On the Edge (The Gregory Series - Last Book)

by SUE FINEMAN

  “She’s been married a bunch of times, too. She whines when she doesn’t get her way.”

  He grinned. “So did George’s last wife. He can handle it.”

  While the broker prepared the papers for Baylee to sign, Baylee talked with Anne about Olivia’s contract and about setting things up with the accountant to pay the condo fees and utilities. “If she has anyone move in with her, the deal is off and she’s out of here. That doesn’t include the bodyguards, but they won’t be around forever. She’ll be on her own as soon as Jack Blackburn is behind bars again.”

  “You’re being very generous, Baylee.”

  “Someone has to take care of her, because Lord knows she can’t take care of herself.”

  <>

  On the way back to the hotel, Baylee received a phone call from Chance. “Steven was awesome, Baylee. They won the game ten to two, and he’s so excited he’s about to pop. He not only pitched a good game, he hit a double and knocked in two runs.”

  She laughed. “That’s great. Tell him I’m really proud of him.”

  “I will. Anything happening there?”

  “I just bought a six-hundred-thousand-dollar fully-furnished condo. Which reminds me. I’m having all the furniture and everything else from the lake house put into storage for you, for when you find a house of your own.”

  “You don’t have to—”

  “I want to, Chance. Used furniture isn’t worth beans, and it doesn’t make sense to give it away with the house. What else am I going to do with it?”

  “Donate it to—”

  “I’m giving it to you. If you don’t like it, you can replace it one room at a time and donate this stuff to charity. The house is about six thousand square feet, four bedrooms plus maid’s quarters, so there’s a lot of it.”

  “We’ll have to talk about it later, honey. I’m taking the kids on the team out for pizza to celebrate, and they’re ready to go.”

  “I wish I’d been there.”

  “So do I, Baylee. So do I.”

  <>

  Later that afternoon, Olivia returned from her hair and nail appointment. Baylee had given her a few hundred dollars before she went downstairs, and she didn’t offer any change. No surprise there.

  “Olivia, we need to spend a few minutes talking in private. Is this a good time for you?”

  “Sure. Are you going to give me an allowance?”

  Baylee glanced at George, who must be ready for a break by now. He and Bret walked into the other room together.

  She sat down at the table with Olivia and handed her a copy of the contract. “I want to go over this with you point by point. If you don’t want to sign it, we’ll tear it up, and you can handle things on your own, like you did before. Okay?”

  “Okay.” She smiled broadly, but she had no idea what was coming.

  Baylee went over the contract, stopping often to ask, “Do you understand?”

  “The condo won’t be mine?”

  “No, the condo will be mine. I’m letting you live there, but it won’t ever be yours. You absolutely cannot have anyone live there with you except me or someone I send to stay there. No men, Olivia. If you want to live with a man, that’s fine, but you won’t live in my condo.”

  “What do you care who I have there?”

  “I care, and I won’t allow it. Sal not only took your credit cards, he stole mine and Neen’s, and he has a long criminal record. I don’t want people like that on my property. If at any time I find out you’re keeping a man in the condo, you’ll have ten days to move out, and you won’t be allowed to live in the house with me, assuming I still own the house then.”

  “If Bay had left me—”

  “She didn’t leave you anything but a little painting. The estate is mine, not yours. All the assets belong to me.” Baylee pushed her copy of the contract aside. “Do you have another place to live, someone else to give you an allowance?”

  “No.” The word came out as a whisper. It had to be humiliating for her to have to rely on someone she resented, but Baylee couldn’t summon any sympathy. She’d done this to herself. How could anyone run through two hundred million dollars in five years?

  Baylee went on to the other points in the contract, until she came to the last one, the requirement that Olivia do at least four hours of community service or charity work every week as long as she lived in the condo.

  “What kind of charity work?”

