Twin Murder Mix-Up, page 9
Over the past few years, the group had learned to maneuver the shift between treating Dennis like the sheriff he was and a friend they hung out with. Not always easy, but Keith respected the man both as his superior and on a personal level.
Keith’s gaze darted from one man to the other. “What is this? An intervention?”
Dennis chuckled. “Not unless you need one.”
“So, gonna tell us, or are we going to talk about last night’s Cleveland Guardians baseball game?” Jason crossed his ankle over his knee and picked at a thread on the hem of his tactical pants.
Keith sighed. No reason not to tell his friends other than his pride. “It all started a little over a year ago. Ams, Stacey and I were best friends growing up, so when Stacey received a military promotion, the three of us went out to celebrate.” His heart grew heavy at the memories dancing in his mind. He’d lost so much over the past year. And a good portion of it was his own fault. “Amy left the celebration early, and the owner of the place brought out a bottle of champagne. Let’s just say Stacey and I didn’t have a faith to lean on and made a few poor decisions. I couldn’t face Amy, so I never returned our normal phone calls or text messages.”
He ran a hand through his hair and continued. “Fast-forward to three months ago, Stacey is murdered, and Amy disappeared. I had no idea Stacey had been pregnant. From what I can tell, she stayed quiet to save me from the shame of our bad judgment. I wish she’d told me. Anyway, Stacey hadn’t told Amy either, so when Stace’s estate attorney gave Amy an envelope, it contained the truth in black and white.” Keith stared off into the late-afternoon sky and cradled his sore arm. “And boom, I’m a dad.”
Birds chirped, and leaves rustled in the light breeze. The guys sat in silence. A quiet Keith appreciated. No quick admonishments, no knee-jerk advice.
Dennis spoke first. “That’s rough.”
“Yeah, tell me about it.” Keith inhaled the fresh air, hoping it would clear the muddled mess in his brain.
“We all make mistakes. Don’t beat yourself up. Don’t let it negatively dictate your choices.” Dennis’s voice cracked. He cleared his throat. “Love your son. Give him a great life. Be the best father you can possibly be.”
Jason’s eyes narrowed. His gaze shifted from Keith to Dennis. “Sounds like you’re speaking from experience.”
Dennis scratched his jaw and ignored Jason’s comment. “What about Amy?”
“What about her?”
“Oh please,” Jason piped in. “You get that dopey look every time she’s around.” He made a sappy puppy dog face.
Dennis chuckled. “You do that a little too well there, my friend.”
“He does, doesn’t he.” Keith bit back a smile and listened to his friends banter.
God had given him great friends and coworkers. Guys he trusted with his life. But could Keith trust them with Carter’s and Amy’s? What choice did he have? Besides, God was in control, not him, or Jason, or Dennis.
They had taken an initial look at the photos, which confirmed her story and identified Debbie Ackers as the woman Amy had seen shot and fall over the cliff. But the images hadn’t revealed the killer’s identity, so tomorrow, he’d take Amy back to where the whole mess started and see if the surroundings jogged any details in her memory.
The idea turned his gut. He had no desire to torture her with reliving the horrific event, but they needed a break in the case.
He scanned the backyard, wondering if Amy’s attacker lurked within the trees that edged his property. Watching and waiting. Ready to eliminate the only witness.
SEVEN
Amy pulled up the pictures from the SD card the next morning, and after coming up empty—again—she sighed and gave in to the inevitable. Keith wanted to take her to the cliff so she could walk him through the events. She wasn’t a fan of the idea, especially considering they’d ended up in the river the last time they attempted the drive, but he insisted he needed a visual of the crime scene.
A couple hours later, Amy sat in the passenger seat of the truck. Her muscles tightened at the pop of gravel beneath the truck tires. She stared out the window as Keith followed the winding path to the parking lot located at the trailhead. Sunlight filtered through the towering trees that lined the road. He pulled into a parking spot in the same lot where she had escaped with her life.
