Beautiful Storm (Lightning Strikes Book 1)

by Barbara Freethy

  After her father had died, she'd tried not to be happy for a long time, but she didn't want to live the rest of her life in sadness. He wouldn't want that for her. He'd been an even bigger dreamer than she was. If she could believe that the lightning called to her, then she had to also believe that her dad was in a better place, that he was watching over her. And if he was watching over her, she wanted him to be proud of what he saw.

  More importantly, she wanted to be proud of herself.

  She'd felt good the last few days, more in charge, in control, using her intellect to make a difference. She wasn't just a photographer, an observer of life. It was time to be who she was meant to be. It was time to go home and live her life.

  Lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating the park, and she didn't even raise her camera. "I know," she said aloud. "I know what you're showing me now—myself. Why didn't I see it before?" Her words echoed in the blustery wind that rattled through the surrounding trees.

  A crack of wood brought her head around. She was shocked to see a man approaching. He wore jeans and a dark sweatshirt with a hood over his head.

  Was it Michael?

  No, something wasn't right. It wasn't Michael, but she'd seen this man before—the night of the last storm. It was the man by the carousel, the one fighting with Liliana.

  She turned to run, but he was already upon her. He grabbed her by the arm. She struggled against his iron grip, but he was bigger than her, taller, broader, and stronger.

  He pulled something out of his pocket. The metal flashed as lightning lit up the sky again. It wasn't a knife; it was a gun.

  It was just like the last time, only she was the one who was struggling.

  She kicked out at him and jerked hard to release herself from his grip. He didn't let go, but the hood came off his head.

  She stared in shock at a face she knew. "Oh, my God, you! How can it be you? I just talked to you on the phone. You're supposed to be in Texas."

  "I didn't want to do this," Jerry said, staring back at her. "But you didn't give me any choice, Alicia."

  "What are you talking about? What are you doing here?"

  "You're a smart girl. Surely, you've figured it out by now."

  She'd figured one thing out. "You killed Liliana? Why?"

  "Because she was on to me. She was one step away from the truth. I couldn't let her take that step."

  "I don't understand. Are you saying that you killed Professor Bryer and Connie Randolph?"

  "The bitch got caught."

  "Who? Connie?"

  "Bryer was on to her. She came to me and told me that I needed to do something, make sure we weren't caught. I told her I'd take care of it. I'd make sure Bryer never bothered her again."

  "But you killed them both?" She still couldn't quite comprehend what he was saying.

  "I had to take them both out. She would have been a loose end."

  She couldn't believe the man she'd known as Uncle Jerry had just confessed to killing three people. And he was going to kill her, too. She could see the intent in his eyes.

  Who was going to save her? She'd foolishly come to the park by herself.

  "How did you know I was here?" she asked, stalling for time while she tried to figure out how to get away.

  "I was outside your apartment when I called you. I hoped you'd tell me that you were dropping the investigation now that the body had been found, that it was over, but you didn't say that. You were going to keep going. When you left to come here, I couldn't quite believe how easy you were going to make it for me. I'm only sorry your friend isn't with you. I'll have to take care of him later."

  "You can't kill everyone," she said, terrified that he would go after Michael next.

  Jerry's smile was more evil than she'd ever imagined.

  "It's really not that hard after the first one."

  "How can you kill me? You were best friends with my father. He loved you. He thought of you as a brother."

  A shadow crossed his face. "I'm going to regret this one, but I have too much to lose, Alicia."

  "What were you and Connie doing together? If I'm going to die, at least you can tell me what was going on."

  "She was stealing classified specs from MDT. She passed them on to me, and I sold them for some nice cash. It was how I got the Flight Deck. MDT owed me. After my crash, they hung me out to dry. Just like the Navy did. I was tired of working for people who didn't appreciate me. So I found some who did."

  "What was in it for Connie?"

  "Money. Her ex-husband bled her dry. That's how it started anyway. She didn't realize that once you know anything, you know too much."

