Captured Lies (26 page)

“You’re mine.”

Raising her hands in surrender,
she turned slowly. Her gut clenched and she no longer heard the sound of
anything but the thundering of her heart.

He shot again. The impact
crumpled her leg, dropping her like a sack of potatoes to the floor. She landed
heavily on her side. The pain took a moment to register but when it hit, she
clenched her jaw, refusing to give in to the searing agony burning through her
calf. Blood flowed like a gentle fountain, up through her fingers which she’d
clamped over it. She collapsed in front of the opening.

“You will suffer as I have
suffered.”

With the last vestiges of
strength she had she lifted her head and faced her captor. “You win. Go ahead
and kill me, you bastard. But you better be prepared because I will haunt you
for the rest of your life. I will see you in hell.”

CHAPTER
FORTY-SIX

“Where is this goddamn place?” Graham spun the wheel as they
hit another hole, jerking them sideways.

Guy looked around at the
unfamiliar area. He hadn’t been back since he’d been a boy. It didn’t resemble
anything he remembered. Everything was massive, wild and overgrown. They
suddenly burst out of the trees into an open field.

“Stop!”

As he closed his eyes, he went
back in time to the day he’d gone exploring. He was having a hard time though
shutting out the memory of Geoff. Not just the beating but how much of a
monster he’d been that day.

He wandered around the gardens
for a while but got bored. Besides the gardener was following him around,
making sure he didn’t touch any of his prize flowers. Then he found a narrow,
dirt path that took him into the forest. He followed it, weaving back and forth
for hours. Finally, he came out into a clearing. Not wanting to go in the trees
again, he crossed the open space. He stopped and picked some flowers for his
Grandmother. Ones he hadn’t seen in her gardens. When he was about half way he
could see the top of a house peeking above the trees. He went to explore.

“That way.” He pointed straight
across the open stretch in front of them. As he let go of the last vestiges of
his memory, he found it ironic that he’d been lost for hours but after Geoffrey
had beaten him, he’d found his way home in record time.

“The police are coming, right?”

“Bean said they’re on their way.
Of course he wanted me to put it in blood that I wasn’t yanking his chain.”
They bounced over the rough terrain but Graham didn’t slow down.

Guy stared eagerly ahead but
there was no sign of any building. As they approached a large cluster of
massive trees he reached out and grabbed Graham’s arm. He hit the brakes
immediately. They climbed out and moved silently through the grass, entering
the grove. They walked for a few minutes when Guy paused to listen and look
around. Frowning, he looked over the dense area.

“It’s here. I know it. We should
have found it already. But I don’t see it. Where the hell do you hide a shack?”

“Let’s split up. I’ll go a
hundred and fifty feet that way,” Graham pointed off to his left. “You walk
towards me and then we’ll zigzag back and forth as we go forward.”

They moved off.

I’ll kill you Geoff. I will
kill you.

Slowly and methodically, Guy and
Graham searched the area. They had been walking about four minutes when Graham
gave his crow sound. Guy didn’t think there was anything that could make him
smile at a time like this but Graham’s bird call – a cross between a choking
chicken and a dying crow – helped him to realize that he needed to keep focused
on saving Bailey and not on wanting to do away with Geoff. He needed his wits
about him. He moved toward Graham and it wasn’t until he’d almost reached him
that he realized that the thick dense area they’d passed could actually have a
house, overgrown and camouflaged by plants. Although, it looked like a place
that had been swallowed by the undergrowth, Guy’s gut told him that it was
Geoffrey’s doing. He’d set it up to look like that. He was in there.

Not sure what they’d find, they
stuck together and stealthily walked around the perimeter. After circling the
area, they realized they must have missed some clues. They couldn’t find any
opening. And because they hadn’t been paying attention they’d trampled any
evidence that might have helped them find where Geoff had entered the building.

