by T. L. Haddix
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, really. Just looking for Ethan.”
“Oh, he went over to the guest house with the brothers and the hottie,” she said, meaning Gordon. “They’ve probably been gone about ten minutes or so.”
Thanking her sister, Beth headed to the guest house, not stopping to talk to anyone on the way. She reached the door and knocked twice before going inside, and as she stepped into the house, the conversation ground to a halt. She was met by four male stares, with various levels of guilt in each gaze. Raising an eyebrow, she spoke.
“What’s going on, guys?” They all exchanged looks, each man waiting for the others to speak. Her smile faded, and she looked at Ethan. “What’s going on?”
Jason cleared his throat and nodded toward the door. Chase and Gordon followed his lead, and the three filed past Beth. “We’ll wait out here,” Jason told her as he closed the door behind him.
Ethan, who was sitting on the couch, patted the seat beside him. “Come sit down. We need to talk.”
Worried, she hurried over and sat next to him. “What’s wrong?” He pulled her close and gave her a hug. “Ethan, you’re scaring me.”
“I’m sorry.” He kept his arm around her. “Wyatt called a little while ago. There was a problem at the jail. That’s why he isn’t here.”
Hearing the odd note in his voice, she moved back to look at him. “What kind of a problem?”
“A problem with Ruby. She’s dead, Beth.”
For a full minute she just stared at him, her mouth open with shock. “What? How?”
“Apparently someone snitched on her, and they did a search of her cell. They found some syringes filled with bleach, and a letter. From what it said, she intended to use the syringes at her sentencing on Wednesday. Anyhow, while they had her in solitary, she somehow managed to get hold of a piece of metal and she swallowed it. By the time the guards got to her, she was gone.”
She sat back against the couch, stunned. It was hard to take in, after everything else that had happened. “What was she planning on doing with the syringes?”
He scooted forward and leaned his arms on his knees. “According to the letter, she had made arrangements with someone in the jail to get loose during her sentencing and go after you. She was going to use one of the syringes to kill you.”
“I see.” Beth head reeled as though she had been punched.
“Jason was just telling us about it when you came in. I’m sorry, Beth.” He sat on the edge of the couch, shoulders hunched. “Is it ever going to end? The collateral damage, as you called it?”
She reached out and put her arms around her husband carefully, mindful of his healing wounds. Resting her head on his shoulder, she tugged until he returned the embrace. There was a knock on the door, and Ethan tried to move away, but she wouldn’t let him. Jason poked his head in.
“Mind if we come back in?” He didn’t wait for their response. As the three men came into the house, Ethan straightened, and Jason studied him with a shrewd look.
“I didn’t get a chance to finish telling you what Wyatt said, and you’re probably blaming yourself for this crap, aren’t you?”
Ethan shrugged and tightened his arm around Beth. Jason sat down in a chair across from them.
“Well, stop feeling guilty, because none of this was your fault. None of it. Ruby confessed to everything in her letter. Back about two years ago, she’d been coming on to me and I turned her down flat. Something about her just turned me off. Anyhow, she took it very, very personally, and when she and Ormsby got started on their scheme, she saw the perfect way of getting back at me.” He stopped as a dull flush spread across his cheeks.
“You aren’t trying to say that all this hell we’ve endured has been because you wouldn’t date Ruby, are you?” Beth asked, incredulous.
“I’m afraid so.” Jason was clearly shaken by what he had learned. “She figured the best way to get back at me was to destroy my family and my friendship with Ethan. That’s why she went after you,” he told Ethan. “She saw you as a tool to use against all of us, that’s all. I’m sorry.”
“Oh, Jason.” Beth felt her heart twist at the guilt that was showing on her brother’s face.
They were all watching Ethan, who had gone pale. “My God. All that pain and hurt, it was because one woman couldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer? It’s almost incomprehensible.”
“Tell me about it,” Chase said. He reached over and put his hand on Ethan’s shoulder for a minute, then stood. Jason and Gordon followed suit.
“We’ll cover for you back at the house. Take all the time you need, okay?” Chase asked.
Beth thanked him as they left. She turned to Ethan. “Are you okay? You’re awfully quiet.”
“It’s a shock, in more ways than one. She was going to try to kill you. I’m having a hard time with that. Add in the fact that she did all this because of some stupid infatuation with Jason, that I didn’t have anything to do with it? That she just used me to get to you all? After I’ve blamed myself for things for all these months, and some of it really wasn’t my fault… I don’t know what to think.”
