Deadly Stranger by M.C. Sumner

Author:M.C. Sumner [Sumner , M.C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Alloy Entertainment
Published: 2017-03-29T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“Thanks to that little stunt,” Marshall said, “we’re going to have to change directions again.” He seemed to be gaining strength with every mile, returning to his usual state of frightening coldness. The swelling on his forehead was going down, leaving a multicolored bruise in its place.

“Where are you trying to get to?” Kelly asked.

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” He turned to Lauren. “There’s a highway crossing coming up in a few miles. When we get there, turn left.”

“What did you do back there?” Lauren asked.

“Back there?”

“How did you get the truck?”

“Oh, the truck.” Marshall leaned back in his seat and put his feet up on the dashboard. “The truck driver was a real Good Samaritan. He stopped to see what a poor fellow was doing staggering along the roadside out in the middle of nowhere.” He stopped to put a hand on Lauren’s shoulder. “This trip has been full of Good Samaritans.”

“What did you do to him?” Kelly asked, but she already knew the answer.

Marshall tilted his head back to look at her over the high bucket seat. “Killed him,” he said calmly. “Took a piece of metal fence post out of the back of his truck and split his head open with it.”

Kelly shivered, and she heard Lauren say something under her breath.

“Well, I couldn’t help it, could I?” Marshall said. “You girls were off causing who-knows-what kind of trouble, and I didn’t have time to reason with the man. It’s your fault, really, that he’s dead. I certainly wouldn’t have done anything like that if you hadn’t forced my hand.” He put on a look that imitated regret.

Kelly wondered if any of his expressions were real or if they were all just masks to cover his complete lack of normal emotion. She didn’t think that Marshall ever felt regret, and she was sure that he didn’t feel guilt. This little speech was just another part of his game. Kelly didn’t even think he really expected them to feel guilty about the death of the man in the cowboy hat. He only wanted to see how they would react—something to pass the time.

They reached the highway cutoff that Marshall had mentioned, and Lauren made the left turn. The new road was in worse shape than the one they had been following. Lauren had to slow down to avoid numerous potholes and sections of broken pavement. The road took them past a few new and prosperous-looking ranch houses, but more often they passed houses with faded “For Sale” signs, or houses where the roof sagged down over broken empty rooms.

They had been traveling along the bumpy road for almost an hour when they came to another small town. Like the place they had passed through the day before, this one seemed to consist only of a gas station and a grocery store.

“Kelly’s turn to get us some food again,” Marshall said when they stopped at the store. He got out and let Kelly escape from the backseat, reminding her not to talk to anyone or do anything that he wouldn’t like.

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