“I don’t give a fuck, Uncle Kurt. Someone just blew up her fucking car.” Stephanie had no trouble hearing John yell into the phone. Someone blew up her car? Tears started running down her cheeks before she even realized she was crying.
“Steph, what the hell is going on?” Sandy wrapped her arm around Stephanie’s shoulder.
They could have killed her and Sandy. “I wish I knew. I’ve got to call Cora and let her know what happened.” She pulled out her phone. Her hands were shaking so hard she couldn’t even unlock it. She looked up when Sandy took the phone from her hand.
“I’ll call her for you.” Sandy opened her phone and found Cora’s number. Everything around her started to fade into a haze. All she knew was someone was trying to kill her. But why? She never did anything to anyone. She didn’t even notice John when he knelt in front of her. His lips were moving, but she couldn’t make out what he was saying. The only thing she could hear was the pounding of her heart in her ears.
“Stephanie!” It sounded hollow, but she knew it was John.
“I think she’s going into shock.” She recognized the voice, but for the life of her she didn’t know who it was.
“I’ll get a blanket.” Another voice.
“She feels really clammy.” Was that John’s voice?
“Get her to lay down on her side and cover her up with this until the ambulance gets here.” That sounded like James. Someone laid her down. Her eyes went to John standing above her. Why did he look so worried? So cold. Oh God, where was Sandy?
“Sandy?” Was that her voice?
“I’m here Stephanie, I’m fine.” Sandy knelt next to her and held her hand. “You just rest.” Yes, rest sounded good. Sandy was fine. She could rest now.
Stephanie opened her eyes and sat up in terror. Where was she? The hospital. Why was she in the hospital? Where was John? She glanced around the room. It was dark with only a faint light coming from the hallway. John sat in a chair, his eyes closed. She tried hard to remember what happened. Then it all came rushing back. The explosion. Her car. She covered her face and tears flowed down her cheeks.
“Shh…. honey, you’re okay.” John’s strong arms wrapped around her and she clung to him.
“I smelled gas.” She sobbed.
“What?”
“I smelled gas. When I was going to the car. I didn’t know what it was at first, but it just hit me. It was gas.” She sobbed.
“Honey, there was a hole punctured into your tank and stuffed with a piece of cloth. There was a trail of gas that went to the road. We found a couple of matches on the road where the gas trail ended.” John said. “Someone saw you heading to the car, dropped the matches and took off.”
“John, why.... w....w....would someone want to k....k....kill me?” She asked between broken sobs.
“I don’t know, baby, but we’re going to find out.” He held her tightly against his chest. “I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”
A day later John brought her home from the hospital and she saw the scorch marks still at the end of the driveway. Stephanie shuddered and closed her eyes. John’s hand found hers and squeezed it gently. Stephanie opened her eyes. John’s front door was open. His whole family and her parents came pouring out of the door. Before John could get out of the car, her father opened the door and helped her out. Doug wrapped his big arms around her and guided her into the house. Inside, she was swallowed up in hugs. Then she heard the demanding voice of Nanny Betty ordering everyone to get out of her way.
“Now me ducky, ya come in here and sit down.” Nanny Betty took Stephanie’s arm and pulled her into the living room. “We’re all here for ya.” She watched with a smile as Nanny Betty ordered everyone around. She sent Aaron and Mike into the kitchen to get tea. James was sent to get a blanket. Janet was ordered to sit down next to Stephanie. Then she turned to Kurt.
“Now my sonny boy, I don’t know what kind of police department yur running out there in town, but ya damn well better find this son of a gun who’s trying to hurt our girl.” Doug stifled a laugh as Nanny Betty stood with her finger in Kurt’s face.
“Mudder, we’re doing everything we can.” Kurt sounded like a little boy trying to get out of trouble.
“Well ya can’t be doing everything now can ya, or ya’d have them in jail.” She snapped. “Now catch them.” She walked around Kurt and disappeared to the kitchen.
“I swear, I should hire that woman for interrogation.” Kurt chuckled.
