I dropped to my hands and knees and crawled in double time to the table, grabbed the keys, then the phone, and checked for a signal. Nothing. Dead zone. From my floor-height point of view, it was apparent things outside could be wrapping up any moment. Kong was pacing, Des nodding, probably not a good sign for me.
How much time was there? A few seconds? Minutes? I pocketed my stash and rushed to the back door. I unlocked the door and stepped onto the wooden stoop. Roger and I saw each other at the same time.
“What the—how did you get out?” He threw down the cigarette he’d been smoking and bounded up the stairs.
I spun around and locked the door behind me.
He pounded on the side of the house, yelling. “Hey, Des, Kong!”
I ran to the kitchen doorway and watched Kong and Des yelling at each other in the front yard. Kong motioned for Antoine to come through the front, as the brother-sister duo rushed around the side of the house. I heard Antoine’s footsteps. He’d be here any second. I reached the door as it opened and shoved as hard as I could. There was a loud thump. The door vibrated with the connection to something solid.
Antoine’s screams of pain were followed by tumbling noises as he fell backwards down the stairs. I went out the door to the front porch. Antoine lay sprawled on the front walkway shaking his head. I ripped the keys from my pocket while I rushed down the steps. I got into the car, slammed the door behind me, then took my first real look at the keys. She had six keys: two for houses, two car keys, two miscellaneous. I tried the first car key. Wrong choice.
I glanced up to see Des kneeling next to Antoine. My God, she did care about him. Oh crap, he was pointing in my direction. She looked up, we locked eyes. I jammed the second key in the lock, gave it a sharp twist and the engine roared to life. Before I could change gears, the driver’s door opened.
Des held the gun to my temple. Her voice was cool, all sense of emotion again gone. “I’d really hate to mess up my upholstery. Get out. Now.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
The gun with those big-ass bullets rested against my temple. There was no question how this would turn out if I persisted in trying to escape. “I’m getting out,” I said. I removed my hands from the steering wheel, raising them as high as I could to show I understood the facts. She’d won, I’d lost.
Even though I turned sideways in my seat, Des kept the gun pointing directly into my face. The barrel looked like it was the size of a train tunnel coming out the side of a mountain. Deep, dark and deadly if I wasn’t careful.
There was a coldness in her eyes, something so calculating it indicated a willingness to shoot me without a second thought. Maybe the only thing saving me so far was that Des didn’t want to mess up her car and that Kong wanted to talk to me. Other than the brief moment when she’d checked on Antoine, she certainly hadn’t shown any emotions toward people.
Kong glared at me, then at Des. He shook his head and swore. “Son of a bitch. Now what? Des, do not shoot him.”
I got out and stood at the side of her car. The assembled group included the Ice Queen and Kong in the front row, Antoine and Roger in the back. Des snapped at Roger over her shoulder. “Take the truck. Wait at the new location.”
Roger glanced at Kong, who gave a nod of approval. As Roger left, Antoine took an obviously painful step toward Des. Instead of comforting him, she waved him off. “Stay away from me.” She glared at her brother. “This guy used you, Kong. He got to us through you. You and that damned girlfriend of yours.”
“Don’t you start with me. I’m tired of you ranting about Morah. Get back inside, McKenna, we don’t need no neighbors dropping by. And remember, Des, the neighbors will hear a gunshot. They’re not that far away.”
Antoine rubbed his forehead with his left hand. If he wasn’t such an asshole, I might have even felt sorry for the guy. He was shaking almost as badly as I was. He never took his eyes off Des and I had the feeling he actually cared for her. Was the feeling mutual? Based on her reaction from when I’d told her he’d slept with Morah, I’d say it had been at one time. Now, I wasn’t sure. Antoine also looked like he’d gone into shock. Perhaps he was contemplating how far from “lawyer” he’d drifted.
Des pushed by me to remove the keys from her car. She pocketed them with her free hand while keeping the gun trained on me with the other. Antoine moved behind Des and rubbed her shoulders. She brushed him off like a mosquito in the night. I half-expected her to turn around and shoot him someplace important to cause him more pain. Seeing the three of them together, I realized who must have killed Morah. The question was, why?
