by L. P. Dover
I nod at the pond. “I’ve always wanted a pond of my own, so that in the winter time it’ll freeze over and I can ice skate.”
Shaking his head, his lips pull back. “You don’t even know how to ice skate, Ells. I took you one time, remember? It was you, me, and Amanda. We met Cam and Richard at the rink.” Amanda had been his girlfriend at the time, and Cam and Richard were two of his friends. After he switched colleges, they’d grown apart.
Bursting out with laughter, I cover my face with my hands. I remember that day very well. “Oh my God, I was horrible. My body was bruised after that.”
He snorts. “So was mine. You dragged me down to the ice with you.”
We both laugh, and it feels good to forget about my problems. “Those were the good ol’ days, weren’t they?” I say. “Do you ever see or talk to Amanda?”
“Nope,” he replies with a shake of his head. “I think she’s married with three kids now.”
“What about Kimberly? Has she tried to contact you?”
His jaw clenches and I’m starting to hate that I brought it up. “No. She’s probably enjoying life with her new boyfriend.”
“I’m sorry, Owen. Maybe by Christmas you’ll have somebody new.”
He looks incredulously at me. “That’s in about three weeks, Ellie. Right now, I’m here with you. Hell, there’s a chance we could be stuck spending Christmas together.”
The thought makes my stomach clench. “Do you really think we’ll have to stay hidden that long?”
He looks out at the pond. “I hope not, but you never know.” That doesn’t help. His gaze meets mine. “But if we do, I’ll make sure you have a Christmas tree. I know it’s your favorite holiday.”
Rubbing a hand over my stomach, I can’t help but wonder what’s going on inside my body. What if I’m pregnant? I’m going to find out in the next week, if I am or not. I want to wrap up the results and give it to Jake Christmas morning. I’ve had it planned, ever since we’d started trying.
“Thanks, Owen. You’ve never let me down.”
His phone rings and when he peers down at the screen, he hands it over. “It’s Jake. I figured you’ll want to talk to him first.”
Excitement bubbling in my chest, I grab the phone. “Hey,” I answer excitedly.
A relieved sigh escapes his lips. “Fuck, I miss you.”
My eyes burn. “I know the feeling. How are you?”
“Good. Just tired. There’s a lot going on down here. Are you okay?”
I look over at Owen. “We’re fine. Have you called my family and Vikki?”
“Yep. Vikki has everything under control at the bakery, and your parents are worried to death. I told them you’ll be okay and that you’re with Owen. Maybe you can give them a call tonight?”
I glance over at Owen and ask if I can call my parents later on.
“Should be okay,” he says low.
I’m not looking forward to answering all of their questions, especially since I kept everything from them for so long. “Owen told me that Bryan’s been caught. Hopefully, I’ll be able to come home soon.”
Jake huffs. “I’m not so sure about that.”
“What? Why?” I gasp, causing Owen’s brows to furrow with curiosity.
“Because according to Bryan’s toxicology reports, he was doped up on Propofol to the point there’s no way he could’ve trekked all the way from our house on down to Route 16. The doctor says he wouldn’t have been able to walk at all.”
So many things jumble through my mind and I can’t grasp it. “I don’t understand. What does that mean?”
Jake sighs again. “It means that someone else is a part of this, and the police have no clue who it could be.”
The breath whooshes out of my lungs and I fall back against the wood railing, feeling it jab into my skin. Tears fall down my cheeks and I close my eyes. My voice shakes when I speak. “What are we going to do?”
“It’ll be okay, Ellie. Do you mind putting me on speakerphone, so Owen can hear?”
I do as he says and place the phone between us. “He can hear you now.”
“What’s going on?” Owen asks. And once Jake gets done explaining to him what he’d told me, he peers over at me. “Any ideas?”
I shake my head. “No one comes to mind.”
“I need you to continue as planned and move around,” Jake says. “At least until the police figure out if someone else is actually involved. If there is, I don’t want them finding you.”
