by Claire Adams
Once I was out of the building, I sat down on a bench under a tree to think. I knew I'd need to call Eryn to tell her about what had happened and out of instinct, I reached into my pocket and then cussed violently as I remembered that I no longer had my phone.
I got up, walked slowly back to my office, and sent her an email from my computer, asking if she could come in and see me. It was late that afternoon before I got a reply from her. She’d sent it during practice, which, thankfully, Kelly and Tammy had not come to. She explained that she'd come in right after practice, so I sat and waited for her in the office. Soon enough, there was a knock on the door.
“Come in; it's open,” I called.
The door was pushed open and Eryn came in, walking with the aid of the crutches. I immediately jumped up to help her, a stab of guilt shooting through me at the sight of her injured like that, knowing how close we'd come to justice – and how it had now escaped us.
“Hey, Wade,” she said as I made it to her side to help her take a seat.
“Sorry. I should have gotten the door for you,” I apologized.
“No big deal,” she smiled back that breathtaking smile that made my heart hitch a little. “Have a seat, there's something we need to talk about,” I told her.
“All right.”
She settled into the chair, and I couldn't help but stare for a moment at how stunning she looked with her long hair down around her shoulders. I was so used to seeing it in a ponytail. She didn’t even have to try to look beautiful; she just did it totally without effort.
I shook the thought from my mind. I couldn't allow myself to be distracted. I needed to deliver the bad news to Eryn, not daydream about pulling her to me. I decided to cut straight to the chase.
“Eryn, there's a problem with the whole Tammy and Kelly incident.”
“There is? What's wrong?”
I sighed and explained what had happened earlier in the day with the attack. “Oh my God, are you all right? Are you injured?” she immediately began.
“No, no, I'm fine,” I assured her.
“Wade, concussions don’t always show up in an obvious manner. You should know that. We need to get you to a hospital to get checked out by a proper physician. You could have injuries you don’t know about if you were knocked out. I don't know if the nurse was nearly thorough enough in her examination.”
She didn’t say a word about the fact that our case against Tammy and Kelly was lost. Her concern was solely on me and my health. It was flattering and, frankly, made me feel a little warm inside.
“You don't need to worry about that, Eryn. I'm fine, I really am.”
“You might think you are now, Wade, but seriously, head injuries can be dangerous if not checked out properly.”
“All right, all right. I'll go to the hospital right after this and get it checked out properly if it will make you feel better. But aren't you at all worried about the fact that we now don't have a solid case against Tammy and Kelly?”
“I just care about you,” she blurted out and then immediately looked like she shouldn't have said it.
I tried hard not to grin from ear to ear. “I...I appreciate that, Eryn, I do. And, that's how I felt when I saw you get hurt. That's why I wanted to get Tammy and Kelly so badly.”
“What's important is that you're okay,” she said softly.
“And, what's important to me is that you're okay.”
We both sat in silence for a while, just staring at each other, the heat between us simmering quietly. Suddenly, I watched her expression change and she tilted her head.
“Did you get a look at the guy who attacked you?” she asked.
“Not much of a look. He was wearing a hoodie and a bandanna to cover his face.”
“What color hoodie?”
“White,” I replied.
Her eyebrows went up. “And let me guess: black jeans and red sneakers?”
“Yeah...yeah!” I said, remembering.
“You didn't happen to see what color his hair was, did you?” Eryn asked me.
“I didn't, but a witness said it was short and blond. Stylish, was how she described it,” I told her.
“And, did you manage to hit him during the attack?”
“I got in one good shot, popped him near his eye. Why?”
She bit her lower lip. “I think I know who did this, Wade. In fact, I'm almost certain about it.”
Chapter Nineteen
Eryn
As soon as Wade began describing his attacker, my mind flashed right back to an hour before at the mall when I'd seen my ex Tim meeting up with Tammy at the coffee shop. The fact that Tim was sporting a freshly swollen black eye had seemed like a total mystery to me at the time, but after hearing that Wade was attacked by someone who was wearing the exact same outfit that I'd seen Tim in – minus the bandanna, of course – it all made sense.