“Shit! I know they’re in there.
The question is how did they get there? We may have to just start pulling boards
until we find one that will come off.” Frustrated after the second lap around,
Guy kicked the ground. The fern that looked like it had grown over fluttered
and moved. He bent over and pulled on one of the fronds. It came away in his
hand. Crab walking forward he kept grabbing and moving the fake plants had covered
what looked to be a path. Suddenly there was a wall in front of him, he
carefully yanked and pulled aside the vines. There was a big man sized trap
door. Two boards had been removed and were standing off to the side, hidden by
dense undergrowth.

“You bastard…”

Bailey’s voice was muffled but
distinct. He grabbed and ripped at the wall until Graham reached past him and
stuck his hand in a hidden hole, grabbed the handle and pulled. All they saw was
long brown hair and trickles of blood running down along a bra strap, down over
bare skin. Reaching in, Guy grabbed the back of the waistband and jerked the
person out. Fighting for all she was worth, her left arm came back just as she
cleared the door and connected with his jaw. Losing his footing, they fell sideways.
Her fists pummeled him as she scrambled to get away from him.

“Bailey. Bailey! It’s me. I’m
here to help you. Stop! We have to get out of here. Where’s Geoff?”

The sound of a gunshot gave Guy
the leverage he needed. He grabbed her wrists and pulled her into the bushes
behind him. Her eyes were wild and unfocused, peeking at him through her mane
of tangled hair. He pulled her close, hugging her until he felt some of the
tension leave her body. He wanted to say so much to her but now wasn’t the
time. He did what he hoped would convey what he couldn’t say. He kissed her
hard. At first there was no response but then she returned his passion in full,
holding him tight. She was clinging to him as though she never wanted to let
him go. It was the sound of more shots that pulled him back to the present. He
gently pushed her away, giving her one more quick kiss before thrusting her at
Graham.

“Take her. I have to get Geoff.”
He moved past them and snuck back to the opening. Geoffrey was standing in the
middle of the floor, his head thrown back, his body shaking with laughter. It
was deep and guttural and sent a cold arrow right to Guy’s core.

What did you do to her, you
bastard?

All his life he’d wanted the
opportunity to beat the man to a pulp. It had been an obsession, a need. He’d
trained. He’d sweated. He’d waited. And now the moment was on him. Only he
couldn’t make himself go in and do anything. He had enough reason, if not for
what he’d done to him all his life, for what he’d done to Bailey.

Geoff raised his arms to the
ceiling and shouted, “Come and get me, you bastard. Come and get me. I’ve
served you well.”

The sirens howled in the
distance.

Graham stepped out of the thick
foliage, supporting Bailey. “Guy, we have to get out of here. He’s planted
explosives. They’re set to go off at any minute.”

Guy glanced at them and then at
the scene playing out inside the house. Geoff seemed to be in another world,
unaware of what was going on around him. “Go. I’ll be right there.” He climbed
through the hole. His uncle had to have heard him but didn’t acknowledge him.

“Geoff, we have to leave.”

“Who the hell do you think you
are?” He swung around, aiming the gun at Guy. His finger stroked the trigger. A
smile of revenge lit up his face. “Brave Guy, saving the damsel in distress.
How sweet. Always the little suck up. Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.”

“We need to get out of here. This
place is going to explode.”

“You think I’m stupid, boy. I set
the damn dynamite. I know how they were set. I know when they were set. This
isn’t the way I planned on going out but getting to take you along will be a
bonus I hadn’t planned on. Dorothea will be devastated at losing her little
pet.”

“Why do you hate her so much? She
did everything for you.”

“Yeah, except come from the
lineage of bastard. She was the golden one, the one from the right side. The
one with the true blue blood.” Spittle flew from his mouth as he yelled,
“Mine’s just as good dammit. Mine’s just as good.” The black, dead center of
his eye was all Guy could see over the muzzle of the gun.

