by Regan Black
“He did,” the detective replied. “We’ve matched the phone records. In time, I think we can put the money together.”
“Did you bring Yost in?” Paige asked, her jaw clenched tight.
“We’re working on that now,” Angela replied.
“Will our father be in trouble?” Jayne asked. “Yost was shady and Yvette Salter, our bio-mom, was a piece of work, but I don’t think Jack Coker willfully did anything illegal.”
Carter was surprised it was Jayne rising to his defense instead of Paige.
Detective Lewis drummed his hands on the table and pursed his lips. After a moment’s thought, he said, “I need a statement from your father about his dealings with Yost,” he said.
Paige flinched. “As long as I don’t have to see him.”
The detective’s eyebrows lifted, but he didn’t say a word.
“You’re furious,” Carter said to Paige, when the detective walked out. He was more than a little surprised to see it.
She wrinkled her nose. “It’s awful. One minute I’m hurt, the next minute I’m livid.” She rubbed her temples. “This whole mess is wrong on so many levels. Dad could’ve done better. Jayne deserved better. I just keep spinning in circles. I need something to do.”
Catching one of her hands again, he gently disagreed. “I’m not so sure. Good people usually do the best they can. Sometimes it’s not enough.” He rode out the familiar wave of grief, as the face of the child he couldn’t save filled his vision.
That incident had changed the course of his entire life and yet, the events that followed equipped him to be here, right now, for her. He couldn’t imagine walking away once this case was done. Somehow she’d become as essential to him as those quiet sunrises on the water.
She gave his hand a squeeze. “That’s true. I’ll keep that in mind.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
He was about to offer more reassurance when Detective Lewis burst back into the room. “Yost fled. Not at the office, and not at his home address. Someone must’ve tipped him off.” His gaze locked on Jayne.
Paige surged to her feet. “Ronnie Lewis, stop that right now.”
He scowled at her. “Stop what?”
“I recognize that look,” she accused. “You think she’s tied up with Yost.”
“She’s been living off his money,” Lewis pointed out. “Maybe this is all an elaborate setup to squeeze the Coker family.”
Carter watched Jayne go pale as color suffused Paige’s face. He started to intervene, but decided Paige needed a target for her fury. He could give her a little room to vent.
“You stubborn fool,” she snapped. “Clearly your partner has all the brains.”
“Watch yourself, Paige,” Lewis warned.
Carter was thinking the detective should do the same. As he’d told Jack, he wouldn’t let either woman go down for a crime they didn’t commit.
“My sister didn’t do anything but follow a trail of breadcrumbs to her biological father. She was in that kitchen, trying to save herself. And when Melissa got shot, she tried to save her, too. Yost is your bad guy, not either one of us. Go get him.”
She sat down hard, as if someone had popped her like a balloon.
Carter watched the detective think it through. Time seemed to halt in that room while they all waited.
The detective crouched in front of Paige. “You’re sure?” he asked quietly.
“She’s not a killer any more than I am,” Paige replied fiercely.
Paige, her gaze locked with the detective’s, couldn’t see Jayne’s color come back and her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Carter would bet good money this was the first time Jayne had ever felt as though she had someone on her side.
“Okay,” Lewis said at last. “I’ll trust your intuition.”
Smart man. Finally.
He moved to a nearby chair, giving the twins plenty of space. “We just have to find him.”
“Not at home or the office,” Carter mused. “Did you ping his cell phone?”
“This isn’t my first day on the job,” Lewis groused. “It’s off.”
Carter didn’t waste time reacting to the jab. He was texting Jenna to search through the call history on Jayne’s number. Within minutes she’d texted back that she had the cell number for Yost and was pulling his financials and employee records around the time of the girls’ births.
For the next hour, the detectives alternated between the conference room with the twins and the interrogation room with the man who’d accidentally killed Melissa. Carter was about to insist on taking Paige to the safe house when Jenna’s email came in.
He read it once, then again before he called everyone back to the conference room. Together they went through the files Jenna had attached.
“Yost bought Yvette a house?” Jayne shook her head. “My mother had a knack for negotiation.”
“And he still owns it,” Carter pointed out. “My assistant tracked the GPS on his car there as of yesterday. Plus, check out the second witness signature on the contract. Virginia Trenholm. She was Yost’s secretary during the Coker adoption and stayed with him for years after.”
The detectives swiftly verified her current address and sent out a patrol team to bring her in for an interview.
“If he is hiding there, it’s only long enough to make an escape plan,” Jayne said. “The man’s a snake.”
“He has property in Italy and the resources to disappear quickly,” Paige said, studying the financial information. She shot Ronnie a wry look. “Better flag his passport.”
The detective smartly kept his gaze on the documentation. “We will. It’s protocol.”
A discussion began over how to bring Yost in and whether any judge would issue a warrant at this stage.
“I can go talk to him and try to get a confession,” Jayne offered. “I’ll wear a wire or use my phone to—”
“No,” Paige cut her off. “He’s already tried to kill you once.”
“You, too. But that’s my point,” Jayne countered. “I found him before. It’s logical that I’d find him again.”
