He trembled with rage.
“So did he write everything you dictated?” Bronwyn asked Vera.
“Of course,” Vera said with a superior smile. “He confessed to all of his crimes—every single one of the robberies and murders we did—and said that he couldn’t live with people finding out what he’d done.”
“Cassie was lucky, Carter,” Bronwyn mused. “If she hadn’t hated you like she did, we would have had to get rid of her straight away. Now we won’t have to worry that she’d look for you tonight. It’s unfortunate for you, but fortunate for her, that she was so quick to believe your fake story.”
“I’m a great actor,” he said derisively, the ache in his chest intensifying. Cassie...
Damn it. He wasn’t ready to die yet. He had to see her again.
“So why don’t you kill me now?” he asked sarcastically. “Then you’ll never find the evidence that connected Bronwyn to this case. As I’ve said before, I haven’t had the chance to add it to the police files so Vera hasn’t seen it to tamper with it or get rid of it.”
“Vera...” Bronwyn said nervously.
“He’s lying,” Vera said, bored.
“Am I? So how did I learn that Bronwyn and Al Jackson—that stooge you killed—were lovers?”
Bronwyn gasped, the shock on her face evident.
“Maybe Vera will kill you next, Bronwyn,” he said, cocking his head. “But then again, I don’t think she can afford to. All the laundering happened in your gallery and if you’re not around to keep covering it up, police will manage to find the link between the two of you.”
“You’re right,” Bronwyn said with a relieved sigh.
“Oh, as if I’d off you, Bronwyn,” Vera said with an eye roll. “And you, Carter Garrett. You think you have a handle on this, don’t you? Well, let me tell you, you don’t. Everything is unfolding according to my plans. Now tell me. Where exactly is this evidence?”
He snorted. “Why should I tell you?”
The two bitches pointed their guns at him.
He sighed. “Where would I keep a piece of evidence if it’s not at the station?”
“Just as I guessed,” Vera said with a smirk. “It’s in your house.”
“And I have security cameras that will capture your ugly faces when you try to steal it.”
Vera laughed. “Why, Carter. There’s always a way. Lucky for us Cassie hates you now.”
His heart jumped. “You promised you wouldn’t hurt her.”
“And we won’t. If she does one job for us.”
“What job?” he asked, fear gripping him.
“She has keys to your place, I believe. So it will be her face on your security cameras.”
“Why don’t you just kill me now and leave her alone!” he growled, jumping to his feet.
He felt a heavy thud in his head, and his eyesight dimmed fast...
*****
Carter felt a dull ache emanating from the top of his head. He forced himself to open his eyes and found Vera sitting casually on the couch in front of him. He tried to move, and found himself shackled to a chair.
“Hello, Carter. Welcome back. How’s that lump on your head?”
He glared at the woman.
Vera smirked. “You’re lucky Bronwyn only hit you with her gun, not shot you with it. You really shouldn’t make any unexpected moves around her. She’s kinda reactive.”
“Where is she?”
“On the way to Cassie’s place. She’s gonna get your girlfriend to get that evidence for us.”
No. Oh, God, no. They’d kill her anyway, regardless of what they’d promised him.
He thrashed around on the chair, trying to break his restraints.
“Aw, Carter. You really are head over heels in love with that woman, aren’t you? So where did you keep the evidence?”
He shook his head, trying to clear it so he could think straight.
“Never mind,” Vera said. “We figured out a way to get it. We’re going to get Cassie to bag all of the paperwork she sees in your house. And if it’s under lock and key, Bronwyn knows how to jimmy locks. She can talk Cassie through it without entering your house. Then we’ll burn them all.”
Arggh!
He shut his eyes, calling on the presence of mind he’d been trained to conjure at will.
“Okay, hear me out,” he said to Vera in a defeated voice.
Vera frowned.
He took a deep breath, praying Vera would accept his plan. “The evidence is in my three-drawer filing cabinet. It’s locked. But the key is somewhere in my house. I stuck the evidence in a very thick file filled with miscellaneous paperwork. I usually do that for important documents for extra safety.”
