Monster In The Closet (The Baltimore Series Book 5)

by Karen Rose

  ‘He’s not dead,’ Novak said with a grimace. ‘Yet,’ he mouthed.

  Taylor sighed. ‘I know he did, Janie. He’s not a good man.’

  Janie raised her eyes to stare beyond the van door at Gage, who was now surrounded by Joseph’s team and a few uniformed officers who’d arrived as backup. ‘But he’s my daddy,’ she whispered, sounding so very lost.

  ‘N-no, he’s n-not,’ Jazzie said with sad certainty. ‘N-not to either of us. He t-told me.’

  Janie turned her helpless, confused stare on her big sister. ‘But he . . .’ Whatever she saw in Jazzie’s expression had her swallowing hard. ‘Then who is our daddy?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Jazzie told her. ‘M-Mama knew. But we m-might never f-find out now. B-because he killed her,’ she added, spitting the last sentence out bitterly.

  Confusion clouded the younger girl’s face. ‘Who did? Who killed Mama?’

  Jazzie lifted a still-shaking hand to point to Gage.

  Pain filled Janie’s eyes. ‘Daddy killed Mama?’ she asked, her whisper nearly soundless, and Taylor’s heart broke a little more.

  Jazzie’s eyes grew glassy with tears. ‘Y-yes. I s-saw him l-leaving that d-day.’

  ‘But why?’ Janie asked mournfully. ‘Why’d he do that?’

  Jazzie blinked and the tears coursed down her cheeks. ‘I d-don’t know. He n-never said.’

  Jazzie’s tears set Janie to crying again. Taylor just held them, shifting so that her bleeding thigh was closer to the van’s open door when Ford returned with a first-aid kit. He hunkered down beside her, applying bandages quickly and efficiently. Clenching her jaw, she focused on the two little girls and not the throbbing pain.

  Ford rocked back on his heels when he was finished. ‘That should hold you till the medics get you to the ER. There’s no exit wound, so they’ll have to remove the bullet.’

  Jazzie had been watching Ford work and now lifted her face, horror in her eyes. ‘I’m s-so sorry, Miss Taylor. He hurt you b-because of m-me.’

  ‘I’ll be fine,’ Taylor assured her. ‘Right, Mr Ford?’

  Ford flashed a confident smile. ‘Absolutely.’

  But Jazzie didn’t smile back, shuddering instead. ‘He s-said that he k-k-k . . .’ She scrunched her eyes closed and spit the word out. ‘. . . killed you because I t-talked to you.’ She was shaking so hard that her teeth chattered, but she pushed on, determined to speak. ‘I t-told him at f-first that I d-didn’t tell you anyth-thing. B-but he . . . he . . .’

  It was then that Taylor noticed the bruise darkening Jazzie’s face. ‘He hit you. That sonofa—’ She bit off the curse, swallowing hard when tears filled her eyes. ‘It’s okay, Jazzie. It doesn’t matter what you told him. It’s okay. Mr Ford, is there a cold pack in the first-aid kit?’

  Jaw clenched and hands trembling with rage, Ford placed the cold pack on Jazzie’s face so very gently that Taylor wanted to cry some more, but she got control of herself.

  ‘You protected yourself, honey,’ she told Jazzie. ‘Exactly what you should have done.’

  Jazzie shook her head. ‘He s-said he’d hurt J-Janie,’ she said, her eyes imploring Taylor to understand. To forgive her. ‘Sh-she’s t-too little.’

  Baby girl, you’re breaking my heart. ‘You had to protect Janie. I understand. It’s okay.’

  But Jazzie needed to talk, needed to get it out, so Taylor let her. ‘So . . . so I l-lied. I t-told him that I t-told you everything. He took a r-rifle and said you were g-going to be d-d-dead.’ Again she forced the word out. ‘He c-came b-back and s-said you were d-dead.’

  The thought of Gage terrorizing this child made Taylor’s blood boil. ‘He tried to kill me. But did you see his shoulder wound?’

  The girl nodded, grimacing. ‘He m-made me clean it for him. It was r-really gross.’

  ‘Well, I did that. I put that hole in his shoulder. He shot my dad and he shot at Mr Ford, too. Mr Ford was wearing a vest like this’ – she tapped her own vest – ‘so it only hurt him a little. He hurt my dad badly, though. So I shot him to make him stop.’

  ‘G-good,’ Jazzie said harshly. Then her face fell. ‘You were so b-brave.’

  Taylor rested her cheek on Janie’s head and met Jazzie’s dark eyes. ‘So were you, Jazzie. You saved your sister. I’m so proud of you.’

