Edge of Darkness - 2019 Editors’ Choice Award

By Christina Gagne

Her feet slapped the wet pavement, breaths coming in short bursts with her long curls flowing behind her. The dark streets seemed to close in on her, alleys stretching like highways to places unknown. Her fear was so thick she could taste it.
            She knew she shouldn’t have gone to that club. She had a sense of foreboding like storm clouds hovering above, but she had promised her friends. At the salon she felt like she was being watched and would glance behind her only to find the streets outside full of bustling people. It was just another day in the windy city.
            After her day of pampering she had gone to the club with her girlfriends. “Some friends they turned out to be.” One by one they had gone off to dance with men. By the time the bar closed her friends were nowhere to be found. She would have called a cab if she had remembered her cell. “Why couldn’t she ever remember her phone? She should have bought the pepper spray while it was on sale-- should have worn better shoes,” she thought as her feet began to ache in the thin-soled flats. “Shoulda, woulda, coulda, girl. Run Faster!”
            The heavy footsteps behind her were getting louder and she turned to look. “Close, too close. Five more blocks to go. Come on. You can make it.” The streets were quiet this late at night and all she could hear was her heavy breathing and the thundering footsteps keeping time with her own. “Not going to make it.” Tears left salty paths on her cheeks. She turned to look behind her. “This is going to hurt.”
            He grabbed her, the momentum throwing them both to the ground. Her head bounced off the pavement with a resounding crack and the lights began to dim. She could vaguely feel herself being jostled around and when she opened her eyes it was to see the beast tearing at her clothes with little success. “Thank you, skinny jeans!” She screamed as she reached up with hands like claws and scratched at his eyes. The beast covered his eyes howling in pain as he rolled off her. Momentarily forgotten, she climbed to her feet and stumbled. She waited for the world to stop spinning before she began to run again.
            “Three more blocks to go. You’re almost there.” At two blocks she started to hear footsteps again and pushed herself a little harder. As she rounded the corner of her street she broke out in a sprint. “Almost there. There is the door! Faster!” Pulling her keys from her pocket she searched for the right one. “Ah-hah! Got it!”
            Taking the steps two at a time she reached the top in seconds. Her keys jingled as she fumbled to get the door open. Slam! She was in. “Safe.” She quickly locked the deadbolt. She turned to face her tiny, dingy, studio apartment and slid to the floor. Hugging her knees to her chest she silently wept. “It’s time to move,” was her last thought as she drifted off to sleep on the floor.
Mark covered his face as he rolled off her. The pain was excruciating. He could hear movement as he lay on the pavement. His hands fell from his face. His vision was blurry. He waited for the pain to dull. She was moving away. Her footsteps quiet. Marc climbed to his feet.
            He was pissed. He screamed out his anger. “She almost clawed my eyes out! Those will go first.” Her nails were like talons. He would take pleasure in ripping them off. He started running. She was small. He would catch up. He was gaining on her. Soon he would have her. “How dare she attack me? She was supposed to scream, cry, and beg. Didn’t she know what happens to girls who break the rules? She’ll be begging in no time. I will punish her and break her. Fuck! Where’d she go?”
            Marc scanned each alley looking for the blonde beauty. “There!” He saw her turn the corner and he sped up. He was sprinting now. “She’s fumbling with her keys. How cute.” He came upon the bottom of her steps.
           “Can I help you?” a police officer asked. Mark groaned inwardly.
This is bad timing, Marc thought. He heard a slam. Fuck. Lost my chance. What a waste.
            “No. I’m fine,” Marc replied.
            “You’re looking a little beat up.”
            “It was a misunderstanding at the bar. Talked to the wrong girl. Boyfriend got involved. Bouncers broke it up and kicked us out. You know how it is.”
            “Do you need a doctor? I can call an ambulance.”
            “No, thank you. I’m heading home.”
            “Why were you running?”
            “Just burning off excess adrenaline.”
            “OK. Goodnight.”
            “Thanks. You too.”
            “Oh, and head straight home. Chicago isn’t safe at night.”
            “Yes, sir,” he said as he chuckled to himself. “Don’t I know it.” He walked off whistling. He walked for a time before doubling back to head home. Marc’s mood lightened as he enjoyed the walk. He loved the night and the things that go bump in it. He was one too. He thought about his girl and smiled. Her screams were like music to his ears. Visions of what he could do to make her scream flashed through his mind. He wanted to keep her. He’d never had a girl like her. “Most were weak, beggars. Always asking to be let go. Always begging for their lives.” Occasionally he would let one live once he took her voice. Usually he left them in a barrel of acid. This one was special though. He would keep her safe.
            Marc got home and undressed on his way to the bathroom. He folded his clothes placing them in the hamper. Marc stepped into the shower. He smiled. He had watched her as she got dolled up. The salon was boring. She spent hours there, but after she was perfect. She got away from him, but he could wait. He knew where she lived. He would watch and wait for the right moment. His body hummed with anticipation. He loved to hunt and had found the perfect prey.
            Delaney held the receiver to her ear as she listened to her best friend. She wondered when the interrogation would begin. She knew it was coming and when it did she wasn’t sure what she would tell her. Would she tell her just what happened the night before? Would she tell her the secrets of her past–secrets that might have caught up with her? Delaney stopped listening as Charlie droned on.
“You found yourself some trouble didn’t you, Laney?” Charlie said waking Delaney from her daydream.
            “It’s more like trouble found me,” Delaney said.
            “What happened this time?”
            “I was attacked last night.”
            “What!”
           “I went out with some friends last night and they left with some guys.”
           “They ditched you?” Charlie said. Delaney could hear the indignation in her voice.
          “Yeah. I got stuck walking home alone,” Delaney said.
            “Are you kidding me?”
           “I guess they weren’t really my friends, were they?”
            “No, they weren’t. What are their names? I’m going to beat the piss out of them.” Delaney smiled then.
            “No, you won’t,” Delaney said.
            “I’ll have you know,” Charlie said.
            “That you took Karate for five years?” Delaney said cutting Charlie off.
          “I could do it.”
            “Char, that was ten years ago.”
            “Ugh. I know. They don’t deserve you.”
            “It’s more like I don’t deserve them.”
            “What are you talking about? They ditched you, remember?”
            Delaney decided right then that she would tell Charlie the truth. She had been keeping secrets for so long and it would feel nice to finally tell someone.
            “You know how I was dating Brad Tanner?” Delaney said.
            “The abusive prick that owns Tanner Industries?”
            “Yeah. Before I left him, I found out some less-than-legal things about the company.”
            “What did you find out?”
            “Well, he must have gotten comfortable with me around because Brad started holding meetings in his home office–meetings I wasn’t invited to.”
            “He probably figured there was no way you would leave him. You were about to get married. Then what happened?”
            “One day he left the house and forgot to lock his office door. You wouldn’t believe the files I found in there.”

