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his collar and dragged him off. 'OK OK,' he said. 'Let me go.' |
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Buddy released him. On hands and knees, Doug searched through clumps of fleshy debris beside the body. He found Cyndi's knife. Then he stood up. He stared down at her. 'She sure made a mess of your kitchen.' |
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Buddy punched his shoulder. 'Let's move.' |
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Their shoes crunched on broken glass as they walked toward the door. Lou was first to step outside. It felt good to be under the rain again. Striding toward the pool, he rolled the makeshift bandage down his arm. He peeled his sodden shirt off, and sighed with pleasure as the rain found his skin. |
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'OK,' Buddy said. 'So where is she?' |
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Lou scanned the dark surface from end to end as he pushed the knotted handkerchief back up his arm to cover the gash. No sign of Maureen. |
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'She supposed to be in the pool?' Doug asked. |
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'That's what Louie says.' |
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'I saw her. She was right there watching us.' He pointed toward the middle. |
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'Well, she ain't there now.' |
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'Maybe she ducked under.' |
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'I'll check,' Doug said, and rushed for the edge. |
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Even as the words left Buddy's mouth, Doug leaped. |
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'Bastard! I'm gonna make you clean it!' |
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Doug, standing in shoulder-deep water, turned around and grinned. 'What, you don't want any Cyndi in the pool?' |
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