  “Bay used to volunteer time in the children’s wing at the hospital, and she helped families who were having problems. I give money to battered women’s shelters, and I write about women and children who have been abused by their husbands or boyfriends and fathers. I intend to continue doing that. I’ll give you a month to check into various options, and then I expect you to help other people. You’ve lived a life of luxury, but most people don’t live like that. They don’t have someone to provide a place for them to live or money to buy food. They work hard, and many people struggle to get by.”

  Olivia pouted. “You’re punishing me for treating you so badly.”

  “I want you to see how other people live, so you’ll appreciate what you have. One suggestion, though. If you decide to work in a homeless shelter, don’t dress like you’re going shopping at Saks. That’s like slapping people in the face, and poor people have as much pride as you do. Maybe more. For some of them, it’s all they have. Pride. Treat them with respect.”

  She raised her chin. “I’ll do fund-raising.”

  “Fine, but that’s not enough. I want you to interact with people in need.”

  “If I don’t, you’ll kick me out?”

  “That’s right. You don’t work for a living, so consider this your job. At least four hours a week. That’s not asking too much, is it?”

  “Okay, okay, I’ll figure out something to do for charity. How much allowance do I get?”

  “How much do you think you’ll need?”

  “Ten thousand a month.”

  Baylee laughed. “Think again.”

  “Eight?”

  “Three, and if you run out, you can go hungry until the first of the following month. You’ll have to pay your own bills out of that money, including maid service, food, doctor bills, phone, and all your personal expenses. If you want a car, you’ll have to save enough to buy it yourself, because I’m not giving you a car. You can walk to the hospital and the shopping center, and you can take a bus or taxi to get your groceries. It’s cheaper than paying car insurance.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “No car?”

  “Do you have one now?”

  Olivia didn’t answer. Baylee wondered if she had a current driver’s license. Probably not. She’d been living in New York City, where she didn’t need a car.

  “Where’s the condo?”

  “Near the Galleria. George will take you over, and Anne will meet you there. She’s buying some groceries to get you started. You can use the master bedroom and your bodyguard can have the other room. After the bodyguard leaves, the second bedroom will be mine. I expect you to take good care of the place, Olivia.”

  “Oh, I will. Is it nice?”

  “It’s beautiful, all open, with a view of the Houston skyline. There are several balconies, and once it’s safe to go shopping, we’ll go together and buy some potted plants.”

  She beamed. “Okay.”

  “One more thing. If you run out of money, don’t call me, because I won’t give you any more. Figure out what you need for food and put that money aside before you spend the rest, so you won’t go hungry. You can’t afford to eat out every night, and you can’t afford to shop at Neiman-Marcus. Don’t use credit cards, because you’ll have to pay them off yourself out of your allowance. I’m not paying off your debts past or future. And you can’t afford to call your friends in Paris and New York. Unless you find yourself a good job or a rich husband, that part of your life is over.”

  Olivia cocked her head. “Why are you doing this for me?”

  �
��Because the money Bay left me came from Cody’s estate, and you’re Cody’s daughter. He wouldn’t want you living on the street.”

  “Then give me—”

  “No,” Baylee snapped. “I’ve already told you what I’m giving you, and if you become a problem, I’ll cut you loose. Now go pack your things while I call the front desk and find someone to notarize this contract. You’re moving into the condo today.”

  “What about you?”

  “I’m staying here tonight, then I have other plans.”

  “With Chance?”

  “Without Chance.”

  “He’s such a nice guy. He’s a babe, too.”

  “Yes, he is.” And if he knew what she was planning to do, he’d be back here in a heartbeat.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chance drove his mother and the kids to the pizza restaurant. The kids on the team were acting like they’d won the World Series, and the little kids fed off their enthusiasm, so it was a wild bunch. All but Sarah. She sat close to him and kept watching the door. Once the pizza arrived, the boys settled down some.

  In a quiet moment, Chance asked, “Sarah, is something wrong.”

  “I saw Mommy’s friend.”

  He swallowed a bite of pizza. “What friend?”

  “Alistair.”

  He felt like he’d fallen into an icy pond. Making an effort to keep fear out of his voice, he asked, “You mean today? Did you see him today?”

