Hard to Kill Read online

  The old man nodded. “Uh-huh.”

  Josh stared at his sixty-five-year-old uncle, probably longer than the man was comfortable with. Harold wrung his hands and looked away.

  “Just remember, if anything happens and I find out you talked, I’ll come back for you, and I guarantee, it won’t be pretty.”

  “I know, I know. I told you I won’t talk.”

  “Then come over here and help me get this off my leg. I have things to do and places to be.”

  Nearly an hour passed before he was free of the ankle bracelet, but the time it took—and the painstaking effort—was well worth it. The monitor continued to flash red as if it was still wrapped around Josh’s leg.

  “It’s about damn time,” he said as he rubbed his ankle. Josh stared at his uncle, still undecided about what to do with him. The man had been sketchy all his life, and even though he was older and possibly wiser, Josh still didn’t trust him. Harold was a means to an end and nothing more. Josh needed somebody to give him a place to live or he would be sent to a halfway house.

  Once a weasel, always a weasel.

  As soon as the old man turned his back, Josh sprang into action and wrapped his forearm around Harold’s neck. He pulled him in against his chest and cut off the man’s breathing as he struggled to get away. With his right hand forcing Harold’s head to the left, he pushed until his uncle’s neck snapped. Josh let go, and Harold’s knees buckled under his weight. He dropped to the floor—dead within seconds.

  “Sorry, old man. It wasn’t personal. When push comes to shove, I knew you weren’t a man I could trust once I was out of your sight. You served your purpose, so good on you. Now I’ll be on my way.”

  Chapter 3

  I turned in to my driveway at 5:40 and waited as the overhead garage door lifted. I wouldn’t pull in just yet since I had to bring the canoe out through the garage and secure it to the carrier on top of Hanna’s Explorer. She would arrive within a few minutes, and we’d be on our way as soon as her SUV was loaded.

  Once inside the house, I fed Bandit and took my already packed duffel bag downstairs. On my way home, I’d stopped and bought three bags of ice. They would be emptied into my new cooler, then we’d fill it with the groceries that needed to stay cold. Laying all the seats down in Hanna’s vehicle would give us plenty of room for our camping gear, groceries, clothing, and Bandit.

  I began carrying everything into the garage. Hanna would back her Explorer in, we’d load it, then we’d be on our way in no time.

  Minutes later, I walked to the end of the driveway and, when I saw her coming down the street, motioned for her to stop. “Hey, hon, turn your car around and back into the garage about halfway. I have most of the stuff ready to go. We just have to do a little rearranging, and then we’ll be on our way.”

  “I’m so excited, Jesse. This is the first time I’ll be camping.”

  Her enthusiasm was infectious. I was pretty excited, too, and wanted to hit the road.

  “Okay, go ahead and back up, then. I’ll stand on the side so you can see me through your mirror.”

  Once she backed in, I lowered the seats and saw there was quite a bit of room.

  “This is perfect. Let’s fill the cooler with ice and the cold food, then we’ll push it toward the front as far as it’ll go. That way, if we want a sandwich or a soda, you can just grab it.”

  “Good idea.”

  Hanna picked up a bag of ice and dropped it on the concrete floor. With the big chunks broken into smaller pieces, it would be easier to lay the bag on the bottom of the cooler, place the food on top, and pour the loose ice over that.

  “Give me a hand. This thing is pretty heavy now that it’s full,” Hanna said.

  We lifted the cooler in, then Hanna climbed into the back seat area and pulled it by the handle toward the front. With the latch centered between the seats, it would be easy for her to reach back and open.

  “Okay, it’s good, Jesse. I think we can move on to something else.”

  We filled the rest of the floor space with bags of food, our duffel bags and backpacks, fishing gear, the dome tent, and our sleeping bags and pillows. Bandit’s leash, blanket, food, bowls, a Frisbee, and a ball went in last.

  I closed the liftback and grinned.

  Hanna laughed. “What? You look like the Cheshire cat.”

