Page 47

Hours later there were still no results on the BOLO for Adam’s truck, and Noelle was fading, exhaustion and pain taking over her head.

She’d numbly sat in Eve’s living room, Savannah holding her hand, waiting for word of Lucia.

Eve had called everyone she could think of and then sat at the dining table at the far end of the room, silently crying while shooting the occasional glare at the deputies who were currently searching her home, looking for any clue to where Adam or Lucia could be.

After working with Agent Keaton on a script that wouldn’t alarm Daisy, Eve called her and asked if she could join her and Lucia for dinner.

Daisy suggested tomorrow because tonight was Hawaiian night at the retirement community center, and she was one of the organizers.

She didn’t mention that Lucia was already there or that she’d seen or spoken with her that day.

Where is she?

Noelle had tried to talk to her sister, but Eve had shut her down. “I can’t believe you’d consider the slightest possibility that Adam would do something to Lucia,” she’d hissed. “ Who are you? Turn off your cop brain for a moment and think of your family. The two of them must be in trouble!”

I can’t turn off my cop brain. Especially when my sister is missing.

Guilt swamped her that she couldn’t swear Adam wasn’t behind Lucia’s disappearance. She’d known the man for years. He’d always been kind and helpful to her and Lucia.

But is it possible to be too helpful? To the point of overstepping a personal line?

How many times had he inquired about Noelle’s health or brought up Derrick’s stress levels? And Lucia’s anxiety. He watched everyone so closely. She’d always attributed it to his kindness and his determination to make everyone’s life easier. But looking back ...

There was a niggling suspicion that she couldn’t eliminate. “You okay?” Savannah asked Noelle for the tenth time.

“It’s way past time for my pain meds.” She glanced at the front door, where Rhodes was speaking to a deputy. “I want to go home. Eve doesn’t want me here.”

“I’ll ask again if you can leave.” Savannah headed toward the agent.

Noelle closed her eyes. She couldn’t hear the conversation, but she picked up on the tone. In any argument, Savannah was the person you wanted on your side. A few seconds later she was back.

“He says I can drive you home, but a deputy has to clear the house before we can go inside, and then I’m to stay with you. Your alarm system is not to be turned off, and he wants us to check in with him every hour.”

“Deal.” Noelle slowly got to her feet. She looked down the room at Eve, but her sister deliberately turned her head.

She’ll talk to me when they find them.

Later, at Noelle’s home, Noelle and Savannah waited in the rental car as a deputy went through the house. He came out a few minutes later. “All clear, Detective Marshall.”

“Thanks, Jeff,” said Noelle. The deputy waited, watching until both women were inside and the front door had closed. Noelle activated the alarm.

“I’m ready for more hot chocolate,” muttered Savannah, striding to the kitchen and into the pantry. “Food too.”

Noelle suddenly realized she was starving. Stress and concern for her sister had kept hunger at bay. It was nearly 7:00 p.m., and the sun had been down for hours. She took her pain medication and then checked her freezer, knowing there was nothing worth eating in the fridge.

“I’ve got frozen pizza, lasagna, or chicken strips,” she announced to Savannah.

“Lasagna.”

“It’ll take an hour. I’m pretty hungry.”

“Eat these while you wait.” Savannah reappeared, a box of crackers in one hand and a bottle of red wine in the other. She studied the wine label. “This calls for lasagna.”

Crackers appealed to Noelle and to the medication she’d just taken on an empty stomach. “I’ll slice some cheese for the crackers and start the lasagna. No wine. I want hot chocolate, please.”

Savannah turned on some classic rock music, poured a glass of wine, and made more hot chocolate.

The sounds of the Rolling Stones filled the house, and a minute later they sat at the table and started in on the cheese and crackers.

“What a fucking day,” mumbled Noelle, feeling the last of her energy dissipate even though the music was upbeat.

She’d be lucky if she stayed awake until the lasagna was done.

“I can’t believe Adam would be involved in Lucia’s disappearance,” said Savannah. “He was probably just there at the wrong time and got caught up in whatever happened.”

That sense of doubt struck her again.

I’m overanalyzing everything I ever heard him say or saw him do.

“It can’t be ruled out just because we feel it’s so,” said Noelle.

“I’m sorry Eve wasn’t speaking to you.”

“She needed to direct her anger and fear at someone,” said Noelle. “And I happened to be that person. It’ll pass.” The betrayed look in Eve’s eyes would haunt Noelle for a long time. She’d been horrified that Noelle wouldn’t agree that Adam wasn’t responsible.

I should have said I agreed, if only to make her feel better.

But she couldn’t have brought herself to say it out loud.