“What about you?” Owen asks. “Are you going to stay in North Carolina?”
It’s like time stands still. I know Jake wants to be there to help with the case and he also needs to keep working, but I need him more. “For a few days,” he replies, “but then I plan on finding my way to you guys. I’m not going to let whoever the fuck is doing this keep me from Ellie.”
Breathing a sigh of relief, I grab my chest. “Thank God. Just be careful, Jake.”
“I will, cupcake. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“Jake, take care,” Owen says.
“And you take care of my wife.”
Owen looks at me and smiles. “Always.”
Jake hangs up and I rub my aching chest. “This is a nightmare. If it’s not just Bryan, who else could be helping him? And why?”
“Don’t know.” Owen leans back against the railing and looks off in the distance. “I guess it looks like we’ll be heading to Canada tomorrow. We’ll stop in New York for a night and finish the drive the day after.”
“Canada? Why so far away?”
“Because there’s a place I want to take you. It’s in the middle of nowhere and from there, I’ll be able to see if anyone is trying to get to you. Plus, it’ll make it harder for Snyder to cross the border if he’s not convicted.”
We walk back to his truck and I can’t help but feel like everything is closing in all around me. I’m ready for it all to be over.
Seventeen
Jake
“I tried calling you from the other phone, but the call’s not going through,” Ellie says.
“At least Owen’s phone works. Where are you right now?” I crank up my truck, so it’ll warm up a bit before I leave. It feels so good to hear her voice. It’s not the same at home without her here.
“Just outside of Richmond. We’re headed to New York and then to Canada tomorrow. I’ll keep you posted about where we’re at.”
“Sounds good. I’m hoping to head up that way in a couple of days.”
“I’ll be counting it down,” she murmurs. “Owen keeps telling me about the farmhouse. I’m actually excited to see it. I’ve never been to Canada.”
“I’ll just be happy when I’m with you.” I don’t like her being so far away, but I know it’s for the best.
I lock up the garage door and hop in my old blue truck, since my other one is totaled. I’m surprised it even cranks. I’ve already shoveled the driveway, but the road is a little icy from the snow.
“Are you in the truck? Where are you going?”
Clearing my throat, I carefully navigate down the mountain. “The hospital,” I reply nonchalantly.
Ellie sighs. “You’re not going to confront Bryan there, are you? They’re probably not going to let you anywhere near his room.”
“It’ll be fine. I just want to talk to him.”
“I know you, Jake. You’re angry and pissed. Talking isn’t something you do when you’re like that.” She’s right, it’s not. Usually, I’d punch my anger out on my punching bag. Thoughts of hitting bring me back to the ring, which remind me of the first time I saw her in the front row the night of my big fight. She’d been wearing a tight red shirt and jeans, with her brown hair in waves, sitting with Owen. I knew then that she would be mine.
“I’m not going to do anything stupid,” I assure her. “I just need to look at his face when I confront him.”
“Just don’t get arrested, please. Let the police do their jobs.”
She blows out a frustrated breath. “I give up. I’ve known for years there’s no talking sense into you.”
“You’re the same way, cupcake.”
“True, but you’re more stubborn than me.” She laughs and it’s the most wonderful sound. It feels good to banter back and forth. I’m just glad she’s safe.
We don’t live far from the hospital, but it’s taken me a few extra minutes to navigate through the snow. It’s the most we’ve had in years. “Babe, I’m gonna let you go, but I’ll call you soon. I’m almost to the hospital.”
“Okay. We’ll probably still be in the truck, driving north.”
“Oh, and before I forget. I placed an offer on that house you wanted in Arizona.”
She gasps. “Seriously? Do you think they’ll take it?”
“I don’t know, but we’ll find out soon. I thought it’d brighten your day a bit.”
“It has,” she says, sounding sincere. “I just hope we’ll be done with this mess, so we can get there. We need a new start.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
We say our goodbyes and I toss my phone into the center console. When I pull into the hospital parking lot there are police cars by the entrance. I walk inside and straight to the elevators. Thanks to the nurse from yesterday talking to Bryan’s parents, I know what room he’s in. However, I’m not surprised to see an officer standing guard outside his room.