The others, Carter included, debated that tack for a few minutes. A clean confession would go a long way here and they all knew it.
“Didn’t you say he thought you were Yvette?” Paige queried.
“At first glance, yes.” Jayne narrowed her gaze on her twin. “Why?”
“We should follow her example and negotiate new terms,” Paige said. “It’s what he’d expect from her daughters.”
The detectives debated how quickly they could put that together and who should go in. Carter didn’t like where this was headed. If Jayne got hurt, Paige would be devastated. But the only alternative was sending her. No. He gritted his teeth. The risks were too high.
“I’m doing it,” Paige announced. “End of discussion.” She held up a hand when both Carter and Detective Lewis protested. “Me. I won’t sit here like a spectator letting everyone else take the big risks.”
“Paige,” Carter warned. The man could have guns in the house, could hold her hostage, or do any of the other dreadful things dancing through his mind.
“Me,” she said again. “Final answer.” She turned to Detective Cruz. “Wire me up and let’s get this done.”
Chapter Eleven
Everything had moved so quickly that Carter barely had time to get Jenna looped in. It didn’t help that she’d questioned the sanity of the plan. But he knew she was covering all angles and if Yost managed to escape that house and elude the police, Jenna would find him.
Still, when Paige walked up to the house Carter held his breath. When Yost opened the door and invited her in, Carter panicked. His blood thundered in his ears. This was wrong.
It was his job to walk into danger, not hers. He felt like a caged animal, helpless and stuck in the van with Jayne, the detectives, and the officer monitoring the audio. He pushed a hand through his hair as Paige started the conversation, pretending to be her sister.
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“Easy,” Jayne whispered beside him. “We’ve got her covered. She needs this.”
Knowing she was right didn’t make it any easier. Since coming home from Melissa’s funeral, Paige had been straining against his precautions, determined to be proactive about clearing her name and helping her family. Specifically her sister.
He would never forgive Jayne or the detectives if anything bad happened to Paige in the next few minutes.
Paige looked around as she lingered near the door. Her palms were damp, but she could do this. Needed to do this. Compared to the Guardian Agency safe house, this place was outdated and threadbare. At least Yost hadn’t attacked her. Yet.
“Why are you here?”
“I came to renegotiate,” Paige said with far more calm than she felt. “You call off your goon, pay me for the pain and suffering, and I won’t report your shady baby-selling schemes to the police.”
“Just like your mother.” Yost snorted and she got a whiff of the alcohol on his breath. “I don’t have any goon and you aren’t getting another dime. How did you find me here?”
“You’re not the only one who remembers the day you planned to double your money,” Paige improvised.
“Virginia. Damned traitor,” Yost snarled. “I’ll take care of her next.”
He stomped out of the front room toward the kitchen and she followed closely enough to catch every word. She needed to provoke him into spilling everything. “First, you’ll pay.” She pulled Jayne’s phone from her pocket and showed him the picture of the man who’d killed Melissa. “Your goon,” she said. “In case you forgot his charming face. Not your best investment,” she added.
“I do not know that man,” Yost said woodenly.
“That’s not what he said.” She stuck with the script Cruz had suggested. “He tried to mug me the day after you tossed me out of your office. Really shook me up.” She pulled up another picture. “He has this tattoo on his arm, plus, I got his mask off so I know he’s the one who tried to kill me. I’m ready to give all of this to the police. He’s willing to roll on you. Unless…”
Yost spun around. “Oh, the rotten apple did not fall far from the tree.” He swore. “Of course, Yvette’s daughter would find a hitman willing to play a part. I’ve paid enough. Whatever game you’re playing, little girl, you’ve already lost.”
He charged at her and shoved a gun in her face. She hadn’t even seen him pick it up. Tears prickled in the back of her throat. She was supposed to let the police know she was in trouble, but he hadn’t confessed.
They needed that confession.
“You owe me,” she said again. “I could’ve been raised as a Coker. I recently got a nice, up close look at what that means.”
“You owe me!” he screamed. “I sent her money to keep her mouth shut. You owe me every penny from the day she died. With interest. I’ve calculated the amount. Shall we set up a payment plan?”
“If you need money, why have me killed? I can’t pay you back if I’m dead,” she pointed out.
“I have tried and tried to cut my losses with you.” Spittle gathered at the corners of his mouth and his eyes were hard and wild. “But you’re just like your mother. Manipulative and selfish. She’s been a dark cloud over my life for decades! I tried to find a buyer for you, but no one wanted a scarred up toddler. You have no idea how many other deals I had to make just to keep that woman quiet.” The gun lowered to her belly, dug in. “I won’t let it go on. Yvette’s scheming ways end here.”
She hoped the wire got all of that, hoped it was enough to keep him locked up for the rest of his life. With a shriek, she launched herself at him. He tumbled back and hit the counter, the gun fell to the floor and went off, the bullet missing her and burrowing into the wall.
The police surged through the doors, front and back, and she couldn’t see Yost anymore as they surrounded him.
She was nudged out of the kitchen and the first person she saw was Carter. She ran right into his arms, happy to stay there forever.