There was a possibility I still had one last card to play and it all depended on the little brother. “Kong, you don’t want to kill me. The cops will figure it out and you’ll be on the run for the rest of your life—unless they catch you. Morah wouldn’t want that for you.”
Des grabbed my shirt collar and dragged me toward the house. I stumbled along, trying to keep from tripping over my own feet. I dared not resist for fear that she would ignore Kong’s instruction and simply start placing bullets into various parts of my anatomy. When we got to the steps, she practically threw me up the stairs.
“Get in there, you son of a bitch.”
I stumbled up the steps, breaking my fall with my right hand. Splinters dug into my flesh. I gritted my teeth, but didn’t cry out. Behind me, I saw Kong holding Des in a bear hug. Her legs thrashed wildly and her foot nearly caught me in the calf. I moved up the steps slowly, watching the scene below.
“Calm down, Sis.” His voice was steady, as though he were soothing a child.
“Let me go. Let me go, goddammit.”
Antoine watched from several feet away, his mouth open. He might have been worried about Kong damaging his girlfriend, but more likely he wished he had the strength to manhandle her so easily himself.
Des continued her tantrum, but Kong was relentless. His quiet attitude seemed to irritate her more than anything. Finally, she rolled her eyes and let out a huff before she stopped thrashing. “Fine. Please, Kong, let me down.”
“Got my sis back?”
“Yes, dammit, I’m calm. Now put me down.” A moment later, she added, “I said, please.”
When Kong released her, Des straightened her back and stood tall. She had the classic look of someone trying to recover from one of those life’s most embarrassing moments. She even used the hair-fluff move again, which gave me the inspiration for a plan I hoped would get me out of here alive.
I stepped gingerly into the house, now wanting to find the power position. There would be no sitting for me, no matter what. I was going to have to be as cool and calm as Kong had been to succeed. Somehow, I had to get them all fighting with each other. Everything revolved around Morah’s spa weekend. Her betrayal of Kong, the affair with Antoine, even her death and my involvement were all linked together. If Des really cared about Antoine, she’d turn on Kong before she let him kill her boyfriend. First, I had to get the big guy on my side, then I could expose her. What would happen after that? I had no clue.
I watched each of them as they entered the room. Antoine was still bitching about the lump on his head, Des seemed torn between helping him and regaining control and Kong was cool as they come.
I said, “So, this is cozy.”
All three stared at the crazy man before them, probably thinking how stupid I was to not be in a panic. Des motioned for me to sit at the table.
“I’ll stand.”
“Sit.”
“No thanks.”
Her brow furrowed; she knew something had changed. “Suit yourself.”
Antoine closed the front door, making sure to check the lock before walking away. Kong crossed the room to draw the front drapes. At the same time, Des turned on the torchiere lamp next to a side table. Both men took up positions behind Des. Kong was still calm, but Antoine fidgeted. His eyes flicked between his two partners and me. His were probably the emotions of a guilty lover, of someone who had s
uccumbed to temptation and knew payback was imminent.
“You present me with a big problem,” said Kong. “You’ve proven you can’t be trusted. You lied to me.” His voice rose like thunder rolling in.
I stared him in the eye, determined not to let his anger, feigned or real, deter me. “And you stole part of me. Just like someone stole part of you.”
“Nobody stole nothing.”
“You took my identity.” I shifted my gaze to Des. “But, more importantly, someone took away the woman you loved. In a way, you’re responsible, Kong.”
As cool as she was, Des gave herself away. Her mouth opened slightly and she took in a sudden breath. She even blinked a few times in rapid succession. Yes, I was on track. Just like a fortune teller in a carnival, I’d only be able to plan one step ahead. But, if I was correct about her being the one behind the explosion, I could turn Kong against her. Tears formed in Kong’s eyes and I could see he was ready to rip me apart with nothing more than his hands.
