Random Acts of Malice (Holly Anna Paladin Mysteries Book 3)

by Christy Barritt

  Jamie and I had somehow gotten away. I’d been sure the police would track us down. However, I didn’t think we’d caused any true accidents, only several skids and sudden stops. Still, I halfway expected law enforcement to show up at the door at any minute.

  Why had we seen Chase’s Jeep? Obviously, he wasn’t behind the wheel . . . right? But if someone had stolen his Jeep and followed us while trying to cast suspicion on Chase, then this was a much more twisted game than I realized.

  I sighed, my thoughts heavy and confused. I looked down at my phone. I had to call Ralph. I was supposed to go back to work tomorrow, but I needed one more day.

  I hoped he wouldn’t answer, that I could leave a message and be done. But, of course, he answered on the first ring.

  “Holly? What’s going on? I was wondering if I’d hear from you.”

  “Hey, Ralph. Not much here. I was just calling because I need one more day off. Just one.”

  He remained silent a moment. “What’s really going on, Holly?”

  “What do you mean?” I kept my voice light, though I knew it was futile.

  “I’m not stupid, Holly. That cop showed up on Saturday morning saying something about a case he was working on, and I knew there was more to your story. And, for the record, I tried to call and warn you.”

  I sighed, unable to hide the truth anymore. There was no way I could tell him everything. Not until I had more answers. “Jamie and I are helping a friend out. It’s just turned into something bigger than we anticipated. That’s the CliffsNotes version.”

  “I’d ask more questions, but I have a feeling that’s all you want to say.” He sighed. “Can I do anything?”

  “Just pray.”

  “Done.”

  I licked my lips. “And Ralph.”

  “Yes?”

  I remembered that oncology bill, and my gut twisted. “Before you go, have you heard from Mom?”

  “She’s coming home tonight. Why?”

  I sucked on my bottom lip, contemplating how much to say. “I was just wondering about her trip.”

  “I’m sure it was fine. She always has fun with Uncle Paul and Aunt Paula.”

  I wanted to ask if he knew about her health status, but I didn’t. There was no need for him to worry. Not yet. I needed to go straight to Mom first and get answers before I got other people worried.

  “All right. See you on Tuesday.”

  “Be careful. I know how you and Jamie are together. Your love of helping people has gotten you into a pickle more than once.”

  I couldn’t even argue. As soon as I hung up, my phone rang again. I didn’t recognize the number, but against my better instincts I answered.

  “Holly? It’s Chase.” Static crackled on the line.

  I sat up straight, suddenly at attention. If Chase was calling me now, then something was wrong. “Chase? I can hardly hear you. What’s going on?”

  “I heard . . .” Static fizzed again. “You can’t . . . do you understand?”

  I plugged my other ear, trying desperately to understand him. “You’re breaking up. What?”

  “You . . . can’t trust . . .”

  “I can’t trust you?”

  “I just found out . . . you can’t trust—” The call broke up again.

  “Who can’t I trust?” I said it loud, as if that would help.

  Before he could respond, the phone went dead.

  I sat back.

  Chase had called. But what had that meant? Who couldn’t be trusted? It sounded like Chase had learned something new, and he was trying to warn me. But I had no idea whom he was talking about. Alexander? Josh?

  Another dilemma rolled through my mind. Did I need to call Detective Rollins and let him know I’d talked to Chase? It wasn’t like we’d met up. It wasn’t as if Chase had told me where he was. Really the conversation would be no help at all.

  I put the phone down, the conversation still echoing in my head.

  No, I wouldn’t call Rollins.

  I only hoped I wouldn’t regret it.

  * * *

  I couldn’t sleep that night. My thoughts continually turned over in my head, almost in perfect sync with my tossing and turning. I was so close to answers. I could feel them. What was I missing?

  Finally, I threw my covers off and forgot about my need for sleep. Instead, I grabbed my phone and decided to catch up on my e-mails. More than one hundred had piled up in my inbox.

  I skimmed through them, realizing I could answer most of them later.

