by Jessica Ashe
Dad wriggled in his restraints and tried to yell, but all I heard was a mumble. I had no intention of listening to Dad anyway. I didn’t know what was going with James, but I knew I didn’t trust Dad as far as I could throw his fat ass.
“James wouldn’t have killed Kara,” I said to Chloe. “They were friends too.”
“I know,” Chloe replied. “I saw some of the emails between them. They got on well.”
“There you go then,” James said. “There’s even email evidence demonstrating that I wouldn’t want her dead.”
“No, there’s email evidence clearly proving that you did have a motive,” Chloe replied. She was shaking now, although whether it was anger, fear, nerves, or a combination of all three, I couldn’t tell.
“What motive?” I asked.
“She found out. Kara wanted James to sign some contracts for the company, but he couldn’t because his name isn’t actually James Bowman. Kara did some digging and found out the truth. She must have really trusted him though, because she went to meet him the night she died.”
Chloe took her phone back, pulled up the emails, and then showed it to me. She was right. Kara had found something on James, and he’d insisted on meeting her. That was the night she died.
“Alright, I’ve had enough of this,” James said angrily.
“What’s going on, James?” I asked. “How do you explain--”
James had no intention of explaining. He pulled out a gun from the inside of his jacket and pointed it towards us.
I quickly stepped in front of Chloe, but if he wanted us dead, there wouldn’t be much we could do to stop him. He didn’t shoot. He hesitated, thinking about how this would go down. I could see him planning it out. James would want this to look like a shootout gone wrong. No doubt he would kill Dad too; he was just thinking of the best way to go about doing it.
“Take your gun out slowly,” James commanded. “Kick it over to me.”
I did what he said. James kicked the gun over to the back of the room, well out of reach.
“Why?” I asked. Partly I was trying to buy time to do a bit of thinking of my own, but I also needed to know. It didn’t make any sense.
“Because it was easy,” James--or should that be Roddy--replied with a shrug. “I built an empire in less than ten years, and I barely took any risks. It was perfect.”
“You already had an empire,” I replied. “You inherited it from your dad.”
James shook his head. “No, Dad squandered it all. I had nothing when he died. I needed to build a legacy for my kids, but I needed to do it quickly.”
“So you gained my dad’s trust?”
“It wasn’t difficult. I just had to give him good advice, and with someone as stupid as your dad, it’s not difficult to give advice that helps out.”
“Why not just kill him?” Chloe asked. She’d moved out from behind my back and now stood by my side. I reached out an arm and tried to push her back behind me, but she wasn’t having any of it. So bloody stubborn sometimes.
“Because Denton would have just taken charge.”
“Well why not kill--”
“Because all the assets are in his name and things get messy legally,” James said. “I’ve been gaining the trust of your dad’s men for years and gradually converting them to my side. He barely has a quarter of the resources he used to have. I’ve been the most powerful man in the city for years and no one has even known about it. Not even the FBI apparently.”
James walked over to my dad, keeping the gun pointed at Chloe and me. He untied Dad, but left the gag on him. He was setting it up so that it looked like we all killed each other. The gun was too far away. I couldn’t run over there without leaving Chloe exposed. Even if I got the gun, he’d kill her, and then what was the point?
I deserved to die. I’d done terrible things in my life. Things I would regret for the rest of my short life. But I didn’t regret meeting Chloe. I just wished she’d never met me for her own good.
James stood on Dad’s bullet wound until Dad lost consciousness. Or so it appeared. Dad was faking it. He looked at me, while James had his back turned. I just needed to distract him. Chloe had noticed the same thing.
“It was you who brought me in,” Chloe said. “You were the FBI’s contact at the company. You wanted me there to bring down Denton and his dad.”
“Yep,” James replied, as he dragged what he thought was Dad’s unconscious body across the stage. “That way all of Denton’s assets would have been seized as part of the trial. They would never have been a threat to me again, and I would own the city.”
Just then, Dad looked at me and nodded his head. I returned the nod, and Dad sat up, swinging a fist up into James balls. I moved immediately, leaping towards James and grabbing the arm that held the gun, before he could swing it round to shoot Dad.
James was strong, but Dad’s blow had weakened him considerably. I slammed his arm down onto the floor, making him drop the gun, which I quickly picked up and pointed at him.
I nearly pulled the trigger straight away, but he was lying on his stomach, and I didn’t like shooting people in the back. Even I had a code of sorts.
This wasn’t even about Kara anymore. Not just about that anyway. I didn’t even care that he’d been lying to me and my dad this entire time. But I did care about him pointing a gun at Chloe. He’d have killed her. I didn’t doubt that for a second.
“Turn and face me,” I yelled. I was spitting and not entirely in control of my emotions, but then if I were, I wouldn’t have the nerve to pull the trigger. There would be time for me to dwell on this moment later, after James--Roddy--was dead.
“Denton,” Chloe’s voice called out calmly from close behind me. I hadn’t even heard her approach. “Don’t do this. Don’t kill him.”
“He would have killed you,” I snarled. “Both of us.”
