Photo Bombed

by Daria White

  Bianca answered. “Sure thing, Mom.”

  “Talk to you later.” Melanie’s voice sounded shaky, but their mother didn’t seem to pick on it. She hung up.

  “Don’t panic,” Bianca said.

  “We’re being followed and you don’t want me to panic?” Melanie clutched to her seatbelt.

  “See if you can tell whose driving.”

  Melanie leaned over to the side mirror. “I can’t. What are we going to do, B?”

  Bianca released a deep breath. They weren’t that far from town. “Grab my purse and call Detective Sims. He’s in my contacts. Put him on speakerphone.”

  Melanie’s hands fumbled, but she did it. Bianca pressed on the gas to speed up.

  “They’re speeding up too,” Melanie said. She didn’t take her eyes off the side mirror while holding Bianca’s phone in her hand.

  He answered. “Lamar Sims.”

  “It’s Bianca Wallace, Detective. I’m being followed. I’m about five miles outside of Edenville. We’re crossing over the bridge, leaving the Farmer’s Market.”

  “What kind of car?”

  “A white Honda,” her sister said, running a free hand down her pant leg.

  “Which way are you traveling?” he asked.

  “Um…” Bianca bit her bottom lip. “The farmer’s market is west out of town, so we’re traveling back eastward on Highway Four.”

  “We have someone patrolling the welcome sign for speeders. I’ll let them know you’re coming in. I’m on my way.”

  “You’re not hanging up, are you?” Bianca didn’t want to be at the mercy of a killer if the police didn’t make it in time.

  “I’m staying on the line,” Detective Sims said.

  “Bianca!” Melanie clutched to her seatbelt.

  The Honda got closer. Bianca’s speed odometer rose to seventy miles per hour.

  “Tell me what’s going on?” Detective Sims asked.

  “They’re gaining on us!” Melanie yelled.

  “Don’t panic. Help is on the way,” he said.

  Bianca gripped the steering wheel, hoping that help would come soon. As she approached the back of an eighteen-wheeler, she switched lanes again to pass him. The Honda attempted to follow, but another car blew its horn. Bianca didn’t stop as she shifted her eyes between the mirrors.

  The engine of her car roared. Her heart pounded. Her mouth went dry.

  “Stay with me,” Detective Sims said on speaker.

  “Are they going to hit us?” Melanie clutched tighter to her seatbelt.

  Bianca passed another car with no problem, and she switched lanes again. Just a little longer. There would be help, but that didn’t stop her palms from sweating. Yet she didn’t lose her grip on the steering wheel.

  “I see the police, Bianca. Thank God!” Melanie pointed ahead.

  Bianca breathed easier but didn’t slow down. It wasn’t over yet. The sirens blared in her ears, and she heard tires screeching.

  “They’re turning around.” Melanie looked behind them.

  Bianca watched in the rearview mirror as the Honda made a dangerous U-turn. The car burned rubber, with smoke resulting from the sharp turn. Horns honked at it, but it didn’t stop. Two police cars chased after it, and Bianca prayed they caught the perpetrator. That had been another close call.

  ***

  Bianca sat next to her sister on the hood of her car. With one arm draped around her shoulders, Melanie wrapped an arm around Bianca’s waist. Thank goodness her heart palpitations had subsided. At least they weren’t hurt. What would have happened if the chase had gone further?

  Detective Sims walked over to them. “How are we doing, ladies?”

  Melanie didn’t answer, and Bianca hoped she wasn’t too shaken up. Her sister had had her share of scares as a traveling journalist, but nothing too life-threatening.

  Bianca sighed. “We’re fine.”

  “I feel like slashing tires,” Melanie said.

  Bianca jerked, holding back her own chuckle. Melanie showing violence? Bianca would love to see her sister in combat. Sometimes in school she and her sister had stood up against school bullies bothering other children. Going up against a killer? Out of their element.

  She shook her head at her sister. “I don’t think so.”

  “Ms. Wallace, we’re doing everything we can to find the person driving the car,” Detective Sims said.

  “You mean you haven’t caught the bum? That’s the best you guys can do? Tell us you’re—”

  Bianca stopped her. “Sis, they’re doing their job.”

