Chapter 27
“Can I have a word in private?” Fairfax said to Gideon when they entered the study. Nikki had wandered over to the fireplace and was prodding the dying embers with the poker. There were only the three of them in the room together. The rest had gathered in the living room.
“You can say whatever you have to in front of her,” Gideon said.
She was facing the fireplace, so they wouldn’t have seen her smile.
“I’d rather not,” Fairfax said.
“Too bad. You don’t get what you want anymore.”
“Fine. Have it your way. I can see that you two mean a lot to each other. Perhaps it will work better this way.”
Nikki stopped poking.
“I don’t know what our friendship has to do with anything,” Gideon said.
“Right. So you’re at that stage of your relationship. Still, as I’m sure you are aware, I’d rather avoid going to prison.”
“That’s something you’ll have to take up with your lawyer.”
“Yes. And I will certainly do that if I need to, but I’ve acquired quite a nest egg for my retirement. More than I need, if I’m honest.”
“No surprises there,” Nikki said.
“If you’d like to start things off on the right foot, you could take a sizable portion to start your life together. Nikki, your mom could live out her days very comfortably.”
“My mom’s fine, and we don’t want your money,” she said. “Money you stole from the hard-working people of this town.”
“There’s no one else in the room. You don’t need to pretend to be all self-righteous. No one has to know. I can give it to you now, and you can both turn your backs so I can climb out the window. You can say I snuck away while you were having a little alone time after a big day.”
“That’s enough,” Gideon said. “There’s only a few more hours until morning. Get to work. You have a lot of writing to do. I want all the names. I want to know how Agent Beck fits into it. He’s going to regret getting involved with you.”
“You haven’t asked me how much money it is,” Fairfax said.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It’s not seven figures, but it’s close. And I’ll give you most of it. You sure you don’t want to know? ”
Nikki stalked over to the desk. “You want to know what we want?”
“I’m all ears.”
“To see you behind bars. That’s it. That’s all we want. You could offer us millions and the answer would still be no.”
Fairfax lifted an eyebrow as he looked at Gideon to see if he was in agreement. “You could take it for yourself if you want.”
“No thanks,” Gideon said. “Sit down. You must have some paper in that desk somewhere. Letterhead would be best, but I don’t think it really matters.”
Fairfax cleared his throat. “This is almost your last chance. But if you change your mind while I’m writing, let me know.”
“Stop stalling,” Gideon said as Nikki returned to the fireplace. She held the poker in her hand and watched as Fairfax unscrewed the lid from a fancy pen.
“Is there a particular topic you’d like me to start with?” Fairfax said.
“Start with a list of names and how they were involved.” Gideon watched until he was satisfied that the mayor was cooperating, then he turned toward the window.
It was the moment Nikki had given up hoping for. In fact, it was more than she’d ever hoped for. She turned toward the fire to hide her face while she got her emotions under control. But after poking the charred wood a few more times, she looked back, and Fairfax was reaching into a drawer .
“No!” she screamed when she saw what he pulled out. Gideon spun and dove in one motion as the gun was fired.
She wanted to yell for help, but she couldn’t move as Fairfax turned the small pistol on himself.
“Gideon—” His name locked in her throat, but he’d already seen it and jumped for Fairfax.
The weapon fired again as Ty burst into the room. “What’s happening?”
“Fairfax,” she said.
“Call an ambulance,” Gideon said, holding Fairfax’s head. “He shot himself.”
“The ambulance will take too long,” Ty said.
“The sheriff’s car,” Nikki said. “We can turn on the lights and get him there faster.”
Most of the group entered the room and helped carry Fairfax to the car. Nikki found herself in the back seat, cradling his head in her hand while she held a towel against the wound with one hand and felt for a pulse with the other.
“He’s still alive,” she said as Gideon pulled out of the driveway. “I wanted him to pay for what he did, but not like this.”
The blood seeping into her jeans was warm and sticky.
“God, don’t let him die.” The words didn’t make sense. She shouldn’t be mourning for him, but death was horrible. And the idea that he could go to hell was horrific.
“I didn’t want this, Gideon. I never wanted this. ”
“I know you didn’t.” He reached his hand back and found hers. “It will be okay. Whatever happens, we have to remember that this was God’s plan, and we did things His way. Fairfax made his own choices.”
“It’s just so horrible.”
“I know it is.”
