Fatal Reunion

by Jessica R. Patch

  “You never told me your wish.”

  It almost came true.

  Luke glanced at her again. “Not gonna tell me now either, are you?”

  Piper struggled for a smile. “Nope.”

  “One day you will. What’s on your mind?”

  Piper rubbed her forearm. “I was thinking about what your pastor said. About being new and old things passing away.”

  His eyes lit up. “What about it?”

  “I think maybe I skipped the remodeling process.” Piper bunted a shrug.

  Belong to Christ.

  Did she belong? At ten, she believed it. But then everything spiraled out of control.

  “Remodeling...” Luke frowned. “I’m not tracking with you, Pip.”

  Pip. His pet word. Hadn’t used it since they almost died. Since he kissed her. Would he ever do it again?

  “Nothing. Just thinking.”

  “Okay.” His tone was light, compassionate. “Think all you want.”

  A dark sedan sidled up beside them. Luke gripped the wheel, and Piper held her breath, but it zoomed on ahead and she released it. “I was unsure there for a second.”

  Luke laughed. “You and me both. Scared me. You know, because it’s okay to be scared. Doesn’t mean you can’t be strong at the same time.”

  Piper rubbed the princess-cut emerald. “I’m getting that.”

  He glanced at her then the road. What was that expression? Hope? “You ready for this?”

  “Sly?” Ready or not. “I want to find Harmony, clear my name, stop whoever wants me dead or framed—or both—and get on with life.”

  “In Jackson?”

  Where else? Luke hadn’t asked her to stay. Not last time. Not now. “Yeah.”

  Luke’s nostrils flared, and his Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat.

  Piper concentrated on the penitentiary coming into view on her right. “What if he doesn’t talk?”

  “Then we move on. Pray that God will open up an avenue that will bring some truth into the chaos called our lives.” Luke exited the ramp. “It’s going to be all right.”

  That was what Harmony had hoped before she didn’t make it home.

  Riverbend Maximum Security Institution was scrawled in black letters across a stone half wall. Piper’s stomach turned. Luke gave the guard his badge, and they waited a few moments, then passed through the gate.

  Inside, the smell was bleach, sweat and the typical scent that came with cafeteria food. They passed through the checkpoint, where Luke had to leave behind his gun. They were led into a visiting area. A room sat empty with tables and chairs scattered across the scuffed tile floor.

  A guard stood post at a door that would open and reveal Sly Watson. What had ten years and prison done to the man? “Does he get parole?”

  “Not anytime soon.” He must have felt her trepidation. Lifting her chin to him, he spoke airily. “You don’t need to worry.”

  Luke didn’t live in Jackson. Couldn’t keep watch over her as he’d been doing while she stayed in Memphis. She managed a wan smile and straightened her shoulders.

  “He’ll come out in cuffs and shackles. You’ll be safe.”

  “I dare him to come across the table at me.”

  Luke raised an eyebrow. “For a second it slipped my mind you can take care of yourself—in most situations.”

  “I know. I know. Won’t stop a bullet.”

  The door opened and Piper’s heart froze. Blood drained from her face but she held her head high, kept her shoulders back and ground her teeth. No fear. Not anymore.

  Sly Watson had a head full of black hair that matched his inky eyes. A thick beard and mustache masked most of his face. He lasered in on Piper and formed a slow grin. Then he eyed Luke and laughed but took a seat across from them.

  He smelled like strong laundry soap. He ignored Luke and fixed his shark eyes on Piper. A new tattoo ran up his neck behind his ear. “You finally start to miss me, Pippy?”

  Piper bristled as he held out the name he used for her. Somehow it made her feel dirty. Luke sat stone-like. This was her moment—to finally show she’d overcome Sly and his intimidating tactics that forced her to cower.

  “Miss you? Not quite. Sylvester.” Her turn to toss out a name. Sly refused to let anyone call him that.

  His cheek popped. She’d hit a nerve. Good.

