"Who me?" I asked, my voice sounding higher even to my own ears.
She took a step forward, the gun leveled at my chest in a surprisingly steady hand.
"As soon as you called to tell him that girl had been found, Wendell broke down and told me everything. That Rivera had grabbed the wrong girl, that you were hiding his daughter away, and that the transfer had been fake."
I thought a bad word. I hadn't been worried who Wendell had told—I'd thought we had the perp, Kent Perkins, in custody.
"So you grabbed Kendall for real this time?" I said.
"That money is mine!" she yelled, her composure sipping. "I've worked for it. I've earned it! I deserve it!"
"And you didn't care what you had to do it get it?"
"Damned straight. Kendall Manchester." She said Kendall's name as if it tasted like trash. "She never had to work a day in her life. When you called, Wendell texted her that I was coming to pick her up."
Mental forehead thunk. "Which is what you did. Which is why there was no sign of a struggle. She went willingly with you."
She nodded. "At first. She got a little snippy when I tossed her phone, but she complied as soon as I pulled this out." She waved her gun at me.
I had to agree—a loaded gun had a way of making you do as the owner said.
"And, what, you hoped to ransom her again?" I asked.
"No need to use the past tense, honey. He will pay if he wants to see her again. Dearly. And don't think I'm settling for a mere five million this time."
I shook my head. "The authorities are already involved. You aren't going to get away with this."
She grinned, showing off a row of teeth that gleamed eerily in the light of the chandelier. "Oh, I think I will. Wendell will transfer the funds, and I'll dispose of both Manchesters. Murder-suicide. Wendell set the whole kidnapping up, then in a fit of guilt, couldn't live with himself."
I gulped. It was a good plan. Up until a few minutes ago, I'd thought every sign pointed to Wendell too. I'd bet the authorities would buy that story.
I almost hesitated to ask the next question. "And me?"
She put both hands on the gun, leveling it at me like she was at a shooting range. "You showed up asking too many questions. So, Wendell had to shoot you too."
Oh boy.
"Where are Wendell and Kendall?" I asked her, my eyes pinging to the left and right. I was out of time and out of escape options.
One corner of Stephanie's mouth crept up. "I took care of them."
I glanced at the blood on the wall behind her. I wasn't sure exactly what she meant by take care of, but I knew it wasn't good.
"And now I'll take care of you. Goodbye, Miss Bond." Stephanie pointed the gun at my chest.
I couldn't run. I couldn't hide. There was only one thing I could do. Fight like a girl.
I took a deep breath, yanked the strap of my purse off my shoulder, and flung the whole thing at her head.
On instinct, her hands went up to protect her face. Which was exactly what I'd been hoping.
I dove at her torso, shoving my entire body weight into her. We both stumbled backward, me shoving like a linebacker at football practice and her flailing her arms as she tried to regain her balance and the upper hand.
I propelled her backwards into the living room, and we landed on the new Oriental rug. Hard. She cried out, and I watched the gun slip from her hand. But as I reached over to grab it, she did the same, pushing it out of my grasp.
She grabbed a fistful of my hair and jerked my head back.
I cried out, momentarily stunned by the pain. Which gave her the opportunity to roll over on top of me, straddling me as she leaned for the gun.
I punched her in her side, and she let out a gust of air. But it didn't stop her from grabbing her weapon and pushing the tip of the nozzle against my forehead.
Crap.
This was it. I couldn't risk trying to knock her off me and having her finger slip. I liked my head. It housed my brain.
"Any last words?" Her voice was low, and she was breathing hard from our dance routine.
"Yeah, you should work out more." It was the first thing that popped into my mind. I should've thought about the girls, Derek, Aiden, and Danny, but I couldn't. I refused to believe this was the end and I wouldn't see them again.
Her eyes narrowed. I had a feeling she didn't like me very much. I pursed my lips together, steeling myself for the worst.
Only the next sound I heard was not a gunshot.
