Roadkill

by Cheryl Bradshaw

  Jonas stood in the doorway to his house, gazing out at the street. All was quiet for now. But would it stay that way? Adam’s unexpected visit made him uneasy. It put things in a whole new perspective. He wondered if Adam was still out there now, watching. Jonas had always had a good relationship with Max, but today it had all changed. The shift was palpable, and for the first time since he’d started working for Max, a feeling of distress had attached itself to him, and it wasn’t going away. There had always been a mutual respect for each other, and he’d always felt safe, like there was nothing they couldn’t work out together. Jonas had never let Max down before. He’d always done what Max asked, when Max asked. The consequences were coming. And it wasn’t hard to grasp what price he’d pay for defying him.

  From Jonas’s vantage point, he had a clear view of Seth’s house. The porch light was on. Raine’s car was still parked in the driveway. It looked like she’d be spending the night. It made him restless and worried. Raine was trouble. Jonas sensed it immediately when he met her. Even though she was a petite thing, she was packed with determination. He’d seen fire in those big, blue eyes of hers—like she could see right through him, like she knew he had plenty to hide. This also contributed to his uneasy feeling. He’d thought about taking care of her during the night, but Seth had suffered enough for one day. He decided he’d revisit the idea tomorrow.

  The job was turning out to be more trouble than it was worth. It was messy. Too messy for his liking, even though it was his mess. His screw-up. Question after question jarred his mind. The biggest—what do I do now?

  There were only a few options, and none of them were ideal.

  He’d pawned Juliette’s death off on Victor, knowing darn well Victor had a reputation for veering from the plan and doing things his own way. He’d been an idiot to think Victor would actually stick to the program, and an even bigger idiot to think the mess could be smoothed over and kept from Max. In hindsight, he should have taken Adam or Mark, another one of Max’s associates—anyone but Victor. He’d allowed his heart to rule his head, and men like him died over such mistakes.

  Jonas had been so wrapped up in his mind it took several seconds before he heard his cell phone buzzing on the kitchen counter. Part of him didn’t want to go to it. He knew who would be on the other end of the line. He sighed, stepped inside the house, and answered it anyway.

  “Why didn’t you bring Nora today like I asked?” Max said.

  “Have you talked to Adam?”

  “What do you think?”

  “I told him I’ll bring her tomorrow.”

  “I’m aware of what you said. What’s the reason for the delay?”

  He paused, knowing this time he needed a better answer than the one he’d given to Adam.

  Remain calm. Keep your voice steady. You got this.

  “Nora was freaked out when we picked her up. She wouldn’t stop screaming. I thought since she knows me, spending some time with her would really help right now. I figured I’d buy her some ice cream, distract her with some new toys, and try to calm her down before bringing her to you. And it worked. She’s doing a lot better now.”

  Lies. Lies. And more lies.

  The question was whether Max believed them.

  “I want her first thing in the morning. I have plans for you tonight.”

  “Why do you want Nora? What will you do with her?”

  “It’s not your concern.”

  “I’ve been thinking,” Jonas said. “Why not let me keep Nora? I’ll move somewhere secluded for a while, think of a good story to tell Anna about why we’re raising her. Anna will believe it. She believes anything I tell her.”

  The suggestion was met with a firm, non-negotiable, “No.”

  Still, he tried again. “Come on, Max. Nora knows us. She’ll be safe with us.”

  “She’ll be safe here as well, with me.”

  Jonas didn’t believe it. No one was ever safe with Max no matter what kind of assurances Max offered. Juliette’s murder was the perfect example. “What plans do you have for me tonight?”

  “Because of you, the police are investigating what happened to Juliette. When forensics tests come back, if they suspect she was murdered, they’ll search her house for clues. Scrub it tonight. Kill anyone who is in the way.”

  “This isn’t who we are, Max. This isn’t what we do.”

  “Who we are changed when you didn’t do what I asked. You have yourself to blame for what happens next.”

