Almost Dead (Lizzy Gardner #5)(7)

Lizzy walked to the front door, picked up her suitcase, and added, “Brittany isn’t stupid, either. Your daughter knows exactly what’s going on. And this is your house, Cathy, not his. He gave up his rights a long time ago. Kick his ass out of here before one of you does something you’ll both regret.”





CHAPTER 5

In the dead of night, Hayley no longer hung around the old house she’d once shared with her mother.

She had a new place to watch: Apartment 8C off Cornerstone. The place belonged to a known rapist. Like all rapists, he had a name, but she preferred to call him Almost Dead.

She never understood why perverts like this particular guy were released after a couple of years, only to set out and find someone else’s life to destroy.

He would rape again.

That was a no-brainer. Eventually he would get caught again, serve a few more years behind bars, and then get out to do it all over—a vicious circle.

Yeah, she knew two wrongs didn’t make a right. She also knew Almost Dead might get his just due in another life, but that wasn’t good enough. It wasn’t right that pricks like the guy living in 8C could go on destroying lives and get away with it.

Not under her watch.

Ever since Brian’s death, she’d known what she needed to do.

Things were going to change around here. She couldn’t get them all. Couldn’t save the world. But she could and would do her best to rid Sacramento of one scumbag at a time.

The lights inside the man’s apartment had been turned off a while ago, so she put out her cigarette and made her way back to her car and drove off. Although she planned to take him out eventually, she needed to be patient. In fact, she had rules that she intended to follow:


a) Catch him in the act; then kick his ass.

b) Do whatever it takes to make sure he would never be able to strike again.

c) Don’t get caught.


It was quiet and dark, and her thoughts, as they often did, went to Lizzy’s wedding. Tonight was Thursday night. Almost three weeks had passed since Jared and the others had been shot down.

Hayley and Kitally had headed for the shooter the moment they heard shots fired. Hayley had managed to get in the shooter’s blind spot, but Kitally hadn’t been quite so lucky. She was fast and managed to drop to the floor mostly out of firing range—but only mostly. A bullet had grazed her head, leaving a noticeable indentation in her hairline that Kitally had already managed to turn into a fashion statement. Not exactly a lightning bolt across her hairline, but close.

Magnus Vitalis, DEA, had been even less lucky. He’d taken a bullet in the spine and might never walk again.

Jared, the target of the shooter’s rage, had taken a total of five bullets and was all but dead.

And then, at the farthest, darkest reaches of the luck scale came the four people who had died that day.

Hayley had brought the shooter down, but not before all that blood had been shed, not before all those lives had been wrecked or lost. So, no, not a hero. At least not as far as she was concerned.

Not ready for sleep, Hayley found herself driving down J Street. It was two o’clock in the morning, and Lizzy’s car was parked outside the investigative office.

Hayley parked behind Lizzy’s car.

The night was dark and the air was brisk. Through the front window, she saw Lizzy sitting at her computer, both feet propped high on her desk.

When Hayley opened the door to the office, she got a whiff of alcohol.

Lizzy’s head rested on the back of the chair, both eyes closed, an empty shot glass in her right hand.

Hayley cleared her throat.

Seemingly unsurprised by Hayley’s appearance, she opened her eyes and said, “Hey.”

“Hey.”

A half-empty bottle of Scotch with a red bow stuck to the label sat on the desk.

“Grab a cup and help yourself.”

“No, thanks,” Hayley said. “What’s going on? You’re not sleeping here, are you?”

A throaty laugh erupted. “What if I am?”

Hayley took a seat in one of the two chairs facing Lizzy’s desk. “I thought you were staying with your sister.”

“Not any longer. Longest three weeks of my life.”

“I guess your brother-in-law was there?”

Lizzy’s head drooped, her chin nearly hitting her chest. “Ex-brother-in-law,” she drawled. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Cathy marries him again, though. My dumbass sister likes being pushed around and told what to do.”

Lizzy’s feet dropped to the floor. She sagged over her desk and somehow managed to fill her glass and swallow the contents in one gulp. Then she lifted the bottle and gave it a little shake. “A wedding gift from one of Jared’s college friends. According to the card, it was Jared’s drink of choice back in the day. Who knew?”

“Why don’t you come home with me and we can talk.”

Lizzy wasn’t the type to laugh easily, but she laughed now and she laughed so hard she fell back, causing her chair to almost topple over. Hayley jumped to her feet, but Lizzy managed to grab hold of her desk and regain balance. In the process, though, she knocked her elbow.

“Ouch and f*ck.”

Hayley sat down again. Lizzy met her gaze straight on. “You want to talk, Hayley?” She pointed a finger at her. “That’s a new one. Hayley Hansen wants to talk. Everyone hear that? I’m all ears, Hayley.” She filled her glass again. “Oh, by the way, thanks for taking out my wedding crasher. I keep meaning to thank you for that.”