by Geri Foster
Rachel gasped, Kendall’s eyes widened, and Lucas leaned closer. “Play it again. We need to make sure.”
Calvin clicked a key and the grizzly scene repeated.
Lucas sat back and scrubbed his hands down his face. “I knew it. I knew it all along.” He tapped the computer. “Is there any way to be sure of who took this video?”
“No, but if you look closely, you can see two figures in the reflection in the window of the car the killer stepped out of.” He zoomed in and there stood Bobby Joe Cochran and Jimmy Rose. Marcus breathed a sigh of relief, realizing you didn’t normally get this lucky.
“Thanks,” Lucas said holding his palm out. “I’ll take that now. I want to get it to the Attorney General right away.”
“I’ll gladly go with you, if you need help explaining how I had to jump through hoops to get to the video.”
Lucas stood and shook hands with Calvin. “Much obliged. They probably have their own people, but it won’t hurt for you to come along. You might save them some time.”
Everyone stood as Candi came back to their table. She handed the check to Marcus. “After you pay, I’m going with Kendall to get my hair done.”
Marcus took out his credit card and handed it to her. “Take care of this transaction and I’ll drive you both there.”
“Don’t be silly,” Candi said with a chuckle. “My car is right outside. When I finish getting my hair done I have to pick up Tyler. I don’t want to inconvenience Kendall by having to drive me back here.” She checked the clock on her phone. “His daycare closes in an hour and a half.”
“Okay, but be careful.” Marcus kissed Kendall and urged her, “Don’t take any chances.”
“Calvin and I are on our way to Denton,” Lucas said. “Rachel, you go to the ranch and lock the doors. If I know these people like I think I do, this isn’t over yet.”
Rachel touched his arm. “You aren’t expecting trouble, are you?”
Marcus took Kendall by the arm and walked toward the door. “We’re not taking any chances. This guy, James Cole, wants that thumb drive and he’s desperate enough to go after one of you women to get possession of it. The evidence on that thumb drive will put him away for life.”
They all filed out of the diner together. Marcus decided to go with Calvin and Lucas while Rachel announced she’d be at her mama’s house until they returned.
Kendall threw Marcus a kiss as she ducked and got into the passenger side of Candi’s Taurus. He wanted to jump up and shout for joy that she was so comfortable with him now as to do that in public without any hesitation. Not to mention, they finally had proof that would take care of Bobby Joe and this James Cole guy.
Things were starting to look up, at last.
James followed the lawyer and Bobby Joe’s ex to the local diner where they met up with several people, including the Sheriff. This made him wonder what they were up to and if they had the thumb drive with them.
He couldn’t tell much sitting out in the parking lot, but it wouldn’t be long before they departed. How long could they sit in a café? About the time the minivan’s air conditioner started acting up, the lawyer, Sheriff and a stranger got in the police cruiser and went one way. The woman who he assumed belonged to the Sheriff drove the other way. At the same time, the person they were after was getting into another vehicle with a blonde girl. Tall, with a nice pair of hips, she slid behind the wheel of an older Taurus.
“Now we have two women to worry about,” Snooky griped. “We’ll never get our hands on the thumb drive.”
James swung out and slapped his partner in the chest. “Don’t say that. They’re women. We can easily take them. Let’s follow them for a few minutes, then I’ll cut off the car and you jump out and grab the hairdresser.”
“Me?” Snooky squealed. “Why don’t you?”
He held out his hands. “I’m driving, in case you didn’t notice.”
“There’s two of them.”
“You can’t handle two girls?” He laughed. “There was a time you could take care of half a dozen.”
Snooky pouted. “This is different. These two will be trying to get away.”
“Fine.” James finally gave in. If you want something done right, do it yourself. “I’ll take one and you take the other.”
They drove closely behind the vehicle, waiting for just the right minute.
“Which one?” Snooky asked.
James glanced over at his partner. “Which what?”
“Which one are you going to take?”
“I’ll take the hairdresser.” He glared at Snooky. “Happy now?”
“Yeah, I am. I don’t relish getting into a fight with a woman. They’re dirty. They kick and scratch and bite. You forget, I have five sisters and I don’t tangle with any of them. They beat my ass more times than I can count.”
“You probably deserved it. The difference here is those women aren’t going to know what hit them. It’s a surprise attack. Get it?”
“Surprise attack. Yeah. Let’s see how that works.”
At the next corner, James pulled up beside the Taurus, opened his door and reached for the handle of the car. He jerked hard, only to find the door locked.
With his arm practically out of joint, he banged on the window. The next thing he knew, the car ran a red light and took off down the street, nearly hitting a pedestrian.
James jumped back in the Minivan to give chase.
“What happened?” Snooky asked. “I was just getting out.”
“The damn door was locked.”
“Locked?”
“Yes, locked. Now they’re on to us. They’ll probably drive straight to the Sheriff’s office.”
James floored the gas pedal and when they went over a bump in the road, his and Snooky’s heads hit the ceiling. That didn’t slow them down. They had to catch the women before they could get help.
Unfortunately, they were getting way ahead of them. Then they started turning up roads and down narrow alleyways. “We’re losing them,” Snooky said. “They’re getting away.”
