Cellar Door

A dark glint sparks in Jennifer’s eyes. “He enjoyed company benefits the most.”

Makenna palms her stomach; Jennifer’s words a dagger.

“At least Hudson was neat and tidy. Milton got sloppy. Men shouldn’t be given any power when it comes to sex. They can’t help but to shit where they eat. They’re like animals.” She turns toward Makenna. “Hell, I believe Ms. Davies said something to that effect when I hired her. Unfortunately, that check has bounced. You understand. You didn’t do what you were hired to do. Be a witness to my husband’s death.”

“That’s not why I was hired. I was supposed to die.”

“Waste not, want not. I’m a minimalist.”

I push off the wall and walk toward Makenna. “She likes to ramble. I say this is done. Right now.”

Makenna shakes her head. “I can’t fathom it,” she says. “I can’t conceive of how a woman can be so…” She trails off.

“That’s sexiest,” Jennifer says. “I’d expect more from a woman detective. Why can’t women be in charge of an operation of this magnitude? Is it the size, or the success? Or is it the horrid particulars that disturb you the most?”

Holding up a hand, Makenna starts to walk away. “I’m through. With all of this.”

Jennifer smiles. “Good. Now take me in. Make your arrest, or whatever.” She shakes her loose blond bangs out of her eyes. “Oh, and I’ll need a phone. I should call my lawyer beforehand.”

Across the chamber, I meet Makenna’s eyes. She’s stands paused on the first step.

“I won’t stop you,” I say.

She can leave. She doesn’t have to be a part of this.

I gave her the choice before now. She could’ve gutted me the moment I stepped into that room, and I wouldn’t have fought her. I asked only that I be able to finish what I started. And I have. The head snake is in this hell, where she belongs.

“Walk away,” I tell Makenna.

She drops her gaze and stares at my coin still clutched in her hand. “She should serve the same sentence she inflicted on all those girls.”

“Will she get that if you take her in?” It’s an honest question. Will Jennifer even serve one day in prison? Phiser may shrivel and die after it’s exposed to the light but, just as Jennifer made so hideously clear, who will want to believe that she is to be held accountable?

Jennifer tries again to move, and the chain snaps taught. “Take this fucking thing off me.”

I remove the keys from my pocket. Makenna flinches at the sound as I open the cellar door. “This is where you belong. Your own personal prison.”

“Wait,” Jennifer says. “Honestly. Whatever you want…I can make happen. Please don’t to this. I have a son.”

A grown son that may be better off without a sociopath mother. I unshackle her and she fights, nails and teeth gnashing. Her wail pierces my ears. And the whole while I’m fighting Jennifer i

nto the room, I can feel Makenna there. She’s a part of this as much as I am now.

I thrust Jennifer past the door, and she scrambles to stand upright. She holds up her hands, defenseless. The most believable injured expression creases her features. “Just kill me,” she says.

Before Makenna took up residency in this cellar, I probably would have. A mercy killing is easier than witnessing someone deteriorate, and far easier than torture. As Makenna has now discovered.

I limp toward a shelf, bringing Jenifer her welcome home gift. “I made this for you,” I say. Her husband’s teeth, wired together in the shape of a crown. “The verifiable proof you wanted. It’s all yours. This cellar of ghosts, this dark realm of torture and pain.” I place the band of teeth atop her head. “This is your new empire to rule over as you see fit, Mrs. Myer.”

One last look at her as she stands in the middle of the cellar, the crown crooked atop her silky blond head. Her eyes large and pleading…

I close the cellar door.

The screaming starts.

I walk toward the spiral staircase, my leg on fire. “Are you going to flip the coin?”

As if awakening, Makenna finally raises her head. In one hand, she palms the coin. In the other, she grips the knife. “We need to remove that bullet before you pass out.”