by B. J Daniels
They drove in silence for ten miles. Finally, Justin said, “Tell me what happened.” He wasn’t sure Nici would, but he had to know what they were up against.
“What do you think happened?” she demanded. “He came after me. And don’t even bother to say I told you so.”
“Where is he now?” Chloe asked.
Nici shrugged. “I stabbed him. For all I know he’s back there bleeding to death.”
Justin swore. “You could have been killed.”
“Really?” Nici laughed but sounded closer to tears. “I never thought of that.”
“We’re going to the sheriff.”
“No!” Nici cried. “You do that and I’m dead.”
“I don’t do that and you’re dead,” Justin snapped. “Nici, you can’t keep running from this. You have to tell the sheriff who the killer is.”
Nici laughed—this time it ended in sobs. “That’s the problem, Justin. I didn’t get a good look at the man that night. I couldn’t see his face, but he saw me. I’d hoped maybe he hadn’t recognized me.”
He stared over at her for a moment before turning back to his driving. “But you saw him tonight.”
Nici shook her head. “It was dark. He must have cut the power. All I know is that he is big and strong. If I hadn’t stabbed him...”
Chloe put her arm around the young woman. “Take her to my house,” she said. Nici started to protest again. “You’ll be safe there until we decide what to do.”
Chapter Nineteen
The next morning, Chloe woke to the sounds of her sisters talking in the kitchen. She quickly showered and dressed and went downstairs. When she walked into the kitchen to the smell of coffee and cinnamon rolls, she said, “Where’s Nici?”
“Nici?” TJ said and looked at Annabelle. “Why would Nici—”
But Chloe didn’t stick around to let her finish. She rushed back through the living room to the second downstairs bedroom where she and Justin had put the young woman last night. The bed was unmade, the room empty.
She swore, turning to find both of her sisters looking at her questioningly. As she called Justin, she started to fill them in.
“Hello?”
“Nici’s gone.”
Justin swore. “I was afraid of that.”
“She must have left in the middle of the night. What are we going to do?”
“I’m going to the sheriff.”
“Do you want me to come?” she asked.
“No, I’ll handle it. But if you hear from her...”
“I’ll call.” She disconnected and saw that her sisters were impatiently waiting to know what was going on. She told them an abbreviated version.
“She stabbed the man?” TJ cried. “And you didn’t call the sheriff?”
“She was too scared. We were afraid she would run again.”
Annabelle raised an eyebrow. “Well, it appears she ran anyway.”
Chloe felt sick. Nici was out there somewhere and unless she’d killed the man who’d attacked her...
“We have dress fittings,” Annabelle said. “Are you going to be all right here by yourself?”
She nodded. “I’ll be fine.” But as she watched her sisters drive off, Chloe realized this was her last day to get a costume since the dance was tonight. She’d been so busy, she’d lost track of time.
Once the stores opened, she headed uptown to find herself a costume for the dance. It was another snowy day but she didn’t mind. She was worried about Nici, but the young woman had survived this long on her wits. She could only hope that sometime during the night Nici had realized going to the sheriff was the smart thing to do.
Justin would be down there now, telling the sheriff what he knew. If the man Nici had stabbed was dead... Then it was all over. Nici would be safe. They all would be safe.
Her cell phone rang. Justin. “Hello, did you tell the sheriff?”
“Nici was picked up last night. She’s in a cell at the jail. Apparently she left your house and closed one of the bars. She was so drunk, the bartender called the sheriff’s office. They put her in the drunk tank.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. Nici was safe. She had to shake her head though. Nici’s idea of handling what had happened was to get drunk at the local bar? “Did you tell the sheriff everything?”
“I did. Nici will hate me, but I had to.”
“I know. You’re a good friend.”
He said nothing. “The sheriff is headed down to the mountains to check out the cabin where Nici had been staying. This could be over before the dance tonight.”
“I hope so.”
“I’m on my way to get a costume,” she said.
“Remember, sexy like you.”
“How can I forget?”
“Chloe, be careful. It won’t be over until whoever tried to kill Nici is caught or found dead.”
“Hopefully, we’ll hear soon.” She disconnected, her spirits buoyed by just the sound of Justin’s voice. Nici was safe. Now if the sheriff found the killer dead in the cabin where Nici had been staying...
She couldn’t help but think about Justin. The memory of her conversation with him on the phone last night warmed her. She’d wondered why he hadn’t tried to kiss her. Now she knew. He wanted to as badly as she wanted him to.
The dance was tonight and yet he’d said he couldn’t wait any longer. She couldn’t wait to see him either. Smiling to herself, she walked the few blocks to the center of town. Holiday music played in the stores as she passed. She found herself smiling and singing along. Had she ever felt like this?
In the clothing store, she found some things that she thought might work and tried them on. She smiled to herself in the mirror. Justin had said she should get a sexy costume for the dance. She wondered if this would be sexy enough for him as she checked out her reflection.
