by SUE FINEMAN
“Why did he want to kill you?” a reporter shouted.
“I was his ex-wife’s attorney, and Emma volunteered at the battered women’s shelter in Tacoma, where his wife took refuge after her husband beat her the first time. Baylee is a reporter with the Tacoma Tribune. She wrote a series of articles about domestic violence and about the Blackburn case in particular.
“I’d like to thank Alistair Walden, Jack Blackburn’s twin brother, for his help in capturing his brother.” He glanced at Baylee. “As you can see from the lingering bruises on Baylee’s face, she would have been his next victim if she hadn’t had the strength to fight back as she did.”
Baylee prayed this worked the way Chance intended. Detective Miller had been skeptical about their plan, but she went along with it.
“What are you going to do now?” a reporter asked. The question had been planted, because they needed the information to be released.
Baylee leaned toward the microphones. “Celebrate. I no longer need guards to protect me.”
After Detective Miller answered a few more questions, she ended the press conference. They’d done what they’d intended to do. They’d planted the idea that Alistair helped them arrest Black Jack, and they’d told the world that Baylee and Chance would be unprotected and too drunk to defend themselves tonight. The next step was up to Alistair Walden.
Blackburn’s jailers would make sure he saw the clip after it hit the news, and then the detectives would take the next step. With any luck, Jack Blackburn would give them the information they needed to put his twin brother away forever.
By dinnertime, they had everything in place. Detective Miller and her partner had moved in and would take over from the guards as soon as Alistair showed up.
The security system Cody had installed was one of the best on the market. The monitoring equipment was in a secret room behind the bookshelves in the library. They could watch every window and every door in the house from that little room. There were cameras on the pool, on the driveway, and several others on the outside of the property and on the inside of the house. If Alistair came, he’d no doubt figure out how to disable the alarm system before he broke into the house. If the system stopped working, they’d know he was here, and they’d be ready.
Long after dark, Chance and Baylee played loud music and took several empty bottles of wine, a full bottle of sparkling grape juice, and four glasses out by the pool. Two of the guards, a man and a woman, swam and played in the pool with Baylee and Chance.
Much later, at a signal from someone in the house, one of the guards in the pool whispered, “He’s here. Are you sure you want to do this?”
Chance nodded. “We have to do this.”
The two guards went inside, leaving the French doors wide open. A minute later, the music went off, leaving an eerie silence out by the pool. Then the lights upstairs went off, leaving the house dark inside. The only lights left on were the ones by the pool.
Baylee pulled herself out of the pool and sat on the edge, a towel around her shoulders.
Chance said, “C’mon, Baylee. Let’s go inside and crash. I’m beat and our guests are already snoring in there.”
“Go ahead. I’ll be along in a few minutes.”
They knew Alistair wouldn’t come after them if they were together. Unless he’d found himself a weapon, he could only handle an attack on one person at a time.
Chance climbed out of the pool, staggered, and caught himself on a table, an act he hoped Alistair Walden caught. “I drank too much.”
“Yes, you sure did,” said Baylee. “Can you make it on your own?”
“Yeah.” He was acting drunk, but Chance hadn’t had a drop of anything alcoholic tonight. He wanted to be cold sober when the killer came. He hated leaving Baylee out here by herself, but they didn’t know which of them Walden would come after first. Chance suspected he’d go after Baylee first, since she was a woman, but he couldn’t count on it.
He leaned down and kissed her. She felt cold, and he knew it wasn’t from the temperature. She was terrified. “Don’t let him hurt you again,” he whispered.
“I won’t.”
“I love you, Baylee.”
“I love you, too. Go inside, Chance. The guards are watching.”
He kissed her again and staggered inside, where he turned on the shower in the bathroom and stripped out of his bathing suit. Leaving the shower running, Chance pulled on a pair of Cody’s pants and ducked into the library while one of the guards stood behind the bathroom door, waiting for the killer.
