Authors: Elaine Meece
Just as she reached for the door, a strong arm grabbed her shoulder and jerked her around. “Not so fast, Ms. Ross. You have something we want.”
“I don’t have it,” Julie said breathlessly. She gripped her purse tightly.
The heavier man, wearing dark slacks and a leather jacket, grinned as he eyed her up and down. “I can’t believe a delicate little thing like you took out Frank Grear.”
The slightly taller man, who wore a navy pinstripe suit, didn't smile over his partner's comment. Instead, he aimed his gun at her. “Hand over Connie Peel’s diary.”
Chapter Eighteen
The men appeared confident and in control. Neither seemed to fear the possibility of someone walking through the door. They had apparently done this before.
Julie's knees buckled, and she fought to remain standing. Any moment she expected her heart to explode. Frank’s warning played in her mind. The boss wanted not just Caleb dead, but her also.
Calm down and think smart.
Her ribs hurt from breathing so hard. “The diary is in my purse.”
The taller man slid his pistol inside his jacket pocket, then jerked her purse from her arm. As he searched it, the other man grabbed her overnight bag. They plundered through them like pirates searching for jewels.
Now!
Julie pulled the .22 automatic from her pocket and aimed. “Drop my purse and bag and back away.”
They appeared surprised but not rattled as she'd expected them to be. Neither did as she’d requested. The taller man extended his hand. “Give me the gun before you hurt yourself.”
“I said drop my personal belongings and back away.”
The heavier man reached inside his coat pocket.
Squeeze the trigger!
The small weapon’s ping echoed loudly through the stairwell, and the scent of gunpowder pervaded the air.
Had anyone heard it?
No one came to help.
Julie choked for a moment before finding her voice. “I’ll shoot again, if you don’t do as I say.”
The heavier man held his hand over his shoulder where the bullet had grazed it. Both men dropped her belongings and backed to the edge of the landing while keeping their eyes on her gun.
My phone is in my purse.
For a split second, she eyed her purse. There would be no way she could reach it without giving them a chance to jump her.
Please someone come along.
But no one did. She had to make it inside the hospital where she would be safe.
As the other man inched his hand toward his waistband, Julie took aim. “Put your hands up. Now!”
He raised his arms in the air.
She sighed with relief.
Had they noticed her hands trembling? She doubted she could hit an elephant standing in front of her.
“Tell Devin Vincent I don’t have the diary. I’ve already turned it over to authorities. Also inform him I don’t plan to sell my property. Now go.”
The men turned and proceeded down the steps, their heavy footfalls echoed throughout the enclosed area.
She waited several minutes before putting the pistol away and gathering her belongings.
The next time I might not be as fortunate.
Frank had told the truth.
She considered calling the police. And tell them what? Senator Vincent sent a couple of big goons to threaten her? No one would believe her.
Her heart still beat rapidly, sweat beaded on her forehead, and her hands shook as she pulled open the heavy blue door and entered the hospital.
She didn’t want to go into Caleb’s room until she’d calmed down, because it would only upset him if he learned about Devin's paid thugs.
She recalled the pregnancy test in her tote. She slipped inside a restroom, pulled out the box, and read the directions. For the best results it suggested doing it first thing in the morning. She sighed. She didn’t want to wait another day to know whether she was pregnant.
After following the directions, she sat behind the stall door, holding the strip and waiting the specified time.
Negative.
Relief washed over her.
Hopefully, the test result was correct. This wasn’t the time for her or Caleb to bring a child into the world.
At his room, she forced a smile as she entered. “You’re looking much better. Your color has returned and the swelling has gone down. You’re still bruised, but they’re starting to fade.”
He didn't look happy. “I saw the news. I’ve been worried sick over you. You could’ve called.” Caleb sighed. “Are you and the kids all right?”
“We didn’t get home until late. Scott and Ally were still upset. By the time I tried to call, you were asleep. That’s how I knew you’d been moved to a room.”
“Poor kids. How long were they in the back of the truck?”
“For over an hour.”
“The SOB.”
