The Marsh Madness

I heard a small rustle in the darkness. I only prayed he hadn’t heard it too. Apparently not. He was too focused on me. And not in a good way.

“You know what? It is getting easier. And you don’t know the half of it.”

A cold shiver ran over my body.

Lucas kept talking. “And don’t bother trying to trick me. The conversation’s over. It doesn’t matter what you say. You’re too much of a risk to keep around. And I have so many reasons for my revenge.”

“You don’t mean that!” I was hoping against hope that everything was in place as it should have been.

“I do. But feel free to beg. I think I’m entitled to that after all the trouble that you brought me.”

“Trouble that I—? Wait a minute. Please think about this. You don’t want to hurt me. I could even help you. And if they find another body here, it’s just a matter of time before someone breaks down and fingers you.”

“They won’t be finding another body here. And they’ll never find your body where you’re going.”

“What are you talking about? They found Shelby where you dumped her corpse.”

“That was different. I didn’t plan that. I had to do what I had to do to shut her up. But at least I was able to point the finger at you.”

“You phoned in another police tip, I suppose?”

He smirked again. “You really shouldn’t have chased her out of that gallery and then followed us. You and your pet librarian were the obvious suspects. You make it too easy for me. You forgot that I’d seen you in every imaginable wig when you were onstage. I know the way you move, the way you walk. You couldn’t fool me with that getup.”

Time to manipulate his vanity. It was the only tool I had left. “You’re a despicable human being, a psychopath. You’ve caused a lot of misery to many people. You’ve murdered two, and you’ve just threatened to murder me. Furthermore, you’re not as good-looking as you used to be. You’re getting a little jowly. Put on a bit of weight. I see that your hairline is receding. You won’t be able to play the leading man for much longer the way you’re going. But the other inmates may still find you attractive in prison when you get there.”

I needed him off balance, emotional. I guess I succeeded. “But I’m not going to prison, Jordan.” This time he raised the gun.

I shouted “NOW!” and dove to the side, rolling toward the open mahogany pocket doors that led to the parlor. When I stuck my head out a minute later, Uncle Kev had Lucas in a headlock. Uncle Lucky was sitting on his back. Soon, they moved out of view, and Officer Tyler Dekker fastened handcuffs on Lucas while doing a great job of reading him his rights. Quite a multitasker, our Smiley.

Lucas wasn’t planning to go without a fight. He kicked out hard at Smiley’s knee and connected hard. Smiley gave a grunt of pain but got those handcuffs on. Lucas tried to arch his back without success. Uncle Lucky is no lightweight. I knew I could count on him.

Lucas swore and bellowed, “I’ll kill you! You’re dead, every one of you.”

“Sheesh,” said Smiley, standing and rubbing his knee. “Assaulting an officer of the law? And then a death threat? Make my day.”

“Hey,” I said, with a wobble in my voice. “And threatening me isn’t bad enough?”

“With all due respect,” he shouted over Lucas’s raving, “this was a crazy idea for you to meet a killer here, Miss Bingham. It was just lucky for you that I got an anonymous call on my cell phone while I was off duty not too far away.”

“But who could have called you? No one else knew I was coming here.” Unlike Smiley, I had been very good on the stage.

He shrugged. “I’m sure they’ll trace the call.”

They wouldn’t, because the burner Kev used would have already been tossed into the lake. Even if they brought it to the surface, it wouldn’t tell them a thing.

“A tip? And what did the tip say?”