CHAPTER 19
RIA HAD JUST stepped out of the shower and dried off when she heard her phone ring. “Sheriff Cade calling.” The Australian voice on her phone alerted her. Hurrying down the hall, she grabbed it on the fifth ring, glad she had it set for voicemail not to pick up until the seventh ring.
“Hi, Phoenix,” she said as she answered.
“You sound breathless. Everything okay?”
“Yes. I just climbed out of the shower and scooted down the hall to get the phone in time.”
“I wish I was there.”
“Me too. How are things at work? Have you arrested Brody yet?”
“That’s why I’m calling. It didn’t go as planned.”
There was a graveness in his tone that made the hair on her nape stand. “What’s wrong?”
“He was found dead in his house early this morning.”
She squeezed the phone until her fingers ached. “Dead?
“I can’t get into details over the phone, but he was murdered. Deputy Holloway will be sticking close to you until I get there.”
She swallowed against the constriction in her throat. “Do you think I’m in danger…more than I have been?”
“Like I said, I don’t want to get into details over the phone, but I’m on the way to the cabin now. I’m about a half hour out.”
“Okay.”
They clicked off and Ria nervously put the phone back on the nightstand where she kept it. Quickly dressing, she stepped down the hall. “Deputy Holloway?”
“Yes. I’m here.”
“Did Phoenix call you?”
“Yes, I just hung up with him. No worries, Ria. All is okay. He’ll tell us more when he gets here.”
Hearing the reassurance from the Deputy, Ria felt a sense of relief. “Can I get you a cup of coffee?”
“You don’t have to go to any trouble for me. I brought a thermos.”
“No trouble. I was going to have a cup too.”
“Okay then. Sure.”
After making two cups, Ria offered the Deputy one and sat down on the couch.
“Thank you for staying with me here, Deputy.”
“Please, call me Lauren. I’ve been a little sick these past few days and glad to have gotten the rest while hanging out here.”
“Are you okay?”
“I haven’t told anyone at the station yet. I’m pregnant. I just found out several weeks ago.”
“Congratulations. How wonderful.”
The woman’s sigh didn’t sound so convincing. “I didn’t plan this. The news caught me off guard and I’m still processing it, but each day it sinks in deeper. Unfortunately, the father wasn’t who I thought he was. If he hadn’t up and disappeared on his own I would have thrown him to the curb.”
“Sometimes the things we don’t plan turn out to be the best things that ever happen to us. I am sorry though that he didn’t turn out to be someone great for you.”
“I’m just starting my career in law enforcement and I had wanted to wait until I was established, and in a committed relationship, but being a single mom isn’t my biggest concern. I’ve known lots of women who have raised children on their own and it turned out okay. If I meet someone down the road, great.”
“You’ll do wonderful, and you do have an understanding boss.”
“Sheriff Cade is always helpful. Do you mind if I ask a question? I know you probably get tired of answering questions about your eyesight…”
“No, ask away. I’m willing to answer anything,” Ria encouraged.
“Your eyes aren’t…well…”
“Milky? Prosthetics?”
“Yeah. I had no clue when I first met you that you’re blind.”
“I was in a car accident and didn’t suffer any damage to my eyes. The injury is to a part of my brain that sends the messages to my eyes.”
“Is there a chance you’ll get your sight back?”
Lifting a shoulder, she let it drop. “The longer I go the less likely I’ll gain sight back. I don’t think about it anymore. I’ve learned to live with what I’ve been given. Although at first it was hard to accept, and all the challenges I’d face, but I’m alive.”
“I’m sure it must piss you off then when you’re told you’re not a good witness because of being blind. Especially thinking killers could go free just because you didn’t see their faces.”
Lauren’s words struck Ria in such a way that the coffee splashed over the rim of the cup and splattered on her wrists. She carefully placed the cup on the table. “I’m not a credible witness?”
“I-I’m sorry. I thought Sheriff Cade had told you…I have such a big mouth.”
“No, Lauren, he didn’t speak to me, but I’m sure it wasn’t said in private. I’d like to know what he did say though.” Her heart skipped a beat.
After a second’s hesitation and a shift on the sofa, she sighed. “The only thing the Sheriff said was the truth. The prosecutor told him they couldn’t try a case without proof and with only your testimony. Sheriff Cade believes in you though. He’s a good guy, I just hope Katy doesn’t attempt to sink her fangs into him again.”
“What do you mean? Isn’t she remarried?”
