Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes (31 page)

One of the officers lifted me none too gently off the ground and uncuffed my numb hands. They began to clear out the crowd and returned to their police cars.

“Hey!” I called, thoroughly irritated. “Are you going to clean up that mess?”

They looked at me as though I’d just asked them to scrub my toilet.

Deanna took me inside the kitchen and reamed me up and down. She told me if I ever again dealt with the police without her present, she would drop me in an instant.

She left, the police left, then finally the straggling crowd left. But Joe still hadn’t returned. And neither had Muffy.

It was now eight o’clock and I still didn't know what was supposed to be on the flash drive. And even if I could fudge it, I didn't have access to a computer. Could I go and convince them to leave Violet alone if I showed up with nothing? I had no doubt I’d be dead, but that would be okay if they left Violet alone.

I heard a knock on the kitchen door and it swung open before I could answer. Joe entered without Muffy, looking devastated. All the fury and fear came roaring out and I attacked him, pounding his chest with my fists.

“I hate you! I hate you, Joe McAllister! You set me up to be arrested and because of you, Muffy’s lost and I’ll never see her again.
You used me
! You and Hilary must have had fun laughing at poor,
stupid
Rose. You never even liked me! You just used me to get that stupid flash drive and
I don't even know what’s on it
! Now because of you, I’m gonna die and I don't have time to save Violet.
I hate you
!”

He let me hit him at first, but he grabbed my fists and held them to his chest when I mentioned dying. I’d said too much.

“Whoa, slow down. What do you mean you don't know what’s on the flash drive? Where is it?”

“It’s there in that Walmart bag.”

He let go of me to tear into the Walmart bag next to my purse. “Rose,” he said, his voice rising in panic. “This hasn’t even been opened!”

“I know!”

“If you don’t have a computer, how are you going to put the information on it? Where’s the real flash drive?” He tossed the package onto the table.

“
I don’t know
!” I screamed.

“Did someone steal it in one of the break-ins?”

“I never had it! I didn’t even know anything about a stupid flash drive until the night of Sloan’s visitation when Daniel Crocker found me and dragged me down the hall, telling me if I didn’t deliver it tonight at ten, I was gonna be sorry.”

Joe sat in the kitchen chair, his face white. “Oh, my God.”

“Get out!”

He looked up, startled.

“Get out of my house!” I screamed, hysterical. “Get out!”

He stood up and I pushed him toward the door. He may have been bigger than me, but I was lucky to have caught him in a moment of shock. He stumbled backward.

“Rose, I can help you.”

“Help me?
HELP ME
?” I screamed like a banshee and I had no doubt the neighbors could hear me, but I didn't care. “You mean help me like
planting a gun in my shed
? And callin’ the police with an anonymous tip so I’d get arrested for murderin’ Sloan? Then getting’ my dog lost! You mean that kind of help? Because no freakin’ thanks! I don't need your help!” I shoved and beat him with my fists. “Get out!
GET OUT
! Get out of my life!”

He stumbled out the door but recovered before he fell. “Rose, let me explain.”

“
Explain to this
!” I slammed the door shut so hard the wall shook. I locked both locks. Joe pounded on the door shouting my name, but I went into the bathroom and washed my face. I had less than an hour to come up with some kind of plan to save my life.

Chapter Twenty-Three

I made myself get a grip. I couldn't show up to met Daniel with a red nose and bloodshot, puffy eyes. Plus, I suspected sex was a way to communicate with Daniel Crocker and I was desperate enough to pull that out of my limited arsenal and use it to save Violet. Nevertheless, I had to look the part to play it.

Clothing proved an issue. If Daniel hadn’t seen me in the red dress, and I if hadn’t got snot and tears all over the front, I would have worn it. Instead I found a pair of jeans and a silky sleeveless shirt and wore my black bra, which peeked out over the top of the low-cut shirt. I decided this would work better in The Trading Post, which was a bar with a rough reputation just outside the city limits.