I had no doubt, once the shock of my ex dating that skank Tammy wore off, that Tim had mugged Wade for the sole reason of getting his phone so his new girlfriend could have the evidence against her. The pieces just fit together way too perfectly according to the circumstances for it to be a mere coincidence.
“How on Earth do you know who mugged me?” Wade asked, uncertainty painted over his face.
“I think it was my ex-boyfriend, a guy named Tim Miller.”
“Why the hell would your ex attack me?”
“Did you talk to Kelly and Tammy about the recording on your phone?”
“Yeah, earlier today. About an hour or so before I was attacked, I think.”
“And what did you tell them? What did Tammy say?” I asked him.
“Well, when I expelled them from the team permanently, Kelly just cried, but Tammy got angry. She said her father, the lawyer, was going to make me wish this and that.”
I nodded. “Yeah, everyone knows that her dad is some big-shot lawyer around here. But with that recording, he wouldn’t have even had a leg to stand on against you, I'm sure. That was hard, irrefutable evidence right there, and I think she knew it.”
“So how does your ex come into all of this?”
“I was at the mall having an ice cream earlier, and I saw him meet up with Tammy at a coffee shop. He handed her a package and kissed her. I guess they're dating now or something.
“But the thing is…he had a black eye and was wearing the exact same outfit your attacker was wearing. He's built, jacked on God knows what, and has short, blond hair that he spends, like, an hour styling every morning. So, he totally fits the description of your attacker.”
A light of realization began to shine in Wade's eyes.
“Oh, man. It totally makes sense now. Tammy tried to bluff that her dad would be able to take care of this, but no lawyer in the world would go against a university in a situation with verbal proof of wrongdoing. It makes sense that someone as spiteful as her would try to shut this down by making the evidence disappear before it got into official hands. She got her boyfriend to jump me and steal my phone.” He stared straight ahead in disbelief.
“I'm so sorry, Wade.”
He shook his head, anger reddening his face. “No, you don't need to be sorry for anything, Eryn. I just can't believe I was so stupid that I didn't make a backup of that file. Dammit! There has to be something we can do.”
We both sat in silence for a while, thinking about what options we might have now that the evidence was gone and Tammy held the upper hand. Then an idea dawned on me, and a smile started to spread across my face.
“You know, Wade, Leena's older brother Pete is an amateur actor. He does a lot of plays, and he's really good.”
Wade raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat confused. “Um, okay, but I’m not following. What does that have to do with our situation?”
“We need to find a costume store where we could rent a really authentic-looking police uniform.”
Wade realized what I was getting at and smiled. “There was a great place downtown where my buddies and I always used to g
o for Halloween costumes,” he said with a grin. “I think it's still there. You give Leena's brother a call, find out if he's up for this and what size clothes he wears, and I'll drive down there if he is.”
“Tammy thinks she can bluff us? Well, we're about to bluff her. I can only hope that this works,” I said, and pulled my phone from my pocket to give Pete a call.
*****
“I always knew this GoPro camera would come in handy one day,” Wade said as he mounted the camera on Pete's shoulder. “Good thing cops are required to wear body cameras these days, too, so Tammy and Tim won't question why this is on you.”
Pete, who was tall, broad-shouldered, and had a naturally stern-looking face, suited the role of a cop perfectly – even though by nature he was very gentle and reserved. Still, he was one hell of an actor, and he could turn on his bad cop performance in an instant and be absolutely convincing about it. And, the uniform we'd rented was nearly identical to the uniforms the local police department wore. I was a little surprised it was even legal to rent them out.
“So, you know exactly what to say?” Wade asked Pete.
“I've got this, man; don't you guys worry. Those two troublemakers won't know what hit 'em. I'll make sure their confession is recorded perfectly. And, you two can watch the live feed from the car across the road if you have it set up.”
