“And now it’s 10:21.” Conner jotted down the two times. “Thirty minutes apart.”
He restarted the video, and the bird appeared again at 10:51. The rest of the night was uneventful. He closed the computer. “I’d say that what we’re seeing from 10:51 on is the real thing.”
Darci agreed. “But starting at 9:51, the recording was set on two loops.”
Conner shook his head. “Someone really knows this equipment. I couldn’t begin to explain how they altered the recording, then uploaded it to the cloud. The sad part of it is they would have gotten away with it if it weren’t for the owl deciding to fly across the path of the camera at that exact moment.”
Darci frowned. “So we know that something happened at the mine last night between 9:51 and 10:51.”
Conner nodded. “Something that someone has gone to a whole lot of trouble to keep secret.”
TEN
“I think you need to give it a try.”
Darci turned toward Nicki and cocked a brow. “Give what a try?”
“A relationship with Conner. I can tell you’re thinking about him.”
Yeah. Thinking about Conner had become a favorite pastime, second only to being with Conner.
She propped her feet on the coffee table next to the popcorn bowl, empty now except for a few kernels. She and Nicki had just finished watching a movie, a romantic comedy. Probably not the best choice in her state of mind.
Conner’s kiss last night had left her more confused than ever. They didn’t have that kind of relationship.
She sighed. “No one can lasso Conner’s heart. You said it yourself.”
“I made that statement before I saw him with you. That boy’s got it bad.”
Darci frowned. “I think you’ve got an overactive imagination.”
There was definitely attraction. It had been there right from the start, at least on her end. And unless she had misinterpreted the warmth in his eyes, she’d sparked his interest fairly early, too.
But moving from attraction to the kind of kiss they’d shared last night was a huge step, one she wasn’t ready to take. And based on everything she knew about Conner, he wasn’t, either. He probably never would be.
Nicki crossed her arms. “You’re living in denial. I’ve known Conner for a long time, and I’ve never seen him like this. He can’t keep his eyes off you.”
“It’ll pass. Like you said, just when you think he’s crazy about you, you find out it’s nothing more than that Stevenson charm.”
Nicki glared at her, but there was humor behind it. “You’re going to make me eat my words, aren’t you? What I saw last night went way beyond Stevenson charm.”
Heat crept into her cheeks at the reminder. “It doesn’t matter. It’s not a choice I’m at liberty to make. I have a child to think about.”
“So? Children always do better in two-parent homes. They’ve done studies on that.”
What Nicki said was true. But there were factors she didn’t know about.
“Jayden isn’t your typical child. He’s got autism. There’s a chance that he might be with me for the rest of my life. He’s my responsibility, not Conner’s or anyone else’s.”
“But if Conner is willing to assume that responsibility, it benefits both you and Jayden.”
Darci shook her head. Nicki made it sound so simple. It was anything but.
Right now, a common cause had thrown them together. Conner needed to bust Wiggins to get justice for his sister. She needed to bust Wiggins to clear herself. Once that was accomplished, would there be enough to keep them together? Probably not.
She glanced at the clock, then rose from the couch. It was a few minutes after ten, and though Nicki usually had Saturdays off, tomorrow morning she would have to work. “I’ll think about it. Okay?”
“That’s all I ask.”
As Darci made her way along the stepping stones, Nicki watched from her back door. Before closing her own, Darci waved good-night to her new friend.
Gratitude welled up inside her. She was in the valley now, deeper than any she’d ever experienced. But God was with her. And He had provided encouragement and support in the form of Conner and Nicki.
She locked the door, then pulled a phone from her pocket and laid it on the coffee table. It wasn’t her android. If anyone checked that account, the last call would be the one from Conner Monday afternoon. What she had now was the TracFone he’d given her last night.
She changed into the pants and T-shirt she’d selected as her nightwear and eyed the stack of books on the coffee table. Boredom had been driving her crazy, so at her request, Nicki had stopped at the library after work today and chosen books from a variety of genres. Christmas had arrived early.
Darci eased onto the couch and reached for the stack. There were two historicals, a time travel, a contemporary romance, a women’s fiction and a fantasy. Two genres were missing—suspense and horror. Nicki apparently figured she didn’t need anything to scare her or keep her on the edge of her seat. She had enough of that in real life.
After reading the blurbs on each, she settled on the time travel. Partway into the second chapter, her new phone rang. She smiled. Since Conner and Nicki were the only ones who had the number, it was probably Conner.
Instead, it was Nicki’s number that showed up on the display. She swiped the screen and pressed the phone to her ear.
“Run!” The single word was shrill and laced with panic.
She shot to her feet at the same time the door exploded inward. Two men stormed in, both in ski masks. Her heart pounded against her rib cage, sending blood roaring through her ears, and she lunged for the back door. With shaking fingers, she twisted the top lock. One more to go.
A hand tightened on her shoulder and spun her around. The next moment, a gloved fist connected with the left side of her jaw, snapping her head sideways and sending pain shooting through the side of her face. The phone clattered to the floor.
