by AK Leigh
She spun and came face-to-face with the man she’d been dancing with. Hadn’t she told him not to follow her? She sighed, ‘I told you I wanted to be alone.’
‘I know, but you left without a goodbye kiss.’
He aimed a smile at her that sent a crawl up her spine.
Oh, great.
In a forceful tone, she said, ‘Look, buddy. I’m not interested and I don’t have the time or energy to debate this with you. It would be best if you turned yourself around right now and went home.’
He sneered and took a step forward. He was so close, his nose was almost touching hers. Then he pushed aside his leather jacket. Tucked into the top of his jeans was a silver-handled pistol. She drew in a breath. Stay calm. The worse thing she could do was panic.
Her focus narrowed in on the gun. She’d spent enough time listening to Nina drone on about the different types of handguns to know it was a Kimber. Somehow she doubted he had a licence for it. She remembered something else: the gun held .357 Magnum bullets. Up close like this, one bullet would be enough to kill her.
She faked control in her voice. ‘What do you want?’
He smirked, ‘Just back up in the alley without a fuss and we won’t have a problem.’
She knew not to do that. Once he had her out of sight and in another location, the chances of her ending up dead grew. She also knew not to antagonise someone with a gun.
A gun that was still not in his hands …
Using a surge of adrenalin that came, she lifted her knee into his stomach. He stumbled back, but quickly regained his balance.
He grunted, ‘Stupid girl,’ then lunged for her.
His hands gripped her around the wrists. Using his full weight, he barged her into the alley and slammed her face first against the wall.
In her ear, he whispered, ‘Baronie sends his regards.’
Her heart skipped a beat. Clay Baronie was behind this?
The biker released one of her arms. She felt him go for his gun. That was her chance. With as much force as she could muster, she shot her elbow back, toward the direction she guessed his nose would be. She made contact with something firm but soft, like a muscle. Not hard like a nose bone would be. She angled her head. He was clutching at his upper chest area.
Damn, he’s tall!
He regained his footing and kneed her in the back. She exhaled sharply from the pain as he gripped her once more around the tops of her arms.
He still didn’t have his gun. She had to keep it that way. To distract him, she wriggled under his grasp and kicked her high-heeled foot backward. Hopefully this time she would connect with her intended target: his shinbone.
‘Ow!’ He hopped back and loosened his hands from her. She’d got him that time. ‘For fuck’s sake, woman. Stay still. This will be over soon.’
The next thing she heard was the delicious sound of Nina’s voice. ‘It certainly will. Hands up, scumbag.’
Lizzie sensed him take a step away from her. She pivoted.
Nina stood in front of them, her gun aimed at the head of the man. Thank goodness she had an off-duty possession of a weapon licence for her biathlon training. Carrie stood a little to the right, behind Nina. The expression on her little sister’s face showed she was out for blood.
This man had no idea what trouble he was in.
Or maybe he did.
He made a move for his gun.
Nina stopped him by barking, ‘I wouldn’t do that if I were you. I’ve won medals for target shooting. I can get a bullet in your head quicker than you’ll be able to appreciate if you dare move.’
The biker hesitated.
Carrie gave him a steely-eyed stare. ‘Unless you think you’re on par with an Olympian, and a mightily pissed off forensic anthropologist who can make it look like suicide, I’d do what she says, arsehole.’
‘Hands up against the wall. The next time I have to ask, I shoot.’
He obeyed.
Lizzie darted to Carrie’s side as Nina lunged toward the man.
Her little sister embraced her. Tightly. ‘Thank God.’
For a brief moment, she’d thought her sisters were going to get the answer to the ‘what would I do without you?’ question she’d asked the previous night.
Chapter 36
The television played in the background but Gabe wasn’t paying it any real attention, until he heard, ‘We can confirm that Elizabeth Farris was targeted in a murder attempt at Wrangler’s nightclub tonight.’
