Gunning For Angels (Fallen Angels Book 1) (30 page)

The suspense is terrible. I hope it will last.

–Oscar Wilde

Enid watched Chip’s face as he tried to figure out a way to get rid of her. He’d gotten a call and, from the way he acted, Enid knew it was some other girl.

“Who was that?” Enid said when he returned.

“A friend.” Chip rubbed his lip and looked at her with a cheese-eating smile. “I was thinking – ”

“Your dad says I need to stay with you till Jack gets here.”

“I need to meet my friend. I was hoping – ”

“I can come with you,” Enid said.

“You can hang out at a Starbucks, my treat. I’ll come back and get you as soon as – ”

“You’re supposed to be taking care of me.”

“Starbucks – ”

“I’m allergic to coffee.”

“I’ll take you anywhere you want to go. I promise, I’ll be back within an hour. Or two.”

Enid said, “The last time I heard ‘I promise I’ll be back’ – I ended up almost getting killed by a psycho-creep. I’m coming with you.”

Within the hour, Enid was startled to find herself at the same mansion where Jack had taken her to talk to fancy-pants rich lady with tits like ice chips that Jack couldn’t tear his eyeballs off of.

“Her again,” Enid said under her breath as she and Chip followed the butler into what Enid n
ow referred to as “her lair.” Enid hoped that the woman Chip was meeting was the pale blonde who didn’t look strong enough to wring out a dishrag but, sure enough, it was ice tits.

Enid
saw Chip glance apologetically at Eve as he introduced them.

Enid said, “We’ve met.”

Eve smiled at Chip, “The same day I met you. How’s your father?”

“Pushing himself too hard, like always.”

Eve said, “Tell him he needs to slow down. He’s not getting any younger.” She nodded at Enid, “How is it that the two of you…?”

“Babysitting,” Chip said.

Enid stared at him, horrified.

“She’s no baby. She’s a young woman. A beautiful one at that.” Eve stepped close to Enid, running the back of her fingers down her flushed cheek.

Enid pulled away from her touch, frowning.

Eve smiled at Chip. “In fact, I’m rather jealous that you’ve been spending your time with such a beauty.”

Enid flashed Chip a defiant look.

Chip said to Enid, “Wait here.”
             

Eve said to Enid, “I’ll send someone in with refreshments.”

Eve and Chip left, their footsteps echoing until they were eaten up by the immensity of the place.

“Shit,” Enid said, pleased with the way it sounded. “Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit.”

She walked to one of the massive wall hangings. Her eyes were caught by a girl in a blue dress sat in a garden under a rose trellis. A lovesick man was on his knees in front of her, hands clasped. Enid caught her breath in surprise when she saw that in the twisted-tree behind them was camouflaged a creature that looked like a cross between a dragon and the devil. His claws were sunk into a bloody carcass as he eyed the couple.

“Iced tea, miss?”

Startled, Enid spun around.

The butler held out a tray.

“Thanks,” Enid said as she took the glass, hating that her hands were trembling.

“Would you like a sandwich?”

She shook her head.

He nodded and left.

Enid circled the room as she examined the tapestries. She leaned in and sniffed one. It smelled old – expensive old.

She looked into the hall, wishing she had asked the butler where the bathroom was located. She walked toward the main entrance, looking for the bathroom. Not finding one, she headed up the marble staircase. 

At the top of the stairs, she ducked in a doorway to avoid two maids who were walking out of a nearby room. The younger one was nodding and listening with the expression of someone who was glad to have a new job.

The older lady’s orthopedic shoes squeaked as she said, “Her room is off limits. You trip and fall in, you’ll get fired, no questions asked. ”

Enid watched as they disappeared down the hall and into another room. She tried the handle of the forbidden room and was surprised when it opened. She slipped in, heart hammering.

She stared in amazement. A huge fireplace with intricate carvings of wild beasts in a primeval forest took up almost an entire wall. Enid ran her fingers along the carvings and she found herself mesmerized with the magical animals and plants that seemed out of a fairy tale. High above, a hawk with outstretched wings stared down at her and Enid shivered, recalling the hawk at shotgun lady’s house.

She reluctantly turned her eyes away from the gaze of a carved stag and found herself drawn to the massive bed that was a foot and a half off the ground. It was sheltered under a canopy of delicate swaths of spider-web-like material that caught the soft illumination of a chandelier. A French door surrounded by windows that stretched from floor to ceiling led to a balcony.

Enid went to the window and saw Chip and Eve
on the far side of the pool. Enid watched as Chip seemed to lunge forward and catch Eve in a kiss.

Enid gasped, watching as Eve returned his kisses. She stepped back, shaking with anger, wanting to vomit.

Eve led Chip to a guesthouse.

Feeling sick, Enid turned back to Eve’s bedroom. She clenched her fists.

Chip is going to fall in love with her over my dead body!

Enid hatched a plan. All she had to do was find out something awful about Eve Hargrove and let slip to Chip
what kind of person Eve really was and – Chip would dump the rancid old bag of money and Enid would be there to pick up the pieces.

She glanced around the room.

