Don’t say anything, she told herself. I just need to know if she there. Josie picked up the receiver and actually felt her heart skip a beat. For a long moment, she just started at the black buttons before she hung up.
She had no idea what the hell she was doing. She didn’t know how to fight back against the kind of evil her sister possessed.
Josie closed her eyes while the war of what was right and wrong warred within her. It was a strange position to be in. She was uncertain about what to do. In was very tempting to grab what she could and run, but a new voice in her head urged her stay and fight. With renewed determination, she picked up the receiver again, punched star 69 to block William’s number and then dialed home. It took everything she had to calm the swarm of butterflies in her stomach and slow her racing heart; but while she waited for the line to connect, she began to formulate a plan.
Suddenly, her sister’s heavy pant came on the line. “Hello.”
This was it. Josie was supposed to hang up, but she couldn’t stop her lips from curling into a smile as she said, “Hello, Michelle. Missed me?”
Chapter 29
“Josie?” Michelle asked, with amusement echoing through the phone.
“Were you expecting someone else?”
Michelle chuckled, but a nervous lilt prevented it from sounding genuine. “My dear sister. Where are you?”
It was Josie’s turn to laugh, and she was surprised by how sinister it sounded. “That’s not important right now. All you need to know is that I’m feeling much better.”
A long pause hung over the line before Michelle spoke, and her tone gave Josie a new definition of evil.
“Why haven’t you gone to the police?”
Josie swallowed.
Undoubtedly sensing that she’d hit her mark, Michelle continued. “At the moment, sweetie, you’re a free woman; but if you rat me out, I’m taking you down with me.”
Josie closed her eyes and clenched her jaw shut. Maybe she was biting off more than she could chew dealing with this woman.
“Are you still there, Josie?”
“Your threats don’t scare me,” she lied.
Michelle’s laughter sounded like a witch’s cackle. “It’s not a threat, it’s a promise. So why don’t you be a good girl and get out of town before I find you.”
Josie’s resolve hardened. “Don’t forget, I already know where you are, Michelle.” With that, she disconnected the call.
A few seconds passed while Josie stared at the phone and tried to control the wild pounding of her heart. It was official: She had lost her mind. She had just threatened a crazy woman.
“You can beat her,” she repeated to herself, until she believed it.
Drawing a deep breath and slowly exhaling it, Josie moved her guilt to the back of her mind and focused on what she needed to do first. She picked up the phone and made the first call to hit Michelle where it would hurt the most.
#
Michelle jerked open the medicine cabinet and reached for her much-used lithium pills, but then screamed in frustration when she discovered the bottle empty.
I told you yesterday that you needed to get a refill.
“Shut up,” she hissed, and then slammed the bottle into the bathroom sink. Her head was pounding while she felt as if she was spiraling out of control.
It’s over. It’s over. The voice sang in a ring around the roses undertone.
“I can beat her,” Michelle swore in a voice dripping with venom. “Josie doesn’t know who the hell she’s dealing with.”
Oh, please. This was over the moment she escaped from Keystone.
“NO!” With both hands, she grabbed a fistful of hair on each side of her temples and pulled mercilessly. She had come too far to lose everything now. “I have to find her.”
What? You have a crystal ball or something?
Out of frustration, she emitted another low scream and tugged at her hair again. If she could just think for a minute, she could figure something out.
Give up. You’ve screwed this up just like you screwed up everything else in your life. What was it that your adoptive parents used to call you?
“A lost cause.” She slid her hands from her hair to stare into the mirror.
Slowly, a small smirk sloped the corners of her reflection’s lips. “That’s right,” the woman in the glass said. “A lost cause. How could I have forgotten?”
Michelle seethed. “I’ll show you. I’ll show everyone.”
Her mirror image laughed. It was a high cackle sound that rang in Michelle’s ears. “If you’ve never done anything right in your entire life, what on earth makes you think you can pull something this big off, Michelle?”
“I told you to call me Josephine.” Michelle could feel tears in the back of her eyes. “I’m not a lost cause,” she said with a shaky tremor.
The taunting woman’s laughter waned as she met Michelle’s eyes boldly. “Sure you are.”
“No,” Michelle said in a feeble whisper, and shook her head.
Her reflection laughed.
Michelle plugged her fingers into her ears, but her eardrums felt as if they were going to explode. When the sound intensified, she lashed out and attacked her tormentor.
For a moment she blacked out, but then the pain in her hand was the first indicator that something was wrong. She opened her eyes and was surprised to see that the mirror was gone. Her gaze dropped to the sink, where large shards of glass glittered up at her. Finally, she looked at her hand. It hurt like hell but she had come away with just a minor cut against the side of her wrist.
Temper, temper, temper.
Michelle drew a breath and tried her best to control the voice in her head. When she turned from the door, she jumped in surprised at the two large men who filled the door to her bathroom.
“Are you all right,” one of the matching gorillas inquired.
