The Perfect Ten Boxed Set
Page 196
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Kasey’s cell phone rang just as she pulled next to the curb in front of Scott’s house. She answered and Scott was already talking before she could say hello.
“Got your message,” Scott said. “Where are you?” His voice sounded tight, his words clipped.
“I’m sitting in my car right in front of your house. Is everything okay?”
“There’s a key to the side door, on top of the bird feeder. I’ve got news.”
“Your voice sounds funny.” Her stomach swirled with dread. “The news. It’s not bad is it?”
“No. Not bad. I promise. I’ll explain when I get there.”
“When—” But he’d already hung up. She found the key easily and went to the side door. It took a minute to get the key in the right way, but finally it slipped in the lock and she opened the door.
Inside the house, the room was dark. She patted the wall looking for a light switch, but something brushed against her as she did. She instantly thought of Turtle Mike, but then whatever it was grabbed wrist, pulling her away from the open door. The fear of imminent danger pulsed through her veins, gripping her so tight she couldn’t make a noise.
Kasey scrambled to keep her balance, tugging hard. She slapped and kicked and was able to free her arm, but the door slammed behind her, trapping her inside.
In the darkness of the room, she felt something pass in front of her face, but her eyes hadn’t adjusted and it was too dark to see. A strong hand clamped around her arm. She bent forward and bit down until the intruder screamed, but he didn’t let go. Instead, cool metal settled on her temple.
Her body went rigid. Afraid to move, her temple pulsed under the pressure of the barrel.
She heard a slap on the wall next to her, and the lights came on.
“Kasey?”
“Jeremy?”
They stared at each other for a stunned moment, then she breathed a sigh of relief and stepped away from the gun. “You scared me to death. I thought I was a goner. What are you doing here?”
His jaw moved, but he didn’t respond.
“Jeremy. Why are you here?” She stepped toward him. “Why do you have a gun? What’s going on?”
He stepped back. “This isn’t....” Jeremy’s voice drifted. Sweat dampened his forehead. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“Why are you here?”
“It’s not how it seems.” All the color had drained from his face. “He’s got to pay for this.”
“Who’s got to pay? Scott?” She blinked, shaking her head. “You don’t think Scott had something to do with Jake’s disappearance?”
Jeremy straightened.
“That can’t be. He’s helping me find Jake.”
He scratched his head with the barrel of the gun. “He’s not helping you. He just wants you.”
“Wait. This doesn’t make sense. Did Scott...?” She took a step back. Scott had said he was there at the accident site. Could I be so wrong about him? “Do you think Scott did something to Jake?”
“I’m here to make everything right,” Jeremy said. “Don’t worry. I’m going to take care of Calvin and then I’m going to take you to Jake.”
“You found Jake?”
“Yes. I’d do anything for you and Jake. You know that.”
“Of course, you’re like family. Let’s go,” Kasey said and turned to the door.
Jeremy waved the gun and it went off, scaring them both.
“Careful with that thing. Just put it down.”
“Wait! I have to stop Scott first.”
“Why? Is Jake with Scott?”
Jeremy shook his head.
“Then take me to Jake. I just want my baby.” Kasey’s voice became loud and impatient. “Quit standing there. Let’s go. We can let the police take care of Scott.”
“But he is the police.”
“Von will know what to do. Come on.”
The side door swung open and Scott steadied his gun on Jeremy. “Hold it right there.”
Kasey stepped between them. “How could you? I thought you were my friend.”
“Kasey, get out of the way.”
She didn’t budge. “He told me you took Jake.”
Scott scoffed and looked at Kasey. “And you believe that? Kasey, Jeremy was behind your son’s disappearance. Nick’s death, too.” He nodded to Jeremy. “Isn’t that right?”
Kasey turned to Jeremy.
“I’d have been a good Dad to Jake. Before Nick. You know. I would’ve married you and taken care of Jake. Raised him like my own. Like Nick did. I’d have been there for you. Nick’s gone. But I’m not. You know I love, Jake. Right?”