It was a loud thwack, as something solid and heavy connected with the back of Stephanie's head.
Her face went slack, and she slumped over, falling off of me in a crumpled heap.
I blinked, looking to the spot just behind her.
And found Wendell Manchester, swaying slightly on his feet, blood trickling down his temple, holding a heavy brass table lamp in one hand.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
I leapt up and wrapped my arms around the man who'd saved my life. The one I believed had kidnapped Apple and Kendall just minutes ago. Oops. My bad.
He wobbled backwards, and I was the one who kept him upright.
I pulled away to give him a closer look. His pupils were bigger than they should've been, he had frayed duct tape stuck to his wrists, and he looked unsteady. "What happened to you? Are you alright?"
"She knocked me out. She's crazy. Is she dead?" he asked, glancing over at Stephanie's body.
She hadn't moved since he'd hit her, and her eyes were still shut. I couldn't tell if she was breathing or not.
First I helped Wendell to the arm of the sofa, and then I reached down and felt for a pulse, hoping he hadn't killed her. No one wanted that on their conscience. She was still alive, but she didn't stir when I nudged her, so I suspected she was going to have one heck of a headache when she woke.
Then I pulled out my cell and dialed 9-1-1.
The dispatcher took my info and asked me to wait on the line as she sent help. As I held, I glanced at Wendell. He was still sitting on the arm of the sofa, but he looked steadier than before.
"What happened?" I asked him.
He touched the side of his head and winced. "She was with me when you called about finding your friend."
"Apple."
He had the good graces to look sheepish this time. "Right. Apple. Anyway, since the coast was clear, I asked her to go pick up Kendall. That's when I told her everything. About the mistaken identity with Kendall and Apple. But when I got to the part about the fake transfer, she flipped out. She started ranting about how unfair it all was and pulled out a gun." He shook his head as if not believing he hadn't seen how crazy she was before.
"What happened then?" I asked.
"Then she hit me with the butt of her gun." He touched his temple again, and I had a strong suspicion the blood in the foyer was his. "Anyway, when I came to, I was taped up in a closet." He held up his wrists, still sporting remnants of said tape. "I had just gotten through this stuff when I heard the two of you struggling."
"And what about Kendall? Where is she?" I asked.
He blinked at me. "I dunno."
I looked around the room for any sign of the girl. Would Stephanie have brought Kendall back here? She had to know the police would be swarming all over this case now that Apple had been found. Would Stephanie risk hiding Kendall in another empty property, or would she keep her close, where she could keep an eye on her?
"Kendall?" I called out. No response.
I walked to the French doors, looking out at the yard. All was dark. I crossed the room to the front windows. Ditto on that side of the house. The only sign of life outside was my own roadster.
"Where does Stephanie keep her car?" I asked Wendell, realizing I'd seen no other cars in the drive on any other visit.
"Around the back. I have a small carport for the help."
I glanced at the inert help on the floor. "What kind of car does she drive?"
"A gray sedan. Toyota or something I think."
"Can you watch her until the police arrive?" I asked, hoping that eventuality was soon.
He tightened his grip on the lamp and nodded.
I halfway wasn't sure I should leave the two of them alone. Stephanie might not be dead yet, but I had a feeling Wendell wouldn't mind finishing the job.
"I'll be right back," I said, deciding to chance it.
I quickly jogged toward the back of the house, slipping through a set of doors off the kitchen and circling around the property until I found a covered carport. The only car there was a gray sedan. Ford, but clearly Wendell wasn't interested in the details of his help's lives.
"Kendall?" I called out as I approached.
I heard what sounded like a muffled cry in response. I quickly looked in the windows, but the interior of the car was dark and empty.
"Kendall? Are you here?" I asked again.
Again, a muffled sound was my response. Only this time I could tell it was coming from the trunk.
"Hang on!" I told her. "I'll get you out."
I tried the car doors, but they were all locked. I sprinted back to the house and found Wendell and Stephanie exactly where I had left them.