  “I’m just excited to go. Let’s make sure we haven’t left anything in the house, lock up, and get the hell out of Chicago.”

  We took the next five minutes to walk the house, use the facilities, and lock up. I had Hanna pull her SUV out of the garage, then we lifted the canoe to the rooftop carrier and strapped it down, and I parked my Camaro inside. I lowered the garage door and set the alarm, and we were ready to go.

  “Last chance.” I climbed into the driver’s seat.

  “For what?”

  “To back out. You haven’t camped before, so who knows what you’re getting yourself into.”

  She stuck out her tongue. “Don’t try to freak me out, mister. I’m tougher than you think.”

  “Don’t say I didn’t give you fair warning. Let’s take a selfie together before we leave.” I set my phone to selfie mode, pulled Hanna to my right side with Bandit between us, and with a grin, shot up my middle finger. Hanna made a peace sign, and I snapped the picture. After seeing that it was perfect, I sent it on its way to Lutz’s phone with a message—“I promise not to miss any of you. Pass this around, and I’ll see you in ten days.”

  “Okay, here we go. A new adventure is waiting for us.”

  I programmed Giant City State Park into her navigation system, and at six forty-five, we pulled out of the driveway. We were finally on our way, and a full week of uninterrupted fun was right around the corner.

  Chapter 4

  Josh sucked in the last drag of the cigarette pressed between his lips. The end glowed orange, then he blew out the smoke and flicked the butt out the window.

  Great to see you’re alive and well, Detective McCord. It’s been some time since we’ve been face-to-face, but I haven’t forgotten the promise I made to you just before they cuffed me and threw me in the back of the police car. You might not remember much since I whipped your ass pretty good, but I said you hadn’t seen the last of me and that you’d pay in the end. Looks like I get to live up to my promise, thanks to good behavior and overcrowding.

  When Jesse drove past his rental car, Josh ducked and watched out the side mirror. As soon as the detective reached the stop sign, Josh sat up, pressed the ignition button, and made a U-turn.

  Couldn’t see what you were doing in the garage for so long, but it looks like a canoe trip is in your future. No time to go out now since it’ll be dark in a few hours. Maybe a weekend getaway? Sounds like a blast to me.

  Staying several car lengths behind the dark-red Explorer, Josh settled in with a full tank of gas, a prepaid cell phone with a charger, and five hundred dollars in cash he’d weaseled out of his uncle. He’d grabbed three cheeseburgers, two orders of fries, and a large soda at the drive-through before reaching Jesse’s house, which turned out to be a smart move. He had no idea how far they were going, but he was set on food until tomorrow, and gas shouldn’t be a problem. He was sure the Explorer would run dry long before the rented Corolla would.

  Chapter 5

  Getting from my house to the interstate took only fifteen minutes. We would have almost a straight shot to Giant City State Park once we merged onto I-57 off I-94. Around the halfway point or a little farther, we’d find a hotel that allowed dogs, even though I knew Bandit would be fine overnight in the Explorer if necessary.

  “Can you check on your phone for hotels south of Champaign that allow dogs?”

  “Sure thing.” Hanna pulled her phone off the charger and began a search. “Hmm… there’s a half dozen or so cheap motels that allow pets.”

  “How about something not so cheap that’s considered a hotel, not a motel?”

  “One second. Okay, I found a nice hot
el in Effingham that has rooms for eighty bucks a night and allows pets. How does that sound?”

  “Get on their site and see what the rooms are like and if they offer Continental breakfast. That’ll save us a breakfast stop if they do.”

  I glanced at Hanna and smiled. She was tapping away on her phone, looking at photos, and scrolling through the hotel amenities. Bandit jammed his nose through the opening between the seat and door on my left side. I gave him a pet.

  “Hey, buddy. How you doing back there?”

  He licked my hand and settled down.

  “Okay, it looks like they offer Continental breakfast between six and eleven a.m. They have the typical rooms, either two queens or one king, a mini fridge, coffee station, and a table in the corner.”