Jeremy raised his gun towards Scott.
Scott steadied his aim. “Don’t do anything stupid.”
“Go sit down, Kasey.” Jeremy’s hand shook.
She stepped out of range. “What’s going on? Who is taking me to Jake?”
“Sit!” Jeremy yelled. “Now!”
She dropped to the floor right where she was.
“No!” He shouted, then waved the gun at her. “In there.” He motioned her toward the living room.
She walked backward, afraid to turn her back on him.
His voice rose. “This isn’t how I planned it.”
She backed into the living room. “Planned what? Jeremy. Tell me you didn’t take Jake.”
He rocked from side to side. “He’s going to tell you, but it’s not how it looks.” Jeremy blew out several small breaths in a row, then cocked the hammer.
“Whoa!” She took a step back. “No. Wait. You don’t want to do this. We’re like family, and whatever you think Scott has done.... You killing him isn’t going to better for anyone.”
“Drop it,” Scott ordered.
“Don’t. Both of y’all, stop!” Kasey screamed.
“Family,” Jeremy said, nodding his head, and then he began to cry. “Jake should’ve been mine.”
“He’s not your child. You know that.”
“He wasn’t Nick’s but you let him be. I’ve always loved you, Kasey. Nick had already taken you from me. Then he...he wanted to take you away.” His hand shook.
“Put the gun down.” Scott commanded.
“Whatever you did, it can’t be as bad as you think.” She glanced at the end table. There wasn’t much on it—a magazine, an old horseshoe and a coaster. She dipped and wrapped her fingers around the rusty antique horseshoe. It was heavy in her hand.
Jeremy wiped the sweat from his eyes. “I never meant to hurt you. I love you.” His eyes turned dark. He raised the gun towards his own head. It shook in his hand. “The pictures. I sent them.”
“Kasey, let me handle this,” Scott said. She raised a hand and gave Scott a begging look. He nodded.
“A woman sent the pictures.” Kasey paused, trying to regain control of her emotions and voice. Smooth and soothing—stay calm and he will.
“Me.” Pain twisted in Jeremy’s face. “I set that up. You said you wanted to know Jake was alive. I wanted you to....” He wiped his face with his sleeve—the gun flailed. “You needed to feel hope. I wanted you to have hope. I never meant this to go so wrong. All I ever wanted was to be in your life.”
She squeezed the horseshoe, praying she wouldn’t drop it.
He leveled his gaze on Kasey. “I didn’t want him to move you away. I only meant to scare him.”
A loud clunk came from down the hall. Jeremy spun toward the noise. Kasey hurled the horseshoe. It flew across the room like a Frisbee. She dove behind the couch and crouched low to the floor.
Jeremy turned just as the horseshoe made contact with his face. He yowled, and a string of expletives followed.
Kasey peered over the couch. Blood dripped down his arms. She must’ve hit him square in the nose. Even with his hands to his face, there was a lot of blood already.
Jeremy stumbled toward her, and the gun went off again.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Jeremy spun to face Scott.
Blood gushed from his nose and mouth, but the gun remained steady in his grip.
“Drop the gun.” Scott said as he stepped closer. He reached up and keyed the mic at his collar. “This is Calvin. I need EMTs on the scene, and backup.”
Jeremy wavered. He looked over his shoulder at Kasey. She saw the confusion on his face. The darkness in his eyes. He swallowed and turned back to Scott.
Her heart pounded in her throat. “No, Jeremy. Drop it.” Her feet wouldn’t move. She sank back against the wall, her mouth and eyes wide. “Don’t do it.”
Jeremy spun her way.
“No!” Kasey held her hands out defensively. “Please. Listen to me.”
The gun dropped to the floor.
Jeremy ran his sleeve across his face. Blood stained his skin and clothes, and droplets splattered on the floor.
“Kick it my way,” Scott said.
Jeremy kicked his foot forward, but the blood from his sleeve impaired his vision and he missed, staggering backwards.
