“Right above us,” Genie said, looking out the windshield and pointing toward the copter in the sky.
Cat narrowed her eyes. “You want to tell me what they’re doing up there? And how in the world you got Tom to go with you?”
Before Genie could answer, the SUV came roaring up behind them. “Any chance you can lose them?” Genie asked, counting the heads inside. Four. She and Cat could probably take four. If they had to.
“Perhaps,” Cat mumbled.
“That’s not a great answer.”
“How about you tell me who the hell they are, and why you’ve flown in to make scrambled eggs out of my life?”
“Do I have to have a reason to visit my baby sister?”
“We’re the same age,” Cat said evenly.
“I’m still older.”
“By six minutes,” Cat gritted out. She gripped the wheel, making a sharp right then a sharp left. “Obviously, I’m more mature. Otherwise I’d still be playing war games like you. Now spill.”
Genie swallowed. “In a nutshell? Dad is missing, and nine goons in black SUVs carrying some heavy artillery came after me this morning.”
“Seriously?” Cat looked at her, her gaze sweeping over Genie’s body as if looking for bullet holes.
“I’m fine. Too fine, really.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean they could have shot me. They had a golden opportunity and they didn’t take it.”
“And you’re complaining?”
“No. It’s just…”
“What?” Cat swerved down one street after another, managing to stay ahead of them.
“It just seems a bit of an overkill. Nine guys. Huge guns. No bullets.”
“Kind of like now?” Cat looked behind her at the two SUV’s full of men chasing them through suburbia.
“Exactly. Why aren’t they firing at us? Even at our tires?”
“Let’s just be thankful they’re not.”
“It’s just weird. Don’t you think?” Genie studied them for a moment, wishing she could get a real reading on them other than a sharp sense of being their target. “If they don’t want to kill us, then what to do they want?”
For a moment neither one of them said anything as they raced through the streets of Reno.
“Let’s not stop to find out. Now tell me about Dad. What exactly did you mean by missing?” Cat turned right then left as she tried desperately to lose the black Suburban that just wouldn’t let up.
“He didn’t answer at the island estate. And he sent me this.” She pulled their mother’s heirloom necklace out from around her neck.
Cat whistled, and then made another quick maneuver down a side street. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that.”
Genie pulled it from around her neck and handed it to her sister. “Do me a favor and hold this in your hand. Tell me what you see.”
“While I’m driving?”
“I got you covered.” Genie got ready to grab the wheel as Cat took the necklace. With one hand, she held it for a brief moment, then handed it back.
“Sorry. Nothing. Why?”
“It arrived this morning with no note, no phone call, no nothing. Return address Dad’s house.”
“That’s not good.”
“Nope.”
“But when I touched the stone, I thought…I saw Becca.”
“What do you think that means?” Cat asked without questioning the vision.
Before Genie could answer, the cell phone Kyle had given her rang. “I’m heading for the El Dorado casino. Meet me on the roof,” Kyle bellowed after Genie connected the call.
Genie repeated the order to Cat. “You better not let anything happen to my niece and nephew,” she insisted when she heard Annie screaming for her mommy in the background.
“Wouldn’t dream of it, babe.”
“And don’t call me, babe.”
“Please tell me that’s Kyle,” Cat said, as Genie slammed shut the phone.
“The one and only,” she grumbled.
“Good, that makes me feel better.”
Genie scowled at her. “Why would that make you feel better? You’ve never even met him. Why do you think he can protect you better than I can?”
“Genie, how can you protect my kids? You’re with me. Besides, Daddy wouldn’t have made Kyle your partner if he weren’t the best. And right now I want the best with my kids.”
“Yeah. He’s good,” Genie agreed with a grimace. “Too good.”
Cat’s brow lifted. “Sounds like you’re still not over him.”
“Of course I’m over him.”
“Yep.”
“Stop it.”
“What?” Cat glanced at her with a knowing smile on her face.
“Stop reading me.”