A glance around the area sparked Amy’s memory. She hadn’t returned to the site since she’d run from the killer three months ago. And she hadn’t wanted to come back now. Her erratic emotions pinged like a pinball.
She slipped from Keith’s truck and ambled to the trailhead. Her heartbeat pounded and sweat beaded on her forehead. How could a simple location cause panic to edge in? The panic attacks that had plagued her since Stacey’s death had vanished since she’d had Keith by her side. But one look at the dirt path, and her body threatened to revolt.
“You doing okay?” Keith put his arm around her shoulder. He’d left the sling at home, said two days was long enough. However, Amy noticed he hadn’t removed the tape stabilizing his muscles.
“I’m not sure I want to do this.” She straightened her spine. “But I don’t have a choice. You need to see it.”
He slipped his hand into hers and squeezed. “I’m here, and I’m armed. Besides, I have Jason on lookout down the road. No one is going to come into the parking lot without him noticing.”
Keith beside her and Jason backing him up gave Amy a small sense of peace. Maybe she could do this without falling apart. “Let’s get this over with.” She strode up the path, her breath whooshing in her ears.
“Tell me more about Carter.” Keith matched her pace.
She gazed at him. “Trying to get my mind off this excursion by distracting me?”
“Is that a bad thing?” He smiled at her. “Besides, I’d like to hear about my son.”
And there it was, the wedge between them. Keith deserved to know, and someday she’d have to let go of the hurt of being the wrong twin, coming in second once again. “He’s an easy baby. Never has been a problem. He loves to eat, and as your dad pointed out, he’s a noisy eater at that.”
“I know he’s only four months old, but does he have favorites?”
She nodded. “Stacey gave him a stuffed elephant that he loves.”
“The one next to his crib?”
“Exactly. He has a special blanket, too. I found a matching one and interchange them, so if I lose one, the world won’t come to an end.”
Keith chuckled. “Good plan.” He tugged her to a stop.
“What is it?” Panic clawed up her throat.
“We’re here.” He gestured toward the open landscape filled with flowers of every color.
Unbelievable. She’d hiked up the trail without realizing it. “Oh, you are good.” Amy released his hand and spun in a slow circle. “Over there.” She pointed to a wooded area with a clear view of the cliff.
They trudged to her original spot. “I knelt here and set up my shot toward the rocks. The snow had an ice layer that glistened. I wanted to capture the pristine ground against the rugged rock forms.” She held her hands out in an L shape and framed the shot.
“From the landscape images I saw earlier, you have some amazing photos.”
“Yeah, well, a lot of good they’re doing stuck on that memory card. I can’t make a living without displaying them at the art gallery.”
“What happened next?”
“See that clearing?” She pointed to the area where the wildflowers met the rocks.
“Yes.”
“I aimed at the lake beyond the drop-off. That’s when I saw a woman...” Her lower lip trembled at the memory.
“Debbie Ackers.”
Amy nodded. “...Debbie held at gunpoint. The guy had his back to me, and a hoodie covered his head.” She stood and meandered to the cliff’s edge. The event ran in her mind like a film reel. “He held the gun to her head...” Amy held her fingers in the shape of a gun and held them to Keith’s forehead. “And pulled the trigger. Debbie tumbled over the cliff.” Amy rubbed her arms, trying to chase away the chill in the air that didn’t exist.
Keith tugged her close and wrapped his arms around her waist. “It’s okay. I’ve got you, Ams.”
She rested her head on his shoulder and inhaled his scent. His musky cologne mixed with the odor of exertion. He smelled good. She almost laughed. Amy and her sister had spent hours making fun of romance stories that talked about how a sweaty guy smelled good. Now—she had to agree. It made her feel safe.
His gaze met hers. “I’m sorry you had to experience that.” Keith’s eyes searched hers. His gaze dropped to her lips, and he leaned in.
A kiss from him would be a dream come true. But she couldn’t let it happen. He’d betrayed her, and she wouldn’t allow herself to fall for him. She stepped back. “Keith. I can’t.”
