Calvin and I sat down the street from my parents’ house. He hit the steering wheel three times in succession. “Damn you, Franny, and your bleeding heart.”
I sat staring straight ahead. My nails were digging into the stupid briefcase I held. My emotions oscillated between rage and terror. If Detective Battle hadn’t had tunnel vision on this case, he would have seen the glaring evidence against LJ Richardson, and my family wouldn’t be held captive right now. If I’d done my job better, I would have produced evidence to force the detective to look at LJ with urgency.
Calvin blew out a breath. “You clear on what you need to do?”
I nodded. We’d been over it several times. “I’m not to anger LJ or attempt to goad him in any way. I’ll play to Harper’s sympathies if he still has feelings for her, and hope she can talk some sense into him by letting”—I cleared my throat—“letting them live. If I appear cooperative and scared”—no problem there—“he might not frisk me everywhere.” I’d taped Calvin’s boot gun, a Kahr Arms P380, into my bra that had the strongest underwire. I’d been surprised by the gun’s tiny size. At just barely five inches, it still could pack a punch with the right ammo and had seven-chamber capacity. If I could get by LJ, it would be a miracle. A miracle we needed.
“Good girl. And the second you get a clear shot?”
I met his eyes and swallowed. “Take it.”
“Come on.” He had his hand on the door.
Before he got out of his truck, I leaned over and flung my arms around his neck. “I love you, Uncle Calvin. You are the best uncle in the world. I’m proud to be your niece.”
He hugged me back, and his arms tightened around me. “Don’t count me out yet, kiddo.”
“Never.” I kissed his cheek.
“Okay. Time to buck up.”
I nodded.
We walked slowly up the driveway and went to the front door. Uncle Calvin said LJ would tie him up straight away if LJ had any sense, and he suspected LJ had plans for him. My heart ached and my hands violently shook, but I did my best to put my fears to the back of my mind. My parents and Gran needed me. And by the look on my uncle’s face, he needed me too. Now more than ever. I didn’t know if LJ would hurt Harper—somewhere deep down surely he felt something for her. But I fully believed he had no compunctions with ending the rest of us if we got in his way.
The door opened and Gran stood there, her bottom lip trembling. LJ had a gun to her side. All the fear was instantly replaced with anger. Calvin gripped my wrist, and I took a deep breath, arresting the impulse to launch myself at LJ.
We stepped inside the door without a word. He handed a pair of handcuffs over to Calvin. “Put them on behind your back.”
Calvin went on point, just like a setter, and I wondered if he would comply. He did, his eyes never leaving LJ in the process.
“Harper get in here and frisk Calvin and Lyla. And Granny,” LJ pulled a roll of duct tape out of the back of his pants. “Tape his mouth.” He tore a strip off, cutting it with his teeth and handed it to Gran.
I met her gaze and tried with all my might to will courage her way. I would save her or go down fighting. I hoped she could see the determination in my expression.
Harper came into the hallway looking like a completely different woman from the one she had been this morning. Still pale, but she’d showered and was in a Kate Spade jogging suit that came out of one of the drawers in my old bedroom. She avoided my gaze while she frisked Calvin with accuracy and efficiency, and I began to worry she’d find my gun. Perhaps she wouldn’t say anything.
“He’s clean.” She patted his face. “Good boy.”
What? My nails dug into my palm. I glanced down briefly at the half-moon shapes, forcing my whipsawing moods to settle.
Harper took the computer bag from my shoulder and swallowed. “Don’t worry. It’s going to be okay. If you all cooperate, we’ll be out of your hair in no time.”
We? My jaw started to drop and then I clenched it back into place. The truth stomped over me in a pair of military boots, and I swayed on my feet.
LJ said, “In the family room. That’s where the party is. You okay with Lyla, Harp?”
“Fine.” She gripped my hand. “Don’t go passing out on me.” LJ took Gran and Calvin into the other room. Calvin cast a surreptitious glance my way in passing, and I steeled myself.
Harper tapped her nose as if she had my number. “She’s not going to risk her precious Gran getting shot. Spread ’em.” She began frisking my legs.
“What are you doing?” I hissed.
“I’m looking out for myself.” She stared up at me, and for a brief second, I thought about kicking her right in the face. But she was right: I wouldn’t risk my family.
She huffed. “You heard them in the courtroom today. They’ll find me guilty for sure. I can’t do real time. If you just chill, give him what he wants, we’ll be out of your hair and you can go back to your life.” She moved up to my waist.
Dread knotted in the pit of my stomach. I sniffed. “And I cared so much for you. My mother cared.”
“Please. People don’t really care.” She moved to my sides.
“I do! We loved you—the club took you into our fold. We came when you were in need. And I bent over backward to help.” I swallowed, seeing she wasn’t swayed. I played the only card I had to play. “I was terrified about how I was going to tell you about your aunt.”
She froze then and stopped frisking me. “You found her?”
I nodded and swallowed. Her eyes began to water, and I began to believe perhaps she could still be an ally. I needed her.
“Harper!” LJ bellowed.
She sniffed and waved her hand. “Go on.” I thanked my lucky stars that my news had distracted her enough to avoid her finding my gun. It was something.
“She clean?” LJ asked when we entered the room. I took in the sight of my parents gagged and tied to dining chairs set up in the living room. Despite all the sensible things I kept telling myself—how I could talk some sense into the LJ, how Harper wouldn’t let this go too far, and how I was strong enough to handle this—I became increasingly afraid. My hands began to shake, and I clenched my fists to force them still.
LJ steadily worked on securing a gagged Calvin to a chair. Tears streamed down Gran’s and Mother’s faces. Daddy looked both helpless and furious at me for coming. He would’ve wanted me to call the police and save myself. How could I do that? They were everything to me. My gun, cold and hard against my skin, reminded me we still had a chance. I glanced at the gun in the back of LJ’s pants, and I moved my hand to the top of my high-waisted jeans. Calvin who watched me like a hawk, gave his head the tiniest shake.
“Go on.” Harper nudged me to the vacant chair by the fireplace.
I sat down, and she grabbed the rope and began tying me up. “Did you really find her?” she whispered, and I felt the bite of the rope into the delicate place on my wrists.
“Yes.” I glanced at Calvin, feeling like I should have taken that chance. When would I ever get another? We could all be dead in a matter of minutes.
“Find who?” LJ wanted to know.
“My aunt Phyllis.”
He gave Harper a glare. “We agreed.”
She rolled her eyes. “I know. The past is the past. We’re starting over.”
I had to do something. “She’s dead,” I blurted. “Your aunt. She was executed by a gunshot in the forehead, and someone sunk her car in a chemical waste pond.”
Harper’s eyes were wide, and she gasped. She moved around to face me. Big huge tears ran from her eyes. “Are you sure it’s her?”
“Yes.” I spoke with urgency. “It isn’t too late, Harper. I found evidence that LJ was—” And the next thing I knew a hand slapped me hard, and I hit the floor.