“All right; well, this is Tammy's address according to university records,” Wade said, looking at the large sorority house across the road from us.
“And, that's Tim's car parked out front,” I said, pointing at a red Mustang.
“One more thing, Pete. Just make sure you never introduce yourself as a police officer. We don’t want you getting in trouble for impersonating one. I called and asked a friend of mine to make sure we weren’t putting you in a situation you might get in trouble for. Understand?” Wade said to Pete.
“Got it,” he replied.
“Okay then. Go break a leg, Pete,” Wade said, patting him encouragingly on the shoulder.
Pete breathed in deeply, and after he had exhaled, it was almost as if his face itself had changed; he was now in character. He put on his reflective aviator shades and looked the part.
“Let me out of the damn car!” he barked in a booming, authoritative voice.
He got out and strode over to the front door of the sorority house. We watched the events unfold via the live feed from the GoPro. He knocked on the door, and one of the new sorority pledges opened it.
“Oh um, hi, Officer,” she said. “What can I do for you?”
“I'm looking for Tammy McRae and Tim Miller. Are they here?”
“Yeah, hang on, I'll get them,” the girl said.
Wade and I slid down in the back seat of the car so that we weren't visible. After a minute or so, Tim and Tammy came down the stairs, both wearing worried expressions on their faces. I couldn't help but snicker.
“Uh, good evening, Officer; is there a problem?” Tim asked.
“You bet there is, son,” Peter stated. “I’m going to need you and Miss McRae here to answer some questions regarding an assault and robbery.”
“I, uh, I don't know what the hell you're talking about, man!” Tim snapped, but there was fear written all over his face.
“I believe you do, son. Security cameras on the university campus captured everything. Using advanced bio-recognition technology, our digital imaging experts managed to zoom in and a witness positively identified you as the man who assaulted and robbed Wade Vinson earlier today. Remember those digital photos that were taken when you were a student at Florida State? Well, they keep those biometric records forever, son. You're screwed.
“And you, missy, the same technology was used to identify you from mall security cameras, where you were seen taking possession of the stolen goods from Mr. Carson here. You're both in some very big trouble.”
“I, uh, it can't be, no… This can't be happening, this can't be happening,” Tammy mumbled, in a state of shock.
Tim's face was also white with shock.
“You're looking at a minimum of four years in the slammer for assault and robbery, son, and you, missy, you're looking at two. However, if you cooperate and hand over the evidence now, things will be a lot easier.
“Give me the stolen wallet and phone, and I’ll personally testify that you cooperated and returned the stolen property. That should get you both leniency and possibly be let off with fines and community service.”
“We didn't do anything,” Tammy stated. “We didn't-”
“I don’t want to go to jail!” Tim snapped. “They've got biometric evidence! Just go get the damn phone and the wallet and give it to them! Hell, I’m getting it.” He hurried away before Tammy could stop him. She looked like a deer in headlights. She wasn’t sure what to say or do. She turned to Pete with tears welling up in her mascara-laden eyes.
“Listen, Officer, I'm so, so sorry. I don't know what came over us. Please, please, isn't there some way we could make this go away? I...I've always had a thing for a man in uniform, you know. God, you're looking really hot in that uniform. It really turns me on.”
I grimaced with disgust. “Jeez, she really will do just about anyone, won't she?” I murmured.
“Ma’am, now you’re just adding bribery to your list,” Pete stated. He was playing his part perfectly and hadn’t once slipped up and identified himself as any type of law enforcement.
Tim came back and handed Wade's wallet and phone to Pete. Pete held out a large ziploc bag for them. “Evidence goes in here,” he instructed.
Tim dropped the phone and wallet into the bag. “Good. I appreciate your cooperation. I’m sure someone from the police station will be in touch with you both soon. Keep a look out for it.”
Tammy just stared at him, still shocked. Tim was still trying to throw Tammy under the bus to save his own ass.
