by Carsen Taite
“They were the only ones who pushed back. Everyone else backed off after very little effort, but those two were stubborn, kept insisting Trevor cared about them, loved them even. They didn’t have a clue, but no way could I let them stick around. Vanessa tried to ruin his career with her stupid claims of harassment.”
“You sent the emails,” Carly said. “Didn’t you realize that Trevor would be blamed?”
“Don’t be stupid. Those women needed to believe Trevor did it, but I made sure there was no real proof. You know that yourself since you got his suspension lifted. Thanks for that, by the way. If you’d only managed to keep from falling for him, then you wouldn’t be here right now.”
Carly struggled to process the roller coaster of information. Her first instinct was to insist there was only one person she’d fallen for during the course of this case, and it wasn’t Trevor Kincade, but she had no desire to share her intimate feelings with the crazy lady holding a gun on her.
Landon. Now Carly wished she’d called Landon instead of Skye, if for no other reason than to have one final connection with her before she died, because it was pretty clear this wasn’t going to end well. Hoping that Skye could hear her and that she’d pass the details of this conversation along, Carly risked a cryptic statement. “You’re wrong, you know. I am falling for someone, but it’s not Trevor. In fact, she and I made love just last night.”
“You’re lying!”
Shelby’s shouted words were punctuated by the screech of tires, and Carly looked out the windshield in time to see them barely miss rear-ending the car directly ahead. As Carly tried to catch her breath, she realized they were about two hundred feet from the tollbooths and all the traffic around them was stopped.
“What the hell’s going on?” Shelby was no longer yelling, but her words were sharp and angry, and she waved the gun carelessly in the air.
Carly ran through her options. She could either wait and hope someone saved her or try to save herself. Banking on a little of both, she waited until Shelby leaned her head out the driver’s side window, to get a better look at the traffic snafu, and then eased her door open, shouting to cover the sound of her action. “Red Corvette. The tollbooth on Arapaho. She has a gun!” Carly pushed the car door open with both hands and tumbled out of the car onto the concrete roadway as the sound of gunfire cracked through the air.
* * *
Landon sensed the eyes of the shopkeeper trained on her back. He probably wasn’t trying to rush her, but because the store was empty, she was getting all his attention, which only made her less able to make up her mind. Red roses seemed clichéd, but they were the only thing she could think of to accompany the bold statement she was about to make. She glanced at a cluster of bird-of-paradise. Funky, edgy, but too many sharp edges. The gerbera daisies were colorful and pretty, but definitely not grand gesture material. Roses it was.
“I’ll take two dozen of the red roses.”
“Two dozen?” The look on the florist’s face made Landon want to ditch the whole idea and become a hermit. “Too much, huh? It’s the first time. I mean the first time I’ve given her flowers. I need it to be big, but not so big that she gets scared away, but big enough to send a message. You know what I mean.”
He nodded sagely. “Roses are the right choice, but I’d stick with a single dozen. Two can be a bit overwhelming. I can layer in some pretty greenery, but it’s best to let the roses stand on their own. Do you need a vase or would you like them wrapped or in a box?”
She stared at him, willing him to read her mind, which was completely blank. She’d sent flowers before, but it was always via an order placed on the internet. She’d never walked into a florist for a full-on interrogation, and she was completely unprepared.
Apparently reading her dilemma, he said, “How about I use my best judgment? I only have one more question.”
Landon braced for it. “Okay.”
“Are these for a particular special occasion?”
What do you call it when you’ve angered the woman you’ve fallen for and she’s not speaking to you outside of work, but you want to show her that you think she might be the one and so you’re trying to come up with a grand gesture worthy of getting her to forgive you? “Let’s just say I hope these are the first of many bouquets to come.”
“Got it.” He smiled and shooed her away. “I’ll have this ready in a few minutes.”
