Thirty-One and a Half Regrets (Rose Gardner Mystery #4)

by Grover Swank, Denise

“You won’t hurt him at all.”

  Mason banged on the closet door, shouting my name.

  Crocker looked back at the door and then grinned at me. “None of us will hurt him at all.”

  I took several steps backward and reached for the door. “Let’s go to somewhere more private.”

  Crocker crossed the room and slammed the door shut, turning me so my back was propped against it. He pressed his chest against mine. “I like this room just fine.”

  My eyes widened in understanding and fear.

  His hand snaked into my hair and wrapped around a handful of strands. “I’ve been waiting a long time for this, Rose.”

  He jerked hard and I couldn’t stop my scream.

  This was my vision.

  It was coming true.

  “Rose!” Mason shouted, banging on the door.

  Crocker grinned and covered my mouth with his. I’d forgotten what a sloppy kisser he was, even without any alcohol. In my horror, I forgot about my agreement to cooperate. “You don’t seem very enthusiastic, Rose. Have you forgotten our deal already?” He jerked my hair again.

  “No,” I wheezed out, unable to hide my terror.

  Crocker fed on my fear, his eyes lighting with excitement. After releasing my hair, he lowered his hands to my waist, skimming both hands slowly up my sides while watching my face. “I’ve been thinking about this for months, Rose. Many different ways.”

  I kept my gaze on his, forcing myself to calm down. “My expectations aren’t quite as high,” I heard myself saying.

  He dropped his hands and slapped my face before I realized what was happening. I released a cry of pain, trying to ignore Mason’s continued shouting.

  Crocker dug his fingers into my upper arms. “I don’t consider that cooperative, Rose.”

  “You want me to lie and tell you how good you are?”

  He hit me again and I couldn’t stop my groan. I knew I shouldn’t antagonize Crocker, but I’d rather be beaten than the alternative.

  As if reading my mind, he pulled the jacket down my arms and tossed it to the floor. “We’re wasting valuable time, sweet Rose.” His mouth lowered to mine, and I tried to show more enthusiasm this time.

  I had to figure a way out. I opened my eyes and took an inventory of the room. A bed, a dresser, sheer curtains hanging on the window. A bedside table with a ceramic lamp and an old-fashioned alarm clock. The discarded wooden rod on the floor. None of the pieces were coalescing into a plan.

  Crocker stripped off his shirt and stood in front of me bare-chested, a huge bruise forming on his stomach. His eyes followed my gaze and his eyebrows rose. “You shouldn’t have done that, Rose.” He reached down and picked up the pole.

  I turned and ran for the door. I managed to get it open, but Crocker caught me in the hall and slammed me into the wall. Panic raced through my body and I tried to swallow the sob in my throat.

  “Where are you going, Rose? You said you’d cooperate.”

  I looked down at the wooden rod still in his hand. “You’re going to hurt me.”

  He spun me around, his grin maniacal. “You said you’d cooperate in everything.”

  Mason’s life depended upon it, but for the life of me, I wasn’t sure I could willingly allow him to beat me with that pole. “But how can I be totally cooperative if you hurt me first?” My voice betrayed me by shaking, but I had his attention. “I’ve learned a few things since you last saw me. I’m more experienced now.”

  He tossed the pole onto the wooden floor, clanging on the wood floor in the hallway. “I better be impressed.” He reached for the button on my jeans and unzipped them. “Take them off.”

  Swallowing my fear, I hooked my thumbs on my waistband.

  “Actually,” Joe’s authoritative voice startled me. “I think she should leave them on.”

  I swiveled to see Joe at the end of the hallway, pointing his handgun at Crocker.

  I released a cry of relief. Joe had come anyway.

  “Rose, why don’t you walk toward me real slow.” Joe inched forward, his eyes and gun still on Crocker.

  I moved toward him, keeping my attention on Crocker. When I reached Joe, he slid an arm around my waist and pulled me to his chest. “Did he hit you?” he said, his voice harsh.

  Crocker laughed. “What are you going to do about it, McAllister? You hid behind her last time. You gonna hide behind her again?”

