by Desconhecido
Lydia,
I’m sorry. I never meant to involve you in this mess. I’ve gone to make it right the only way I can. I hope someday you can forgive me.
Love Always,
Ace
Heart in her throat and tears stinging her eyes, Lydia dropped the paper to her nightstand and bolted for the bathroom. Ace had gone to turn himself and the money in, she was sure of it. It was all that made sense with what he’d said. And for as sure as she was that he’d be arrested initially, she felt certain also that he’d be released in a day, maybe two. But he didn’t sound like he intended to come back and this time, she wasn’t going to stand for that. This time, she was going to make it plain to him what he was walking away from if he decided to see that plan through.
She knew she was falling for him, even after just a few hours. She knew in her heart she’d never truly gotten over him and this opportunity to see—to really see—the man he’d grown into was all her heart had needed. He was the one for her and it was past time he figured that out. If he chose to walk away after that, then she’d just have to pick herself up off the floor and hold her head high.
At least until he was out of sight.
Lydia rushed through her regular morning routine, omitting curling her hair in favor of being done that much faster. Caving to her ravenous stomach she stuffed a granola bar into her mouth as she stepped into her favorite boots and hustled out the door. She could call in an apology to her boss on the way to the police station.
Her stomach clenched with nerves as she ascended the short staircase to the station several minutes later. She didn’t know how this was going to go, but she had to do something. Even if all it amounted to was a shadow of doubt in the condemnation of Ace’s guilt. It’d help if we knew who that person he was supposed to bring the money to is. Then again, she didn’t even know the guy Ace had thought he was doing a favor for. But she did have names. Ace may have hesitated to throw his so-called friend under the bus, but she wouldn’t. She didn’t owe Kyle a damned thing.
“Can I help you?” the young woman behind the desk asked as Lydia stepped up.
Taking a breath to smother her nerves, Lydia said, “Yes, I have information about that bank robbery. I’d like to make a statement.”
The woman’s eyes widened a bit and she said, “One moment.” She immediately turned and waved two officers over, waiting until they were close to say, “This woman has information on your bank robbery.”
The elder of the two officers nodded firmly and turned a worn smile forward, saying, “Why don’t you come inside and we’ll talk?”
Lydia nodded again, waiting while he politely held the swinging partition open for her. She was barely past the reception desk when the officer turned to introduce his partner and her eyes alighted on his nametag.
Hoage.
That was the name Ace had said. The name of the person he was supposed to deliver the stolen money to.
Chapter Ten
Lydia’s blood ran cold. She’d inadvertently gone running to the enemy. And so had Ace. He’d never be released if Hoage wasn’t outed. And she knew, immediately, that if she let herself get isolated in a room with Officer Hoage and his partner she’d be a dead woman. Or arrested on false charges of conspiracy. She had to do something now while she was free to move and believed innocent. While there were people around her.
But those people are police. Everyone knew cops protected their own. Would a single one of the men and women milling about in the vast space believe her enough to investigate?
No one will investigate if they don’t have the information, though. And what if Ace had seen him, too? What if Ace had already planted the seed of doubt in someone’s mind?
“Wait,” Lydia said before she could think better of it. They were only a dozen paces past the front desk so she spun on her heel and called to the curious receptionist, “Is there someone else I can report to?”
The confusion from the woman, as well as the younger officer, was palpable. Finally, the younger officer said, “Ma’am, we’re the ones assigned this case. You’re perfectly safe reporting anything you know to us.”
Somehow I doubt that. But Lydia hauled herself up, trying to be as strong and confident as possible. She looked the younger officer, Kaye, in the eyes and said, “Okay. Then I expect you to personally protect me. My tip is that a man named Hoage is behind the robbery, and that the money brought in earlier today by Ace Bufford was supposed to be delivered to Hoage.”
Oh, she hoped she hadn’t stepped in it.
Silence seemed to envelop the room. Office Kaye’s eyes widened and, slowly, he turned those wide eyes toward his partner.
But Office Hoage only had eyes for Lydia. He was glaring at her, anger and hatred not well hidden behind the faded blue. “Excuse me? What the hell kind of accusation is that? Who are you?”
Swallowing heavily, Lydia reminded herself that she was innocent and someone in this room had to still believe in protecting the innocent. “My name is Lydia, and it’s the truth. Your name is printed on an index card in the front pocket of the bag the cash was brought in in.”
Another beat of silence stretched around them, and then Hoage seemed to snap. She had split-second warning with the initial flare in his eyes, but it wasn’t enough.
Hoage drew his weapon in a rush of movement she barely had time to process before he pulled the trigger.
Kaye had faster reflexes than Lydia. As her ears nearly burst from the sudden explosion of noise, followed almost immediately by the eruption of fire and pain in her shoulder, Kaye had grabbed hold of her in an attempt to pull her out of the way.