Landon wandered around the store and pulled out her phone. Carly hadn’t responded to her text, and Landon resisted the urge to send another for fear she’d chase her away before she had a chance to say whatever it was she intended to say—she was still working that part out. She hoped the flowers would do some of the talking, but she needed to have a plan before she went marching over to Carly’s, roses in hand.
Was it too soon? She’d felt this way only once before, years ago, but she’d given too freely only to have her love bartered away by her father, who viewed every human interaction as a potential business transaction. Carly, as business-oriented as she was, would never have chosen opportunity over affection, but without even knowing how Landon felt about Carly, her father had managed to mess things up again, employing whatever measures necessary to achieve the bottom line he desired without a single thought to what she cared about or needed.
Landon paid for the roses and drove to Carly’s apartment. It was time for all her experience persuading juries to pay off.
There wasn’t much traffic in the middle of the day, so she made it to Carly’s complex in a few minutes. She parked in the lot, got out of the car, and cradled the bundle of roses in the crook of her arm. Her breath quickened as she reached Carly’s door, but before she could raise her hand to knock, she heard the door across the way open and a voice call out.
“She’s not home.”
The neighbor. Of course. Landon fixed a smile on her face and turned toward him, deciding to use his spy skills to her advantage. “Do you happen to know when she’ll be back?”
He stepped outside his apartment and stuck out his hand. “We met before. I’m Eugene Jasper, and you’re…”
“Landon. Landon Holt.” She shook his hand and prompted him about Carly. “Did she mention when she might get home?”
“She didn’t say. Those are beautiful flowers. You get them at McShan’s? I always get my flowers there. They only sell what’s fresh, even have their own greenhouse. I tried another place—had a coupon—but the flowers looked like they’d been picked the week before and left lying on the counter. Fresh-cut flowers means fresh, if you know what I mean.”
Landon let the bundle of roses drop to her side. Mission Carly had taken a wrong turn. What was she supposed to do now? Wait on Carly’s doorstep while Mr. Jasper regaled her with stories or wander around town looking for Carly like Prince Charming with the lost glass slipper?
She should go back to work. As much as she loathed the idea of seeing Jane again, they had to be back in trial in the morning and she needed to be prepared. As soon as Mr. Jasper took a breath, she’d let him know she had to get back to the office. Like magic, her phone rang, saving her from having to wait. She didn’t recognize the number but answering meant freedom from another story about a flower buying experience gone wrong. She punched the answer button. “Landon Holt.”
“Landon, it’s Skye. I don’t have long, so listen close. Shelby Cross has two cars, a Denali and a Corvette. Do you know which one she usually drives?”
“What kind of question is that?”
“Come on, Landon, answer the question.”
Landon’s breath quickened at Skye’s urgent tone. “I’ve only ever seen her drive the ’Vette. Candy apple red. Tell me why you’re asking.”
“She’s got Carly and she’s driving up north with her. Carly’s in trouble. Shelby basically admitted she was the one who killed Vanessa and Jocelyn.”
Landon dropped the roses and grabbed onto the phone with both hands like it was her only connection to Carly. “Where are you?”<
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“I’m on my way to the Uptown substation. One of my brothers is stationed there.”
Landon did quick mental calculations. “I’m at Carly’s apartment. It’s like two blocks away. I’ll meet you there.”
“Roger that.” Skye clicked off the line and Landon stood staring into her phone, trying to make sense of what she’d just heard.
“Is everything okay?”
Landon looked up from her phone at Mr. Jasper. “I don’t know.” Then remembering that he’d seen Carly leave, she asked, “Was anyone with Carly when she left? Tell me everything you remember.”
He pointed to the parking lot. “Yes, a woman came to the door. About your size and build. She had on a hat that covered her hair, so I couldn’t tell you what color it was.”
Landon resisted the urge to squeeze him to make him talk faster. “Did you see what kind of car they drove away in?”
“Matter of fact I did. Remember distinctly because it was parked in the fire lane, and I was going to report it to the property manager, but then when I saw Carly get in, I figured no sense getting her in trouble. She’s always been very nice to me, and I’m sure she didn’t mean to break the rules.”
