“Why are you here?”
“I wanted to be here in case you needed me.” He looked around. She’d done just fine without him.
She stood, walked over to Elton, pulled out her cuffs. “I’ve waited ten years to do this.”
Elton glared. “You always were a bitch.”
“Seems you bring that out in the girls you abuse.”
Darin picked up the gun from the floor, dropped it in an evidence bag and watched Gina cuff the man who had ruined her childhood. She tightened the cuffs a little more than was necessary. Then gave him the Miranda warning.
“You can’t arrest me. I haven’t done a thing. Tell them, girls.” He raised his voice. “Tell them I never hurt you.”
“You hurt us,” Gina reminded him. “You raped Maddy. For the first time in your wicked life you’re going to pay.”
He paled, but stood his ground. “You can never prove it.”
Gina took out a sheet of paper. “Warrant. You’ll pay all right. Take a look around, Elton. Look at the lives you did your best to destroy.”
Carrie and her sister stood there with tears streaming down their faces. Maddy had her arms around both, doing her best to comfort them.
A woman ran into the room. The girls’ sobs grew louder as they rushed to her.
“The mother,” Maddy whispered. “She should have protected her girls.”
“What’s going on?” the woman asked.
Gina walked up to her and introduced everyone. “Maddy is with CPS. She’s here to take your girls into custody. I’m an officer with HPD here to arrest Elton Griffin for the rape of my sister and the sexual abuse of myself. Officers Callahan and Carpenter are here to make sure your husband doesn’t cause trouble.”
The woman’s eyes were wild as she hugged her daughters close. “His name is Jonathan Fazio.”
“He lied to you. He’s a pedophile using a false name. He’s under arrest and going to jail.”
“Dear God. Was there trouble?
Her voice was uncertain, soft, low, and worried.
“Could you give us your name?” Darin asked. This was getting crazy. The woman had a look in her eyes that told him she would do anything to keep her girls with her.
“Gail Morton. We haven’t been married long. Something told me not to change my name. Now I know why. I found out this week how Jonathan, or whatever his name is, has been abusing my girls.”
“Why didn’t you take your girls and leave?” Gina asked.
The woman put her head in her hands. “I can’t believe I was so gullible.” She looked up. “This is my house. I knew him well enough to know I couldn’t get him out of it. I bought a gun off the street yesterday. No. I didn’t plan to kill him, just scare him into packing and getting the hell out.”
“You took a big chance. Guns can be dangerous,” Darin reminded her.
“What happened here?”
First Maddy then Gina told her how Carrie could have gotten herself and possibly someone else killed.
Gail forced a laugh. “The gun wasn’t loaded.”
“Yes, it was, Mom. It went off when Jonathan grabbed for it.”
Gail turned a few shades paler. “What have I done?”
She looked at Maddy, then at Gina and the two officers. “Have I lost my daughters?” She hugged them tighter. “Please. Don’t take them away because I’ve been foolish. You don’t know how much I love them.”
The drama was too painful to watch. Darin could see how both Gina and her sister were reliving the pain of their childhood. He wanted to take a club to Elton’s head just as Gina had all those years ago.
He pulled Gina and Maddy into a corner, his voice low so the others couldn’t hear. “Can’t this be straightened out at headquarters?”
“Of course it can,” Gina said. “Can’t it, Maddy?”
Maddy nodded. “I’ll take the mother and the girls with me, Officer Carpenter can take Elton in his patrol car.”
“I’ll meet you there,” Gina promised.
The rain had stopped. A damp haze lingered in the air.
Gail helped her daughters into the backseat. “I’m so sorry, girls. He fooled me. I had no idea he would hurt you. When I found out, I did all the wrong things.”
Then she was sobbing.
“I’m glad I’m not the one driving them in,” Darin said.
Gina shut the door and walked toward her car. “Maddy can handle it.”
“Both of you are tough.”
She looked back at him as she opened her car door. “We had to be.”
