Chapter 14
Bailey stared in horror at Cody police officer Jeff Riley. When he’d asked her to go with him, she hadn’t argued. Until he’d forced her out the back door of the police station at gun point.
Now stuck in the back of his police cruiser, her thoughts whirled. Never had she considered the possibility that a Cody police officer was involved. Swallowing hard, she silently prayed this man wouldn’t kill her and her baby.
“Where are you taking me?” Her shaky voice betrayed her terror. “I don’t understand what’s going on. Did you know I lost my memory in the crash? I’m no threat to you or whatever you’re involved in.”
Riley glanced at her using the rearview mirror. Then he quickly looked away, almost as if he regretted his actions. “Boss wants the money your husband stole from him.”
“Money? What money?” She should have known this was about money, yet his comment made her feel more desperate than ever. “I don’t have any money!”
He didn’t say anything, but she noticed his fingers tightened on the steering wheel.
His unease was the only thing she had going for her.
In her condition, fighting him off would be next to impossible.
Even if she could break free, how far would she get?
She splayed her hands over her abdomen and took several deep breaths.
“Officer Riley, I’m supposed to be on bed rest. I’ve been diagnosed with an illness that could cause my baby to be delivered prematurely.
” Again, his gaze flicked to hers in the rearview.
At least he was listening. “Please don’t do this.
I’ll give you all the money I have, but I’m begging you not to harm me or my baby. ”
“He just wants the cash. That’s all.”
“Don’t be stupid!” Her sharp comment caught him off guard.
He looked at her again, and the hint of regret in his gaze fueled her forward.
“Your boss, whoever he is, won’t let me walk away.
Not after all of this.” She waved a hand at the police cruiser.
“The list of crimes is growing by the minute. Kidnapping! Attempted murder!”
“Shut up!” His voice was sharp, but she sensed he was rattled.
“Are you willing to throw your entire life away for this boss of yours?” She continued to push. “Trevor probably already realizes I’m gone. He’ll know someone from inside the police station is involved. It won’t take him long to put two and two together to realize you’re the one who kidnapped me.”
“I said shut up.” His tone lacked heat. He continued gripping the wheel as if he wanted to turn around. But then she saw the sign for the Sweet Water Pub and realized it was too late.
“Please turn around. Turn the squad around and take me back to Trevor.” She didn’t try to hide her desperation. “Don’t kill me and my unborn child. Don’t do this!”
He shook his head. “I’m in too deep.”
“Whatever it is, I can help.” They were closer to the pub now. But then he surprised her by driving past it. “I promise I’ll help. You know Trevor’s brother-in-law is Griff Flannery with the FBI, right? We’ll ask him to grant you immunity if you stop this right now.”
He didn’t respond. Did that mean he was considering her proposal?
“If you go through with this, you’ll be an accessory to murder.” She closed her eyes for a moment, then added, “A double murder. Me and my unborn child. There isn’t a jury on earth that will find you innocent.”
His gaze flicked to hers. But rather than seeing guilt or second thoughts, she saw a grim resolve.
“I would if I could. Like I said, I’m in too deep.” Riley turned the squad onto a winding road. It took her a moment to realize he was taking her to her home. The one he’d trashed looking for whatever money they were trying to find.
Obviously, Clark had done this to her. He’d stolen money from Riley’s boss, leaving her vulnerable and alone. How could he have done such a thing? Clark had to know they’d come after her.
Her stomach clenched painfully as Riley pulled up in front of her house. There were no lights on inside, and from the back seat of the cruiser, she didn’t see anyone moving around inside. The cloudy sky cast a dreary backdrop to the property.
Was this it? Her last moments on earth? She wanted to believe Trevor would find her, but she feared it would be too late.
Riley pushed out from behind the wheel. He held his weapon in hand as he opened her rear passenger door. “Get out.”
“Please don’t do this.” Tears filled her eyes. “Please don’t kill me and my baby.”
He looked away for a split second, then brought the gun up. “Get out.”
