12

It wasn’t time to sleep—yet. But Chryssie wasn’t sure what she should do. Her apartment looked the same, but everything else about her life had changed. She’d taken the easy way out once again. But no more. From now on she’d do the right thing, no matter how difficult. “At least you’re not in jail.” She spoke aloud in her empty apartment.

Gabriella was her first priority. She dialed the number written on the card.

“Hello.”

“Mrs. Bowler, this is Chryssie Mason. Gabriella Mason’s sister—she’s one of your clients.”

“Ah, yes. I’ve been expecting a call from you.”

“You have? Why?”

“Well, I recognized you on the news. I’m sure you understand this will not help you get custody of Gabriella. You do understand that, right?”

“It was self-defense and I haven’t been arrested.” Of course, she still could be, but she wouldn’t tell her sister’s case worker that part. “I do understand, but that’s not why I’m calling.”

“It’s not. I would have thought it would be your first priority. For the past few years you’ve been telling me you want custody of your sister.”

“And I still do. But I need to talk to Gabriella right now. I don’t want her to hear about this on the news. I need the phone number to her foster home so I can explain to her what’s going on.”

“I can’t do that. The judge decided to keep her location private from you. You know that.”

“But it’s different this time. I can’t let her hear about this from someone else.”

“I’m sure it is different. But I won’t violate a court order.”

“I need to…need to make sure she’s safe.”

“Of course she’s safe. Why wouldn’t she be safe?”

Chryssie wanted to scream, ‘because Marv said so.’ Instead, she said, “I just need to make sure she’s OK. Please. Just let me talk with her. She can call me if that works out better. I need….I need to hear her voice.”

“I understand you’re going through a difficult situation.” The social worker’s voice softened. “But even if I wanted to let you, I can’t get hold of her either.”

“Why not?”

“Because there is the possibility you might be thinking of running and want to take her with you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” She’d accepted years ago that it wasn’t the right thing. She’d worked hard to finish college so she and Gabriella could have a decent life, legally. “Just a short visit.”

“Sorry, it will have to wait. She’s on vacation with her foster family. I’m sure she’s having the time of her life.”

Having the time of her life. Those were the exact words Marv had used. He really did have her. Can’t fall apart right now. She struggled to keep her emotions out of her voice when she spoke. “Can you let me know when—”

“Actually, I think it would be a good idea if you didn’t see her right now. Maybe later. After this is all cleared up. Good-bye, Ms. Mason.”

With the phone still in her hand, Chryssie curled up on the sofa. She had no idea what to do. She couldn’t trust her boss; she couldn’t trust her lawyer; she couldn’t trust the social worker…she couldn’t even trust Zack. Gabriella was at the mercy of criminals. All she’d worked for was gone.

She gave into the tears.

****

A knock on the door brought Chryssie out of her sleep-deprived stupor. She opened the door.

“Hello.” Annie Dargols smiled.

Zack stood behind the detective. Zack the traitor. The fraud. The man who’d pretended to be a Christian. Pretended to care about her. Pretended to be her friend.

She moved her gaze back to the detective. “What do you two want?”

“Oh, we’re not here together. I guess I timed it wrong.” Zack took a step away from Annie Dargols.

“Or maybe not.” Annie gave him a hard look. “I’d like to talk with you. You’re the man who brought Chryssie to the station, right? I have a few questions for you. I’d like to ask—”

“I don’t know anything. A friend asked a favor and I did it. End of story.”

Yeah, some friend. “Zack, I don’t want you here. Not now. Not ever. Just go away. Leave me alone.”

“Too bad. I’ve got a message for you. From your employer. The man who’s paying for your lawyer.”

Wonderful. Just wonderful. “Give it to me and then go away.”

Annie Dargols turned toward Zack with a knowing smile. “Yes. Go ahead and give her the message. I’d love to hear it as well.”

He motioned toward her. “Ladies first.”

She turned back to Chryssie. “What a gentleman.”

“Believe me, he’s not.”

The detective shrugged. “I need to talk with you. In private.”

Chryssie opened the door wider. “Come in, Detective Dargols.”

Zack leaned against the wall. “I’ll wait out here. What I have to say is private too. Meant for Chryssie’s ears only. We can talk after she leaves.”

