A Twist of Betrayal

by Allie Harrison

  Justine thought his only ‘just rewards’ would be a padded cot in his jail cell, but she said nothing, especially since she knew first hand just how hard he could hit. The last thing she wanted to do was provoke him further. She also didn’t comment on the fact that Dan couldn’t possibly have had three million dollars stuck somewhere. She’d helped him move his stuff, and she knew his bank accounts. There was no sign of that kind of money anywhere. Of course that didn’t mean he couldn’t have buried it somewhere. The room was quiet while she ate another cracker, feeling better and stronger with each one.

  “So, you want to get your money from him, but then you decide to shoot him?” she asked. Her heart raced at the thought, and she tried her best to keep her emotions in control.

  “What do you think I am, stupid? I know where to shoot a guy and not kill him. I don’t even think I hit him. I’m smart enough to know that if I killed him, there probably wouldn’t be anyone else to get my money for me, because you don’t know where it is, do you?”

  She shook her head. “Sorry, this is the first I’ve heard about any of it.”

  “And there probably wouldn’t even be anyone else to care to get you back, now would there?” His hostility slowly returned with each word.

  So Justine knew she had to tread carefully with her next statement, do her best to keep him talking but keep away the anger. “No, and I never thought you were stupid, either.” she said truthfully. Crazy, maybe. Dangerous, definitely yes. But she would never use the word stupid, not to his face.

  She was quiet for another moment. After all, for as smart as he was, she probably didn’t need to tell him that kidnapping could hold a sentence worse than a few years in prison, maybe even worse than the robbery and assault on a police officer charge.

  “So what now?”

  “Now we wait,” he said.

  “Wait for what?” she had to ask although she pretty well knew.

  “We wait for Dan. He’s dependable. That’s why I chose him for my get-away driver. He’ll be here,” he looked at his watch, “probably within the next hour.”

  “What if he’s not?” It was another question she had to ask even though she was just as certain as Deke that Dan would soon come for her.

  “Your darling husband was pretty desperate to get you back, so desperate he was willing to offer himself as a hostage. He’ll do whatever it takes to get you back unharmed.”

  That was the thought that frightened her most, given the present situation of their marriage, she didn’t know that the man she loved would do whatever it took to get her back. If he did, which she thought he might after his near rescue of the day before, she knew he probably would even go so far as to put himself in the line of fire or turn himself in with a bag filled with three million dollars.

  Justine shivered, thinking of how Dan would put himself into danger for her. In her chest, her heart pounded almost painfully. True, she wanted nothing more than to escape, be free of this man, but at the same time, she didn’t want Dan coming to her rescue. It only gave this man more leverage.

  Dan had offered himself as a hostage without any hesitation, and she was terrified at what more he was willing to offer when it came to getting back his own wife. At least he was over his anger at her for being pregnant. For now. She hoped she didn’t have to confess to him what she thought happened or that there had been not one, but two nights where she didn’t take her pill.

  Now that she was pregnant, she was glad about it. She had a right to her happiness despite the mistake she’d made, didn’t she? And that’s what it was—a mistake. She wished she could remember. Whatever it was classified as, she intended to spend the rest of her life making up to him.

  She thought about the money. What if he didn’t have any money? If he had been involved in a bank heist, what if he’d done something with all the money to atone for his sin, like donate it all to charity?

  What if he didn’t show up?

  The nagging little questions wouldn’t go away. This baby might be something she wanted and refused to give up, but it wasn’t the same for Dan. Wouldn’t this be a nice, little convenient way for him to end his problem?

  Justine shook her head at the very idea.

  That wasn’t the Dan she knew and loved. That wasn’t the cop she knew. That wasn’t the man she knew.

  How many times had Dan put himself in harm’s way for someone else?

  More than she could count.

  He might walk away from her later, but he would never turn his back on her now. Not when he’d already offered himself in her place.

  “You’re pretty sure he’ll come, aren’t you?”

  Deke watched her closely for a long, uncomfortable minute. “Yes. I’ve watched him with you for a long time.” He raised a brow at the memory. “I’ve watched you. He’ll come. I know I would.”

  A shiver slithered up her back. The idea that he’d watched her, stalked her, spied on her sent the crackers she’d just eaten into a somersault.

  “Do you know what I learned watching you?” he asked, his voice dropping into a seductive tone.

  She didn’t want to know. She wanted to run. Her insides were shaking with the need to move away from him. Just what had he seen by watching her? That she and Dan made love on the living room sofa? That she made her morning coffee wearing nothing but the sexy panties she wore just for Dan?

  The invasion she felt was raw and cut through her with the precision of a surgeon’s scalpel.

  “I learned you’re pretty smart.”

  His words didn’t ease the cold feel of assault left at knowing he’d watched her. Before she could move away, he reached across the table and brushed her cheek with his fingertips. “And pretty soft.”

  Justine flinched and moved out of his reach. “Don’t touch me,” Justine said evenly, forcing her words out through her suddenly tight throat.

  “But then you’re just plain pretty, everywhere. Don’t you get cold setting the coffee maker in the morning in nothing but little polka dot panties?”