It was time to play my wild card. I was sweating like a hunted animal, but kept my voice calm. This was no time to panic. “Kong, I know who killed Morah.”
Two seconds later, I was still alive. And I had a dilemma. Kong reacted exactly as I’d expected, with more tears and anguish taking hold, but Des had completely regained her composure. I wondered if she viewed me as an opponent in her game of manipulation—or an idiot.
Antoine’s eyes almost bugged out at my revelation and now he was back to watching Des. He did a poor macho imitation by crossing his arms over his chest, then standing with his feet shoulder-width apart. The image fizzled when his voice came out as a squeak. “Shoot him, Des. Let’s get this over with.”
Kong shook his head as he approached. “No. I’m gonna take care of him on my own.”
I stared him in the eye. “Like you did Morah’s ex-boyfriend?”
My words must have stung because I saw him flinch.
Des still had the gun pointed at my chest, but instead of shooting me, she was manipulating Kong into doing her dirty work again. Would he? Not this time, I hoped. “Why would you want to kill me when you could get the man who caused Morah’s death? You know that weekend you spent in Honolulu?”
“What about it?” He stood directly in front of me, his muscles bulging under his T-shirt. My only consolation was that Des couldn’t shoot me without killing Kong in the process.
“She spent that weekend at the Marriott with another man.”
Before I could breathe he was on me with his hands locked around my throat as he pressed me against the wall.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Vice grips. That’s what his stranglehold felt like. My feeble attempts to stop him were just that, feeble. Those few seconds seemed like an eternity. I felt my life ebbing away. From the corner of my eye, I saw Des smirking and Antoine nodding enthusiastically. Kong had me pinned and the longer this went on the less I felt. With my energy almost gone, I made one last attempt to speak before I succumbed to the darkness enveloping me. I croaked, “Antoine.”
He blinked. The pressure continued. I had no air. All I could see were those cold eyes.
I mouthed the name again. “Antoine.”
His hands eased up and in the background I heard Des. Her voice seemed distant. “Finish him off, Kong. If you don’t, I will.”
“Not yet.” Kong guided me to a chair, where he sat me down.
I saw Des glare at Antoine with an intensity that, if I were Antoine, would scare the hell out me. She still had the gun hanging at her side. “He lied to you, Kong. He lied.” She came and stood directly behind her brother. “He’s accusing Morah of screwing around. You were gonna marry her. He’s lying again.”
I leaned against the table, relishing the air filling my lungs. So Des was now a Morah defender? Why? To get rid of me? With me out of the way, she could control Kong and make Antoine pay for cheating on her, cuckolding or killing him, at her leisure.
Kong faced down Des, forcing her to back away. “How do you know he’s lying?”
If I could get the lawyer’s name out one more time—I sucked in big gulps of air, then wheezed, “Antoine.”
Kong stared at me. “I thought that’s what you was saying.”
With each passing second, it became more obvious. Des was the one to watch. She had to stop me from telling what I knew. I motioned to Kong with my head, but he’d already grabbed for the gun. His quickness surprised everyone, but he wasn’t quite fast enough. The gun blast left one casualty—the ceiling plaster. Even though Kong now had control, this didn’t seem like it was over.
Between gasps, I whispered, “Kong.”
The next thing I knew, he’d shoved Des to one side, but had turned back on me. I was stunned when he said, “You better make this good.”
“The identity theft. I was investigating when I found out about Morah. She spent one weekend with Antoine at the Marriott.” My breath was returning, but would it be just in time to get shot?
I’d expected pandemonium, instead, the room fell silent. Slowly, Kong turned on Antoine.
“He’s lying again.” said the lawyer. “He lied to you before, he’s doing it again.”
Des had her arms crossed over her chest, the disgust on her face obvious. “You weak son of a bitch.”
It was time to unmask Des—I pointed at her. “She knew.”
She stared straight at me and said, “No. I didn’t.”
I believed her. That put my theory about her being the killer in jeopardy—unless I’d been wrong about why she’d been jealous. “It’s always been you and Kong, hasn’t it?”
