Stephanie laughed, the slightly hysterical cackle of a person losing their last shred of sanity. “I stole three million dollars from CalderCo, and I left a digital trail that leads to you. It’s a great story I’ve built over the past thirty months, and you even have that sister in a coma and a drawer full of medical bills. You pay your bills late, and you’ve had your heat shut off twice. You’re perfect, Autumn. I’ve done this for years, to so many people who lived on the fringes of society. Really, I’m doing you a favor.”
“By setting me up to take the fall for embezzling?”
With a dramatic roll of the eyes, Stephanie huffed. “You’re not going to prison, silly. You’re so distraught over what you’ve done that you’re going to kill yourself.” She extracted a pair of latex gloves from her pocket and put them on. Then she lifted a plastic bag from her purse.
Through the clear, thin container, Autumn recognized a prescription bottle.
Stephanie opened the bag, took out the bottle, and set it on the table next to the brownies. “Take them.”
Autumn waved toward the gun. “Or you’ll shoot me? Go for it. I’m not going to kill myself.” And Dean was outside. He’d be here in a heartbeat, and Stephanie wasn’t going to win against a trained mercenary.
“Yes, you will. I wanted to wait a bit, draw this out. I do so love watching the downward spiral of an innocent woman in a hopeless position. The trial would have been spectacularly boring, but I would have gone just to see you beaten down. Then, when you were at your lowest point, I’d step in, and you’d gladly take the out I’m offering. Sometimes I don’t even have to suggest it. Some of my victims beg for a way to end their suffering.” Stephanie warmed to her topic.
“You’ve done this before—set up people to take the blame for money you stole?”
“It’s who I am.” Stephanie’s smile turned dreamy, and then it abruptly vanished. “It was not in the deal for you to get a life. Nobody was supposed to care if you lived or died. So you have to die now.”
“No.” Autumn had no problem refusing to do this. She set her jaw and crossed her arms over her chest.
Stephanie sighed. “I was afraid of this, so I’ll give you a choice. You’ll take the pills, and I’ll let you write a quick will to ensure your sister is taken care of. Otherwise, I’m going to kill her. I have a partner, you see, and he’s waiting outside Summer’s room at Sunshine Acres with a syringe full of wonderful stuff. It’ll stop her heart. One word from me, and she’s only a memory. Your choice.”
Autumn had been raised by a man who taught her the tricks of a good bluff. “I don’t believe you.”
Stephanie slid her cell phone from her pocket and activated voice commands. “Call Dearest.” Several seconds passed, and Stephanie said, “Hello, Dearest. Autumn requires proof.” She tossed the phone to Autumn.
“Who is this?”
He chuckled. “Summer Sullivan is a pretty girl. It says on her chart that she woke up today for seven minutes. Such a pity. Do you think she’ll wake up if I check to see if her pussy still works?”
Disgusted and afraid, Autumn handed the phone back to Stephanie.
The evil woman said, “Thanks, Dearest. I’ll call soon with an update.”
If she didn’t take the pills, then Summer would die, and who knew what else that horrible man might do to her first? Her sister couldn’t fight back, but Autumn could buy some time. “Two letters.”
“Two letters?” Stephanie sneered. “Like F and U?”
Autumn wouldn’t give this woman the satisfaction of thinking she’d broken her. “Those, I’m sure, work for you. I was talking about letters, as in messages you write on paper addressed to a particular person. It’s not rocket science.”
Stephanie went to the kitchen and grabbed two envelopes from the unpaid bills drawer. She threw those and a pen to Autumn. “You don’t have paper. Write on the back of those.”
Taking out the papers inside, she looked for one with a blank backside. “I see you’ve been through my things.”
“I have. You’re quite pathetic. You have nothing of value, and the only keepsakes you have are in that shoebox.”
It wasn’t true, but she did keep everything hidden. The shoebox of pictures spent most of the time hidden. She’d only brought them out recently, a fact that Stephanie seemed to have overlooked.
The first letter went to Julianne.
