Drive-Bye (The Belinda & Bennett Mysteries, Book Three)

by Amy Saunders

  "Close your mouth." Belinda obeyed and Victoria touched up her pink lips. They'd focused on her eyes, which Belinda wasn't sure she'd be able to keep open between the fake lashes and black liner.

  Dan wandered in while checking his phone, and stopped dead in his tracks. "Whoa."

  "Some transformation, huh?" Victoria stepped back, admiring her handiwork.

  Belinda fought to see herself through the wig and the glasses and the funky dress, which had incredible movement when she walked. This was the kind of look you had to own. You couldn't waver in self-confidence wearing a dress like that. But then she realized this wasn't her. She was playing a role, adopting a persona for the evening. This woman in front of her could be whomever Belinda wished. And that could be rather liberating.

  "You look hot," Victoria said, making Belinda twirl.

  "Do you think anyone will recognize me?"

  Dan and Victoria exchanged looks. "Um, no," Victoria said.

  "You really believe I can pull this off?"

  Victoria gripped her shoulders, standing on her tiptoes to see eye to eye, though she only made it to Belinda's nose in bare feet. "Go show this reporter who's boss."

  Victoria had hired a car to take her to the event, and she got out at the front of the hotel, a square stone structure across from a park. A mess of other people congregated around the door. Belinda realized they were huddling around a group of TV reporters.

  Great.

  But she wasn't Belinda Kittridge tonight, and it was doubtful any of them would want to talk to her. She was Maya Gilchrist, an out-of-town cousin of Victoria's. Victoria had lots of cousins and cousins of cousins, most of whom nobody in Portside knew.

  The clothes made her walk differently. The dress fanned out behind her like a train as she took longer strides than she meant to, holding her upper body like a runway model. Belinda gripped her oversized black clutch, the metallic flecks in her nail polish catching the light from car headlights. Her black heels clicked on the sidewalk.

  She froze, gazing around at the clumps of attendees–so many people she knew. Belinda swallowed, feeling her mouth dry up, and told herself to walk with confidence. She could do this. The worst that could happen is someone did recognize her.

  That thought wasn't helpful.

  Gary Wolman stood in the forefront, talking to the TV crews and other journalists. Belinda sighed with relief that this wasn't all a big waste of time. Victoria's instincts had been right.

  Belinda hung back to observe, and figure out her best move around the gauntlet, spying out particularly troublesome associates. Like Colleen, who was at the front of the line asking Wolman questions.

  A limo pulled up near her. Belinda glanced over automatically, and nearly tripped on a crack in the sidewalk when Bennett crawled out.

  He was in a black suit that shimmered in the lights–definitely designer. She could tell by the way the fabric hugged him. He had his hair combed conservatively to the side, and had grown more facial hair since she saw him at the hardware store–more than she'd ever seen. Then a woman stepped out after him. A platinum blonde woman in a black, sequined gown and red lipstick.

  Belinda completely lost herself–or who she was supposed to be–for a solid minute and just stared blankly ahead of her.

  Bennett was selling things he owned left and right. He couldn't afford a designer suit. Never mind one that had obviously been tailored to his physique. He didn't show up at black tie events in limos with wannabe Hollywood starlets. Who was this person? Where was her Bennett?

  Well, technically, he was coming toward her with a movie star beard in a suit that could easily make her drool. But that was beside the point.

  He was with another woman. A woman she didn't even recognize.

  Belinda's blood burned, and she gripped her clutch to stop from doing something unladylike. Like stabbing that hussy through the temple with one of her stilettos.

  She tried to concentrate on her task–and not gawking at Bennett. They weren't touching, which was the only thing that saved that woman's life that night.

  Belinda drew her shoulders back to make her move into the crowd, when all Arkham Asylum broke out on that street.

  Belinda never saw anything. She just heard the gunshots, but thought they were firecrackers until people down the sidewalk screamed and dropped to the ground. Later, she heard they got out of the way just in time.

