“I’m not going anywhere,” Jake reminded her, with a glance out of the corner of his eyes.
Lip clenched between her teeth, she held the flame close to the bindings on his wrist. With the knot in the middle, she had to burn through the thickest part to avoid contact with his skin. Even then, she worried she would burn him. The pain in her hands cautioned her to avoid that possibility.
If Jake flinched, she didn’t notice. After long moments, the rope gave way. His hands were free. Mia dropped the limb and rushed around the tree. “Let me help you.”
Jake clamped back a groan and straightened. “I’m okay. Keep alert. If he’s watching, he knows we’re free.”
“What are we going to do?” She searched the darkness. “Is he waiting for us in the dark?”
Jake took her in a careful grip and examined her hands. “Your burns aren’t as bad as I feared.” He stared in her eyes. “Can you last a little longer?”’
Biting her lip, she nodded.
Jake pulled out his phone. “It’s time to talk to the police, agreed?”
Staring at him for long speaking seconds, she tipped her head in a nod.
Jake held her gaze as he called nine-one-one to report the blaze. Then he called his friend at the police station.
“Chief? It’s Jake. Sorry it’s so late, but the murderer made another attempt. This time he tried to burn me at the stake. I called the fire in to nine-one-one.”
Mia’s knees almost crumpled under her as Jake answered the chief’s questions. Was the slasher still out there? Was he watching? Would he attack them again?
“We have a suspect.” Jake watched as Mia leaned against a tree. “Thomas Goldman.”
He frowned. “Yes, the big wig with Stern-McHamlin. This isn’t your jurisdiction, but I thought you’d know who to call.”
Turning the phone off, Jake stared at the fire. “I can’t walk away and leave this blaze. Can you sit by that tree for a few minutes?”
Twisting a limb off an evergreen tree, Jake beat the flames. His attempts seemed futile, at first, but he made progress, except for the hottest portion of the blaze.
The stench of smoke, the ache in her hands and her stinging eyes reminded Mia of her past fears. Thinking of her efforts to get free the past few minutes, she realized she was stronger than her fears. She had faced the darkness of the culvert and crawled out. She’d held her hands to a blaze to burn her bindings free. She’d faced her nightmares and won. She had saved Jake. Did she dare pursue her feelings for him and risk rejection?
The person trying to kill them was still out there. She couldn’t stop fighting until he was caught. Was it Thomas Goldman? Why?
She stared into the darkness, watching. “Will they arrest us?”
Jake stood on the opposite side of the fire. The assailant hadn’t put a lot of effort into setting the blaze. He had tossed sticks in a pile behind the trees, and left the leaves on the forest floor to do the rest. Recent rains had left the leaves damp and not easy to burn.
“I don’t think so.” He winched. “If my face looks like it feels, police will know we didn’t do this to ourselves.”
The first responders arrived on four-wheelers. Two with firefighters and a third with EMTs. The firefighters rushed to action instantly, forcing Jake to turn to the medics.
Mia’s hands were examined, ointment applied.
The second EMT examined Jake. “You need x-rays. Do you feel dizzy? Nauseous?”
Jake answered no. After a ride out to the highway, a uniformed officer greeted them. “Durham County police. Come with me.”
Chapter 18
Hours later, a nurse rolled Mia’s wheelchair out of the emergency room. “I can walk.”
“You’re injured. Let someone look after you for a while.” When she wheeled Mia in the waiting room, half the occupants in the room jumped to their feet.
Jake came toward her, a metal brace taped to his nose so he looked like raccoon robot, with the bandages on his face.
“Are you okay?” he demanded the instant he reached her side.
Mia nodded. “Are you? I hope I look better than you do.”
“Don’t worry,” He grinned and winced. “Firefighters are tough.”
“Oh, Mia! I was so worried.” Her mother pushed past Jake and leaned down to hug her shoulders. “You are always so reckless.”
“Mom?” Mia started to remind her mother that she had started this whole thing. Then Phil and Ellen with their two kids, stepped close to the wheelchair. “How long have you been here?”
