by Karen Cote'
“We weren’t suspects,” Nathan gritted through his teeth. “They think some drug dealer in Kansas City offed Capriccio.”
Lily gasped. “You both killed Anthony?”
Denie cocked her head at Nathan. “See? We have to kill her now.”
Nathan shot a miserable glance at Lily. “It was an accident. Denie got some lame-brained idea to hang a dead cat in your house to scare you away. I was under the impression she was trying to help Jet and his ex-wife get back together. Neither one of us expected Capriccio to be lurking in your room.” He shook his head. “The guy was crazy. He attacked first.” He slapped a hand around his neck. “I didn’t have much choice.”
“Just like we don’t have a choice now,” Denie stressed.
“I only agreed to help you get Lily out of town, Denie. Not hurt her.”
Denie held her hand out in appeal. “It’s too late now.”
Nathan suddenly looked haggard and old. “I didn’t want to admit it before, but it’s the only thing that makes sense now.”
Denie frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“Jet,” he replied. “You want Jet. You always have. I’ve been in love with you all my life and I blinded myself to the truth of your real love.”
Denie’s gaze shifted warily. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
Nathan addressed Lily with a bitter smile. “You’re pregnant with Jet’s baby and it’s driving her crazy. She’d rather kill you than stand the chance of him finding out.”
“Jet will never find out it’s his baby!” Denie attacked.
Lily stared in shock between the two of them as the realization of their knowledge finally struck.
“Wait. How did you even know I was pregnant?”
Nathan ignored Denie. “The day Bailer came to visit we were upstairs cleaning up the District Attorney’s mess.”
Lily gasped in shock.
“And if you hadn’t gone to get groceries for your famous meatloaf,” Denie spat out sarcastically, “we’d have killed you then too.”
Nathan moved toward Denie. “I’ll take responsibility for killing some low-life from Kansas City, but I can’t let you hurt an innocent woman.”
“Innocent?” Denie laughed harshly, halting Nathan’s advance by shifting the gun toward him. “Women like her and Celeste just take what they want and leave women like me with the left overs. Jet was starting to feel something for me until she came along.”
Denie’s face was turning red in agitation and Lily was sure then that she’d lost it.
“First, I had to stand by while Celeste used him, pretending the entire time I was her best friend. Where do you women get off?” Denie spat out violently. “Women like you and Celeste don’t deserve someone like Jet. Just like now, for months she’s been sniveling around him trying to reconcile. A divorce should have separated them forever, but she felt entitled. Entitled!” Denie shouted.
“I wanted to pin that stupid cat on her, but Jet had to take her to Kansas City with him.” Lily’s head jerked and Denie laughed. “That’s right, Lily. Didn’t Jet tell you she went with him? That should prove he doesn’t care about either one of you.”
Denie’s mouth kicked up. “When Jet sees what a coward you are by killing yourself, he’ll forget all about you. He believed me about your baby. Me! Not you!” She scooted toward Lily and tilted her head to the side. “Can’t you see what type of opinion he has of women like you and Celeste? I’m reliable and I know he cares about me. With you and Celeste out of the way, I might just have a chance with him.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you felt that way?”
Denie spun around at Jet’s voice, instinctively raising her gun toward him. His own was already extended.
“Jet!” Denie breathed in shock. “What are you doing here?”
“Put the gun down, Denie,” he implored.
Instead, her grip tightened around it.
“She killed her boyfriend and was trying to kill me and Nathan.”
“We’ll need to arrest her then won’t we?” Jet took a step forward. “But first you’ll have to put the gun down.”
A guarded look entered Denie’s eyes and she shook her head. “I can’t.”
“Because you know she didn’t kill Capriccio,” he said quietly.
Denie looked wildly around. “She confessed to it,” she said, pointing to the unopened notebook on the floor.
“Then give me the gun and we’ll get her some help.”
Denie licked her lips. “Jet,” she appealed, “look what she tried to do to you.”