“I’m not reading your emotions. I’m reading your body language. So what’s the deal?”
Genie gave a mental sigh, and thought about all the issues and problems the relationship had caused in the past, and what she’d have to do to salvage it to have a future. There was just too much in the way. “I can’t be with him. It just won’t work.”
“Because you don’t trust him?”
Among other things. “How can I? We can’t trust each other.”
“That’s Dad talking. Forget Dad. How do you feel?”
She slammed the door on those emotions before they could sabotage her resolve. “My feelings no longer matter.”
“Of course they do. Are you going to make me have to read you?” She reached a hand toward Genie, waggling her fingers in the air.
“Stop it!” Genie batted her hand away.
“Well?”
They took a corner on two wheels.
“Once Becca got involved, things got real complicated. I guess I’m not that great at keeping secrets. Kyle always suspected I was hiding something from him and it bothered him. He kept telling me to trust him. But how could I? And then there was the Emerich case.”
“Sean Emerich? The guy Becca was seeing?”
Genie nodded as they sped down an alley. “The CTA was investigating him and getting nowhere. Let’s just chalk it up to bad timing, bad luck, and Becca’s interference.”
Just saying her sister’s name sent a wave of angst pulsing through her. Why had Becca wanted to meet her at that warehouse? Why had she been involved with a scumbag like Emerich to begin with?
Cat frowned as she sent the Expedition sailing over a dip in the road. “Becca. I should have known. I told you to be careful of her. I know she’s our sister, but she is always up to no good, and honestly I hate the way she talks down to you.”
“Was our sister,” Genie corrected.
Cat was silent for a moment.
“Did you go to the funeral?” Genie asked with a spurt of guilt, still wishing she could have found a way to be there.
“No,” Cat said. “Couldn’t take the chance my mother-in-law or Tom would find out I was there. They’d both have asked questions I couldn’t answer. Besides, honestly? Something doesn’t feel right about Becca’s so-called death.”
Genie’s head bumped against the ceiling as Cat tore through another elevated intersection without hitting the brakes. “What do you mean so-called?”
“I don’t know. Sometimes…sometimes I could swear I feel her. And unless I can suddenly sense ghosts, I just don’t believe she’s dead.”
For a stunned moment, Genie digested that. “I’ve felt the same way,” she finally admitted. “But I’ve never said anything. I thought it was just the guilt speaking. That what happened…”
“That what happened was your fault?”
The way her father blamed himself for her mother’s death.
Genie nodded. “I should have gone after her sooner. I should have tried harder to make Becca understand how dangerous Emerich was. Is. Hell, I don’t know.”
Cat shook her head. “There was no making Becca believe anything. Nothing you said would have made any difference.”
“Maybe.” Ge
nie grabbed the armrest as they took another turn, the SUV still right behind them. “With Becca’s death, everything just became so complicated. Dad said I needed to hide from Emerich. And he said I couldn’t tell Kyle. About anything.”
Cat darted her an incredulous look. “And you did it? Genie, you’ve got to stop jumping every time Dad snaps his fingers. You need to live your own life!”
“But Becca was dead. Is dead. I think. Really, I honestly don’t know—especially after the vision I got off the necklace. In any case, it’s just that Kyle…” Her words trailed off.
“Kyle?” her sister prompted.
“He just wanted more than I can give.”
“Like what?”
“He wants what you have. The picket fence. Kids. A happily-ever-after.”
Cat’s brows rose again. “And that’s so bad?”
“No. Yes! It is when you can read everything your lover is thinking and feeling. And yet, you’re keeping so damn many secrets from him. Important secrets. How do you do it anyway? With Tom?”
“Easy. I fake it.”
Genie laughed mirthlessly, and grabbed a death-grip on the dashboard as they raced through another red light.
Cat shot her an understanding look. “Seriously, I learned to turn off our curse a long time ago, especially at home. There are times when you really don’t want to know what your husband is thinking about you.”
