Turning Point (The Kathleen Turner Series) (33 page)

I nodded. “If you want me to be.”

Blane’s smile was broad, and satisfaction glimmered in his eyes. “I do.”

Another kiss and he was gone. It occurred to me then that he’d managed to accomplish what I’d initially turned down. If I was sleeping and waking in his bed, kissing him good-bye in the morning and agreeing to be in his home when he finished work, wasn’t I for all intents and purposes living with him?

This didn’t sit well with me, but I wasn’t sure what to do about it. Last night I’d seen a part of Blane I hadn’t known existed, a part of himself he’d wanted to share with me. I didn’t want to jeopardize the walls that were coming down between us, but neither did I want our relationship to move forward by accident and manipulation.

Speaking of manipulation, I was going to have to tell Blane about the senator tonight. I wasn’t looking forward to that.

I fell back to sleep and woke awhile later, feeling better than I had before. I showered, blew my hair dry, and did the makeup thing, pulling on a pair of jeans with an ivory sweater that went nicely with my pearls. The forecast said it would be getting warmer, but today was still overcast and cold. February was always the dreariest of winter months in Indy.

I went downstairs, greeting Mona in the kitchen.

“Good morning,” she said with a smile. “It’s good to see you again. Will you be here for dinner tonight?”

“Um, I think so,” I said, pouring myself a cup of coffee. “Blane didn’t mention dinner plans.”

“I’m just going to head to the store then,” she said, untying the apron from around her waist. “Pick up a few things. Do you need anything?”

“No, but thank you.”

Her gaze landed on the pearls around my neck and she froze, her eyes widening. “Did Blane give those to you?” she asked.

I nodded. “They’re beautiful, aren’t they?”

Mona’s smile was wide. “Indeed. They were a favorite of his mother’s. It’s very nice to see them being worn again.”

I wasn’t sure what to say, and before I could decide, she added, “Gerard should be back soon. He had to take Blane’s car in for maintenance.”

I mumbled something in reply, my thoughts elsewhere as I touched the jewels at my neck.

“And Kade should be back soon as well.”

I stiffened, remembering the look on his face last night.

A few minutes later, Mona was gone and I was left contemplating what to do about Blane’s offer, and what it meant that he’d given me the pearl necklace. Did I want to go back to school? And more importantly, was I going to allow him to pay for it? That was quite a commitment, and a step I didn’t know if I was comfortable taking, as generous as it was.

Carrying my coffee into the living room, I flipped on the television. I absently listened to the local news as I checked my phone for any missed calls.

“… shocking twist today in the trial of Matt Summers…”

My head jerked up.

“… allegations of prosecutorial misconduct. The defense is accusing the prosecution of secretly collaborating with law enforcement officials, inducing possible witnesses to testify against Summers in exchange for leniency. If true, the judge could declare a mistrial or even dismiss the case altogether.”

Blane’s face suddenly filled the screen.

“The fact that the prosecution in this case is working in secret to dig up more fraudulent charges against my client is not only outrageous, it’s disappointing.” Blane’s solemnity lent credence to his words. “I can only hope that this isn’t a pervasive guilty-until-proven-innocent, bury-the-defendant-at-all-costs culture at work in our law enforcement community.”

The reporter came back on the screen. “The judge has recessed until tomorrow, when the defense is expected to present a motion to dismiss. We’ll keep you updated.”

I stared at the screen, trying to make sense out of what I’d just heard. The case would be dismissed? Summers would get off?

My cell phone rang.

“Hello?”

“What the fuck did you tell Kirk?” Chance yelled in my ear.

I shrank back from the phone, panicking as I tried to recall my conversation with Blane.

“Nothing, I swear,” I protested. “He asked me who I was babysitting yesterday and I told him. That’s all.”

“You told him nothing else?”

I opened my mouth to reply, then stopped. I had told Blane more. “I told him Lucy was going to be a witness,” I confessed, my stomach tying itself into knots.

“Damn it!” Chance exploded. “I told you not to tell him a damn thing! He’s using that information to get the trial dismissed.”

I was silent, aghast at what I had inadvertently done.

“Didn’t I tell you that Kirk thinks of himself first?” Chance reminded me. “Billy is Matt Summers’s son. I’m sure he knew exactly who you were watching and who the witness was once you said his name.”

