Taken by Tuesday (Weekday Brides Series)

by Catherine Bybee

  “Marriage laws.”

  Meg narrowed her eyes. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”

  Judy barely glanced over her shoulder. “What?”

  “Rick. What if he’s not into this idea?”

  Her BFF laughed. “He’s grown attached to his freedom. My guess is he’ll go for it.”

  “But he’ll be married.”

  “To the woman he’s been trying to date for an entire summer and who he’s been messing the sheets with for the last week. Besides, we’re not talking forever. We’re talking until we find the ass who is behind all this. Once Rick’s name is clear, we can get an annulment. You should know all about the dissolution of marriages in your line of work.”

  She did . . . but applying that to Judy didn’t seem right. “I’ll call Samantha in the morning and ask what she thinks.”

  “Perfect.”

  “Excuse me?” Russell poked his head into the room from the hall.

  “Yeah?”

  “Looks like we’re having company.”

  The words left his lips and the buzzer for the gate told them of their late-night guests. On the monitor, red and blue lights glistened off the top of the black-and-white car in the drive.

  Judy hit the button. “Yes?”

  “Miss Gardner? It’s Detective Perozo and Officer Greenwood. We’d like to talk to you.”

  They both looked at Russell. “Might as well let them in.”

  “Record them,” Judy told him. “I don’t want to miss anything they have to say.”

  Where Meg would be biting her nails, Judy answered the door with a strange smile.

  Nice touch, Judy thought, watching Officer Greenwood walk into the room. It’s like the police knew bringing in the guy who cuffed Rick would be a bad idea.

  “What can I do for you, officers?”

  “We just want to talk to you.”

  “I don’t have anything more to say.” Judy folded her arms over her chest.

  “Mind if we sit, Judy?” Officer Greenwood’s soft voice reminded her of her moments in the ER. She was a nice lady, even if she was currently working the wrong angle.

  She moved to the table and lowered her laptop so they couldn’t see what she was working on.

  Detective Perozo looked over at Russell and Meg. “Mind if we talk to you alone?”

  “Yes, actually I do. Russell is my temporary bodyguard since you deemed it necessary to remove my permanent one. Anything you have to say you can say in front of Meg.”

  The officers exchanged glances.

  “Oh, and Russell, can you please call the attorney. Let them know I have guests.”

  “Absolutely.” Russell glared as he removed his cell phone and punched in numbers.

  “You don’t need an attorney, Miss Gardner. You’re not on trial.”

  Instead of saying anything, she smiled and nodded.

  “We know you’re confused as to why we brought Rick in.”

  She’d have the smile and nod thing down in no time at this rate.

  “He had opportunity, knowledge of your every move, no alibi, and motive.”

  She kept her smile. “Motive, really? What might that be?” Asking questions wasn’t the same as answering them.

  “Did you know that Rick was allowed to retire early from the Marines?”

  No, she didn’t, but she kept her smile on her face and didn’t answer the question.

  “There was some question as to the mental health of the team he worked with. Reports from a paper in Colorado said he was responsible for a civilian’s death less than two years ago.”

  She didn’t know that. Not that it mattered. “He is in private security.”

  “Shot a man in the back in the forest.”

  Her eyes glanced to Russell.

  He gave a curt nod.

  “Why are you telling me this?”

  “He’s capable of hurting you.”

  “He didn’t.”

  Officer Greenwood leaned forward. “Domestic abuse takes up four out of every ten cases of abuse. Did you know that?”

  Judy bit her tongue to keep from responding.

  “We know that Rick has been keeping tabs on you for months. Long before you moved to LA. Did you know that?”

  Her tongue was going to bleed.

  “My attacker sounded nothing like Rick.”

  “Voices can be disguised. There’s no telling what the military trained Rick to do.”

  Judy went back to chewing her own tongue.

  A buzzer from Russell’s phone made noise.

