Last Chance 05 - Second Chance

by Christy Reece

  Shea stopped sketching for a moment. “Don’t buy into that, Keeley. You did the right thing by fighting him.”

  “You’re right, I know,” Keeley said.

  “We’ve got his address. I’m going to pick Ethan up and then we’ll find Tuttle.”

  “I know this is a stupid question,” Keeley said. “But should we call the sheriff?”

  Cole shrugged. “Not stupid if you lived anywhere other than Fairview. The sheriff has made it too damn clear he’s not going to help you with anything. Honor is headed here with her team. Ethan and I will hold him till she gets to us.”

  Leaning down, he kissed her softly. “I’ll call you as soon as we find him. In the meantime, if you remember anything else, tell Shea. She’ll call me if there’s something she thinks I need to know.”

  Keeley grabbed his hand and pressed a kiss to his palm. “Please be careful.”

  Cole caressed her cheek gently and pulled away. “Get some rest. I’ll call you soon.”

  Taking the finished sketch from Shea, he turned and stalked away. The fury reemerged full force, lighting a fire that wouldn’t diminish until Wesley Tuttle paid.

  Four hours later, weariness dragged at him, but anger continued to boil within him. Wesley Tuttle had disappeared. The little apartment he’d occupied had been cleared out except for the empty beer cans and candy wrappers left on the floor. They’d searched everything, but could find no evidence to lead them to Hailey or to Tuttle’s current whereabouts.

  A bulletin had been issued with the sketch Shea had made, and Honor had brought several other agents with her to aid in the search. Soon Tuttle wouldn’t be able to go anywhere without being recognized.

  Cole pushed open Keeley’s bedroom door; she was sleeping. Her face was still too pale, making the hideous bruises on her forehead, cheek, and neck stand out all the more. Rage bubbled; Cole reined it in. She didn’t need his anger; she needed his support.

  Her eyes flickered open. “Did you find him?”

  “Not yet.” He sat beside her on the bed and took her hand. “We went to his apartment. Looks like he hadn’t planned on returning. He left nothing behind.”

  Tears seeped from her eyes, rolled down her pale face.

  “We’ll find him, Keeley. There’s a bulletin out for his arrest and Honor has some extra people working with her. He won’t get away.”

  “What if he’s already left town?”

  “With that bulletin and our contacts, the man won’t get far.”

  “I was so close. I should have figured out a way to make him talk.”

  “No. You did exactly what you should have done. You knocked him out and survived. That’s the most important thing.”

  “Do you think he was telling the truth? About Hailey being in another country?”

  “Yes. That’s not something we haven’t already discussed. We’ve got people in every major city in the world. That’s one of the many advantages of LCR. No one can hide from us long. Photographs of Hailey are in every corner of the globe. We’ll find her. You just have to believe that.”

  “I believe in you, Cole.”

  More than aware that when she learned the truth, she would most likely change her mind, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a slender oblong box.

  “This is something I want you to wear and promise to never take off.”

  “What is it?”

  He opened the box and showed her.

  She frowned her confusion. “It’s a watch.”

  “Yes, it’s a watch, but also a cellphone. I ordered it a few weeks ago from an electronics developer in Germany that LCR works closely with. Timing sucks, since it was delivered today.” He took the watch from the box. It was an innocuous-looking white-gold watch with a stretch band. It was also state-of-the-art. LCR was one of the premier testers for new electronics for the German manufacturer. This little watch had proven to be one of their best new inventions. Cole showed her the little hidden button on the side. “Stays on all the time, doesn’t need recharging. If you ever need me, all you have to do is touch this button once.” He pressed the button and a jingling sound came from his pocket. He took his cellphone out and showed her the screen display that said Keeley.

  Her mouth curved up. “Cool.”

  “It’s waterproof and tough as nails. One push … no matter where I am, you can get me. You don’t have to hold it to your ear or mouth like a regular phone. And it has the most up-to-date GPS device available. I can track you anywhere.”