  Jazzie laid her head on Taylor’s shoulder. ‘N-not brave. I w-was so scared. I r-ran away from him. You r-ran to him.’

  Taylor made her lips curve, even though her leg burned like hellfire. ‘I was scared too, just now, and don’t you think I wasn’t. But my dad always told me that being scared and still doing the right thing makes you even braver.’ She realized that she’d just referred to both Clay and Frederick as her dad and it hadn’t felt weird at all. The smile she’d forced became genuine. Thanks, Dad. Both of you. ‘You did the right thing today, Jazzie. Even though you were afraid. When you remember all the bad things he did, you need to remember how brave you were. Whenever you look at Janie, remember that you saved her. You could have run away all by yourself, but you saved her. That makes you a very good, very brave person.’

  Taylor looked up to find Ford smiling fiercely with approval. ‘Perfect,’ he mouthed, making her chest tight with pride, but Jazzie’s small, grateful smile was her true reward.

  ‘What about Aunt L-Lilah?’ Jazzie asked. ‘Is she okay?’

  ‘She was okay when we talked on the phone about an hour ago.’ Taylor wasn’t sure what would happen to the woman. She’d withheld evidence and interfered with an investigation. Lilah might suffer legal consequences. But for now she was okay, so Taylor hadn’t lied.

  ‘What about our grandma?’ Janie asked.

  ‘He said she was asleep in the park,’ Jazzie added. ‘He said he gave her medicine to make her sleep. That she wasn’t dead.’

  Taylor sighed. ‘Grandma’s not so good, guys. She was in the hospital last I saw her.’

  ‘She t-took us t-to him,’ Jazzie said. ‘But I th-think he tricked her.’

  ‘I think you’re right.’ Taylor’s stomach picked that moment to do a hard roll. She’d been successfully ignoring the little lights flickering in front of her eyes, but the black spots began to grow and clump together, filling her field of vision. ‘I need to be quiet now or I’ll be sick all over us, and nobody wants that.’

  Ford spread his hand over her uninjured thigh, settling her with his touch. ‘Girls, we called an ambulance for Miss Taylor, so in a minute or so you two will need to come with me or Agent Novak. Can you do that?’

  Both girls regarded him solemnly. Janie nodded before Jazzie did, but neither balked when he opened his arms and picked them up. ‘Miss Maggie is at the hospital.’ He got in the van and sat on the bench seat, a child on each knee. ‘She’ll stay with you until Miss Taylor is feeling better, okay?’

  ‘Okay,’ Janie said, but she sounded doubtful. ‘W-will Miss T-Taylor still be our t-teacher?’

  ‘You betcha,’ Ford promised.

  ‘I will,’ Taylor confirmed, making her voice sound a lot stronger than she actually felt. ‘I’ll be good as new before you know it. You’ll see.’

  Twenty-three

  Baltimore, Maryland,

  Sunday 23 August, 11.35 P.M.

  ‘How y’doin?’ Ford asked for the millionth time as he gently pushed Taylor’s wheelchair down the hospital hall toward the room where Clay rested. She’d just been released from the ER with stitches in her leg and the order not to put any weight on it for a few days.

  ‘Not too bad,’ she said honestly. Getting the bullet removed had hurt, despite the painkillers the ER had given her, but thankfully the sharp pain had lessened to a dull throb.

  Clay needed to be left alone to sleep, but he’d sent word to the ER through Stevie, insisting that Taylor come up as soon as she was released. He ne
eded to see her, Taylor understood. To prove to himself that she was really okay.

  Which she was, except for the throbbing in her leg. And the last remaining worry churning in her gut. True to his word, Novak had arranged for her hometown sheriff to check on her dad, but the sheriff had found no one at home and none of the ranch hands knew where Frederick Dawson had gone. Absently she patted the pockets of the newest pair of scrubs she’d been given. The first pair – on loan because her jeans had been covered in Clay’s blood – had been cut away to clean and dress her wound.

  No phone, she remembered with a wince. She wasn’t having a great day when it came to pants or to phones. The burner Alec had loaned her had fallen out of her pocket – probably while she’d been running from Gage Jarvis – and Detective Fitzpatrick had promised he’d ask one of the patrolmen to try and find it. ‘Have you heard from Fitzpatrick about my phone?’ she asked Ford.

  ‘Nope, sorry. I’ll call him once we get to Clay’s room.’