            “Just tell me, Laney.”

            “Tanner Industries is a shell company. He’s using it to launder money.”

            “So, what’s he really doing?”

            “I can’t say for sure, but I think it has something to do with weapons.”

            “You can’t be serious. He’s an arms dealer?”

            “I just told you I wasn’t sure. There wasn’t enough evidence to say it definitively. Anyway, I ran from him. I just can’t believe it took me so long. What kind of woman dates a man for five years and doesn’t realize he’s a criminal?” Delaney didn’t say she had enough evidence to put Brad Tanner in prison. She didn’t mention her suspicions that he was selling more than weapons. Charlie didn’t need to know everything.

            “I’m sure it happens all the time,” Charlie said.

            “What if he knows that I know? What if he’s behind this?” Delaney said.

            “This was just some random guy, Laney.”

            “Then how do you explain the other weird stuff going on lately? How do you explain the break in? How do you explain the slashed tires on my car a month ago?”

            Delaney had come home one day to her apartment door open. She noticed the splintering of the wooden frame and called the police. When the police arrived, they had made Delaney wait in her car while they searched the place. It didn’t take long. They came back a couple minutes later and told her she could go in. The place had been trashed. The only thing missing had been the engagement ring Brad had given her. She assumed that after she left, he had wanted it back and told the police as much. The police investigated him, but couldn’t find evidence tying him to the break in.

            It hadn’t been more than a week later when she left her apartment for work only to find her tires slashed. She should have known to run then, but things had gotten quiet. So she stayed in Chicago playing chicken with fate.

            “I don’t know, Laney,” Charlie said. “What are you going to do?”

            “I’m going to leave,” Delaney said.

            “Have you tried going to the police again?”

            “What good would that do? For some reason I don’t see Brad getting his precious hands dirty.”

            “You’re probably right.”

            “Can you do me a favor?”

            “Tell me what it is, and I’ll tell you if I can do it.”

            “I need new identification and a car that won’t trace back to me.”

            “If a fake ID is what you want, you’ll get it. As for the car, I have a friend who won’t ask questions.”

            “Perfect. Can you put it under whatever my new name is?”

            “Yep, but that part’s going to cost you.”

            “I can wire you $30,000, and have it in your account in ten.”

            “Um, remind me why you were living in that dump all this time.”

            “I was hiding, duh.”

            “That would explain why it took him three months to find you. Not only did you do the unexpected and stay in the city, but you hopped the train tracks too.”

            “I need to hop more than train tracks now, Charlie.”

            “I know. When do you need the ID and car by?”

            “Meet me at the place where we first met in two hours.”

            “You aren’t giving me much time.”

            “I know.”

            “It won’t be perfect.”

            “It just has to be good enough.”

            “I’ll see you soon, Laney.”

            “See you.”

            Delaney hung up the phone. She had work to do before her meeting with Charlie. She rushed to her closet and pulled out her suitcases. She stuffed them full of everything she could from her dresser. Next, she grabbed her beach tote and filled it. with her toiletries. She noticed it still had room, so she went to the kitchen and grabbed every snack she could find. She ended up with a bag of premade popcorn and five bags of chips. When it was nearly full, she went back to her closet and grabbed her bug-out pack. It was a hiking backpack that had been filled with the essentials.

            Delaney picked up her suitcases and carried them down the stairs to her car. Back in the apartment, she slid the straps of her backpack over her shoulders. She slipped a map of the U.S. from her purse and laid it on the table. Where would she go? Delaney closed her eyes and spun in a circle with her finger pointed out. When she felt the map beneath her finger, she opened her eyes. Delaney was headed for New Hampshire. Perfect. It was far away from Chicago. She folded up the map and put it back in her purse. Then Delaney shoved the whole thing in her beach tote. She took one last look around the apartment to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything. When she was satisfied, she walked out the door and locked it behind her. She tossed the key in the mail slot for the landlord to find. With her chin up, she walked down the steps to her waiting car.

            Delaney got to her car and, after tossing her things in the backseat, climbed in. She put the key in the ignition and started it up. She rested her forehead against the wheel and took a deep breath. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen. She sat up straight and pulled out of her parking spot. As she drove down the road she didn’t glance back once.

            Marc sat in his car smoking a cigarette. He knew it was bad for him. He knew it would kill him if an enemy didn’t first. In his line of work, one never knew which job would be the last. If he had to make bets as to which would get him it would be the latter.

            Marc had a lot of enemies. Hitmen didn’t have friends. They had clients and they had targets. Sometimes those clients then became targets. Any friends a hitman might have were imaginary. Once one got to that point he wasn’t long for living. Marc knew his big toe was the only thing keeping him on the edge. He had been for a long time. He had no doubt this girl could break him.

            He felt a sliver of unease as he sat in his car. This could be his undoing. He put his cigarette to his lips and inhaled. He held his breath for a second before letting the smoke rise from between his lips. Nothing was more calming than smoking. His car started to rattle like a tin can rolling down the street. He should buy a new one. It wasn’t like he was short on cash.

            The car was idling half a block from his girl’s apartment. He had gone to bed the night before knowing that she was his. She was his to hunt–his to keep.

            In daylight the apartment looked more rundown. In fact, the whole block was filled with derelict buildings. They were clustered so close together that if one burned they all would.

            He glanced back towards her building. She had two bulging suitcases in her hands as she walked to her car. She stopped and scanned the street. Mark was quick to duck behind the wheel before she looked his way.

            “Where are you off to, little one?” he thought.

            The girl placed her luggage in the trunk of her Volvo and turned to go back inside. She paused at the top of the steps as if she knew she had eyes on her. Mark blinked, and she was gone.

            Marc felt a buzzing in his pocket. He had silenced his phone for the hunt. He pulled it from his pocket. He checked the number and swore. He had nothing to give the man. He answered anyway. It would have been unwise not to.

            “Hello,” Marc said.

            “Since I didn’t hear from you last night am I to assume you were unsuccessful?” The man said.