She couldn’t eliminate a possibility until she had proof. It was too easy to develop tunnel vision when emotions guided an investigation, and she’d learned the hard way not to allow that to happen. She loved her brother-in-law, but right now, something was very wrong.

“I hope Lucia hasn’t been hurt.” Noelle pressed her hand against her forehead, willing tears not to start. She’d been stoic throughout the day, trying to hold it together for Eve. But she was about to crumble.

“She’s fine. For now.”

Noelle whirled to face the voice in the kitchen and gasped as a roar started in her head. Adam stood there with a pistol pressed against Lucia’s temple.

Savannah sucked in a breath. “Holy shit.”

Several thoughts exploded in Noelle’s brain at once.

Lucia’s not hurt.

My gut wasn’t wrong about Adam.

My closest gun is in a kitchen drawer.

How did they get in?

“You knew the code,” Noelle said, her gaze locked on Lucia, rapidly scanning her from head to toe. There was a bright-red welt on her cheek, but Noelle didn’t see any other signs of injury. Her sister stood tall, her eyes wide and blinking rapidly, Adam’s other hand tightly gripping her upper arm.

She’s terrified.

Adam’s lips curved. “We both know the code. How many times has one of us watered your plants when you’ve been out of town?”

Noelle had never bothered to change it; she’d trusted everyone who had the code.

Until now.

I was so wrong about him.

“What do you want, Adam?” she asked, sounding calm despite the rush of adrenaline in her veins. Adam was visibly amped up, constantly shifting his weight as he stood behind Lucia, the gun never leaving her head.

Lucia is his shield.

“Cash and your keys,” he replied promptly.

“I’ll give you both,” stated Noelle. “But Lucia stays here.”

I can’t let her leave with him.

“Nope. I need her. Money and keys now.”

“You fucking chicken,” said Savannah with fire in her eyes and anger in her voice. “Using her as a shield. I always knew you were a wuss.”

“Shut. Up.” Adam pointed at Noelle. “Where’s the money?”

“I don’t keep much cash on hand,” Noelle said. She held out a hand toward Savannah, gesturing for her to cool down. She didn’t like the crazy she saw in Adam’s eyes. Something had pushed him to the edge.

“Bullshit. Derrick always had a ton of cash around.”

“And Derrick’s been dead for thirteen years,” snapped Noelle. “I’m not Derrick.”

“How much do you have?”

Noelle only kept cash on hand to pay her housekeeper, and there was a little more in her purse. “Probably about four hundred.”

“Now I know you’re lying.” He sneered. “You’ve got more than that here.”

Fury rocked her. “You think I’m trying to protect a bit of money when you’ve got a gun at my sister’s head? Do you really believe I feel cash is more important than Lucia’s life?” She started to stand. “What cash I have is in the drawer by the microwave.”

“ Sit down! ” He pointed the gun at her. Noelle sat.

“You said you wouldn’t hurt her!” Lucia begged.

“The police are keeping an eye on my place,” Noelle lied. “They’ve probably already spotted your truck.”

“My truck is at work,” he said. “I borrowed a coworker’s car.”

Noelle recalled he’d gone to his office for a short while that morning. He’d probably stolen someone’s keys. “The workday’s been over for hours. They probably figured out by now that you took it.”

He shrugged. “I’ll have yours. And when I’m done with that, I’ll move on to another.”

“Lucia,” Noelle said, taking a different tack. “The FBI positively identified you as the caller the day Derrick was killed. They have no doubts.” She stared hard into her sister’s eyes.

Lucia looked at the floor, her shoulders slumping.

“What did you see that day, Lucia?” she whispered.

“Jesus,” said Adam. “Let it go. Where are your keys?” He walked sideways, pulling Lucia with him toward the drawer with the cash.

“In my purse. Lucia, why wouldn’t you tell anyone that you made that call? It was just a phone call.”

Stall him. Maybe someone has seen the stolen car out front.

“Get the money,” he ordered Lucia, keeping his eyes on Noelle and Savannah.

Noelle froze. Her sister knew there was a gun in the back of the drawer with the cash.

He’ll shoot her if she pulls a gun.

“Lucia, the money is in the blue envelope,” Noelle said. Lucia glanced at her, and Noelle gave a slow shake of her head, not looking away, hoping Lucia would understand she didn’t want her to touch the gun.

“Okay,” said Lucia. She opened the drawer, grabbed the envelope, and shoved it closed.

Relief swamped Noelle.

That could have quickly gone south.

Adam was twitchy, and Noelle suspected it wouldn’t take much to push him too far. The best thing to do was to give him what he wanted and let the police catch up with him.

But how do I make him leave her behind?

