Dirty Truths (26 page)

Kristina smiled, and shrugged. She placed a hand to her mouth and blew a kiss as he stumbled to the door and then turned to smile at the stranger. After scanning the seats behind her, she couldn’t find him. When had he left?

The Crown Attorney spoke.

Kristina turned.

His hand outstretched, clasping hers, he smiled. She returned the smile, still reeling over what had happened and allowed him to lead her out of the room.

Daniel would never be able to hurt her again, the knowledge lifted a weight from her shoulders that until now, she hadn’t realized was there. She’d done it, he would rot in jail for those murders and she’d been the one to put him there. She murmured a saying she’d heard often, though it hadn’t held much meaning until this moment. “An eye for an eye.”

“Pardon?” Richard asked, pushing the doors open and placing a hand on her arm.

“Nothing,” she smiled.

CHAPTER 34

The steel door opened and Daniel straightened.

She walked through, hesitant at first, the guard behind her.

He stood, wishing the damn cuffs didn’t restrain his hands so he could wring her neck.

She moved forward and sat in the chair, the guard stayed by the door.

“Kristina, nice of you to come.”

“You wouldn’t stop calling, so I really had no choice.” She smiled.

His gut hardened. She thought she’d get away with this. “I’ll be out soon,” he said.

“No, you won’t.”

“I’ve filed an appeal and the judge will have to look at the evidence again. It’s bullshit and they know it.”

“Hmm. Maybe. But you have to make it out of here first. Don’t you?”

Daniel stared. Was this his wife, his Kristina, threatening him? How did she figure she could hurt him in here?

“I’ll make it out. Don’t you worry. You better be ready too, you’ve got some explaining to do if you want to keep your pretty face.”

“Are you threatening me, Daniel?” her voice rose and the guard turned, hand on his belt.

“No, I’m not.” He smiled at the guard who relaxed a fraction.

“Listen, I don’t have time for your usual crap, okay. I have a child to raise and a life to go on with. You’ve said all you had to say to the media. Loved the tears in your last interview. Priceless. But if you have nothing new to say to me, this is goodbye.” Kristina stood.

He gritted his teeth to keep from screaming. Cocky little slut. She thought she had it all figured out. He’d relish every minute of his revenge. She’d be begging him for mercy when the light went from her eyes. He’d fuck her the way she fucked him and then he’d kill her with his bare hands.

***

“We’re going to miss you so much,” Kristina’s mother choked as she hugged her close. “Call us as soon as you land, okay?”

“I will, and you guys are coming out next month, remember?”

Her mother nodded and picked up Cadence, squeezing her until the baby grunted in protest.

She wished she could have stayed, that her life didn’t have to be turned upside down, but the reality was she couldn’t. After Daniel’s conviction she couldn’t even go out to cut the grass without someone stopping or flashing a camera. The stranger, whose name she knew now to be Thomas, had arranged for her to relocate to Mexico. Not a bad place to hide out.

“I wish those pricks would just leave you alone,” her dad muttered.

Sunlight streaming in through the large windows opening onto the airport runways behind him cast shadows over his sullen features. He had aged in the past few months, but the worry that clouded his features for years had vanished and Kristina was glad to see it gone.

“It’s their job, Dad, and Daniel’s been giving so many interviews that they expect me to do the same. Don’t worry. It will die down. I’m just lucky I got this job offer.”

“Don’t you think it’s kind of strange someone would offer you a job out of the blue like this? Someone who doesn’t even know you?” her mother frowned, adjusting Cadence onto her hip.

“I checked it out, and they really are just nice, honest people who felt sorry for us. Besides, a housekeeper is not an illustrious position.”

“But you’ll have your own house and—”

“It’s a cottage, and I’ll be fine. It’s not forever.” Kristina reached to take her daughter and kiss her mother’s head.

A tinny voice announced her flight. She hugged her parents one more time before joining the crowd that milled about the gate. Wade had called her several times from jail, urging her to take whatever offers came her way; his way of telling her that this job wasn’t really what she told her parents it was. She would have a little cottage to live in, and work cleaning a house for a while. The Brothers had arranged it all, and she didn’t think too long over just how far their power reached. Once Wade was released, in two more years—if Thomas was right about good behavior and his early release—they’d move again.

The line shifted and Kristina looked back to her parents who stood together, her father’s arm draped over her mother’s shoulder as they waved. Her mother wiped a tear on the collar of her bulky old jacket and her dad shook his head. Kristina had bought her a new one, an early Christmas gift, but her mom hadn’t worn it yet, preferring the quilted pink coat she’d worn for years. Her mom hated change. Kristina used to, but now she welcomed it.