Vera’s lips tugged up.
Fucking she-devil.
“If you agree to my plan,” he continued, “it will save you the hassle of having to cover up another crime. Killing Cassie will create more mess for you.”
“I’m listening,” Vera said.
“I will call Cassie and threaten her loved ones. In other words, I’ll make her believe that I’m the mastermind of your crimes—which is what you want people to believe anyway. We’ll pretend that I’m threatening Bronwyn too, that she’s following my instructions under duress. As for you, she thinks we’re together, but you’re just the girlfriend who knew nothing about my misdeeds, just like David, who’s supposed to be my partner, knows nothing. Besides, that suicide-note confession that you made me write will clear you and Bronwyn completely.”
Vera nodded, her eyes wide with interest.
“So here’s the deal. I’ll threaten Cassie and make her go to my house to get that thick file where the evidence is. Then I’ll tell her to give that file to Bronwyn. After that, you and Bronwyn will let Cassie go. She goes home right after she hands the file to Bronwyn.”
“I want her to just grab the evidence, not the whole file,” Vera said.
“It will take too long, Vera. The document is one sheet of paper among hundreds of newspaper clippings, brochures, electricity bills and other scraps. I want her in and out of the house quickly. Besides, you wouldn’t want my neighbours finding Bronwyn sitting in her car in the dead of the night. A couple of them are friends of mine who know I’m a detective, so they will get suspicious.”
Vera stared at him, silently considering his proposition.
“It will be cleaner this way for you and Bronwyn, Vera. Then you’ll be getting rid of me—”
“You’ll be committing suicide,” Vera corrected.
He nodded. “Then I’ll be committing suicide and Cassie will be around to confirm that I’m this criminal because of this experience. Isn’t that better than having Cassie rob my place and then killing her? Much, much simpler and less complicated for you.”
“So you will really do this?”
“I love her, Vera. You won’t let me get out of here alive anyway. I might as well save her.”
“Aw, how sweet. Okay, I’ll call Bronwyn with the plan.”
Carter slumped in his seat, a feeling of relief overpowering him.
Cassie would be safe.
His family flashed in his mind—his mum, his dad, Tash. His heart constricted. They’d be devastated when they heard the news. They’d never believe he’d done all those crimes, though. And he knew they wouldn’t rest until they restored dignity to his memory.
Gavin and David wouldn’t believe the news either. They’d do everything they could to clear his name, even if it took them forever.
And Cassie... What would she believe?
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Cassie sat quietly in the front passenger seat of Bronwyn’s car, feeling numb. How could it be true? She must be in the middle of a nightmare because this couldn’t be real. When would she wake up?
She glanced at the gun sitting in between Bronwyn’s legs. She’d heard Carter’s voice come clearly through Bronwyn’s phone, which had been put on hands-free, instructing Bronwyn to point it at her if she tried to do somet
hing stupid.
Carter...
Tears streamed down her face. Carter couldn’t have committed all those crimes. And he wouldn’t hurt her family and friends. No matter how convincing he’d sounded—and, oh, he’d been so convincing—she just refused to believe what he’d said.
But she had to pretend otherwise. Because she had no doubts that this evil woman beside her was responsible for Carter’s false confessions.
“We’re in front of your house now, Carter,” Bronwyn said.
“Good,” Carter said. “Now, ladies, we’ll do a conference call so I can walk Cassie through what she has to do inside. You’ll still be able to hear me, Bronwyn. Okay?”
“Okay,” Bronwyn answered.
Cassie heard her phone ring. She didn’t move. She couldn’t.
“Pick up your phone, Cassie,” Carter said.
“Yes, pick it up,” Bronwyn echoed, pointing the gun at her.
She stared at the weapon for a second before reaching for her phone and tapping at the screen.
“She’s answered it,” Bronwyn said.
