by Jen Talty
The divorce papers are exactly as we agreed.
I wish you all the best. Really.
Mary.
Stacey swallowed hard. The reality of what happened to Mary hit her deep in her gut. No one deserved what she got.
“It’s Mary’s handwriting, and it has her prints,” Dalton said. “Gregory has had this since the day Mary was murdered, but he sat on it.”
“I wish I had punched him somewhere else,” Stacey muttered.
“He really has an issue with women,” Dalton said. “Two of our female officers have complained. I’ve complained. Then Jared came to our superior, who pulled him. I apologize on behalf—”
“You don’t have any reason to apologize,” Stacey said. “So, why am I here? Other than the thrill of telling Gregory off.” Which, she had to admit was anti-climatic. “And the courtesy of seeing the evidence.”
“We’ve hit a dead-end,” Dalton said. “We want you to watch the video from the bank and tell us if you know a particular woman.”
“All right.”
Dalton set a laptop in front of her, then tapped on a remote, and up popped the video of the bank.
“Right there.” Dalton paused the video. “Blond woman. We got a small snapshot of her face…” Dalton hit the slow-motion button until it the woman turned her head. “No one can I.D. her.”
Stacey leaned in. “That’s it?” Not much to go on. Her eyes were covered with big glasses and a rain hat that dropped over her face. She also sported a tan raincoat and red pants, and was carrying a package.
Dalton pointed to the screen. “She goes into the restroom.” Dalton continued to play until a woman with brown hair, red pants, a raincoat and a package appeared.
“Same woman,” Stacey said. “She’s still wearing sunglasses, but she took off the hat. Can you zoom in?”
“This is the best resolution we’ve got right now,” Dalton said. “We’ve got some encrypted software running face recognition, but that could take a while. Everyone in the office looked, but not one of us has any clue. Was really hoping—”
“What about when she leaves?”
Dalton fast forwarded. “She goes back into the bathroom, then comes out with the glasses and the hat.” Dalton tapped the screen. “Can’t see her face.”
“Go back to where she comes out of the bathroom with the blonde wig.” Stacey leaned in closer, watching the woman intently as she made her way across the bank to talk to the person at the courtesy desk. “Does she take off her sunglasses?”
“Yes, but it’s the same side view.”
“Get me to that clip, and then pause it.” Stacey got as close as she could. There was something oddly familiar about the woman. “You have all the phone records. Any reoccurring number?”
“I’m sorry,” Dalton said. “Another thing Gregory botched, so we’ve got a couple of officers looking at them as we speak.” He paused the video again.
“Fucking wonderful,” Stacey muttered, leaning closer to the computer screen. She glanced at the human hair in the evidence bag. It was light red.
No. Her phone was blowing up in her pocket. It had been ever since she walked into the station, but she’d been too focused to think about looking at her phone.
But it wouldn’t stop vibrating. She pulled it out, looking at the woman more closely. “Holy shit,” she said. “I know who that is.”
“Who?” Jared asked.
She looked at her phone, and sure enough, Taylor had pulled through with a name. “She used to work for my dad. She dated him, but that ended badly because she was a little nuts. She had a short-lived affair with Bill, and also worked at the law firm.”
“Name?” Jared asked.
“Alice Rictor.” She tapped the screen. “That’s Alice Rictor.”
“No,” Dalton said. He leaned in to get a better look. “Fuck.”
“What?”
“I never met her, but Alice is Gregory’s girlfriend,” Dalton said as he flew across the room, whipping the door open. Stacey and Jared followed.
“Where’s Gregory?” Dalton asked a fellow officer as they passed by.
“Just left the building, like, two minutes ago.”
“You two go out the front.” Dalton pointed. “I’ll head out the back. It goes right to the parking lot.”
Stacey ran as fast as she could, dodging people as she raced through the lobby. Her heart pounded in her chest. Rage coursed through her veins like a wildfire. As soon as she flung open the doors, she heard Dalton yelling for Gregory to stop.