“I know. But you’re better than that. I recorded his entire confession. He’ll go to prison.”
“He doesn’t deserve prison. He deserves death.”
“That’s not your call to make.”
I didn’t know if I still had a chance with Chloe, but I knew whatever hope we had depended on me not pulling the trigger. If I killed James, she’d never be able to trust me.
“Listen to her,” James moaned, a cocky grin spreading across his face, even though he was clearly still in agony. “She talks sense that one. Not like Kara. She was a dumb bitch.”
I pulled back the safety and held my arm out straight ready to fire. Chloe didn’t try to stop me. She understood why I needed to kill James, and I didn’t think she’d blame me for it. But she wouldn’t forgive me either.
My entire arm shook as I held the gun out straight, pointing it directly at James’ face. Dad groaned in the background, urging me to shoot James.
I reached my other hand out and took hold of Chloe’s. Her hand was cold, while mine was damp and clammy with sweat. She held my hand and stood by my side, determined to support me in whatever decision I made.
Except I’d already made my decision. I had made it the second I took hold of her hand.
I lowered the gun and pulled Chloe towards me for a hug. She breathed a sigh of relief, and wrapped her arms around me.
“I’m so sorry I lied to you,” Chloe said, as she pressed her head against my chest. She started sobbing, but did her best to hide it from me.
“I’m not,” I replied. “If you hadn’t lied about who you were, then I never would have met you. Besides, I should have listened to you from the start. I was so hell-bent on getting revenge for someone I’d lost that I didn’t focus on who I had.
We hugged for a few minutes, but eventually the painful whimpering of James and my Dad began to lessen the romance somewhat. That and all the stripper poles.
“We should probably get out of here,” I whispered in her ear. “I’ll call an ambulance for Dad.”
Chloe lifted her head away from my chest, and held her finger up to her lips to silence me.
“Did you hear that?”
I shook my head. Right now the only thing I could hear was my heartbeat.
We walked hand in hand towards the exit, but Chloe froze and pulled me back.
“I can hear something,” she said again.
I turned to look at her, but the only thing I could hear was James struggling to get to his feet. “You should have killed me, Denton,” James yelled theatrically. “I’m going to set my entire team on you. You’ll be dead by the end of the--”
Chloe and I both jumped in shock as the sound of a gunshot split the air. James went staggering back as a bullet exploded into his chest, followed by another shortly after. He landed on the floor with a thud, and died after a few short, straggled breaths.
I looked towards the sounds of the gunshots and saw the shooter.
It was Kara.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chloe
Denton was here. At my house in New York. About to meet my mother.
It was all kinds of terrifying.
He grabbed me as soon as I opened the door, and pressed me up against the wall for a passionate kiss. I wrapped my arms around him, digging my fingers into his flesh and returning the kiss, until I remembered that Mom was liable to walk downstairs at any second.
Denton didn’t let go easily, but I finally shook him off me. We hadn’t seen each other for two days, but I had to at least introduce him to Mom first before we went to the bedroom.
“How is she?” I asked, referring to Kara. I'd met her briefly, but Denton had been the one to spend time with her.
“She’s going to be fine,” Denton replied. “Physically, anyway. Mentally, I’m not so sure, but she’s a tough woman. I only know one woman who’s stronger.”
“I can’t even begin to imagine what she’s been though. Has she talked about it at all?”
“I sat with her while she talked to the police, but the doctors called the interview off when she became agitated. All I know is that he kept her locked up in a basement below the strip club, and had his minions bring her the bare minimum food and water every day. Her muscles have atrophied a bit, but physical therapy will fix that.”
“Was she… did he… you know?”
“I have no idea. She’ll tell me when she’s ready. I’m not going to press her just yet.”
The details of what happened were coming out painfully slowly, but James was dead, Kara was still pretty bad off, and so far, James’ lackeys weren’t saying much.
James hadn’t been lying when he’d said he was the most powerful man in the city. He’d bribed a forensic analyst to certify that a dead woman was actually Kara, and he’d made sure the police investigation quickly got swept under the rug.
Accusations of corruption in the Mayor’s office were already circling, and I didn’t doubt that James had bribed more than just a few police officers.
“How did she escape?” I asked.
“Seems her guards decided to have a little fun with one of the strippers after hours, and left her door unlocked. She listened to our entire conversation, but when she realized we were going to leave James alive she stepped in to finish the job.”
“Are the police going to press charges for her killing James?”
“It’s unlikely. I’ve hired an attorney for her, and he says she can claim battered woman syndrome or something to that effect. But he doesn’t think the district attorney will even want to press charges.”
“Good. They should be pinning a fucking medal on her.”
“Chloe Norton!” Mom yelled, as she strolled down the stairs. “Watch your language.”
“Sorry, Mom.”
“I’m always telling her off for swearing,” Denton said, grinning at me. “Hi, Mrs. Norton. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Mom looked Denton up and down and judging by her reaction she was definitely pleased to meet him as well. I’d made him cover up completely so that Mom couldn’t see the tattoos, although he was now wearing far too many layers for a mild summer afternoon.
