Sins of the Past

by Dee Henderson

  “Well, I’m not so dumb as to use my home number.”

  He focused on her words even as his gaze roamed the shore. Where was Lilly? Was she really hurt like Trish said? Was she dead? Desperation tore at him. He had to get her help if there was any chance she was hurt and still alive. He looked at his phone. It was still on. Thank God for LifeProof’s waterproof cases. He pressed 911 and lifted the phone to his ear.

  “And then Tyler got out,” he said to Trish.

  “And he was going to go after Macey. I told him to. I told him to get rid of her.”

  “But he didn’t. He wanted her to remember, didn’t he?”

  “Yes! He was supposed to just kill her, but then I found out what he was doing. He was trying to scare her into remembering.”

  “So you decided to kill Tyler,” Chad said while the phone connected.

  “I was afraid she would remember and tell him where the stuff was before I could find it—or kill her.”

  “911, what’s your emergency?”

  “10-46, officer needs assistance.” He gave the address in a low voice. “Shooter is a white female, name is, uh . . .” He blinked. “Ah . . .” What was her name? “Trish . . .” He shook Macey and she groaned. Blinked. “What’s her name, Macey?”

  She closed her eyes.

  “Is it cold enough for you yet?” Trish called, her tone mocking.

  Chad forced his brain to work. “Benjamin,” he said, pulling the name from the recesses of his sluggish mind. “Patricia Benjamin.” He kept the phone on so the dispatcher could hear. To the woman still hidden in the trees, he shouted, “So you . . . um . . . just decided if you hadn’t found it after all these years, no one else would find it either.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Only—only—” What was he going to say? Man, he was cold. Oh, right. “Only there was one person who might remember what she did with it—and her memories were returning.”

  “Yes, I told you all that! You can come out of the water so I can shoot you, or you can just die a slow death from hypothermia. I’m not going anywhere.”

  Chad fought the effects of the cold. He had to keep Trish talking until help arrived—or get her to leave so he could get Macey out of the water, because she was fading fast. She was limp against him, her breathing slowing. He felt her pulse and found it steady but slow. His eyes drooped. He was so tired. He jerked. Opened his eyes.

  Sirens sounded in the distance. “Help is on the way, Trish,” he called. “I still have my phone. All we have to do is wait here for help.” Her heard the sluggishness in his own voice, had trouble getting the words past his lips.

  He heard a curse, saw the trees move, heard a rustle. Trish had run. That was fine. All he wanted was to get Macey and himself out of the water. He was very close to being sucked into the blackness hovering just on the edge of his consciousness. He headed for the shore, pulling Macey along with him.

  “No!” Trish shouted.

  He flinched. So she wasn’t gone yet. He moved back to the cover of the dock.

  More shots sounded. Kicked up the water. How many bullets could she have left? He shook Macey. She lifted her head and opened her eyes. “Fight, Macey.” He rubbed her cheeks and massaged the back of her neck. “I need you to stay awake.”

  “What? Too cold, Chad.”

  “I know. Trust me, I know.”

  He moved and three more bullets popped in his direction but didn’t come close. Trish was moving away and shooting blind. She was in a hurry now that the sirens were coming closer. He took a chance and moved again.

  Nothing.

  Taking a deep breath, he pulled Macey out of the water and stumbled onto the shore. He went to his knees, keeping his body between Macey’s and the direction of the bullets.

  But no more came his way.

  Either Trish had left or she’d run out of ammunition. He checked Macey’s pulse and found it steady but weak. She needed to warm up. Now.

  And he needed to get to Lilly. To make sure she was all right.

  He grasped Macey and pulled her close. Then he realized he still had a grip on his weapon. He shoved it into its holster and pulled the phone from his soggy pocket. He lifted it to his ear. “You still there?”

  “I’m here. Are you still alive?”

  “I think so.”

  “Officers should be there now.”

  “I heard them. Shooter’s on the run.” Now that he was out of the water, he was still almost frozen, but his adrenaline was rushing too. “Tell them to look for a white car. Four-door. Might be a Kia or a car that looks like it. But it’s white.”

  She clicked over to the officers and he knew she was giving them his information.

  Two officers cleared the trees and came onto the beach area, weapons drawn. “Police! Don’t move! Hands where we can see them!”

  Chad lifted his hands and they approached. “My badge is on my belt.” He almost didn’t have the energy to show them but managed to shove aside his soggy shirt.

  “Chad, that you?”

  “Mitchell. Yeah.” They lowered their weapons and hurried toward him. “She needs an ambulance.”

  Mitchell stared at his shoulder. “Looks like you could use one too.”

  Belt. Chad touched his badge then his buckle and looked back out at the dock. “I’ve still got one more thing to do.”

  “What?” Mitchell looked at his partner. “Get some blankets out of the car. We’ll get her warmed up best we can while we wait on the ambulance.”

  Chad shook his head. He knew he should still be cold, but right now he wasn’t feeling much. “You have a knife?”

  Mitchell nodded. “Swiss Army one. Will that work?”

  “That’ll work.” He took it from the officer. “I’ll be right back.” Chad gathered what strength he had left and forced his leaden legs to carry him back toward the water.

