Her Last Summer: A Veronica Lee Thriller

by Melinda Woodhall

  “You’re right,” she whispered. “I’ve been scared, and I’ve been punishing us both. I’m sorry.”

  She opened her purse and pulled out the book she’d read from front to back the night before. The corner of one page was folded, and she opened the book, then looked up at Vanzinger.

  “For every decision you have to make, don’t choose hate, don’t choose greed, don’t choose fear. It’s simple…choose love.”

  Holding up the book, she showed Vanzinger the cover.

  “That’s from Simply Portia, the book Portia Hart wrote. I read it last night, and…well, I started thinking about my choices. It seems I’ve been making all the wrong ones. I don’t want to do that anymore.”

  Hope sprang into Vanzinger’s eyes.

  “You know I would never have hurt you like that if I hadn’t thought I was saving you, right?”

  Vanzinger gripped her hand like his life depended on her answer.

  She nodded, clearing her throat.

  “Nessa explained what happened. She said Chief Kramer and Detective Reinhart were dirty. They threatened to kill you if you exposed them, forced you to leave the WBPD.”

  Vanzinger nodded, his hands shaking with the memory.

  “They wanted to destroy me. The only thing I cared about then was my work as a detective…and you. I couldn’t risk being with you. I knew they would use you against me. Try to hurt you or…worse.”

  Riley thought back to the day on the beach. The day she’d seen Vanzinger’s dead body lying on the sand.

  “I think I finally understand,” she said, realizing it was true. “When I thought you were dead…I would have done anything...”

  Pulling her tighter against him, Vanzinger whispered in her ear.

  “The hardest thing I’ve ever done is to walk away from you.”

  A knock sounded on the door, causing Riley to stand up and try to move away from the bed. Vanzinger grabbed her wrist and tugged her back as Jankowski strolled into the room, his broad shoulders making the room feel small.

  “You still laying around in bed, partner?”

  His eyes flicked to Vanzinger’s hand on Riley’s arm, and a wide smile spread over his face.

  “You pulled this whole stunt just to get her back, didn’t you, Tucker?” Jankowski teased. “But hey, whatever it takes.”

  Riley rolled her eyes, feeling as if she’d gone back in time a dozen years. Back to her days as a law intern. Back to the days when she and Vanzinger used to hang out with Jankowski and his wife, Gabby. The thought of Gabby wiped the smile off Riley’s face.

  Death is real, and it can come for any of us, at any time.

  She squeezed Vanzinger’s hand, reminded again that she should be grateful he was still with her, and that they’d found their way back to each other.

  “So, I guess you’re the new town hero, Tucker.”

  Jankowski nodded his approval.

  “You took down a serial killer and survived a lightning strike in the same day. You’re a legend around here.”

  Blushing at the effusive praise, Vanzinger met Riley’s eyes.

  “I had a little help you know,” he said. “Riley, and Hunter Hadley, and Veronica Lee. It took all of us to figure out what the hell was going on and stop Xavier Greyson.”

  Jankowski studied the two of them together, and Riley saw a flash of sadness in his eyes. Maybe he was thinking of Gabby, too.

  “You guys make a good team,” Jankowski finally said. “Tucker, you can bring the bad guys in, and Riley, you can send them to jail.”

  “Sounds good to me,” Vanzinger agreed. “Just as soon as I get out of here, I’ll get started.”

  Thinking of the call she’d gotten from Nessa on the way over, Riley figured she’d have the opportunity to lock up another bad guy sooner than she’d expected.

  No matter how many criminals she prosecuted, there were always more just waiting to come out of the woodwork. At least now she had a partner in her fight against crime, and no matter how bad things got, she wouldn’t be alone anymore.

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Hunter opened the cardboard box and began piling in the books from his shelves. The sale of the station wouldn’t be final for a few more weeks, but he didn’t see any reason to delay the inevitable. Once the new owners came in, he knew he would surely be replaced with someone else.

  They’ll want to bring in someone they know. Someone they trust.