There was no doubt Geoff would
shoot him and there was no way Guy could save both of them, so he took the only
choice he had. He dove through the hole, behind him. He jumped to his feet and
ran, like he had the time Geoff had beaten him as a kid and threatened his life
if he ever came near that old house again. Shots pinged around him as he wove
his way out of there. His arm felt like it was on fire but he didn’t stop to
see why. He burst out into the open field, thrilled to see the Hummer. He
jumped in through the open back door. Graham hit the gas and spun the wheel at
the same time. They whipped around and bounced and jerked their way over the
grassy field. They were about halfway when the explosion rocked their world.
Not only was the sound deafening but the force shoved the Hummer like there was
a bulldozer behind them on full throttle. They fishtailed sideways but Graham corrected
their course and fought to keep the vehicle moving forward. Once the power of
the explosion abated, they slowed, looking back, jaws slack. “Holy Christ!”
Flames shot skyward in every direction. Chunks of wood, tree branches and
unknown items flew through the air, some landing within spitting distance of
them.

“Get out of here, Graham.” The
words were barely out of Guy’s mouth before they were on the move again
maneuvering around the debris that had fallen all around. They didn’t slow down
until they’d reached the cobbled sidewalk. They drove past Emilio, who had a
look of horror on his face, not because a building had blown up and was landing
all over the place but because of the damage done to his beautiful gardens.

“Did you call the fire
department?”

“Yup, they’re on their way as
well. I called Bean to let him know what was going down. I think we’ll let him
sweat a bit about whether or not we got out. I think this lady needs to get to
the hospital.” Graham indicated Bailey who was strapped into the passenger
seat. She was slumped against the door. A tourniquet was tied around her calf.

“What happened?”

“He shot her in the leg. Cut her
up a bit. Physically, she’ll be fine.”

As they approached the gate, Guy called
ahead. “Open the gate, Jim. We’re on the way to the hospital. The fire
department and the police are on the way.” When they reached it a few seconds
later, it was open and Jim gave them a thumbs up.

“Looks like you could use the
hospital too?”

“Huh?” Until that moment Guy
hadn’t felt the pain. Now there was a burning fire radiating out from his
shoulder. Moving his arm from where he cradled it against his chest, he pulled
his shirt up and over his head, groaning only slightly as everything went black
for a split second. He wrapped it tightly around the wound where the blood was
running freely. He had no idea if he’d been shot or if it was the result of his
dive to ground. He just knew it hurt like a bugger.

“Did you learn anything from that
son of a bitch?”

“Yeah. He was and always will be
a bastard.”

CHAPTER
FORTY-SEVEN

“I didn’t steal you.” Dorothea looked at him beseechingly.

“Let her sleep, Gram.” Guy gently
touched Dorothea’s shoulder. She was slouched in the big overstuffed chair
beside the bed that she’d put Bailey in to recuperate.

“Come on. I’ll take you to your
room.” Since she didn’t argue nor offer resistance, an indication of how tired
she really was, it was easy for Guy to help her to her feet and escort her to
her bedroom.

“It’s a day of no more secrets.”
Looking at him with pain filled eyes, she patted the stool in front of her.
“Come. Sit. There are some things you need to hear.”

Frowning, he did as she asked.

“In this family there are too
many stories. Too many half truths. Too many lies” She bowed her head. He
squeezed her hand, in reassurance. Tears streamed down her face and dripped off
her chin, yet she made no sound.

He gently brushed away the
moisture. “Stop. You can’t go back and change anything. Beating yourself up
isn’t helping anyone.”

“I know but I can’t stop. He was
my brother. I knew he was evil. Well, not evil… maybe mean. A bully. I never
thought he’d hurt others like he did. The stories that are coming out about
him. They can’t all be true. Can they?”

Guy pursed his lips but didn’t
answer. He was sure that they hadn’t even touched on the horrors that Geoff had
inflicted. Guy put his arms around her and let her rest on his shoulder. The
newspapers were having a field day with stories about Geoffrey. The gates to
Geoff’s life had been blown wide open. It was hard to sift through what was
fact and what was fiction but Guy didn’t doubt that a lot of it was true. He
just hadn’t wanted his grandma to learn of them that way.

