Obsessed (The Lizzy Gardner Series) (29 page)

CHAPTER 72

“Mom, look at Hayley. She’s all dressed up.”

Hayley watched Hudson run toward her as she and Dog came down her steps, the kid’s attention already transferred entirely to the mutt. Hudson threw himself to his knees and Dog bounded over to him to bathe his face with his slobbery tongue as he hugged him and laughed.

Becca came out of the house carrying a large cardboard box that she loaded into the trunk of her car parked right outside the door. She took a moment to look at Hayley and see what all the fuss was about. “Well, would you look at that? Is the pope visiting and I’m the last to hear about it?”

“Just a wedding.” Hayley gestured toward the car, already filled to the brim with boxes and crates. “What’s going on?”

Becca planted both hands on her hips. “We’re moving in with my sister and her kids for a while. She has a farm in Ojai. I think it’s time Hudson and I had a change of scenery.”

“Sounds like the perfect setting for a dog named Dog.”

Hudson grinned, his big eyes praying for a miracle.

“I thought someone else was taking him,” Becca said.

Hayley shook her head. “Dog didn’t like the kids pulling on his ears and on what little bit of tail he has left, so I told them I changed my mind.”

She gave Hudson the leash, and he knew what to do. He followed Dog to a little patch of grass.

“Are you sure you want to part ways with him?” Becca asked.

“Yeah, he’s more of a nuisance than anything else.”

Becca grabbed paper and pen from the car and scribbled something down. “Here’s our address if you ever want to visit Dog. And just so you know, I plan to get a job and pay you back every penny I owe you.”

“No need,” Hayley said. “Put it toward dog food.”

“I’m selling the house, but until then, the apartment is yours.”

“I think it’s time for me to make a few changes, too.”

Becca looked around, her face pinched as if there was more she wanted to say but couldn’t find the words.

“Take care of them, will you?” Hayley asked.

Becca nodded, her eyes glistening.

CHAPTER 73

Lizzy was in her car, heading for home. This was her wedding day and a beautiful day it was. The December sun was out, shedding its wintry light on her little part of the world. She felt dizzy with happiness, a sentiment that boggled the mind, considering she’d never thought the day would come when she would feel this way.

Lizzy was almost home when her sister called. She hit the answer button on her console and said hello.

“We’re all here at the church,” Cathy said. “Are you on your way?”

“I had to run to the store to pick up the gift I ordered for Jared. I’ll be home in a few minutes to grab my dress and then I’ll be on my way.”

Cathy sighed. “Sure, don’t let your own wedding rush you.”

“I’ll get there. My makeup’s all done.”

“Has been since you got out of bed this morning.”

Unfazed by her sister’s teasing, she laughed. “This is true.”

Another sigh from Cathy. Lizzy hoped she wasn’t about to get all emotional—mainly because she wasn’t sure of her own ability to stave off tears if Cathy started. Everything about the day so far had felt surreal.

“OK, Cath,” Lizzy said. “Just a few more blocks. I’m hanging up before—”

“Lizzy, I realize this isn’t a good time to tell you this, but I wanted you to know that I flew to Oregon and met our half sister, Michelle.”

Lizzy didn’t know what to say.

“She’s a lovely person. Her daughter, Emma, is adorable. They can’t wait to meet you.”

All right, even more surreal.
Lizzy’s throat had closed up tight.

“Are you still there, Lizzy?”

“I’m here.”

“Are you crying? You are, aren’t you? I’m sorry. I should have waited.”

“No, no. I’m glad you told me. These are happy tears.”

“I’m sorry, Lizzy. Sorry for all the pain and suffering you’ve endured . . . sorry for not being there for you when you needed a shoulder to cry on. And I’m proud of you, too. I couldn’t have asked for a better sister. I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Lizzy said, trying to keep it together but losing the battle. Thank God she was home. She pulled in the garage and shut off the engine before she looked at her face in the rearview mirror. “Great. Now I
do
need to do my makeup. My nose is red and my eyes are puffy. I look horrible.”

Cathy laughed. “Grab your dress and get to the church. All of your girls are here. We’ll fix you up.”

“Thanks.”

They hung up. Lizzy wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. She glanced at the watch she’d had engraved for Jared. She’d also made a book of memories the two of them had shared over the years and had it professionally bound in leather.

She shook her head at how ridiculous it was that she’d made Jared spend the night in a hotel last night, since it was bad luck to see the bride before the wedding ceremony. Then she saw the time. She needed to get moving.

Leaving the gifts in the car, she climbed out and hurried inside to get her things.

As she walked through the home where she and Jared had lived for the past two years, she breathed in the life they had built together and felt content as she made her way upstairs to the master bedroom. She went to the bed and wrapped her arms around Jared’s pillow, breathing in his scent and smiling at this unfamiliar mushy side of herself.

