Chapter 38
thirty-eight
. . .
Across the room, a phone buzzed on her desk.
Not Addie’s, though. This was coming from the clone she’d made of Lane’s all those months ago when she’d got to visit him in the hospital.
Though she’d been hoping for a vastly different outcome that day, she was glad she’d had the foresight to make the clone, because she never would’ve gotten another chance.
Over the last several months, she’d been able to keep tabs on him through it, and it had come in handy on more than one occasion.
The one thing she couldn’t do was listen in on phone calls.
Probably, there was a workaround, but after consulting one of the technical analysts at the office about how cloning devices worked, she figured she was better off not even going there.
Besides, people talking on the phone was a lost art now that texting existed, and Lane’s messages told her everything she needed to know.
It was late March now, and Sutton had been staying with her brother in Boise, right across the city from where Addie currently sat. At first, Addie had been optimistic that they’d finally wised up and were parting ways.
Of course, she should have known better, because even though Sutton had moved out, she and Lane were still in constant contact.
Apparently, the man wasn’t as bright as Addie thought, to continue entertaining a relationship with a woman accused of breaking into and destroying all of those homes in Dusk Valley.
But Addie was still playing the long game, which was why she hadn’t made any moves in the last several weeks. Addie wanted to lull Lane and Sutton into a false sense of security, and it seemed to have worked.
The notifications continued as she got up from the settee and walked across her office to the phone on her desk.
Or maybe it hadn’t worked, she thought as she read the messages.
LANE
Can’t wait to see you tomorrow!
SUTTON
I’ll be at the ranch by six.
LANE
Drive safe. Love you.
SUTTON
Love you too.
Hmm. Sutton was making her return to Dusk Valley.
Addie supposed it was time to enter the endgame phase.
And Sutton’s extended presence in Boise over the last three weeks played right into Addie’s hands. Addie would’ve made her plan work without Sutton’s presence in the city, but it certainly made things easier.
Sutton had no idea what was coming for her, that she’d unknowingly walked into a trap, and Addie was about to snap it shut.
Men and women in law enforcement had certainly seen a lot of shit over the course of their careers, but Addie felt vindicated when she walked into the Dusk Valley Sheriff’s Department and elicited slack-jawed stares.
The concern emanated off the ten or so men and women in waves that slammed into Addie.
The woman at the desk let Addie back when she stated her business, and Undersheriff Johns met her in the short hallway that led into the bullpen.
“Agent Caldwell,” he gasped.
“Hello,” she replied weakly.
“Wh—what happened?”
“I’d like to file an assault complaint.”
When he spoke next, he lowered his voice. “Against who?”
Addie, of course, had no such qualms about letting everyone in the vicinity know exactly who had done this to her.
“Sutton Rausch.”
Gasps left several of the department staff. As far as Addie could tell from her research, Sutton was a goddess around here. She’d dedicated so much of her time and energy to this community and was thus highly respected. The news, Addie’s bomb, was expectedly shocking.
“What happened?” Johns prompted again.
Addie’s eyes darted around, landing on the pairs and small groupings of people who stood around, staring at her and whispering to each other.
Oh yes, this news would spread through this town like wildfire.
“Not here,” she said to Johns, giving him what she hoped was a pleading expression, putting on a show for the staff.
Johns searched around, then with a hand on Addie’s lower back, ushered her toward the back of the open space—toward the sheriff’s office.
Lane’s office.
Once the door was safely shut behind them, Johns’ fingers found her chin, tilting her face this way and that, assessing the damage.
“You didn’t pull any punches,” he said with a laugh.
Addie chuckled. “I’m okay,” she assured him.
His thumb brushed the split in her bottom lip, and Addie’s eyes fluttered closed. It wasn’t the touch she needed—at least, not from the person she needed it from—but she allowed herself the brief indulgence. The gentle caress was nice.
“Make the call,” she said. “But remember, be cool or they’ll just take off.”
“I know, I know,” Johns said, getting his phone out of his pocket and dialing a number, putting it on speaker as it rang, lifting his finger to his lips to keep Addie quiet.
She rolled her eyes. She knew exactly how to play this. It was, after all, her idea. Johns was but a pawn on her chess board.
At last, a deep voice answered. “Hey, Johns. Everything okay?”
Addie’s eyes fluttered closed, and she allowed Lane’s voice to wash over her like warm, soothing honey. Nothing managed to calm her down quite like he did.
“Hey, Sheriff. Yeah, everything is fine. Is Sutton with you by chance? I’ve got an update.”
“Yeah, she’s here. You want us to come in?”
Addie vehemently shook her head. No, she wanted this to happen in front of Lane’s family, wanted them to be aware of what kind of woman their son was associating with—even if it was all a lie carefully curated by Addie.
Addie wanted this whole goddamn town to turn on Sutton, wanted her to be viewed as the villain Addie knew she was.
“Nah, I’ll come to you. You guys at home?”
“No, the ranch.”
“Great, see you soon.”
When Johns disconnected, he grinned at her. “Showtime.”
“I wish I could be there,” Addie pouted.
Johns opened the door and headed back out into the bullpen, then crossed to his desk. He lifted a tactical vest and strapped it on, then attached his bodycam to the front and tapped the lens.
“You can watch it later,” he whispered. Clearing his throat, he called for another deputy, who quickly approached us. To him, Johns said, “I need you to get Agent Caldwell settled into the safe room. I’ve gotta run out and make this arrest, but take care of her.”
The kid nodded. “Yessir.” Before he walked away, the other deputy asked Johns, “Are you going to give the sheriff a heads up?”
Johns grinned. “No fucking chance.”