Second Chance (34 page)

“Sit down and I’ll get you some aspirin and a beer.” She took the bag from him. “And a snack.”

Wesley dropped onto the bed and watched her, his suspicions sky high. “What’re you being so nice for?”

Her back to him, she shrugged. “I feel kind of guilty. I should’ve tried to help you, but I couldn’t afford to have her see me.”

“I hope you make the bitch pay for that someday.”

She turned around and smiled. “Oh, she’s already paying.” She held several aspirin in one hand, a cold beer in the other. “Here, this’ll help with the worst of it.”

He threw the pills into his mouth and swallowed them down with the beer, guzzling it till it was empty. Damn, he hadn’t realized how thirsty he was. A belch erupted as he leaned back against his pillows and watched her prepare the sardines and chips on a paper plate. His dick suddenly decided if it couldn’t have what it wanted, it would settle for a substitute. “If you really want to make it up to me, why don’t you come over here and make me feel better?”

“Food first, then we’ll see.” She handed him a plate and another beer. Then, after pulling one more beer from the bag, she popped the top and took a long swallow.

Wesley attacked the sardines and chips. He hadn’t eaten since that morning, and though the salty food stung his sore mouth, he didn’t let that slow him down. Chugging down his second beer, he began to feel much better. Relaxed and sleepy, he blinked at the woman in front of him. Why was she smiling like that?

“What’s got you so happy?”

“Just like to see a man enjoy his food. Want another beer?”

“Not right now.” He belched again and patted the
bed. “Bring some of them rubbers over here and give me some dessert.”

“Okay.” She grabbed her purse. “Let me go to the bathroom first.”

As she shut the bathroom door, Wes was surprised to realize he was glad she was here. It’d been a long time since anybody had taken care of him. Leaning back against the headboard, he was relieved that the worst of the throbbing had stopped, but now he was suddenly very sleepy. His eyes closed … he’d just grab a nap till she came back.

Inside the bathroom, she pulled on plastic gloves and then removed the gun from a plastic baggie she’d put in her purse. After attaching the silencer, she waited. The sleeping pills she’d disguised as aspirin should be working by now. The two beers would have helped them along.

Catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror, she fluffed the blond strands of her wig. Maybe she should let her hair grow out a little more. This style made her look younger, less serious. She could ask Wesley what he thought, but since the idiot would be dead in a few minutes, his opinion didn’t really matter.

Checking her watch, she determined seven minutes had to be enough time. She needed to get this done and get back home before anyone missed her.

Carefully, not wanting him to see her, she eased the door open slightly and looked out. Wesley’s eyes were closed and he was snoring softly. Good.

The gun behind her back, just in case he was playing possum, she advanced toward the bed. Wes didn’t move a muscle.

She walked around the bed and stacked up the pillows. Now came the tricky part. “Wesley.”

“Huh?”

“Sit up a little.”

“Later.” He grunted and then snored louder.

As out of it as he was, it took waking him twice before she finally got him to scoot up the necessary inches to where he was propped up against the pillows. If this was going to look like a suicide, it’d be more convincing if he was sitting up.

Taking both his hands, she wrapped them around the gun, and placed his finger on the trigger. Then, holding his face, she opened his mouth slightly and placed the muzzle in his mouth. He opened his eyes wide at the feel of the steel against his tongue, but was too groggy to react quickly enough, She pressed his finger against the trigger and pushed hard.

He jerked and slumped back against the wall with a satisfying thud of finality.

She grimaced at the blood on her new blouse. Dammit, she’d never get the stains out and she certainly couldn’t take it to the cleaners. She’d have to throw it away.

With the efficiency she was known for, she quickly cleaned up any evidence that Wesley hadn’t been alone. A suicide note would be a nice touch, but seemed too organized and convenient, not in keeping with a man of Wesley’s sordid, soulless reputation.

Sure, there’d be speculation that he wasn’t alone, but no one could link them together. In a day or two, when the stink got to the outside world or a maid came in, Wesley would be discovered. Of course, it might take a few days to identify him, since a good part of his forehead and the top of his head were mangled and lying on the floor under the bed.