  Melanie used her free hand and wrung her fingers through her curls. “I’m sorry. I’m just not used to be tailgated by someone who probably stabbed Martin Davis.” Her phone rang inside her pocket. She groaned. “It’s Mom. What am I supposed to tell her?”

  Bianca’s stomach roiled. “Tell her we’re on our way. Something came up. Don’t talk too long, either.”

  Melanie’s free hand clutched her necklace. “Lying?”

  “We’re not lying. We’ll tell her later. I don’t want to worry her now. Not with Alyssa with her.”

  Melanie bit her lip. Forcing a smile, she answered the phone, stepping away from Bianca and Detective Sims.

  “Anything else you can think of about the driver? You weren’t able to see who was driving?” he asked.

  Bianca shook her head. “No.”

  He made a note.

  “When will they catch him? Did they get the license plate?”

  “Yes and it’s registered under Judy’s name so it’s her stolen vehicle she reported.” When his cell rang, he answered, holding up his index finger to Bianca. “Yeah?” He groaned. “Alright. Head back here.” He hung up and focused his eyes on her once again. “Looks like our driver took a back street and got away from us. They found the car abandoned on the side of the road, so we’ll inform Mrs. Long. We will find him.”

  Bianca folded her arms over her chest. “Did he get away on foot or someone picked him up in another car?”

  “We don’t know yet.” Detective Sims stepped closer. “Ms. Wallace, would you like an escort home? I can follow you or have someone do it.”

  “That would only make things worse for my mother.” Her chest heaved and she groaned. “Yes. An escort would be helpful but please don’t make it obvious. I don’t want to worry my daughter either.

  Detective Sims said, “We’ll use discretion.”

  Bianca rubbed the back of her head. “I’m trying to remember if I saw anyone suspicious when we were at the farmer’s market.”

  “Did you?”

  She shrugged. “I saw Richard Long and Priscilla Davis. Nothing more. I left after talking with Priscilla. Melanie was waiting in the car.”

  He made another note. “Priscilla Davis. I can only assume you asked her some questions.”

  Bianca tilted her head to the side. “No, she shared some things with me about Nicole. Then she had a minor episode with her heart.”

  “Heart problems again?”

  “She’s fine. She had her medication with her. I saw the same thing with my dad.” Too bad it had killed him.

  “Since we’re on the subject…” He paused. Detective Sims shut his eyes as if it pained him to ask the next question. “Was there anything important you discussed?”

  “No. I’m sure you’ve already questioned Nicole and looked into her past with Martin.”

  He bobbed his head.

  “Then that’s all.”

  “So you can promise me you’re done asking questions? You’ll let us handle things from now on?” he asked.

  “How about Jordan’s attacker?” she asked.

  “We know the owner of the golf club.”

  Bianca perked up. “Who? Did you catch the guy?” Was it Richard’s? Would he confirm that for her?

  “I can’t tell you that, Ms. Wallace.”

  “Of course you can’t.” She rolled her eyes. She hadn’t visited Jordan in the hospital yet. Bianca wanted t
o give him time to rest. Perhaps he’d seen who’d hit him. He’d been trying to tell her something over the phone, claiming Priscilla had it out for Nicole.

  “Okay,” Melanie said, returning to stand with her sister. “I told Mom we’re on our way home.”

  “Did she ask questions?” Bianca asked.

  “Only if we were hungry. She has leftovers if we want them.” Melanie looked at her sister and Detective Sims. “I miss something?”

  “They haven’t caught the driver,” Bianca said.

  “Great.” Melanie sighed. “Is that all you need, detective?”

  “That’s all,” he said.

  “I’ll be in the car.” Melanie made her way to the car and slid inside the passenger’s seat.

  “I’ll have someone follow you home and monitor your house.” He added. “With discretion.”

  Bianca’s eyes met his. This was part of his job, right? It wouldn’t help if anything happened to her or her sister. Yet his strong eye contact and the way he watched her lips as she talked sent a shifting feeling near her heart.

  She blinked, trailing her fingers along the collar of her shirt. “Thank you.”

