Killer Love (13 page)

She logged on and added Mel’s name to her buddy list. Then waited breathlessly to see if the screen would show that she was online. Disappointment coursed through her when Mel’s screen name didn’t appear.

It was just as well. It had been foolish to even consider contacting her.

She minimized the AOL screen and once again stared at the spreadsheet. Concentrating on the numbers in front of her proved almost impossible. She kept clicking back on the Internet icon and her eyes kept straying to the buddy list box. Even when she had AOL minimized, her ears were pealed for the tone that indicated Mel had logged on.

But she didn’t. Heaviness settled in Jade’s chest. She had been lonely a few moments ago, now she ached with despair. Tears formed and in seconds, she was sobbing. She felt like an idiot but she couldn’t stop weeping. She hadn’t cried like this in a long, long time. The anguish came from deep within. From a hollow place inside her that had no end.

A noise filtered through her grief and the sobbing stopped when she recognized it. A barking dog. Mel’s buddy sound. Excitement as intense as her grief coursed through her. Fingers moving frantically, she instant-messaged Mel.

Hello, how have you been?

A few seconds passed, then her reply.
Fine, thanks. Who are you?

Of course, she had a new screen name. One Melanie didn’t recognize.

It’s Jade
, she typed

Words appeared rapidly on the screen.
Oh my God! Jade! I’ve been so worried about you. I’ve missed you so much. What on earth happened? Are you okay?

I’m fine. I had to leave and I’m sorry but I can’t tell you where I am. It’s too dangerous. I actually shouldn’t have contacted you but I missed you. How have you been?

Terrible without you. When can I see you?

Fear that she was making a huge mistake warred with her elation at finally speaking with her friend. Oh well, the damage was done. If they found out, she would deal with the consequences
.

I don’t know. Not for a while. I’ll call you soon and we’ll have a real talk. I’ll explain everything. How’re your parents? Anything new with your love life?

Mom and Dad are fine. And the love life is the same. All
quantity no quality. Have you talked to Bryce’s uncle lately? I heard he’s not doing well. He’s been asking about Bryce.

Melanie had a cousin who worked at the nursing home where Bryce’s Uncle Sal was a patient. Jade felt a pang of guilt. She really hadn’t given much thought to Sal since all of this had happened.

Bryce had visited him once a week and occasionally, Jade went along, too. Sal never had warmed up to her, though. Sometimes he confused her with someone named Tracy. During those times, he treated her with more kindness. Whoever this Tracy person was, Sal must have liked her. Jade had asked Bryce about Tracy but he said he had no idea who Sal was talking about.

I haven’t spoken with Sal,
she typed back.
I hope he’s okay.
I’m sure he’s wondering why Bryce hasn’t been to see him.

What’s going on with that whole thing? They haven’t caught Bryce yet?

Jade was beginning to wonder if they would ever catch the sonofabitch.
I really shouldn’t talk about this online. I promise I’ll call you soon. I’d better go now. Love you.

Love you, too. I’m worried about you.

Don’t worry about me. I’m fine. I promise.

They said goodbye and Jade logged off. After losing contact with Melanie, the loneliness came back full force. As did her concern for Sal. At times he’d been crotchety with her, sometimes downright mean. But, he was a lonely, sick old man. Bryce had been his whole world. Now who would he have? She wanted to call him but couldn’t take that chance, just in case Bryce had figured out a way to see him.

The thought of that psycho knowing she was in contact with his uncle sent fear spiraling through her. She would just have to get updates on Sal through Melanie.

Jade needed to do something to work off some of the tension that had gathered in her muscles. After changing into gray sweats and a t-shirt, she put on a Creedence CD and began her warm up routine.

Once she was loose, she went through the drills and exercises she’d learned in class. By the time she began her stance work, she was in the zone. So much so that it took a moment for her to realize someone was knocking on her door.

Who the hell could that be? She hadn’t had a visitor since she’d moved to Solitaire.

She considered ignoring it, but with Creedence blasting from the stereo, they obviously knew she was home.

Yanking a towel off the couch, she dabbed at the perspiration on her face as she strode across the room.

“Who is it?” she called through the closed door.

