said, then spun and walked away to his un-marked car parked in the driveway.
Chapter 14
Aug 10 (00:50)
The man easily unlocked the sliding glass door of Dr. Stoneridge’s residence and slid in without making a sound, like a poisonous vapor. He slithered over the tile, the weapon’s suppressor leading his search, sweeping back and forth, looking to take any life it could find, like the devil himself collecting his next soul. Although there were none on this first floor.
It appeared to be the standard Western home, with granite counters in the kitchen, which opened up to the dining area and media room with a flat-screen TV; a living room; a separate study; and a guest room. The garage, entered off the kitchen, contained the normal accumulation of junk and one car; the clutter stored beside it confirmed this space wasn’t used. With one car in the garage and one parked in the drive, both might be home. A slight smile formed on his spindly lips.
After he cleared the upstairs bedrooms he would return to do a complete search of the computer in the study. If both his target and wife were sleeping, this might turn out to be one of his easiest jobs. He was almost hoping for a little more of a challenge.
He ascended the stairs, careful to step near the wall and railing to avoid the creaking common with most cookie-cutter homes that used nails rather than screws. This one felt a little more solid. Following along the wall past what looked like two guest bedrooms, he stopped before what he assumed to be the master bedroom and listened. An older clock ticked methodically, but he heard no snoring or loud breathing. Either they slept very quietly or they weren’t there.
The door creaked slightly as he pushed it open, revealing a king-sized bed containing two hapless shapes. He fired two nearly silent rounds into each form, the spent cartridges landing softly on the carpet. No movement. Sliding past the bed, keeping his eyes on it just in case, he glided over to the master bathroom, its light on and door opened a crack. He listened again, but heard nothing. Nudging this door open more, no creaks this time, he found the bathroom vacant. The bathroom’s light splashed upon the bed, revealing it to be empty as well, with a few dead pillows lying under abruptly pulled over covers.
After verifying the other rooms upstairs were empty, the man searched the study. Although nothing on the target’s computer looked promising, he made a copy of the computer hard drive on a portable drive he carried with him. The file drawers yielded no further leads. He suspected what he wanted was at his target’s laboratory or at his university office. The university would be his next stop.
Twenty-seven minutes after exiting the vehicle he was pulling out of the drive and headed to the campus.
Chapter 15
Aug 10 (01:05)
Peter worried that he had greatly overestimated his sister’s longevity to his brother-in-law. When Betsy called in the middle of the night complaining of more chronic pain, he had decided to admit her at Baylor Oncology and order a new series of tests. He suspected they would reveal her condition was worse than he had thought.
And where was Ron? He should be here with her when she needed him most. She kept insisting after he picked her up, “Peter, don’t worry about Ron. He’s doing what he knows is best for me.”
“But where is he?” he asked, trying not to upset her while he drove.
“That’s a good question.” She paused, holding her head to try and stem the painful drumming. It felt like it might crack open at any moment and she had to hold it together. With the last bit of energy she had left she added, “I can’t tell you exactly where or when he is, but I know he’s doing what he can for me. Please tell him I love him when you see him.” She attempted a feeble smile before passing out, as the shot he’d given her kicked in.
As Pete drove I-75 to Baylor, at a speed faster than he should have, he
Chapter 14
Aug 10 (00:50)
The man easily unlocked the sliding glass door of Dr. Stoneridge’s residence and slid in without making a sound, like a poisonous vapor. He slithered over the tile, the weapon’s suppressor leading his search, sweeping back and forth, looking to take any life it could find, like the devil himself collecting his next soul. Although there were none on this first floor.
It appeared to be the standard Western home, with granite counters in the kitchen, which opened up to the dining area and media room with a flat-screen TV; a living room; a separate study; and a guest room. The garage, entered off the kitchen, contained the normal accumulation of junk and one car; the clutter stored beside it confirmed this space wasn’t used. With one car in the garage and one parked in the drive, both might be home. A slight smile formed on his spindly lips.
After he cleared the upstairs bedrooms he would return to do a complete search of the computer in the study. If both his target and wife were sleeping, this might turn out to be one of his easiest jobs. He was almost hoping for a little more of a challenge.
He ascended the stairs, careful to step near the wall and railing to avoid the creaking common with most cookie-cutter homes that used nails rather than screws. This one felt a little more solid. Following along the wall past what looked like two guest bedrooms, he stopped before what he assumed to be the master bedroom and listened. An older clock ticked methodically, but he heard no snoring or loud breathing. Either they slept very quietly or they weren’t there.
The door creaked slightly as he pushed it open, revealing a king-sized bed containing two hapless shapes. He fired two nearly silent rounds into each form, the spent cartridges landing softly on the carpet. No movement. Sliding past the bed, keeping his eyes on it just in case, he glided over to the master bathroom, its light on and door opened a crack. He listened again, but heard nothing. Nudging this door open more, no creaks this time, he found the bathroom vacant. The bathroom’s light splashed upon the bed, revealing it to be empty as well, with a few dead pillows lying under abruptly pulled over covers.
After verifying the other rooms upstairs were empty, the man searched the study. Although nothing on the target’s computer looked promising, he made a copy of the computer hard drive on a portable drive he carried with him. The file drawers yielded no further leads. He suspected what he wanted was at his target’s laboratory or at his university office. The university would be his next stop.
Twenty-seven minutes after exiting the vehicle he was pulling out of the drive and headed to the campus.
Chapter 15
Aug 10 (01:05)
Peter worried that he had greatly overestimated his sister’s longevity to his brother-in-law. When Betsy called in the middle of the night complaining of more chronic pain, he had decided to admit her at Baylor Oncology and order a new series of tests. He suspected they would reveal her condition was worse than he had thought.
And where was Ron? He should be here with her when she needed him most. She kept insisting after he picked her up, “Peter, don’t worry about Ron. He’s doing what he knows is best for me.”
“But where is he?” he asked, trying not to upset her while he drove.
“That’s a good question.” She paused, holding her head to try and stem the painful drumming. It felt like it might crack open at any moment and she had to hold it together. With the last bit of energy she had left she added, “I can’t tell you exactly where or when he is, but I know he’s doing what he can for me. Please tell him I love him when you see him.” She attempted a feeble smile before passing out, as the shot he’d given her kicked in.
As Pete drove I-75 to Baylor, at a speed faster than he should have, he
Similar Books
Deadly (Born Bratva Book 5)
Suzanne Steele
Futures Past
James White
Dancing With Devia
Viveca Benoir
This Boy's Life
Tobias Wolff
The Billioniare's Bought Bride (Contemporary Romance)
Michele Dunaway
The Guilty
Sean Slater
Revenge of a Not-So-Pretty Girl
Carolita Blythe
Controlled Surrender
Christin Lovell
Rebel With A Cause
Ashleigh Neame
