Kill Or Be Killed

Chapter Four

Scale Number: 1

Cat swallowed in an attempt to dampen her throat, keeping her eyes locked with the strangers until she moved to step past him. The moment she moved out of the bathroom, her gaze landed on the hand laying on the wooden floor, poking around the half wall that looked down onto the dining room. Loosely curled up in his fingers was a bizarre looking blade, something she hadn't seen on him in the first place.

Using her peripheral vision, she turned her head enough to see the non uniformed officer. Had he put that weapon there? If he did, why would he? Shaking the idea from her head, she dismissed the absurd thought. Because what made more sense? For him to bring a knife in case she put up a fight, or for a cop to plant evidence at an unfamiliar victim's house?

Tentatively, she put one foot in front of the other, taking her closer to the body of her attacker. When she finally rounded the corner, she held her breath. Jessie was half laying, half leaning there with a hole in the center of his forehead and two side by side in the center of his chest. She'd assumed the officer had shot so many times because he'd missed the first two, but each one of his bullets had hit their target dead on. A clear sign of extreme professional training.

This cop had meant to kill his target, there was no doubt about that.

There were several different ways that could have been used to disarm him, or subdue him without death, and yet he'd put three holes in the man.

Careful not to touch any part of him, or the blood that was now beginning to pool around his body. She stepped over, taking the stairs slowly with Officer Kal a step or two behind, keeping far too close for someone she didn't know. Not missing the way his arm continued to move up, and come back down, like he was stopping himself from giving her a reassuring touch.

As soon as her feet hit the first floor, she started scanning for her phone. "You might not be able to call this in," she muttered absentmindedly. Catching the sight of her cell poking out from under her husband's chair, she walked over to crouch down and pick it up. "He used something to stop calls from going out." Standing tall again, she made sure to keep her back to the wall. Finding him watching her from the base of the stairs, the same dark look from before on his expression.

At first he didn't say anything, almost choosing his words carefully before speaking. "I'm sure the radio in my truck is unaffected," his voice was rough, almost like it's gone long periods of time without being used.

Clearing her throat in order to give her time to think, distracted by the situation at hand. Or maybe by the man's general presence. "Either way, if we could find whatever it was, I'd appreciate it." She didn't want to be trapped out in the middle of nowhere with a stranger she didn't know, who had a weapon she couldn't see.

"Are you scared of me?" He didn't advance on her, or soothe his tone to something more comforting; he was assessing her. For whatever reason, she wasn't sure. "I did just save your life, if you'll remember," he seemed irritated that she wasn't more thankful.

Shifting her weight back and forth uncomfortably, she didn't want him to think her any weaker than she already appeared. "As you can probably understand, it's been a long day, and I'd really just like to get some rest. That's all."

His jaw tightened, grinding out through clenched teeth, "I'll do what I can." Nodding his head once, "If you'll excuse me." With that, he briskly walked to the still open front food.

Briefly remind her that she would have to fix that in order for her to re-lock it before she would even be able to close her eyes. If she was able to sleep at all tonight, already having the urge to spend the rest of the sunless hours under a scolding spray. Knowing she wasn't going to get there until everything was back in its fixed state. She made to head in the direction of the garage, but stopped when her eyes wandered to the wall under the steps. Where Jessie's blood was starting to drip over the side of the stair railing, his body visible through the wooden bars.