“Ashley.”

Dammit, what could she want? “Can I help you?”

“I just wanted to thank you for what you did the other night. Can I come in?”

A rush of breath left Jade’s body and she hesitated for a moment, then swung the door open.

The goth look from a few nights ago had been toned down some. Ashley still wore black but the makeup was gone. Just as she’d suspected, the girl was pretty. But her eyes still held that haunted look.

“I’m kind of busy right now,” Jade said, not inviting the girl to come inside.

Ashley’s expression took on a pained look but she quickly masked it and shrugged her shoulders. “No prob. I just thought we could talk for a minute, you know, hang out, get to know each other, but that’s okay.”

I don’t want to know you. I don’t want to know anyone in this town.
“Maybe some other time.”

The girl nodded and turned away. Before she could close the door, Jade heard a man’s voice roar from an apartment down the hall.

She thought the voice belonged to the jerk she’d met the other night. Dennis, yeah, that was his name.

Ashley had moved a few steps away but she stopped, crossing her arms tightly around her middle.

He’s a sonofabitch and he’s mean to the kids and their mother.

So, what can you do about it? It’s none of your business, just ignore them.

Ah, take the easy way out? Don’t get involved, just look out for yourself. Is that how things work now?

Yes, dammit. That’s the way they have to work now
.

Jade closed the door before she could see if Ashley turned back. She didn’t think she could continue to ignore her if she saw her face again. The face of a girl who had experienced way too much anger, too much pain in her short life. She recognized the look because she’d seen it in the kids at the shelter...and she’d worn it herself. And ignoring Ashley’s problems made her feel lower than dirt.

She tried to continue her workout but she was no longer in the zone. She kept seeing Ashley’s hurt look. And she could still hear Dennis yelling. She couldn’t understand what he was saying, but recognized the malevolence in his voice. And it made her want to hurt him. Damn thin walls in this place.

Just go check on them, make sure he’s not hurting anyone.

Yeah, and what if he is? Put a little jujitsu on his ass? You think he’ll take it easy on you like they do in class? Great idea, Jade. Great freakin idea.

But even as she tried to talk herself out of it, her feet were moving toward the door.

Locating the apartment was easy with the blast of Dennis’ voice to guide her. She knocked loudly and in a few moments, an older, heavier version of Ashley opened the door. The woman’s face was puffy and wrinkled. Her cheekbone was red with the obvious imprint of a hand. Slow anger wormed its way through Jade.

“Yes?” the woman barked, staring at her with a mixture of irritation and curiosity.

“Is everything okay in there?” Jade tried to peer around her without being obvious about it, but the door was only open wide enough for the woman’s body, which was blocking her view into the room.

“Who the hell are you?”

“I’m your neighbor from down the hall, Jenna Donovan.” A rush of warm air carried the stench of booze and sweat into the hallway from the open door. Jade resisted the urge to cover her nose. “I heard screaming. I thought someone might be hurt.”

“Everyone’s fine. It’s none of your business.”

From within the apartment, a man bellowed, “Deb, who the hell’s at the door?”

“Just a neighbor, Dennis. I’ll handle it,” Ashley’s mother called over her shoulder.

Jade lowered her voice. She didn’t want Dennis to realize which ‘neighbor’ was at the door. “If the kids are in trouble, I’m making it my business.”

“You a social worker or just nosy?”

“Look, I met Ashley and Jonathan. They seem like sweet kids. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to them.”

Deb crossed her arms and leaned in the doorway. “Yeah? You got kids?”

“No,” Jade admitted.

“Then you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. Leave us alone.”

“Let me talk to Ashley and I’ll leave.”

“To hell with you.”

She started to close the door but Jade stuck her foot inside, preventing her from shutting it all the way. “Look lady, I don’t want to stand out here and argue with you all night. Let me talk to your daughter and I’ll leave.”

The woman’s gaze was pure venom. Without taking her eyes off Jade, she yelled for her daughter.

Ashley came to the door. Her eyes and the tip of her nose were red from crying. Jade’s gaze traveled quickly over the girl. She didn’t see any marks.

“Ashley, are you okay?”

“Fine,” Ashley muttered.