“You really should,” Janet said.
“Do you think you could answer a few questions, Stephanie?” Kurt was looking at her. Stephanie nodded.
“Is this really necessary now, Uncle Kurt?” John sat on the arm of the chair next to her.
“John, you know the answer to that.” Kurt gave him a warning look. “John said you smelled gas as you were walking to the car. What made you go back to the house?”
“She left her phone on the counter and she came back to get it,” John answered for her.
“Stephanie, have you talked to Brad King recently?” Kurt asked.
“The last time I talked to him was at the fundraiser,” Stephanie said.
“I see.” Kurt glanced at John.
“Wait…. what…. You think Brad is doing this?” She looked from Kurt to John. There’s something they weren’t telling her. “What’s going on?”
“He hasn’t shown up to work since the fundraiser, and we’ve been trying to contact him at home to question him, but he’s not answering. One of our officers went to his apartment, but his girlfriend said he was out of town.” Kurt explained. “Do you know her?”
“I just know she’s the one he was cheating on me with, but I don’t know her.”
“Her name’s Erica Reid,” Kurt said.
“I only knew her first name,” Stephanie said.
“Stop harassing the poor girl, Kurt.” Nanny Betty pushed past him and placed a tray on the table in front of Stephanie. “Now ducky, ya have some of this pea soup and dumplings.” Stephanie wasn’t going to argue. When Nanny Betty told you to do something you just did it. She had learned that pretty quickly. Stephanie picked up the tray and began to eat, but her mind was going in circles. Where was Brad? Was he hiding out because he was responsible or was he really just out of town?
She was tired of answering the same questions over and over. There were too many emotions at the same time. She was getting a headache from it all. John, James, Keith, Aaron, her father, and Kurt were huddled in the hallway talking in hushed tones. No doubt about her and Brad. Nanny Betty was hovering over her feeding her more food than she could possibly eat. Her mother and Kathleen were in the kitchen, and Sandy was sat at her side.
Sandy could have been killed, but she was sat at her side trying to comfort her. What if she hadn’t forgotten her phone? Stephanie glanced around the room. She was trying to distract herself. Sean, Ian, Mike, and Nick sat on the other side of the living room also talking in hushed tones. Even her friend Donna was constantly calling or texting to check on her. It was driving her to the brink of insanity. The beep of a cell phone distracted her. She glanced at Sandy. She was staring at her phone.
“Stephanie, I hate to do this, but I need to go. It’s something with work, but I’ll drop in to see you when I get home.” Sandy hugged her and stood.
“You really should be resting too, Sandy,” Stephanie complained. “You could’ve been hurt badly.”
“I don’t have the luxury of resting, but I’ll be fine.”
Stephanie followed her with her eyes. Sandy spoke with John, Keith and Kurt before she left. Then disappeared through the door. A few seconds later she jumped when her cell phone rang. She didn’t recognize the number.
“Hello!” Stephanie was nervous to answer it.
“Is this Stephanie Kelly?” A female voice asked.
“Yes!”
“Oh good! This is Kim Newman.” Stephanie froze. Why would John’s ex be calling her? “Before you say anything please
just listen to me.”
“Okay.”
“I’ve been told someone has been trying to hurt you.” Stephanie didn’t speak. “I can’t tell you who, but believe me when I tell you this person is crazy.”
“You know who it is.” Stephanie gasped.
“I found out at the fundraiser, and I thought it was just this person trying to sound tough, but I just found out what happened this morning. I’d really like to talk to you about it.” She was rambling but sincere.
“You should talk to the police,” Stephanie said.
“I will, but I wanted to talk to you first and John.” Was this a ploy just to see John? “I’ll text you the address. Please meet me, and tell John it has nothing to do with our relationship. It’s to keep you safe.” Stephanie heard the click and a few seconds later she got the text with an address.
“Who was that?” John asked. Stephanie told him what Kim said. John was skeptical. Kurt said they should meet her, but they weren’t going alone.
“You don’t think Kim could be the one doing this?” Mike asked.