He put a hand on her arm. “Can we talk?”
“About?”
“Us.”
“Is there an us? I thought when you walked out of Chief Hamilton’s office you were so angry you never wanted to see me again.”
“We need to talk about it.”
She looked at her watch. “It’s getting late. I have to go in. Elton is my collar, and I intend to be there when they process him.”
“My house, whenever you’ve finished.”
She shook her head. “This has been a traumatic day for both Maddy and myself. We’ve lived with this for years. Now that it’s over we need to lay it to rest.”
“I understand.” And he did, but when Gina’s car disappeared in the mist, he was bereft. Would he get her back? Had he ever had her in the first place? They’d shared a few incredible kisses. Now that the abusive Elton Griffin was under arrest, perhaps Gina could put her past behind her. Would she want him in her life now? Or would she look further? It wasn’t as if she’d had a normal upbringing. She’d never dated. If she wanted to now, he wouldn’t stop her.
She could easily go back to Dallas, date, fall in love, forget he ever existed. She might look back with gratitude, even fondness on their short-lived relationship...
To hell with that!
****
It took two hours to process Elton. Gina and Maddy held hands as they walked to his cell. Seeing him behind bars was the most satisfying sight Gina had ever seen. Seeing the smile on Maddy’s face was a priceless gift.
“I’ll be out tomorrow,” he promised.
Spit sprayed and frothed around his mouth. He looked rabid, and so angry they took a step back. Even here, safely out of his reach, they felt the power of his hatred.
“You’re where you belong,” Gina said as calmly as she could. “You won’t be out for a very long time, if ever.”
“A lock on your door might have kept me away when you were kids. Not now.”
Standing with his hands braced on the bars he glared at them. “You think you’re safe.” He laughed that crazy giggle they’d learned to hate as kids. “You’ll wish you’d left things alone before I’m through.”
Gina stepped closer. “You won’t hurt little girls again. For that I’m grateful.”
“I never hurt little girls. I love them.”
“You’re sick, Elton.”
The sisters turned their backs and walked away.
When they walked into Maddy’s apartment an hour later, they fell into each other’s arms. Sobbed.
“It’s over,” Gina whispered.
Maddy took a strangled breath. “It feels great.”
Gina laughed. “Yes, it does. Now, let’s open that bottle of red you’ve been hoarding.”
Back in the kitchen, they lifted their glasses. “Here’s to freedom,” Gina said.
“Amen.”
They drank in silence for a few minutes.
“Is there any chance he’ll get out?” Maddy asked.
“I don’t see how. You talked to the girls, are they willing to testify?”
“They are.”
“We’ll do the same. I doubt Elton will ever be free again.”
They drank their wine in silence.
“Maddy, do you care for Hank?”
Maddy nodded.
“I mean really care for him. You know, want to be with him all the time, want him to kiss you, touch you.” The way she did with Darin.
“I do. My feelings frighten me. Though I want him to kiss and touch, I find myself turning away.” She looked at Gina. “It’s not what men want. So I’ll probably lose him.”
Gina took Maddy’s hand. “You have to talk to him, tell him about our childhood and what happened to you. If he’s the man for you, he’ll understand and help you through this.”
Maddy looked at her sister closely. “Darin did that for you. I’m glad.”
Gina smiled a crooked smile. “I told him everything and he was wonderful.” She leaned back and shut her eyes. “When he kissed me, I never wanted him to stop.” Still didn’t.
Though he’d walked away, he’d come back, and wanted to talk. It was a good sign.
“Do you love him?”
“Yes.” She stood to rinse her glass and put the empty bottle in the garbage. “But I lied to him about why I was here. Darin has a strong sense of right and wrong. In his eyes, it was wrong to misrepresent myself. He’s angry.”
“You were doing your job. He should understand.”
“Part of him does.”
“What are you going to do?”