When I get closer, I remember his face; he’d been with the other deputies as they searched the grounds around my house. He’s not much older than me, probably mid-thirties with dark hair and a trimmed beard. Judging by the knowing look on his face, he’s fully aware of who I am.
“Good morning, Officer Kevin Pope,” I say. His name is engraved on the gold badge pinned to his upper right chest.
He nods at me. “Mr. Kingston.”
“You can call me Jake.” I look behind him at the door. “What’s it going to take to get inside there?”
Kevin chuckles, but there’s no humor in it. “Sorry, but you’re not allowed near the suspect.”
I hold up my hands. “I just want to talk to him.”
He regards me curiously. “I highly doubt that. If my wife was the one he was after and if he had tried to kill me, I’d be in there beating his ass.”
All kidding aside, I nod. “Then you know why I need to get in there.”
Kevin glances up and down the hall and sighs. “You have two minutes. If anyone asks, you slipped in while my back was turned. I’m not taking the fall for you.”
“Deal.”
He nods toward the door and I sneak inside before anyone can see me. It’s dark in the room and I can hear monitors beeping behind the curtain that hides Bryan from view. My steps are heavy as I walk around the corner.
“Hello?” Bryan calls out, his voice gravelly.
When I appear around the curtain, his eyes widen. They’re all sunken in and he looks like shit. “Recognize me?” I sneer.
“I—I’ve wanted to talk to you. They wouldn’t let me.”
Anger boiling in my veins, I march to his bed and grab his neck. He doesn’t even fight me off, just struggles to catch a breath. “Why? So I can kill you, like you tried to do to me?” I squeeze one more time and let go. “I’m not that fucking stupid, Snyder. I know you want me out of the way, so you can get to my wife. I’m not about to lose her by killing you.”
My hands shake as I step away. Bryan coughs and grabs his neck. “It wasn’t me. You have to believe me.”
“Like it wasn’t you at the party and the one sending the text messages?”
He coughs again. “I was at the party, and I did run into Ellie. I’m not going to deny that. And I’m not going to deny how amazing it was to see her again.”
Hearing it only makes me angrier. I don’t want him or any other man thinking of Ellie that way. She’s mine. “Why were you even at the party? You weren’t invited.”
A heavy sigh escapes his lips. “My buddy, Jared, is a friend of Owen’s. I rode with him.”
“So, you knew Ellie would be there,” I state, already knowing the answer.
Bryan looks away. “She was my friend for many years, Jake. I was in love with her.” Then he turns back to me, his expression serious. “But I didn’t do what everyone thinks I did. I’ve moved on. I’m seeing someone. I love her, not Ellie.”
“Then why isn’t she here with you?”
“Probably because she doesn’t want anything to do with me after hearing that I stalked Ellie. I haven’t had a chance to explain.”
“Also, why were your truck and footprints near my house and on the road where I had my accident? I saw you.”
Bryan shakes his head. “You saw someone, but it wasn’t me. Someone’s trying to blame it on me.”
“If someone’s trying to blame it on you, where have you been the past few days?”
Tears well up in his eyes. “I don’t know. I can’t remember anything. The only thing I remember is a woman screaming, and I couldn’t help her.” He closes his eyes and squeezes them hard, bringing his hands up to his head. “I can still hear her.”
I don’t know what to believe, but it’s obvious he’s coming down hard from whatever the hell kind of drugs he was on. “You’re a fucking liar and a manipulator. You can deny all this shit if you want, but the evidence is there.”
The door opens, and Kevin clears his throat. “Out.”
I turn my glare back to Bryan. “You’re not going to get away with this. If you get off and ever try to come near me or Ellie again, I’ll kill you.” With those final words, I storm out, wishing like hell I’d gotten in a few punches.