  Throwing her arms around his neck, she whispered in his ear, “You’re the best man I’ve ever known.”

  Dread growing inside him, Cole held her tight.

  Wesley pressed a cold compress to his sore jaw. Bitch had broken two teeth, split his mouth open, and maybe even cracked his jawbone. How he wished he could have stayed and given her what she deserved. But he couldn’t. Those LCR people would have found him. Dammit, why hadn’t he thought to take her cellphone and throw it in the river?

  Now he was holed up in this shitty motel until he could think straight. Even though he was out of Fairview, he wouldn’t be able to stay here long. He’d seen the news reports already. That sketch they’d done of him was too damn close for comfort. Just a few hours’ rest, and then he’d have to hightail up to his hideout.

  “You all right?”

  Wesley turned, startled to realize he wasn’t alone. “How the hell did you get in?”

  She grinned. “I’m good with a lock pick.” She flung the hair of her blond wig over her shoulders and batted her eyes dramatically. “One of my many talents.”

  “Get out of here. I got nothing to say to you.”

  “Now, don’t be mad; I know your head hurts.” She held up a grocery sack. “Look, I even brought you some things to tide you over.”

  Wesley grabbed the bag and pawed through it. Beer, aspirin, potato chips, sardines, hot sauce, and condoms. “This’ll help a little. I need to get as far away from Fairview as I can, but my brain feels like it’s about to explode out of my skull.”

  “Sit down and I’ll get you some aspirin and a beer.” She took the bag from him. “And a snack.”

  Wesley dropped onto the bed and watched her, his suspicions sky high. “What’re you being so nice for?”

  Her back to him, she shrugged. “I feel kind of guilty. I should’ve tried to help you, but I couldn’t afford to have her see me.”

  “I hope you make the bitch pay for that someday.”

  She turned around and smiled. “Oh, she’s already paying.” She held several aspirin in one hand, a cold beer in the other. “Here, this’ll help with the worst of it.”

  He threw the pills into his mouth and swallowed them down with the beer, guzzling it till it was empty. Damn, he hadn’t realized how thirsty he was. A belch erupted as he leaned back against his pillows and watched her prepare the sardines and chips on a paper plate. His dick suddenly decided if it couldn’t have what it wanted, it would settle for a substitute. “If you really want to make it up to me, why don’t you come over here and make me feel better?”

  “Food first, then we’ll see.” She handed him a plate and another beer. Then, after pulling one more beer from the bag, she popped the top and took a long swallow.

  Wesley attacked the sardines and chips. He hadn’t eaten since that morning, and though the salty food stung his sore mouth, he didn’t let that slow him down. Chugging down his second beer, he began to feel much better. Relaxed and sleepy, he blinked at the woman in front of him. Why was she smiling like that?

  “What’s got you so happy?”

  “Just like to see a man enjoy his food. Want another beer?”

  “Not right now.” He belched again and patted the bed. “Bring some of them rubbers over here and give me some dessert.”

  “Okay.” She grabbed her purse. “Let me go to the bathroom first.”

  As she shut the bathroom door, Wes was surprised to realize he was glad she was here. It’d been a long time since anyb
ody had taken care of him. Leaning back against the headboard, he was relieved that the worst of the throbbing had stopped, but now he was suddenly very sleepy. His eyes closed … he’d just grab a nap till she came back.

  Inside the bathroom, she pulled on plastic gloves and then removed the gun from a plastic baggie she’d put in her purse. After attaching the silencer, she waited. The sleeping pills she’d disguised as aspirin should be working by now. The two beers would have helped them along.

  Catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror, she fluffed the blond strands of her wig. Maybe she should let her hair grow out a little more. This style made her look younger, less serious. She could ask Wesley what he thought, but since the idiot would be dead in a few minutes, his opinion didn’t really matter.

  Checking her watch, she determined seven minutes had to be enough time. She needed to get this done and get back home before anyone missed her.

  Carefully, not wanting him to see her, she eased the door open slightly and looked out. Wesley’s eyes were closed and he was snoring softly. Good.

