Dead Ringer & Classified Christmas

by B. J Daniels

  Travers looked to Ledger. “Aren’t you going to give me your two cents’ worth, as well?”

  “I think they pretty much covered it. I’m going into town to get a few things from Abby’s apartment for her. You don’t mind her staying on for a while, do you?”

  “Of course not. Just be careful. Putting yourself in the middle of these kinds of things is very dangerous, especially with Wade Pierce.”

  Ledger nodded. “I’m not going to do anything stupid.”

  “But I don’t think you can depend on Wade Pierce not to.”

  He smiled at his father. “I’ll be careful.”

  As he started to leave, his father said, “I want to just enjoy having my son back for a while. But I don’t want the rest of you resenting him. Am I wrong?”

  Ledger turned at the door. “It’s an adjustment for all of us. You just got him back. I don’t think you need rush it.”

  His father smiled. “I could say the same about you and Abby.”

  He laughed. “Yes, you could, but you’d be wasting your breath. I’m going to marry that woman just as soon as she’s free.”

  * * *

  WATERS LISTENED TO Patricia McGraw’s latest threat and realized he would have to go to the jail and have this out in person. It wasn’t something he was looking forward to. He hadn’t seen her since her arrest. He probably could have gone the rest of his life without seeing her. But she wasn’t having any of that and somehow she’d hired herself a fairly good lawyer.

  As Patricia was brought in, he picked up the phone. From the look in her eye, he was glad to have the thick, scarred Plexiglas between them. She sat down, glaring at him for a moment, before she picked up her own phone.

  “You bastard,” she said into the receiver.

  “Nice to see you, too, Patricia. I’m a busy man, so if you have something to say, please do it.”

  She sneered. “I heard you’re buttering up Travers so you don’t lose your job. Good luck with that.” He smiled and saw steam come out of her ears. “He’s just stupid enough to keep you on. And what’s this about Oakley being found?” she demanded.

  He shrugged. “Seems that way.”

  She heard the suspicion in his answer and he could have kicked himself. “You think he’s a fraud?”

  “No. He looks like his mother, has the McGraw men’s blue eyes and dark hair.”

  Patricia made a face. She never liked the mention of Travers’s first wife. “But?”

  “No buts. He passed the preliminary DNA test. Travers is convinced and Vance seems to have settled into your house just fine.”

  She let out a growl. “Vance?”

  “Oakley. I think he’ll be changing his name soon. So we have a happy ending.”

  “Maybe you do. Listen to me. I’m not going down alone, you hear me? I promised my lawyer that you will be helping finance my defense.”

  “You what?”

  “You’re in this up to your neck. Unless you pony up some money...” She smiled, no doubt seeing how uncomfortable he was with what she was saying.

  “You can’t drag me into this.”

  “Jim, darlin’, I have dates and times. I have phone messages. I have phone calls. I have enough that my lawyer assures me you will go down as an accessory—if not the person who actually bought the poison and administered it. You were there almost every meal. Did you really think you could frame me for this?”

  “I didn’t frame you. This is all you.”

  “I don’t think so, Jimmy.” She hung up the phone and stood, smirking down at him as if she thought she had him by his private parts.

  What killed him was that he feared she did.

  * * *

  ABBY COULDN’T HELP being nervous. Ledger hadn’t returned from town. He’d taken one of the ranch hands with him to drive his pickup back after getting what she needed from her apartment and picking up her car at the sheriff’s department.

  “I want someone with you in case—”

  He’d stopped her. “Wade is in a lot of trouble. He’s not going to do anything that would get him thrown in jail.”

  She wasn’t so sure about that. The sheriff had called to let her know that Wade had been warned—and that the restraining order would be served within the hour. On top of that, Wade had been suspended for two weeks without pay.

  Abby couldn’t even imagine how furious he was. It would only get worse when the restraining order was served—and he told his father.

  “He’s going to want to kill me—and you,” she’d told Ledger before he left. “I shouldn’t have involved you in this. I’m so sorry.”

  “Hey,” he’d said, lifting her chin with his warm fingers until their gazes met. “I’ve been involved since the day I fell in love with you all those years ago. I couldn’t let go. I know I should have but once I saw how he was treating you...”

  “That’s why you need to be careful. Give him time to cool down.”

  She had smiled at the man she’d loved for as far back as she could remember. So many times she’d regretted her hasty marriage to Wade. She knew now that Ledger would never have cheated on her. But back then she had her mother and Wade telling her different. She’d been afraid that the reason Ledger had put off marriage was because he didn’t love her enough.

  When she’d seen the photos of Ledger with some other woman at college...

  She knew now that Ledger and the woman had just been friends. Her mother had wanted her with Wade for her own selfish reasons.

  “I’ve made such a mess of things,” she’d said, hating that she sounded near tears. She’d cried way too long over Wade and the mistake she’d made.

  Ledger had cupped her cheek. “It’s nothing that can’t be rectified. I just want you to be sure of what you want to do now. I don’t want to talk you into anything. Whatever you do, it has to be your decision. So maybe you should take this time to—”

  “I’ve already filed papers to begin divorcing Wade. He knows it’s over. I’d kicked him out of the house and I had packed up my things and moved them into the apartment in town. I guess I’d gone back to the house for something. I didn’t expect him to be there...”

