This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Copyright © 2021 Lily Campbell
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.
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Table of Contents
Chapter One1
Chapter Two9
Chapter Three17
Chapter Four24
Chapter Five31
Chapter Six39
Chapter Seven48
Chapter Eight56
Chapter Nine65
Chapter Ten73
Chapter Eleven82
Chapter Twelve90
Chapter Thirteen97
Chapter Fourteen105
Chapter Fifteen113
Chapter Sixteen121
Chapter Seventeen130
Chapter Eighteen140
Chapter Nineteen148
Chapter Twenty156
Chapter Twenty-One165
Chapter Twenty-Two173
Chapter Twenty-Three181
Chapter Twenty-Four189
Chapter Twenty-Five197
Chapter Twenty-Six206
Chapter Twenty-Seven214
Chapter Twenty-Eight222
Chapter Twenty-Nine230
Chapter Thirty238
Chapter Thirty-One248
Chapter Thirty-Two257
Chapter Thirty-Three266
Chapter Thirty-Four274
Chapter Thirty-Five282
Chapter Thirty-Six289
Chapter Thirty-Seven298
Chapter Thirty-Eight305
Chapter Thirty-Nine313
Chapter Forty321
Chapter Forty-One329
Chapter Forty-Two337
Chapter Forty-Three345
Chapter Forty-Four352
Chapter Forty-Five360
Chapter Forty-Six367
Chapter Forty-Seven373
Chapter Forty-Eight381
Chapter Forty-Nine389
Chapter Fifty397
CHAPTER ONE
The droning electronic bell that governed all life rang and Jayden Roe obediently rose and made his way to the line on the far side of the prison exercise yard. He shifted his gray eyes to the blue, spring sky. He was enjoying his last moments of a breeze filled with tantalizing hints of the pending summer beyond these gray walls.
Three more days, he told himself firmly, planting himself behind another prisoner.
His four years in prison for killing Linda Wei is coming to an end. The victim’s own testimony, recorded just prior to her death, had helped, but he knew that without Stella, the jury and judge would still likely have called for a much harsher sentence, even if the victim knew what was going to happen and was a willing participant.
Jayden frowned and ran a hand over his long, black hair. Stella had visited often, and written too, over the past years, but for the last two weeks, there had been no sign of her.
After the guard gave the call, the file of convicted felons made their way steadily back into the concrete block in which they spent most of their time. They were led off to the mess hall, and Jayden took up a tray and waited, but his mind was still on Stella.
Her last letter had mentioned some big fish client she was trying to catch, competing with some other hotshot lawyer.
She’s probably caught the woman and is working her butt off.
Jay frowned and wondered if she would still be coming to meet him on the day of his release. After all, they had made plans to go and celebrate afterward.
The whistle of an object traveling through the air was his only warning. He ducked the soaring tray just in time while using his own tray to block the first fierce jab from a shank.
Guards were already approaching, batons raised and tasers primed, but his attacker didn’t relent. Jay felt a searing pain across his left arm as he shifted a fraction of a second too late. He had to first dodge another man trying to help peg him down so the first could finish his attack successfully.
He hissed but didn’t attack in return. Although the man’s poor form gave a clear opening. Jay knew well enough that if he did anything beyond defending himself, he would not be let out in three days. Even now, the guards were making slow work of finally taking down his assailant. So much so that he had to block another two attempts to gut him before the man was tasered and disarmed.
Jayden straightened and met the guards’ eyes coldly. He had realized soon after his incarceration that while Detective Hector Piers may have forgiven all his dishonorable scheming in taking down the man who had murdered Myra Piers, no one else had taken this view. Perhaps it was because they didn’t have a personal stake in beating Goldstein, or perhaps it was because so many had been shamed by Jayden as he expertly flipped evidence and overturned their cases against his clients. Perhaps it was because at least a few of them had been in Goldstein’s vast net of corruption that Jay had frayed.
As he was given a terse order to get to the infirmary, he knew it was likely to be the latter reason. He put down his tray and followed the officer, checking his wound himself as he went. Depending on who was on duty, he might get no more than a bandage slapped over it, which would be of no help at all if bits of the crude shank had broken off inside the wound.
Satisfied that it appeared devoid of any foreign objects, he took a steadying breath and worked to get the rest of the adrenaline out of his system. He had survived these four years by drawing on all the experience he had gained in his trade as a private investigator. He had used outside contact with Stella to build a base on his fellow inmates and officers. He made sure to keep himself out of the worst trouble by playing on the politics within the prison itself. He subconsciously rose his right hand to his side where, under his prison clothes, there was a thick scar. It had been the first attempt on his life, and the attack had almost claimed it.
“Again?”
Jayden met the eyes of the person who had saved his life ever since the beginning. “You know me, doctor, never a dull day.”
Dr. Amara Young shook her head. “Just can’t stop making friends, can you?”