  The gun behind her back, just in case he was playing possum, she advanced toward the bed. Wes didn’t move a muscle.

  She walked around the bed and stacked up the pillows. Now came the tricky part. “Wesley.”

  “Huh?”

  “Sit up a little.”

  “Later.” He grunted and then snored louder.

  As out of it as he was, it took waking him twice before she finally got him to scoot up the necessary inches to where he was propped up against the pillows. If this was going to look like a suicide, it’d be more convincing if he was sitting up.

  Taking both his hands, she wrapped them around the gun, and placed his finger on the trigger. Then, holding his face, she opened his mouth slightly and placed the muzzle in his mouth. He opened his eyes wide at the feel of the steel against his tongue, but was too groggy to react quickly enough, She pressed his finger against the trigger and pushed hard.

  He jerked and slumped back against the wall with a satisfying thud of finality.

  She grimaced at the blood on her new blouse. Dammit, she’d never get the stains out and she certainly couldn’t take it to the cleaners. She’d have to throw it away.

  With the efficiency she was known for, she quickly cleaned up any evidence that Wesley hadn’t been alone. A suicide note would be a nice touch, but seemed too organized and convenient, not in keeping with a man of Wesley’s sordid, soulless reputation.

  Sure, there’d be speculation that he wasn’t alone, but no one could link them together. In a day or two, when the stink got to the outside world or a maid came in, Wesley would be discovered. Of course, it might take a few days to identify him, since a good part of his forehead and the top of his head were mangled and lying on the floor under the bed.

  Feeling quite satisfied with the day’s outcome, she took one last look around the room and stepped outside. At this time of the night, not a soul was around.

  She opened her car door, and got in thinking about what she’d gotten accomplished today. Keeley was at home, bruised and traumatized. Wesley, who’d become a major pain, was dead. And best of all, when Wesley was found, there would go Keeley’s last hope of ever finding her daughter. She would be devastated.

  Yes, all in all, a most successful day.

  twenty-five

  Turning from the computer screen, Keeley grabbed the flyers she’d just printed. She’d been out of it for a couple of days and had neglected her regular office routine. Just because there was finally some hope of finding Hailey didn’t mean she could drop her normal activities. These flyers should have gone out yesterday. She would have to double up on hours until she was caught up. Until Hailey was home, the work could not stop.

  “Keeley!”

  She jerked her head up to see Jenna and Miranda rush toward her. She jumped to her feet and met them in the middle of the room. “What’s wrong?”

  Miranda practically screamed at her. “What’s wrong? You were attacked two days ago and we just heard about it? That’s what’s wrong.”

  Flashing Miranda a stern look, Jenna touched Keeley’s shoulder. “Are you okay, sweetie? Why didn’t you call me? When you canceled our lunch the other day, I thought you had a stomach virus … I can’t believe you didn’t tell me what really happened.”

  Guilt filled her once more for keeping her friends in the dark. She had known Jenna and Miranda would have been here in minutes and would have enjoyed mothering her. She’d asked Cole to cancel her lunch date with Jenna using the excuse of a stomach virus. She hadn’t liked lying to her friend, but had needed the time to herself. As much as she loved Jenna, she had a tendency to hover … as did Miranda.

  She hugged both women and said, “I’m sorry. I just needed some rest. All I have are a few bumps and bruises. Nothing more. And I didn’t want either of you to worry. I’m fine … really.”

  Miranda shook her head. “Cole said that you’d been attacked, abducted. What happened? Who was it? Why did—”

  She took both of her friends’ hands and pulled them down to sit beside her on the couch. “It was Wesley Tuttle. Do you remember him?”

  Her forehead furrowed in concentration, Miranda said, “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of him. Who is he?”

  Keeley figured Miranda wouldn’t remember him, since she was a few years younger, but the expression on Jenna’s face told her she remembered him.

  “I thought he left town a year or so after high school,” Jenna said.

  “Unfortunately, he came back.”