I was in shock. It couldn’t possibly be true. Blane couldn’t have used the information I’d given him to free Summers. Surely he wouldn’t do that to me, even with the threat of murder charges hanging over my head.

“Chance… I don’t know what to say,” I stammered. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know, didn’t think he would do this…”

Chance sighed. “It’s not your fault, Strawbs. You trusted him. He betrayed that trust.”

His words hit me hard, and I couldn’t speak. I’d trusted Blane to do the right thing, not pervert justice for my sake.

“Listen, I’ve gotta go,” he said. “Lucy’s cover’s been blown all to hell and I’ve got to get her and Billy out of town. If you don’t hear from me by tomorrow, call this number.”

He gave me a number, which I jotted down on a nearby pad of paper.

“Ask to speak to Detective Wells,” Chance said. “He’ll know how to reach me.”

After a quick good-bye I was left staring into space, trying to come to grips with what had happened. I didn’t want to believe it. There must be some mistake. Though I didn’t
know how there could be. It couldn’t be mere coincidence that the day after I told Blane about Billy and Lucy, he was calling for the case to be dismissed.

I don’t know how long I sat there, my coffee growing cold as my mind churned. I briefly considered calling Blane but discarded the idea. This conversation should take place in person.

Wondering if perhaps Blane had left files about the case on his desk that might help explain his actions, I decided to go to his study. Technically, I wouldn’t be snooping. I’d been told to investigate this case.

I pushed open the door and stopped short.

A man was rifling through Blane’s desk. He looked up, and both of us froze in place.

It took me a moment to process that I knew him. It was Garrett, Kade’s friend from Denver. The second that clicked, I also realized that if he was here without Kade’s knowledge, then he couldn’t be up to anything good.

Garrett dropped what he was holding and sprinted around the desk. I turned to bolt and he grabbed for me, catching hold of the collar of my sweater. I felt a sharp tug, then heard the sound of dozens of pearls hitting the wooden floor, my broken necklace shedding its jewels.

I slammed my elbow back into his solar plexus and was rewarded with freedom. But it was only temporary. His hand grabbed a fistful of my hair and he yanked me backward. I yelped in pain, losing my balance and crashing to the floor. He lost his footing and came down with me. We struggled, his foot hitting a nearby table, sending a glass vase careening to the side. It fell, shattering into pieces on the floor.

On my stomach, I kicked out at him, striking him in the nose. I scrambled for the glass shards and flipped over to my back just as Garrett climbed up my body. I made to stab him with a good-sized shard, but he caught my wrist in a death grip, holding it aside as he lay on top of me. I heard the telltale click of a gun being cocked.

“Drop it or you’re dead,” he gritted out through the blood smeared under his nose and across his lips. The cold metal of his gun was pressed to the underside of my jaw.

The glass hit the floor with a light tinkling sound.

Garrett stood, yanking me to my feet. “You were supposed to be out of the house,” he accused.

I didn’t reply, still breathing hard from the fight.

“I’ve been following you,” he continued. “You should be more careful who you spend time with. Hanging out with Kade Dennon can be hazardous to your health.”

“What do you want?” I demanded.

Garrett’s fist hit me hard in the stomach, and I doubled over in pain, retching. “Shut up until I tell you to speak.”

He jerked me upright by my hair. In his eyes was the same icy coldness I’d seen before in Kade’s, remorseless and devoid of emotion. It scared me.

“Tell me where he keeps his computer,” Garrett ordered.

“I don’t know—”

Garrett’s hand closed around my wrist like a vise. He pulled me to Blane’s desk, his gun pointing steadily at my chest. He flattened my palm against its surface. Putting the gun down, he drew a switchblade. A quick flick of his wrist, and the blade appeared, light glinting off the metal.

He pressed the razor-sharp edge to my pinkie, right above the second knuckle.

“Tell me or you’re going to lose your fingers, piece by piece.”

I trembled all over, tasting the sharp tang of fear in my throat.

“I swear,” I said, trying to stay calm, “I don’t know where it is.”

The knife pressed just a fraction and I hissed in pain, bright red blood oozing from the shallow cut he’d made. He didn’t stop there, continuing the cut down the back of my hand to my wrist, the slow but inexorable path of the knife leaving a trail of vivid crimson in its wake.