“I-I don’t know if I should say anything…”
“Lauren, I won’t tell Phoenix. I’m just curious.”
“She came to the office the other day and, although I couldn’t hear what she was saying, I did see them hugging. For the life of me, I don’t know what he ever saw in her, but he’s too good for the likes of her.”
Ria kept her surprise hidden. Why hadn’t he told her that he saw Katy? Then again, why would he? Phoenix had never made any promises to her, and yet, hadn’t he said things, done things, to make them seem close? She’d been there, done that, before. Missed the neon warning signs.
“I just remembered I have to make a call.” Ria stood.
“Oh, okay. Thank you for the coffee.”
Once back in her bedroom, she picked up her phone and dialed Phyllis’s number, taking a shot that she would answer. She didn’t. No surprise. Ria had called ten times with no luck. Starting to call Kora, she put her phone down. If she told her sister everything, she would be on the first plane back to Wyoming and that couldn’t happen. They had spoken a few times and Ria had done a great job keeping the truth from her sister. She would be home in two weeks. Ria would wait until then to confess what had happened.
Her mind reeled after what she heard from Lauren. Could it be possible that Katy wanted Phoenix back? Why else would she come to see him? And why else would they hug unless he still had feelings for her? Would he take her back? Even after what she’d done to him?
Going down the hall and into the bathroom, Ria splashed her face with cold water, gathering her senses and preparing for when Phoenix showed up. He would be home soon. She wasn’t sure what she’d say. Would she tell him what Lauren had said? Would he deny it?
Hearing a thud, she opened the door a few inches. “Lauren?” Nothing.
Pulling the door open wide, Ria listened. She couldn’t hear anything but the humming of the refrigerator. “Deputy Holloway?” she called again.
Still nothing.
Inhaling sharply, a citrus scent tickled her nostrils. This wasn’t Phoenix’s scent. No, it was Snake’s…
Then she heard… “Sheriff Cade calling. Sheriff Cade calling.” Swiveling on heels, she listened…she was no longer alone. She could hear breathing.
“Looking for this?” The familiar husky voice made her take a step back, her thighs struck the edge of the table, sending the lamp to the floor with a loud crash. Snake was here, in the cabin, with her.
“I’m not alone. There’s a deputy here,” she said in warning.
His snicker made her stomach roll. “No, sweetheart. We’re all alone.”
“What did you do with her?” Ria forced through clenched lips, all the while moving her fingers along the table top attempting to find something she could use as a weapon.
“She’s taking a nap. You should be more concerned about what I’m going to do with you.” He took one step closer.
“Phoenix will be here any second, and when he finds you—”
“He’s about fifteen minutes away. No, it’s not enough time for what I had planned to do with you, but plenty to do what I should have done the night I took care of Cox and the assistant—or should I call her, the whore? Do your instincts only work on special occasions? I slipped right past the bathroom and you didn’t even notice.”
Fear nestled into her muscles, but she had to keep her wits about her. She refused to go down without a fight. “You have no reason to be here. I can’t see your face and I’m not a credible witness.”
“It’s too late for that. I was clumsy the first time, but I always finish my business. Just as the Chief found out.”
“You killed him, didn’t you?” Ria had to keep him talking until Phoenix arrived.
“The bastard thought he could threaten me and get by with it. Don’t waste your time worrying over the piece of shit. He had more politicians in his pocket than I can count on two hands. Just as Cox was going to prove. He had the pictures, a dozen showing the bastard’s lucrative business dealings. I had thought about allowing the asshole Chief to live just so I could let him see what it feels like to be sitting on the other side of the law, but when it came down to it, I couldn’t risk that he’d take me down with him, just as I can’t risk allowing you to stay alive. A shame really, considering you’re pretty damn clever. How did you manage to hide from me that night?”
“I was under the massage table.”
“Ahh…that’s where. That answers a question I had been asking myself over and over. Well, time’s a ticking and I need to finish business.”
She heard his footsteps, then held her breath, and once he was within reach, she lifted the heavy vase and landed it somewhere on his head. The dull thud told her she’d made contact and he fell, but she could hear him still moving.
She started past him, but he caught her foot with a hard grasp, tripping her. She came down hard onto the floor, feeling a sudden icy hot pain in her arm. Recovering quickly, she kicked at his hands that still held her, her foot made connection with his face and he cried out, but it wasn’t enough to immobilize him. Before she could move, he was over top of her, pinning her down under his weight. Her shoulders bore into the floor.
