Privileged Witness (33 page)

''You're a fool,'' he muttered, pushing Josie aside and started off in the direction she had indicated.

Max's bark was long and sustained as he got in front of Matthew. His tail went down, distracting Matthew long enough that she could pick up the leash and they could stand two against one. Matthew didn't know the dog well enough to take a chance that he wouldn't attack.

''I was protecting her,'' Josie said.

''And I was protecting you. I didn't know if she'd come here to kill you.'' Matthew cut his eyes toward Max. ''Shut that dog up. Christ Josie. Grace has gone crazy. Off the deep end. Listen. Listen to this.'' Matthew reached into his pocket. Max lunged but Josie held tight. Keeping an eye on the dog, Matthew took out his cell phone and punched some buttons. When he was done he held it out to Josie and commanded. ''Listen.''

He put it to Josie's her ear and she listened to Grace McCreary talk nonsense about killing Michelle and hurting Matthew and not wanting to hurt Josie but knowing she had to do it to save herself. She had to do it because. . .

Matthew pulled the phone away before Josie could hear the rest.

''Why would she want to hurt me? She came here to find me,'' Josie insisted.

''It was a game, Josie. Don't you get it? Grace doesn't want any other woman to mean anything to me. She was going to lure you into something the same way she lured Michelle. I called from the car to warn you when I picked this message up a few minutes ago. When you didn't answer I drove like a bat out of hell to get here. You have no idea how grateful I am. . .'' He made a move toward her but Max didn't like it and Matthew retreated. ''Shut that dog up, Josie and tell me which way she went. I've got to find her before she does anymore harm. Please.''

''Go toward the beach. Hit the Strand. I'll follow you.''

Josie pulled on Max's leash and half dragged him into the house. Thinking of nothing except finding Grace Josie took off, too. She ran through the pain of her still healing muscles and hoped she would be fast enough to catch up. Behind her Josie left Matthew's car sitting cocked on the walking street, lights streaming into her front yard. She didn't care about anything except finding Grace McCreary and she didn't notice that someone was watching her run off into the night.

CHAPTER 43

Winded, Josie bent over, hands on her knees to catch her breath. She ignored the searing pain in her shoulder, the excruciating pain that threaded down her legs. The thought that Grace had only pretended to love Michelle, pretended to need Josie, in order to get close enough to kill the women in Matthew's life was terrifying. Rising up, hands on her hips. She was on the sand and had lost sight of Matthew, hadn't even caught a glimpse of Grace. She called their names but the wind and the sound of the waves swallowed them like a surfer lost in the curl.

Cautiously Josie pushed off again. To her left was the lifeguard headquarters. She ran as best she could, threw herself against the door, pounded and stepped back. A low light burned low on the third floor but she saw no sign of life and had no time to make enough noise to bring the night guard down.

Josie whacked the door in frustration then bolted past the pier and toward the sea. It would be easier to run on the packed sand, easier to spot Grace and Matthew if she looked up from the shoreline rather than down from the Strand where the rise in the beach cut off the view of the shore.

She sprinted ahead, peering through the darkness that became denser as she left the light of the pier behind. Then she had them. Fifty yards up. They were shadow puppets, jerking silhouettes dancing close to the water. Matthew, taller than his sister, struggled to control her but Grace shook him off. Michelle McCreary would have been no match for her. Josie ran faster only stumble just as Grace lunged at Matthew and a shot rang out. Matthew's knees buckled. Grace fell in on him with all her weight.

''Matthew!'' Josie shrieked.

Still undetected Josie watched with relief. Matthew was alive. He struggled to stand under Grace's weight, still fighting her . . .

No. No. That was wrong and Josie tried to figure it out as she stood slowly, feeling helpless in her confusion. Matthew McCreary was dragging his sister into the water, throwing her into the waves, pushing her out to sea. It was Grace who didn't resist. Grace who was hurt. Grace who, if she was alive, was now drowning in the black sea and Matthew stood in the water watching.

Josie dashed into the ocean. She threw her arms out for balance and tensed the muscles in her thighs as she met the waves head on. Bad choice. She was brought down by the first wave. Struggling to her feet, Josie turned her back and let the water lift her at the hips, up and over the wave. She turned on her side and started to stroke toward Grace but she didn't get far. Matthew was pulling her back, pulling her away as Grace floated out of Josie's sight.