Dear Julianne, I’m sorry to leave you like this. You’re a wonderful friend. Thank you for being there for me for the past two-and-a-half years. Take care of Summer. Love, Autumn
The second went to David,
Dearest David, Our time together has been the best of my life. I could not imagine a smoother relationship—not one single disagreement on anything, not even when I threw up on your shoes. That bout of food poisoning sucked charcoal.
“Put a confession in there, or Dearest is going to get another call.”
I cannot imagine your shock when you find out that I stole three million dollars from CalderCo—and after you came all this way to make it more efficient. I cannot live with myself for committing this horrible crime against your beloved employer. The weight of my guilty conscience is too much to bear. I wish you well in your future endeavors. Please remember me fondly. Love, Autumn
Stephanie snatched the letters away and read them over.
“Anything else?” She hoped to hell that David understood the small clues she’d tried to leave.
“Remember me fondly?” Stephanie snorted.
“I’ve known him for two weeks. It’s not like we were engaged.” Autumn injected maximum derision into her tone. “Would you like me to get all gushy and declare my undying love? Because he won’t buy that load of crap.”
“Fine.” Stephanie motioned to the pills. “Take them.”
Autumn poured the small pills into her palm. “What are they?”
“Prescription sleeping pills. You’ll go to sleep and never wake up.”
Drawing on the depths of her reserves, she put the entire pile into her mouth and chased them with the glass of water she’d meant for Stephanie to have. The reality of her actions hit her, and she didn’t have the strength to speak.
“Lay down on the sofa. Cover yourself up. It was nice of you to get the blanket. You’ll look so peaceful.”
Autumn wrapped herself in the comforting cocoon.
“It won’t take long.” Stephanie’s voice had taken on an awestruck quality. “Thank you for this. It’s been so fun, and this part is always the most fulfilling.”
She fought it for as long as she could, but eventually her consciousness faded. Save me, Sir.
Chapter Nineteen
“This day is never going to end.” David yawned again, and the yellow barrage of headlights in the opposite lanes blurred.
Jesse drove east along I-94 to where David’s apartment waited. “Maybe you should call Autumn and tell her that you’ll see her in the morning? I bet she’s already asleep.”
“Probably, but I’ll wake her up.”
Their trip had been moderately successful. Through Jesse’s skillful handling of Marlene, they’d hacked into the bank’s secure network remotely. The accounts they needed were easy enough to find, but no names were attached. That’s how a shady bank did business—with numbers instead of names. The fucking bank didn’t even know who their clients were.
Still, they’d come away with IP addresses for where the deposits and withdrawals had originated and an account history going back almost twenty years. This wasn’t the first time this person—or persons—had run this scheme. As far as long cons went, this one had served this criminal pretty well for a surprising length of time.
They’d found enough to cast serious doubt on Autumn’s guilt, but not enough to exonerate her. It was progress.
They covered most of the distance in silence. Jesse stopped by Dean’s car, which was parked in the lot of a building adjacent to her apartment complex. Dean got out of the car and stretched his long legs.
>
“How was the trip?”
“Productive. Jesse will fill you in. How’s Autumn?”
Dean yawned. “She’s fine. I followed her to Sunshine Acres. She parked so I could watch her car and her, which was thoughtful. Then she came home. There were flowers at her door. I sent a text asking who they were from, and she said the accounting department sent them. I thought perhaps you might have, but far be it for you to think of sending flowers to your girlfriend who just got out of jail.”
David glared. The thought had occurred to him. “I couldn’t get a cell signal until we landed. It was annoying as hell.”
Jesse coughed into his fist, but it sounded like, “Excuses.”
Dean chuckled. “She talked on the phone, then a friend came over, and she pulled the shade, so I don’t know what happened next. Girl talk, I guess. Her friend stayed for about a half hour, and it’s been quiet since then. I told her that you’d be in late tonight.”
That’s the part he really wanted to know. “Does she blame me?”
“I don’t know. I told her that it was a mistake, that your father jumped the gun and you were furious, but she told me not to justify your actions. I said that you’d explain everything when you got back.” Dean stretched again. He handed his keys to David. “I’m going with Jesse. It’s your turn to watch your woman.”
