Lethal Bond: Jamie Bond Mysteries Book #3 (20 page)

What? Was he serious? I held the transmitter so tight, a cramp formed in my hand. I loosened my grip and reminded myself it was only an act on his part. He just needed to get closer to her to get at the truth. Besides, what did I care? I wasn't dating him.

I set everything back on the coffee table and checked my phone for messages from Danny. None. Not that I was dating him either. I contemplated calling him, but I didn't know what to say. I didn't want to talk about the kiss, but I didn't want to
not
talk about it either. Just like I didn't want to repeat it but, oh man, did I. Clearly I didn't know what I wanted. And I also had Aiden. Sorta.

Miranda's phone rang again.

I held my breath. Could it now be Vega or was Aiden calling back, asking her to bring the whipped cream?

"Hello? Wait, what? Slow down Eduardo."

Bingo!

I jumped, hitting my knee into my plate. Dishes rattled against my glass coffee table top.

"Ssshh," I whispered.

"Yes, I'm well aware my job is to keep the cops away from you. That's what I've been doing. Maybe you should try keeping it in your pants," Miranda said.

I chuckled. I had to give her a point for that one.

"Look, I'll take care of it. In the meantime, relax. Besides, there's something more important. I spoke with Rocco. He says Prince is trying to make him turn state's evidence."

Shit. I knew Aiden couldn't trust Rocco.

Panic seized my gut. How long had Miranda known? I had to call him, warn him before she went over to his place…

"Don't worry about it. I'm on my way over right now. I will clean up this mess for good."

Oh my God. She was going to kill Aiden!

CHAPTER TWENTY

I dialed Aiden's number, and it went straight to voicemail. I ground my teeth. Now was so not the time for him to screen my calls. I didn't bother leaving a message. By time he got it, Miranda might have already killed him.

Wouldn't you know it, my phone picked that moment to ring, Danny's number flashing. I ignored it, shoving it into my pocket.

I grabbed my shoes, keys, transmitter, and Glock and ran out the door. I winced as my soft, recently slathered with an aloe and lavender moisturizer feet landed on pebbles on the race to my car. Once behind the wheel, I slipped on my shoes and shoved the key into the ignition. I pressed on the accelerator too hard and made the car roar to life. I tore out of my parking garage and down the street.

Up ahead was a red light, and if it hadn't been for the serious looking middle-aged man in the car next to me, I would've considered driving through it. I tapped an erratic beat on the steering wheel.

"Come on, come on, turn."

Sounds from the transmitter told me Miranda had left her place and had just started her car. I may have had a lead, but I knew she lived closer to Aiden.

The light changed, and I flew ahead. The middle-aged man laid on his horn, probably shouting obscenities and taking down my plate number. If the police wanted to follow me to Aiden's, they were welcomed to.

Sounds of loud bass came from the transmitter and then quickly faded away.

I turned into the next lane, swerving around a snail's pace older couple. Some people shouldn't be allowed to drive past dark.

My heartbeat boomed in my chest. I had to make it in time.

I was only about five blocks away when Miranda's engine stopped. Unless her car mysteriously stalled or the engine fell out, she'd gotten to Aiden's.

"No, no, no," I chanted, taking a turn so fast I might have tipped on two wheels.

Miranda knocked on his door, then said, "Hi," in that nauseatingly seductive way of hers.

"Hello, come on in. I'm surprised you came this way…"

Static interrupted his words. What was he talking about?

I punched my dashboard and drove faster, almost killing a stealthy garbage can.

Her heels clicked on his floor and a door shut. Soft jazz music played in the background. Was that his seductive gameplay? What, was he thinking he'd get a confession over pillow talk?

Seriously, Jamie. Now was not the time for jealousy.

"Dinner's almost ready," he said.

I jerked my steering wheel, making a wide right turn. His house was up ahead.

"I don't think that'll be necessary," she said, but her voice had changed. Instead of the sex kitten act, her tone was hard and flat.

Oh God.

I stopped outside his house, threw the car into park, and raced up his walkway, not bothering to shut my door. A robbery was the least of my worries. I prayed Aiden's front door wasn't locked. I'd throw myself through a window if I had to.