“Want to step out here for a minute?”

“What for?” she asked. Her look seemed to say
you had your chance.

“I’d like to talk to you.” When the girl didn’t reply, Jade added, “Please?”

Shrugging, Ashley stepped past her mother and joined Jade in the hall. Jade looked expectantly at the woman and she finally slammed the door shut.

“I thought you were busy,” Ashley said.

“Sorry about that. I was rude before.”

“Whatever.” Ashley shoved her hands in the pockets of her black jeans. She scuffed at the carpet with the toe of her boot. Apparently fascinated with the activity, she kept her eyes glued to the ground.

“Ashley, does Dennis hit you or your brother?”

She shook her head. “Not us.”

“Your mother?”

The girl hesitated, then nodded.

“She doesn’t have to put up with that. Why doesn’t she get rid of him?”

Ashley gave another of her signature shrugs. “I guess cause she needs someone. I don’t know. Ask her.”

“What about your father?”

“He died three years ago.” The scuffing stopped. The girl’s entire body went still. “He was hiking and fell into an abandoned mine.”

Jade sucked in a breath and her knees went weak. Dear God, what a horrific way to die. The image of falling into a black hole, meeting your death in such a terrifying manner made her physically ill. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s no big deal. We’re doing fine.” Ashley raised her head and gave a defiant look. She lifted a trembling hand to brush the hair back from her face. “I take care of Jon and watch my Mom get the shit beat out of her once in a while. Like I said, no big deal.”

Something shifted inside Jade and tightened around her heart. The wall she’d built was starting to crumble, brick by brick. The girl needed her. She needed someone to care. Ashley’s attempt at bravery made her seem even more vulnerable.

Jade knew from that point on, things would never be the same. Her carefully constructed plan to keep people at arm’s length had just gone to hell.

****

Shady Acres Nursing Home was an upscale institution that catered to the wealthy but even money couldn’t cover the odor of sickness and urine that lingered beneath the scent of pine cleaner. The smell followed Luke from the hallway into Sal Giamatti’s room.

Artsy, expensive-looking paintings hung on the walls. The furnishings included a big screen television and a leather-covered sofa and recliner. The posh decor gave the illusion of a luxuriously appointed apartment. The heart monitor and IV stand with tubes snaking out of it quickly dispelled that image.

A mahogany nightstand next to the bed held a sterling silver picture frame with a photo of Bryce and Jade. Bryce was tanned and smiling, his arm slung casually over Jade's shoulder. She wore a bright yellow tank top and her blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail. Rather than looking directly at the camera as her husband was, she stared adoringly at him, a half smile curving her full lips.

Luke's gaze moved from the photo to Sal Giammati. Looking at Sal’s frail old body, Luke found it difficult to reconcile this image with the ruthless criminal Sal was alleged to be. His skin was the color of parchment paper and hung loosely on his frame. Age spots, some the size of nickels, freckled his forehead. His hands lay on top of the blankets and were dotted with the same discolorations. Long, yellowed fingernails gripped the bedspread. The man's sunken eyes glared at Luke.

"Who the hell are you?" Sal barked in a voice as dry as kindling.

"My name is Luke..." Luke began but the old man cut him off.

"You're a damned cop. I can smell ‘em a mile away."

The old man's remark startled him. How had he known? "I'd like to ask you some questions about Bryce Lyons."

Sal struggled to a half-sitting position and scowled at Luke. "What the hell do you want to know?"

"When was the last time you saw him?"

"He was here yesterday."

Yesterday? Luke had stopped at the reception desk to check Sal's visitor list and there hadn't been an entry since Bryce had been here over a month ago. He’d been surprised to see that Jade had also visited from time to time. He’d have thought Bryce would have kept his relationship with Sal a secret from his wife.

“Are you sure he was here yesterday?” Luke asked. The old man was suffering from Alzheimer’s, but it was possible the information was accurate. He likely had lucid moments from time to time.

“Of course I am. He comes every week. Him and that pretty little thing he’s married to.”

Now Luke knew the old man was confused. He knew Jade definitely hadn’t been there and he suspected neither had Bryce. “Are you close to Jade?”