  She was going to throw up. She stood up so suddenly the chair toppled backwards behind her. She ignored it. She had every intention of running into the small bathroom to put a closed door between herself and Deke Rynolds, and to put her head between her knees and breathe deeply until her stomach settled.

  She would have preferred to race to the door and get out of the damned cabin, but Deke was between her and the exit. So the bathroom was her next best option. She could only hope there was a lock on the door.

  She didn’t make it past the small counter. He moved like a quick, fluid snake striking and grabbing her, forcing her up against the old, wooden, unforgiving counter.

  “Don’t worry about Dan,” he said, his words rancid and hot against her ear, “he and I have shared women in the past.”

  “Stop it. Get off me!” she said through clenched teeth, forcing her voice to stay strong, forcing the tears to stay out of her eyes, and working to force down the bile that burned her throat. He would not make her cry, she vowed.

  “What’s to stop me?” Deke asked.

  “I’ll do whatever I have to, to stop you,” she replied.

  “You think you’re strong enough? Think you have the right moves?”

  She thought she did. She closed her eyes for three whole seconds and took herself back five months to another time in her life when she felt threatened. In those few seconds, the memory of Dan teaching her escape and self-protection moves flooded through her so strongly it was almost as if he was right there with her, coaching her on what to do. His voice giving her instructions was loud in her thoughts. As she breathed in, she could actually smell the familiar scent of his aftershave.

  What she felt most was the warmth of him as he coached her and guided her moves. As if she shared some mental communication with Dan in that span of a few heartbeats, the memory of his touch gave her strength and courage.

  Chapter 20

  Five Months Ago

  “Are you be
ginning to doubt his innocence?” Dan asked.

  Justine slowly shook her head. “No, I really believe everything he’s told me. It all seems to pan out, too.”

  “Then what’s the problem? I can see this case has you up on your toes.” Dan noticed.

  “It’s made me think about future cases,” she said. “The next guy I have to provide counsel for may be guilty. Or may come after me because he thinks I didn’t do my best in defending him.”

  “That’s just a chance you always have to take,” Dan said. It was truthfully blunt, and he reached across the supper table and took her hand.

  “Am I just thinking this way because it’s my first murder case?” Justine asked softly.

  Dan shrugged. “It could be.”

  She could tell he was careful how he talked to her about her work. “You’re going easy on me, I can tell,” she put in.

  “I don’t want to fight with you over our jobs.”

  “You think he’s guilty, don’t you?” she asked.

  Dan shrugged again. “You have to decide that for yourself.”

  Justine smiled from across the supper table. “I just don’t know how to feel about this,” she replied. “What I do know is that I don’t like the feel of this case. And I haven’t from the beginning. I’m so certain he’s not guilty. Still, I can’t help but get the feeling that he doesn’t think I’m doing my best to get him off.”

  “You have to admit the prosecution has a lot of evidence against him,” he pointed out.

  “Yes, but my client has a pretty unshakable alibi. Not to mention, we’ve got witnesses that confirm Paulie Madison’s alibi, too. We’ve got blood samples and foot prints and fiber samples that are all circumstantial and don’t match anything, especially anything regarding Madison,” she reminded Dan as if he didn’t already know any of this.

  “He scares you, doesn’t he?”

  “Oh, yes. Paulie Madison has a lot of money and friends, both in high and low places. He’s scared me from the first moment I looked at him.” She poked at her supper with her fork but never ate a bite.

  “Do you really think there’s a chance the jury won’t acquit him?” Dan asked.

  She shrugged lightly. “I don’t know. I guess I’m just scared, and I don’t know what to think.”

  “This is your first murder case, I don’t blame you.”

  “I’m starting to wonder that if he doesn’t get off,” Justine went on, “I think we’ll have to move.” She looked up at Dan. He didn’t look all that worried, but then he seldom let her see him worry.

  “We won’t have to move,” he assured her.

  “Maybe I’m just not cut out to try murder cases. I should probably stick to misdemeanors.”

  He smiled at her comment. “Listen, you just have to practice with some caution, that’s all.”

  “Like what?” she asked.

  “Like don’t leave your office or court at odd times when no one’s around and don’t stay at your office after dark. Don’t park in the parking garage if you can help it, it’s dark in there. Find a place out in the light on the street, even if you have to go out and feed the meter every couple of hours. Pay attention to what’s happening around you, both when you’re walking to the car and when you’re driving.”

  It was Justine’s turn to give him a small smile. “I already do all of that. I check inside my car before I open the door and get in. I have my keys ready to unlock the door, so I don’t have dig through my purse. I lock the doors after I get in. That’s just common sense stuff.”

  He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Good. After we eat, I’ll show you a few maneuvers to help you in case you get grabbed.” He took a bite.

  Justine pushed her plate away, too anxious to eat. “Show me now,” she requested. “Please. I’m not hungry anyway.”

  Dan paused, and for a moment, Justine thought he was going to refuse and ask her to wait until he finished. Then, he pushed his plate a few inches away. “All right. I’m not really hungry, either.”

