The Lies That Bind

by Kate Carlisle

  Alice wavered, stunned. Then she rallied, lifting the gun and aiming it directly at Minka. “You cow!”

  But Minka was like a caged beast let loose. She jumped on Alice and screeched, “You could’ve killed me!”

  “Stone,” Gabriel yelled. “Get in here.”

  Seconds later, Derek raced into the room, gun drawn, followed by four or five cops. He saw me and shouted, “Get over here.”

  But I was trapped. Minka was now on Alice’s back and she was kicking her legs every which way. I couldn’t get past them.

  Minka grabbed hold of a good chunk of Alice’s hair and pulled with all her might. Alice screamed as her head jerked back and she dropped the gun.

  I scrambled to retrieve it, then scurried back to avoid being kicked in the head by Minka’s deadly feet.

  Gabriel moved closer and tried to grab Minka, but it was impossible to get hold of the two women locked in writhing combat.

  Alice kept turning and bucking, fighting to get Minka off her back, but it was like trying to remove a giant tick. Minka wasn’t letting go. She got her hands around Alice’s neck and started squeezing. That did it. Alice was so enraged that she finally flung Minka off.

  Minka flew right into me and the gun went off.

  The bullet shattered a window. Alice screamed and ducked.

  Gabriel jumped and wrestled Alice to the ground. One of the cops grabbed Minka but quickly regretted it, as Minka was still in swinging mode. Her fist caught his ear. The cop staggered back, to be replaced by two more. Finally, they subdued her.

  Derek jogged around the piles of bodies and grabbed the gun lying on the floor. He shoved it into the waistband of his jeans, then yanked me into his arms.

  “We’re going to have a long talk later,” he whispered against my hair.

  “I understand,” I said, shaking. “Just please get me out of here first.”

  Chapter 21

  The police insisted that we stay.

  It was just as well, because I wanted to see with my own eyes that Mary Grace Flanagan, aka Alice Fairchild, was led away in handcuffs and thrown in jail for as long as possible. I savored the fact that, as she departed, she was snarling and feisty, no longer the demure princess she’d pretended to be for the past month.

  And talk about snarling, Minka was still complaining to anyone who would listen. She told the police she planned to press charges and insisted they take pictures of her head wound for evidence.

  The door was open and I could hear party sounds down the hall. Had anyone heard the gun go off or the window shatter? I almost hoped they hadn’t. I would hate for anyone to be fearful of coming to BABA, now that the true threat was gone.

  “Stone.”

  We both turned. Gabriel had his hand held out and Derek shook it firmly. “Gabriel. Well done.”

  “Maybe,” he said. He appeared more tranquil. Tired around the eyes, but stronger physically. He’d acted so heroically, leading Alice into a perfect trap, then standing in front of me when she drew her gun. Now he glanced at the empty doorway and bared his teeth. “Mary Grace will have her lawyer cut her loose within hours and she’ll disappear again.”

  “She’d better not,” I said intently.

  Gabriel looked at me. “She did a number on you, didn’t she?”

  I shrugged, trying to brush off the lingering sense of betrayal. “I was a little too trusting, but it won’t happen again.”

  “Babe,” he said, and reached out to touch my cheek. “Trust looks good on you.”

  I shook my head, not quite believing him, then grabbed him in a fierce hug. “Thank you for saving me.”

  He chuckled without humor. “I almost got you shot.”

  “I mean that first time. On Fillmore.”

  He gave me a brief squeeze and I breathed in his distinctive scent of earth and spice. Then I stepped back, close to Derek, who put his hand on my back.

  “Do you need a ride to Dharma, Gabriel?” Derek asked.

  “Got it covered,” Gabriel said, then winked at me. “Nice little town you’ve got up there, babe. I might stick around.” He flashed me a sexy grin, then walked away. At the doorway, he stopped and turned, then held up his arm to show me he was still wearing my mother’s tacky herbal healing bracelet. We traded smiles, and I whispered a quick prayer that he would indeed stick around.

  “Are you all right?” Derek asked, pulling me close in a protective embrace.

