She stared into his eyes, seeing a grim determination. As the seconds passed and the pressure intensified, she realized she had gambled with the devil and lost.
He stepped outside the cabin, his heart striking his chest like a boxer’s fist. Adrenaline coursed through his body as he thought about Jessica and his hands around her throat. “Damn, it was better than sex.”
He hurried to the trunk of his car and grabbed three gallon-size plastic jugs of gasoline and then started in the bedroom, carefully dousing her face and body with the gasoline before he trailed a stream of it through the living room and out onto the porch. He opened all the cabin windows, knowing his fires fed best on a large supply of fresh air.
“You pushed too hard, Jessica,” he said. “You made too many demands and forgot who was really in charge.”
He stood over her lifeless body, perhaps a little sorry he did not get some before offing her. Gently, he lifted her hand and stared at the ring that he had used to convince Lana they were on the same side, so she’d stay quiet.
Once outside, he backed up a good dozen feet and lit the gasoline trail. The blue-and-white flame sprinted along the accelerant up the porch stairs and into the open front door. He fished a camera from his car and trained it on the fire, documenting the way the flames grew taller and angrier.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Missoula, Montana
Thursday, September 10, 2020
6:00 a.m.
“A call came in from Darren Halpern,” Becca said over the phone.
Gideon shifted the phone to his left hand as he rose up out of his bed and glanced at the clock on his bedside table. On a typical day, he should have gotten another half hour of sleep, but typical was rare in his line of work.
He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. “What did he say?”
“His wife is missing, so he said he drove up to the family cabin in the hills. Instead of finding her, he discovered the cabin had burned to the ground.”
“What?” he asked, rubbing sleep from his eyes. “When was he there?” The cold from the floor crept into his bones.
“About two a.m. He had to drive to the nearest gas station to get cell service. An officer is bringing him into town.”
“Good. Keep him at the station. I’ll be out as quickly as I can.”
He dressed in minutes and, when he emerged from his room, walked down to Kyle’s room. He crossed the boy’s bedroom floor, littered with yesterday’s discarded clothes, socks, and shoes, and sat on the edge of his bed. The boy lay on his belly, his arm flung over the side with his mouth open. His face was relaxed, as if he had not a care in the world.
Gideon rubbed him on the back. “Kyle, you’re going to have to get up. Got to take you to Aunt Ann’s.”
“I’m sleeping.”
“I know, buddy. I got a call.”
He yanked the pillow over his head.
Gideon tugged back his covers. “Rise and shine.”
“Can I stay with Joan?”
“No. Aunt Ann.”
The boy’s groans of complaint followed him as he strode out of the room and flipped on the light.
As Gideon hurried down the stairs, he was hit by the scent of coffee. Joan, never a good sleeper, was addicted to the brew.
Leaning on the kitchen counter, she stared at the pot, probably willing it to work faster. His attention shifted to her bottom, still as round and firm as he remembered.
Gideon cleared his throat.
She straightened, turning as if he was interrupting a private moment. “Your little apartment has a good bed but no coffee.”
“How did you get in the house?”
“You have a set of keys in the apartment. I had to try three before the back door opened. You really should consider color coding them. They all look alike in the dark.” She had drawn back behind her trademark humor and sarcasm.
Maybe she was right. Distance was better for everyone. He reached for his phone and texted Ann. Her reply was quick. She would be glad to drive Kyle to school. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“The house rises early.”
“I got a call.” He did not hesitate to fill her in. “Jessica Halpern is missing. Darren drove to his cabin last night and discovered it burned to the ground.”
She folded her arms and blinked. “Really? And where is Mr. Halpern now?”
“An officer is bringing him into town. I’m headed to the cabin to survey the damage.”