  She figured it was probably a lie, but she loved him for it.

  They stood up and Dan faced her. Justine watched him and waited.

  “Now, I’m not going to teach you to fight or anything that would take months of practice. Besides, if you did want to learn some form of self-defense, you should learn it from a professional. I’m just going to show you a few moves that are to give you the few seconds you might need to escape. Just in case something happens.”

  “Okay,” Justine said.

  Dan grabbed her suddenly and held on to her sleeve. “What do you do?” he asked.

  Justine twisted her arm and tried to twist away from him, but he held her too tightly.

  “You’re wasting time,” Dan instructed. “If I had I knife, I could have used it already. If I wanted you in a car, I could have dragged you there.”

  “All right, so what do I do?” she asked. His touch was warm through her sleeve. No one else’s touch would be.

  “Slide out of it,” Dan told her. “If someone grabs you by your clothes, just slide them right off, leave the guy holding your jacket.”

  Justine did as he instructed, letting one arm slide through the sleeve. The other followed, and she was free. In less time than it took her to struggle and try to twist free, she was. “Damn,” she laughed, “that was easy. But what if I’m not wearing a jacket?”

  “Then let ’em have your blouse or T-shirt or whatever. Just let it slide right over your head. Then run. You can run without a shirt on. You can’t run with a knife stuck in you. You can’t run if your attacker manages to get both hands around you or starts choking you.”

  “I know.”

  “This has got to be instinctive, Jus,” he pointed out. “When someone grabs you, he isn’t going to wait for you to get your bearings and try to think of a way to escape. He’s going to be ready, and you have to be, too. You have to make these moves without having to think about them.”

  “All right.”

  “Do it again,” he insisted. He waited for her to put on her jacket again. Then he grabbed her again, only in a different place.

  In less time than Justine could take a breath, Dan was left standing there holding her jacket.

  “But blouses don’t wear as loose as a jacket or T-shirt,” she pointed out.

  “Don’t be afraid to lose a few buttons,” he said. “Just like the shirt, they’re replaceable.” He looked at her, his eyes twinkling with stars. “And just think how running half naked might draw some much-needed attention.”

  She raised a brow and grinned at him. Then she ran her tongue over her lips, slowly, seductively. “You think so?” Justine asked.

  “I know when I see you half naked, it sure gets my attention.”

  “You’re supposed to be teaching me how to protect myself,” Justine pointed out.

  “Yes, I am, so stop trying to distract me and turn me on with your tongue.” And he didn’t hesitate to grab her from behind, his arm around her neck.

  Justine waited, not really knowing what to do. Instinctively, she reached up and grasped his arm with her hands as she tried to pry his arm away from her.

  “Listen, honey,” he said, his voice warm in her ear. “You’re at a disadvantage because you’re not very big. That means you could be overpowered by sheer strength. There is no way you could get me to let you go holding on and pulling like you are. I can sweep you right off your feet this way and have you gone before anyone could stop me.” He showed her by lifting her right off her feet.

  It was frightening to see how easy Dan made it look. “So what should I do?” Justine asked when he set her back down.

  “You have to know how to turn your weakness around to work for you, so you can still get away. To grab my arm was what I expected you to do, it’s almost a natural reaction. Your attacker would probably expect it, too. If you forget and grab an arm anyway, grab your attacker’s thumbs.”

  “Why?”

  “Thumbs guide the hand, but with
out the rest of the hand, they’re weak. If you grab someone’s thumbs and pull, the rest of the fingers have no choice but to follow. The only bad thing about that is you’re still in contact with your attacker. As soon as you let him go, he’s probably going to grab you again,” Dan explained. “So let’s try something else. Put your arms down.”

  Justine put her arms down at her sides.

  “Now, what can you touch like that?” he asked quietly.

  With both hands, Justine reached behind her. And touched him. She brushed her hands against his thighs, his legs. With one hand she found the juncture between his legs, and she wasn’t a bit surprised to find him hard.

  Justine giggled.

  “Don’t laugh, this is serious,” he said, but was unable to keep his voice from cracking. “You’ve got your hand on one of the most vulnerable parts on a man. And it’s much closer than reaching up and trying to pull my arm away from your neck. All you have to do is grab, pull and twist, and I promise he’ll let you go,” Dan informed her.

  “You want me to grab, pull and twist, just to make sure it works?” Justine asked, a hint of laughter still in her voice.

  “No, I don’t, but I want you understand that grabbing an arm, or whatever is holding you is usually not the answer, no matter how much you want to, not when there are other vulnerable pressure points.”

  His words were hot against her cheek.

  “What are the other vulnerable pressure points?” Justine whispered. The entire length of his hardness was pressed up against the back of her. She couldn’t help but lean back against him.

  “The ribs and solar plexus. You can use your elbow to reach them, but if someone is holding you close, like this,” Dan demonstrated, “you might not get the chance to move that much.”

  “What should I hit instead?”

  “An instep,” he said.

  Justine thought she could almost feel the way he had to force the words out. She felt his desire as he pressed against her, and she nearly giggled again.