She waved back and turned, blinking away the tears that filled her eyes. She’d miss them terribly but it was time she stood on her own, made a life she could be proud of and Cadence would be happy with. A life that included a passionate love and devotion she’d never known. Until Wade.

***

Daniel lay on the cot, his back to the cell doors and he stared at the hole the previous tenant chipped into the grey wall. Two months he’d sat in this damn cell. Alone. Sixty days without anything but this sorry excuse for a bed, a toilet that rarely flushed, and a tiny window to let in the sunlight. He was only allowed out onto a tiny patio for thirty minutes each day.

He supposed he should be thankful they hadn’t let him in with the rest of the prisoners. Bunch of losers. He’d made enough stink his first week they stuck him here. Isolation, they called it. Although, his new attorney warned him if he wanted the judge to see things his way, he had to start showing he wasn’t a murderer; that he really was a nice guy.

This afternoon he went back to the regular population, with the real murderers and crack heads. Daniel didn’t look forward to that, but he figured if he kept his head down and avoided too much contact they’d leave him alone.

Fucking bitches. Both of them, Desiree and Kristina, turned on him and after all he’d done to make them what they were today. He’d improved their position in life, supported them financially, and taught them what made a good woman.

His new lawyer, one who could scratch his own ass and try a case, would see he got out of this hole. They’d appealed immediately after the last disaster. Daniel awaited an answer from the Superior court. He’d blow the bitch out of the water when they freed him. She’d pay for all of the time he wasted in this shithole. When he was finished, then he really would be guilty of murder, but he didn’t intend to get caught.

Keys jingled outside his cell. Daniel rolled over and sat up. It was time to go. He hoped they had better control over the rat population in the main block of cells. Up here, the damn things had formed an army, one that preferred to come out in the cover of darkness and jump on his bed. The first night he recalled the guard’s chuckles when he’d freaked out. He didn’t allow them to enjoy the spectacle again. Instead, they found a special treat in the mornings if Daniel caught the little bastards. Snapping a rat’s neck was pretty easy, as long as the fucker didn’t bite you first.

“Come on, Riley. Time to meet your new roommate.”

The fat one, Solmes, opened his cell and stood back. Daniel rose and stepped through the open door. “So, who’s my new roommate?”

“Not sure. I just move you. I don’t make the room assignments.”

He nudged Daniel’s shoulder. They walked through the security door at the end of the long hallway and down the stairs to another security door. In there, they handed him new bedding and pushed him through once more.

As he passed the cells, he kept his eyes trained forward, refusing to acknowledge the idiots who taunted him. Catcalls and jeers echoed across the cement walls, “fresh meat” and “sweet cheeks” the most disturbing of them all.

A couple of guards stood near the far end, on either side of an open cell. They paused just before it. Daniel turned while Solmes walked inside and did whatever it was he felt necessary to do in there. He ignored a clicking to his left. Some prick trying to get his attention, probably hoping to scare him. Daniel Riley didn’t scare easily. These jackasses were in for a shock.

“Aw, you’re pretending you don’t know me. I’m hurt.”

Tiny fingers ran over Daniel’s spine. Cold fingers that crept up his back and traveled straight to his heart. He turned, his gaze meeting the one person he didn’t want to see in here. Wade Bowen.

“Hey buddy,” Wade smiled.

“Fuck off.”

“Oh, now is that any way to treat an old friend?”

“We aren’t friends.” Daniel turned back to the guards, wondering what the hell was taking them so long.

“I hoped we could kiss and make up, Danny. You don’t want to make up? Kristina would want you to have a friend or two in here. You know the nights are long, and painful, when you don’t have the right friends.”

Daniel stiffened at Kristina’s name and turned back to Wade.

The jerk grinned and leaned on the bars. With his head shaved his eyes stood out, colder than Daniel remembered even with the wide smile.

“Kristina is going to pay for this. I promise you,” Daniel said.

“I don’t think so. You’d have to make it out of here alive to see it happen.”

“Riley!” the guard called.

Daniel didn’t move. His body remained frozen in place at Wade’s words.

Wade laughed and retreated into his cell.

Someone touched Daniel’s arm. He turned. Solmes nodded to the cell ahead.

“I want a different cell,” Daniel said.

“Oh? Well let’s see if we can find one with a view then, shall we? Wouldn’t want you to be unhappy with your accommodations.” The guard shoved him forward.

Daniel resisted. “That asshole just threatened me. Didn’t you hear him?”

