True Deceit (Blindsided Book 1) (36 page)

He nodded over at Jamie. “What do we do with her?”

“If it wasn’t for her, I’d have everything I want right now. I’ve got no intention of letting her enjoy what should have been mine. This time, I’ll make sure she’s dead.”

How had he not known he’d married a monster?
He’d known she was tough when he’d first met her, and he’d discovered she was ruthless when he’d told her about killing Ted and she didn’t bat an eye, but this? He’d never even considered that she might have had anything to do with Jamie’s disappearance.
He was such an idiot!
But one thing he did know was that he had started all this, he had brought this monster into their family, and now it was up to him to deal with it.

Turning her back on him, she raised her arm and pointed the gun at Jamie. It was now or never.

“Put the gun down, Carrie,” he said, his voice surprisingly calm.

Keeping the gun trained on Jamie, she turned her head and looked at him. “You bastard. I should have known. Killing Ted was one thing, but you really are soft when it comes to her, aren’t you.” She shook her head. “Such a shame. I was starting to think you had potential.”

“You know damn well that killing Ted was an accident. I never meant for it to happen. My mistake was not coming clean at the time and letting you get your claws into me. A mistake I intend to rectify right now.” His voice hardened. “Now put the gun down, Carrie. It’s over.”

He could see her turning her options over in her mind and realizing that she had none. He wouldn’t put it past her to kill Jamie anyway and his finger tightened on the trigger, watching for the slightest sign that she was going to shoot.

She didn’t, though, and after a tense few seconds, raised her hands. “At least I’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’re going to prison with me.”

He didn’t reply, keeping his eyes on her but addressing Jamie. “Grab the gun.”

He watched as she stepped forward and took the gun from Carrie’s hand before handing it to him. He tucked it in his jeans before telling Jamie to go and call 911 on the house phone.

She didn’t move, though. “Are you sure?” she asked him, a hard edge to her voice.

Surprised, his eyes flicked to her. “What do you mean? Of course I’m sure.”

“Answer me one question, truthfully.”

“Now? Can’t this wait?”

“No, it can’t, so will you? Tell me the truth?”

“Yes, of course, what is it?”

“Was Ted’s death an accident?”

He allowed himself to meet her eyes briefly. “Yes, absolutely.”

“Then shoot her.”

“What? Are you nuts?”

“No. She tried to kill me. I lived through hell because of her. If you don’t, you’ll go to prison, too.” She put her hand on his arm. “You did wrong, but you are all I have left and the only people who know are in this room.”

For a moment, he allowed himself to consider what she was saying. It was true; if he shot Carrie now it would be easy to claim self-defense and no one would ever find out the truth about Ted. The moment quickly passed, though. He could never kill another human being in cold blood, and he knew in his heart that he needed to pay for what he’d done, accident or not.

“No, I can’t do it Jamie. This all started because of my greed and I need to pay for what I did. I’m as responsible for what happened to you as she is.” He gave her a small smile. “Go and call the cops, please.”

“There’s no need. I’ll do it.”

They both jumped at the sound of the voice. They could tell from the look on her face as she stepped into the room that Kat had heard everything.

“Oh, Kat, I’m so glad you’re here!” Jamie flung herself into her arms.

“How long have you been standing there?” Jake asked her, meeting her eyes.

“Long enough to know that I’m proud of you for making the right decision.”

He watched as she took her cell phone out of her pocket and dialed 911. All they had to do now was wait.

He didn’t feel any panic as they waited for the police to arrive. Instead, he was filled with a sense of relief that it was all over and he had finally done the right thing. They all knew the truth now, and the fact that Jamie hadn’t immediately condemned him made his heart soar, though he knew that he owed her answers.

She would be okay now. The monster that he married would spend the rest of her life in jail and she had Kat. That was all that mattered.

Forty-Four

Kat watched as first Carrie and then Jake were handcuffed and led away to the waiting squad cars, and was glad her sister wasn’t there to see it. When she’d gotten home, she’d heard the voices coming from the living room. It wasn’t until she got close that the conversation had stopped her in her tracks. Stunned, she’d stood there listening, while all the pieces clicked into place.