"Did you find her?" Wendell asked, his speech going slightly slurry. I had a bad feeling he might have a concussion.
"Maybe," I said, not wanting to over promise.
I flipped Stephanie over—okay, I might have kind of shoved her a bit harder than strictly necessary—and dug through the pockets of her blazer until my fingers connected with a set of keys. I grabbed them and sprinted back through the house even as I heard Wendell asking me where I was going.
When I reached Stephanie's car again, I quickly hit the button on the key fob to open the trunk. The lid lifted to reveal Kendall Manchester, bound and gagged in a fetal position in the tiny space.
Her eyes were red and rimmed in smeared mascara, and her nose was running. Duct tape covered her mouth, wrists, and ankles, and I could see her blouse had been ripped. She was a far cry from the put-together fashionista I'd come to know.
I peeled the tape off of Kendall's mouth and helped her out of the trunk.
"Ohmigod, that was so scary!" she cried as soon as her mouth was free. "Where's Stephanie? Is my dad okay?"
I nodded. "He's inside. He's going to be fine. Are you alright?"
She nodded, and tears flowed down her cheeks. "Thank you," she whispered. "You saved my life."
"Well, your dad saved mine, so we're even."
"He did?" she sounded surprised.
I'd admit, I had been too. Wendell Manchester was the last guy I would have pegged to be my hero.
"I'm so sorry," she went on. "I had no idea Stephanie was the kidnapper. My dad just sent a text saying she was coming to pick me up, but when she got there she was all crazed and wild-eyed and made me leave my phone. I knew something was wrong. I was about to call out to Derek, but then she pulled out a gun. She said she'd kill me, and then she made me get in her trunk." Her words came out all in a rush. "I'm so sorry. Is-is your friend okay?" Her voice was small and filled with concern. The first genuine emotion I'd seen from her.
I nodded. "Yes. Apple's fine. We found her."
She let out a huge sigh then hugged me around the middle. "I'm so glad. I'm so sorry. About everything."
She sounded so sincere, I almost cried too. Instead I hugged her back and then cleared the emotion from my throat as I heard sirens approaching.
"Come on. I'm sure your father would like to see you." I steered her back into the house with an arm around her shoulders.
As soon as we were in view, Wendell leapt from his position on the sofa and dropped the lamp, wrapping his arms around his daughter. I gave them their privacy, stepping into the foyer to open the front door for the police.
Uniformed officers arrived seconds later, and I directed them to the living room where Stephanie still lay on the expensive rug.
The officers separated the Manchesters and me as they took statements, and paramedics came to examine Wendell. I was ushered into a sitting room down the main hall as crime scene techs took samples of the blood on the foyer wall. I felt like I told the same story about a billion times to every new officer and detective who arrived on the scene. I was exhausted and spent by the time a familiar face finally appeared in the doorway.
Aiden.
His eyes found me immediately, and he crossed the distance between us in what felt like one quick step. Instinctually, he opened his arms, and I walked into his embrace. I rested my cheek on his chest and listened to his heartbeat. I never wanted to move.
"You okay," he finally mumbled into my hair.
I nodded, not ready to let go yet.
"You scared the crap out of me," he admitted.
I finally pulled away to look at him. A forced smile on his face did nothing to cover the raw emotion backing up in his eyes.
I licked my lips. "Aiden, I have to tell you something."
He gently moved a hand to brush the hair from my face. "What is it?" he asked. His voice was so tender and genuine that I felt guilt stab at me like a knife.
"I have to tell you why I went to New Zealand."
He froze, the emotion dying on is face. "New Zealand," he said flatly.
My tongue ran over my suddenly dry lips again, and I nodded. "It wasn't just a vacation," I admitted. Suddenly it all felt like it was the biggest mistake of my life. But an even bigger one would be to continue lying to Aiden. I knew I was risking losing him, but he deserved the truth. "I didn't go to unwind. I went to—"
"I know," he said, cutting me off.