She was glad that she’d worked out before coming to Whitehorse. The black leggings fit like a glove, accenting her long legs and tight round derriere. The silky, formfitting black top zipped just high enough that she wouldn’t be picked up for indecency.
“Who am I?” she asked the clerk as she came out of the dressing room to stand before the store mirror.
“Anyone you want to be. Catwoman? Or some unknown crime fighter? Your choice.” Because of this yearly event, stores often carried costume items.
Chloe laughed when the woman suggested a cape and a whip. “Why not?” She chose a silver mask with rhinestones that hid most of her face. “This is going to be so much fun.” She’d been thinking that maybe she would tell Justin she’d meet him at the dance and he would have to find her.
Excited and happy with her costume, she’d come out of the store and started walking back to the house when she passed an older, unoccupied brick building. She was almost past it and the next also-empty building when Kelly Locke stepped out.
She let out a startled cry as she realized he must have been waiting for her. He grabbed her before she could react and pulled her down the narrow opening between the two buildings.
“You and I have some unfinished business,” Kelly said as he caged her against the wall. She tried to get past his arms on each side of her, but he blocked her with his body. “That phone trick the other day on the highway. You got me suspended from my job.”
“What did you think was going to happen?” she demanded. “You broke the taillight on my sister’s car.”
“You didn’t have that on your phone.”
She said nothing. The sheriff had believed her, that’s all that mattered.
“You have no idea who you’re messing with,” he ground out between gritted teeth.
“That’s just it,” she said. “I’m not messing with you. I want nothing to do with you. You need to leave me alone and get over whatever your problem is.”
He shook his he
ad. “Whatever my problem is? You’re my problem. You butt into other people’s business. I tried to warn you that it could get you hurt. You have no idea who you’re messing with.”
She shook her head, her anger rising. She hated feeling this vulnerable. He was a big man and had always used his strength and size to get what he wanted. He was a classic bully.
But back in high school all she’d seen was his good looks and the fact that he was a hotshot athlete. That was one of the problems with small towns. Kelly had been a big fish in a small pond. It had fed his already overblown ego. The first time he’d noticed little Chloe Clementine she’d been so honored...
“You think you’re too good for this town and for me, but I remember when you would have done anything just to be seen with me.” He smirked at her.
It was true. She’d never had a boyfriend. Not a real, honest to goodness boyfriend who gave her his class ring to wear. She’d wanted that desperately before her high school years were over. And to be Kelly Locke’s girlfriend...
Her heart had pounded when he put his arm around her at school. He would walk past in the lunchroom and steal a cookie from her plate, and wink and grin at her. He would point at her from the football field and her face would heat, knowing everyone was looking at her. Everyone knew she was his girl.
Until she kissed Justin Calhoun.
That bubble she’d been floating around in being Kelly’s girl popped that day. She couldn’t explain it, but she suddenly saw Kelly in a different light. And not a positive one. All his male cockiness seemed silly next to a big strong cowboy like Justin, who had been a few years older and already out of school. He’d been already a man.
Kelly on the other hand, she’d realized, no longer enchanted her. He was immature. He was also a lousy boyfriend. She’d felt as if with one kiss, she’d grown up. She’d wanted more. She and Kelly were history.
To say he hadn’t taken it well was an understatement.
“You can’t be serious,” he’d said and laughed, thinking it was a joke. “You breaking up with me.” He’d laughed again before realizing he was the only one laughing. “You think you can do better?” He’d snorted. “Seriously?”
She’d tried to explain that she just wanted to move on, but he’d gotten nastier until she’d finally said, “Yes, I know I can do better.”
“I’ll ruin you. One word from me and no one will ever take you out again. I can destroy you.”
She’d walked away with him yelling obscenities at her. Then he’d done exactly what he’d said he would do. He’d told his friends lies. He’d ruined her reputation. He’d made her a pariah. She’d hidden her pain from everyone—even her sisters.
Just being this close to Kelly made her skin crawl. He’d been so cruel to her because she’d rejected him. And now she’d rejected him again. Only she was no longer a naïve high school girl who’d kissed a boy and believed in happy endings.
She knew how dangerous it was to cross Kelly Locke.
He still had his arms on each side of her, his body so close she felt she couldn’t breathe. She kept hoping someone would walk by and see them so she could scream and get away. But this part of town was off the beaten path.
“Actually, I’m glad I ran into you,” she said, realizing what she had to do.
That took him by surprise. He leaned back a little and she felt her first ray of hope. He gave her a cheesy grin. “You are?”
“I wanted to ask you about the secret group of investors who were going to buy the mining rights up at Zortman before the new EPA regulations went through.”
He drew back even farther. “What?” He seemed to have thought that she was glad to see him for another reason. Certainly not this one. “Who? What are you talking about?”
Kelly Locke was a terrible liar. She’d just bet Drew and the rest of his poker buddies had taken the fool to the cleaners.
“Exactly. I didn’t think you knew anything about it. I told my sisters, ‘Kelly doesn’t have that kind of money. He couldn’t come up with even two hundred thousand to be a minor investor—let alone more than that.’”