“You did it,” he said when they were outside. “You’re incredible.” He kissed her, fast and quick. “Brave and smart and—and don’t you ever even think about doing anything like that again.”
“I promise.”
Chapter Twelve
Not quite twenty-four hours later, Paige was sitting in Carter’s car, in front of the house where she’d grown up without the sister who should’ve been there from day one. Her mind was spinning, marveling at how quickly life could change. Yesterday had gone on forever before Ronnie finally put handcuffs on Yost and dragged him to the police station.
She was proud of herself for playing a part in the take down, pleased beyond measure that she’d been able to convince him he was confessing to Jayne. The aftermath was a flurry of action as the detectives vowed to protect Jayne and Carter whisked her back to the safe house.
The past was finally over and done. Tonight was about moving forward. It was all she could do to keep still. This was a new beginning. Or it would be once Jayne arrived. Since Carter had parked and cut the engine, she’d seen movement at the curtains a couple of times. Her parents peeking out, eager for a glimpse of Jack’s lost daughter.
She understood that anxious mix of excitement and trepidation. Would Jayne like Cora and Jack, or would she reject all of this and walk away?
The curtains moved again and Paige twisted in her seat to look back up the drive. She’d like to see Jayne, too.
Her sister had chosen to drive herself over and Paige respected that independence. She wondered how long it would take for Jayne to understand she had family now, people in her corner who cared and would readily support her.
Unless she changed her mind and rejected the idea of a new family. That would be awful, but if her sister didn’t show up, Paige vowed not to hold it against her. Meeting a father you’d never known and a mother that wasn’t really yours was a daunting proposition. Tack on being targeted by a killer and who wouldn’t prefer to escape to a quieter place?
“Hang in there,” Carter said.
“I’m trying.” She clasped her hands together in her lap so she couldn’t reach for her phone and check the time.
Oh, man. If Jayne bailed, Cora would freak out. Her mom was either inching toward frantic joy or misery. And, sure, Jack was a better father figure than Yost by any measure, but he’d left her with a negligent and hateful mother. Not intentionally, but still. Jayne had good and valid reasons to be furious with fate or the world, if not Jack specifically. Jack was just a ready target for those dark, painful emotions.
“Breathe, Paige,” Carter urged. “She’ll be here.”
She hoped so. Suddenly, she wasn’t sure who needed her comfort and protection more, Jayne or her parents. The only certainty was that she had to tread carefully through this meeting. All of them deserved her best effort here. “Have I made a mistake pushing for this?”
“Not at all,” he assured her. “The three of them need a chance to meet.”
Paige pressed a hand to her chest. “My heart is racing,” she murmured. “I want to believe it will all work out.” She twisted in her seat again. “What if—”
“Breathe,” he said again. “It’s not your responsibility. You and Jayne can be sisters no matter what happens in the next few minutes.”
“But Mom—”
“She will manage, Paige. The three of you are close. You and your dad know what to watch for if Cora starts to slide into a depression. She has outside resources that she didn’t have before. Neither one of you will leave her hanging to cope with this shock on her own.”
The man had a way with words. “No, you’re right. We would never do that. I just worry that meeting Jayne will be a wedge in their marriage that they can’t get past.” She looked at him, seeking more of that reassurance she couldn’t find inside herself. “I don’t want to hurt her or Jayne. They’ve both been through enough.”
“Your parents have made it this far. Until a few days ago, you didn�
��t know anything was amiss. Your dad didn’t do everything right, but he’s not the actual bad guy here.”
Right again. That had been the hardest part in this entire mess, reconciling her dad’s imperfections with the man who’d raised her with such love and care. “I just want everyone to be happy.”
“I know.” He leaned over and brushed a soft kiss across her lips. “You have such a big heart. It’s going to be fine. It doesn’t matter who your family is or how you were raised. Every person eventually has to choose their happiness. I’m hopeful that the four of you will find your way and be happy together.”
“I just love them all so much.” She had to stop and clear the crazy mix of emotions gathered in her throat. She had a sister and she desperately wanted her parents to love Jayne and feel that soul-deep connection to her that Paige did. “I want her to have a taste of what good parents are like. Mom and Dad have made mistakes, but do you think we can get over it?”
“You? You can make just about anything happen when you set your mind to it.” He winked. “If your parents are so great you shouldn’t be worried at all.”
“Ha. Leave it to you to drill down to the basics,” she said, smiling at him. The man was gifted when it came to settling her down. Headlights flared behind them as Jayne’s car rolled through the gate.
She rubbed her palms over her jeans. “This is it!” She hopped out of the door before Carter could come around. It felt as if her blood had gone fizzy and she had to work to stand still rather than rush forward and make sure Jayne didn’t flee.
“You ready?” Carter asked Jayne as she joined them at the front steps.
“Maybe?” She cringed. “Probably not, but I’ll stick it out.”
“Whatever you want out of this, that’s what I want too,” Paige blurted out.
Jayne took her hand as they moved up the steps. “I’ve already gained a sister. Thanks to the two of you, I don’t have to worry about looking over my shoulder anymore.”
