by Dinah McCall
He pulled the front door shut and started across the yard. He was halfway across Ella’s backyard when he saw the shadow of a man move between the light and the curtains on the windows. He frowned. Ella was a widow. Her only son lived in Florida. Then he remembered she’d been keeping company with some guy who owned a bunch of funeral homes. It would be embarrassing to think he was catching a thief and catch them together instead.
He paused and started to retrace his steps, when he saw the man raise an arm above his head. Trey stared in disbelief as something flew from his hand. When he heard the sound of breaking glass, followed by Ella crying out, he began to run.
He kicked in the back door with his bare foot and went in with his gun aimed. He caught a brief glimpse of Ella in her nightgown, tied up on the floor with the kitchen in shambles. He caught a glimpse of motion from the corner of his eye as a man came out from behind a door with a gun in his hand aimed right at Trey’s head.
Trey spun and fired.
The man staggered, then dropped.
Trey kicked the gun to the other end of the room, then yanked an electric cord from the back of a toaster and tied him up before he could come to. He looked around for a phone, but the man had pulled it out of the wall.
Ella moaned.
He rushed to her side. She had a bruise on her face and a bloody lip, and when he untied her and helped her to her feet, she staggered.
“Easy, honey,” Trey said, then picked her up and carried her to the window seat at her bay window. “What happened?” he asked. “Are you hurt anywhere else?”
“No. I’m just a little dizzy and a whole lot pissed,” she said.
A little of the panic he’d been feeling dissipated. Ella being pissed was more normal than Ella being scared.
“He broke into my house. I thought I heard something and started to get up. Before I could get to the phone, he was in my bedroom trying to rob me. Said he wanted my cash.”
“I pointed to my purse, and to the roll of money I’d won off Marcus, but he didn’t even touch it. He just kept talking crazy and swiping at his face, like there were spiderwebs or something he was trying to wipe off.”
“Trey?”
Trey turned. Olivia was standing in the open doorway wearing a pair of sweatpants and an oversize T-shirt he recognized as his own.
“Stay with her,” he said quickly. “I’ve got to find a phone.”
“He pulled them all out of the walls,” Ella said.
Olivia stared at the man on the floor, then gasped when she saw Ella’s face.
“Oh no!” she cried, and hurried to Ella’s side.
“I’m all right,” the old woman muttered. “Just a little bunged up.”
The man on the floor moaned. Trey flinched. He couldn’t leave these two women alone with this creep, even if he was shot and tied up. From the way Ella had described his behavior, he would lay odds the man was higher than a kite.
“I changed my mind,” Trey told Olivia. “Go back to our house and get my cell. It’s on the hall table.”
Olivia bolted, and was back far more quickly than Trey would have thought possible. She handed him the phone, then went to Ella’s side.
Within minutes, police and ambulances were on the scene.
The man was taken into custody and transported to a hospital, while Ella was treated on-site. She argued about staying home, but Trey wouldn’t listen. He told the EMTs to take her to the hospital and make sure she didn’t have any internal injuries or a concussion.
Ella wanted to be mad, but she was too shaken up to argue. Instead, she pointed her finger at Olivia.
“You go back to the house and get in bed. You look pale.”
Olivia wanted to laugh, but her eyes filled with tears. She leaned over and kissed Ella on the cheek as the EMTs were carrying her out of the house.
“You be good and get well.”
Ella’s mouth crumpled. “Now who’s gonna take care of you?”
“When you come home, we’ll take care of each other,” Olivia said.
Ella managed a smile, but it was faint. Then Trey was pulling Olivia out of the way, and the ambulance soon sped away. A couple of detectives from robbery showed up. They recognized Trey on sight.
“Hey, Bonney! You live here?” one of them asked.
“No. Next door,” Trey said.
“Can you fill us in?”
Trey nodded. “Yeah, just give me a minute to get Livvie back to the house.”
“I can get myself there,” Olivia said as Trey took her by the elbow.
“I know,” he said as they started out the door. “But I need to know for myself that you’re all right. I can’t have both of my best girls out of commission.”
Olivia sighed, then leaned against him as he walked her back to the house. It wasn’t until they were in his front yard that she realized her legs were shaking.
“I heard the gunshot,” she said.
Trey kept on walking without missing a step.
“Yeah.”
“I never heard the shot that hit me,” she said. “But I got that same feeling of panic in my stomach.”
“I’m sorry, honey. I’m sorry you were scared.”
“It’s okay. I’m just thankful Ella wasn’t hurt worse.”
“Me too.”
“Trey?”
“Yeah?”
“How did you know?”
“Know what?”
“Know that he was there…that something was wrong?”
He paused in the halo of his porch light.
“I don’t know. I just woke up and knew.”
Olivia turned and slid her arms around his waist.
“You saved her life, Trey, just like you saved mine.”
“Yeah, well, it was just—”
“You’re a good man, Trey Bonney. It’s going to be tough living up to someone like you.”
“You don’t have to live up to me, darlin’. Just live with me for the rest of my life.”
“Was that a proposal?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Then I accept.”