  My eyes stopped by one from Chase.

  Chase?

  I checked the date and saw he’d sent it this morning.

  I froze as I clicked on the e-mail, instantly preparing for the worse. So much for being optimistic. What in the world could this be about? Chase wasn’t an e-mail type of guy.

  I could hardly breathe as the words came across the screen.

  Holly,

  I’m sorry I have to communicate this way. There are things I haven’t been able to tell you. That I haven’t wanted to tell you. But I feel I owe it to you to be honest now.

  I’ve done things I’m not proud of. I’ve gotten into trouble and turned back to my old ways. Alcohol has gripped me. Anger has taken ahold of me. Past relationships have bubbled to the surface. I know you’re disappointed, but at least you know the truth.

  I killed Aidan Jennings. He started talking trash about my brother. The two of them worked together, and Aidan said Hayden deserved to die. I’m not sure what I was thinking, but I pulled the trigger and killed him.

  My friends helped me to dispose of his body. At least I thought they did. They turned against me after they left the body in the woods. I’ve been trying to track them down ever since.

  Please forgive me for any heartache I’ve caused you.

  Love,

  Chase

  I sat back and shook my head after reading his words. That couldn’t be right. It couldn’t be.

  I wouldn’t believe it.

  I read the e-mail again. But who else would send this? Who would have access to Chase’s e-mail account?

  Any hacker worth his weight I supposed would be able to.

  But . . . what if Chase had sent it?

  I shook my head. He didn’t.

  He would never use e-mail to send a message like this.

  But what if someone was still trying to set Chase up? What if someone still wanted him to look guilty? They’d tried to plant that gun, driven Chase’s Jeep, and now sent this e-mail.

  I didn’t know. But I seriously needed to think and pray about all of this.

  Chapter Thirty

  When I woke up the next morning, I felt more unsettled than ever. After I’d finally gotten to sleep, all I’d dreamed about was that e-mail from Chase, the Jeep that had followed us, and my abduction.

  I met Jamie at breakfast and filled her in. Magnolia had already left for work, so we helped ourselves to some toast, for me, and fruit, for Jamie.

  “That doesn’t even sound like Chase,” Jamie said, peeling an orange. “Even if he was guilty, he’s smarter than that.”

  “I agree. Someone’s working hard to make him look culpable.” I paused, waving a triangle of toast in the air. “I do have an idea.”

  “Please share.”

  “I’m going to track down Winston and give him a call.”

  Her eyebrows shot up. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

  I shrugged. “What do I have to lose?”

  “A lot. Your life, to start with.”

  “I’ve explored every other avenue I can think of. That leaves Winston and Peyton. At least I can rule out them and their involvement in this.”

  “More power to you, then.”

  I leaned closer, brushing away some toast crumbs. “It’s like this, Jamie. I don’t think this is going to go away. We can go back to Cincinnati, and these men are still going to be out there. Most likely, they’re still going to be terrorizing us. But if not us, then someone else.
It’s the kind of people they are. I can’t rest knowing that I didn’t do everything in my power to figure this out.”

  “You’ve got some good points.”

  “Besides, I’m not going to blurt anything about Peyton and Chase,” I explained. “I’m going to use the trick that every con artist uses. I’m going to say he won money.”

  I used Magnolia’s laptop to find the number for Winston’s mother in Georgia. It hadn’t been that hard to find her name and state of residence. A few articles had referenced her, mostly about her status as an aging socialite.

  A woman answered on the first ring. “Edna speaking.”

  “Hi, Edna. I’m trying to reach Winston Kensington.”

  “Winston? My son?” Her voice lilted with surprise.

  “Yes, ma’am.” A flutter of nerves played in my stomach. I hated lying. Hated it.

  “Well, he’s not here. He hasn’t lived here for years.”

  “Do you know when he’ll be back?”

  “I’ve been hoping for a visit sometime soon, but my guess is Christmastime. If I’m lucky, maybe Thanksgiving.”