Five prostitutes had been found
in a marshy field a few miles further east of the house he’d blown up.
Prostitutes, who would never go to the police, were telling the media about the
sick and depraved man that had visited them regularly. None of them were ever
sure if they’d be alive when he’d finished with them. All had been beaten by
him and he’d done things that weren’t right for anyone to do.

Then there were the people he’d
bilked out of money. He’d stolen their life savings. Then brutalized them so
they’d been too scared to go to the police. The only person who’d had anything
half way nice to say about him had been his receptionist. He’d been distant but
fair with her. She never commented on whether she believed what was said about
him or not. The horror the man had inflicted on so many people made Guy sick to
his stomach. Too many people had been terrorized by the sick bastard.

“I don’t know, Grams.”

“You’re a good person, Guy. I’m
sure he left his scars on you too.”

He shrugged, not really wanting
to discuss with her what that man had done to him.

“There are things I should have
told you.”

“It’s okay–”

“This is my tale to tell. You
just listen. No more half-truths.” She pressed her hand to her chest. “Anna was
a maid here. She got pregnant. Rather than tell us about it she just left. I
tried to find her but couldn’t. A few years later, I had a private investigator
track her down. And found you. There were rumors that she’d been raped and as
to who the father was but Anna never told us. She was a beautiful lady. Her
mother, your grandmother, Maria, had worked for our family for forty years but
when she retired, she was bitter, hated this family. She blamed this family for
her daughter’s fall from grace. I think Anna was in love and her mother didn’t
approve of the relationship. Maria became nasty and made up stories.”

His eyes widened and he could
tell from her anxious look that she was waiting for his reaction. He knew most
of what she was telling him. Geoffrey had felt it important that he know his
lack of heritage. He schooled his features and smiled warmly at her.

“She was urging Anna to sue us.
To say that it was Joseph, your grandfather, who was the father. He wasn’t.
Anna made that clear to us. And I know he would never have stepped out on me.
She fought her mother. But when your mother died in a car accident, your
grandmother wanted to use you as a pawn and make some money. I couldn’t stand
what she’d done to Anna and then what she was trying to do to you.” She sighed
heavily. “I loved you like you were my own. Unfortunately, you had become a
piece of property. I didn’t steal you but I went to her and told her I’d pay
but only if I got to raise you.”

“Very lucky for me.”

She curled into herself, her head
dropping to her chest. Startled, he leaned forward, just as she raised her eyes
to him. “It was lucky for me, too. Joseph died two years later and if it hadn’t
been for you, I’d have been alone. Gina was grown and gone and not wanting to
have much to do with me. You were my son. My grandson. I hope you know that
hasn’t changed.”

He hugged her. How long they sat
there he had no idea but at some point he became aware of her sagging against
him in exhaustion. She was sleeping. He picked her up and laid her down on the
bed. He called Penelope to sit with her.

Guy left them alone, relieved
that his grandmother was in good hands. Not only did she have a loyal staff but
good friends as well. She’d need them. Stopping on the third floor, he walked
out on the balcony rather than go back to Bailey’s room. He took in several
deep breaths of the cool morning air

“Craziest week I’ve ever had.”

He spun around and faced his
friend and partner. “Yeah, not one I want to repeat any time soon. God,
Graham.”

“I know. We all have our
skeletons but whoa I don’t know anyone who can top your Uncle’s. Geoffrey was
one sick puppy... if everything they say is true.”

Guy shoved his hand through his
unruly, thick hair that badly needed washing. He winced at the movement.

“How’s the arm?”

“It’s aching but it’s just a deep
scratch. I didn’t even need stitches.”

Graham hooted. “That’s only
because the Doctor and Godzilla, the nurse, couldn’t strap you down long enough
to do that. God, the look on that nurse’s face when you grabbed her and kissed
her on the mouth and then told her it had been a long time since you’d had a
real woman. I thought she was going to be a puddle at your feet. Yeck!”

