by Amy Vansant
“Okay...”
“Is there anything else?”
Darla glanced behind her.
“We might be arrested at any moment.”
“What? Why?”
Darla saw Jamie stop at her luggage carousel.
I’ve done it. I’ve caught up with her.
Darla grinned.
“Long story. She’s at luggage carousel four.”
“Great. That’s perfect. Call me back when you get to your car. Let me know you’re safe.”
Darla grimaced. “I will. Maybe. If we’re not arrested. But even then, you’ll be my first call. Bye.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Declan knocked on Blade’s door.
I shouldn’t be doing this. I don’t have time.
He glanced at his watch. In a few hours he’d be headed to the top of a building hoping to stop Jamie from shooting her own daughter. Yet, here he was at Blade’s house, his father standing behind him.
Why?
For some reason he felt the need to confront the giant who’d been hiding in plain sight, pretending to be his employee, when all along, he’d been spying for his father.
He couldn’t help himself.
I should just fire him and forget he ever existed.
Nope.
Can’t.
My feelings are hurt and, dammit, I want an explanation.
Though Blade had always been a bit standoffish with him, on some deeper level he’d felt they’d become friends.
Was it all an act?
No sooner had Declan parked outside Blade’s house, than his father pulled up behind him. He didn’t know whether Cormac had guessed where he’d been headed, or if the old man didn’t trust him.
Maybe Cormac thought he was on his way to warn Jamie. The idiot had already nearly killed Charlotte with his misplaced suspicions.
It didn’t matter. He glanced at his father to be sure the old man knew he’d been spotted and then ignored him, choosing to head for Blade’s door without further conversation. Cormac shadowed him and now stood behind him, silent, as they waited for a response.
Blade opened the door looking flustered, a towel wrapped around his waist. His grin collapsed like a faulty umbrella upon spotting his boss, standing behind his “boss.”
Blade’s eyes softened. He almost looked as if he might cry.
“I’m sorry, man.”
“Can I come in?” asked Declan.
“Me too,” added Cormac, waving like a wise guy.
Blade stepped back and let them both inside.
Cormac peeked behind the living room table. “That freaky cat of yours isn’t here, is he?”
“He’s with his real daddy,” said Blade, sounding defeated. Declan couldn’t be sure if Blade’s disappointed tone had to do with himself or the neighbor’s cat. Maybe both.
Blade sat on the sofa. The bottom edge of the furniture had been shredded into a wig of flower print threads. Declan chose to sit on the edge of a worn reclining chair.
“I guess you’re pretty mad,” said Blade.
“That you were a spy in my own shop?” Declan spat the sentence before he could stop himself. He hadn’t thought he was as angry as he was. He stared at his toes and took a deep breath.
Blade shifted in his chair, lifting one foot and then the other. Declan couldn’t tell if he was uncomfortable with the topic, or wanted to cross his legs and couldn’t in the bath towel he wore without flashing the room.
“I want you to know I love working at your shop. I really do. That wasn’t fake. Dec, I have more fun—”
Declan’s head snapped up. “Did you just call me Dec?”
Blade’s enormous forehead scrunched into a rowed hillside fit for farming. “Yeah?”
“That’s the most affection you’ve shown me since you started.”
Blade frowned. “I apologize for that too, man. I was protecting myself. I like to keep people who might be killed at arm’s length. It’s too hard on me.”
“You thought I might be killed?”
“Well, sure. I assumed that’s why Cormac had me watching you.”
Declan looked at his father.
Cormac shrugged. “If Jamie caught wind of how close I was to her.”
Declan scoffed. “Were you though? Without Charlotte’s help?”
Cormac dismissed him with a wave. “Don’t pretend to know about my investigation.”
Declan rolled his eyes and turned to Blade. He felt his anger toward the big man dissipating. Blade looked so sad it was hard to stay angry. And Blade was only doing his job. His father was the jackass who’d put him in the shop.
