Free Conviction: Book 3 of the Detective Ryan Series by Andrew Hess Page A

intentionally.”
    “I assume the police have something on her to arrest her.”
    “I guess. It just sucks that I’m out of a job now because of this.” The Puppet Master was now seeing the selfish side of Sheila that he witnessed the night before.
    “Come on; let’s get some drinks and I’ll take you home in a bit.” She nodded and finished the bottle of wine. The waiter returned to check on them, but the Puppet Master ordered drinks, whispering to the waiter to keep them coming until he tells him not to.
    Another hour of pounding down Cosmos, Sheila’s eyelids drooped and her words slurred. It was the perfect time to end their dinner and take her home. Settling everything with his friend, the Puppet Master helped his date from the table and down to the valet.
    He was careful taking her home, making sure he didn’t speed or run any red lights. Parking down the block, he waited until the night sky took over, giving him the cover he needed to enter the house with a drunk and stumbling Sheila. Once he felt safe, he dug into his pocket to pull out the spare key he made early that morning and unlocked her front door.
    “How about we forget about you being a nice guy and pick up where we left off last night,” Sheila suggested.
    It was a tempting offer, but not one the Puppet Master was willing to accept. He had his fun with her the night before, but was all business the second they entered her house.
    “How about you go to the bedroom and get started. I just need a minute.” He watched her stumble into the wall as she made her way to the bedroom.
    “Don’t keep me waiting.”
    “Oh, I won’t.”
    He hurried out to the car and retrieved a small bag from his trunk. On his way back, he wiped down the doorknob before closing the door. Slipping on a pair of black gloves, he rounded the corner to the bedroom finding Sheila laying on the bed naked.
    She just made this easier for me. Creeping up to the bed, the Puppet Master removed a pillow from one side and knelt beside her. Slowly, he lowered the fluffy material until it covered Sheila’s face.
    She must not have realized what was happening at first as she didn’t try to fight him off. After a minute of gasping for breath, her hands flew up at her attacker’s face. The Puppet Master arched back, escaping her attempt at freeing herself, and pressed down harder on the pillow. It didn’t take long for the body to go limp. Not taking any chances, the Puppet Master held the pillow in place a little longer, ensuring he ended the life of Sheila Nichols.
    Digging through his bag, he took a single black rose and placed it between Sheila’s breasts. He maneuvered her hands to resemble that of a woman in a casket. He wanted the detectives to know this wasn’t an accidental overdose. He wanted them to know he had been there.

Chapter 12
     
    Rodney texted me late last night asking to meet up in the morning. More explicitly, he told me to go for my morning run. I woke up earlier than anyone else and quickly threw on my running gear. I figured if I was going to the walkway, I might as well jump back into my routine and go for a run. Passing Amanda and slipping down the hall to the living room, a feeling of guilt swept over me. None of them knew I was going to meet Rodney; it was how we wanted to keep it that way. I quickly scribbled a note saying I was going for a run. Turning off the alarm, I slipped outside, relieved there wasn’t a squad car parked in front of the house already.
    Driving to the Mid-Hudson Bridge was the first piece of normalcy I felt in a long time. It reminded me of a time that wasn’t so chaotic. It was a time where I didn’t have to fear for the safety of not only myself, but also my sister. It was my alone time to let my inner most thoughts rise to the surface with a clear mind.
    When I pulled into the dirt parking lot, I was surprised to see Rodney standing there waiting for me. He was dressed in black workout pants, a gray t-shirt with a black