Feeling quite satisfied with the day’s outcome, she took one last look around the room and stepped outside. At this time of the night, not a soul was around.

She opened her car door, and got in thinking about what she’d gotten accomplished today. Keeley was at
home, bruised and traumatized. Wesley, who’d become a major pain, was dead. And best of all, when Wesley was found, there would go Keeley’s last hope of ever finding her daughter. She would be devastated.

Yes, all in all, a most successful day.

Turning from the computer screen, Keeley grabbed the flyers she’d just printed. She’d been out of it for a couple of days and had neglected her regular office routine. Just because there was finally some hope of finding Hailey didn’t mean she could drop her normal activities. These flyers should have gone out yesterday. She would have to double up on hours until she was caught up. Until Hailey was home, the work could not stop.

“Keeley!”

She jerked her head up to see Jenna and Miranda rush toward her. She jumped to her feet and met them in the middle of the room. “What’s wrong?”

Miranda practically screamed at her. “What’s wrong? You were attacked two days ago and we just heard about it? That’s what’s wrong.”

Flashing Miranda a stern look, Jenna touched Keeley’s shoulder. “Are you okay, sweetie? Why didn’t you call me? When you canceled our lunch the other day, I thought you had a stomach virus … I can’t believe you didn’t tell me what really happened.”

Guilt filled her once more for keeping her friends in the dark. She had known Jenna and Miranda would have been here in minutes and would have enjoyed mothering her. She’d asked Cole to cancel her lunch date with Jenna using the excuse of a stomach virus. She hadn’t liked lying to her friend, but had needed the time
to herself. As much as she loved Jenna, she had a tendency to hover … as did Miranda.

She hugged both women and said, “I’m sorry. I just needed some rest. All I have are a few bumps and bruises. Nothing more. And I didn’t want either of you to worry. I’m fine … really.”

Miranda shook her head. “Cole said that you’d been attacked, abducted. What happened? Who was it? Why did—”

She took both of her friends’ hands and pulled them down to sit beside her on the couch. “It was Wesley Tuttle. Do you remember him?”

Her forehead furrowed in concentration, Miranda said, “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of him. Who is he?”

Keeley figured Miranda wouldn’t remember him, since she was a few years younger, but the expression on Jenna’s face told her she remembered him.

“I thought he left town a year or so after high school,” Jenna said.

“Unfortunately, he came back.”

Jenna shuddered. “I remember how he always gave me the creeps, like he was looking through my clothes or something.” Her eyes filled with tears as she spotted the bruises on Keeley’s neck. “Oh, sweetie, he really hurt you, didn’t he?”

“Not as bad as it could have been.”

“But why did he attack you?” Miranda asked.

“He’s the one who took Hailey and Hannah.”

“He took them … and then he attacked you? But why?” Jenna asked.

“I know it sounds weird—it
is
weird—but I know he’s the one.”

Miranda jumped up, hands on her hips. “Why would he do that?”

“I really don’t know other than he held some kind of grudge against me for not going out with him.”

“From all those years ago?” Jenna snorted. “Now, that’s about the dumbest reason I’ve ever heard.”

Miranda nodded. “I agree with Jenna. Carrying a grudge like that for years seems really crazy. And why take your kids? That’s even crazier.”

“I agree … but that’s what he told me. And he knew things only the kidnapper would know. The FBI is looking for him. Once we find him, he can tell us where he took Hailey.”

Jenna touched her shoulder again. “That’s wonderful, sweetie. I knew it would all work out for you.”

Miranda’s eyes narrowed as she searched Keeley’s face. “There’s something else going on, isn’t there?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve got a spark in your eyes you haven’t had for a very long time.”

“That’s because we’re about to find out where Hailey is,” Keeley said.

“Maybe.” Miranda’s tone held doubt.

Jenna nodded. “I think Miranda’s right. There is something there. What’s going on?”

For some reason, she hadn’t mentioned anything to her friends about her new relationship with Cole. She wasn’t sure why, other than she didn’t want to share it with the world yet. It was her secret to savor and relish. But that was silly. Her two best friends deserved to know that she had fallen in love with a wonderful man. They would be thrilled for her.