The sun was high by the time the doctor had come out to tell them that Fairfax would survive, although they wouldn’t know about ongoing complications until he woke up.
Des Moines police were on their way to investigate how the mayor of Asher had been shot, and Peters and Cole were still being held at Fairfax’s house until they were transferred into police custody.
“I didn’t think he’d make it,” Nikki said, sitting down next to Gideon, who was resting his head in his hands.
“It’s another miracle.”
“We’ll see. The doctor said there could be complications. Possible brain damage.” She handed him a piece of paper.
“What’s this?”
“Mae brought it in. It’s the statement Fairfax was writing.” It had splatters of blood on it.
“He didn’t get very far.”
“No, but you have the recording to go with it,” Nikki said. “That should be more than enough.”
“I guess if his brain damage is extensive, that’s a pretty severe life sentence in and of itself. ”
“Yeah. And maybe it’s a horrible thing to say, but I’d be relieved. He wouldn’t be able to hurt anyone ever again.”
“It won’t be long, and Asher will begin to rebuild.”
“After all the red tape is sifted through. Then there’s the drought.” She rubbed her eyes.
“What can we do but believe for another miracle?”
All she could manage was half a tired laugh. “Yeah.”
“You need to get some sleep.”
“So do you. But we’ve got to be ready when the police arrive.”
“I’m sure there’s a bed around here?—”
“I’ll be fine,” she said. “But you don’t have to stay.”
“I’m not going to leave you here on your own.” Gideon took her hand. “We’ve been through a lot.”
“I wonder how the church will respond when we tell them.”
“My dad will be bummed he missed all the action.”
“He can always visit Fairfax in the hospital. Bring him some flowers.”
“He’d love that.” Gideon laughed, then it died off. “The church is going to need a pastor now, you know.”
“I hope you’re not suggesting I do it. I’m not called to that, trust me.”
“Maybe.”
“There’s no maybe about it. I saw what it did to my dad and my mom. I don’t want to be a part of that again.”
“You don’t have to be. You know the warning signs to look out for. But the sheep need a shepherd.”
“Stop it.” She laughed. “I’m too tired for this. ”
“I think you should at least consider it.”
“I will, but I’m not making any more promises.”
She leaned her head onto his shoulder, then stiffened. Why was it so natural for her to respond to him like there was more between them than there was? They’d been through a lot, but she was making assumptions.
“Nikki?”
“Sorry, I’m tired. I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“No, it’s—I don’t know how to say this, and maybe I shouldn’t while I’m tired, but it needs to be said.”
“Okay.”
“I like you. A lot. More than I wanted to or should. Fairfax saw it even if we tried to ignore it. But I have to go.”
“I know. You never meant to stay long. I never expected you to.”
“But you hoped?”
“I’ve hoped for a lot of things over the years. There is a lot that’s happened over the past few weeks that has fulfilled those hopes. I’m grateful for that.”
“I’ve got unfinished business that I always intended to return to.”
“You don’t have to explain.”
“I do. You deserve an explanation.”
“Gideon. I don’t want you to go, but you never made any promises to me.”
He opened his mouth to respond, but all that came out was a sigh. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I’m trying to be obedient to God. Wherever He calls me and no matter what it costs. ”
“I know.” She nodded. “And that’s exactly what you’ve been doing. It’s what I want for you the most. It’s what I want for both of us.”
He turned to her and took her hands. “I’ll really miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too.”
He pulled her toward him and kissed her lightly on the cheek. It wasn’t enough, but it was all they could afford to give each other.
The elevator nearby dinged, then opened, and three men stepped off. Two wore police uniforms, and the other must have been a detective.
“Gideon Stone?” the one in plain clothes said.
“Yeah, that’s me.”
“I’m Detective Parker. I know you’ve had a long night, but it’s important we get as many details down as we can.”
“I understand. Nikki can help with the information you need as well, and there are others you’ll want to speak to.” Gideon handed him the piece of paper that Fairfax had written on. “Andrew Fairfax wrote this before he…shot himself.” The detective got an evidence bag and put it inside. “And you’ll want this, I imagine?” Gideon held out his phone.
“That has the recording you mentioned?”
“Yeah.”
Another evidence bag.
“If you come with me, we’ve organized a room to use.”
Gideon went with the detective while Nikki spoke with the officers to give them all the names and details she could for their investigation.
When Gideon turned the corner, it felt like it would be the last time they’d see each other.