            “Yes.”

            “What happened?”

            “I had her. She fought back.”

            “I find it hard to believe a five-foot nothing cheerleader beat you.”

            “She scratched my eyes like a feral cat.”

            “Is that all?”

            “Between that and the cop I had to bluff past, I lost my chance.”

            “Do it right this time.”

            “Of course, I will.”

            “Bring her to me alive.”

            “What changed your mind?”

            “I have a way to make sure she never leaves again. She won’t even try.”

            “I’ll bring her in alive.”

            “Good, you have one week, or I’ll hire someone else.”

            Marc hung up the phone and threw it across the car. He got a little satisfaction when it fell to the floor in pieces. The man had just made an enemy of Marc. He was not going to give the girl up. He just needed a plan. He looked down the street to see the girl’s car still there.

            She had been gone long enough that for a moment, Marc thought she had used the car as a decoy. He would have been annoyed if she had. A few minutes later she reemerged from the crumbling building. She casually walked down the steps to her car armed with a backpack and a purse the size of a Great Pyrenees–or almost.

            “Where does a girl find a purse like that,” he wondered as he watched her hips sway.

            He watched her toss the backpack and the colossal purse in the backseat. She slammed the door and got in the driver’s seat. Marc might have lost her if she had left the night before. It would have been the smart thing to do. It’s what he would have done.

            Marc hissed in pain. His forgotten cigarette had singed his fingers. He flicked it through the crack in the window. He checked the laptop on the seat beside him. A little blue dot sat unmoving on the screen. The tracker was in place and operational. He wouldn’t use it unless he needed it. He much preferred an old-fashioned hunt. One in which technology was not necessary or welcome. He relished victory when he used his senses and intelligence to track his prey. It made the thrill of the hunt that much more.

            “Run Delaney,” he whispered. “Run fast and far because wherever you hide, I will find you.”

            The mouthwatering scent of fried food tempted Delaney as she weaved through tourists at the Navy Pier. The plan was to meet Charlie at the base of the Ferris Wheel. Ten years ago, they had literally bumped into each other trying to get the same spot in line. It was a classic case of friends at first sight. They started talking and decided to ride the wheel together. They had been like magnets ever since.

            Now they returned for a different reason. It wasn’t because of their mutual love of the Ferris Wheel, nor was it the nostalgia for the place she had been gifted a true friend. They were at the Navy Pier because the crowds were large enough for Delaney to blend in. Delaney was prey, and she needed to hide. When Delaney left the pier, she would disappear with a new name. She would escape Chicago and the men hunting her.

            Delaney walked through the crowd. She could feel eyes on her, and they darkened her world like the shadow of a storm cloud. With hunched shoulders and head down, Delaney made her way through clusters of tourists. She cut through shops and restaurants, her path unpredictable. If the person following her was the man that attacked her the night before, he would try again. She had little doubt he would do it again. But she had a bigger fear than the man she got away from. She feared that her ex-boyfriend, Brad Tanner, was after her. He was a cruel unknown. If he found out what she knew, Delaney didn’t know what he would be capable of. She didn’t know what he would do if he caught her.

            Eventually, she found a group of women to hide among. Using them like a shield she wedged herself into the middle and matched their pace with her own. One of the women asked where the Ferris Wheel was. This was Delaney’s chance.

            “Come on. I’ll show you,” Delaney said as she headed straight for the 150 foot ride.

            The women gave their thanks when they made it to the back of the line. Delaney scanned the crowd for Charlie. Finally, she spotted her head of chocolate curls a couple of inches higher than the rest of the crowd. The Amazon could have been a model if she weren’t so obsessed with computers. At six feet tall, she was the most beautiful woman Delaney had ever met. Charlie’s curves were sinful, and all muscle. If Delaney had been into women she would have done anything to get with her.

            Charlie was almost to the front of the line. Delaney had to move. Her body no longer felt weighed down by hundreds of faceless eyes. Her eyes darted between the faces in the crowd. Finding nothing suspicious she took the opportunity to break from her hiding spot. Delany jogged over to Charlie and squeezed into the line beside her.

            “I was getting worried something happened,” Charlie said. “Do you know how many times I’ve been on this ride waiting for you? Four times, Laney. I was wondering if you would ever show.”

            Delaney checked her watch. She was a half hour late. She was lucky Charlie hadn’t left. Delaney turned her gaze toward her best friend. Everything about Charlie oozed with happiness as if it were leaking from her pores–everything except her eyes. Delaney could read Charlie’s emotions better than she could read a book. She’d been able to do it since the first time they met. Charlie’s eyes spoke of sadness, and a fear that made Delaney’s pulse race. Sweat formed on her brow. Something was wrong.

            “Sorry, Charlie. I had to make a stop,” Delaney said.

            “Never mind that, Laney,” Charlie said. “I did some digging. A friend of a friend works for Tanner Industries. He said that Brad hasn’t been around the office lately. Word is that he has some personal issues to work out.”

            “You’re worried those personal issues involve me.”

            “I left you an old Camry. The windows are tinted so once you’re inside, no one will see you. Don’t go back to your car for anything. I hope you have money in that backpack.”

            “I do.”

            If Brad was searching for her, the car would be the first thing he looked for. It was the only thing she hadn’t replaced when she left him. She knew she needed to be prepared. Delaney had stuffed all her money in her backpack when she closed out her bank account.

            The line began to move. The two women waited to be seated before continuing their conversation. For what they were doing they needed privacy.

            “Do you have everything?” Delaney said.

            “One new identity coming right up,” Charlie said as she pulled a large envelope from her own bag. Hunched over her lap, Charlie started removing items from the envelope.

            “Thank you, Char.”

            “Save your thanks until after you see the new you,” Charlie said with a laugh.

            “That bad, huh.”

            “Enjoy the mousy brown hair and nerd glasses.”

            Charlie handed the ID over to Delaney. Delaney held the card to her face to get a better look. Her face scrunched up. She did not look good as a brunette. Delaney released a sigh.

            “Well, at least no one will recognize me,” Delaney said.

            “Just don’t get pulled over. The name and social security number are real, but the ID won’t hold up when scanned,” Charlie said.

            “I won’t. I’m going to miss you, Char.”

            “When all this is over, we are going to binge on popcorn, and wine while we watch The Princess Bride. I’ll even bring the wine.”

            “No, you won’t.”

            “You wound me.”

            “Ha, you like mooching off mine too much.”

