by Peggy Dulle
I stepped back and looked at the board. “So these are the obvious people who would want to see me hurt or dead.”
“Carl and Beverly, although it seems unlikely, Doc Gordon, Judge Dallas, Bruno, Oscar and the three environmental terrorists,” Justin said.
“What about the other clown camps that we closed down?” Tom asked.
“Teach’s name was never released to anyone, so they shouldn’t have known that she was responsible, unless they heard it from the McGowan’s,” Justin told him.
“Well, the list isn’t as long as I thought it was going to be,” I said happily.
Tom frowned. “If only one person was on this list, I wouldn’t be happy. And we haven’t even touched the surface. Each of the people who you did put in jail has family who might want to see you hurt or worse. Besides an eco-terrorist group which could have other violent members, you have at least two drug cartels – the Latinos and the Asians who lost a lot of money when the drug distribution was shut down in Clainsworth. They would want you dead just as a deterrent to someone else messing with their businesses.”
My frown joined Tom’s and I said, “That might be too many people.”
Tom and Justin nodded.
“Then the only way to solve this is to use me as bait,” I suggested.
Justin’s eyes shot wide open.
Tom stood and growled. That’s the only way to describe the sound that came out of the man. Then he said, “Justin, thanks for all your hard work. Can you go home now? I need to talk to Liza.”
Justin hesitated, looking from Tom to me.
I crossed my arms over my chest and said, “It’s okay, Justin.”
Justin put the rest of the papers on the desk. “These are the information about the other clown camps, which jail the people incarcerated are in, everything I could find on Beverly and Carl and the three terrorists.”
“Thanks, Justin,” I said but didn’t take my eyes off Tom.
Justin went out the office door, closing it behind him.
Tom and I stood and stared at each other for several minutes.
I stepped toward him and said, “Think about this before you blow a gasket. We could spend the next, I don’t know, twenty years with FBI guys surrounding us just waiting for one of these people to take a shot at me, maybe hit one of our kids, by mistake.”
“And what if it’s just Kenny?”
“Kenny is one man. If you can’t protect me from one guy, you’re not the cop I know you are,” I told him.
“So what do we do?”
“We continue with the next week, as planned. We get married, I move to Gainesville and teach a new class, we have kids and our life goes on.”
Tom let out the breath he had obviously been holding since I told him I wanted to be bait for a killer. I stepped into his arms and he engulfed me.
“I don’t want to lose you,” he whispered into my ear.
“I’m not going anywhere, Tom.” I said.
I was going to be fine for the next week. If I was a killer, I would take me out at the wedding!
Chapter 33
Tom reluctantly went home on Sunday. I promised that I wouldn’t be alone with Kenny although I never thought he was the killer, not even for one moment. Tom made sure that all of the FBI agents knew that I wasn’t to be alone with anyone. He said it was for my protection and, thankfully, didn’t share his suspicions of Kenny.
On Wednesday, Jordan arrived, with a flurry of suitcases and her own FBI entourage. I would need to call Amelia and up the number at the wedding since every RSVP came back as a ‘yes’ and the number of FBI agents was growing exponentially as we got closer to the wedding. I think Tom thought the attempt on my life would be at the wedding, too, but we didn’t talk about it.
I settled Jordan and Sam in the spare bedroom and kicked Maury and Art into Kenny’s house. Mrs. Crasten called me every day to complain that Kenny’s house was turning into a frat house.
I didn’t see much of Kenny. He had a new client and was working late each night so he could take the day off on Friday for the rehearsal and dinner afterwards. It made Tom happy, but I missed his smile and laughter.
Sam and Jordan seemed to be genuinely in love, as they held hands often and she would smile at him and he’d squeeze her hand. He seemed very stable and talked about the new diabetes research he was doing. I didn’t understand much of what he said, but I smiled and nodded a lot.