“He wants to talk. So we’ll see what happens. But Maddy...” She walked over to her sister, took her by the shoulders. “If you have feelings for Hank, you have to talk to him. If he cares for you, he’ll understand.”
Tears welled in Maddy’s eyes. “It won’t be easy.”
“No, it won’t. Just promise me you’ll do it. Neither of us can give Elton the power to dictate our emotions another minute.”
“You’re right. I’ll do it tomorrow.”
“Don’t you think it’s time to get rid of ninety percent of those nightlights and the baseball bat?”
“Does that include the gun you keep by your bed?” Maddy asked with a smile.
“It does. We’re free, Maddy.”
They hugged again before going to their rooms.
Gina felt as if one door of her life had closed. She hoped and prayed to open another.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The next morning, Darin vowed he would talk to Gina today no matter what came up. He would tell her…” What? That he loved her? Should he put her on the spot like that? Sure, she liked him—had kissed him. But he was the first man she’d ever really kissed. Would it be fair to pressure her into more? Thoughts swirled through his head as he walked into the squad room. Everyone was out on assignments.
Would the chief give him a new partner? For the first time since joining the force, Darin realized he’d rather work alone. Losing Hunter had been a life changing event for him.
He’d promised to finish the paperwork he started yesterday. First, he called Gina.
She answered on the first ring.
“Maddy and I are taking the morning off. I’ll be in around noon.”
“Good. We can go to lunch and talk.”
Hopes high, he hung up.
A glance at his watch told him how long it would be. “Three hours. Three long hours.”
Digging into the dreaded paperwork, he got started.
****
“We haven’t indulged ourselves like this in how long?” Maddy asked.
“Can’t remember. Have we ever?”
Maddy giggled. “We were always so intense. First, on escaping Elton’s groping hands, then in earning the money to finish our education, then doing our jobs. So maybe never.”
“It feels good. In a matter of days, two drug lords are behind bars with enough evidence to keep them there a very long time. A mole embedded in HPD has been uncovered, and a killer will be brought to justice.” Gina grinned. “Even better, you and I have confronted our worst fear.”
“Can’t get any better than this,” Maddy said as she poured their third cup of coffee.
They sat at the table in their nightclothes. Gina in panties and a big T-shirt that hit her knees; Maddy in a pair of shorty PJ’s.
“I asked Chief Hamilton about a transfer yesterday,” Gina said.
“When will you know?”
Gina shrugged and took a sip of coffee. “It doesn’t matter, I’m going to move here anyway. This episode in our lives was the clincher. We need to live closer, at least in the same city. As we get older, being there for each other is more important than ever.”
“I couldn’t agree more. Yesterday, before all of this started, I called the manager. There’s a two-bedroom available at the end of this month.”
“Really?” Gina perked up. “How perfect.”
They were deep into plans when the doorbell rang.
“Who is it?” Gina asked. “Did you call Hank?”
“Yes, but he won’t be here until seven tonight.”
Gina felt a prickle of apprehension. Maddy led a quiet life. Gina had just talked to Darin.
Maddy walked over to the door. Gina thought it might be a good idea to get her gun. One couldn’t be too careful.
Before Maddy got to the door it fell in with a crash. She jumped back and screamed. Gina ran for her gun, but didn’t make it.
Elton stood there with a look of triumph on his face. “I told you locks wouldn’t stop me,” he gloated. “You didn’t believe me, did you?”
“How did you get out?” Maddy asked, her voice thin and frightened.
“I’m here to finish what I started years ago.” He grabbed Maddy around the neck and drew her close.
“Leave her alone,” Gina ordered. “Tell us how you got out.”
“You’re not as smart as you think. The judge set a million dollar bail. What none of you know is for the past ten years I’ve made a hell of a lot more than that.”
His laughter made Gina’s skin crawl. It was all too familiar.
If she could just get to her gun. Impossible. Elton had an arm lock around Maddy’s neck. He’d kill her if Gina tried anything.
