The Deception

by Marina Martindale

  Steve soon arrived, and this time Allison was with him. Billie took her leave while they helped her settle in. Carrie tried to call Alex, but she too got his voice mail, so she sent him a text message. It was nearly four o'clock and she'd been at the hospital for a couple hours. Hopefully, he'd call back soon. She handed her keys over to Allison, asking her to go to the house and bring her an overnight bag.

  * * *

  Alex's impromptu conference took place in a small, windowless room in a quiet part of the court building. While they were talking they'd heard an alarm going off. Donald shrugged it off, saying he'd heard talk that they'd been having problems recently with false alarms. They had been discussing the Gillespie case for sometime before he finally looked at his watch.

  "Guess what? It's almost four o'clock. We've been here over two hours and my phone is still turned off. I'd better call my office before they send a search party."

  "Same here," said Donald. "I'll talk to my client and let him know what we discussed."

  "Me too."

  Alex put on his coat and powered up his phone. It beeped, letting him know he had voice mail and text messages. He would have to check them later. The two men walked to the elevator together, and both were surprised at what they saw when the doors opened on the ground floor. A large crowd had filled the atrium and yellow crime scene tape blocked the exits.

  "Uh-oh, guess it wasn't a false alarm after all," said Donald. "Looks like they've locked down the building."

  Alex looked around the atrium. He couldn't see Carrie anywhere, but he soon spotted Reggie, standing near the exit. As he got closer to her, he noticed she was with a small group of people gathered around someone's electronic tablet. He noticed she was crying, and the people standing near her, including Jack Collins, were trying to console her.

  "Reggie? Are you all right?"

  "Oh my God. Alex, where have you been?"

  "I was upstairs talking to Donald Morrison about the Gillespie case. We just got done. Where's Carrie? What's going on?"

  "Come with me. We need to talk." Reggie took him by the hand and led him back to the elevators.

  "Reggie, what's wrong."

  "I'll explain in a minute." She waited for an elevator. As soon as one arrived they stepped inside and headed back up. "Take me to wherever you were talking with Donald. It's obviously a private room."

  "You're scaring the living hell out of me, Reggie. What's wrong? Where's Carrie?"

  The elevator doors opened and Alex led her back to the room where he and Donald had their conference. Reggie closed the door behind her and told Alex to sit down as she fought back the tears.

  "Alex, I took Carrie downstairs, just like you told me to do. We were near the door, when my phone rang. My oldest had a minor emergency, so I was going to pick him up. I asked Jonathan if he'd mind giving her a ride back to the office. He said he would."

  "I see, go on."

  Reggie was started crying again. She reached into her purse for another tissue, before pulling her tablet out of her briefcase.

  "This is all my fault, Alex. I should have gone with her."

  "What do you mean, Reggie?"

  "Jonathan and Carrie had just left the building. I stayed behind to call Brenda to let her know that I wouldn't be back in the office, but before the call went through I heard this loud popping noise from outside. It was gunfire. Some woman out in the plaza had a gun, and she opened fire."

  Alex's heart skipped a beat. He felt a chill running down his spine.

  "My God. Reggie, where's Carrie?"

  Reggie didn't respond. She began crying harder.

  "Where's Carrie, Reggie?"

  "She's gone, Alex."

  "What do you mean, she's gone?"

  "Carrie, Jonathan, and Scott Andrews were the three people who were shot. I saw it happen with my own eyes."

  "No!" The color was draining from Alex's face.

  "They rushed them all to Sonoran Southwest." She punched up a live Internet feed to Channel Seven on her tablet. "The news just broke the story a few minutes ago. They're saying Carrie didn't make it, Alex. I'm so sorry."

  "What! No way! Let me see that."

  Reggie handed her tablet to Alex. He stared at the screen in stunned disbelief. They were showing clips of Carrie's old Mercer's Markets commercials. A minute later they showed the head shot from her website, with her name, and the years of her birth, and death, underneath.

  "Alex?"

  He didn't respond.

  "Alex!"

