Random Acts of Murder: A Holly Anna Paladin Mystery, Book 1 (Holly Anna Paladin Mysteries) (23 page)

CHAPTER
38

“Can I
help you?” he asked.

The man wore a white dress shirt, faded black pants, and scuffed
-up shoes. I braced myself, excuses forming on my lips but nothing escaping.

Chase held up his badge. “Cincinnati PD. We had a report of a suspicious incident here, and I came to check it out.”

He turned to me. “And you are?”

“Holly,” I offered.

“A ride along,” Chase explained. “Who are you?”

“Dean Andrews. I’m renting this
facility. Can I ask about the nature of the call? What kind of suspicious incident happened here?”

“
Someone thought they saw a suspicious person loitering outside of the building. What is this place, Mr. Andrews?”

He
stuck his head outside, looked up and down the street, and then closed the door. He nodded toward an interior door. “Let’s go to my office.”

I stepped
from the lobby into the huge warehouse and spotted . . . casino-style games against the walls? Was this a secret gambling operation?

“We’re
a support group for recovering gamblers,” Dean Andrews explained.

“What?” T
he question slipped out before I could stop it.

He nodded. “It’s true. We have various meetings here throughout the week
.”

“What’s with the games
, then?” Chase asked.

“They’re a part of our therapy. That’s all. We learn to overcome gambling by facing our addic
tions, by saying no. It makes us stronger.” He looked at Chase. “But I assure you that nothing illegal is going on.”

“Why here? Why a warehouse instead of some office? Better yet, why not a counseling facility?”
I asked.

He raised an eyebrow at me. “I thought you were a ride along. Whatever.
We like to maintain our privacy. A lot of our members are people who are admired in society: CEOs, a few professional athletes, political figures. You get the point. The last thing they want is for people to catch wind of this. It’s also the reason why there’s no signs on the building.”

“Do you have any paperwork? Business license?” Chase asked.

“Of course. Let me go grab them.” The man disappeared into the back.

“Well, I guess this was a bust,” I muttered, disappointed. At least now I knew. Brian had a gambling problem. Was that his secret? Maybe someone who took risks like that wasn’t the best person to run an election campaign.

“You were following your instincts. At least we can rule this out now.”

I nodded, just as Dean came out from the office with some papers in his hands. Ch
ase looked them over and nodded.

“Thanks for speaking with me, Dean,” Chase started.

“I’d appreciate your discretion.”

Chase nodded. “Will do.”

**
*

Once back in the car, I shook my head, my thoughts spinning. I’d just majorly wasted Chase’s time. Maybe I was a great CPS investigator, but a terrible detective.

“
I need to go check on John,” I told Chase.

“I’ll come with you.”

We pulled up to my house, I unlocked the door, and we stepped inside.

Everything was quiet.

“John?” I called.

No response.

Chase pushed me behind him.

All the lights were off. There was no sound. No movement.

What was going on?

My mind jumped to the worst places. Places of death and pain.

Dear Lord, please be with him.

I glanced at the couch as we approached.

“Stay here, Holly,” Chase ordered.

I nodded and backed ag
ainst the wall, continuing to pray. A moment later, Chase came back downstairs and put his gun away. “There’s no one here.”

“Where did John go?”

“My guess? He left. There are no signs of struggle. He probably started feeling better and figured it was too risky to stay.”

I released my breath. “He shouldn’t have
done that.”

“People react in funny ways when they’re in danger.
”

I raked my hand through my hair. “What am I going to tell Jamie?”

Chase squeezed my arm. “Listen, let’s go grab some lunch and clear our heads. How about some Cincinnati chili? How’s that sound?”

M
y stomach grumbled in return. “It sounds good.”

***

Lunch was a nice distraction, except for the fact that I wasn’t hungry. I’d merely picked at my food.

“What’s going on in that head of yours, Holly?”

“I just want to find this guy. I want this to be over with. I’m tired of one person having so much control over the people in this city.”

“We’re doing everything we can.”

I nodded. “I know. Believe me, I know. This isn’t a reprimand to you or anyone else on the police force. Whoever is behind this has pulled me into it. I’m tired of living like this.”

He leaned closer. “So, who do you think is behind this?”

I let out a sigh. “Well, I thought maybe Brian, but apparently he just has a gambling problem.”

“Who else?”

“I considered Abraham, but he was just working a second job. I thought about Rex, but he has an alibi for at least one of the murders.”

“Rex? You really thought he could be Caligula?”

