Desperate Measures (An Aspen Falls Novel)

by Melissa Pearl

  She turned left at the stop sign, into a neighborhood of apartments and duplexes. She could tell that at one point, it had been a well-maintained part of town. Tall, thick oak trees lined the road, providing a leafy canopy of shade. The duplexes were large, with broad patches of lawn in front of them and garages positioned behind equally large backyards.

  But the homes themselves had fallen into disrepair. Flaked paint on wood siding, windows adorned with wrought iron bars—not for decoration but for safety—steps that seemed to sag under the weight of the burdens its occupants carried.

  There were no kids outside, despite the beautiful early fall day. And then Cam remembered. It was Tuesday—a school day.

  She swallowed a lump of disappointment. Necco was a kid, which meant he was probably sitting in a classroom somewhere and not roaming the streets.

  Cam drummed her fingers against the steering wheel. It was still morning, which meant school wouldn’t be out for hours still.

  Could she really hang around Bentley for that long?

  She wasn’t sure she had a choice—not if she wanted a chance at finding Necco.

  She sighed. She’d intended to be gone a couple of hours, at most. If things had gone according to plan, she would find Necco, talk to him, get him to agree to help, and then pull him out of town and make arrangements to get him to Miguel. And then she’d tell Alex.

  Everything would fall into place from there. With a witness willing to testify to what happened that fateful night, she could bring in her department, BCA, the feds—everyone. Alex wouldn’t be totally safe, considering there were still gang members who wanted him dead, but at least he’d be able to receive police protection.

  That was the best-case scenario.

  Unfortunately, she was having a hard time getting to the very first step.

  Her stomach gurgled, and Cam was reminded that she hadn’t eaten anything since she’d woken up. She saw a convenience store up ahead, with two single gas pumps out front. She doubted they’d have much variety but all she really needed was a Coke and a snack. Muffin, chips, a candy bar—she wasn’t picky.

  She pulled into the lot just as her phone buzzed with an incoming call. This time she did look at it.

  Alex.

  Of course.

  She flipped it over so she wouldn’t have to see his number.

  There were no cars in the lot, no cars at the pump, and she wondered if the store was even open. But the lights were on inside, and she thought she saw someone standing behind the counter. She grabbed her purse and reached for the door handle.

  Just as she was stepping out of the car, the door to the store pushed open and a kid darted outside.

  A tall kid. Skinny. Dressed in jeans that sagged to his thighs and a plain white T-shirt.

  And a Magic hat.

  Cam sucked in a breath.

  She forgot about being hungry and thirsty.

  All she could think of was one thing.

  She’d just found Necco.

  36

  Tuesday, September 11th

  11:00 am

  “This is where you wanted to go, right?”

  Alex glanced at the guy sitting next to him.

  The Uber driver gave him a cautious smile. “The police station, right?”

  Alex nodded. “Right. Yeah.” He fished out his wallet and pulled out a twenty.

  Guilt flooded him as he handed it to the driver. He’d stolen a stack of bills from Isabel’s purse when he walked her back to her apartment. He had every intention of paying her back eventually. He just knew he needed cash, because the last thing he wanted to do was leave an electronic trail. Necco had given him some, but there wasn’t much left over after his ride to Aspen Falls.

  Even if that trail led straight to the Aspen Fall’s police department.

  The driver, an older man with a balding head and wire-rimmed glasses, thanked him. “You want me to wait for you?” the guy asked.

  “No, I’m good,” Alex told him. “Thanks for the ride.”

  He stepped out of the car and onto the sidewalk, and waited for the car to drive away.

  Once it pulled away from the curb, Alex turned his attention to the police station.

  It was an unassuming building, single-story, with a granite exterior and tinted windows that made it impossible to see inside. Landscape rock served as ground cover for the perennial flowerbeds at the front of the building. He wasn’t sure of the specifics, but he knew the beds were filled with hostas and what looked like mums. He’d thinned plenty of those plants during his time staying at Doug’s house.

  Alex shielded his eyes and stared at the entrance to the building.

  He had no idea what might be waiting for him inside…and he really didn’t want to find out.

  But Cam had left him with no other choice.

  She’d been gone for hours now. She wasn’t picking up her phone, and he’d shifted from anger to flat-out fear that something had happened to her. He was usually cool-headed, could oftentimes talk himself into believing the most rational of explanations. His calmer self told him that Cam wasn’t in danger, that she’d just gotten tired of waiting around and had decided to take matters into her own hands.

  But anxiety had been quick to flare up, catching him by surprise.

  He knew why, though.

  Because this was Cam.

  Someone he cared about.

  The not knowing was killing him. He’d tried calling her from Isabel’s apartment phone—after he’d stolen the money and while the elderly woman was in the bathroom—but Cam hadn’t answered that call, either. A fresh wave of hysteria had washed over him, but then he reminded himself that Cam wasn’t stupid. She’d probably realize pretty quickly that Alex could be behind the call. Besides, she knew her grandma would leave a message if she really needed to get ahold of her.

  Alex sighed. What lay behind those doors was beyond him. He had no idea what would happen once he identified himself.