''Josie, don't. Don't,'' Matthew screamed. He put his arms around her she tried to jerk away. Her clothes were heavy and she was weak. When she fell into the water, paddling to get her footing again, Matthew put his arm around her waist and dragged her to shore. Together they stumbled up onto the sand, Josie spitting out the salt water she had swallowed while she cried in anguish.

''She's going to drown, Matthew. She's going to drown.''

''She tried to kill me. There's nothing you can do now. Look,'' he hollered and wrenched her arm so hard she thought it had come out of the socket. ''Look. There. Her gun. She brought a gun. She was going to kill you, too.''

''No. No.'' Josie stumbled backward, breathless and stunned but sure of what she'd seen. ''Grace couldn't have had a gun. She didn't have any pockets, Matthew. She didn't have a purse.''

Matthew's head swung heavy. He was still bent over but he was recovering faster than Josie. ''I saw you push her into the ocean. I saw you, Matthew.''

He was upright now. Standing tall. Josie did the same but she faltered. Her head was spinning, her eyes hurt from the salt water and Matthew was a blur and he was talking sound bites, he was spinning an explanation for the public. He was telling her a lie.

''She threatened me. There was nothing I could do. It was a reflex. I was afraid after what she'd done to Michelle. The gun went off. I pushed her away . . .the water took her. . .''

''You pushed her into the water, Matthew.''

Josie screamed and screamed once again before Matthew closed in on her, took her in his arms and was crushed her against him. One hand held her head tight to his shoulder, the other was lashed across her shoulders pinning her arms to her sides.

''No. No. No. The water took her. Josie, the water took her. I couldn't save her. She was my sister, I wouldn't hurt Grace. I loved Grace. It was dark. She was deranged.'' Josie struggled but he held her tighter still. ''They'll believe that.''

Josie jerked her head free and pulled back far enough so that she could look into his eyes. The tide was up. The water curled around their feet and pulled at them until they couldn't find their balance on the shifting sand. But his gaze was steady and determined and Josie Bates was scared to death.

''Nobody will believe that because I'll tell the truth,'' she cried. ''I saw you. I saw you. Why did you do that to her? Why, Matthew?''

Now her cries turned to weeping as Matthew McCreary's hands roamed over her as if he wanted to remember the feel of her, commit it to memory, comfort her, convince her that she had imagined all this. It didn't work. This man was a stranger and she struggled against him because she knew part of the truth: if he could do that to Grace, what had he done to Michelle? If he had somehow killed Michelle, what could he do to her?

Suddenly, Matthew's face came toward her. Josie jerked her head out of the way and his lips hit the side of her jaw. She jerked again and his lips slid off hers. Angered, Matthew grabbed her hair and yanked her head back. His lips came down hard and insistent as they stumbled backward into the water. Josie lost her footing. She fell taking Matthew with her. Stronger and faster than she ever imagined he could be, Matthew scrambled up and pulled Josie with him. He shook her like a rag doll as he screamed.

''Why do women always want to know the fucking truth?''

Before Josie could give him answer he kissed her once more, threw her face down into the ocean and with his hand on the back of her neck and balanced against the force of the waves, Matthew McCreary waited for Josie Baylor-Bates to die.

CHAPTER 44

There in the cold dark sea, Josie Baylor-Bates was dying, indeed. She could feel Matthew's hands. One on her neck, the other at the small of her back. She jerked. She flailed and then the life started draining out of her and she floated.

Josie thought of the women she knew; Kristin Davis, her own mother, Emily. Killers of children. Kristin with a knife; Emily more devious because she ripped out her daughter's heart. Hannah. Behind Josie's eyes, in the recess of her mind where hope lived, was Hannah. There were men there in her head, too. Archer. She loved Archer. Josie saw her father standing in a great light that seemed to blind her and beckon her way at the same time.

Josie's heart was heavy; it took so long to beat. Her body was light: arms and legs floating outward as she the current rocked her. Then everyone faded away: Emily, Archer, Josie's father, Hannah. She was sad to the core because life was ending. She wasn't ready.