Hiding her hand behind her back, she flashed her new bodyguards a quick smile. “Yes, I’m fine.”
Neither looked as though they believed her.
“Look, if you don’t mind, I need a few minutes of privacy.” She started to close the door, but was unsuccessful when one of them placed his foot in the doorframe.
“Don’t forget you need to take D’Angelo his deposit this afternoon.”
Michelle could feel her temper slipping again, but she was able to rein it in to give him a curt response. “Fine. We’ll go to the bank. Just give me a damn minute to get ready.”
Gorilla number one removed his foot.
She slammed it closed and then rested her head against the wooden partition.
You really are pathetic.
“Just shut up.” She turned from the door and quickly cleaned up the glass, her hand, and even made herself more presentable.
An hour later, she and her security guards arrived at Bank of America. Decked out in her favorite cream chinchilla, Michelle walked through the glass doors feeling every bit like a diva.
She was immediately led to a cute account representative who introduced himself as Clark Owens. He seemed more than eager to help her with her banking needs. “I need to make a sizable withdrawal,” she said, with a gleaming smile.
“Well, I’ll be more than happy to assist you.”
Michelle withdrew the bank information and handed them over. “I need one hundred thousand dollars from this account.”
“Okay.” Clark said, and immediately turned his attention to the flat screen computer on his desk.
However, it didn’t take long before Michelle realized that something was wrong. She forced herself to sit still while he typed and frown at the screen. Finally, after a few minutes, she couldn’t take it anymore.
“Is there something wrong?” she asked.
Clark glanced back down at the account book she’d handed him and typed some more.
“Hello?” Michelle screeched her irritation sharpened her tone.
Startled, Clark glanced up at her with his frown firmly in place
. “I’m sorry, Ms. Ferrell.” He handed her back her small book. “But I’m showing that this account has been closed.”
Chapter 30
“What do you mean the account is close?”
Clark Owens blinked, and then glanced back at his computer. “I mean just that. The account was closed today.”
“Well, can’t you just reopen it?”
His frown deepened. “No. According to the computer, you had all monies in this account transferred to a European bank. You are Josephine Ferrell, aren’t you?”
In response, Michelle jumped angrily to her feet. “You saw my ID, didn’t you?”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Ferrell.” He jumped to his feet. “Let me just get the branch manager over here. If you’re saying you didn’t authorize the transfers…”
“That won’t be necessary.” Michelle’s heart leapt; suddenly she was afraid of drawing attention to herself, especially, since she didn’t know what Josie may have told the branch manager.
The young account representative frowned.
“I think I do remember closing this account now.” She touched her forehead to feign forgetfulness. “I’m getting my banks mixed up today. I meant to stop by First National.”
Clark relaxed a bit and gave her a relieved smile. “Well, we’re definitely going to miss your business.” He extended his hand.
Stiffly, she slid her hand into his, and then turned away. As she walked through the glass doors, she hugged her fur coat tighter around her shoulders, but it didn’t stop her from feeling exposed.
You have to hand it to her. You didn’t see that coming.
Michelle’s jawline hardened. Surely, she didn’t close all the bank accounts. She rushed back to her car, paying little heed to her bodyguards, who tried to keep up with her. Her next stop was First National, but minutes later she left in the same angry huff.
“I don’t believe this,” she muttered, slamming the door to the Jaguar. As she clenched the steering wheel, she took a few deep, cleansing breaths, but her temper escalated.
“If I could just get my hands on her.”
What’s the point of being Josephine Ferrell if you’re broke?
“Not now,” she hissed. “I’m trying to think.” Her inner voice quieted. As Michelle leaned her head back against the headrest, she couldn’t help but wonder if Josie had time to cancel the credit cards as well.
She would be crazy not to, don’t you think?
Michelle didn’t respond. Instead, she started the car and drove to the nearest gas station. She pulled up to the pump and withdrew six platinum cards from Josie’s wallet.
One by one, the automated pump declined them.
“This can’t be happening.” She jumped back into the car. A full-blown panic attack ruptured within her as a long stream of profanity spewed forth. Inside her head, all she could hear was a familiar cackle of laughter.
She didn’t know how long her fit lasted; but when it was over, she found strands of hair in her hands and could taste the blood oozing from her lips. Panting, she glanced around and caught a few frowns from attending patrons. And two from D’Angelo’s men.
Oh, this is classic.
Michelle drew a deep, calming breath, and then used the rearview mirror to straighten her appearance. Other than having a swollen bottom lip, she pulled herself together quite nicely.
All this work, and it never occurred to you to move the money?
Michelle didn’t answer. It was all she could do to control her rage. “D’Angelo can help me find her.”
And how do you expect to pay him?
She had no idea, but her thoughts were interrupted when her cell phone rang. Briefly, she entertained the thought that it was Josie. Who knows, maybe she was getting a good kick watching her make a fool of herself.