She backed away, hands outstretched, until the side of the kitchen cabinets stopped her. The beast of a man towered over her, reeking of cigarette smoke. He took a step closer, and she twisted and ducked, then ran for the front door.
But the other man stood guard in the damaged opening like an evil sentry, his arms crossed over his chest. He was smaller than the man who had hit her, but it might as well have been a squad of soldiers blocking the door.
She skidded to a stop and spun around. The beast moved closer, clenching his fists. Her gaze shot to the back door. If she could make it around him and out, she could probably outrun him. It was her only hope. God, help me.
But as she sprinted past him, he grabbed her shirt, bringing her to an abrupt halt. Blue eyes locked with hers, startling in their intensity. But the coldness in their depths chilled her to the core. He was going to hit her again.
No. She couldn’t handle another blow. A scream welled up in her throat but was cut short as pain exploded across her mind. Tiny points of light danced in front of her, and shadows darkened the edges of her vision. Her knees buckled, and he released her shirt, letting her fall forward.
But he wasn’t finished with her. He grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled until she was upright, resting on her knees. Blood had pooled in her mouth, and her tongue had become thick and stiff.
Then he continued his assault, slamming a boot into her right side. A cry came up her throat, half guttural moan and half scream. He released her hair, and she fell sideways, the blood that had pooled in her mouth running out onto the tile floor.
She drew up her knees and curled into a fetal position. Her ribs screamed in agony with each jagged breath. There was no one to help her. The blessing of no close neighbors to meddle in her business was turning out to be a curse. Dear God, please just let it end.
Her tormentor slowly ci
rcled her, then stopped in front of her. He shifted his weight to one foot, and she squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for the next blow.
“Hey, take it easy.” The voice came from the direction of the front door. “He wants her scared, not dead.”
Footsteps sounded against the tile floor, and she lifted one eyelid. The man stepped to the side and retrieved her phone from the floor. For a half minute, he stood with his back to her. Then he laid the phone on the coffee table and followed the other man outside.
A heavy silence fell over the house, and she lay motionless, body screaming in pain. Finally, she pushed herself upright and clutched her side. She likely had some cracked ribs. And though she wanted nothing more than to lie down and sleep, she needed to check on Nicki and call Conner.
She slowly got to her feet, wincing with each movement. The door had been ripped from its hinges, the jamb splintered. Lead settled in her gut. She had not only put Nicki in danger, she’d also gotten her property damaged. First thing tomorrow morning, she would leave. She had no idea where she would go, but she couldn’t stay here any longer.
When she stepped outside, Nicki was halfway up the walk, still dressed in the clothes she’d been in earlier. Darci watched her close the remaining distance, then gasped when she moved into the light. Her lower lip was puffy, and blood had dried at the corner of her mouth. One eye had swollen partially shut.
Darci swallowed hard, guilt stabbing her. She should never have come here. “Are you okay?”
“More okay than you are. You’d better see a doctor.”
“I can’t. You know my story.”
Nicki nodded. “The police are on the way. I’m sorry. I couldn’t let those guys kill you.”
The kindness in Nicki’s eyes almost broke her, and she had to fight back tears. “I understand. What did you tell them?”
“I didn’t say anything about you. I said that two guys busted my door down and started to beat me up but left when I screamed. All that was true. I just left out some details.” She gave her a half smile, then winced. “I’m sure they’ll check things out back here. Get your stuff together, and I’ll clean up the blood. Take some food with you. There are plastic bags under the sink.”
A faint squeal sounded in the distance. Darci pushed the pain to the back of her mind and limped into the kitchen. By the time she’d filled the first bag, Nicki had finished her task and grabbed another empty bag.
The sirens moved closer. Nicki opened a dresser drawer and removed some items.
Darci protested, “Those are yours.”
“Take them.”
A minute later, she moved to the back door with two grocery bags over one arm and a third bag and her purse over the other. Her new phone was inside.
“Wait.” Nicki stepped on the heel of one tennis shoe and pulled her foot out. After doing the same with the other, she stripped off both socks. “Those sandals I picked up for you aren’t going to do it.”
Darci’s eyes stung as tears threatened. “How can I ever repay you?”
Nicki pressed the tennis shoes and socks into her arms. “Just stay alive.”
The sirens increased in volume, their shrillness rending the quiet night. Then they fell silent. The police were right out front.
Nicki ran to meet them, and Darci slipped out the back. The darkness wrapped around her, and she felt more alone than she had since the whole ordeal began. It was getting harder and harder to trust God and hang on to her optimism. No, not optimism. Faith.
Since coming back to God at the end of her senior year of college, never once had her faith faltered. Not through Jayden’s diagnosis and not through the struggles she faced raising a special-needs child alone. Now she was having her faith tested daily. Hourly.
She squared her shoulders and raised her chin. She would keep reminding herself that, no matter what happened, God was in control. He was always in control.