In another instant the light was snuffed out and pain returned. Josie was torn from the black, cold water. Rebirthed. Made to breath. How painful it all was. She gasped for air. Coughed up water, vomited the sea. Strong hands held her weak body up and Josie could think only one thing. It had been a mistake. Matthew loved her still. He was saving her.

With her last ounce of strength Josie reached for him. Forgiving him. But Matthew's hands weren't so wide and solid. They had never touched her with such urgency and care. This man carried Josie when the water wouldn't buoy her any longer. He passed her off to smaller hands that gripped her and delicate arms that held her as she rolled in the sand. Josie's body convulsed. Her chest was on fire. She thrashed about desperate for salvation and finding it in a determined embrace. Josie's eye lids fluttered open. Above her was something darker than the night. It moved with the wind. Black hair. There was something shining brighter than the stars. Spring green eyes. Cradled in the crook of Hannah's arm, Josie's head lolled to the side. She was so tired. Her eyes closed. They opened and she saw through a fog. Feeling nothing. Wondering only if she was dreaming.

Archer straddled Matthew McCreary. She heard the crack of a fist and the smell of blood mingled with that of the sea. The thought that Matthew wouldn't look so nice on television moved through Josie's mind like a lazy wave. Matthew would show his real face to the public when Archer was finished and then Matthew would lose everything.

Josie lay in the sand and listened unable to tell what was real. She saw Babcock, didn't she? Uniforms. Paramedics? Police? Lights and sirens and Billy Zuni wet from head to toe, sitting beside Josie crying because he hadn't been able to find Grace. He couldn't save Grace.

Josie put out her hand and lay it atop his. She wanted to tell him that no one could have saved Grace but instead everything went black.

CHAPTER 45

''Do you need help?''

Josie smiled to herself as she hung up her bath towel and opened the door. Hannah didn't even try to look embarrassed. She just stood outside the bathroom door as she had stood by every door that led to the room where Josie lay recovering since that night on the beach.

''No, thanks, but I appreciate the offer.'' Josie patted Hannah's arm but Hannah didn't smile back. It took all Hannah's energy to figure out if Josie was telling the truth or just trying to spare her the worry. Josie put her hand on Hannah's shoulder partly to reassure her, partly to move her out of the way. It was getting late.

''I just wanted to make sure,'' Hannah told her. ''The doctor said you'd be weak for awhile.''

''It's been four days. If I don't get moving now, I never will.'' Josie said picked up her jacket. Hannah was there to help her put it on. ''Is everyone here?''

''Detective Babcock just came. He told Archer that Kevin O'Connel was beat up last night in jail. I don't think he wanted you to know but I think you should.''

''Thanks. I do want to know. His arrest is the only good news I have in a while,'' Josie assured her. ''Prison justice is just icing on the cake. Where did they find him again? The couple of days in the hospital are a little fuzzy.''

''He was at the border. He was running away.''

''Everybody was running away,'' Josie muttered as she picked up her purse and checked inside it was still there, the envelope, the letter, the end of the line for Grace McCreary.

''Grace wasn't,'' Hannah reminded her. ''Grace was running to you. She wanted you to know what happened. I know you told Archer what was in the letter so I think you should tell me, too.''

Josie sat on the bed. Her eyes flickered toward Hannah. All Josie wanted when she took her in was to give her a normal life. But life wasn't normal, people let you down, secrets were deep and dark and Hannah knew all that. Josie patted the bed and, when Hannah sat beside her, Josie gave her the envelope. Hannah read Grace's letter twice and did the same with Michelle's suicide note. It had never been murder and Grace had been able to prove it all along.

''That's bad,'' Hannah said when she finally finished. ''Worse than anything that ever happened to me.''

''I guess it depends on your perspective, Hannah.''

Josie took the letters. Grace McCreary had laid out the whole sordid mess. It had been her intent to disappear. She had called Matthew to tell him the truth. He knew that Grace was leaving the evidence with Josie for protection. Grace had trusted Josie to know what do with her confession but that trust had been misplaced. Josie really didn't a clue what she would have done if Grace had lived and Matthew had continued his bid for a Senate seat.

''I don't understand how they can be more than one perspective,'' Hannah said, interrupting Josie's thoughts. ''Matthew made Grace have sex with him after their parents died. It was incest.''