Chapter Twenty-Seven
My mouth dropped open.
Joe’s eyebrows lifted. “Rose, what’s wrong?”
“It was you all along,” Mason said, his words laced with a mixture of disappointment and anger. “You were the leak.”
I pointed at his necklace, which Jeff was already stuffing inside his shirt. “He’s wearing a St. Jude’s medallion. All of Crocker’s men wear them.”
Joe shook his head. “No. They didn’t when I was part of their group.”
“They do now. I’ve seen it myself and Jonah confirmed it.”
“Mason, seriously. Are you suggesting I’m one of Crocker’s men?” Jeff laughed good-naturedly. He lifted his hand to his chest. “We’re friends. We’ve been working this case together for months. We play basketball together. Hell, you came over to my house and watched the Little Rock-LSU game.” He shook his head. “Being lost in the woods has made you a bit paranoid, which is understandable. I’ll let it slide. No hard feelings.”
Mason didn’t look convinced. “Where’d you get it?”
“I’m a good Catholic boy. I go to mass every Sunday. My grandmother gave it to me for protection when I joined the sheriff’s department.”
Joe turned his attention to the chief deputy, his eyes narrowing. “That’s odd, considering St. Jude is the patron saint of lost objects.”
Jeff flashed him a smile then he and Crocker rushed Joe at once. The gun went off and Mason flew off the chair, tackling me to the floor as I screamed. The three men continued to tussle and there was another shot.
“Mason. I need to find a gun,” I shouted.
“No.” He grunted in pain as he pressed me to the floor. “You’ll get shot.”
“We’re in big trouble if they overpower Joe.” I shoved him off. I was sorry to hurt him, but I needed one of those guns.
“Look outside,” Mason called after me. “The guy who found me didn’t take the bag.”
I ran out the back door toward the grouping of trees where I’d left Mason. The bag was several feet behind the tree where he had waited for me. My hand was shaking so hard it took me two attempts to open it, but I found a handgun inside with a full clip. I grabbed more clips and stuffed them into my pockets before heading back to the house.
I crept through the back door and hid behind the kitchen table as I assessed how the situation had changed. Mason had raised himself into a sitting position on the floor and was halfway between the living room and the kitchen. My heart leapt into my throat when I saw Joe lying on the floor, his face beaten. Jeff stood to the side looking unhappy as Crocker delivered another kick to Joe’s ribs.
“We’ve got a DA and a state police detective here, not to mention the fact that Joe Simmons is running for state senate and is the son of a very powerful political player, Crocker.” Jeff ran a hand through his hair and released a low whistle. “We’re in deep shit.”
“You were in deep shit long before now. We’ll kill these two and dispose of them in the hills where they’ll never be found, then I’ll take Rose with me.”
I rushed forward, the gun trained on Crocker. “I’m not going anywhere with you. Now get away from him.”
Mason swung around to look at me.
Crocker turned in surprise and smiled. “Rose, you came back to the party.” Then he kicked Joe again.
Joe released a grunt and spat blood onto the floor.
I held the gun higher, aiming at Crocker’s chest, my finger on the trigger. Mason had told me I’d better be prepared to use it if I pointed it at Crocker or one of his men. I only hoped I was.
“You can’t shoot me,” Crocker said, amused. “It’s not self-defense.”
“Mason?” I asked.
“Do it,” he said in a menacing voice.
Crocker looked surprised for a second, but he kicked Joe again in defiance. “You won’t shoot me, Rose.”
My hand shook.
Joe moaned on the floor, curling up in a defensive position, his eyes closed.
Crocker followed my gaze to Joe then looked back at me with a smirk. “If you shoot me, Chief Deputy Dimler will shoot you. And I don’t think that’s what you want.”
I didn’t answer.
“You’re too scared, Rose,” Crocker purred. “But that’s okay. It’s not easy killing a man. Watching his life bleed out.”
My stomach clamped and I hesitated as he started to creep toward me. Now he was just six feet away.
“Shoot him!” Mason shouted.
“I know what you want, Rose.” He smiled. “You want to protect both the D.A. and McAllister.” He held his hands out at his sides. “So let’s make a deal where no one gets hurt.” He took another step toward me. “If you put your gun down, Dimler promises to let your boyfriends go.”
“And me?”
He gave me his cocky grin. “You leave. With me.”
“I don’t think so.”
Crocker lunged for the gun.