“You were always sweet to Charlotte,” Declan muttered.
Blade smiled wide enough to flash the gap where his first molar used to be. “Well, sure. Why would anyone ever kill Miss Charlotte?” He caught himself. “I mean, until recently.”
Cormac raised his right hand, index finger pointed to the sky and circled it. “Okay, if you guys could wrap up this bromance we’ve got work to do.”
Declan ignored his father, his mind drifting to thoughts of the pawn shop. Sales had soared since hiring Blade. Staying mad at the man would be a poor business decision.
“Does this mean you’re going to leave me? I mean, leave the Hock o’Bell?”
Cormac dropped his raised hand to his side with a thud. “Of course it means he’s going to leave—”
“I’m not leaving,” said Blade.
Cormac’s gaze snapped to Blade. “What?”
“I quit, Cormac.”
Cormac’s mouth hooked to the right, the tilt of his head following. “You’re kidding me.”
“No. I’m due for retirement and I quit. I like it here in Charity. I like working with the people and selling in the shop.” He looked at Declan. “I mean, if you’ll still have me.”
Declan almost yelped with joy, but he caught himself and cleared his throat. “Sure. I mean, I’m not the sort who holds a grudge. And you were trying to protect me, anyway.”
Cormac barked a laugh. “Come on. This is ridiculous. Blade, you’ve been threatening to quit for fifteen years.”
“I mean it this time. I found my place.”
“Selling old people’s old stuff to other old people?”
“It isn’t just old stuff. It’s stuff people loved.”
Declan silently echoed Blade’s words, his lips moving as he repeated the phrase.
Stuff people loved... There’s a new slogan in there somewhere...
Cormac expelled a loud puff of air. “I don’t know what’s going on around here. This place is crazy. Miles is killing people with animals, and my best guy is leaving me for a pawn shop full of—”
“Well, I’m happy you’re staying,” said Declan, cutting his father short before he felt the need to smack him. He stood and thrust a hand toward Blade.
Blade grinned and stood, nearly losing his towel in the process. He caught the cover with one hand and shook with the opposite hand. “Happy to be here.”
Cormac flopped back in his seat with a defeated sigh. “Fine. You can go. I can’t stop you. But can you do me a favor and operate the drone for this operation?”
Blade nodded. “Sure, boss. I wouldn’t leave you hanging.”
Declan released Blade’s hand. “What drone?”
“The drone that’s going to watch everything go down. It will keep an eye on Jamie, Stephanie and us making the capture.”
“So you can post it on the FBI’s Instagram?”
“No, smartass. It’s for safety.”
“Us?” Blade’s head cocked. “Is Declan going with you?”
“No—”
Declan shook his head. “That’s where you’re wrong. I am going.”
“Absolutely not. It’s too dangerous.”
“Look—I’ve met Jamie. She knows me. I’ll be an asset if we need to talk her down. And both Stephanie and Charlotte are involved. I’m going. End of discussion.”
Cormac rubbed hi
s head with his right hand as if it were a balloon he wanted to stick to the wall. “I don’t know...”
“You know I’m trained,” added Declan.
“That was years ago.”
“I’m younger. I’m faster. And you’ve already proven yourself incompetent.”
Cormac poked the air in front of Declan. “Hey you better watch that mouth—” Cormac stopped and pressed his lips into a hard line. He looked away and stared at a lamp as if he were trying to move it with his mind.
“I can run the drone from the shop so we won’t have to close,” suggested Blade.
Declan smiled. He’d been wondering who was going to watch the store while he was out capturing serial killers with his long, lost father. “That would be great.”
“You’re worried about the shop?” Cormac’s eyes grew wide and mocking. “Afraid you’ll miss Betty when she comes to look at the china?”
“Betty likes the china,” said Blade, a touch of growl in his tone.
Cormac retracted his telescoping neck. “I was kidding. There’s really a Betty?”
