Allie began to shake.
“How I wish I could record this moment of realization for posterity,” she went on. “You must remember how similar you and Chloe looked that summer. You’d dyed your hair to match hers. You even started dressing like her because heaven forbid Allie Hollister be an individual. So when poor little Chloe came out of her tent that night and Tyler was waiting to take you with us, he thought it was you. He didn’t realize and then it was too late and, well.” She tapped her fingers on the table. “We know what happened then. Mom’s plan to leave the state with us had to wait because of the attention that was on you and your friends. How would it look if all of a sudden three of your foster siblings vanished? All that planning, all that waiting and then we had to wait even longer. So Mom readmitted herself for a few months. Which meant Tyler was forced to watch, up close and personal, how you moaned about and mourned your friend. Every tear you shed was a nail in his coffin. You drove him to be like that, Allie. And all because you had to try to be someone other than who you are. A weak nothing of a person. Your own parents didn’t even want you. They tried to fill up their lives with other children because you weren’t enough. And now look where you are. Sad, pathetic and alone.”
The door burst open.
Eden launched herself at Nicole, but Allie jumped to her feet and dived between them as Simone grabbed Eden around the waist to keep her away. Allie saw Cole and Jack in the doorway, Vince bringing up the rear, other officers headed toward the room. “Tell her, Allie,” Eden yelled. “You tell her or I will because right now I want to knock that simpering smirk off her face.”
“As if you could tell me anything that would mar this moment for me,” Nicole said. “I’ve waited years for this, Allie. Years and years and years. How does it feel knowing that your poor, precious Chloe died in your place?”
Allie squeezed Eden’s arms, stared her friend straight in the eye before glancing at Simone, who had sympathy and rage written on her face. Twenty years ago, maybe even ten minutes ago, Allie might have believed Nicole. She might have bought into the fact that she was, essentially, alone. But not now. Because she had Eden and Simone. She had Cole, and Jack, and Vince. And Max. Maybe Max.
As right as Nicole was about so many things, she was one hundred percent wrong about this.
“I’ve got this, Eden,” Allie whispered as all hesitation dropped away and the confidence took over. There wasn’t anything left to lose where Nicole was concerned. Whatever feelings she might have had for her foster sibling were dead. As dead as Chloe Evans and Tyler Goodale. “I love you, Eden, and thank you, but trust me. I’ve got it.”
Allie leaned on the table and looked her one-time sister in the eye. “You’re telling me Patrick did everything in his power to stop you. He had nothing to do with Chloe’s murder or the other girls’ deaths, or the shooting—”
“Oh, he had something to do with the shooting all right,” Nicole said. “He got there in time to stop Mom from putting a bullet in that one’s head.” She pointed at Eden. “Thanks to him the bullet that was supposed to hit the SUV went wild.”
Allie swallowed the nausea. “And the pictures you took of Simone?”
Nicole practically deflated when she sighed. “Are we going to go over every detail? Fine. I took them. It’s not like she’s hard to track in those white outfits of hers. I would have left them in her apartment, but I have to admit, that security she has is top-notch.” She gave Simone an impressed smile.
Simone glared. The disgust in her eyes palpable.
“Let’s break this down,” Nicole said. “Tyler is dead. So you can’t punish him for the girls he killed. Patrick didn’t help with any of it, aside from unearthing Tyler’s treasure box and doling out to you lot what he found in there. That was his attempt to placate Mom. The flower delivery, the notes, bumping into you on the street with an open bottle of perfume.” She jerked her chin at Eden. “He mailed the last one to your little mini-Chloe, Hope. Innocent little tokens he knew would bother you enough to satiate us. And right about now the clock is running down on whatever time poor little Hope Kellan has left.” She tapped a finger against her teeth. “You see, I’m the decoy. I’m here to watch every last moment of your misery as you realize there’s nothing you can do to save her. And oh, the plans we have for her. Tyler isn’t going to be alone for long.”