There it was again . . . that crazy, intangible thing called happiness flowing through her veins.

She opened the door to the walk-in closet and grabbed her dress. She walked into the bathroom next to get her makeup and accessories needed for her big day.

A noise sounded downstairs. She stood still. Listened.

Nothing.

Three weeks ago, Madeline had been murdered in her home. Although there were no witnesses and no evidence found, Seth Brown was assumed to be the culprit. His last victim before attempting to add Lizzy and Kitally to the list. His wife, Janelle Brown, had been questioned and investigated, but there was no proof that she’d had any knowledge of her husband’s activities, so she’d been sent home. She’d struck Lizzy as a strange woman—that shock of white hair, those angry eyes—but still, her heart went out to her. What could it possibly be like to live alone in the house you’d unknowingly shared with a madman? All that sadness turned loose on the world by one damaged man. Lizzy was saddened above all to think she hadn’t been able to save Madeline, but she was thankful she’d at least been able to prove that Madeline had had nothing to do with her friends’ demises.

Lizzy looked into the mirror. “No more jumping at every sound,” she told herself. “It’s over. It’s all over. Today you’re going to marry the man of your dreams. When you walk up that aisle, your only care is making sure Jared knows how much you love him.” After her speech, despite her determination not to freak out at every noise, she walked out of the bedroom, leaned over the railing and looked around.

Nobody was there.

Sending Jared away for the night had been a mistake. She missed him.

Back in the bedroom, she made a pile on the bed of the things she would need. She glanced at the clock on the nightstand and realized she was barely going to make it in time. Grabbing her cell phone, she called Jared.

Her heart drummed against her chest as she took a seat on the chair in the corner of the room and waited for him to pick up.

As Jared walked from the parking lot to the church, he looked at his phone to see if he’d missed any calls. He wanted to call Lizzy, but he was pretty sure that was against the wedding-day rules. No sooner had the thought gone through his mind than his phone began to ring.

“You called,” he said, sounding surprised.

Lizzy laughed. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“You made me spend the night in a hotel last night. I thought we weren’t supposed to talk to one another.”

“It’s bad luck if we see each other before the ceremony,” she told him, “not if we talk to each other.”

“Do you really believe all of that malarkey?”

“Not one bit,” she said. “Biggest mistake I ever made. I feel like we’ve been apart a lifetime.”

“I feel the same.” He peered through the glass door leading into the church, but decided to stay outside while he finished talking to Lizzy. “Looks like your bridesmaids are all ready to go. Are you on your way?”

“How do they look? Did Hayley wear her dress?”

He took another look. “They all look amazing. Everyone is in blue, just as you wanted. I’ve never seen Hayley in a dress. She looks great.”

“I’m so happy, Jared.”

“I’m glad.”

“It’s the weirdest thing,” Lizzy told him. “For the past few months, I just wanted the two of us to go to the courtroom and get married. I didn’t want flowers and cakes and friends and family, but I was wrong. I can’t wait to walk down the aisle and say my vows. I love you so much.”

“I love you, too, Lizzy.”

“I’m sorry I’m running so late. There was something I had to get, but I’m home now. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

“Good to know. I didn’t see your car in the parking lot and I was afraid you might leave me standing at the altar, looking like a fool.”

“Never. I’ve waited a lifetime for this day. I’ll see you soon.”

After they hung up, Jared took a moment to look around him and take it all in. It was December, five days before Christmas, but the sky was blue and there wasn’t a rain cloud in sight. He thought about everything he and Lizzy had gone through to get to this point. Their journey had been a winding road of craziness and mishaps, but they’d made it. Lizzy always talked as if she was the one who needed him, but it was the other way around. Always had been. There was nobody else in this world for him but Lizzy.

He turned back to the doors and pushed his way through the early arrivals. Heather rushed up to him, gave him a long squeeze and then wiped a tear from her eye and straightened his tie.

“I still think you should have gone with the tuxedo,” she said, “but I guess I’ll have to wait for my own knight in shining armor to come along before I can walk up the aisle with a handsome man in a tux.”

“The flowers look great,” he said, looking at the pews, feeling awkward, since Heather had given off not-so-subtle hints that she was into him the last time they were together. “I hope you sent me the invoice.”

“Nah, the flowers are on me. I had a lot of fun helping you.”

“That’s too generous. I can’t accept.”

She shrugged him off, but he figured he’d settle the matter later. Jared looked over Heather’s shoulder and smiled at Hayley, Kitally, and Jessica. He held up a finger, letting them know he would just be a minute.

“This is horrible of me to say—even worse that I’m going to tell you this on your wedding day—but I’ve had a mad crush on you for a while now.”