Something whizzed past her face.
“Get down!” Keith threw her to the ground and landed on top of her.
What was that? Her lungs refused to fill with air. “Can’t breathe.” He shifted his weight, and she sucked in precious oxygen.
“We have to get out of here.”
Amy’s gaze darted around the area. Everywhere she looked made them an open target. They were pinned down. “Where?”
“Down the cliff. It’s our only option.” He yanked her to the edge and ducked behind a boulder seconds before another shot pinged in the dirt where she had just stood. “We used to rock climb at the gym all the time during high school.”
“What about your arm? You can’t climb, let alone free solo climb. You’ll fall.” She had to think—come up with another plan. It didn’t matter the cliff face was only about three stories high. She feared he’d fall to his death, and she’d lose another person she cared for.
Another bullet pinged on the rock above her head.
“We don’t have much choice. My shoulder’s still taped, so I have some support.” He gestured to a dip in the rock then pulled his weapon. “Get over the edge and start down-climbing. I’ll cover you.”
Against her better judgment, she cupped his cheek and met his gaze. “Please don’t get hurt.”
His hand spanned the back of her head. He pulled her close and kissed her forehead. “Not a chance. Go.” He popped up and fired.
She sprinted the short distance, found footholds and started her descent. Five feet down, she glanced up to find Keith following the same path she’d taken. They had to hurry. The killer had to be close behind.
Handhold after toehold, she rhythmically made her way down the rock front.
Pausing for a moment, she looked up. “You doing okay?”
“I’m—” Keith slipped. He hung by a single-handed grip, pain etching his face.
“Keith!” He was going to die all because she’d called him for help.
* * *
Keith’s heart threatened to beat from his chest as he dangled by his right hand. He fought to regain his grip and find footholds. His left hand found purchase, but his weight pulled at his damaged muscles. Scrambling for footholds, he prayed the loose rocks he’d sent tumbling down the side hadn’t hurt Amy.
“Keith!”
He groaned at the pain pulsing in his shoulder. He gritted his teeth. “Keep going.”
“Are you okay?”
“Go. Before he finds us.” Keith blew air through pursed lips. Lord, give me the strength to make it down this rock and keep Amy safe.
Each foot took what felt like an hour to descend. When he reached the bottom, Amy grabbed his hand and pulled him into a small cove.
He fell to the ground and propped himself against the wet rock. Tucked under the overhang, he slid his SIG from his holster and placed it in his lap. The adrenaline had faded, and a fire had lit his shoulder. Rock climbing hadn’t exactly been on his doctor’s to-do list when the man told Keith to take it easy. Nausea roiled in his stomach, and spots danced in his vision. He inhaled through his nose and continued to pray the pain away. Where was his partner?
Amy knelt beside him and brushed the sweat-matted hair from his forehead. “What can I do?”
This woman had known him his entire life. He couldn’t hide his discomfort from her and had no reason to. “Keep an eye out. Give me a minute, then we’ll call Jason and find out what happened and have him come get us.” He closed his eyes, willing the ache to subside.
The rocky sand shifted next to him. Amy had moved away. He missed her closeness, her gentle touch. What would it be like to have her next to him every day, facing life together?
“Jason, we had to down-climb the rock face. You have to come get us. There’s no way Keith can go back up.” Amy’s voice snapped him back to the situation at hand.
Of course she had taken control and called for help. It was her nature to take charge in a quiet way. Stacey bulldozed her way through life. Amy had a softer approach, but she’d find a need and get things done. He appreciated her gentler style.
The soreness started to subside. Keith opened his eyes. His gaze landed on Amy pacing within the cove, staying out of sight from above. The amazing woman in front of him made his heart flutter. If he hadn’t blown things, maybe he would’ve had a chance with her. Something he’d wanted for years. But he had to face the fact that she deserved a better man than him.