“How…?”
“I invented a dozen intense computer games. I had so many hits on my site, I couldn’t handle them. One of the big boys bought me out. No one knew. No one.” He laughed. “It was my money. And after I take care of the two of you, I’ll take it and disappear.”
His smile was diabolical and confident. Evidently, he had the money to do exactly what he said.
“Why not do it now? Why waste time on us?”
But Gina knew she was talking to a man hell-bent on getting even for interfering with his plans for Carrie and her sister. She looked around for something to use as a weapon. How could she stop him?
Gina crept as close as she could to Elton. He didn’t have a weapon, but his strength was great. She remembered those strong arms and shuddered. With one twist, he could break Maddy’s neck. Gina swore she would fight him until her dying breath before she let him hurt Maddy again.
“How do you plan on taking care of us? We’re not kids anymore.”
Confidence made his grip on Maddy loosen just a little. “I know.”
Now! Gina threw herself at him. It was so unexpected, he stepped back. When he did, Maddy twisted free. Then they were on him.
****
Darin finished his work, looked at his watch. An hour to go. Time crawled when you were anxious. He’d take the papers to Chief Hamilton and find out how Chavizi, Ramiro, and Melanie were handling jail time.
He didn’t make it to the chief’s office.
“I was sent to get you,” a cop panted as he ran up to Darin. “The chief wants to see you ASAP.”
Darin hurried after him. Something was wrong. He could tell by the look on the cop’s face.
The chief was pacing his office. “Glad you were here. Gina’s former stepfather was released on bail this morning. He was heard threatening Gina and her sister. I tried calling Gina, but she isn’t answering her cell. I sent a patrol car to warn her.”
“This can’t be happening,” Darin said as he slammed a fistful of papers on the chief’s desk and ran to his truck. This was supposed to be over. Gina and her sister were finally free from the memories of their childhood abuse. Now this.
Elton would hurt them.
Darin was as sure of that as he was that he loved Gina. The man would try to get even with both of them. Gina for arresting him, Maddy for taking the girls.
He couldn’t get to Maddy’s apartment fast enough. By the time he did, he was a mass of jittery nerves. Crazy scenarios of what could happen raced through his head. He barely registered when a patrol car pulled in behind him.
Hadn’t this very thing happened just yesterday? Different house, same players. Darin was just as anxious and concerned. Worse. He was in fear for both Gina and Maddy’s lives.
The man was a pedophile bent on revenge. What lengths would he go to get it?
The sounds of struggle greeted him the minute he stepped inside. What he saw was enough to bring tears to his eyes.
Elton was a big man, but Gina and Maddy were as angry as he’d ever seen two women. Though the man bucked and pitched, he couldn’t get them off. Maddy held one arm down on the floor, Gina the other. Their bodies held his thrashing legs.
“Get the hell up,” Elton yelled. “I won’t hurt you.”
“Damned straight you won’t,” Gina said as she shifted her weight to hold his arm tighter.
She looked up and saw Darin. “Why are you just standing there? Put cuffs on him before I find something to knock him out with.”
“Yes ma’am,” he said with a smile. Gina could take care of herself. Maddy wasn’t doing a bad job, either.
Elton was red-faced and furious. His time in jail just got extended.
The patrolman walked in. “Man. I wouldn’t want those two mad at me.”
Darin cuffed first one hand then the other. “Neither would I. Think you can take him in?”
“Not a problem.”
“Good. I’ll call the chief and tell him what’s going down.”
In seconds he had an arm around Elton’s neck and duck-walked him to the patrol car. What he really wanted to do was beat the man to a pulp. “You screwed yourself this time. Don’t think you’ll get bail again.”
Elton cursed.
Darin watched them drive away, then pulled out his cell phone. “Hank, we have a little problem at Maddy’s.”
Hank exploded in a barrage of questions.
“No. She’s fine. But I think you should get over here.”
Promise Renewed Page 22
