by Liz Bradford
She broke Gavin’s gaze. They turned toward the outside of the garage and the stairs that led to the basement passage they would take to the doctor’s office. Gavin’s grip on her hand tightened, and he jerked to a stop. She followed his eyes. “What is—”
Patrick stood between them and the door.
“Patrick, you can’t be here,” Gavin’s voice was steady despite the tightness Jocelyn heard. “You are in violation of your release and the order of protection out against you. I’m going to have to arrest you. Patrick North, you are under arrest—”
“That is not how this is going down you stupid, son of a—”
The sun reflected off of something metal at Patrick’s side. “He’s got a gun.” The words barely escaped her lips.
Gavin, his gaze not breaking with Patrick, let go of her hand and put his arm in front of her. “Get behind me.”
“Gavin.”
“Now, Jocelyn,” Gavin’s voice now shook.
CHAPTER TWENTY
When Gavin tucked Jocelyn behind himself, acting like a human shield, Adam crept behind a car ten feet to Patrick’s left. Adam raised his Sig Sauer as he squat-walked forward around a car in the parking garage. He hated that Patrick had found them and had them at gunpoint. Gavin had his sidearm, but he had his arm down straight in front of it, as if to hide its presence. Adam wished Gavin would look over and see him.
Adam inched around the front bumper of the car and trained his weapon on Patrick. If the man tried anything… But he couldn’t see Becca or Doug yet. They had gone around the other side. He needed to know where they were before he could even think about pulling the trigger.
Patrick’s voice made his ears perk up. “It’s time for you two to die. Just like those other guys who thought it was acceptable to sleep with someone else’s wife.”
“Are you saying you killed Ralph, Jeremy, and Eddie because they had affairs with married women?” Gavin asked.
“It’s their own fault. Now it’s your turn. And to think, Riley, I thought you were my friend. But in the last year, you’ve done nothing but betray me.”
Adam didn’t see this ending well, but he couldn’t take the shot yet. He inched closer.
Jocelyn’s heart hammered in her chest. She gripped the back of Gavin’s shirt with her left hand as her right went to Gavin’s hip. She took a deep breath as she listened to Patrick confess to shooting those people with zero remorse. It made her want to throw up.
“And then I saw Epps with Jocelyn a month ago, helping her put groceries in the car. I suspected something was up. Wondered he was the dog who’d knocked her up, until I realized she wasn’t very upset by his death. Thought you were a better friend than that. Thought you could at least adhere to a code of conduct. I can’t believe I didn’t realize it would be you. Thought you wanted to stay alive.”
Gavin’s hands balled up into fists. Jocelyn leaned her head up against his back and snapped his Glock out of its holster. It had been so long since she had fired a gun, and she prayed she wouldn’t have to do it now. At least back then she had been a good shot. Oh, Jesus, I don’t want to shoot him. But she would if she had to. If it meant protecting the baby, Gavin, and herself, she would shoot him.
The air felt so heavy going in and out of her lungs. She wanted to tune Patrick out, but this was one time she needed to pay attention to every word he said.
Gavin said, “You beat those women too, didn’t you?”
“The sight of a pregnant woman—” She could almost hear him shudder. “I’ve always hated the idea of a woman being pregnant. It’s disgusting. If only you knew how much I hate it. Jocelyn, you would never have been a good mom anyway. I just spared you from the misery of children.”
Tears stung her eyes. How had she ever married this man? Why had she thought she deserved this? But he was just like her father. Self-centered and angry, so angry. But she was not worthless like they said. Jesus had paid a price for her, loved her more than anyone ever could. She wouldn’t listen to the lies of these men anymore. Deep inside her, she felt Jesus lifting her heart, making her strong. Bulletproof from the curses and lies that said she wasn’t anything special. She was priceless to Jesus.
Her breath staggered as courage filled her. She glanced around Gavin. Patrick raised his gun.
“This is the end. Goodbye, Riley.”
“NO!” Jocelyn shouted as the sound of Patrick’s gun firing echoed through the parking structure.