  Jenna shuddered. “I remember how he always gave me the creeps, like he was looking through my clothes or something.” Her eyes filled with tears as she spotted the bruises on Keeley’s neck. “Oh, sweetie, he really hurt you, didn’t he?”

  “Not as bad as it could have been.”

  “But why did he attack you?” Miranda asked.

  “He’s the one who took Hailey and Hannah.”

  “He took them … and then he attacked you? But why?” Jenna asked.

  “I know it sounds weird—it is weird—but I know he’s the one.”

  Miranda jumped up, hands on her hips. “Why would he do that?”

  “I really don’t know other than he held some kind of grudge against me for not going out with him.”

  “From all those years ago?” Jenna snorted. “Now, that’s about the dumbest reason I’ve ever heard.”

  Miranda nodded. “I agree with Jenna. Carrying a grudge like that for years seems really crazy. And why take your kids? That’s even crazier.”

  “I agree … but that’s what he told me. And he knew things only the kidnapper would know. The FBI is looking for him. Once we find him, he can tell us where he took Hailey.”

  Jenna touched her shoulder again. “That’s wonderful, sweetie. I knew it would all work out for you.”

  Miranda’s eyes narrowed as she searched Keeley’s face. “There’s something else going on, isn’t there?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’ve got a spark in your eyes you haven’t had for a very long time.”

  “That’s because we’re about to find out where Hailey is,” Keeley said.

  “Maybe.” Miranda’s tone held doubt.

  Jenna nodded. “I think Miranda’s right. There is something there. What’s going on?”

  For some reason, she hadn’t mentioned anything to her friends about her new relationship with Cole. She wasn’t sure why, other than she didn’t want to share it with the world yet. It was her secret to savor and relish. But that was silly. Her two best friends deserved to know that she had fallen in love with a wonderful man. They would be thrilled for her.

  “I’m in love with Cole.”

  “What?” they squealed in unison.

  “I know it sounds strange. The last few months have been the most horrific of my life, but …” She shrugged, unable to explain how in the midst of this nightmare, she’d actually found love. “He’s the most ama
zing man. And as determined as I am to find Hailey.”

  Jenna’s worry was reflected in her words. “This isn’t some kind of hero worship, is it?”

  Keeley shook her head. “I admit that I admire him tremendously, but I’m also in love with him.”

  “Well … I guess he’s handsome and all … but isn’t he a little old for you?” Miranda asked.

  Keeley laughed softly. “He’s thirty-five … that’s not exactly elderly.”

  “But does he feel the same way?” Jenna asked.

  “I think so. We haven’t talked about the future, because there is no future until I have Hailey back. But once we do, I think there will be.”

  Jenna grasped Keeley’s hand and squeezed it. “Well, I think it’s fabulous. It’s about time something good happened in your life.”

  Keeley was surprised that her normally unromantic friend Jenna was the one who seemed the happiest for her, while the usually idealistic Miranda looked so doubtful.

  Cole leaned against the wall, across from the closed door of Keeley’s office, and waited for Miranda and Jenna to come out. As Keeley’s best friends, they’d be able to tell him how they thought she was doing. She still looked too damned pale to him, but she’d assured him she was well enough to work. He wanted to get their input.

  He couldn’t deny a secondary reason for calling them over. The conversation he’d had with Miranda a few days ago continued to hammer at him.

  Now that they knew Wesley Tuttle was behind everything, Cole no longer suspected Keeley’s sister-in-law of being involved in her nieces’ abduction. However, she was hiding something, and by the continued worried expression on her face, it was something big.

  They hadn’t exactly parted on good terms the other day; Cole was probably the last person she wanted to talk with. But Miranda was a young single mother, and she was important to Keeley. Maybe there was something he could do to help her. First, she had to tell him what her problem was.

  He straightened when the door opened and both Miranda and Jenna emerged. Jenna gave him a quick smile and then turned to look back inside the office. “Get some rest and I’ll call you tomorrow.” She whirled around to Cole. “She looks exhausted.”