  Joe started to lunge for Crocker, but I grabbed fistfuls of his jacket and held tight. “No! He’s not worth it.”

  Crocker leaned over, laughing hard. “You’re not man enough to shoot me.”

  Joe backed up, dragging me with him. “Let’s discuss my lack of manhood out here where there’s more room.”

  Crocker followed, grinning at Joe like he was a Christmas present. “I thought you two had broken up, but the way you’re holding her tells me otherwise.”

  Joe didn’t answer. Instead, he pried my hands from his jacket and pushed me behind him. “Our personal life is none of your business.”

  “I’ve spent the last five months making Rose very much my business.”

  Joe tensed and I put a hand on his shoulder. “Please don’t.”

  “Listen to her, Joe. I’ll just kick your ass, and then Rose and I will pick up where we left off.”

  Joe started to unzip his jacket. “I want you to put this on and go outside,” he said to me.

  “What about the two other guys?”

  “I’ve taken care of them.”

  I shook my head. “I need to help Mason.”

  Crocker sneered. “She was making out with the DA when I found her in the closet. His hands were all over her.”

  Joe tensed again. “Go get him.”

  Watching me with a leer, Crocker’s eyebrows lifted in appreciation. “As you can see, he had her half undressed and ready for me. I can’t say I blame him.”

  Joe’s face reddened.

  “He’s lying, Joe! He’s trying to piss you off.”

  “Go get him,” he growled again. He waved his gun at Crocker. “Move away from the hall.”

  Lifting his hands in surrender, he backed away from the hall and into the center of the living room.

  I ran into the bedroom and pulled the chair out from underneath the doorknob, throwing the closet door open. “Mason.”

  He lay on the floor in front of the door, blinking to adjust to the light. “Rose? I heard shouting. How—”

  “Joe’s here.”

  “What about the rest of the state police?”

  “Not yet.”

  I helped him sit up. “Did he hurt you very badly?”

  He grimaced and took a deep breath, then looked into my eyes. “I should be asking you that question.”

  “I’m fine.”

  His mouth pressed together tightly enough to blanch the skin around his lips.

  “I need to find something to cut that tie so you can balance enough to stand.”

  He nodded.

  When I ran into the hall, Crocker was still taunting Joe. “—fantasizing about her for months. One version she’s—”

  I disappeared into a bathroom and found a small pair of scissors in the drawer before hurrying back into the bedroom to cut through the plastic cord. After I snapped it, Mason rubbed his wrists for a second and then reached for me. We held each other for a long moment, and then I helped him up.

  “I’m sorry,” I whispered when he gasped.

  “Just give me a moment to recover.”

  I wasn’t sure how long we had left before Joe ripped Crocker apart with his bare hands.

  We hobbled to the door and Mason stopped just inside the doorway.

  “Put on your jacket.”

  After I did, he wrapped his arm around my shoulder again and we eased through the door.

  Crocker turned his attention to us. “Here come the lovebirds now. You should have been here, Officer Joe. Mr. DA was about to drop every charge against me to protect Rose’s virtue. Even the murder charge
s if I promised not to touch her.”

  Mason ignored the insult. “Joe, how soon until the state police arrive?”

  “I don’t know. I called Chief Deputy Dimler to bring him into the loop. He told me they’d contacted him to coordinate the capture.”

  I lowered Mason onto a kitchen chair. “Where is everyone, then?” I wheezed out. “They should be here by now.”

  “Good question.” Joe scowled.

  “Rose, you covered up,” Crocker mock frowned. “I want to see your pretty—”

  “Shut. Up.” Joe shouted.

  The front door opened and Chief Deputy Dimler came through the door, wearing civilian clothes and pausing to take in the scene. “Good job, Detective Simmons.” He turned his attention to Mason and me. “Mason, good to see you’re alive and well.” But something seemed off. He was too nonchalant.

  Mason picked up on it too—I could tell from the stiffness of his shoulders.

  The chief deputy stopped next to Joe and pulled his gun out of its holster. “Why don’t you wait outside for the rest of the state police officers and I’ll take over here?”

