Read Bill Hopkins - Judge Rosswell Carew 01 - Courting Murder for Free Online

explain Babe’s words and deeds. Eddie Joe repeated his question to the killer. “What’s going on here?”
    “You probably have a good idea now, don’t you? Can’t you guess what’s about to happen?”
    “The hell I can.” This time directed to Babe, Eddie Joe said, “What’s going on here?”
    “Since you’re so dense, I’ll tell you what’s going on here.” Babe shoved Eddie Joe again. “You’re dead.”
    “Dead? Dead!” Eddie Joe shrieked. “What do you mean dead?”
    “It’s a simple concept,” Babe said. “A simple word. Dead, as in not alive. You dragged me outside in the dark and made me wish I was dead. You used my body like you owned it.”
    “You liked it,” Eddie Joe said. Babe kicked him in the balls.
    The killer said to Eddie Joe, “I’ve taken all the filthy trash off you I’m ever going to take. You’ve betrayed me for the last time. Played around on me.”
    “Trash?” Eddie Joe said, gasping with pain. “Filthy trash? What the hell does that mean? And how in the hell did I betray you, for Christ’s sake? What are you talking about?”
    “You had your fun with me when I was too little to resist. You did the same thing to Babe. You’re scum and you’ve betrayed me for the last time, you son of a bitch. You like to play around.”
    “Betray?” Babe said to the killer. “Played around?” Puzzlement at the killer’s unexpected words danced plainly on Babe’s face. She said to the killer, “I thought it was only you and me. How could this scum betray you?” She snapped her fingers. “You played around with Eddie. You’re a liar. You’re a cheat!”
    The killer said, “I’ve had lots of sex with lots of people. I like sex.”
    Surprise spluttered to the surface of Eddie Joe’s fear and confusion. “You,” he said to the killer, “and … this?” He pointed to Babe. “What shit.” Eddie Joe’s fear sweat stank.
    Babe turned her anger from the killer and said to Eddie Joe, “You liked me a lot when I couldn’t resist.”
    “Shut your pie holes,” the killer said to both of them, then to Eddie Joe, “When you have as many secrets as you do, you can’t keep track of all of them. And you have one hell of a lot of secrets.”
    Eddie Joe said, “You’re not making sense.” A yellow jacket buzzed around his face, attracted by his perspiration.
    The killer said, “You never did know what I was talking about, did you?”
    Eddie Joe said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about now.”
    “Neither do I,” said Babe.
    The killer ignored Babe. “That doesn’t matter anymore,” speaking to Eddie Joe. “You’re dead now and welcome to it.”
    Excitement roiled inside the killer. There’s a taste of anticipation that comes before sex and killing. Savoring the taste, the killer stroked Eddie Joe’s stubbly cheeks. Eddie Joe had forgotten to shave.
    “That does it. I’m leaving,” Eddie Joe said and stood on the ground. Babe kicked her shoes off and tagged Eddie Joe with her Taser. Then she pinned him in a full nelson. Babe may’ve been stringy, but she was tough for a woman. And a stun gun softens up everybody.
    Eddie Joe tore at Babe, managing only to seize air with his hands now formed into claws.
    “Where is it?” the killer said.
    “It’s on the floor,” said Babe. “Get it.”
    The killer snagged the knife off the car’s floor and held it up where all three of them could see it.
    “Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!” Eddie Joe said when the thing appeared. Then silence. Maybe a real silent prayer.
    “That’s right,” the killer said. “You’d better pray. This is your last chance. But I don’t think it’ll do you any good.” The killer spit on Eddie Joe. “Jesus doesn’t recognize you and the Devil hears no prayers, only resignations. You’re going to hell.”
    Not loosening her hold on Eddie Joe, Babe said, “Give it to me.”
    The killer clutched the knife with the ferocity of a miser’s hand in rigor mortis grasping an earthly