Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Clay waited until they parted, then followed Brent out of the hotel, catching up with him before he reached his car. He grabbed him by the shirt and pushed Brent against his car. “What are you doing?”
His eyes widened then glowered with anger. “You? What are you doing here? Are you following me?”
“No. I was following Rushton. Imagine my surprise when I found you two meeting up.” Clay dug into Brent’s jacket and pulled out the envelope full of cash. “Why did he give you this money? Huh? Are you two scheming to hurt Darby so you can get her money?”
“No, no. I mean, he wanted to. He offered me a deal. Said he’d take care of everything and, when I inherited the money, I’d give him half.”
Disgust flowed through Clay at the actions he’d taken.
Brent was quick to defend himself. “I never had any intention of following through. I just needed the money, and he offered me ten thousand to agree to it. I—I have bills.”
Clay doubted this money was going to cover his bills.
If Clay hadn’t intervened, Brent probably would have headed right to the casino or a poker game.
He’d seen men lose themselves to gambling addictions, and the look in Brent’s face told him everything.
He’d placed Darby’s life in danger for his next fix.
The last thing he wanted was to involve the Sheraton PD. But Brent had just admitted to conspiracy to commit murder. Clay couldn’t let that slide. Only, when he turned around, he spotted Rushton exiting the hotel.
Rushton spotted him and Brent together and bolted. Clay ran after him, running the length of the hotel and down an alley but, when he turned the corner, Rushton was hopping into his car. He sped off before Clay could reach him.
He mentally berated himself. Rushton now knew he was onto his and Brent’s plan. What would that mean for Darby?
He hurried back, only to see that Brent’s car was gone too. He’d seen his chance and left while Clay ran to apprehend Rushton.
It didn’t matter. He’d witnessed the exchange of money, and Brent had all but confirmed Rushton’s plan when he’d promised to take care of everything.
He pulled out his phone to call Cooper and let him know about this new development. Then, he would go to Chief Dean and ask him to issue a BOLO for both men. He would testify to what he’d seen and, if that wasn’t enough, the hotel probably had cameras that had captured the exchange.
He phoned Darby and updated her.
Her voice was hollow with sorrow. “I can’t believe this. How can people be so cruel?”
“Money is a big motivator. I’m stopping by the police department and then I’ll be back at the hotel. Everything okay there?”
“Yes, we’re fine. Hercules is guarding the bed with his body, making sure it doesn’t run away.”
He chuckled at her teasing tone but knew the dog would attack if someone tried to get to her. “I’ll let you know once I’m on my way.”
He ended the call then climbed back into his pickup to head to the Sheraton police department. He sighed, realizing he had to eat crow, now that he knew Chief Dean wasn’t involved. He would gladly do so if it meant Darby was safe.
Darby awoke from a nap to find it was dark outside. She checked her phone for messages and saw one from Clay.
Still at the police station. They’ve issued a BOLO for both Brent and Rushton.
She sighed, glad that this might finally be ending. She couldn’t think about the anger she felt at the moment.
Instead, she grabbed the leash and called Hercules. He had to be walked, and then she needed food. She pulled the remainder of Mrs. Buford’s casserole dish from the mini-fridge and put it in the microwave to warm as she walked the dog.
Hercules did his business quickly and they were heading back to her room when she spotted someone by her door.
Brent. She tensed.
What was he doing here when Clay and the police were looking for him? She reached for her phone to call Clay, only to realize she’d left it inside her hotel room, along with her car keys. Uncertain what to do, she was about to turn and head to the office when he spotted her.
“Darby!” he called, rushing to her.
She turned back and made a beeline past him toward her hotel room. If she could get inside, she could call for help. “Get away from me, Brent.”
Darby reached her door, her hand shaking as she pushed her keycard into it. The door opened and she tried to rush in, but he was quicker. He shoved his foot into the door so it wouldn’t close behind her.
“Darby, you have to listen to me.” When he reached through the gap in the door and grabbed her arm, Hercules went on the defensive, growling and showing his teeth.
He was ready to pounce and she should let him.
Slam and lock the door against Brent’s entrance.
Call Clay for help and have Brent picked up.
“Hercules, settle,” she commanded instead. The dog eased to the ground but remained on guard.
Brent relaxed and stepped inside, closing the door behind him. “Thank you.”
“How did you find me, Brent?”
“I have a friend who works at the rental agency. He gave me the GPS coordinates on the car.”
Indignation filled her that he’d done that. “I can’t believe they gave you that information.”
“I am your husband, Darby. Besides, you know how convincing I can be.”
“Ex-husband,” she reminded him. Only, it was true that he could be very charming when he wanted to. It made his manipulations all the easier.
“What do you want?”
“The police are looking for me.”
“I know. You’re not hiding out here.”
“No, that’s not why I’m here.”
She crossed her arms, bracing herself for yet another manipulation. “What do you want from me, Brent?”
“I want you to know that I never meant for this to happen, Darby.”
“You took money from my uncle. You and he are planning to kill me to get it.”
“No, I mean, yes, I did take his money and promise him part of the inheritance, but I never meant it. I never thought he would go through with it. I just … I just … needed the cash.”
Her heart sank at his confession. He’d sold her out to feed his addiction.