  Before she could even think, she pushed Bennett and they fell to the concrete behind a parked car. She heard screams and gunshots and glass exploding, but it was like she was under water. Time felt like eternity and seconds all at once.

  Belinda realized her eyes were closed. She felt cold and gritty from the gravel pressing into her cheek and palms.

  "It's okay now," she heard Bennett saying. "Are you hurt?"

  She tried to answer, but wasn't sure anything actually came out. He helped her up and she swayed on her heels, her legs feeling numb.

  "Are you–" Bennett gripped her shoulders, blinking rapidly. He had glass bits stuck in his hair.

  She glanced down and saw the shattered glass from the windows of the car that had probably saved them. Then she saw her fake glasses under the car.

  She looked back at Bennett, who was staring wide-eyed at her.

  Someone shrieked for an ambulance. Near the entrance, Gary Wolman was on his back on the ground, bleeding.

  Belinda looked around frantically for Colleen, and saw her running into the shadows. Belinda turned back to Bennett. He'd composed himself, though he still looked rattled. She wanted to stay with him and explain, but she couldn't. Not now. She gave him an apologetic glance and jerked away, tossing her heels to the sidewalk, and broke into a sprint after Colleen.

  Colleen circled around the block, which was basically just that building, and finally stopped to get in a car parked on the street. Belinda cursed the limo service, watching helplessly as Colleen took off in her car.

  A car behind her flashed its lights rapidly. Belinda walked over and peered inside. "Victoria!"

  "Get in!"

  Belinda hardly made it into the car before Victoria sped after Colleen. "What are you doing here?"

  "I couldn't resist watching you in action. Besides, someone needs to keep an eye on you."

  "You could've gotten hurt!"

  "You could've been killed. My heart froze in my chest when that car came out of nowhere."

  Belinda gripped the door and dash to brace for a sharp left turn. "I didn't see a thing."

  "That's because they turned their headlights off."

  "Did you see anything else?"

  "Not really. I was too busy ducking."

  Belinda gripped the handle on the roof while trying to buckle herself in. "I think this may be more excitement than your doctor would recommend right now."

  "Nonsense. I'll have plenty of good tales for the baby when he or she's old enough."

  Belinda just hoped the three of them lived that long. Colleen was winding all over town. Where was she going?

  "There's a change of clothes in the backseat," Victoria said.

  Belinda climbed back there at her peril and found a pile of dark clothing and sneakers. "Bennett saw me."

  "Bennett? What was Bennett doing there?"

  "I don't know, but he recognized me. After the shooting because my glasses fell off."

  "So it's the Clark Kent effect." Victoria made yet another turn, and Belinda rolled off the seat.

  "He was with another woman."

  There was silence from the front seat for several seconds. "How with her was he?"

  Belinda wiggled into the jeans. "They weren't making physical contact, or even standing that close. It was weird."

  "Have you talked to him? Before tonight?"

  Belinda's head got stuck in the halter strap as she pried the dress off.

  "Belinda?"

  "Hmm?"

  "You didn't call him, did you?"

  She wriggled out of the dress, and slipped on the p
lain black tank and pullover hoodie from the pile. They were practical, yet surprisingly fashionable. Leave it to Victoria.

  She could hear Victoria say something under her breath. She was about to speak, when Colleen pulled over on a side street not far from the library. Victoria slowed down and grabbed an open spot at the top of the hill.

  "Where is she going?" Belinda said.

  "Home?"

  Colleen got out after a minute, in flats instead of heels, and rushed down the street and disappeared into one of the houses. "I don't think this is where she lives." They were in the area where Isabel, Elena's sister, lived.

  Belinda wrapped a black scarf around her face so it covered everything but her eyes, then slipped on a pair of thin leather gloves. Victoria handed her a hairpin. "Just in case. Remember what I taught you."

  Belinda nodded and quietly followed Colleen into what she learned was a single-family home turned into apartments. She took lots of shallow breaths as she walked over some peeling linoleum toward the back first floor apartment, where the door was ajar. She felt like she should be holding a weapon, but all she had was the hairpin in her hoodie pocket.