  “Hey, what are you doing?”

  “Trying to help a friend put her past to rest. Come get me if I go down and don’t come back up.”

  “Chad, you really shouldn’t . . .”

  “Yeah, I know I shouldn’t.”

  And then he was wading back into the water, pushing his way back out to the dock. He shivered only slightly and knew his body temperature was too low. He didn’t plan on this taking long. He opened the knife so the largest blade was out and ready.

  He might be wrong, but it was a chance he had to take. He sucked in a deep breath and went under.

  FIFTEEN

  Macey opened her eyes and pulled in a deep breath. Hospital odors hit her. She blinked again and sat up with a groan. The IV in the crook of her arm pinched, and she grimaced.

  “Hey, you okay?”

  She looked up. Chad. “Yes. I think so. What happened?”

  The question brought another round of déjà vu.

  He rubbed his chin. “They got her.”

  Memories intruded, and she breathed a sigh of relief that she didn’t have to struggle to find them. Then grief hit her. “Trish.”

  He nodded.

  “Why was she so determined that I not remember that night? What was it that was such a threat to her?”

  “I think I can answer those questions.”

  “Okay, but first I need water.” She pointed to the cup on the bedside table, and he handed it to her. After three long, blessed drags on the straw, she set it down. “Tell me.”

  “I found the bag of stuff from the safe.”

  “What? Where? How?”

  He gave her a faint smile. “It was caught on one of the posts of the dock. Or pier. Whatever that thing was. There were some jagged edges where the wood was rotting, and the strap was caught. I felt the buckle when I was looking for my phone.”

  “So you went back out and got it? Are you crazy?”

  “I’m sure there was some craziness involved, but yes, I went back out and got it.”

  “And?”

  “I took a good look at the contents.”

  She took another sip of
water. “I remember it being extremely heavy. What was in it?”

  “A twenty-five-pound gold bar worth just a little less than half a million dollars. Plus jewelry, about ten thousand in cash, and some personal papers.”

  “Oh my. Where did George Benjamin get the bar? I wouldn’t think those were just floating around—pun not intended—and available to purchase.”

  “No, not usually. But he got this one legitimately. He bought it at an auction about fifteen years ago, so it’s free and clear. The papers that came with it were in the bag, too.”

  She shook her head. “I can’t believe you found it.”

  “Well, with it being so heavy, it wouldn’t travel far even in severe storms that churned the water pretty good.”

  “And that was so important to Trish that she was willing to kill for it.” Macey sighed. “Unbelievable.”

  “Well, she had a bigger motive than that gold bar.”

  She frowned. “What?”

  “Those papers. And pictures.”

  “Pictures of what?”

  “Her with another man.”

  Macey’s brows rose. “Oh.”

  “Yeah. And then there was the prenup that she’d signed.”

  Macey rubbed her face. “A prenup? What did it say?”

  “That if it ever came out—even after George’s death—that Trish had been unfaithful, all of the assets would revert to one of his charities and she would forfeit everything. Including her very generous monthly allowance.”

  Macey’s jaw dropped. “Oh my. You know, Valerie said something about a monthly check.”

  “Yes. She knew her husband had put those papers and pictures in the safe, but she didn’t have the combination. Collin was eighteen when he was arrested for attempted burglary. His mugshot ended up in the paper, and Trish saw it. She simply did her research and bided her time. He was out on bail when she approached him and offered him the gold bar if he would steal the contents of the safe. All he had to do was give her the papers and the pictures. The gold was his.”

  “And there was no way he was going to turn down that much money.”

  “Absolutely not.”

  “And he talked his best friend, Tyler, into helping,” she said. “Probably told him they’d split the money on the sale of the gold.”

  “Most likely.” Chad smoothed his hand down her hair then twirled a stray curl around his finger. “You scared me.”

  “You scared me.” Tears gathered before she could stop them. “I thought I was going to lose you.” She sniffed. “How’s your shoulder?”

  “Stiff. It was a through and through. Didn’t even need surgery, just cleaning and a round of antibiotics and a few stitches. I was lucky.”

  “Or God was watching out for you.”

  He smiled. “Or that.”

  “Lilly!” Macey gasped. “I can’t believe I haven’t asked about her. Is she okay?”

  “She’s fine. Just a bad knock on the head. Apparently when Trish shot at her, it startled her and when she spun, she tripped and hit her head against the front of the car. Knocked herself out cold. Fortunately in her case. Trish thought she’d shot her and didn’t have to worry about her anymore.”

  “I’m so glad she’s all right.”

  “Yeah. Me too.”

  “What about your family? Did they come to the hospital to check on you?”

  “Yes.” He gave her a small smile. “And I told them I had someone I wanted them to meet soon.”

  “I want to meet them. I’ve seen them come and go from your place but never stopped to introduce myself. I’m sorry about that now.” She sighed. “I’m sorry about a lot of things.”

  He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “No regrets about the past. We have too much to look forward to in the future.” He smiled. “Your family is outside.”

  “Val?”