  “Yeah, he was at the ball game, but he sat up at the top of the bleachers and he pulled his hat down over his eyes when he saw me looking at him.”

  Chance motioned to Greg and spoke quietly so no one else could hear. “Sarah saw Alistair at the game. He showed up at Baylee’s lake house before Blackburn broke in and attacked her. Olivia talked to him.”

  “Are you sure it was the same man?”

  “The description fits, except the guy at the lake house had a beard.” He turned to Sarah. “Does Alistair have a beard?”

  “Yeah, and he wears a funny hat.”

  Greg rubbed Sarah’s shoulder. “Thanks for telling us, honey. Chance, stay here with the kids while I check out things at home and make a couple of phone calls.”

  Greg motioned to Dave, and they left together. Mia stayed with the kids at the restaurant, and the way she held her arm over her fanny pack, Chance knew she’d brought a gun with her. Four students from Dave’s criminal justice class at the university had come to the game to help with security. They weren’t armed, but some of those guys were bigger than Greg, and they came ready to fight, if necessary. Everyone was keeping a close eye on the kids.

  About the time the kids finished their pizza, Greg called Chance. “The ranch is clear. I suggest you take the kids out there. Mia can follow with Mom, and I have a deputy who’ll be right behind you.”

  “Greg, I want in on this. Use me for bait if you want, but I want in.”

  “Then send the kids out with Mia and Mom and come to the station.”

  “On my way.”

  Chance spoke with Mia. “Take Mom and the kids out to the ranch and keep them inside and out of sight.”

  “Is he here in town?” Mom asked.

  “Looks like it. A deputy will follow you out to the ranch. I’m going to go help Greg and Dave.”

  He turned to the kids. “Go with Aunt Mia and Grandma, and do what they say. It’s important, kids.”

  Mom gave him a quick hug, and Chance watched them get into Mia’s SUV and strap themselves in. They pulled out, and a patrol car pulled out right behind them. Dave’s students waved and followed the patrol car, leaving Chance on his own. He looked around for any sign of Blackburn and then drove to the sheriff’s station, where Greg paced and talked on his cell phone.

  Dave said, “Hudson is on his way, but it’ll take him at least an hour to get here. Idiot! They knew the killer was on his way here, and they knew he attacked Baylee. If he worked for me, I’d fire his sorry ass. You’d do a better job than him, and you’ve never worked in law enforcement.”

  No, Chance had never worked in law enforcement, but he had worked in the criminal justice system, as a prosecuting attorney, a defense attorney, and as a judge pro tem. He knew what he wanted to do would earn him a cell in a Texas prison, but that didn’t stop him from wanting to lay a trap and kill that bastard before he hurt or killed anyone else.

  Neen called Greg, and Greg put it on the speaker phone. “There’s a man going up the driveway of the property next door. I guess he doesn’t know no one lives there. In light of what’s happening, I thought you’d want to know.”

  “What does he look like?”

  “He has a short beard, aviator sunglasses, and he’s wearing one of those English driving caps. And he was staring at the house. I watched him through the binoculars.”

  “Is he still there?” Chance asked.

  “I didn’t see him come out.”

  “On our way,” said Greg, and they rushed out the door. Dave took the point, and Chance rode with Greg in the patrol car.

  In the car, Greg put an automatic weapon on the seat beside Chance. “That’s yours. Consider yourself deputized.”

  “Any other way out of that driveway?”

  “No.” He called Neen on his cell phone. “Did he come out yet?”

  Greg listened for a minute and then said, “He’s still in there, and we’re two minutes out, give or take. With any luck, we’ll have him in custody before the feds get here.”

  Greg kept Neen on the line until Dave turned into the driveway past Greg’s house. He disconnected and used his binoculars to check the surrounding area, especially around his house. His pregnant wife and little boy had left the ball game earlier, and they were alone in the house. Neen knew how to use a gun, but with any luck, she wouldn’t have to shoot anyone.