I took a deep breath and squeezed the trigger. The blast filled the room and Crocker fell backward, tripping over Joe’s legs and landing on the floor. I swung the gun toward Dimler, whose gun was trained on me.
He moved his hands to his sides, the gun pointed against the wall, and took a step toward me. “Rose.” He smiled. “You can get away with shooting an escaped criminal, but not the chief deputy sheriff. Now put down the gun.”
“Mason?” My voice rose with fright.
“Don’t listen to him.”
Jeff’s face pleaded with me. “Rose, I know how this looks, but you don’t know the whole story.”
“It looks like you’ve partnered with Daniel Crocker and you told him where we were hiding. Why? And why didn’t you just tell him immediately? Why wait?”
“We were…negotiating. And as for why, do you know how much a sheriff makes? Not very damn much, I’ll tell you that. How the hell am I supposed to pay for all of my kid’s medical bills?”
“Answer this,” Mason said, his voice hard. “Why have me work on finding the leak if you were planning to turn me over to Crocker with Rose?”
Jeff turned to look at Mason. “I didn’t want you involved in this. I told you to let me take her into our protection.” He pointed his gun at me again. “And I told you to convince him to stay out of the whole situation. We both know who’s going to win this standoff. So if Mason gets hurt in all of this, that’s on your head.”
I gasped.
Keeping his gun trained on me, Jeff glanced back at Mason. “Crocker didn’t even know you and Rose were involved. Hell, I didn’t know you were involved until after Crocker visited her house. I never intended for you to be dragged into this.”
He took two more steps toward me.
Mason shook his head. “But the investigation…If you were the leak, why have me keep working on it?”
“I was surprised when you approached me this summer, but I figured I could use it to my advantage. I hoped to pin everything on the sheriff. I’m your friend, Mason. We can work this out.”
Mason’s mouth dropped open. “If you believe that, you never really knew me at all.”
“Stop being so idealistic for once,” Jeff scoffed. “This is how the real world works. We can both take over—you as DA and me as sheriff. We can rule Fenton County.”
Mason shook his head in disbelief. “There’s no way in hell I’ll agree to that.”
Jeff took another step toward me and tossed his gun to the floor.
“Stop right there.” I jabbed the gun in his direction. “I’ll shoot you.”
“Will you? Now I’m unarmed, Rose. You could get in big trouble, and these two—” he pointed to Mason and Joe with a sly grin “—aren’t exactly unbiased witnesses. How would you like to do some prison time?”
I swallowed the lump of fear that had lodged in my throat.
“See, Rose? You don’t want to shoot me.” He was four feet in front of me now, reaching out his hand. “Just give me the gun.”
“Don’t listen to him, Rose,” Mason grunted. “No one will ever press charges.”
Changing tactics, Dimler dropped to his knees and put Mason in a chokehold, positioning his body behind Mason’s. “Put down the gun or I’ll strangle him.”
My hands shook.
“Just put it down and we’ll have a reasonable discussion.”
Mason’s face was turning red.
“You’d kill your own friend?” I asked in disbelief.
“He’s the one who turned his back on me.” Jeff cocked his head to look at me. “I’m guessing you’re not a good enough shot to make sure you miss Mason.”
“No,” Joe said, his words slurred. “But I am.”
A gunshot rang out and Dimler slumped to the ground with a groan, blood seeping from his right shoulder.
Mason hunched forward, gasping for air.
My gaze turned to Joe, who was propped up on his left elbow, the gun in his right hand still pointed at the deputy.
I ran to Mason first, setting my gun on the floor beside him. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” His voice was hoarse. “Check on Joe and call the state police with his cell phone.” He picked up my gun and pointed it at the still-moving chief deputy.
I rushed over to Joe and sat next to him, fear washing over me at the sight of his bloody and swollen face. “Joe.” I choked down tears. “Are you okay?”
He forced open a swollen eye and pushed himself into a sitting position, grunting in the process. “Never been better, darlin’.” His familiar term of endearment made me cry harder. “Hey.” He covered my hand with his, exposing his bloody and swollen knuckles. “Don’t cry. I’ve been worse.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Help me get up, and I’ll go outside and call the state police. I’ll get better reception out there.” Joe glanced at Mason, who had scooted back toward the kitchen.
Mason nodded at him. “I’ll keep an eye on these two, although I don’t think Crocker is going anywhere.”
Crocker lay sprawled on the floor, his shirt soaked with blood. His eyes were open, his face expressionless.
“I killed him,” I said, my body swaying with the realization.
