by Leger, Lori
“No.”
“Then I don’t want to talk about it with you.”
“You look like you’re miserable and need to talk.”
“I’ve grown accustomed to misery, Tanner, thanks to you.” She threw back the last sip of tea and tossed the empty cup in the trash. “Now that I think of it, the five years I spent being miserable with you was like a training camp for the big game.” She spread her arms wide. “It’s game time.”
Tanner sighed and sat down next to her. “What’s going on with Red’s case?”
She shrugged. “You watch television. I’m sure you know as much as I do. I’m not in that loop, anymore.”
“Tiffany, this isn’t like you.”
She stood suddenly and looked down at him. “How the hell would you know what I’m like? You tried to mold me into something I wasn’t for five years because you didn’t like the real me.”
He stood up. “Is that what you think?”
“What else would I think?”
“That’s not why—I was—I was trying to help you.”
“How? By making me feel like I wasn’t good enough for you?” She shook her head. “Way to help, Tanner.”
“It was because of your mother. I thought maybe she’d accept you if you looked …” His voice trailed off.
“Like her clone? Like seeing a reflection of the woman who’s hated me all my life staring back in my own reflection would be an improvement? You can’t be serious.”
“I was only trying to improve your relationship with your mother, Tiffany. That’s all, I swear.”
She stood, emptied the remainder of her tea and disposed of the cup. “You failed—miserably.”
He nodded. “I know that, and I’m sorry. For what it’s worth, you’re even more beautiful this way.”
She stared out the window, ignoring his compliment.
“Have you spoken to Red recently?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“I just want to know because I care.”
She turned toward the door. “Sure you do. I’ve got to prep for surgery.”
He grabbed her arm as she passed him. “Whether you believe it or not, I do care about you. If you need to talk, I’m here.”
Tiffany glared at his hand on her arm until he released her and left the room without a word.
By noon she’d checked on her last patient and she was ready to jump out of her skin.
She went to speak to her administrator and thirty minutes later, walked out with his blessing to take a week and a half off of work. A travel guide friend of hers had called her the night before and told her she could get her on a five day Caribbean cruise because of someone’s last minute cancellation. Five days on a ship drinking tropical drinks was just what she needed, and God help any man who tried to hone in on her alone time. She’d come back tanned, relaxed, and hopefully free of this ache and emptiness in her chest.
After stopping for a few supplies she went home and began to pull her suitcases out of closets to pack. That’s when she realized she’d left her Louis Vuitton carry on at Red’s house. She needed that bag. She pulled out her phone and dialed Red’s number. As usual, he didn’t answer. A fresh stab of pain hit her at his willingness to throw everything away.
Determined, she sent him a text:
I need my bag. I left it at your place
Within moments he’d replied. You left with it
No. It’s n ur BR. R u home?
Lafayette PD
Locked up?
Sort of. House arrest at Melissa’s when not here. U takin a trip?
Yes
Where to?
NOYB
Alone?
Surely NOYB
A short pause, then he followed up with: I know…
U shut me out
Won’t drag u down with me
I need my bag
Not there. Bye Doc
Frustrated, she threw her phone on the sofa and poured herself a glass of wine while she packed. She’d only taken two sips when her home phone rang.
“Hello.”
“Tiffany, is this you?”
“Yes, it is. Mrs. Vivienne?”
“Yes. How are you, dear?”
“I’m-I’m …” Just like at Red’s place for Thanksgiving, something about the woman’s voice made her want to bare her soul to her. “Not good, actually.”
“Oh, sweetie, I know. Red is just as miserable as you are, and I don’t know why he’s being so stubborn.”
“I don’t either, Mrs. Vivienne. I wanted to be there for him, but he’s shut me out.”
“He’s trying to protect you, Tiffany, but I knew you wouldn’t see it that way. Men don’t think as we do.”
“I’m so hurt.”
Vivienne began to cry softly on the other end of the phone. “I know you are, sweetie. But please don’t give up on him. This will all be over one day.”
“Will it?” She fought to hold back tears.
“It has to. My child serving a prison sentence for something he didn’t do—that can’t happen.”
“Oh God, I hope not, Mrs. Vivienne. I—I ache for him—I feel like I’m dying inside. I can’t function anymore. I need to get away but I left my carry-on bag at Red’s. He says no, but I know it’s there and I need it. If I can just distance myself from this pain—this rejection—for a while.” She worked at the tension in her neck with one hand. “I think I might have a chance at getting back to normal.”
“I understand, Tiffany. Red keeps a key hidden in a ceramic lighthouse on his back patio. It unlocks the kitchen door. Go get your bag, sweetie. Take that trip, wherever it is you’re going. It’ll do you some good to get away for a while.”
“Thank you.”
“Maybe by the time you get back, Red will have come to his senses or they’ll have caught the person responsible for this mess.”
“Maybe. I just—love him—so much.”
“He loves you too, Tiffany. He’s trying his best to protect you, right now. This is all he can do. He feels like there’s no other choice, do you understand?”
“I don’t. I just want to be with him.”
Just as Vivienne had said, she found a key hidden in the ceramic light house. She entered Red’s home, seeing everything as it had been the last morning she’d left from there, except for some receipts on the kitchen island.
