Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55328 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55328 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
“We’re busy here, miss. You’ll have to come back later when Nelson or Franco is in.”
I didn’t want to come back. Jack was waiting outside, expecting me to carry out his bizarre request. And if I did this, maybe he’d go away. “The thing is, if someone from the crew is responsible, especially given the violent nature of the crime, I don’t think anyone should be there. I mean, the body was fresh, right? The company is going to have to halt work if there’s some psycho running around on our crew.”
He gave me a weary look.
“The barge is coming in tomorrow, and the National Guard still needs our help clearing the port. They’re not going to get it if the boss calls us home. And he will. I know him. He doesn’t like putting his crew at unnecessary risk,” I lied. Ripley had made it clear that we were all making bank because the work was inherently dangerous. Downed powerlines, no power, looters, limited communication, fallen debris, nails, glass, sharp metal. Ripley called us disaster janitors.
“Fine. Let me see what I can do.”
Yes! I didn’t know why I was celebrating. I’d just lied to a police officer, and I had a dangerous delusional man outside in my car.
A few minutes later, the officer returned with a set of keys in his hand. “Follow me.”
He took me down a long hallway, into what looked like a giant closet with heavy-duty steel racks piled high with boxes. We cut straight through that room and exited out a different door to a garage with five bay doors. A few cars were parked inside. One looked like it had been in a wreck.
“There. In the corner.” He walked over to a coffin-sized box covered in clear plastic with a big sticker on it. The sticker had a number and the name Nelson on it.
The officer reached for the edge of the plastic and lifted. “Look. Don’t touch.”
I crouched down and inspected one side of the black steel container. It was about four feet wide and six feet long with weld marks on the seams, like it had been built to last or hold something extremely heavy.
Wait. It’s a safe.
The officer helped me lift the plastic to inspect the door on the top. Sure enough, there was a spot to insert a key, but the front had been bent. I guessed the guys from the crew did that when they opened it.
I glanced up at the impatient officer.
“Oh, um. I can’t tell if this is one of ours. Mind if I look at the other side? There are usually stickers on these containers. Hazmat warnings and stuff,” I lied. I’d never actually seen an explosives container. And apparently this cop hadn’t either because he was buying my bullcrap story.
“Be my guest,” he said drably.
“It’ll only take a second.”
He lifted each edge of the plastic sheet while I pretended to search for something. Each time I shook my head.
“Well?”
I couldn’t remember if Jack wanted me to look inside. What does it matter? This request was insane.
“Thank you. This isn’t the same.” I made the phew gesture and swiped my hand over my forehead.
“Glad to hear it.” He jerked his head toward the door.
I followed him back the way we’d come and thanked him again. “Oh, and can you let Officers Nelson and Franco know I stopped by? Again, my name is Jeni Arnold.”
“Sure.” He walked away, not bothering to write down my name. He probably thought I was a loon, not worth anyone’s time.
I walked outside to the parking lot, finding Jack standing next to the driver’s side door in the pouring rain. He stared at me, his blue eyes seeming to grow darker. Those lips, a sensual shape for a killer, were in a hard flat line. His back was rigid.
“You forgot to look inside,” he growled.
How did he know that? “No. I did what you said.” I reached for the handle, wanting to get out of the rain, but he blocked me with his tall body.
“Do not lie, Jeni.” His words carried the threat of pain.
He can’t possibly know what I saw.
He added, “If you have not figured out by now that I know everything going on inside that head of yours, that is your problem. I’m not here to convince you of anything.”
I stared at him. Was he really serious? He thought he could genuinely read my thoughts.
“The box,” he said impatiently. “Tell me everything you saw. Go over it again in your mind,” he commanded.
He was crazy.
“Do it,” he barked.
Maybe I should walk back inside the station and tell them what really happened with Randall. This situation kept getting stranger and more terrifying.
“Jeni,” he growled, “you will not make it two steps inside that door if you do not do as I say. What did you see?”