She’d held her breath as Jamie had told Jake to shoot, understanding her reasons but knowing it was wrong. Relief had washed over her when he had refused and, despite everything, she’d felt incredibly proud of Jake in that moment.

“What’s going to happen to him?” Jamie asked her. They watched from the front steps as they were driven away.

Turning and going back into the house and closing the door behind her, she sighed. “He will go to prison, there’s no doubt. How long will depend on what they decide to charge him with.”

“I believe him, you know.” Jamie said, following Kat into the living room where all the drama had taken place. “I mean, I believe him when he said that killing Ted was an accident.”

Kat nodded. “Yes, I believe him, too. He’s made mistakes, but he’s not a bad man and he loves you dearly. He would never have intentionally wanted to hurt you.”

“It was Dad. He made him the way he was. I remember it all now.”

“Will you be able to forgive him?”

“I already have. He’s suffered enough.”

“And so have you.” Kat took her in her arms. “I’m just glad it’s all finally over and that you’re safe at last.”

They stood there for a while, just hugging each other both lost in their own thoughts.

Forty-Five

“I’ve been doing some thinking,” Jamie said, breaking the silence. They’d both been caught up in their own thoughts since leaving the prison where they’d been to visit Jake.

He’d made a full statement to the police and there had been no doubt that he was totally ignorant of Carrie’s attack on Jamie. They’d also accepted that what had happened to Ted had been an accident and that he’d never intended to kill him. The D.A. had offered him five years, which his lawyer had advised him to accept, avoiding the necessity of a trial. They’d both been very proud of the way he had handled it, stepping up to the plate and being not only willing, but wanting to take his punishment.

“Yeah?” Kat briefly took her eyes off the road and glanced over at her. “And what have you been thinking about?” It was finally over, but Jamie had a tough road ahead and Kat was worried about her.

“I’m on my own now. Well, for the next five years, anyway.” She sighed. “It’s too much. I’ve got to run the business, which I know nothing about, look after the house and Jake’s affairs.” He had signed over power of attorney to her before he was convicted.

“It’s a lot to take on I agree, but I know you can do it.” Kat tried to reassure her.

“Yes, I can. But I can’t do it alone.”

“Well, I can help you find someone suitable before I leave. Maybe we could speak to John Cassidy, the lawyer. He might be able to give us some recommendations.”

Jamie shook her head. “No. I need someone I can trust completely. After everything I’ve been through, I need you, Aunt Kat.”

She’d had a feeling that this was coming, had even been thinking about volunteering herself, but now that the question was out there she had no idea what to say. “Jamie, I’ve got a career, one I need to get back to.”

It sounded empty even as she said it. More and more, lately, she’d been lamenting the fact that yes, she had a career, but very little else. And what was a life with nothing in it but work? She’d neglected her family while she still had one, and now that it had been torn apart, could she really just walk away?

“You could apply to the local PD, couldn’t you?”

It’s true, she could. But there was the small question of Finn. It was a small department, and if she did that it would mean working with him closely on a daily basis and she knew that that was something she simply couldn’t do. She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Jamie, but no. That wouldn’t work.”

“Okay, well how about this then. You come and work for me? Now that we’re taking on more sensitive projects, we need a security division and someone to head it up. You’d be perfect with your background. Will you please at least think about it?”

Kat nodded. Yes, she would think about it. “Okay, but I’m not making any promises.”

Forty-Six She was not looking forward to this conversation, but it was one that had been a long time coming.

She’d phoned Finn and they’d arranged to meet just outside town. When they were kids, they used to come to this spot to make out. It was one of the few elevated spots in an otherwise almost completely flat landscape, and from the top you could see for miles. She sat on the hood of her car waiting for him now, looking out over the town stretched out below her, bathed in the orange glow of the setting sun.