“We came as soon police called.” Phil gave her a one armed hug and stepped back. Ellen moved close to give Mia a watery smile, and whispered, “Thank you.” The kids hung back, staring at the bandages on her hands.
Phil wrapped his arm around Ellen’s shoulders. “We had a long talk. Ellen said if you could risk your life for me, she thinks I’m worth a second chance. Thanks, sis.”
Blinking tears from her eyes, Mia opened her mouth, but no words came. Her mother stepped close to Mia and filled in the silence. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have called you for help.”
“The thing is, sis, you’ve always been the strong one.” Phil voice was low so that only the family gathered around her chair, and Jake could hear. “If I’d been more like you, none of this would have happened.”
Mia made a face. “Are you kidding? You are the one with a family, a wife and kids that love you. I want what you have, Phil. Don’t ruin it.”
“Mia, promise me you won’t take risks like this ever again.” Her mom urged. “I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to you. Since your father died, you’re the one I turned to. Phil has Ellen, the kids and his career. I’ve poured all my worries on you.” Tears filled her eyes. “Promise you’ll be more careful.”
“Mia Clark?” A uniformed police officer demanded in a loud voice. Everyone in the waiting room turned to stare. “Chief wants to see you and Jake Stone, downtown.”
Mia waved to her family, noting the perplexed expressions on their faces as Jake wheeled her toward the exit.
Funny, how those closest to you go separate ways, but in an emergency, you can always count on your family.
***
Three hours later, the chief returned to the interrogation room.
“Goldman claims he didn’t kill the model. DNA results won’t be back for two days. What makes you so sure he’s the one who tried to kill you?” He pulled out a chair on the opposite side of the table and sat down. There were bags under his eyes and wrinkles in his suit from the long day.
“I studied all the files I collected on the four vice-presidents and my interviews with them. I interviewed Pam Foley the night she died. I confronted my brother and all the evidence points to one of the vice presidents. I think Thomas Goldman is the father of Leigh Anne Saddler’s baby.” Mia tried to keep her tone level and not sound like a recording, but it was hard after repeating the same information for hours.
“Level with me, Ms. Clark. If your notes had pointed to your brother, would you have turned him in?”
“Thankfully, I didn’t have to make that decision. Phil made mistakes, but he didn’t kill anyone.”
The chief waved a hand. “Yeah, that’s what Goldman said before he lawyered up. Now, he won’t say a word.”
“You let him go?” Mia almost banged her hand on the table. “You can’t.”
“Innocen—”
“Until proven guilty,” Mia snapped. “I want to leave.”
The chief leaned across the table, bringing his fleshy face near hers. “There’s a little matter of trespassing and this evidence you claim to have.”
Her head started swimming. “I’ve been attacked twice and nearly burned alive, twice. Are you seriously going to talk about trespassing?”
“What about your evidence?”
“The cigarette butts we saved for DNA and my computer are in the lake house where we were hiding.”
His breath spewed out. “This isn’t
over, Ms. Clark. We’ll talk when the test come back.”
Chapter 19
Mia turned to look at Jake as he steered the car Phil loaned out of Durham. “Should you be driving? You might have a concussion.”
Jake braked for a car slowing to make a turn. “You can’t drive with those bandages. That leaves me.” He glanced across the console at her. “You should be in bed. What’s so important that it can’t wait until daylight?”
Mia sighed. They had left the police station at four-thirty. A ribbon of pink marked the horizon toward the east. If she hadn’t taken painkillers, she might have agreed to wait until day, but the chief’s warning had put her on edge.
“The chief didn’t believe my story.” She turned in the seat so she could see Jake. “I need to get the files on my computer. I just hope the slasher didn’t beat us to it.”
“The chief came down on you pretty hard, didn’t he?” Jake pushed down on the gas. “At least it’s over.”
“He warned me he’s going to call me back in when Goldman’s DNA test results return.” She stared at Jake’s profile for long seconds. “Was he rough on you?”
