Free The Drowning Game by LS Hawker Page B

myself? Talk about what? I didn’t have anything to say to him.
    What could he be thinking? Sitting out in the truck with the engine running did not say “protection” to me. It whispered something entirely different.
    In the end, I turned on the TV, but the dogs whined and barked, paced and jumped at the door, until Randy finally moved on, long past midnight.

 
    Chapter 9
    Sunday
    I WAS ALMOST ready to execute my plan. The preparations included a lot of walking, which took me two miles down the road I had never walked, and I was assaulted by the smells of the greening hay and thistles. The sky felt so huge overhead, so limitless, with its high, wispy spiderweb clouds. The dogs came with me, following along vigilantly, barking occasionally. While we were out, the iPhone buzzed in my pocket and I pulled it out. King, Randy, it said. I let it ring and go to voice mail. A few minutes later it buzzed again, and again I let it go. This happened twice more, and I thought about turning it off, but instead I answered after the fifth buzz.
    â€œHello,” I said.
    â€œPetty, I’d like to take you out on a real date. Maybe go into Salina for dinner, spend some money on you.”
    â€œNo.”
    There was a pause. “No?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œDo you think you’ll start talking to me after we get married?”
    I didn’t say anything.
    â€œHey,” he shouted. “I’m talking to you.”
    â€œI’m not going to marry you,” I said, and clicked end. Then I turned off the phone.
    Detective Deirdre Walsh had a suitor who wanted to control her. She thought it was the right thing for a while, but then she realized she didn’t want some man telling her what to do and how to dress, so she pulled the engagement ring off her finger, dropped it into his Chinese food, and walked out of the restaurant.
    Back at the house, everything was ready for tomorrow, and I was excited as I went downstairs for my workout. I ran on the treadmill longer than I normally did to burn off some of the nervous energy, even though I’d already walked four miles earlier in the day. I got in the shower and took my time about it since I didn’t know when my next shower would be. After drying off, I put on some sweat pants and a T-­shirt, and sat down in front of the television. The long run had paid off, because I was sleepy as well as tired. I was about to turn on the TV when I heard one of the dogs give a sharp cry of pain out in front of the house. Then I heard another yelp and I jumped up and ran to the door. As soon as I unlocked the last dead bolt, I was knocked backward by it swinging open.
    â€œHi, Petty,” said Randy. “Did you miss me?” His face was shiny and red, and I smelled whiskey.
    I reached for my blade just as I realized I hadn’t put on my bra.
    He pulled a hand cannon out of the back of his jeans and pointed it at the screen door, which poor Tesla was hurling himself at frantically. The dog’s eyes were red, puffy and running.
    â€œYou pull anything, I shoot the dog,” Randy said, his words slurred.
    â€œWhere’s Sarx?” I choked out. “What did you do to Sarx?”
    â€œPepper spray,” he said. “The dogs’ll be all right if you listen to me. Understand?”
    I nodded.
    â€œCall the dog off or I’ll shoot him.” He raised the pistol and pointed it again.
    â€œOff, Tesla,” I said, giving the hand signal.
    Tesla backed off, pacing in front of the door, sneezing and whining.
    Randy turned to me, unsteady on his feet. If he’d only been a little drunker, I could probably have disarmed him. But as it was, he had a .357 Magnum in one hand and pepper spray in the other. So I made sure to keep my knees loose and watch for an opening.
    â€œYou listen to me,” Randy said. “You’re going to marry me, and you’re going to show me some respect. I’ve put up with your silent