53

Emily sprung from the ditch and plowed through the foot-high-snow-covered field toward the Parkman house. It would have taken longer for her to get the car started, turn it around, and drive the slippery road into the Parkmans’ slippery driveway than to just hoof it there. Besides, she didn’t want to call more attention to herself with a vehicle. As she ran, she managed to dial Paul.

“Where are you?” she huffed, out of breath.

“I’m sitting in the club parking lot. I don’t see Tiffani’s car.”

“There’s been a change in plans. I think she has James in her trunk and she’s going to dump the body.”

“She what? Where?” Paul’s panicked voice shot through the receiver.

“Can you get over to Freeport Lake? It’s on the way to the club, so I’m just taking a stab in the dark here, but I think that’s where she’ll go first.”

“The lake’s frozen over, Em. I heard from a buddy of mine who went ice fishing over there this morning.”

“Okay … okay … then she’ll be heading to the river.”

“Got it. I’m on my way.”

“And call the police! Tell them I need backup at the Parkman place. I’ve got a fire to put out here.”

“Em, no—”

She hung up on him.

It would take the police at minimum ten minutes to arrive. And she wasn’t about to let Hendrick get away.

Emily drew in a deep breath for courage and moved toward Hendricks’s truck, taking the screwdriver from inside her coat. White-knuckling the handle, she bent down next to the rear passenger tire. With all the force she could muster, Emily thrust the pointed end of the screwdriver deeply into the rubber. It tore a hole through the stiff material, releasing a hiss of air.

After puncturing all four tires, Emily took a stand a safe distance from the garage but close enough so she could see inside through the half-opened door. Hendrick VanDerMuellen was kneeling by a pile of blankets that Emily guessed had been James’s makeshift bed.

“You won’t find your son here,” Emily called into the doorway.

Hendrick spun around to face her.

“His body is on its way to the lake.”

“Sonofa—” He methodically walked out of the garage toward her.

Emily took a few steps back, still gripping the screwdriver.

He lunged toward her, but Emily sprung back, maintaining her safe distance.

He lunged again. She dodged him deftly, drawing him out into the open driveway. His ruddy face grew red. She had awakened the beast. A very unfit beast.

“You’ve known since high school what your son was involved in. Haven’t you? You knew he killed Sandi Parkman. You managed to sweep it all under the rug. And you just kept sweeping, all the way to Pinetree Slopes.”

The sins of omission stared back at her with steely bloodshot eyes. A guttural growl emerged from the back of his throat. Even though her heart was racing, Emily’s courage grew and she didn’t back down as he approached.

“Your money and lawyers can’t buy you out of this now.”

He put one relentless foot in front of another, locking her in his gaze.

Emily raised her screwdriver, aiming it at his head, and took several steps back, drawing him from the garage. This wasn’t the first time she’d looked death in the eye and survived. She would not back down. For Sandi. For Nick. Even for Tiffani.

“I will jab this right into your eye if you come any closer,” she warned.

But Hendrick proved a coward. As soon as he was just feet from her, he buckled, rushed around her, and sprinted to his truck. Emily spun around, staying in place. Hendrick hopped into his truck and tried to drive off. Emily grinned as he got only a few feet on his squishy, flat tires.

Police sirens peeled in the distance. Emily felt an inner relief as she watched Hendrick try to run across the expansive yard, thickly blanketed in snow.

Hendrick ran and fell. Got up and tried to run again. It was comical.

As the cop car pulled in, Hendrick gripped his hand over his chest and collapsed in the snow.

The officers quickly subdued Hendrick, cuffed him, and pulled him up from the ground. He trudged along with them, slowly but showing no signs of a heart attack. It had all been a ruse.