“Your fault not mine,” Roman whined.
“We need to find her. Marv’ll be upset with both of us.”
“You’re the one who let her get away.”
“I didn’t want you to kill her without Marv’s say-so.”
Another car pulled up. The two men stopped struggling but neither let go of the other.
“Marv won’t be happy.” Zack repeated.
“He’s right about that.” Marv said as he walked up. “What are you two idiots doing? Where’s Chryssie? And Stan?”
“She ran into the woods, and Stan started chasing her. Instead of running after her, Roman decided to attack me.” Zack stood up.
“He’s not on our side, Marv.” Roman climbed to his feet. “He was helping her escape. If you hadn’t put the GPS on him, they’d be long gone by now. I’m telling you he can’t be trusted. And he hit me first.”
“You don’t tell me anything, you idiot.” Marv shoved Roman hard enough that he toppled back to the ground. “Want to fight me now too?”
Roman shook his head.
“I told you I had everything under control. Why wouldn’t you listen--just this once? I had everything worked out.”
“That woman detective went to her house. In the middle of the night. I’m telling you, Marv. She planned to tell her the truth. I couldn’t let that happen.”
“Just like you couldn’t let Lonnie dis you, right? This whole thing has been your fault from the start.” Marv sighed. “I suppose it doesn’t matter now. It is what it is.”
Zack had hoped Marv would be so angry at his cousin that he’d ignore the fact that Zack appeared to be helping Chryssie escape. But he’d done what he’d set out to accomplish. He’d face the consequences.
Marv turned toward him. “What is going on?”
“I had her here. Everything was fine. Until he showed back up. That’s when she got away.”
“He’s lying. He was helping her escape.”
“Well, she seems to have done that, huh?” Marv glared at both of them.
Stan walked up, breathless. And no Chryssie. Thank You, God. Would she call the police? Probably not. After what she’d heard, she’d believe the worst about him.
“Where is she?” Marv asked.
“Couldn’t find her. That girl runs fast. I ran in the woods and looked all over. It’s like she disappeared.”
Marv glared at his cousin. “Well, let’s see if we can all find her.”
They walked to the edge of the woods. Marv yelled her name. Nothing happened. Marv looked at Stan and Roman. “Grab him.”
Before Zack could move, each man had one of his arms.
“Let’s just see how close these two lovebirds really are.” He called her name again. “Hey, Chryssie. We got your boyfriend. If you don’t come out right now, he’ll be dead before you know it.” Marv walked behind Zack and put the gun to the back of his head. “I’m counting to three and then bang!”
Zack prayed for strength and peace. “She’s not coming out. She knows I’m with you. She’s not that stupid to come out. She’s probably calling the police right now.” He spoke as loud as he could without yelling, wanting her to know that she should stay put. He prayed too.
“Oh, she’ll come out or you’ll be dead.” Marv said in a loud voice. Then he whispered, “Just play the game. I’m not going to kill you.”
The time for game playing was over. He wouldn’t let Chryssie come out of those woods. He prayed she was long gone. “Don’t come out, Chryssie. Get away from here. They’ll kill you. Just go.”
Roman’s hand clamped down on his arm. “I told you, Marv. I told you he was with her.”
“So you did, Roman.” A soft click as Marv took off the safety lock. “I trusted you.”
“I didn’t sign on to kill people. I signed on to make money.”
“You were willing to kill her a few days ago. Or was that just an act?”
“No act. But that was a few days ago. She grew on me.”
“Yeah, that’s what I figured. Chryssie, what you going to do? Let your man die for you?”
****
Chryssie cowered behind a tree, watching and listening.
Zack had told her not to come out—to run. He was protecting her. She was right, he could be trusted. Her heart had told her that all along, but she hadn’t trusted her own instincts. Now, he’d proven it—even as a gun was pointed at his head. She’d find the nearest house and call the police. They might arrive in time to save Zack. But probably not.
It was time to do the right thing—the butterfly thing.
