by Dobbs, L. A.
“Really? Then how about showing that appreciation.”
“How?”
“By getting your ass back to Blake’s house, by continuing on with your life. By waking up tomorrow morning and going to work like normal people.”
“But Shane—”
“What about Shane?” Color flushed her cheeks and Liv’s green eyes sparked with indignant fire. “If you quit treating him with kid gloves, maybe Shane would finally learn that the world doesn’t revolve around him and that there are consequences for his actions. At this point, I bet he’d even flip on Katherine and get a reduced sentence for doing it, since he’s a first-time offender.” Her expression betrayed a hint of disgust. “He’s obviously not averse to switching sides. Did that where you’re concerned easily enough.”
Despite the truth of her statement, Chase lashed out, hurt. “And what if he gets killed in prison? What then?”
“You did fine. What makes you think he’ll do any worse?”
“Because.”
“Because what? Because he’s your little brother? Because you still think of him as a child when he’s clearly an adult?”
Chase looked away, embarrassed and furious that her words hit far too close to home.
“That’s right. Shane isn’t stupid, Chase. In fact, given the crowd he hangs with these days, I’d say he’s far more savvy than you. He won’t go looking for fights. And if he keeps his head down and finally learns to play by the rules, then he might even be eligible for early parole. Prison might just be the best thing that could ever happen to Shane Evans. Ever think of that?”
No, he hadn’t, but maybe Liv was right.
He opened his mouth to respond, but she held up a hand.
“No. Save the excuses. You know as well as I do if you go back to prison, it won’t just be for a couple of years this time. The prosecution will go for the jugular. A life sentence. Are you willing to throw away your new life? Shelby won’t wait forever.” She laid her hand on his forearm, the same as Shelby had done earlier. “You deserve a future, Chase. You deserve love. And God knows it’s hard enough to find someone who wants to be with you and who you want to be with in return.”
The yearning in her voice raised the ache in his heart to new levels. “You sound like you’re speaking from experience.”
She shrugged and stared at the brick wall of the station. “Maybe I am, maybe not. Either way. Please think about this before you go in there. Once you confess, there’s nothing anyone can do to help you.”
Chase took a deep breath and gave her a quick hug before stepping away, his mind whirling. “I’m good, Liv. Really. Thanks again for talking to me.”
The automatic doors to the station swished open behind him and he gave her a final wave before stepping inside the brightly lit lobby. He stopped at the reception desk and asked for Detective Moore, stating he had new information about the Bryant murder. Moments later, he was escorted back to the same interrogation room he’d been in before to wait.
Moore entered a short time later. She flashed him a cold, polite smile as she took the seat across from him. “Mr. Evans, glad to see you this morning. Finally ready to confess, huh?”
He stared at her, all the conflicting ideas bombarding his exhausted brain. Katherine’s threats against Shelby. What could happen to Shane in prison. All he’d give up by confessing to a second crime he didn’t commit. Liv’s statement about Shane needing to grow up, to take responsibility for his actions.
Chase pressed the heels of his hands hard against his eyes and inhaled.
It was time. Time for the truth. Time for answers. Time for justice to be done.
At last, he met Detective Moore’s gaze direct, his calm voice at odds with the nervous fireworks bursting inside him. “I didn’t kill Warren Bryant. But I know who did.”
* * *
A few hours later, Chase stood off to the side of the lobby while two officers led Shane Evans into the police station in handcuffs. He met his brother’s harsh glare and did his best to convey his deep remorse that things had to turn out the way they did.
Shane wasn’t having it, apparently. Instead he spat on the floor near Chase’s feet as the officers tugged him past, his tone harsh with betrayal. “Judas. You’re nothing but a fucking Judas and a lousy ass excuse for a brother.”
Guilt and nausea roiled in Chase’s stomach. He sucked in a breath to keep from puking. This was how it had to be, no matter how difficult. He knew that. Too bad the knowing didn’t make the doing any easier. He forced his tense shoulders to relax and glanced at Detective Troy Atkins, who stood beside him. “Can I have a minute alone with him?”