Annoyed, Michelle dug through her purse and grabbed the phone. However, her anger evaporated into curiosity when she read Keystone Institute across the ID screen.
#
After hours on the phone, Josephine found the keys to William’s black Mercedes in his bedroom on the nightstand. She clutched the keys tightly in her hand before she made up her mind about what she should do next, and then finally decided to look up the nearest office of the Department of Motor Vehicles.
As she climbed in behind the wheel, guilt settled heavily onto her shoulders. William trusted her to stay put, but her head clouded with thoughts of revenge.
She started up the car and promised herself she would return before William came home. Minutes later, she pulled up to the DMV. After reporting her driver’s license lost, she obtained a new one with little to no hassle. Next, she stopped at a local Western Union, where she picked up the cash she’d wired to herself.
She was back in business.
Admittedly, she didn’t have a concrete plan, but she did know that there wasn’t enough room in the world for two Josephine Ferrells.
Locating an army surplus store was more complicated than she expected, but she finally found one next to a low-key shooting range. The minute she entered the building though, she felt completely out of her element.
At first, she thought the place was just a warehouse of army uniforms. Everywhere she looked were camouflage shirts, pants, hats, and even long johns.
“Is there anything I can help you with, ma’am?”
Josie turned toward a smiling blond female who took the edict: the higher the hair, the closer to Jesus, seriously. “Uh, I’m not sure. I was looking to purchase a gun.”
“Sure.” The blond clapped. “You came to the right place. “My husband, Buddy, will be more than happy to help you.” She turned around and waved Josie to follow.
“I always say that a woman needs something to protect herself. Society tries to tell us girls that all we need is a can of pepper spray. It’s crazy, I tell you. Oh, I’m Tammy, by the way.”
Josie had only managed to open her mouth before Tammy rambled off her conspiracy theory of how she believed the government was trying to take away honest Americans’ constitutional right to bear arms.
“Buddy! Customer!”
Josie wiggled a finger in her ear to stop it from ringing.
From the back of the shop, a General Schwarzkopt look a like emerged. His slow smile never quite reached his eyes and his firm handshake threatened to rip her arm from its socket. “Well, aren’t you a pretty little thing? What can I do for you?”
“She’s looking for some protection.” Tammy supplied an answer for Josie.
His smile widened as he tilted back his camouflage cap. “Is that right? Do you already have something in mind?”
“No clue.” Josie pulled her hand from his, and then rubbed at her sore shoulder. “This is my first time buying a weapon.”
“Ah. A first-timer.” He led her over to a glass counter top. “Now, I have to tell you that Georgia requires a ten day waiting period before I can actually sell you a gun. You can fill out an application, and we can go ahead and pick you out something.”
Josie blinked. “Ten days?”
Buddy chuckled and shrugged. “Government. They want to make sure that we don’t sell any weapons to convicts or any terrorist groups. They hold a monopoly on those sales.”
“But I can’t wait ten days.”
Tammy and Buddy gave her a curious look.
Josie cleared her throat, but it didn’t stop her stammer. “I sort of need the weapon today.”
There was new interest in Buddy’s eyes.
“I’m not a convict or anything.” Not yet.
“Then what’s the hurry?” he asked.
“You know, that’s okay.” Josie backed away from the counter. “I’ll go somewhere else.” She turned away and rushed toward the front door.
“Just a minute.” Tammy caught up with her and laid a restraining hand upon Josie’s shoulder.
Josie faced the woman.
“We might not be able to sell you something today,” Tammy whispered. “But if you need help, sugar. I know someone who
can. We women have to stick together, right?”
Josie smiled as she winked back. “Right.”
#
A bored D’Angelo leaned back in a metal chair and kicked his feet up on the corner of a table in the police interrogation room. It was another day, but the same old b.s. He didn’t know why he was dragged down here this time, and he didn’t care. Whatever it was, he was confident that these people didn’t have anything on him.
He was just too smart to get caught.
When the door finally opened, he recognized the tall, baby-faced Hispanic who’d interrogated him before.
“Please tell me that you guys didn’t drag me back in here about Danny again.”
Detective Hernandez said nothing as he swiped D’Angelo’s feet off the table.
“Hey. I was just making myself comfortable.”
“Well, don’t. You’re not at home.” Hernandez dragged a chair back from the table and planted himself in it. “Tell me about your relationship with Michelle Andrews.”
“Who?”
Hernandez’s lips sloped unevenly. “I’ve always thought of you as an intelligent man, D’Angelo.”
“Why, thank you, amigo. I wish I could extend the same compliment.”
Hernandez shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m pretty smart. I made it through Yale okay.”
Resentment curled in D’Angelo’s belly. “It’s just like you college boys to throw that up in someone’s face. Book smarts don’t mean a damn thing in the streets. A certificate won’t stop a speeding bullet, know what I mean?”
Deadly Double Page 18