I'd left the transmitter in the car. I had no idea what was going on. The only thing on me was my gun, and I planned to use it if I had to.

I twisted the doorknob. It didn't budge. What the…

The drapes weren't drawn, but I could barely see inside. It was dim, almost dark. A light came from somewhere in the house though. Were they already making out on the sofa, or God forbid, his bedroom? No, he wouldn't allow it to go so far. Plus, she had sounded done with playing games.

I walked around the house, my ears straining for any sound, eyes staring into every window I found. I got closer to the light source and realized the living room was carpeted. When Miranda arrived, her shoes hit hardwood or…tile.

The kitchen.

I ran to the back of the house and sure enough, a light shown bright beneath a back door. I grabbed the doorknob and yanked. It turned all the way. Then I threw open the door just as I saw Miranda pull a gun out of her tote bag.

I ran forward and flung myself on her back, wrapping my arms and legs around her neck and waist. She cried out and the gun clanked to the floor. Mine was in the back of my waistband. I couldn't hold on and reach for it at the same time.

"Aiden, get the gun," I screamed.

Miranda walked backwards, bumping into a chair and slamming us into a wall.

My head whacked against the edge of a picture frame. The air got knocked out of me, and I groaned, my grip on her loosening. I slipped off her back onto my feet, but I wobbled, unsteady, and unfocused.

For some reason, instead of turning and strangling, or punching, or whatevering me, she ran to the counter.

I took a deep breath, or tried to, and managed to focus on Aiden.

He walked toward me. "Are you alright?"

Something glinted in his hand. Was he holding the gun?

"I'm fine," I said.

He started to walk out of the room. "I'm calling the cops."

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Miranda said.

My hand went for my weapon, but before I could do more than graze it with my fingertips, she wrapped an arm around my throat from behind. And I realized what she'd gone for on the counter. She held a chef's knife at my throat.

"Well, what do we have here?" she asked, and yanked my gun loose.

Well this wasn't how I thought this evening would pan out.

"Hmm, which should I use?" she asked. A rhetorical question as she threw my gun across the room. It hit the floor and slid under Aiden's stove. Of course.

"I think I prefer this one." She pressed the blade against my throat. "It's quieter, won't alert the neighbors. Plus there's an added bonus of watching all the blood drain from your lifeless body."

I figured that wasn't the time to point out that a bullet hole would have the same result.

"Miranda, let her go," Aiden shouted. He held Miranda's gun up, had aimed it at us.

I prayed that he didn't let it go off. I doubted he had the same great aim as Sam.

He walked around us, until he stood squarely in the kitchen, between us and the back door. Smart move, but that didn't mean she wouldn't find another way out.

She backed us out of the kitchen and into a dim hallway. I couldn't tell where it led, but I assumed we'd be in the living room and out the front door soon. Unless one of us stopped her first.

"Miranda, this is insane. You can't get away with this," Aiden said, following us into the hall.

She laughed in a cackling witch kind of way. "You think so? You've been seriously underestimating me since we started working together, Aiden. Is it because I'm a woman, an attractive woman?"

Another step and my hip bumped into a side table. The lamp swayed back and forth but stayed upright.

"No, that's not it," she said, answering her own question. "Your fair-haired darling here is female, and you believe she's capable. Or do you? Does he think you're an idiot too, sweetheart?" she whispered in my ear.

A shudder ran down my back. Then my phone rang from my pocket. I flinched. I'd forgotten it was in there.

It must have caught her off guard too because her hold on me loosened.

That was my chance. I raised my arm and jabbed my elbow into her boob. Now, I knew that had to hurt.

She moaned and not in a good way.

Then I sank my teeth into the fleshy part of her hand and chomped down.

She screamed and opened her hand. The knife fell to the carpet.

I lunged forward, out of her grasp, and fell to my hands and knees.

"Miranda, don't," Aiden shouted, taking a step forward.

I looked back and saw Miranda bend down and grab the knife again. She reached over her head and aimed it at me. Then she lunged.

Before I could scramble out of the way, a shot rang out.

