Dust and Obey (23 page)

CHAPTER 47

I
shook my head and took a step back. “I’m not walking into the water. You can shoot me. Then everyone will know what kind of person you really are. You won’t be able to deny your involvement when they find out I’ve been shot.”

“People will realize that you were the one who provoked this. This is your gun, Gabby.”

I sucked in a deep breath, my eyes skittering down to the weapon in his hands. Sure enough, that was mine, a 9 mm Smith and Wesson I’d purchased after my ordeal with Scum. In all of my planning and calculating, I hadn’t anticipated this. It was a game changer.

“How did you get my gun?”

He smirked, no longer seeming like the meek therapist I’d once thought he was. “I’m not as naïve as you might think. I know you came here to snoop around. I figured that out after your first weekend here.”

He’d figured that out? I’d thought I was a better actor than that. But Dr. Turner was programmed to read people. That made him even more dangerous than your common criminal.

“But that doesn’t explain how you got my gun.”

“Blaine found it. She has a little problem with kleptomania, among other things. I’ve been working with her.”

She must have been the one who took my necklace. And Steve’s knives. And Anna’s letter. “I thought she was obsessive . . .”

“That too. She’s also very resourceful. There were multiple reasons I hired her. Besides, she owes me. Emotional leverage is always a powerful asset.”

I had a feeling she was the one who’d been following me. Probably the one who’d stolen the list from my van. Obsessive, with sticky fingers, and unusually dedicated to Dr. Turner. It all made sense.

“Now let’s get this over with,” Dr. Turner said.

“Dr. Turner, put the gun down.” Riley stepped from the shadows. “This is over. The police are on their way.”

The doctor sighed. “I really didn’t want to have to hurt two people. But murder-suicide it will be. The two of you set this all up for me this evening so very well with that argument in the hallway.”

His words were true, weren’t they? We had given him the perfect excuse if he went through with this. The man was smarter than I’d given him credit for.

“You’ll never get away with it,” I told him, casting a fleeting glance at Riley. He stood on the other side of Dr. Turner. We were too far away to truly protect each other. I prayed this whole situation turned out okay. I had a deep-seated fear that one day life wouldn’t. That my carefully—or not so carefully—planned move would backfire. “You should just give up now.”

Dr. Turner chuckled.

He was losing it, I realized. Maybe his head had never quite been screwed on straight. Just like mechanics had broken-down cars, landscapers had terrible lawns, and crime-scene cleaners had messy houses, maybe therapists also had messed-up mental states.

“But I have a plan. Don’t you see?” Dr. Turner asked.

I looked at Riley again, desperately wishing we were closer. “Apparently, we don’t.”

“Well, you will soon enough.”

What did that mean? I wasn’t sure I wanted to find out. Where were the police? They were an extremely important part of this equation, especially now that Dr. Turner had a gun.

“So you were the one who went through my suitcase, who put a hole in that kayak—even though that was meant for Ginger. You probably even tampered with the throttle on Blaine’s boat.”

“She wasn’t supposed to be aboard. That was intended for Leroy. I couldn’t have him running illegal operations from the island.”

“Why did Anna have two suicide notes?”

He let out a cackle. “One was part of a lesson we did here at the retreat. She was taking it with her, and she was going to leave the island. But I caught her before she could. I didn’t know she’d stashed that letter in a kayak. I would have removed it, of course. Before that, I’d convinced her to write another letter.”

“Convinced her?”

He nodded. “That’s right. We talked through all her problems, and she finally saw things my way. She even put the pills in her mouth and swallowed. So you see, I’m not really guilty of anything.”

“Except knowing how to manipulate people. It’s almost like mind control. I may have even fallen for the power of suggestion a few times since I’ve come here. Nevermore, though.” Yes, I’d found inspiration through Edgar Allan Poe.

“As people think, they do. Thoughts can be very powerful.”

“Did you convince Ginger to jump off the cliff?”

“She was convinced I was going to push her. So she did it herself. Again, it wasn’t my fault. It was all in her mind. But she needed to pay for what she’d done to Jim and Jill Wagnor.”

“What about what Jim Wagnor did?”

“Ginger committed the ultimate disrespect to marriage.” Dr. Turner shook his head. “You’re clever, Gabby. I always knew you were. I could see it in your gaze that you were different than most people I’ve encountered. Too smart for your own good.”

Just then I saw movement behind Riley. My eyes widened. It was Blaine!

And she was carrying a baseball bat.

“Riley, watch out!” As I started to lunge toward him, the gun fired. Fire ripped through my arm. But I kept moving.

I didn’t need to, apparently,

Riley whirled around and grabbed the bat before Blaine could clobber him. He twisted it in her hands until she yelped and released it. Then he shoved Blaine to the ground and rushed toward Dr. Turner.

We reached him at the same time.

Riley grabbed his hands and pointed his gun upward just as it discharged again.

My heart lurched with fear.

Please say Riley wasn’t shot. My heart can’t handle that trauma again.