“Get her out of here.” Mason barked.
Joe climbed unsteadily to his feet and reached a hand toward me. “Come on, darlin’. Let’s get you some fresh air.”
I took his hand, being careful of his knuckles, and he pulled me out the door and into the front yard. He led me to a wrought iron and wood slat bench under a tree. “Head between your knees,” he said after I sat. “Just like the night we first met.”
I lowered my head and took in deep gulps of air.
He sat down next to me, rubbing my back in slow, soft circles. “You didn’t have a choice, Rose. You saved my life. Thank you.”
I sat up, tears streaming down my face. “I couldn’t let him kill you.”
He winked—or tried to with his swollen eye. “I appreciate that.”
I took a deep breath.
“Can you get my cell phone out of my pants pocket?” he said. “I’d get it myself but…” He held up his bloody hand.
I nodded.
He stood and moved in front of me. I reached into his right pocket and pulled his phone out. The familiarity of knowing which pocket he kept his cell phone in made me uncomfortable, as well as the intimate contact. I held it out to him without comment.
Joe sat down and called Brian, his good friend in the state police department, filling him in on what had happened.
When he hung up, he handed me the phone and I held it in my lap.
We sat in silence for several moments.
“You came,” I whispered. “Even when I was ugly and told you not to.”
“Of course I did, Rose,” he said, his voice husky. “How could I not? I don’t care where you are or who you’re with. I’ll always come if you ever need me.”
“Thank you.” I started crying again.
His stared into my eyes and lifted a hand to my cheek. “I love you, Rose. And I always will.”
While I knew he meant it, I couldn’t trust him to stay. Hilary had sunk her claws in too deeply years before we ever met. I closed my eyes. I couldn’t do this now. Especially after everything I’d shared with Mason. “Joe. Don’t.”
Sirens blared in the distance.
“I have to.” His hand slipped into my hair, pulling my face closer to his until only a foot separated us. “I’m going to figure out a way to prove my father’s evidence is falsified, and I’m going to quit the senate race. You mean more to me than anything in my entire life ever has.”
“Joe.” I shook my head sadly. “We’re done.”
“No!” He became more insistent. “We’re not. We only broke up because of my father. If I fix this, then he won’t be an issue. Everything will be fixed.”
“No, it won’t. Everything won’t be fixed. There will always be Hilary.”
“I’ll break up with her!”
“How many times have you broken up with her? Every single time you go back. We’ve been broken up for just over a month and you ran back to her after two weeks or less.”
“That’s not fair, Rose. You’re with Mason now!”
“The key difference is that Hilary is toxic and Mason is anything but.” I swallowed. “Mason encourages me to grow and face my past. He believes I can face the hard things. He respects me and my opinions and treats me as an equal.”
“Are you saying I don’t?”
“Joe—” I turned to face him “—you see me as the innocent naïve woman you met months ago. Mason sees me for the person I am now.”
He started to protest.
“No.” I curled my hand around his neck, the act itself feeling intimate and familiar. “You can’t help it. You were always upset by how Violet wanted to protect me from the world, but you tried to protect me from it too. You always put limits on what you thought I could do. Mason doesn’t do that. He encourages me to try things myself.”
“Do you really expect me to be okay with you dating him?” he asked in disbelief.
I didn’t point out that he’d moved on first. Instead, I swallowed the new lump in my throat and lowered my voice. “Part of me will always love you, Joe. But we’re done. I’ve moved on. I just hope that you’ll stop running back to Hilary someday. You deserve better.” I stood. “I hope you have a happy life, Joe. I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
I started to walk away, but he snagged my wrist and pulled me to him, wrapping his arms around my waist and pressing his cheek to my abdomen. “You’re what I’m looking for, what I’ve always been looking for.”
My fingers threaded through his hair out of instinct. I pulled them out and cupped his head, trying to keep from sobbing. “Then I hope you find something else.”
Police and sheriff cars pulled up in front of the house, and officers started to pour out of their cars. Several ambulances followed behind, their sirens on and lights flashing.
Joe stood and turned to look at me, tears in his eyes. “I’ll figure out a way to fix this.” Then he left to tell the officers what had happened.
I went back inside the house. Mason’s eyes filled with worry when he saw me. “Rose, go back outside.”
Several state policemen pushed past me and one of them grabbed my arm. “Miss, you need to wait outside. This is a crime scene.”
Yeah, this was my crime scene.
But Mason nodded and motioned for me to leave.