Pkew! She fired Gavin’s gun one-handed. Gavin’s full weight slumped into her arms.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“No, no, no. Gavin!” The world around her faded. She eased Gavin to the ground and set the gun next to her. Gavin’s face was scrunched in pain. His eyes closed. Was he dead? “Come on, Gavin. Please don’t leave me!” She looked at his chest, at the hole in his shirt.
Where was the blood?
Gavin moaned. “That. Hurts.”
Her breath stuck. She pulled his shirt aside. “A bulletproof vest?” She slapped his chest and tugged him up into her arms, tears streaming down her face.
“Can’t get rid of me so easily.”
The rest of the world slammed into her. Patrick! She grabbed the gun as she let go of Gavin and raised the weapon, then stopped. Adam stood over Patrick with a gun pointed at his chest. Where had he come from?
“Call 911. I need an ambulance,” Patrick whined.
“You’re lucky it wasn’t me who shot you. You wouldn’t be breathing if I had. Now shut up. We’ll get you medical help, but you’re still under arrest for the attempted murder of two cops along with the rest of the ever-growing list.”
Jocelyn turned back to Gavin.
He smiled through the pain. “You got him.”
“Me?”
“Looks like you hit his shoulder.” He pulled her into another hug where they sat on the concrete.
From between the cars, Becca darted in. “Surrounding area is secure.” She turned to Gavin and Jocelyn. “Are you guys okay?”
Jocelyn nodded. “How… why are y’all here?”
“When Patrick didn’t show up to court, we figured—”
Gavin winced. “Rightfully so. Oh, man, that hurts.”
“Broken ribs will do that.” Becca poked at the bulletproof vest. “So glad you were wearing this.”
“Me too!” Jocelyn said.
“Me three. Adam demanded I wear it for the last two days. I wish Jared had been wearing one.”
Becca gave him a sad smile. “So do I.”
“Can I just say, I’m really glad it was a nine mil round and not a .308.” He looked Jocelyn in the eye. “Are you okay? The baby? I fell hard into you.”
“We’re okay. Baby wasn’t happy about it and was kicking at his daddy.”
“His?” Becca questioned. “I thought you were headed to the appointment.”
Jocelyn laughed. “We are. I have no idea if baby is a boy or girl.”
The sirens of police and EMTs arriving filled the air. Was this finally going to be all over?
Patrick tried to shift in the hospital bed. That stupid—
A gruff voice came from the doorway. “Want some coffee, Chet?”
Patrick looked up at the two officers posted to his room.
“Sure.” Chet rubbed his eyes. The other officer sauntered away.
Chet’s yawn and bloodshot eyes told Patrick he wasn’t laying off the booze like he should. A perfect opportunity had presented itself. Patrick waited until the other officer’s footsteps had faded. “Chet Garrison.”
“Patrick North. You’re awake.”
“And you’re still hitting the bottle pretty hard.”
Chet slowly shifted his body and stepped closer to Patrick’s bed.
“Closer. It’s payday.”
Chet obeyed. “I’m not letting you out of here.”
“But you’ll do what I tell you. Otherwise, the whole department will hear about how much of a drunk you are.”
“Like they’ll listen
to you. You’d be throwing yourself under the squad car if you did. You’re the one who let me off instead of giving me a DUI.”
“A mar on my patrol record?” Patrick tried to raise his palms to the ceiling, but with his left arm in a sling, it was difficult. As best he could, he shifted his hands up and down like the weights on a scale. “Or the death penalty.” He pointed at Chet’s chest. “You’re the one with something to lose.”
Chet’s shoulders slumped.
Patrick laughed. He had him. “How are your surveillance skills?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
A couple hours later, Jocelyn finally lay back on the table in the doctor’s office. It was time to see their little one. Gavin slipped his hand under hers and squeezed her fingers.
She rubbed his knuckle with her thumb. “You excited?”