            “Who better to rob you of your wine than your bestie?”

            “At least you share it when I find it at the bottom of your closet.”

            “I really need a new hiding spot.”

            “A safe would work.”

            “Nah, it would take you less than a minute to crack the password.”

            “Quit using your birthday as a password.”

            “I changed it.”

            “Oh, let me guess. It’s ‘Mr. Jenkles’ isn’t it?”

            Mr. Jenkles was Charlie’s three-legged cat. She had given him the name because he reminded her of a butler. He was black with just a patch of white on his chest making him look like he was wearing a suit.

            “Damn it. I thought I had you,” Charlie said.

            Delaney chuckled. Charlie was so predictable, but also a genius. She didn’t keep anything of value at home. The passwords were just a game. Charlie’s prized possession was the computer she built herself. It was kept safe in some office Delaney had never been to. It was what she used for all her work. She told Delaney once that it was nearly un-hackable.

            Delaney enjoyed the easy banter with her friend, but it was time to go. The people in the car in front of them were getting off the ride. Delaney stuffed everything back in the envelope. Charlie handed Delaney the keys to the Camry. The time to part ways had sneaked up on them. Delaney took a deep breath. There was no going back after this. Delaney knew that once she left her friend, Delaney would die. Delaney would have to die. It was the only way to survive.

            “Don’t go away,” Charlie said to get Delaney to stay. “There has to be a better way, Laney.”

            “I have to go,” Delaney said. “You know this is the only way.”

            “You could stay at my place.”

            “It wouldn’t take long for him to find me there.”

            “What if I found a safe house in the area?”

            “No. I won’t take the risk. I can’t go back there.”

            “Fine, but you’ll come back someday, right?” Charlie said. “Brad won’t look for you forever.

            “I’ll be back–someday.

            “Delaney,” Charlie called out forcing Delaney to stop and look back.

            “Yeah Char.”

            “Be careful.”

            Delaney nodded and turned away. She sent a prayer to the sky that she hadn’t just lied to her friend. Delaney knew that as long as Brad Tanner was alive, she couldn’t return to Chicago. And Delaney wasn’t a murderer. As Delaney took her first step out of the Navy Pier, she released her name like a balloon full of helium left to drift alone.

            Delaney was dead and gone. She was Natalie now, and she was never coming back.

            Marc wove through the crowds. Why Delaney had chosen to come to such a noisy, smelly place he didn’t know. He much preferred quiet, dark places. Soon she would know them as intimately as he did. The awful smell of fried food assaulted his nose. It made him want to vomit. He liked the wild game he cooked himself. The noise level at the Navy Pier was deafening. Marc ground his teeth together. He hated places like this. He felt too exposed, like someone would see through his unremarkable looks to the darkness inside him.

            Delaney moved in a zig-zag pattern. He had to admit it was the smart thing to do. Anyone with less talent than he would have lost her by now. He followed her through shops, and restaurants until her movements slowed. She had weaseled her way into a large group of women. Delaney talked to one of them, but Marc couldn’t hear what was said. The women started moving again. That’s when he saw him, another man dressed much like himself. The man wore a baseball cap, and dark sunglasses. If the bulge in the waistline of his pants was any indication, he was carrying.

            This made things more complicated. Delaney, his Delaney, had another tail. Marc felt rage send zinging energy through his body. It was a lot like sticking a finger into a light socket. That bastard had replaced him already. Marc knew what he had to do. This new threat needed to be taken care of quickly. He wanted this done before Delaney left the pier. He had a new target.

            Marc came to a row of shops on the right. He cut through one and went left. If he timed this right he would come up behind the other hitman.

            Marc kept his footsteps silent. It wasn’t hard to do. He’d spent his whole life practicing the art of stealth while he hid from his father. Marc’s father was abusive. One night when he was six his father came home drunk. Marc was in the kitchen having a late-night snack when his father stumbled through the door. Marc couldn’t remember what his mother had said to make his father angry. He remembered everything else though. He remembered the terror he felt as he hid in the pantry. He remembered the sounds of his mother’s cries as his father beat her – and he remembered the silence when her cries stopped.

            Twelve years later he waited for his father to get home from the bar. His father stumbled to the sofa. Marc fed him beers until his father passed out. On silent feet Marc walked to the kitchen. He pulled a paring knife from the knife block, and made his way to his father. Knife in hand Marc leaned over his father, and with a flick of his wrist it was done. It was his first human kill, and he loved it. At that moment Marc vowed to be the most dangerous predator out there.

            Marc forced the memories back in the corner of his mind he called Hell. The hitman led Marc to a semi-secluded area. It would have to be enough. Marc crept up behind the man. His hands reached for the man’s chin, and forehead. Snap. The body crumpled to the ground. Marc removed his gloves, tucked them into his jeans pocket, and sauntered off in search of Delaney.

            He found her just as she was getting off the Ferris Wheel. The kill had only distracted him for a few minutes. He noticed Delaney was being less cautious this time. She walked out of the Navy Pier. Marc watched her get into a black sedan. He pulled his phone from his pocket, and snapped a photo as Delaney drove away. Marc had almost lost faith in his girl when she walked straight out of the pier.

            “At least she ditched her car,” he thought as he walked towards his own.

            Delaney was bobbing her newly brunette head along to the radio. She was driving through Ohio when the snow began to fall. With any luck this was just a shower. Driving this close to the Great Lakes was risky this time of year. They were notorious for dumping several feet of snow in one storm. She would be in trouble if it got worse. Delaney berated herself for not thinking to check the weather before she left. She planned to stay in Buffalo that night–if she could make it. There was nothing she could do but keep driving.

            Delaney had just passed the exit for Erie, Pennsylvania when the emergency broadcast on the radio went off. The sound of the alert made her clench her jaw. The blizzard warning made the breath leave her chest in a great burst of air. Two feet of snow was expected to fall in Buffalo. Between that and the 30 mile per hour winds, any kind of travel was almost suicidal.

            Delaney had tossed her phone out the window before she left Chicago. There would be no chance to call for help. Already, she couldn’t read the exit signs on the side of the road before it was too late to turn. She had to keep going.

            The drive was tense as more snow piled onto the roadways. The storm was picking up speed and the wing was buffeting her car. She slowed down. She was stuck behind a plow truck pushing snow from the road. It made driving a little easier, but Delaney was afraid she wouldn’t make it to Buffalo in time. Her knuckles were white on the steering wheel. Ice was building on her windshield. Her wipers were working overtime but were losing the battle against the relentless snow. She decided to pull over. It was getting too hard to see. Using the turn signal, she crept to the side of the highway.