20
Zack prayed Chryssie was gone. And safe.
A moment later she walked out from behind a tree. “I’m here.”
His heart sank. Why had she come back?
Marv chuckled. “Well, look at that. Your girlfriend came through for you, Zack boy. It doesn’t surprise me. She’s always been a stand-up kind of girl.” The gun moved away from Zack’s head.
“Chryssie, I told you to run.”
“I couldn’t do that. I’m tired of taking the easy way out.” Her gaze met his. “That’s not God’s way.”
“Now, we’re both in trouble.”
“I couldn’t let them kill you because of me.” She glared at Marv. “OK, so I’m here. Will you keep your end of our bargain? Let Zack go.”
His only response was to say, “Get her before she runs again.”
Stan moved toward Chryssie.
“Chryssie. Run. Don’t let them—” Zack yelled out.
Roman punched him in the stomach. “You shut up.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Chryssie stood still. “I’m done running.”
“Enough, boys. Let’s all go in the house and figure out this situation. “Marv kept the gun pointed at Zack. “Do I need Roman to bring you in or will you walk in like a man?”
“No need to do that. After all, you’re the boss.” Zack shrugged and walked toward the house, putting his hands in his pockets.
“Whose house is this anyway?” Marv asked.
“Mine.”
“Anyone in here?”
“No. That’s why I brought her here. I knew she’d be safe until I could tell you what was going on. To find out what you wanted me to do with her, boss.”
“So now I’m the boss again, huh?”
“Always have been, Marv. Roman’s a hot head who doesn’t know what he’s doing. He’s the one that went off the reservation, not me. I wasn’t going to let something happen you didn’t want. You told me to watch Chryssie, so that’s what I was doing.”
“Didn’t sound that way a few minutes ago.”
“Can’t blame a guy for trying to protect his woman.” He wished that were the case, but after all his lies and deception, Chryssie would never trust him again. He’d broken her trust and the only thing that would mend it would be a miracle.
“Yeah, I suppose.” Marv said as he prodded Zack forward with the tip of his gun.
****
Maybe Chryssie should try to bargain her cooperation for Zack’s life. Zack had tried to protect her, to keep her safe. He didn’t deserve to die for that—even if he was a criminal. Right now, she’d do whatever was needed to stay alive; she’d worry about the future later. “Marv, I’m still willing to hold up my end of the bargain. I haven’t told the cops anything and never planned to.”
Marv stared at her as if trying to decide if that was the truth. “Not so sure about that.”
Zack turned the lights on in the house, revealing a bright yellow kitchen decorated with strawberries. Strawberry canisters. Strawberry candles. Strawberry plates. In spite of the circumstances, she had to smile. This was definitely not Zack’s style.
“Into the living room. It’s too bright in here.” As they walked into the living room, Marv pointed at a chair. “Sit, Chryssie. You too, Zack. Now, tell me what happened tonight.”
Zack started talking before she could. “I was sitting on Chryssie’s apartment. Watching
her like you ordered. Somehow the two of them slipped by without me noticing. All of a sudden an ambulance shows up. I went to see what was happening. After I saw them load that lady detective in the ambulance—”
“And she was alive?”
Zack shrugged. “Her head wasn’t covered and they had IVs in her. That’s all I know. I went upstairs and that’s when I found the empty apartment. Went back outside and saw that Chryssie’s car was gone. I’d put a spare phone under her seat, so I activated the GPS and started following them. The next thing I knew she was running down the highway right at me.”
“And...”
“And I thought the best thing was to bring her here until you could tell me what you wanted me to do. Then the two stooges showed up.”
“And if that was to kill her?” Marv arched an eyebrow at Zack and waited.
“I won’t lie. I was hoping to talk you out of it. Chryssie and I are good together. She confessed like you wanted. She’s willing to work for you. But in the end you’re the boss.”
She stared at Zack, but he wouldn’t look at her. Was she wrong about him? Was he trustworthy or not?
