by Wendy Vella
Bailey felt sick that this woman was willing to kill innocent people to get to Joe.
“Joe doesn’t love you, Angie. He loves me, and he’ll never want another woman, even if you kill me.”
“Shut up!”
Angie sounded crazed now, so Bailey did as she was told... for now. She had to escape, had to find a way to get away from Angie and back to Joe. No way in hell did she want this woman anywhere near him again.
They’d only been driving a few minutes when Angie pulled off the road and down the Nook, a narrow track where local teenagers hung out.
“This leads to the river. I thought it would be a good place to drown you.”
The words were spoken calmly, and sent a shiver down Bailey’s spine. How the hell had Angie hid the madness for so long? She’d fooled all of them.
“With luck, your body will end up on Joe’s land, then he’ll know for sure you’re gone.”
“This will never work, Angie. Stop now, before it’s too late.”
“It’s already too late.”
The track was narrow and rutted, both sides lined with trees, and Bailey held the seat as Angie sped up it. Stopping the car, she waved the gun at Bailey.
“I’m getting out. You follow out my door.”
Bailey had no choice but to do as Angie asked.
“Now we walk, because while I’d be happy to shoot you here, you’re too heavy for me to carry you far, so drowning you will be much tidier after I knock you out. But if you try and run, I will shoot you, Bailey, and make up a story everyone will believe.”
“You’re insane, Angie, to think you’ll get away with this.”
“Oh I will, because people in this town like me. Joe will need someone to comfort him while he mourns your loss, and I’ll be there for him.”
“You can’t be serious?”
“I am. Now move.” She shoved Bailey forward, and they began walking. Every few feet, Angie prodded Bailey in the back with her gun. She didn’t want to die today... or any day soon. Bailey had her life to live, and she wanted to live it with Joe at her side. The thought of him at the mercy of Angie had her determined to escape; she just had to find the right moment. She was strong now, she could do this. She concentrated on him then, focused on Joe.
I love you, Joe, please find me.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Joe tried to work through the next hour. He also tried to call Bailey several times, but she didn’t answer, which meant A. Her phone battery needed charging again, or B. She didn’t want to talk to him.
He tried to focus, but something other than Bailey was making him anxious, and he couldn’t put his finger on it. She’d said she loved him, and because of that, he knew things would be okay with them. Sure, he probably did need to start thinking about her when he made decisions—even, apparently, if they were in her best interest. In hindsight, six thousand dollars was a lot to spend on a birthday present. But she was worth that and so much more to him. Money meant nothing when compared to Bailey.
Okay, so maybe he should have asked her to marry him before he told the grandfather, Joe conceded.
He shrugged, as if to shake off something. His body felt tense, and the tension inside him had been climbing steadily since she’d left.
“What the hell is that scowl for?” Fin walked in.
“I don’t know. Bailey and I went a few rounds, but it’s not that.”
“If you mentioned it, it probably is. So go make it up to her.”
“How do you know she’s in the right?”
“Is she?”
“No... yes. Maybe.”
“Articulate.”
“I bought her the horse. She didn’t know and thought it was given to the stables, and got all bent out of shape when she found the invoices.”
Fin winced.
“She’s all about independence and taking control now, and apparently I wrested it from her.”
“By buying her an expensive horse?”
“There’s more.”
Fin waved for him to continue.
“I may have told her asshole grandfather that we were getting married, and she overheard.”
“Did you propose to her first?”
Joe shook his head.
“No way are you that dumb.”
Joe sighed. “Apparently I am where she’s concerned. Control and honesty are important to her and I broke both commandments.”
“She’s totally got you tied in knots, Trainer. I love it.”
“Yeah, thanks for that.”
“I guess after being under her grandfather’s control, she doesn’t want to go there again,” Fin said. “Which makes sense.”
“No, I get it actually. But you know me, Fin. I like control too.”
“Sure, because of the life you were forced to lead. The trick is communication, Joe. You can have both if you keep those channels open.”
“You being such a good communicator and all.”
Fin smiled. “Do as I say, grasshopper, not as I do.”
“I love her way too much.”
“I know you do, bud. So that means you need her to be happy, just as I’m guessing she needs you to be happy too. So make it work.”
Joe nodded. “But we’re good, because she told me she loved me before leaving.”
“That’s a positive then. So what else is bugging you?”
Joe frowned. “I’m not sure, it’s just a feeling. I’ve called Bailey several times, but she’s not answering.”
They heard footsteps, and both turned to see who was coming up the stairs. It wasn’t Bailey, much to his disappointment. The steps were too heavy.
“Chief Blake. What brings you up here?” Joe said, getting to his feet to shake the man’s hand.
“Found your father on his way out of town. Have him in custody now, Joe. He’s saying he has lots to confess about the fire in your stable and who shot at Jack and Bailey, but won’t speak until you’re there.”
“Let’s go,” Joe said, stuffing his phone into his back pocket.
“I’m coming,” Fin said, getting to his feet as Joe passed.
He didn’t answer, just followed Chief Blake from Apple Sours, his stomach twisted into knots.