He rubbed his face as true regret filled his eyes. “I know what I did can’t be forgiven, and I plan to turn myself in to the police and tell them everything. But I wanted you to know that I’m so sorry.”
Tears filled her eyes. She knew he wouldn’t wish her dead, but his problems had nearly cost her life. “I know you’re sorry, Brent. Turning yourself in and getting help is a good first step. David still needs his father.”
He nodded. “I will. I’ll get help. And you don’t have to worry. I’ll tell the police how Rushton hired men to kill you. He’ll go to jail, and you and David will be safe.”
She appreciated his promise.
Suddenly, something burst through the window and whizzed past her face, slamming into the wall.
Someone was shooting at her.
Time slowed as Brent cried out, “No!”
He pushed himself between her and the window as several more shots fired in rapid succession.
Darby dropped to the floor and covered her head as Hercules barked and whelped.
The gunfire stopped.
Darby crawled over to Brent, lying unmoving on the floor. His eyes were vacant and four bullet holes singed his shirt.
Sorrow washed over her. She hadn’t wanted this to happen. All she’d ever wanted was for him to get his life together. Tears streamed down her face and sobs wracked her.
Brent had saved her life and paid with his own.
One good thing about small towns was that it took very little time to reach your destination.
The call had come from a patrol officer who’d spotted Brent at the inn. Clay had tried to call Darby’s phone to warn her, but she hadn’t picked up, so he’d hopped into the SUV with Chief Dean to go to the scene.
Hearing the officer’s update that shots had been fired had wrecked him. Knowing that he’d left her there alone, and Brent had found her.
God, please let her be okay.
Clay tried her cell phone again, but she still didn’t answer. Not a good sign.
Dean jerked to a stop in front of room where several other cruisers were parked.
They both hopped out and Dean stopped for an update from the patrol officer while Clay hurried into the hotel room without waiting to hear the report, his heart pounding against his chest as he feared what he would see.
He saw the bullet holes through the window before he reached the door. The handle was unlocked—another bad sign. He held his breath as he pushed open the door and saw the figure on the floor.
Brent. Dead.
Darby was hunched over him, crying, while the dog was whining and pawing at her, trying to get her attention.
She heard Clay and glanced up, eyes red and her face streaked. She leaped to her feet and ran to him. He swept her up in his arms, but seeing her alive didn’t stop his pulse from racing as he held her. “Darby, are you hurt?”
She clung to him, sobs still taking over her as she tried to explain what had just happened. “Shots through the window…he stepped in front…saved me.”
He tightened his hold on her at this information. Brent had stepped up at the last minute, and for that, he was grateful.
Clay glanced at the window then at Chief Dean, who stood in the doorway. He led Darby from her room and into his, leaving her on the bed while he spoke with the chief. “I’ll be right back,” he assured her.
“Looks like the shots came from the parking lot,” Dean said, inspecting the window as Clay returned. “He must have been sitting in a car. My team is getting the security feeds from the office to identify the vehicle he shot from.”
“I need to get Darby out of here,” Clay said, and the chief nodded.
“Take her back to the station. We still need to question her about what happened here.”
“I’m not sure she’s up for that.”
Dean sighed then put a hand on his hip. “It doesn’t matter what she’s up for, Clay. We need to get her statement. If you’d prefer, I can have an officer escort her.”
“No.” He wasn’t leaving her side again tonight.
Dean tossed Clay his keys. “Take my SUV. That way, if you don’t go to the station, at least I’ll know where to find you.”
“We’ll be there,” Clay assured him.
He grabbed the leash then walked into the adjoining room where the dog had joined her. He snapped on the leash then took Darby’s arm. “Let’s get out of here and let the police do their jobs.”
She nodded and stood but took one last look through the door at Brent’s body before hurrying outside.
Clay led her to the chief’s SUV and helped her inside then opened the door for Hercules to climb into the back.
She didn’t say anything as they drove back to the police station, but he needed to get her talking. “Darby, what happened?”
She wiped the tears from her face. “He was there when I took Hercules out for his walk. He pushed his way inside. I thought he might attack me.”
“Did he?” He gritted his teeth, needing to know the details but not sure he wanted them.
“No. He wanted to apologize. He said he hadn’t meant to drag me into this. And he admitted that Rushton paid him. He planned to turn himself in to the police and confess the plan was that, once I was dead, Brent would have access to the money and would give Rushton half.”
He’d admitted the same to Clay. If only he’d stayed alive long enough to testify to it.
Clay shouldn’t be angry—after all, Brent had sacrificed himself for Darby—but they still had to prove Rushton was the money behind the attacks and Brent’s death was a step backward.
He reached for her hand and held it as a wave of emotion threatened to unravel him. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
She slid across the seat and rested her head against his shoulder. His arm went around her while he drove with the other.
“I’m okay,” she told him. “And, more important, I finally know for certain that Brent never wanted me dead.”
“That’s something,” he assured her. But there was something else too. “Without Brent to collect the inheritance, there’s no reason left to kill you.”
Except revenge.
That thought hit him without warning. Grant Rushton didn’t strike him as the type of man to let things go. He would find another way.
She still wasn’t safe.