  I frowned. That didn’t fit what I’d been told. “I’m sorry to bother you, but his neighbor said he was down visiting you in Georgia. I had some good news to share with him, so I wanted to reach him as soon as possible.”

  “No, he’s not here visiting. I’m not sure where anyone got that information.” She let out a scratchy laugh. “He only visits when he wants something. He got that trait honestly from his father.”

  “I’m so sorry. I must have misunderstood.”

  “Who is this anyway?” Her voice changed from humored to curious.

  “My name is . . .” I glanced at the banana peel on the table. “Del . . .monica. Delmonica. Winston won a free trip to . . . the Caribbean.”

  “I see. I’m sorry I can’t help you. You’re going to have to keep looking for him in Louisville.”

  I hung up and paused. If Winston wasn’t in Georgia, then where was he?

  I relayed the conversation to Jamie.

  “Call Wyndmyer. See what they say,” she encouraged.

  I figured I didn’t have much to lose. I found the number and called the racetrack. I asked for Winston, and his secretary informed me he was in Georgia visiting his mother.

  So he’d told other people that story also. Interesting. Did this have anything to do with what was going on? I didn’t know, but I couldn’t dismiss the possibility.

  At that moment, my cell phone rang. It was Josh. He must have my number from caller ID after I’d called him for help when the Creeper Van men dumped me in the middle of nowhere.

  I sat up straighter in the dining room chair. “Josh. Hi. How are you?”

  “I’m just calling to check on you. How are you feeling?”

  My body ached worse today than yesterday, if that was possible. My jaw hurt, pain radiated from my ribs, and my shoulder and neck muscles were knotted with stress. But I was alive, so I’d take it. “I’m hanging in. Still sore, but it could be much worse.”

  “Did you go back to Cincinnati?”

  “No, I’m actually here still. For another day or two at least.”

  “I hate to say it, but leaving might be best for you. Nothing good has really come out of you being here.”

  “I’m not quite done yet, and Holly Anna Paladin has never been a quitter.”

  He paused a moment, almost as if contemplating what he had to say next. “Listen, Holly, I contemplated whether or not to tell you this, but I can see you’re not going to give up until you get answers.”

  I waited for him to continue, afraid if I spoke, he might change his mind.

  “Look, there’s something I want to show you. I was wondering if you could stop by my place sometime today.”

  My pulse spiked. What could he possibly want to show me? Did he know something about Chase, something that would lead me to some answers? “Sure.”

  “Great. I’m hoping maybe what I have to show you will help fill in some of the gaps.”

  My pulse continued to speed. Answers. That was exactly what I needed.

  * * *

  When I pulled up to the Belmont Apartments thirty minutes later, I shuddered as I remembered Aidan Jennings. An image of his discarded body in the woods filled my thoughts, and a sick feeling gurgled in my gut. What a nightmare this past month had turned into.

  I’d come alone while Jamie researched Winston Kensington and Starting Gate Gate. We figured we could cover more ground if we split, but now I was second-guessing that choice. Thankfully, I hadn’t seen anything suspicious on my drive here. No Creeper Vans. I hadn’t seen Chase’s Jeep either, nor was it in the parking lot now.

  Before I even knocked at Josh’s apartment, the door opened and Josh stood there with a friendly smile on his face. “Holly. You made it. You look as lovely as always.”

  I offered a tight smile. “Thank you.”

  “Come on in.” He extended his hand behind him.

  With a touch of nervousness, I stepped inside. Part of me feared Chase would show up. Part of me wasn’t comfortable being alone in an apartment with a man I hardly knew.

  But it was Josh. The man who’d turned Chase’s life around. A pastor.

  I had nothing to be worried about.

  You can’t trust . . .

  Chase’s words echoed in my mind. Could he have been talking about Josh?

  My jitters remained.

  They not only remained, they intensified when Josh closed the door and locked it.

  There’s nothing strange about locking the door behind you. It’s just good sense to do it.