Joe hid everything he felt as he walked down the hall leading to where his father was being held. Every shred of anger, and hurt, he locked away, because he needed his father to know that nothing he had done to him had impacted on his life. That he’d risen above being the son of a violent, unloving scumbag like Tim Trainer.
He didn’t inhale, nor clench his fists; he schooled his features and followed Chief Blake. Fin gripped his shoulder briefly, and he took strength from the contact. He wasn’t alone anymore, he had people at his back. People he loved, who loved him right back.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t my eldest son. Joe, glad you came to bail me out.”
He hadn’t seen his father in years, and the first shock was that he’d shrunk, and his face was showing signs of the hard life he’d obviously lived. Lined, weathered, and with his two front teeth missing, he didn’t look like the intimidating man he’d once been. The man who had put the fear of God into Joe and his brothers using violence.
“I knew you’d come, son. Knew you’d see reason and bail your dad out. Blood is important, boy, like I always told you. Just need you to post it, son, I’ll see you get it back. I’ve had a few problems, but with a good lawyer I’ll get off.”
It wasn’t anger that had him stepping up to the bars, it was retribution. Just once he wanted this man to know what he and his brothers had experienced. Dear old dad didn’t see it coming. He leaned in as Joe drew near, with a look on his face that said he thought he’d win this round too.
Joe shot his fist through the bars and sent Tim Trainer reeling backward.
“Well hell, Joe,” the police chief said. “I’m sure there’s a few laws you just broke, but damned if I can remember which ones.”
“You bastard!” Tim Trainer came up spitting. �
�I’ll fucking kill you!”
“Open the door, Chief. Let him try.”
The chief played along and moved forward, jangling his keys about. Tim Trainer’s eyes widened as he looked at the fire in his son’s eyes, and he stepped back.
“No! Don’t let him in here!”
“Scared? Worried now I’m bigger than you, and you can’t defend yourself?”
“You can’t speak to me like that!”
“I can speak to you how the hell I like. I haven’t seen you in years, and we’ve shared a total of two phone calls, both with you begging for money. Do you honestly think I would do anything for you, the man who made our lives hell as children?”
“I taught you respect!” Tim Trainer stayed away from the bars.
“You taught us fear and nothing more. Now you know how that feels, you piece of shit!”
“And now the family reunion is over, you can tell us what we need to hear.” Fin stepped up to the bars. “Or I’ll personally make sure he can get at you.”
“Well now, Fin, you do have the spare set of keys,” Chief Blake said.
He knew what Tim Trainer had done to his sons, and was pretty pissed about it, like a few of the other residents in Ryker Falls.
“I ain’t talking without benefit.”
“I’ll give you a thousand to clear out of town and never come back. But I want it written and signed by you that if you return, Chief Blake will be within his rights to put you in a cell.”
“He’s going there anyway, Joe, and for a long time, so don’t waste your money.”
Joe shot the policeman a look. “Why?”
“He lit the fire in the barn.”
“You didn’t tell me that!”
“I didn’t want you losing control outside the cells. Not good for you, or for anyone to see one of their town councilors with bloodlust in his eyes.”
When Joe looked back, Tim Trainer was as far away from him as he could get.
“You tried to kill my brother and woman!” He grabbed the bars and shook them.
“You’ll just tire yourself out doing that, Joe. Step away now.” Fin grabbed his arms. “They make those bars pretty impenetrable, is my guess.”
The look Joe sent the man behind those bars made him move back another step. He then walked away from everyone while he tried to rein in his rage.
“What else has he got to say?” Joe heard Fin ask.
“Tell them.”
“I told you it was her. She paid me to do it. She did Elijah, shot him in the back of the head, then made me throw him in the falls, because he heard us talking about it.”
“Who?” Joe moved back to the bars. “Who is she?” He looked at Chief Blake.
“Well, that’s what I’ve been trying to get out of him, but he said he wouldn’t speak until you came in here.”
“She paid me to get rid of her because she wanted you for herself, but I couldn’t do the job both times, so she decided to do it on her own.”
“Carry on, or I’m coming in there!” Joe snarled.
“The fire, it was to kill the girl, the one you’re with, Bailey Jones.”
Joe’s blood ran cold as his father nodded his way.
“I was desperate when I grabbed her that night outside the bar. She was getting angry, refusing to pay me. She wanted her dead, and then one of your brothers, so it made you weak. She was going to step in and look after you.”
“Who?” Fin growled.
“Angela Pedderson.”
Joe ran then, out the doors, with Fin and the chief on his heels. He pulled out his cell phone and called Bailey again, she didn’t answer.
“I just called the lodge. They said Angie’s not there. She was, but left, supposedly sick,” Fin said, running at his side. “Bailey was there earlier, but left after talking to Mr. Goldhirsh and her grandfather.”
Angie and Bailey both missing. She was in danger, he could feel it, knew that if he didn’t get to her he’d never find her alive again. This was the tension that had been building inside him. He called Jack, who was with Luke. Neither of them had seen her. He filled them in on Angie, and that he needed to find her fast. He was sprinting now, heading to his pickup. Beside him, Fin called Maggie and Piper. Neither of them had seen Bailey or Angie.