What could she find? Was Eve a drunk? Pill popper? Drug head?

My one special talent – finding things.

All those years of finding her mother’s whiskey kitties – if there was something here, she would find it. She checked the obvious places first – under the mattress, the bed, Eve’s drawers and her ridiculously large closet. Sweat beaded her forehead as she stood in the middle of the closet and forced herself to think.

What would mother do?

Enid smiled and went to the fireplace. She squatted down and stepped into the fireplace, which was so large that she could stand inside it. She reached up, running her hands around the rough interior edges. Within moments, her fingers glanced off the edge of something crinkly. She reached higher, straining to pry it loose. A small manila envelope with some small object in it fell to her feet.

Eve’s voice cut sharply through the air as she was coming up the stairs. “Why weren’t you watching her?”

The butler’s voice said, “She was in the study.”

Enid dropped the envelope and made a run for the bed, which she dove under as Eve entered. She watched as Eve’s heels moved from the adjoining bathroom, to the closet and to the balcony where she called down, “Is she down there? Have you found her?”

Chip’s voice said, “She’s not up there?”

Eve came back, her heels pausing by the bed as she listened. 

Enid held her breath and after what seemed like an eternity, Eve left, locking the door behind her.

Enid lay still, hardly daring to breathe. She crawled out from under the bed, half expecting Eve to swoop down. She gently turned the doorknob – it was locked from the outside.

Feeling sick, Enid went to the balcony where she could hear voices. Remembering the envelope, she went to the fireplace and stuffed it in her pocket. She returned to the window.

Chip was walking across the lawn, calling her name. She was about to answer him when she heard Eve’s voice, “I’m meeting someone. Could she have left?”

Chip said, “She might have – I don’t know.”

Eve said, “I’m leaving. Did you try her cell?”

With a gasp, Enid remembered that she left it in the car.

Chip said, “No answer.”

Enid watched them leave with a sinking feeling. Enid decided that the only possible thing to do was to hide out till it was night. Once Eve was asleep and the door was locked from the inside, she could sneak out. Heck, it wasn’t like she hadn’t already been locked in a room with a psycho killer.

She
shuddered at the memory of her clinging to the man’s back, strangling the life out of him.

If I can survive that, I can survive anything.

If she got caught, she would be humiliated forever but – it’s not like she was in any danger, right? Enid tried to calm herself with visions of slipping out of the room to the sounds of Eve’s snores. All she had to do was hide in the closet and be patient.

It was a simple plan, she reminded herself.

Seriously, what could go wrong?

The formula ‘two and two make five’ is not without its attractions.

–
Fyodor Dostoevsky

Jack left the police station with a bad feeling. It was bad enough that he was a suspect in two murders – but what the hell was Jenson talking about when he said Eve wasn’t exclusive?

Did they know about Laura?

He drew a shaky breath as he remembered Eve and Laura kissing.

How did they know?

Or, were they talking about somebody else?

Hearing footsteps, Jack turned to see Sam approach.

Sam said, “They put you with Frank Ficus when he got bumped off? Word is, you’re the guy they’re looking at – seriously?”

“I’m not getting a lawyer just yet, if that’s what you mean.”

“To hell with them and a month of ugly Sundays,” Sam said, his angry words not matching his worried eyes.

“Anonymous tip on a disposable says I’m the hit man on Jeni and Frank.”

“They’ve got no evidence. It’s not like you came into any extra money.”

Jack gave him a look.

Sam whistled, fell into step as they walked to Jack’s car. “Any way to trace it?”

“What? The money or the disposable cell?”

“How much money?”

“It was a cash payment for a case.”

“You got a receipt, right? Have them contact the client.”

“It’s – sensitive.”

“So is your asshole when you get fifteen to twenty. Who are you trying to protect?”

Jack shoved his hands in his pocket.

Sam said, “Do yourself a favor, Jack – steer clear of anything that starts with a ‘Har’ and ends in a ‘Grove’.”

Jack was about to answer when Sam raised his hand, “I don’t give a crap if you’re putting it to the old man’s dead carcass, much less the daughter – or daughter
s
– ”

“Always the moralist.”

“You hear me, Jack? Steer clear.”

Jack grimaced.  

Sam said, “By ‘steer clear,’ I don’t mean head straight over and bounce her skull off the headboard.”

Jack glanced at his watch. “I’ve got to pick up Enid.”

“How’s the kid?”

“
Detective Orlean’s son is playing babysitter. As soon as he calls, I’ll pick her up.” Jack hesitated, not wanting to invite himself over.

“Cheryl’s famous meatloaf surprise tonight if you’re game.”

“I’m not up for any more surprises.”

“Bring Enid. It’ll be nice. Downright normal – like out of a Norman Rockhead painting.”

Jack smiled wanly. “We’ll be there. Thanks.”

Sam peeled away. “Remember what I said.”

Jack dialed Chip’s phone and left a message. Knowing Enid, she probably muted Chip’s phone so she could spend more time with him.

Jack
stood in the middle of the street, staring up at the streetlights that awoke as day slipped into twilight. He fought the desire to go to Eve. He wanted to confront her – hear her tell him the truth.