“Nice to meet you too, Denton. Chloe gets her potty mouth from her father, I’m afraid. So you’re an FBI agent as well?”
“Uh, no, not exactly.”
“Chloe said you met at work.”
“Oh. Yes, we did, but I don’t work for the FBI. I work closely with them though. They always want to ask me questions.”
“Impressive. Perhaps you can convince my daughter that the FBI is too dangerous a place for a young woman.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Denton said, before turning to look at me. I gave him my best death stare, and made it quite clear that unless he wanted to spend the night on the sofa, he had better take that back. “Of course, I wouldn’t dare try to convince Chloe to do anything she doesn’t want to do.”
“No, she’s stubborn,” Mom agreed. “That, she gets from me. Well, let’s not stand here in the doorway. Denton, why don’t you take your bags upstairs. I’ve made up the spare room for you. It’s the second one on the left.”
Spare room? Denton looked at me quizzically. I’d never had a boyfriend over to stay the night. In all the commotion, I’d forgotten what a big deal this was.
“Um, Mom?”
“Yes dear?”
“I was actually planning on having Denton stay in my room.”
Mom looked at me for a few seconds, and then laughed. “I know, I’m not that old-fashioned. Chloe’s room is the first on the right, Denton.”
Denton headed upstairs, and Mom looked at me and pursed her lips as if silently wolf-whistling.
“Not bad, darling. Not bad at all.”
“I’m glad you approve... I think.”
“You sure he’s not one of these love ’em, and leave ’em types?” Mom asked.
“Oh he definitely is,” I replied. “But I’m hoping not in this case.”
“Good. How long do you have off work?”
“A couple of weeks,” I lied. After what had happened, I’d been given three months paid leave to get my head together, but if I told her that, Mom would want all the details and she’d have a panic attack.
I couldn’t see myself going back to the FBI, although at some point I would need a new job. Denton was taking a break from work while he unwound all of his dad’s operations.
His dad was in custody, and wouldn’t see the light of day for many years, if ever, but Denton still thought he had a personal responsibility to put things right if possible.
The company could largely run itself at this point, but Denton planned to step down from that as well. Even though the company was legitimate, it had been built on the proceeds of crime, and he wanted nothing to do with it.
Denton would have to cut down on the material goods for the time being, which he wouldn’t find easy, but fortunately for him, I’d had a lot of practice at not buying things.
“Do you two have any plans for tomorrow?” Mom asked.
Denton was halfway down the stairs, and made some motions with his body that made it quite clear what he had in mind.
“No particular plans,” I said to Mom, trying to keep a straight face.
“Good. This is going to sound a little odd, but you need to go and meet with a lawyer.”
I frowned. “What about?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure I fully understand, but it turns out those calls about inheriting money from a relative were real. The law firm is real. Quite a big one it turns out. Arrington, Arrington, and… something. They have a New York office and they want to meet you.”
“Why me though?”
“I don’t know, dear. Legal nonsense. Your father left his estate to you so you get whatever this is.”
“Don’t get too excited,” Denton said. “It’s probably not a lot. Lawyers have a duty to make a concerted effort to get inheritance assets to the intended recipient, and that applies even if it’s only ten dollars.”
“That’s fine,” I said. “We probably need to get out of the house at some point.”
Denton did
n’t look at all keen on that, but we agreed to keep the appointment Mom had made on my behalf.
Besides, I might end up needing a lawyer myself in the next few weeks and months, depending on what came out of the case with James and his father.
“Okay dear,” Mom said, cheerfully. “I’m popping to the shops for some groceries, and I’ll probably stop for a coffee on the way back.”
“Alright.”
“I’ll be gone for at least two hours,” Mom added, before winking at me. “You kids have fun.”
I played coy, but probably wasn’t fooling anyone.
“You heard the woman,” Denton said. “I do believe she told me to take you upstairs and show you a good time.”
“That’s not exactly what she said.”
“It’s what I heard. Are you going to argue with me?”
I bit my lip and shook my head. Denton reached around me and grabbed my ass, lifting me up into the air. I wrapped my legs around him as he carried me upstairs to the bedroom.
It was about time I christened this bed.
Chapter Thirty
Denton
“I’ve never had a boyfriend in my room,” Chloe said, as she led me into her bedroom. “I had boyfriends, but I wasn’t exactly keen to bring them home and introduce them to Dad.”
“Same,” I replied.
“Oh please. I don’t believe that for a second.”
“It’s true. I would always take women to hotels or stay at their place. I didn’t want them meeting Mom or Dad. You can imagine why Dad would be a little off-putting, and Mom would have been trying to marry me off to the first one she met.”
Looking at Chloe’s bedroom, you would never have guessed Chloe was ever an FBI agent. Her room looked better suited to a sixteen or seventeen-year-old still in school. There were no posters of boy bands on the walls, but there was a general ‘pinkness’ to everything including the pillows on the bed, and the chair in front of her desk.
At least she had a double bed. I’d had sex on single beds a few times, and always felt too restrained, unable to put in my best performances, which tended to require a decent amount of space to roll around in.
