All Fall Down (33 page)

Melanie felt ill. It had been so easy for the other woman to come into her life and destroy it. Into her sisters' lives. She had made it so easy for her.

Melanie swallowed her own feelings and focused instead on Veronica. “Is that what you're doing now?” she asked, intensely aware of the gun, though purposefully keeping her gaze from it. “Helping me? By ruining my life? By making me out to be a killer? With friends like you, Veronica, I don't need enemies.”

“This is your fault!” Veronica's voice rose. “Not mine. Everything that's happened to you—”

“You're a murderer. A common criminal. One of
the scumbags you supposedly dedicated your life to putting behind bars.”

“No.” Veronica shook her head. “The women I helped deserved happiness. They deserved a life without fear. I gave them that.”

“Easy to justify that way, isn't it?” Melanie inched slightly forward. If she could get close enough, catch Veronica by surprise, she might be able to wrestle the weapon away from her. “But aren't we each responsible for taking charge of our own lives?”

“It doesn't work like that. Not for a woman trapped in a cycle of abuse. Not for a woman who—”

“Other than God, only a court and jury of peers can decide who lives and who dies.” She took a step closer, finally within striking distance. “Only the system can mete out punishment.”

“That's bullshit!” Veronica gestured with the weapon, looking rattled. “The system falls down. They all fall down!”

Melanie made her move. With a roundhouse kick, she knocked the gun out of Veronica's hand. It sailed across the room.

She shouted for Mia to get it, even as she followed the kick with a two-punch combination, placing both perfectly.

Veronica stumbled backward. From the corners of her eyes, she saw Mia scramble for the gun.

The moment of inattention cost her. Veronica was on her feet and ready. With a cry so fierce it sent a shiver up Melanie's spine, Veronica attacked. She landed her kick dead in Melanie's chest. Pain exploded inside her—she saw stars.

With a triumphant shout, Veronica advanced. Melanie struggled to her feet, managing to block the woman's next blows. Her chest was on fire, her muscles screamed with the effort.

Veronica placed another kick and Melanie lost her footing and with it her ability to adequately block the other woman's attack.

“You can't beat me, Melanie,” the attorney said, looming closer. “You never have, because I'm better than you.”

Veronica moved in for the kill. Melanie threw herself sideways, out of harm's way, rolled, then was on her feet in the ready position. The move caught Veronica by surprise and it cost her her balance. Not about to give the other woman a chance to recover, Melanie attacked.

She placed her kick fully to the side of Veronica's head. The woman went down. In a flash, Melanie pinned her, fist raised for the final, disabling blow.

“Look who's on top now?” Melanie said, panting. “Look who's beaten who?”

Veronica smiled. Her teeth were bloody. “I wouldn't be so certain of that.”

“Let her up, Mellie.” From behind her came the distinctive click of a gun being cocked. “Now.”

T
he chopper propelled its way toward Charlotte, estimated time of arrival twelve and a half minutes. Not soon enough, as far as Connor was concerned. He told the pilot so, then radioed CMPD headquarters. Rice had followed through on Connor's request—he contacted Chief Lyons, a warrant had been issued for Veronica Ford's arrest, a team had been sent to her home and to the D.A.'s office to retrieve her.

“Where's Officer May?” he asked. “I've been trying to reach her for several hours with no luck.”

“She's been a busy lady this morning. Our tail followed her to Rosemont, a community just this side of Columbia. She visited a psychiatric facility there.”

Connor frowned. “Did your man find out why?”

“Negative. He didn't want to blow his cover.”

“Where is she now?”

“At her sister Mia's house. She's been there approximately thirty minutes. Our guys are parked out front.”

Connor swore under his breath. He should be relieved, but he wasn't. His gut told him something was not right about the situation.

The truth was, he wasn't going to feel comfortable, or relieved, until Melanie was safe in his arms.

“I need that address,” Connor barked. “And the coordinates of the heliport closest to it. Have a car there, waiting for me. Can you handle that?”

“Hold, please.”

A moment later the radio crackled and a man came on the line. “Parks, Roger Stemmons here. Got your car. Officer White will be there waiting with the keys.”

“Thanks, Stemmons.”

“More good news in the Andersen case, we've got positive fingerprint and blood-type matches. DNA and trace results won't be back for a while, but we've already got enough for a conviction. Thought you'd want to know.”