CHAPTER 48

I
held my breath, waiting to understand and comprehend what had just happened. The next instant, Riley had Dr. Turner’s hands pinched behind his back. Riley’s other arm was tightly slung across the doctor’s chest, holding him in place.

Where had Riley learned those moves?

It didn’t matter. What mattered was that he was okay! He was okay!

“You’re bleeding, Gabby.” Riley nodded toward my arm.

I glanced down. Sure enough, that bullet had skimmed my arm. The wound stung, but I’d been through worse. A few inches difference would have brought me to my knees.

“It’s just a flesh wound.” I tried to keep my British
Monty Python
accent at bay.

“Gabby, behind you!” Riley yelled.

I turned in time to see Blaine charging toward me, a crazy look in her eyes. I grabbed the bat at my feet and swung it. The wood connected with her knees, and she yelped with pain before falling to the ground.

I halfway wanted to apologize because I knew that had to hurt. But she’d been ready to kill me. I’d been forced to take action.

She sneered at me from the ground. “I was on to you. I knew what you were doing. I tried to warn Dr. Turner.”

“You were following me,” I said.

“I found that list you made. I knew I had to take it as proof. You were going to ruin Dr. Turner’s reputation.”

“I think he did a good job doing that himself.”

She sneered again. “He’s a miracle worker.”

“If by miracle worker you mean serial killer, then yes.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“What I don’t understand is how you ended up locked in that shed with cuts on your arms,” I said, watching her carefully. “I’m guessing you were trying to steal something, although I can’t imagine what.”

At that moment, someone else appeared at the top of the stairs. Steve. He held a camera in his hands. “I’ve got documentation of all of this. There’s no way Dr. Turner or Blaine will get away with this. And I was the one who locked Blaine in that shed.”

“You’re also the one who reported her missing,” I said. “Why would you do both?”

“I knew she was behind the thefts here on the island. When I saw her in the shed about to steal some of the copper wire that had been left in there after upgrades, I wanted her to get caught red-handed. That’s why I trapped her inside.”

“So you were trying to put that wire in your pockets, and it ended up scratching you. But I didn’t see any wire on you when I found you.”

“I hid the wire, but when I went back to get it later, it was gone.” Her fingers clawed the sand like a cat about to pounce.

Steve stood behind her now, the camera still strapped around his neck. “When I realized my plan didn’t work, I went back and took the wire. It was the only satisfaction I could get out of any of this.”

“Tell me one more thing,” I said. “Did Dr. Turner kill his own wife?”

Surprise flashed in Blaine’s gaze. “What?”

“That hit-and-run? They never did catch whoever was behind the wheel. But since Dr. Turner thinks adulterous women should be put to death, maybe she was his first kill.”

In one last burst of strength, Blaine sprang at me. I jumped back before she could reach me, fearing another struggle might ensue. Before she could take it any further, Steve grabbed her and held her in place.

Behind us, lights filled the air. “Police. Everyone, put your hands up!”

***

As
the police led Dr. Turner away in handcuffs, he looked back at us and smirked. “You two think you’re so clever.”

A medic attended to my wound under the bright police lights. “Not clever,” I told him. “Just determined.”

He stopped, despite his police escort. “Well, let this fact sink in. You two are married now.”

I nearly snorted except the sting of getting stitches hurt too much. “No, we’re not.”

His eyes widened as he tried to drive home his point. “Remember, I’m licensed to perform marriages. At the vow renewal you stood before God and pledged forever to each other. Have fun.”

I looked at Riley, and my lips parted with surprise. “That’s not true, right?”

He looked equally as perplexed. “No, of course not.”

But we both still froze, staring at each other uncertainly.

“I mean, legally, we’re not married,” I said as the medic put a bandage on my arm.

“But we did kind of take a vow before God, didn’t we?”

I loved Riley. I knew I did. But was I really married to him after that ceremony? I didn’t know what to think about that.

Apparently, Riley didn’t either.

“Maybe we should take some time to think about that. Talk to Pastor Randy.”

I nodded. “Good idea.”

Because of all the ways I’d seen myself getting married, this was not one of them.

Before I could think about it too long, my phone rang. My phone! I’d found the magic reception spot—only it was too late.

Chad’s number appeared on the screen.

“Gabby, we’re going to the hospital.” His voice contained an excitement unlike any I’d ever heard from him. “Sierra’s in labor!”

“What? Already? Is she okay?” The questions rushed from my lips unchecked.

“She’s fine. The doctor doesn’t seem to be worried.”

I heard Sierra yell something indiscernible in the background. The sound clearly indicated she was in pain.

Oh my. My friend was in labor. In labor!

“I’ve got to go,” Chad rushed. “Pray for us!”

I turned toward Riley, hardly able to breath. Sierra was the closest thing I’d ever had to a sister. She felt like family to me, and I couldn’t be more excited for her now. “Sierra’s having her baby. We’ve got to get home!”

***

Riley and I had been questioned by the police for most of the night. As much as I wanted to be with Sierra, that didn’t happen until the next morning. I barely had time to shower before we left the island.