“Okay, Cassie,” Carter said. “You have my keys and you know my alarm code. So go into the house.”
She obeyed. What choice did she have?
She opened the door and punched the code on the security panel, then she flicked the light switch.
Memories of the last night she was here—when Carter had made love to her so well that she did scream—flashed in her head.
A sob escaped her and she covered her mouth to stop any more sounds from coming out.
“Come on, Cassie,” Bronwyn said encouragingly. “Don’t think of the bastard on the other end of the line. Think of your loved ones—our loved ones.”
Yes, she had to think of her loved ones.
She took a deep breath to compose herself.
“So what’s next?” she asked.
“Go to my study and look for my filing cabinet key in my desk drawer,” Carter said.
She ignored the terrible ache in her chest as she walked to Carter’s favourite room in the house. This was his man cave. While the rest of his house was adorned with practical and functional items, his study was filled with all the sentimental things he loved.
She strode to his desk and stopped dead in her tracks. On the right-hand side of the desk was his most prized toy—a limited-edition police car model that he’d bought on auction for a ridiculous amount. But the items next to it were what took her by surprise. Sitting on the wide platform where the model car rested was the pair of sunglasses she’d bought for him. Next to it was a picture of her and Carter kissing—a selfie they’d taken when they’d gone to the beach. He’d printed it?
She picked up the photo and looked at it closely. There seemed to be something written on it.
Her throat tightened. He’d written ‘I love her’ on the photo, with an arrow pointing to her image.
Tears poured profusely down her cheeks. That was a lie. He’d said he didn’t love her. He’d only used her to make Vera jealous.
And now, whoever was working with Bronwyn had to be at Vera’s house, threatening the couple. Why else would Carter be willing to own up to crimes he hadn’t committed?
“Cassie?” Bronwyn said. “What’s going on?”
“Just give me a moment,” she said, sniffling.
“There’s no time, Cassie,” Bronwyn said. “Carter has orders.”
The hairs on Cassie’s neck stood up at the clear annoyance in Bronwyn’s voice. Hastily, she opened the first drawer.
“I found some keys,” she said.
“Good,” Carter said. “Now open the bottom drawer of my filing cabinet.”
She did. “Okay. What am I looking for?”
“There are two thick files at the back. Can you see them?”
“Yes.”
“Pull out the one closest to you. So not the very last file, but the one before it.”
“Okay.”
“You got it?” Bronwyn asked.
“Yes. It’s quite heavy.”
“Good work, Cassie,” Carter said. “Now give the file to Bronwyn, and you can go home.”
She closed the filing cabinet, flicked the switch, and walked out of the house. Bronwyn was standing outside of her car, waiting for her.
“Will you be okay, Bronwyn?” she asked, making sure she sounded suitably concerned.
“Yes. Don’t worry about me. He promised to let me go after I deliver this file. As for you, make sure you keep your mouth shut.”
“Yes. You know what will happen if you say anything, Cassie,” Carter said.
“I don’t even know what to say to you, Carter,” she said with a hard tone.
“Then don’t say anything,” he said, his voice soft.
“You better go before he changes his mind,” Bronwyn said.
She nodded and walked away.
CHAPTER TWENTY
“Stop pacing, Carter,” Vera ordered. “Be grateful I allowed you to stand up. Don’t abuse the privilege.”
“I have pins and needles from sitting on your uncomfortable chair,” he retorted. Truth was, moving about helped him contain the rage and grief that were strangling him from the inside.
“So what? You’ll die soon. You won’t need your legs where you’re going.”
“I’m vain,” he said sarcastically. “I want all parts of my body in the best condition when I die.”
Vera snorted. “Maybe I should have given you some time alone with Cassie. Five minutes would have been more than enough to get you off. Oh, I forgot. She hates you now. She’d probably bite your dick so hard you’d yell in pain instead of pleasure.”
He glowered at the she-devil before resuming his pacing. He noticed Vera check her watch for the umpteenth time.