Bailey swiped at her face, forcing herself to slide out of the seat.
She glanced behind the cop at her empty driveway behind the police car but didn’t bother to make a run for it.
Riley stepped back as if to keep a safe distance between them.
Averting her gaze from the gun, she focused on moving carefully on the snow-packed ground.
As if slipping and falling were the biggest threat she faced.
Too bad she didn’t have close neighbors. Someone she could flag down for help. Every step forward felt like a step toward her execution.
It wasn’t until she was halfway to the front door that she remembered the mystery key she and Trevor had found on her keyring.
Knowing the key was likely what the boss wanted didn’t help her feel any better. The moment she handed it over, she’d be dead.
Stall. She lifted her chin, deciding she would have to draw this out for as long as possible. Maybe Trevor would find her in time.
And if he didn’t? She lifted her gaze to the overcast sky. If God was watching over her, she prayed He would send Trevor and the Cody police to find her in time.
If not, she prayed the end would be quick and painless.
The door opened as she approached. Seeing the man standing there, she froze. Black Hat. Memories tumbled through her mind. She knew him. His name was Todd White. He was her friend Stacy White’s brother. The man who’d asked her out several times after Clark’s death.
“You.” She pushed the word out through her tight throat. “I never expected this from you.”
“Yeah, well, if you’d have just gone out with me, none of this would have had to happen.” Todd glared at her as if the circumstances were her fault. “Where’s the money, Bailey? I know you have it.”
She slowly shook her head. Now that she’d recognized Todd, she remembered how unhappy she’d been in her marriage to Clark.
How she’d planned to file for divorce two weeks before he was killed.
Something she’d confided in Stacy about, which was why her friend tried to set her up with Todd.
She was glad now that she hadn’t gone out with him.
“I don’t have your money. Clark kept everything related to his business a secret.
I didn’t get a dime of the pub after he died. ”
“You better have it.” Todd opened the door and grabbed her arm, pulling her inside. “If you don’t know where it is, it won’t end well for you.”
It wasn’t going to end well for her anyway, but she didn’t voice the thought. She had to play along. “I can try to search for it. But you must know Clark didn’t live here with me. I bought the place after his death.”
“We already searched the house you shared, earlier when it was on the market.” Todd pushed her into a kitchen chair.
She sat, the strap of her purse sliding off her shoulder.
Todd’s eyes narrowed on it. Then he reached out to snatch the handbag from her.
“Are you carrying it around with you? Is that why we haven’t found it? ”
“I told you I don’t have your money!” She didn’t have to fake her desperation. She’d never been so terrified in her entire life. “If I did, I’d give it to you. I would have given it to you a long time ago. I would have done anything for you to just leave me alone.”
Todd rummaged through the handbag. Then he turned and upended it onto the kitchen table. Items tumbled out, scattering around the surface. To her eye, the ring of keys looked huge and noticeable. She averted her gaze, praying Todd wouldn’t notice her staring.
“What’s this?” Todd snatched the keyring up. Then a terrible smile crossed his features. “Well, well. This must be the key to the safe.”
She glanced up at him. “What safe?”
He sneered. “The one we found at the storage unit Clark rented. The only problem is that it’s empty. We drilled holes in the safe to crack it open. Only to find it empty.” His gaze narrowed. “So where is the money?”
Her heart sank to the soles of her feet. If the key was worthless, she had nothing to barter with. Nothing to use as a distraction to buy time for Trevor and the non-crooked cops on the Cody police force to find her.
Now what?
She thought about her life with Clark. The way he’d worked long hours. The way he’d been noncommittal about how much money the pub was earning.
His friend Max who’d been killed in a trucking accident.
Then it hit her. The safe must have been a ruse. Or maybe it had been a temporary hiding spot. Because she knew where the money was hidden. It was something she probably would have remembered earlier if not for the crash.
“He buried it.” She pushed the words past her tight throat.
“What do you mean?” Todd demanded. “Buried it where?”