Dust and Obey (22 page)

CHAPTER 44

“Gabby,
I have made a lot of mistakes since I met you,” Riley said. “Until recently, I don’t think I was ready to admit that. I wanted to think that I was better than those things, that I was too good of a person to hurt you. But things have changed in the past year.”

For a moment, I felt like I was in some kind of strange version of
The Bachelorette
. All I needed were some video cameras recording all this and millions of viewers watching my every move. This was by far
my
most dramatic rose ceremony ever.

“I want to do right by you, Gabby,” Riley continued. “I can’t imagine my future without you.”

“Go ahead and wrap up your talks,” Dr. Turner instructed.

My head felt like it was spinning. No! Don’t stop now, I silently pleaded. I needed to know what else he had to say.

Riley kept going, never pulling his eyes away. “You are who you are, and you don’t let other people sway you. You’re persistent. You don’t back down from doing what’s right, even when your life is on the line. You love with all your heart, and you’ve risen far above what most people in your shoes would have.”

A tear drizzled down my cheek. I’d dreamed about this moment. In fact, maybe this was a dream.

“You’re the only one I’ve ever wanted, Riley,” I whispered. “I was trying to give you space, to do what was best for you. But it tore me apart inside. Just like being here at the retreat. It’s only confirmed that I still have feelings for you.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” A wide grin crossed his lips.

“And by the power vested in me, I now remind you that you’re husband and wife. Forever and into eternity. You may kiss your bride.”

Oh no! Kiss the bride? What—?

Before I could worry too much, Riley pulled me into his arms. His lips found mine. The lips that I was at one time all too familiar with.

I fully expected him to pull away, to do an obligatory peck on the lips and then step back. End of acting scenario. Duty done.

But, instead, his hand traveled to my neck, and he tilted my head backward. Everything else around me disappeared at his touch. His kiss deepened, and even though some kind of protective instinct inside me told me to resist, I was powerless to do so.

In fact, somewhere in the process, I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back. Not only did I kiss him back, I kissed him back like I meant it. Because I did.

Despite my reservations, despite my fears, despite the hurt of the past . . . this was what I wanted.
Riley
was what I wanted.

When Riley finally pulled back, I realized that everyone was staring at us. I felt myself blush, and I rubbed my lips, which were still tingling. I couldn’t look at Riley. Not now.

Now there was no denying that I was in love. The stranger thing was Riley might be also.

***

“That was some pretty good acting you did back there.” I had to admit it: I was fishing for a confirmation of the truth. I didn’t want to assume anything here. I needed something concrete.

Dr. Turner had dismissed us for some time alone. Riley and I had headed to the library.

He closed the door and pulled me into his arms. His face lingered close to mine, so close that I wanted to reach up and kiss him again. And he had an impish smile playing at the corner of his lips. “I wasn’t acting, Gabby.”

My heart nearly stopped. “Really?” I sounded more breathless than I’d realized was possible.

“I’ve never been as happy as when I heard you and Garrett were definitely not together. As wrong as it might be, I was praying that might happen.”

“You would never pray for something like that, would you?” I said in mock outrage. My fingers pulled more tightly around him, and I could hardly stand just talking. I wanted to feel his lips again, to step closer, to bask in his strength.

He nodded, his eyes still dancing. “Yeah, I have to admit that I did. Maybe I was selfish.”

“You can be selfish like that.”

A fire lit in his eyes. “Can I?”

His lips met mine again, this time with not as much trepidation.

“I love you, Gabby.”

“I love you too, Riley.”

His thumb traced the side of my face. “I’m so sorry for the ways I hurt you. I know I’ve done a lot of damage, but I want to change things. I’m changed.”

“It was a difficult situation, Riley. Who knows how I would have handled it if the roles had been reversed.”

He leaned down and kissed me again. Seriously, I couldn’t get enough of his kisses. But I had to think things through here. There’d be time for this later.

“I hate to break up this moment, but we have a plan to put in place.” I stepped away, but his arms circled my waist again.

He pulled me back for another quick kiss. “I don’t want this moment to end.”

I giggled. Giggled? Me? But it was true. I felt giddy. Honestly, I could stay here forever. I never wanted to let go. But staying here alone too long with Riley was a bad idea.

