Murder in the Marigolds by Dale Mayer (best young adult book series .txt) 📕

The stranger asked, “What was that?”

“Nothing,” Rex said. “Just shut up and mind your own business.”

She banged on the back of the car, kicking and kicking and kicking.

“Whoa, whoa, I don’t know what you’ve got going on here,” the stranger said, “but, if a woman is in the trunk, no way in hell I’m letting you out of here.”

“You’ve got no say in the matter,” Rex said, taking on an ugly tone. “Now you get the hell away from here and leave me alone.”

“Whoa, no need for guns, mister,” the stranger said. “I don’t know what the hell you’re doing here, man, but it’s wrong.”

“It doesn’t matter if it’s wrong or not,” he said. “You let me disappear right now, or you’ll disappear too.”

She started screaming and kicking against the seat now even harder.

“You have to let her out,” the guy said. “You know that, right?”

“I do not,” Rex said. “She has been pissing me off all day.”

“Well, you can’t just leave her like that. You’ll end up really hurting her.”

“Yeah, well, that’s the intention,” he snapped. “Or are you too stupid to figure that out? Now take off, and leave me alone, or do I have to pop you one right here?”

“I’m leaving. I’m leaving,” the newcomer said immediately.

“Well, hurry up and scram. And, next time, mind your own business.”

Then she heard the guy retreating, who said, “You know you should just let her go. Like, dump them all out on the side of the road, and let her go.”

“Can’t do that,” Rex said. “Somebody is looking for her.”

“So what? You don’t have to do anything about it. Just leave her alone.”

“Nope, I can’t do that. It’s got to be permanent. She’s the only one who will know.”

“Know what?”

“Well, if I tell you, then you’ll know too,” he said. “Now get lost.”

With that, her Good Samaritan returned to his vehicle and immediately drove away. She was still kicking and screaming. Rex yelled at the back of the car. “He can’t hear you anymore, and he knows if he comes after me, I will pop him one, so just shut up.” Then Rex got back in the car and drove off.

She sank back, tears in the corner of her eyes. All she could hope for was that the guy called the cops and let them know exactly where they were. She immediately texted Mack about the altercation, though she couldn’t give him any more information.

He contacted her a moment later and confirmed that a call did come in. Hold on, he texted. We have the location where it happened.

She sagged back with relief and snatched up Thaddeus and hugged him tight. He immediately cawed and crowed. Letting him go, she said, “Help me get out of here.”

She resumed kicking at the back seat, trying to get it loose, so she could at least get into the car. The seat was loose but wouldn’t completely fold down. Mugs was barking and chewing away at the seat, and she was desperate to get out of the trunk, but she couldn’t quite manage it. Finally she collapsed, but, off in the distance, she thought she heard sirens.

Instead of slowing down, Rex picked up speed and tore faster and faster down the road. Now she was jostled from side to side, as he wove through traffic, swearing heavily. She could hear other vehicles honking at his behavior.

She wanted to call out to him that he could never outrun the cops in her old car, but, considering what trouble he would be in, maybe it was appropriate. What she didn’t understand is whether her ex was part of this too or whether it was all about the lawyer. Doreen had no clue, but something bizarre was happening.

She knew that Mack would blame her for it. All she’d done was go home, just like he told her to. The least he could do is understand that. Still fuming, she waited, but the sirens got louder and louder; so it was only a matter of minutes until this nightmare was over.

As Rex kept on driving faster and faster, suddenly she realized that a car accident was likely to be the worst-case scenario. Rex still wove through traffic, sending her flying from one side of the trunk to the other. The frightened animals kept up a cacophony that now drove her crazy too. With her hands clapped over her ears, it was all she could do to stay sane, as she was thrown from side to side and one end to the other.

Finally Rex took a really sharp corner, and she was slammed hard against the other side of the trunk. She lay here, completely dazed, as, all of a sudden, the vehicle came to a screeching halt, and a door opened. Just like that, the car was left running, and she heard no other sounds from Rex.

Mugs barked and barked and barked. The sirens came closer and closer, louder and louder, and finally she heard them right on top of her. She waited inside, hoping that they were here to rescue her.

And then Mack asked, “Doreen, you in there?”

She pounded against the trunk lid.

He walked to the front of the car and said, “Hang on a minute. We’ll get you out in a jiffy.”

She waited. Then the engine stopped, followed by the sound of the trunk release. And, just like that, he opened it up. She stared up at him with tears in her eyes; then she opened her arms, and he reached down, picked her up, and held her tight against him. She buried her face against his chest and whispered, “It’s not my fault.” She heard the laughter rumbling up through that great big chest of his, as he just held her close.

“Are you hurt?” he whispered.

She shook her head. “No.” Then she reared back and said, “He was going to dump the animals right out on the highway,” she said in outrage.

He looked at her.