“I already told you I have nothing to say to you. Ever.”

“That’s OK, I’ll do the talking.”

Chryssie’s gaze moved down the hall. Stan stood down by the elevators. Zack was still on probation if he had to have the goon to monitor him. Apparently Marv didn’t trust Zack either.

The detective turned to Zack. “You’re more than welcome to come in with me. I’ve got nothing to hide.”

He shook his head but said nothing.

Chryssie closed the door. “What do you want, Detective Dargols?”

“Call me Annie. I had a few details I needed to go over with you. For clarification.”

Chryssie stared at the woman. “If you’re going to arrest me, just do it. Get it over with.”

“I’m not here to arrest you. Please sit down so we can talk.”

“Then why are you here?”

“For the truth.”

“I already told you that I shot that guy. How much more truth do you want? Besides, my lawyer said you shouldn’t talk to me alone. And I don’t see him here.”

“If that’s the way you want to play it, fine by me. I’ll call and arrange a time to meet at the station.” She put her hand on the door to leave. “But I came here because I want to help.”

“You’re here so you might as well ask what you want.” Chryssie motioned at the sofa.

Annie sat down.

Chryssie pulled up a kitchen chair. “What do you want to know?”

“Tell me about the gun again. How did you get it?”

“Some guy at the bar was selling it one night, so I bought it. What else is there to say?”

“Can I see the bullets you have for it?”

“I don’t have them. I…I threw them away on Sunday. The garbage gets picked up on Monday. Sorry.”

Annie nodded. “Can you explain to me how you load them?”

“You just put them in. What’s the problem?” Her palms began to sweat.

“The problem is that type of gun has a clip. And you haven’t once mentioned the word, clip.”

Think fast, Chryssie. “Oh, I didn’t even think about it. I didn’t know that’s what you were talking about. Did you think I meant individual bullets? I meant the clip.”

Annie met her gaze. “I don’t believe you.”

Suddenly Chryssie felt hot, then chilled. Now she understood why Zack was out there. To remind her to stick to Marv’s story. He’d probably been out there since she’d been home. Or maybe he was following the detective, not her.

Chryssie walked over to her refrigerator and grabbed a generic diet cola—it was all she could afford. “Want one?”

“No thanks.”

After taking a sip, she looked at the detective. “Look, I don’t know what you want from me. I told you what happened, Detective. I don’t know why you won’t believe me. I didn’t want to hurt that man.”

“Annie.” The dark-haired detective smiled. “Please call me Annie.”

“Fine, Annie. I don’t have anything else to say. He attacked me. I shot him.”

Annie Dargols stared at her for several long moments. “I know something else is going on here. I’m not sure what, but I know there is. I can help you. If you’ll tell me the truth. I really am on your side.”

Acutely aware of Zack on the other side of the door, Chryssie shook her head. He probably had some sort of listening device and could hear every word she said. No one could help her. There was no way she would endanger Gabriella. “I’m sorry, detective. I mean, Annie. I don’t know what you’re talking about. It was self-defense.”

Annie sighed. “OK, then fine. Let’s talk about something else. How about your car?”

They were back to the car. “What about it?”

“You running all over town without your car doesn’t make sense to me. That’s why I think there’s more to this story. Where were you yesterday after your exam? It was as if you vanished into thin air. I need to know the truth so I can help you, Chryssie.”

“I have noth—”

“Don’t insult my intelligence. Where were you all day yesterday? Why couldn’t I find you after you took your exam?”

Chryssie tried to calm down. She wanted to tell Annie the truth. But Marv would hurt Gabriella. “If you plan to arrest me, then do it. Other than that, I have nothing else to say. Talk to my lawyer.”

“You told me that you planned to come in after your exam. So when I showed up at your classroom, why didn’t you talk to me then?”

This wasn’t going well. “I panicked when I saw you had my picture. I…I didn’t know what to do.”

“Your exam was yesterday. Where were you for all those hours after your exam? Before you came into the station. We had your apartment staked out. You never came back here.” She stared at Chryssie, waiting for an answer.

Chryssie didn’t have one. “Talk to my lawyer.”

“Speaking of your lawyer, exactly how were you able to afford one of the top lawyers in the city?”