On Thursday, I went for the final fitting of my wedding dress. Sam, Jordan, and all of our FBI entourage insisted upon tagging along. It was like a parade. Sam, Jordan, me and Art in the Jeep, and two FBI black sedans behind us.
Sam stayed out in the showroom with the FBI agents. Art wanted to go with me, but I told him that my sister carried a gun and could protect me.
When we got into the changing room, Jordan said, “I don’t have a gun, Liza.”
“I know, but I am tired of having one of the agents go with me everywhere. On Monday I went to Target and four of them went with me. When I needed to use the restroom, they stood outside of the door and wouldn’t let anyone else in. It’s making me crazy.”
Jordan laughed and said, “That would make me crazy, too.”
She helped me into the dress and when I turned around she said, “You look absolutely beautiful, Sis.”
I looked at myself in the mirror. I’m sure all brides look good in their wedding dresses, but I was happy and that showed in my face.
“This is beautiful,” Jordan said as she handed me the jewelry.
“Are you saying that because you actually like it or to be nice?” I asked.
“Oh no, I love it.”
“Good because I bought you the same set, just without the hanging crystal. I thought you could wear it with your black dress for the wedding.”
Her face lit up and I knew that she was happy. “Thanks, Liza. I wish Dad would be able to see you.”
“Me, too, Jordan, but if I think about it, I’ll start crying all over again.”
“There’s still hope one of the people I contacted will find Dad, tell him about the wedding and he’ll get here,” she suggested.
I wouldn’t wish for something that won’t happen, I thought. Then I slipped on the shoes and the veil. “Let’s go show the guys.”
When I stepped out into the show room, all of the guys whistled and said, “You’re beautiful.”
“I really like the jewelry with it,” Brandon said.
“And the veil is just the right touch,” George added.
“Thanks,” I replied. They were starting to feel like the brothers I never had. I had made sure they would all be at the wedding.
“We wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Art said smiling. He was doing a lot more of that than when I first met him.
Friday came and Tom called early in the morning.
“How are you feeling Liza? Any butterflies?” Tom asked.
“Nope, I’m ready to be Mrs. Tom Owens,” I told him.
“I love the sound of that.”
“Is Michael with you?”
“Not yet, David’s with me and we’re picking Michael and Duane up at the Oakland airport at nine, then I’ll take them back to my hotel to drop off their stuff.”
“Where are you staying?”
“At the Marriott in San Ramon, that way we can stay after the rehearsal and dinner and I don’t have to fight the traffic to Ceres.”
“Are we going together to the Gardens?”
“Do we have enough cars?”
“We’ve got enough cars to give a small high school band a ride. I’ve got mine, Jordan and Sam rented a car, Kenny’s rental car and then the two FBI sedans.”
Tom laughed. “I’ll see you at eleven. What about lunch?”
“Art and Maury are taking care of all the food. Lunch is planned for 11:30, so we have plenty of time to get to Ceres.”
“Great, love you, and see you at eleven,” Tom said rather quickly, not his usual calm self this morning.
“I love
you, too.”
Tom was gone and I was feeling a little jittery myself.
At ten, I started pacing through the house.
“Liza,” Jordan said, “Would you sit down? I’m getting anxious watching you.”
“I’m meeting Tom’s son and brother for the first time in an hour. I think I’m going to crawl out of my skin!”
Just then Kenny came through the door, scooped me up in his arms and swung me around. I immediately felt better.
“Hello, Stretch,” he said with a huge smile on his face.
I sighed, then introduced him to Sam.
“You’re the crazy guy on meds, right?” Kenny said.
Sam returned with, “You’re the crazy guy who spent time in the looney bin, right?”
They both laughed, shook hands and were instant friends.
Kenny came over to me and said, “How’s your case going?”
“It’s on the side burner for now because I’m too self-consumed with wedding thoughts and jitters.”
Kenny laughed. “You need a distraction.”
I nodded my head up and down.
“Bungee jumping?”
“It would take too much time, but you’re on the right track.”
“I’ve got it,” he cried.
“What?”