  She blinked, letting her eyes adjust to the dim light from streetlights before pushing the door open. She listened for sounds of life, but it was quiet. Belinda took a deep breath and gently pushed the door open enough to get through, waiting a step away from the opening. She peeked inside, but she couldn't see anyone.

  Belinda walked into an open living room and kitchen space. She started to tiptoe forward, but stopped when she saw Colleen facedown in the middle of the floor. She glanced around on high alert, catching sight of two familiar faces in a photograph on the side table next to the couch. It was Elena and Isabel.

  This was Elena's apartment.

  Belinda whirled around just in time to see a vase hurtling toward her. She ducked, and the vase flew through the air and, to Belinda's amazement, landed on the shaggy area rug in one piece.

  Belinda stood straight and faced a person in all black with a hood and a face mask. She thought she could use a face mask, and might invest in one if she got out of this in one piece. Her assailant was shorter and more petite than Belinda, unarmed apparently, but positioned like he was ready to rumble. She braced herself, adrenaline making her bold.

  Her assailant was fast and punched Belinda in the gut before she knew what to expect. She crumpled, grunting, but bounced back and punched him in the face. He fell back, either from surprise or the actual hit.

  The intruder stared at her, then turned and ran. Belinda wanted to follow, but Colleen was still out cold on the floor. Belinda knelt to examine her. She'd been hit good on the head. She took Colleen's cell phone and called for an ambulance, then quickly searched Colleen. She'd come to this place for something, but there was nothing in Colleen's hands or on the floor around her. Maybe her assailant had taken it, and that's why he just fled.

  One of the police stations in town was practically around the corner, and the last thing she wanted was to be caught here in that getup. There was little time to search, but she had one idea to test out.

  She went into the back bedroom and found a connecting bathroom. Bennett had told her once he kept emergency cash in the toilet. At the time, she thought that was a weird choice of hiding spots, but right now it made perfect sense.

  She carefully lifted the lid off, shining her mini flashlight inside the tank. She didn't really expect to find anything; it was a huge leap in the little time she had. But tucked in among the plumbing was a thick plastic bag. Belinda pulled it out, her hand trembling, and aching from punching the other intruder, and glanced through the clear plastic on one side. It looked like a flash drive.

  Why did everything always come down to a flash drive?

  She stuck the bag inside her hoodie, replaced the tank lid, and dashed past Colleen and back out to the car before the police came.

  "What happened?" Victoria said. "Someone ran out of there. I thought it was you at first."

  "I'll explain later. Just get us out of here."

  Victoria sped back to Belinda's house. Belinda gave her strict orders to go straight home, and then ran upstairs until she was inside the square turret, which was like a small attic.

  With her new Swiss Army knife, and only streetlight and moonlight to see by, she carefully cut along the edge of the plywood under the glass, which was made to look like French wall paneling. She knew it was hollow and thought it would be deep enough to hold this. She set the plastic bag in the hollowed out wall and replaced the part she'd cut. It set in nicely, and the border of the panel hid where she'd cut into it.

  "What are you doing?"

  Belinda jumped and grabbed her chest when Kyle's head popped up through the hatch.

  "And why are you wearing a scarf? It's like seventy degrees out."

  Belinda pushed her hood off, tearing at the scarf around her face. She was suddenly burning alive. Kyle glanced at the new hiding spot, then at her scarf now on the floor.

  "What happened?" Kyle said.

  Belinda looked up, her eyes wide and innocent. Kyle had his charm cards, Belinda had her innocent cards. Though her heart wasn't in it this time. "I don't know what you're asking."

  Kyle whipped out his I-don't-believe-you-but-I'll-humor-you smile. "C'mon, Bels. What did you get into this time?"

  "It's too dangerous."

  "Dangerous is my specialty. Especially when it comes to you."

  "You can't say anything to anyone."

  "Bels, I'm not going to get you in trouble."