“It wasn’t my idea, sir. I’m truly sorry. I… I just got caught up in-”
“Just a little advice for you, son. The wrong woman can ruin your life. Keep that in mind,” he said as he glanced down at Tammy. “You two have a good evening.”
Wade and I high-fived each other as Peter turned and walked away. He got back into the car and drove away, Wade and me still crouched down in the back seat.
“Oh my God! That was awesome. Well done, Pete!” I said from the back. “You're such a great actor!”
Once we were a few blocks away, he pulled over. “Here you go,” he said, handing Wade the “evidence” bag. “I enjoyed that!” he remarked. “I'll have to try to look for more police officer parts in the future.”
“Thanks so much, man,” Wade said, shaking his hand. “You've saved our asses right here.”
“It was a pleasure to help. I've known Eryn here since she and Leena were little girls, and what that nasty bitch Tammy did to her just makes my blood boil. I'm happy I got to help you guys sort it out,” Pete added.
“All right, so now we just need to get this to Jack,” Wade stated. He turned to Pete. “Thanks again, man. Can you drop Eryn and me at Toucan Café? My car is parked there, and I think coffee is in order to celebrate this little victory.”
“Sure thing, guys,” Pete replied. “Do I get donuts, too?”
*****
I was feeling ever so slightly buzzed – it turned out that Toucan Café didn't only have regular coffee on offer, but also Irish coffee. I was 21 and not driving, so I figured why not. After all, we were there to celebrate. I had a double shot of whiskey in my Irish coffee, and now I was really beginning to feel it. I wasn’t one to drink much and had never been much of a fan of partying, so my tolerance for alcohol was practically nonexistent.
But I was celebrating and feeling so relaxed and happy about how well our plan had gone that I had totally forgotten about my agreement with Wade. It was pretty obvious he had, too. After all the stress and pressure and everything that had gone wrong, we were feeling the high of something finally going right.
And, of course, with
a little bit of alcohol relaxing us, both of our guards were down, and I'd caught Wade staring intently at me on more than a few occasions. When our eyes had met, we had smiled and laughed, for we both knew what the other was feeling. I couldn't deny the raw, almost hungry attraction I felt for him any longer, and from the way he was looking at me, I don't think he could either.
When Pete cut out early, that left the two of us alone with no buffer to help us ignore what was silently brewing between us.
“Maybe we should go out and get some fresh air,” I suggested.
“Yeah,” he agreed. “Come on. I'll take care of the bill.”
I got my crutches and limped outside while Wade paid the tab. It was a beautiful evening; the moon was full and bright as it rose from the horizon. Soon, Wade was outside, and we headed over to his car.
“Where should we go?” I asked.
“How about the park on the hill?” he asked. “There's a great spot where we can watch the moon rise over the city.”
“That sounds great,” I agreed. He helped me into his car and we headed over to the park. When we got there, the small parking lot was deserted, so we pulled into a secluded spot that looked over the city.
“Let's sit in the backseat so I can prop my foot up,” I suggested. “It’s feeling a little sore.”
“All right,” he said with a smile.
I think we both knew why we'd come here and what was about to happen. We knew it shouldn’t happen, but neither of us wanted to stop it, not now that we were caught up in the moment. We cuddled up next to each other in the back seat.
“It's beautiful, isn't it?” I said, looking at the rising moon.
“That it is,” he commented. But he wasn’t looking at the moon – he was looking at me.
That was all it took. His lips were on mine, and mine on his. Soon, we were hungrily exploring each other's mouths. It was just as intense as the first kiss we'd shared – perhaps even more so, with all the frustration of having to hold it in being released.
Soon his hands were all over me, and mine all over him. I don't think that either of us had imagined we’d be making out in the back of his car in a parking lot like a couple of teenagers. At least it was a high-tier BMW model, which meant the back seat was comfy and roomy. Also, the tinted windows provided some privacy from anyone outside who might happen to peer in.