  Which might be never at the rate they were going. She looked over her shoulder and up at Ford’s face, a picture of concentrated carefulness. He was rolling her along at a pace slower than a snail’s. ‘Um, you can push a little faster,’ she said, and watched him scowl. ‘I’m not going to break and I would like to see Clay before he’s released.’

  ‘He’ll be here at least another week,’ Ford said seriously.

  ‘I know.’ She made her voice tart, hoping that teasing him would take her mind off her dad. Both of her dads. ‘But we won’t get to his room till the week after that at this rate.’

  ‘Ha ha,’ he deadpanned, but he quickened his pace a little. He was at least as fast as a snail now. ‘They said not to jar you. Quit complaining and enjoy the ride,’ he added mildly.

  She did as he asked, but breathed an extra-loud sigh of relief when they reached Clay’s room. ‘Finally.’

  ‘Smartass,’ Ford said without heat.

  ‘Granny driver,’ she shot back.

  ‘I got you here in one piece, didn’t I?’

  ‘A significantly older piece,’ she allowed.

  He pushed her into the room and locked the chair’s wheels. ‘Are you always such a backseat driver?’

  ‘Depends. Do you ever approach the speed limit?’

  Stevie was sitting at Clay’s bedside. ‘Jesus, you two bicker like . . .’ She laughed. ‘Like us.’

  Clay lay against the pillows, pale, but smiling, and Taylor felt a portion of her worry settle. She’d needed to see him too. To prove to herself that he was okay. ‘You’re looking pretty good there, Pops.’

  He rolled his eyes. ‘Do not call me Pop, and especially do not call me Pops. I’d rather be called by my name than any paternal nicknames that have two p’s.’

  ‘How about “Papa”?’

  ‘I’ll consider it.’ Squinting, he crooked his finger. ‘Come closer. Ford’s got you parked in the next county.’

  ‘Everybody’s a critic,’ Ford grumbled, but he complied, pushing her until she could grab hold of the hand Clay held out.

  Clay squeezed her hand hard. ‘I understand you two had another adventure all on your own.’

  ‘Yeah, but we’re okay.’ She pointed to her thigh with her free hand. ‘They had to dig the bullet out and they only gave me lidocaine. I think that earns me an ice-cream cone. Double dip, even. Calories be damned.’

  Not letting go of her hand, he pointed to his own thigh. ‘They had to splice some arteries from my other leg. I think that earns me the whole damn gallon. But I’ll share with you.’

  Her heart stuttered at how close they’d come to losing him. ‘I’m so glad you’re okay,’ she whispered shakily.

  ‘Same goes.’ Clay cleared his throat. ‘But you two took Gage down. Nice work.’

  ‘And saved the kids,’ Stevie added. ‘Novak is singing your praises, even though he still says he told you to stay in the van.’

  Ford pulled one of the chairs closer to the bed and sank into it. He looked drawn and tired. Taylor didn’t want to think about how she looked.

  ‘Deacon’s gotta cover his ass with Joseph,’ Ford said, waving his hand dismissively.

  ‘Sometimes you gotta break the rules,’ Clay said.

  Stevie huffed. ‘Sometimes? Clay, you never met a rule you’ve ever liked.’

  ‘And that’s why you love me,’ he said, satisfied.

  Stevie’s face softened as she brushed a trembling hand over his hair. ‘Among other reasons, yes.’

  Clay let go of Taylor’s hand, lowering his arm to his side with a wince. She hadn’t realized that their holding hands had hurt him. ‘I’m fine,’ he said before she could say a word. ‘Stevie told me how you worked with Alec to catch Gage. Also nice work. Don’t make it a habit.’

  Taylor held up her hand, palm out. ‘I swear on a stack of bibles. My crime-solving days are way past over. I’m even tearing up my Nancy Drew fan club card.’

  Ford was looking around the room. ‘Where is Alec? I thought he’d be here with you.’

  ‘He and Cole went to get Cordelia,’ Stevie said. ‘We kept the news from her until Clay woke up and the girls were found safely.’

  ‘She would have worried herself sick otherwise,’ Taylor said, and Stevie nodded.

  ‘Exactly. She already wants to see Jazzie and Janie. She’s got plans for a sleepover to cheer them up. I told her they’d need some time to process before the cheering-up stage.’

  The thought of the girls having fun at an ordinary slumber party made Taylor smile. ‘Hopefully not too much time. They need to be little girls again. Especially Jazzie.’

  ‘Where are they?’ Clay asked. His eyes had slid closed and he looked like he was fighting the need to sleep.

  ‘You can only stay a little longer,’ Stevie mouthed.