“Because your mother is going to kill her,” Allie said as she felt Eden and Simone visibly relax behind her. So that was the endgame. A game they’d put a stop to. “I’m assuming that’s who took Hope since she’s the only one left alive.”
Nicole’s gaze flickered.
“Allow me to explain.” Allie reclaimed her seat and mimicked Nicole’s earlier, superior posture. “You see Patrick had apparently had enough. Wherever your mother was keeping Hope, he found her. He was going to leave her somewhere we could find her. But he didn’t get the chance because your mother hunted him down, and ran his car off the road. You know what your brother did then? He saved Hope, Nicole. He gave her his phone so she could call me. And she did. We found her, Nicole. She’s safe and back with her family. And you know where Patrick is?” She leaned forward. “He’s dead. Because your mother killed him.”
“No.” Nicole shook her head. “No, you’re playing me. Patrick isn’t dead. My mother would never—”
Jack came forward and handed Allie a file. She flipped it open and pushed the crime scene photos in front of Nicole.
“Dead.” Allie tapped two fingers twice against Patrick’s chest. “Two shots. Dead center. Boy, she has good aim. Doesn’t even miss when she kills her own son.”
Nicole gaped. “This is a trick. No. The plan is still in play. She’s supposed to—”
“What? Bury Hope wherever you buried Tyler? Thank you for that bit of information, by the way. We’ve been wondering where we’d find your bolt hole. Now we know where to start looking. I’m going to leave you now, Nicole. And I’m going to let the police and FBI come in and speak with you about all these murders you’ve been involved in covering up. And then you know what I’m going to do?” She stood, planted her hands on the table and leaned really close so Nicole could hear her when she whispered, “I’m going to forget your entire family ever existed. I’m not giving you another moment of my life except when I testify at your trial. I will be there every day and I will watch you wither and fade before you’re locked away for the rest of your life, along with your mother.”
Allie stepped back, held Nicole’s gaze, and then turned on her heel and left the room. Eden and Simone followed her lead.
The sound of Nicole’s scream was oddly satisfying as Simone closed the door behind her.
The three of them stood there, in the narrow hall of the Major Crimes division, hands clasped together.
“It’s over,” Eden whispered. “It’s really over. We know who and we know why.”
Allie nodded as the tears burned. “Yes. Now we know why.” And it had been a mistake. A horrible, unchangeable, life-altering mistake that Allie would never be able to undo.
“Chloe can finally rest,” Simone added.
Allie couldn’t stop the sob that erupted from her chest. “I’m so sorry.” She tried to cover her mouth, but they wouldn’t let go of her. Why would they? They were her family. She leaned forward.
They did, too.
And then they were hugging each other, holding on to one another as if they’d never let go. Finally. Allie took a deep breath. After twenty years, she’d found her peace, knowing it was over.
“Forget teaching psychology in Los Angeles, Al,” Eden laughed. “You should give interrogation lessons. You were ah-may-zing. Pinned her to the wall like the insect she is.”
Allie smiled against her friend’s shoulder. Such a way with words.
“What on earth are you talking about? Los Angeles?” Simone glanced between the two of
them.
“I was offered a job.” Allie shook her head. “I’m not taking it.” How had she ever thought about taking it? “This is where I belong. With my family.” She hugged them again.
“We’ve put out an All Points for Mina Goodale,” Cole said after he cleared his throat. “Sorry to interrupt. Eamon’s leading the chase and we’ll be backup if he needs it. She won’t get far.”
“I know she won’t,” Allie said. “Did you get everything on tape that Nicole said?”
“Yep. And her Miranda rights before you spoke to her. She refused representation, but I’m betting they’ll fight the confession unless she cuts a deal.” He looked expectantly at Simone.
Simone shook her head. “The Feds can have both of them as far as the DA’s office is concerned. They have more to use against her than we do. Multiple jurisdictions, multiple states. I want every book possible thrown at the two of them.”
“Hey.” Eden gave Allie a squeeze. “Where’d you go?”