  Everyone glanced up, and he was now looking into his cell. “We have company,” he said.

  Detective Perozo jumped up.

  Russell clicked on the main TV and flipped the feed coming from the gate cameras.

  Outside the gate were several cars pulling along the narrow drive with men carrying cameras.

  “What the?”

  “Paparazzi. Police cars have a way of attracting attention,” Meg said for all of them.

  “Just when life was starting to get back to normal,” Judy said. “Thanks ever so much.”

  “We’re trying to keep you safe, Miss Gardner,” Officer Greenwood said.

  Holding her tongue wasn’t going to happen. “No. You’re trying to solve a case using the path of least resistance. Why don’t you try a little harder and put the right guy in jail?”

  “Do you know where Rick was yesterday after he dropped you off at work?”

  The question stopped her smile. She didn’t answer.

  The buzzer from the gate sounded.

  Russell answered.

  “Looks like your counsel is here, Judy.”

  The police looked at each other and stood. “No need. We’ll be in touch.”

  The Lexus passed the police car when the gate opened. Several flashes of light caught the entire exchange.

  A woman stepped from the car, her jet-black hair slicked back in a long ponytail in the back, her dark clothing suitably fitting and stylish. “Was it something I said?”

  Judy liked her instantly. “If I knew lawyers were cop repellant, I would have asked that you join us earlier.”

  The woman approached and extended a hand. “Kimberly March. I’m with the firm hired by Blake Harrison.”

  It took a minute to recognize the name. “Thank you for coming.”

  Kimberly watched the retreating car.

  “C’mon inside. I suppose you’re not needed now that they’re gone.”

  “I’d like to know what they said.”

  Meg brewed another pot of coffee, this time decaf. “I’m starting to think this night is never going to end.”

  Judy hid a yawn and tried to smile. Russell left them to update Neil.

  “I won’t keep you up much longer.”

  “Can I call you Kimberly?”

  “Please do. I’ve been brought up on the situation. The police feel they have the right guy, and everyone else knows they have the wrong guy.”

  “Yeah.” The night was catching up with her, and Judy wanted to find something shiny to place on the cloud before she went to her lonely bed. For the first time in a week, her bed wouldn’t house one amazingly warm body who made her feel protected and comfortable.

  Meg sat beside them while Judy played the recording Russell had managed to capture of the conversation with the police.

  “Sounds like you handled yourself well.” In true lawyer form, Kimberly wrote a few things down on a large yellow pad while she talked. “Did anything they ask or say make you question Rick?”

  Judy glanced at Meg, then the lawyer. “I don’t know everything about his past, his years in the military. They wanted me to think he’s not sane.”

  “Did you wonder?”

  “No. Rick is one of the most levelheaded men I know. My famous brother is crazier than Rick.”

  Meg laughed beside her and spread her arms. “That’s because he leaves this all the time to live out of a trailer on a set. Now that’s crazy!”
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  Kimberly smiled. “Anything else?”

  “Yeah.” She paused. “Why do you think they asked me if I knew where Rick went after he dropped me off at work this morning?”

  Meg pulled Judy’s laptop closer and started clicking.

  “Do you know where he was?” Kimberly asked.

  “I had no idea where he was. I was at work.”

  Kimberly scribbled a note. “They were looking for his alibi.”

  “Why?”

  Russell took that moment to walk in the room.

  “There’s more coffee. Decaf,” Judy offered.

  “I’m OK . . .” He ran a hand through his hair and seemed to wonder what he was supposed to do with it after that.

  “What’s up?”

  “Neil . . . he a, told me . . .”

  “What?” Judy’s heart really couldn’t take much more for one night.

  “There’s been another attack. Happened just after nine this morning. They found the woman just after five.”

  Judy swallowed . . . hard. “Found her?”

  Russell had a difficult time keeping eye contact. “Back of a garage a few blocks away from your building. Dark hair, medium build . . . pillowcase over her head.”