“Yeah. I totally get that.” Genie peered behind them to see if they’d shaken the SUV at that last red light. No such luck. “Well, maybe you better find a way to turn it back on.”
“You’re that worried?”
“Yeah. I don’t know what’s going on with these men. Are they Dad’s? Are they Emerich’s? Hell, they could even be sent by Josh Cameron, my old boss, trying to manipulate me back into the fold. I just don’t know. They aren’t acting like they want to hurt us, and yet here we are, running like rats aboard a sinking ship.”
“I, for one, would rather not find out. They may want us alive just to torture us, or something equally wonderful,” she said with a bite of sarcasm.
Genie made a face. “Maybe. All I know is, something definitely has happened to Dad. And I’m guessing Kyle knows more than he’s saying. Josh Cameron, too, but neither one is sharing.”
“Then we’ll just have to get it out of them,” Cat said conspiratorially.
Genie stared at her, then grinned as a sudden rush of relief filled her. She wasn’t facing this alone. Someone was actually on her side. Someone who understood.
The Expedition sped through a busy intersection, running a red light. A Volkswagen van careened into a Chevy pickup truck with an explosion of crunching metal and glass.
“Damn,” Cat muttered as she winced at her rearview mirror. She started to brake.
“Don’t stop. Best if we didn’t have to explain who we are to the police,” Genie warned. “Just saying.”
“Someone needs to let the cops know, and fix it so I’m not arrested,” Cat said with a disapproving frown, but put her foot back on the accelerator. “This is my hometown. I’m Annie’s Girl Scout leader, not to mention PTA president. Somehow, I don’t think the parents of Walker Elementary would appreciate seeing my mug shown all over the news for leaving the scene of an accident.”
“Cameron can pull some strings,” Genie assured, then couldn’t help grinning at her sister. “PTA President? Really? Aren’t the twins just in kindergarten?”
“Shut up,” Cat grumbled.
Genie grinned wider. It was good to see her sister again. Real good. “Look at it this way,” Genie said. “It could be my mug they’d be showing on TV. Who could tell the difference?”
Cat groaned. “Couldn’t you have changed your hair or something? You still look exactly like me.”
“No thanks. I like the way I look.”
“What did Tom say when he saw you?” Cat asked, chewing her lower lip as she glanced once more into the rearview mirror.
“Nothing. No time. Besides, he was too busy worrying about the kids.”
Cat huffed. “Be thankful he trusts me implicitly. I can’t imagine how he’s going to react to all this. Especially when he finds out I haven’t been entirely honest with him.”
“You mean about who you are? About me? Daddy? Or our family gift?”
Cat groaned. “All of the above.”
Genie’s cell rang again. “Yeah?”
“The kids are hysterical and the husband’s ready to sh—poop a brick.” Johnny blared into her phone. “You want to put mom on the line?”
“Sorry, she’s driving.”
“You mean there’s another driver on the planet as reckless as you are?”
“Very funny, tubs.”
“How are my kids?” Cat demanded as Genie hung up the phone.
“Scared. Tom’s mad.”
Cat swore softly, and screeched to a stop in the valet parking area outside the El Dorado. “He is never going to forgive me.”
Genie shoved her Glock back in its holster. “Of course he will. He loves you.”
“I sure as hell hope so.” Cat gave her a weak smile as they jumped from the truck and sprinted toward the lobby.
“Kyle is waiting for us on the roof,” Genie said as they flew through the front doors and hurried across the marble floors. She glanced behind them and saw the black SUV pull up out front.
“This way,” Cat called as they ran past tiled columns toward the bank of elevators that lead to the tallest tower of the noisy casino. “You going to help me come up with a reason as to why I suddenly have a sister Tom knew nothing about? Not to mention why he and the children were hijacked from our front yard in a helicopter?” Cat hit the up button several times.
“Sorry. Don’t ask me for help explaining why our family is so screwed up. Although it will be fun watching you dance around this one. Puts new meaning to Cat on a hot casino roof.”