“I’m not being charged for Frank’s death. Poplar Bluff authorities ruled it a justified homicide—self defense. You were right about him. He had a prison record.”
“Figured that much. I felt so helpless lying here, knowing you needed me. I’m sorry you had to go through what you did. You okay with the outcome?”
She nodded. “His funeral is tomorrow.” Tears formed in her eyes. She’d tried not to feel any remorse over what had happened to Frank, but she did. She’d never dreamt that she had the capability to kill anyone. “I can’t believe he’s dead, and I’m responsible. But I didn’t see any other way.”
“Jules, you did what you had to do. Like a mother bear, you protected your young. Don’t let it haunt you the rest of your life.”
“Did you?”
He stared at her for a moment, his eyes full of regret. “You’re not talking about Connie and Amy, are you?”
“No, my dad said you killed a man in prison.”
“Trying to protect myself. When Grandpa died, the money he placed in my account stopped coming. I didn’t have any way to pay the gang protecting me. Two men singled me out. In the struggle, I managed an upper cut to one man’s jaw. With the floor being slippery, he fell back and slammed his head on the sink, hard enough to cause internal bleeding. His friend took off. The man died the next morning. Although he was a low-life, it still bothered me. But it gained me the respect of the other inmates. No one bothered me after that.”
”Do you ever think about it?”
“Rarely. It’s done. Why beat myself up over it?” He stuffed the pillow under his neck. “I thought you had changed your mind about me.”
“Not a chance, and I plan to prove you’re innocent.”
♦♦♦
Caleb needed more pain medication, but refrained from asking. With what happened to Julie, he wanted to stay alert.
Was that fear in Julie’s eyes? Her voice sounded strained. At first he thought it was because of what had happened with Frank, but now he suspected she was hiding something.
He pressed the button and raised the head portion of his bed forward, putting him in a sitting position. “What’s wrong, Jules. And don’t sugarcoat it.”
“Nothing really.”
Julie would hide whatever was bothering her and make light of it. She never took her own problems seriously.
“Frank mentioned some interesting facts. That's all.”
“And I supposed they involve us.”
“Most of it. Apparently there’s a bigger fish in the pond.” She set her purse down in the chair. “Frank was only a rich man's puppet.”
“You know who this big fish is?”
“Devin Vincent.” She repeated what Frank had told her. “I know why he wants to prevent you from exposing what really happened on the river, but why would Devin want me to sell?”
“I don’t have a clue, but I’m sure it involves money.”
“Frank was running scared. Since he was about to lose his job, Devin didn’t have any more use for him. That and he knew too much about Devin’s personal life.”
“He was in the same pot of boiling water we’re in,” Caleb said.
“He told me he was the only thing between Devin and me.” She told him about Frank killing Hopkins. “In his own sick way, Frank cared about me.”
“Sick is an understatement. Evidently, Devin goes after what he wants regardless of who he has to kill to get it. Growing up with him, I never realized what a sadistic shithead he is.”
“That’s why I need to find out exactly what happened that day on the river and why Devin wants me to sell.”
“Then what? If you go prying into the past for my sake, Devin will silence you for good. Jules, listen. Forget all this. I’m not worth it. The rafting business isn’t worth your life. Sell the damn place and forget about me before you get hurt. Sometimes the dragon wins.”
Julie gave him a defiant glare. “And sometimes it doesn’t. I’m not giving up on you or giving away my children’s inheritance. Devin has an Achilles’ heel. We just have to find it.”
“Looks like I’m here just in time.”
Caleb recognized the voice and glanced toward the doorway.
Adam.
“Hey, little brother,” Adam said as he crossed over to the bed. “You look like hell.”
“He looks good compared to how he did look,” Julie said, standing on the other side of Caleb’s bed.
I should kick him out. But I can’t. I love Adam too much.
A lump formed in Caleb’s throat. He hadn’t seen his brother since the day at the library. “What are you doing here?”
“Heard it’s dragon season and thought you might need some help with the hunt.”
“Don’t be so anxious to join us. Devin is a senator,” Caleb warned. “He may be one dragon that is better off left alone.”
“I think we can quench this one’s fire,” Julie added.