  “That’s all behind you, then.” He’d leaned down and given her a gentle kiss. She’d wanted to pull him to her and kiss him the way she’d often dreamed—and felt guilty about. But it was too soon.

  She’d jumped into a bad marriage. If she and Ledger had a future... Well, they could take it slow.

  “As I was saying, I really think you should stay here for a while longer. I could go to your apartment and get you whatever you needed.”

  “My car is out at the house. I don’t want you going out there.”

  “Why don’t you call the sheriff and have someone bring your car into town for you,” Ledger had suggested.

  She’d agreed and made the call. McCall had said that was smart not to send Ledger out to get it, or worse, go herself.

  “I’ll have the keys here at the sheriff’s office.”

  “Ledger will be picking it up,” she’d told McCall.

  “This afternoon would be good since Huck isn’t working.”

  Yes, she didn’t want Ledger running into Wade’s father, either.

  “Thank you for doing this,” she’d said to Ledger as she’d hung up.

  “Don’t you realize by now that I would do anything for you?”

  She’d smiled. “I do.”

  But he wasn’t back yet and all she could think was that he’d run into Wade. Maybe even Wade and his father.

  She got up, too nervous to stay in the room any longer.

  * * *

  OAKLEY MCGRAW. “OAKLEY MCGRAW.” Down the hallway from Abby’s room, Vance stood in front of the mirror and tried out the name. His new name. When T
ravers had asked him if he had considered changing his name to his birth name legally, he hadn’t known what to say. Maybe because he never thought it would get this far.

  “Oakley McGraw.” He was Oakley McGraw. He wanted to pinch himself. Two weeks ago he was Vance Elliot, ranch hand. All of his belongings were in his beat-up, rusted-out pickup. He barely had a job let alone a nickel to his name.

  Now he was Oakley McGraw, son of Travers McGraw, heir to all of this. Along with three brothers, he reminded himself. Three brothers who he could tell didn’t like him. As if he cared. Their father adored him.

  That was why he was going to tell him he wanted to have his name changed to Oakley McGraw legally. Then there would be no question, would there. He would be the missing son. Travers was even thinking about throwing a party to introduce him to his friends. His friends were powerful people in this town, in this state.

  Vance couldn’t believe his luck. He looked out his window at the swimming pool shimmering in the sun. Maybe he would go sit down there in the shade after he helped himself to a beer from the refrigerator in the kitchen. That he had the run of this place was unbelievable. He thought he could live like this without any trouble.

  As he started down the hallway, a door opened at the other end and a young woman stepped out. The cook had mentioned that there was a friend of Ledger’s staying in the house. Apparently the friend had her meals brought to her, though, since he hadn’t seen her before. He’d thought she must be a “special” friend.

  He let out a silent whistle when he saw her. Even from a distance, she was real pretty. She hadn’t seen him yet, so it gave him time to study her. As she drew closer, her gaze on the floor at her feet as if distracted by her thoughts, he saw that she had a black eye and other bruises.

  Also she was walking as if in some kind of pain. Clearly, something had happened to her. A car accident? A mugging? An assault? This explained why she’d been eating in her room—and Ledger eating with her.

  He hadn’t realized that he’d stopped just short of the stairs to stare at her. She must have sensed him, because her gaze came up quickly and he got his first good look at her. With a shock he realized that he recognized her. Wade Pierce’s wife.

  Worse, she recognized him. Her blue eyes widened in alarm. She stumbled a little, but caught herself. “I’m sorry. You startled me.”

  “Sorry.” He waited, heart in his throat, expecting her to say more.

  But she only stared at him, recognition in her eyes and yet... He realized that she was trying to place where she knew him from.

  “Please, you go first,” he said, motioning to the stairs.

  She shook her head. “I wasn’t going down. I was just stretching my legs.” She took a step backward and another, before she turned and went back down the hall the way she’d come.

  He watched her, knowing it was just a matter of time before she remembered where she’d seen him. All he could think was that when she did, she was going to take all of this away from him.

  Chapter Eleven

  WADE WAS SURPRISED to see Abby’s car gone when he drove out to the house. Had she come out to get it? Or had that bastard Ledger McGraw retrieved it for her?

  He pulled up in front of the house, threw the car into Park and sat just staring at where her car had been. He should go out to the McGraw ranch and drag Abby out by her hair. Frustration had him shaking all over. He couldn’t do that any more than he could get her back. His dad was right. He’d have to bide his time if he wanted any satisfaction. Look what the woman had done to him. He wouldn’t be able to hold his head up in this town ever again.

  He turned off the engine and started to get out when he remembered the restraining order. He couldn’t come any closer than fifty feet? Seriously, in a town the size of Whitehorse with only one grocery store, one post office, one damned theater?

  Grabbing up the paperwork, he tore it into a hundred pieces and threw it in the air like confetti. He felt a little better.

  His cell phone rang. For just an instant, he thought it might be Abby calling to say she’d changed her mind. All the other times they’d had problems she’d come back.

