NYPD Puzzle

NYPD Puzzle by Parnell Hall Page A

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Authors: Parnell Hall
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number?”
    “Yeah. Not so close he kills you, just close enough to read the plate.”
    “And if he turns around and comes after me?”
    “I’ve got a gun.”
    “No, you don’t. The police kept it to compare the bullet.”
    “So don’t let him catch you.”
    “Cora.”
    “Relax. He’ll never know you’re there.”
    “What do you want me to do when I get the plate number?”
    “Go home and call me. I need to know someone’s sitting on the house anyway.”
    “But—”
    “Get out of the car already. Fella’s going to think we’re lovers.”
    Becky gave Cora a look and got out.
    Cora got out of the passenger seat, walked around to the driver’s side. “See you tomorrow,” Cora said. She hopped in and took off.
    Cora glanced in the rearview mirror. The guy was still following her. As expected. Despite what she told Becky, Cora felt a slight rush of adrenaline. She didn’t speed up or slow down, just kept going. She drove home without incident and turned up the driveway. The guy had followed all the way. Cora couldn’t see Becky, but she knew she was back there.
    Cora parked the car in the drive and walked across the lawn. The lights were out in the upstairs addition. It was after midnight. Cora had left the light on in the living room. She was happy to have it.
    The living room drapes were drawn. Cora pushed the curtain aside a crack and peered out. Nothing was moving, everything was quiet, there were no lights down by the road. Not that it meant anything. If the guy was watching the house, he’d have killed his lights. There was no way to know.
    Assuming it was the guy. Assuming it wasn’t some stupid cop.
    The phone rang and Cora jumped a mile. Good God, she was wound up! Who the hell could it be at this hour? For one time Cora wished she had a phone in the living room. She had to go in the office or the kitchen to answer, and she didn’t want to leave the window.
    The phone rang again. Cora took one last look and sprinted for the kitchen.
    She snatched the receiver off the wall. “Hello!” she snarled.
    “Well, I like that. Last time I do you a favor.”
    Cora blinked. “Becky? How’d you get home so fast?”
    “I have a cell phone, Cora.”
    “Oh. Right.”
    “Boy are you nervous. Relax. The guy went right on by your driveway and kept going.”
    “You’re kidding.”
    “No. Maybe he is just some guy on the way home. I mean, someone’s gotta live around here, right?”
    “You sure he didn’t turn around and double back?”
    “I sure am. I’m still following him.”
    “You’re driving with a cell phone?”
    “Don’t worry. If I get picked up, I know a good lawyer.”
    “Becky. It’s not funny. If this guy sees you—”
    “He won’t. When I passed your house, I dropped back. He’s way up ahead.”
    “Did you get the license number?”
    “Of course I got the license number. You want it?”
    “You gonna read the number on the cell phone driving a car?”
    “Why not? I wrote it driving a car. Here we go. It’s two, seven—”
    “I don’t have a pencil. Hang on.”
    The phone had a long cord. Cora crossed to the sink, wrenched open the counter door to the left. It was a miscellaneous drawer, with everything from rubber bands to razor blades to plastic spoons to screws and bolts and bottle-stoppers. Cora scrabbled through.
    “Just a minute. I think there’s one in this drawer.”
    “Take your time. It’s a nice night for a drive.”
    “Got it!” Cora snatched up the pencil. “Oh, hell!”
    “What?”
    “The point’s broken. Hang on.”
    “Just let me know when you’re ready.”
    Cora dug her fingernails in to break the wood off the lead. “There we go. Lay it on me.”
    “It’s two, seven, nine— Oh, hell! He’s coming back!”
    And the phone went dead.

 
    Chapter
    12
     
    Cora had a moment of dread. Oh God, he got her!
    Thoughts flashed through her brain like lightning, laying on layer upon layer of guilt and dread. Becky’s dead! It’s my fault! It’s

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