“The hell you say!” he snapped. “Just shows that you don’t know what you’re talking about. I have money. A whole lot of money. I wasn’t one of the minor investors. I was one of the big ones, seven hundred and fifty thousand.”
She gave him a disbelieving look. “Where would you get that kind of money?”
He huffed. “My mother’s family had money and I was my aunt’s favorite. She put it in a trust but Monte said he’d give me a loan for seven hundred and fifty big ones against it. So there, smart girl.”
“Still you couldn’t have been the biggest investor,” she said.
His smugness dropped a notch or two. “Maybe not the biggest but the second!” He’d puffed out his chest, straightening. “So what do you think about me now?” He’d moved back just enough.
Chloe brought her knee up with all the force she could muster. It caught him between his legs. She gave him a shove that sent him sprawling on the ground. He doubled up, rolling to his side as he gasped and groaned in agony.
She hurriedly stepped away knowing that she’d probably made things worse. But look what she’d learned. She would just have to watch her back even closer now.
Chapter Twenty
After picking up his costume, Justin stopped by the sheriff’s office. He’d planned to change at Chloe’s. He couldn’t wait to see her. He couldn’t wait to hold her in his arms, let alone kiss her. They’d both been waiting. Tonight would tell the tale. It surprised him that he was only a little nervous and that was more about his dancing skills than anything else.
But first he had to be sure that Nici was okay. Sheriff Crawford motioned him into her office and offered him a chair.
“How is Nici?”
“She’s under protective custody.”
Justin knew at once what that meant. “You didn’t find the man she said she stabbed.”
“No, but we found blood and there was evidence of a struggle that matches what Nici told us,” McCall said. “We’re running the DNA on the blood hoping for a match. Meanwhile, we’re also checking any medical facilities in the area if he tried to get help.”
“I’d hoped you had him,” Justin said. “She told you she believes he’s the man she saw leaving Drew’s cabin that night?”
“She did, but she didn’t get a good look at him that night or last night,” the sheriff said. “She swears she can’t ID him. All she said was that he was big and strong.”
He nodded. “I’m glad you’re keeping her safe.”
“We’ll find him. If he’s injured badly...”
“And if he’s not?”
“We have the list you gave us. We’re going down it to see if any of the men who might have been involved in the mining deal with Drew have been injured. It just takes time.”
“I know. I’m sorry I couldn’t get Nici to come to you sooner.”
“She’s lucky to be alive. She’s also lucky to have you for a friend,” McCall said.
Justin rose from his chair saying, “I have a dance to get to. I can’t keep my date waiting.” As he left the sheriff’s department, he called Chloe.
“I’m on my way. I was hoping I could change at your place?”
“Sure. I had thought we might want to meet at the dance but I can’t wait that long. Any word from the sheriff on the man Nici said she stabbed?”
“I’m just leaving the sheriff’s department now. Nici is in protective custody. They didn’t find the man.” Chloe fell silent. “The sheriff said there was blood. He probably didn’t get far. They’ll find him. See you soon.”
* * *
AS CHLOE CAME down the steps, her sisters hooted and hollered. “Is this outfit too much?”
“For you? No way,” Annabelle said. “You look hot.”
/> She looked to TJ who smiled and gave her a thumbs-up. Her sisters were in their costumes, as well. Annabelle was a swashbuckler. TJ a bookworm, a costume she’d had to explain to Chloe.
“Dawson and Silas are meeting us at the dance,” TJ said.
“Justin should be here any moment, so don’t wait on us. Go! We’ll be right behind you,” she told them.
They hesitated. “After what you told us happened earlier...” TJ looked to Annabelle. “Maybe we should wait.”
“If Kelly is even walking right, he isn’t going to come over here. Right now he is only suspended from work. I don’t think he’s stupid enough to try anything else. Actually, I suspect he might be running scared. He didn’t mean to tell me what he did in that alleyway.”
“But you still don’t know who killed Drew and Monte,” TJ pointed out unnecessarily. “That person is still out there.”
“Bleeding,” Chloe said.
“Angry and possibly feeling as if he has nothing to lose,” her sister argued. “You and Justin stirred all this up after five years. Drew’s killer thought he’d gotten away with it and now he’s injured, maybe dying.”
She knew TJ had a good point, but she didn’t want to think about it tonight. She wanted to think only about Justin and being in his arms on the dance floor. And finally getting that kiss. She said as much to her sisters.
“You haven’t even kissed yet?” Annabelle cried.
“We’re waiting. It’s sweet.”
Her sister raised a brow. “It’s putting a lot of pressure on The Kiss when you finally do lock lips,” Annabelle pointed out.
“Thank you for that.”
“Just sayin’.”
“Just say goodbye,” Chloe said, going to the door and opening it. “I’ll see you at the dance.” She turned off her phone and tossed it on the table. This costume didn’t allow her to take her cell phone—not that she would need it. Everyone would be at the dance.
After they finally left, she looked at the time. Justin was late. She tried not to worry about that. But she also couldn’t ignore what TJ had said.