Page 53 of So Deadly
She tried to stand and Turk yanked her back down.She slashed at him, and he released her, jumping just out of the way of the claws.She popped to her feet, but Turk was on her again, clamping down on her ankle and dragging her to the floor.
“Don’t move,” Faith warned.“Try that again, and I’ll shoot.”
“Fuck you, whore!”Jennifer shouted.“I’ll kill your dog, and I’ll kill you too!I’ll tear all of you to pieces!You assholes!”
Her voice, muffled by the mask, was far deeper than the one she’d used at her house.The timidity and fogginess was gone.In its place was powerful animalistic rage.And below that, the cunning.The cunning that had allowed her to plan these murders, to make them entirely the product of this half of her mind and leave the other part as spotless as the home she existed in without truly living there.
That cunning told her how hopeless her situation was.The rage tore a shriek from her mouth.She lifted her clawed hands again, and Faith pulled the slide back on her pistol.“Don’t do it.”
The front door unlatched, and Jessica pulled it open cautiously.She drew her own weapon and aimed it at Jennifer, then said into her radio.“Medics now.One injured gravely.”
Jennifer looked through the front door, eyes narrowing as she considered her chances for using one of the approaching paramedics as cover.
“Don’t do it,” Faith said.“You won’t make it.”
Jennifer looked at the two of them.Disgust seasoned her voice.“You fucking sluts,” she spat.“Good little whores for the government, aren’t you?Protecting theinnocent.Yeah.Bet you’re real proud when you preen in front of the mirror every morning.”
Jessica made a face at Jennifer’s vulgarity.Turk kept his jaws clamped firmly around her ankle, watching warily in case she swung at him again.Faith kept her handgun on the purely vicious side of Jennifer Suleiman’s personality and said, “I’d like to talk to Jennifer, please.”
“Go fuck yourself,” the suspect spat.“What the hell do you think this is, a cartoon?I’m not going to scream and then go to sleep just because yousummonedmy other half.”
“We can bring Marshall to justice,” Faith said, stepping so she was in between Jennifer and the paramedics quickly strapping Marshall onto a gurney.“We can find evidence—”
“Theyalreadybrought him to justice,” Jennifer—or whoever this was—sneered.“He did three months in jail—suspended sentence—and probation.Never actuallysawthe inside of a cell.Played nice with his probation officer once a week, and as of today, he’s free to continue being a prick.No one cares, Faith.No one cares that he gets innocent dogs killed for a quick buck.Who gives a shit.They’re justdogs.”
A tremor ran through her shoulders.She shook her head angrily and forced the snarl back into her voice.“I’m about to decide I’d rather die fighting than go to prison for seeking justice,” she told Faith.“I really hope you’re a good shot.”
“Are you going to kill my dog?”Faith asked calmly.
“Why not?He’s no better than the fake dog that fuckingatePrincess’s throat out!”
But a flicker crossed her eyes, something other than the hateful creature with the dog mask and blood dripping from her claws.
“Please don’t,” Faith said, still calm.“I love him.I don’t want to lose him.”
Jessica frowned at Faith, and Faith willed her partner to trust him and not try to intervene.Jessica shifted her grip on her handgun and turned back to Jennifer, ready to fire if the suspect didn’t comply.
Jennifer laughed bitterly.“I loved Princess.I watched her die.I watched her legs kick as she bubbled blood out of holes in her throat.”
She pressed her hands to her temples.The sharp edges of the blades bit through the mask and into her skin, and a few seconds later, blood trickled down her neckin little rivulets.Jessica flinched toward her, but Faith stopped her with a chopping motion of her hand.Jennifer took a deep breath and shouted into the air, seemingly oblivious to the wounds she was causing herself.“God!I just want her back!”
Behind Faith, Jenkins quietly said, “Wait for the dart to hit, then go.”
Before Faith could ask what that meant, a feathered tranquilizer dart appeared on Jennifer’s neck.The woman shrieked and flailed her arms wildly.Turk grabbed her ankle and twisted, causing her to stumble to one knee.
Faith and Jessica rushed her.Faith grabbed her left arm before she could stab down onto Turk’s head.Jessica grabbed the other arm, and they forced her to the floor.Jennifer turned her wrist and sliced Faith’s arms.Faith winced, but she could feel Jennifer weakening.The woman’s struggles slowly subsided.Her shrieks turned to sobs.Then deep, steady breaths.
“On your left,” Jenkins said.
Faith stood and allowed Jenkins to take over.He put Jennifer into handcuffs and carefully removed the dart.“Should keep her out long enough to restrain her,” he said.
Turk whined and looked at Faith’s arm, which was dripping blood onto the floor.
“Get that taken care of,” Jessica said.“Jenkins and I will wrap up here.”
Faith nodded.She stepped out of the house, Turk at her side.One of the paramedic vans turned on its lights and sirens and sped away, carrying the doomed final victim with them.Paramedics from the other van saw her arm and rushed toward her.They put protective arms around her and led her to their vehicle.Turk followed, and one of the medics, a beautiful dark-skinned woman of around forty, smiled at him.“Don’t worry, boy.Your mommy’s gonna be just fine.”
Turk whined in response, eyes riveted on Faith’s bleeding arm.He stayed at her side while the medics patched her up—three cuts, thin and clean, no stitches needed—and when they finished, he pressed himself to her.He was shivering.