“What?” Allie blinked as if coming out of a twenty-year trance. “I think I need to go to the hospital.” Being with her friends, her family, meant the world to her, but right now, all she wanted was to see Max again, to apologize. And to hope, that maybe, there was a future for them. “I’m, um, I’m going to go.”
“I’ll drive you,” Jack said. “Could do with a bit of fresh air, and, besides, there’s this nurse who works the early-morning shift in the ER—”
“I knew you’d find the right time to move on from dating Simone,” Allie said as she linked arms with his. “Good for you, Jack.” To Eden and Simone, she said, “I’ll call you two later.” She dragged Jack away.
“Say hi to Max for us,” Cole called out to her.
“I will.” She’d say that and a whole lot more.
* * *
“Hey, Allie, we’re here.”
Allie was confused as Jack shook her shoulder. “What?” She rubbed her eyes, sat up straight. “Oh, man, I fell asleep?”
“For a whole ten-and-a-half-minute drive, yep.” Jack grinned and unbuckled his seat belt. “I won’t hold it against you. This time. Didn’t even give me a chance to seduce you with my seat warmers.” He got out and came around to open her door. The parking lot across the street from the hospital was reserved for law enforcement and employees, and it currently didn’t have many cars. Allie raised her hands over her head and stretched before she reached into the car for her bag.
She saw movement in the rearview mirror, a flash of color. Time slowed. The image came into focus. An older woman. Dark hair. Beneath a red baseball cap.
Allie turned as the woman drew a gun.
“Jack!” Allie cried, but Jack was already reaching for his weapon with one hand, Allie with the other. She felt his hand lock around her arm.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Jack jerked and dropped to the ground. His weapon clattered down next to him.
Allie cried out as Mina Goodale moved toward her, weapon raised. Allie braced herself, arms up, hands fisted, and she struck out, ducking to one side as Mina brought the butt of her gun down on the side of Allie’s head.
Pain exploded in her temple and down her jawline. Her vision went dark, but she kicked out, punched out and made contact. She heard Mina slam against the car before she backhanded Allie and shoved her into the passenger seat and slammed the door.
Dazed, Allie tried to find the door handle. “Jack,” she mumbled. Her fingers went numb as Mina jumped into the driver’s seat and jammed the key into the ignition.
The last thing Allie saw through the window was a flood of ER personnel stream out of the hospital door.
“Jack.”
And then...darkness.
Chapter 18
Max knew gunshots when he heard them.
He sat up in his chair as ER staff leaped into action, racing for the door, shouts erupting and breaking through the early-morning silence. He followed, pulled by deeply rooted obligation he couldn’t shake no matter how hard he tried.
The nurses and doctors ran full steam across the street to the prone figure in the parking lot. Max stopped for a moment, dread pooling thick and deep in his gut as he recognized the hair, the blazer, the weapon just out of reach.
“Jack.”
Max plowed ahead, dropping to the ground beside the detective as Jack’s eyes fluttered. His breath sounded wheezy, and as the medics pressed against the vest he still wore from earlier, Max felt relief.
“Max,” Jack coughed out. Blood pooled in the corner of his mouth, trickled down his face.
“Check his side!” Max yelled as he helped push Jack over. Someone ripped the Velcro free and pulled the vest aside. Blood saturated his white shirt.
“Side shot! Get a gurney over here!” A doctor yelled. “Do you know him?” he asked Max.
“Detective Jack MacTavish with Major Crimes. Jack, hang in there, buddy. Don’t you dare check out on me. Not today.” He tried to stay out of the way, but Jack flailed his arm at him, waggled his fingers. Max reached out, grabbed hold. Moved in. “Yeah, I’m here, Jack.”
“Allie,” Jack blinked so fast Max’s eyes hurt. “Mina... Allie. Find. Allie.”
His hold went slack.
“I’ve lost a pulse!” A nurse yelled as the gurney arrived. “Get an operating room ready, stat!”
