Buck, page 14
Wolf. Bobby Ensign. Big and strong Bobby.
Footsteps advance toward us.
“See you on the outside,” Phoenix turns right, while I go left.
I run straight into—
A freaking insurgent.
I don’t think.
I don’t have time to think.
I shoot him dead with his pal’s gun and hurry on my way.
30
ASPEN
The next morning, we dress for the arraignment.
Both Nancy and Pollack will be arraigned today. I’m not even sure what they’re charging Nancy with.
I wish they’d throw the damned book at her, even though technically she didn’t kill anyone. But she was party to my abduction.
Luke made sure we all had decent clothes to wear.
Buck is dressed in a suit. A dark gray suit, white button-down shirt, blue tie. Polished leather shoes. And my God, he looks like he could be walking a runway.
Does he even have a clue how good-looking he is? What the hell does he see in me?
I’m wearing a navy-blue skirt and a cream-colored blouse. Simple black pumps. Not really my style, but we have to look the part to go to court.
My father’s dressed in a navy-blue suit with a red tie. Katelyn is dressed similarly to me, except that her skirt is a lighter blue and her blouse pink. Luke is in a dark suit. Nearly black. White shirt, green tie.
All looking the part.
We arrive at the courthouse in Luke’s black SUV—the same SUV he took when he went to Gloria’s house.
We use the valet parking, and then we make our way into the courthouse, through electronic screening. Katelyn and I push our purses through the scanner.
We’re not armed. We can’t be armed and come in the courthouse. But security is rampant here—if they can be trusted.
I don’t trust anyone. There’s always someone who can be bought.
Courtroom J.
Another arraignment is taking place, but Pollack and Nancy are next on the docket.
Just as we walk in, the judge pounds her gavel. “Five minute recess.” She rises and leaves her podium.
We find seats close to the prosecution side.
The prosecutor shakes our hands. “Thank you for being here.”
“Just put this man away,” Luke says.
“I’ll do my best.”
A few minutes later, the bailiff says, “All rise.”
We stand.
“Superior Court of Los Angeles is now in session, the Honorable Priscilla Barnes presiding.”
The judge takes her seat. “You may be seated.”
“We have the arraignment of Christopher James Pollack,” she says, “also known as Louis Stanley McCain.”
So that’s his real name. Whatever.
The bailiff brings Pollack in. He’s clad in an orange jumpsuit, and his hair is a scraggly mess. His yellow eyes are swollen and bloodshot.
“Jonathan Myers for the prosecution,” the prosecutor says.
“Bridget Bagley from the public defender’s office for the defendant,” opposing counsel says.
“All right.” Judge Barnes scans her documents. “Mr. Pollack, you’re accused of two counts of murder in the first degree. One count of assault and battery with intent to kill. How do you plead?”
Guilty.
Luke told us this morning that Pollack had agreed to plead guilty.
Pollack, his hands bound, clears his throat.
“I’m waiting,” the judge says.
“Not guilty, your honor.”
“Jesus Christ,” Buck says under his breath.
“Wasn’t he supposed to plead guilty?” I ask.
“That’s what I thought.” He glares at Luke.
“All right, not guilty it is,” Judge Barnes make some notes. “Ms. Bagley?”
“We ask that the defendant be released on his own recognizance,” Ms. Bagley says.
Judge Barnes laughs. She actually laughs. “Yeah, that’s not going to happen.”
“Your Honor,” Myers says, “we ask that the defendant be held without bail. He’s currently under immunity from the federal courts, but with this new crime, that has been revoked. He will go to prison one way or the other. Due to the extraneous issues in this case, we also request a speedy trial.”
“I can’t think of a better place for him,” Judge Barnes says. “Ms. Bagley, your request is denied. Mr. Pollack will be held without bail pending any additional hearings. I will be granting the prosecution’s request for a speedy trial. Trial date is set for next month.”
“Next month?” I whisper to Buck.
“That’s actually damned speedy,” he says. “I guess we’re staying in LA for a while.”
“Why didn’t he—”
The bailiff interrupts me. “Next on the docket: State of California versus Margo Caprice, also known as Nancy Louise Mosely.”
Nancy comes in then, also in an orange jumpsuit and also bound at the wrists. Her dirty blond hair hangs in strings over her shoulders.
“Jonathan Myers for the prosecution, your honor.”
“And Bridget Bagley for the defense.”
“Ms. Caprice,” Judge Barnes says, “you are accused of one count of kidnapping. How do you plead?”
“Ms. Mosely would like a plea agreement, your honor,” Bagley says.
“All right. Has the prosecution agreed to one?”
“We have, your honor,” Myers says. “We’ve agreed to six months jail time and three years’ probation.”
“Very well.”
“Wait a minute!” I rise.
“Ma’am,” Judge Barnes says, “I’m going to have to ask you to remain seated.”
“You don’t know what she did to me. The hell I’ve been through, and the—”
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but you’re going to have to sit down. I cannot allow disruptions in my courtroom.”