‘What!’ He jumped to his feet. His chest constricted as his lungs fought for space. He focused on the television, waiting to hear more.
The reporter continued, ‘The suspect is currently in custody. We spoke to Ms Farris as she left the hospital moments ago.’
The screen flashed to an image of Elizabeth. Though her skin was pale, and her hair was dishevelled, the glow in her eyes hadn’t been dimmed. One of her arms was held at a ninety-degree angle by a sling; he could make out faint bruises on her wrists. He felt his forehead wrinkle in anger. She’d been hurt.
He could see one of her sisters by her side. Carrie. Was the eldest sister at the police station? What exactly had happened? Who had tried to kill her?
I should have been there. I should have protected her.
Flashes, cameras, and microphones swarmed them. The duo made their way forward. The small crowd dispersed enough to let them through.
Somebody screamed out, ‘Elizabeth, are you okay?’
She nodded, but made no eye contact, ‘Yes. Thank you.’
‘What happened?’
Her sister answered, ‘We are not at liberty to discuss any details at this stage.’
Other questions were fired at them, but they ignored them all, hopped into their car and drove off.
The screen flicked back to the reporter. ‘Exact details are still forthcoming. However, it is believed that the attempt had something to do with the cold case involving the death of Perth socialite, Maryann Baronie, that they are working on.’
Gabe switched off the television. He couldn’t watch any more or he would be tempted to call her. Although she’d obviously been hurt, she was alive, and that was all he needed to know. That’s what his brain tried to tell him. But his fingers twitched. He glanced at his phone. The impulse to reach out and grab it was almost too much to control.
He shook his head, ‘No.’
She’d made it clear she didn’t trust him and didn’t want to be with him. He had no business checking up on her. It would only serve his best interests anyway, to make sure she was all right, to see it with his own eyes that she was safe and well. And wasn’t thinking only about what he wanted part of the reason they had broken up?
Now was the time to consider her needs. She’d said she wanted him to leave her alone, so that’s what he would do. He would respect her and her boundaries.
There was nothing else to be done.
***
Lizzie adjusted the blankets over her then switched off the news report. She returned the remote to its usual spot on her bedside table. In the darkness, she frowned. He had to have seen it by now. It was on all the channels. She knew, because she’d checked. But he hadn’t called. That meant he didn’t care.
Her heart sunk for a moment … then just about leapt through her chest at the sound of her mobile ringing.
Gabe!
She seized her phone. Her heart sunk when she read the name that popped up on the screen. She tried to sound happy when she answered, ‘Hi, Malcolm.’
‘I saw what happened on the news. Are you okay?’
‘I’m fine.’
Physically at least.
‘Really?’
She burst into tears. ‘No, not really.’
‘Oh, sweetie. Let me come over.’
She swiped at her eyes. ‘No. Carrie’s here … and I’m tired anyway.’
And can’t deal with more man confusion right now. I just need a good sleep. A really long sleep. Then everything would be okay and s
he would feel normal again.
‘Are you sure? It’s no bother.’
‘I’m sure, but thanks for the call.’
‘I’ll leave my phone on all night in case you need me.’
She smiled, ‘Thanks, Malcolm.’
After saying their goodbyes, Lizzie slumped lower under the bed covers. The movement jarred her sprained shoulder. She grunted and reached for it, giving it a gentle rub. It felt better a few minutes later. She was about to close her eyes when there was a soft knock at her bedroom door.
‘You awake, Lizzie?’
‘Yeah, come in.’
The door opened. As expected, Carrie appeared on the threshold. ‘Everything okay? Thought I heard your phone ring?’
‘You did. It was Malcolm.’
Carrie exhaled, ‘Geez, the guy really doesn’t understand that it’s over, does he?’
Lizzie shrugged, ‘It was nice to know there was someone out there who cared enough to check up on me.’