  In an instant, the strong exterior dissolved and Judy remembered the terror inside the pillowcase, the horror of being at someone else’s mercy.

  So fucking easy. Her arm burned . . . Next time.

  “Judy?”

  She tossed up her hand. “Damn it.”

  “Is she alive?”

  The answer was in Russell’s eyes. No words needed.

  Judy slowly shook her head.

  “Are you OK?” Meg asked, placed a hand on her arm.

  Judy didn’t meant to shrug her friend off, but she did. “I’m fine.”

  Meg bounced away as if stung.

  “Sorry.” Judy instantly felt bad for pushing away. “I’m pissed. This guy is after me. I know it here.” She placed a finger on her chest. “I know it. I don’t know why, but he is. Now everyone’s attention is on Rick and not finding this guy.”

  “A stranger’s death isn’t your fault.”

  “I know . . . I get that.” Didn’t stop her from blaming herself on a strange level. Not everyone had access to bodyguards and personal trainers. And she needed hers back. She needed Rick at her side.

  “Kimberly . . . what I talk to you about is confidential, right?”

  Kimberly smiled, her dark eyes lit with question. “Of course.”

  Judy looked at Russell. “Can you excuse us?”

  Russell narrowed his gaze but left the room without incident.

  Judy patted Meg’s hand, her gaze still on Kimberly. “I need you to do something for me.”

  “OK?”

  “You’ll be able to talk to Rick’s lawyer, right?”

  “Joe Rodden is my colleague. We work in the same office.”

  “Great. I need a marriage license and I need Joe to propose to Rick on my behalf.”

  Kimberly blinked.

  “I’m not forced to testify against my husband.”

  The lawyer’s jaw dropped. She snapped it shut and started writing. “And if there is any eyewitness pointing a finger at Rick and this second attack?”

  “There won’t be. Rick is innocent and the police weren’t sure of anything or they wouldn’t have been here asking me questions. This bastard is after me. He wouldn’t leave himself open to be caught until he has a second chance.”

  “How can you know this?” Kimberly asked.

  Judy rubbed at the healing marks on her arm. “I just do.”

  Chapter Twenty

  The plain white walls inside a prison cell did a wonderful job of giving those inside the opportunity to concentrate on their inner thoughts. Rick supposed if he were actually guilty of any crime, being alone with his thoughts would be painful. All Rick could think about was Judy. She was out there and he was in jail unable to get to her if something happened. He trusted Neil to watch over her, keep her safe, but no one was more invested in keeping her safe than him.

  Rick met Joe Rodden in a secluded room the next morning. The lawyer dressed as a high-paid attorney should. His three-piece suit and impeccably groomed beard, peppered with a little gray, screamed confidence. They shook hands and settled behind the table.

  “How is Judy?”

  Joe lifted his eyebrow as he pulled a notebook from his briefcase. “She’s fine. Neil asked me to relay that she’s under twenty-four-hour personal protection.”

  He already knew that . . . but hearing it again helped him breathe easier.

  “How are you holding up?”

  “Beats the desert in the Middle East.”

  Joe tapped his pen and sat back. “Let’s jump right in, shall we?”

  “I want out of here.”

  “I’m sure you do. I’m going to make that happen as soon as we can get in front of a judge for an arraignment.”

  “Monday?”

  “Unfortunately.”

  Two more nights.

  “Do you understand the charges?” Joe asked.

  “Yeah.” Assault, attempted murder with special circumstances.

  Joe didn’t miss a beat. “Did you do it?”

  Rick met the man’s eyes. “No!”

  “I had to ask.” He sat forward to get to work, but Rick couldn’t tell if the attorney believed him or not. “So let’s go over the timeline on the day of the attack.”

  Rick detailed out everything he remembered up to the point of walking into the hospital and finding Judy with the shit beat out of her. Joe asked about the military, his discharge. When he asked about Colorado and Mickey’s death, Rick paused. “You’ll have to ask the Marines about that. It’s classified.”