            Delaney put on her hat and mittens. She put her arms through the sleeves of her coat and zipped it up. It took her a couple of tries with the mittens on. She grabbed the ice scraper and stepped out into the brutal storm. Delaney began to clean off her windshield. She had gotten nearly all of the snow off the window when she saw it. An SUV came speeding towards her. Delaney leapt to the side. The SUV “fishtailed” as it careened into her car. The bang from the impact made Delaney’s ears ring. She watched the SUV go roll twice before coming to a stop upside down.

            “You should go help them,” Delaney thought. “It’s the right thing to do.”

            Delaney took a step towards the SUV. She stopped. She remembered why it would be a bad idea to check on the person. What if it was a trap? What if the police showed up and checked her ID? Delaney had no phone–no way to call for help. What if help never came? She could freeze to death waiting. Delaney looked around to find the highway deserted. No one but Delaney and the other driver had dared to drive in the storm.

            Delaney knew she would regret what she did next for her entire life. She walked over to the undamaged side of her car and pulled out her backpack. She put the straps over her shoulders and slammed the door. The snow seemed to swallow the sound. It was almost as if she were wearing ear plugs. Delaney was changing. The old Delaney would never have done what she was about to do now.

            Delaney turned from the cars and started walking towards Buffalo–towards freedom. No, Delaney never would have left like that, but maybe her new identity, Natalie, would. Maybe Natalie wouldn’t be as naïve as Delaney had been. She started to walk again. This time she didn’t stop. She didn’t look back even as her heart bled for whoever she had left behind.

            Marc drove down the highway. The snow was falling fast. The wind was causing the snow to drift making the drive perilous. He was about ten minutes behind Delaney. He had lost her when she left the city, but he knew she was headed this way.

            He was smoking his cigarette when he saw it. On the side of the road were two cars. One was upside down. He pulled his car off to the side and climbed out. He trudged through the snow to the overturned SUV. Peering inside, he checked to see if anyone was still alive. The driver’s lifeless eyes stared at him. He looked the body over and noticed a deep gash in the man’s thigh. The driver never had a chance. Even if someone had called for help immediately, the ambulance never would have made it in time. In this weather the emergency crews would have been slowed down. If the driver hadn’t bled out the shock would have killed him before help arrived.

            Marc turned away from the SUV with the dead body. He didn’t need to see anymore. He walked over to the other car as his boots sank in the fluffy snow. He saw the license plate first. Delaney had been driving this car when she left Chicago. For a moment Marc’s heart stopped beating. He didn’t recognize the emotion he was feeling. His body was shaking as he made his way to the driver’s side of the car. He took a brief, shuddering breath before he dared look inside.

            She was gone. All Marc could feel was a huge sense of relief. He didn’t know what he would have done if he had lost Delaney. Marc realized that if he didn’t do something, the police would investigate, and Delaney would never be safe. They would try to take her away. She was his. He would not let that happen.

            Marc made his way back to his vehicle and opened up the trunk. He removed a full gas can and a cloth. He wiped down the door handles of Delaney’s car. Marc emptied half of the gas can into Delaney’s car. He walked over to the SUV and soaked it with gasoline. He lit a match in the SUV and Delaney’s car. He made sure the gas had ignited before he started back towards his car.

            As Marc got in his car and drove away, he had a thought. Something inside of him was changing. He had a need to protect Delaney from the world. Marc wanted to kill anyone who threatened his Delaney. Soon he would have her locked safely away. No one would take Delaney from him. No one.

Delaney had been walking for an hour. The harsh wind pushed against her body slowing her movements. The snow felt like the sting of a thousand bees. She had taken the first exit she had seen. She saw the large sign for the exit, but she couldn’t read it. The snow had covered up any information it held. At the end of the ramp she went left. There was nothing she could do but hope she had chosen a direction that would lead her to shelter.

Delaney had been walking for what seemed like forever when she saw a blinking light. She almost didn’t see it with all the snow, but it was there shining like the beacon of a lighthouse guiding her to safety. She picked up her pace determined to get to the warmth before she collapsed. She hadn’t been able to feel her fingers and toes since she found the sign for the exit ramp.

As Delaney got closer, she realized she had found a motel. The motel was seedy at best, but in that moment, she would have slept on a bed of nails so long as it was somewhere warm. It was the kind of motel that would have sheets crusted with unknown substances, and cockroaches roaming about. To Delaney it was a palace.

Delaney opened the door to the office and stepped inside. A bell jingled on the door announcing her presence. A few minutes later a disgusting man staggered from a doorway behind the counter. The man had greasy black hair. His face was mottled with pox scars, and he had the beady eyes of a weasel. He smelled as if he was rotting from the inside out.

Delaney shivered, but it wasn’t from the cold. This hotel was looking less palatial by the second. If Delaney had known there would be another hotel nearby, she would have walked out the door right then. Instead she was forced to suffer in the disgusting man’s presence.

“What can I do you for,” the man said as he looked Delaney up and down causing a shiver to roll down her spine.

“I need a room for one, please,” Delaney said.

“That’ll be 50 dollars,” the man said.

Delaney paid the man with a little of the cash left in her bag. The man handed her a key and sent her away. Delaney braced herself before stepping back into the icy storm. She walked to her room and unlocked the door. She burst into the room shivering from the cold and slammed the door. After locking the door, she turned to look at the small room. The old carpeting had stains all over. The walls were no longer white, and the smell of cigarette smoke permeated the air. Her only thought was that it could be worse.

Delaney stripped off her soggy clothes and hung them in the bathroom to dry. Reaching into her bag she pulled out a clean set and began to dress. Once she was fully clothed, she reached into her bag and removed her knife. She wouldn’t feel safe without it. Tucking it under the pillow she climbed into bed. Delaney knew it would be a long night of tossing and turning. She fell into a restless sleep with one hand clutching the metal grip.

When Delaney opened her eyes, it was dark. She wondered what had woken her up. She was still half asleep. Then she heard it. The jingling of a chain caused Delaney to reach for her knife. She stared in shock as she realized someone was trying to break in.

