Gunning For Angels (Fallen Angels Book 1) (35 page)

Always do what you are afraid to do.

–Ralph Waldo Emerson

Despite the fact that Enid had vowed to hate Chip for all eternity, she secretly hoped that he would be the one picking her up.

After all, I can hate him in person, right?

Aunt Cheryl picked her up and Enid found herself scrubbed and deposited safely in her Aunt Cheryl’s house in record time. At the kitchen table, Sharon and Ernie stared at Enid with admiring eyes as their mother fed them grilled cheese sandwiches.

Ernie said to Enid, “Mom says she’s going to put a LoJack on your butt.”

Enid said to Cheryl, “They still don’t know where Jack is – what if he’s dead?”

Cheryl said, “Your father always lands on his feet. I left a message for Sam to invite him to dinner – you’ll see him tonight.”

Sharon said to her mom, “But you always say someday Uncle Jack’s luck is going to run out.”

Cheryl said, “You’re all staying in the house until your father gets home – no arguments.” She checked to make sure the back door was locked, and headed to the laundry room.

Enid told Ernie and Sharon her story – leaving out the part about Chip not being in love with her.

Ernie said, “Detective Orlean didn’t want to do a sting, but we can do it. We can call
Eve and tell her we have a copy of whatever was in the envelope that you got out of her chimney – then we go over and spy on her.”

Sharon said, “We’re not allowed to leave the house.” 

Enid said, “We can borrow your mom’s car and have it back before she knows it’s gone.”

Ernie laughed. “Yeah, right.”

Sharon said, “I’m not going to Juvenile Detention – you know what they do to cops’ kids in there?”

Enid said, “Does your mom’s phone have that Caller ID blocking thing?”

“Sure,” Ernie said. “Doesn’t everybody?”

After ten minutes of discussion, Ernie got his mother’s phone from her purse and they retreated to Sharon’s bedroom.

“All right, Enid,” Sharon said, handing her the phone, “Just like we practiced.”

Enid took a deep breath. She punched in the numbers and, too quick, Eve’s buttery voice said, “Hello?”

Disguising her voice, Enid said, “We have a copy of what’s in the envelope – proof that you’re a murderer.”

Silence.

Unnerved, Enid hung up and they all burst into hysterical laughter.

The phone rang.

They froze.

Enid looked at the phone – it was Eve.

They all jumped up, babbling in terror.

“What is going on?” Aunt Cheryl said as she headed for the ringing phone.

Enid grabbed the phone and, panicking, snapped it in half.

Cheryl snatched the broken phone from her, staring at her in disbelief. “What is wrong with you? Why – ?”

“I’m sorry!” Enid said.

“Your father is going to hear about this!” Cheryl jabbed her finger at her. “You’re grounded. You’re not leaving this room till your father gets here.”

Enid watched as Cheryl herded Sharon and Ernie from the room, wondering exactly how much trouble she was going to get into for stealing her Aunt Cheryl’s car.

Men in general are quick to believe that which they wish to be true.

–Julius Caesar

Still feeling the effects of the drinks he’d had at Warren’s bar, Jack pulled into his parking space at the office. 

He’d been surprised at the happiness he’d felt when Eve called him. His happiness had turned to concern when he heard her voice.

She was crying – damned near hysterical. All he could get out of her was that she wanted to meet him at his office.

Rachel was gone for the day. In the doorway of his private office, Jack stopped until his eyes got accustomed to the dark. In the shadows that fell across the couch he saw the outline of Eve’s body.

When she stood and stepped out of the shadows, the streetlights through the blinds illuminated her face. Her lip was busted and her left eye swollen a dusky purple.

Jack sprang forward, grabbing her by the shoulders. “Who did this?”

She buried her face in his shoulder, sobbing.

Jack’s arms encircled her protectively, hungrily.

“I had to see you,” Eve said, trembling.

“I love you,” Jack said, feeling like the words had been ripped from somewhere deep inside.

Their eyes met.

Eve said, “Let’s go away. Anywhere – together – away from all this.”