“Until we know for sure, we’ve got to be careful,” Kurt said. Stephanie read the address. Why did it seem so familiar?
“Well let’s go.” Stephanie stood up and headed to the door.
“Hold on there, sweetheart. We need to make a plan just in case Kim is our culprit.” John turned to Kurt. “What do we do?” Stephanie listened. She was getting more impatient by the minute. This had to end. If it was Kim, then they needed to know for sure.
The plan was for John and Stephanie to go to the apartment. James, Kurt and two of the other officers to follow them. John made her wear a Kevlar vest. Stephanie argued, but she didn’t win that argument. This was ridiculous. Once they were ready to go, John and Kurt had to stop Doug from following them. He wasn’t pleased, but Janet convinced him Stephanie would be safe. He hugged her tight before she left.
The entire drive John held her hand. It was almost painful, but she wasn’t complaining. They pulled in front of an apartment building and it hit her why the address was familiar. A chill ran down her spine.
Brad used to live there when they first met.
John got out of the car and scanned the area before he opened her door. Stephanie took his hand as they entered the building. Inside, Kurt, James and the other officers were in the lobby. They were just standing around like nothing was going on. John pulled her to the elevator. He stood in front of her as the doors opened. When he was satisfied that the elevator was safe he pulled her in. The ride up seemed to take forever and they were only going to the third floor.
“Stay behind me,” John warned as they got out of the elevator. The apartment was the fourth one down the hall. When they walked up to it, the door was already open. John pushed her completely behind him and drew his gun. How did she not know he had his gun with him? Was she that distracted that she didn’t see the thing strapped to him? He held her hand as they approached the open door with caution. The closer they got, the more her heart pounded.
“Kim!” John called. Stephanie looked around but didn’t see anyone. Then she heard someone yell.
“Call an ambulance!”
Was that Sandy? Stephanie’s heart felt like it was in her throat. John hurried into the apartment pulling Stephanie with him.
Sandy had tears streaming down her cheeks and she was kneeling over a very bloody Kim on the floor.
John holstered his weapon. “Sandy, what the hell are you doing here?”
“She’s still breathing, call someone.” Sandy sobbed. “Hold on, honey. Help is coming.” John pulled out his phone.
“Sandy, answer me. What are you doing here?” John grabbed her and pulled her to her feet.
“Sh…. she’s my s…. s…. sister.” Sandy sobbed. The look of shock on John’s face matched her own feelings.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” John growled. Before Sandy answered, Kurt and James ran into the apartment. “You knew she was doing this and you didn’t tell me?” John yelled.
“I couldn’t tell you.” Sandy cried.
“Were you fucking helping her?” John shook her and the look on his face made Stephanie tremble.
“John! Stop!” Kurt’s voice boomed.
“She knew, Kurt!” John had a death grip on Sandy’s arm.
“Jesus, John, she’s got nothing to do with this,” Kurt yelled. “She’s one of us. She works for Keith.”
Stephanie’s jaw dropped open. John’s expression said he had no idea either. She felt a hand on her shoulder. When she turned James and Keith were behind her. James guided her out of the apartment so the paramedics could get in.
“What’s going on, James? What does Kurt mean Sandy works for Keith and is one of you?” Stephanie stared up at James.
“I don’t know, but I think we’re about to find out.” James nodded toward the door where Kurt, John, Keith, and Sandy were walking out of the apartment. John’s jaw was clenched so tight it was surprising his teeth didn’t crack.
“You want to tell me what the fuck is going on here?” John stood with his hands on his hips and glared at Keith.
“Sandy works for me and the NPD,” Keith said. John glared at Sandy and then back to Keith.
“So she’s a cop?” John snapped.
“Yes,” Kurt said.
“And no.” Keith finished
“Keith, I really need to go with my sister.” Sandy sobbed as the paramedics rolled out the gurney with Kim on it.
“You go with her, and I’ll explain everything, but Sandy we need all the information Kim has,” Kurt said.
“I know.” Sandy ran down the hall toward the paramedics.
