Read Stand for Free Online

all the pictures from one wall in my office. I had done this before with twenty-three murdered girls. When I research the visual presentation helps. I stretched a piece of yarn across the wall. On the left side I hung a piece of paper that noted the time and date, twelve-thirty p.m. April 8, 2009. On the right side I hung a piece of paper with twelve-thirty p.m. April 9, 2009. The last twenty hours of Jimmy’s life, as far as I was aware of. I wrote when he left for work and when he arrived. The rest was a wide open question. There was nothing else to add. It was time to research. I decided to start by talking to Erin. I didn’t have all the contact numbers I needed to retrace his last day. I hoped she had them.
    I opened my e-mail, sent a quick note to Erin, and checked my inbox. I had another from Premiere93GL.
    I was definitely going to let my agent handle this. I opened it, fully intending to forward it to my agent.
    Dear Charlotte,
    Did killing Lawrence Pheares inspire you? I truly hope so. I, personally, have found his death very inspiring.
    Thinking of you,
    Georgia

 
    Chapter 7
    The mocking words on the screen made my blood run cold. I froze. Georgia, the woman behind the curtain. I suspected that Georgia Layeen had partnered with Lawrence Pheares on his killing spree –perhaps even that she was the dominant partner. She had just contacted me, threatened me. My mind wasn’t processing. It just kept circling the same thought, like water around a drain.
    Georgia had found me.
    My heart pounded in my chest and static filled my ears. My vision tunneled on the name typed at the end of the e-mail, Georgia, my own personal nightmare. I sat frozen for a minute and then my chest squeezed as reality hit. Georgia had found me. Suddenly, I bolted out of my chair.
    “Max.” He came running. Together we went to my nightstand and took out the .38 concealed in the drawer there. With the loaded gun in hand we went to every window and door in my home and double checked every lock. I looked inside each closet and behind the shower curtain. It wasn’t paranoia, it was a precaution. My monster was staring out from my computer screen. After I was sure everything was secure, I retreated to my bedroom and called Jack.
    ______
    When my doorbell rang at seven thirteen p.m., I was calmer. I fully intended to be rational and detached when I spoke with Jack. I walked calmly to the door. I opened the door intending to politely thank Jack for coming and apologize for taking his time. I swung open the door, started to say hello, and burst into tears.
    Jack stepped inside the house and guided me back with his hands on my waist before shutting and locking the door. Then he hugged me. I know Jack. I know his voice, his smell. I know what his eyes look like when he’s in pain, and I know how he reacts to stress. I know him. We have not talked for a while, but that awkwardness vanished now. He was here when I needed him. That meant everything to me. My cheek rested on his shoulder and my hands fisted in his shirt. He didn’t say anything for a while. He just rubbed my back. I had no intention of moving. I don’t know how long we would have stood like that if Max had not whined. Jack is now one of Max’s favorite people. He doesn’t see him very often but when he does, Max is ecstatic. I was selfishly taking Max’s precious Jack time.
    “Looks like someone missed me.”
    I managed a tiny smile. “Yes, he did.”
    We stepped into the living room and Jack sat on the sofa to pet Max. Kitty on the other hand hissed when Jack held his hand out. My calico girl only loves me. Is it wrong that it makes me happy? Anyway, once we were settled, Jack gave me that intense concerned look that had become so familiar.
    “You want to tell me what’s going on?”
    “I’ve been getting these e-mails from a fan. They were coming to my personal e-mail, which I thought was weird. Each e-mail kept getting more and more personal, until I got this one