Scott scooped up the gun, then restrained Jeremy with his handcuffs. He Mirandized him, then jerked him tight against him. Scott’s jaw pulsed. “Is Jake still in Tappahannock?”
Jeremy nodded and hung his head.
“He’d better be safe. Don’t make me regret not killing you while I have the chance.” He shoved Jeremy into a kitchen chair.
Kasey clung to the doorjamb. “He’s going to bleed to death.”
“If he’s lucky.” Scott went to the sink, pumped anti-bacterial cleanser into his hands and washed the blood from them.
Two EMT’s rushed into the house. Scott motioned them to Jeremy and they started tending to his injuries.
Scott walked over to Kasey as he dried his hands. “Are you okay?”
She lunged into his arms. “I was so scared.”
He kissed the top of her head. “Scared the hell out of me, too.”
“Thank goodness you showed up when you did.”
“You were doing pretty well without me.”
“Thank God for Turtle Mike.”
“You must’ve been sandbagging the day we played horseshoes here.”
“Lucky shot.” She laid her head against his chest.
The EMTs cleaned the gash on Jeremy’s face. His nose was broken. They moved him to a gurney and fastened a strap across his body. Two officers showed up just as the EMTs rolled the gurney toward the door. Scott updated the officers with all the details. “Get him out of here.” Scott’s directive set the officers in motion.
He moved to Kasey’s side, tipped her chin and looked her in the eyes. He cleared his throat. “That’s what I was going to tell you earlier. About Jeremy.”
“Where’s Jake?”
“I tried to tell you,” said Jeremy through the gauze. “Jake’s safe.”
“I’ve been in a living hell for months.” She hurled the words like stones.
Scott put his hand on her arm. “I’ll be able to prove Jeremy killed Nick with the slug he fired in here. I’m sure it’ll match those we found at the scene. We have Libby Braddock at the station. She’s Jeremy’s sister.”
“His sister?” Her breathing grew louder. “No, Jeremy. How could you?” She lunged past the EMT and pounded Jeremy’s chest with her fists. “How did—”
“Whoa, whoa!” Scott grabbed her around the waist. “He’ll get his punishment, don’t you worry.”
Her feet kicked at nothing. “Why?” she screamed.
“It was an accident.” Jeremy choked out the words.
“An accident? He was in his truck, for God’s sake.”
His gaze locked on hers, intense, desperate. “I meant to scare him. He was going to move you away. I couldn’t lose you.”
“Lose me? What the hell are you talking about?”
“I didn’t want you to move here.”
“You knew?” She pounded the air. “You knew about the house. You lied. And Jake? What about Jake?”
Jeremy turned his head. “I’m sorry. I saved him, but then I didn’t know what to do.”
“All this time? Where is he? Tell me, you bastard.”
Scott turned her toward him. “Shhh. It’s over. We’re going to get Jake.”
Von opened the door, then held it wide as the medics wheeled Jeremy past.
Jeremy struggled against the restraints, shouting, “I tried to fix it.”
Von rushed to Kasey’s side. “Thank goodness you weren’t hurt. I was at the station waiting on Scott when the call came in. You’re okay, right?”
She nodded, then her cell phone rang.
“That’s mine,” she said.
“I’ll answer it.” Von grabbed the ringing phone from the counter. “Hello. Kasey Phillips's cell.”
He listened and nodded. “So let me get this straight. You’re in the air, headed for the Greensville-Emporia airport...Here?”
Cody’s deep voice reverberated from the phone and across the room. Kasey could almost make out his words.
“I’m putting you on speaker.” Von punched the speakerphone button on the cell and laid it on the counter. He leaned over the phone. “This couldn’t be better timing. Where are you exactly? We just got a lead on Jake. I think you can help.”
“Hang on. Let me check with the pilot,” Cody said, then his voice became muffled.
“The pilot says we’re like forty miles from the airport. We can change course. Where do you need us to go?”
“Tappahannock Airport. I don’t know the code. I can get it, though.”
Cody talked to the pilot and came back on the line. “He’s already got it dialed in from the navigation system. We’re on our way.”