“Yes.” He shifted on the stool and grimaced. After Patrick had been hauled away to the hospital in custody, Jocelyn and Becca made Gavin go to the ER. Thankfully, he only had one cracked rib.
This week had been too much. She needed a change in emotion for just a moment.
A knock sounded on the door and the ultrasound technician, a small, round woman in her mid-forties, stepped inside. “You two ready to see your baby?”
They both nodded.
“Do y’all want to know if the little one is a boy or girl?”
Jocelyn met Gavin’s eyes, and in unison they said, “Yes!”
“Well, let’s see if he or she cooperates.”
Jocelyn wove her fingers in between Gavin’s. He drew her hand up and pressed the back of it against his lips.
Once the tech had squirted the cold goop on her belly, she spread it out with the wand. The baby moved at the pressure. “An active little one. Come here, silly.” The tech followed the baby and began making a thousand little clicks on the computer. “Taking measurements of baby’s head and body and the amniotic fluid.” The clicks continued.
Jocelyn tried to follow what the tech was doing, but she moved too fast.
Gavin leaned forward across Jocelyn. “What am I looking at?”
The tech chuckled. “Well, this is the baby’s arm. And here’s the baby’s head.” She froze the image of the baby’s profile on the screen. “That’s a beautiful baby. I’ll print that one out for you.” She clicked a few buttons, and the little printer under the computer spit out some paper. “Now, are you a little boy or a little girl?”
Jocelyn bit her lip. She couldn’t wait any longer to find out. Not that she had a preference one way or another. She just wanted baby to be healthy, but she looked forward to using pronouns. She was pretty sure baby was a boy, but her intuition had never been reliable.
“Come on, little one, you have to stay a little stiller than that. Your momma’s gonna chew a hole in her lip if you don’t help us out a little.”
Jocelyn giggled.
The tech continued to try and get a good look at the baby. “Well, there we go. No denying that.”
Gavin laughed. “Is that what I think it is?”
The tech froze the frame. “Yep. This little one is, without a sliver of doubt, a little boy. Congratulations, you two.”
Gavin’s grin stretched wide. “You were right. A boy.”
“Maybe my intuition isn’t always wrong.” A boy!
The tech finished up the ultrasound and a few minutes later Dr. Thomas poked his head in. “Congrats! Baby boy looks great. He’s growing right on schedule. So, if you don’t have any other questions or concerns, go ahead and set up your next appointment before you leave.”
Jocelyn slid off the table, and, after stopping at the front desk, she and Gavin left hand in hand.
Gavin tugged her slightly. “Why don’t we go buy a few things for the baby?”
“Like a bouncy seat?”
“Absolutely. How ‘bout the whole store?”
Jocelyn shook her head. “No, silly. There’s already been chatter about a baby shower. We can leave a few things for our friends to buy him.”
“If we must. But definitely a bouncy seat.”
Jocelyn’s nose stung as she fought the emotions that welled up. Her little boy would have a bouncy seat. Gavin opened the passenger’ door of his truck for her, and she slid in. A vision of their little boy sitting in it flashed in her mind’s eye.
Tuesday morning, Captain Baker leaned forward on Gavin’s desk. “There has to be something.”
Gavin’s stomach rocked back and forth. “But there isn’t. No one has spotted Ross Bender since that day at McDonald’s. No credit card use, no travel booked. He seems to have just vanished.”
“He could be anywhere by now.” Baker stood back up.
“I hate that we didn’t get him before all this nonsense with Patrick.” Guilt seemed to want to take up permanent residence in Gavin’s gut.
Baker rested his hand on Gavin’s shoulder. “Not your fault.”
“Captain—”
“Nope. You’ve done your job. Bender will slip up at some point. You’ll get him.”
“Thanks, sir.”
Baker double-thumped Gavin’s desk and returned to his office.
Gavin turned back to his screen. Where had Bender disappeared to? The more Gavin learned about Ross, the more the man reminded Gavin of his own father. Over the weekend, Gavin and Jocelyn had talked about their childhoods. They’d both had such lousy excuses for parents; how were they ever going to be a good mom and dad, especially when they couldn’t even be together? Could they end the cycle of abuse? Could they break the yoke of their fathers’ sins?