  If Max hadn’t ordered Juliette’s death, Jonas wouldn’t be in the position he was in now. “There’s no need for Seth to die. He doesn’t know anything.”

  “You can’t be sure. Who knows what she said to him before she left.”

  “I talked to him. He’s oblivious. Juliette didn’t talk to him before she left. She just left a note saying she was leaving and not to come looking for her.”

  “According to him she didn’t say anything, but he could very well be lying.”

  “He’s not. I’ve lived next to him long enough to read him well. I would know if he was keeping something from me.”

  “He’s a loose end, Jonas. So is the sister. Kill them. Or do I need Adam to do it for you?”

  Max knew about Raine. Of course he did. He knew everything. Jonas couldn’t decide whether Max really saw Seth as a loose end, or whether his pent-up jealousy had finally prompted him to end Seth’s life. Max had considered killing him once before, but nixed the idea when he realized how much pain it would cause Juliette. “Don’t ask Adam. I’ll do it.”

  “Good. See you in the morning, and we’ll continue this talk.”

  The line went dead.

  Kill Seth and Raine. It was all getting to be a bit too much. The women. The jobs. The money. There was a time he’d enjoyed what he did for a living, a time when he hadn’t batted an eye. He didn’t know what had changed, but something had. Maybe he was getting soft. Or maybe his line of work wasn’t worth it anymore. He had everything he needed—plenty of money, a great life, a loving wife.

  Perhaps Juliette had the right idea all along.

  Perhaps it was time to cut ties and run.

  CHAPTER 23

  A series of doors lined an endless hall, the doorbells ringing like each one had been pressed at the same time. The shrill symphony of bells rattled Kim’s brain. It was only when her eyes flashed open and the sound continued that she realized it wasn’t a dream at all. Someone was at her front door ringing the doorbell over and over and over again.

  She glanced at the time on her bedside clock. It was after midnight. The only person who visited her at this hour was Jonas, and he had a key. Or had he forgotten it? It wouldn’t be the first time.

  Hoping he’d ditched his wife and returned to stay the night, Kim hopped out of bed, walked to the front door, and switched on the porch light. “Jonas? Is that you?”

  There was no reply.

  “Jonas?”

  Still nothing.

  She stood on her tiptoes and pressed her eye to the peephole. A man standing on the opposite side of the door smiled and waved. He was handsome with neat, blond hair and dressed in a suit, which seemed curious.

  Who wears a suit at this hour?

  Kim jerked her head away from the peephole. “Who’s there?”

  “Oh, hi,” the man said. “Are you Kim?”

  She could feel the beat of her heart racing faster. Who was this guy?

  “How do you know my name?”

  “I’m Adam. Jonas’s friend.”

  She wasn’t sure how to tell if he was lying or not. Jonas had never mentioned his friends to her, and no one he knew had ever stopped by the condo before. Then again, Jonas had never asked her to watch a baby before, either. “How do you know Jonas?”

  “We work together at Prosperity Investments.”

  That explained the attire, but not why he was dressed to a tee at midnight. “I didn’t realize the company was open so late.”

  “Oh, right. It isn’t,
well, most of the time. I fell behind on a project I was working on and got hung up tonight. This is my last stop before I head home.”

  “Where’s home?”

  “Summerlin.”

  “That’s not far from Jonas’s house.”

  It was a test. She waited to see if he’d pass.

  “I’d say we’re about eight miles away from each other or so. He’s still in Spring Valley, right?”

  Right.

  “Why are you here?” she asked. “It’s late. I was in bed.”

  “I’m kinda embarrassed to say given the fact, you’re, well, his girlfriend. But, ahh, Jonas was planning on stopping by, and then he got held up with his wife.”

  She rolled her eyes. Figures. “He always gets held up with her. It still doesn’t explain why you’re here.”

  “He asked me to stop by and check in on Nora.”

  “So what? Is this some kind of thing where you guys take turns tagging each other to check in on the mistress in order to keep her happy? I’m doing just fine. I don’t need your help.”

