Chapter 35
Tyler
Joe told me Audrey called out of work today, but even now, hours later, I’m having a hard time believing that. I’ve tried to call and text her, and she didn’t answer. Not since the one text I got from her saying she was okay.
There’s no denying it was her, with no one else, who drove away.
I drum my thumb on the steering wheel, staring at the door of the bank, waiting for Joe to re-emerge. I couldn’t get a read on him today. He seemed less of an asshole than usual, but still more of an asshole than the average person.
It’s unnerving not to know what brought on this change of demeanor. It makes me incredibly uneasy. I feel like something must’ve happened to perk him up.
But what?
Surely, he isn’t this happy because Audrey called out?
That wouldn’t make any sense. But hell if I know what else it could be.
The sunshine glints off the glass door as someone opens it, and I sit up straighter when Joe walks out, glad to be heading back to his house. I can try calling and texting Audrey again.
Our drive back is silent, as is the walk into the house. It isn’t until we’re passing the kitchen that Joe stops me. “Tyler, can I talk to you about next week’s schedule? I have more meetings than usual and want to make sure you are prepared.”
This isn’t an unusual request. I generally sit down with him at least once a week to review everything. This way, I can plan who will be with him, how many, and who will stay at the house. The only difference is that next week, my deadline will have passed, and Jack will have canceled the contract.
I don’t tell Joe that. I smile my most professional smile. “Yes, sir. Absolutely.”
“Great.”
I follow him into the office and close the door behind me. He’s almost to his desk when movement by the curtain has both of us freezing in place.
My heart seizes when Audrey steps out of the shadows, an expression on her face I’ve never seen, and a quiver in her hand that holds a gun pointed straight at Joe.
“Audrey.” I keep my voice as gentle as possible. “I’m not sure what’s going on here. But I think you should put the gun down.”
“I can’t do that, Tyler. I’m so sorry. You weren’t supposed to be in here with him.” Her voice breaks right along with me as I hear the desperate emotion rippling through the air.
“Are you fucking insane?” Joe snarls.
“Joe, that’s not helpful,” I hiss at him under my breath, not wanting to agitate Audrey.
Joe turns halfway toward me, while still keeping an eye on the gun. “I don’t fucking care that it’s not helpful. This bitch is insane.”
Audrey’s voice is dejected when she says, “You know, Joe, I tried to do this the nice way.”
Joe turns back to face her fully.
When he doesn’t respond, she continues. “But you didn’t care. Then you tried to blackmail me into sleeping with Greg, and I just couldn’t do it.”
A renewed fury seeps through me as I try to make sense of what Audrey’s saying. “Did he really fucking do that, Audrey?”
She nods, and a tear falls. If I had a gun, I’d probably pull it on Joe myself.
“I couldn’t do it, Tyler. I know you’re going to hate me, but at least it won’t be for that.”
I shake my head in confusion. “Hate you? Hate you for what?”
Joe scoffs and throws a hand in the direction of the gun. “She’s holding us at gunpoint, you fucking idiot. That’s reason enough to hate someone.”
Throwing him an annoyed stare, I can’t help but point out, “I think, technically, she’s holding you at gunpoint, not me.”
With an annoyed growl, Joe whips his head to look at Audrey. “What do you want?”
“One hundred thousand dollars. And I need it immediately.”
“You’re even dumber than I thought. I’m not going to just give you money because you have a gun and say so.”
Audrey nods. “I thought you might say that.” She pulls her phone out of her back pocket and unlocks it. Setting it on the desk, she taps the screen.
“We’ve worked together for a long time. So, you should know that I don’t like waiting.”
“Joe, you know how these things are.”
“My business partners like to wait even less than I do."
“Maybe I can work with your assistant here to get everything squared away.”
“Delays in breaking ground impact you, too.”
“I can appreciate your concern for both of our sakes, but I must implore you to be patient.”
Audrey presses the screen again, stopping the recording, and then starts a new one.
“We need to talk about the project. My business partners increasingly unhappy about the delays.”
“Audrey, would you like something to drink?”
“I, uh, no, thank you.”
“I told you the other day, I’m trying to get everything done as soon as possible, but some of this can’t be rushed without causing unwanted…issues.”
“So you say, but everyone’s getting a little nervous that they’re going to lose a lot of money.”
“Sounds like maybe you made some promises you’re not able to make good on. And I fail to see how that’s my problem.”
Audrey stops the recording again and looks up at Joe. “This one’s my favorite.”
“In this box, there are small video cameras. All you have to do is plant them somewhere before you fuck him and then bring them back to me.”
“And then I get my fifty thousand?”
“If it’s good enough for me to use against him, so I can get my project approved, yes.”
“One hundred thousand and I’ll make absolute sure you get what you need.”
“Audrey, you’re not the one to be negotiating here. I have video of you rummaging through my office. I could take that straight to the police.”