  “I thought you said you’ve been out of active duty for seven years.”

  “I have. Two years ago, all that changed for a brief time. Once a Marine, always a Marine and all that.”

  “A man was killed.”

  “Yes.”

  “Shot in the back.”

  Rick laid a hand on his thigh, remembering the pain of recovery after Mickey nearly killed him. Saw Mickey’s gun swaying toward Neil. He took the shot. “Not everything is as it seems.”

  “Everything you tell me is confidential.”

  “I’m more concerned with the long arm of the Marines than I am about confidentiality with an attorney. No offense, but I’ve known you for less than an hour. If the DA thinks they can use what happened in Colorado against me, they better be prepared for the USMC to shut that argument down.”

  “Before we go to trial, if we go to trial, the DA will disclose everything they plan on using against you. My job is to counter every argument and to do that I need the facts.”

  “If the DA brings up Colorado, I’ll give you the name of my superiors on the inside.”

  “Fair enough.”

  A knock sounded on the door. “The police have more questions. I suggest we let them ask so that I can start working on your ticket out of here.” Joe explained how he wanted Rick to wait for his approval before answering any questions. To keep his answers to as few words as possible.

  Raskin and Perozo started with some of the same questions they had before. Where was he when . . . what time did he leave to pick Judy up for their date. Did he know that no one at the flower shop could identify him?

  At one point Joe stopped the questions with one of his own. “It doesn’t sound like you have enough probable cause for an arrest, gentlemen.”

  “Hold that thought, Counselor.”

  “How long have you had a tracking device on Judy’s car?”

  Rick glanced at his attorney. When he nodded, Rick answered. “Shortly after she moved here from Seattle.”

  “Why?”

  “I take her security seriously. Michael Wolfe’s fans have snuck on his property, tried to get close to those around him. As his sister living in his house, I thought it was best to keep close tabs on where she was.�
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  Raskin didn’t appear convinced. “Does Judy know about the tap?”

  Rick held his answer.

  Perozo tapped the side of the table with his toe.

  “Not that I know of.”

  “Why keep it from her?”

  “Don’t answer that,” Joe said.

  Rick wasn’t sure he could without sounding exactly like these guys wanted him to sound.

  “You met Judy a year ago?”

  “That’s right.”

  “You’ve been keeping tabs on her ever since?”

  “I’m head of her brother’s security, it isn’t uncommon of me to watch over all his family from time to time.”

  “But Judy lived in Seattle.”

  “So?”

  Perozo tapped obsessively. “Michael has another younger sister, right?”

  “Hannah,” Rick told them.

  “And where does Hannah go to school?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “You knew where Judy went to school . . . knew where she lived.”

  Ahh, he saw where this was headed now. “It isn’t a secret that Judy and I have an attraction. Yes, I’m head of her security, her brother’s when he’s in town. I kept track of where she lived so I could encourage her to move if she ended up in a bad neighborhood.”

  “Did she know you kept track of her?”

  Rick glanced Joe.

  “Don’t answer that.”

  The detectives smirked at each other and it pissed Rick off.

  “Let’s speed up the clock a little. Where did you go after you dropped Judy off at work yesterday?”

  “Don’t answer that,” Joe said before Rick could open his mouth.

  “Why?” Rick couldn’t be more confused about the question or his need to not answer it.

  Joe shook his head.

  “How many cameras are in this room right now?” Raskin asked before glancing around the stark room.

  Rick looked around and then took a peek under the table. “Six.”

  “You’re good,” Perozo said.

  “Keeping people safe is what I do.”

  The questions dried up and Joe requested a private room a second time.

  Once alone, Rick asked, “Why did they ask me about yesterday?”

  Joe brought out another stack of papers and proceeded to tap them on the desk. “Another young woman was attacked a few blocks away from Judy’s building. Only she wasn’t as lucky as Judy.”