“You’re just letting her go,” John yelled.
“Calm the fuck down before I kick your ass,” Keith yelled back.
“Can we just all calm down and find out what’s going on.” James stood between Keith and John. Stephanie glanced at Kurt. None of this seemed to be disturbing him.
“Before I explain John, you’ve got to understand, I didn’t know Kim was involved until just now,” Keith said. “Now let’s go back to your house. Kurt and I will explain everything.”
After the forensics crew arrived they left for John’s house. Kurt tried to clear the family out so Keith could explain. With John’s family and her parents, the man didn’t stand a chance. Especially when Nanny Betty threatened to box his ears if he didn’t explain and explain fast.
“Remember everyone this has to stay quiet,” Kurt warned. Everyone in the house nodded.
“Sandy works for me,” Keith said.
“I thought she worked with a catering place. You’re telling us she’s a construction worker?” Nick asked.
“Start from the beginning, Keith,” Kurt said. Stephanie was so confused. As far as she understood Keith owned his own construction company.
“I don’t own a construction company. Yes, I work construction from time to time but the company I own has nothing to do with it.” Everyone’s eyes were glued to Keith.
“Get to the fucking point.” John snapped as he paced.
“Watch your language, Johnny.” Nanny Betty warned. “Go on, Keithy.”
John shut his mouth and Stephanie covered hers to hide her smile. Nanny Betty was in control here and nobody else.
“The reason John is being so impatient.” Keith glared. “Is because he’s one of the few that know I actually own a high-end security firm.” From the amount of gasps and the ‘no ways’ and ‘you’re kiddings’, Stephanie guessed very few that knew about it.
“Keith’s company works alongside the police. His company provides security and investigation services.” Kurt explained.
“Ok.... yes…. great. Keith’s the man.” John grumbled. “What the f.…” John glanced at Nanny Betty. She was giving him a very stern look. “What does Keith’s company have to do with all this?” John continued without the cursing.
“Sandy graduated at the top of her class with the police academy. T
here’s also nothing the woman can’t do with a computer. She has the highest security clearance of anybody in the country, and was recruited by the N.P.D to work undercover when needed, but her main job is with my firm.” Keith looked at John. “There’s no way she’s involved with hurting Stephanie.”
“So you’re saying that she’s kind of the Penelope Garcia of Newfoundland.” Aaron chuckled.
“Who’s that?” Kurt asked.
“From the TV show Criminal Minds,” Mike said.
“Oh yeah! I guess you could say that.” Kurt continued.
“The reason she’s not hired by any department full time is because nobody can afford to pay what she’s worth. She’s that good. Whenever anyone needs anything they call me, and I call Sandy.” Keith said.
“Did you know Kim was her sister?” John said.
“No, I didn’t,” Keith said.
“So does this mean it’s all over?” Stephanie asked. She saw Kurt and John exchange a look that told her it wasn’t over.
“I need to talk to Sandy,” Kurt said.
“I’m going with you,” John said.
“So am I.” Stephanie knew they were going to try and stop her. John opened his mouth and she held up her hand. “Don’t you dare say no to me. This is my life and I want to know exactly what Sandy knows.” She walked out the front door and waited with her arms crossed over her chest. Stephanie held her breath as John walked out behind her.
At the hospital, a nurse directed them to the intensive care unit. Sandy sat in the waiting room with her head in her hands. Stephanie was having a difficult time wrapping her head around the fact, Sandy was so brilliant.
“Sandy?” Kurt walked up to her. She lifted her head and Stephanie’s heart broke. Sandy’s eyes were red and her cheeks were blotchy. She’d obviously been crying for a while.
“How’s your sister?” Stephanie sat next to her. She didn’t want Sandy to feel intimidated by Kurt or John. With the way John was looking at Sandy, Stephanie felt intimidated.
“She’s stable, but she hasn’t woken up yet. She’s lost a lot of blood. She was stabbed three times.”
“So are you going to tell us what happened?” John snapped.
Dangerous Therapy: O'Connor Brothers (Volume 1) Page 25