  Jeff unzipped his jacket, revealing a necklace that was hanging halfway out of his T-shirt.

  A St. Jude’s medallion.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  My mouth dropped open.

  Joe’s eyebrows lifted. “Rose, what’s wrong?”

  “It was you all along,” Mason said, his words laced with a mixture of disappointment and anger. “You were the leak.”

  I pointed at his necklace, which Jeff was already stuffing inside his shirt. “He’s wearing a St. Jude’s medallion. All of Crocker’s men wear them.”

  Joe shook his head. “No. They didn’t when I was part of their group.”

  “They do now. I’ve seen it myself and Jonah confirmed it.”

  “Mason, seriously. Are you suggesting I’m one of Crocker’s men?” Jeff laughed good-naturedly. He lifted his hand to his chest. “We’re friends. We’ve been working this case together for months. We play basketball together. Hell, you came over to my house and watched the Little Rock-LSU game.” He shook his head. “Being lost in the woods has made you a bit paranoid, which is understandable. I’ll let it slide. No hard feelings.”

  Mason didn’t look convinced. “Where’d you get it?”

  “I’m a good Catholic boy. I go to mass every Sunday. My grandmother gave it to me for protection when I joined the sheriff’s department.”

  Joe turned his attention to the chief deputy, his eyes narrowing. “That’s odd, considering St. Jude is the patron saint of lost objects.”

  Jeff flashed him a smile then he and Crocker rushed Joe at once. The gun went off and Mason flew off the chair, tackling me to the floor as I screamed. The three men continued to tussle and there was another shot.

  “Mason. I need to find a gun,” I shouted.

  “No.” He grunted in pain as he pressed me to the floor. “You’ll get shot.”

  “We’re in big trouble if they overpower Joe.” I shoved him off. I was sorry to hurt him, but I needed one of those guns.

  “Look outside,” Mason called after me. “The guy who found me didn’t take the bag.”

  I ran out the back door toward the grouping of trees where I’d left Mason. The bag was several feet behind the tree where he had waited for me. My hand was shaking so hard it took me two attempts to open it, but I found a handgun inside with a full clip. I grabbed more clips and stuffed them into my pockets before heading back to the house.

  I crept through the back door and hid behind the kitchen table as I assessed how the situation had changed. Mason had raised himself into a sitting position on the floor and was halfway between the living room and the kitchen. My heart leapt into my throat when I saw Joe lying on the floor, his face beaten. Jeff stood to the side looking unhappy as Crocker delivered another kick to Joe’s ribs.

  “We’ve got a DA and a state police detective here, not to mention the fact that Joe Simmons is running for state senate and is the son of a very powerful political player, Crocker.” Jeff ran a hand through his hair and released a low whistle. “We’re in deep shit.”

  “You were in deep shit long before now. We’ll kill these two and dispose of them in the hills where they’ll never be found, then I’ll take Rose with me.”

  I rushed forward, the gun trained on Crocker. “I’m not going anywhere with you. Now get away from him.”

  Mason swung around to look at me.

  Crocker turned in surprise and smiled. “Rose, you came back to the party.” Then he kicked Joe again.

  Joe released a grunt and spat blood onto the floor.

  I held the gun higher, aiming at Crocker’s chest, my finger on the trigger. Mason had told me I’d better be prepared to use it if I pointed it at Crocker or one of his men. I only hoped I was.

  “You can’t shoot me,” Crocker said, amused. “It’s not self-defense.”

  “Mason?” I asked.

  “Do it,” he said in a menacing voice.

  Crocker looked surprised for a second, but he kicked Joe again in defiance. “You won’t shoot me, Rose.”

  My hand shook.

  Joe moaned on the floor, curling up in a defensive position, his eyes closed.

  Crocker followed my gaze to Joe then looked back at me with a smirk. “If you shoot me, Chief Deputy Dimler will shoot you. And I don’t think that’s what you want.”

  I didn’t answer.

  “You’re too scared, Rose,” Crocker purred. “But that’s okay. It’s not easy killing a man. Watching his life bleed out.”

  My stomach clamped and I hesitated as he started to creep toward me. Now he was just six feet away.

