Crazy In Love (Secrets of Suburbia #3) - Ivy Smoak Page 0,52
to hide another one. No one was going to be searching here again anytime soon.
Sinking a dead body into this lake was on my to-do list right after getting my answers. Well, as an option at least. Just in case things went south. It was a great plan. Flawless in every way I thought it through.
There was just one problem. The lake was completely frozen over. I never expected the temperatures to drop so quickly before Christmas. I watched as the snowflakes land on top of the ice in silence.
Actually there were two problems. Not only was the lake frozen, but I'd lost the body that I wanted to hide in the lake. Noah was gone. The snow started to pick up as I stared at the sheet of ice.
Now I'd never get my answers. I'd never figure out if I had what it took to get away with the perfect crime. I thought I'd cry. But instead a scream pierced through the silence. I touched my lips. I wouldn't have even realized it was me screaming if my lips weren't parted. Maybe Noah was right all along. Maybe I was crazy.
Chapter 17
Sunday
I opened the front door as quietly as possible. I knew Noah was gone. He'd just run through the woods faster than me so I couldn't catch up. I knew that. It was the only logical conclusion. But a tiny part of me hoped that I was wrong. What if he hadn't left? What if he'd hidden in the crawl space to...protect me?
At the same time though, I hoped he had left. Because I was terrified that he was still inside. I'd drugged him. I'd tied him up. I'd gotten him drunk. I'd tried to starve him. I'd tased him while his pants were around his ankles. I'd made him pee in a litter box. I'd pushed him down the stairs. Slipped. He slipped down the stairs.
God, if he was in there, he might try to kill me. If the tables were turned, I'm sure I would try to kill him. I'd think of a million ways to murder him and pick the best one.
Outside was a winter wonderland. Even though the sun had set, there was that strange orange glow in the air that always accompanied snow at night. It was magical. Some of the neighborhood kids were running around their yards catching snowflakes on their tongues. But it wasn't magical for me. Because I was staring into a dark house praying not to be murdered. The children's laughter echoed around me as I pushed the door open farther. Why had I stood at the lake for so long? If I'd hurried back I wouldn't be walking into a dark house.
"Noah?" I whispered.
Silence.
I pulled my taser out and held it in front of me. "Noah?"
Snuggle Muffins barking almost made me scream.
"Jesus, you scared me." I lifted my finger to my lips. "We have to be quiet." I lifted his furry little body and held him in front of me like a shield. I thought his presence might comfort me, but it didn't. Now I was just worried that me and my dog were about to be murdered.
More children's laughter behind me sent a chill down my spine. Get a grip. I stepped into the house and quickly flicked on the lights. I breathed a sigh of relief when the foyer was empty.
"See, it's fine," I said more to myself than Snuggle Muffins. "We're fine." I peered into the living room and held my breath as I flipped on those lights too. Nothing. The room looked remarkably unremarkable like always. But still I found myself whispering, "Noah?"
There was no answer.
If only I wasn’t a criminal, I could have called the cops. Snuggle Muffins whimpered and I realized I was holding him too tightly.
"I'm sorry, boy." I set him down on the oriental rug. "Do you know if Noah's here?" I whispered. "Can you show me where he is?"
Snuggle Muffins just looked up at me.
I pointed back to the foyer. "Go."
And he surprised me by walking away.
Oh my God, he knows where Noah is! I should have been slowly creeping along with my back against the hallway wall, but Snuggle Muffins leading the way somehow felt safe. He was the front line. He'd protect me. But when he led me to the kitchen and started eating from his food bowl, I felt like I was going to throw up. He wasn't protecting me. He was just a tiny mutt.