Declan nodded. “There are like six Bettys. But the one who likes china is Blade’s favorite.”
Cormac clapped his hands together. “Alright. This is nuts. I declare this touching scene over. We need to get rolling if we’re going to catch Jamie on that building.”
“So I’m going?” asked Declan.
Cormac nodded. “Yes. But let’s go before I change my mind.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Declan and Cormac met Charlotte and Stephanie at the meeting spot beneath a wooden pavilion not far from the fountain where Stephanie would play bait. The two women were arguing, Charlotte shaking a bulletproof vest at Stephanie in an attempt to make her take it.
Charlotte spotted Declan and thrust the jacket at him. “I borrowed this from Frank. She won’t put it on.”
Declan scowled. “Didn’t he want to know why you needed a bulletproof vest?”
Charlotte lowered the jacket. “Okay, maybe I borrowed it without asking. She still needs to wear it.”
Stephanie’s lip curled. “It’s going to ruin the line of my suit.”
“Put on the vest, Steph,” said Declan.
“She won’t shoot me.”
“She will.”
Declan saw Charlotte wince at the delivery of his bitter truth. Stephanie remained unmoved. For a moment longer she stood defiant, eyes blazing. Then the fire fizzled and her shoulders released. She held out her hand.
“Fine. Give it to me.”
Charlotte hung the jacket on Stephanie’s hand and as she moved toward the nearby public restroom, Charlotte looked at Declan.
“Thank you. I’ve been trying to talk her into that for fifteen minutes.”
“No problem.”
She placed a hand on his chest, but he felt little beneath his own vest.
“You look sexy in your tactical gear,” she said.
He felt himself blush. He was dressed like a badass soldier, yet Charlotte could make him feel like an embarrassed little boy with a single sentence. “Thank you. How are you doing?”
Charlotte shrugged. “I’m fine. Cormac’s men are covering all the entrances. I’m just hoping Jamie won’t spot them turning people away from the park. I’m a mess of nerves thinking things might not work. All I have to do is sit here and hope I don’t see Stephanie’s head blown off. She’s got the hard part.”
Declan raised a hand to shield his eyes from the sun and survey the area. Beneath the roof of the pavilion, Charlotte would be safe from any sniper.
“Just be sure you stay under here. And if we read this all wrong and you see Jamie approaching, do not approach her. Let me know and then get out of here.”
“Right, right. I got it, soldier boy.”
The walkie-talkie his father had provided Declan crackled to life.
“I just saw her enter the building.”
He pulled the radio from his hip and held it to his mouth.
“Was she carrying a bag or anything?”
“Pretty large gym bag. Yes.”
Declan grinned at Charlotte. “Got her.”
“I need you to get back here,” said Cormac.
“On the way. Out.”
Declan kissed Charlotte and let his lips linger a moment longer than his typical PDA kiss. “You’re all good?”
“All good.”
The door to the rest rooms opened and Stephanie paused, staring at them.
“Oh you two are just so adorable.” Grimacing, she smoothed the lines of her jacket where they puckered near the edges of the bulletproof vest. “I look like I’ve gained thirty pounds.”
“You can’t even see it.” Declan shook a finger at her. “Don’t give Charlotte any more trouble. She’s here to keep you alive.”
Stephanie rolled her eyes. “She’s not going to shoot me.”
“I know she isn’t, because you’re not going to give her a shot. You’re going to stick to that tree line, remember? Make her feel safe you’re following the plan, but give her no shot.”
Stephanie stared out to the tree line and nodded.
“Declan, I need you here now,” crackled Cormac’s voice.
Stephanie looked at his walkie-talkie. “Did she show up at the building?”
“She did.”
Stephanie paled. “She’s not going to shoot me,” she mumbled.
Charlotte put a hand on Stephanie’s arm. “Don’t take it personally. She’s insane.”
Stephanie jerked away from Charlotte’s touch. “Why would I take my mother trying to kill me personally?” She walked to the edge of the pavilion. “Let’s do this.”