  “Can you reserve a room with two queens? That’ll give Bandit his own bed, and we can toss our duffel bags on there too.”

  “Sure, I’ll do it right now and then program the hotel’s location into my phone.”

  “Thanks, babe. It’ll take about three hours to get there, so you might as well recline your seat and relax.”

  “You sure you don’t mind?”

  “Nope. I’ve had an easy day. I found my desk full of paperwork and files when I walked in this morning. That was Frank’s way of paying me back for taking vacation.”

  She chuckled. “So filing is a punishment?”

  “Yep, you can say that.” I pointed at the upcoming road sign. “Here we go—merging onto I-57. This interstate will take us all the way there.”

  “Easy enough in case you get tired, or I can drive the rest of the way in the morning.”

  I liked that about Hanna. She was a hands-on type of woman, wasn’t afraid to pitch in at a second’s notice, and was always thoughtful. I reached over, squeezed her shoulder, and told her to get some rest. Minutes after she closed her eyes, I heard her breathing slow. I looked over, and she was fast asleep.

  The drive was uneventful, and traffic flowed steadily. There wasn’t a single interstate accident to slow down our trip, and by ten o’clock, I’d pulled into the parking lot of the hotel chain where Hanna had made the reservation. She and Bandit both woke up when I killed the engine.

  She yawned. “What’s going on? What time is it?”

  Bandit whimpered, and I was sure he needed a bathroom break.

  I laughed. “We’re here”—I glanced at my watch—“and it’s a few minutes after ten.”

  “We’re at the hotel? I slept for three hours?”

  “Yes, you did, and loudly, as a matter of fact.”

  She punched my arm. “I don’t snore.”

  “Oh, okay, it must have been Bandit, then. At least he won’t punch me for saying that. Why don’t you get your bearings for a minute and then go inside and check us in.” I pulled my credit card from my wallet and handed it to her. “Meanwhile, I’ll walk Bandit around the parking lot so he can do his thing.”

  “Sure.” She rubbed her eyes, stretched, and opened the passenger-side door.

  I got out, too, found Bandit’s leash, and clipped it to his collar. “C’mon, boy. Let’s take a walk around the parking lot perimeter.”

  Hanna set off in one direction and Bandit and I in another. The parking lot was dimly lit, but the grassy perimeter was just beyond the pavement, and we headed that way. The headlights of a car briefly illuminated the parking lot. I looked back to make sure we weren’t walking in its path, but the driver had already turned in to an available spot and parked. Bandit and I continued on. Glancing back to see if Hanna was coming out, I noticed a man entering the building.

  Bandit seemed to enjoy the different smells. “Come on, boy. Quit sniffing around and do your business.” Moments later, Hanna called out my name. I cupped my mouth and yelled back. “We’re over here by the grass, hon.”

  “We’re all set and on the first floor,” Hanna said when she reached us.

  “Great, that makes everything easier. Nice night, huh?”

  She looked up at the full moon surrounded by puffy clouds. “The sky is beautiful. I can’t wait until tomorrow night when we’re sitting around a campfire and looking at the same night sky.”

  “You like roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, right?”

  “Of course, just not together in a bun.”

  “Good one.” I gave her a hug. “Let’s take a few things inside. We’ll get Bandit squared away with dinner and then go eat. I saw one of those all-night restaurants across the street, and I’m starving.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  After taking our bags inside, we passed the Explorer as we made our way to the restaurant.

  “Do you think the canoe will be okay?”

  I shrugged. “We don’t have much of a choice unless you want to bring it up to the room.” I gave her a wink. “There’s a cable lock on it that’s attached to the luggage carrier. I think it’ll be fine.”

  Chapter 6

  Josh stood off to the side until the woman who was with the detective had walked out the front door. He’d overheard her reserve a room with two queen beds and say there were two adults and a dog. The hotel clerk handed her the keycard for room twelve on the first floor and told her what time the Continental breakfast would be served the next morning. The woman signed the registration form, thanked the clerk, and pocketed the keycard as she walked out.