  But he also knew that he didn’t really have a choice.

  Not if he wanted to find Cam and make sure she was okay.

  He strode toward the door, taking small comfort in the fact that his ribs felt significantly better.

  Thank God for small favors.

  A woman seated in the receptionist area smiled at him. “Good morning,” she said. Her eyes were friendly behind thick glasses. “Can I help you?”

  He cleared his throat. “I’m here to see Nate.”

  Her brow furrowed. “Detective Hartford? Are you…are you a friend of his?”

  At least he had a last name now. “Sort of,” Alex replied. “I’m a friend of Camila’s. Detective Perez.”

  Her expression cleared. “Cam?”

  He nodded.

  “Poor girl,” she said, clucking her tongue. “She’s been sick the last couple of days.”

  “I heard,” Alex said. He placed his hands on the counter. “I don’t mean to be rude, but if Detective Hartford is available, I need to speak with him.”

  “Oh, of course,” the woman said, nodding. “He just got back from an appointment. Let me see if he’s available.” She picked up the phone on her desk. “Who should I tell him is here?”

  Alex hesitated. “Just tell him Cam’s friend. He’ll know who I am.”

  The woman frowned but did as he said.

  Alex shoved his hands in the pockets of his sweats—he wished he had something else to wear—and glanced behind him, looking to see if anyone was outside.

  Footsteps sounded on the tile floor and Alex turned back around.

  A tall, imposing man approached the receptionist area.

  “Detective Hartford?” Alex asked.

  Nate offered a cool nod.

  Alex extended his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  Nate took it, giving it a quick, hard shake. “Come with me,” he clipped.

  Nate buzzed them through the door leading to the main part of the station, and Alex followed him down a small hallway, past a room filled
with small cubicles. There were a few officers parked at their desks, but otherwise the space was empty.

  Nate pushed open a door to a small office and motioned for Alex to step inside. There were two desks crammed into the space and Nate pointed to one of them.

  “Have a seat.”

  Alex lowered himself on to a black vinyl chair.

  Nate dropped his tall frame into the chair behind the desk. “You’re the cop. Alex Castillo.”

  He wasn’t beating around the bush. Alex would at least give him that. He nodded in response.

  “Word out is you’re wanted for murder,” Nate said. His eyes raked over him. “Double homicide.”

  Alex stiffened. “Is it?”

  Nate nodded.

  “Well, you heard wrong.”

  Nate was quiet for a minute and Alex’s insides coiled. Had he made a monumental mistake in coming to the station? There was nothing preventing Nate from picking up the phone and calling Bentley PD. Hell, he could detain him, throw him in jail, or drive him right to the station, and there was nothing Alex could do to stop him. He was powerless.

  He quickly assessed the room, looking for possible weapons and a way out. Besides the door, there was a window. It was made of thick, tempered glass, but hurling something heavy at it might crack it. Nate’s desk had a letter opener and a pair of scissors in view. Either of those could be used as makeshift weapons if necessary.

  Sweat popped on Alex’s brow. He couldn’t believe he was considering using a letter opener as a shank to attack a police officer.

  Nate cleared his throat. “Yeah, so I’ve heard.”

  Alex blinked. “What?”

  “Cam told me your story,” Nate said.

  “She did?”

  Nate nodded. “Not all the details, but enough to know that there might be more to the story than the rumors circulating.”

  Alex drew in a deep breath, then nodded. Maybe he wasn’t going to have to assault this officer after all.

  Nate picked up a pen. “Why are you here?”

  He was direct. To the point.

  In most other situations, Alex appreciated that.

  Now? He wasn’t sure.

  “Cam isn’t sick.”

  “I know.”

  “Something happened at her house yesterday—”

  Nate leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. “What? How do you know?”

  “Because I was there.”

  Nate’s mouth dropped open. “You’ve been staying at her house?”

  Alex nodded.

  Nate said nothing. His look said it all.

  “A couple guys found me,” Alex said. “Broke in.”

  Nate now looked like he was ready to spit fire. “What the fuck? Is she okay?”

  “She’s fine,” Alex said quickly. “They left before she got there.”

  “Why?”

  “Some woman showed up with a gun. A friend of Cam’s. Jess, I think?”

  Nate’s eyes bulged. “Jess is involved? How the hell am I just hearing about all of this now? Why didn’t she tell me any of this?”

  Alex glared at the detective sitting across from him. “Are you going to keep interrupting me, or can I finish talking?”

  A muscle in Nate’s jaw pulsed but he offered a curt nod.

  “Everything was fine yesterday,” Alex said. “We found a safe place to stay. But…but she left. This morning. She didn’t tell me where she was going.”

  Nate just stared at him, his expression blank once again.

  Alex met his gaze head on. “She’s not picking up her calls. I have no idea where she is.” He swallowed. “I’m…I’m worried about her.”

  Nate’s features softened a fraction. “Hmm.” He was quiet for a moment. “I don’t think you have to worry,” he said gruffly.

  Alex frowned. “Why is that?”

  “Because I talked to her this morning,” Nate said. “And I know exactly where she’s going.”