  "And Paul Sandbury? What was his part in all this?"

  "I wasn't actually sure he knew anything until you came to the bar and told me about him. I'll deal with him later." He paused. "This wasn't your problem, Alicia. You shouldn't have gotten involved. But you're just like your father. You like to stick your nose where it doesn't belong, and then you're surprised that you're in danger."

  "What are you talking about? My dad didn't do that. He didn't meddle. He wasn't in danger."

  "You know so little about your father," he said in amusement. "He was always the hero for you—for many people."

  "I know everything about my dad," she said heatedly. "He was a good man."

  "Yes. He was good—too good. It was sad…what happened to him."

  There was something in his tone that made her think he was talking about more than a plane crash. "You know something about that crash, don't you?" Her stomach twisted into knots. Anticipation ran down her spine as Jerry stared back at her.

  "I'm done talking," he said. "You and I are going to take a walk. You came out here to see where she was buried, didn't you? I'm going to show you."

  Before he could force her down the path, a brilliant, blazing flash of lightning struck the top of the carousel, blinding them with its powerful light.

  Jerry let go of her hand to cover his eyes. She took advantage of his distraction and gave him a hard shove.

  As he stumbled backward, she ran as fast as she could. But the lightning was gone as fast as it had come, and she tripped in the now overwhelming darkness.

  She screamed into the wind, hoping someone somewhere could hear her. She had to save her life, because if she didn't, Jerry would go after Michael next.

  She scrambled to her feet and ran as fast as she could, but Jerry was closing in on her. She could hear his heavy steps, his quickened breathing. His hand swiped at her back, his fingers grabbing her arm, almost pulling it out of the socket.

  And then another man shot out of the trees.

  Michael!

  She was both relieved and terrified to see him.

  Michael launched himself at Jerry, tackling him to the ground.

  "Run," he shouted at her.

  But she couldn't run away, not while Michael was fighting for his life with a madman.

  Jerry was incredibly strong, and he was a trained soldier. He might have spent most of his days in a plane, but he knew hand-to-hand combat, and with each punch of his fist, she could see Michael losing ground.

  She had to find a way to help him.

  The lightning struck again as if in answer to her prayer. Just like the last time, it hit the ground, lighting the trees on fire, sending heavy branches to the ground.

  She grabbed one of those flaming branches. As Jerry threw Michael to the dirt, she rushed forward and swung the branch as hard as she could at Jerry's head.

  He screamed in pain, the fire from the branch lighting up his hair, his clothes.

  She backed away, keeping an eye on Jerry as Michael staggered to his feet.

  She thought Jerry might beat the fire out, but then the flaming tree above his head showered more fire down upon him. It was as if Mother Nature had joined in the fight.

  Alicia stared at him in shock as he was enveloped in the blazing heat.

  Michael came over to her, blood dripping down his face. "Let's
get out of here."

  "But—"

  "You try to help him, he'll take you with him," Michael said harshly. "He'll kill you, Alicia."

  She had no doubt that was the truth. It was still hard to watch a man being burned to death.

  Sirens lit up the night, and a wave of relief ran through her.

  "I called Diego on my way over here," Michael said. He pulled her further away from the fire as he yelled, "We're over here."

  A moment later, three cops rushed down the path, two of them immediately heading to Jerry. They pulled him free of the fiery branches and rolled him on the ground as firemen now rushed toward the fire, followed by the paramedics.

  The third police officer came over to them.

  "Are you two all right?" he asked.

  "We're fine now, Diego. Thanks for getting here in the nick of time." Michael put his arm around Alicia's trembling shoulders.

  "You need to go to the hospital, Michael," Diego said, his gaze concerned. "You're bleeding."

  "I'm fine," he said, swiping at the blood on his face with his fingers.

  "You're not fine," Alicia told him. "Your face is all beat up. And I saw Jerry kick you in the ribs."