Tiffany made her way to Red’s bedroom and found her bag, exactly where she’d left it. She stared at the bed with still tangled sheets and couldn’t help but think of their night of lovemaking. Catching sight of a full length garment bag hanging from a door hook, she walked closer seeing it was from an exclusive dress shop. She approached the bag, her curiosity on maximum overload, as she lowered the zipper.
Tiffany gasped at the contents, a gorgeous designer gown in ivory silk with exquisite lace and beadwork in a size six—her size. She glanced at the bag hanging next to it, opened it to reveal a pair of matching ivory pumps in size seven—her size. She tried them on, feeling like Cinderella when they both slid on for a perfect fit. She saw Red’s beautifully tailored Armani suit hanging on another hook, along with a gorgeous shirt and coordinating silk tie. His dress shoes and socks were laid out on the floor beneath the clothes.
She raised trembling fingers to her mouth, realizing this must have been their wedding clothes. Tears flooded her eyes when she thought of Red picking out the dress and shoes for her.
She scanned the room and her gaze settled on three boxes from a high end jeweler in Lake Coburn. She opened the first box and gasped at the lovely diamond earrings nestled in blue velvet. The second box contained the most gorgeous dinner ring she’d ever seen in her life. She’d told him no solitaire. Sobbing openly now, she opened the third box containing a matching set of platinum bands with inlaid diamonds and exquisite braiding around the edges. He did want to marry me. If Vivienne was to be believed, he still wanted to marry her.
Tiffany didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. The joy in her heart v
ied frantically with the unfairness of the situation. She did both, laughing through her tears until a calmness returned to her. She rinsed her face in his bathroom. The huge shower brought to mind their last bout of lovemaking. When Red’s land line began to ring she only hesitated a moment before answering it from his bedroom.
“McAllister residence.”
“Oh, thank God someone is there. I need to speak with Red.”
Tiffany would never forget the heavily accented voice of the woman from the ladies room. “Where the hell are you, Angelique? They suspect Red for being involved in your disappearance.”
“Where is he?”
“He’s back and forth between the Lafayette PD and being under house arrest at his sister’s place. He can’t leave the area. We suspect he’s being set up.”
“He is.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know who to trust.”
“Trust me, Angelique. I love him.”
“Yes, but do you know who can be trusted? It’s someone very close to him.”
“Tell me.”
“I’m not saying anything until I know both of my parents are safe and I’m making an official statement to the police.”
“Angelique, you could be putting Red in danger by keeping it from him. The police will make sure both you and your parents are safe.”
“I don’t know.”
“You can’t let him be blamed for this!” Tiffany pleaded.
“I don’t want to see him blamed, but I’m afraid for my parent’s lives, can you understand that? They’re all I have and I love them very much. I’m dying over here, knowing they don’t know if I’m alive or dead. I’m afraid he’ll hurt them if I call,” she sobbed.
This was no act. This woman’s fears were real. She took a deep breath and tried to stay calm. “Look, you shouldn’t be in this alone and you don’t have to be. Would it help if your parents were in protective custody at the police station?” She sent Red a text from her cell: Angelique on your phone…call me NOW!
“Can you make sure that happens?”
“Of course.” Within seconds her phone rang. “That’s Red calling me now on my cell. Don’t hang up!” She answered her phone and put it on speaker so Angelique could hear the conversation. “Red, she’s on your home phone right now. She knows who’s setting you up but is worried for her parents.”
“Her parents are here with me at the police station. They came in to see if anyone had heard from her.”
“Did you hear that, Angelique? Your parents are at the station with Red.”
“Thank God! I want to speak to them,” Angelique said. “Please tell my mother to call me on my phone.”
Tiffany repeated her request to Red and he disconnected to let them use his phone to call her. “How soon can you make it back to the station to clear Red?” Tiffany asked Angelique.
“I’m only thirty minutes away, but I’m terrified to drive back alone.”
“Ask Detective Mike Harper to send you a police escort,” Tiffany suggested. “That should make you feel safer.”
“Definitely. My mother is calling now, but thank you.”
Tiffany didn’t waste time waiting on Red to call her back. With phone in hand, she loaded every one of his purchases into her car, including the birth certificate he’d left beside the rings. Hers was tucked away inside the glove compartment of her car. She fully expected to get some use out of them before this day ended.
She was ten minutes from the police station when her phone finally rang. Her heart leapt with excitement as she saw Red’s name flash across the screen.
“Red?”
“Doc! I’m free and clear. Angelique has been picked up and is giving her statement to the police right now. It was Benji, my doorman.”
“I know! I just heard on the radio that there’s an APB out on him for the fire and the woman’s murder. What the hell happened, Red?”
“He was going to murder Angelique and leave her in the club to burn. Everyone saw me throw her out so I’d have motive. She went to meet him at the club after it closed and overheard him telling his girlfriend. She said they were arguing and the girl told him she was pregnant. That’s when she got the hell out of there. She knew Benji had friends with the department and didn’t know who she could trust. We know everything but why, Doc. I can’t figure out what kind of beef he has with me.”