“I’m in love with Cole.”

“What?” they squealed in unison.

“I know it sounds strange. The last few months have been the most horrific of my life, but …” She shrugged, unable to explain how in the midst of this nightmare, she’d actually found love. “He’s the most amazing man. And as determined as I am to find Hailey.”

Jenna’s worry was reflected in her words. “This isn’t some kind of hero worship, is it?”

Keeley shook her head. “I admit that I admire him tremendously, but I’m also in love with him.”

“Well … I guess he’s handsome and all … but isn’t he a little old for you?” Miranda asked.

Keeley laughed softly. “He’s thirty-five … that’s not exactly elderly.”

“But does he feel the same way?” Jenna asked.

“I think so. We haven’t talked about the future, because there is no future until I have Hailey back. But once we do, I think there will be.”

Jenna grasped Keeley’s hand and squeezed it. “Well, I think it’s fabulous. It’s about time something good happened in your life.”

Keeley was surprised that her normally unromantic friend Jenna was the one who seemed the happiest for her, while the usually idealistic Miranda looked so doubtful.

Cole leaned against the wall, across from the closed door of Keeley’s office, and waited for Miranda and Jenna to come out. As Keeley’s best friends, they’d be able to tell him how they thought she was doing. She still looked too damned pale to him, but she’d assured him she was well enough to work. He wanted to get their input.

He couldn’t deny a secondary reason for calling them over. The conversation he’d had with Miranda a few days ago continued to hammer at him.

Now that they knew Wesley Tuttle was behind everything, Cole no longer suspected Keeley’s sister-in-law of being involved in her nieces’ abduction. However, she was hiding something, and by the continued worried expression on her face, it was something big.

They hadn’t exactly parted on good terms the other
day; Cole was probably the last person she wanted to talk with. But Miranda was a young single mother, and she was important to Keeley. Maybe there was something he could do to help her. First, she had to tell him what her problem was.

He straightened when the door opened and both Miranda and Jenna emerged. Jenna gave him a quick smile and then turned to look back inside the office. “Get some rest and I’ll call you tomorrow.” She whirled around to Cole. “She looks exhausted.”

“I heard that.” Keeley’s amused voice came from inside the office.

Jenna grinned. “Good, you were supposed to.” She closed the door and shook her head. Tears glinting her eyes, she said, more quietly, “I can’t believe what that bastard did to her. Do they have any leads yet?”

“Not yet, but the FBI’s got his sketch out everywhere. He won’t get far.”

“Good.” Jenna glanced over at Miranda. “I’ve got to get back to work. You coming?”

“I—” Miranda started.

“I’d like to talk to you, Miranda, if you have a few minutes.”

Her mouth tightened but she nonetheless nodded and said, “Of course.”

Jenna gave both of them a curious, searching look. “Well, I’m outta here. Cole, make sure Keeley gets some sleep. I’ll call her later.”

He nodded and waited until he heard Jenna go out the front door before he said, “Let’s go into the sitting room.”

Her expression a mixture of defiance and worry, Miranda followed him into the room and then perched on the edge of the sofa as if she might take flight at any minute.

Leaning forward, he tried to make his expression as
unintimidating as possible. “Miranda, is there something going on that I can help you with?”

Surprise replaced the anxiousness in her eyes. “What?”

“Keeley cares a lot about you … and I care for Keeley. If you’re in trouble, or need help, I’d like to offer assistance.”

“That’s very kind of you.” She straightened her spine. “But I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Where do you go at all hours of the day and night?”

“I told you the other day, it’s none of your business.”

“You’re right, it’s not. But LCR has a lot of contacts. If you need help … assistance, we’d like to offer it.”

When she smiled, he saw the beautiful woman she might be someday if she didn’t have worries weighing her down. “Now I see why Keeley is so fond of you.” She rose to leave. “Thank you for your concern. But sometimes, offering help isn’t in the best interest of the person you’re offering it to.” Walking past him, she added, “Tell Keeley I’ll call her later.”

Cole stayed seated. Whatever her problems were, he admired her for wanting to handle them without assistance from others. And as long as they brought no harm to Keeley, they were her secrets to keep.