Chance stood in the dark room with the detectives watching Baylee, still sitting by the pool. “Here he comes,” said Detective Albertson, Detective Miller’s partner. “By the garage. He’s taking the bait and going after Baylee.”
The pool lights were bright enough to see the knife blade in Alistair’s hand. Chance’s heart raced. “He’s got a knife, and she doesn’t see him.”
Detective Miller said, “Stay quiet and keep out of the way, Chance. We’ve got her covered.”
Baylee lifted her left hand and tugged on a strand of hair, her signal she’d spotted the man. As Alistair neared her position, she slid into the pool and swam toward the waterfall. Just before she reached it, she turned to face the killer. “Looking for me, Alistair?”
For an instant, he turned his back on the house. “Get out of the pool, and I won’t go after lover boy.”
“You’ll just kill me?”
“Get the hell out of the pool, and do it quietly, or I’ll kill both of you.”
“Come and get me,” she said just before she dived under the waterfall and disappeared.
“What the hell?” Alistair muttered.
“Police,” someone inside the house yelled. “Hold it right there.”
Alistair jumped into the pool. Chance raced out and tackled him as he hit the water. He had to keep the killer from attacking Baylee again.
They struggled over the knife. Alistair was surprisingly strong, and before Chance could get the knife away, Alistair managed to slice his left arm. In spite of the stinging wound, he squeezed Alistair’s wrist until he dropped the knife. It floated to the bottom of the pool.
Baylee swam up behind Alistair and put a choke hold around his neck. Alistair clawed at her arm and tried to shake her loose, but she didn’t let go. Chance pushed them both toward the side of the pool, where many hands reached out to help. Two guards and a police officer pulled Alistair out of the water and slammed him down on the ground.
The water turned pink around Chance from the cut on his arm. They’d caught a killer, but not before he did some damage.
Baylee yelled, “Bret, call the paramedics,” and the guard nearest them pulled out his cell phone and made the phone call, while several sets of strong arms pulled Chance out of the pool. Someone wrapped a towel around his arm. It still stung like hell, but it was a small price to pay for ending the nightmare.
Chapter Nineteen
Chance had his arm stitched up at the hospital. It wasn’t a deep cut, but it would leave a scar, a reminder of one man’s twisted mind.
The next morning, Detective Miller came by. They sat in the sun room and sipped Edwin’s sweet iced tea.
“I thought you’d want to know before it hits the news,” said the detective. “When shown the video of Chance thanking Alistair Walden for his help, Jack Blackburn decided to tell everything.”
Baylee rubbed her arms. “Good. Did he kill those women, or was it Alistair?”
“Jack said he didn’t kill anyone, and he wasn’t taking the rap for another one of his brother’s crimes. He’ll have to stand trial for kidnapping the baby in the stolen car. He’s also responsible for blowing up your house, Chance. He said Alistair pushed him into it. He tore up your office and put the knife and cards in Baylee’s apartment because Alistair told him to do it.”
Chance cocked his head. “So the cards left at the murder scenes were left there by Alistair Walden? Alistair killed all three women?�
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“It looks that way. Alistair Walden not only manipulated his brother into doing what he wanted, he pinned his own crimes on Blackburn by leaving the cards at the crime scenes. Jack was so happy at having a twin brother, he went along with whatever Alistair wanted.”
“Stupid jerk,” Baylee muttered.
“Most criminals are stupid,” said the detective. “Alistair was still married when he decided he wanted to marry Melissa, so he used Jack’s name. When Jack complained, Alistair said he’d share his wife with his twin. Only Alistair was afraid Melissa had caught on to what they were doing.”
Baylee nodded. “On some level she knew. She told me Jack was like two different people.”
“Not like,” said Chance. “They were two different people. Identical twins.”
“But Jack beat Melissa, didn’t he?” Baylee asked.
Detective Miller shook her head. “He said the only woman he beat was the prostitute, and Alistair goaded him into that. Alistair said it was the only way to get rid of the burning in his balls.”