“Okay, okay,” I babbled, my thoughts frantic as I watched the deadly blade. “I know where it is.”

I had no clue where Kade kept his computer. The last time he’d mentioned it, he’d said it was in his car.

“It’s not in here.”

“That’s more like it,” Garrett smugly replied.

He abruptly released me, flipping the blade closed and pocketing it as he picked up his gun. Pointing the weapon at me, he said, “Lead the way.”

I cradled my burning hand against my stomach as I walked shakily to the door. Garrett followed closely.

“Try anything and you’re dead,” he said.

I had no plan, I just moved forward, hoping something would present itself.

“Why do you want Kade’s computer?” I asked, hoping to distract him.

“The son of a bitch froze my accounts,” Garrett snarled.

“Why would he do that?”

“I’m guessing he found out I was the one who set him up.” Garrett’s sarcasm was thick.

“You betrayed Kade?” I asked in surprise, momentarily halting my progress. “I thought you were his friend.”

“There are no friends in this business,” Garrett retorted, then waved his gun at me. “Move.”

“You won’t be able to hide from Kade,” I said. “He’ll hunt you down and kill you.” I knew this for a fact. Kade’s declaration in Denver that he was going to find whoever had betrayed him rang in my ears.

“Not if I kill him first.”

My blood turned to ice at those words. I had to do something. Once he found out I was leading him on a wild-goose chase through the house, he’d kill me without a second thought—and then he’d hunt Kade.

Making a decision and praying it was the right one, I led Garrett toward the kitchen. A kitchen filled with knives, glass, and heavy pots and pans. Surely somehow I could get my hands on something that would do some damage. There was also a door to outside there, a possible means of escape.

I did a quick scan of the room as we stepped through the doorway.

“What the fuck are we doing in here?” Garrett asked.

“There’s a butler’s pantry,” I explained. “Kade likes to work in there.”

As we passed by the stove, my eyes lit on the still-steaming kettle of water Mona had left. I was terrified, but I knew I had no choice. Once Garrett saw there was nothing in the pantry, he’d kill me.

In one smooth motion I spun, grabbed the handle of the kettle, and swung it at Garrett. Instinctively, he leaned back, but he wasn’t quick enough. The kettle connected in a
hard clank against the side of his head, with an added bonus when the lid popped off and steaming water cascaded out.

Garrett stumbled backward, roaring in pain and rage. He raised his gun and fired just as I knocked his arm out of the way, the bullet ricocheting off the wall behind me.

I grabbed a frying pan sitting in the drying rack by the sink, swinging it with both hands. The metal collided with his hand holding the gun and he yelled, the gun dropping from his grip. I made to swing again, but he tackled me, shoving me against the china cupboard. The edge of the wood pressed sharply into the small of my back.

Garrett slammed my hand against the plate glass of the cupboard, and sharp pain bloomed in my arm. The glass shattered as the cupboard shuddered under the assault. Plates and cups fell to the floor, their delicate porcelain making a cacophony of sound. I couldn’t keep my grip and the pan fell to the tile. Then Garrett had me by the throat.

“Fucking bitch,” he growled, hauling me toward him, his grip unrelenting.

I could breathe, but just barely.

“If you want your money back, may I suggest this isn’t the way to go about getting it.”

Garrett spun around at the sound of the voice, jerking me against him as a shield. Breathing hard, he pulled his knife and held it to my throat. I gripped his arm, trying to hold the knife at bay as its blade pressed against my skin.

Kade stood across the kitchen from us, a shard of dark in the brightness of the room.

“I thought you wanted your money, Garrett,” he said coolly. “Why would I unfreeze your accounts if you kill the girl?”

“Why the fuck did you hack my accounts, Kade?” Garrett spat. “You know this is business. It’s nothing personal.”

Kade’s eyes narrowed. “I trusted you. You betrayed me. That makes it personal.” Kade’s voice was silken steel. “Who were you working for, Garrett? I already know how much they paid you.”

“Look,” Garrett said, “just give me my money and I’ll let her go.”

Kade stared at him. “Fine.” He held up a cell phone. “This will unfreeze your accounts. You just have to log in.”

“Slide it across the floor,” Garrett ordered.