  And he couldn’t blame them. If it was his station, he’d do the same. Although he wasn’t sure he’d hire himself. At least not as the station manager.

  I’m better as a reporter. That’s my calling. Not pushing paperwork and kissing up to fickle advertisers.

  His phone buzzed in his pocket; Hunter was tempted to ignore it. He wasn’t in the mood to talk. But the slight chance that Veronica might be calling prompted him to dig his phone out and check the display. He raised his eyebrows when he saw that the caller was Frankie Dawson.

  “Mr. Dawson, how can I help you?”

  “Well, you can start by calling me Frankie.”

  Smiling in spite of his sour mood, Hunter tried again.

  “Okay, Frankie, how can I help you?”

  “I have a new acquaintance I think you’re gonna want to talk to.” Frankie sounded unusually smug. “If you’ve got time to come to my office, I’ll introduce you.”

  Intrigued, Hunter decided he could use an excuse to get out of the office. Besides, it would give him a chance to take Gracie for a walk.

  “Okay, I’ll be there shortly,” Hunter agreed.

  Dropping the phone back in his pocket, he opened the door to his office and called out to Gracie, who was lounging by Finn’s desk.

  “You want to go for a walk, girl?”

  Finn looked over and nodded.

  “Sure, I do.”

  He grabbed his phone and Gracie’s leash.

  “Where are we going?”

  Hunter sighed, knowing it would useless to argue. Finn had been sticking to him like glue for the last two weeks, perhaps sensing that his time at the station would soon be coming to an end.

  Walking toward the door, Hunter passed Veronica’s desk, but he refused to torture himself by looking at her empty chair. He had no choice but to let her have the space and time she needed to heal.

  Which was why he hadn’t reached out to her after the traumatic events in Hart Cove. She’d gone through hell, and Hunter knew from experience, it would take time to recover.

  He’d suffered from PTSD for years after the explosion in Kabul. The shattered bodies of the women and girls that died in the explosion still haunted his dreams and had caused him a lot of pain and soul searching during the years since.

  How could he expect Veronica to react any differently? How could she not be scarred? She wouldn’t be human if it didn’t bother her.

  She found a dead body stuffed in a freezer and saw a man shot dead right in front of her. Of course she’s bound to be traumatized.

  Besides, what did he have to offer her, now that the station was being sold? It was best to let her have time to figure out what she wanted. And if he was honest with himself, he needed to do the same.

  ✽ ✽ ✽

  Frankie was waiting at the door when the trio arrived. He waved Hunter, Finn, and Gracie into the little office and pointed to a couple of folding chairs across from his desk.

  “Have a seat gentlemen. Our guest will be joining us shortly.”

  Hunter cocked an eyebrow at Frankie’s exaggerated hospitality, noting a self-satisfied gleam in his eyes.

  “What’s going on, Frankie,” he asked, dropping onto a chair and folding his arms over his chest. “You’ve obviously got something up your sleeve.”

  “It’s called payback, my friend.”

  A knock on the door sent Frankie scurrying over. He opened the door to reveal a heavyset man with thinning gray hair and thick, busy eyebrows. The man stormed into the room, his face was red and sweaty, and his shirt collar was t
oo tight.

  “What’s the meaning of this?”

  He waved a piece of paper in his hand as he looked around the room. Seeing the three men and the dog, his anger turned to confusion.

  “What is this? Some kind of shakedown?”

  Frankie laughed, then shrugged.

  “You could call it that I guess, Mr. Murray. But it’s not the type you’re probably used to.”

  He turned to Hunter and smiled.

  “Mr. Hadley, I’d like you to meet Mr. Lloyd Murray.”

  Hunter stared at the man in shock.

  “You’re Lloyd Murray? The man who’s buying Channel Ten?”

  Murray broad face grew even redder.

  “Who are you…what do you know about that?”

  “I’m the current station manager at Channel Ten,” Hunter said, looking toward Frankie. “And I’m not sure what is going on here.”

  Frankie held up his hands as if to quiet a crowd.

