Jack Beale 00 - Dangerous Shoals

show. There was a sharp pain coming from his hand, and he could feel his blood beginning to pool in his glove. As he tried to reassure himself that he was still alone, in the now nearly dark apartment, his obsession with his quarry still clouded his judgment and so he turned back to the hutch and the creature hiding underneath.
    It was at that moment that the door at the bottom of the stairs crashed open. Kurt spun wildly, looking for an escape, and saw the open window behind him. Two quick steps and he was looking out over the marsh. He was already cutting away the screen when the lights in the stairwell came on. The cloak of darkness outside, and the freedom that the night offered, was his only hope and as he heard the first footsteps hit the stairs, he pushed himself out the window and dropped to the ground below.
    Jack bounded up the stairs. A few steps from the top he stopped and looked around. His heart was pounding in his ears as he took several deep breaths in an attempt to calm down. At first he saw nothing out of place. No one seemed to be there. Puzzled, he went up the last steps, paused, and looked around again. This time he saw the torn screen in the window that overlooked the marsh. Then he thought he heard something.
    He began to walk toward the window as quietly as possible. He could feel every nerve in his body tingling, every sense hyper-tuned to his surroundings.
    “Jack.” He jumped at the sound of her voice and he felt as if his heart skipped a beat.
    He stopped and turned toward the stairs. “Jesus, Max. You scared the shit out of me.”
    “Sorry … I called the police. They’re on the way. Is everything okay?” she said as she joined him.
    “I don’t know. The screen in that window has been cut,” he said pointing. Before he could say anything else, he thought he heard the sound again. “Shhh … Did you hear that?” He cocked his head slightly as he listened.
    Max looked around. That’s when she reached out and grabbed his arm. “Jack! There’s blood on the floor.”
    Jack hadn’t seen the blood when he came in because his attention had been on the window with the torn screen.
    He turned and faced her. “What?”
    “Over there,” she said, pointing to a spot behind the couch on the floor near the hallway that led to the bedroom.
    “What the … ?” Jack began,
    Together they walked closer to the spot. It wasn’t much, but it was definitely blood, and it was smeared. Then, at almost the same time, they said, “There!” There was more blood on the floor, and it looked as if it had been stepped in.
    Suddenly, he stopped again. “Listen. Do you hear that?”
    They both froze and held their breaths. “Yes. I think so,” whispered Max.
    Slowly they followed the sound and the blood around the corner and stared at the antique secretary. There was a streak of blood that went part way up the front and then it disappeared underneath.
    Jack’s heart began to pound. Images flashed through his head. Only one thing that came to mind could account for what he was seeing. Fearing what he might find, he was just bending down to look under the secretary when another voice came into the room. “Max. Jack. What’s going on?” It was Tom.
    Max turned toward him. “Tom.” She must have shared the same thought as Jack, because now her face was white.
    “Max, you okay?” She nodded feebly and glanced down at Jack, who was now down on his knees looking under the secretary.
    Tom moved across the room and joined them. “Jack. What’s going on?”
    “Max. Get me a towel,” commanded Jack. He didn’t even acknowledge Tom’s presence.
    Jack was now lying down with both arms extended under the secretary, and Tom heard him saying in a soft, soothing voice, “Come on Cat. It’s all right. Come on baby,” as he began to slowly withdraw his arms.
    Max returned with the towel just as Jack ever so gently slid Cat out from under the secretary. Her haunch was red with blood and she had a look of fear and panic in her eyes.
    “Oh, my god,” said Max in a quivering whisper. Tears began to well up in her eyes.
    “Give me that towel,” said Jack. Max was still frozen in shock and didn’t move. “Max … the towel,” said Jack a little more forcefully. There was a slight edge to his voice as he fought to control the rage that was beginning to overwhelm him. Cat looked up at him and Jack thought he could feel her beginning to purr. Max handed him the towel. Cat remained quiet as Jack