Connor smiled.
Score one for the good guys.

“We all appreciate your help on that one, Parks,” the investigator said. “Not that you still don't bug the shit out of me.”

“My pleasure, on both counts.” Connor checked his watch. “Do me a favor, Stemmons, keep that tail on Melanie until I get there. I've got a bad feeling about this.”

“You've got it. Though I expect Ford to be brought in at any moment. Melanie can rest easy now, it's over for her.”

M
elanie glanced over her shoulder. Her sister held the gun with both hands, her grip rock steady, face set.

Problem was, she had the weapon trained on Melanie, not Veronica.

“Mia, what are you—”

“I said, let her up.” She motioned with the gun. “Now.”

Melanie backed off the other woman, who scrambled to her feet. She sent Melanie a triumphant glance, then limped over to stand beside Mia.

“Are you okay?” Mia asked the attorney, not taking her eyes from her sister.

“Fine.” Veronica wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Nice moves, Melanie. I confess, I didn't think you had it in you.”

“I don't understand.” Melanie looked from one woman to the other. “Mia…didn't you hear what she said? She's a murderer. A serial killer. She—”

“It's you who doesn't understand, sister-dear.” She looked at Veronica. “Come here, baby. Let Mia make it all better.”

Veronica sidled up to Mia, wrapping her arms around her from behind.

Melanie took an involuntary step backward, a sound of shock slipping past her lips.

Veronica laughed. “That's right, Officer May, we fell in love. We're lovers.” She nuzzled Mia's neck. “I'd do anything for her and she'd do anything for me.”

Melanie shook her head.
This couldn't be happening. It couldn't.
She looked pleadingly at her sister. “Think this through, Mia. Veronica's a killer. If you side with her you're an accomplice after the fact. It's not only wrong, it's—”

“What?” Mia demanded. “Stupid? Is that what you were about to say? That poor, pathetic Mia is making yet another mistake?”

“No!” She held a hand out to her sister, pleading. “Please, just take a moment, consider the consequences of your actions. If you do this you're no better than she is.”

“Think it through?” she repeated, anger seeming to explode from her. “Consider the consequences? Like I'm a child. Or an idiot.”

“I didn't mean that. I just know—”

“Shut up! Just shut the hell up! I'm sick to death of your lectures. Of your oh-so-sage advice. Melanie knows best,” she mocked. “Melanie's so strong and smart. Melanie's the good one. The one who deserves love. Not Mia.”

“That's not true!” Melanie cried. “I've never felt that way. Never!”

“Bullshit, Melanie. You did. And so did everyone else, because they took their cues from you, little Miss Perfect. Nice being looked up to, isn't it? Nice always
being the one who's right. There wasn't room for anyone else there at the top, now, was there?”

Melanie brought a hand to her stomach, her sister's verbal attack hurting more than Veronica's blows had. “I don't understand why you're so…angry,” she said, voice shaking. “I tried to protect you. I only wanted you to be safe and happy. That's all.”

“Get off it, Melanie.” Mia narrowed her eyes. “We both know the truth. You like being the strong sister. The big hero, charging in to save the day.”

“No.” She shook her head. “No.”

“I wouldn't have needed saving if not for you.
You're
the reason Dad targeted me. Two's too many, Melanie. It's always been too many.”

“But we're not two, Mia. We're three. Ashley's one of us.”

Mia made a sound of pity. Of disgust. “She's not a part of us. She came after. Separately. She's the outsider. A mistake.”

Outsider? Mistake?
Melanie couldn't believe this was her beloved Mia standing before her with a gun, such vitriol spilling from her lips. Such hatred.

Melanie thought of her conversation with Ashley earlier that day, thought of the secret Ashley had revealed and tears burned her eyes. Would it have made a difference if Mia knew the offense their other sister had endured for them?

Not hardly, Melanie realized. The sister she'd thought she knew, the person she had loved and trusted, didn't exist. Mia didn't care about anyone but herself and her own skewed view of life. She couldn't be reasoned with, nor could her humanity be appealed
to. She had neither. She was a twisted shell. And what there was of her was ugly.

“Did you always resent me?” Melanie asked, voice quivering. “Every time I championed you, every time I stepped between you and Dad, what was I doing? Poking at a festering wound? Would it have better if I'd done nothing?”