  “That’s where I come in. You see, Mr. Murray is being blackmailed into buying Channel Ten. There were some… how do I phrase this … compromising photos taken at the Riverview Hotel a few weeks ago.”

  Pacing the room as if he were a lawyer in a courtroom drama, Frankie turned his gaze on Murray, who stood frozen in place.

  “The blackmailer kept his identity secret, isn’t that right, Murray? But he told you to use all that money you’ve got to buy Channel Ten. Otherwise your wife and kids would receive copies of the pics. Am I right?”

  Murray blinked, but he didn’t say anything. Hunter could see the wheels spinning frantically in his head.

  “Do you know who the blackmailer is?” Hunter asked, trying to calculate what the information might mean to him. “And why they’d want Mr. Murray to buy the station.”

  “Yes and yes,” Frankie said in triumph. “I know the answer to both of those questions. You see, I have a source who knows who took the photos. In fact, that source is at the WBPD right now giving a statement.”

  Panic bloomed in Murray’s face as he absorbed Frankie’s words.

  “So, the good news, Mr. Murray, is that you no longer have to spend millions on a station you don’t want to buy.”

  Frankie paused for dramatic effect, before he continued.

  “The bad news is, your fucked up attempt to screw around with a girl half your age might be exposed.”

  Raising a fist, Murray seemed prepared to lunge at Frankie, but both Hunter and Finn stood up at the same time, glaring at the man. When Gracie began to growl low in her throat, Murray spun on his heel and banged through the door.

  Hunter watched the door swing shut behind him, then turned to Frankie with angry eyes.

  “Who blackmailed Murray?” he demanded. “And why make him buy the station?”

  “You’re the one who put me on to it.”

  Frankie leaned against his desk and crossed his skinny arms over his chest. He smiled at Hunter’s puzzled frown.

  “You asked Nessa about Nick Sargent’s involvement with Molly Blair. Turns out the loser was involved in a few different rackets. Drugs, prostitution, and blackmail.”

  Frankie scratched at the stubble on his chin.

  “Although why he targeted the station…I’m not so sure about that. Which is why I called you over here.”

  Shaking his head, Hunter tried to process what he had learned.

  “I was aware Nick that had been trying to damage Channel Ten. I mean, he was stealing our employees and advertisers every chance he got, but…this? He must have been out to completely destroy the station.”

  Finn put a hand on Hunter’s arm.

  “I hate to tell you this, but I think it was personal.”

  Hunter frowned, not quite understanding.

  “I think he wanted to destroy you, Hunter. Or at least your career. I’m not sure why, but some people just want to ruin anything good they see. They don’t like to see people getting ahead.”

  Thinking back to everything that had happened in the last few months, Hunter could see that Finn was right.

  “Well, whatever reason Sargent had, at least now the station isn’t being sold,” Finn said, sounding happy.

  “No, not as soon as we thought,” Hunter agreed. “But the board is still determined to sell. So, eventually it will happen. Unless…”

  Hunter hesitated. His idea of buying the station himself wasn’t feasible. Putting it out there would only give Finn and the rest of the crew false hope.

  “Unless what?” Finn asked. “Come on, Hadley, don’t leave me in suspense. If you know of something that could save the station, you gotta try.”

  Exhaling, Hunter sank back into the folding chair.

  “It’s just…I’ve been thinking about buying the station myself.”

  He kept his eyes down as he explained why it wouldn’t work.

  “I’ve been through the financials a million times, and I just don’t have enough to pull it off. I even thought of asking my father for a loan, but I don’t want to spend the rest of my life under his thumb.”

  Reaching down to scratch Gracie’s neck, Hunter tried to explain.

  “You see, Finn. My father isn’t the kind of man your dad was. Your dad was good, and he was honest.”

  Hunter struggled to find the right words.

  “My father…the mayor…well, he’s more interested in protecting himself and his position than in doing good. I’ve made the decision that I don’t want that kind of energy in my life anymore, and I can’t go back on it now.”

  “I wouldn’t want you to,” Finn said, reaching out to put a hand on Hunter’s arm. “And I know Dad wouldn’t want that either. Which is why I have another solution for you to consider.”