“Do not listen to him, Marv. He was gonna hide her. Don’t trust a thing he says.”
Zack glared at Roman. “He just wants to kill her. He has from the start. This mess was his doing. You had it all arranged and then he went and shot a cop.”
“When the detective showed up, I knew she was going to tell the cop everything,” Roman whined. “I had to do something to stop her.”
“That’s not true.” Chryssie spoke up. “I don’t even know why she came.”
“Yeah, what about the suitcase I saw. She probably was going to put you in a safe house so you could testify again Marv.”
Chryssie shrugged, trying to sound sincere. “I didn’t have to be back at work for a few days. I thought I’d take a short vacation to celebrate my graduation. Some celebration.”
Marv paced around the living room.
Chryssie chanced a look at Zack. His gaze met hers. Her heart did a flip-flop. If they actually survived the night, she’d have to explore her feelings about Zack. But right now, it was all about surviving. That had to be why he was acting as if he would hurt her. Zack wouldn’t do that to her—that was the only thing she was sure of in that moment.
“Well I guess the key is to whether the detective lives or dies.” Marv finally spoke. “If she dies, we go back to the original plan. She lives, then all bets are off.” He pointed the gun at Roman. “If she lives, you’ll have to go into the system. Nothing I can do about that.”
Roman’s face flushed red. “Then, I’ll have to make sure she dies before she can tell anybody what happened.”
Marv nodded. “Sounds like a plan. I suggest you take care of that. Stan, you go with him. I can take care of these two until you get back.”
Stan didn’t move. “I don’t like it. It’s two against one.”
Marv waved the gun. “Not really. I’m the one with the weapon.”
“Well, let me make sure of that before I go.” He walked to Zack. “Stand up.” Zack complied. Stan ran his hands up and down Zack. “No weapons here.” Then he moved toward her, his grin showing he would enjoy searching her.
Marv shook his head. “I’ll check her myself.”
Disappointment crossed Stan’s face.
Marv walked over and did a quick search. “Sit back down.” Marv turned to Zack. “Where’s some rope or tape?”
“It’s not necessary, boss. I’m on your side, remember?”
“Where’s the rope?”
“Should be some in the garage.”
“Go find it, Stan.”
Roman rocked on his feet. “I gotta get going, Marv. I need to get there now. Before she wakes up and tells them what happened.”
“Fine, you two go.” He walked over to a lamp, unplugged it, then pulled out his knife and sliced it from the lamp. Marv tossed the cord to Zack. “Tie her up.”
Zack knelt in front of her. He touched her cheek, then brushed a strand of hair from her face. “You shouldn’t have come back.”
She leaned her head against his. “I had to. I couldn’t let them hurt you.”
“Thank you but I really wish you hadn’t.”
She whispered, “Tie it really tight. I’m sure this is a test.”
Zack nodded, but when he’d finished, it wasn’t tight. “Don’t worry. It’ll be OK.”
“Are you two lovebirds done saying good-bye to each other?” Marv leaned down and sliced through another lamp cord.
Zack caressed her cheek once again as he stood up. “All done, Boss.”
Marv held up the other cord. “Your turn.”
“It’s not necessary.” He walked to the sofa and sat down. “I’ll cooperate. You got nothing to fear from me, Marv. I’m on your side.”
“I don’t think so. Stand up.”
Zack’s hand went behind his back.
“Put your hands where I can see them and stand up.”
“You’re the boss.” Zack stood.
If Marv tied Zack up, they wouldn’t have a chance.
“Put your hands behind your back.”
One hand moved behind his back.
“The other one.”
Zack‘s hand shot forward under the sofa cushion. Marv reached for his weapon, now in his pocket. Zack swirled toward him, a gun in his hand.
“This doesn’t give me much faith in you, Zack.”
“Tying me up didn’t show much faith in me either.”
“You can’t blame me for that.”
“I suppose not. Put the gun down, Marv. You’re under arrest. You have the right to remain silent.”