Jack gently touched her lip. “I’ll kill the bastard.”

“It’s not what you think,” she said. The story spilled out of her and, at the end, she looked at him with scared eyes. “Did I do the right thing?”

Jack’s arms tightened around her. “You realize what this means?”

“I’ll do whatever you say,” she said.

“Have you told me everything?”

Eve’s lip quivered. 

Jack said, “I can’t help you unless you tell me everything.”

Eve opened her hand, which had been clenched. In her palm lay an amber ring. “It’s my stepfather’s,” she said, “the one he was wearing when he was killed.”

“Where’d you get it?” Jack said.

“Laura’s house,” she said, bursting into tears. 

They sped toward Laura’s house, Jack driving, trying to keep his mind clear. Eve sat in the passenger seat, face strained.

Jack said, “Tell me again. Don’t leave anything out.”

“I called Laura this morning – I wanted to talk to her.” Eve gave Jack a look, “I was so angry – about your daughter – ”

Jack gripped the wheel, too ashamed to tell Eve that he’d sent Enid away.

Eve said,  “I went to Laura’s house. She wasn’t there but I have the key so I let myself in. I know I shouldn’t have but – I snooped.”

“What were you looking for?”

“After Jeni died – Laura had been acting so strange. I didn’t tell her about you and me – I didn’t want to. I was afraid.”

Jack reached out, took her hand.

Eve said, “She had a silver and turquoise case I gave her – I hadn’t seen it in years. She told me she lost it, but it was on her dresser – like she wanted me to find it.” Eve turned to him, tears in her eyes. “Promise you won’t hurt her – she needs help.”

“We’ll help her. I promise.”

“Laura came in when I was holding Daniel’s ring and she went crazy. That’s when she attacked me – told me that if I told anyone, she would kill me.” Eve shuddered. “She killed them both – Daniel and Jeni.”

Jack reached over, gently brushing back a lock of hair that had fallen over her face.

“I’ve never seen her like that,” Eve said in a small voice.

Jack made the turn onto Laura’s street.

Eve tensed, staring at the house. “I can’t go back in there.”

Jack parked.

“She’s dangerous. She threatened to kill me if I told anyone. Be careful – for me.” Eve leaned over and kissed him.

Jack twined a strand of her hair in his fingers and gently tugged it. “Stay here till I get back.”

Eve nodded and handed him the key.

The neighborhood was quiet as Jack walked to the house. He slipped the
key into the lock and entered the house. He stood, listening.

Silence.

Jack made his way stealthily through the downstairs, determining that it was empty before he went upstairs. Laura’s bedroom was where she had attacked Eve, and a broken lamp and the contents of a nightstand were strewn across the floor. 

On the dresser, an envelope that was partially hidden under a handkerchief had “Eve” scrawled on it. Jack tore the envelope open and read:

Dearest Eve,

I hate myself. I hate you for knowing what I’ve done. I can’t look at you – I can’t look at myself – I have nothing left to live for. I didn’t mean to hurt anybody. No matter what happens – from the bottom of my soul and everything I’ve ever been or was or wanted to be – I love you.

Laura.

Jack stared at the words.

She did it.

Jack’s knees buckled and he sat on the bed, relief flooding over him. He loved Eve but he hadn’t been able to shake the image of her face as she came after him with the poker, swinging to bash in his skull. Deep down, he’d thought she was playing him for a chump – maybe even been the killer.

He gripped the letter between his fingers. This was the proof that Eve was innocent.

Or was it?

His eyes settled on the handkerchief, which looked lumpy.

He went to the dresser and opened it. A shriveled and aged severed man’s finger rol
led out. The ring had left an indentation that was unmistakable.

It was Daniel’s finger.

Grimacing, he used the handkerchief and put it in the envelope and rolled it up tightly before putting it in his pants pocket.

He thought
for a moment and pulled out his new cell phone that he had recently bought and sent a text.

Jack returned to the car and, in answer to Eve’s inquiries, he handed her the letter.