“Let’s just say he wasn’t pleased with my actions and leave it at that.” He turned the car in the driveway and parked. The house belonging to Dan’s parents looked normal. From the front, there was no sign of the broken glass they had heard when the slasher broke in. “At least he moved the car.”
“You don’t think he’s still here?” Mia’s heart raced as she stared at the house in the gray dawn light.
“If he tried to attack us now, a jogger might see him and call the cops.” Jake pulled the key out of the Lexus and opened his door. “Wait, I’ll help you out.”
Mia huffed with annoyance, but she didn’t have a choice, with her hands bandaged. Jake had to open the door and unfastened her seatbelt. He was close enough to kiss. She studied the bruises on his face and lifted a bandaged hand to his cheek. He looked so tired and battered. “Jake, I—”
“Let’s grab our stuff and get some breakfast.” He said in his firm courtroom voice. “We can talk later.”
Mia’s hopes for more from him dwindled. “Sure, it won’t take a minute.” Looking down at her hands, she sighed.
“I’ll go first and look around.” He eased the side door to the garage open and checked around the cars.
Mia stood with her back to the door and watched the yard, hoping none of the neighbors chose that moment to look out their windows. She and Jake were being cautious to stay safe. To an onlooker their actions might appear suspicious.
“I don’t see anything.” Jake said from the other side of the cars.
Mia eased in. “I can’t lock this door.”
Jake appeared at her side and locked the door. “Stay behind me, just in case.”
Opening the door leading to the kitchen, Jake looked around and motioned her inside as he whispered. “Be careful where you step. There’s glass everywhere.”
She stared at the shattered sliding doors. Shards of glass covered furniture and the floor. “I can leave the clothes, but I need my computer.”
“Where it that computer,” a deep voice demanded from the shadows on the other side of the room.
Mia gasped as a dim figure stepped out of the dark leading to hall. He pointed a hand holding a gun. But she still couldn’t see his face.
Her knees trembled. Her first instinct was to run, but Jake was hidden in the dark shadows. She fought to keep from looking to check he was okay, but the slasher didn’t seem to know Jake was on the other side of the room.
Determined the murderer wouldn’t win, she forced out words sounding braver than she felt. “You should know. You’re the one who broke in.”
“Don’t play cute with me. I came back to get those files of yours. Since you managed to escape my little bonfire, you can hand over the files in person. Where’s your boyfriend?”
“Why would I give you the files?” Mia ignored his last question. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jake’s shadow move.
“Ah, still stubborn. What if I promise to let you go if you cooperate?” Sarcasm coated each word as he stepped further into the room.
Chills chased along Mia’s spine as the slasher stepped closer. But knowing she was about to see the face of the killer kept her feet stuck to the floor. He wouldn’t show his face and let her live. But she had too much to lose. She couldn’t die. “Why are you following me? Why try to kidnap me?”
“Your luck has run out, Ms. Clark. Give me the files.” He waved the gun in his hand. “Why didn’t you heed the warnings I left on your doorstep?”
“You killed my neighbor’s cat? Did you slash my tires, too?”
His laugh echoed with madness. “Nice touch, don’t you think?”
“Did you murder Leigh Anne Saddler?” Mia squinted in the dim light, trying to see his face. “How did you get her body inside the courthouse?”
“Where’s the boyfriend?” The slasher demanded.
It took all her willpower to keep from glancing over to make sure Jake was safe. “Why kill Pam Foley? What did she have to do with—”
“Pam stuck her nose in where it didn’t belong.” He snarled. “She caught me going through Leigh Anne’s computer files after she died.”
“You’re one of the bosses. You can look at any company file you want. Why kill Pam?” Mia mentally crossed her fingers, but she was certain this was one of the vice-presidents. It wasn’t Edward Poole. The voice wasn’t slimy enough. And it wasn’t Thomas Goldman. So, she’d been wrong about him killing Leigh Anne.
That left two vice presidents. Every instinct she possessed wanted to believe Charles Herne had told the truth when he said he loved Leigh Anne. That left one man. The man determined to kill her. Alan Yow.