“I guess we’ll have to wait until they catch him to find out.”
“God, I want to see you. Where are you?”
“I’m a few minutes from the station.”
“Here, in Lafayette?”
“Yes, and you may as well know that I picked up my suitcase from your place.” She waited for his response.
“You did?” His voice cracked slightly.
“Yes, I did. It was in your bedroom, right where I’d left it. You’d done some shopping.”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“You certainly did.”
“Did you—see everything I bought?”
“I believe so.”
“And what did you think?”
“You have excellent taste, Mr. McAllister, in both clothes and jewelry.”
“Of course I do. I chose you, didn’t I?”
“You also pushed me away when you needed me most.” She ignored his groan. “You hurt me, Red.”
“I didn’t want to subject you to anything that may put you in danger. Hell, I’m terrified right now because you’re not here, and Benji is still out there.”
“I’m just driving up to the station,” she said. “And Red?”
“What?”
“Don’t push me away again. If we have problems, we’ll face them together. You got that?”
“I got it, Doc.”
Tiffany got out of her car and headed toward the entrance. As she rounded the corner she froze, horrified at the sight before her.
“Well damned if the devil isn’t smiling on me today.” Benji practically crowed as Vivienne McAllister, the queen bee herself, pulled into the parking spot at the end on the same row as his truck. She took her time getting out of the car and locking her doors. She didn’t even assess her surroundings, completely lured by the false security that all police property, even the precinct parking lot, was a safe zone. He opened his truck door and headed stealthily in her direction, his gun pocketed and ready. Once he’d realized that all his plans for revenge were shot to hell, he’d headed to the station, hoping to catch Red alone, or not. He knew damn well he wouldn’t be spending a single day in prison, so he didn’t give a rat’s ass how the situation turned out, as long as Red lost his own life, or that of a loved one.
He caught up with Vivienne and shoved the gun in her side. “If you want to live, you’ll come quietly, Mom.”
Tiffany froze, seeing Benji walk with Vivienne’s arm tightly in his grip. She couldn’t see clearly, but judging from the look on Vivienne’s face, she suspected he had a gun her.
“He’s here outside of the police station and he has your mom. I think he has a gun on her, Red. I can’t let him take her.”
She heard Red shout to everyone what she’d just told him and heard scuffling sounds coming from the phone.
“Tiffany, don’t you do anything stupid!”
“If anyone comes barging out here he’ll kill her Red. You must know he just wants to make you suffer. I have to do something!”
“Tiffany …”
“I’m putting the phone in my pocket so you can hear.” She ignored his pleas to wait and pocketed her phone.
She forced herself to stay calm. “Benji!”
He swung around, jerking Vivienne so roughly she nearly fell. The bulk of a man dwarfed the tiny woman, and although she was trying to be brave, Tiffany could see the terror in her eyes. “She’ll only slow you down. Take me, instead. I’m his fiancée.”
He leered evilly at her. “Why don’t I take both of you and we can all have some fun?”
Tiffany walked calmly up to him. “You
can’t keep an eye on both of us, and she’s older—she will slow you down.”
His eyes narrowed to two evil slits before he shoved Vivienne roughly away, causing her to fall on her knees. Tiffany tried to help, but was stopped short by Benji’s violent jerk on her hair.
“I like the curls, Doc. You’re much easier to hang onto.” He pulled her along by her hair, turned to glare at Vivienne. “If you move from this spot, she’s dead, do you hear me?”
Tiffany exchanged a look with Vivienne as the woman nodded in understanding.
“I won’t, but please Benji, don’t hurt her.”
“Not right away,” he scoffed. “Tell that baby boy of yours I intend to have some fun with her before I snap her pretty little neck.” He pulled Tiffany’s face closer and gave her a long, slow lick from her jaw line to her ear.
Tiffany squeezed her eyes shut and shuddered in revulsion, swallowing the bile that threatened at his invasive act.
Benji caught Vivienne’s horrified expression and laughed sadistically. “Let’s go have some fun, sweetness.”
“So what exactly is your plan, or do you have one?” Tiffany was amazed at the sense of calm washing through her.
“I plan to blow your head off if I see even one uniform.”
“My car is over there,” Tiffany added.
“And no doubt loaded with GPS so they can track us? No thanks—everything I need is in my truck.” He jerked her roughly along with him, turning often to make sure they weren’t being followed.
“Do you want me to drive?” she asked.
“So you can drive us into a ditch or a tree, or something equally imaginative? I don’t think so.” He jerked her around to his side of the truck, opened the door, and shoved her inside before climbing in after her. He took the gun from her long enough to start the engine, but as soon as it roared to life he aimed it at her and threw the truck into drive, activating the automatic door locks.
Tiffany scooted all the way over to the door, putting as much space between them as she could. The truck was a fairly new Chevy Silverado with electric everything, and she made a mental note of where the unlock button for the door was. The gleam of something metal between the handle and the door panel caught her attention. A metal letter opener, the decorative, heavy stainless steel type and very pointed on one end. Using her body as a shield, she eased it from the space, barely having time to conceal it under her leg before he jerked her back over to his side of the truck.