Lydia screamed and fell to her knees, her eyes immediately flooding, as chaos unfolded around her.
“Put it down, Hoage!” Kaye demanded.
“Lower your weapon!” another voice echoed.
“I’ll fucking kill you, kid,” Hoage growled above her. But Lydia got the distinct impression he was talking to his so-called partner and not her.
“What the hell is going on out here?” an angry voice demanded. This voice was also male and unfamiliar, but Lydia finally forced herself to drag her eyes toward it. And she vaguely recognized his face. She’d seen him on the news from time to time; he was the chief of police.
“This bitch accused me of conspiracy in the bank robbery,” Hoage declared angrily.
Lydia curled her hand around her opposite shoulder to try to stop the bleeding, her tears flowing freely from the pain. “You shot me!”
“Everybody lower their weapons!” the chief demanded.
“Hoage first, Chief,” Kaye said firmly. “He shot an unarmed civilian.”
“Officer Hoage,” the chief said, “holster that weapon. You’re under arrest.”
“Fuck that,” Hoage declared. In the next instant, he turned his gun inward and pulled the trigger.
Blood splattered across Lydia’s face and somebody screamed. Actually, if the taste of rancid copper on her tongue was any indication, that somebody had probably been her. Officer Hoage had blown a hole in his own head.
****
Ace was pissed. He’d been expecting to be arrested when he turned over the cash and he’d figured he’d probably spend two or three days in jail while he argued his mostly innocence. He hadn’t expected all hell to break loose barely an hour later, let alone to hear that the very officer in charge of the robbery case was the one who’d orchestrated it. But that didn’t hardly matter in comparison to the rest of the news. Lydia had been shot.
The fucking bastard tried to kill her. And then he’d killed himself, denying Ace the gratification.
He was about ready to snap the next neck that walked by when the doctor called his name.
“Mr. Bufford,” the doctor repeated patiently while Ace dragged his attention outward. This once, he didn’t bother correcting the formality. When their gazes met, the doctor said, “She’s ready for visitors. She could even be awake already.”
“Is she going to be okay?
” Ace demanded.
The doctor nodded with an understanding smile. “Yes, she’ll be fine. It was a clean shot, nothing internal was damaged. She did lose a fair amount of blood, but I believe she passed out from shock more than anything else. Why don’t you go see her and I’ll be in in a bit to check on her.”
Ace barely managed to thank the doctor for his good news before starting down the hall. She was going to be all right. That was the best fucking news of his life.
He couldn’t believe she’d come to the station to vouch for him. Let alone that she’d wound up coming face-to-face with Hoage. He wished he’d been there to see the look on the asshole’s face when he’d been outed. It was only a matter of time before Kyle was taken into custody and Ace was amazed at the lack of grief he felt about it. But as far as he was concerned it was as much Kyle’s fault as his own that Lydia was in the hospital now.
None of which mattered, Ace reminded himself as he eased open the door to Lydia’s room.
She was lying, propped up in a standard hospital bed, wearing a loose blue and white hospital gown. An IV was strapped to one arm but that was all. And she blinked her eyes open slowly as he made his way to her side.
“Hi,” she offered weakly.
“Hi,” he returned as he brushed stray strands of black hair from her face. He leaned down and pressed his lips to her forehead. “How are you feeling?”
She smiled as he sat on the edge of the bed, her free hand sandwiched between his. “Good,” she said. “A little dizzy.”
Ace chuckled, brushing his thumb along her knuckles. “They’ve doped you up pretty good, then,” he teased.
Lydia frowned. “You got arrested.”
“I did.”
“You left me.”
Ace squeezed her hand before bringing it to his lips. “It was the best way I could think to protect you,” he admitted. Holding her calm hazel eyes in a firm stare, he said, “Lydia, I want you to know I’ve never chosen to leave you. My father literally had me dragged away to military boot camp overnight and he paid them to block my mail.” He paused, swallowed at the sight of tears in her eyes, and softened his voice. “I love you, Lydia Caldwell.”
The first tear escaped, sliding down her cheek, and Ace leaned forward to catch it with his thumb.
“Ace,” she said softly, her voice holding him in place above her. Hazel eyes sparkling behind the rest of her tears, Lydia said, “I love you, too.”
Ace grinned, kissed her lightly on the lips, and teased, “I hope that’s not the morphine talking.”
Lydia rolled her eyes and laced her fingers with his. “I’m not that dopey.”
Brushing the fingers of his free hand through her hair, Ace murmured, “Good. Because when they release you, I’m taking you home, ordering us a pizza, and making love to you until we pass out.”
“How romantic,” Lydia said, her smile assuring him she was in no way opposed to his suggestion. “Will you stay with me until then?”
Ace smiled and kissed her again. “Always.”
The End
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