Read Online Furious by T. R. Ragan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: T. R. Ragan
Tags: Suspense, Thrillers, Women Sleuths, Crime, Mystery, Mystery; Thriller & Suspense, Crime Fiction, Thrillers & Suspense, Vigilante Justice
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were the only people left at the table. Faith said, “Sorry about ruining Thanksgiving.”
“You didn’t ruin anything,” Dad said. “We need to find Lara and Hudson. That’s all that matters.”
N INE
That same night, Faith stood outside her neighbor’s door and rang the bell. The last time she’d stood at Beth Tanner’s front door had been more than a year ago after Beth’s Chihuahua had escaped through a broken slat of wood in the fence surrounding her backyard. Lara and Hudson had begged Faith to let them play with the dog before they returned the animal to its owner, but so much of parenting was saying no.
Beth opened the door a few inches. With her dark hair cropped below the ears, she looked the same. She wore a matching set of pink velour loungewear and gray slip-on shoes.
“It’s me—your neighbor—Faith McMann. I was hoping we could talk.”
“You do realize it’s Thanksgiving?”
Although she hadn’t seen any cars parked out front, Faith nodded. “I know. I’m sorry. If you’re busy, I’ll come back another time.”
The expression on Beth’s face was hard to read as she opened the door fully and allowed her inside. The house had a nice, homey feel to it. The smell of pumpkin pie drifted through the air. Shadowed lights from the television bounced off the mirrored wall in the family room. The dog was nowhere to be seen. “Where’s Prince?”
“He passed away.”
“I’m sorry.”
“He was fifteen. He had a good life.”
They stood there awkwardly.
“Can I get you some pie?”
“No, thanks.”
Beth gestured toward Faith’s throat. “It’s healing nicely.”
Faith brushed a fingertip over the scar and nodded, then followed Beth into the family room. Beth grabbed the remote and turned the television off before she took a seat and told Faith to do the same. “I was wondering when you would pay me a visit,” Beth said. “I figured it was only a matter of time.”
“You knew I would visit?”
“Besides coming to thank me for saving your life, yes. But I also figured you might have questions about what happened and what I saw that day.”
“Thank you,” Faith said, her voice quieter than she intended, “for saving my life.”
“You’re welcome.”
“The doctors said you pinched an artery and that’s what kept me alive.”
Beth tipped her head in agreement. “Years ago, my only daughter was leaving a party when she was attacked. Multiple stab wounds. EMTs arrived in record time, but they were inexperienced and couldn’t save her. It was all too much for my husband. We divorced. I went back to school. I’ve been an ER nurse ever since. All those grueling hours in the ER came in handy when I found you.” She tapped her finger against the cushioned armchair. “I think that pie is calling my name.” She stood. “Sure you don’t want a piece?”
“No, thank you.”
Faith thought about telling Beth how sorry she was about the loss of her daughter, but when Beth returned with pie in hand, something stopped her from saying anything at all. Words just didn’t seem like enough. While Beth ate, Faith filled the silence by telling her neighbor everything she knew about the case thus far, which wasn’t much.
After Faith stopped talking, Beth put her plate to the side. Once again she pushed herself from her chair and left the room. This time when she returned, she handed Faith a large envelope. Inside were images of men she’d cut out from various magazines. There were also two sheets of paper, each with glossy cutouts glued to the paper. One was labeled “Suspect #1” and the other was labeled “Suspect #2.” The number one suspect was Caucasian. He had a square face framed by curly brown hair. Green eyes. Sharp nose. Thin lips. Number two suspect was olive-skinned. Dark hair cut close to his skull and even darker eyes set beneath thick bushy brows.
Images of the dark-eyed man came to her. Kill them both. Make it quick. Her fingers crumpled the edges of
“You didn’t ruin anything,” Dad said. “We need to find Lara and Hudson. That’s all that matters.”
N INE
That same night, Faith stood outside her neighbor’s door and rang the bell. The last time she’d stood at Beth Tanner’s front door had been more than a year ago after Beth’s Chihuahua had escaped through a broken slat of wood in the fence surrounding her backyard. Lara and Hudson had begged Faith to let them play with the dog before they returned the animal to its owner, but so much of parenting was saying no.
Beth opened the door a few inches. With her dark hair cropped below the ears, she looked the same. She wore a matching set of pink velour loungewear and gray slip-on shoes.
“It’s me—your neighbor—Faith McMann. I was hoping we could talk.”
“You do realize it’s Thanksgiving?”
Although she hadn’t seen any cars parked out front, Faith nodded. “I know. I’m sorry. If you’re busy, I’ll come back another time.”
The expression on Beth’s face was hard to read as she opened the door fully and allowed her inside. The house had a nice, homey feel to it. The smell of pumpkin pie drifted through the air. Shadowed lights from the television bounced off the mirrored wall in the family room. The dog was nowhere to be seen. “Where’s Prince?”
“He passed away.”
“I’m sorry.”
“He was fifteen. He had a good life.”
They stood there awkwardly.
“Can I get you some pie?”
“No, thanks.”
Beth gestured toward Faith’s throat. “It’s healing nicely.”
Faith brushed a fingertip over the scar and nodded, then followed Beth into the family room. Beth grabbed the remote and turned the television off before she took a seat and told Faith to do the same. “I was wondering when you would pay me a visit,” Beth said. “I figured it was only a matter of time.”
“You knew I would visit?”
“Besides coming to thank me for saving your life, yes. But I also figured you might have questions about what happened and what I saw that day.”
“Thank you,” Faith said, her voice quieter than she intended, “for saving my life.”
“You’re welcome.”
“The doctors said you pinched an artery and that’s what kept me alive.”
Beth tipped her head in agreement. “Years ago, my only daughter was leaving a party when she was attacked. Multiple stab wounds. EMTs arrived in record time, but they were inexperienced and couldn’t save her. It was all too much for my husband. We divorced. I went back to school. I’ve been an ER nurse ever since. All those grueling hours in the ER came in handy when I found you.” She tapped her finger against the cushioned armchair. “I think that pie is calling my name.” She stood. “Sure you don’t want a piece?”
“No, thank you.”
Faith thought about telling Beth how sorry she was about the loss of her daughter, but when Beth returned with pie in hand, something stopped her from saying anything at all. Words just didn’t seem like enough. While Beth ate, Faith filled the silence by telling her neighbor everything she knew about the case thus far, which wasn’t much.
After Faith stopped talking, Beth put her plate to the side. Once again she pushed herself from her chair and left the room. This time when she returned, she handed Faith a large envelope. Inside were images of men she’d cut out from various magazines. There were also two sheets of paper, each with glossy cutouts glued to the paper. One was labeled “Suspect #1” and the other was labeled “Suspect #2.” The number one suspect was Caucasian. He had a square face framed by curly brown hair. Green eyes. Sharp nose. Thin lips. Number two suspect was olive-skinned. Dark hair cut close to his skull and even darker eyes set beneath thick bushy brows.
Images of the dark-eyed man came to her. Kill them both. Make it quick. Her fingers crumpled the edges of
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