He said nothing.

“I was hoping there might be something there, but you never wavered. Not once.”

“You know there’s only one girl for me. I’ve waited a long time for this day. Nothing could ever stop me from loving Lizzy Gardner.”

She blushed and looked away.

“No reason to be embarrassed. I want you to know that I appreciate your friendship. You deserve to be happy, Heather. If that means finding the right man, then it will happen for you. Not when you’re looking, though. It never happens when you’re looking.”

“Lizzy is a lucky girl,” she said before motioning toward the organist. “I better make sure Mrs. Peters knows where to go.”

After Heather walked off, he made his way to the front of the church, where Lizzy’s sister, niece, and the other bridesmaids were gathered.

“I don’t know if you remember me, but I’m Kitally.” She offered him a hand to shake, but Jared chuckled and gave her a bear hug instead.

“Of course I remember you. I haven’t had a chance to thank you for helping Lizzy out. You did good work. You’re a hero.”

“Lizzy did all of the hard work. I just provided her with the right tools to get the job done.”

He couldn’t argue with that, but neither could he promote carrying a machete around, so he merely nodded.

Cathy hugged him next, and then her daughter, Brittany, followed by Jessica and Hayley.

“You girls look terrific. Thanks for being here.”

“Where’s the bride?” Jessica asked. “I brought the hairpins she asked for.” She looked at her watch. “We don’t have much time to get her dressed. Another few minutes and most of the guests will be here.”

“You know Lizzy,” Jared said. “She likes to keep everyone on their toes.”

“I talked to her,” Cathy said. “She’s grabbing her dress and heading over here as we speak.”

Jared’s heart began to race. Seeing the people gathering in the pews, being there at the church, he realized he was getting nervous. “How’s Tommy doing?” he asked Hayley, hoping to stop his nerves from getting the best of him.

“They took two bullets from his left arm. He’ll need some rehab, but his doctor said he should be released in the next few days. He’s bummed he can’t be here.”

“I’m glad he’s doing so well.”

“Look who’s here,” Jared said to Jessica, nodding to Magnus, who’d just walked through the doors at the other end of the room. “I didn’t realize you two were still an item.”

Jessica blushed. “We’re not. He recently finished a job in El Salvador and since he’s back in town, Lizzy told me to go ahead and invite him today. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all.”

“Come on,” Cathy said to the group. “Lizzy is going to come through the back door of the dressing room. It’s this way.”

“I’m going to say hello to Magnus and then I’ll be right there,” Jessica told her.

Jared watched them all walk away. It made him happy to see everyone together and doing well. Jessica, he noticed, had been all smiles when she’d headed off toward Magnus. But suddenly she looked over her shoulder at him, her smile replaced by a look of fear before she turned back the other way again.

Following her gaze, he saw a woman he didn’t recognize. She wore a white lab coat. Polka-dotted sneakers peaked out from beneath blue scrub pants.
A nurse?
Her hair was disheveled and there was a frazzled look about her. She turned and that’s when he saw the gun in her hand.

Without hesitation, she started shooting into the crowd, pulling the trigger again and again.

Jared saw Magnus throw himself on top of Jessica, pushing her to the ground, his back violently arching as if he’d taken a bullet to the back.

The shooter aimed and fired, aimed and fired.

People were screaming, falling to the ground, hiding wherever they could.

Heather was draped over the seat of the organ, her dress covered in blood. The organist was slumped over the black and white keys.

Jimmy Martin, good friend and FBI agent, crouched low between the pews, protecting his wife as he used his cell phone to call for help.

The chaos was all around him. Everything felt as if it was happening in slow motion. Jared looked to his left, where he’d seen the bridesmaids moments ago. They weren’t anywhere in the room.
Thank God.

Kitally was crawling on all fours. He wasn’t sure if she’d been shot.

Bullets were still being fired when he spotted Hayley moving up the side aisle. Why hadn’t she stayed with the others? Unlike the panicked guests, she appeared steadfast and calm. She marched forward along the wall, then turned and headed straight for the woman with the gun. There was anger in Hayley’s expression, power in every step she took.

Get out of there, Hayley.
Now was not the time to be a hero. She needed to run, get out of harm’s way.

Somebody yelled Jared’s name at the exact moment he took a bullet to his arm and then another to his chest. A searing pain shot through every part of his body at once. “Hayley,” he shouted. “Get down!”

He took a step forward, but that’s all he could manage. He needed to get everyone out of the way, needed to stop Hayley from getting herself killed.

Another bullet ripped through his thigh. A fierce heat rushed through him.

He looked at the nurse with the gun. A shock of white hair, a crazed look in her eyes.

Numb. He felt numb. He hardly felt the next two bullets. His arm. His chest.