The Final Goodbye

by Brittney Sahin

  “And then what happened?”

  “I finally blacked out because I woke up in a basement some time later. She confessed to killing Ralph, Lydia, and Patrick.”

  “But not Beth Stanton?”

  She pinched her eyes closed as she tried to remember. “No, she didn’t say anything about her. She said she’d been trying to help Daniel, but then realized I didn’t deserve Daniel, and so she wanted me dead.”

  “Hm.” He scooted closer to the desk and eyed his computer again. She wondered what the hell he was looking at. “And after that?”

  “Daniel showed up and shot her. At the time, I thought he was saving me, but then I realized something was off.” A quiver darted down her spine and branched out like spider webs into her limbs.

  “And that’s when Ben came?”

  “Yeah, and Daniel put a gun to my head.”

  “How’d Ben get such a clean shot?”

  The sheriff finally looked at her, and she knew she had to swallow the truth and let it die. Ben protected his friends, and he’d probably rot in jail to keep Aiden out of it all.

  “Ben was a Marine. Daniel’s a doctor. You do the math,” she answered as calmly as her nerves would allow.

  He gripped the edge of his desk. “Well, it looks like the information Ben emailed us just checked out.” His mouth pinched tight.

  “Information?”

  “We matched Mandy’s and Daniel’s prints to Natalie and Calvin Grey.” He shifted back in his seat. “Since they’re supposed to be dead, it’s interesting, right? Not to mention the fact that they were linked to the investigation of a serial killer right before they died.”

  She did her best to remain steady, to not break down again.

  “Lucky for Ben, he had a government friend obtain this information, and so I can’t hold him for illegally procuring the records . . . even if I feel something is off.”

  “You’ll let him go, then?” She sat up taller, feeling hopeful.

  “Not yet. He shouldn’t have gone into that house, and I’m still not certain he didn’t break a few other laws. He’ll be staying locked up until a judge decides his fate.” He stood.

  “But that’s not—”

  “Go home and get some sleep. You and I are done here for now.”

  She sucked in shallow breaths. “No. I’m not leaving without Ben.” Her eyes sealed tight.

  “Then you’ll be sleeping here, and it’s not all that comfortable.”

  “I don’t care,” she said. “I’ll leave when he does.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Riley was stretched out on a bench off to the side of the sheriff’s desk.

  The morning sunlight poked through the blinds, and despite the noise from the deputy moving around the room, she stayed deep asleep.

  Ben nodded his thanks to the officer who had walked him over to her.

  “Sorry we had to lock you up. If it had been my girl, I would’ve smoked the bastard, too,” the officer said, and Ben forced a smile before redirecting his attention to Riley.

  He knelt before her. Her hands were tucked beneath her face, and soft breaths floated from her parted lips.

  Seeing her alive and breathing—it was the best sight of his life.

  “Riley.” He rested a palm on her hip.

  She stirred but didn’t wake.

  “Ri—”

  Her eyes slowly opened, and she blinked a few times. “Ben.” She closed her eyes again, but only for a moment. “Ben!”

  He stood upright, and she flung herself in his direction a moment later.

  “You’ve really been here for twenty-six hours?” He held her as tight as possible without breaking her bones. But it felt so damn good to have her in his arms.

  “I wouldn’t leave without you,” she cried, and he threaded his fingers through her hair. “How’d you get out?”

  “They said they couldn’t handle how bad you smelled anymore, so they let me—”

  “Ben.” She pulled back but left her arms draped around his neck as if it were the most natural position in the world.

  “Aiden made some calls,” he said with a smile in his eyes.

  It’d been a difficult and painful journey to get to her, but the woman standing before him was his.

  She’d always been his.

  He just hadn’t accepted it until now.

  “I was hoping that was why I hadn’t heard from him.” Her brows lowered with concern. “Are you okay, though?”

  He brushed the pad of his thumb over her bottom lip.

  The woman’s ex-boyfriend had been shot next to her; blood was still smattered in the strands of her hair . . . and yet, she hadn’t left the station to even shower.

  “As long as you’re good, I’m good.” He released a shaky breath as unexpected emotions caught in his throat.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t believe you before.” Liquid filled her eyes. “I should have trusted you.”

  He pressed a quick kiss to her lips and held her face between his palms, but he couldn’t find the right words to say. Everything he’d held pent up inside of him threatened to rush out, but it wasn’t the time or the place for that.

  “Let’s get out of here,” he said.

  He didn’t let go of her, though. He didn’t want to ever let go.

  He was afraid that, once he did that, he’d lose her all over again.

  * * *

  “They let Bobby out of jail this morning,” Aiden announced.

  “Took the sheriff long enough,” Ben grumbled, thankful about the man’s innocence, but still hating how all of this played out, possibly scarring Riley for life.

  Of course, Riley was strong. She could get through it, and he’d be there to make sure of it.

  He’d never let her down again.

  “So, the official theory the police are working with is that Mandy killed Ralph, Lydia, and Patrick without Daniel’s knowledge. And she intentionally framed Bobby from the start.” Aiden took a sip of his coffee. “We’re pretty sure Daniel didn’t know, at first, since he became a suspect. He would’ve been more careful if he’d been in the know.”