  “Yes,” I said, staring at the now empty doorway. “Derek, was it my imagination or did you know Gabriel before two days ago?”

  His mouth curved as he smoothed my hair away from my face. “Your imagination is vast.”

  That was a nonanswer if I’d ever heard one, but I let it go for now. The police continued wrapping things up. One of the crime scene guys slipped the gun in an evidence bag and carried it away. Awhile ago, I’d seen both Ned and Naomi walk by the open door, accompanied by officers, to be interviewed. And Minka was still whining.

  I gave Derek a meaningful glance. “I can’t take her anymore. Can we please leave?”

  “I think it’s safe to go.”

  But we stopped as the classroom door swung open and Naomi came running in. When she saw me, she gave me a gentle hug. “Oh, thank God you’re safe!”

  “Thanks, Naomi.”

  Then she saw Minka and gasped. She headed straight for her and grabbed her in a bone-crushing bear hug. “Oh, Minka, I just heard the news! Alice was arrested, thanks to you! And you saved Brooklyn’s life!”

  “Get away from me,” Minka balked, pushing her back.

  “But you’re the hero of the day!”

  “Don’t you ever shut up?” Minka groused, then did a double take. “Wait a minute. What did you just say?”

  “I said, you’re the hero of the-”

  “No, before that.”

  “You mean the part where you saved Brooklyn’s life?” Naomi asked. “I heard all about it. You could’ve been shot but you forged ahead anyway. And Brooklyn is alive, thanks to you!”

  “Oh, screw a moose.” Minka flashed me a murderous glare. “I did not just save her life.”

  “You did!” Naomi cried, and hugged her again. “You’re a hero.”

  “Stop saying that!” Minka yelled, and squirmed out of Naomi’s grasp.

  “But, Minka, it’s-”

  “Shut up!” Minka slapped her hands to her ears so she wouldn’t have to hear the dreaded words, then shrieked again, “Shut up, shut up, shut up!”

  “Jeez, Minka, scream a little louder,” I said, rubbing my own ear. “I don’t think they heard you in Saskatchewan.”

  She shook her fist at me. “You shut up, too!”

  “Look at the bright side,” I said, waving her off. “Now we’re even. I don’t owe you and you don’t owe me.”

  “Well, that works, too,” Naomi said cheerfully.

  On impulse, I gave Naomi a hug. Even though she’d tried to be the bitch and thief her aunt was, she would never make it. She was just too good-hearted to pull it off. “Thanks, sweetie.”

  Naomi smiled tentatively as she let go of me. “I’m sorry about all the controversy. I’ll sell you the Oliver Twist for a fair price as soon as the police let me have it.”

  “Oh, that’s wonderful,” I said, satisfied with the sense of closure I felt. The book would be a fitting memento of the ring of thieves we’d all had a hand in breaking up.

  “You deserve it,” she said, then smiled at Minka. “So, I guess everything works out for the best.”

  “Whatever,” Minka said, then turned and snapped at me, “And I don’t owe you a damn thing.”

  “Works for me.” It felt more than right to go back to being enemies, as if we’d ever stopped. I gazed at Derek as I wound my arm through his. “I think we’re done here.”

  Naomi tilted her head and studied Minka. “You know, Minka, I’ve tried and tried to be nice to you, but I’ve finally figured out what the problem is.”

  Minka pretended interest. “
Oh, do tell.”

  Naomi planted her hand on her hip. “You’re just a mean bitch. And I’m sick of dealing with mean bitches.”

  Minka’s laugh was harsh. “Whatever. God, you’re lame.”

  “Fine. I may be lame, but you’re fired.” Naomi swiveled on her toe and walked out.

  And the crowd went wild! Well, I did anyway. Internally. After all, Minka was still in pummeling range and I didn’t want to make myself a bigger target for her wrath than I already was.

  And I would never admit this to Minka, but it had done my heart good to watch her riding Alice Fairchild like a rodeo star. I would always look fondly on the memory of Minka LaBoeuf clinging to that psycho little blonde like the blood-sucking tick that she was.

