Part 26 (1/2)

Peter set one cup in front of me and one by Leslie then set the sugar and creamer in between us. ”Here you go, Les. I'll be outside.”

”Don't you want pie?”

”I'll have some with dinner.” He walked out with the dog behind him.

I glanced at Leslie as I entered my pa.s.sword. ”Please, go ahead, enjoy. Don't wait for me.” I wasn't going to drink the coffee anyway. I never drank the stuff. I'd have to pretend to take a sip or two, just to be polite. Then I'd run like h.e.l.l.

Leslie smiled and picked up her coffee cup. She sank back in her chair and took a gulp.

Ray's voice came over the phone. ”Darlin', I got your messages. We found the Camry last night. It had blood stains in it and some animal hairs and human hairs. It also had the old New York State license plates on it, the ones with the red Statue of Liberty in the center. We couldn't identify the owner right away.

”The DMV looked through their archives. The Camry was registered to Peter Flynn. Peter Flynn, Sr. I guess Leslie's brother is named after the father. We located a death record. He died fifteen years ago.”

My gaze darted to Leslie, who had finished half her coffee and was now leaning forward to pick up her pie. Then my gaze skipped over to the ten-inch knife lying near her plate.

”We found a record for her brother Peter. He had a driver's license. He lost it after a drunk driving accident, the third in a string when he was a teenager. I'm on my way to question the girls at The Cat's Meow again to see if they remember him driving a Camry. We're also requesting a search warrant for the farm. He may be our man. I'll try you again later.”

When Ray stopped talking, I almost sobbed out loud. Never had I wanted him with me more.

The gray dog trotted into the room again and sniffed the table. Leslie looked up from her pie in surprise. ”Bad dog, Rufus. Lie down.

She glanced over at me. ”Peter lets Rufus eat table food. He should have taken him back outside.”

I clicked my cell phone shut and nodded, smiling weakly. Ray had said they found animal hairs in the Camry. Could they have been gray dog hairs? I wondered if they had found any hairs on Jessica James' body as well. It would probably take them weeks to run them through the city's crime lab. I doubted Wachobe's cases took priority.

”Is everything all right? Aren't you going to eat your pie?”

I realized Leslie was staring at me. She looked the same as all the other times I'd seen her. She seemed just as friendly and nice. I still felt an overwhelming desire to s.n.a.t.c.h up my purse and run.

Too bad the dog now lay in my exit path, watching me with his big yellow eyes. Too bad he looked big enough to swallow me whole.

I picked up my pie and took a bite, the cell phone still in my hand.

Leslie smiled happily and took her coffee cup in hand.

I ate the piece of pie, except for the crust, while she finished her coffee. It was a good pie. I told her so, hoping it wouldn't be my last.

”I have to be going, Leslie. I have to pick Danny up at school.” I waggled the cell phone at her as if in explanation.

”Well, I'm glad you stopped by. I never get to have coffee with a friend. Let me get the chicken for you.”

Leslie stood. She grabbed the arms of her chair.

She sat again. ”I feel woozy.”

When I stood up to help her, the dog leapt to its feet and growled. I didn't dare touch Leslie. ”Are you all right, Leslie?”

”I don't know. Let me lean back for a second.”

I watched as she s.h.i.+fted her weight back in the chair. Her eyes closed.

I waited for a few seconds. ”Leslie? Leslie?”

I reached for her. The dog inched toward me and growled again.

I dropped my hand to my side.

Leslie's lips parted.

She snored.

Peter appeared in the doorway.

”I guess you're not a coffee drinker, Mrs. Parker.”

”No, I'm not.” My response was automatic as my gaze darted around the room, searching for another exit. I spotted a door in the far corner, but it was barricaded by plants. The only way out of this room was past Peter ... and his dog.

”That's too bad. Leslie said you were interested in my planters. They told me at the florist shop that your husband had requested a list of all the customers who bought one.” Peter stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked back and forth on his heels. ”I guess I should have thought to take back the one I gave Josie.”

It was as good as a confession. Peter had killed Jessica James a.k.a. Josie Montalvo.

My hands started to shake. I thought I might throw up my pie. I swallowed multiple times and fought for control.

Peter's gaze never left me. He didn't make any moves toward me, either.

I wondered if I could flip open my cell phone and surrept.i.tiously dial 911. My gaze dropped to my hand.

Peter noticed.

He lumbered into the room and grabbed the cell phone from me. He picked up my purse, too. Then he returned to his position in the doorway.

He flipped the lid on my cell open and shut, open and shut, over and over again until I was ready to scream.

Abruptly he stopped. ”You should have drunk the coffee. All I wanted was a head start.”

Funny, that's all I wanted, too.

I heard a car door slam. I sucked in my breath and prayed. Could it be Ray?

I twisted my head toward the driveway. A woman and a toddler stood on the gravel, looking toward the house. Another egg customer.

Peter spotted them, too. ”Rufus. Guard.”

The dog leapt to its feet, teeth bared.

Peter disappeared and reappeared seconds later in the driveway. He spoke to the woman and headed in the direction of the barn. I lost sight of him.

I thought about screaming. My lips parted.

The dog growled. Saliva dripped from its lips and hit the vinyl floor, forming a puddle.