  That was true enough. For all his foibles, she could always trust Kyle. So she caved and told him the whole story. The whole story, starting with how Mrs. Sykes tried to hurt her all the way down to tonight's drive-by shooting.

  Kyle didn't seem super surprised. By any of it. "You don't look shocked."

  "Should I be? We are talking about you."

  "Excuse me?"

  "Well, come on. You have to admit it kind of sounds like something you'd get into." His golden brown hair swept across his forehead, covering his eyebrows. He was getting kind of shaggy, but it suited him.

  "You think kidnapping is so me?!"

  He shrugged. "Do I envision you planning a kidnapping? Absolutely not. Do I see you getting swept into someone else's ridiculous scheme to kidnap someone?" He raised his eyes to the ceiling. "Yes."

  Belinda pinched him as hard as she could. "What kind of twin brother are you?"

  "The kind that knows his wombmate," Kyle said, rubbing the spot on his arm, but suppressing a grin. "Bennett would agree with me."

  She was about to protest, but then had the annoying realization that he was right. "You're both so obnoxious sometimes."

  "And right."

  "Obnoxious." Belinda folded her arms.

  "You know, there aren't many guys I would completely trust you with. But I trust you with Bennett. He can totally handle it." She wasn't sure if she should take that as a compliment or not. "Any ideas about what happened tonight?"

  "The only thing I know for sure is the person who attacked me wasn't my thief. Too small and too short. And I'm inclined to think it was a woman." That hardly narrowed things down, especially with the random drive-by shooting right before that. It could've been anyone who worked at Portside House Cleaning, someone working for the drug company, or some other associate or enemy of Elena's from her past. The possibilities made her head hurt.

  "So, what are you going to do about Bennett?" Kyle said. "I mean, concerning Colleen and Gram."

  Belinda took a deep breath. "Fight back, but in the right way."

  "And what is the right way?"

  Belinda stared at the new hiding spot. "Finding their weak spots when it comes to society and taking advantage of them."

  "Evil. I like it."

  Belinda would like it even more when it worked.

  Chapter 11

  Belinda tried to look at the contents of the flash drive the next morning, but it was password pro
tected. After staring into space, trying to think of what it could be, she finally admitted defeat. She had an appointment to meet Victoria to take care of some business and she needed to get dressed.

  She stuffed a bag of clothes and shoes into the backseat, and met Victoria at their destination.

  Belinda stood at the threshold of a private investigator's office, just staring at the black and gold plaque on the side of the Colonial townhouse. If she'd had any qualms about hiring one before, they went out the cupcake truck window after seeing Bennett with some strange woman.

  Victoria had gotten some PI references from trusted sources and, after discussing it with Dan, decided this guy was their best bet. Victoria squeezed her arm. "You're not hiring an assassin," she teased and turned the knob.

  No. But what if hiring a private investigator was the first step toward that?

  After the deed was done–the private investigator was hired and there was no turning back–Belinda felt relieved and plagued. What if she'd just made a huge mistake? What if Bennett found out and broke up with her as a result?

  That thought made her feel sick. But Victoria wasn't deterred. "Dan agreed you need to know this," she said. "For both of you. If Colleen knows about it, then your grandmother may know about it, and it's plain dangerous if you don't."

  Belinda nodded. Victoria was right.

  Belinda off loaded her bag of clothes to a consignment shop that had come recommended, then waved Victoria off as she went to meet one of her piano students.

  Belinda went the other direction toward the hospital to visit Colleen. Jonas was coming down the hallway as Belinda headed for Colleen's room. "Nice tie," she said.

  "You picked it out."

  "Well, I have good taste."

  He smiled.

  "So what are you doing here?" she said.

  To her surprise, Jonas blushed. Like a good, ripe plum all along his cheekbones. Belinda took a mental step back. Was he involved with Colleen? The thought had never even crossed her mind. Would never have even crossed her mind. Because it was preposterous. And dangerous. Wouldn't he worry she was just trying to get information from him?