“Sorry,” Troy said. “That’s not really allowed.”
“C’mon, man. He’s my flesh and blood. Please? I promise I won’t say anything I’m not supposed to. You can listen in, if you want, to make sure. I just…” He glanced at the door through which they’d led Shane, heard his brother’s hateful words echo inside his head like exploding grenades. “I need to make sure he knows how serious this is. Why I did what I did. Maybe I could convince him to cooperate.”
Troy shook his head then looked at his watch. “Like I said, this isn’t protocol. And I will be watching through the two-way mirror. One wrong word and it’s my ass on the line, not just yours. Got it?”
“Got it.” Chase followed the detective down the now familiar hallway. His chest squeezed tight with adrenaline.
“Five minutes.” Troy walked to another door a few feet away. “Make them good.”
Chase nodded, the metal handle of the door ice cold against his palm. He could do this. He would do this. Shane needed to know, needed to understand, needed to save himself as much as possible. He walked in to find Shane sitting in the seat Detective Moore had usually occupied during Chase questioning.
His brother looked up at him, his gaze as hard as his expression. “You did this. You turned on me. Your own brother.”
“Shit, Shane. You killed a man!” Chase ran a hand through his hair, agitated. “I don’t give a damn why you did it—if Katherine Bryant had you wrapped around her finger with sex or drugs or money or whatever. You murdered someone, Shane.” He punched the cement wall with his fist, craving the pain. “Then you set me up for it. After everything I did. After I gave you a second chance.”
“Second chance?” Shane gave a derisive snort. “What does that even mean? A second chance for what? For the same old shitty life that I had before you went to prison? The same shitty life I’ve got now. Some second chance. Thanks, bro. Thanks a lot.”
“I served five years for you.”
“I never asked you to do that.”
“No, you didn’t. I did it because we’re family. Family does for each other.” He thought of the Rockfords, of how different their charmed life was compared to this shitstorm of a situation. “Of course, you never asked me to take the rap for you this time either, just went ahead and planned it that way.” His eyes stung with angry tears. He blinked hard and steeled his resolve. “But I won’t take the blame this time. I won’t throw my life away again, especially not for someone who—”
“Someone who what?” Shane slammed his hands down on the tabletop, the metal from his handcuffs clanging loud in the small room. “Did you ever consider maybe I am the way I am because of you? Ever think of that, Mr. Martyr? Ever think that maybe if you’d been a better brother—”
“Better brother?” Chase didn’t even attempt to keep his voice down now. “Jesus Christ, Shane. How the hell could I sacrifice any more for you than I already have, huh? I did the absolute best I could, Shane. But it’s time you took responsibility for your actions.”
“Fuck you, Chase!”
He stalked to the far corner of the room and took several deep breaths to calm the rage tearing through him. Arguing about things they couldn’t change wouldn’t help anyone right now. What would help Shane was getting him to turn on Katherine. He glanced back at his brother over his shoulder. Shane sat hunched at the ta
ble now, looking sullen and scared and every single one of his twenty-nine years. “Take the plea bargain they’ll offer you. It’ll reduce your sentence. Don’t hold any loyalty for Katherine Bryant. That viperous bitch will sell you out in a second.”
There. He’d said what he’d come to say. Whether Shane took it to heart or not was his choice. Chase started toward the door, but a voice behind him halted his steps.
“You don’t have to go yet.”
The quiet, plaintive fear in his brother’s tone helped Chase’s shattered heart to mend a tad. He turned. “Yeah, I do actually. Someone’s got to hire you a goddamned lawyer to help you through this mess, bro. And I’m stuck with the job, because for some insane reason I still love you, man.”
With that Chase exited, nearly barreling over Troy in the hallway. Thank God the detective didn’t say anything about his mushy departure, just stepped aside, a hint of respect mixed with admiration in his eyes.