“Maybe I was blinded by my own dislike of the man. I just keep thinking about who this has to be. Someone who has contact with youth. Someone who has connections and influence. Someone who knows me.”

“Wait—
someone who knows you? Why would you say that? And do you mean someone who knew you prior to the crimes?”

I’d just admitted too much, hadn’t I? I nodded. “Yeah, I think this person knows me.
He knew who my social work clients were. He stole the mop and bucket and broke into my house.”

“That could be unrelated,” Chase offered.

I could tell he didn’t believe it either.

“Want to hear something strange?” Chase asked.

Did I ever. I leaned closer. “Of course.”

“I found a receipt the other day. It fell out of T.J.’s pocket. I started to give it back to him when I realized it was for a mop and bucket. I visited the store, and they sell the exact same kind that’s being
left at crime scenes.”

My eyes widened. I’d never even considered T.J. as a suspect. But Chase thought something could be going down at the police precinct.
T.J. could be that person.

“Are you sure he wasn’t just checking to see where the supplies were bought?”

“He could be. But why didn’t he tell me? That would be something important in the investigation.”

“That’s a great question.” Chills went up my spine. I glanced across the restaurant just in time to see a man be seated. It was the guy I’d seen with Katrina!

Chase followed my gaze. “What is it?”

“That man. I saw him with one of my former clients. I’m pretty sure I saw him at one of Rex’s campaign rallies
, as well.”

“Is that significant?”

I shook my head uncertainly. “I’m not sure. There’s just something about him.” Could he have been the man I’d spotted that day when I’d been nearly shot at the bank?

“His name is Evan Stewart. He works for the mayor, but he comes into the office sometimes.”

“Upstanding guy?”

Chase shrugged. “I can’t say. I don’t know enough about him
. But I can keep an eye on him, to see if there’s anything suspicious about him.”

I nodded. “That sounds like a good idea.”

“Listen, I’ve got to get back to work. How about if I drop you off at Alex’s?”

As Chase paid, I stepped outside onto the sidewalk to get some air.

Just as my feet hit the cement, a car swerved around the corner. Headed straight toward me.

I dove toward the
building, hoping I’d make it out of the way in time.

CHAPTER 39

Chase hadn’t stopped scowling since he’d rushed outside and seen what had happened.

He’d tried to get a license plate number, but it was too late. Instead, he helped me up, concern all over his face.

I’d
insisted I was fine, just a little embarrassed. He’d taken a report and then driven me home so I could get cleaned up.

“You’re going to be sore tomorrow.
” He stood in the entryway to my house, towering over me. “Why don’t you go upstairs and take a bath? I’ll wait down here.”

“I’m sure you have better things to do.” I
pulled out a dining room chair and tried to sit down, but my back ached too much.

“No, I insist. Please go. Turn on your music. Relax. It can do a body good.”

He’d wanted to call an ambulance, but I’d told him I was fine.

Finally, I nodded. I headed upstairs, thinking a long, hot bath just might be the medicine I needed. I started the water, pulled up
my favorite playlist on my phone’s music player, and grabbed a change of clothes.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw images of the car headed toward me. I hoped T.J. could find the driver of that car. Or would his loyalty toward Rex mean hatred toward
anyone who opposed the man? People like me, the sister of Rex’s political opponent? I didn’t know.

I poured some Epsom salt into the bath and then lowered myself there. I listened to
Ella Fitzgerald sing “Someone to Watch Over Me” and closed my eyes.

I was supposed to go to a
campaign rally tonight. But I suddenly felt tired and overwhelmed. Maybe I’d stay in for the rest of the evening and take it easy for once. I’d been running around like crazy lately, and where had it gotten me? Nowhere.

The longer I stayed in the bath, the more convinced I became. It was like my body was shutting down.

My heart rate steadily increased, and my breathing felt labored, like I couldn’t pull a deep breath into my lungs.

Was my anxiety getting the best of me? Was everything catching up with me? I wasn’t sure.

Usually baths made me feel relaxed.

Suddenly, I froze. Was that a noise I’d heard? Something downstairs? Maybe a door opening.

Had Chase left? Had someone else entered?

Maybe T.J. was finally here, with
the evidence he needed to haul me to prison.

The room began spinning
, a blur of turquoise and blue.

I had to get out of here.

Now.

I dragged myself from the tub. Once out, I could barely stand. My legs felt rubbery. I managed somehow to pull my clothes on.

My head was still spinning as I opened the door. I held onto the wall.

Something wasn’t right, I realized.

Was it the cancer? Was it choosing this moment to stake a claim on my body?