“But I was sent to that island! By her! And I—”
Buck rises, pulls me into his arm, kisses my forehead. “Aspen, please. She can send you to jail. We’ll get through this.” He grabs my hand and leads me out of the courtroom. “I’m sorry, baby,” he says. “You can’t just talk to a judge like that.”
“It’s a woman judge. She’ll understand.”
“Maybe she will. But do you want to take that chance? I don’t want you spending a night in jail.”
He’s right, of course. I know better. It’s just… “Pollack was supposed to plead guilty.”
“I know, but it’s okay. No jury will dare not convict him after we all testify.”
“I suppose not. And then he’ll get what’s coming to him.”
“He will. You need to trust the system.”
“All right.”
But I don’t trust the system.
Katelyn comes out a moment later, tears streaming down her face, Luke holding her hand.
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” Luke says. “I promise you this will be okay.”
“But he was supposed to be sent away. Today.”
“I know. I’ll take care of this.”
Buck looks at Luke.
Katelyn looks at me.
Something is brewing.
I don’t know what it is, but perhaps Pollack will get what’s coming to him without a trial.
31
BUCK
Darnell drives home to Colorado. There’s no reason for him to stay here for a month while we wait for the trial date.
Katelyn and Aspen are both distraught, and they decide to have some wine on the deck and play with the dogs.
Just as well.
Luke and I need to talk.
Once we’re in his office, I start the conversation. “What are you going to do about this?”
He raises his eyebrows. “You’re not asking me to break the law, are you?”
“What if I am?”
“Then I’ll tell you that my immunity deal is contingent upon me being a law-abiding citizen.”
“Right. Even though you held Chris Pollack in a safehouse and—”
“However”—he gestures for me to stop as he clears his throat—“I do know people who will break the law. For a price.”
“A price that can’t be traced back to us?”
“Aren’t you the honorable military man,” he says with a wry smile.
“Shut the fuck up, Raven—”
His jaw clenches. “Wait just a fucking minute.”
I hold up a hand. “That’s who you are to me and who you always will be. But this matters to you just as much as it does to me. Pollack is the man who tortured your fiancée. And he’s also the man who killed Gloria Delgado and her husband. He’s not a good man.”
“Do you hear me arguing?”
“What can we do about it?”
“I’m looking into it. But I can’t make any promises. My new life—my life with Katelyn—means everything to me.”
I say nothing. I understand. My life with Aspen means everything to me too. Of course I’m not under the pressure of an immunity deal.
Still, I am an honorable man. A Navy SEAL. I can’t do what I want to do here.
Damn.
Damn, damn, damn.
“All right, on another subject then.”
“What?” Luke asks.
“Aspen wants to talk to Greg Wallace.”
Luke’s eyebrows rise. “What the hell for?”
“She wants more information about how she ended up on that island.”
“I think it’s pretty clear by now. Nancy and Taylor orchestrated it. Taylor went to her uncle, her uncle was familiar with the island, and that gave them a chance to get rid of Aspen. Taylor’s father found out and disowned her. She’s lucky that’s all he did.”
“Right. But Aspen’s not satisfied yet.”
“You mean her need for revenge isn’t satisfied.”
“Honestly, I’m not sure if that’s what it is anymore. I think she just wants answers. She deserves that much, Luke.”
“It’s Luke now?”
“Look. You and I are never going to like each other. That is just a fact.”
“You’re wrong about that, Moreno. I do like you. I like you because of what you did for Katelyn. She may not have survived that mess without you.”
“I’m not so sure that’s true. Katelyn has an inner strength that isn’t always visible on the outside.”
“Yeah,” Luke says. “You’re right about that. She’s an amazing woman.”
“So is Aspen. And I want her to have closure. Even though I don’t fucking believe in closure.”
“Are you sure she’s up for it? To see this person?”
“No. But she’s strong. She’s as strong as anyone I’ve ever known.”
“Wallace is a psychopath.”
“A psychopath on steroids,” I agree. “And I’ll be with her. You can count on that.”
“All right,” Luke says. “I have connections. I can get the two of you a visit with Greg Wallace.”
“How soon?”
“Probably within a day or two. But only if you’re sure.”
Hell no, I’m not sure. I think this may be a mistake. But I’d do just about anything for Aspen.
“I’m sure,” I say.
“We’re going to have a fun day,” Katelyn says the next day at breakfast.
Aspen and I meet each other’s gaze. A fun day? With everything else that’s going on?
“Yeah,” Katelyn says. “I can tell by the looks on your faces that you’re just as excited about it as I am.”
Right.
“I’m serious. I already told Luke this morning. We’re going to go to the beach.”
“Katelyn,” Aspen says, “the beach is in your backyard.”
“Right. Except we’re going to go to a public beach.”
I cock my head. “Why would we go to a public beach when you’ve got a private beach right here?”
Katelyn huffs. “Because we need a day off from this, damn it. We need a day where we can just”—she sighs—“be.”
I can’t agree with her more, to be honest. For Aspen, that is. She needs to relax. I had hoped her need for answers would be sated when she found out the truth.
It’s not.