“How about taking a ride on my new motorcycle?”
My eyes grew large and my body shuddered. “You bought a motorcycle?”
He nodded. “Want to see her?”
“Oh, yes!”
“I want to see what you bought,” Jordan said.
Maury, Art and Sam wanted to see too.
We walked outside and sitting in my driveway was a red Ducati. She was beautiful.
I walked over and touched the seat. The leather was smooth and warm.
“She’s a beauty,” Sam said, then continued, “I always wanted a motorcycle but wasn’t crazy enough to buy one.”
Jordan, Kenny and I laughed. It was an inside joke.
Art and Maury fawned over the bike too, so did the other FBI agents. In all there were eight FBI agents, Kenny, Jordan, Sam and me ogling the bike.
“Let’s take a ride, Stretch,” Kenny said.
“Got a helmet for me?” I asked.
“You can’t go anywhere without one of us,” Art insisted.
“Liza,” Jordan came over, stood next to me, and whispered into my ear. “Aren’t you supposed to not be alone with Kenny?”
I ignored Art and blew out a raspberry at Jordan. “Where’s my helmet?”
Kenny held out a red helmet and said, “Let’s go.”
I put on the helmet as Kenny put on his matching red helmet and started the engine. It purred to life like a panther.
Two of the FBI agents scrambled into one of the black sedans to follow. I knew that wouldn’t work.
And then we were off. I held tight to Kenny, leaning my head on his back and felt the speed and the road underneath me. I didn’t care where he took me, I just needed to get away and kill some time. My nerves were frazzled and I felt at the end of my rope. Why didn’t I just eloped with Tom? It would have been so much easier.
Kenny headed straight for Crow Canyon Road. The bike took the curves like it was part of the road, the straights like it was meant to fly. We lost the black sedan two miles into the canyon, it just couldn’t take the curves or the straights the way the Ducati could. Kenny switched at Norris Canyon Road and headed back toward San Ramon. Then he bypassed where we should have turned and kept going. At Alcosta Boulevard, he made a left, got back on Crow Canyon and headed for the hills. I finally lifted my head from his back and let the wind touch my face. I could feel every nerve in my body settle and the anxiety leak from deep inside me. God, it was a great feeling.
At Camino Tassajara, he stopped the bike, took off his helmet and nodded at me.
I took off my helmet and said, “Why have we stopped?”
“I can take a right and we can be gone from this place or a left and we can go back. What do you want to do, Stretch?”
I frowned at Kenny. “You think I would leave Tom like this?”
Kenny’s face broke out into a big smile and he said, “No, but I thought I’d give you the option.”
“Take us home, Kenny.”
“Okay, but before I do, I have your wedding present.”
“Really?”
He nodded and pulled a felt bag out of his pocket. “I don’t know if you have gotten the something old, something new, something borrowed, or something blue, yet, but this is old and blue so it will count for two of them.”
I hadn’t even thought of that old saying.
Kenny pulled out an antique silver bracelet. The silver was looped in an intricate design over small blue stones that would encircle my wrist.
“It’s beautiful, Kenny.”
“This bracelet belonged to my great-grandmother, then my grandmother, then my mom. She didn’t have a girl, but you were as close to her as any daughter would have been. I had it cleaned, a few stones replaced and the latch fixed.”
Kenny slipped it on my wrist. It was breathtaking.
I wrapped my arms around him and gave him a big hug. “I love you, Kenny.”
“I love you too, Stretch. So did you change your mind? Can I turn the bike towards Vegas?”
I laughed but shook my head.
Kenny put his helmet on, stirred the bike to life and took a left. Twenty minutes later we were pulling into my street. I could see Tom in my driveway. His hands were on his hips and he was mad. Next to him were a boy and two men. One was David and the other two must be Michael and Duane. Michael was short for his age, but lean and blond. He didn’t look like Tom’s son at all; he must take after Pamela. And Duane was an exact copy of Tom, except he was over six feet tall. And how nice, they would all get to listen to Tom yell at me!