  "Go home, Reggie."

  "Are you all right?"

  "I said go home. Here's you tablet." He pushed it across the table toward her.

  "Okay, Alex. I'll leave you alone for a little while. I'll come back and check on you later."

  "Whatever, Reggie."

  She headed to the door.

  "Who's the shooter?" Alex's voice sounded mechanical.

  "They think it's Maggie Andrews."

  "Well, of course it's Maggie Andrews. Some fool was dumb enough to release the stupid bitch from jail, and I'll have that someone's ass before I'm through. I'm personally going to see to it the bitch gets the hot needle. Have they found her yet?"

  "Not yet. That's why we're still in lockdown."

  "Well, that's just great. So I'm being held hostage by the Keystone Cops."

  Alex's phone went off. He thought about ignoring it, but the caller ID revealed it was his mother calling. He took the call as Reggie stepped out and closed the door behind her.

  "Hey, Mom, what's happening?"

  "Alex, we just heard about Carrie. It's on the news here. Your father and I are booking a flight to Phoenix that leaves Las Vegas in two hours. We'll be there as quick as we can."

  "Thanks, Mom." Alex's voice was starting to break. "Hurry, I need you."

  "We're on our way, son. We'll call you as soon as we land."

  Alex's phone beeped. It was a warning that the battery was nearly drained.

  "Mom, before you go... I don't think you knew this, but Carrie was pregnant. I've lost them both."

  "Oh my God. I'm so sorry. Alex, if you need any--"

  Her sentence abruptly ended. The battery on Alex's phone had just run out. He set it on the table, pushing it aside as he laid his head down and buried his face in his arms. He emerged from the room a half hour later.

  Courthouses have rooms and corridors off limits to the public, but used by staff, police and attorneys. Alex headed down such a corridor, taking a service elevator to the underground parking facility where the Camaro was waiting. He climbed in, fired up the engine and made his exit. He soon found the road off blocked by two patrol cars. One of the officers approached as he stopped. Alex recognized him.

  "Hey, Robert, how's it going?"

  "Been a hell of a day, Alex, but I think they're about to wrap things up and let people out of the building."

  "Found the shooter yet?"

  "Not yet, but apparently they're getting close. As least they've cleared the area here."

  "Hey, could you do me a favor and let me through? I've got a family emergency I need to take care of."

  "Sure, Alex. Take care of yourself."

  "You too."

  Robert motioned for one of the officers to move a patrol car. Once it was out of the way Alex waved goodbye as he quickly drove off.

  Forty-Three

  As Maggie strolled around the mall she began overhearing conversations about the courthouse shootings. Her heart leapt for joy. It was nearly four o'clock when her phone rang. Her daughter was calling.

  "Hey, Sarah."

  "Mom, what's going on? Dad was supposed to pick me and Ben up, and he never showed."

  "You're kidding. Did you try calling him?"

  "Only about five or six times. Ben tried calling and texting him too. He never called back."

  "It's okay, Sweetie, I'll come get you right now. Where are you?"

  "I'm still in front of the school, and Ben's at Ryan's house. He finally gave up.
"

  "It's okay, Sarah. I'm at Desert Caliente Mall and I'm heading to my car right now. I'll be there in about ten minutes."

  "Thanks, Mom." Sarah disconnected the call.

  "Sorry 'bout that, kids," muttered Maggie as she hopped into her car. "I know I had to inconvenience you, but it was necessary. After today our lives are going to be very, very different."

  Scott had taken out a life insurance policy when the children were young. It had a very generous death benefit and she looked forward to living the good life. She turned on the car radio. It was abuzz with news reports about the shooting at the courthouse in downtown Phoenix. She felt giddy as she listened. She soon heard the words she longed to hear. Carrie Daniels was dead. She shouted for joy.

  "So how do you like being in Hell, Carrie? At least you won't be there alone. I've sent Scott along with you."

