Smoke Screen (A Miranda and Parker Mystery Book 7)
Page 25
She thought she heard a step groan on the staircase. It was her mind playing tricks on her again. Focus.
She stared him down. Right in his sickly green eyes.
He stared back, smiling. As if he knew he was going to win.
Think again, you sonofabitch. She wasn’t going to let him take her down this time. Not without a fight. She’d bite off his nose, gouge out an eye. She didn’t care what he did to her with that stick.
And then she remembered something.
A secret weapon she’d had on her the whole time. If there was any time to use it, it was now.
“Hey, Adam,” she said as cockily as she could. “I’ve got a present for you.”
For a moment he blinked at her stunned, confused. “What is it?”
She shoved her hand into her pocket and pulled out the ankle bracelet. The one the police detective had found on the Tannenburg estate the night he’d put his arm around her neck. The one she’d kept. The one she’d been carrying around for days.
She held it up so that the light of the lanterns caught the sheen of the pendant.
The golden heart with the initials A.T.
“Remember this?”
His eyes filled with sudden tears. “Lydia. My love. My own.”
She knew he’d given this to her. And he still loved her. “Here catch.” She tossed the bracelet into the corner as far away from her gun as she could get it.
It worked. He dove for it.
And she dove for her gun. She scrambled across the floor and scooped it up, came up just in time to see him on his feet again.
“You forgot about this!” He screeched.
He was holding the remote in one hand over his head. But he had the bracelet in the other hand. It would take a second or two before he could push the button now.
As she aimed the gun at his chest, she heard clattering on the stairs. No time to wait. No time to think.
She fired.
Her gun seemed to go off twice, as if two loud bombs had exploded in the room.
Her bullet hit its target. Tannenburg’s body jerked back, blood spewing from his chest. Then he jerked forward, blood and brain matter shooting from his forehead. He swayed to the left, to the right. Then he stumbled over to the wall.
His green eyes glowered at Miranda. He gave her one last vicious look. He held up the remote. It slipped from his grasp, and he slumped to the floor.
Ears ringing from the shots, Miranda looked up and saw Parker on the stairs with his Glock drawn. He was the one who had fired the other shot.
“You killed him,” she said.
“We killed him,” he corrected.
But it wasn’t over. Suddenly she smelled smoke.
She turned her head and saw the acoustical padding on the wall go up in flames. Tannenburg had fallen on top of the lanterns.
Chapter Fifty-Five
Flames whipped up the side of the basement.
Miranda spun around and ran. She was the first to Gen’s cage. But Parker was there before she could get her picks out.
He holstered his weapon and took them from her. Better that way. Her hands were shaking.
He had the padlock open in an instant.
Gen was just rousing. Had she seen the shooting? Did she know they had to get out of here now?
Miranda couldn’t tell. Gen couldn’t keep her eyes open. It was just as well.
Holloway and Wesson had come down the stairs, weapons drawn when they heard gunfire. Now they stood batting away the flames along the wall with their jackets.
“Get out of here!” Parker called to them as he lifted Gen in his arms and hurried across the floor with her.
Wesson stopped fighting the flames and draped her jacket over Gen, then they all raced up the stairs and out of that house of horrors.
Becker had called the fire department. And the cops.
Sirens blaring, lights flashing the fire truck barreled into the yard and began hosing down the house. The local police arrived on the scene, accompanied by Erskine and Chambers.
Chaos ensued.
While the firemen worked, the cops demanded statements. They were very interested in Becker’s recording of the conversation in the basement, But they wanted to talk to Gen.
Parker told them no. He was taking her to the hospital first.
Miranda told Chambers she’d talk to him later and climbed into Parker’s Mazda while he gently laid Gen in the back seat. She had to get away. Becker and Holloway and Wesson stayed back to give statements. They’d get rides with Erskine and Chambers when it was all done.
Feeling as if she had escaped from hell, Miranda rode off into the night with Parker at the wheel.
Chapter Fifty-Six
Dr. Taggart, Parker’s trusted friend, took over when they reached the hospital. He put her in a room, ran tests to find out what she had been given, and pumped her stomach. Two hours later Gen was resting in a bed with Parker beside her, holding her hand.
Miranda should have felt nothing but relief. And she did. She was so happy Parker had his daughter back. He didn’t deserve to be hurt any more.
But the thought of the life she could have had with him made her sad. And the death of that crazed killer—the man who had raped her so many years ago—made her too somber for words.
She slipped out of the room and wandered into the waiting area.
She’d wait for Parker. Tell him how she felt. Wish him the best. Tell him if he wanted her to sign divorce papers she’d be available anytime.
To keep her mind off what she’d been through tonight she sat down in a colorful chair and took out her cell phone. She scrolled to her messages. The first was an update from Chambers at the scene.
The fire had been put out after about half an hour. There hadn’t been enough air in the basement to spread it. Good thing because they’d had to use the tank in the fire truck. Most of the evidence of the crime scene was intact. Tannenburg’s body had been singed, but there was still plenty left of him for DNA testing.
