“He won’t believe you and when you start spending it, he’ll know.” I need to distract him and buy myself some time. I need a plan. Things could go either way with Chris. He could want to kill me, or he could let me go.
“I won’t be staying. After I pay Flip, I think I’ll take a play from your book and go somewhere to start over. Be a liar like you. Your friend, the one who called. I paid her a visit. She told me all about you, Maggie. You were smart. I will give you that, but you weren’t smart enough.”
“Where will you go?”
“Why do you care?”
“Because…I’ve missed you. I only ran because Flip was coming, and I was afraid of what he would do to me. We loved each other once. We could again.”
He snorts with a shake of his head. “You think I’d take you with me after what you did. Fucking desperate whore. I take back what I said. You really are just a dumb cunt.”
Shit. That was the wrong thing to say. I hear a car door shut and Chris jerks me to my feet and shoves me toward the door. “Whoever it is, get rid of them. Don’t even think of trying anything.” He pulls a switch blade from his back pocket and holds it to my neck.
“Yeah. Okay. Got it.” I already know that is Calder on his lunch break. On the days I don’t work he eats at home with me. I know him. When I send him away or don’t answer, he’ll come through the middle door when he notices that it’s shut.
Like clockwork Calder stomps up the steps and knocks on the door. “Honey, I’m home.”
Chris tightens his grip on me and presses the blade deeper into my skin nicking me in the process.
“Go away, Calder. I’m not feeling good, and I don’t want you to see me like this. I’ve caught a nasty stomach virus. I’ve been throwing up all morning.”
“Can I get you something? I can call Dad’s office and see if he can see you or call you in a prescription.”
“No. I’ll be fine. But you shouldn’t get around me in case I am contagious.”
“If that’s what you want.”
“It is. We’ll talk later. Okay.”
“Yeah. Later.” I can tell by how short he is being that he doesn’t believe me. Was Chris stupid enough to park his vehicle in plain view? Either way I don’t let on to Chris that anything is wrong.
Calder’s steps thump back off the porch and to my surprise we hear his car door shutting and the engine starting. A minute later he leaves and real panic sets in. I can’t believe he left.
“I’ve decided. I think I will take you back to Florida with me. Let Flip decide your punishment for stealing from him. The last time he nearly killed you. What do you think he will do this time?”
There is no way in hell I am going back there or going anywhere near Flip. If I can get the knife from him then maybe…. or the minute he gets me in a car I am jumping out first chance I get.
Chapter 11
Calder
This morning when I arrive at the station, I have a message from Carly stating she needs to see me as soon as possible. As much as I don’t like her, I do need to speak with her about what she may or may not know about Maggie. After checking in with Big Jim, I get in my car and drive to one of the last places I want to visit. The home Roger and Carly bought is the one we were going to buy. It was supposed to be our starter house. A two-bedroom beachfront property with a gorgeous view. We had so many plans. We wanted to have our first child two years into our marriage. Then when that child turned two, we were going to have our second and sell the beach house to buy a family home.
Things didn’t go according to plan. I’ve come to realize they seldomly do. I park my cruiser outside the garage behind Carly’s car and hope that Roger isn’t here, or I’ll be going to jail for assault. Taking a few minutes to myself I find my center before exiting my car to go knock on the door. Carly answers immediately and she looks terrible. Black circles under her eyes, her red hair is sticking out in random places.
“You feeling okay?”
“I’m fine. Just tired.”
“Well I got your message what did you need to see me about?”
“Please. Come in. I’d feel more comfortable talking in here.”
I’d rather not go in, but the sooner I can get this reunion over with the better. “Fine.” I follow her inside, and she shows me to the living room. I take a seat and decline her offer of coffee. “Just get on with it. I need to get back to work.”
“Roger isn’t here. He’s at work so don’t worry about that.”
“I wasn’t,” I lie, hating the fact that she can still read me so easily.