He spotted the rock on his desk. A reminder to see the truth. He shook his head. They couldn’t undo these things. But God already had. They were both changed by Christ’s work.
He focused on that truth as he sat at his desk and pulled open the reports from last week’s events.
So much paperwork. He didn’t know when Becca would be back to work, so he resigned himself to being stuck doing it alone. At least Jared had been released from the hospital on Saturday and was recovering well.
“Hey.” A hand rested on his shoulder.
He looked up. “Becca? What are you doing here?”
“Jared kicked me out of the house. He really doesn’t like being fussed over, apparently.”
Gavin laughed. Pain radiated throughout his chest. One cracked rib. Thank you, Lord, that it’s not worse.
“Don’t hurt yourself.”
He put his thumb to his nose and wiggled his fingers.
She giggled and sat at her desk. “Where are we with all the Patrick-sniper stuff?”
“Just a stack of paperwork. And hope we don’t get another case until my rib heals.”
“No luck finding more clues about Ross Bender?”
Gavin shook his head.
“Do you think he could have been involved in Tom’s death? Arthur Moon was shot in such a similar manner as Tom. What if Bender did that too?”
“I don’t see a connection beyond the MO. And it’s not that unique an MO.”
Becca slid a little lower in her chair. “Do you think we could spend some time looking at Tom’s case again anyway? Maybe there is a connection, plus I was thinking—”
“I’d love to. Once this paperwork is done. You have another new idea?”
Becca twirled her hair. “Maybe. I’m not sure, but did we consider that it had something to do with the company?”
He stifled a sigh. They had gone over all of this. “He just got a major promotion. Everyone there seemed to love him. We looked at the company.”
“We missed something.”
“I know, Becca. We’ll look again.” They wouldn’t find anything, but Becca could use the distraction. Her eyes were puffy and punctuated by dark circles.
And she wasn’t the only one who needed to be distracted.
Tuesday after work, Jocelyn stared out the window of Adam’s ’69 Chevy Impala. Patrick was behind bars and couldn’t hurt her. Freedom and relief filled her. She was feeling more lik
e herself again.
Patrick’s arraignment had happened on Saturday and the judge had, for obvious reasons, refused him bail. Now he would sit in jail until trial. She turned toward Adam. “How long do you think it will be until Patrick’s trial?”
“Hard to say. Too many factors. It’s possible he’ll take a plea deal. He’d be wise to. We have too much evidence against him.”
“Not to mention he confessed to Gavin and me.”
“The defense will rake you two through the coals, though. Becca, Doug, and I heard it too and our testimony would be more valuable and safer for you.”
“Safer?”
“Emotionally.”
“Got ya. Of course, you and Becca are emotionally invested too.”
“True, but—” Adam turned onto her street. “Who’s that?”
“Who?”
“On your stoop.”
A bulky man in a suit was knocking on her door. “I don’t know.”
Adam turned into the driveway. They both got out of the car and approached the man.
Adam said, “May we help you?”
“Do y’all reside here?”
Jocelyn said, “This is my house.”
“Unfortunately, this house is being taken possession of, and this is an eviction notice.”
Jocelyn’s knees buckled underneath her. Adam grabbed her elbow and steadied her. “What?! Why?”
He handed her the papers. “A Patrick North used this property to post bail and then failed to show for court—”
“And to think I actually thought he couldn’t hurt me anymore.” She had to fight to get oxygen into her lungs.
“I’m sorry, miss.” The man sounded truly apologetic. He was just doing his job.
“Why would he put the house up? Why not the cabin?” She looked at Adam.
He shrugged. “Probably because it would hurt you… and since you filed for the house in the divorce.” He turned toward the man. “Is there some legal action Jocelyn can take to keep the house, especially since she’s in the middle of a divorce from Patrick?”
“It’s possible but not likely. You’ll have to contact a lawyer.”