  Luke laid a gentle hand on her knee, then released it. Piper caught his drift. Provoking Sly wouldn’t garner answers.

  “I heard someone shoved a blade in your gut.” Piper worked to hold back the anger from ten years. It was everything she could do not to come across the table and show him just how strong she was. How powerful she could be—could wipe that smug, detestable grin off his leathery-skinned face.

  His eyes slanted. Again, she’d hit a nerve. “Can’t hold me down.”

  “The cuffs and shackles suggest differently.” Piper batted her eyes. Take that.

  Luke squeezed her knee again. Okay. That was the last remark.

  “You know who shanked you?” Luke asked. “Would it have anything to do with Chaz Michaels?”

  Sly grinned. “Ain’t seen that mug in ten years.”

  “Since you nearly murdered Ellen Strosbergen.”

  Luke’s harsh tone didn’t seem to matter to Sly. Cocking his head, he sniffed and raised a shoulder.

  “If you think your injuries had anything to do with Chaz Michaels or Boone Wiley, we need to know. We could keep it from happening again,” Luke urged.

  Sly shook his head and leaned over the table. Piper begged him to bring it. “You can’t stop nothing in this place. Nothing.”

  “What can you tell us about that night at Strosbergen’s?”

  “Been so long. I forget.”

  Luke’s lips tightened. He’d been right. They weren’t going to get anything from Sly for no other reason than spite itself. “If the shiv in your gut has to do with Chaz, he won’t quit until you’re dead. Think about that.”

  Sly ran his tongue across his teeth and peered over their heads. “Chaz had a half sister lived down in Georgia somewhere. Adrianna. They got along okay. Her old man did a few jobs with Chaz. Nothing serious. He might have hooked up with them after I got pinched.”

  * * *

  It was something. Which meant he might be more afraid than he was letting on. Luke folded his hands on the table. “So you do think Chaz put a hit out on you?”

  Sly shrugged. “I got enemies inside and out. Can’t say. Could’ve.”

  “Why?”

  “Why not?”

  The smugness had to go. He was half tempted to let Piper provoke him enough to get him to strike at her. Then Luke would love to watch her turn him to dust. But that would only further remind her that she needed no one but herself. Although, the conversation in the car proved God was doing something in her heart, had her thinking. Did he have to let her go? Like Abraham with Isaac?

  His gut said he did and he’d yet to obey God, which pinched his heart. After the interrogation, he had no excuse. In fact, when Piper had agreed to come to church, he thought maybe he wouldn’t have to at all. He switched gears and focused on the task at hand.

  “Did Chaz say anything else to you? About that night. What did you see when you got inside Ellen’s house?” That’s right—the woman has a name. She is a person. Not some wild animal to tear into with a tire iron.

  Sly slid his sight over to Piper. “You tell him.”

  “I wasn’t inside.”

  “You went around back like you were supposed to.”

  “No. I didn’t.” Piper glowered.

  Sly cackled. “Maybe he blames you for getting us caught. You ran off to this pig.” He pointed at Luke. “Maybe Chaz knows you ratted us out to a cop, and he�
�s been biding his time, just waiting to do what he said he’d do all along.” He ran his finger across his throat and licked his upper lip.

  “Let him come, then. I’m not afraid anymore.” She leaned forward. “And I’m not afraid of you either, you sick, twisted sleazebag.”

  “We’re done here.” Had to be. One or the other was going to make the first move. Luke stood and nodded to the guard to lead Sly away. As he neared the door he turned back to Piper. “He’s coming for ya, Pippy. Better hide.” His shifty eyes glinted as he focused on Luke. “You, too, pig.”

  Piper sprinted for Sly, but Luke fisted the back of her jacket, yanking her against him. The door shut and Piper turned into him. Luke continued to hold her in an embrace. “You and that temper.”

  Piper sighed. “Ten years ago, I’d have been angry but done nothing. I wanted him to know I’m not afraid, but walking in here...a little shaky. I’m glad I didn’t have to do it alone. That you had my back.”