“Uh, but it got me out of having
stitches.” He smiled. “Man, I need a shower. You?”

“Yeah. I guess I should. I’m just
going to finish my beer. Sure you don’t want one?”

Guy shook his head and headed
back into the house. He went to Bailey’s room to check on her. She was sleeping
soundly. The raw indents around her right wrist from the plastic tie wraps
looked like a neon sign against the white coverlet. His whole body tensed as he
thought about what his uncle had put her through. Had put all of them through.
Not wanting to wake her he stepped back, gently closing the door and heading to
his room beside hers. He stripped and got in the shower. He turned it on as hot
as he could and soaped himself down four times before he just stood there and
let the water cascade over him. He shut his mind to all that could have
happened and focused on the fact that Bailey was safe. That everything had
turned out okay. That he wasn’t the outsider Geoff had always wanted him to
believe he was. Dorothea’s trust, the craziness of all that had happened,
meeting Bailey, was like a kick in the pants. One he’d probably needed for a
while. It didn’t matter where he came from. This was his family, his
responsibility. He’d never really been sure where home was but he knew now.

There was a distinct plopping
sound.

Guy opened his eyes and turned
his head, cocking his ear.

It was repeated.

He froze, having no idea what
that noise was. At least not coming from inside his bathroom. He reached out
with his left hand when the curtain was suddenly whipped aside. He jerked
backwards, his feet did a fancy shuffle that kept him from landing on his butt.
Bailey, in all her glorious skin and one white bandaged calf, climbed in beside
him.

“I…” He tried to keep his eyes on
her face, beautiful though it was it wasn’t quite as strong as the lure of the
rest of her.

She put her finger to his lips.
“I’m not asking. I’m taking. I’ve had a bitch of a week.” She shook her head
and smiled. “But you were always there for me. You saved me.”

“So this is a pity fu–”

Her hand pressed over his mouth,
muffling his response. Her slick body slid against his and that was just about
enough to undo him. Groaning he pulled her in tightly, letting his hands roam
over her back and down over her tight butt. His lips devoured hers. Her hands
slid down over his shoulders and although there was a short jolt of pain
reminding him of his injury, he ignored it and continued to explore all that
she was offering.

He wasn’t sure what brought him
to his senses, maybe her brushing his wound, the whimper she let out when she
stepped wrong on her injured leg or good old guilt. Breathing hard, he gently
pushed her back. His hands slid up to cup her face, as he kissed her ravaged
mouth.

Heaven.

He pulled away, gently
extricating himself from her grasp and smiled sadly at her. “You are one sexy lady…”

“Is this your brush off? Don’t
worry, I can take a hint.” Turning quickly, she stepped out of the tub,
staggering when she landed on her injured leg.

He shut off the water and then
grabbed two plush, white towels. Handing her one, which she immediately used to
cover up, he wrapped the other around his waist.

She bent down to pick up her
clothes – a white, mid calf nighty, one that his grandmother had purchased for
her at a store she’d insisted they open at 4:00 a.m. Bailey’s jerky, quick
movements suggested she was very angry with him. He pressed his hands together
and put them over his nose. Breathing deeply, he took a moment to tell himself
he was doing the right thing. She looked him in the eye. The hurt in the depth
of those blue-green eyes was like seeing waves break upon the beach. All the
hope was gone.

“To hell with it.” Groaning, he
threw all caution to the wind and pulled her into his arms. She was rigid.

“Look. I was trying to be a
gentleman and not take advantage of you. You’ve had the week from hell. I don’t
want this added to your list of regrets.”

She smiled and leaned into him.
“I’m taking advantage of you. I plan on celebrating the end of several lousy
days. I thought you might like to join me. If I’m wrong…” With that she stepped
back, dropped her towel, opened the door, walked across the dark green carpet
and slid beneath his sheets. Her limp and the cuts all over her back caused him
to hesitate for a second but the sight of her sliding into his bed was his
undoing. He dropped his towel and followed like a well trained puppy. The only
thought going through his mind - there is a God.