“What was that, Denie?” Jet asked.
She looked at him in disbelief. “She tried pinning another man’s baby on you.”
Jet stared back steadily. “Give me the gun, honey.”
Denie twisted her head in confusion. “You don’t even want a baby. That’s the reason I had my tubes tied.”
There was an exclamation from Nathan, but it was as if Denie was in a different world.
“We can get rid of her and the brat.” Her eyes glistened and she held out a hand of entreaty. “Jet, I’ve loved you all my life but Celeste has always come between us.” Denie’s chin wobbled when she pointed viciously at Lily. “Then she came to town.”
“You could’ve told me all this before now.” Something akin to pity shined in his face.
“When?” she barked out a harsh laugh. “When you popped Celeste’s cherry at my parent’s house?” Her brow crinkled. “I watched you, you know. I hid under the stairs.”
Jet’s gaze narrowed, but Denie’s vacant stare indicated a serious detachment to anything but whatever was going on in her head.
“Celeste was such a baby that night. Not you, though. You were so wonderful and I fell deeper in love with you then. Ever since then, I knew I wanted you to be my first. That’s why I’ve saved myself for you.”
Nathan groaned, but it didn’t erase the dreamy look in Denie’s eyes.
“I lie in your bed and fantasize about our first time.”
Jet’s head jerked. “You were the one sneaking into my house.”
“Yes.” She gave him a look of mock reproof. “Then you changed your locks. Do you know how hard it was to get another copy made? I had to wait until you sent me to get lunch one day.”
The smile she gave Jet gave Lily the absolute creeps.
“Sometimes I’d stand in your kitchen and imagine having dinner ready for you. We’d talk about our day and afterward, take a shower together. I love your shower.”
The woman had sunk to the deep end. Lily willed Jet to do or say whatever he had to and she held her breath as Jet inched forward.
“Why did you kill Capriccio? He wasn’t involved in all of this.”
She sighed heavily. “Nathan killed him to protect me.”
“Nathan?” Jet asked in disbelief.
“I didn’t mean to kill him.” Nathan finally spoke up.
No surprise to Lily that his cheeks were wet.
“Oh, so that little cut beneath his chin was an accident?” Jet asked sarcastically.
“I didn’t know what Denie intended that night. She was talking crazy stuff about scaring Lily off with that cat. How was I supposed to know Capriccio would be sneaking around the house?” He appealed to Jet. “He came out of nowhere and surprised us. Denie stabbed him first, but it only pissed him off. When he attacked, I thought he was going to kill her so I got the knife out of Denie’s hand and slashed his throat.”
“Well cry me a freaking river,” Denie scowled. “Quit sniveling, Nathan.”
He ignored her and continued. “But you have to believe I’d never hurt Lily. Denie made this decision all on her own. I wanted to tell you about Capriccio. Denie begged me not to. She’d never begged me before.”
“Whoopee!” Denie gritted. “Bring out the tissues.”
More tears streaked down Nathan’s cheeks. “But she’s always been in love with you, Jet.” His mouth twisted. “Only you.”
“Damn it, Na
than,” Jet swore, his pained voice laced with frustration.
“That’s it,” Denie growled and Lily watched in horror when she raised the gun toward Nathan.
Lily screamed and spun Denie’s attention to her.
Jet used the distraction to lunge toward Denie who instinctively aimed the gun at him and wildly pulled the trigger.
In a daze, Lily watched Jet jerk before falling. A red stain gathered on his shirt, spilling out onto the floor around him.
Pure hatred surged through Lily and she charged at the other woman, ramming her head into Denie’s midsection. Denie grunted in pain and used the gun to pistol whip Lily. One of the blows knocked her to her knees.
“Look what you made me do,” Denie shouted.
She shoved the barrel of the gun in Lily’s face and Lily waited for the inevitable. When the bullet sounded, Lily flinched. A confused look spread over Denie’s face before she dropped the gun and crumpled to the floor. Jerking her head around, Lily saw Nathan’s gun extended.
