and turns to me. “Are you going to kill him?”
“Probably not,” I say and shrug. “Would that be a problem if we did?”
Kenny’s expression darkens. “No, Baptist. No, it wouldn’t.”
I nod at him and get out. The poor kid worked for Cowan for years and I’m guessing the old bastard put him through hell. I can only imagine the trauma that kid’s got rattling around his brain and I don’t doubt his sincerity. We could probably blow Cowan’s brains out and he wouldn’t bat an eye.
I go around to the back of the car and get out the red gas can. I carry it dangling from my left hand as Blair leads the way, wearing black jeans and a dark leather jacket, her hands shoved in the pockets, grinning with excitement.
We reach the front door and pause. “You know the plan?” I ask.
“Yeah. We beat the shit out of Cowan and hopefully he dies.”
I sigh and shake my head. “Blair.”
“I know, I know, I’m kidding. I’m pregnant, remember? You do all the work and I stand around looking intimidating.”
“You’re extremely intimidating. All five-foot-three of you. Real tough.”
“Don’t you forget it, prick.” She grins and punches my arm before banging on the door. “Hey, Cowan! Open the fuck up!”
The house is quiet. There’s no movement behind the windows. I stand with the gas can and wonder if maybe that’s not his car after all, and maybe he’s not around—or maybe he’s escaping out the back. It doesn’t matter. Blair knocks again, rings the bell, and keeps on knocking and shouting, until eventually there’s a sound from inside, like a human pretending to be a barking dog.
It’s maybe the most pathetic noise I’ve ever heard. Is he really that desperate not to see us right now? He’s willing to pretend to be a dog to make us go away?
“We know it’s you, Cowan,” I say and squint at the window. A pair of eyes stare back at me through a gap in the blinds before disappearing. “Open the fuck up, I see you peeking.”
The door finally swings wide and there he is, standing behind the barred storm gate. He looks bewildered, disheveled, in a white tank top, white high socks, and a pair of boxer shorts. His legs are skinny and covered in white hair, and his arms are frail and wrinkled. “What the hell are you doing here? I’m editing!”
“We have to talk,” Blair says and rattles the gate. “Open up.”
“No. Go away.”
I hold up the gas cannister. “We can talk or I can pour this all over your exterior and light it up with you inside. Either way, I’m happy.”
He glares at me. “You wouldn’t.”
“I fucking would. After what you put us through? You more than deserve it. Open the gate, asshole.”
There’s a moment where it all hangs in the air and I’m not sure if Cowan is capable of bowing to the pressure, but finally he grunts and turns a knob, opening a lock, and stomps back inside.
Blair winks at me and follows him.
The interior is empty. No furniture, no nothing. Boxes are stacked all over, like the kind of boxes you’d see in an office setting. I don’t have time to glance through them, but I’d bet anything they’re research for his little revenge films. At this point, we know about at least four other victims, with us being the fifth, and a sixth plan already in motion. Blair’s father has been exceedingly helpful in all this, especially in tracking down Kenny and bribing the kid with promises of better jobs in Hollywood and access to Alexander’s connections if only he helps. Kenny seemed eager enough, and it makes sense if even half of the horrible claims the kid made are true. He probably would’ve done it for free.
“What do you two want?” Cowan snaps as he disappears into a back room. “I am very busy. Very busy. Our business is concluded and I did not expect to see or hear from either of you ever again.”