Deserves to Die (Alvarez & Pescoli)

“No. Just the check. I think I mentioned I’m in a hurry.”

The girl whipped out the folder with a piece of paper and a pen inside and Calypso handed her a credit card with a mere glance at the bill.

Two minutes later the transaction was finished, and Calypso was heading outside to the wintry streets of Grizzly Falls once more. Pathetic town, she thought, winding her scarf more tightly around her neck as the snow fell. She headed back the way she’d come and for the first time since parking illegally hoped beyond hope that her car hadn’t been towed. The sidewalk was uneven, her boots slipping a little as she walked, head bent against an icy wind that chilled her to the bone.

Maybe a hotel wasn’t such a bad idea after all. Cinching the belt of her wool coat a little tighter, she tried not to notice that the trail of mashed down snow was a little eerie, the back side of the ancient buildings dark, the loading bays empty. Only a few lights from apartments on the upper stories were visible. One streetlight hadn’t illuminated and another was fading slowly in and out as if it were soon to die. No other pedestrians were out at this time of night, not even some idiot walking his dog in the damn snow.

Jesus, it’s cold.

Following a wrought-iron fence that separated the pedestrian path and the sheer drop-off to the river below, she shivered against a wind that drove icy snow pellets right into her face, stinging her cheeks.

That decided it. She would find a place to stay, a motel close to the freeway. Hadn’t she seen one on the way into this funky little town? A Holiday Inn or Motel 6? She’d backtrack in her car, follow the route she’d taken into town, find that motel, grab a room, then take off early in the morning after a hot shower, a few hours rest, and a cup of crappy motel coffee. That would be the smart thing to do.

Another bitter gust.

“God, it’s cold.” And nerve-wracking.

Even the tread of the pathway she was following was beginning to be covered with a thick layer of snow. Worse yet, between the whoosh of the wind and the rushing sound of the damn falls, she couldn’t hear anything. Not really a surprise as her aching ears felt as if they were nearly frozen solid. It was as if she were the only person in the arctic world.

Just get to the damn car.

She stepped a little quicker, though she reminded herself there was nothing to be freaked out about. So I’m alone? So it’s weirdly dark? So what?

Squinting against the harsh wind, she caught a glimpse of her Mercedes parked where she’d left it under the bridge.

Things were looking up.

She hit the unlock button on her remote key and her car’s headlights flashed, though, if the lock had dinged, she couldn’t hear it. Didn’t matter. She just had a few more feet and—

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Her heart nearly stopped.

What was that? What the hell was that?

Footsteps?

Looking over her shoulder, she saw nothing but swirling snow.

Get over yourself!

She was nearly at the bridge.

Thump! Thump!

Adrenaline pumped through her blood and she broke into a jog.

For the love of Christ!

Just a few more steps!

Bam!

Someone torpedoed her from the back!

Her feet slid wildly in the snow and she fell forward, desperately trying to keep her balance.

Impossible. He was too heavy.