“Thanks, man. I appreciate you watching out for her.” They exchanged a very manly hug, and then he slapped Jesse’s shoulder. “See you tomorrow.”
Fatigue dropped away, and he almost ran to her door. He knocked and waited, but she didn’t answer, so he knocked again. Nothing. Though it was very late, he pounded on the metal door. He’d left his key at home, and she wasn’t answering. Punching the speed dial code for Dean into his phone, David growled. “She’s not answering. I need the key.”
Dean chuckled. “Pick the lock.”
“That’ll take too long. I could kick it in faster.”
Jesse took the phone. “Get a huge radio and stand under her window blasting In Your Eyes. Serenade her with some Burt Bacharach—Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” Laughter came through the phone as he warmed to his taunts. “Pound on the door even more and tell her that you can’t quit her. Ask her to rescue you right back.”
“You’ve seen too many romantic comedies.” David snorted. “First you go on and on about love at first sight, and now you’re flinging ideas for romantic gestures from movies at me. What the hell is wrong with you? Just turn around and give me the fucking key.”
“Here it is.”
David spun around to find Dean standing there, smirking hard as he tried not to lose it.
“You’re an ass.”
Dean held up the key. “I’m an ass with a key to the door separating you from Autumn.”
David snatched it and unlocked the door, but when he went for the deadbolt, he found it already open. Shooting Dean a frown was all it took for his buddy to lose the mirth. David pushed the door open. A lone bulb from the kitchen lent enough light for him to see Autumn on the sofa. In three strides, he closed the distance. “Autumn?”
She didn’t move.
He shook her shoulder. “Sugar? I know you’re tired. You probably haven’t had a good night’s sleep all weekend, but wake up.”
She didn’t stir.
He pulled back the covers, and the hand tangled in them fell limply to her stomach. He shook her harder. “Autumn? Wake up.”
Now he started to panic. He put his ear to her chest. Her heart beat was faint, so he felt for a pulse. The light came on, and he felt Dean behind him. “Suicide notes. David—she wrote one for you.”
“Her pulse is thready, but she’s breathing and her heart is beating.” He slapped her cheeks to rouse her. “Sugar, what did you take?”
“David, the note is weird. She says you guys never fought, and she mentions throwing up on your shoe and charcoal. Did she throw up on you?”
“No.” He slapped her harder and shouted. “Sugar, come on—wake up.”
Jesse rushed in. “What’s going on?”
“Autumn took something,” Dean said. “Can you make her throw up?”
He lifted her. Jesse helped, and together they sat her up. David shoved his fingers down her throat, all the time feeling like his heart was lodged in his. She gagged, but nothing came up.
Jesse picked something off her cheek. “I think she tried to spit them out.”
David swept his finger around her mouth and came up with fifteen or twenty unswallowed pills. They were tiny, and he recognized a popular anti-anxiety medication. “She tongued them. Who was here, Dean? Someone did this to her.”
“Charcoal.” Dean repeated the word several times. “She needs her stomach pumped. I’ll call an ambulance.”
Lifting her in his arms, David headed for the door. “We can get there faster. Let’s go.”
Jesse drove like a madman, and Dean helped navigate from the passenger seat. David sat in the back with Autumn draped across his lap. He kept slapping her cheeks and calling her name. As they screeched to a halt at the hospital’s emergency entrance, her eyes fluttered open, but her glassy-eyed stare saw nothing. Dean ripped the door open, took Autumn, and ran through the automated doors. David followed, shouting orders to the nurses. People responded to his authoritative tone and rushed to help.
“Pump her stomach. She took sleeping pills or anti-anxiety meds.” He fished the leftovers from his pocket and thrust them at the nurse. “I don’t know how many, but this is what she didn’t swallow.”
He tried to follow the gurney as they wheeled it back, but a burly orderly put a hand to his chest. “Sir, you have to stay out here. Let them work. The nurse has some questions, and there’s always paperwork.”
