Murder in the River City(54)

When Austin didn’t immediately see the limo in front of Dooley’s, he led Shauna down the sidewalk toward the parking garage a block away. They were turning heads, considering that in this dress Shauna looked like the girl in the movie Brave. But this wasn’t a fairy tale even though Austin Davis certainly made a villain worthy of Disney.

“Do you know why I have been so successful for so long?” Austin said. Without waiting for an answer, he said, “Because I don’t leave anything to chance. I always have a back-up plan. I’m not happy I have to walk away from my operation here, but George couldn’t keep his son in line, and that boy has caused numerous problems. Mack wasn’t supposed to die. If he didn’t turn over the code, his daughter was supposed to die. But Pete was screwing the bitch.” He shook his head in disgust. “This is the problem with bringing in too many people. I had everything under control until George got so old and senile he told his son how we operate. I didn’t sign on for this. The last operation I worked for ten years before I had to walk.”

Shauna wondered what the hell he was talking about, but didn’t say a word. If she wasn’t encumbered by this dress and these heels, she’d run or fight or something. Like this, she felt as trapped as if she were tied up like Jason.

Please, please, please let Jason be okay.

“There’s the limo,” she said as it rounded the corner.

“It’s late. Much too late. I don’t know if Amelia is trying to play her own game or if Mr. Butler got loose and is gone or dead. For me, I have another plan.” He patted the baseball in his pocket and looked smug.

Austin led her across the street. One short crosswalk and they’d be in the dark of the parking garage. She glanced over her shoulder; the limo was following them. She looked again.

Sam?

There were too many people walking around, and Austin had a gun. There was no doubt in Shauna’s mind he would kill her, and Sam, and anyone else who got in the way.

Buy time.

She intentionally stepped in a wide crack, pressing all her weight on her heel.

“Ouch!”

“Lose the shoe,” he demanded. She tried to go slow, but he whispered, “Move it, or I’ll come back and kill your grandfather.”

She kicked off both shoes.

Austin motioned her across the street. He kept one hand around her waist. The other had the gun, aimed at her side. She couldn’t let him put her in a car. She glanced frantically around for a way to escape, something to hide behind, a distraction, anything to give Sam time to … what?

The limo drove past them, and Shauna wasn’t certain Sam was the one driving. Had it been wishful thinking on her part?

A family was coming toward them from the parking garage. Shauna froze. Three young girls, all under ten, with their mom and dad. Carefree, enjoying the beautiful night out, and they all stared at her. The dad’s eyes darkened.

He’d seen the gun.

Shauna planned to die at that moment. She looked at the father who stood less than fifteen feet from them. Why was he standing there? “Run!” she ordered.

The mother immediately bolted across the street with her girls, causing two drivers to press their horns. Shauna jumped at the sudden sound, her eyes staring at the father who didn’t leave. In fact, he slowly began to approach, his eyes on Austin.

“Please,” she pleaded, “go with your family—”

Austin whispered in her ear, “Garage.”

Shauna obeyed because she didn’t want anyone to get hurt. She stepped on the short walkway that led to the parking structure. She didn’t see the limo that had already passed them. She didn’t see anyone, except the father now ten feet away. The sobs of his daughters across the street as they continued to flee nearly broke Shauna’s heart. She felt eyes of the people around her as, in the rapidly falling twilight, everyone seemed to realize there was something wrong with the man in the tuxedo and the woman in the green gown.

Austin’s eyes were on the father. He didn’t say anything, but it was evident in his posture that Austin would shoot both her and the good Samaritan.

Then Shauna saw something. Movement to her right. Barely a hint, but someone was there.

Austin followed her into the garage. She glanced over her shoulder, and the father was still behind them. She mouthed, “Go,” and hoped he obeyed.

There was movement to her left. Was she going crazy? Someone on her right, someone on her left, she was trapped in the middle.

She stopped walking.

“Shauna, keep moving.”

“No,” she said. “I’m done.” She tried to collapse, but he held her up.

“Ten feet, you horrid bitch.”