She nodded. "He said...to come over to his place...later."
Too bad. It would've been easier if she hadn't told him. Her car was parked across the street, not in Anton's driveway, but it was a familiar enough sight that none of the neighbors would think twice about it. They'd probably assume she was visiting Anton even if they'd heard about the break-up.
But Colin could cover his tracks.
"Where're you going?" she asked, her words slurring.
He hoped one tablet was the right dosage. He didn't want her unconscious. He preferred to witness her reaction to his ministrations. That was the fun of it.
"Just helping Tiffany clean up."
"You have a...really nice wife."
"Except for when she's helping me murder someone."
Tiffany had come to stand behind them. She gasped at this, but he laughed and waved her off. Zoe was too out of it to realize he was serious.
She even laughed with him.
"I'm getting cold feet," Tiffany whispered, pulling him close.
"Are you kidding? Look at her! She's helpless!"
Zoe obviously wasn't listening. She was too busy trying to figure out what was wrong. She got to her feet--and staggered back into the chair.
"Watch it," he said. "I think you should sit down in the living room."
"S-s-sorry. I...I don't know...I can't...I must be drunk, but..."
"You'll feel better once you rest," he told her and guided her over to the couch.
"Colin..." Tiffany's voice was a warning. "You heard her. That P.I.
guy knows she's here. If she goes missing we'll be the first ones they question. And that could get us in trouble for Sam, too."
But everything else was lined up so perfectly! He couldn't let the opportunity slip past him. "I can take care of that."
"How?"
"Do you have your cell phone in your purse?" he asked Zoe.
"What?" She squinted up at him.
"Your cell phone. Where is it?"
Although her movements were awkward and uncoordinated, she managed to get her phone from her purse. "What are...you doing?" she asked when he took it from her.
"I'm sending a text to Jonathan."
"Oh...good. Have him...pick me up."
"Don't worry." He ran his fingers down the side of her beautiful face.
"You're safe with me."
"Colin, this is crazy." Tiffany hovered over his shoulder.
"Shut up. I told you, I've got a plan."
"It's too risky!"
"I said shut up! And take off your clothes."
"What?"
"She's taller than you, but with a pair of heels, you could pass for her from a distance."
"I don't understand...."
"You will." When he took Zoe's purse, Zoe didn't even protest. She lay on the couch staring up at the ceiling as he emptied it out on the floor and sifted through the contents. "These will help," he said and handed Tiffany a pair of sunglasses.
"But it's dark," she argued. "No one wears sunglasses after dark.
That'll draw more attention to me."
"You don't know jackshit! She's been wearing them a lot lately, to hide the fact that she's been crying. After what happened to Sam, no one in this neighborhood will question it."
Tiffany gaped at him. He could tell he was pushing her a little too far, but he had no patience left. "Come on." He snapped his fingers to get her moving. "If you do as I say we'll be fine."
Reluctantly, she began to disrobe while he stripped Zoe.
"Wai...what's goin' on?" Zoe fought him when he started to peel off her pants. "Anton?"
Leaning close, Colin whispered lovingly in her ear. "That's right, baby, it's me. I'm just trying to put you to bed. You need some rest."
After that, she didn't balk. Her breathing grew slower, shallower, and her mouth hung open. He would've laughed at how messed up she was, but he was in too much of a hurry to enjoy it.
A moment later, she looked like a life-size rag doll tossed on the couch in her bra and underwear. "Hey, where's the fancy lingerie?" he asked as he eyed her simple white underwire bra and pink polka-dot bikini panties.
"I expected more of you."
"Colin!"
He turned to see a pout on his wife's face. "Quit worrying! I love you, and you know it. Now get dressed. Then move her car." He threw Zoe's clothes and keys at her. "Honk and wave if one of our neighbors is out or driving down the street. Try to be seen leaving the neighborhood, if you can do it without being too obvious or getting out of the car."
"Where should I go?" she asked.
He shook Zoe's shoulder. "Hey, where'd you stay last night?"
"Hmm?"
"Where's your room?"
No response.
"Zoe!"
Her eyes rolled back in her head, and she started to giggle.
Somehow her inability to respond enraged him as much as it excited him. He was going to rape her for hours, then kill her. He'd never done anything like that before. He'd always held back. But he wouldn't need to tonight. He could fulfill whatever fantasies he dreamed up, no matter how extreme.
"Where should I move the car, Colin?" Tiffany asked again.
"Drive it to a motel."
"What motel?"
"One at least a half hour's drive away. A chain that deals with lots of people so you can go pretty well unnoticed."
She looked at him, wide-eyed. "Why does it have to be so far away?"
"Because when she disappears, we don't want it to happen anywhere around here." And he wanted some time alone with her, without Tiffany standing jealously by.
"Oh."
"Leave the sunglasses on when you go in to rent the room, and use her credit card and driver's license. Keep your head down in case there's any cameras around."
"How will I get back home?" she asked.
"Take a taxi to any gas station within a mile or two of here. Go into the restroom, change into your own clothes and bury hers in the trash so they won't be found."
"Then what? Do I call you to come and get me?"
"Are you a complete idiot?" he said. "We can't have one of our cars seen leaving the neighborhood. They have to stay in the driveway." Besides, and he knew this was the part that worried Tiffany, he planned to be far too busy enjoying his latest prize.
"So I should walk?"
"It won't kill you."
"But what about James and Tommy?" She glanced at the clock.
"They'll be here in an hour."