  "They're bruised, that's it. You saved my life, Alicia." He turned toward Diego. "You should have seen her. I told her to run, and she hit him with a flaming branch."

  "I wondered how he got caught up in the fire."

  "It was the lightning. It hit the tree. I just used what it gave me," she said. "Is he going to live?"

  "I don't know," Diego replied. "He doesn't look good."

  "Damn. Is that Kellerman?" Michael interrupted, tipping his head toward the two non-uniformed men making their way down the path.

  "I had to tell him you called me," Diego said. "Let me fill him in first, give you a chance to catch your breath. Stay here."

  Michael nodded, turning to her with concern in his gaze. "Did Jerry hurt you, Alicia? Before I got here?"

  She shook her head. "No, but he was going to kill me the same way he killed Liliana. He did it, Michael. He confessed everything to me. He also murdered Professor Bryer and Connie Randolph."

  Michael looked as stunned as she felt. "Why?"

  "Jerry was working with Connie. They were stealing secrets from MDT and selling them to someone. Bryer found out. Connie asked Jerry to take care of him, but he killed both of them instead." She swallowed, her voice hoarse from the smoke.

  "So that was what was in the envelope," he murmured.

  "What do you mean?" she asked in confusion.

  "I went to speak to Liliana's parents. After I paid my respects to them, I went upstairs. I was talking to Isabel, and she asked me to get her a coat, because she was shivering from the shock. I reached for the first one I saw. It was Liliana's. She'd lent it to her sister the night of the rehearsal dinner. Isabel had forgotten all about it. She'd never given it to the police. In the pocket of the coat were three photographs, all showing Jerry and Connie exchanging an envelope. In one of them, the photographer was captured in the mirror. It was Sandbury. He must have given the photos to Liliana. He must have told her what Connie and Jerry were doing. I don't know why he didn't tell us."

  "He was terrified when Liliana disappeared. The thing is Jerry didn't know that Sandbury had photos or information. He said he got suspicious when I brought up the man's name yesterday. He said he would take care of him later."

  "Well, Sandbury was right to run then. I know he gave Liliana the photos, but I don't believe he told her the whole story. She didn't know how close she was to the truth. If she had, she would have taken precautions."

  "One of these days, maybe we can get him to tell us what exactly he told her." She let out a breath. "Jerry called me this afternoon. He acted friendly and helpful, but he was just feeling me out. He wanted to know if we were done asking questions. I told him we wouldn't be done until we got justice. I didn’t know he was outside of my apartment. I guess my words made him realize that I was going to be a problem. He told me you would be next." She shook her head, choked up at the thought.

  He tightened his arm around her. "I'm still here, and so are you."

  "I never should have left my apartment, but I was feeling restless, Michael. I didn't know what to do with myself. The lightning was coming, and I wanted to see where Liliana's body had been found, so I came here. I couldn't imagine Liliana's killer would still be here. Jerry followed me. He said I made it easy for him."

  "You didn't make it easy. That's why he's fighting for his life."

  "Because of you. If you hadn't come when you did…"

  "You're safe, Alicia. That's all that matters now."

  It felt so good to have his warm strength surrounding her. She wanted to stay there forever, but she could see the paramedics strapping Jerry to a gurney and she needed to know if he was still alive.

  As the paramedics wheeled Jerry down the path, she moved forward. "Is he going to make it?"

  "We have to get him to the hospital," the paramedic said. "You can talk to him later."

  "It's over," Michael said to Jerry. "You're going to pay for what you did."

  Jerry lifted a badly burned hand and pulled the mask away from his burned face with whatever strength he had left. He was fighting to hold on, but he was slipping away.

  "Over for me, not for you." He looked at Alicia with evil in his eyes. "Someday you'll know what happened to your father. It's not what you think." His hand fell to the side, and his eyes closed.

  "He's crashing," one of the paramedics said.