Bryan’s going to say whatever shit he can to get away with the crime. The man’s a loose fucking cannon. I could see it on his face. He’s not far from going off the deep end. I stop by my office to see my colleagues, and to tell them about everything going on. I also stop in at the bakery to make sure Vikki is okay. Luckily, there haven’t been any issues. Ellie will be happy to know that her bakery is doing wonderfully, but that everyone misses her.
My phone rings and I’m hoping it’s Ellie, but it turns out being a number from Arizona. I set my keys onto the kitchen counter and sit down. “Hello?” I answer.
“Mr. Kingston, I’m Margaret Thatcher at Cactus Cove Realty. I’m calling to inquire about the offer you placed on 319 Evergreen Drive.”
“Yes, Mrs. Thatcher. I put that in this morning.”
“I’m calling to inform you that it’s been accepted. My clients are ready to make the deal.”
I jump out of my seat. “Hell yeah. That’s what I want to hear.”
Margaret laughs. “Me too. I think you’ll love the home. It’s beautiful and has amazing views.”
“That’s why my wife and I want it. It’s her favorite out of all the houses we looked at.”
“Glad to hear it. I see you’re in North Carolina. I’ll get the paperwork overnighted to you, so we can get that rolling.”
“Sounds good, Mrs. Thatcher. I needed this news today.” The second I hang up with her, a knock sounds on the front door.
I open it, and Detective Bradshaw stands there, looking grim. He’s probably not happy I went to see Bryan, but I don’t give a shit. Stepping out of the way, I gesture for him to enter. “Come in.” He walks in and takes off his hat. “Did someone die?”
A heavy sigh escapes his lips. “Actually, someone did.” He holds out a picture of a woman in her thirties with bright blonde hair and a kind smile.
“Who is that?” I ask curiously. I’ve never seen her before.
“This,” Terry looks down at her picture, “is the woman Bryan was dating. Her name is Samantha Little. The blood in his truck matches hers.” He looks away and shakes his head. “Her body was found in a field not far from where his truck was abandoned.”
I run my hands through my hair. “Holy shit. This is insane. Have you questione
d Bryan yet?”
He nods. “Just left the hospital. He really lost his shit when he found out.”
“Maybe he’s just a good actor,” I grumble.
Terry shakes his head. “I’ve been a cop for over twenty-six years. After a while, you get a feel for things. I know you don’t want to hear this, but I don’t think he killed her. According to the doctor, Bryan’s been drugged for days. He was found on the side of the road with days’ worth of piss and shit in his clothes, completely dehydrated and near death. Do you really think he’s going to walk around, covered in that mess while tormenting you and Ellie?”
“Not unless he’s just that insane,” I add.
Terry’s losing his patience and I can see that the case is getting to him. “Listen, he couldn’t have done it being as doped up as he was, much less drive and carry her body out into the field. It’s just not possible.”
“How do you know for sure?”
He snorts. “Do you want to be drugged with the same shit and see if you can function? I can guarantee you nobody else is going to volunteer.”
“If you don’t mind my asking, how was she murdered?”
He peers down at her picture again. “Two blunt traumas to the head. From the coroner’s report, she was killed hours before her body was dumped in that field.”
I walk past him into the living room, not knowing what to think. Could Bryan really be telling the truth? When it comes to things people are capable of, it doesn’t surprise me one bit if he did it all. “Did Bryan say anything about any visitors he had today?”
“No, why?”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I turn around to face him. “I found a way in to talk to him.”
“When?” Terry demands.
“Earlier this morning. I snuck in for a couple of minutes.”
“What did he say to you? I know he requested to speak to you, but I didn’t think it was a good idea.”
“I know,” I huff. “Next time, you need to let me make that decision for myself.” I walk over to the window and peer out at the woods. “He admitted to being at the Halloween party, and that he ran into Ellie there. However, he did deny sending any texts.” Then I remember about the screams. “Also . . . he mentioned something about a woman’s screams,” I say, turning back to him.