Chapter 41
When she was done on the phone with Howie, Bianca immediately
dialed another number – her best friend Brianna’s. She hadn’t spoken with Brianna since she had
left North Carolina after New Year’s and felt she needed to fill her friend in
on what was going on – some of it, anyway.
Brianna was not home when Bianca tried her apartment, so she tried
her cell phone. She was in luck. Brianna picked up after a few rings.
“Hello?” she said breathlessly, sounding stressed.
“Bree? It’s Bean; is this a
bad time?”
“Oh, hey, Bean!” Brianna cried, her hassled-sounding tone
disappearing. “No, no, it’s not a bad
time. I’m just driving and was trying to
get my stupid phone out of the glove compartment.”
“Oh okay. Where you
heading?”
“Work.”
“Work? This late?”
“Yeah, unfortunately. I’ve
got the night shift tonight.”
“Oh. I’m sorry. Where’s Jason?”
“At my parents’ house. He
spends the night there whenever I have to work nights.”
“Oh. You’re lucky to have
them so close.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Well,” said Bianca, changing the subject, “I just called to let
you know I’m not going to be home for… a while.”
“What? Why?” Brianna asked
sharply.
“Well… it’s complicated, but… somebody attacked Howie and Krystle
this morning.”
Brianna gasped audibly. “Oh
no! What happened? Are they okay?”
“Not really… Howie was stabbed in the back and had surgery earlier
today, but he’s supposed to make a full recovery. Krystle though… we think she’s dead.”
“You think?”
“Her body’s gone. Howie
said the attacker stabbed her in the chest and then dragged her body out. The police haven’t found her yet.”
“Oh my God!”
“Yeah. So anyway, I’m kind
of freaked. First AJ, now this. I… I think it might be connected. I’m afraid to stay at home, so I’m going to
stay at Howie’s house for awhile.”
“Oh, okay,” said Brianna.
“That’s completely understandable.”
“Yeah. Do you want the
phone number so you can call me?”
“Sure.”
Bianca gave her the number, and Brianna promised to write it down
as soon as she got to work.
“Call me sometime in case I forget it on the way,” she said with a
laugh.
“Okay,” Bianca replied, giggling.
“I just wanted to let you know that.
I’m heading over there tomorrow.”
“Okay. Thanks, girl,” said
Brianna. “You take care. I’ll talk to you later, ‘kay?”
“’Kay. Bye.”
As soon as she hung up, Bianca went upstairs to get some things
packed.
***
The next morning, Bianca hauled her suitcases and bags into her
car, locked up the house, turned on the security system, and left. Howie had called her earlier, letting her
know he had told the police she would be living at his house for the time being,
so she knew they were expecting her. She
felt relieved, confident that she would be safe there.
She drove through town and finally made it to Howie’s street,
which was lined on both sides by the exquisite mansions of the rich and
famous. Right before she came to Howie’s
drive, she passed a sweeping brick mansion that looked like a castle – Mr.
Gunzenmeier’s manor. He happened to be
out at his mailbox picking up the morning paper, and she gave him a wave and a
tight-lipped smile as she drove past. He
held up his hand solemnly in greeting.
“Mr. Gunzenmeier – friendly as ever,” she mumbled sarcastically
through her closed lips as she pulled into the next driveway.
There were no police at Howie’s house yet that morning. Bianca half-hoped some would come by later,
half-hoped they wouldn’t. Their presence
would make her feel safer, but then again, she wanted her privacy. Besides, nothing bad would happen to her
here, right?
Wrong.
***