“Yes, he’s fine.” She paused and ran her gaze over his shoulder, inspecting the damage. “He’ll be sore, but it’s still in place.” Amy pivoted, took a step and crouched at the edge of the rock formation.
A scream pierced the air.
Keith scrambled to his feet and staggered to Amy. “What’s wron—” A partially skeletonized body lay next to the boulders, half-buried beneath the rocky sand. He scooped up her phone and drew her away from the corpse.
“What’s going on?” Jason’s heavy breathing indicated he was running.
“I think we found Debbie Ackers.” Keith ambled to where he’d sat moments ago with Amy in tow.
“I’m on my way.”
“What about the shooter?”
“Gone. I chased him through the woods but lost him. He came up that old hunter’s trail on the other side that no one uses anymore.”
Why hadn’t they thought of that? Pure and simple. Few people knew about it. And they’d blown it.
“Hang tight. I’ll grab Melanie, and we’ll head in from the lakeside.”
“Thanks. See ya soon.” Keith lowered himself to the ground before he fell down. Amy joined him, and he pulled her to his chest and smoothed his hand down her hair. “Shh. It’s okay. I’ve got you.” Her tears broke his heart. No one should witness what she’d seen.
Keith glanced upward at the rock face they’d descended to escape the person intent on killing Amy. They’d barely survived. How would he keep her safe if the murderer continued to come after her?
EIGHT
After arriving home, Amy had ordered Keith to shower while she gave Ian a break and fed Carter. The taut muscles in Keith’s face had told her how much pain he was in. She insisted he clean up and relax before he collapsed from the taxing down-climb. When he joined her downstairs, she’d pointed him to the recliner and gave him an ice pack. Keith hadn’t objected, another sign of how much he hurt. He’d kicked up the footrest and leaned back. Amy placed a sleepy Carter on his chest and left the two alone.
Thirty minutes later, Amy ran her fingers through her wet hair, thankful for a hot shower and comfortable clothes. Her arms and legs ached. She hadn’t rock climbed in years. The physical exertion had worn her out, and stress added another layer.
Firm grip on the handrail, she descended the stairs like a hundred-year-old grandmother. Stepping into the living room, her gaze drifted to Keith and Carter. The baby lay belly down on Keith’s shoulder and chest, his thumb hanging loosely between his gums. Her childhood friend’s cheek rested on Carter’s head, and the ice pack she’d filled earlier had liquefied. Soft snores from both filled the otherwise silent room. The picture of the two eased her tension. She could watch them all day long.
“They make a pair, don’t they?”
Her hand flew over her heart. “Ian, you scared me.”
“Sorry about that. Would you like some tea?” He motioned toward the kitchen.
“Absolutely. My nerves haven’t settled yet from our...adventure.” That was one way to put it. Fight for their life described it better, but she had chosen not to drown in terror.
“I’m not surprised. Before my son fell asleep, he gave me a quick rundown of what happened.” The older man busied himself, filling the teakettle and prepping mugs.
The scent of cinnamon and apple wafted in the air. Ian had baked apple crisp, and the dish sat cooling on the stove.
Amy glanced out the window, wondering if the person responsible for shooting at them waited out there for another opportunity.
“Don’t worry, darlin’. Dennis is on protection duty. No one will get by the sheriff.”
She pivoted to face Keith’s father and hugged her waist. “I can’t believe he’s taking a shift. Shouldn’t he assign someone else? I mean, he’s the boss, right?”
Ian laughed. “Oh, Dennis is the boss all right, but with him being young and so close in age to his deputies, he runs the office a little different.”
Grateful for the distraction, she pulled out a chair and sat down. A moan escaped her lips. Man, she was sore. “That has to be weird for everyone involved.”
Ian gave her a sympathetic smile. He placed a cup on the table and took a seat across from her. “No, not really. They make it work. Everyone seems happy with the setup.”
“That’s good.” She ran her finger around the rim of her mug. She was happy that her friend had found a job he loved and a group of supportive friends. The claws of loneliness gripped her. She missed her friends, her sister, her life.