Now she wants to talk to Greg Wallace, which Luke said he would set up. I almost hoped he’d say he couldn’t do it. But he understands Aspen’s need for knowledge.
I do too. I just love her so much and I want her out of danger. And that includes mental and emotional danger as well.
“We’ll take the dogs,” Katelyn says.
“The dogs?” I raise my eyebrows.
“Yes, of course. There are dog-friendly beaches here in LA. We’re going to go to one. We’re going to lie on beach towels instead of lounge chairs, and we’re going to have a simple day of relaxation. Like normal people.”
“All right.” Aspen rises, takes the last drink of her coffee, and sets the mug down. “Katelyn, if this is important to you, let’s go to the freaking beach.”
“Good.” Katelyn nods. “I took the liberty of having several bathing suits sent over. You can choose the one you like best.” She turns to me. “You too, Buck.”
“As long as they’re not Speedos.”
Aspen gushes. “Seriously, Buck? You’d look amazing in a Speedo.”
“Yeah. Not happening. I’m also not shaving all the hair off my body and oiling up.”
“God, no,” Aspen says. “No shaving. I love your chest hair.”
“I didn’t order Speedos,” Katelyn says. “Luke hates them. I ordered several pairs of trunks, in your size. They’re in your room.”
Luke is nowhere around.
“Are you sure Luke’s okay with this?” I ask. “I notice he’s not here.”
“He had a few phone calls he had to make this morning, but he will be out in a moment. He promised to come along.”
Aspen’s features have softened a bit. Perhaps this is exactly what she needs. A day of leisure at the beach. At a regular old beach, the kind of beaches she and I are used to. A place where only a towel separates us from the sand of the earth.
This private beach thing? It’s great, but it’s not really us.
“All right, baby,” I say, “let’s get ready to go to the beach.”
32
ASPEN
I chose a tankini. I’ve never liked one-piece bathing suits. I hate that you have to take the whole thing off to go to the bathroom. But a bikini? I’m not quite ready to show the world my scars. I have enough of them on my legs. I don’t really want to display my torso and back to the world.
The tankini is green, and it pushes my tits up so I look like I have more than I do.
Buck’s eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw me.
He looks amazing as well in navy-blue trunks. They cover up too much of his muscular thighs, but I can’t see him in a Speedo either.
Correction. I’d like very much to see him in a Speedo, but it’s really not him.
We’re not technically at a public beach. It’s a semiprivate beach. We had to pay to get in, and I’m just as glad. Public beaches tend to be crowded, even on weekdays like today. Plus, even though Luke brought a security team—of course—we’re safer here than at an actual public beach.
Katelyn called ahead and rented a cabana, so we have a place to hang out if we want to get out of the sun. Plus, wait staff visit us from time to time so we can order drinks and snacks.
Katelyn is also wearing a tankini, most likely to cover her scars as well. She doesn’t have as many as I do, at least not on her legs. I haven’t seen the rest of her.
Luke wears a pair of red, white, and blue trunks, and he looks pretty good as well. He’s not quite as muscular as Buck, but he’s a fine specimen. His hair is starting to grow out. Apparently he likes to wear it long.
The most interesting thing about looking at Buck and Luke in trunks is their tattoos. Buck has the SEAL trident on his arm of course, and then the elaborate tattoo on his back in honor of his fallen friends.
Luke’s tattoo is beautiful as well. It starts on his left hand, swirls up his arm and becomes a Raven with flaming wings that stretches out onto his shoulder and upper back.
It’s the tattoo he kept secret from Katelyn when they first met.
Two amazing men here.
With completely opposite pasts, but who are the best of the best.
Truly good men.
If I were a better person, I’d let this all go. I’d leave these two men to be good men. I wouldn’t insist on seeing Greg Wallace.
But I can’t help it.
It all seems so unfinished to me.
Maybe it’s just because Pollack didn’t enter the guilty plea that he had agreed to, and now we have to stay around here for a trial. I’ll have to get up on the stand and tell my harrowing story in front of a jury.
And I’m wondering…
Maybe that’s what he wants.
Maybe he’s punishing me.
Sure, he has to spend the rest of his life in prison. He screwed up his immunity deal. I get that he was forced to do it, but so what? It’s his own fault he was obsessed with Katelyn and went after Luke.
Besides, no one forced him to go on that island and do what he did to Katelyn.
Does he really think he has a shot at getting off at a trial?
And then I look around.
We’re not on a public beach…but it’s only semiprivate.
If the witnesses go away—Luke, Katelyn, Buck, and I—plus Nancy—they’ll have to drop the charges against Pollack.
Damn.
That’s it.
That’s why he didn’t plead guilty.
He’s going to try to have us eliminated.
And I realize…
Buck and Luke have probably already thought of this. Whether they’ve put it into words? Or even a passing thought? I don’t know. But they know. They know what Pollack must be thinking. Hence the security contingent watching discreetly over us.
I’m alone in the cabana right now, but Buck is approaching me, coming back from a swim. His hair is plastered to his cheeks and neck, and water drips over him, pasting his trunks against his muscular thighs.