Under arrest? What did that mean? Chryssie stared at Zack.
Marv didn’t flinch. “I don’t care who you are. You’ll let me leave or I’ll kill her.” His gun pointed to Chryssie.
“What would be the point in that?” Zack asked. “The house is surrounded by more cops than you’ll ever want to see, and by now your boys have been arrested.”
“You’re bluffing.”
“Really. I sure didn’t hear any car motors start up out there, did you? I wonder where the two stooges are right now. And what they’re still doing out there.”
Chryssie stared at them. Could Zack really be a cop? It sounded like he was.
Marv walked to a window and looked out. “No one’s out there.”
“There will be someone soon.” Zack sounded confident.
Marv stepped closer to Chryssie. He pressed his gun against her temple. “That’s nice. If you don’t want her brains splattered all over, you’ll let me leave. Now!”
“Not going to happen.” Zack held the gun steady. “Think about it. You didn’t shoot Lonnie Davis or Annie Dargols. That was all Roman. Chryssie’s your witness to that. You’ll plead down to some stupid misdemeanor. You probably won’t even get jail time. You shoot her and you’ll never see the light of day again. I’ll make sure of that.”
Marv nodded as he turned the gun away from her. “You might be telling the truth. But maybe you’re not.” Once more the gun pressed against her head.
Chryssie closed her eyes. So close to freedom. She met Zack’s gaze—something in them told her everything would be all right. He wouldn’t let Marv hurt her. Zack had things under control.
“Fine, we’ll do things your way, Marv. Get in your car and go. I won’t stop you.”
“Sounds about right.” Marv grabbed Chryssie up by the arm. “Let’s go.”
She stumbled as he pushed her toward the back door.
Zack followed. “She’ll go as far as your car and that’s it. She’s not getting in with you. You try to make her get in and you’re a dead man. Understand?”
“Fine with me. That’s all I need. I get to the car and you’ll never see me again.”
“I won’t argue that point. That will be up the Feds.”
“Open the door.” Marv ordered her.
Chryssie stepped through
the doorway noticing movement from the corner of her eye. A man put a finger to his mouth. She needed keep Marv focused on her. She took several quick steps as if trying to get away from him.
His hand reached out for her, but two policeman tackled him to the ground. The gun fell from his hand.
Sobbing, Chryssie sank to her knees.
Zack rushed over and scooped her close.
She couldn’t move. Relief, shock, and exhaustion swept over her.
“Chryssie, everything’s OK. It’s over.” His lips brushed her forehead as he untied her wrists.
“I can’t…did you know the cops were out here?”
“I could only pray that they’d had enough time to get here. After I texted them.”
She leaned against him, savoring his strength. “Good praying.”
“Well, you helped by hiding out in the woods long enough for them to get here.”
She reached up and touched his pony tail. “You’re really a cop? You don’t look like one.”
“I’ve been undercover for the past six months so I could infiltrate Marv and his criminal organization.”
“So, that Christian stuff was an act?”
“That part was real.” He helped her up. His arms went around her once again. “In case you’re wondering, the caring-about-you part was real as well.”
She leaned against him, feeling safe and protected. This was a man she could trust.
****
Annie Dargols’s eyes were shut when Chryssie walked into the hospital room. Connected to tubes and monitors, her face was pale. Tears filled Chryssie’s eyes. This woman had been shot because of her. Not wanting to disturb her, Chryssie took a backward step to leave.
Annie’s eyes opened. “Chrysalis. Come in.” Her voice was weak, tired.
“Oh, I don’t want to disturb you. I’ll check back later.”
“Not necessary. Come in. It looks worse than I am.”
“I hope so. Because I have to tell you, it looks pretty bad.” Chryssie smiled hoping Annie would take it for the joke it was.
Annie gave a weak laugh. “I’m fine.”
“I came to apologize. I’m so sorry all this happened to you.”
Broken Trust Page 11