  He laughed. “I can see why you feel the way you do, but I’m not married.”

  Not married didn’t mean he didn’t have a lady. With his chiseled looks, she didn’t believe him. Not that it mattered. “How do you know about Nora?”

  “She’s the daughter of one of our most important clients.”

  While she’d been interrogating him, she’d switched her phone to silent and called Jonas, but he hadn’t answered. He never answered when he was with her, though, so she wasn’t alarmed.

  “You still there?” Adam asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “I brought Nora a few things—a change of clothes, some toys to play with, that kind of thing.”

  She heard the sound of plastic being jiggled around, and she brought her eye to the peephole once again. Adam waved a few bags in front of it. At least Jonas had been thinking of her ... well, sort of. Still, it seemed out of character for him to send a stranger to the door without at least texting to let her know Adam was coming over.

  “Kim,” Adam said, “I’m not trying to cause any problems here. I’m tired too. If you’d rather I go ...”

  “It’s just ... Jonas has never introduced me to any of his friends before.”

  “I’m not surprised. He’s a private guy. I’ve worked with him for five years, and I still feel like there’s a lot I don’t know about him. To be honest, I didn’t even know about you until today, and that’s no disrespect on his part. He just likes keeping his work life and his private life separate. If it means anything, I don’t know anything about his wife, either.”

  Jonas was the most tight-lipped man she’d ever dated.

  She slid the chain lock into place and then cracked open the door. “If he doesn’t talk to you about his life, why did he send you and not someone else?”

  “He trusts me. And you know Jonas. He doesn’t trust many people. He knows he can count on me when he’s in a bind. Besides, I’m the kind of guy who doesn’t ask questions, which I’m sure he appreciates.”

  Adam was right. Jonas wasn’t a trusting person. She’d often questioned whether Jonas trusted her, until today, when he showed up with the kid. Even though she had no interest looking after the child, the fact that he’d asked her and not someone else made her feel special and validated—like what they had was real, and like if she did what he wanted when he wanted, he might see how good she was for him and leave his wife someday.

  Kim unlocked the door and opened it. Adam walked in. He flashed her a calming smile, putting her at ease.

  “Thank you for helping out,” she said. “It’s nice of you. I’ve been stuck here all day with this kid.”

  “No problem. Where would you like me to put these bags?”

  She pointed to the kitchen. “Anywhere on the counter is fine.”

  He walked to the kitchen and set the bags down. “How’s Nora doing?”

  “She’s fine, I guess. She cried herself to sleep. Do you, umm, know anything about her or why she’s here? I didn’t know she was the daughter of a client. Jonas hasn’t told me much of anything.”

  “What did Jonas say?”

  “He said the kid’s mother is dead.”

  Adam leaned against the kitchen counter and crossed his arms. “Did he tell you why?”

  “He said Nora’s mother was involved in something bad, I guess. He didn’t say what it was, though, or why he is somehow now responsible the kid. I thought her mother might have had a drug overdose. Do you know?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t.”

  “When he first brought her to me I assumed Nora was one of his relatives, maybe the daughter of a cousin or something, until he told me about his client.”

  “Why did you assume she was related?”

  “The kid seems to know him. I mean, I’m sure she does. She’s been mumbling stuff I don’t understand most of the day, but earlier she pointed at a photo I have of him and called him Jo-Jo.”

  “Huh. Well, I don’t know. It’s good of you to help him out. Have you two been together long?”

  “Six months. Even though I have the kid, I’m surprised he told you about me.”

  “Why?”

  “He never takes me out in public. Not around here, anyway. We take short trips together sometimes, but he’s always worried about going into the city and being recognized. I think he’s being ridiculous. Six hundred thousand people live here. What are the odds he’d be noticed?”

  “Bigger than you think. We have a lot of clients.” Adam gestured to a chair in the living room. “Mind if I sit down?”

  “Sure.”

