door. Or, if any of his house guests had found the article for that matter. Horace imagined that the strange circumstances of his brother’s death would be difficult for Damon to explain to other people. While Horace preferred to mind his own business, he wasn’t one to take threats from other people. He saw no harm in letting the young man know who was boss around here. Maybe he would decide to pack up, head home, and not return.
Horace passed by Damon’s beach house to see that that article had indeed been ripped from the door. He couldn’t help but chuckle as he continued on to his own home. He set his fishing pole down by the front door, turned the knob, and stepped inside. Usually Max was either waiting by the door or would come wandering out from wherever he was resting. Max was no longer able to come running to the door so Horace decided to wait a moment for him. When Max didn’t show, he called out to him. “Max, I’m home. I’ve caught us some food, pal.”
Horace began to worry as Max continued to be a no show. He always feared that he would return home one day and find that his dear friend had passed away. It really was only a matter of time. He just wanted him to go peacefully.
With tears beginning to well in his eyes, Horace entered the kitchen. Rather than cry, Horace could only scream. He had expected to see his friend lying still, eyes closed, peacefully resting for eternity. What he saw was completely inexplicable and horrifying. His best friend had been hanged from one of the rafters in the kitchen ceiling. Max just hung there, completely still and dead. The weight of his body dangling from that rope. He could imagine the way that Max must have kicked and pawed while he hung from that noose until he went completely still. Until he had taken his last breath. Until he had given up.
Horace grabbed a knife from the counter and cut his companion down from the ceiling. Tears were streaming down his face. Horace had never felt so empty before in his life. He scooped Max up in his arms, sat on the floor, and cried.
Chapter 22
Damon came through the front door. Kristi, Mark, and Megan were all sitting at the table in the kitchen area. They were enjoying coffee and bagels that the girls had picked up at the grocery store the day before.
Kristi offered a bagel to her boyfriend. “Where have you been? I was worried about you when I woke up and you were gone.”
Damon accepted the bagel; he had worked up quite an appetite. “I couldn’t sleep this morning so I decided to get up and take a walk. Scope out the beach.”
Shoving down his last bit of bagel, Mark looked suspiciously at Damon. “So what’s on tap today then?”
“I thought we could head down to the end of the beach. There’s a place where you can rent jet skis. Thought that might be interesting.”
Megan jumped at the idea. “That sounds like a blast. Let’s get ready and get down there.” After the enjoyable dinner of the previous evening, she was looking forward to an opportunity for the four of them to bond.
Mark also thought jet skiing was a great idea. He was hoping it would give him a chance to show off in front of Kristi, he doubted that Damon’s athleticism could even compare to his own.
Megan and Kristi headed upstairs to put on their bathing suits and get themselves ready for a promising afternoon.
***
Sullivan looked at the picture from his camera and the picture taken from the surveillance tape. It was definitely the same woman. No doubt about it. He couldn’t help but admire her, she was beautiful and it was almost impossible to imagine her murdering Cliff in cold blood. However, this was enough to question her about the situation. Perhaps she saw someone else in the convenience shop at the same time she went in to use the restroom.
The detective scooped up the pictures and his car keys. “Barrett, I’m headed down to the beach to see if I can’t find
Horace passed by Damon’s beach house to see that that article had indeed been ripped from the door. He couldn’t help but chuckle as he continued on to his own home. He set his fishing pole down by the front door, turned the knob, and stepped inside. Usually Max was either waiting by the door or would come wandering out from wherever he was resting. Max was no longer able to come running to the door so Horace decided to wait a moment for him. When Max didn’t show, he called out to him. “Max, I’m home. I’ve caught us some food, pal.”
Horace began to worry as Max continued to be a no show. He always feared that he would return home one day and find that his dear friend had passed away. It really was only a matter of time. He just wanted him to go peacefully.
With tears beginning to well in his eyes, Horace entered the kitchen. Rather than cry, Horace could only scream. He had expected to see his friend lying still, eyes closed, peacefully resting for eternity. What he saw was completely inexplicable and horrifying. His best friend had been hanged from one of the rafters in the kitchen ceiling. Max just hung there, completely still and dead. The weight of his body dangling from that rope. He could imagine the way that Max must have kicked and pawed while he hung from that noose until he went completely still. Until he had taken his last breath. Until he had given up.
Horace grabbed a knife from the counter and cut his companion down from the ceiling. Tears were streaming down his face. Horace had never felt so empty before in his life. He scooped Max up in his arms, sat on the floor, and cried.
Chapter 22
Damon came through the front door. Kristi, Mark, and Megan were all sitting at the table in the kitchen area. They were enjoying coffee and bagels that the girls had picked up at the grocery store the day before.
Kristi offered a bagel to her boyfriend. “Where have you been? I was worried about you when I woke up and you were gone.”
Damon accepted the bagel; he had worked up quite an appetite. “I couldn’t sleep this morning so I decided to get up and take a walk. Scope out the beach.”
Shoving down his last bit of bagel, Mark looked suspiciously at Damon. “So what’s on tap today then?”
“I thought we could head down to the end of the beach. There’s a place where you can rent jet skis. Thought that might be interesting.”
Megan jumped at the idea. “That sounds like a blast. Let’s get ready and get down there.” After the enjoyable dinner of the previous evening, she was looking forward to an opportunity for the four of them to bond.
Mark also thought jet skiing was a great idea. He was hoping it would give him a chance to show off in front of Kristi, he doubted that Damon’s athleticism could even compare to his own.
Megan and Kristi headed upstairs to put on their bathing suits and get themselves ready for a promising afternoon.
***
Sullivan looked at the picture from his camera and the picture taken from the surveillance tape. It was definitely the same woman. No doubt about it. He couldn’t help but admire her, she was beautiful and it was almost impossible to imagine her murdering Cliff in cold blood. However, this was enough to question her about the situation. Perhaps she saw someone else in the convenience shop at the same time she went in to use the restroom.
The detective scooped up the pictures and his car keys. “Barrett, I’m headed down to the beach to see if I can’t find
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