Kasey looked confused. “What’s going on?”
Scott put his arm around her and hugged her close. “Jake’s coming home.”
She clung to Scott’s arm.
Von continued: “Cody, the police in Tappahannock are supposed to be picking up Jake right about now. I’m waiting on confirmation. I’ll let them know to meet you at the airport and release him to you. Can I call you back on this number?”
“Yeah. It should work, but if I don’t hear from you I’ll call back.”
“I’ll update you with information and timing as I get it.”
“You got it,” Cody said.
Von ended the call and handed the phone to Kasey. “We better go back to the station. We’re going to have to fax a release form.”
“Jake’s really coming home this time? I’m almost afraid to believe it.”
“Come on.” Scott guided Kasey to the car. She was unsteady, so he swept her up and carried her. He pulled out onto the street with Von right behind him.
* * * *
Von called home as he drove. “Hey, baby.”
“What’s going on? Did something happen?” Riley asked.
I’ll fill you in on everything when you get here, but the bottom line is Jake’s coming home.”
“Tonight? Von, this is amazing.”
“Yep. Cody Tuggle called from his plane. He was on his way to see Kasey. They’ve rerouted. Now he’s flying to Tappahannock to bring Jake home. We’re going to meet them at the Greensville-Emporia airport.”
“Not the little airport on the way to Kasey’s new place?”
“That’s the one.”
“I didn’t know planes actually landed there. I’m heading that way.”
“I knew you would. I love you, Riley. Drive careful. I can’t take any more excitement today.”
“I will. I promise.”
Von ended the call, then redialed the Tappahannock police to coordinate the transfer at the airport and confirm what forms needed to be filed to make it all happen.
Von and Scott pulled into the station at the same time. Von’s cell phone rang as they walked inside.
He swept the phone from his hip to his ear, nodding and yessing. “Great...Yes...I’m going to dial you back from a landline.”
Von grabbed Kasey’s hand. “The Tappahannock police are at the address. They�
��re going in.” Von ended the call and turned his attention to Scott. “You got a speakerphone in your office?”
“Come on.” Scott led the way. He spun the desk phone around. Von dialed the number. The phone on the other end rang once. “Hankins.”
“It’s Perry Von. I’ve got Sheriff Scott Calvin and Jake’s mother, Kasey Phillips, on speakerphone.”
Kasey hung on to Scott’s forearm and Von’s shoulder as they all leaned over the phone, waiting.
“Stand by,” Hankins said. Radio communications and the muffled sounds of movement came from the other end of the line before Hankins came back on the line. “We’ve got the boy.”
Kasey collapsed, sobbing.
“Is he okay?” Von asked.
“He looks fine.” Hankins's voice relaxed. “We’ll head to the airport. Get those papers faxed over to us in the meantime.”
“Already in the works,” Von confirmed. Scott gave him a nod.
“I’ll call you when we get to the airport,” Hankins said.
Kasey hugged Scott, then turned and hugged Von.
Scott and Von high-fived over her head.
A young clerk stepped into the doorway of Scott’s office. “Pardon me,” she said, holding up the fax. “They said these were urgent.”
“Excellent.” Scott snatched the papers and filled out the form, then turned to Kasey. “I need you to sign right here.”
She signed the paper, not that the scribble looked anything like her signature. Her hands trembled so much she could barely hold the pen.
Scott handed the papers back to the clerk. “Fax these back right now.”
“I’m on it, sir.” The clerk rushed out of the room.
Von picked up the handset and dialed Cody’s number. “I just got off the phone with the police. They have Jake. He’s fine.”
“Hallelujah,” Cody shouted. “Yeah! Let me see how long we have before we land.”
While Von waited, the clerk came back in and handed Scott a note. Scott read it and handed it to Von.
Von nodded. “Hey, Cody. I need the tail numbers on the plane for our paperwork.” Von scribbled some numbers on a pad of paper. “About fifteen more minutes before you land in Tappahannock? The police will be there waiting for you. They’ll release Jake to you.”