Part 34 (2/2)
It was like a scene out of a movie-or a soap opera.
I was sitting on the back of an ambulance while an EMT bandaged my hand. He was pretty sure I had broken one or two fingers when I punched Randy. An X-ray would confirm it. I had spoken to the police and made sure Sarah was safe at home and asleep in her bed.
They had taken Adrienne away. Another EMT was bandaging Nate's head before the police would take him away. I couldn't see where Connie was, but she was being cared for, too.
Jakes came over to me and put his hand on my shoulder. The EMT walked away.
”How did you know where I was?” I asked, shaking. ”I couldn't call you because I lost my phone.” I think I was in shock.
”I finally located Randy just in time to follow him to the Academy. I saw him meet with you and then saw Connie get s.n.a.t.c.hed. As you jumped into your Porsche to go and save the day, I had to decide to either get Randy or follow you. I chose you.” He turned me around to face him and put his arms around me.
”Thank G.o.d you did,” I said. ”My hero cop.”
”Me? You're the hero, tearing off after them like that, knocking your ex on his a.s.s. Then following those two in here, arming yourself with a hockey stick. Against a gun.” He was saying all this while rubbing my back. He smelled like Obsession.
”Yeah, what was she doing with a gun?” I asked. ”She'd never used one on a victim before.”
”Who knows? Maybe she was planning to use it on you.”
”If she'd been holding it the whole time, I never would have been able to grab that stick-”
”But she wasn't. You saved the day, Alex,” he said again. ”You're quite a hero.”
I put my face up to his. We kissed and I melted into it. G.o.d, I wished we were somewhere else now-anywhere!
He held my face in his hands. ”I was worried about you. Scared s.h.i.+tless, actually.”
”Really? I guess we worry about each other a lot. Don't we?” I said matter-of-factly. ”But I don't think we have to worry about your captain. You've got me as a witness and Connie, too. She heard everything.”
”Connie's on her way to the hospital to be checked out. I'll interview her later.”
”Poor Connie! She was so afraid! I mean, so was I. Hearing Adrienne going on about her son. She's nuts, you know? Completely insane!”
”Did Adrienne actually say she and Nate murdered our victims?” he asked.
”Yes, she did,” I said.
”So then your friend, Jackson, didn't have a connection to Henri except as a coworker. It was Nate who got Henri killed.”
”Oh, G.o.d!” I said, suddenly.
”What?”
”Adrienne also said she had nothing to do with trying to run me off of PCH. After everything else she told me, I don't know why she'd lie about that.”
”So that leaves Randy.” This seemed to disturb him.
”Wait a minute. If you followed me, who nabbed Randy?”
He hesitated before saying, ”No one. I, uh, lost you as we got to this area, which is why I was a little late. I put everyone on you. When I saw this place, I decided to check it out, and when I saw your car I started checking units.”
”That means Randy's still out there.” I didn't like the way that sounded. Or the way it made me feel.
He seemed to know exactly what I was thinking. ”Don't worry. You've got me.” He held me tightly in his arms. With all the craziness going on around us, our hugging made no sense at all. But I felt safe. I held on to him until every part of my body was touching every part of his.
”Looks like we've got each other.”
Turn the page.
for a sneak peek at.
the next Soap Opera Mystery.
by Eileen Davidson.
coming soon from Obsidian.
”Honey, that girl is b.u.t.t naked!”
”No, she's not.”
”Alex! She's naked and so is the girl next to her. Look right there.” He pointed to a particular area of her body.
I took a step closer, looking in the general direction of where his finger was pointing and trying to be as discreet as possible.
”Eww! Oh my G.o.d, George.” I gasped, turning away. ”You're so right! She is naked.” I couldn't believe what I was seeing. So I looked again, just to make sure. At first glance the girl looked like she was wearing a tuxedo, complete with black tie and tails. And the girl next to her appeared to be dressed like a mermaid. Sparkles and scales everywhere. And I do mean everywhere. But it was paint. Meticulously applied and not a detail missed.
As I took another peek, I winced.
”How did they get the paint right there? Awkward.”
Talk about an a.s.sault to the senses. We had just stepped out of the limo and into the most flamboyant, intense party in the world. We were at the infamous Playboy Mansion. I hadn't been here since I was in my early twenties. The main house was a ”traditional” Tudor-style mansion. But tonight was the annual Halloween bash. Tombstones lay scattered across the sprawling lawn and bodies squirmed to free themselves from their graves. There were cobwebs hanging from the windows and doors. Giant ghouls and ghosts (people on stilts) walked the grounds, chasing half-naked women.
In front of the mansion by the driveway was a large haunted house Hugh Hefner set up every year. A line of about forty people waited to get in. I've heard it takes a good week to put together but is well worth the wait. Everyone I had talked to said it was the most frightening haunted house they'd ever experienced. I was trying to take it all in when I heard my name.
”Hey, Alex! Nice outfit!” she said, sarcastically.
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