Part 15 (1/2)
But he'd never done anything like this before.
Let's get this over with.
He pulled the blanket off Madame Pomerol's flabby body, turned her over, gripped her under the arms, and started dragging her from the car. She struggled and he could hear whimpers of fear through her gag, her breath whistling in and out her nose. She'd just spent hours stripped naked, bound, gagged, and blindfolded. Both of them had to be terrified beyond anything they ever could have imagined.
Too bad, Lyle thought as he laid her out on the pavement. Just too G.o.dd.a.m.n bad.
Next he dragged her husband from the car and rolled him over, face down like his wife. As soon as the man's belly flattened out on the asphalt, a puddle began to form around his mid-section.
What's the matter? Lyle wanted to shout. Think you're gonna die? Think what you planned for me is coming down on you?
He lowered the knife toward the woman and cut three quarters of the way through the tape binding her wrists, then did the same with the man. They'd be able to rip the rest of the way through without too much difficulty.
He hopped back into their car and roared away, looking around, looking over his shoulder, wondering if anyone had spotted him. Lyle was beginning to believe they might get away with this.
He drove to Chambers Street and parked by a fire hydrant. He left the windows down, the doors unlocked, and the trunk open; he left their cut-up clothes on the front seat but folded the blanket and took that along. He dropped the keys through a sewer grate on his way to the subway station on the corner. He'd chosen this spot because the W train stopped here. It also stopped in Astoria, six blocks from his house.
While he was waiting for the train, as per Jack's instructions, he found a pay phone and dialed 911. He noticed his fingers trembling as they dropped the coins into the slot.
d.a.m.n! He was still juiced.
He told the operator he'd heard something that sounded like gunshots up on Chambers Street... said he thought it had something to do with a yellow Corolla parked by a hydrant.
The first thing the cops would do would be to check the glove compartment where they'd find the car registration. Next they'd check the trunk and find the .32. Jack had said he'd give high odds that the gun was unregistered.
When the Fosters reported the car stolen, they'd have to explain the unregistered pistol found in their trunk, most likely with their prints on it. If it could be linked to a crime, so much the better. If not, Jack said he had further plans for Madame Pomerol.
Lyle was dying to know what he'd cook up next.
13.
Jack let himself into Gia's house through the front door. He punched a code twice into the alarm keypad-first to disarm, then to rearm it. He glided upstairs and spoke a soft h.e.l.lo into the dark bedroom. Receiving a m.u.f.fled mumble in reply, he ducked into the bathroom for a quick shower, then slipped under the covers and snuggled against Gia.
”You awake?” he said, nuzzling her neck.
She was wearing a short T-s.h.i.+rt and panties, and he was in the mood. He was definitely in the mood.
”How was your night?” she muttered through barely mobile lips.
”Great. How was yours?”
”Lonely.”
Jack slipped a hand under her s.h.i.+rt and cupped a breast. It fit perfectly in his hand.
”Just hold me, Jack, okay? Just hold me.”
”Not in the mood?”
”Sometimes a girl just likes to be held.”
Concerned, he released her breast and folded his arms around her. Couldn't remember the last time Gia had referred to herself as a ”girl.”
”Anything wrong?”
”Just lying here thinking.”
”About what?”
”Possibilities.”
”Oh? Got to be about a million of them out there for you. All good.”
”I wish I were so sure.”
”You're worried about something,” he said, pulling her closer. ”I sensed it this afternoon. What's up?”
”Like I said, just thinking about possibilities... and the big changes they might bring.”
”Good changes or bad?”
”Depends on how you look at them.”
”You're losing me here.”
Gia sighed. ”I know. I'm not trying to be mysterious. It's just... sometimes you worry.”
”About what?”
She turned and kissed him. ”Nothing. Everything.”
”If something's bothering you, shouldn't I know?”
”You should. And when there's-when it's something real-you'll be the first to know.”
She slid her hand down his abdomen and gripped him.
”What about just being held?” he said, instantly responding.