Baylee shared a smile with Chance.
He paced around the room, then turned to the detective. “What about the list Jack talked about in prison?”
“He said that was Alistair’s list. We believe Alistair was afraid someone would figure out Jack had a twin and put it all together, so he wanted to kill everyone involved. And he wanted everyone to think Jack did the killing.”
“Some brother,” Chance muttered. “Jack might be stupid, but Alistair is a cold-blooded killer who had no qualms about throwing his own brother’s life away.”
“So what happens to them now?” Baylee asked.
“The FBI took custody of Blackburn. He’s being charged with kidnapping. He left his fingerprints in the stolen car, so they knew it was him and not his brother. The bombing of Chance’s house, the destruction of his office, the beating of the prostitute, and the threats against Baylee’s life will probably go unpunished in exchange for his cooperation and testimony against his brother. We’ll see what shakes out after the lawyers get finished negotiating.
“Alistair Walden is being charged with the murder of Mary Michaels and the attempted murder of Baylee Patterson. If Texas doesn’t get a conviction on the murder count, he’ll be returned to Washington state to be charged with the other murders.”
“After he serves time here, he’ll be returned to Washington to be tried on the other murders,” said Chance. “However it happens, his life as a free man is essentially over.”
“If he gets the death penalty, I want to be there,” Baylee said. “I want to see that arrogant smirk on his face when they put him to death.”
Chance stared out the window at the pool. Joe would drain and clean out the blood stains before they used it again.
The detective stood and walked to the door. “I want to thank you both for your help in apprehending these men.”
Baylee shook her hand. “I’m just glad they can’t hurt anyone again.”
As Detective Miller joined her partner in their unmarked car, Chance put his arm around Baylee’s shoulders and gave her a squeeze. “It’s over, Lois. It’s finally over.”
She draped her arm around his waist. “Yes, it’s over.”
<>
Chance stayed with Baylee until his arm healed.
Over the past few weeks, he and Baylee had been together so much, he’d fallen more deeply in love, but he had to be sure he could manage another marriage without screwing it up like he had his first one. Emma had blamed him for everything that went wrong, and in most cases she was right. He couldn’t mess things up with Baylee, couldn’t give his children another mother and then take her away from them. They’d had enough trauma. So had he.
He kissed Baylee goodbye and held her for a long moment before climbing into his car to begin the drive back to Caledonia. Every mile he put behind him tore at his spirit. He had to find a way to bring his family and the woman he loved together.
But how?
Mom and the kids had moved back to her house, and Chance would live with them until he got his insurance settlement and found them a house of their own.
He had to take the Texas State Bar exams, and that meant learning Texas state law. It would take time before he was qualified to practice law in this state.
He’d planned to run for judge in Tacoma at some point, but those plans vanished in the aftermath of Emma’s murder. Maybe someday he’d consider a judgeship in Texas, but he had to know Texas state law inside and out first. Maybe in a few years.
The kids were all in school when he arrived at Mom’s house. She hugged him and asked, “Has your wound healed?”
He pushed up his sleeve and showed her. “It wasn’t deep. Baylee wasn’t hurt, thank God. Her ribs are still sore from the attack at the lake house.”
Mom looked him in the eye. “Are you going to marry her?”
“If she’ll have me, and if it’s all right with the kids.”
“Chance, the kids talk about her all the time. They’re crazy about her.”
She’d won Steven over the night she curled up on his bed to comfort him. Steven was scared that night, and Baylee had not only soothed him, she’d saved a young boy’s ego by claiming she was the one who was scared and couldn’t sleep. If he’d ever had doubts about what kind of mother she’d be, those doubts had disappeared. But did she want to be a mother?
The girls wouldn’t be any problem. Susie already loved Baylee, and Baylee drew Sarah out of her shyness. He wasn’t sure what Steven would think.
“I don’t want the kids to think I’m trying to replace the mother they lost.”