  He cleared his own throat. “Then… um… be safe going home.”

  “I will.” She lingered for a moment as he stared. His pupils dilated and she scraped her own fingers through her hair.

  “Ms. Wallace?” He tilted his head to the side.

  Bianca cleared her throat. “Yes. I’m fine. Thank you again.” She returned to her car.

  Chapter 24

  That evening, Bianca closed her laptop. What a day. Being chased by a killer. She couldn’t wait for this case to be over. A hmm escaped her throat. She couldn’t give up now. Her dad hadn’t raised a quitter.

  No. She would finish this. Bianca didn’t want her or Jordan’s attacker to get away, nor did she want Nicole or Chad in trouble. These were more than her friends.

  They were a part of her community. If she learned one thing about Edenville, the town saw themselves as family. Bianca hadn’t thought she would enjoy small town life, but Edenville embraced her during the most troublesome time of her life. Her divorce. When her mother raved about the community of Edenville, Bianca couldn’t resist moving to the small town, especially to be close to her mother again. Even when Melanie broke off her engagement with her fiancé, Bianca offered her home to her sister.

  Casper barked, making her body jerk. She eyeballed him, but he only wagged his tail and barked again. Bianca groaned.

  He stood on his hind legs, pawing at her leg. Bianca looked outside. “What?” Did he want to walk? Go outside?

  She would have woken up Alyssa, but Bianca only exhaled and walked to her front door. Casper trotted behind her. Opening the door, her puppy headed to the bushes. So he’d had an emergency.

  Bianca folded her arms. “Okay. I’m sorry I got annoyed.”

  “Hi Bianca.”

  She didn’t recognize the raspy and scary-sounding voice. Oh no. At this time of night, who was this? Casper barked. On impulse, Bianca turned on her heels and kicked her foot high, landing between her attacker’s legs.

  Casper barked louder, and she grabbed him. Next thing to do was run inside. Did the cop watching her house see this? Was he coming?

  “Bianca! Wait!” The man cleared his throat.

  Wait. She knew that voice. Turning back with Casper in hand, she saw Richard on her front lawn. He bent over with his hands on his knees. He exhaled.

  “Richard? What are you doing?” she asked.

  He held up a hand. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I had a frog in my throat.” He cleared his throat a second time. “I only came to bring the final payment for the invitations.” In his other hand, he held up an envelope.

  “Everything okay, Ms. Wallace?” Detective Atkins stood at the edge of her driveway. Dressed in dark jeans and a gray hoodie, the street light shined on him.

  She waved back with a smile. “Everything’s fine.”

  He bobbed his head and walked back down the street. She didn’t see his police car, so she was glad he stayed incognito.

  Bianca could kick herself. Focusing back on Richard, she took the envelope. “Judy did mention it. I’m so sorry. Are you okay? I didn’t know what else to do.”

  “I’ll be fine.” He was still hunched over.

  “Why didn’t you call?” she asked.

  He shook his head, blowing out his cheeks. “I did but I got your voicemail. I left you a message saying I was coming over with the money. I didn’t want to wait. When I got here, I saw you outside.”

  Was she that distracted with her dog that she didn’t hear a car pull up? Bianca cradled Casper who had calmed. “I did leave my cell phone inside.” She scrunched her nose. “Sorry again.”

  He straightened to stand despite his shaky legs. He stepped on to her porch. “It’s okay. At least this is one less thing for me to worry about.”

  “What do you mean?” she asked. She didn’t close the gap between them. He was still on her list of suspects.

  “Everything’s been a mess since Martin’s death. Thank goodness the police found Judy’s car today. No one’s acting like themselves. The police questioning Chad and…. I don’t know. Maybe you can talk to him better than me.”

  “Why?” She kept what she knew about Judy’s stolen car to herself.

  Richard sighed. “Chad worked for our real estate company for a time. He and Martin didn’t get along. Martin didn’t give me the details, but when he fired Chad, he blacklisted him. Chad ended up starting his own real estate company because Martin made sure he couldn’t get a job anywhere else.”