  His pinched heart twisted. She was still looking to him. And though he knew it wasn’t right, he still wanted her to. She needed to know that when all was said and done, God had her back. She was never truly alone. He brushed a strand of hair from her face.

  “What I did that night, not leaving him when I wanted to, giving you a false address... It was for nothing. Sly thinks I snitched. Chaz probably does, too, wherever he is.” She shivered.

  “He’s out there and we’ll get him, starting with the half sister. He’ll make a mistake.” He led her to the checkpoint. “And you faced your past and won.”

  She peered up, her lips begging for another kiss. He fought it. Instead, he ran a thumb across her cheek.

  “You didn’t cower, and he knew it.”

  Piper scuffled to the car. “What if we hit a dead end with Chaz’s half sister?”

  Luke unlocked the car doors. “We figure out a way to draw him out.”

  The car ride felt like an eternity. When he walked her to the door, the weight on his chest was insufferable. Piper motioned him inside, and he forced himself to go. Forced himself to do the one thing he hoped he might not have to after all.

  But he couldn’t mend her. Couldn’t be her source. Each day grew harder. It had to be now.

  “I know things are rocky since what I did, Luke. We need to talk about that night at Boone’s. We haven’t. It’s killing me. I need you to say something. Anything.”

  He could think of only one thing. “Piper, I love you.”

  * * *

  That was unexpected. Speechless, Piper gawked. Waited.

  Luke’s jaw pulsed near his ears. “But I can’t be with you. I should have told you the morning of the interrogation, but...”

  She really had blown it with going behind his back. Throat sizzling, she ground her teeth. But the past few days hadn’t been so bad. They’d been to church and worked on Mama Jean’s home. They’d shared a fond memory of meeting, and it seemed as though the feelings were still there, even stronger. The way he’d stroked her cheek at the prison... That hadn’t felt like a goodbye touch.

  “I shouldn’t have gone. I know that.”

  Luke’s eyes brimmed with emotion and he shook his head. “It’s not because I think you’re guilty of any of this. You know I don’t. Not because you bring trouble to me. That’s not true. Remember when you said that?”

  Piper managed a nod. This man she’d always loved—who loved her—was destroying her. Again.

  “It’s not even because your faith is shaky. Or that I don’t fully trust you, even though you went behind my back. Again. Do you know how much that hurt?”

  “Luke—”

  “I tried to move on after that night. I left the theft unit out of fear I’d have to face you in this exact situation you’ve been in.” His voice cracked. “I’m not doing this because of what happened at Boone’s. It’s just...that’s when I knew I had to. I’ve been struggling for the last few days.”

  “I don’t understand,” she whispered.

  Luke lifted his head and blinked several times, inhaled. “I can’t be with you, because I want to fix you. Every day. I want to try and be someone to you I can’t be.”

  Piper was broken. Luke’s words had ripped the scab off, and infection seeped into every inch of her. Blistering, brutal pain.

  “You know, maybe we could have worked out something with you in Jackson and me in Memphis. I don’t know. That was a hurdle all on its own, but this...” He swept his hand between them. “This is so much bigger, and if I don’t walk away now, I’ll ruin you. I’ll ruin me. And you’ll stay broken. In the end, all you’ll feel for me is resentment. I’d die inside having to see that every day.”

  Piper slunk onto the couch. Her hands trembled and her insides quaked. What could she say?

  He knelt in front of her. His touch like a million needles. “But I need to say something. I thought I’d made peace with how things went down between us, about the betrayal, the lies. Since you’ve been back, though, I feel unsettled and angry at times. It’s been confusing me.”

  Piper wiped a warm string of tears from her cheeks.

  “I’ve been carrying guilt over what happened to Ellen Strosbergen. I didn’t even know it. I’d gotten used to the weight on my shoulders. Like people with chronic pain. Freedom from it feels like something might be wrong because they don’t know what it’s like to be well. Last night, I felt that weight and I asked God to lift it off me. I made peace.”