The brother and sister glanced at each other and I had my answer. I thought, right killer, wrong motive.
Kong stared at Des, then Antoine. “What else?”
Des started in my direction, but Kong warned her away.
“It’s a lie,” said Antoine. “He’s trying to turn us against each other to save himself.” His stammering and desperation only seemed to make Des angrier, and that gave me strength. She’d killed Morah because she was losing her brother, not her lover, but now she believed she’d lost both to the same woman. It was a perception capable of driving any psychopath over the edge.
“Morah was freaked out over your marriage proposal,” I said. “So was Des.”
Tears formed in Kong’s eyes as he stood, the killer instinct unleashed but its target uncertain. And Des had the reaction I’d hoped for—clenched fists and veins popping out on her forehead. Would Kong settle on someone other than me to kill? I added, “Morah wound up spending the weekend with Antoine.”
Des leaped at Antoine and slammed her fist into his face. Red drops squirted from his nose and splattered his cheeks. Kong shoved the gun into the waistband of his shorts at his back, then went to pull the two apart. Antoine took a wild swing at Des and, for his one glancing blow, received two quick jabs in return. Kong grabbed Des under the arms and dragged her away.
“He’s mine,” said Kong, tossing Des to the side like a doll.
Antoine lay on the floor moaning, but Kong easily lifted him, flipped him around and slammed him face first against the nearest wall. The lawyer sputtered blood. “She was all bitchy and crabby. She didn’t want me. Des told me to keep her writing the checks. That’s why I went.”
So now the truth came out—Des looked panicked. It was the only time I’d seen her afraid. Blood spread down Antoine’s shirt and his head lolled to one side. When Kong put a hand under Antoine’s chin and straightened his head, the lawyer gasped. “No more! No more. Please. Des had me give her the checks. It was all her idea.”
Kong’s fist slammed into Antoine’s stomach. He doubled over, but screamed again when Kong slammed him headfirst into the wall. He caromed off the wall into a table, then crumpled onto the floor. The torchiere lamp crashed next to him. Kong took two long, deliberate steps, then stood glaring down at the lump before him. Des ran to the men. I thought she’d help Antoine, but instead she pulled the gun from Kong’
s waistband. She backed away, her steps tentative.
Who would she kill next? Her brother or her lover? Antoine struggled to sit up, his face masked in pain. Kong wrenched Antoine’s arm, forcing the other man to look up. “Is it true?”
“Leave him alone, Kong,” Des said.
Her words were wasted on her brother’s rage. He jerked Antoine to a standing position and spun him around so that he faced the wall again. “Is it true?”
Antoine tried to raise a hand before his face, but couldn’t. His arm fell to his side.
“You know what’ll happen if you lie to me.” Kong put his face inches from Antoine’s.
Two of Antoine’s teeth were hanging at odd angles and he was spitting out blood. I wanted to feel sorry for him, but he’d betrayed everyone. Kong appeared not to notice and held the other man in place as though he weighed nothing at all.
Des moved to a position a few feet away from me. She aimed at the two men, but could easily turn on me. I could see that she, too, was waiting for Antoine’s answer.
“Kong,” I said, “you need to talk to Des.”
“We’re fine, right Sis?” He never let his eyes waver from Antoine’s. But Des had the shakes. I suspected she’d blow at any moment.
Antoine’s voice trembled as he spoke. Was he more afraid of Kong? Or Des? “She’d been writing checks off his account for days.” His one arm flipped in my direction, then fell back to his side. “I was supposed to make sure she spent a bundle at the Marriott—please, don’t hurt me. All she talked about that weekend was you.”
Kong relaxed his grip, but he seemed unconvinced. To my left, Des had leveled her weapon at Kong. I forced myself to take a deep breath. If she killed him, the rest of us wouldn’t be far behind.
“Let him go,” Des said.
“It was just a wasted weekend, Des.” Antoine must have realized he had trouble on two fronts. Which was more dangerous? “I promise. I love you. Shoot him, both of them if you want. We’ll go away.”
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