  ‘I heard that,’ Clay said mildly, eyes still closed. ‘You’re not as discreet as you think.’

  Stevie kissed his forehead. ‘Fine. But you do need your rest. I need you up to speed so that you can do my chores while I’m hanging over the toilet every morning.’

  That made Clay smile. ‘Understood. And understand that our baby will call me Daddy. Taylor better not try to teach him – or her – to say “Pop”.’

  ‘I ain’t promisin’ nuthin’,’ Taylor drawled, then sobered. ‘Except that I’ll be an awesome big sister. You can count on that.’

  His chest rose and fell on a contented sigh. ‘Thank you,’ he murmured roughly, then cleared his throat. ‘I believe I asked where the girls are now.’

  ‘They were with Maggie, but now they’re with Social Services,’ Ford told him, ‘because Lilah was taken in for questioning. Deacon didn’t think Joseph would charge her with hindering the investigation, so the girls should be back home with her soon.’

  ‘But she’ll need to find someone new to help her with them,’ Taylor added sadly. ‘Eunice died about five minutes after we left to follow Denny.’

  Ford rubbed his forehead wearily. ‘Turns out Eunice was on medication for Parkinson’s. Gage gave her a sedative in the park so that he could take the girls without a fight. He didn’t know it would react with her meds, but that seems to be what happened. That was what set Denny off, making him attack Gage.’

  Taylor glanced at him in surprise. ‘How do you know that?’

  ‘One of the doctors told Joseph about the medication interaction, but Jazzie told me on our way to the hospital about Denny attacking Gage. You’d already gone in the ambulance. She says her uncle busted through the door, angry that his mother was in the hospital. Our Photoshopping wasn’t as good as we hoped and Denny saw the IV tube. Jazzie said he still thought Gage had sent the photo. Then Gage figured out that we’d tricked Denny and he called him a moron. The two of them fought and Gage pulled out his gun and shot him.’

  ‘And?’ Cl
ay asked. ‘What happened to Denny?’

  Taylor winced. ‘He died in surgery. And yes, I know we didn’t kill him directly,’ she said to Ford when he made a growling sound. ‘I know that Gage pulled the trigger.’

  Ford folded his arms over his chest. ‘Twice.’

  ‘Right.’ She sighed. ‘But Denny wouldn’t have been there if we hadn’t tricked him.’

  Clay lifted his hand only enough to crook his finger again. ‘Come here.’

  Taylor leaned in. ‘What? What do you need?’

  ‘To smack you with a rubber chicken,’ he said grimly. ‘Those girls were there because Denny aided his brother. Gage managed to elude the police for weeks because Denny helped him. Denny broke into the prosecutors’ database and stole confidential information. He does not deserve your pity or your guilt.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Ford said fervently.

  Taylor glared at them both. ‘Can I at least feel sorry for his wife?’ she asked.

  Clay nodded. ‘Yes, that you may do.’

  ‘Thanks, Pops,’ she said, then sighed. ‘Missy is emotionally wrecked. She had no idea that Denny had broken into the prosecutors’ server using her password, and she didn’t know he was helping Gage. Poor woman. Daphne’s sitting with her until the family gets there.’

  Stevie sighed. ‘I feel for her. Losing Paul nearly broke me, and he died being a hero. She’ll have to deal with grief and shame as well. Luckily she has the kids to keep her sane. I’m not sure I would have survived if I hadn’t had Cordelia to keep me busy.’

  Clay reached out for Stevie’s hand and brought it to his lips. ‘I’m very glad you did,’ he said, then turned back to Ford and Taylor. ‘What else? Tell me quickly, because I’m gonna need another dose of the morphine soon.’

  ‘Jazzie said that Gage told her he wasn’t her father,’ Ford told him. ‘That he wasn’t Janie’s dad either. That her mother cheated and that was why he left.’

  ‘Did he tell her why he killed her mother?’ Stevie asked.

  Ford shook his head. ‘No, and Jazzie didn’t witness that part, thankfully. Her mother was dead when she found her, and Gage was searching for money in the coat closet. She heard him coming and hid behind a chair. Gage might tell Joseph why he killed his wife, but he’s such an asshole that I kind of doubt it. I meant Gage was the asshole, not Joseph,’ he clarified dryly, and Clay’s lips twitched. ‘Although Mom thinks they might be able to negotiate more details in return for a protected prison cell. Gage was a defense attorney for a long time and he didn’t win all of his cases. There’ll be some disgruntled former clients in that jail with him, and he’ll do serious time.’