Torn between heels and sensible shoes, I chose heels. I had little chance of outrunning anyone, but perhaps looking sexy could help me. Heavens knew I needed all the help I could get.

I opened the flash drive package with shaky fingers and tucked it in my jeans pocket. I was fairly certain they were going to check it and I hadn’t figured out how to explain why it was empty.

I gave myself on last look in the mirror, surprised by the image. Maybe I could pull this off.

I went out into the kitchen to call a cab. I’d take a taxi to my car, which was still parked at the funeral home, but it required extra time. While I waited for it to show up, I went outside to look for Muffy, walking up and down the sidewalk and calling her name. I worried Joe would hear me and come out but, he didn’t, even though I saw him watching out his living room window. I checked the time on my cell phone—nine thirty-five. I still had time but my nervousness threatened to swallow me whole. I locked the door and waited for the taxi in the driveway, pacing.

Five minutes later, Joe came outside, easing his way over to me as though I was a wild animal and might bolt if he got too close. “Rose?”

“Leave me alone,” I growled, looking down the street with my side to him.

“Do you need a ride to your car?”

“I called a taxi.”

We waited a few more minutes. I was so anxious I thought I would puke.

“Don’t go, Rose.” His voice was so quiet I could barely hear him.

I turned to face him and shook my head. “Do you have any idea what you are asking?”

“Do you know what’s going to happen if you go with an empty flash drive?”

“What do you care, Joe? Leave me alone!” I started down the sidewalk. Wearing heels wasn’t such a good idea if I had to walk two miles.

Joe jogged up to me. “Let me drive you.”

“Drive me where?”

“To your car.”

I stopped and glared at him. “Why are you doin’ this?”

“Rose, I care about you.”

That made me livid. “Don’t. You. Dare.” I spit out through gritted teeth. I started walking again.

“Okay, I feel guilty. I’m tryin’ to make it up to you.”

I stopped. That sounded like a more honest answer and my cab still hadn’t shown up. Being late wouldn’t work in my favor. “All right.” I turned around and walked to Joe’s car and got in.

We drove in silence for a couple of blocks.

“Do you have a plan?”

I remained silent.

“Rose, do you know what these people are
capable
of?”

“I have a pretty good idea, Joe, which is exactly why I’m going.”

Joe stopped at a stop sign. “I can’t let you do this.”

“You don’t have a say. Now drive.”

He drove several more blocks. “You at least need a plan. Tell me you have a plan.”

“I have a somewhat plan.”

“Does your plan have anything to do with the way you’re dressed?” When I didn’t answer, he continued. “That won’t work with him, Rose. He’s been put in a very awkward situation by trusting his source and paying already. His partners are breathing down his neck for this information. If you don’t have it, nothing will save you.”

“I already know I’m gonna die. I’m doing this to save Violet.”

He stopped next to my car thankfully still parked in the deserted funeral home parking lot. He shut off the engine and turned to me. “Rose, I’m begging you.”

“You have no right to beg me for anything, Joe McAllister. You lost that right the moment you betrayed me. When was that exactly? The night you met me?”

“Rose,” he moaned.

“Fine, so you’re worried about me?” I said in a sneer. “Come with me, be my bodyguard.”

“I can’t.” He hung his head.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” I started to get out of the car.

Joe pulled me back and grabbed my shoulders. “I’m about to do something that could get me killed, but I can’t sit here and let it happen to you first.”

“Let go of me!” I tried to jerk away.

“Rose! I’m trying to save you! Shelf your pride for a minute and listen to me!”

I was willing to listen if he was going to help save my life.

“As much as I hate to admit it, you were smart to dress like this. Crocker likes good-looking women. He’ll be more lenient with you because of your looks, which is probably why you’re still alive. But if he finds out you haven’t brought what he wants, he’ll kill you.”

I tried to remain calm in spite of facing my certain death. “Will he know tonight?” I whispered.