I couldn’t help but think about Dr. Turner’s proclamation that Riley and I really were married as we headed toward home.

I didn’t let myself think about that one too long. No, no, no. I couldn’t let myself go there.

Instead, I thought about Riley. I thought about the way he’d tackled Dr. Turner last night—and he’d done it with confidence and skill.

“You were no joke last night. You’ve got some nice moves.”

The muscle in his jaw flexed. “I never want to be defenseless again. I mean, I know it could happen—”

“There was nothing you could have done to stop that man from shooting you, Riley. He walked in and pulled the trigger. No one would have had time to react.” I hadn’t truly realized just how much that experience had affected Riley. I’d thought I understood. But seeing the long-term effects put everything into a new perspective.

He nodded. “I know that. But I want to do everything in my power to protect myself and the people I love in the future.”

My face warmed. Was he talking about me? Could he still love me?

I reached across the car and took his hand. It felt so good to feel his fingers wrapped around mine.

“I’ve missed you, Gabby.”

I smiled. “I’ve missed you too.”

As soon as I said the words, my thoughts went back to what Dr. Turner had said.

You two are married now.

I mentally shook my head. He was wrong. We were just playing parts. There was no way we were really married in God’s sight. The idea was ludicrous.

“You’re thinking about what Dr. Turner said, aren’t you?” Riley asked.

“How’d you know?” We pulled into a parking space at the hospital.

“Because I’ve been thinking about it also.”

I shifted in my seat so I could better face him. “What do you think, Riley? Was he just trying to mess with our heads some more?”

“Maybe. But maybe not. The more I think about it, the more I can see it both ways. We did take a vow. Even if we were officially using assumed identities.”

“Maybe we can tell God it was a mistake.” I climbed out and started toward the entrance, but the conversation kept going.

“But was it?”

Riley’s question caused my heart to squeeze with emotion. Was he implying what I thought he was? That wasn’t something I could let slip by. I had to know.

“You mean, you’re toying with the idea that it was real? And that . . .”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. I’ve wanted to marry you for a long time, Gabby. But I envisioned it happening at church with family and friends around. Not by accident.”

My heart raced ahead of my logic. “Really?”

“Yes, really.” He smiled and squeezed my hand. “Am I being too honest? I’m not trying to scare you.”

“No. I like it. Please, be honest more.”

He rubbed my hand with his thumb. “We shouldn’t be rash here. Let’s think about this, pray about this.”

“Thinking and praying about it won’t change the reality if we took vows before a minister—even if he turned out to be a psychopath. Either it happened or it didn’t.”

“But there’s no marriage license.” He shook his head. “We’ll talk to Pastor Randy. We’ll get this figured out, one way or another.”

We found Sierra’s room. When we walked in, my friend was holding a baby in her arms. My heart bounced at the sight. She was glowing. Absolutely glowing.

“Gabby. Riley. You made it.”

I rushed to her bedside and stared at the gorgeous newborn cuddled to her chest. “How beautiful,” I whispered.

Something inside me twisted, and an unknown emotion stirred. Could there actually be a part of me that desired to be a mom? To have a baby of my own?

The thought was so foreign. Despite that, my throat ached for a moment.

“Meet Thaddeus Reef Davis. We’ll call him Reef,” Chad said. “What do you think?”

“A little boy? Oh.” My hand flew over my heart. I would have had the same reaction if the baby had been a girl. “He’s just perfect. And I love the name. Thaddeus?”

“I had a little brother who was stillborn. His name was Thaddeus.”

“That’s precious, Chad.”

“Do you want to hold him?” Sierra asked.

“Can I?” A flutter of nervousness claimed my stomach. I wasn’t sure I’d ever held a baby this young, and I wasn’t confident in my abilities.

“Of course, Aunt Gabby.”

I grinned. “That has a nice ring to it.”

While I washed my hands, Chad scooped up the baby like he’d done it a million times before. I sat in a rocker by the window, and Chad placed the little bundle in my arm. My insides melted when I saw the baby’s sweet face. “Reef. You’re going to be one loved baby.”

Reef closed his eyes and cuddled up to me. I was toast. I knew it already. Aunt Gabby was going to spoil this baby.

Riley appeared behind me and put his hand on my shoulder. That action was enough to draw Sierra’s eyes away from her baby for a moment.

“I knew it!” Her eyes were wide and her voice full of emotion.

I practiced mock cluelessness. “Knew what?”

“That the two of you would get back together. I was just waiting for it.”

“He just put his hand on my shoulder. It doesn’t mean necessarily that we’re back together.”

“But you are. Aren’t you?”

I looked up at Riley and smiled. I couldn’t deny it. My heart was bursting with joy. “Yeah, you could say that.”

She narrowed her eyes. “What’s that mean? There’s something you’re not telling me.”

I shrugged nonchalantly. “We may have accidentally gotten married. We’re still trying to work out those details.”

“Oh, you’ve got some talking to do.”

“We’ll have plenty of time for that here in the next few weeks.” I looked down at Reef and smiled again. “It seems like we all have a lot to celebrate.”