Declan nodded to Charlotte, gave her one more quick kiss and then jogged toward the office park.
He found his father waiting at the fire escape door where they’d arranged to meet.
“About time.”
“Sorry, we were getting Stephanie ready to go.”
“Ready to head up?”
Declan nodded. He was about to charge into the stairwell when his father grabbed his arm.
“Dec, before we do this. I want you to know I really am sorry. Sorry for leaving you and sorry I was such a selfish prick. At the time I thought I was doing the right thing.”
Declan stared into his father’s eyes. It felt as if something else was there now. He seemed...sincere. Declan looked down with a quick nod.
“Okay. We can talk later, Cormac.”
“You can call me Dad.”
“Yeah, I don’t see that happening any time soon. Let’s take this one step at a time.”
“Fair enough.” Cormac clapped him on the back and then tapped Declan on the head. “I hereby deputize you to help me bring down this homicidal maniac.”
“Is that official?”
“No. I’m not an old-timey sheriff, but if you have to shoot her to save your life or the life of anyone else, do it. I’ll figure out the paperwork afterwards.”
“That sounds comforting.”
Declan and Cormac moved into the fire escape stairwell, their guns drawn.
“What if someone comes into the fire escape?” asked Declan as they started up the stairs.
“I’ve got men at every door to keep them from coming out or Jamie from getting in. She took the elevator right to the roof.”
“People inside?”
“Yes. I couldn’t close the office. She would have known.”
“Aren’t the workers going to be suspicious of the FBI guys guarding every fire escape and every elevator?”
“They’re dressed as repairmen. If someone makes a stink about leaving we’ll deal with it—”
The crack of a rifle shot stopped both men in their tracks.
“She couldn’t have—”
Declan bolted up the last flight and pushed open the door. A rifle mounted to a tripod sat at the opposite edge of the building, the side facing the park. A large black bag lay on the ground beside it. Jamie was nowhere to be seen.<
br />
“Where’d she go?” asked Cormac coming up behind him.
Declan ran around the stairwell and spotted a dark rope tied to an air-conditioning unit. The rope led over the side of the building.
“Over here!” he screamed, sprinting for the side of the building.
He reached the edge and looked down. Jamie was already on the ground, unhooking a rappelling harness.
“Freeze!” he screamed, pointing his gun at her.
She looked up and grinned before bolting for the trees.
Cormac shouted behind him.
“Shoot her!”
Declan fired. Bark burst from the side of a pine near where Jamie had disappeared into the tree line.
Declan’s gaze traveled in the direction he’d seen Jamie headed and whirled to face his father.
“She’s headed toward Charlotte.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
“Stephanie!”
The gunshot still echoed in her ears as Charlotte sprinted toward the fallen form of Stephanie. The blonde wasn’t moving. She ran just inside the tree line where Stephanie should have been. Charlotte slid to her knees as she moved close to the body, nearly tripping over Stephanie as she tried to stop her momentum.
Charlotte knew it was best not to move an injured person, but she couldn’t tend to Stephanie if she were the next one to be shot. She jerked the body into the trees until she felt safe they had cover.
Hands scrambling to locate the wound, Charlotte tore open Stephanie’s jacket. She spotted a hole through the chest pocket of her shirt, just above her heart.
It must have gone through the vest?
Charlotte slapped Stephanie’s cheeks.
“Wake up. Wake up.”
She ripped away Stephanie’s shirt and struggled to remove the bulletproof vest, chanting Stephanie’s name as she worked.
“Wake up, Stephanie, wake up, Stephanie—”
She stuck her finger into a hole in the vest that lined up with the hole in Stephanie’s now torn shirt. She felt the bullet, flattened there.
Is my finger in her chest?
She pulled out her finger.
No blood.
She pulled back the jacket expecting to see blood. There was none. Just a bruise near Stephanie’s right breast, throbbing above the lace of her bra.