“Well, if you’d have gotten something besides an old woman’s minivan we might be able to keep up.”
“I figured if we were going to kidnap someone, we needed a van. This is the only thing close to that.”
“Well, it won’t go over sixty miles an hour.”
“That’s not my fault.” Snooky pointed ahead. “You’ve got to get up there ahead of them and cut ‘em off. That’s the way you do it.”
James gave Snooky a slow, annoying glare. “Don’t you think I know that?” He glanced around. “I can’t even see them anymore. Which way did they go?”
“I think they turned down there, to the right.”
James turned, floored the accelerator again and off they went down an ally covered in potholes. He felt for sure his brain was being rattled. “Don’t they ever do any road work around here?”
Snooky held on to the door handle and pressed his palm to the roof. “I doubt it. This is worse than being in a rodeo.”
They came out to a paved street and James turned left, right as the Taurus passed in front of them practically flying. “That’s a fast car.”
“I think the driver is just familiar with the streets of Rainwater. She’s probably been here all her life. She knows how to get around.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’m getting sick of this.” He pulled out his Glock, pointed it out the side window and fired off two shots, blowing out the rear window.
That didn’t even slow them down. The driver ahead of him took the next turn on two wheels which brought them to the main street of town. Just as James went to shoot again, a police cruiser pulled directly in front of him and he slammed the brakes. Suddenly, there were men with shotguns on each side of the vehicle.
A quick glance in the rearview mirror showed two city trucks blocking any hopes he had of backing up and making a clean get away.
Without anywhere to go, he lowered his head on the steering wheel. It felt
awful to be out done by two women, but no doubt they had been in contact with the Sheriff the whole time. They led them right into a trap.
Kendall’s throat completely closed as Candi stomped down on the brake and her car spun around perfectly, sliding to a halt right behind Lucas’ squad car. Heart beating like a savage drum, she leaned her head back and let out a sigh.
“You really know how to drive, Candi.”
“I had to learn how to get away from Aaron. In the beginning, he stalked me day and night. Finally, my daddy put me behind the wheel and showed me how to get away from anyone. My grandpa used to be a rum runner in his youth.”
Kendall didn’t believe it. “Grandma Faith’s husband was a bootlegger?”
Candi’s pretty face lit up like a Christmas tree. She nodded. “Sure was.”
“Well, you learned your lesson well.”
She and Candi got out of the vehicle and dashed toward the police station. Kendall’s gaze stuck on the man behind the wheel of the minivan. He’d been in the shootout at her apartment. She had recognized him when he’d tried to open the door on her side of the car.
Marcus ran over and gathered her in his arms. “Are you all right?”
She smiled and pulled Candi closer. “Thanks to her. She’s quite the speedster.”
“Good job, Candi,” Lucas said. “You did exactly as I instructed. Now we have them cornered. You two get in the station and stay there until this is settled. They’re still armed and dangerous.”
Kendall grabbed the cuff of Marcus’ jacket. “Oh God, please be careful.”
“Don’t worry. They have no place to go.”
“But they must know you have the thumb drive. That means someone is going to jail. That makes a man desperate.”
“He might be,” Lucas said. “But if he moves, he’s dead.”
Kendall ran and caught up with Candi. Together they entered the safety of the sheriff’s office.
Chapter 18
Marcus cocked his shotgun just as Lucas said, “Put down your guns and put your hands where we can see them. If you don’t comply, you will be shot.”
“I want to make a deal,” James Coles said. “I just want that thumb drive and I’m willing to make it worth your while.” He glanced around. “I’ll make it worth everyone’s while.”
The Attorney General appeared at the door of the sheriff’s office. He held the object of Cole’s interest in the air. “Are you talking about this?”
“Yes, I want that.”
“It’s already been sent to the Justice Department where a warrant for your arrest has been issued.”
James lowered his head. Marcus hoped he knew it was over. No need for anyone else to be hurt. “Put it down, Cole, and give yourself up. The fight’s over.”
The man sitting next to him threw out his gun, opened the door, slid out and dropped to his belly on the ground. He clasped his hands over his head. “I didn’t kill anyone.”
“But you were with him when he did it?”
“I was, but I didn’t pull the trigger.”
Lucas stepped closer. “You’ll still face attempted kidnapping charges.”
“We didn’t get anyone!” James shouted. “They got away scot free.”
“Doesn’t mattered,” the AG said. “You were after these women in an effort to get the thumb drive.”
James groaned, tossed his Glock, and opened the door. He held up his hands and leaned against the hood of the minivan. Marcus hoped this would be the end of it. They’d fought a tough battle, and Kendall’s life had been in danger one way or another.
He still couldn’t relax his shoulders. Not until Lucas locked James Cole behind bars. Lucas stepped forward and handcuffed Cole and took him inside his office, while David took care of the other guy.
Marcus lowered his weapon and followed behind the deputy. He wanted to get Kendall out of there before anything else happened. Inside, he found her and Candi huddled with Lucas’s secretary in the corner.
When she saw him, she ran into his arms. “I was so scared.”
