Grim Reaper 01 - Embrace the Grim Reaper

the bed and shook it, as if expecting something to fall out. When nothing did, she dumped it onto the floor and leaned over, smelling the cot. Eyes narrowing, she focused on a section toward the middle of the mattress.
    Casey burned with shame and anger at her lack of self-control. She and Eric hadn’t completed their lovemaking, but it was certainly possible they’d left incriminating evidence of their encounter.
    Holly stood, her face thoughtful. She turned toward the door, toward Eric’s hiding place.
    “Holly.”
    Holly spun around, a hand on her chest. “Holy… Casey ?”
    Casey stepped out of the shadow.
    Holly studied Casey’s face, her swollen lip. “You know everyone’s after you. They’re saying you killed somebody.”
    Casey didn’t respond.
    “You really did, didn’t you?”
    Casey swallowed. “Yes.”
    Holly laughed quietly. “Poor Eric thought you were so good. So perfect for this town. For our play.”
    “It was self-defense.”
    “Yeah,” Holly said, obviously not convinced. “Yeah, I’m sure it was.”
    Casey took another step forward. “What are you doing here, Holly? It’s the middle of the night.”
    She gave a tight smile. “I heard the sirens, and turned on the radio to see what was happening. It didn’t seem like there was any chance of you getting away, with all the cops out. I looked all over for you, and finally thought of looking here. I should have looked here first. I mean, where else would you go? You can’t stay at Eric’s. Even though it seems like you might want to.” She tipped her head toward the bed. “Eric, why don’t you come out from hiding? I know you’re here.”
    When he didn’t respond she pivoted and grabbed the door, revealing him. “Hello, stepson.”
    “Holly,” Casey said. “What do you want?”
    Holly smiled, still looking at Eric. “What do I want? What do you think I want? I want life to go back to how it was last year. How it was supposed to be when I married the most important man in town.”
    Eric’s face had turned greenish, and Casey hoped he wasn’t about to be sick.
    She cleared her throat. “Holly, Karl is—”
    “—an ass. I know. But he’s a rich ass. At least for now. If you two will keep what you’ve learned to yourselves.”
    “What we’ve—”
    “I know all about the boy.”
    Casey gritted her teeth. Of course. Of all people, Karl would certainly tell his wife .
    “It’s a mess,” Holly said. “The killer dryer, the parents. The contract. No one was going to know Karl’s part in it all. No one would have known if you hadn’t butted in.”
    She reached into her purse and Casey leapt forward. Holly spun away, behind Eric, and pressed a tiny pearl-handled gun hard against his temple.
    Casey froze, her hands up. “Holly, don’t.”
    “Don’t? Don’t ?” She laughed, a high, frightening screech. “Karl came home tonight. Said he found you in his office. Said you’d discovered the dead boy, and were going to reveal his part in it.”
    “We don’t know his part.”
    “Bullshit. You know it very well. He said you’d figured it out.”
    Eric’s mouth had fallen open, and he breathed heavily through it. Casey met his eyes. Hang in there.
    There was no way Casey could get to Holly in time to keep her from shooting. Eric didn’t have a chance if she pulled the trigger. His head would be gone.
    “Holly,” Casey said. “We’re not going to tell anyone.”
    Holly snorted.
    “Look at me, Holly. Do I look like someone who can go to the police? What do you think they’d say to me if I tried telling them that story? They wouldn’t care. All they care about right now is nailing me for the dead guy. And all I care about is getting out of here. I don’t want to stick around this town. I don’t want any more to do with it.”
    Holly clenched her jaw. “But what about him ?” She shoved the gun against Eric’s head, forcing him to the right.
    “Karl’s his dad . Why would he do something to hurt him?”
    “Oh, come on. We all know what Eric thinks of his dad. He left town to get away from him.”
    “Sure. But he also came back. He has an office at HomeMaker. Right next to his father’s.”
    Holly’s mouth twitched.
    “He’s not going to tell, Holly.”
    Eric’s eyes stayed on Casey as she inched forward. Casey willed him to remain calm. To watch for a cue, should she have an opening to go after Holly.
    “Don’t move.”
    Casey froze as another figure filled the doorway.
    Holly gasped.