Landon sorted through his rambling words and latched onto a single detail. “You said you were going to report it. Did you happen to write down the plate number?”
“I did indeed.” He pulled a small spiral-bound pad out of his pocket that Landon imagined he used to record lots of neighborhood infractions and flipped to a page near the back. “Here you go,” he said, handing it over.
Landon’s hand shook as she read the detailed description of the make and model of the car along with the license number. “Can I take this?” She didn’t wait for an answer before she ripped out the page, shoved the notebook into his hand, and ran to her car.
Five minutes later, she burst through the doors of the police substation and shouted at the uniformed officer behind the counter. “Skye Keaton. Is she here?”
“Landon!”
She turned to see Skye standing on the other side of the room next to a police officer who could’ve been her twin. Landon jogged over to her. “I’ve got the license plate for Shelby’s car.” She held up the notebook page so Skye could see Mr. Jasper’s notes.
“It’s okay. We have it. We just weren’t sure which car she was in.” She pointed to the officer. “This is my brother Sean. Come on.”
Sean used a password to open a door behind the counter and led them into a conference room. When they entered the room, Landon saw a Hispanic man dressed in jeans and a tweed sports coat seated at the table. He was speaking softly into a landline phone. Landon spotted a cell phone on the table with a digital recorder sitting next to it. Skye slid into the seat beside the man and handed him the paper. The man covered the handset of the phone with his palm. “Just highway sounds since you left the room.”
“What’s going on?” Landon asked.
Skye placed a finger over her lips and whispered. “I’ll tell you everything I know, but you have to stay calm.” She pointed at the cell phone on the table. “Carly called me when she realized she was in trouble, and Shelby pulled a gun on her and told Carly to hang up the phone. I guess Carly pretended to hang up but didn’t actually do it because we’ve been able to hear everything they’ve been saying.”
“Can’t they hear us?”
“We’ve got the phone muted, and we’re recording the whole thing with this.” Skye pointed at the recorder.
Landon’s knees buckled and she reached out to keep from falling. Skye grabbed her arm. “Have a seat.” She pointed to the man on the other phone. “This is Detective Castillo. He’s in touch with DPS. Carly managed to drop some clues and mentioned they are on the tollway. If that’s where they are, DPS will find them.”
“And what if they’re not?”
Suddenly, the sound of Carly’s voice crackled through the line. “…am falling for someone, but it’s not Trevor. In fact, she and I made love just last night.”
Landon gripped the armrest, desperate to call out to Carly, to tell her to be safe, that help was on the way. Next, she heard Shelby call Carly a liar followed by the sound of screeching tires.
“Do you think they’ve been pulled over?” She whispered the question to Skye, hoping the answer was yes and this nightmare would be over soon.
Skye’s reply was cut off by the sound of Carly yelling, “Red Corvette. The tollbooth on Arapaho. She has a gun!” Landon braced for Shelby’s reply, but nothing could’ve prepared her for the sharp crack of gunfire flooding the air, muted only by the sound of her own voice, yelling, “Noooo!”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Carly shivered in the back seat of the patrol car. The blanket the state trooper had wrapped her in was having no effect. He looked at her in the rearview mirror. “We’ll be at the station in just a minute. Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hospital?”
“Positive.” Everything had happened at once. When she’d jumped out of Shelby’s car, gunshots and sirens filled the air. She’d barely hit the ground when traffic around her started to move, and next thing she knew Shelby’s car was surrounded by state troopers with guns drawn. While one of them negotiated with Shelby on a bullhorn, another two belly-crawled across the roadway and escorted her to the car she was in, then whisked her away from the scene. Other than a little road rash, she wasn’t hurt, just shaken up and wanting answers, and so far, no one had been able to give her any.