  “And what about Beth Stanton?” Riley stared at the half-eaten plate of food before her. It had been her idea to get out of the hotel after spending the last twenty-four hours there. But now that they were out, he wondered if she regretted it.

  Yesterday morning he’d been in jail, and now they were sitting together, eating bacon and eggs. Maybe she wasn’t ready.

  “Daniel killed her. Mandy knew all of the victims, except Beth. There were even signs of forced entry at the Stanton residence, unlike the other three murders. And, upon close examination, Beth’s stab wounds were slightly inconsistent with the other victims,” Aiden explained. “The police believe Daniel murdered Beth and planted evidence to cover up for his sister once he realized what Mandy was doing.”

  “So they’re both guilty?” Riley asked.

  “Yeah,” Aiden answered. “When Daniel figured out what the hell was going on, he tried to put a stop to it, to protect both you and him. And he did it in the only way he knew how—murder.”

  “I wonder why he chose Beth,” Riley said softly.

  “Sheriff’s report says Bobby dated her a few months prior. Daniel must’ve known that,” Aiden replied.

  Riley closed her eyes, as if in disbelief. Ben didn’t blame her. It was a lot to take in.

  “I can’t believe he shot his own sister.” Riley tucked her hands into her lap.

  Ben reached over and laced his fingers with hers.

  “Guess he loved you more,” Ava said. “Well, in his own twisted kind of way.”

  “I’m glad they’re both dead.” Ben tightened his grip and cleared his throat.

  The animal was a killer, and he’d dated Riley for over a year. It made him physically ill thinking about it, so he couldn’t imagine how she was coping with the knowledge.

  “The Feds linked Mandy and Daniel”—Aiden paused for a moment—“or Natalie a
nd Calvin . . . to another small-town killing spree that happened seven years ago. We just learned the man on death row for those murders is going to be released.”

  Riley’s eyes opened, and her lips parted in surprise. “I hate them,” she murmured as her shoulders sloped down. “Given my line of work, I should feel differently maybe, but I just don’t.”

  “Hate isn’t a strong enough word for what I feel,” Ben said.

  Four innocent people were dead, and Riley blamed herself. It gutted him.

  The chatter from around them became white noise as they sat in silence as heavy as molasses. The clinking of dishes and the opening and closing of doors faded into the background.

  “You sure you’re okay with us leaving tonight?” Ava’s voice broke through Ben’s thoughts. “We can stay.”

  “No, you need to get back to your lives. I can’t thank you both enough for coming through for us,” Ben said.

  “Yes, thank you so much.” Riley pulled her hand free from Ben’s and reached across the table to lay her hand over Ava’s.

  “Well, it took a lot more than my help, but it’s over now.” Ava forced a smile.

  “I’d love to see you next time I’m in Boston,” Riley said, surprising him a little.

  “Do you come often?” Ava asked.

  “No, but now I have a reason to.”

  “Maybe we could all try and get together soon,” Aiden suggested.

  Ben’s phone began to ring. “One sec.” He answered it when he saw his admin’s number on the line. “Hey, everything okay?”

  “One of our guys was shot this morning,” she replied.

  “Shit. Who?” Ben’s stomach tightened at the news.

  “Brian. He’s in surgery now.”

  “I’ll be right there” was all he said before ending the call.

  “What’s wrong?” Aiden asked.

  “I have to go back to Vegas.” He looked to Riley and noticed her visibly tense. How the hell would he leave her? “One of my men took a bullet, and he’s in surgery.”

  “Sorry. I hope he’s okay,” Ava said.

  “I don’t want to leave you, though.” Ben squeezed Riley’s thigh.

  “I’m an adult. I’ll be okay.” She forced a stiff smile. “Besides, my parents would love to have me.”

  “You sure?” He tipped her chin up, not caring that his friends were across the table from them.

  “Of course,” she said, but Ben didn’t believe her.

  He didn’t have a choice but to go. He couldn’t leave a man down and a job unfinished.

  But leaving Riley had killed him the first time.

  And even though he had every intention of coming back, he worried it’d still sting, that it would be like rubbing salt in an old wound, especially for her.

  “I’ll be back,” he said in a tight voice, noticing for the first time that Aiden and Ava had slipped away from the table, leaving him alone with Riley.

  “I know you will,” she said without looking at him, and her lack of eye contact nearly broke his damn heart.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Ben: I miss you.

  Riley: It’s been 15min since you boarded the plane.

  Ben: After not seeing you for 14yrs, 15min is too damn long.

  Riley: You’ll come back.

  Riley: … Right?

  Ben: Nothing could stop me this time.

  Ben: I hate leaving you. I don’t like you sleeping alone at night.

  Riley: Good point. I can find someone to keep me company while you’re gone.

  Ben: …?

  Ben: Ri!

  Riley: What? ;)

  Ben: You want me to make a scene and get off this plane before it takes off, huh?

  Riley: I wouldn’t mind a second chance at saying goodbye.

  Ben: It’s not goodbye. It’s bye for now. I hate goodbyes. We said our final goodbye a long time ago. From now on, let’s try something like “until next time.”