  As she drove she learned she'd actually shot three people. The other victim, Jonathan Fields, was a total stranger. The reporter went on to say that Fields and Scott Andrews, were still in the hospital. Fields was in fair condition. Scott was critical and not expected to survive.

  "Oh well, Jonathan. Guess you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, weren't you? And Scott, you'll just have to suffer a little longer, won't you? Serves you right, you worthless son of a bitch. Sorry 'bout your loss, Nancy, but you had it coming too."

  She pulled into Sarah's school, putting on a sad face before her daughter stepped into the car. Sarah looked very upset.

  "Mom, Ben just sent me a text. He said Dad's been shot. Is it true?"

  "I'm afraid so. I just heard it on the news myself."

  "As soon as we get Ben, I want to go to the hospital. Will you take us there?"

  No doubt the hospital would be crawling with cops. It was the last place Maggie wanted to be seen. She had to think quickly.

  "Let's give them a call first. They said on the news that your father was still in surgery, so it might be sometime before they allow any visitors."

  They arrived at Ryan's house. Ben looked troubled as he climbed into the backseat.

  "Did you hear about Dad?"

  "Yes," replied Maggie. "We'll call the hospital as soon as we get home to find out how he's doing."

  "I want to see him," said Ben.

  "I know, son, and I'll take you there just as soon as they say he can have visitors. Meantime do you guys want to go through the drive thru?"

  "I'm not hungry, Mom," said Sarah.

  "Me neither," added Ben. "I just want to see Dad."

  Maggie turned the car onto their street a few minutes later. Several police cars were waiting in front of the house.

  "What's going on, Mom?" asked Sarah.

  "It's all right. They're probably here to tell us about Daddy."

  She pulled into the driveway and parked. Ken O'Dell and Billie Hughes approached her as the kids exited.

  "We heard all about it O'Dell," she said as she stepped out. "And my children are understandably distraught. I'd appreciate it, very much, if you two wouldn't harass them."

  "We're not here to upset your children, Mrs. Andrews, although I'm going to have one of the female agents escort them inside while you and I have a little talk."

  Maggie unlocked the house and waited as the FBI agent took the kids inside. She explained that she needed to talk to the authorities, and while they were waiting, it was okay to call the hospital to find out about their dad.

  "You'll help them do that?" she asked the agent.

  "Of course."

  "Come with me." O'Dell was motioning her back toward his vehicle. "I don't want them to see you from the windows."

  "I know where you're going, Agent O'Dell, and you need to back off. It wasn't me. I wasn't anywhere near the courthouse today."

  "Really." He looked back at the other agents. "Andy, would you mind bringing me the large envelope in the passenger seat of my vehicle?"

  "Sure."

  "I'm listening, Mrs. Andrews," he continued. "So what's your story this time?"

  "I got bored, so I decided to see a movie. I've got my ticket stub right here." She started to reach inside her purse.

  "Stop right there!"

  She froze as Andy brought the envelope. O'Dell then instructed him to take a quick look inside her purse.

  "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

  "He's making sure there's no weapon inside," said Billie. "Have a look, Andy."

  Andy peered inside the purse. "It's not in here."

  "Okay. Mrs. Andrews," said O'Dell, "take out the ticket stub, very slowly. Andy, I need you to search her car."

  "What! No!"

  "Don't worry, Mrs. Andrews, I have a search warrant."

  She handed him the stub, along with the receipt for the soda.

  "See, I was at the movies, just like I told you."

  "I see," he replied, opening the envelope. "In that case, maybe you can explain who it is in these photographs. They were taken earlier today in downtown Phoenix, near the O'Conner courthouse."

  As she looked through the photos, another FBI vehicle pulled up in front of a neighboring home.

  "Do you by chance have an identical twin, Mrs. Andrews? The resemblance is uncanny. What's even more remarkable is how she's removing her wig and coat while she's walking, and when she's done she's wearing the very same outfit that you have on right now. Would you like to explain?"

  Maggie's face turned pale. She was too stunned to speak.

  "Found it, Boss," shouted Andy. "She stashed the gun underneath the driver's seat."