“My boss hired him.”

“You know your boss is not all that he seems to be.”

Sure. She knew that now.

“If he’s somehow involved in this, we can help you. We can protect you.”

Oh, how she wanted to believe her—to trust her. Chryssie wanted to tell her everything. Let her fix it. But she couldn’t be trusted. No one could be. Keeping Gabriella safe was the only thing that mattered. If that meant going to jail, then so be it. “I have nothing else to say, Detective Dargols.”

“Annie. That’s fine. Then you can listen.” Annie lowered her voice as if suddenly thinking about Zack outside her door as well. “If you’re in trouble, I want to help you. I really do, Chryssie. I am not your enemy. Let me help you. Please.”

“The only trouble I’m in is waiting to see if I’ll be arrested for defending myself. That’s all.”

Annie held out a card to Chryssie. “Take it. You call me if you change your mind or if you need me.”

Chryssie took the card, then very deliberately set it on the coffee table. “I won’t be using it.”

Annie sighed then stood up. “I’m not your enemy, Chryssie.”

Chryssie wished she could tell this woman the truth. “Thanks for your offer, but I really am fine.”

When they opened the door, Zack still stood leaning against the wall. “Hey, detective. All done? Guess it’s my turn.”

“Whatever.” Annie walked down the hall.

Stan seemed to have disappeared, but she was sure he was lurking nearby.

“I don’t want you in my apartment.” She blocked the door and glared at Zack. “Give me your message and go.”

He squeezed into her apartment, by gently moving her aside. “I will. Inside.”

“Get out of my apartment, Zack. I don’t want you here.”

“Too bad.” He sat down on the sofa and smiled. “You might as well talk with me. I’m not leaving until you do.”

She slammed the door. “Fine. Give me your message and go.” She sat down.

“First things first.” He pulled out a cell phone. “Marv wants you to have this. So he can keep in touch with you.”

She stared at the latest model smartphone. “I don’t want it.”

“Better take it anyway. Don’t want to make the boss mad.” He set it on the coffee table. “He also told me to tell you to take the rest of the week off. You don’t have to work again until Friday night.”

Wow. What a sweet guy. He ruins her life then gives her a few days off. “You can remind him that I quit. I already told him that, but maybe he forgot. Tell him I won’t be in on Friday or any other day.”

“That doesn’t seem like the best idea, Chryssie. You don’t want to make Marv mad.”

“I don’t care what you think. You are a liar and a fraud. I…I trusted you. I believed in you.” She stood up, not wanting him to see she was close to tears—again. “Get out of my house.”

Her venom seemed to roll off of him as he smiled at her then picked up her keys from the coffee table and tossed them in the air. “In a minute. I need to ask you something.”

“Give back my keys.” She reached for them, but he kept tossing them in the air.

“I’m awfully thirsty. Could I have a something to drink?”

“This is not a social occasion.”

“Come on, Chryssie. Don’t be mean. I really am thirsty.”

“Fine.” She stomped to the refrigerator, brought out a can of soda then slammed it on the coffee table in front of Zack. “And then you can go.”

Her gaze fell on her keys back on the coffee table.

“Thanks. Why are you saying you shot Lonnie Davis?”

Speechless, she stared.

“You can trust me.” He picked up the can but didn’t open it.

“I thought you were thirsty.”

“Changed my mind. I know this…this situation has been really difficult.” He put his hand on her arm. “But I really can help. If you just tell me the truth.”

In spite of his betrayal, she wanted his arms around her. Holding her. Telling her everything would work out. But he worked for Marv. He would have killed her if Marv hadn’t stopped him at the last moment.

She shrugged his hand away. “Go away, Zack. Leave me alone.”

He reached out and touched a strand of her hair. “I like you better this way, Chryssie. I always knew under all that make-up, there was real beauty. On the inside and outside. I’m not your enemy so I wish you’d tell me why you’re doing this.” He walked out the door.

She engaged the lock.

She was all alone. Well, not completely. God had been in the basement room with her. She was sure of it. Even if Zack had lied about being a Christian, that didn’t mean God didn’t love her. That didn’t mean God wasn’t real.

Zack was the fraud, not God.