“You fucking bitch! I would have made it quick, but not now. Now you’ll find out why they call me Snake.”
Through her fear, she felt him shift, followed by the unzipping of his pants. She squirmed but he was much heavier than her. She knew she’d fight to the death if necessary. Bringing her hands up, she clawed at his eyes and again his curdling-yell bounced off the walls. This made him angrier because he smacked her hard against the cheek, not once but twice, until her temple ached and she felt blood on her nose. A cloud seemed to come over her and she couldn’t move.
Feeling him tug at the waist of her jeans, he was steadily ripping at her clothes. She brought her knee up and deep into his groin, but he was quicker.
“That’s it, you cunt! Consider this a gift, bitch. Maybe you’ll have your eyesight in your next life.”
She felt the cold tip of the gun press against her head and she waited…
Bang!
Snake groaned, jerked, then dropped on top of her, not moving. Instantly, she felt a sticky wetness on her neck, soaking into her shirt and puddling around her shoulders.
She screamed and tried pushing him off, but he was too heavy and then the weight was gone in exchanged for a strong pair of hands grabbing her shoulders and bringing her up off the floor. She was dragged into a warm embrace and pressed against a wide, familiar chest.
“Are you okay? Were you hurt?”
“Phoenix. H-he was going to kill me. Is Lauren okay? He did something to her. We have to help her.”
“It’s okay. She is groggy from the hit on her head, but she’s alive. But you, sweetheart. Tell me, are you hurt?” He pushed her back and she assumed he was looking her over. “So much damn blood.”
“It’s his…Snake’s. He didn’t have a chance to do what he wanted.”
“That fucking bastard. I didn’t want to scare you, but I feared this was what he’d do. Evidence against him was found in Chief Brody’s safe that Snake couldn’t get to. Apparently, everything had been saved, probably suspecting Snake would betray him. There was a recording of a conversation between Snake and Brody stating that he had been here watching the cabin all the time, waiting for the chance to get to you. I’m sorry that I didn’t get here sooner.”
“You got here in time though. The only person who is dead is Snake. He is dead, right?”
“He’s dead.”
~~~***~~~
The cabin was swarming with federal agents. After giving his statement and handing over his weapon, which was standard for any investigation like this, Phoenix found Ria sitting at the kitchen table. The blanket he’d given her was still wrapped around her shoulders, but her face was smeared with blood, like when he found her after the murders in her studio. The difference was the feeling in his heart. He loved her, wanted to spend his life with her. Now that the case had ended, he could finally pursue something with her outside of all the chaos.
If she wanted him too.
“Ria?”
She brought her chin up. “Are you finished with giving your statement?” she asked in a low voice.
“Yeah. How about you?”
“I’m finished. I think I repeated myself ten times. Is every interrogation by the feds the same?”
“Pretty much.” He pulled out the chair closest to her and took a seat. He laid his hand on her knee and she jerked, which took him by surprise. Yet, after what she’d been through tonight, hell, over the last three weeks, she had reason to be jumpy. “Are you okay? Do you need to be seen by a doctor?”
“No, I told you. I’m fine. I’d like to take a shower and get that bastard’s blood off me, but I’m told this is now an official crime scene and I won’t be allowed to even grab my things today.”
“I can find out if there’s anything still needed and if not, I’ll take you home.”
“I like that idea, but you don’t have to take me. I’ve already asked one of the agents if she’d give me a ride and she said she would.”
He narrowed his eyes, her words socking him in the chest. “I want to take you, Ria. I thought we could talk after we got cleaned up. I have a lot to say…”
“Not tonight, Phoenix,” she said firmly. “Maybe in a few days we can, but tonight I want to go home, sleep in my bed and absorb all that has happened. I hope you’ll understand.”
He stared, wanting to ask more questions, but he understood that sometimes victims need space to get their thoughts in order. It wouldn’t be right for him to pressure her on their relationship right now. Sure, he was disappointed that she didn’t want him along with her, but she’d been through a lot.
“Okay. This is probably best so I can go to the hospital and check on Deputy Holloway. She was hit pretty hard, but she was conscious and lucid when the EMTs got here.”
“Yes, you should check on her.”
“Sheriff, can we grab you for one more question?” One of the agents asked.
“Sure. Give me one second.” He turned his attention back onto Ria. “If you decide you want me to take you home, just let me know. If I don’t see you before you leave, I’ll be in contact soon.”
She simply nodded. Was she trying to send him a message? “You better go.”