“I can’t lose her, Fin.”
“You won’t.”
“Jesus, could it really be Angie?”
“She had us all fooled if it is, bud.”
He jumped behind the wheel, and was driving seconds later. Where the hell he was driving to, he had no idea, but he had to be on the move.
His phone rang, and he shoved it at Fin, who put it on speaker. “Hello?” Fin answered. The call was from Luke, who had asked his firefighting buddies if any of them had seen Angie.
“Her car was seen driving down the Nook, Joe. We’ll meet you there!”
Joe put his foot on the gas and sped out of town.
Was she in danger? He had to find her. Had to get to her before Angie hurt her. Fin took the turn into the Nook so fast that Fin swore loudly.
“Your brothers are on our tail.”
Joe braked, and was out while his pickup still rocked. He saw Angie’s car tucked under some trees.
“Gun!” He walked to Jack’s car. “Now!”
“What the fuck I can’t believe this is happening?” Jack got out and went to the trunk. Opening it, he started handing out rifles. Joe just took the rifle and started running.
“Jesus, will you wait!” He felt his brothers and Fin arrive, but didn’t stop. His heart was pounding, blood coursing through his body, and suddenly he was focused. She would stay safe until he got to her, he had to believe that. Right now she needed him to be the best and strongest person he could be.
The sun caught something on the path up ahead. Dropping to a knee, Joe picked up Bailey’s necklace and wrapped it around his fist. She’d left this for him to find, he was sure of it.
“It’s her necklace... Bailey’s.”
“You think she left it for us?” Jack asked.
“That’s my take.”
“The tracks head down to the river,” Fin said.
Joe started following, running again, as fast as he could through the dense bush.
I’m coming, Bailey, stay safe until I can reach you.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Bailey walked where Angie told her to, and when she heard the river, she knew it was time to act. Once they reached it, Angie would kill her.
“Ouch!”
“What?” Angie nudged her in the back with the gun when she stopped.
“I have something in my shoe.”
“That’s the least of your problems. Anyway, you’ll be dead soon.”
Bailey started to limp.
“Just walk, and hurry up. I want this done before anyone notices you’re missing.”
“Joe will notice. He loves me.”
“No! He’s going to love me!”
“That’s not true, Angie. He thinks you’re his friend, but he doesn’t love you.”
The gun nudged her again, harder. “Shut up!”
“He’ll never forgive you for killing me.”
“Shut up!” Angie pushed Bailey, hard this time, and she made herself stumble forward. Just below them was the water; she pretended to trip.
“Stop!”
She felt Angie’s hands reach for her, but it was too late. Bailey hit the ground, rolled over the edge, and down the side of the hill. She heard the gun fire, the bullet digging into the bank beside her. The next one struck her leg, the pain tearing through Bailey’s thigh.
“I’m going to kill you!”
She heard Angie’s scream, and knew she’d be coming down the bank. Seconds later Bailey rolled into the water. She dived under and let it carry her downstream.
The current was strong, and her thigh was on fire, but the cold water would slow the bleeding. She couldn’t allow herself to stop, she had to keep moving or Angie would catch her. Coming up for air
, she heard a shot whistle over her head, and dived under again. Lifting her head when her lungs felt like they were about to burst, she searched for Angie. She was some distance behind her now.
Kicking with her good leg, she used the last of her strength and dived under again. The next time she came up, she couldn’t see Angie at all. Struggling to the bank, she dragged herself out. Looking up, she saw the cave. If she could reach that, she’d be safe... she had to be.
They had been searching along the river, where the tracks stopped. Someone had rolled down that hill. They’d found blood at the bottom. Please don’t let it be Bailey’s blood. Every minute that passed without him finding her, his fear for her grew.
“Stop!” Fin was in front of him, and it was he who raised his hand. “Someone is up ahead.”
Lifting his rifle, Joe moved closer, and together he and Fin walked slowly until they could see who it was. Jack and Luke followed.
“Angie,” Fin whispered.
She was standing at the base of the hill that led up to Trainer land. Feet braced, arms raised, and in her hands was a handgun. As he watched, she fired off a shot. Raising his gun, he fired, the bullet lodging in the ground at her feet.
“Drop the gun, Angie!”
She turned, eyes wide, gun still clasped in her hands, now pointed his way.
“Joe!” She screamed his name. “It’s Bailey, Joe! She’s gone crazy and tried to shoot me! I-I wrestled the gun off her.”
“Drop the gun or one of us will shoot you, Angie. Even if you get off a shot, there are four guns here. The numbers are not in your favor.”
“I-I don’t understand.” She dropped the gun. “I just told you, it was Bailey, she’s gone crazy.”
“No more lies now, Angie. We all know what you’ve done. Now tell me where Bailey is.”
“No, it’s me you want, not her!”
“Tell me where she is,” he said as calmly as he could manage.
While Fin moved in and grabbed the gun, and Jack her, he watched Angie’s eyes go to the top of the hill, and knew then where Bailey had run to hide.
“Take her back, and hand her over to Chief Blake,” he told Fin.