  It was almost surreal to see that the party was still going strong. People laughed and toasted and mingled among the shelves of books and displays.

  As I stood arm in arm with Derek, I could see Gunther Schnaubel signaling to him as he pushed his way through the crowd. What did he want now?

  Karalee ran up and hugged me. “You won the Peachey knives. Congratulations.”

  “They already announced the auction winners?”

  “Awhile ago,” she said. “I shouldn’t really congratulate you since we were bidding against each other for almost every prize.”

  “Sorry,” I said, not really meaning it but trying to be nice.

  She grinned. “That’s okay. I won the other Peachey knife.”

  “The ergonomic one?”

  “Yes, it’s so cool.”

  “I’d love to try it out sometime,” I said.

  We talked more about the auction, and bookbinding equipment and classes, all the normal stuff. Then our conversation switched to Alice and Layla. Karalee wanted to know what had happened and I wanted to tell her. But I couldn’t concentrate because Gunther was talking to Derek now, discussing their plans to return to London in the morning.

  My chest felt tight. Derek was leaving and we still hadn’t managed any real alone time. And now he was mad at me for sneaking into the closet against his orders. He didn’t look particularly angry, but he also hadn’t mentioned the two of us heading off for that deserted island anytime soon.

  Unable to hear any more of their travel conversation, I grabbed hold of Karalee’s hand. “Let’s go see who else won the auction prizes.”

  “Okay,” she said cheerfully.

  I snagged a glass of champagne from a passing waiter’s tray and stared blindly at the list of auction winners.

  So, Derek would leave tomorrow.

  I took a long, stiff swallow of the bubbly liquid. I’d known from day one that he would go eventually, and I’d been determined from the start to stay strong. I could handle this. I would smile and wish him a safe flight home, back to where he belonged. And then I would go on with my life. I had friends, a great job, a wonderful family.

  I would miss him, of course, but I would survive. It might be touch and go for a little while because, after all, I’d grown rather used to having him around. We’d become close. Very close. Not close enough, but I liked him a lot. I suppose you could say I liked him more than any man I’d ever known before.

  But still, he was a dangerous habit I would have to break myself of. It should be simple enough. After all, he was geographically undesirable, to say the least. Thousands of miles and an ocean separated us and nothing could change that. I’d cured myself of bad habits before. I could do it again. And I would. Eventually.

  Karalee drifted off to talk to others and I sipped my champagne alone.

  “There you are, Brooklyn.”

  I turned to greet Cynthia Hardesty.

  “I’m in total shock about timid little Alice,” she admitted. “But I have to tell you, I still won’t mourn Layla too much.”

  “I understand,” I said. And I was right there with her, but I wasn’t going to say it out loud.

  With the party still in high gear, rumors were flying. The police had tried to be subtle, but with the catfight between Alice and Minka and the gunshot and the police interviews going on, it wasn’t surprising that word had gotten out about what had gone down in the back room.

  She continued, “We’ve already told Naomi we want her to be the acting director for the next three months.”

  “Good.”

  “We’ll see how she does. Then we’ll make our final decision. I have a feeling she’ll do just fine.”

  “I think you’re right,” I said, and meant it. Naomi had been a pill but she’d also been under duress. Maybe with Layla gone and Alice dragged off to jail, Naomi would have a chance to shine.

  “See you in class tomorrow,” Cynthia said, and turned to greet another friend.

  Wow, class was tomorrow night already? It felt like an age had passed since I’d been in the classroom. But now I figured teaching might be one good way I could fill my time for the foreseeable future. Maybe I could sign on to do classes every night. Then I might not feel Derek’s absence quite as keenly.

  Ned walked up and lifted his chin in greeting. “Huh.”

  “Hey, Ned, how’s it going?”

  He stared across the room at one of the police officers who had taken Alice away. “She was bad.”

  I was watching Alice, so Ned’s words took a moment to sink in. “Wait, were you talking about Alice when you said that before?”

  “Huh.”

  “Alice? Not Layla?”

  He shuffled his feet, nervous now that I’d raised my voice.