* * *
Five days later, Shelby lingered over the grave of her father after all the funeral-goers had left. Her head ached and her eyes felt puffy and scratchy from all the tears she’d cried during the funeral. If only Chase had been there to comfort her, to hold her, to tell her everything would be okay no matter what it felt like today.…
She sniffled and glanced up to find Blake Rockford nearby, Henry perched on his right shoulder. She sighed and shook her head. “Please don’t tell me you want to give him back. We have a strict ‘No-Take-Backsies’ policy at Paws and Play.”
“What?” Blake scrunched his nose. “No. Henry’s not going anywhere.” He turned his head to the side and cooed at the iguana. “Are you, boy?”
Shelby smiled as the large lizard snaked his tongue out to flick Blake’s cheek. “You like him then, huh?”
“Of course.” Blake turned back to her and grinned. “If I’d known it was going to be this much fun terrorizing my brother, Logan, I would’ve gotten a Henry years ago.”
She nodded, squinting into the bright sunshine. “So, why are you here then?”
“I knew your father pretty well, handling his security for the past few years. I liked him and wanted to pay my respects.”
Emotion clogged her throat again and Shelby’s eyes welled anew. “I liked him too.”
Blake stepped closer and, side by side, they stood in companionable silence in front of her dad’s grave, the slight breeze ruffling the trees and the crisp scent of fall in the air.
Finally, Blake sighed. “He didn’t do it, you know. Confess, I mean. Chase turned his brother in instead.”
“I know.” Shelby pulled a tissue from her tiny handbag and dabbed at her cheeks. Chase had texted her and called her pretty much non-stop since the day he’d left her apartment, not to mention the story of the police apprehending the real killers had been plastered all over the news. Still, she wasn’t ready to face him again. Not yet. Not after he’d taken her heart and ripped it to shreds. What if he decided he didn’t want her after all? She’d survived the pain once. She wasn’t sure she could bear it twice. If Dad had been alive, she would’ve asked him. Or Mom. But both of them were gone now. Gone and she was on her own.
She pressed the tissue tight against her eyes to fight a fresh wave of tears.
“Try not to be too hard on him, okay?” Blake leaned in closer. “He loves you. The decision he made that day was extremely tough. Poor guy thinks he doesn’t have a future.”
Shelby frowned, staring at the toes of her black pumps. How could Chase not think he had a future? He was smart and funny and handsome and kind and…
“I’m just…” She turned toward Blake only to find him gone.
He loves you…
She loved Chase too.
Problem was, Shelby wasn’t sure her battered heart was strong enough to make amends to the man who could break her with one rejection.
21
Chase sat on a bench in Bell Park and looked up into the overcast November sky. It had been almost two weeks since they’d arrested Shane and his next hearing was scheduled for the beginning of December. He’d tried numerous times to get in touch with Shelby—text, phone calls, even stopped by Paws and Play once, but nothing.
No response.
He knew better than most that nothing in life was certain, but he’d always harbored a hopeful dream of him and Shelby back together again. He shrugged and lowered his head. Guess he could send that dream to the junk pile like the rest of the life he’d planned before fate and his brother’s crimes had changed all that.
The clammy fog chilled him despite the mid-sixties temps and he shoved his hands in the pockets of his denim jacket, brushing against the bag of homemade treats he’d brought for Snickerdoodle—just in case he happened to run into Shelby here or something. As he gazed around the park on this busy Saturday afternoon, however, there were only plenty of young families and older retirees and none of the angelic-faced woman he pictured every night before falling asleep.
Damn. He missed her like crazy.
From the far corner of the park he spotted a flash of toffee-colored brown—the same shade as Snickerdoodle. Nah. He wrinkled his nose and scoffed. Couldn’t be. His luck wasn’t that great these days.
Then, behind the large brown dog, ran a woman in a pink parka, her blond curls bouncing wildly as she played with her canine companion.
Oh. My. God. It’s her. Shelby.