  I glanced around Josh’s apartment, marveling at how well it was decorated considering the man was single. A nice beige couch and loveseat, burgundy curtains, knickknacks in various places pulled the look together. There was even a matching rug underneath an oak coffee table.

  “My wife decorated,” he explained.

  My cheeks flushed. I had no idea he was married. “I see.”

  “She was killed in an auto accident six years ago.”

  My hand went over my heart. “I’m so sorry to hear that. I had no idea.”

  “It’s okay.” A certain somberness washed over him as he extended his hand to the couch behind him. “Thanks for coming. Why don’t you have a seat?”

  I laced my hands together in front of me as I walked over to the couch. This was where Chase had been staying. He’d camped out here and obviously felt safe with Josh.

  So why was I so antsy? Certainly I would have recognized his voice if he’d been one of the men from the Creeper Van.

  “Can I get you something to drink?” Josh asked. “Water? Tea? Coffee?”

  I shook my head, just wanting to get this conversation over with. Yet I didn’t. I knew the conversation might change my perspective, and while I embraced the truth, it could also be extremely painful at times. What if Josh had evidence that proved Chase really was guilty? “I’m okay. Thank you, though.”

  Josh’s smile faded as he sat on the couch across from me, and I let out the breath I held. “Alexander Cartwright didn’t kill Chase’s brother,” I blurted.

  A knot formed between Josh’s eyes. “What?”

  I explained to him what happened last night, not leaving out many details. I found comfort in wise counsel, and I knew I wasn’t seeing any of this objectively. Certainly Chase hadn’t been talking about Josh when he’d tried to warn me about someone.

  Josh pressed his lips together, a concerned expression across his face. “I’m not sure it was a great idea to meet Alexander by yourself, Holly.”

  “He said he’s a pacifist.” My words sounded lame, but that was what Alexander had told me.

  He leaned back and squeezed the skin between his eyes. “Alexander may not believe in guns, but he fully engages in being a bully. I don’t trust the man.”

  “You know him?”

  “Everyone in this area knows who he is.”

  I shrugged. I
didn’t know the man, and I wasn’t about to argue the merits of his character. My gut told me Alexander wasn’t trustworthy either, nor was he guilty of this crime.

  “I know Chase believes Alexander is responsible for his brother’s death, but I’m not sure that’s true.”

  “If there’s ever a motive to lie, murder is a pretty good one.”

  “I agree.”

  Josh shifted, almost as if uncomfortable. “Holly, the truth is, Chase’s brother’s death has the potential to eat Chase alive. He was obsessed with it for a long time. If there’s anything that would bring him back to this area and push him over the edge, it’s this.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Josh’s proclamation echoed in my head. Over the edge? Was that what Josh really thought had happened to Chase?

  My thoughts had gone there before, and I didn’t like it. I wouldn’t let myself go there again. Not now, especially when so much was on the line.

  You can’t trust . . .

  Chase’s words would haunt me until I had some answers.

  “I guess until we talk to Chase, we won’t know.” I rubbed my arms, suddenly feeling chilly.

  Josh nodded and stood, motioning for me to follow. “Enough chitchat, right? Come take a look at what I found.”

  I pushed down my nerves and followed Josh down the hallway. He led me inside the first bedroom we came to. I stepped inside and saw a familiar black suitcase. I smelled Chase’s leathery cologne. I spotted his Bible on the nightstand. My heart lurched. I felt so close to Chase, yet so far away.

  Josh walked toward the dresser and opened the top drawer. “This is what I found.”

  Before I even comprehended what he’d pulled out, I stepped back in shock. “You went through his things?”

  “Only out of necessity. I don’t advocate doing these types of things.” Josh held up a stack of photos, a bag with vials inside, and what looked like a map. “Do they make any sense to you?”

  I picked up the bag and scanned the labels on the vials inside. Steroids, I realized. For equines. More facts clicked together in my mind. “I think Chase is investigating Alexander Cartwright, trying to prove he’s guilty of being underhanded, in the least, or guilty of murder, at the most,” I muttered.