Trey tried to smile but couldn’t quite get past the emotion welling up inside him.
“I have waited a long damn time to say those words to you, and you know what?”
“What?”
“Not once did I ever think you would tell me no. Isn’t that strange?”
Olivia laid her head on Trey’s chest and hugged him close.
“No, not strange, Trey. It just proves that your instincts are always right.”
“Yeah…well, let’s get you back to bed. I won’t be long giving my statement. I need to get a little more sleep before I go back to work.”
“Why? What’s happening?” she asked.
It was the first time that Trey realized he hadn’t told her about Sheree Collier or the meeting with Foster Lawrence. And it was just as well. No need reminding Olivia of the unanswered questions surrounding her identity until all the facts were out.
“Just more meetings and more questions to be answered about Baby Jane Doe.”
Olivia nodded. “I’ll be waiting for you,” she said, and then disappeared back into the house.
Trey stood for a moment, taking to heart what she’d just said.
She would be waiting for him.
He couldn’t think of anything better.
20
The events of the past two days and nights had Trey exhausted from lack of sleep. With Ella in the hospital for observation, he’d called Marcus to tell him what had happened and that Olivia would be by herself for the day.
Marcus had been horrified by the news about his new poker partner.
“Not Ella!” Marcus said. “Please tell me that she’s going to be all right.”
“She’s already all right. Nothing broken. No stitches necessary. She has some bruises and scrapes, but she’s basically in good shape.”
“Praise the Lord,” Marcus murmured. “As for Olivia, don’t worry about her.
Either I will be with her, or Terrence and Carolyn will come. They’ve been anxious to see her. If you don’t mind having your house overrun with our family, that is.”
“No, sir, not at all. I’m just sorry all this is happening. Also, I have a favor to ask.”
“Ask away,” Marcus said.
“When you come, could you possibly bring some pictures of Olivia before her parents were killed?”
“Yes, of course, but why?”
Trey quickly filled Marcus in on everything that had happened with Sheree Collier, and the fact that she’d seen a baby with Laree off and on for the two years prior to the kidnapping.
“So she might be able to give us a positive identification?” Marcus asked.
“Between that and her DNA, before long, we should be able to answer the question of which baby is which.”
“Tell Olivia that one of us, or all of us, will be there shortly.”
“Remember, I have a pool at the house. It’s small, but it’s a great way to pass the time. Livvie will be in it part of the day doing therapy on her shoulder.”
“Trey.”
“Yes?”
“I feel the need to tell you again how sorry I am that I so misjudged you.”
“Forget it. That was a long time ago.”
“Still, I don’t like it that I was so narrow-minded. I thought myself better than that. You’ve shamed me by your generosity and your ability to forgive. Don’t think I’m unaware of that, or of the fine man you’ve so obviously become.”
Trey didn’t say so, but he took heart that Marcus approved of him now. It wouldn’t have changed his determination to marry Olivia, but it definitely made things easier for them to pursue a relationship.
“Then, I’ll say thank you, and we won’t have to speak of it again,” Trey said.
“Done,” Marcus said, then glanced at his watch. “I’m going to call Carolyn right now. Terrence can take her to your house. I had promised Anna Walden that I’d bring her to see Olivia. The people at the home said she’s confused about where Olivia is, and I thought a brief visit might help. If it was for any other reason, I’d just put her off, but I hate to confuse her any more than she already is.”
“No problem,” Trey said. “Livvie’s been concerned about her. She’ll be glad to see her, I’m sure,” Trey said. “Oh…and I heard about the poker game.”
Marcus chuckled. “I lost.”
“Yeah, I heard that, too.”
“She told me I was too old for her,” Marcus said. “Can you beat that?”
Trey laughed out loud.
Olivia came into the room just then and smiled to herself. She had always loved the sound of his laugh.
When Trey saw her, he waved her over.
“Marcus…wait a minute. Livvie just woke up. I’ll let you talk to her while I finish getting ready for work. Hope to see you this evening.”
He handed Olivia the phone, kissed his own thumb, then put it square in the middle of her lips and winked.
Olivia was so muddled by the unexpected gesture that she forgot her grandfather was on the line.
“Trey, I—”
He put a finger up to his lips to remind her to be cautious of what she said, then grinned. She blushed and put the phone up to her ear.
“Grampy?”
“Good morning, darling. How are you feeling?”
“How am I feeling? Oh…I feel fine.”
Trey was looking at her, undressing her with his eyes. She made a face at him, then pointed a finger at him to leave. Satisfied that he’d gotten under her skin, which was his intention, he grinned, then walked away.
Unaware of the byplay, Marcus continued his explanation.
“I had a phone call from the home where Anna is staying. They said she’s been looking all over the place for you, so I thought it might help her if she came for a quick visit. Are you up to that?”
“Oh, Grampy, yes! I’ve been so worried about her. I would love to see her.”
“Good. I told Trey that Terrence and Carolyn have been anxious to see you, so I’ll send them your way first, and Anna and I will come along later.”
Olivia’s heart lifted. All her family together. It would be great.
“That sounds perfect. I’ll be looking for them,” she said.