I pushed him back. “We have to. This is why we’re here.”

He frowned, his eyes moving from playful to dead serious. “I have reservations about you going out. You’re basically setting yourself up as bait, and a lot of things could go wrong.”

“The Marine Police should be showing up to investigate more oyster poaching allegations in about an hour. If we play our cards right, we should be okay.”

“There are too many ifs in there.”

I squeezed his arm. “There are too many ifs in life in general. Let’s do this.”

CHAPTER 45

I
stepped out of the library and into the hallway and readied myself for the performance of a lifetime.

“I’m sorry,” I cried. “I never meant to hurt you, Riley!”

“You did. I can’t believe you kept this from me. How could you?” Riley leaned out of the door, his voice loud and angry.

Even as he said the words, I saw the apology in his eyes. Ruining my reputation and good name was painful for him. That was a positive sign for our authentic relationship.

“I can explain,” I started.

“There’s nothing to explain. You cheated on me. I can’t ever forgive that.”

“Please, you’ve got to understand—”

“Understand this: We’re through. As far as I’m concerned, our marriage is null and void. Over. I’m sorry we ever came on this retreat together.” He stepped back into the doorway and mouthed the words, “I’m sorry.”

Doors started opening. People began to pop their heads out, curious about the commotion.

Just what we’d hoped would happen.

“You heard what Dr. Turner said, Riley.” I made sure my voice contained the proper amount of desperation. It even cracked once. “We’re supposed to be able to work through issues like this.”

“I thought we were on the right track. But I was wrong. You cheated on me, and I can’t ever forgive that.”

“Do you two need to talk?” Dr. Turner appeared. A wrinkle of worry had formed between his eyebrows.

“I’m done talking.” Riley slammed the door.

I wrapped my arms over my chest and frowned. Trying to make this believable, I took a step back and hid my face. I couldn’t force any tears to come—I wasn’t that good. But I made sure my body language showed distress.

“I can’t believe this,” I whispered.

“Why don’t the two of us go talk, Gabby?” His hand pressed on my shoulder.

I raised my head, but kept my fingers pinched between my eyes. “I don’t know if there’s anything to say. I messed up, Dr. Turner. I thought things were on the right track. I thought we were in a good place, so I ventured to tell him the truth. I was wrong. Our marriage can’t survive what I did.”

A couple of doors closed. Good. Hopefully, everyone had heard about what happened and this humiliation wasn’t all for naught.

“Maybe you need a listening ear?”

“I think I just need some time alone. But thank you.” Before he could say anything else, I hurried back up to my room and shut myself inside.

Now I needed to wait a little while before I started Phase 2.

***

Just past midnight, it was time to begin the next part of my plan. I reached between my mattresses to retrieve my gun. I reached. And reached.

All I felt was the silk material covering the box spring. My hand easily glided across the empty space.

I sucked in a quick breath.

My gun was gone.

But how? And who?

I wouldn’t feel nearly as safe going downstairs without it.

But what else was I supposed to do?

With a touch of hesitation, I crept from my room. I had to admit that my entire body was tight with nerves as I realized what I was about to do. So many things could go wrong.

But so many things could go right as well. If my theory was correct, the killer was waiting for an opportunity to strike again. If this person was paying attention, he or she would know I was leaving right now and would follow.

I was 99 percent certain I knew who would be confronting me tonight. I thought I knew who the killer was and the nefarious reason behind the act.

A slight tremble raked through my body as I stepped outside. Goosebumps joined the party as I hurried across the grass. By the time I reached the stairs leading to the beach, nausea joined the crowd and I felt like a mess inside.

I glanced around the dark beach but saw no one. Hesitantly, I sat on the shore. The sand was slightly damp from high tide, and the smell of the sea was even stronger than usual. Or maybe it was the fact that adrenaline heightened my senses. If I’d timed all of this correctly, the marine police should be showing up in twenty minutes because of suspected oyster poaching.

There was so much that could go wrong. But I couldn’t think like that. I had to stay positive.

If everything worked out, the killer should show up any time now. Riley hid in the shadows, as well. It felt good to know I had someone covering my back.