Panic soon overtook his euphoria. Chase didn’t want her to think he was some pathetic stalker or something, sitting here every day in the park just hoping for a glimpse of her. He stood and hurried behind a nearby copse of trees just as Shelby and Snickerdoodle neared the bench he’d been sitting on.
Okay. Okay. You can do this. Just be cool, man.
Chase fisted his hand in his pocket and the plastic treat bag crinkled loud.
Snickerdoodle’s ears perked in his direction and before he knew it, forty pounds of excited doggy tackled Chase back against the trunk of a tree. Between slobbery kisses, he managed to give the dog a good scratch behind his ears. “How you doing, boy? I’ve missed you, too. You don’t know how much, buddy.”
Shelby peeked around the trees, her eyes wide. “Chase. What are you doing here?”
“Oh, um…” He pushed the dog down and straightened his clothes as best he could. “I was, uh, just taking a walk.”
“Here?” Her tone matched her incredulous expression. “Blake’s house isn’t anywhere near here. Snickerdoodle, no. Get over here, boy.”
The dog trotted happily to her side, his tongue hanging out and his tail wagging. Chase would’ve switched places with that mutt in a heartbeat. He pulled the bag of treats from his pocket and handed them to her, avoiding her question. “Here, I got these for him.”
“Oh.” She took them and after much whining from Snickerdoodle, fed him one. “Uh, thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” They stared at each other in awkward silence. “So.”
“So.” Shelby reached down to adjust the dog’s leash, bringing her into closer proximity to Chase. Her floral scent drifted to him and his gut clenched tight.
He shuffled his feet. “I’ve been thinking about getting a pet of my own.”
“Yeah?” She glanced up at him, her blue eyes just as bright and beautiful as he’d remembered. “What brought about this decision?”
Tired of holding all his emotional cards so close to the chest, he revealed a little of what he was feeling. “Well, you mentioned once they’re a good cure for lonely people.”
She straightened, her gaze narrowed. “And you’re lonely?”
God, yes. “A little, yeah.”
“I see.” She tugged Snickerdoodle a bit closer and gave him a second treat to keep him calm. “Stop by the shelter next week. I’ll see if we can find someone compatible for you.”
I already found someone compatible. He coughed to cover the lump of want now clogging his throat. He wanted to tell Shelby how he felt, but he didn’t want to scare her away. Not now, when she wa
s at least talking to him. “Yeah, okay. Sure. I can do that.”
“Great.” She chewed on her lower lip. “We, uh, we buried my dad last week.”
“Oh, right. I read about it in the paper. So sorry I couldn’t be there.”
“That’s all right. It was probably better you weren’t, considering everything that happened.” She inhaled sharply and looked away. “His death was such a waste. I always knew Katherine was a manipulative, money-hungry bitch, but I never thought she’d actually kill to get what she wanted.” She chuckled, an unpleasant sound. “Remember that appointment Katherine said my dad had with his attorney to change the will? Yeah. Found out that was actually to start divorce proceedings. He never would’ve cut me out of his will. Never. She’s such a liar.”
“Huh.” Chase stepped a little closer to her warmth, encouraged to be back on familiar territory again. “At least that explains why she took such drastic action. With a divorce, she’d get nothing.”
“Yep. Not a penny. She wasn't as smart as she thought she was, though.”
"Oh really?"
"Nope. She'd lied to the detectives telling them my father planned to change his will and leave everything to her so that it would look like I had motive. Remember how she sent me the fake will? She was probably hoping the police would eventually search my place and find it, but I outsmarted her on that one when I put it into my Dad’s safe. I knew she'd been in the safe before and wanted to put it in there just to show her I was on to her, but it turned out to my benefit. The cops eventually looked in the safe and found both the wills. They proved that one to be a fake with Katherine's fingerprints all over it and even matched the ink from the pen she forged my father's signature with to an expensive Chanel pen she had in her purse."
“Good, I'm glad they have another piece of evidence against her. So, I take it she’s still locked up, awaiting her arraignment?”