Kenny pulled into the driveway and as soon as he stopped the bike, Michael, David and Duane came running over.
“That’s a fabulous bike,” Duane said.
“Really nice,” David agreed.
“It is so cool,” Michael agreed.
I took off my helmet and turned away from Tom and whispered to the two men, “How mad is he?”
Duane grimaced. “One a scale from one to ten, I’d say he’s at a twenty and ready to blow.”
“It’s nice to see you again, Liza. And he is madder than when Doreen smashed up his truck,” David added.
Michael laughed, “You’re in deep trouble.”
“It won’t be the first time. I’m Liza.” I extended my hand.
Michael shook it and Duane gave me a hug and whispered, “It’s nice to see him mad at someone else for a change.”
I pulled away, rolled my eyes, and said, “Thanks.”
I handed the helmet to Kenny and introduced Michael, David and Duane. They shook hands and Duane started asking questions about the bike. Tom still hadn’t moved.
“Thanks for the ride, it really helped. I feel so much better. I was about to crawl out of my skin and maybe have another massive anxiety attack but now I’m ready to go,” I said.
“Are you saying that for my benefit or Tom’s?”
“A little of both. He can’t kill either of us if I’m calmer, right?”
Kenny laughed. “I can take care of myself, Stretch.”
“Stretch?” Michael asked.
“It’s my nickname for Liza. When I was younger, I was the shortest kid in the class and Liza was the tallest.”
“You’re really tall now!” Michael said.
“I grew a lot in high school,” Kenny told him.
“You think I’ll get taller?”
“Of course you will. Look at your uncle, he’s taller than me.”
Michael smiled, obviously concerned over his short stature and the fact that his dad wasn’t a tall man.
“I better get this over with,” I told the group.
“Good luck,” Duane said, shuddering.
“She’s going to need
it,” David said, patting me on the shoulder.
“I’ll go with you,” Michael said. “He won’t yell at you in front of me.”
“Thanks, Michael.” He put his hand in mine and winked. Then we walked up the driveway together to see his father and my future husband.
“Hi, Tom,” I said and kissed him lightly on the cheek.
“I don’t know what to say first.”
“You should kiss her and tell her you love her, Dad. That’s what you always tell me I have to do when I see you or mom after we’ve been away from each other for a while,” Michael insisted.
Tom stiffened. It’s great when you tell things to kids and then they come back and bite you in the butt. He leaned over and kissed me on the lips and said, “I love you, Liza.”
I put my arm through his and said, “I love you, too, Tom.”
And we went inside, I could feel Tom relax. When the black sedan pulled into Kenny’s driveway, Tom tensed up again.
Michael felt it also and said, “Hey, Dad, am I going to get to spend part of the summer with you and Liza?”
“Of course, Michael, we’ll only be gone for a few days and then we’ll be back.” Tom’s body relaxed again.
“Can I stay with Kenny while you’re gone?”
Tom actually flinched.
When we got inside, I introduced Tom to Sam.
Jordan gave Tom a hug and Sam shook his hand.
“I’m finally glad to have a face to go with the name and the stories,” Sam told Tom.
“Me, too,” Tom said.
Duane, David and Kenny came into the house talking about the Ducati. Art had ordered take-out Chinese food for lunch, including pot stickers for Shelby. Michael loved feeding them to Shelby and Zoie. Julie arrived a few minutes later. She was a sixty-two year old woman who looked and acted as if she was thirty. Maury took an instant liking to her. Which was a great match since Julie didn’t like cooking any more than I did, but loved to eat.
We ate, talked, Kenny made us laugh, and Tom finally really relaxed. At noon, we piled into four cars: my Jeep, Jordan’s rental car and our two black Sedans. Maury stayed at the house so he could get the cooking started.
“Are all these people in the wedding?” Michael asked.
“No, just Liza, me, Julie, Jordan, Kenny, Duane, David and you.”