Page 130 of Until the Sea Runs Dry

Why was his wife sneaking out there?

When she lit the candles on the cake with such an effervescent smile, something snapped inside.

He was desperate to see her bestow that smile on him. He needed it. Craved it. He knew they could return to their previous happiness if he could only get her to see him again.

When the dog had come into the back yard, it was easy to lure him close with the dog whistle he had bought.

He hadn’t had any prior motive with the whistle when he’d bought it. Just as he wasn’t sure how and if he ever need to use the handcuffs, rope, hunting knife and gun that was in the bag that sat in the trunk of the car.

But he was a man who liked to prepare for any eventuality, and the whistle had come in handy at just the right time.

The stupid mutt had raced up to the fence without a care in the world.

It seemed obvious to open the bar of chocolate he had brought with him as an energy source. Seeing it, the fleabag became excited, barking and yapping in anticipation of a treat…

A treat that Marko knew would be poisonous to him.

He broke the bar into several pieces and tossed them to the dog. The dumb mutt gobbled them up, then barked for more.

Dirty, disgusting things. He glared at the puppy, channeling all the hate he felt for his owner to him.

He would have gotten the entire bar of chocolate if his wife hadn’t called for him.

“Loki? Here boy. Come inside.”

The dog cocked his head, one ear pricked in the direction of the house.

Marko knew that time was running out. If his wife came out here, she might see him.

And that couldn’t be allowed.

This wasn’t the time.

He had to get her away from Steel first and take her somewhere quiet where he’d be able to convince her to come back to him.

By the time she called for the dog again, Marko was already returning to his car.

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