I took a step and everything went black.

CHAPTER
40

I pulled my eyes open, my subconscious feeling as if it was being vacuumed out of a vortex. Or as if I was Alice being dropped into Wonderland.

Only this wasn’t Wonderland.

I blinked.

I was in the hospital.

Everything rushed back to me. The end was getting closer, I realized. Though I’d had amazing peace about this only a month ago, right now tears rushed to my eyes.
What had changed?

Chase’s face suddenly appeared. No, not just in my mind. He was here. Beside my hospital bed. Beside me.

“Holly?” He stood, peering over me. “You’re awake.”

“How’s my hair look?” It was my lame attempt at a joke.

He hooked a piece behind my ear. “Beautiful. Just like you.”

My cheeks flushed. Those darn cheeks. “Thanks. You didn’t have
to wait here, you know.”

He lowered himself beside me. “I wanted to.” He stared at me another moment. Was it my imagination or were those tears in his eyes? “You could have told me, you know.” His voice sounded
hoarse and thick.

“Told you what?” My heart pounded in my ears. I knew the answer.

“The doctor let it slip. He assumed I knew. Holly . . .” His voice caught.

I shook my head as tears filled my eyes. I’d managed to be so relatively unemotional about this for so long, but now everything was coming to the surface, and I didn’t like it one bit.

“What did he tell you?”

“That you had a condition. A life-threatening condition.”

I dabbed under my eyes with a tissue. “That’s all?”

He nodded, his intense gaze still on me. “That’s all. I was hoping you might tell me the rest.”

I shrugged, trying to pull myself together. “There’s not much to say.”

“I’d say there’s a lot to say.”

I squeezed my eyes shut. I’d been living in denial for too long now. I didn’t even know how to talk to people about my health. “I have a rare form of cancer. I probably won’t live another year,” I blurted.

Moisture gl
immered in his eyes. “Oh, Holly . . .”

“It’s not a big deal. I’ve lived a good life.”

“There are amazing treatments out there—”

I shook my head. “I don’t want to go that route. I don’t want to put myself through that. I watched my dad go through it, and it’s just not worth it.”

“But for your family . . .”

I shook my head again. “They don’t know.”

He stood up as if he’d sat on a hot stove. “They don’t know? Holly, how could you not tell them?” He began pacing, shaking his head, squeezing the skin between his eyes.

“They have so much going on, Chase. There’s my sister’s wedding and my brother’s running for office. They’re still getting over my dad’s death. I didn’t want to throw anything else on them.”

“Throw something on them? Holly, this isn’t news that you’ve quit your job or gone broke gambling. This is your life. They’ll want to know.”

My chin trembled. “I don’t want to spend the rest of my life with people feeling sorry for me and looking at me with pity and thinking I’m fragile. I want to go out strong. I’m not afraid of dying, Chase.” At least, I wasn’t until today. A tear slipped down my cheek.

Suddenly, Chase was back at my side. He sat beside me and pulled my head into his chest. That’s when the tears started pouring.

And Chase held me, wiping away every single one.

**
*

I’d already seen what felt like twenty million doctors. But when my oncologist, Dr. Henderson, walked into the room, I knew I’d seen one too many. There was no way to avoid him here.

I didn’t even
try to smile as I glanced up at him. He was a small man with small glasses and a soft voice. Whenever I saw him, my entire body tensed and my throat went dry.

“Holly, good to see you’re awake. How are you feeling?”
He stood at the foot of the bed.

“I’ve been better.”

He glanced at some papers on his clipboard. “I just got the results of your blood work back, Holly. Is it okay to discuss things now?” He glanced at Chase.

Great,
now
the man cared about privacy.

“Go ahead,” I told him. At this point, what else was there to hide?

“We were afraid your symptoms were caused by your disease. However, your blood work showed high levels of amphetamines in your system.”

“Amphetamines?” I questioned. “That’s a drug. I don’t do drugs.”

He squinted at me. “That’s why I thought it was odd. Are you sure there’s not something you want to tell us?”

I nodded. “Positive. I don’t know . . .”

Chase shook his head on the other side of me. “Holly, did you put anything in your bath?”

“Just some
Epsom salt and a little essential oil.”

“That’s why someone broke into your house, Holly. That day when nothing was stolen? They switched your bath salt for something else.”

I rubbed my cheek. “You think someone would do that?”

“What other explanation is there?”

I shook my head. “There’s not.”

“Should I call the police?” t
he doctor asked, glancing between me and Chase.

“I am the police,” Chase told him.