I went outside and sat back down on the bench, watching the commotion in a daze. A state police officer sat down and began to take my statement. Part way through, the paramedics rolled the chief deputy’s gurney out and lifted it into the first ambulance. Several minutes later, another paramedic came out with Mason’s. I jumped up and ran over to him, grabbing his hand as they wheeled him to the ambulance.
“Mason, I’m coming with you.”
The paramedic at the head of his gurney shook her head. “I’m sorry. Only the patient is allowed in the back.”
Mason’s grip tightened on mine and he glanced up at the woman and said, “Maggie, either she comes with me in the back or I’m getting off this gurney.”
“Mr. Deveraux,” Maggie protested, shooting me a glare. “You need medical attention.”
“Then let Rose ride with me.”
Her eyes narrowed as she looked at me. “It goes against protocol.”
Mason reached for the buckle of the strap securing him to the bed. “Then stop and let me off.”
The paramedics stopped and Maggie tried to push Mason back down. “You can’t even walk on that leg.”
“If you think I’m getting in this ambulance without her, you’ve got another think coming. It will be days before I let her out of my sight.”
Maggie moved to the side of the gurney, glaring at me. “If you cared anything about him at all, you wouldn’t interfere with his medical care.”
The other paramedic motioned Maggie to the side and they got into a heated conversation.
I glanced over my shoulder at them and then back to Mason. “Another member of the Mrs. Mason Deveraux hopefuls?”
He grimaced.
“Why do I think that dating you is going to make me the enemy of half the Fenton County female population?”
Mason winked. “Since when did you back down from a challenge?”
“You’re not really going to refuse to ride in the ambulance if I can’t come with you, are you?”
He grinned. “You’re damn right I am. I almost always get my way.”
Laughing, I shook my head, then leaned down to kiss him, letting my lips linger on his. “Well, then you’ve met your match, mister.”
The paramedics wandered back and Maggie didn’t look at all happy. “We’ll bend the rules this time for you, Mr. Deveraux.”
Mason shot me an I told you so grin before they rolled his cart into the ambulance. I climbed in after him, shaking my head. For the whole ride, Maggie fussed over him, pretending I wasn’t there and that we weren’t holding hands, flirting up a storm.
After we arrived at the hospital, the staff got Mason settled into an exam room in the ER, and I took the seat next to his bed, shaking my head. “I remember this happening a little over a month ago. Only I was the one in the bed.”
The corners of his mouth tilted up. “We shouldn’t make a habit of this.”
“Deal.”
I laid my head against his arm.
“Joe still loves you,” Mason whispered in my ear.
“I know,” I whispered back.
He was quiet for a moment. “You know that I want you to be happy, Rose.”
My head popped up. “What does that mean?”
“It means I don’t want you to feel obligated to be with me. I know you didn’t want to break up with him.”
I leaned down to kiss him. He reached behind my head, holding me in place as he kissed me back more thoroughly.
“You can’t get rid of me that easily. I’m exactly where I want to be, Mason.” I looked around and rolled my eyes. “Well, maybe not in this room, but with you.”
His serious eyes searched mine. “Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
He kissed me for several minutes more, until a nurse cleared her throat. “Okay, love birds. There are enough rumors flying around about you without adding fuel to the fire.”
I lifted my head, blushing.
“And what rumors would those be?” Mason asked good-naturedly.
“That you’re madly in love.”
“That was fast,” I joked and turned to look at Mason. But the expression on his face told me it was true. Mason was in love with me. He probably had been for months.
Mason’s arm tightened around my waist.
“Well, you two will have to live without each other for a few minutes while I take Mr. Deveraux to x-ray.” She headed for the door. “And I take it he’ll be going home with you, Ms. Gardner?”
Mason looked uncomfortable, but I smiled softly at him. “Yes.”
The nurse left and Mason grabbed my hand. “Rose, that’s not necessary. I’m sure my mom will come and help.”
“Good. Do you think she’d mind helping us move into the farmhouse?”
“What?”
“I meant what I said earlier. I’ve decided to move into the farmhouse. And since you don’t have anywhere to live, I want you to stay with me.”
His mouth opened and he hesitated.
“It doesn’t have to be permanent, Mason. You can come and stay while you’re recovering, or until you get a new place to live. But I want you to come with me. It feels right with you there. Like home.”
“Rose… I don’t know what to say.”
“Then just say yes.”
He smiled, happiness radiating from his face. “Yes.”
Then I kissed him to seal the deal.