The door was already part way open, letting the cold winter air into the room. The only thing stopping the person at the door was the useless chain lock. Delaney slid from the bed. On tip-toes she sneaked to the door. She put her back to the door. Then the stench hit her. She lifted the knife in her hand and plunged it into the disgusting man from the office. The chain tore from the wall as the full weight of the man fell on the door. Delaney jumped away from the door as it swung inward. She cringed at the thud of the man’s body hitting the ground. She crouched down to check if he was still alive. His eyes were open, dull and lifeless. His face was frozen with a permanent look of shock.

Delaney stared at the man in horror. It had been so easy to end his life – too easy. A sense of power rushed through her body like nothing she’d felt before. She was suddenly the biggest, “baddest” thing around. She was the top of the food chain. She was terrified of herself. What had she become?

Marc was driving at glacier speed. He had been driving an hour one way off the exit before he realized Delaney couldn’t have gone that way. Another hour of driving brought him back to the ramp for the highway. It took him about fifteen minutes of creeping along the road before he saw a blinking vacancy sign.

Marc turned into the parking lot scanning the motel doors. He wondered which room Delaney had rented for the night. Then he spotted the open door. It hung open to complete darkness inside the room. A pair of feet protruded from the door. Knowing he would have to make a run for it once he had Delaney, he left the car idling as he trudged through the thick snow.

As Marc neared the body, he noticed the puddle of blood oozing from the doorway. If blood was still pooling around his body Delaney must have done it just minutes before he arrived. Marc stepped over the body and the still growing puddle of blood as he entered the room. He saw Delaney staring in shock at the body on the floor.

“What a mess you’ve made, Delaney,” Marc said.

Marc watched awareness return to Delaney’s eyes as she noticed Marc for the first time. Delaney didn’t say anything as she stared at him.

“Go clean up. I’ll take care of this,” Marc said.

He watched Delaney walk away and smiled. She was his now, whether she knew it or not. If she refused to come with him, he would remind her of what she’d done. First, he needed to get rid of the body. This was a motel. There would be guests staying in the other rooms. Burning it down would not be an option. Too likely the fire department would get here before all the evidence was removed. Marc pulled the body the rest of the way into the room. He stepped over the body and headed to his car.

He trudged through the snow which was getting deeper by the minute. If he didn’t move fast, they would be stuck here till morning. He did not want to be here when people noticed this man was missing. Marc opened up the trunk and looked inside. Everything he needed was right there. He grabbed a bottle of bleach, a couple of carpentry bags, and a box of gloves. He closed the trunk and hurried to the motel room.

Marc let himself into the room only to hear the shower turn on. He couldn’t let Delaney get in that shower. She could shed hair. He dropped his supplies and dashed to the bathroom.

“Stop,” Marc said as he opened the door and walked in.

Delaney was standing naked in the middle of the room. He reached around her and turned off the water. Marc directed her to the sink grabbing a washcloth. He wet the cloth and handed it to Delaney.

“Use this and give it back to me,” he said.

Marc left the bathroom in search of Delaney’s bag. He found her backpack leaned up against the night stand. He realized something about Delaney as he rummaged through the bag for clothes. She was prepared. It was clear she’d been hiding for a while. Either that or she knew she was being hunted. He knew who was hunting her–the man that hired him. He just didn’t know why.

Delaney stepped out of the bathroom to find the body gone. The man who had shown up stood in the middle of the room with her bag slung over his shoulder. She took a moment to look at him. Something about this man was familiar. He had scratches on his cheeks. His eyes were dark and hard–piercing. They were bloodshot. He must have been in a fight. Then she remembered the man from the alley. He was the right height and build. She remembered him on top of her. She could still feel the softness of his eyes compared to the more resistant skin of his face. Delaney’s eyes widened as she took an involuntary step back.

“I see you remember me,” he said.

“Who are you?” Delaney said. “What do you want?”

“I’m Marc and I want you.”

“No,” Delaney said as she took another step back.

“You don’t have much of a choice. You left the scene of an accident. You killed a man. It would be easy to just give a call…”

“Fine, I’ll go with you.”

“Good. Let’s go. Where were you headed anyway?”

“New Hampshire.”

“Oh. I haven’t been on that side of the continent in months. It’s the perfect time of year for snow mobiles. You will love it.”

“You’ve been there before?”

“I grew up there. When this is all over, I’ll take you there.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I believe we have someone to take care of in Chicago first.”

“Who? Brad Tanner?” Delaney said as her eyes widened.

“He wants to take you from me. I won’t let that happen.”

“I don’t belong to you.”

“Come. I want to be rid of the body before it starts stinking,” Marc said.

“I…uh, think I’ll just stay here,” Delaney said.

In two strides he made it to Delaney and grabbed her arm. Dragging her behind him, they made their way from the motel room. As Marc dragged her to the car Delaney regretted staying in Chicago as long as she had. But there was one thing she knew without doubt. She didn’t belong to anyone–not Brad and definitely not Marc. Delaney came to a solution as she sat in the passenger seat idly watching the scenery fly by. If she could do it once she could do it again. Delaney was going to kill again.

Marc drove for hours before finding a river to dump the body in. Delaney had silently glowered at him for much of the ride. She had been more helpful than he expected when it came time to ditch the corpse. She almost seemed eager. Delaney finally gave in to her exhaustion when they started driving again. The peace gave him a chance to think.

Marc needed to come up with a plan to take down Brad Tanner and he suspected Delaney would want to help. He knew there was something special about his girl, but until tonight he never would have expected her to be a killer. She could be useful to him. He knew what to do.

They would go back to Chicago. He would give her to Brad Tanner. Brad Tanner’s obsession with Delaney was his Achilles. Brad Tanner wouldn’t be able to resist the chance to get her. He wouldn’t know what he had coming.

The drive was slow going with the snow storm causing treacherous driving conditions. They didn’t reach Chicago until noon the next day. Marc’s eyes were beginning to droop. He didn’t understand how he stayed awake as long as he had. They would need to find somewhere to sleep and develop a plan.

“Where are we going?” Delaney said.

“I don’t know,” Marc said as he gave his thigh a pinch to wake himself up. They couldn’t afford for him to fall asleep at the wheel.

“Give me your phone,” Delaney said as she held out her hand.

“Are you going to call your hacker friend,” Marc said.

“How do you know about Charlie?”

“I know everything about you.”

“That’s really creepy you know, but yes, to answer your question, I’m calling Charlie.”

“Perfect,” Marc said and handed Delaney the phone. Delaney kept the call short. She didn’t want Marc to know too much about what Charlie did and was capable of doing.