Miranda doubled over and fell to the floor.

I looked back at Aiden.

He stood in the middle of his living room, gun shaking in his hands.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

I paced my silent office back and forth around my desk as the sun rose. I'd spent most of the previous night answering a bajillion questions for the police, giving them my recording of the call between Miranda and Vega, and worrying about Aiden. From the moment he'd shot Miranda's gun until the detectives showed up, he stared off into space. I barely got him to speak, and when I did, all he kept saying was how he was a lawyer, not a killer.

I'd tried to comfort him with a hand on his arm, but he'd pulled away. I knew it was the shock. The first time I shot an actual human being and not a paper silhouette I felt numb for days. And mine didn't result in a death. I hoped things felt different for him in the morning. I wanted to call and talk to him, to know he was okay, and to know he wasn't putting the blame on me…on us.

That thought tugged at my chest. It was the reason for yet another night of tossing and turning. I'd managed a couple hours of sleep before getting up and driving to the agency. I couldn't just sit at home and worry.

I bumped into my desk, which rattled a cup of pens. I grabbed my phone and for the umpteenth time pulled up Aiden's number. I tugged on my top lip with my teeth.

I chickened out though, and instead of calling I texted.

R u free 2nite? Id love 2 decompress over dinner.

Done. I set the phone down and continued pacing.

Suddenly my office door flew open. It smacked against the back wall. In the doorway stood Maya, her legs widespread apart, a look of fear on her face. In her hand was a bottle of pepper spray—her finger on the button, ready to shoot.

I flinched, my heart leaping into my throat. "What are you doing?"

Tension left her body and she let out a sigh. "God you scared me. I thought we had an intruder." She glanced at her hand and lowered her arm.

"I didn't want to sit at home. Didn't you see my car in the parking lot?"

She shook her head. "I had Brandon drop me off. I wasn't exactly looking at anything but his eyes. I didn't think anyone would be here today. Then I heard a noise and…well, you're lucky I didn't reach for my gun first."

"Very sorry to scare you." I fell into one of my chairs, my heart racing.

She took a tentative step forward. "Are you alright?"

I shrugged. "As alright as I can be considering this is my third shooting in the past three months." Perhaps I'd set a world record or something. Was there a category for gun fire in Guinness?

She sat beside me and rubbed my arm. "You should be home resting."

I shook my head. "No, that's the last thing I want. I need to keep busy. Are there any new cases?"

She gave me that look. I hadn't figured out exactly what it meant yet, but it always made me feel like I was a child in need of a hug and a cookie. "No, but you have a couple of appointments on Monday. I can reschedule them."

"Don't you dare. I need the distraction." Especially if Aiden still hadn't called by then. "What are you doing here on a Saturday? Why didn't you stay in bed with Brandon?"

"He had some stuff to do at the office, so I figured I'd come in and get caught up on some paperwork."

I glanced at my desk, wondering how I'd spend the morning. Derek was coming home today. I planned to take him to lunch and make him spill about the bimbo he was cheating with. "Hey, I have a job for you. A quick one, I hope."

"What is it? Should I grab my tablet?"

I smiled. I loved her efficiency. "I think you'll remember this. I need you to find out what's been going on with Derek. He went out of town on some mysterious mission on Monday. He's returning today, but I'd like to know where's he's been."

"You got it. Anything else?"

I backtracked the last twenty-four hours. "Mrs. Vaughn. I need to tell her the good news and give her the tape."

Maya nodded. "I already set up that appointment for Monday morning. She's away this weekend. I guess she didn't think you'd find the dirt so fast. She sounded practically giddy on the phone when I told her you'd like her to come in. I didn't say Ruby was found cheating, but I guess she could tell."

I chuckled. Nothing like a happy client. Poor Michael. And poor Caleigh.

"How's Caleigh dealing?" I asked.

"Not great but telling her father she lied took precedent. He's leaving today too. She plans on spending their last few hours before his flight together."

"How did that go?"

"Surprisingly well. Mr. Presley was more hurt that she lied to him, and felt the need to lie to him, than he was about the actual lie. Turns out he didn't think Danny was a suitable husband for her anyway."