Instinctively, she reached for her phone, only to remember it was in the back seat of Shelby’s car. She started to ask the trooper if she could borrow his, but true to his word, they arrived at the station in record time. He told her to wait a minute, that he’d open her door, but she ignored him. She needed a phone and she needed it now. “I’ll meet you inside,” she called out on her way into the building. She marched up to the uniformed woman behind the desk. “I’m with Trooper Laramie. Do you have a phone I could use?”
The woman pointed to a desk with a phone in the waiting area. Carly made a beeline for it. She picked up the handset. She should call Skye first to let her know she was okay, but there was only one person’s voice Carly needed to hear above all else.
“Carly!”
Carly stared at the handset. She hadn’t dialed yet, but Landon’s voice was loud and clear. She turned and Landon and Skye were walking toward her, but before she could reply, Landon was at her side, holding her in her arms.
“I was so scared. I thought she shot you.” Landon leaned back and looked her up and down. “Are you hurt? Tell me you’re not hurt.”
“I’m not.” Carly pulled her close. “Shelby’s still there. They have her surrounded.”
“It’s over. She surrendered. Actually, I think she just ran out of bullets, but she’s in custody. Thanks to you. If you hadn’t thought to call Skye, then…” Landon shook her head, tears welling in her eyes.
“Don’t,” Carly said. “I’m fine. Barely a scratch. But I need something.”
“Anything.”
“Get me out of here. Please, take me home.”
Landon hugged her close and whispered, “On it.”
“Excuse me.”
They both turned to Trooper Laramie standing behind them. “Ma’am, we need to get your statement now.”
Landon stepped in front of Carly. “Ms. Pachett will be happy to give you a statement, but she’s been through a harrowing ordeal and I’m going to take her home now.” Landon handed him a card. “Call me later on my cell, and we’ll set up a time to talk. Tomorrow.”
He studied Landon’s card and frowned. “We really need to get her statement while it’s fresh in her mind.”
“Oh, today is going to be fresh in my mind for a very long time,” Carly said.
Skye walked over to join them. “Trooper, I know you’re just doing your job, but the Dallas Uptown substation has a tape recording of the whole incident. Ms. Pachett’s an attorney. If she gives you her word she’ll talk
to you tomorrow, you can count on it.”
The trooper looked at the three of them. “Okay, tomorrow it is.” He pointed at Landon. “I’ll call you first thing in the morning.”
Carly followed Landon and Skye to Skye’s SUV, and climbed into the back seat. Landon paused before getting in the car, and Carly reached out a hand. “Please ride back here with me. Skye won’t mind.”
Skye answered with a knowing smile in the rearview mirror. Landon settled into the back seat and pulled Carly into her arms. Carly tilted her head back and looked up into Landon’s eyes. “I have so much to tell you.”
“Me too,” Landon said.
“I should’ve said this before now, but I was scared, but now I’m scared not to say it because anything could happen. I’m sure Skye is a perfectly capable driver, but after what just happened, I’m seizing all the moments.”
Landon grinned. “Seize away.”
“I love you.” Carly stared into Landon’s eyes, hoping the sudden proclamation wouldn’t send her running. “I think I’ve been falling in love with you since the first day you took me to eat barbecue. I started to realize then how dry and boring my life had become and how I’ve been missing out on all the good stuff. You make me want to live life to its fullest, and that doesn’t mean a partnership at a law firm. The only partnership I want is one with you.”
Carly watched Landon’s face for her reaction, but she was unprepared when Landon started laughing. “What’s so damn funny?”
“I quit the firm today. And I marched right out of there and bought a bunch of roses. I was headed to your house to tell you basically the same thing you just told me.” Landon grinned again. “That stupid partnership doesn’t add anything to my life if you’re not in it. If you don’t mind having a lover who’s an unemployed lawyer, I’m all yours.”
Carly answered by pulling Landon into a deep, blistering kiss. When they broke for air, she placed a hand against Landon’s chest. “Nothing would make me happier.”