Wait—what? "Y-you know?"
He nodded, the tender look in his eyes from a moment earlier being replaced by something deeper. Sadder. It looked a lot like hurt. My insides twisted.
"Yeah. I know you went after Danny."
I let out a long, shaky breath. "You knew all along?"
He nodded. "I'm not stupid, Jamie."
No, he wasn't. And he deserved better. "I'm sorry," I told him, meaning it with all my heart.
He smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "That's good to hear."
"Why didn't you say anything?" I asked. "I mean, you aren't mad?"
"Mad?" he asked. "Heck yeah, I'm mad."
I swallowed hard. This was it. Where he told me to buzz off and never darken his door again.
"I'm furious that the woman I love is into someone else. That she'd chase him all the way to New Zealand to get him back."
I blinked at him, my mind stuck on one word. Love? I was so dumfounded by it I almost missed what he said next.
"It sucks, and it's driven me crazy all week," he said, the frustration on his face evident. "But I can't change how you feel. And I know that when you're with me, you're not thinking about Danny Flynn."
He had me there. Right now, I could barely remember who that other guy was.
"So, you…you forgive me?"
He shook his head. "There's nothing to forgive. You didn't do anything wrong. I'm not happy about the fact that you can't commit to me, but it is what it is." He shrugged. "Bottom line, you're worth fighting for."
I felt tears welling behind my eyes. It might have been the nicest thing anyone had ever said to me. And right in that moment, he didn't need to fight. I was all his.
"Aiden, I—"
"Prince!" a voice barked out behind us.
Aiden broke away, turning his attention to the officer who'd called his name
"Forensics wants to show you something," the guy insisted.
Aiden nodded his agreement before turning back to me. "I've got to go. You going to be okay?"
I nodded, wanting to say about a million more things, but with law enforcement swirling around us, I realized this was not the place.
He smiled. "Good." He turned away, but before he took more than a couple of steps, he stopped and turned back. "You know, my prosecutorial record is ten for ten." He paused for emphasis, infusing the next words with meaning. "I never los
e a fight."
He winked at me
And then he was gone.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
I'm not ashamed to say that I slept in the following morning. After giving statements to everyone in the entire LAPD until the wee hours of the morning, I decided I deserved it. I might have even taken the entire day off, but I knew I had a noon appointment with the Hampshire Sister-Wives, Colleen and Erin.
I pulled on a pair of black capris, a black silk tank, and a pair of red heels—my modern power suit. I was in the office by 11:45, and Maya had my coffee in my hands by 11:46.
"Aiden called," she started with, pulling up messages on her tablet as I sipped the liquid heaven in a paper cup. "He said Wendell's been discharged from the hospital—minor concussion—and Stephanie is pleading not guilty by reason of insanity."
I quirked an eyebrow her way. "I guess working for Wendell could make any women crazy?"
Maya grinned. "Hey, I'm no doctor."
"Or lawyer." I'd let Aiden straighten that mess out. We'd handed her to him with a full confession for Pete Rivera's murder. No matter where they locked her up, I doubted any amount of mental health claims would have her on the street anytime soon. "Anything else?"
"Just that he said something about looking forward to cashing in a rain check soon." She moved her eyebrows up and down, grinning even wider. "Sounds hot."
I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help the little flutter of excitement in my belly. I was looking forward to that too. "Next."
She cleared her throat. "A courier brought in a package addressed to the 'Bond Girls.'"
"Oh?"
"From Kendall Manchester."
I hadn't expected that one. "What is it?"
Maya grinned again and gestured behind her to a bouquet of expensive looking flowers sitting on her desk. "Flowers, a box of Belgian chocolate, and a case of Veen water."
A laugh escaped my throat. "Organic and fat-free no doubt."
Maya nodded. "I'm sure! I tried one. Don't ever tell her I said this, but they are delish. Anyway, the card said 'thank you for everything.'"
Fatal Bond Page 19