Tires squealed as Gregory’s four-door sedan skidded out onto the road. She drew her weapon as Gregory’s car sped toward her. She saw Gregory’s face, and for a split second, she wanted to shoot him.
Bang! Stacey shot the first round.
The front passenger tire blew. But that didn’t stop him as he drove past her, nearly hitting her.
Bang!
The rear passenger tire blew. That was enough to throw the car off-balance. A second later the car crashed into a tree.
But it still didn’t stop Gregory. He bolted from the car, looking over his shoulder.
“I will shoot you,” she yelled.
He didn’t take heed, and she didn’t have a clear shot, so she holstered her weapon and ran as fast as her legs could carry her. Her father might have been freakishly strong, but she was freakishly fast, and no way was this asshole getting away from her now. She heard two sets of footsteps running behind her as well, but she kept her sights on Gregory, who had gone down a side street, then disappeared between two houses.
She glanced over her shoulder as Jared whistled. He pointed to the alley behind the houses, and then he and Dalton took off that way.
She slowed her pace; drawing her weapon and checking between each house as she moved swiftly and carefully down the street.
“He’s heading for the access road,” Dalton yelled.
Once again, she holstered her weapon and sprinted up the street. If the construction was still going on, he’d only be able to turn left, in her direction, and if she made it in time, she’d be able to cut him off. As soon as her feet hit the pavement of the access road, she drew her weapon as Gregory ran toward her, stopping as soon as she saw him. “Keep your hands where I can see them.”
Gregory looked around, obviously gauging his options, which were basically none as Jared and Dalton rounded the corner.
She inched forward. “On your knees. Hands in the air.”
Gregory shook his head, but did as instructed.
“Facedown,” she yelled.
The muscles in her legs ached. Her heart pounded so hard she found herself struggling for breath. “As much as I’d like the honors,” she managed, “he’s all yours.”
Dalton twisted Gregory’s hands behind his back, cuffed him, before hoisting him up and reading him his rights.
Gregory cursed, calling her a few choice superlatives, but she didn’t have the energy or the desire to respond.
She holstered her weapon, put her hands on her knees, and did her best to breathe slowly. In through her nose and out through her mouth. It took a few minutes, but she managed to slow her heart rate as her breathing became less labored. “Well, that was an interesting turn of events.” She stood, cocking her head left and right, trying to get the kink out of her neck. A sheriff’s car rolled to a stop just before the access road.
“I honestly didn’t see that coming,” Jared said.
Stacey watched as Dalton helped Gregory into the patrol car. The sirens blipped once, then the car did a three-point turn and headed to county lockup, where Gregory would be formally charged and processed.
“We’ve got a warrant for Alice Rictor,” Dalton said. “We’ve got an unmarked car heading to her apartment. I’m going to head over there now. Care to join?”
“As much as I want to, I think I’d rather go home to my family and let them know this nightmare is over.”
“Thanks,” Jared said, holding out his hand to Dalton. “I
’m going to take her home.”
“I’ll let you know when we’ve got eyes on Alice,” Dalton said.
Stacey and Jared walked slowly and quietly back down the side street to the Sheriff’s office. Her thighs still burned. A tow truck had already shown up to remove Gregory’s smashed car. “You can’t make this shit up.”
“Life is always stranger than fiction.” Jared opened the passenger door to the patrol car. “Dalton seems like a capable detective. He was a key player in getting Gregory tossed off the case.”
It felt so good to sit down. Her body was tired from the sprint. From the entire week. She would sleep well tonight. “Can I come back to work now?”
“No.” Jared laughed. “Finish your vacation. You deserve a few days off.”
“Okay.” She wasn’t going to argue. Her world was good again.
Chapter 14
“HOW ARE YOU HOLDING UP?”