“I know, but it’s over. They’re going to jail for a very long time.”
She turned to the AG. “I want you to know that I knew nothing about this. Bobby Joe, my ex, is the one who owned the thumb drive. He and his buddy took that video.”
“We found that out and I’ve sent an agent to the prison to talk to him.”
“Be aware that he lies. He’ll do anything to stay out of jail.”
The AG laughed. “I don’t think that’s going to work this time. The evidence stacked against him is strong. So, we have a solid case against him.”
That helped Marcus breathe easier. At last they could put the issue of Bobby Joe to bed. He smiled down at Kendall. “You want to finish up for the day or go home?”
“No, I’m doing Candi’s hair and then I’m taking her for a drink. I’ll see you at the house later. Also, I have to call my mama and let her know I’m okay.”
“See you later then.”
James knew when to give up any hope of escape and, right now, his future didn’t look so good. He should’ve found out sooner Bobby Joe had a video of him murdering the DA. He regretted that.
His mind spun as he tried to think of a defense that would keep him out of the death chamber. Could he plead insanity? Self-defense? Since he hadn’t actually seen the thumb drive, how did they know he did the shooting? How good was the image?
James had spent his life getting out of jams and this time only proved to be a tougher challenge. The law was a crazy thing and at times it could be turned on its head. Maybe this time he could pull a fast one again. He’d done it plenty of other times.
The deputy walked by, his fist around Snooky’s bicep. Now, where were they going? “Hey, Snooky, keep your trap shut. I’ll get us out of this.”
Snooky didn’t even glance back at him, which gave James a scary feeling. “I’m warning you. Keep your mouth shut if you know what’s good for you.”
“Shut up, James,” Snooky snarled over his shoulder. “I haven’t done anything compared to you. I’m not going to spend half my life in jail because you had to be a big shot and assassinate a District Attorney.”
James gripped the bar in front of his cell. “Shut up, Snooky. I’m warning you.”
“Aw, shut up yourself. There’ll be a needle in your arm before this is over.”
After having a drink with Candi, Kendall got in her car and headed straight to Marcus’ door. She smiled when he answered, the aroma of spicy food wafting out of the house. “Mmm, I smell Italian.”
He bent down and captured her lips then lifted his head. “Yes, you do. Lasagna with garlic toast.”
She pretended to be surprised. “You mean you can actually cook?”
He nodded. “I’ve been a bachelor long enough to survive, and that means cooking a meal when necessary.”
She stepped into the living room, put her purse on a small table near the door then moved toward the kitchen. “You might have to prove it to me.”
He waved her in front of him. “Be my guest.”
She opened the oven, surprised to see a pan of real lasagna, not a frozen package bought at the store. Also, the remnants of extra noodles sat in a pan of water. “So, you really can cook.”
“Told you.”
He pulled out a kitchen chair and motioned for her to sit, before pushing the chair closer to the table. He took the lasagna out of the oven and placed it in the center, next to a salad. “I’ll get the wine,” he said, eagerly.
“After the day we’ve had this is wonderful.” She picked up her fork. “And I’m hungry.”
He opened the wine and poured them both a glass, then picked up a spatula and sliced the casserole. “This is our celebration dinner.”
“What are we celebrating? That we’re still alive?”
He held up his glass. “Not exactly. I received word just before I left my office that Bobby Joe has been moved to a maximum security federal prison. He’s in way ove
r his head now.”
Her heart nearly dropped to her stomach. “You’re kidding,” she said breathlessly. “He’s really gone?”
“I suspect for several years.”
She picked up her glass and they toasted their happiness. “I can hardly believe it.”
“You and I have plenty of time to figure out exactly what we want to do.”
She took a long sip. “Like what?”
He grinned. “For starters, how about a key to the house? That is, if you still want to move in with me.” Marcus held his breath, unsure what her answer would be.
“Move in, huh? Well, I don’t know. I have it on good authority a woman shouldn’t do that sort of thing without some serious commitment from her beau.”
His eyes opened wide. “Commitment? You mean…marriage?” His heart nearly beat out of his chest.
She laughed. “Well, not now. But, you know…someday?”
“Someday,” a smile took over his whole face. “I can work with that.”
Grinning, she stood, walked around the table and sat on his lap, her arms looped around his neck. “Then I guess I better brush up on saying yes.”
“If last night is any indication, I don’t think you’ll have a problem with that,” he teased.
She blushed at his insinuation but laughed. Kissing him soundly, she pulled back and whispered against his lips, “I love you, Marcus Matthews.”
“I love you, too, Kendall Cochran. And I can’t wait to give you my last name.”
“I look forward to it,” she said sincerely. Suddenly, her smile disappeared. “We still have the three grandmas. They aren’t going to be easy to deal with.”
“Let’s let our mamas take care of them. Both our families have been waiting a long time for us to get together. They won’t let anyone spoil their fun.”
She chuckled. “You’re right about that.” Sobering, she held his face in her palms. “Just you and me now? Promise?”
He leaned in until he was a breath away. “Forever.”
Kendall tilted her head. “Is that Rain?”
He smiled. “Sounds like it.”