  "Bag it," said Billie.

  "Tell Holly we're taking her in," added O'Dell "Have her call the aunt and tell her to stay with the kids until she gets here."

  Billie put the handcuffs on Maggie as Andy stepped away to relay the message. He returned a minute later.

  "Apparently, the aunt is already at the hospital. Can Holly take them there?"

  "Of course," said O'Dell. "They need to be with their dad. They're not sure he'll last the night or not. Just have her stay inside with them until after we take their mother away."

  Billie turned to face Maggie. "Maggie Andrews, you're under arrest for the attempted murder of Scott Andrews, Jonathan Fields, and Carrie Daniels."

  "What? I thought Carrie was already dead."

  "You know, Maggie," said O'Dell, "that's the problem with the media. They don't always get their facts straight. Carrie Daniels is fine. In fact, her injuries were minor."

  "Damn it!"

  "I wouldn't be saying things like that if I were in your shoes. Which reminds me, we need to read you your Miranda rights."

  As soon as he finished, he led her to the SUV parked in front of the neighbor's home. Once it pulled away, he and Billie headed toward the front door. One of the hardest jobs he ever had to do was to tell a child their parent had just been arrested. He let out a sigh as he opened the door and stepped inside.

  Forty-Four

  It took Allison over an hour to go from the hospital to Alex and Carrie's house and back again. As soon as she returned, she accompanied her into the bathroom to help her change from the hospital gown into her pink nightshirt with the corset on the front.

  "Have you heard from Alex yet?"

  "No," Carrie replied. "Steve and I left a few more messages, but so far nothing. However, I did get some other good news while you were out. Jonathan Fields is out of surgery. They said he's doing fine and he's going to be okay. He's still in recovery, but they'll be bringing him to his room soon. Once he's awake, I want to see him. We have a lot to talk about."

  "I'm sure you do, but for now let's get you back to bed."

  As Carrie settled back into her bed, Steve turned on the television set. All of the local stations were doing extended live news coverage about the shootings, but all three were stunned at what they were seeing. The stations were retracting an earlier report that Carrie had died.

  "What the hell? I wasn't even close to dying. How could they have put out
a story like that?"

  "I'm not sure," said Steve. "I know it's all about ratings, but that's no excuse. What if Alex heard the earlier report?"

  All three looked at one another.

  "Reggie!" exclaimed Steve. "I'm such an idiot at times. I completely forgot about Reggie."

  "It's okay, Steve," said Carrie, "we've had other things on our minds. Reggie stayed behind when Jonathan and I went outside. Maybe she knows where Alex is."

  Steve picked up his phone and placed a call to Reggie, who quickly answered.

  "Reggie, are you alright? You sound strange."

  "It's been a horrible day, Steve. We're still in lockdown, but they're finally getting ready to let us out. I have to go get Alex. I told him about Carrie and he's extremely distraught."

  "Carrie's fine. The media got it wrong, Reggie."

  "What do you mean they got it wrong? I saw the news report. She was killed."

  "No, she wasn't. In fact, I've been with her at the hospital for the past three hours. We've been trying to reach Alex, but we keep getting his voice mail."

  "Let me talk to her," said Carrie. Steve handed her his phone. "Reggie, it's me. I'm all right. I wasn't seriously hurt."

  "Oh my God! You don't know how relieved I am to hear your voice. They were saying on TV that you were dead."

  "I know, Reggie. Jonathan Fields stepped in front of the shooter and literally took the bullet for me. I was grazed on my left side, but I'm fine. The baby's fine too. They checked me out and there's no sign of any miscarriage. We're both all right, so where the hell is Alex?"

  "Upstairs. He was in a private meeting with another attorney for over two hours; apparently he was unaware of the shooting. When he finally came down, I took him back up. We saw the news report on my tablet. We both thought you were dead. Alex didn't take it very well."

  "Oh no! Reggie, please, you have to find him. Right now."

  "Don't worry, I know where he is. It'll only take me a couple of minutes to get to him and I'll have him call you."