The TracFone rang, and a number she didn’t recognize displayed on the screen. She put it to her ear with a tentative “Hello.”
“Hello, Tucker.” It was Wiggins. She would recognize that condescending tone anywhere. “Did you enjoy your little visit?”
Anger coursed through her. The moment the men burst into the cottage, she was sure Wiggins had sent them. But hearing him gloat almost sent her over the edge.
She drew in a stabilizing breath. “What do you want?”
“Your confession. Turn yourself in and admit to embezzling, and I’ll see to it that all the charges are dropped. Then disappear. Let your little investigation go, and never set foot on P. T. property again.”
“Forget it.”
“Listen, Tucker. If you try to go up against me, you’re making a big mistake.”
“No, Wiggins. You’re the one making a big mistake. You’re underestimating me.”
She lowered the phone and ended the call. Wiggins had said he would get the charges dropped. He was making empty promises. He didn’t have that authority.
According to what Conner had learned from Hunter, she hadn’t been officially charged. She was just wanted for questioning. But those charges were coming. Once the authorities sifted through all the information, she would have a lot more to fight than attempting to elude a law enforcement officer.
Unless Wiggins had no plans to provide the evidence to charge her with. It would make sense. If he gave the police what they would need to put her away, he risked getting himself arrested.
His plan to keep her quiet by framing her had backfired. So maybe this was plan B. But if plan B involved her confessing to a crime she didn’t commit, it wasn’t going to work out for him any better than plan A had.
When her phone rang again, she glanced at the screen, then let it go to voice mail. There was nothing Wiggins had to say that she needed to hear.
A few minutes later, she pulled her phone out again. If Wiggins was brash enough to record a threat, it could work to her advantage. The single message began to play.
“Hanging up on me wasn’t wise, Tucker.” Although there was the hint of something familiar, the airy tone and feigned Italian accent disguised his voice well. “I know where your parents live. You do as I say, or not only will you disappear, but that little boy of yours will, too.”
Darci lowered the phone, her blood turning to ice in her veins.
Wiggins had threatened her so many times, it was starting to lose its effect.
But now he was threatening her son.
And that changed everything.
* * *
Conner picked up his phone and checked the time. Darci was spending the evening with Nicki, as usual, but at well after ten, she should be back at the cottage. Now that he’d gotten her own phone to her, he could call her whenever he wanted without bothering Nicki.
Before he could pull up her number, the phone rang in his hand. He put it to his ear.
“Hi, sweetheart. I was just getting ready to call you, but you beat me to it.”
“I had to leave Nicki’s.”
The bluntness of her words, as well as the desperation behind them, instantly squashed his enthusiasm. “Why? What happened?”
“Wiggins found me and sent a couple of goons to punch a little fear into me.”
Fire shot through him at the thought of anyone hurting her. If he could get his hands on Wiggins at that moment, Wiggins would be on his way to the hospital and he would be on his way to jail.
The realization that followed was a sucker punch to the gut. It was his fault. He’d led them to her. No one had been following when he and Nicki left Walmart. But Wiggins had men watching for his return. And even though Nicki had dropped him off a few blocks away, someone had seen them, then followed her home.
“This is my fault. I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t blame yourself. You took
all kinds of precautions.”
But he did blame himself. He’d been acting on his own selfish desires. He’d wanted to see her, so he’d found a way.
But beating himself up was accomplishing nothing. “Did you recognize either of the men?”
“No, they had ski masks on. The man at the door was the right height and build to be Jimmy Fuller. But I can’t imagine him standing by and watching the beating that I took. Of course, if he’s involved with Wiggins, he’d probably do anything to keep from getting caught.”
Conner ground his teeth. Another reason to dislike Fuller. “How about the other one?”
“He was big, probably six foot, and he had blue eyes, a vivid aqua blue. If I ever see him again, I’d recognize them instantly.”
“Did they talk to you at all?”
“The big guy didn’t say a word. But after he’d beat me half senseless, the other guy told him to take it easy.”
The longing to be with her was so overwhelming it hurt. “Where are you?”
“Hiding out in the woods near Nicki’s house. She sent food with me, a couple of changes of clothes and a light jacket, all hers. She even gave me the shoes off her feet.”
“They fit you?”
“They’re a couple sizes too big, but I’m managing. I owe her a lot. I don’t know what I would have done the last few days without her.”
Gratitude underscored her words, in spite of her bleak circumstances. That thankful spirit was something he loved about her.
She lowered her voice. “Wiggins threatened Jayden.”
“You talked to Wiggins?”
“The guy who hit me picked up my phone before he left and called Wiggins so he’d have my number. When Wiggins called, he told me to turn myself in and admit to embezzling, and he would have the charges dropped.”
“You don’t believe him, do you?”
“Not for a second. When I wouldn’t agree to his demands, he threatened Jayden. I called my mom, and they’ll be on their way to North Carolina with him shortly. They have a place outside of Murphy.”
Mistletoe Justice Page 14
