Don't Scream

Chapter 12

Brandon shoved the woman's arm into the drivers seat of the Honda. He stepped back and peered over the ravine an hundred and fifty foot bluff that sank into an abandon quarry like the end of the earth.  It made for a long hike back.but here he wouldn't have to worry about anyone finding the woman. That was critical to his plan. The woman needed to be missing.like the other from Denver.He propped the doll on the dead woman's lap, smiling a little idea of all that money about to go over the bluff into oblivion. 1864 Benoit original clothing Bisque head and breastplate kid body one of the pair missing from the Larousse collection until 1955. Appraisal 20,000 to 25,000 Another precious doll Sarra would never see.

Damn he wished he hadn't thought of her again. The only flaw to his plan that she hadn't answered her phone this morning. Leaving a message was risky but Brandon had finally gave in. He had to hear her voice. even if it was just a voice mail. and now when she got his message the fear would start thumping in her chest. He knew she was suffering.

Not like mother. She had never suffered she was gone between the heart beat and the next singing the folk tunes one minute death rattling in her throat the next. A 38 pistol in her hand.

Brandon shook off that memory and wrenched the gear shift into neutral. he walked back to the back of the Honda lodged his shoulder against the bumper and pushed.the wheels turned the front bumper dipping as the tires edged toward the ravine. Breathing hard he pushed until the car crept another inch, then two, then picked up speed as the front tires rotated  down the slope  and past the edge. A second later the car went went over the ravine.

He listened for metal crunching into the earth the ribbon of sound swirling up from the bottom off the bluff like a scream. He pulled up the dead woman's cell phone and started to dial Sarra. then stopped.

He looked at his watch 2;00 and an hour later in Virgina. God he wanted to talk to Sarra, But this woman's phone wouldn't be good for much longer. It might not even be safe now. The date book in her purse showed she had a hair apt. at 9:00 this morning It could be someone had noticed her missing, already maybe even reported it. Normally there would be no need to worry so soon But the heels of Jessica Davis and Thelma Cox The authorities might take the report of a missing woman seriously enough to look into it without waiting 24 hours.

He studied the cell phone the frustration of not hearing Sarra's voice causing almost Physical pain. But the risk of the phone being watched increased with every passing second.No sense in taking chances.

He turned off the phone and threw it over the ravine. He pulled a pen out of his pocket and marked off insurance form for the doll that had just gone over. already thinking ahead of time he turned to the fourth page.

Ah yes that doll A thrill shot through him better pick up a couple of blank tapes for that one.