Doug wasn’t sure how to answer Reese’s question. For the last five hours, since Stacey had left with Jared, he’d tried to work, but his mind remained unfocused on the task at hand. The crew had only worked a half-day, and had all gone home. Jim and Jillian had just left. Doug tried to finish a few things up, but instead, found himself sitting on the new porch of the Heritage, staring at the lake. “Stacey texted just before you came out here,” Doug said. “She’s on her way.”
“Did she say anything?”
Doug shook his head. “And I’m too afraid to ask.”
“No news is good news.”
“I suppose,” Doug said. He wasn’t sure what would be worse. Living out his days homeless, or rotting in prison.
“The fact that the Sheriff’s office hasn’t asked you down for questioning is a good sign.”
“Every time I heard a car pull into the parking lot, I thought, Here we go.”
“Understandable.” Reese stood and peered around the corner. “Stacey just pulled in.”
Doug took in a deep breath before leaning against the lobby door of the Heritage Inn. He watched as Stacey got out of the patrol car. When she slammed the door shut, she leaned in, talking to Jared. Doug couldn’t hear what she said, nor could he tell if she looked happy, sad, frustrated, annoyed, or all of the above. When she finally turned, tapping the hood of the car, then taking a few steps toward him, he saw the exhaustion etched into her face, along with something else.
He saw life in her eyes, and if he wasn’t mistaken, she looked as if she were trying very hard not to smile. “Good news?” he dared to ask. His heart skipped a beat. His palms were damp with nervous sweat.
She stopped at the base of the steps. “Reese, can you give us a minute?”
“Seriously?” Reese balked. “You want me to leave without telling me what’s going on?”
“Call Jared. He’ll fill you in.”
Doug kept his gaze fixed on Stacey’s milk-chocolate eyes. Over the course of the last week, they’d lost their twinkle, but something had changed. The sun kissed her eyes, sending off little sparkles that looked like shooting stars. “What’s going on?”
She ran toward him, her Stetson flying off the top of her head. Before he could brace himself, she jumped on him, wrapping her arms and legs around his body. He stumbled and groaned as his back slammed into the door, shoving it open. He took a few more steps backward, hoping he wouldn’t trip over anything as he regained his balance. She buried her face in his neck, her full lips pressed firmly on his skin.
“You’re trembling,” he whispered as he set her down on a stool in the hotel lobby.
“Just hold me,” she whispered, kissing his neck again, holding him tighter.
Gently, he placed his thumb under her chin and tilted her head. “What’s going on?” He wiped away a couple of tears that had rolled down her cheek, noticing her bright smile.
“Gregory and Alice Rictor,” she said.
“Huh?” He pulled his head back.
“You’re cute when you’re confused,” she said. “They set us up.”
“That’s crazy. Why would they… He’s a cop… How do they even know each other?” Doug’s mind spun like the wheel of fortune, only it didn’t slow down. Instead, it sped up as he tried to process what she had said.
“It’s a very long story,” she said. “Where do I start?”
“Give me the Spark Notes version.”
“It’s over.” She laced her fingers behind his neck and pulled him close. His lips hovered over hers. “I lo—”
He pressed his lips firmly against hers, parting them with his tongue, exploring every part of her mouth. He was going to say it first, but not until he knew for sure that things were going to be back to normal.
She pried her lips from his. “Doug, I—”
“Shhh.” He pressed his finger over her lips. She narrowed her eyes, glaring at him.
“It’s really over?” He kept his finger on her lips. “Nod yes or no to my questions, then I’ll let you speak.”
She nodded.
“Dark cloud gone?”
She made a motion with her hands as if doing a magic trick.
“You’re vibrating,” he said.
She batted his hand away. “My phone can wait.”
He smiled. “I’ve never in my life felt this way before. I never thought I could be this happy…” He paused to kiss her nose. “Stacey Sutten, I’m totally and madly in love with you.”
“I lo—”
Grinning, he crash-landed on her lips as he pulled her body close, encouraging her firm legs to wrap around his waist.