  “I’d guess the reason Jonas doesn’t take you out isn’t just because of his wife.”

  “What other reason is there?”

  “It’s the job. We work with a specific kind of client, and image—”

  “Hold on. If you’re going to say I don’t look like the kind of woman he’d be with—don’t. I may not be high class like his innocent, simple-minded wife, but I’m not white trash, either.”

  “I didn’t mean to say ... you’re taking it all wrong. You’re a beautiful woman, Kim. I see why he likes you.”

  Charming and nice. If things didn’t work out with Jonas, Adam had definite potential. “You said you’re not married, but do you have a woman in your life?”

  “I do not. It’s easier to do my job as a single man.”

  She laughed. “Your job? Managing hedge funds?”

  He smiled again. “Yes, well, I can’t stay, but I was hoping to see Nora before I left.”

  “If you wake her, she’ll just start crying for her mother again. There’s only so much of it I can take. I’m maxed out.”

  “Can I just pop my head inside her room? I’ll be quiet. I promise.”

  She didn’t understand why he was adamant about it, but shrugged it off. “I guess so. Don’t wake her. If she does, you get to put her back to sleep.”

  “Understood.”

  Kim crossed in front of Adam, freezing in place when she reached the foot of the stairs. She’d heard a distinct click, a familiar click, a sound taking her back to her childhood when she lived with her mother and two brothers on the wrong side of town. She turned, her eyes locking on the gun pointed at her head. It had a silencer attached at the end, and there was only one reason she could think of to explain the precaution he’d taken.

  Tears gathered, swimming inside her eyes. “I don’t understand. Why do you have a gun? What’s going on?”

  This time his grin was shadowed by cold indifference. “I’m sorry, Kim. You truly are a beautiful woman. I wish it didn’t have to be this way, and if Jonas wouldn’t have involved you, I wouldn’t be here right now.”

  CHAPTER 24

  I rested my head on Nora’s pink, heart-shaped pillow, listening to the ticking of the moving hands on the Disney princess clock on Nora’s nightstand. It was almost three in the morning, and I hadn’t slept a wink. My mind stirred with questi
ons about what had happened to Juliette and why. I couldn’t think of what she might have been caught up in that led to her demise. Thinking of past murder victims I’d examined, two main causes were almost always to blame: money and jealousy.

  Which one was hers?

  From the hallway, I heard the sound of footsteps shuffling down the hall. I reached for my gun, and I heard Seth say, “Raine? You awake? Can I come in?”

  Looked like neither one of us would be getting any sleep tonight.

  “Yeah, I’m up.”

  He walked into the room, switched on the light, and leaned against the wall. “Sorry, you sure you weren’t sleeping?”

  I shook my head.

  “Me either,” he said. “I’ve spent the last few hours going over everything in my mind. I’m sure you know how it is. I think of one thing, which leads to something else, which leads to all kinds of crazy thoughts and assumptions, and then the night’s gone, and it’s morning, and I’m starting all over again.”

  “I know what you mean, and hey, I wanted to apologize to you.”

  “Why?”

  “I shouldn’t have kept my sister’s secret, about leaving you. Not when you called and asked about it. I ... it’s not like me to keep things buried inside the way she does. I should have told you from the start.”

  He swished a hand through the air. “You know what, Raine, don’t worry about it. It would have been nice if you were transparent with me, but I get why you did it. We’re all square now, right?”

  “We’re all square.” I pushed a pillow behind my back and sat up. “So you’ve been thinking about things. Has it helped?”

  “Actually, it has. Somewhere in all the jumbled-up chaos in my head, I remembered something.”

  “Oh, yeah? What?”

  “About a week ago, I used Juliette’s car to run errands. On my way back home, I thought I’d get her car washed and vacuumed. I was cleaning out the trash in the pocket of the driver’s side door, and I found a wadded-up business card.”

  “A business card for ...?”

  “A jeweler in the city.”

  “Did you ask Juliette about it?”