When Nathan remained there without moving, Lily screamed at him, hot tears scorching down her cheeks.
“Get help, Nathan! Please! Please help Jet.”
He pulled out his cell phone and called for an ambulance before advancing to stand over Denie, her bright blue eyes staring blankly into nothingness.
Lily was already at Jet’s side, praying fervently for help to arrive when another gunshot sounded.
Nathan collapsed beside Denie, blood seeping from his temple.
Chapter Fifteen
Lily stuffed the last suitcase into her car and leaned against the driver’s side door to look up at the old house.
Her heart ached for the horrible events that had occurred inside, but a bittersweet euphoria peeped up its head in the memory of other occurrences.
She patted the little darling nesting inside her.
Coming to terms with Denie would take time and a lot of therapy. Nathan was just flat-out sad. Anthony on the other hand held a plethora of emotive content.
He wasn’t a threat to her now, but Jerry’s murder would never receive the vindication Lily desired for him. She would also have to live with the death of three people in her house. Jet’s sister had been the brightest spot this past week. Along with inside information that Jet was okay and the bullet had avoided any vital organs, Cheryl and Don had given Lily a place to stay. They’d both been wonderful. Lily only regretted not being able to tell Cheryl about the baby.
How could she? Jet believed Fred was the father. Lily understood it was because Denie had lied to him, but it made his opinion of her paltry at best. How else could he accuse her of trying to pass off another man’s child as his?
Besides, Jet’s relief at Celeste’s miscarriage was terrifying and although the future was devastating without him, Lily’s first priority was to the baby. Not even the man she loved could pressure her into getting rid of it.
With all this in mind, she’d had to contend with jealousy at Celeste’s frequent visits to the hospital.
Jet should’ve been more honest about their relationship. That way seeing her there and Denie’s remark about their trip to Kansas City wouldn’t have hurt as much. Although it did solve the mystery woman’s voice in the background that night on the phone.
So…
The day beget a new day. A new Life. A blessing worth counting.
She opened the car door just as a patrol car and wrecker pulled into her driveway. Mark emerged at the same time Walter stepped out of the wrecker.
“What’s going on?” Lily’s brows puckered.
Mark ignored her. “Okay Walter, hook it up. You know the drill.”
“Mark?” Lily drew out his name. “What are you doing?”
Mark took out a pad and wrote on it before tearing it off and handing it to her.
“This is a ticket for careless and impudent driving when you wrecked the sheriff’s car.”
“What?” she asked flabbergasted.
“Since you appear to be a flight risk, I also have orders to handcuff and even arrest you if you don’t fully cooperate.”
“Cooperate with what?” she asked, getting angry. “And what’s he doing to my car?”
“It was involved in a crime and he’s towing it.” Mark said noncommittally.
A choking sound erupted in her throat. “Is this some kind of joke?”
“No, ma’am. The delayed paperwork finally came through.”
Lily was not amused. “I want specifics on what I’m being charged with here.” she gritted through her teeth. “Line by line.”
“I’m a little fuzzy on the technical terms,” he replied in a solemn voice, but definite humor lurked behind his brown eyes.
“How about abuse of power?” she snarled. “Now stop this. I’m in no mood for games.”
“Just following orders, ma’am.” His hand glided toward the patrol car. “Now if you don’t mind getting in?”
She looked back at her own car already hoisted onto the wrecker. With an exclamation and a strong desire to do bodily harm to the man yanking her chain, she stomped over to the patrol car. She’d put another bullet in him.
When Mark opened the front passenger door, she crossed her arms and shifted to the rear door. She glared at his obvious intent to hold back a smile.
“That badge doesn’t make you any less a kidnapper,” she muttered climbing into the back.
She fumed the short drive it took to get where she knew they were going. Mark pulled up to Jet’s house and got out to escort her to the front porch.
“I’m listing you as an accomplice in my lawsuit too,” she threatened.