  After approaching the counter, Josh waited for the clerk to acknowledge him then asked for a single. He mentioned that he’d like a first-floor room if one was available.

  “I do have a vacancy on the first floor. Room ten is a single and available if you’d like that one.”

  “Sure. They must all be similar, aren’t they?”

  “Yes, sir.” The clerk passed the form to Josh. “I’ll need to see your driver’s license, and then you can sign here.” He tapped the form. “Include the make and model of the car you’re driving as well as the plate number.”

  “No problem.” Josh pulled out the fake ID and watched as the clerk barely gave it a glance then handed it back.

  “I’ve got cash. Is that okay?”

  The clerk joked. “As long as it’s green, we’ll take it.”

  “Good enough.” Josh signed the form using the fake name Mike Stiller, then he took the key and went to the room. Not wanting to accidentally pass the detective in the hallway, he would hunker down in his room until later.

  I wonder where they’re going. Bringing the dog along likely means it’s a weekend thing, and I don’t even have a change of clothes or a toothbrush.

  Checking a map of the area on his phone, he found a twenty-four-hour big-box store where he could get a few supplies. He’d make his move after midnight.

  Muffled voices sounded through the thin walls. Josh tiptoed to the locked door of the adjoining room and pressed his ear against it. He heard bits and pieces of a conversation between the detective and the woman about arriving at Giant City the next day.

  Josh whispered to himself. “Giant City? What the hell is that?”

  He pressed his ear even harder against the door. The detective continued talking, that time about setting up the tent at the campsite first then checking out the lake.

  After grabbing his phone, Josh took a seat on the bed and typed Giant City into the search bar.

  “Hmm, it’s a state park in Makanda, Illinois. Let’s see where that campground and lake are located.” Enlarging the park on his screen, Josh found a campground right on the edge of Little Grassy Lake. “That has to be it. I’ll be following them, anyway, but that seems to be the most logical location. Now I’m wondering if I can just sleep in my car or if I actually have to buy a damn tent.”

  Going back to the website, he did a thorough search and didn’t find anything that specified he needed to use camping equipment. The park offered a self-serve reservation form that he could fill out and then pay with cash for an available campsite.

  “That’s the route I’ll go. No headaches and no paper trail.”

  Josh turn
ed on the TV, mindful of the time. He needed to hit that all-night store sooner rather than later since he didn’t want to stay up too late. He was sure McCord and the woman would leave somewhat early—likely after breakfast—since the park was still a few hours away.

  The voices from the next room finally stopped, and everything went quiet. Josh needed to make his move so he could get back to the hotel and grab some shut-eye. He pocketed the keycard and the car keys then crept to the door. He opened it, stepped out, and closed it as softly as possible then made his way down the hallway to the end, where the brightly lit red exit sign was located. He’d be good to go after that since the room windows didn’t face the parking lot side of the building.

  Okay, now to grab a pair of pants, a couple of shirts, socks, a toothbrush, and toothpaste. That’s all I really need.

  Pulling up the saved map and route on his phone, he saw that the store was less than a mile away.

  “Perfect. In and out in no time.”

  Chapter 7

  A wet, cold nose woke me, and as always, no matter how tightly I closed hotel room curtains, that sliver of light always found its way in and hit me directly in the eyes.

  “Damn it.” I rolled over to see that Hanna’s side of the bed was empty. I glanced at the bathroom door, and it stood open. “Where’d she go, Bandit?” My pup whimpered. “Guess you need to hit the grass. Right, buddy?”

  I heard the sound of a keycard being swiped in the door. Bandit cocked his head and stared in that direction. I was sure that if Hanna had her hands full of food, she would need help getting in. After pushing back the blankets, I got up, crossed the room, and gave the peephole a quick look. It was her, so I pulled open the door.

  “Thanks, you’re a lifesaver.”

  “No, actually, you are. Hot coffee, sweet rolls, fruit, juice, bacon, and pancakes. How did you fit all that on a tray without spilling anything?”