“Very well, then. The good news is that this should be out of your system soon, Holly. The bad news is that we want to keep you until tomorrow for observation.”

“Got it.”

He lowered the clipboard, and I knew exactly what was coming. “And I really need you to come back into the office for some more follow-up appointments. Haven’t you gotten my messages?”

“I’ve just been busy.”

“You’ve got to take time for yourself.”

I shrugged. “I really don’t know what there is to discuss. I have my end
-of-life plan.”

“I realize checking off items on your bucket list is important, but there could be a more effective way of doing things.” He glanced at Chase and paused. “However, we should talk about it another time.”

When the doctor walked away, Chase’s face came into view. I saw the concern in his eyes, and it nearly broke my heart.

“Why is someone targeting you, Holly?”

I shook my head. “I’m not one hundred percent certain.” I stopped myself, tired and exhausted from keeping things hidden. “Actually, Chase, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“
Okay.”

“Why don’t you sit down?”

Nausea roiled in my stomach. It may have felt like we had the start of a relationship. But this was going to turn everything upside down.

“When I heard I had only a year to live, I decided to make some drastic changes in my life.”

Chase’s phone beeped.

He hit a button without ever
breaking eye contact. “Keep going.”

“I originally had this bucket list that included falling in love and traveling to Europe and photobombing tourists at a Reds game.” I shook my head. “Anyway, I realized that life was too short for that. I wanted to make a difference—”

His phone beeped again. “Just ignore it,” he insisted.

“Maybe you should check it, Chase. Just in case it’s something important for work.”

“You sure?”

I nodded,
partly relieved I didn’t have to finish telling my story and partly disappointed.

“I’m sorry, Holly. Just one minute.”

I nodded as he slipped into the hallway. He appeared a moment later with a new excitement in his eyes.

“Holly, there’s been a break in the case. I really want to hear—”

“Go, Chase.”

“Are you sure?”
Doubt lingered in his gaze.

I nodded. “I’m positive. We can have this conversation later.”

“I hate to leave you.”

“I’ll call Jamie.”

He planted a kiss on my forehead and then hurried toward the door. “I’ll check on you later. I promise.”

“Just don’t get yourself killed. That’s all I care about.”

“I won’t.”

***

“Bath salts?” Jamie asked. “Are you serious? This whole world has gone mad.”

I nodded. “I know. Thanks again for coming to sit with me, by the way.”

She nodded. “No problem. All I was doing was sitting home and worrying anyway.”

I wanted to
tell her that I’d seen John. But I’d promised John I wouldn’t. My friend looked so worried. The options battled inside me.

“Have you seen Rex anymore?”

“We were supposed to meet for coffee tonight. I canceled.”

“You didn’t have to do that for me.”

“Sure I did. I wouldn’t leave you here by yourself, Holly. You’re like my sister. Speaking of which, have you told your brother or sister about your condition?”

“I texted them and let them know I wouldn’t make it tonight. I don’t want to worry them.”

“You’re always so worried about worrying other people. Sometimes you just have to let the truth play out and let people worry about their own selves.”

I
stared at my friend for a moment. “You really think that?”

She nodded. “Of course I do. You always try to protect people, Holly. That’s admirable,
but there comes a time you have to let people go through painful things. It will make them stronger in the end.”

“Then there’s
something I need to tell you. Please don’t hate me.” I wasn’t at all certain about this decision.

“I don’t know if I could ever hate you, Holly.”

“I saw John,” I blurted.

She froze. “What?”

I nodded. “He’s alive. He showed up at my house.”

She stood, her entire body tense. “When?”

“Friday night. He’d been stabbed. I helped to get him cleaned up. He made me promise not to tell anyone.”

“Why would he do that?”

“He said it would put you in danger.”

“Why did he go to you?”

“He knew I was working with the police on this. He thought I might be able to help.”

She crossed her arms. “And were you?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know. Some guys tried to manipulate him into selling drugs. He told them no. They got rough with him, but he somehow got away. He’s been on the run since then.”

“What do you mean
, since then?”

“He left my house, Jamie.”

She shook her head. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”

“Jamie . . .”

“You knew how worried I was.”

“It was difficult—”

“Not nearly as difficult as wondering if your brother might be dead.”

“Jamie, he made me promise,” I tried to explain.

“How could you do this? I thought you were my friend.”

“I am your friend. Jamie, you know I am.”

She glanced at her watch. “You know what? Maybe I have time for that coffee after all.”

As she left the room, tears squeezed at my eyes. What a mess, and it was all my fault.