Before David could take a swing at a man who dared suggest he calm down and fill out forms while the life of the woman he loved hung by a thread, Dean stepped between them. “Where is the waiting room?”
Jesse came through the sliding doors next. “I called Jordan. A team from the FBI is on the way.” He turned to the orderly. “They need to keep everything—it’s evidence. Bag it. Go. Tell them.”
Mentioning the FBI impressed the orderly. He pointed toward the sign indicating the location of the waiting room, and he took off down the hall.
“Her apartment is a crime scene. I closed the door, but I didn’t lock it. A team will be there soon to process it.”
Lights. Bright lights blinding her, hurting her head. “Come on, Autumn. Open your eyes. That’s it. Keep them open. We need you to stay awake.”
She blinked, trying to clear the cobwebs. Her throat felt like it was on fire. “David.” It was the only word that made sense, but it came out slurred and unrecognizable.
“That’s it, Autumn. Good girl. We pumped your stomach, but whatever got into your bloodstream will need to work its way through.” The person speaking came into focus. He wore a white lab coat and colorful scrubs, and he supported her back, forcing her to lean forward. A woman who seemed to be a nurse stood nearby.
“David.” She tried again, calling for the one person she needed. His voice came from a distance, raised with ire and authority. She perked up and tried reaching toward the sound, but her arm only twitched.
“That’s it. You’re doing well.” The man rubbed her back, and she sincerely wished he’d stop.
She wiggled, trying to get away, but she was too weak. It felt like struggling through quicksand.
“That’s it, Autumn. Fight it.” The nurse dabbed a tissue around Autumn’s mouth.
David appeared in the open doorway, and she lunged for him. The man in the white coat stopped her from moving.
“Sir, you can’t be here. It’s family only.”
Summoning all her strength, Autumn lifted one arm and uttered a plea. “David.”
“Sugar, you scared the shit out of me.” He came to her, and he took her in his arms. She melted into him, sagging with relief. He’d saved her. He’d been there when she needed him most. He cr
adled her head in his palm, leaning her back to kiss her forehead. “I’m going to find who did this, and they’re going to pay.”
The man in the white coat regarded David warily. “You’re her husband?”
David didn’t look up. “Two FBI agents are waiting for you to give a statement, Doctor Perditis. They’re in the hall.”
“Summer.” She ignored the pain in her throat. She needed to know if Summer was okay.
He searched her eyes. “They threatened Summer?”
Tears made his face blur. She nodded.
“That explains why you’d do this. I’ll have Jesse and Dean check on her.”
As he said their names, Jesse and Dean came into the room. Jesse waved, but Dean looked like someone had run over a puppy and forced him to watch. “I’m so sorry, Autumn. I let you down.”
She shook her head, and the tears that had been welling in her eyes spilled over. There was nothing he could have done.
The doctor gave up trying to evict her three badass mercenary visitors. He wouldn’t know they were security specialists, but one look at David, Dean, and Jesse, and most people didn’t argue. Except Autumn—she’d argue with anybody. “MarySue, start a saline IV. Mr. Sullivan, your ‘brothers’ can stay for a few more minutes, but that’s all. I’ll be back with the test results to talk about next steps.” After flashing a polite smile, he left the room. The nurse followed, but she returned in seconds with materials for an IV. Someone must have been waiting in the hall with them.
David rubbed her back, and it didn’t annoy her like when the doctor had done the same thing. “You can make up for it by making sure Summer is safe. She needs a bodyguard.”
Dean nodded. He took her from David and crushed her with a hug. “I’ll call first to warn them.” He turned to leave, but Autumn snagged his shirt. She was weak as hell, and it took a supreme effort, but Summer was worth it. He stopped. “What do you need, Sugar?”
“Hey—only I get to call her that.”
Dean ignored David’s menacing growl. He waited for Autumn to speak.
“Here.” She pointed to the name of the hospital. “Doctor took her for tests. She…She woke up.”
Re/Leased (Doms of the FBI Book 5) Page 27