She pushed him back on the couch and eased into his lap, mindful of his wounds, but needing to be as close to him as she could. He wrapped his arms around her, apparently feeling the same need.
He swallowed. “It’s almost like I’ve been granted absolution. But it’s at Jason’s expense. I can’t enjoy it, knowing he’s hurting.”
“I know. I also know Jason, and he’ll be okay. Right now I’m more concerned about you.”
Ethan tightened his arms and rubbed his cheek on hers. He nuzzled her mouth and they shared a soft, emotional kiss.
“I’m okay. Frankly, I think she got what she deserved. I suppose I’ll pay for that disregard, but right now I just don’t care.”
As they sat there holding each other, Beth realized how lucky they had gotten, in so many ways. In the end, all that really mattered was that she was free to be with Ethan, and he was free to be with her. She told him as much.
“We’ll work through this. We’ll get through it, and be stronger for it.”
When he closed his eyes and mouthed a silent prayer of thanks, Beth knew he felt the same way. “Let’s go celebrate our marriage. It’s time to look forward instead of back.”
~ * * * ~
Outside the guest house, Jason had parted ways from Gordon and Chase. “I think I’ll go find Hannah,” he had told the others. They watched him go without speaking, and once Jason was out of earshot, Chase turned to Gordon.
“What is it you aren’t saying? You’ve been in a strange mood all day. Is it because Beth and Ethan are married?”
“No, I’m glad they managed to get past the obstacles,” Gordon said with a fleeting smile. “Let’s walk.”
They set off toward the barn. He could tell Chase was bristling to push him, but the younger man waited, aware that Gordon would tell him what was on his mind in due time. As they approached the barn, he stopped and turned to face his friend.
“There isn’t any easy way to say this, so I’ll just tell you. There’s another serial killer working the Midwest. Has been for a few years now.”
Chase frowned. “Okay, that’s horrible, but why are you telling me?”
“Because whoever it is? We’re pretty damned sure it’s the same person who killed Kiely.”
Cursing, Chase stared at his friend. “You’re sure?”
Gordon nodded. “I’m sorry.”
“So what does that mean? What now?”
“Now? Now we find the son of a bitch and nail him to the wall.”
“And how hard is that going to be?” Chase asked, bitterness clouding his tone.
“It won’t be easy,” Gordon confirmed. “And there’s no guarantee that if we work our hardest, we’ll ever find him.”
He watched as Chase turned away, his face pale. “I’m never going to be free of her, am I?”
Clapping him on the
shoulder, Gordon didn’t speak. That was a question he couldn’t answer, but he very much feared his friend was right.
Other books by T. L. Haddix
Secrets in the Shadows
Shadows from the Grave
Hidden in the Shadows
Acknowledgments
So many people helped with this book, I don’t really know where to start. Glendon, of course, my sweet and talented husband, who shows the patience of a saint on a very regular basis.
Craig Hansen – who has formatted this so many times he could probably do it in his sleep.
Allison and Todd Brewer - again, the information you provided was invaluable, and the support and enthusiasm was just as important.
Raul Salas, for answering a plethora of questions about your life. You may not see direct references in this book, but they are there, believe me.
Amy Branham, for giving me insight into the life of a small-town paper.
Kelley Curran, who managed to fight real life off long enough to steer me in the right direction. Thank you!
All my beta readers - Glendon, Jesse, Laurel, Christine, and Michelle.
Ann and Jerry at the Possum - thanks for letting me use your store in this book. It’s as cool a place as Joely says it is.
Robert Karsner, for helping me figure out weaponry and logistics of a particular, pivotal scene.
An extra thanks to all my fans, who have given me feedback, constructive criticism and loads of support.
Another extra thanks to everyone at www.kindleboards.com. I dread to think how hard it would have been to struggle through this process without you.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Cast of Characters
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty One
Chapter Twenty Two
Chapter Twenty Three
Chapter Twenty Four
Chapter Twenty Five
Chapter Twenty Six
Chapter Twenty Seven
Chapter Twenty Eight
Chapter Twenty Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty One
Chapter Thirty Two
Chapter Thirty Three
Chapter Thirty Four
Chapter Thirty Five
Chapter Thirty Six
Chapter Thirty Seven
Chapter Thirty Eight
Chapter Thirty Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty One
Chapter Forty Two
Chapter Forty Three
Chapter Forty Four
Chapter Forty Five
Chapter Forty Six
Chapter Forty Seven