  “You couldn’t just say her name?” I chided. “It might’ve saved us all a lot of trouble.”

  “Huh,” he said, and his mouth curved up. “You’re smart.”

  I rolled my eyes. Yeah, I was real smart. “See you around, Ned.”

  Before he could wander off, I heard, “Meow.”

  I looked down and saw Baba the cat, another creature who saw things. Guess he wasn’t talking, either.

  “Hey, buddy, there you are,” Ned said. “I was wondering where you ran off to. You hungry? Me, too.” He reached down and picked up the cat, who nuzzled his neck ecstatically.

  “Yeah, you’re my friend, aren’t you?” Ned held the cat up in the air and stared at him. “ ’Specially when you’re looking to get fed.”

  “Meow.”

  “Come on, then. Let’s go chow down.” He clutched the cat close and lifted one hand in farewell to me, then wandered off down the hall.

  I walked away, shaking my head. Ned talked to the cat more than he talked to humans. Maybe he was on to something.

  “I was looking for you,” Derek said, wrapping his arm around my waist. I pressed myself against his solid chest and felt the soft leather of his jacket against my cheek. His uniquely masculine scent filled my senses. I breathed in deeply before breaking contact.

  “Ready to go?” I asked brightly, determined not to be an idiot in front of him. I would make our last evening together a cheery one. I refused to cry, to make a scene, to make him uncomfortable. I would wish him well and let him go. End of story. Piece of cake.

  We walked toward the front door and I glanced around, desperate for conversation starters. Why did I feel so lame, all of a sudden?

  “Are you packed?” I asked.

  “No.”

  “Oh. Did you get something to eat?”

  “No.”

  “Did you want to go by your hotel?” I asked.

  “No.”

  “Okay. Well, all righty then.”

  He pushed the door open and I stepped outside, directly into the path of a frigid evening breeze. The fog had rolled in over the water and dusk shrouded the city in shadows. I shuddered and he pulled me closer as we walked to the Bentley.

  I rested my head against his shoulder and tried to sound casual. “Just when I’m getting used to having you around, it’s time for you to leave.”

  “Are you?”

  “Am I what?”

  “Getting used to having me around?”

  “Well, yes.” I p
atted his chest. “But I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation with Gunther. I know you’re leaving tomorrow.”

  “Oh, you do?”

  “Yes, that’s why I was asking if you were all packed.”

  “Ah.” He studied my face and asked, “How do you feel about my leaving?”

  He had to ask? I took a deep breath, then tried for a tone of casual friendliness. “I’ll miss you, of course, but I know you have to get back. You have a business to run, and I’m sure your family must miss you.”

  “Yes, I’m sure they miss me terribly.”

  “And the people at your company must miss you, too.”

  His lips twisted in a smile. “I have no doubt all eight hundred and twelve of them miss me every day.”

  “There you go.” What a brave little thing I was. Then I realized what he’d said and my jaw dropped. “Wait. You have over eight hundred employees?”

  He shrugged. “Security is in high demand.”

  “I guess.”

  He studied me as he pulled a small thin case from his inside pocket. “Let me give you my business card so we can be sure to keep in touch.”

  Keep in touch.

  Now, why did he have to go and say that? I felt my throat close up completely, which caused my eyes to water. It was just a physical reaction to the weather. Nothing more.

  “I’d like that,” I whispered, hating that my voice trembled. I slipped his card into my pants pocket, then looked away, not able to make eye contact, unwilling to make more of a fool of myself than I already had.

  “Yes, I’d like that, too,” he said.

  I cleared my throat. “I remember when you first arrived, you said you’d tried to stay away, so I’ll understand if you do this time.”

  “You’ll understand if I do.”

  I knew my smile was wobbly but I forced myself to continue. “Stay away, I mean. It’s hard to stay in touch when there’s such a distance separating us, but if you do happen to come through town sometime, it would be lovely to see you again.”

  Could I have sounded more lame? Tears were blurring my eyes but I blamed it on the cold air.

  “Would it?”

  “Yes, it would.” I turned away to dab my eyes.