“She got us a suite at the Holiday Inn,” Delaney said.

“Good. We’re close.”

Marc was right. Five minutes later they arrived.

They spent three days at the hotel to formulate a plan to kill Brad Tanner. In that time Marc and Delaney grew close. Marc couldn’t understand why his need to hurt her had vanished. He had had plans, but now he could barely remember them. The thought of Delaney’s pain made his chest ache and his heart beat rapidly. He could no sooner harm her than he could marry a fish.

Marc didn’t like this feeling that he had changed. He still wanted to kill–needed to kill. The urge didn’t feel the same though. He no longer had the desire to kill anyone–just one. The only person he wanted to kill was the man who hired him. Yes, Brad Tanner would die at his hands. But then what? Marc could feel his life’s purpose slipping away. What would he do when this was all over? His only skills were to hunt, maim, and murder. For the first time Marc felt truly lost, but there was one thing that could make him smile. Nothing felt better than holding Delaney in his arms, and he would do anything to keep her there.

Marc and Delaney had a plan to wipe Brad from her life forever. If they didn’t kill him, he would never stop looking for her. Marc would literally drop Delaney at Brad’s doorstep. They would follow the agreement Marc had with him. Delaney would play her role as the girlfriend and beg forgiveness for running. She would make Brad feel comfortable–like he had won. It was the ultimate game, and she would win. When Brad least expected it, she would let Marc in to kill him.

They had argued for days as to who should be the one to kill Brad. Marc had made a good point. She didn’t have the experience of killing in cold blood. He didn’t think she could do it. He was wrong. He just didn’t know it wasn’t Brad she planned to kill.

During their time at the hotel, Delaney formed a relationship with Marc. She became his lover and friend. He told her everything. Marc wasn’t just a hit man. He killed for fun too. He told her about his hunting cabin where he liked to keep and kill his women. He told her how he did it. He even told her where the cabin was. She realized that even though she was dying inside every time she fell into Marc’s arms, something good would come from it. She would get justice for the innocent women he killed–women that looked just like her. Delaney understood why he hadn’t just killed her when he had the chance. He said she looked like his mother. He said she acted like his mother too. Maybe that’s why she didn’t end up like those women buried near his cabin of horror. They had looked like his mother, but they hadn’t been like her. Marc had told Delaney how his mom always fought back–how she fought until she couldn’t anymore. He told her about the night she died. Delaney’s heart broke a little inside. Marc had only been a child.

Marc told her he loved her, but Delaney knew the truth. Marc wasn’t capable of love. He was infatuated. He was obsessed. A serial killer would never know the meaning of the word love. That’s why she couldn’t let him live. That’s why she kept sacrificing her soul. Bits and pieces of it were drifting away. Delaney wondered what would be left when Brad and Marc were dead.

“It’s time,” Marc said.

“I know. Just one more kiss. Just in case something,” Delaney said, her eyes filled with sadness.

“I won’t let anything go wrong,” Marc said as he gave her a kiss. “It’s time to go.”

Marc grabbed Delaney’s bag as they left the hotel. Something was wrong with Delaney. He felt it when he kissed her. Her heart wasn’t in it. This kiss felt different. It felt like the last. Marc shook his head. He didn’t have time for sad thoughts. He had to finish this. He had to protect Delaney.

The ride to Brad Tanner’s house was quiet and tense. Both of them stuck in their heads. Marc was calculating all of the things that could go wrong with this plan and how he would counter each scenario. He didn’t have a clue as to what was going on inside Delaney’s pretty little head as she stared out the window. He didn’t have time to find out. The drive was too short, and they were already on Brad’s street.

Delaney stood on Brad’s steps with her head down. She needed to look contrite. Marc’s hand gripped her arm gently, but she knew if he wanted to, he could snap it like a twig. It was a good thing she had earned his trust in the three days they had been together in the hotel. Their plan was going to work. It had to. Marc rang the doorbell as Delaney waited. The feeling of trepidation caused a tremor in her hands.

What seemed like hours later, but was only a minute or two, the door finally opened. Without raising her head, Delaney dared a glance up at the man she once loved. She really wanted to beat the smug look from his gaze as he stared down at her. His eyes dark and full of promise. Brad opened the door wider and stepped aside to let them in. Delaney startled as the door clicked shut behind them. Marc had nothing on Brad. The fear she felt in his presence was nearly paralyzing, but she had to play the game. She had to make him think she was truly sorry for running away.  

Brad led them to the living room. It was as she remembered it. Stark and void of any color, the room reminded her of when she thought she could be happy here. She had once thought how nice it would be to fill this space with flowers and color. That was until she realized this place sucked the life from anyone unfortunate enough to be trapped here. For a year this place had been her prison. At first it had been nice living with Brad. That was before he had shown her the evil he kept hidden. He became demanding. He got angry when she didn’t do what he wanted when he wanted. She had made the mistake of accepting his proposal. He would let shady men come to the house. Then one night he had shared her. The way it happened made it seem like a business deal. It was the event that gave her the courage to snoop in his office one day while he was at work. What she found there had filled her veins with ice. She found all the evidence one would need to put him in prison for arms dealing. There was one other document that haunted her still. It suggested he didn’t just deal in weapons. He also dealt in people.

Then she found out she was pregnant and the urge to run had become irresistible. She called her best friend Charlie to set it all up. The first chance Delaney had she ran. She hadn’t set foot in this house since. Now she was back, and determination was overriding her fear. Brad Tanner was going to die – tonight.

“I was wondering if you would show,” Brad Tanner said.

“I told you I would. Now where’s the money,” Marc said trying to keep his voice level with the appearance that this was still just a job to him.

“I’ll transfer it into your account by the end of the day. I’m sure the half I already gave you will be sufficient until then.”

“Yes, but if you don’t,” Marc left the thought there.

“Noted. Now get out.”

As Marc left Delaney behind, he wondered if he had made the right Decision. He hoped Delaney would survive the day. For the first time in his 30 years of life he prayed. He really was changing. He realized the idea didn’t bother him anymore.

“I’m sorry I left,” Delaney said letting her tears of fear choke her voice in hopes Brad would think she meant it.

“I would punish you for leaving, but that wouldn’t be healthy. Not now,” Brad said.

“You know? How?”

“You didn’t think I would notice the box in the trash?”

“I guess not.”

“You really are stupid.”

