CHAPTER ELEVEN
– BALLARD –
I stealthily move out of the room and trust Helena to distract Jolene. Quickly checking where the doors in the hallway lead to. A closet, kitchen, and office. Bingo. The desk in front of the windows almost takes up all the space, along with a large filing cabinet.
It’s locked and I take the lockpick set from my pocket. I’ve come prepared, and it only takes me a few seconds to open it. I release a frustrated sigh when I see what’s inside. This office must have been Tim’s before she had him killed.
Moving to the desk, I notice the pink purse with some makeup scattered across the desk along with a mirror.
Checking the drawers, I come up empty and scan the rest of the office.
The painting on the wall is a portrait of Jolene and I step closer.
It’s a cover for the safe hiding behind it.
I don’t have the skills to open it, nor the time.
Frustration hits me and I stride out to check other places before I have to return to the living room.
A muffled sound draws my attention. The only door I haven’t checked yet.
Throwing a glance over my shoulder, I take a heartbeat to make sure Helena is still entertaining Jolene before I open the door.
Stairs leading down let me know it’s the basement. The muffled sounds get louder and I quickly descend the stairs. I come to an abrupt stop when my feet hit the floor. Reaching for my phone, I shoot Orson a message.
This shit can’t be real. I hold up my phone and take a picture to send as well.
Orson shoots me a reply, letting me know he’s on his way.
In front of me is a large bed and on it, spread eagle, and tied to the bedposts is Jacob Tucker.
He’s staring at me with pleading eyes. He can’t say shit because there’s a ball gag in his mouth.
I hold my finger up in a “give me a moment” sign and turn to run up the stairs. There’s no way I can free the man right now. Orson and Helena need to handle it. Follow rules, regulations, handle evidence and such.
Walking back into the living room, I see Jolene and Helena standing across from one another. Helena has her arms crossed in front of her chest defensively while Jolene has her hands on her hips. I wonder what they’re discussing, and yet it doesn’t look like it’s about something nice.
Taking my water bottle, I lift and quickly drop it. Both women turn my way and I grab the bottle again to take a sip.
“Sorry,” Helena mutters. “We weren’t ignoring you.”
She moves toward me and takes a seat on the couch. I can practically feel the tension wafting off her. Reaching out, I place my hand on her knee and give it a gentle squeeze. She covers my hand with hers and our gaze collides.
“Well shit,” Jolene mutters. “I had my doubts about you two, but it’s real, isn’t it? Lovely. Well, it was nice to have you drop in unexpectedly, and maybe next time call before you swing by. It will give me a chance to prepare.”
Jolene is staring at us, willing us to get up and leave.
Ignoring her, I turn back to Helena and give her a slight nod along with a smile.
We definitely got the bitch. Sadly, there’s nothing on Royce, but at least we have one out of two.
Who knows, Orson might be able to give her a deal if she spills details about Royce or testifies against him.
Jolene clears her throat, but Helena still ignores her and asks me, “Yes?”
I give her a nod, knowing she’s asking if I found something. As if on cue, the doorbell rings. Jolene glares in the direction of the door.
Helena, on the other hand, asks with a toothachingly sweet voice, “Would you like me to get that for you?”
She stomps out of the room and I quickly take my phone to show Helena the picture.
“Holy fuck,” she gasps.
I notice movement near the door and shove my phone back into my pocket. To my surprise it’s not Orson who walks into the room, but Royce.
“Royce,” Helena grunts and gets to her feet.
“Helena.” Royce nods and holds out his hand for me. “Ballard, good to see you again.”
“They were leaving,” Jolene states.
Royce throws Jolene a disapproving look. “I’m sure they can stay a few more minutes. I do have to steal Jolene for a moment, though. We’ll be right back.”
“No,” Jolene snaps. “There’s nothing to talk about. I’d like all of you to leave.”
Royce narrows his eyes, but schools his features when he turns to us. “Well, this has been lovely, but I guess Jolene is right. We will have to postpone another get-together at a later time.”
He swings his arm in the direction of the door, giving us the “kindly fuck off” move. Slapping my palms on my knees, I push up and stand next to Helena. No use of my voice sucks because it means I can’t get chatty to prolong our stay.
Orson should be here any damn second and we need to stay inside the house to make sure the fucker in the basement stays the way he is to nail Jolene. The panic in Jacob’s eyes and the marks on his body clearly showed he wasn’t on that bed voluntarily.
Jolene is going down. It sucks Royce is here to witness it, though. On the other hand, Jolene might have something to confess, so maybe we can take Royce down as well, who knows? We walk to the hallway and thank fuck the doorbell rings again.
“You’re pretty popular today.” Helena smirks and steps forward to open the door.
“Orson,” she states with a load of surprise in her voice.
I know she’s doing it to make it seem she had no clue he was coming over, just in case we need to prolong this sting operation.
“Jolene Hagan? I have a warrant to search the premises.” Orson steps inside, along with two other deputies.
“What the fuck is going on?” Royce roars and glares at Jolene. “What did you do?”
“Stop blaming me for everything. I didn’t do anything,” she screeches.
One of the deputies heads straight for the basement.
“No. Don’t go in there,” Jolene snaps.
“They have a warrant, Jolene. They can go everywhere they like, and dig through your stuff,” Royce grits and shakes his head in disapproval.
The deputy comes back into the hallway, eyes wide and leans in to whisper something in Orson’s ear.
Orson steps closer to Jolene and takes out his cuffs. “Jolene Hagan, you are under arrest.”
“What the hell for?” Royce turns to Jolene who is now hanging her head.
Orson ignores Royce as he keeps talking. “For kidnapping and holding Jacob Tucker against his will. You have the right to...”
“You stupid bitch,” Royce snarls.
He’s about to stride out when Jolene snaps, “Don’t you dare call me stupid. Call me a lawyer instead.”
“A lawyer?” Royce shakes his head. “You got yourself into this mess, you can get yourself out of it too.”
Jolene’s face turns furious. “You owe me.”
“I don’t owe you shit, you stupid bitch. Have a nice life behind bars,” Royce grunts.
He’s about to stride out the door when Jolene’s words stop him dead in his tracks. “I want to cut a deal. I have proof Royce wanted to kill Jaxie to take charge of the company.”
With the two deputies in the basement, it’s just Orson, Jolene in handcuffs, me, Helena, and Royce.
Who now snarls at Jolene, “Bullshit. You can’t have any proof of something I didn’t do.”
Okay, weird statement. My hand moves to my back where my gun is. The atmosphere is too tense right now and Royce’s eyes are shooting fire.
“No? I taped our discussions. Who’s the stupid bitch now?” Jolene smirks.
“Liar,” Royce snarls.
Jolene glances at Orson. “The safe in my office, it’s behind my portrait on the wall.” She rattles off the numbers to open it.
“Helena, go check,” Orson orders.
Helena rushes to the office and a few dragging seconds later she comes back with a USB stick. Orson reaches for it and there’s a moment my mind jumps to the fact that anything could be on that stick, but I guess it’s enough of a threat for Royce.
He rips out his gun and aims it at us. “Fucking cunt. You never should have existed. You’ve been a pain in my ass ever since your mother showed up on your father’s doorstep.
If she only kept her legs closed this would never have happened.
Fuck. I should have killed her the day Ava came back into my life.
Ava was supposed to be mine, but your mother fucked it all up.
Just like you fuck everything up. Like mother, like daughter. ”
Everyone in the room is confused by Royce’s outburst. The tension just spiked another level with four guns drawn. We might be three against one, but Royce’s weapon is aimed in Helena’s direction and she’s standing too far away from me.