  Riley: Hm. You sound like a character from a Hallmark movie.

  Ben: What do you have against Hallmark? Those movies helped us get through some tough times at the base.

  Riley: You’re full of shit.

  Ben: Scout’s honor.

  Riley: You were never a scout.

  Ben: …

  Riley: …

  Riley: Your ellipses are always so packed full of meaning. How do you do that?

  Riley: I’m going to miss you.

  Ben: I shouldn’t leave. I need to get off this plane.

  Riley: No!!!

  Ben: I love when you use those shouty exclamation points. It turns me on.

  Riley: Ben…

  Ben: What? I’m serious. Do it again.

  Riley: Ben, I mean it. You need to go. You’re always there for your friends, and I love that about you. Don’t change. That’s an order.

  Ben: You were my friend, too. I wasn’t there for you.

  Ben: I’m not sure if I can ever forgive myself for that.

  Ben: Also, when you give orders—it’s really hot, too. Do it again next time we’re together.

  Ben: I was never great at taking orders in the military. Can you believe that? I used to get myself into trouble. A lot of trouble, actually.

  Riley: Yeah, that’s hard for me to imagine. You . . . being bad? Never.

  Riley: By the way . . .

  Ben: Yeah?

  Riley: The past is the past. I made mistakes, too. And you’re here now, and that’s all that matters.

  Ben: Well, I’m not technically there, but if I get off this plane right now, I can be.

  Riley: You want another order, huh?

  Ben: Please. ;)

  Riley: You’ll have to wait to see me to get it.

  Ben: You play dirty.

  Riley: I learned well. I had a good teacher growing up.

  Riley: Have a safe flight.

  Ben: I should’ve asked you to come with me. I’m an idiot.

  Ben: Shit. I have to go. I’ll call you as soon as I land.

  He switched his phone to airplane mode after the flight attendant silently scolded him. In all fairness, she’d already asked him three times.

  He tucked it in his pocket and reached for his wallet to retrieve a photo.

  Once unfolded, he stared at the faded image. It was the last picture ever taken of Nate, Riley, and Ben together.

  Riley stood in the middle, with her arms over both Nate’s and Ben’s shoulders, and a gorgeous smile graced her face.

  He’d give anything to go back in time and make things right—to force Nate to use a rope that day.

  Ben had kept the photo with him since the day he’d left Alabama. He’d kept it on him while he’d trekked the rough terrain in Afghanistan. And he’d probably keep it on him until the day he died.

  Fourteen years hadn’t softened the damage of what Nate’s death had done to him.

  And he still believed the better man had died.

  He’d spent years trying to save lives since he couldn’t save his friend that day.

  And maybe he did stop terrorists, and maybe he did protect not only soldiers but American civilians . . . but did any of that change the fact that he was alive, and Nate wasn’t?

  In his mind—no.

  * * *

  Ben: I’ve been calling for hours. Where are you?

  Ben: I’m worried.

  Ben: Your parents aren’t answering the house line, either.

  Ben: Are you okay?

  Ben: Actually, I’m more than worried. I’m about to call in a government favor and have the Feds show up at your door.

  Ben: I’m not bluffing.

  Ben: My guy pulled through surgery. He’s going to be okay. He’s quitting, though. I don’t blame him.

  Ben: The man who shot him, well, he’s not doing so well.

  Ben: I might have taken my anger out on him.

  Ben: He deserved it, though. Scout’s honor.

  He couldn’t handle the silence anymore.

  Somethin
g was wrong.

  He hadn’t spoken to Riley all day; he’d been busy wrapping up the case his crew member had been working on before taking the bullet.

  He and Riley had kept in constant contact during his stay in Vegas, though.

  So, where was she now, and what if something had happened to her?

  What if—

  A knock on his front door jarred the what-ifs from his head.

  He pulled up the security camera app on his phone, and his pulse quickened at the sight. He rushed to the door.

  He wouldn’t have to go back to Alabama, after all.

  She’d come to him.

  He flung open the door, and a slow smile teased her lips.

  “Well, you going to let me in?”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  After he lifted her into the air and covered her mouth with his for a good five minutes, he finally released her and closed the door.

  “What are you doing here?” He rushed a hand through his hair.

  She eyed him nervously. Had she made a mistake in coming?

  “I couldn’t wait to see you. I would’ve come sooner, but I had a few things to wrap up back home first.”

  He was in jeans and flannel, and he looked so rugged and casually sexy at the same time. She wasn’t sure what to do with her hands, and the desperation to touch him again banded tight in her chest.

  “You should’ve told me. I would’ve picked you up at the airport.” He motioned for her to enter the living area and sit down.

  His place was smaller than she’d expected, and it had a rustic feel to it. Warm and soft tones layered throughout the room.

  She sat on the brown suede couch, which faced a long, expansive window that offered an incredible view of the sun kissing the ground off in the distance.

  “You ruined my plans, by the way. I had every intention of making a grand gesture when I showed back up in Alabama.”

  She lifted a brow and smiled. “Grand gesture? Like flowers and chocolate?”