She broke the kiss off as he made his way toward the stairs. “What are you doing?”
“There are a couple of beds upstairs.”
“Oh, my God. You are such a pig.”
“Just remember, you love this pig.”
“How would you know? You keep shutting me up.”
“Say it,” he whispered.
“I’ve been trying.”
“Try harder,” he teased, darting his tongue and licking her lips, keeping her gaze. Her eyes told him everything he needed to know.
She cupped his face, pushing his head back a little. “I love you.”
He groaned, then shoved her body up against a wall. His tongue probed the inside of her mouth. His hands gripped her ass while his hip was painfully aware she was in uniform. Their kiss was wet and sloppy and totally out of control, and it dawned on him he had no idea how to get her out of this uniform. He had to pry his mouth off hers and laugh.
“I’m not sure I want to know what is so funny,” she said.
“I’m sorry. But I was imagining trying to get your gun belt off, and it wasn’t sexy or romantic.”
Doug head the door squeak open. “Stacey? Doug?” Reese called out.
“We’re in here.” He took a step back from the wall, letting Stacey slide her legs down the length of his body until her boots hit the floor.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Reese said, “but we’ve got a situation.”
“What’s that?” She dropped her head to Doug’s chest.
“Alice seems to have given the locals the slip.”
“What?” Stacey flung herself around. “Last I heard, they had a car outside her place, and she was in it.”
“I was on the phone with Jared when the call came over.”
“Great,” she muttered. “Where’s Dad?”
“He went home,” Doug said.
“I thought he was going to Home Depot,” Reese said.
“He did. Then home.”
“Give me your keys, Doug.” Stacey held out her hand.
“I’ll drive.”
“Give her your keys,” Reese said. “She’ll get you there faster, trust me. I’ll be right behind you and I’ll get Jared to send over a car.”
* * *
“Dad?” Stacey called as she pushed open the back door.
Her father’s truck and Jillian’s car were in the driveway.
“Daddy?” She held her gun to her side, wishing Doug wasn�
�t standing right behind her, but he wasn’t going to stay in the truck and she wasn’t going to take the time to argue. “You home?”
“In the family room,” her father called.
Stacey let out a long sigh of relief. “We better go fill him in,” she said, walking toward the family room. “That crazy bitch is still out there.”
“That crazy bitch is right here,” a woman’s voice rang out.
Stacey drew her weapon as her eyes focused on the woman holding a gun to her father’s head. He sat on the sofa in front of the picture window. His nose flared like that of an angry bull.
“I’d put that away if I were you, and tell that boyfriend of yours to go sit on that sofa over there.”
Stacey didn’t have to tell him; he just did it.
“Where’s Jill…?” Stacey saw Jillian out of the corner of her eye, tied up on a wing-backed chair against the wall leading to the office. Stacey held her gun steady. “Put down your weapon,” she said.
Alice just laughed, then pointed the gun at Doug. “I don’t think you want to play this game. You shoot me; I shoot one of the men in your life. Can you pick one over the other?” Alice quickly put the gun back on her father. Her finger hovered over the trigger. “Your father humiliated me when he dumped me. And Doug. What a puppet. He’d do anything Jim asked him to, like firing me. Your father didn’t even have the decency to do that. Then neither of them would give me a good recommendation.”
“Let’s both put down our weapons and talk about this.” Stacey kept focused on Alice’s trigger finger. It didn’t flinch. The woman was steady. Too steady. And the gun was pointed directly at her father’s temple.
“You’re funny,” Alice said. “Doug’s ex-wife ruined my life as well, and if he’d been able to keep her satisfied, well, we might not be in this predicament. Now, put down your gun.” Alice moved closer to her father, the barrel of her weapon only an inch from her father’s head.
Stacey scanned the room for a way to defuse the situation as she took in long slow breaths, trying to keep her heart rate down. Her adrenaline kicked in when shadow rustled through the front yard, then a quick two flashes of light.