The sound of tires on dirt told her that he’d arrived. She gave him a small smile as he pulled himself up onto the hood to sit beside her.

“How’s Jamie doing?” he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.

“She’s going to be fine. She’s strong.” She took a deep breath. “And I’m going to be by her side to help.”

“You are?”

She could feel him looking at her, but she didn’t turn to meet his gaze. “Yes. I’ve decided it’s about time I came home.” She sighed. “I should have come back sooner, been more of a sister, more of an aunt. I can’t get that time back, but I can try and make up for it.”

He nodded. “So, what are you going to do?”

She told him about the job Jamie had offered her, and that she’d decided to accept it.

“Is that what you brought me up here to tell me?”

This was it. It was time. “No, I brought you up here to tell you why I left all those years ago.”

The End

Blood Sport
is out now! Here is a sneak preview!

One

It looked like a pile of rags by the side of the road and she would have driven past were it not for a slight movement that caught her eye as she drew alongside. It was getting dark. It was the end of a long day and she thought maybe her eyes were playing tricks on her.
Best check it out,
Kat told herself as she stopped the car, put it in reverse and backed up.

There wasn’t much along this road, being several miles out from Brecon Point. She was only on it as the storm that had been raging most of the day had brought down a tree across the road she would normally have taken home. Unfortunately, around here if a road was blocked and unless you were prepared to drive across fields, you usually had to travel several miles out of your way to get to where you wanted to go.

As she pulled the car alongside and stopped, the pile moved again.
Don’t be an idiot, Kat,
she told herself.
You’re on an empty road, after dark with no one around for miles
. Although she had a permit to carry a firearm, she rarely did these days but she did carry pepper spray which she now got out of her purse and gripped tightly in her hand before opening the car door.

She was getting a bad feeling as she drew closer to the pile and it started to take shape. That feeling turned to shock as the reality of what she was looking at hit her like a punch to the gut. He was so filthy that at first it had been hard to see where his dirty clothes ended and his torn and bloodied skin began, but now there was no mistaking that she was looking at a severely beaten human being.

Having been a police officer for many years for the LAPD, she had seen more than her fair share of beaten and broken bodies, usually on a Friday or Saturday night outside various bars. But this was different. Much different. This victim couldn’t have been much older than twelve years old.

He was lying on his back with his eyes closed. Dropping to her knees in the dirt next to him, Kat reached out and gently touched his cheek. At the touch, the boy’s eyes flickered open and he looked straight at her. The desperation and fear she saw in them took her breath away. “You’re safe now. I’m going to get help.” The boy just closed his eyes again with a sigh.

Shit!
The nearest hospital was in the next town and she knew that if she called for an ambulance, it would take forever to get there. From the condition he was in, she didn’t know how much time the boy had and if she could afford to wait that long.

Brecon point was a small town but it was much closer and there was a town doctor. Decision made, Kat stood up, went to her car and opened the back door. Returning to the boy, she gently lifted him into her arms. He was much lighter than she’d expected and she could feel through his rags that he was nothing but skin and bone. Gently carrying him to her car, she laid him on the back seat. He moaned slightly as she did, but he didn’t open his eyes again.

Getting into the driver’s seat, she grabbed her phone from her purse and quickly called the police station in town and told them what she’d found. As it was after hours the doctor’s office would be closed, but they assured her that they would make sure the doctor would be there waiting for her.

Two

Kat stood in a corner of the room, not wanting to get in the way, as Dr. Crichton examined the child. She watched her as she carefully peeled away his dirty and torn clothes to look for injuries. Kat couldn’t help but flinch as every wound was revealed.

When she’d arrived at the clinic, the light had been on and the doctor had been there waiting for them. Taking one look at the child cradled in Kat’s arms she had ushered them into an examination room before immediately telling Kat to call an ambulance.

“Where did you find him?” She jumped at the sound of the voice behind her. She hadn’t heard him come in. Chief Finlay had been chief when she’d first left town twenty years ago and now, pushing sixty-five, he showed no sign of slowing down.