“Time to play.”

Chapter  19

Jason and Nina both started with a criminal records search and both came up empty. Nina was the first to move on to a drivers license search and got a hit.

“Donald Jarvis. Age 22. Gives an address east of the city.”

Jason shook his head.

“Apparently Betty Jarvis didn’t have a current drivers license.”

He grabbed the phone book on the corner of his desk and looked up Betty Jarvis. He flipped the book around so Nina could see it.

“Is that the address on the son’s license?”

Nina compared them.

“Yes.”

Jason was immediately on his feet.

“Let’s go.”

****

Donnie decided to have the girls play last. He walked around to the back of Dexter Hughes’ chair and spun the chamber of the gun once more. Hughes started to whimper. Donnie did his best to remain detached. It had to be done.

For his brother.

“I’ve brought you all together to finish the game you started with Billy Jarvis. Each of you is going to get the turn you didn’t take ten years ago.”

“Donnie, don’t do this!”

It was Suzanne and Donnie was startled to realize they knew who he was.

“So, you’ve figured out who I am. It doesn’t change anything. Billy can only rest after the four of you have taken your turn.”

It was his captives turn to appear stunned and Donnie could see it on their faces as the enormity of what was about to happen dawned on each one.

“You first, Hughes.”

Donnie spun the chamber on the .38 revolver for a third time, pulled the hammer back and placed it against the back of Dexter Hughes’ head. He pulled the trigger.

Click!

****

As Jason and Nina came out of the elevator, Jason saw Dave Connor waving another note at him. He thought about ignoring it but if it was from Devin James, he wanted it. He looked at Nina.

“Can you bring the car around? I need to see what Dave has for me.”

“Sure.”

She continued out the doors as Jason went over to the Sergeant’s desk.

“Another note from James?”

“Not this time. Lieutenant Banks called down and asked me to catch you. She says she wants an update in her office immediately.”

Jason stopped short. He didn’t want to lose time explaining everything to Banks. He left the note in Dave’s hands.

“Tell her you tried to give it to me but I was in too much of a hurry.”

“You sure buddy?”

“I’m sure. Thanks.”

Jason turned and hurried out the doors to the waiting car. The lives of four people took priority now. He’d worry about Lieutenant Sarah Banks later.

****

Dexter Hughes sat in his chair shaking.

“You win, Hughes. You don’t die today.”

Donnie stepped back from Dexter Hughes and circled the table, every eye fixed on him. When he came around to the back of Ed Garland, he stopped.

“Don’t do this, Donnie. You won’t get away with it.”

“At this point, I don’t expect to get away with it, since you know who I am but I do plan to get away. They won’t find me.”

Donnie spun the chamber again, a longer spin this time.

Again, he pulled back the hammer and could feel more than see Ed Garland close his eyes. The girls both had theirs closed, as well.

Donnie laid it against the back of Ed Garland’s head and pulled the trigger.

Click!

Chapter  20

Nina had put her blue light on the top of the car and she used her horn at intersections. They were moving through traffic quickly but Jason couldn’t shake the feeling they were running out of time.

His pager started going off. It was the station and likely, Banks. He shut it off.

His phone rang and it showed the lieutenant’s cell phone. Jason decided he better pick up.

“Strong.”

“This is Lieutenant Banks. I requested you in my office ten minutes ago. Where are you?”

“We’re in the car.”

He rolled his eyes at Nina.

“Don’t play dumb with me, Detective. Why are you two not sitting in front of me right now?”

Jason sighed and tried to come up with a short version of a long story.

“We have a lead on where the four missing persons might be.”

“Four!?”

Jason realized they hadn’t yet told the lieutenant about Dexter Hughes.

“Uh, yeah. We discovered a fourth missing person who was tied to the same case.”

“Nice of you to share.”

“Sorry, Lieutenant. We felt a need to follow up immediately on this lead.”

“Where are you? And don’t say in the car.”

“We’re on our way to the home of Betty Jarvis and her son, Donnie.”

“How did you get their names?”

This conversation just kept getting worse. Jason braced himself.

“Devin James.”

“The reporter?!”

“Yes Maam.”

“And how did he get onto them?”

“Apparently, it was a story he did some ten years ago that helped him make a connection.”

There was a long silence on the other end and the next question caught Jason by surprise.

“Do you need any back-up?”

“As of yet, we don’t know what we’ll find. I’ll call immediately if we need support.”

“Very well, Strong. You better be right.”

The phone went dead and Jason looked at his phone, then at Nina.

“That went well.”

****

Donnie pulled the gun away from the back of Ed Garland’s head.

“Well Ed, it seems it’s your lucky day also. You’ve played and won.”

Ed said nothing and Donnie thought the man may have passed out. Donnie spun the chamber repeatedly, each rotation causing the girls to jump, as he walked around to the other side of the table. He stopped behind Chelsea Burt, continuing to spin the chamber as he stood there.

Chelsea began to sob uncontrollably. Donnie spun the chamber twice more and pulled back the hammer. He could tell the girl was saying something under her breath but could only barely make it out.

“Please no…please no….please…”

Donnie laid the gun against her skull and the girl instinctively leaned away from him. He reached out and grabbed a chunk of hair, pulled her back towards him, and squeezed the trigger.

****

Nina steered the car off I-10 and headed west towards the farm. They came to the address in just a few minutes. Kicking up a trail of dust, they sped up the lane towards the house. Jason could see no movement as they approached.

****

Click!

The sound caused Chelsea to jump and she let out a whimper. Donnie stood back. Three had played and all three had won. Something began to gnaw at the back of Donnie’s brain. Something he fought to suppress, to keep from distracting him.

Finish the job, finish the job, finish the job.

He chanted to himself to keep his focus.

He hurried, feeling a growing anxiety, around to behind Suzanne. Donnie had purposely chosen her last, hoping that she might be spared. She had been Billy’s girlfriend, and Donnie had known her well, even had a crush on her.

Now he stood behind her, and looking into the reflection on the china cabinet across the room, he could see the face of the last person to play the game. It now looked as if the odds were stacked against her and he could see the realization in her eyes.