Carrie tilted her face toward her shoulder. A sympathetic expression spread over her face. She stepped into the room and sat on the edge of the bed, close to Lizzie. ‘I’m sorry about Gabe. I know I act all sarcastic where love is concerned, but I saw how different you were with him. I know it was serious for you even though you hadn’t known each other very long.’
Lizzie forced herself to smile, ‘Thanks.’
Carrie pulled her in for a hug. ‘I’m just in the other room if you need me.’
‘I’m glad you’re staying with me tonight. I still feel a little jumpy.’
And lonely.
Carrie parted from her and looked in her eyes. ‘Sisters first. Always. Remember?’
Lizzie chuckled, ‘Yes.’
‘Speaking of sisters, Nina said she’ll be over some time tomorrow to update us.’
‘Us? You’re not going to work either?’
‘Of course not. Somebody has to look after you.’
The tears fell before Lizzie was aware of them being there.
‘Aww.’ Carrie tugged her into another hug. ‘It’ll all work out. You’ll see.’
When they pulled away, Lizzie said, ‘I hope you’re right.’
‘I am.’
Lizzie laughed, ‘Why are you so optimistic all of a sudden?’
Carrie waved a dismissive hand, ‘Pfft. I’m not. For me anyway. But for you … you I have high hopes.’
‘Geez, that makes me feel heaps better.’
Carrie chuckled, ‘Good. Now, you need some sleep. Night night.’
‘Night.’
A few moments later, Lizzie was alone again. In the silence, a sudden recollection hit her. Only a couple of days ago, she’d been giving Carrie sympathy for her should-have-been wedding date and wondering how she would feel if Gabe had betrayed her. She frowned. She didn’t have to wonder anymore. Now she knew … and it didn’t feel great.
In fact, it was awful. She pressed a hand to her chest, where it felt tight and compressed. The butterflies that had been light and fluttery now seemed to be weighed down in the pit of her tummy. Each time she tried to forget Gabe, it was as if he lodged even deeper into her soul. She’d never been able to understand the whole depressed after a break-up thing. Until now. Thank goodness she had her sisters and her work. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have known how to get through this.
Chapter 37
Don Silkstone
‘Shit.’ Don shut off the television report about the botched Elizabeth Farris killing and paced his hotel room. This could be bad for me.
How reliable was the private detective he’d hired? He’d paid the man excellent money, but that didn’t always guarantee a closed mouth when jail time was in the cards. The man was a professional. He knew the risks. Again, that didn’t mean anything. He would be looking at a lot of time locked up.
Unless he had a good lawyer ...
And a good lawyer was something he himself could provide.
He would need to get to the man fast. And make sure there was no way it could be traced back to him. It needed to be done. He’d promised himself he would do whatever was necessary to get Maryann the justice she deserved. His efforts would not go to waste. Clay Baronie would not remain free. He reached for his mobile and dialled.
Chapter 38
As Lizzie sat staring at the wall of her bedroom the following morning, she was grateful for having agreed to take the day off when the doctor had suggested it—and her sisters had insisted she listen—the previous night at the hospital.
Between Gabe, Malcolm, the attempted murder, and Clay Baronie, her brain felt like it was about to explode.
It was time to focus and get her head back in the game. Who could this be if it wasn’t Clay? Regardless of what the biker had said, it hadn’t seemed right. When she was recovering in the hospital, she’d had time to think, and it hadn’t made sense. That plus her gut was telling her it wasn’t the right way to go. She knew Carrie, Nina, and the police were leading toward Clay as their top suspect, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was innocent.
If it wasn’t him though, who was it?
She paused for a moment.
Maybe they were focusing on the wrong people? What suspect were they missing? How could she make this puzzle fit together?
She flipped through her notepad.
The victim had one younger sister and one older brother. Apparently, the three siblings had a good relationship. Did the husband have a secret affair with the sister? Was she trying to get her sister out of the way? She shook her head. Why wouldn’t she have aimed her sights on Bella? Besides, the sister lived in Tasmania, and had been witnessed by numerous people at a party the night the murder had occurred. Nina was right. The police had done a thorough investigation. All suspects had been interviewed, investigated, and ruled out.