“Then keep Emma’s memory alive for them, but don’t deny them another mother. They need you, and they need a mother.”
“Even if we end up living somewhere else?”
“Houston?”
He nodded. “I’ll have to take some classes before I can take the Texas Bar exams, and there’s no law school in Caledonia. I could go to Austin, but Baylee’s house is in Houston.”
“Then go to Houston, but take the kids with you. They need you more than they need the rest of the family.”
“They won’t want to leave here.”
“No, they won’t.” She poured them both some iced tea and they sat at the kitchen table. “Why don’t you take them to visit Baylee for a few days? See how it goes. School is out next week, and Steven’s team didn’t make the finals. The only game they’ve won this year was the one Steven pitched, so they won’t be in the play-offs.”
He smiled, remembering the team’s excitement the day they won. His son was the most excited boy on the team. Chance had played baseball when he was a kid, and Dad was their coach. It was a great experience for a young boy, and he didn’t want to take that away from his son. And he didn’t want to take his kids away from the rest of the family.
He scrubbed his hand over his face. “I don’t know what to do, Mom.”
“You do what you have to do to get back to work and keep Baylee in your life. If that means moving the kids, then move the kids. They’ll adjust, and you’ll be close enough to visit the rest of the family.”
Leaning back in his chair, Chance gazed at his mother’s wrinkled face. After Dad died, she’d held the family together. They’d all been stunned and grieving, but her love brought them through the grief.
Mom glanced at the big clock on the kitchen wall. “It’s time to get Susie from school.”
“I’ll get her.”
Chance grabbed his keys and drove to the pre-school Susie attended three mornings a week. When he walked in the door of the classroom, Susie squealed, “Daddy!” Chance scooped his daughter into his arms and lifted her for a kiss. Next year she’d start kindergarten, and before he knew it, she’d be asking him for the keys to the car. He didn’t want to miss another day with this precious little bundle.
After Sarah and Steven came home from school that afternoon, Mom gave them all cookies and milk, and he talked to them about A
listair. “Alistair is the man who hurt Mommy. He’s the one who killed her.”
Susie said, “Alistair said Mommy came to Texas.”
“Alistair lied,” Sarah said.
“Yes, he did,” said Mom. “Mommy’s in heaven with the angels.”
Steven quietly ate his cookies, and Chance knew he had something on his mind.
“Brady said Uncle Bo said Alistair got arrested, and that he hurt you.”
Chance knew he couldn’t hold anything back or they’d hear it from someone else. “He came to Baylee’s house to kill her, but the police were there, and they caught him.”
Mom pushed Chance’s sleeve up to show them the red line on his arm. “This is where Alistair hurt Daddy, but it’s all better now, and Alistair is locked up in jail where he can’t hurt anyone else.”
“What about Baylee?” Steven asked. “Is she okay?”
“She’s fine. Would you like to go visit her in Houston after school is out?”
“Yeah,” said Susie.
Sarah smiled, and Steven said, “Okay. Are you gonna marry her?”
“Would you like that?”
Steven shrugged. “She’s okay, but we don’t need a new mom.”
“Yes, we do,” Sarah said. “I want a new mom.”
“Me, too. Me, too,” Susie echoed.
Steven’s response wasn’t unexpected, but it still didn’t sit well with Chance. Maybe Steven thought he was too old for a mother, and maybe he thought he’d be disloyal to Emma if he accepted another mother into his life.
Chance needed to talk with the kids about the possibility of moving for a year while he went back to law school, but he couldn’t dump that on them right now. He had to talk with Baylee first.
One thing at a time.
<>
Baylee hung up the phone. Chance was bringing the kids for a visit next weekend. The pool had been drained and cleaned and refilled, but she’d need something else for the kids to do while they were here. She’d buy them some toys, maybe bicycles and scooters, so they could ride around the circle drive in front of the house. And books. She’d loved books when she was a little girl. As soon as she learned to read, she had her nose in a book.
