“Fair enough. I think between the three of us, however, we should be able to handle one little girl.”
Despite Dean’s grin and confidence, Olin wasn’t so sure. In his experience,one little girlcould do a whole hell of a lot of damage, and he had a feeling Kat would give them all a run for their money.
* * * *
Kat stared at her artwork, frowning. The image was nothing like what she was supposed to work on. Instead of the cute, funny things she was known for, this painting was an entirely different style.
It had sweeping brush marks and a surrealist quality. A woman’s body was on the floor, as though she’d collapsed, and the outer edges of the painting were black, with light only at the center, making the woman isolated and alone.
Other than the shadows there in the darkness, the ones overlooking her with a sense of menace.
The image had plagued her, refusing to leave her alone until Kat gave in. It wasn’t uncommon, to have this need to complete projects. It was as if the picture crawled around in her head, threatening her.
Tiny bits of dried acrylic paint clung to her skin, making her itch, but she didn’t mind. Those were like makeup for her, something she often found on herself after she stopped painting.
It was one thing about digital art that always made her sad, the lack of that tactile experience, the scent of the paint, the way she could use her fingers to smudge certain of the colors and soften the shading.
A loud sound drew her attention from the artwork. She blinked, the way she always did, as if she had to wake up from her intense focus.
Right, my phone…
She set the paintbrush in the cup of water and rushed over, grabbing her phone off the edge of the desk to answer. “Hello?”
The second the phone pressed to her ear and a familiar voice reached through it, Kat’s head spun.
“Did you really think a new number would change anything? Locating a number is child’s play.”
Jerry.
Kat wanted to hang up. She wanted to collapse, to give in to the panic beating at her. As it always did, Jerry’s voice was entangled in her head with the memory of her own screaming, of the pain that had spread through her, the fear. One couldn’t seem to exist without the other.
Had Kateverfelt fear like that before?
That was an easy answer. Fuck no.
“What do you want?” she forced herself to ask.
“I’ve made that clear—you.”
“Well, you’re not getting that.” She wished her voice were strong, but the fact she got it out at all was impressive.
“Have you watched the news recently?”
“I’m not going to talk current events with you.”
“You should really check some headlines. I’ve left a few gifts for you.”
Dread slithered through Kat at his words. She didn’t think he was lying—what would have been the point? Anygiftfrom Jerry was something Kat knew she wouldn’t want.
“You’re going to get yourself caught. You should just run away while you can.”
“Silly Kat,” Jerry said, a strange, twisted affection in his voice. “I’m not the sort of man who runs away. I didn’t get where I am today by running. I’ve built myself up from nothing by determination and perseverance. It’s how I have everything I have and exactly how I’ll get you, too.” He let out a breath as if he had lain down. The relaxing sound only put Kat on further edge, as if he were talking to her like some lover. “I put a lot of effort into the gifts. I’d thought you’d hear about it, but it sounds like you don’t leave your house all that much. Besides, that detective around you is probably trying to hide it from you.”
“Hide what?”
“What fun would it be if I just came out and told you? On Christmas morning, kids aren’t told their gifts—they get to open them. I don’t want to ruin the surprise. If you want to know, just look at the local news and I’m sure you’ll put it together. If you were stupid, I wouldn’t be interested in you, after all.”
The praise didn’t do a damn thing for her. She didn’t live for praise, had long before given up getting it, and even if she enjoyed it, she didn’t want anything from Jerry.