Not Quite Dead Yet

by Holly Jackson

She’d only seen him cry once before like this. A guttural, primal sound. She hoped she’d never have to hear that sound again; seventeen years wasn’t long enough.

gloved hand at the top of the frame, two fingers pinching a clear baggie in front of a white surface, sealed at the top. And inside the plastic baggie was a hair. Jet squinted, leaned closer. The hair looked red, straight, about five inches long.

A hair from JJ’s Chucky wig.

Was this what it felt like to be a man? Walking on this creepy dark bridge, not scared for a second that she wouldn’t make it out the other side,

Must be nice to not have to worry about being attacked.

“Your daddy’s not leaving the company to little Luke.” His breath whistled through his teeth. “He’s going to sell it. To Nell Jankowski.”

“That concrete was poured, what, like nine hours after my murder? And we know the killer was here with my phone. Like, right there.”

Murder weapon in there?

going to be friends.” She brought the hammer down, double-handed, into the center of the concrete channel. It cracked, the pressure locking her wrists, riding up her arms, the thud ringing in her ears.

Pretty inconceivable to be doing this just days after having your head bashed in. 🤷‍♀️

“OK, so I’ve done more research on this hammer,” she said, over Billy’s rustling. “Turns out you can’t actually buy the hammer on its own. It’s only sold as part of a set. Comes with a sixty-piece set in this black tool kit.” She clicked through the images. “Various screwdrivers, lots of different fittings, a file, this little wrenchy thing, measuring tape, a knife, a little saw, pliers or something. You get the picture. So the killer has to have this full set somewhere. Or once had it.”

Henry’s lip shook; his head too. “That can’t be true.” “Well, it is,” Jet said. “Medical anomaly over here.” Pointing her thumb to her chest.

Maybe ask him what happened to him, too. Quit being a selfish asshole and only worrying about yourself, Jet.

Henry stepped forward into the morning light, the sun finding new colors in that bruise under his eye.

Did Henry and her brother get into a fight? They are both showing signs of it.

“Doesn’t help me.” Henry’s hand tightened on the door. “I’ve never worked for Mason Construction.”

Billy blinked, but it didn’t shake the storm. “Were they ever missing?” “No,” Jet said. “I would have noticed. I take one every morning. They’re in the cabinet in my bathroom. Take it after I brush my teeth.” Billy returned to the screen. “Did she come back this time too?” Another Motion Detected at 11:51 a.m. that day. Billy pressed play before Jet could. Blue Range Rover. Open door. Sophia.

Why not just replace the pills when she’s dropping off the food? Why come back and do it? Makes no sense.

And I don’t want my dad taking any more of these.” Jet scooped up as many pills as she could in her left hand. “Grab the rest,” she told Billy, heading toward the toilet. She dropped the yellow capsules in, floating and twirling in the waiting water, keeping just one, sliding it into her back pocket. Billy followed her, double-handed, with the rest. Jet flushed and the pills

Why flush them and not save them as evidence?

Sophia sniffed.

WHY IS EVERYONE SNIFFING IN THIS BOOK? It’s in the book 88 times!!!

“If you tell Luke about the pills, Jet, I’ll tell Billy about his mom!”

strings of saliva binding his teeth,

Gross. What is your obsession with this??

there’s something going on at Mason Construction, I’m sure of it.

Is Sophia on the payroll and he’s trying to hide it?

The building was on fire? How was the fucking building on fire? Her mind stuck on that part first. “Jet!” Billy screamed over the alarm, in her face now. He grabbed her working arm, pulled her back into life. “Run!”

Take Luke's laptop!!

Jet coughed, the thick black smoke reaching them first, claiming them. But it wasn’t just smoke she could smell. There was something sharper, more acrid. Gas. Billy grabbed Jet by the shoulders, pulled her back, kicking the door shut.

Is Luke burning the building not knowing her and Billy are in there?

Jet found Billy’s eyes and she found his.

WHAT??? Has to be a typo.

You do have a secret, Dianne,” the cat cut him off. “The one your family doesn’t know. Except Emily. She knew.”

“We’re in Andrew Smith’s house. Before it got knocked down.

Well duh. What the cat was saying matches what he said earlier.

Billy spun the book sideways and they read it together. Silent. He was already wet. Before.

Sophia turned to Billy, opened her mouth, stalactites of spit stringing between her teeth.

WHAT IS YOUR OBSESSION WITH THIS?????? IT'S GROSS!!!!

“I put the tape back,” Billy said. “Closet. Next to the tool kit.”

Oh no. Is it going to be the missing tools from the set used to kill her?

“I’m here, Jet,” he cried over her. “You did it, it was me.”

Nah, it was your dad!