The minutes ticked by. What if I’d been wrong? And if this didn’t work, how would I find evidence to nail the perpetrator of these crimes? I couldn’t let someone get away with this.

Just then I heard a footstep behind me.

CHAPTER 46

I
looked up. Just as I suspected, Dr. Turner stood there. He wore a parka instead of his usual cardigan. He had a heavy flashlight in his hands and a different aura about him. Gone was the meek next-door neighbor, and in its place was someone malicious and conniving.

“Gabby, I thought I heard someone leave.” He took a step closer. “With all the accidents happening around here lately, I wanted to make sure you were okay. It’s dangerous out here, you know.”

I nodded. “I realize that. Especially with all the tragedies here on this island.”

He sat beside me.
Mr. Rogers Goes to the Beach.

It didn’t seem nearly as entertaining now as it had earlier.

A moment of silence fell as we both stared out at the water lapping the shoreline. I waited for him to make his next move. I had to remember to keep a cool head. It could mean the difference between life and death.

“Gabby, I realize you’re going through a hard time,” Dr. Turner finally said, his voice compassionate and concerned. “But it’s no reason to want to end your life.”

I swallowed hard, his words causing an eerie chill to wash over me. “I wasn’t thinking of ending my life.” My voice sounded gravely solemn. I didn’t take things like ending my life lightly.

“Anyone in your state would consider it. Your marriage is falling apart. You’ve made mistakes that your husband will never forgive you for.”

My muscles tightened even more as his words taunted me. Then I remembered I was playing a role here. I couldn’t lash out and say the things I wanted. Not yet.

“I don’t know that.” My voice sounded melancholy. “I’m still hopeful that things will work out between Riley and me. Don’t you think they will?”

“You don’t deserve to be with Riley, Gabby. I’m sorry to tell you that, but I’d be doing an injustice if I didn’t speak the truth.”

My stomach lurched. Probably because what he said had echoed my own sentiments so many times in the past. But not anymore.

“What do you mean?” I stole a glance at Dr. Turner. His eyes looked intense and almost eager, which only made my instincts even more alert.

“Men want respect,” Dr. Turner continued. “When a wife betrays her marriage vows, the husband will never again feel respected. God’s design for marriage is that the two become one . . . but cheating puts a crack in the unity. A crack that can’t be repaired.”

I pulled my knees closer to my chest, wiping some stray sand granules from my hands. This whole conversation was disturbing on so many levels. “But I thought marriage was a matter of changing and forgiving and growing. Isn’t that what you said?”

“It’s different in this case. There’s no undoing what you’ve done.” A new gleam glistened in his eyes. “It was with Garrett, wasn’t it? He’s the man you cheated on Riley with.”

“What?” His words truly shocked me. How had he remembered Garrett? How had he known exactly where to throw his sucker punch?

“Riley mentioned him once. Was he the man you cheated with?”

I wanted to say no, but then I remembered my ruse. My heart panged as I responded with, “Yes. He was.”

“You know what the Bible says about adultery, right?” Dr. Turner said.

“That it’s wrong.” I swallowed hard again and continued to stare at the mesmerizing water. At the moment, I halfway wished it would swallow me up just so I could avoid this conversation.

And was Riley close enough to hear? If so, what was he thinking? Was Dr. Turner putting thoughts in his head and making him regret the rekindling of our relationship?

“The Bible says that adultery is punishable by death.” His words were hard and unyielding. Dr. Turner believed what he was saying. He was convinced that his judgment was correct. “Hebrews 13:4 says
God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. John 8:5 reminds us Moses commanded the stoning of such women. Proverbs 5:3 and 5, “For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey . . . Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave.”

A chill rushed through me. “There are a lot of verses you left out. Jesus forgave. He commanded adulterers to leave their lives of sin. He commands that of all of us. Besides, there’s always hope for redemption. That’s the entire gospel message.” I believed that. I had to believe that. Without that truth, then there’d be no hope for my life. Or anyone else’s, for that matter. That was the reason that Christ had died for my sins.

Dr. Turner squeezed the flashlight in his hands, his jaw clenched. “There are some sins that are abominations in the Lord’s eyes. There are some things you can never undo. Gabby, no one would fault you for wanting to end your life because of this. They’d understand what drove you to do it.”