“Let Lucia go, and I’ll write you a check,” said Noelle. “You pick the amount.”

Adam laughed. “Seriously? You think I’d try to cash a check?”

“I’ll withdraw cash. Lots of cash. You can tell me where to leave it.”

He sighed. “How stupid do you think I am, Noelle?” He pointed at her bag on the counter. “That the purse?”

Noelle nodded.

Grinding the gun into her head, he ordered Lucia to find the vehicle remote. Tears ran down her face; her hands shook, and she dropped the bag.

“Christ! Pick it up, klutz.”

She did and shakily handed him the remote starter.

He pointed the gun at Noelle and Savannah. “Stand up.”

Oh, fuck.

Terror shot through her, and she met Savannah’s scared eyes.

“Turn around.”

Will he shoot? Who is this man?

The women slowly turned, their backs now to the kitchen. Noelle’s legs shook as she felt completely exposed. A big mirror now gave her a view of Adam and Lucia, who was trying to pull out of his grip.

“ You promised you’d leave them alone! ” Lucia shrieked, pushing at him. “Don’t hurt them!” He lifted his hand and hit her temple with the gun’s butt.

In the mirror, Noelle met Adam’s gaze, the image of him raising his hand to Lucia frozen in her brain.

Recognition slammed into her.

His eyes. In a mirror. Adam raising a crowbar to swing at the back of Noelle’s head.

I saw him!

She spun back around, her heart racing. “You were there! I saw you! You hit me and you killed Derrick!”

“You have no idea how wrong you are,” said Adam. “I was there, but I didn’t kill him. I’m sorry you remember it that way.” He gave Lucia a shake. “I guess I should have believed you when you said she still didn’t remember anything. Too bad she does now. Even though she’s wrong.”

He pointed his gun at Noelle.

He’s going to kill me.

“ You said you wouldn’t hurt her! ” Lucia screeched, thrashing in his grip.

“Fine.” He changed his aim and fired at Savannah.

The roar of the gun filled the room as Noelle dropped to the floor and Savannah let out a bloodcurdling shriek, tumbling to the ground.

“ Savannah! ” Lucia screamed. “ You fucking bastard! ”

Her ears ringing with the shot and Lucia’s screams, Noelle scrambled over to her friend. Blood flowed from Savannah’s side as she flailed on the ground and pressed her hand against her wound, digging her head backward into the floor in pain.

So much blood.

It oozed between Savannah’s fingers.

“Better stop that bleeding, Noelle,” shouted Adam with laughter in his voice.

Focused on Savannah, Noelle was faintly aware as he dragged Lucia into the garage and slammed the door.

He shot her so I couldn’t leave.

Noelle pulled up Savannah’s blouse. Blood flowed steadily from a hole a few inches from her belly button.

Ignoring Savannah’s shrieks, Noelle rolled her to her side and checked her back.

It was clear; the bullet was still inside.

Noelle ripped her own sweater over her head and pressed it against the bleeding, making her best friend cry.

“Hold this.” She tore across the room to the kitchen, yanked her phone from its charger, and grabbed all her kitchen towels. She sprinted back to Savannah and landed on her knees beside her, pressing a towel on top of the already soaked sweater.

Noelle put her phone on speaker and called 911. She identified herself as a sheriff’s detective, requested an ambulance, and then told the dispatcher that she needed a BOLO and gave a description of her 4Runner, which Adam had taken.

“Noelle! It hurts!” Savannah moaned. “I’m going to kill him! That bastard!”

“I know, honey, you’re going to be okay.” Noelle added another towel to the sopping mess under her hands.

Dear God. The blood.

“And you can have the first shot at him. I promise,” Noelle lied, terrified at how quickly her towels were turning red. “What’s the ETA on the ambulance?” she shouted at her phone.

“En route. Ten minutes,” said the dispatcher.

“Notify Detective Bolton at county. The driver of the 4Runner BOLO was already suspected for kidnapping. Now this shooting.” She wiped her nose and cheeks with the back of her hand, tears streaming.

It should have been me.

Lucia changed his mind.

“I have Detective Bolton on the other line,” said the dispatcher. “He’s asking if you know the identity of the shooter.”

Noelle swallowed hard to get the name out without tears. “It’s Adam Langton.” Her throat closed up, and she coughed to clear it. “Adam Langton,” she repeated over Savannah’s moans. “He is armed and kidnapped Lucia Marshall. He threatened to shoot her too.”

She tried not to think of Lucia’s tear-filled face and her desperate shouts as Noelle’s fingers suddenly warmed again with Savannah’s blood. She snatched up a third towel and pressed harder, making Savannah groan.

Why, Adam? Why?