The officer leading him pushed him roughly onto an examination bed and moved over to the other wall after casting Dr. Young a dirty look. “It’s just his arm.”
“So what did you do this time?” she asked, tossing her braid of coffee-colored hair over her shoulder and pulling over a tray of medical supplies.
Jay raised an eyebrow. “Who says I did anything?”
She gave him a steady look with her sapphire eyes. “You didn’t provoke this at all?”
Her tone was skeptical, even as she began cleaning the wound. She started to inspect it for small objects that might have gotten in, something the other prison doctor wouldn’t have bothered with. Others would only ever do the bare minimum for those brought to them.
Jayden grimaced and tried to throw her a glare. “Unless standing in line for my dinner is considered provocation, I didn’t do anything.”
The guard snorted, and they both looked over. “So you're so arrogant that you don’t even rea
lize when you are being spoken to?”
The guard scoffed. “He was talking to you, asking you about something. You ignored him flat. Well known for his temper, he attacked.”
Jayden thought back and realized that he must have been so far in his own head. Of course, he wasn’t about to let this biased guard know that. He met the other man’s eyes with storm clouds in his.
“So you watched him get angrier and draw a weapon, but it still took you guys a full two minutes to come and stop me from being gutted?”
Dr. Young sucked in a sharp breath, and the guard’s complexion darkened. “That smart mouth of yours is going to get you killed.”
Jay’s lips tilted in a cocky smile. “Oh? I thought it was my arrogance that would do it?”
The guard took menacing steps forward before being stopped by Dr. Young, her eyes flashing in warning. “No. Out. Officer Sherple can take him back.” She demanded.
The guard looked ready to argue, but as old Officer Sherple from the door nodded his consent to her orders, he left while cursing under his breath.
Jayden gave a hearty laugh, and Amara turned her glare on him. “You make one more smart ass comment, and I will stitch your mouth shut for you.” He pressed his lips together, and she grinned. “Good. Now let me finish cleaning that and bandage it up.”
While she worked, he glanced out of her window, watching the sun set. He would finally be free in a few more days. He felt as if a bucket of lead had been poured into his gut. For the first time in his life, he wasn’t sure what he was going to do. He was a brilliant investigator and had no intention of giving it up, but where would he work? He no longer had the money he once did, nor the contacts. Yet he neither wanted to stay in Natchitoches, where there was too much bad blood, or move to Washington as Stella had suggested. He sighed inwardly. Taking down Goldstein had been all he had cared about for so long that he simply wasn’t certain how to live a normal life. He chuckled at himself and then winced as the movement made Dr. Young grab his arm harder to keep it still.
“Sorry,” he muttered, relaxing again.
She finished up her work with expert skill and lifted his arm carefully to ensure everything was neat.
“Keep that clean and dry,” she directed, disposing of the bloody swabs. “I’ll have you brought back here to look at it again the night before your release.”
Jayden turned his eyes back to her. “You’ve kept track of when I’m leaving?”
She gave him a small smile. “Don’t let it go to your head.”
Jayden grinned and left, following the elderly guard.
CHAPTER TWO
Jay stepped outside the main gates of Louisiana State Penitentiary and took a moment to realize how quickly one adjusted to a smaller, grayer world. How easy it was to make that the reality and this just some long-forgotten dream.
He wondered if all the years of silence, filled with very rare moments of intellectual stimulus, had made him turn somewhat fanciful. He adjusted the collar of the dark blue button-up shirt and double-checked that his cell phone, wallet, and keys to the new, red Land Rover Sport waiting for him were in his jeans pockets.
Stella had made sure that everything Goldstein had transferred to him was either sold or given over to Ruby. The previous Rover had been totaled in an explosion that meant to kill him, but he had loved the car too much not to want another just like it.
He moved over to the car that was still being dropped off from the pick-up truck sent to deliver it to him on this day. Stella, however, was nowhere in sight.
Jayden thanked the man, got in his new car, and dialed her again. He had already done this twice since his phone and clothes had been returned. Once again it didn’t even ring, merely going straight to voicemail.
His frown deepened, and his chest grew tight. It wasn’t like Stella to switch her phone off. Had something happened to make her lose it? Or perhaps it had been stolen? Jay shook his head. He wasn’t going to get any answers sitting in the parking lot of a prison he was eager to put far behind him. He gunned the engine and turned out of the lot, heading in the direction of Natchitoches. He couldn’t see why Stella would be there, but he at least owned some land there and could take time to try and track her down.
***
The drive had taken over three hours, nearly four if he included his stop for lunch. He took more time than usual over the excitement of eating food that was above prison standard. Every half hour he had tried Stella again with the same results as before. The trepidation in his gut had grown into a living thing that seemed apt to wriggle and squirm every time his mind wasn’t entirely focused on something else. He muttered a curse as he pulled into the familiar town and drove straight to the police station. He swore that if Stella wasn’t in hospital, in some kind of legal battle for her life, or similar, he was going to dangle her from the rafters.