He was determined to wait for Chip’s call so he could pick up Enid like he promised.

For once, I am going to keep a promise.

Two cups of coffee later and three unanswered messages, Jack drove to Eve’s home, swearing to himself that the minute Chip called, he would stop whatever he was doing and go fetch Enid like nice fathers are supposed to do.

Once at Eve’s home, Jack was surprised when the butler showed him to the kitchen, which was a decorator’s wet dream. Eve sat cross-legged on the counter, holding a steaming mug between two hands as she stared pensively out a window overlooking the grounds.

Jack felt his face flush at the memory of Eve and Laura kissing. He walked forward, forcing himself to remain calm.

Cold.

Eve said, “Do you believe in families – bloodlines – being cursed?”

“No.” The words landed like a whip.

She glanced at him, surprised.

Not trusting himself to go near her, Jack leaned on the table. She looked elegant in a kimono of white silk with elaborately stitched battling dragons.

Eve said, “Who would want to hurt Jeni?”

Jack shrugged. “She was a hooker.”

Eve’s brow furrowed.

Jack walked to a butcher’s block that sat on the counter next to her. He pulled a gleaming knife out of a knife holder and stuck it hard into the block.

She remained still, eyes locked on him.

“You and Laura,” Jack said, gripping the knife and taking pleasure in how it felt. He glanced at her, admiring that her eyes gave away nothing. “Are you in love – or just fucking?”

The word hung in the air, electric.

Eve stared at him, stunned.

Jack dropped the knife and grabbed her, pulling her off the counter
, and set her on her feet in front of him. “Tell me.”

Glaring, she shoved him away as she spat out, “Mister man.”

Jack found himself transfixed as Eve’s persona morphed into something masculine.
The Eve he knew was gone. He was looking into the eyes of danger.

A killer?

Jack remained silent, afraid of breaking the spell.

Eve cracked her knuckles like a truck driver. “I turned eighteen – I left. Jeni was gone and I sure as hell wasn’t going to leave Laura with him.”

Jack wondered if what Jeni had said was true.

Did their stepfather go “down the line”?

As if reading his thoughts, Eve violently kicked a chair at him.

Jack knocked it aside with a clatter.

Her eyes shone wildly. “Not me. Never me. I protected Laura. I protected me.”

“Who protected Jeni?”

The masculine was melting away. “I couldn’t protect all of us. Someone had to be – ”

“Sacrificed,” Jack sneered.  

Eve stared at him with haunted eyes. The masculine persona was gone.

Jack lowered his voice into soft empathy. “You were just a kid. You did the best you could.”

Eve’s lips trembled. She slumped over, sobbing.

Jack felt a painful grip on his heart. He wanted to take her in his arms, but he forced himself to remain still as he listened to her story.

“Laura came to me in New York – when I was at NYU. We made it like she ran away. She phoned Vivian – told her she was fine, not coming back, so there’d be no missing person report, no police. She lived with me while I went to school. I told you she has mental problems. I didn’t know how serious it was – till…” She shook her head. “Laura got jealous. Not sister jealous – lover
jealous. I didn’t know what to do – I didn’t understand what was going on. A doctor told me it was Obsessive Compulsive Disorder – a love disorder – for me.”

Jack gazed at her, unsure.

Eve said, “I swear – my stepfather never touched me.”

“When did you find out Laura wasn’t your sister?”

Eve stared at him blankly. “Laura’s my sister. She’s ill but – she’s my sister.”

Jack gestured for Eve to sit at the kitchen table. He pulled out the
missing person reports and photographs of Laura as a child and gave it to Eve to examine.

After several moments
, Eve looked up at Jack, shaken. “Laura can’t find out. She’s too fragile.”

“You think she knows?”

Eve shook her head.

Jack said, “Your mother said Laura was dropped off at the girls’ home.”

“If that’s what she said happened – it has to be true.”

Jack raised his eyebrows.

“If you’re suggesting that mother kidnapped Laura – that’s insane.” Eve bit her lip. “Vivian gave Jeni a home. She took her in, she didn’t steal her.”

“Your mother has an interesting way of accumulating children.”

Eve said, “Whoever took Laura – that’s the person who dropped her at the girls’ home. Mother couldn’t have known.”

“Has it ever occurred to you that Laura killed your stepfather?”

Eve shook her head, emphatic. “Impossible. I know Laura – she’s not capable of such a thing.”

Jack hesitated. “Are you sure you saved her?”

“You said Jeni was writing a book. Could she have – written – I mean, if she did anything – would she have written it in her book?”

“I haven’t read that far,” Jack said before he could think better of it.

Eve grabbed his hand. “You have it? You have the book?”

Hating himself for the lie, Jack nodded.

“Thank God,” Eve said, relief flooding her face.  “If you have it – it’s safe. You won’t let it out – you would never hurt me – or Laura – now that you know.”

Jack watched her, troubled.

“You would never hurt me,” she leaned in, gave him a soft lingering kiss.

Determined to resist, Jack didn’t respond.

Then he did.

By the time his phone rang with the long-awaited call
from Enid, he had already switched it to mute.