Set Up For Love (24 page)

“What do you mean?” she demanded, knowing exactly what he meant.

“You’ve had the studio under observation since Charmaine’s final curtain.”

Ignoring her terror, Jill shrugged. “How clever of you to figure that out,” she said, hoping to bolster his ego. “Maybe another place would be better. Like that boarded up theater on Grand. It has the perfect stage, wonderful lighting and great sets.”

“I’m getting bored with this game,” Angelo said. “It amused me to listen to you trying to wriggle off my hook. But no longer.”

“That’s not it. Admit it, you’re afraid I’ll outsmart you. Me, a woman.”

His face reddened and his eyes bugged out, igniting into fiery pools of madness and rage. “I’m not afraid of anything or anybody. Now strip, or shall I rip off those ugly rags?” he growled as he sliced off a button.

Jill pressed her lips together to keep from screaming.

As though in slow motion, the button dropped silently to the floor and rolled over the concrete close to Tess. Tears were sliding down her sister’s cheeks.

Angelo pressed the knife to Jill’s throat. “Get started,” he ordered.

Jill felt a sinking sensation. He hadn’t bought her ploy, and it would cost them their lives.

Chapter Thirty-Five

In the dark stairwell, Dane tripped over a body. He felt a sticky substance on his hands and aimed the small beam of light downward. Gary. Dane checked for a pulse. It was weak, but the man was alive. He quickly packed his handkerchief against the knife wound in Gary’s neck to stop the flow of blood. “This will have to hold you for now,” Dane whispered.

He eased his way to the top of the staircase. Ahead, bright light came from a half-opened door. He recognized Angelo’s voice. For an instant he was stunned. But it all added up, the history of mental illness, the lies.

Dane peered through the crack in the door. Angelo held a knife to Jill’s throat. Sweat broke out on Dane’s forehead. He had to do something. Shoot Angelo? He could miss and hit Jill. Rush him? Angelo might slit Jill’s throat. It was a life or death decision, and he only had an instant to make it.

Dane fired. The knife Angelo held at Jill’s throat thudded to the floor. Angelo fell forward. A splotch of blood soaked his shirt. Coiled tension emptied from Dane’s body like air from a punctured balloon. He wanted to rush to Jill and take her in his arms, but it wasn’t safe. He met her gaze.

“Dane.”

She said his name with such deep emotion he felt as though she’d embraced him.

He watched her switch to her professional mode. She removed Angelo’s gun from his holster, then frisked his upper body. By the quick way she moved, Dane knew she was operating on automatic.

She went to her knees in front of Tess, delicately removed the gag from her mouth, and untied her. The sisters fell into each other’s arms—Tess sobbed while Jill crooned soothing words.

Dane felt a tightness in throat and a desire to make it a group hug. But there was no time. The SWAT leader must’ve heard the shot and would be on his way to storm the lighthouse. Dane knew he would be arrested.

He grabbed Angelo’s cellular phone from the table to call in his story before he was locked up.

Dane drummed his fingers on the table as the line rang.
It was over.
Jill and Tess were alive. Whatever he had to face with the Feds or police didn’t matter. Dane turned at the sound of Tom Cox’s voice on the line.

****

Jill spun around. Her breath caught. Angelo was up on one knee, drawing an ankle gun.
How could I have missed it?
He aimed at Dane’s back.

She tackled Angelo. His shot went wild. Blood rushed to her brain—her ears thrummed like a tuning fork as she struggled to get the small gun.

“You’re dead, woman!” Angelo slammed Jill to the floor in a bone-crunching thud. All she felt was her need to disarm this madman.

Her sister, all six feet of her, jumped on Angelo’s back and rode him as if he were a crazed bull. She gouged his eyes, but Angelo held onto his gun. He thrashed at Tess. At Jill. He brought the gun toward Jill’s head. A millimeter more and he’d press the barrel to her temple.

Dane leaped and grabbed Angelo’s wrist. He twisted it until he had the gun, then jabbed it against Angelo’s head. “Don’t even twitch.”

Jill hadn’t realized that she’d been holding her breath until she exhaled—
Dane had protected her again.

****

Since the terrain and gusting wind wouldn’t allow a medical evac helicopter to land inside the lighthouse compound, Jill brought the medics in to transport the wounded by stretchers back over the bridge and through the tunnel.

She caught up with Bruce, who had taken the lead with his prisoner. “It was an emergency. Can’t you see that?”

“Forget it, Jill.” He pointed at his swollen jaw. “Clark’ll spend a few hours in jail for this.”

Jill sighed. Bruce’s hurt jaw wasn’t the problem. Dane had embarrassed him in front of his men, and now he’d pay for it. “Hang in there, Dane,” she said as they reached the road where the ambulances and lockup van waited. “I won’t let this happen.”

Jill squeezed her hand. “Hush, Sweetie. We all make mistakes. I have to talk to Ray, then I’ll come straight to the hospital.”

Tess nodded, then her big blue eyes glazed over.

Attendants lifted her into the ambulance.