“Who? Bowen? Don’t worry about him. He’s moving soon. Besides, he wouldn’t mess up his good behavior. He’s hoping to get out early. I heard he has a fine piece of ass waiting on the outside for him.”

“What?”

“Oh, that’s right I forgot. You and Wade go way back don’t you?”

“How do you—”

“How do I know that? I go way back with Wade too.” Solmes winked and pushed him forward.

Daniel walked to the cell, his mind reeling. What the hell? They were fucking with him, because he was the new guy. Stupid asses. “I’ll call my lawyer and I’ll make sure you lose your job. This is unprofessional,” he warned.

“Oh now honey, you won’t be making any phone calls.” Solmes moved closer, pretending to mess around with the mattress on the lower bunk. “Last I checked, dead men can’t use telephones.” He laughed and straightened to nod toward the shadows before exiting the cell.

Daniel glanced to the right, where a large man stood next to the cell doors grinning at them.

He waved and then blew a kiss in Daniel’s direction.

Daniel shuddered. This wasn’t right. They couldn’t do this to him. “I demand to speak with someone in charge.”

“Sorry, it’s his day off. Maybe tomorrow. I’ll see you in the yard, Riley.” Solmes waved, winking as the other two guards pulled the doors closed.

The echoing clank as the lock slid into place sent a chill up Daniel’s spine.

The man advanced, brushing against Daniel’s shoulder as he climbed onto the top bunk.

“Hey Chunk,” Wade’s voice called from his cell.

Chunk?

“Yeah?” the man replied. His dark gaze on Daniel.

“You make sure my friend gets real comfortable. I want him to feel like he was at home.”

“Oh, I’ll make sure he feels real welcome.”

Daniel moved to the far side of the cell, his back to the wall.

The man—Chunk—grinned and rolled onto his side. He ran a finger over the rough wool blanket and raised an eyebrow.

“Stay away from me.” Daniel warned. His voice sounded shaky and he thought he might vomit.

“Don’t worry, Sugar. We won’t get acquainted till the lights go out.”

CHAPTE
R 35

“What’s that, Mama?” Cadence pointed to the wall that stretched high above them, the top lined in barbed wire.

“Wire,” she replied, urging the toddler forward.

“Ugly. Don’t like it.”

Smiling, Kristina ran a hand over her daughter’s dark curls, and adjusted the little bow that held her ponytail in place. The damp spring morning had grown into a beautiful afternoon. She looked up to the sky, breathing in the warm air. The clouds rolled lazily across the sun. She could hardly believe the day had come.

Cars whizzed past them, many paying no heed to the yellow caution light that hung overhead or the orange signs indicating men at work a few blocks ahead, warning them to slow down. The last time she’d visited the penitentiary had been shortly after Daniel’s conviction. He had requested she speak to him, and to stop the relentless calls from the press and the nagging curiosity in her gut, she’d gone. He had little new to say, other than his vow to prove she was lying. Strangely he didn’t mention Wade, and Kristina wondered at the time if Wade had been moved to another facility to avoid contact with Daniel. She had no way to find out though.

Another inmate, a terrifying man serving two life sentences already, took exception to Daniel’s attitude just a few months later and had stabbed him several times with some kind of tool while working out in the yard. He’d succumbed to his injuries days later. She didn’t shed a tear.

Before the prison, Kristina stopped and checked her watch. Almost time. She’d been told to wait across the street. Thomas told her to try to blend in. She chuckled and looked around. Pretty hard to blend into nothing.

Cadence bent to pick up something from the sidewalk and Kristina opened her mouth to admonish her, but the little girl beamed up at her before the words left her mouth. “Look, a pinny.”

“A penny,” Kristina corrected. “It means good luck.”

A thud and voices across the street. Kristina turned. She took Cadence’s hand in hers, and pointed to the steps of the prison, where a lone figure stood.

He walked down the steps slowly, shielding his eyes from the sun.

Wade.

Kristina longed to run into his arms, but remained rooted to the sidewalk, her heart pounding faster with each step he took.

He stopped at the edge of the steps, his gaze locked with hers.

She covered her mouth as a sob escaped.

He grinned.

Time stood still as Wade ran the rest of the way, sweeping her off her feet as his arms closed around her so tight she lost her breath. He released her only to kneel down and touch Cadence’s cheek. Her daughter smiled up at him and leaned closer to Kristina.

Wade stood and turned back, his eyes brimming with tears. He took her face in his hands and kissed her hard.

She laughed as he hugged her.

“God, I’ve missed you,” he murmured against her lips.

THE END