  “Shoot him!” Mason shouted.

  “I know what you want, Rose.” He smiled. “You want to protect both the D.A. and McAllister.” He held his hands out at his sides. “So let’s make a deal where no one gets hurt.” He took another step toward me. “If you put your gun down, Dimler promises to let your boyfriends go.”

  “And me?”

  He gave me his cocky grin. “You leave. With me.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  Crocker lunged for the gun.

  I took a deep breath and squeezed the trigger. The blast filled the room and Crocker fell backward, tripping over Joe’s legs and landing on the floor. I swung the gun toward Dimler, whose gun was trained on me.

  He moved his hands to his sides, the gun pointed against the wall, and took a step toward me. “Rose.” He smiled. “You can get away with shooting an escaped criminal, but not the chief deputy sheriff. Now put down the gun.”

  “Mason?” My voice rose with fright.

  “Don’t listen to him.”

  Jeff’s face pleaded with me. “Rose, I know how this looks, but you don’t know the whole story.”

  “It looks like you’ve partnered with Daniel Crocker and you told him where we were hiding. Why? And why didn’t you just tell him immediately? Why wait?”

  “We were…negotiating. And as for why, do you know how much a sheriff makes? Not very damn much, I’ll tell you that. How the hell am I supposed to pay for all of my kid’s medical bills?”

  “Answer this,” Mason said, his voice hard. “Why have me work on finding the leak if you were planning to turn me over to Crocker with Rose?”

  Jeff turned to look at Mason. “I didn’t want you involved in this. I told you to let me take her into our protection.” He pointed his gun at me again. “And I told you to convince him to stay out of the whole situation. We both know who’s going to win this standoff. So if Mason gets hurt in all of this, that’s on your head.”

  I gasped.

  Keeping his gun trained on me, Jeff glanced back at Mason. “Crocker didn’t even know you and Rose were involved. Hell, I didn’t know you were involved until after Crocker visited her house. I never intended for you to be dragged into this.”

  He took two more steps toward me.

  Mason shook his he
ad. “But the investigation…If you were the leak, why have me keep working on it?”

  “I was surprised when you approached me this summer, but I figured I could use it to my advantage. I hoped to pin everything on the sheriff. I’m your friend, Mason. We can work this out.”

  Mason’s mouth dropped open. “If you believe that, you never really knew me at all.”

  “Stop being so idealistic for once,” Jeff scoffed. “This is how the real world works. We can both take over—you as DA and me as sheriff. We can rule Fenton County.”

  Mason shook his head in disbelief. “There’s no way in hell I’ll agree to that.”

  Jeff took another step toward me and tossed his gun to the floor.

  “Stop right there.” I jabbed the gun in his direction. “I’ll shoot you.”

  “Will you? Now I’m unarmed, Rose. You could get in big trouble, and these two—” he pointed to Mason and Joe with a sly grin “—aren’t exactly unbiased witnesses. How would you like to do some prison time?”

  I swallowed the lump of fear that had lodged in my throat.

  “See, Rose? You don’t want to shoot me.” He was four feet in front of me now, reaching out his hand. “Just give me the gun.”

  “Don’t listen to him, Rose,” Mason grunted. “No one will ever press charges.”

  Changing tactics, Dimler dropped to his knees and put Mason in a chokehold, positioning his body behind Mason’s. “Put down the gun or I’ll strangle him.”

  My hands shook.

  “Just put it down and we’ll have a reasonable discussion.”

  Mason’s face was turning red.

  “You’d kill your own friend?” I asked in disbelief.

  “He’s the one who turned his back on me.” Jeff cocked his head to look at me. “I’m guessing you’re not a good enough shot to make sure you miss Mason.”

  “No,” Joe said, his words slurred. “But I am.”

  A gunshot rang out and Dimler slumped to the ground with a groan, blood seeping from his right shoulder.

  Mason hunched forward, gasping for air.

  My gaze turned to Joe, who was propped up on his left elbow, the gun in his right hand still pointed at the deputy.

  I ran to Mason first, setting my gun on the floor beside him. “Are you okay?”