As soon as he got out of the jeep, the few people on the sidewalk gasped in recognition and immediately started talking in furious whispers. He felt a small pang at the realization that no matter how much he wanted to rewind the time, this place would never again be his home. He looked over at the whispering bystanders, and they scattered, making him bite back a bitter laugh. Even if they could all be brought to believe that he had worked ultimately for their benefit, they would still never be able to let him move on from his past.
He entered the police station and was greeted by the sound of breaking pottery as Detective Hector Piers dropped his coffee mug.
“Still the same old Hector, I see,” he smirked at the mess on the floor. “When are you going to learn to control your emotions?”
Hector stiffened his spine. “The fact that I haven’t punched your smug mouth should prove it,” he scowled.
Jay laughed, and Hector's hazel eyes lightened of the mock anger.
“It is good to see you again, Detective Piers,” Jay smiled, no hint of his usual mockery in his voice.
Hector rolled his eyes dramatically. “Sure, sure. What do you want? If this is about Stella, then that isn’t my jurisdiction.”
Jay felt his eyes go wide. “Explain.”
“Maybe out here isn’t best,” interjected a soft voice from behind Hector.
Jay watched as Natalie Hutt stepped toward them. Hector turned to her, nodded, and invited Jay to follow.
The three of them stepped into the office and Jayden caught sight of the gold wedding band on Dr. Hutt’s finger. His eyes immediately darted to Hector’s left hand and found a matching band.
Jay chuckled. “I see Hector finally realized his match had been standing beside him for years.”
Natalie smiled, but Hector scowled. “Don’t start playing Mr. Know-It-All already, okay, Jay? You just got back. I have had four years of trying to tell people that you aren’t the complete ass they think you are. Let’s not ruin all my hard work, yeah?”
Jayden grinned. “But I am right? You’re Mrs. Piers, now? Congratulations to you both.”
Natalie dipped her head once, and Hector muttered something unintelligible then sat behind his desk.
Jayden felt his smile fade as they both became solemn, and slowly took the seat opposite Hector.
“What is the last thing you knew about Stella’s plans?”
Jay’s eyebrows scrunched together at the odd question. “She was chasing some client. Her father was giving her hell for not being home enough and having, er, dealings with a convict. Stella was supposed to come and meet me today but never turned up. I haven’t been able to get hold of her by phone, nor has she sent any more letters. The last was three weeks ago.”
Hector heaved a huge sigh. “She had been meant to come here too. Told me that she’d be getting you a small apartment so you have a place to stay while you decide what to do next. She never turned up to get the papers. That was nearly a month ago now.”
Jayden swallowed past the vice in his chest and throat. “You trying to tell me she’s a missing person?”
Hector ran a hand through his hair. “N
o. At least, not officially.”
Jayden waited as his growing impatience was easily visible on his face.
“She never turned up here, at a meeting in Washington, and to meet you. She’s not a resident here so I have no real power or reason to dig deeper. As you might have found out already, her phone just goes to voicemail and her emails have started bouncing back.”
“When?” Jayden asked, leaning forward.
“About a week ago.”
Jayden muttered a curse and then shook his head. “So there’s nothing on my old plot?”
“No. The people you sent cleared away all the debris from your house, so it’s nothing but grass now. The new mayor has been bugging me to use my influence with you to get you to sell it.”
They both snorted, and Jayden sighed. “He might get his wish.”
“You’re going after her, aren’t you?”
“Of course. If she’s missing, I have to at least try to find her.”
“What if she’s just purposely severing ties?”
Jay flinched. Dr. Young had said the same thing on their last encounter. “Starting things and not finishing them is simply not like Stella at all so I don’t think that is the case.”
“I suppose not, though. I don't know her very well, other than as a thorn in my side.”
Silence fell as no one was able to take Hector’s attempt to lighten the situation to heart.
Jay rose, shaking his head and trying hard to remain calm. “Look, I know you don’t have much, but I need everything you have. Please.”
Hector’s lips twitched at the added ‘please’, but he nodded. “I’ll get it together for you. Where will you be staying?”
Jay raised his eyebrows at the almost offer in Hector’s voice. “Are you making an offer that’ll get me lynched? Or are you saying that I’ll actually be able to walk back into the park without earning a beating?” he asked.
Hector gave a rueful chuckle, and Jay moved on quickly. He realized that Hector may well have moved into Natalie’s house after their marriage, rather than her to his trailer.
“I’ll grab a room at the hotel,” he declined the potential offer. “You can find me there, or call.” He waited only for Hector’s nod and left feeling that his return to the real world hadn’t gone nearly as well as expected.
Jayden Roe Mystery 02-The Final Lie Page 1