Don't Scream

Chapter 51

Sarra heard Brian come in the hallway at eleven thirty, just as the news ended. She skimmed her hands over the cards on the coffee table, pushing them into a pile. Solitaire is an awful game, you only play it when you are lonely or worried or tired or bored. Or all the above.:

"Hey." He said, coming in. He crossed to the table and picked up her mug, and sniffed. "Leaded?"

"I was trying to stay up and hear what is going on."

"No you were not. You were trying to make sure you won't sleep deep enough or long enough tonight to have nightmares." Her cheeks grew hot, and Brian said. "Jesus Sarra I'm only in the next room. You don't think I hear you pacing around half the night, crying in sleep the other half."

"I saw the news," Sarra said as he sat down beside her. "Is there really a caller?"

" No, we want Brandon to think there is. He called again today near your house."

"My god."

"Listen, Sarra, There are some things you should know."

Brian was true to his word, catching her up on things the task force had been working on, each more shocking than the last, Damien's murder. The discovery of two additional victims from years ago. The murdered women mimicking Chadbornes dolls. Sarra's stomach soured as she remembered testing the first dolls eyelids and now the thought the poor women in Seattle. And the idea the idea that a woman's leg's had been cut to match the cracks in the second doll made her down right nauseous.

Brian had one more thing, Brandon had attended the antique shows.

"He started cozying up to Mrs. Chadborne months ago. And stalking you."

She hugged her arms to herself, trying to contain a shiver of revulsion.

Brian said. "Can you think of anything, anything Chadborne ever told you about her husbands doll collection? Something that would tell us what else Brandon might be planning to do with.?"

Sarra shook her head. Feeling her skin start to crawl. Mrs. Chadborne had been in enigma. Always asking about Abby and Sarra and interested in the antiques business but not giving up much about herself.

"OK". Brian said and shifted. "Listen, there's one more thing. We put an agent in your house posing as you."

Sarra gasped. " You did what?"

"She is a pro, sweetie. Her name is Lexi. we have people all over your street watching out for her, watching for Brandon."

"And this Lexi is supposed to just sit in my house and wait to be attacked?"

He cursed, which told Sarra she had pretty much hit the nail on the head, then handed her phone. " All your numbers will ring to this now. Don't say anything that would lead him to believe you are not there. And we need for you to keep him on the phone, sets us up for a good trace.

"Ask him about his day talk dirty to him?"

A nerve twitched in Brian's jaw. "Stard says let him jerk you around a little act scared."

'Oh I don't think that would be a problem." She said pacing.

"Yes it will because you can't just get mad and hang up on him anymore. You have to play him, Cry, Whimper. Stard thinks he will stay on the phone longer if he hears you messed up."