She was glad. That would bring closure to the loved ones of all those other victims.
The next text was one from Wendy.
OMG. Timmy dumped me for Leslie! She’s the ‘popular’ girl. Can you believe it?
Timmy was the boy Wendy and Mackenzie had fought over weeks ago. The one that had destroyed their friendship.
But guess what? I went over to Mackenzie’s tonight to tell her. And she got mad and said he was a total jerk for doing that. She hugged me and said she wanted me back as her friend and was sorry she’d ever let him come between us!
Well. Would wonders ever cease? Miranda couldn’t help but smile.
We’re going to the skating rink tomorrow after school and she’s going to show me some moves she says will put me over the top at Regionals next year. Can you believe it?
Wendy was right. She couldn’t believe it. But it was true. Her girls were back together. At last.
With a big grin, Miranda thumbed back a text. You made my night, kid.
With a sense of deep satisfaction she leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes.
It couldn’t have been five minutes later that she heard Parker’s rich, deep voice.
“So this is where you went off to.”
She opened her eyes and sat up. “I thought you could use some privacy.”
He nodded.
“Look.” She held up her phone.
He took it and read the message from Wendy. He smiled. “I’m so glad they’ve come to their senses.”
“Me, too.” Then she caught his gaze. “We can’t tell Mackenzie about tonight.”
“No.” He moved to the chair next to her and sat down.
“She might hear it on the news.”
“I’ll speak to Colby. I’ll make sure she doesn’t let her see it.”
If a parent could accomplish that. But maybe Wendy would keep her mind occupied and off the news for a few days, as well as off her father.
Parker was quiet a lon
g time. Finally he spoke. “I’m afraid I owe you a debt of gratitude I can never repay.”
Did he mean for saving his daughter’s life? He had a hand in that, too.
She shrugged. “I can send you a bill.”
He didn’t smile. “Miranda, if you hadn’t gone into that house. If you hadn’t gotten that confession. If you hadn’t faced down that madman, Gen might—”
She held up a hand. “But she is. And she’s going to be okay.”
Though she might need a few visits to Dr. Wingate. But then who didn’t after today? Miranda was ready to book appointments for the rest of the year. She knew she had more emotional fallout to deal with. Fallout she was suppressing at the moment.
Parker studied her intently. “I’d like to discuss something with you.”
Uh oh. Here it comes.
Nerves bouncing in her stomach Miranda got up and strolled to the window. She gazed out at the city bathed in light. It was in a hospital like this where she learned her destiny. Where she thought she and Parker had made a pact to work together.
But it wasn’t to be. Now it was really over.
She hugged herself and braced for his next words.
Parker gazed at the strong, lean body of his wife in the window, her T-shirt stained with her own blood. What a sacrifice she’d made for him tonight.
What a woman she was.
Why couldn’t he have seen it before? She was worth so much more than he’d ever realized. Not only to him but to every victim whose case she took on. How could he have been so selfish?
He rose and moved to her side. He longed to touch her but didn’t dare.
Miranda sucked in a deep breath. “Just say it, Parker.”
“Say what?”
“What you want to discuss with me. The divorce.” There. She’d said it for him.
He didn’t answer. She turned to him and gazed into his deep gray eyes. There was a world of emotion there. Because of what he’d just been through.
“I was going to say that I saw you in a new light today.”
That made her frown.
“You’ve said this life is your destiny. For the first time I’m beginning to understand what you mean.”
“Okay,” she said cautiously.
She wondered if he was being his classy self. Softening the blow with flattery and sweet talk. But he was only making things worse. She wished he would get to the point.
“I understand now,” he repeated. “You have to do what you do because it’s who you are. And you’re one of the best.”
Involuntarily her insides fluttered. She’d always been a sucker for his compliments.
She shrugged. “You’re not so shabby yourself.”
The corner of his mouth turned up in a smile. “It felt good working as a team again.”
“Yeah, it did. And it was great having Becker and Holloway and Wesson there. And you, of course. And your Glock.”
His eyes twinkled. “And so I’ve been thinking.”
“About what?”
“What if instead of closing down Parker and Steele Consulting we expand it?”
She took a step back from him feeling as if he’d punched her in the chest. “What?”
He raised a brow. “You don’t care for the idea?”
She stammered a moment. “I—I can’t believe it came out of your mouth.”
“Well, it did.” He stepped close to her, dared to take her hand in his. “You’ve taught me a great lesson that I forgot along the way.”
“What’s that?”
“Risking it all is better than losing it all.”
How true. But did he really mean what he was saying? “So you want to form a team?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Safety in numbers, huh?”
“Something like that.” He ran a thumb over her fingers, making her stomach quiver. “I can’t promise I won’t worry about you. Or be overprotective at times. But I do promise I’ll never demand you stop being who you are again.
She stared up at him, hoping what he was saying was true. Hoping she wasn’t dreaming. “Do you really mean that, Parker?”