“We’ll see you later, then.”
“Okay. Bye, Grampy.”
“Goodbye, dear.”
She hung up, then went in search of Trey.
When he heard her footsteps, he turned. His smile was quick, his voice low and husky when he said, “Good morning, Livvie.”
She walked up to him.
“Good morning yourself. Did you get any more rest after we went back to bed?”
“Yeah, some. Enough to get by, anyway.” He slid a hand beneath her hair at the back of her neck, then pulled her close.
She lifted her chin.
He lowered his head.
Their lips met—hers opening slightly. She tasted minty, like his toothpaste, and he got hard just thinking about how they’d made love. When they finally parted, Trey made a low, growling sound, then frowned, reluctant to let her go.
“First time I ever knew toothpaste could be sexy.”
Olivia grinned. “Anything that has to do with you is sexy to me.”
“Keep talking like that, woman, and I’ll be late for work.”
Suddenly Olivia’s smile felt wrong. She was experiencing so much joy when so many things had gone wrong.
“Speaking of work…”
Trey stifled a frown. He’d been dreading having to tell her about the new developments, but he knew it had to be done. Now she’d even given him an opening.
“What about it?”
“I’ve been so out of the loop. What’s been happening since Dennis Rawlins was arrested and put away?”
“A couple of pretty important things, actually.”
“Like what?” she asked, and sat down on the corner of his mattress.
Trey sat down beside her. “We know that Foster Lawrence got mixed up in the kidnapping because of one of his sisters.”
Olivia gasped. “His sister? Is she the person who killed my parents?”
“Probably, but we don’t have any solid proof of it. All we have is Lawrence’s version. He says he didn’t arrive on the scene until after the kidnapping had occurred. I believe him. To make a long story short, his sister’s name is Laree Lawrence, and she called him to come fix a hole in a wall. He was doing that when a baby girl came out of the other room.”
“That would be me,” Olivia said.
Trey didn’t comment.
Then it dawned on Olivia what Trey had said before.
“He was fixing a hole in— Oh my God…the baby in the suitcase?”
He nodded.
“Who was the baby? Why did she kill her?”
Trey took her hands, then held them gently, wanting her to know that he was always with her, no matter what.
“We also found out some more information about Foster Lawrence. Laree was an identical twin. We found her twin, Sheree Lawrence Collier, in Miami. She’s been in Dallas since yesterday. She gave us a DNA sample and was the one who finally got Lawrence to talk.”
Olivia frowned. “Why would you want a DNA sample from her when she wasn’t involved in the crime?”
“As I said before, we believe Laree killed your parents, but she also had a baby the same age as the one that Michael and Kay had. We know that Michael was the father of both girls. And as you know, one of the babies was killed. What we have been needing all along was some way to prove which was which. It’s difficult to believe two half sisters would look that much alike, and your grandfather is positive that you’re you.” He grinned and poked the end of her nose. “And I know for sure that you’re the you I fell in love with, and the one I don’t ever intend to lose again.”
Olivia’s lips trembled, but she wouldn’t let herself cry.
“Yeah. We know that for sure, don’t we, Trey?�
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“Damn straight. So Sheree gave a DNA sample, which can help us prove which baby was which, because identical twins share identical DNA.”
“Oh.”
“And there’s another plus.”
“I can’t believe any part of it is a plus, but…go on.”
Trey made a face, then kissed Olivia’s cheek.
“Sorry, baby…I was speaking from the standpoint of a detective trying to solve a crime.”
“I know, and I’m the one who’s sorry. I keep feeling so damn sorry for myself, when I should be thanking the good Lord that I’m still alive. It’s just as likely that I could have been the one in the suitcase.”
“Exactly.”
“So…the other plus? Remember?”
“Yeah. Sheree saw her sister several times over the two years before the kidnapping, and each time, she had a little girl, the same little girl, who she kept claiming she was baby-sitting. Only now we know different. So here’s the deal. Sheree Collier’s DNA will confirm, once and for all, which of the babies is which.”
“Does she know where her sister is now?”
“No.”
“Okay,” Olivia said. “I can see where this is still a positive thing.”
But Trey heard the fear in her voice. “It’s scary news, I know. But you have to keep remembering that neither Marcus nor I cares which way it turns out. You’re still the girl we love.”
She nodded, then leaned against him, letting his arms enfold her and give her the momentary confidence she so desperately needed.
A short while later, Trey left for work. Olivia waved goodbye as if everything were perfect; then, as soon as she was alone, she began to shake. Her whole world was teetering on the blood of a stranger. She couldn’t bear to think of being the child of a killer. Even if Michael Sealy had been her father, her Grampy would never be able to look at her the same again and not remember that her mother had killed his son.
“God, please don’t let it happen.”
By noon, Trey’s house was filled with guests. Ella had been released from the hospital, brought home by ambulance, and was holding court on a lounge chair by Trey’s pool.
Terrence and Carolyn were there, too, suitably shocked by Olivia’s healing gunshot wound and equally taken by Trey’s next-door neighbor, who had plenty of stories to tell about Trey, the hero of the hour.