Jack’s hand released his. Max backed away as he watched them lift his friend up and wheel him into the ER.
Max couldn’t move. He could only stare helplessly as the life of yet another friend hung in the balance. Blood coated the pavement, shell casings lay scattered and a red baseball cap sat nearby. Tread marks... He pulled out his cell phone.
“This is Delaney. Max? Is that you?” The jovial tone in the detective’s voice sliced through Max like a sword. “You and Allie make up already?”
“No, Cole, listen—”
“Man, you gotta give her another chance. She knows she messed up—”
“Cole, stop! Listen to me.” He waited an extra second. “Jack’s been shot. Across from the hospital. Allie’s gone, but I think Jack told me who took her. Mina? Does that make any sense?”
Cole swore. “Nicole’s mother. Stay where you are. We’re on our way. About Jack? How bad?”
Max looked to the ER door. “You’d better hurry.”
* * *
Allie blinked, expecting the sun, only to find her skull vibrating with pain. They were moving. She tried to angle her head, but every move she made caused more nausea. The space was dark, but she could see a thin strip of light across the top of the car’s trunk. Her breath came in short gasps, but she couldn’t open her mouth behind the tape. Her hands had gone numb thanks to the plastic cable cord tying them together. She kicked out and heard the denting of plastic and steel as she hit the side of the car.
Car. Jack’s car. His SUV.
Jack.
Anger surged. Mina.
Allie kicked again. She didn’t care if Nicole’s mother heard her. She wanted her to hear her, to come back here so she could do some damage, but instead of the car stopping, the music that had been playing softly increased in volume.
Think, Allie. Think!
She drew her hands up, ready to implement the escape her trainer had taught her months ago, but she stopped. That wouldn’t do her any good now. She needed to break free when Mina least expected it. When Allie had an advantage. Which meant she had to wait until Mina got to wherever she was taking her.
The car bounced over railroad tracks. Allie cried out as her head bounced against the floor. Where was Mina taking her?
Allie replayed every word spoken in her interrogation of Nicole. Nicole who had nothing left. And Mina, who was desperate to finish whatever she’d started. And everything with Mina, Allie knew, began and ended with Tyler.
Tyler.
Allie swallowed and focused on evening out her breathing. Mina was taking her to Tyler. It was her only play, her only option. It was what they’d planned to do with Hope.
It was what Mina was going to do to her now.
Except no one else knew where Tyler was, but they had clues, clues her friends had heard, as well. Dwelling on the what-ifs wouldn’t keep her alive; plotting how to get away would.
So that’s what she’d do. And put the rest of her faith in her family.
* * *
“Any word?”
Max couldn’t remember a time he’d seen so many people flood through a door at one time. The endless minutes he’d spent waiting for them had been as bad as watching that stupid countdown clock over the last two days.
Looking at Allie’s less-than-optimistic support system had him wondering if he was ever going to see Allie again, a thought that terrified him.
Lieutenant Santos followed behind Cole, Eden, Simone and Vince, along with Officer Bowie and Sergeant Tomlinson and a handful of other officers, who spread out around the ER waiting room.
“Jack’s being prepped for surgery,” Max told them. “Two hit his vest, broke a couple of ribs. The third went into his side.” He motioned to where the straps connected the vest. “He’s flatlined twice.” He knew because he’d been standing outside the door, watching.
“But he’s still alive,” Cole said. Eden smoothed her hand down his arm, her expression unreadable.
“What about Allie?” Max asked.
“We didn’t see Jack’s SUV outside so I’m assuming that’s what Mina took off in,” Vince said. “We should be able to track his GPS—”
“Unless she’s disabled it.”
“Did Jack even register it?” Eden asked. “He’s only had it a week or so. Cole?”
“I don’t know.”
“Mina’s not in her right mind. Never has been. The last thing she’s going to be worried about is a GPS tracker,” Simone said. “She had a plan for Hope. She’ll have one for Allie. This is about completing her mission.”
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