“I agree,” Adam declared. “Grandpa always said, ‘The bigger they are the harder they fall’ and he was right.” He turned to Julie and offered his hand. “Nice meeting you, Julie.”
♦♦♦
Julie shook Adam’s hand. It was smooth as silk. Had he ever done an ounce of physical labor? “It’s nice to meet you.”
“I saw the story about you on the news last night. I’m glad you and your children are all right.”
“Thanks. I’m still shaken over it.”
The two brothers resembled one another, but Caleb was by far the more handsome of the two. His brother was as tall but wasn’t as muscular as Caleb. Adam appeared polished wearing an expensive suit with his hair styled professionally. She thought of them as dogs—Caleb the rough street mutt, shaggy and uncared for while Adam appeared like a well bred show dog, groomed and obedient. The silly thought made her smile.
Would Caleb be angry with her for calling his brother? She’d heard Adam was an attorney and had hoped he’d be willing to represent Caleb, and besides, Adam had a right to know his brother was in the hospital.
“Why the family reunion all of a sudden?” Caleb asked. He pushed the button lowering the bed. “Last I recall, you disowned me.”
“I’m sorry. I was being selfish. I’d always wanted Grandma and Grandpa’s river house for sentimental reasons. I wanted my son to spend the weekends there like we did as kids. It just shocked me when they left it to you. But it shocked me even more to learn they had taken out a reverse mortgage on their paid off home so Grandpa could keep money in your prison account.”
“I didn’t know he’d done that. I didn’t question where he was getting the money. I was just glad to have it. It kept me safe.”
“He would‘ve cut off his right arm for you.”
“You don’t think it blew me away when Mom and Dad left you everything? It amounts to a helluva lot more than a small A-framed house and twelve hundred dollars.” Caleb sucked in a breath and continued. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not moaning about the money. It was being left out of their will that hurt and knowing they did it to make a point.”
“I said I was being selfish. And I was still angry with you for all the disgrace you brought on us.”
“I wasn’t exactly having a picnic in cell-block fifty-seven.”
Julie’s heart ached for the pain Caleb had gone through. She couldn’t imagine how horrific his experience had been. He’d never mentioned that his parents hadn’t left him a dime. Obviously they’d died believing he was guilty. She could only hope the two brothers would come to terms rather than bickering until their pride pushed them apart.
Adam sighed. “I surrender. Nothing I’ve gone through could compare to wasting away in prison.”
♦♦♦
Caleb didn’t need Adam’s sympathy or pity. He wanted his brother’s love and friendship. At the moment, he was hazy on why Adam was there.
“Devin should’ve been in that cell instead of me,” Caleb said. The words caught in his throat like a bite of bread that wouldn’t go down.
Adam glanced at her. “So what’s this evidence you have?”
Julie explained about the diary.
Apparently, Adam had already spoken to her about the situation. For just a moment, anger spiraled through him when he thought about Julie bringing his brother into the picture without consulting him first.
Would Adam have been so willing to step up to bat if the chance of him being innocent didn’t exist? Probably not. But as much as Caleb wanted to tell Adam where to go, he didn’t. For one thing, Adam was the only attorney he trusted.
“I also called Samuel Malone, the attorney who’d represented him before.” Julie shifted her attention from Adam to Caleb. “You need to call and request a copy of everything he has on your case.”
“I can handle that,” he said. “Malone did a lousy job of representing me. There were times I thought he was working for the prosecution.” Caleb stretched his right arm behind his head and leaned against it. The more he thought of his trial, the more he realized Devin’s father had probably paid his attorney to screw up his defense. “Did you ever find my medical records from the accident?” he asked Julie.
“No, I haven’t.”
“Leave that to me,” his brother insisted. “I’ll have better luck digging up information, for one thing I’m family and secondly most people don’t argue with attorneys.”
Caleb expelled a low breath. “There’s something else you might need to know. Julie’s been threatened and her place vandalized by someone who wants her to sell. Someone even went so far as to having her daughter snatched.” He turned his attention on Julie. “Tell him what Frank told you.”