“Really?”
“Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t think there are little green body snatchers running around out there just waiting to take us over, but hell, ya never really know.”
“No, we don’t.” Parker inhaled a deep breath, then looked over to me with worry in her eyes. “Can I ask you something?”
I nodded, then listened as she asked, “Do you really think Billy can pull this off?”
“We wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”
“I never thought I’d find a way out of this whole mess.” She reached over and placed her hand on mine. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t come along and offered to help me.”
I gave her hand a squeeze. “You’re a smart girl. You would’ve figured something out.”
Parker
“Has Billy said anything else?”
“About what?”
“About me?” I whispered.
Billy wasn’t much of a talker—unless it had something to do with his plan to free me from being discovered by Rossi. I still didn’t know exactly what he intended to do. Neither he nor Menace had let me in on any of the details, but there was one thing I knew for certain—they were both obsessed with making sure they had every detail of my life and my death in order. They were both constantly asking strange questions, like what was my height or my weight, whether or not I had any birthmarks or had ever broken any bones. Menace walked over to the kitchen counter and poured himself a cup of coffee. “Nope.”
“Seriously? What’s taking him so long.”
“These things take time.”
“But we’ve been here for days.” I stepped over to him and eased up on my tiptoes as I whispered in his ear, “Have you been down to the basement yet?”
“No, and I don’t plan on going down there.” His eyes grew intense as he snapped, “He made it clear it’s off-limits.”
“But why is it off-limits?” I’d meant it when I told Menace that I felt like we’d stepped into that old Julia Roberts’ movie. I just kept waiting for Billy to lose his shit over the towels not being just so or from a random speck of dust. Thankfully, that hadn’t happened—mainly because we were doing everything we could to make sure it didn’t. “Do you think he has someone down there? Maybe a woman chained to the wall?”
“Parker,” he scolded.
“Oh, come on, grumpy pants. You know I’m just kidding.”
Before he could respond, Billy came into the room with a piece of paper in his hand and announced, “I found some information that might be of interest to you both.”
“What is it?”
“I know you were worried about not being able to testify, but I think I found something to ease your concern.”
“We’re listening.”
Billy nodded, then looked down at the paper in his hand as he read, “‘California Evidence Code Section 1291 states that former deposition testimony is admissible in the event the party against whom it is offered had the right and opportunity to cross-examine the declarant with an interest and motive similar to that which he has at the hearing.’ So, the district attorney can pull your prior testimony and use it to ensure that Rossi doesn’t get off.”
“That’s great, but do you really think my old testimony is going to be enough?”
“I would imagine so. It’s the law after all,” Billy replied. “But if it would make you feel better, you could always record yourself restating what occurred that night with your mother and sister.”
“Not a bad idea.”
“Good.” I could see the wheels turning in Billy’s head as he looked up at the ceiling and bit at his bottom lip. After several moments, he nodded and said, “Things are coming together.”
Without saying anything more, he turned and headed back into his office, closing the door behind him. A warm look crossed Menace’s face as he stepped over and placed his hand on my hip. Our eyes met as he whispered, “Good news.”
“Yes, very good news.”
I liked the feeling of having his hand on me. I liked it a lot, but even more so, the way he was looking at me. There was hunger in his eyes, a hunger much like my own. I could feel the need radiating from his body as he held my gaze. For a brief moment, I thought he was actually going to kiss me, but then he pulled his hand away from my hip and stepped over to the counter. Disappointment washed over me as I watched him reach for his cup of coffee. He casually brought it up to his lips and took a drink like the thought of kissing me had never even crossed his mind.
A frustrated sigh slipped through my lips, drawing Menace’s attention back to me. “You okay?”
“I’m fine,” I lied. “Just tired.”
“You could go back to the room. Take a nap or something.”
“Not that kind of tired.”
I didn’t bother trying to explain. I could see it in his eyes that he knew what I meant. I could also see that he wasn’t going to do anything about it, so I turned and walked out of the kitchen and onto the front porch, leaving him alone to finish his coffee. I stood there for a moment, taking in a few cleansing breaths as I looked over to the pond. It seemed to be calling out to me, so I went down the steps and walked through the fresh-cut grass towards the pier. I started thinking about Menace and how hard he was trying to help me out of this mess with Rossi. The man was just determined enough to help me get my life back. I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen when it was all over. There was a time when all I could think about was running again, but now it scared me to think that I might actually have to leave Nashville and never see Menace or Marlowe or the brothers ever again.
I was saddened by the thought. I didn’t want to start all over again, but more than that, I liked where I was. It was fun working with Marlowe and the girls. I liked the brothers, especially Menace. I liked him a lot—even more now that I’d gotten to know him better. He wasn’t only handsome and incredibly smart, he was funny and easy to talk to. I was standing at the end of the pier, staring out at the pond, considering all of my life choices when I heard Menace ask, “You looking for the Loch Ness Monster out there?”
“No such thing.”
“What?” He huffed. “You believe in Bigfoot and aliens but not the Loch Ness Monster?”
“Nope.”
“Hmph. All right then.” He stood next to me and leaned over the rail, studying the water as he asked, “What about dinosaurs? Do you believe they existed?”
“Of course, I do. Why wouldn’t I?”
“I don’t know. There are plenty of people out there who don’t.”
“Well, I’m not one of them.”
“Good to know.” He turned his attention back to the water. “You know, you never told me where you went after the Brants were killed. I know you said Mr. Brant had left you a car with money and clothes, but you never mentioned where you actually went.”
“There’s not much to tell.”
“I’d still like to hear it.”
“Honestly, I can’t remember much about those first few days or even the first few weeks. I was pretty out of it. I basically lived in the car Mr. Brant had given me. I rode from state to state and survived on peanut butter and crackers. Later, I got really crafty with my survival skills, and I’d sneak in and snatch a stale bagel from the continental breakfast at various hotels along the way. I’d use the showers at trucks stops or camping grounds and sleep in my car.”