  Looking up in surprise, Hunter saw that Finn was smiling.

  “I may actually know someone who could be your partner. You guys could go in fifty-fifty or something.”

  “Okay, who is it? Someone I know?”

  Finn nodded, and raised his eyebrows.

  “It’s me,” he laughed. “Who’d you think I meant…Gracie?”

  The Lab looked up expectantly at her name, but Finn was staring at Hunter, waiting for his reaction.

  “You?” He finally managed. “But…”

  Yes, me…that is if you don’t mind a partner that is twice as good-looking as you and half your age.”

  “I’m only thirty-six, smartass,” Hunter said, beginning to smile. “Do you have the money to invest?”

  “My dad left me a trust fund,” Finn said, his eyes shining with pride. “He was a smart man, you know. He made some early investments in technology, and he lived a simple life.”

  Swallowing hard, Finn held Hunter’s gaze.

  “I know Dad would be happy his money’s going to good use. And I have some great ideas for taking our online operations to a whole new level. That is…if you’d been up for making some changes.”

  Hunter nodded, feeling as if a weight had been removed from his shoulders. This idea might actually work out. It might be his chance to start again.

  “I think it’s definitely time for some changes,” Hunter agreed. “And the first change I want to make is the station manager.”

  Finn blinked.

  “What do you mean, change station managers?”

  “I mean I want to be out in the field again,” Hunter said.

  He had the feeling if he didn’t make the leap know, he might never get another chance to do what he’d been born to do.

  “I want to go out and report on stories that matter. I want to investigate the world again. I don’t want to sit in my office and watch other people live out my dream. I don’t want to let the fear control me anymore.”

  “That’s deep, man. But I gotta a few things to take care of.”

  Hunter had almost forgotten that Frankie was in the room. He laughed, glad to have finally admitted to himself what he needed.

  “Besides, I’m sure you guys need to get busy on your new story.”

  When Hunter
looked at him blankly, Frankie shook his head.

  “Come on man, I thought you were a reporter. I’ve just handed you a mega scoop on slimy Nick Sargent and that dirtbag Murray. You tellin’ me you aren’t gonna jump on that?”

  Frankie slapped his palm on his desk for emphasis.

  “Especially seeing how Nick was the one that screwed you guys over on the initial Xavier Greyson story.”

  The comment caused Hunter’s stomach to drop.

  “From what I hear he paid some bartender to steal the information so your station would get blamed for the leak.”

  Hunter looked at Finn, wondering if he’d known this, but the young man looked as blindsided as he felt.

  “Nessa told me that fucked up mess caused Veronica Lee to quit.” Frankie scowled. “Man, she was your best damn reporter.”

  Crossing to the door, Hunter turned to see that Finn and Gracie were right behind him. They needed to get back to the station. They had a story to produce.

  If I do this right, it could be my one chance to win back Veronica’s trust.

  Chapter Fifty

  Veronica sat up in bed with a start, gasping for air. She’d had another nightmare about Xavier Greyson. This time she’d been back under the waves, gasping for breath, as her mother’s voice told her to let go. But in the nightmare, the words didn’t bring peace, they brought anger.

  Why did Ma tell me to give up? Shouldn’t she have encouraged her only daughter to fight for her life? Or is my life not worth fighting for?

  The irrational anger at her mother remained as Veronica made her way downstairs. It was a Saturday, and her mother was in the kitchen making breakfast as Veronica shuffled in. Winston lounged in a patch of sunlight, and Veronica bent to scoop him up.

  “I’m glad you slept in,” Ling Lee said, giving her daughter an assessing stare. “You’ve been working too hard.”

  Ignoring the comment, Veronica hugged the big tabby cat against her and took down a mug. She would have a cup of tea and some toast, and then head out again. Her research in Hart Cove was almost done. One more day and she’d been ready to write the final report.

  “Listen, Ronnie, I need to tell you something.”

  Ling stood at the sink, her back turned to Veronica.