The Accidental Audience
Page 15
“You know, of course, you’re not going to walk out of here . . .” Colbie thought she saw a flicker of regret cross his face, but after a moment she recognized she was mistaken.
Remington started to cry as she realized her fate.
As Colbie stared down the barrel of Sarge’s gun, a shadow moved behind him.
“Neither are you . . .” barked an unfamiliar voice. Two rapid fire shotgun blasts from a sawed off twelve gauge ripped into the backs of Alvin and Rifkin, blowing gaping holes into their crumpling bodies.
Colbie hit the floor, grabbing Brian’s chair so he would topple with her. “Get down!” she screamed as Remington stood like a deer in the headlights.
Colbie lifted her head to get a good look at the silhouetted shadow standing in the doorway. The crazy woman with the dog!
“Get up—I ain’t gonna hurt you, she promised, lowering the shotgun to her side.
Colbie got to her knees, eyes trained on the figure at the door. Still not certain, she clutched her weapon, but intuition told her the woman was on their side. Pooling blood and innards littered the floor, mingling with the disgusting remnants of feces and stale food. Remington’s face was spattered with bits of Alvin.
“Who are you . . .” Colbie had a good idea, but she still wasn’t sure why she showed up when she did.
“I live down the road—I seen the cars pulling into the driveway, and I knew somethin’ was up. I came through the back woods, and when I heard one of these guys . . .” She motioned to the bodies splayed on the floor. “I figured someone was in trouble. There ain’t been nothing but trouble since she started sniffing around.” The crazy woman pointed the shotgun at Remington who still knelt on the floor, uncertain of her fate. That old broad hated her guts, and if she could take out two cops with a shotgun, she sure as hell could wipe her out, too.
“He made me do it . . .” she confessed.
“I figured—you ain’t smart enough to think this up on your own.” Remington wasn’t certain if she should be offended by the woman’s comment.
Colbie got up, surveying the bloodbath and bodies before her. “She’s right—she didn’t know about any of this until today—none of this is her fault.” She looked at the woman, offering a silent thank you—if she hadn’t shown up when she did, things would have turned out differently.
“Alright, then.” The woman lowered the shotgun, and Colbie heard Remington’s relief.
“Please stay where you are—I have to report this.” Colbie turned to Brian, her face filled with apology.“Unfortunately, that goes for you, too—I’ll undo the cuffs and ties, but you have to sit there in order to preserve evidence. Can you do that? Can you hang in there until an ambulance arrives?”
Brian nodded. “I can do anything you need . . .”
Colbie took his head in her hands, placing a soft kiss on his forehead. “Not much longer, she whispered. Not much longer . . . “
Chapter 25
Colbie and Brian sat at their kitchen table much as they did the day he left for his hiking trip three months previous—only, this time, they were together. As one. No more burying their heads in textbooks, or anything else to distract them from the obvious.
They were meant to be together.
Thanks to a few days in the hospital, plus Colbie’s good cooking, Brian’s recovery was rapid. She took time off from school to care for him and, by the time the first day of summer rolled around, he was back to his old self. Of course, there would never be a way to erase what happened, but headlines were beginning to fade. For the first time in months, he felt as if his life were back on track—especially with Colbie.
After the events at the farmhouse, accusations swirled around the police department, giving rise to a full-blown investigation. Heads rolled, and several of Colbie’s previous compatriots were awaiting trial, their futures to be decided months down the road when they would once again be headline material. Yet, with those individuals gone, the precinct somehow managed to right itself, once again striving for respect from its community.
The real victim was not only Brian, but Nicole Remington, as well. Colbie surmised she would probably never be the same after her last five years under the thumb of Alvin MacGregor. As they left the farmhouse that day, it was clear Remington’s life changed—forever shattered by greed. Colbie was true to her word, helping her as much as she could by attesting to Remington’s willingness to help in Colbie’s investigation. Immunity? Maybe, but doubtful. She knew it, and Remington knew it. Chances were good, though, her punishment would amount to little more than a slap on the wrist.
A forceful knock at the back door interrupted their conversation, as Ryan poked his head in.
“Anybody home?”
“Hey! C’mon in! Coffee?” Colbie jumped up to grab an extra cup.
“Of course—got any donuts?”
“Donuts? No—how about some toast?”
“I’ll take it!” Ryan pulled up an extra chair to the small table. “So—I have news . . .”
Brian knew his friend well—for him to make a special trip to announce something, it had to be big. “What kind of news?”
“Well—I got a job offer on the East Coast, and I accepted.”
Colbie froze, mid-pour.
“Nice! What’s the job?” As his best friend, Brian noticed something was missing as Ryan launched into the particulars of his new position.
“. . . so, all in all, I think it will be good for me!” Ryan paused, searching Colbie’s face for reaction.” “What do you think?”
“What do I think? Well, of course we’ll miss you, but if you’re excited about it, then we’re excited about it!”
Brian enthusiastically agreed with her, clapping his friend on the shoulder on his way out of the room. “I’ll be right back . . .”
Colbie handed Ryan his coffee, then leaned against the counter, waiting for the toast to pop up.
“Really, Ryan? The East Coast? Why?”
“I have my reasons . . .”
She peered at him from over her cup, searching his face for an answer.
“Hey, you know—can I take a rain check on the toast? I just remembered something I have to do . . .” Ryan grabbed his jacket from the hook by the door, lingering so close he could smell the slight fragrance of perfume.
She couldn’t look at him. “When do you leave?”
Ryan cupped her face in his hands. “Tomorrow,” he whispered. “I leave tomorrow . . .”
Then, he was gone.
BOOKS BY FAITH WOOD
the Accidental Audience
a Colbie Colleen Cozy, Suspense Mystery
Chasing Rhinos
a Colbie Colleen Cozy, Suspense Mystery
Apology Accepted
a Colbie Colleen Cozy, Suspense Mystery
Whiskey Snow
a Colbie Colleen Cozy, Suspense Mystery
Chill of Deception
a Colbie Colleen Cozy, Suspense Mystery
Launching in Spring, 2019!!!
At the Intersection of Blood & Money
a Colbie Colleen Cozy, Suspense Mystery
About the Author
Faith Wood is a Behaviorist, Certified Professional Speaker, Hypnotist, and Handwriting Analyst. Her interest in Behavior Psychology blossomed during her law enforcement career when it occurred to her if she knew what people really wanted, as well as motives behind their actions, she would be more effective in work and life. So, she hung up her cuffs, trading them in for traveling the world speaking to audiences to help them better understand human behaviors, and how they impact others. Wood speaks about how to tap into the area of the brain that controls actions which, in turn, have a tendency to adjust perceptions, thereby launching a more empowered life.
A mother of four, she lives with her husband in British Columbia, Canada.
PROFESSIONAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
CHRYSALIS PUBLISHING AUTHOR SERVICES
EDITOR: L.A. O’Neil
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COVER ART DESIGN
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