Delaney felt tears of shame run down her cheeks. How could she have gone so long without realizing how cruel the monster standing before her was? She berated herself for falling for this man’s trap. He was like a spider, and you wouldn’t know you were caught in his web until it was too late. She hadn’t known. She had almost let the shame and despair take over until she remembered why she was here. She was here to end him.

As the day dragged on, Brad kept the insults flying. It probably annoyed him to no end that Delaney was pregnant, and he couldn’t touch her. She thanked God for that mercy. She let him sleep with her. More pieces of her soul chipped away.

She kept the tears flowing. She continued to apologize for leaving. By evening he had ceased his flow of insults. She took a breath of relief that she didn’t have to hear them anymore. She made him dinner like a good little housewife. After a quiet meal she had wondered if Brad had kept the ring. She sat next to him on the sofa and curled up with her head in his lap.

“I’m never letting you go again,” Brad said as he stroked her hair.

“I know,” she said, letting a tear fall from her eye.
“Come. It’s time for bed. You must be exhausted.”
Brad carried Delaney up to the master bedroom. He allowed her to shower. She stayed in the shower until the water ran cold. She scrubbed her skin raw trying to remove the dirtiness clinging to her. She still didn’t feel clean. Once she was dry, she picked up the article of clothing Brad had left out for her, if it could even be called that. The sheer piece of lingerie did nothing to hide her body. The gauzy material felt abrasive against her sensitive skin.
Delaney couldn’t miss the lack of panties. So much for hoping she wouldn’t have to lay with him again before this was over. She took a deep breath and entered the bedroom once more. Brad’s icy gaze fell on her body, and Delaney couldn’t help noticing the growing bulge in his pants.
Sometime later Delaney lay in bed with Brad naked beside her. He looked tired and not likely to move. Now was her chance to let Marc in and prepare herself. She turned to Brad and looked him in the eyes.
“I’m thirsty. Would you like me to get you a drink?” Delaney said.
“Scotch. No ice,” Brad said.
Delaney climbed from the bed and padded down the stairs to the living room. Her bag lay beside the coffee table where it had been placed when Marc left. She grabbed the sleeping pills Marc had given her and headed to the kitchen. She rummaged through the refrigerator and removed a pitcher of water. She needed to return with a drink of her own or Brad would get suspicious. Once her glass was poured, she found the bottle of scotch sitting half empty on the counter. She had never cared for the stuff. The burn made her cough and gag. She poured a double for Brad. It was how he liked it. Quickly she crushed the pills with the handle of a knife and swept the dust from the counter into the glass. Once she was sure the pills had dissolved, she walked to the back door and unlocked it.
With the two drinks in hand she walked to the stairs. Delaney’s hands were trembling. She knew if she didn’t control her emotions Brad would realize she was deceiving him. She counted to ten and took a deep breath before ascending the staircase, grateful that her hands had stopped shaking.
As they sat in bed drinking, Delaney watched Brad, waiting for the pills to take effect. He asked her how she had managed to live in the run-down apartment for so long. She told him she was proud of herself for being able to do it. He laughed and told her she should never live in a place so beneath her. Delaney forced herself to laugh with him. When Brad started to yawn, she took his empty glass and placed it on the side table.
“Come on. Let’s get some sleep. We can talk more in the morning,” Delaney said as she pulled the covers over them.
“Don’t get used to this,” Brad said as he closed his eyes. “It will be the last time you sleep in this bed.”
Delaney didn’t let his words bother her. They were true. By tomorrow morning she would be rid of him at last. When she was sure he was asleep she slipped from the bed a final time. She checked the clock. It was half past midnight. She had plenty of time to make a quick trip to the kitchen. Marc wasn’t set to show until at least two.
Delaney tiptoed down the stairs. She knew these stairs enough that she could avoid the creaks. Silently she made her way to the kitchen. It only took her a second to locate a knife large and sharp enough to pierce a heart. Delaney climbed back up the stairs and into bed. She carefully tucked the knife under her pillow, so she could reach it quickly. She lay down holding the handle and fought to stay awake. The day had been emotionally and physically draining. It wasn’t long before her eyes closed.
Marc checked his watch. It was time to go. He slipped from his car and crossed the street. Sticking to the shadows he crept around to the back side of Brad Tanner’s house. He found the kitchen door unlocked. Delaney had followed his instructions. He pulled the switchblade from his pocket and crept up the dark staircase leading to the master bedroom. He cursed silently as he heard a creak from one of the stairs. Marc made it the rest of the way without incident.
Marc couldn’t help but smile. Killing Brad Tanner would be the best thing he had ever done. He was going to save his Delaney. He entered the bedroom eyeing Delaney’s sleeping form. He longed to wake her buried deep inside her. His feet padded softly on the thick carpet as he approached the bed. Without hesitation he grabbed Brad Tanners hair. He pulled his head back.
The pain Marc caused when he pulled Brad’s head backward woke the man. When his eyes opened Marc smiled. Brad’s eyes widened as he realized what had happened. Marc brought his knife down. In one smooth motion he slit Brad Tanner’s throat. As Brad gurgled on the blood seeping from his neck Marc turned to wake Delaney.
He stopped just in time to see the point of a knife just inches from his chest. His chest felt tight. She betrayed him. Marc couldn’t hide the hurt he felt. He was strong. He could stop her if he wanted to. He just wasn’t sure he did. He looked at Delaney. He saw the determination in her eyes. He wanted her more than anything, but he couldn’t live without her. He wouldn’t.
Delaney watched the emotions on Marc’s face as he realized what she intended to do. For a few long seconds no one moved. She didn’t breathe. Then she saw resolve enter Marc’s face. His features softened. He gave her a sad smile. For a moment Delaney wondered if she was doing the right thing. In the time she had known him Marc had changed. Maybe he was redeemable. Maybe she didn’t have to kill him. No, she would save this man. She would teach him to be good.
“It’s okay, Delaney,” Marc said as he grabbed hold of her wrists. “I set you free.”
Then Marc yanked on her arms. She felt a sharp pain in her shoulders as they almost dislocated. She fell on top of Marc. She looked down at the large knife protruding from his chest. Her eyes welled with tears as she watched his eyes lose focus. She shook her head.
“Oh no. No. No. No.”
Not realizing she was on her feet and moving, Delaney walked down the stairs. Covered in the gore of the night she left bloody footprints leading to the kitchen. Delaney grabbed the phone off the wall and dialed.
“911. What’s your emergency,” the voice on the other end said.
“I just killed a man.”