Feds loaded Angelo into a hospital lockup van. Medics and two armed officers climbed in with him. Jill was satisfied he’d be well guarded while being patched up in emergency. By morning he’d be transferred to the prison ward.

****

When Jill entered Ray’s office, he stepped toward her and briefly clasped her hands. “How’s Tess?”

“I sent her to emergency. At the very least, she’ll need treatment for dehydration and exposure. Angelo roughed her up some. The important thing is, she’s alive.”

“Yes. Thank God.” Ray raked his silver hair with steady fingers. “What about her mental state?”

“She’ll probably need therapy to recover from the terror Angelo put her through. But she’s young. And I’ll be there every step of the way to make sure she makes it.”

Ray patted Jill’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. Tess comes from tough stock.” Ray walked around behind his desk and sat down. “What about Gary?”

“They’ve taken him to emergency. He’s lost a good deal of blood, but the medic said his chances are good.”

Some of the lines left Ray’s face.

“Dane’s first aid probably saved Gary’s life.” Jill looked down at the gold carpet, then squared her shoulders. “Bruce arrested Dane. I want him released right away.”

A flush crept up from the base of Ray’s neck. “Let’s hear your report, then we’ll talk about that.”

Jill picked up the rock paperweight on Ray’s desk. She stared at it, needing to hang on to something solid. “I made some mistakes out there, Ray. All I could think of was getting to Tess.” Jill dropped into the nearest chair and rubbed the bridge of her nose. “My emotions got in the way. I was careless.”

Ray listened without comment.

“I only did a cursory examination on Angelo for a pulse. And I forgot to check his boots for a weapon. I knew better—it could have cost Dane his life.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

Jill watched Tess glance at her watch for the third time. “Ellen should be here any minute.” Her lips broke into a cover-girl smile. “Thanks for the sleepover.”

Jill nodded. “I wanted you close by.”

“And I needed to be with you.” Tess’ voice trembled. She hugged Jill close for several seconds.

Jill longed to grab onto her sister again and hold her there. She stepped back and stuffed her hands deep in her bathrobe pockets. “It was terrible...I didn’t know if you were...” Jill blinked back a rush of tears.

“All those hours at the hospital. You didn’t get much sleep.”

Jill rubbed her arms. “I managed a few winks. You’re the one who needs more rest.”

“I’ll go back to bed after Dr. Eberhart checks me over.” A hint of Tess’ usual sparkle flickered in her eyes. “That is, after breakfast. Ellen and I are going to have strawberry waffles at the pancake house.” She grinned. “Are you sure you don’t want to meet us for breakfast?”

“Strawberry waffles?” Jill groaned. “It’s tempting. But I can’t.” Tess didn’t need the added worry after all she’d been through, so Jill gave her an ambiguous excuse. “I have to make sure there are no loopholes in the case against Angelo.”

“I promise. From now on, Ellen and I will visit so often you’ll get sick of us.” Tess hugged Jill once more and held on as though her life depended upon it. “You guys are what matters...my sis...my best friend, not just chasing a dream.”

Jill pressed her face against Tess’, felt their tears mingling. She cleared her throat then said, “There’s nothing wrong with chasing a dream. Just let us tag along.” With effort, she released Tess.

The morning sun streamed into the entryway and cast golden highlights onto her sister’s long blonde hair. Jill winced. Daylight revealed some blue bruises on her sister’s upper arm. Although there were no internal injuries, the doctor at emergency had recommended a check-up by her own physician.

“I wish you’d let
me
drive you,” Jill said.

“Have you read this morning’s
Chronicle
?” Ray growled, then went on without giving her a chance to answer. “You should’ve let that reporter rot in jail. His story goes something like:
Killer holds a FBI psychologist and her sister hostage while the Feds trip over themselves playing a waiting game.
I told you the man was a menace.”

Damn. Dane had done it again. He took every opportunity to malign the Bureau. That was Dane, calling it as he saw it.

“I’ve tried to be patient,” Ray said. “But this is the last time I want him messing in one of our investigations. Cut him loose, Jill. That’s an order.”

Her personal life was just that, personal. But Ray was right. He’d been very patient and a good friend. Jill rubbed her aching head. If she discussed this now, she’d only make things worse. “I’ll have to get back to you.”

“What? Jill? Don’t hang up, Jill!”

She put the receiver down ever so softly and glared at it for several seconds. Why did Dane have to stir up the Bureau?

Jill took several deep breaths to calm herself. If she’d thought what they’d shared would make Dane go easier on the FBI, she’d just been proven wrong. He’d pulled the rug out from under her again, and that’s how it would always be between them. Having him in her life was impossible.

Maybe if she went back to bed and got a few more hours sleep she could clear the fog from her brain and deal with this better. The telephone rang again. She grabbed it on the first ring. “What now?” she snapped.

“Real friendly, Jill. And spunky for this early in the morning.”

Jill’s heart speeded at the low rumble of Dane’s voice. “I thought you were my boss. But the sentiment fits. I hear you did another hatchet job on the Bureau.”

“I wrote the truth, but let’s talk about that later. How’s Tess?”