Page 43 of Killer Knows Best

Sweat beads on Sandy’s brows despite the icy weather, most likely an effect of whatever drug she’s flying high on.

She eyes the rest of us before turning her attention back to Jack. “Look at you, all high and mighty, sitting here with your friends like you’re better than me. Well, you’re not, Jackie Boy.” Her voice hits a crescendo with those last few words and causes the windows to rattle. “You crawled out of the same putrid trash can as the rest of us and don’t you ever forget it!”

“That’s it,” my mother shouts—thankfully before Jack could react. I can tell by that wild look in his eyes, his reaction isn’t going to be amicable. But then, neither is my mother’s.

Mom storms out from behind the counter with her hands on her hips. “I don’t care whose mama she is, she’s not spending another second in my restaurant. I want her out, and I want her outnow.”

Sandy glares at my mother as ifshewere the problem. “Good luck getting me out of this seat, honey. I’m not going anywhere.”

Jack grabs her firmly by the arm and jostles her right out of the booth. “You’ve had enough fun for one night. Let’s go.”

Sandy pulls against him, screaming and clawing at his arm like a wild animal, like a woman gone feral, and she is.

“Get your hands off me!” she screeches. “I’ll scream! I’ll cause a scene!”

“Oh honey”—Mom shouts her way—“you’re already doing a fine job of that.”

Within seconds, Jack hustles her right out the door and Nikki, Buddy, and I follow along.

Nikki and I aren’t all too thrilled about abandoning our pies, but Buddy looks darn right pissed. Riley always gives him a slice as well. And she doesn’t skimp on the ice cream.

Jack does his best to command his mother into his truck, but she screams and rants her way in a circle, making very little sense, with the exception she’s made it clear she doesn’t want to go anywhere with him at present.

They continue for a few minutes and their voices grow louder by the second.

“Should we intervene?” I ask Nikki.

“Not if we want to go home with our heads intact.”

“Good point,” I say just as Buddy runs right up to the mele and barks at Sandy as if he’s about to chew her face off.

I’ll have to give him an extra treat tonight before bed because of it.

His howls rise, and he growls and bares his teeth as he squeezes his way between Jack and his mother, ready to defend Jack at a moment’s notice.

“Shoo,” Sandy howls at him. “Get this mangy beast away from me, or I’ll end his filthy life tonight!”

I take a moment to gape at Jack. “So help me, Stone, she had better be talking about you.”

Jack closes his eyes as a look of defeat washes over his face.

So much for doing a postmortem on our latest shakedown. Instead, this night continues to unravel right before our eyes. And now, it’s time to clean up yet another mess.

I watch as Jack shoves his mother into the back seat of his truck and Buddy jumps in beside her.

I have a feeling that whatever comes next, it won’t be easy.

Not for any of us—Buddy included.

30

SPECIAL AGENT JACK STONE

Once we hit Whispering Woods, I practically shove my mother into my cabin after Fallon and Buddy step inside, with the door slamming shut behind us.

She drags her boots against the floor, and for a second, I think she’s going to collapse, but she pulls herself up with a mean wobble.

Jet is on the couch, his full attention glued to the TV screen in front of him, and for a moment he appears pleasantly oblivious to the mess that just walked through the door.

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