“Yes, ma’am,” he answered as he led her along the pathway.
In dark jeans and shirt, Jet waited at the entrance and she glared up at him as she entered. His mouth kicked up, but a dangerous anger lurked behind the half-smile.
“Thanks, Mark. I’ll take it from here,” was all he said.
Mark touched a finger to his brow and left.
Lily stopped in the center of the room.
“A wee bit dramatic, aren’t we?” she asked sarcastically and then attacked. “Just what are you trying to pull?”
“Funny,” he snarled back. “That was my question. Can you tell me why everyone always seems to know when you decide to take off except me?”
“Oh I don’t know,” her tone was facetious. “How about,” she slapped her hands on her hips for emphasis, “because they care?”
“I care,” he growled.
“Will you stop messing around? If this is about the baby,” she began.
“That’s one reason,” he cut her off.
“Well the baby’s yours,” she almost shouted.
“I know,” he came back and nearly knocked Lily out of her flip-flops.
“You know?” she blinked in confusion. “You don’t believe the baby’s yours. You think it’s my ex-husband’s.”
A red hue tinged his cheeks. “I was wrong,”
Her head tilted in accusation. “You called me a liar.”
“I’m sorry,” he said approaching her. “Sit down and we’ll talk about it.”
She evaded his hand. “What made you change your mind? An epiphany?”
He paused. “I found out Bailer was out of the country. You told me Capriccio was sterile,” he shrugged awkwardly. “That left me.”
Not quite the warm and fuzzy excuse she’d yearned for.
Tears gathered behind her lashes. “Well pop the champagne and let’s celebrate,” she said bitterly.
“That’s not fair, Lily,” his voice floated softly across the room. “I did believe you.”
She was about to object when he cut her off.
“When you first told me you weren’t pregnant.”
The argument died on her tongue.
“At the time I didn’t believe I could be,” she defended.
“I know.” His blue eyes reflected genuine hurt. “You should’ve told me what that Witch- doctor and Bailer’s pa
rents did to you.”
“You know?” she asked. He nodded and the tears broke down her cheeks. “I felt like half a woman,” she whispered.
“Even if it were true, that’s a wrong definition for a woman, Lily.”
Once more, he reached out. She didn’t resist, but she didn’t give in either.
“You don’t want a baby,” she blubbered.
Jet shook his head and through wet lashes, Lily watched him return with a box of Kleenex.
He handed them to her and she sniffed, snatching them out of his hand.
“I’m not getting rid of it,” she spouted.
“Did I ask you to?” he asked sharply. Almost angry. “What makes you think I’d want to abort it?”
Her eyes rounded.
“You.”
He looked genuinely startled. “When?”
“You said it about Celeste’s baby.” Her hands flew up in exasperation and dropped heavily to her sides. “Now you’re just contradicting yourself.”
Jet closed his eyes. “There’s a lot we need to discuss here.”
“Yeah, like how is Celeste going to take me being pregnant with your baby?”
Jet pounced on her question. “That’s as good a place to start as any.”
“You told me there was nothing between you,” Lily accused. “Yet you slept with her.”
“I did not sleep with her,” he scowled.
“Denie said,” she began.
“Denie lied about a lot of things,” he inserted.
Lily raised her chin. “She didn’t lie about Celeste. I know you took her to Kansas City with you. I heard her on the phone.”
“I took Celeste to Kansas City because she’s a very talented artist who had a meeting with an art gallery owner about her paintings.” He put a finger over her lips to silence them. “However, she stayed at a hotel while I stayed with my college buddy and his wife.”
Jet grabbed her shoulders and with a direct stare said, “I haven’t slept with anyone except you in a long time. I haven’t wanted to. I want you, Lily. Only you.”
The pounding in Lily’s temples tried to make sense of what he was telling her. It was all so perplexing.
“And I want to believe you, but it’s no longer just me, Jet. I’m a package deal now.”