  37

  Tuesday, September 11th

  11:15 am

  “Tell me again why you’re buying me food.”

  Cam smiled at the kid sitting across from her. They were sitting in a small taco shop attached to the convenience store by a long hallway.

  “Because you’re hungry.”

  Necco picked up his burrito. He’d already bitten off a huge hunk and the filling was spilling out of it, a gooey mix of chicken, sour cream and rice.

  He sucked on the fountain drink in front of him. “You in the habit of buying strangers food?”

  “You recommended this place,” she told him. “I figured the least I could do was offer to buy you something to eat as a way of saying thanks.”

  Necco just shrugged. “Suit yourself, man.”

  Cam glanced at the boat of soft tacos parked in front of her. They were street tacos, brimming with carne asada and cilantro and onions, and the fragrant meat made her stomach growl.

  But she didn’t touch them. She was too focused on the kid she was sitting with, trying to figure out just what the best approach might be to get him talking.

  She knew the first thing she needed to do was make him comfortable.

  As soon as he stepped out of the store, she’d leaped from her car and asked him if there was anywhere to eat around there. She’d taken him by surprise, but he took it in stride, pointing back at the store and telling her about the hidden taco shop.

  From there, she’d rolled into an easy, casual conversation with him. When she offered to buy him lunch, he’d hesitated for half a second.

  It was the reaction she’d expected. He was a kid and he was probably hungry. Hell, she thought about what her reaction might have been if some nice woman had offered to buy her a meal when she was Necco’s age. She would have gone in a heartbeat. Hunger was a big motivator.

  “You live in this neighborhood?” Cam asked.

  Necco nodded.

  “Been here a while?”

  “My whole life.”

  She sipped from her own drink. “What’s it like?”

  His brown eyes were frank. “Tough. It’s a tough neighborhood. Tough crowd, if you know what I mean.”

  “Is that why you’re not in school right now?”

  His burrito froze halfway to his mouth and his expression hardened. “You from CPS or something?”

  Cam shook her head, making sure to keep a friendly smile on her face. “Nope. Just figured you weren’t quite eighteen…”

  Necco touched the brim of his hat, adjusting it. His hair must have been short; there wasn’t a single strand visible. “How old you think I am?”

  Cam pretended to study him. “Sixteen?” she ventured.

  A huge grin broke across his face. “Naw, man. I’m thirteen.”

  “Really?” Cam let out a low whistle. “Guess that goes to show how much I know.”

  He looked inordinately pleased with himself, puffing out his chest a little that this woman across from him thought he was so many years older than he really was. Cam bit back a chuckle.

  He plowed through more of his burrito. “What brings you here?” he asked, once he’d swallowed his mouthful.

  This was it. There were any number of ways Cam could broach the subject of Alex, but she wanted to make sure she chose the right one. With a kid like Necco, she figured she’d have one chance. She didn’t want to blow it.

  “I’m actually here in town for a friend.”

  Necco arched an eyebrow. “You lost?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You have a friend in this part of town?” He snorted. “No offense, man, but you don’t look like you hang with people comin’ out of this neighborhood.”

  “Oh? What do I look like?”

  She expected a flip remark, but Necco was quiet for a minute, studying her.

  “You look smart,” he finally said. “Careful. I don’t know if you’re hidin’ something or if you’re just careful by nature.”

  She tried not to look too impressed.

  “And you l
ook nervous,” he finished.

  That last bit irritated her. “Nervous?”

  He grinned and pointed to her full boat of tacos. “Nervous about eatin’ them tacos. That’s the only reason I can think why you haven’t dove into them.”

  She returned his smile, relaxing a little, and picked up a taco. She bit into it, and it was every bit as good as she had imagined it would be. Finding decent Mexican food outside of the cities was not something she’d been prepared for, especially not a counter service joint tucked in the hallway of a convenience store.

  Her phone buzzed and inwardly she groaned. She’d hoped Alex had given up on calling. She glanced at the screen, then looked back at it when she saw a name she wasn’t expecting.

  Nate.

  “Give me a sec?” she said to Necco.

  He nodded.

  “I’m busy,” she said into the phone.

  “With what?”

  “I can’t talk. I’ll call you back.” She ended the call.

  Necco laughed. “You like that with all your friends?”

  “Only the annoying ones.”

  Cam finished the one taco before she spoke again. “So, about this friend…”

  Necco was down to the last few bites of his burrito. He looked at her questioningly.

  “Maybe you know him.”

  Necco gave a little shrug. “Maybe. I know lots of people.”

  “He runs with some of the guys around here.”

  He slurped more of his soda. “What’s his name?”

  Cam hesitated. She had no idea what name Alex went by. She didn’t think he’d use his full name, but had he kept his first name the same?

  “Alex.”

  Nothing registered on Necco’s face.

  “Name doesn’t ring a bell?” Cam asked.

  He shook his head and wadded up the paper wrapper.

  Cam thought quickly. He was done eating, and she didn’t think he was going to be sticking around just to chat with her. She had to ask questions. The right questions.

  Even if they ended up being all wrong.

  “He left town last week,” she said.

  His expression remained blank.