“You're feeling sorry for yourself now.” Mia cocked her head, the curving of her lips bloodless. “I rather like you this way, Mellie. Pathetic and groveling. Perhaps we should have had this little tête-à-tête years ago. Of course, it's only now that I've been able to bring all the pieces together.”

Years ago. Bring all the pieces together.
Realization dawned. With it fresh betrayal, so strong and sharp it ripped her wide open. “You knew,” she said, voice broken. “Before today, about Veronica…that she killed Boyd…the others?” Melanie brought a hand to her mouth. “Oh, my God…Stan. You knew about him, too. You knew Veronica…you knew she was setting me up to take the fall for Boyd's murder.”

For a moment, Mia said nothing. Then she laughed, the sound so cold, Melanie shuddered. “How blind and stupid can you be? Veronica didn't set you up, I did. I poisoned Stan's cereal. I planted the evidence in your house and car.
Me,
Melanie. Pathetic, weak-willed Mia.”

Melanie struggled to come to grips with her sister's words, with what she had done. She struggled to right her reeling world. “You erased the tape of Ashley's call. Before the search, when you came to get Casey.”

“Bingo.” She grinned. “Diet Coke, anyone?”

“And my uniform? You picked it up at the cleaners, no questions asked.”

“It fit like a glove.” She took a step closer, and Melanie instinctively backed up, repulsed. “It was so easy to play you, ridiculously easy, just like when we were kids. I'll miss that when you're gone, Mellie. Really I will.”

“Don't do this, Mia,” Melanie said, curving her arms around her middle. “Casey needs me. He needs his mother.”

“He'll have his loving aunt to temper his father's rigidity. And to help him through his grief.”

Melanie thought of this sick, twisted woman having anything to do with raising Casey, and a cry of denial rushed to her lips.

Mia looked at Veronica. “Who would have thought Melanie would try to kill her own sister?”

“Yes.” Veronica clucked her tongue. “Who would have thought it? It's a good thing you had a gun to protect yourself.”

Mia aimed the gun directly at Melanie's chest. “Here's to never being second best again.”

“Wait! That doesn't make sense! I'm unarmed. How could I have tried to kill you?”

The women exchanged glances. Veronica spoke first. “You knew your sister had a gun.”

“That's right,” Mia chimed in. “I bought it to protect myself against Boyd. I was frightened for my life.”

“You told Melanie about it. You showed her the hiding place.”

“But why would I try to kill you?” Melanie said
quickly, heart hammering. “Don't you think the police will wonder? When police wonder, they start snooping around.” She heard the desperation in her own voice and tried to quell it. “They ask questions.”

Mia's grip on the gun slipped slightly. She glanced at Veronica, showing the first bit of hesitation.

“They won't this time,” Veronica said. “You were the lead suspect in both a murder and an attempted murder. They had you dead to rights.”

Mia chimed in. “You came here to enlist my help in leaving the country. But Veronica was here, she tried to talk you into giving yourself up. Into doing the right thing.”

“You went crazy,” Veronica supplied. “You attacked me…I have the bruises to prove it. It makes all the sense in the world. I know the way the system works, they'll be happy another case is closed, the taxpayers' money intact.”

Melanie fought to control her growing panic. Their story wasn't bad, considering the evidence against her. And Veronica was right—for simplicity's sake, the police would probably lap it up.

“Ashley knows,” she said, voice high, pleading. “She won't let this pass. She won't sit back and—”

“Poor old Ashley's got herself locked up in a loony bin, so who's going to believe her over me and an assistant district attorney?” Mia shook her head, disapproving. “Nobody, that's who. Besides, I'm afraid a tragic accident may befall our beloved sister.”

“No! Please, Mia, leave Ashley be.”

“Still playing the hero, I see.” Her mouth thinned. “Give it a rest, Melanie. It's such a bore.”

Melanie fought hopelessness. She couldn't die now. She couldn't die with everyone believing her a killer. Especially Casey. Dear God, especially Casey. Tears swamped her. She wanted her son, to hold him in her arms, to watch him grow.

And she wanted to tell Connor she loved him. She wanted that chance. At love. At a family and a forever.

Mia took steady aim, her lips once again curving into a glacial smile. “Goodbye, Melanie.”