“You didn’t have to kill her, Mr. Yow.”
“Ah, so you figured out it was me. You didn’t tell police. They picked up Goldman.” Yow waved the gun. “I should have taken you out that day in the courthouse.” He stepped closer. “Don’t worry. I’ll finish the job as soon as you give me those files.”
“Why bother with the files?” Mia forced back a shiver and hoped he couldn’t see her lips tremble. “Everyone knows you’re the killer.”
Yow’s laugh sounded more frightening than his threats. “I don’t think so. Goldman is in this so deep all the evidence will point to him.”
Mia heard the lack of control in his manic laugh. “Goldman’s at the police station.”
“He left before you and lover boy did. Stop fooling around and tell me where you stashed that computer. I searched the house and couldn’t find it.”
“I gave it to the police.” Mia tried to stall, “I came back to get my clothes.”
Yow stepped closer, and spoke through gritted teeth. “You didn’t have it on the trail so police don’t have it. Now give it to me.” He waved the gun threateningly.
Mia tried to think of a way to stall him.
Suddenly a shadow flew out of the corner, and Jake landed on top of Yow. The force of his body knocked the gun from Yow’s hand and both men tumbled to the floor.
Watching helplessly, Mia saw Jake roll on the floor under Yow. But unlike last night on the trail, Jake avoided a blow aimed for his face and escaped Yow’s grip. Back on top, Jake aimed two swift blows, and knocked Yow out.
Mia rushed to kick the gun out of reach and turned to Jake. “Are you okay?”
“I thought he’d never move far enough in the room so I could jump him.” Jake reached her side and put gentle hands on her upper arms.
“I wanted to hear him talk.” Mia stared in Jake’s eyes, and wished she could grab hold of him with both hands. “I wanted to hear the details.”
“It was risky for me to wait. Once he started talking, he quit moving.” Jake pulled her against his chest. “It was a mistake. If he had pulled the trigger—”
“He liked hearing himself talk too much to shoot before he finished bragging.”
“Who likes
talking now?” Yow demanded from his seat on the floor.
Mia turned in Jake’s arms and lost her breath at the sight of Yow aiming the gun at them. She couldn’t lose Jake after all this. But Yow rose to his knees, the gun weaving in his hand, ready to shoot.
“Drop the gun and I’ll give you the files.” She stepped toward Yow.
“Mia, no.” Jake grabbed her arm and pulled her behind him. “If you’re leaving, Yow, get out now.”
“Or what, lover boy? You’ll shoot me?” Yow’s eyes glowed with unnatural light as he gave that strange laugh. “Oh, that’s right. I have the gun.”
Mia moved around Jake on trembling legs. “One thing I don’t understand, Mr. Yow. Why kill Leigh Anne Saddler? All the men I talked to loved her. What did you have against her?”
“That cow wouldn’t go out with me,” Yow snarled, staggering to his feet. “She slept with all the vice-presidents, but me. When Goldman couldn’t get your precious brother’s vote, he sent Leigh Anne to soften him up, because Goldman had doctored the lab results. If the FDA found out, the company would lose millions. Our stock options and pensions would be worthless. We would all be ruined. But Leigh Anne couldn’t win your brother’s vote. And even after sleeping with him and the others, she wouldn’t go out with me.”
“That’s it?” Mia demanded, unable to believe what he’d said. “You killed Leigh Anne because she wouldn’t go out with you?”
Yow shrugged. “That about sums it up. And…I don’t have a thing to lose by adding two more bodies to my tally.”
Jake lunged forward and knocked the gun out of Yow’s hand. He lifted a hand to slug Yow when the door crashed open. Four police officers wearing body armor rushed in the room.
Dropping his fist, Jake pushed off Yow and pointed to the gun. One of the officers picked it up. Jake said, “You guys sure took your time.”
One of the detectives they’d met at head quarters shoved past the four cops and grinned. “We wanted it all on tape.”
Jake mumbled under his breath. “Come on, Mia. Let’s get out of here.”
Flames Of Deceit Page 19