In reply he took her into his arms and pulled her close to him.
The feel of his strength around her made her melt. She pressed her face to his muscular chest and breathed in his masculine scent.
It felt so good.
He kissed her hair. “Come back to me, Miranda. I love you so.”
He made tears fill her eyes. They ran down her cheeks and onto the floor and she didn’t give a whit.
She lifted her face to him and smiled through the tears. “I love you, too, Wade Parker,” she sniffed. “I guess fulfilling your destiny isn’t so fulfilling if you have to do it alone.”
“A wise thought indeed,” he said.
And he drew her to him and pressed his lips to hers in a kiss that was more intense, more meaningful than all the others he’d ever given her.
He loved her. Just as she was. He wasn’t going to change her ever again.
It was all she ever wanted from him. They were back together. Parker and Steele. And their friends.
As she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him back, she knew together they were going to make one unstoppable team.
THE END
Thank you for reading Smoke Screen, the seventh Miranda and Parker mystery.
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More Books by Linsey Lanier
Linsey’s Amazon Author page
THE MIRANDA’S RIGHTS MYSTERY SERIES
Someone Else’s Daughter – Book I
Delicious Torment – Book II
Forever Mine – Book III
Fire Dancer – Book IV
Thin Ice – Book V
THE MIRANDA AND PARKER MYSTERY SERIES
All Eyes on Me
Heart Wounds
Clowns and Cowboys
The Watcher
Zero Dark Chocolate
Trial by Fire
Smoke Screen
OTHER SUSPENSE BOOKS BY LINSEY LANIER:
Chicago Cop (A cop family thriller)
Steal My Heart (A Romantic Suspense)
HUMOROUS BOOKS BY LINSEY LANIER
You Want Me to Kill Who? (A Dandy Frost—Ninja Assassin Story) #1
You Want Me to Go Where? (A Dandy Frost—Ninja Assassin Story) #2
The Clever Detective Boxed Set 2 (A Fairy Tale Romance): Stories 1-5
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Writing fiction for over fifteen years, Linsey Lanier authored more than a dozen novels and short stories, including the popular Miranda’s Rights Mystery series. She writes romantic suspense, mysteries, and thrillers with a dash of sass.
She is a member of Romance Writers of America, the Kiss of Death chapter, Private Eye Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers. Her books have been nominated in several RWA-sponsored contests.
Living outside a major city with her husband of over two decades, Linsey enjoys watching crime shows with him and trying to figure out “who-dun-it.”
She’s always working on a new book. To keep up with her releases feel free to join Linsey’s mailing list at linseylanier.com.
Excerpts
If you missed the Miranda’s Rights Mystery series, below is an excerpt from Book I, Someone Else’s Daughter where Miranda first goes to work for the Parker Agency—and gets into all sorts of trouble.
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Someone Else’s Daughter: Book I (A Miranda’s Rights Mystery) — Excerpt
She could make it to the trees. She was too far away for him to catch up now. It started to rain. A soft rain. The kind, somebody had told her, that often came up in Georgia without warning. Beneath her, the ground sloped steeply as the grass grew wet. She slipped, tried to stifle a yelp, but it escaped her lips.
The cop heard her. His light found her. “Stop,” he yelled.
Man, she was having a bad night.
But the rain slowed him down, too. She could hear him grunting and cussing behind her as he struggled down the slippery incline. She reached the bottom and the land became flat again. Almost there. She sprinted across a patch of grass to the first clump of trees. Hesitating, she stopped to catch her breath.
The bright moon cast an eerie glow on the rocks and wild growth. She’d never liked wooded areas. She thought about murders in the forest preserves where she’d grown up. She thought of stories she’d heard about snakes in the Georgia woods. She glanced behind her.
The cop’s light bobbed about halfway down the hill.
No choice. Gritting her teeth, she braced herself and stepped into the tall grass. Her foot went down on a squishy surface of pine straw and matted grass, a twig snapped, but it held. She took another step, reached out and felt tree bark in front of her. She sidestepped and moved around it. The ground was uneven and muddy. The drizzling rain fell against the leaves with a sound like soft cymbals. The air smelled cool and freshly washed. Brush tangled around her shins. Her hair and clothes were wet, but she couldn’t think about that now.
She looked back again, could barely make out the cop. That meant he couldn’t see her either. She’d done it. She’d escaped. But he’d be hunting her in these woods soon. Probably call out the cavalry, too. Maybe she could make it to the other side. It was part of a subdivision, after all. She couldn’t remember the layout of the forest from her map.
Better move faster. She took a quick step, then another. Found a spot where the trees opened up. She started to sprint. Wrong move. Something caught her foot.
Down she went.
She tried to catch herself on a tree, but her hand scrapped across its bark. Her palms skidded across the muddy ground.
Damn. She didn’t need this now. What had she’d tripped over? She brushed her hair out of her eyes, hoping she hadn’t landed on a slithering snake.