  There was no man and no car in sight. The barn door was closed, and the old house looked abandoned. Greg stood outside the car and scanned the area. Chance walked around the car to stand beside him, the gun in his hand. Dave motioned he’d go around back, and Greg nodded.

  “He’s watching us,” said Chance.

  “No doubt. I wonder what kind of weapons he has on him.”

  “Barn first, or house?”

  “House. The boards over the front door have been removed. Neen saw a light over here the other night, but I had a deputy check it out, and he said there was no one here. We thought it was kids fooling around. They get into a lot of mischief this time of year.”

  “Maybe it was kids.” And maybe it was a killer looking for a place to hide.

  “You stay by the cars. If he tries to get away, yell ‘Stop,’ and shoot if he doesn’t stop.”

  Greg walked toward the house and banged on the door. “Sheriff. Open the door.”

  To Chance’s surprise, the door opened, but it wasn’t Alistair or Blackburn or whoever he was calling himself today. It was Dave.

  “There’s more garbage in here than in the dump,” said Dave. “I can’t get to the stairs.”

  Chance caught a glimpse of movement in the barn loft. He ducked behind the car and yelled, “He’s in the barn, in the loft.”

  Greg aimed at the open window in the loft. “Come out of there with your hands up.”

  “I’m coming,” the man called. “Don’t shoot.” It sounded like Blackburn, but Chance couldn’t be sure.

  Again, Dave went around back. Chance eased around to the side of the barn, where a door stood ajar. Seconds later, a man called, “I’m coming out,” and the door opened.

  The man looked like Jack Blackburn with a beard. “Over here,” said Chance. “Hands up and walk toward me.”

  Greg ran toward the man from one direction, and Dave from the other, and in seconds, they had him patted down and cuffed.

  After all they’d been through, it couldn’t be this easy, could it?

  While Dave stood guard, Greg and Chance pulled the barn doors open. Greg scanned Alistair’s car, and Chance climbed a ladder to the loft, where
he found a sleeping bag and camping supplies. They’d been waiting for a killer, and he’d been living next door to the Sheriff’s home. Alistair had a clear view of Greg’s house from here. How long had he been watching them?

  Was this the same man he’d seen in the courtroom during his trial for assaulting his wife five years ago, the man who’d killed Emma and Melissa and Mary, the man who’d attacked Baylee? The physical description was the same, but the Jack Blackburn he’d seen in the courtroom had an angry look about him. This man had a superior, you-can’t-touch-me look in his eyes.

  Greg read him his rights and then asked, “Who are you, and what are you doing here?”

  “Alistair Walden. I’m looking for property in the area, and I thought I’d camp out here for a few days to see the sunrise and sunset before I made a financial commitment.”

  The voice was definitely Jack Blackburn’s, but the inflection was different, more refined. Chance understood how this man could fool Emma. She’d seen Blackburn on television, but not up close and personal, and he doubted if she’d ever heard Blackburn speak.

  But Chance had, and this man spoke with Jack Blackburn’s voice.

  By the time they got the man to the station, Hudson had arrived with Rolfs. They took charge, and Chance stood back and watched. Greg’s scowl said he wasn’t happy about releasing his prisoner to an FBI agent he didn’t like, but this was the FBI’s case. Or was it? This man had assaulted Baylee, killed a woman in Houston, murdered two more women in Tacoma, blown up Chance’s house, and threatened him and Baylee. All the FBI wanted him for was kidnapping.

  Rolfs used Greg’s fingerprinting kit and took Alistair’s prints, but when they compared them with Jack Blackburn’s, they didn’t match. There’d be no jurisdiction disputes over this man, because he wasn’t Jack Blackburn.

  “Wait a minute. You can’t let him go.” Not until Chance figured out what part he’d played in Emma’s murder and in the attack on Baylee. “What about the cut on his finger? Did you check his balls? Baylee hit him in the balls when he attacked her.”

  Alistair raised his eyebrows and played innocent. “Who? I don’t even know this person. I caught my finger on a nail in the barn.”