  “So you think Chad wanted vengeance?” Enough to kill? The possibility was there, but the police had only brought him in for questioning. Even Bianca still couldn’t connect the microfiber towel to Chad despite it being found in his gym bag.

  “Or Nicole convinced him to. I know she’s your friend, but I’m telling you, Bianca, Martin obsessed over her, and Chad knew it. Between Martin harassing her and almost ruining Chad’s career, I wouldn’t blame him for… killing him.”

  “He ruined most of your life too.” Bianca pointed out. “But you… didn’t kill him?” He wasn’t in the clear with her yet.

  Richard shook his head. “I couldn’t do that to Judy. I love my life with her too much.”

  Bianca couldn’t help but ask. “What about Jordan? Someone attacked him with a golf club. I remember you telling me you and Martin—”

  “What? Attack Jordan? Why would I do that?”

  “The police say someone hit him in the head with a golf club.”

  Richard rubbed at his chin. “I haven’t played for the last few weeks. I’m still missing my hybrid.”

  “Your what?” Bianca didn’t play golf, so how would she know?

  Richard gave a faint smile. “There are different clubs in golf. The hybrid helps to get through the grass and make contact with the ball.”

  Bianca nodded. “And you’re missing yours?”

  Richard bobbed his head.

  “Did Martin borrow it?”

  “No, we never borrowed each other’s clubs. Even when we would bring Judy and Priscilla along, we all had our own golf clubs.”

  Bianca raised an eyebrow. “Priscilla and Judy would go with you?”

  “Sometimes. Why?”

  “I just can’t see chic Priscilla on a golf course.” If she did, it would surprise Bianca. The woman had her own style.

  “She came when she could.” Richard’s shoulders drooped. “I need to go. I’m sorry I scared you.”

  “No problem, Richard.”

  He smiled and then stepped down her porch. He stalked off to his car. Bianca carried Casper inside, locking the door behind her.

  ***

  The next day, Bianca’s heels clacked on the vinyl floor as she entered Jordan’s hospital room. She inhaled the smell of latex mixed with hand sanitizer. Sitting in the visitor’s chair, she reached for Jordan’s hand. An IV st
uck in his arm, and a bandage covered his head. At least he was breathing.

  Tapping her foot on the floor, Bianca willed herself not to worry. This was Jordan. He’d played basketball and football in college, and he had been the toughest player she’d ever seen. Unlike most of the players, who’d been cocky, he’d remained a gentleman.

  Bianca couldn’t figure why Nicole didn’t love him back. Yet Jordan respected her wish to remain friends. To her, it sounded like a sad romance novel.

  She heard Jordan exhale. His hand twitched in hers. The doctor said he would make a full recovery, despite the concussion he’d suffered. A few scratches and purplish bruises covered his face, evidence of his fall to the hard concrete.

  “Jordan?” Bianca scooted closer to him. She didn’t want him to strain to hear her. He needed his rest. She wouldn’t stay long.

  “B… Bianca?” His voice sounded hoarse, but his eyes fluttered open.

  “I’m here.” She clasped his hand tighter. “You’re okay.”

  He exhaled. Though he opened his mouth to talk, Bianca held up her hand.

  “I only came to check on you. The doctor says you’re going to be all right.”

  “Somebody… hit me,” he said.

  “I know. I heard it.”

  “What? Who? Do you know?” Jordan asked.

  Bianca shook her head. While she was hoping he could tell her who attacked him, she wanted him well first.

  “Bette Davis.”

  Bianca raised an eyebrow. “What?” What did a former Hollywood star have to do with anything? She sighed. The doctor had mentioned Jordan’s disorientation.

  “Nicole…” He closed his eyes.

  “She’s fine. The police are working on it. Don’t worry.”

  Jordan tightened his grip on her hand. “B… Bianca.”

  “Shh, get some rest. I’ll come back to check on you soon.” Her phone pinged. “I got to go.” Raising to her feet, she planted a soft kiss on his cheek.

  Jordan must have dozed off again, because his grip loosened on her hand. Bianca backed up, hearing the click of her heels once more. Checking the time, she realized she had to pick up Alyssa from school and Casper from her mother’s house.