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Part
53
"DIX! DIXIE! OPEN THE DOOR!" Kelly Brackett pounded frantically on the door to Dixie's apartment. His heart still beating wildly in his chest as his mind flashed back to Dixie's frantic phone call. "DAMN IT, DIXIE, ANSWER ME!"
Growling with frustration, Kel looked quickly up and down the hall before leaning back and slamming his foot into the door. The sound of splintering wood filled the narrow passageway as another well placed kick sent the door flying inward.
"DIXIE!" Kel rushed into the apartment, his heart leaping into his throat as he spied Dixie's still form lying next on the floor. Kel knelt on the floor, tenderly gathering Dixie up into his arms, "My God, Dixie, what happened?"
Slowly, her eyelids fluttered open and Dixie gazed up into Kelly's fear-filled blue eyes, "K-Kel? Is it really you?"
"Dix, what happened? Are you all right? Is it the baby?" Kel stroke her cheek gently while trying to calm his racing heart.
"Oh, thank god," Dixie clung to him, "We have to get out of here. She's out of control."
"Who's out of control?" Kel reached to help Dixie, stopping when he noticed the bloody welts around her wrists, "Good lord, Dixie, what happened?"
"Kel, it's Mitzi, she's . . ."
"Not very happy!" A voice called from the bedroom.
Looking up, Dixie and Kel found themselves face to face with the business end of a gun.
*****
"Hey, Cap, aren't you gonna try some?" Chet stopped, his fork halfway to his mouth, "I thought you were starving."
"Well, pal," Cap pushed the lasagna around his plate suspiciously, "I think I lost my appetite. What about you, Mike, you gonna try it?"
Mike shook his head vigorously, "I'm not gonna try it. You try it."
"I'm not gonna try it." Cap turned to eye Chet, "I know, we'll let Kelly try it. He'll eat anything."
Marco rolled his eyes and muttered softly in Spanish.
"Yeah, well, I think you're all nuts." Chet shoveled another forkful of lasagna into his mouth, "There's nothing wrong with this. In fact, it's the best lasagna I ever . . ." Suddenly Chet began to gag, his face flushing a deep scarlet, and reached for his neck before collapsing to the floor.
*****
"I told you I knew what I was doing," Johnny remarked smugly as he rocked back on his feet waiting for the elevator doors to open.
"I don't know, Johnny," Roy replied cautiously, "I still think we should call someone in maintenance. We don't want to get in there and have it get stuck again."
"Roy, it's not going to get stuck again," Johnny stepped forward as the elevator doors opened, "You're just being para . . ."
"JOHNNY, LOOK OUT!" Roy reached out to grab Johnny's arm, his hand closing around empty air as his partner plunged down the empty elevator shaft. A sickening thud met Roy's ears as he gazed into the inky blackness below.
*****
Harriet stood over Jack's unconscious form, her eyes narrowing with unwholesome delight. "What's the matter, Jack?" she hissed, "Something wrong? Having a little trouble breathing? You never should have come back here, Jack. I warned you what would happen if you did. No one comes between my son and I. No one!"
Harriet gasped as Jack's eyes suddenly flew open and he looked up at her with a feral grin. "WHAT? But you're . . . you're . . ."
"Not going to let you keep me from my son anymore, Harriet." Jack rose quickly to his feet and reached into his pocket. Pulling out a small tape recorder, he held it in front of Harriet's face and pushed rewind. A moment later Harriet heard her voice issuing forth from the small device.
"NO! Give me that!" Harriet lunged for the recorder, but Jack simply lifted his arm out of her reach.
"How do you think Roy will react when he learns how you really are?" Jack asked casually.
Harriet's reply was cut-off as a loud thud echoed through the elevator.
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