  “And your parents. I told them I’d let them know when you woke up, but I couldn’t help being a little selfish and keeping you to myself a while.” He moved closer until his face was inches from her.

  She felt the heat rise in her cheeks and decided she wasn’t cold anymore. “Why would you want me for yourself?”

  “Because I don’t need an audience to do this.”

  He closed the gap and placed his warm lips over hers. She stayed still, relishing the feel of him. She raised her arms and slid them around his neck to pull him closer. His kiss was a sweet, gentle exploration. A giving of himself. She gave as good as she got, and when he pulled back, he leaned his forehead against hers.

  “Wow,” she said.

  “Yeah.”

  “Yes,” she said. “I will.”

  “What?” He tilted his head, his brow furrowed.

  “Yes, I’ll go out with you.”

  A slow grin curved his lips. “I haven’t asked yet.”

  “I’m saving you the trouble.”

  He laughed. “I appreciate that. Where do you want to go?”

  “Anywhere. As long as it’s with you,” she said, all joking aside.

  He kissed her again. “Want me to let your family in?”

  “Who?” He grinned and she shrugged. “Sure.”

  He crossed the room to the door and pulled it open. “She’s awake.”

  Val entered first. Her red-rimmed eyes met Macey’s. “I’m so sorry,” she blurted.

  Macey held her arms open. “Come here, sis.”

  Valerie went in for the hug while her parents stood just inside the door, watching. Macey met her mother’s eyes. She saw the tears there and felt her throat tighten in response. Then she looked at her father and his eyes were red, too.

  She gave them a wobbly smile. They took that as permission and walked over to add their hugs to Val’s.

  “We understand we almost lost you again,” her father said. His voice was scratchy, like he was having trouble getting the words past his throat.

  “Yes, but you didn’t. I’m fine.”

  “Will you stop pushing us away now?” her mother asked softly.

  Macey nodded against Valerie’s shoulder. “Yes. I will.” She looked at them both. “I’m sorry. At first I was just mad. Ashamed of what I’d done and the grief I’d caused you, so I decided to stay away and hope you would just forget it ever happened. And then when David was killed, I connected that to the fact that he was trying to help me. I was afraid if I let you get too close, you would be next.”

  Chad cleared his throat. “Trish copped to David’s death as well. She ran him off the road and tossed the bomb in your house. Tyler only left the notes. The ambulance was a chance thing. He must have been following you, looking for the opportunity to plant the note, and found it that day at the scene. And for the record, Trish drove a white BMW, not a white Kia. But the cars look so similar, it’s easy to mistake them.”

  “So Tyler wanted to scare me into remembering and Trish wanted me dead because I was remembering. Unbelievable.”

  “Yes. She’s the one you saw dressed in black and wearing a mask before she threw the cocktail in your window. She and Tyler must have just missed each other at your house that night by mere seconds.”

  “That’s crazy.”

  “Definitely. And officers found the receipts your sister called to tell you about. When all is said and done, Trish is going away for a very long time.”

  “She buried me alive,” Macey whispered. Her parents gasped but she was focused on the memories. They came easier this time.

  The shot rang out. The pain flashed and she fell backwards into the shallow indention the earth had made. And the darkness came, welcoming, wrapping her in its arms so that she didn’t have to feel anymore.

  When she woke it was cold, so very cold. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. Dirt hit her in the face. She thought she heard sirens. Then she noticed a heaviness pressing on her chest. She tried to move and couldn’t. Trapped in the darkness, she wanted to scream.

  And couldn’t.

  “I couldn’t breathe,” Macey said. “
I woke up and the dirt was everywhere. I couldn’t see, it was so dark and I was so cold.” She held a hand out to him.

  He grasped her fingers and squeezed. “But they found you, and you lived.”

  “And you saved me this time. Thank you for everything, Chad.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Her father cleared his throat. “Well, I guess we’ll head on out of here. Looks like you’re in good hands.”

  Macey wasn’t even embarrassed. She looked at Chad. “Yes, I am. The best.”

  It was his turn to flush and she grinned. Her mother hugged her one last time before they filed out the door. Val gave her a look over her shoulder and a small wave. Macey waved back. Then it was just her and Chad again.

  He sat on the bed next to her. “You need anything?”

  She thought about it then shook her head. “No.” She pulled him in for a hug and rested her cheek against his solid chest. “I have everything I need right here.”

  He kissed the top of her head then tilted her face up. He pushed her hair behind her ears while he looked straight into her eyes. “It might seem a little soon for this, but I almost lost you today, and I don’t want to waste any more precious minutes trying to figure out how you feel, so I’m just going to tell you how I feel.”

  “Okay,” she whispered.

  “I love you, Macey.”

  Her heart thudded. “I love you, too, Chad. I think I have for a long time. You’ve been a friend when I wouldn’t let myself have friends. You were there when no one else was.”

  “Whether you wanted me there or not.”

  “I wanted you there.”

  He smiled. “And I want to be here from now on.”

  “I think that sounds like a good plan.”

  “No more letting the past rule the future, right?”

  “No. The sins of the past are just that. In the past. As far as the east is from the west. Gone.”

  “And forgiven.”

  “Forever.”