  Piper dropped her head. “I never wanted anyone to get hurt. I’m sorry.”

  Luke framed her face, peered into her eyes and tenderly smiled. “I know you are.” He placed his forehead on hers, their breath mingling, reminding her of their earlier kiss. And how she’d never have another one. She clamped down on the inside of her bottom lip.

  Luke pulled back. “It was when I did that—made peace—I realized why I felt unsettled and moments of bitterness.”

  “Why?”

  Luke inhaled. “Took me a while, Piper, but I forgave you for that night. I should have called to tell you. Felt God nudging me to. Even got in the car once to come. But I couldn’t. Call it pride. Fear. Whatever you want. No obedience, no peace. I ignored it until you showed up. Can’t ignore what’s staring dead in your face. Not for lack of trying, though.”

  He forgave her. “I did betray you. I did lie to you. Whether to protect you or not, I should have been truthful. You have every right to be mad.”

  “I need to say it, Pip.” He gazed into her eyes, his turned red-rimmed. “I forgive you and I’m sorry that I told you to leave, that my anger and hurt seeing you there dictated my behavior. I’m sorry for not coming to you. I don’t know where we’d be if I had. We can’t look back. But that’s not even the point.”

  Piper’s dam burst and she fell into him, draping her arms around his neck, sobbing. Luke held her like a vise; she didn’t think she could breathe and didn’t care. Could they have been together if he’d come to Jackson years ago?

  He pulled away and sniffed. “I forgive you.” Conviction flooded his voice. “And I need to ask you to forgive me.”

  Did she forgive him? Yes. So much easier than forgiving herself. She couldn’t bring herself to do that. “I forgive you.”

  “Thank you, Pip.” His husky voice sounded strangled. This was excruciating for her. How much more excruciating was it for him?

  “But you love me.”

  “I love you.” He brushed tears from her cheeks.

  “But you can’t be with me?”

  Luke bit his bottom lip and slowly shook his head. “I’m sorry about how I acted at Boone’s and these last few days. Leaving you hanging and wondering what I was thinking and feeling. I need to tell you that, too.”

  “I made a mistake going. But I was going to call you. Had my phone out. Regardless. I won’t do
anything like that again.”

  “I believe you.”

  But it wouldn’t change anything between them. She loved him, too. But she couldn’t return the words. Wished he’d never uttered them. It would only make things rougher for him to do what he felt was right. And for once she was going to make sure she didn’t further contribute to his misery.

  When this was over, if she was still breathing, she’d leave. Take Mama Jean with her, never come back.

  Because Piper didn’t know how long it would take to stop being broken. But she wanted to get better.

  Not for Luke.

  For herself.

  FIFTEEN

  The week had whizzed by in a blur. Too quiet. Unnerving. Luke remained loyal to protect Piper or to see that someone was, but it killed him having to create a painful distance between them. To see accusing abandonment in her eyes every time she looked at him. But he’d done the right thing. Too bad the right thing didn’t always feel good. Or right.

  He glanced over at her, sitting mutely as they headed to the rehab center for her morning visit with Mama Jean. The next safest place if she wasn’t with him. Luke had interviews to conduct and Piper couldn’t come. She hadn’t even asked, which slayed him further. It was out of character for her not to press.

  “You’re quiet,” he said, not knowing what to say but needing to say something.

  “Wrestling with stuff on my mind.”

  Him, too. Like how he was going to survive not having Piper in his life now that he was used to seeing her every day again. He’d kidded himself thinking he’d got over her. “I’ll only be gone a few hours.” He pulled under the awning at the rehab center and slid his sunglasses onto his nose. “Don’t leave until I get back.”

  “Is there going to be a uniformed officer out there standing guard?”

  “Does it matter?” She could easily evade them or take them down if she truly wanted.

  Piper half grinned. “No. I’ve been good as gold this past week, and you know it.”

  He dipped his chin. “I do. And I appreciate your attempts to...behave.” He chuckled. “I know how agonizing it is for you.”