  "Wait," she shouted, wanting to know what Jerry had meant, but the paramedics were rushing him to the ambulance waiting in the parking lot. The vehicle took off a moment later, sirens blazing.

  "What did he mean? Why did he say that about my dad?" she asked, a feeling of dread running through her body.

  "He was messing with you."

  "No, it was more than that." She tried to remember Jerry's earlier words about her father. "Earlier tonight, he said something about me being just like my dad, sticking my nose where it didn't belong, and then being surprised there was danger." She clapped a hand to her mouth. "He knew something about the plane crash. What if it wasn't an accident? We have to go to the hospital. Jerry has to make it. He has to tell me what he meant."

  "We'll go to the hospital," Michael reassured her. "But you can't believe anything he said, Alicia. He's a pathological liar, a killer. He can't be trusted."

  Everything Michael said made sense, but she wasn't entirely convinced.

  "We'll talk it all out," he added. "We'll go over every word that you and Jerry exchanged. Okay?"

  "Okay." She let out a breath. "It's really over, isn't it?"

  "It is."

  "And the lightning showed us what we needed to see," she murmured. "It's actually how I got away from Jerry. A bolt hit the carousel rods and the flash blinded him for a second."

  "Sounds like divine intervention."

  "It felt like it. It was so much like the last time: the lightning, the carousel, the struggle. He was going to kill me the same way he killed Liliana. He must have dragged her into the woods when I was knocked down by the lightning."

  "No, Alicia, I'm sorry. I should have told you earlier. Liliana wasn't killed last week. She was killed two months ago, right after she disappeared."

  She stared back at him, more shock running through her body. "But I saw her."

  "You didn't see her. You couldn't have."

  "Then who did I see?" As they exchanged a long look, the unbelievable answer came to her. "Oh, my God! I didn't see her; I saw myself. It was me fighting with Jerry. I wasn't seeing the present; I was seeing the future. It was my scream that was ringing through my head. It was a premonition."

  "Have you had those before?"

  "Never. But how else can you explain what I saw last Friday?"

  She could see that the rational part of his brain wanted to deny her theory, but he had no other idea to offer.

  "
I don't know," he said. "But I think we should go home and figure it out."

  "I need to speak to you both," Kellerman interrupted. "To get your statements." His tone was harsh and somewhat doubtful, as if he didn't know what to make of the situation and still couldn't quite believe Michael wasn't guilty of something.

  "I'm taking Michael to the hospital," she told Kellerman. "You can talk to him later. I'd start working on an apology, because the man who killed Liliana was just taken away in an ambulance. He confessed everything to me. He also killed two other people in Texas. So maybe you should talk to him."

  Kellerman gave a short nod. "We'll do that. But we will speak to both of you later."

  She put her arm around Michael's waist as they walked back to their cars. "I'll drive," she said when they got to the parking lot. "We'll get your car tomorrow."

  "I can't believe you got us past Kellerman."

  "After facing down Jerry, Kellerman was easy."

  He gave her a somewhat weak smile as he got into the passenger seat. "Have I told you that you're amazing?"

  "Yes, but you can tell me again when it doesn't look like you're hallucinating. I should have made the paramedics take a look at you."

  "I just have a headache. It's no big deal."

  She suspected that the adrenaline was wearing off and now the pain was settling in. She hoped a headache would be the worst of it.

  * * *

  Michael had suffered a mild concussion. After undergoing tests at the hospital, he was released two hours later with the caveat that he needed to rest for the next twenty-four hours. Diego told them that Kellerman would see them in the morning, for which Alicia was immensely relieved. She couldn’t get into a lot of explanations tonight.

  While waiting for Michael, she'd learned that Jerry had died before arriving at the hospital. She would not get any answers from him about the cryptic statements he'd made to her. And as Michael had reminded her, Jerry was a psychopath, so why should she believe anything he'd said to her?

  Maybe because it had felt…true. There had been something in Jerry's eyes every time he spoke about her dad.