Eve read it, her face draining of color.

Jack said, “If she were going to kill herself – where would Laura go?”  

Eve read the letter again with growing horror.

Jack grabbed her shoulder, “Where would she go?”

“I don’t know. How could I possibly –?” Eve gasped, “Our mountain. Camelback.”

Jack
typed another text.

“What are you doing?” Eve said, “We have to go!” She reached f
or his phone as Jack hit “send.”

She grabbed the phone and read the message. She looked at him, eyes glinting angrily. 

“We may need help,” Jack said as he started the car and headed toward Camelback Mountain.

The glint in her eyes gave him the strange sensation that he was a kid back at the zoo – with no bars between him and the panther.

Being Irish, he had an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustained him through temporary periods of joy.

–William Butler

Bud had met Larry at a Circle K convenience store near his house, where they sat in Bud’s car as Larry told his story.

Larry had gotten an anonymous call from a woman who told him that the detective
, Jack Fox, was banging his wife, and their affair had never stopped. She told him where Jack could be found and hung up. Larry had tried to call back but there was no answer. Petunia had been in the kitchen drinking coffee and reading a magazine and, as Larry tearfully told Bud, he stormed into the kitchen and would have beaten her half to death but she pulled a knife on him.

“You hit her?” Bud said, taken aback.

“No,” Larry said, “But, if she hadn’t pulled that butcher knife on me, I think I would have – I felt I could have – ”

Bud stifled a smile.

Larry told of how he drove to the airport and found Jack. How he asked him to take a drive with him so they could talk.

Bud listened as Larry described how Jack had attacked him, commandeered his car and dumped him in the middle of nowhere.

Bud said, “Jack hijacked your car? Did he have a weapon – did he hit you? How exactly did that happen?”

Larry said, “He dumped me in the middle of the desert and I hitchhiked and when I finally got home – the maniac was there and waiting for me – he fucking tried to kill me!”

Bud frowned.

Larry said, “I’m filing for divorce tomorrow. This time I’m for real.”

Bud nodded. He put his hand to his chest, feeling his heartbeat as his thoughts flitting back to Bunnie.

Larry said, “Are you okay?”

“You’re not going to kill yourself?” Bud gave him a searching glance. When he had been at the taco place with Enid, Larry had called him and threatened to kill himself.

Larry said, “I’m sorry. I lost it but I’m okay now. What about you?” Larry said, glancing at Bud’s hand resting on his chest.

Bud glanced down, grimaced. “It’s turning into a habit. Checking my heartbeat – like that would make any difference.”

They sat in silence for several minutes.

Bud said, “I don’t think you should be alone. Is there any chance you’re going to drink?”

Larry stared glumly at his hands wrapped around the Circle K coffee that Bud bought him. “I thought that bastard was going to kill me.”

“Well, he didn’t,” Bud said.

“I don’t want to go back home. She’ll
be there.”

Bud said, “You can stay with me tonight. Until you feel better.”

Larry smiled bitterly, “That may be never.”

Bud’s phone vibrated.

It was a text from Jack that read: Laura Hargrove – written confession to murder. Also suicide note – am going to find her.

“Jesus,” Bud said.

“What?” Larry said.

Bud called Jack and cursed when there was no answer. He turned to Larry, “I’ve got a work emergency.”

“No problem – go.” Larry got out of the car, shutting the door.

Bud sent a text to Jack:
Where are you?

Bud
waited for several minutes. He typed in another text: Urgent. Call me.

Larry got back in the car. “I was wrong. I can’t be alone. I won’t get in your way – I just can’t be alone right now.”

Bud made a face. Larry didn’t know that Bud knew Jack, and Bud wanted to keep it that way, which was going to be difficult with Larry riding shotgun.

Bud gave a fake smile and said, “Sure. Just headed to the office.”

Bud headed downtown, thinking of how to get rid of Larry – without Larry going off on a bender.

Bud’s phone beeped. It read:
Camelback Mountain
.

Bud did a U-turn and said, “Larry, we need to talk.”