Page 2 of Dark Terror
“So you’d worked late before and there was nothing different tonight?”
“Yes, it was normal until I heard Cricket.”
“Cricket?”
She opened her eyes, twisted the dog’s collar until the tag was visible, showing it to him. “See, Cricket. What’s going to happen to him?”
“I imagine he’ll go to a shelter until we can locate next of kin.”
“No!” The little guy was traumatized enough as it was. “I’ll take care of him until you find her relatives. It was a she, right, the person he killed?” He’d never answered when she asked, which made her doubt herself.
“Yes, the victim’s a female.”
So cold and clinical. Cara wondered what her name was, but then thought she didn’t want to know. What she needed to do was get this interview over with so she could go home, pour herself a glass of wine, and spend about an hour in a bubble bath with her Prince playlist blasting out of the speakers.
“Okay, let’s get this done.” She closed her eyes. “I was going to my car when I heard a dog barking. Normally I wouldn’t pay much attention. People take their dogs to the park all the time. But it sounded… I don’t know. Frantic? So I glanced over at the park to see this little dog barking up a storm and running in circles with a leash trailing behind it. Now that I think about it, he was also growling in between barks.”
“That’s good, Cara. Keep going.”
“When I first saw him, he was on the sidewalk, but then he darted into the park, then raced back to the sidewalk, and then ran into the road. I was afraid he’d get run over, so I went to get him, you know, hold him for the owner, thinking someone had to be looking for him.”
She opened her eyes. “Do I have to do this?” Her preference would be to bleach tonight from her mind.
“I know it’s difficult, but you’re our only witness. What happened when you crossed the street?”
“Okay, I tried to catch the dog, but he kept just out of my reach. He led me into the park, and I got the feeling he wanted me to follow him. That made me wonder if his owner was hurt, that maybe he or she had fallen or something. There’s a group of trees, and the dog ran to them.”
“And then what?” he asked when she hesitated.
She visualized herself approaching the trees, the feeling overcoming her that she should be quiet. “It was weird. Cricket stopped barking, instead letting out a growl. H-he pinned his ears back. I’d forgotten about that.”
“You’re doing good. Keep telling me what you saw.”
“Um, so, there was a man leaning over, and he raised a knife over his head. I remember the blade gleaming, reflecting off the streetlight, I guess. He-he slashed down, and I wondered what he was doing. That was when I noticed the body on the ground, and I couldn’t, you know, I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing.”
She glanced at the detective, wishing he would tell her she didn’t have to do this. He didn’t, only gave her another of his soft smiles and nodded for her to go on. “Okay, so I took a step toward them, thinking I needed to make him stop. That was when he raised the knife and slashed down again. I heard a gurgling noise and realized it must be coming from the woman.” She heard that awful sound in her head again, and her stomach took a sickening roll. Cara thrust the dog at the detective. “I don’t feel so good.”
Gabe watched Cara Jenner run out of the room, and then peered down at the thing on his lap that looked more like an overgrown rat than a dog. “I’m sorry to say this, but you’re one ugly-as-sin dog.”
Cricket—and who named something this pitiful a cute name like that?—whimpered and tried to jump down, presumably to follow his new friend. Gabe glanced over at the head librarian, frowning when she didn’t go after Cara. He stood and, with the dog, walked over to her.
“Mrs. Kastrop, would you mind checking on Cara? I don’t think she feels very well.”
The woman frowned. “She brought this trouble on herself. She’s always nosing into other people’s business, trying to fix their problems. One hopes she learned her lesson tonight. Are you done? It’s long past my workday.”
He pushed Ugly Dog into her arms. “Fine, I’ll check on her.” He’d only taken three steps when he stopped, returned to her, and took back the dog. He’d seen her fuss at Cara for bringing Cricket into the library. He wouldn’t put it past the witch to dump the dog outside when no one was watching, and he had a feeling that would devastate Cara.
If Harry were here instead of on a weeklong vacation, his partner would be the one headed for the women’s room to check on their only witness. Delaney was going to be pissed that her brother had chosen this week to get married. If there was anything Delaney Harrison—nicknamed Harry by her fellow cops—hated, it was missing the beginning of a new case. As for Gabe, he hated that he was following their witness to the ladies’ room while toting a squirming dog along with him. He sure wished Harry were here.
Ugly Dog licked his hand. “Eww, gross. It probably wasn’t that long ago you were licking your balls with that tongue.”
When he reached the door to the restroom, he stopped, shifted the dog that he just couldn’t think of as Cricket to his hip, took out his phone, and texted Harry.
You owe me
Gabe rapped his knuckles three times on the door. “I’m coming in, okay?”
“No, that’s not okay.”