I sucked in a deep breath. He really was implying what I’d thought: He wanted me to end my own life. The outrage in my voice was real. I couldn’t hold it back any more. “To do what? I’m just sitting on the seashore reflecting on life. I’m not going to kill myself over some guy.”

He turned toward me, his nostrils flaring. I stared at the flashlight in his hands, wondering what it would feel like if he banged it over my head. How could I protect myself? I had to be on guard here.

“He’s not just some guy.” Dr. Turner stared at me, bitterness in his eyes. The man was losing it, and I was going to be here to experience it. “He’s your husband.”

“No one’s worth ending my life over.” My words left no room for doubt.

“The guilt you’re going to carry for the rest of your life is going to be overwhelming, too heavy of a burden.”

“I can overcome anything through Christ. Right? That’s what I read in the Bible.” He was starting to mess with my head. I wasn’t expecting this. I was expecting a direct assault.

“You don’t want to live in disfavor with God. It’s no way to live. No way to live at all, Gabby.”

“You must know God differently than I do because I believe that God loves me despite my sin. That he loved me enough to die for me and take away the punishment I deserve.”

“Don’t fool yourself, Gabby. No one will be surprised if you sleepwalk right into these waters. There will be no shame in that. It will look like an accident.” He pointed toward the dark water before making his fingers imitate me walking toward my death.

I’d had enough of this.

“Is this what you did to Anna? You convinced her to swallow those pills?” I hadn’t planned on saying that, but I was starting to feel cross-eyed with his double-talk and innuendo.

Dr. Turner knew how to mess with people’s heads, and that was a dangerous skill to possess. In fact, that must have been how he’d killed the other women. He’d been able to read their weaknesses and use those traits against them. That’s why I knew I would survive tonight—as long as I could remain in control of my thoughts.

Something changed in his gaze. There was a spark of realization there. Either that, or the man was coming undone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Or how about Ginger? Did you try to convince her to end her life, but when it didn’t work you pushed her off that bluff?”

“That would be crazy. No sane person would do that.” His voice practically sounded like a growl now. “Besides, I wasn’t here that night.”

“But you were. You came back early. In fact, I’d bet there was no meeting. You just needed an alibi.”

He smiled, but his eyes looked empty. “Nice theory. You can’t prove it.”

Mr. Rogers Stars in a Horror Movie.

“Then how about Khloe Wescott? I know she had a heart attack, but I’d even venture to say you gave her some pills. Maybe to relax her? You have our medical history so you must have known she’d have a reaction to whatever was in those pills. You probably encouraged her to take them, and now you think your hands are clean. You prey on women using the power of suggestion. It’s a deadly trait to have, and you’ve mastered it.”

“You’ve done some homework, haven’t you?” He sneered. “But I would never purposefully hurt someone.”

As his hands tightened on the flashlight again, I stood. “But you would. You’re bitter about your wife’s death. You’re even more bitter about the fact that she had an affair. So now you’re trying to punish any woman who’s cheated on her husband?”

Something changed in his eyes at that moment. I’d struck a nerve. I knew I was getting closer and closer to the truth. With any luck, I was turning the tables on him.

“I loved her. I dedicated my life to her, and what did I get in return? Her unfaithfulness. She said I worked too much. That I cared more about other people’s marriages than I cared about my own.” He shook his head, his emotions bubbling to the surface. “She didn’t understand me. If the news of what she’d done had gotten out, I would be ruined. Ruined.”

“What she did was wrong. But you don’t have to punish everyone else because of what your wife did.”

“But I do! Women have to be punished for their indiscretions.” His nostrils flared, and I knew I was getting to him.

“But not men?”

He slowly rose to his feet. Wearing that dark parka, he’d be hard to spot out here. Had he planned it that way? “The Bible speaks of a woman’s unfaithfulness. It’s punishable by death.”

“Don’t you remember what Jesus said to the adulterous woman?” I countered.

“Adultery is punishable by stoning,” Dr. Turner continued.

“I’m not justifying unfaithfulness, but in the words of Jesus, ‘Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.’”

“You’re going to walk into the water, Gabby.” He pulled a gun from his jacket pocket. “I was hoping to do this the easy way, but I can see that won’t be happening.”