“And I will be charged with what, exactly? Walking into my boss’s office? Taking a few pictures?”
“Listen here, you little bitch, if you don’t do exactly what I tell you to do, I’ll give you over to the people I work for. And I can assure you, they’re not as kind as I am.”
“We can meet in the middle at seventy-five.”
“How about you get the fucking video, then we can talk numbers?”
Joe’s jaw is on his chest, and if this situation weren’t so dire, I would probably high-five Audrey. Right before I spank her fucking ass for pulling a stunt like this, regardless of how impressed I am with her at the moment.
I cross my arms over my chest and stay quiet, needing to see where this goes and make sure Audrey makes it out of here unscathed, physically and legally.
Though if I fail on the latter, apparently, we have a good lawyer. Or so I’m told.
Joe stammers for a few moments before his fists clench at his sides. “You stupid fucking bitch.”
At the venom in his words, I take a few steps closer to him. I want to ensure I’m close in case he makes a move for her.
Audrey shrugs. “I may be stupid, but I didn’t try to pay off politicians who sit on the housing authority board to help you get approved for tax credits.
And I didn’t pay off the officials who issue permits, so they can get them to you quicker and without actually inspecting anything they’re supposed to.
And I also didn’t start doing business with what’s basically the modern-day equivalent of the mafia, who, I think, launder money through some sort of housing development scheme, though I couldn’t quite figure out that part because I needed to take a two-hour nap this morning. ”
I huff a laugh. I knew Joe was bad news. It’s nice to have the confirmation that I was right.
“Oh, shut the fuck up,” Joe snaps over his shoulder at me.
“And one more thing, Joe?” Audrey’s voice shifts from victorious to sad, and I go on high alert, wondering what else she could possibly have.
“What’s that?” Joe asks through clenched teeth.
“If you don’t want to give me the hundred grand to keep me quiet about all that, maybe you could give it to me to make up for all the back child support you owe my mom.”
Joe sucks in a shocked breath while I’m pretty sure I stop breathing altogether.
Joe is Audrey’s father?
“You wrote that letter?” Joe’s voice is only slightly subdued but still laced with outrage.
“Yes, I wrote you a letter, begging you for help. I told you my mom was dying, and you ignored me. Because you’re a selfish, heartless asshole.”
Joe’s shoulders bunch. The hair on the back of my neck stands up as I take a few more steps toward him. I lift my hand so I can grab his wrist to prevent him from doing anything stupid when he lunges forward just as I’m about to close my hand.
“No!” Audrey screams again, and the gun goes off. The sound reverberates around us.
All three of us stop in our tracks. My eyes roam over Audrey, and I release a sigh of relief when there’s no blood on her.
“Oh my god, Tyler,” Audrey sobs as she stands, unmoving, her gaze fixated on my side. “It wasn’t loaded! What have I done?”
I glance down and am surprised to find a red stain spreading out from the lower right side of my abdomen.
“I shot you,” Audrey whispers through her tears. “It wasn’t supposed to be loaded.”
Joe’s staring at me, just as shocked at this turn of events.
I take a deep breath, and a twinge of pain radiates from my side, but I hold out my hand. “Audrey, give me the gun and get out of here.”
“What? I, uh, no? What?” she stammers as she takes a shaky step toward me.
“Audrey.” My tone is sharp, needing to snap her out of wherever her mind is so she can do what I need her to. “Give me the gun and get out of here. You were not here. You didn’t come here.”
She sucks in an uneven breath, but finally closes the distance between us. Grabbing the gun, I flip the safety on.
Joe recovers and yelps, “You’re just going to let her go after she shot you?”
I level my stare on him, hoping to emote every terrible thing I think about him.
“Yes, Joe. That’s what’s going to happen.
And you’re going to go along with the story that I shot myself.
” I hold up the gun. “This is my gun. I’ve had it all day, and I got careless.
Left the safety off and shot myself by accident. ”
I look over at Audrey, then back at Joe. “After everything you’ve done to her and her mom, this is the least you can do.”
His jaw works back and forth before he gives a curt nod.
With that settled, I find Audrey again. “Mama, I’m gonna need you to get the hell out of here before I bleed to death.”
That finally spurs her into action, and with one final pleading stare in my direction, she bolts out of the sliding door and disappears.
I pull my phone out of my pocket and dial nine-one-one. “Hi, I’d like to report an accidental shooting. Of myself.”
I give them Joe’s address as he hands me some towels he retrieved for me to put pressure on my wound.
“Thanks.” I push them into my side and hiss in pain, glancing over at Joe. “Remember what I said. I did this. She was never here.”
“I remember.” He looks over at the door she disappeared through, then back at me. “Why?”
I drop down onto the couch with a groan. “Because I love her, Joe. And sometimes you do really stupid shit for the people you love.”