“So how come Bronwyn’s not back?” he asked provokingly. “Maybe she’s decided to disappear on you now that she has her hands on the evidence.”
“She can’t afford to do that,” Vera said with an unconcerned laugh. “I work in the police department so I hold all the aces.”
“You don’t fool me. You look so impatient,” he taunted.
“Very observant, Carter. I must say I’m really enjoying being stuck in here with you. With the other stooges, all they did was plead and beg and plead and beg. It was a relief when we finally shut them up for good. So I’m glad we’re having a stimulating conversation. It keeps the boredom away.”
“My sentiments exactly,” he said, finding an opportunity to do more probing. “Maybe David somehow found Bronwyn and took her into custody.”
“No. David would still be following that clue I planted—which will eventually lead to you.”
“So that’s what you’ve been doing all these weeks, huh? Tamper, destroy or plant evidence to make all the arrows point to me.”
“And I’ve been having fun doing it. And you know the funniest thing?” Vera said with a chuckle. “You kept on falling for the trick that it was Susan. That gave us all the time we needed.”
“You know what just occurred to me, Vera? I don’t think you’re fully done with your cleaning up. Otherwise, I’d be in jail by now, protesting my innocence.”
“Oh, I never underestimated you, Carter. We have a contingency plan in case you discovered us before our Plan A was ready. And this is it. Your suicide, your note that details the crimes, and whatever evidence against you we’ve managed to doctor, should make them close the Tellman Galleries case.”
“I’m sure they’ll find what you haven’t managed to erase.”
“Have you forgotten I’m still working for the authorities? I have all the opportunity in the world to keep on cleaning up. Besides, with your suicide note, there won’t be any more investigating. No one’s got the time to dig deeper these days when there’s a full confession. Add to that, there will be Cassie acting like a woman scorned and telling everyone you’d threatened to kill her family if she breathed a word of it to anyone. Our colleagues at the station would be so shocked to know th
at you were a criminal.”
“Fuck you, Vera,” he said dryly.
“Me? You should fuck yourself, Carter. It’s your fault that you’re gonna die in the prime of your life. If you haven’t been so suspicious of Bronwyn and put two and two together, we wouldn’t have had to call on our Plan B. Sure, you’d be in jail, but at least you’d be alive. But it’s too late to turn back the clock now. You know too much.”
“So have you always been a crook from the moment you joined the police force?”
“A crook, Carter? How about a genius? You know, you people are so stupid. You get me to investigate my own crimes,” she said, laughing out loud. “All you detectives put together are no match for me.”
Fucking psycho.
“So let’s talk about Bronwyn,” he said musingly. “Are you overestimating her? There’s no doubting you’re the brains, and Bronwyn owns the perfect business to do some laundering. But the question remains. Where is she now?”
“Maybe she went and offed your girlfriend, after all,” Vera snapped.
Carter tried not to react. Vera was definitely agitated by Bronwyn not turning up yet. It terrified him too. He hoped that Bronwyn hadn’t decided to follow Cassie home.
They heard a car arrive and Vera peeked through the curtains. “Ah, here she is,” she said with a smug smile, going to the door and opening it for her partner in crime.
“Where is it, Carter?” Bronwyn demanded, rushing in with the big file in her hands. “I can’t find it.”
“I thought I told you to come back here straight away,” Vera said coldly.
“Sorry, but I had to search through this file. It’s evidence against me, you know.”
“See what I mean, Vera?” Carter drawled. “She’ll be a liability if she keeps on veering away from the plan.”
A hint of fear crossed Bronwyn’s face. “I had to look. I want to see this evidence.”
“Sit down, Carter,” Vera ordered.
“Is Cassie safe?”
“Oh, God,” Vera muttered, rolling her eyes.
“I left her there,” Bronwyn said. “But if you don’t give me this evidence, then she’s dead. Do you hear me, Carter? Now show me where it is.” She banged the file on the table.
The Undercover Playboy (Captured by Love Book 3) Page 14