Number Seventy-Five Read Online Free PDF Page B

think they make real friends, real bonds, real connections. And I guess sometimes that is the case, but for Shawna and Russell, it wasn’t. She would laugh when she talked about how much information strangers were willing to give out online, especially from women who had money, but were lonely and searching for love. She picked ’em, contacted Russell, and we let him do his thing. Both of ’em know all ‘bout that hacker stuff. They kept their trails wiped clean. I was just called in at the last minute to, well, clean up the mess.”
    I dropped the nearly spent smoke. The sobs of sorrow and physical pain overcame me. I doubled over and wept the tears of despair that only come from ultimate betrayal and impending death. My left hand fell down to my boot, hitting something hard as I tried to wrap my arm around my leg and pull myself into a tight ball. A last ditch effort to comfort my wounded soul.
    “Shawna even told me about the gun in your purse, you know, to warn me so you wouldn’t shoot me or somethin’. She said you were sneaky like that, but I told her you were just smart. At least you tried to be safe but guess you was so wrapped up in your date, you forgot to bring it. I’m sorry, Mandy. I really am, but time’s up. It’s almost daylight and I need to leave under the cover of darkness. Don’t worry though. I’ll make this quick and painless.”
    I heard the shovel clank when he released his grip and his footfalls drew closer. That sorry bitch may have warned him about the gun that was in my purse-- which was her fucking idea--but, I had completely forgotten that I moved it to my boot until I felt the bulge--and it wasn’t there at her suggestion.
    It had been my idea.
    My momma didn’t raise no fool. Damn straight.
    While Samuel made his slow death march over to me, I eased my hand inside my boot and leaned to the left at the same time. My fake fainting spell worked and my fingers were firmly wrapped around the cold steel.
    “That’s a good girl, Mandy. Keep those beautiful eyes closed and rest now. I promise…I will drink a cold one for you later in your honor. Such a shame—I would have made a damn fine husband to you, too.” He cooed the last words into the silent cave. I sensed his body was close enough.
    Cold anger spread through me, freezing any hesitation. I was completely detached from any emotional connection to the situation. Fury rose with me as the will to live smothered everything else.
    “Fuck you, Sambo,” I said, and fired. Powdery white smoke plumed out of the hole in my boot. The red hot muzzle burned my skin as I pulled the revolver free. The sound reverberated throughout the cave and my ears rang from the concussion. Pain from my movements and the burn ripped through me, but my instincts pushed them to the side.
    Surviving was front and center. Nothing more, nothing less.
    The first bullet tore through his thigh, which caused him to spin just a fraction. He nearly lost his balance, his hands instinctively clasped around the wound, and his body bent over in shock and agony.
    His body leaned closer. The face I had known since childhood clouded over in pain, eyes full of bewilderment and shock. I saw the look of dread in his face when he heard the hammer engage again.
    The second bullet landed dead center, his heart shredded by the molten lava fragments that passed through him. The force knocked him back a few steps from me which gave me the time necessary to click the hammer back and take steady aim. The third one split the small space between his eyebrows, followed by a small trickle of red that dribbled down his nose. Terror, and a slight tremor of relief, crossed his face as he fell backward on top of the dirt he had excavated for my grave. His life was over before he hit the ground.
     

 
     
     
     

     
     
    “YOU’RE ONE LUCKY woman, Ms. Russell.”
    The young detective at the edge of my hospital bed closed his notepad and smiled at me. He was doing his best not to look