She frowned. There had to be someone. If it wasn’t any of the other people, who was it? What vital piece of evidence were they missing?
Think, think, think!
Not the husband, not the sister, not the neighbours. The wife had no known enemies.
What the hell am I missing here?
Her eye caught on something she had noted down about the ropes. Likely tied the victim up before her death. Something nagged at her. She still couldn’t understand what the point of the ropes had been. There’d been no signs of struggle against them. Victims always fought against bindings, unless they were unconscious. But the murderer had clearly thought Maryann was dead, so why bother to tie her up? It made no sense to tie her up before death if she wasn’t struggling, but even less so afterward.
‘Argh.’
The piece of the puzzle was there, she just had to find it.
She drew in a breath to calm her frazzled mind and grabbed a pen.
On her notepad, she jotted down: Top reasons to tie someone up: to gain and keep control. To get them to stop moving. To keep them submissive.
Her gaze lingered over the last word. A memory flashed back to her: of the first time she and Gabe had made love.
A scenario played out in her mind.
Her breath tightened in her chest.
Could it be that simple? There had been no mention of it in any of the documents she’d obtained. Is this what Clay and Bella had been hiding?
She reached for her phone and dialled Carrie’s number.
She didn’t wait for her sister to greet her when she answered. ‘I might have a lead, and you’re going to love it. Do you have time to meet up?’
***
He stared at the newspaper clipping of the Farris sisters, then ripped it from its spot in the notebook. I wish I’d never seen this! He scrunched the paper into a ball and tossed it in the wastepaper basket under his desk.
Staring at the torn-out page in his notebook didn’t make him feel better, like he’d hoped. The pain in his chest was still there. So was the general empty feeling. And the heaviness in his stomach. The expected closure hadn’t come.
If he was being completely honest, he
wanted to talk to Elizabeth and explain the full story to her. But what did she want? He lingered on that question.
During their fight, she’d made it plain that honesty was important to her. Didn’t that mean she deserved the full truth? Whether it led to them getting back together or not, he owed her all of his secrets.
He looked at his mobile. Should he call?
Chapter 39
Lizzie glanced at both of her sisters, drew in a breath, and explained, ‘I was working on the profile before and I think we’ve been looking at the wrong person in the marriage.’
The stunned stares of her sisters met hers.
Finally, Nina asked, ‘What do you mean?’
Lizzie couldn’t help herself from grinning, ‘The wife.’
Carrie snorted, ‘You mean the victim?’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘I doubt she tied herself up and drowned herself.’
‘That’s not what I’m saying.’
‘What are you saying then?’
‘I think she had a secret lover.’
‘What?’ Her sisters said it together.
Lizzie chuckled, ‘Think about it. Clay was gone a lot of the time. She would have been lonely and love-starved.’
Nina piped in, ‘In other words, ripe for an affair.’
‘Exactly.’
‘I think you’re onto something.’
‘There’s something else.’
‘What?’
‘I think I have an answer regarding the ropes.’
Carrie asked, ‘You mean why she was tied up?’
‘Mm. I think she and her mystery man were into BDSM.’
Carrie laughed, ‘You mean like Fifty Shades type of stuff?’
Lizzie nodded, ‘Why would she have been tied up otherwise? None of the other reasons make sense.’
Nina said, ‘What’s your complete theory?’
‘I believe they were … doing whatever they were doing … Maryann was tied up and they got into an argument. She wanted to leave but because she was bound, it was hard for her to go. She tried to get up. He didn’t want her to leave. Out of anger, he punched her. She hit her head on something, caused by the force of the punch. It made her fall to the floor, unconscious. He panicked, thinking he’d killed her. He found the closest thing he could to wrap her up in—a sheet—so as not to alert anyone to what was going on when he moved the body to his car. Then he drove to the Pontomic and chucked her in.’