“Hardy, har har. You are so very funny.” The doors opened with a ding and they rushed inside the empty elevator.
Genie punched the button for the top floor, but before the doors could close, a tall man with sandy-brown hair in desperate need of a shave pushed inside and drew his gun. The doors slid shut.
“Gotcha,” he said, with a nasty smile.
The elevators rose with a soft whoosh. Genie stiffened, feigning fright, and clutched her sister’s arm. “No! What do you want from us?”
“Who are you people?” Cat demanded, stepping in front of Genie, giving her cover so she could reach for her Glock. Before she got the chance, the doors opened again and an elderly couple stepped inside. Oh, hell.
The bad guy grabbed Genie and pulled her against his side, shoving his gun into her ribs. “Don’t say a word,” he whispered into her ear.
At his touch, images immediately flooded into her mind. Sean Emerich sitting on a couch sipping amber liquid from a crystal glass. Outside a large window, the ocean passing by. Becca sitting next to him. Smiling. Happy.
“Screw you,” she muttered.
The old couple turned to look at them uncertainly. Genie smiled. “Having a nice time at the casino?”
“Oh, yes,” the woman said. “Frank’s been very lucky with the slots today.”
“Really?” Genie said. “I haven’t been so lucky. Like right now. This big ugly guy has a gun shoved in my side.”
The woman gaped at them, her lipstick-red mouth dropping open as she stepped closer to her husband.
The brute squeezed Genie and pulled her closer as he broke into an easy smile. “Very funny, sweetheart.” He shrugged his shoulders apologetically. “She’s always pulling people’s legs. She didn’t do so hot at the tables and she’s being a very bad sport about it.”
“Oh,” the woman said, and gave him a tentative smile.
Genie swiveled in his arms, then pushed him up against the wall as hard as she could while bringing her knee up into his soft spot. He grunted, folding in half. Cat stomped hard on his foot, clasped both her hands together
and slammed them down on the back of his neck. The creep slumped to the floor.
“Bad sport, indeed,” Genie muttered, and snatched up his gun.
“Oh, my!” the old woman gasped and stepped back into her husband, pushing them both against the wall of the elevator.
Groaning, the brute shook his head and started to stand. Genie shoved the gun up under his chin. “Don’t even think about it.”
Fury tinted his face red. “Bitch!”
“Oh, you don’t know the half of it,” she said, smiling.
The elderly woman whimpered, and her husband wrapped his arms protectively around her.
The elevator dinged open and three security guards stood outside the doors, holding weapons. “Out. Both of you,” one of them ordered.
“Thank heavens,” the old woman said, and hurried out of the elevator with her husband in tow.
Genie’s cell rang again.
“Drop the weapon, ma’am,” a second guard said to Genie.
She held the gun out in front of her between her thumb and forefinger and handed it to the guard. “I can’t tell you how happy we are to see you,” she said in a high-pitched voice as her cell continued to ring.
The security guard smiled cautiously and took the gun. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“Mind if I get this?” she asked, pulling her cell out of her pocket. “My boyfriend must be worried sick.”
“Slowly,” he said as the third guard cuffed their assailant.
Genie took out the phone, opened it, and said. “Honey, we were almost robbed! Can you believe it? But we’re okay now. We’re just talking to the three nice guards.”
“I’m on my way,” Kyle responded tightly.
Genie hung up, then took a deep breath and stared at the guard who was studying her a little too closely, skepticism darkening his eyes. “Thank goodness you’re here,” she said, and slumped a little. “This man tried to rob us in the elevator. The nerve!”
“Our surveillance cameras picked up the whole episode.”
“We were so scared,” Cat added, nodding her head, and running her fingers through her almost dry hair, fluffing it up flirtatiously.
“I don’t know what we would have done if this nice couple hadn’t distracted him the way they did,” Genie said, smiling gratefully at Frank and his wife.
“Oh, dear,” the elderly woman said again.
Deadly Secrets, Loving Lies Page 4