  But it was only his father calling. He swore and picked up. “What?”

  “I see your mood hasn’t improved.”

  “Her car is gone. You think she came out and picked it up?”

  “The sheriff sent two deputies out to bring it back to the office, where Ledger McGraw picked it up with one of his ranch hands.”

  Wade let out a string of curses. “I want to get out of this damned town.”

  “Oh, come on, don’t you want a little retribution first? Have you forgotten? We have an ace in the hole, remember? We’re in the catbird seat, son. Soon we will be calling the shots.”

  When his father had come to him with his plan, he’d thought the old man had lost his mind.

  “You’re going to get us both sent to prison. This can’t possibly work.”

  His father had winked at him. “These years as a deputy, I’ve made a few...friends. Leave it to me. We can pull this off.”

  Wade had been skeptical at best. But to his amazement, the plan seemed to actually be working.

  “So knock off the ‘poor me’ routine,” Huck said. “Soon you will have the money to go anywhere you want. And we’ll have gotten some retribution along the way.”

  * * *

  “I HAVE GOOD NEWS,” Travers said when he saw Vance.

  He could use some good news. “How is that?”

  “I’m calling a press conference tomorrow to introduce you to the world and announce that my son has been found.”

  This was not what he’d consider good news. Especially when Abby Pierce was upstairs, no doubt racking her brain to remember where she’d last seen him. “Do we have to?”

  Travers put a hand on his shoulder. Vance tried not to flinch. He’d known all of this would feel...strange. A father he’d never known. A family he’d never met. A new name. He wondered if he was up to it. The money, the name that carried weight, the ranch and all the expensive horses, all that he could get used to. But the rest...

  “Son, I want to introduce you to the world as a McGraw. I’ve waited twenty-five years. Can you indulge an old man?”

  How could he not? “I understand, but I’ve never been good at getting up in front of people like that.”

  “It will be fine. You won’t be required to say but a few words. Or none if you aren’t comfortable.”

  Just stand there and smile into the cameras and let everyone speculate on me, he thought. “You’re planning to tell the circumstances of how I was adopted.”

  Travers nodded. “I hope you don’t mind. I think it might also help bring back our Jesse Rose.”

  Jesse Rose. His fraternal twin sister. He’d almost forgotten about her. Why not? Pretty soon they would be just one big happy family. Right, he thought.

  “If I can help bring her home, of course I’ll do it,” Vance said, knowing he had no choice. He was Oakley McGraw. He needed to start acting like him.

  For a moment, he forgot about Abby Pierce. “There is one thing, though,” he said as Travers started to step away. “What do I wear for this...press conference?”

  “I’m sorry. I should have thought of that. You’ll want to pick up a few things. We can go into town—”

  “Would you mind if I did this alone? I feel enough like a kid as it is.”

  “Of course you do. How foolish of me. Take one of the ranch pickups. There are keys on the board by the back door. I’ll call the clothing store in town and tell them to put it on my account. Get whatever you need.” He smiled. “Treat yourself, please. Head to toe. You’re Oakley McGraw. Nothing is out of your reach.” He started to turn away. “There is one more thing. Your mother. You know she hasn’t been well. But she is do
ing much better. In fact, she wants to see you.”

  All Vance could do was nod as he thought, Holy crap! Just when I think it can’t get any worse.

  * * *

  LEDGER TOOK THE stairs two at a time, anxious to see Abby. He’d picked up what she’d asked for from her apartment. It wasn’t much. He’d been shocked to see how little she owned.

  He tapped at her bedroom door. No answer. He tapped again and tried the knob. She stood at the window, her back to him, hugging herself as if cold.

  “Abby?”

  Startled, she turned from the window, looking scared.

  “I knocked. You didn’t hear. What is it?” he asked as she quickly rushed to him and threw herself into his arms.

  “I was so worried about you,” she said into his chest. “I thought—”

  “I’m sorry. I hurried as fast as I could.” He stared at her. “You’re as white as a ghost. Are you feeling worse?”

  She lifted her head to look up at him. “I don’t know.” He could see the fear still in her eyes. “I think I might be losing my mind.”

  “Why? What happened? Wade hasn’t come here, has he?” He held her at arm’s length to look into her beautiful face. It was still bruised. Every time he saw it, he felt anger boil up inside him. It was all he could do not to go after Wade.

  Abby shook her head. “I saw someone in the hallway.” He frowned. “A man. He came out of a room down the hall. When I saw him—” She shuddered and he pulled her close again.

  “Are you talking about Vance? Vance Elliot. He’s staying here. Abby, I’m sorry. There’s been so much going on. I thought you knew. My brother, the one who was kidnapped... He’s been found.”

  Her eyes were wide with horror. “He’s the missing twin? He can’t be your brother.” She sounded as scared as she looked.

  He drew even farther back to look at her. “Why would you say that?”

  She pulled away to pace the floor. “When I saw him, I recognized him. And he recognized me. I had this jolt of memory, nothing I could recall, really, just this frightened feeling.”

  Ledger didn’t know what to say at first. “You say you recognized him? Could it be from the café in town?”