He looked out the front window. “Yes.”

I let that soak in. “Will I at least be able to save Violet?”

“I don’t know.”

I gasped. I had to save Violet.

Joe turned back to me. “So will you change your mind?”

“Not if there’s even a slight chance I can save her.” I reached for the handle on the door.

“Wait!” Joe sounded desperate.

“What?”

“Give me your flash drive.” I didn’t move so he grabbed my purse and started digging through it.

“What are you doing? Give that back!” I tried to pull it away from him.

He looked panicked. “Where is it?”

I dug it out of my pocket, unsure I should give it to him. He pulled a flash drive out of his pocket and handed it to me .

“Is this the real one? You had it all the
time
?” I asked.

“No! It’s fake. It’ll save you tonight, but not past tomorrow. They’ll figure out it’s a forgery by noon.”

“Why are you doin’ this?” I wasn’t sure I could trust him, but whatever he had on his flash drive had to be better than my empty one.

“You want the truth or the version you prefer?”

“Neither.” I turned to the door.

“Wait!”

This was getting old. “I’m gonna be late.”

He looked uncomfortable. “Try not to let him get you into bed.”

“
Excuse me
?” I hadn’t expected that.

“He’s gonna try, which is why you’re still alive, but avoid it if you can. You’re gonna have to use your head. Rumor has it he’s rough in the bedroom. Just be careful.”

While I was grateful for that bit of information, it scared the bejiggers out of me. “Thanks,” I whispered.

“Rose.” His voice broke. “Be careful.”

I didn’t say anything. I knew I should be grateful, but I was still mad. I got out of the car and walked over to mine. Joe stayed in the parking lot while I pulled away.

The Trading Post was on Highway 82 just outside of town. Henryetta being so small, it didn't take long to pull into the pea gravel parking lot, already half-f of pickup trucks and motorcycles. My stomach tied itself up in knots as I got out of the car. It was one minute after ten. One minute late.

I took a deep breath as I went in and let my eyes adjust to the dim, smoky haze. Daniel sat across the room, at a table with two other men.

Showtime.

I walked over to his table, but I tried to saunter, like I’d seen models do on television. I had no idea if I pulled it off or looked like a fool. In either case, Daniel Crocker looked like he appreciated what he saw.

I realized I might get out of the dying part, but I highly doubted I’d get out of the sleeping-with-him part. I hoped I could go through with it.

Daniel leaned his arms on the backs of the chairs next to him and looked me up and down. “Well, there you are, baby. I was just talkin’ about ya.”

“Oh?” I sat down in the empty chair across from him and tried to look interested. I’d prefer to dump the flash drive in his lap and turn around and leave, but the person with the real flash drive had stood him up for awhile. Common sense told me I was gonna have to work my way out of being punished.

“Let me get you a drink. I believe you drank wine when I saw you with Sloan.”

I ignored the Sloan comment. “Wine would be great, thanks.”

Daniel motioned to a guy next to him with a quick wave of his hand. “White.” The guy walked over to the bar. “I was worried you weren’t goin’ to show, baby. You have no idea how happy I am to see you.”

“I disappointed you long enough.” I smiled and lifted my eyebrows. I wasn’t sure how it actually looked, sexy or stupid, but he still looked interested. I felt like I was walking a tightrope without a net.

The guy returned with a glass of white wine. It creeped me out that Daniel remembered what I had that night. I took a sip and smiled my approval.

My hand rested on the table. Daniel stretched his hand over and covered mine. It felt clammy and oppressive. I resisted the urge to snatch mine away.

“They say business before pleasure, Rose. Seems particularly apropos tonight.”

I stood up, carefully pulling my hand out from under his so I didn’t offend him. I reached into my pocket, arching my back and thrusting out my chest. I needed to worry about the surviving tonight and not the fact I was digging myself into a hole of sleeping with him. His eyes told me he appreciated the view. I put the flash drive on the table slowly slid it toward him.