Promise Made (The Callahan Series) (23 page)

“All right, all right,” she answered placatingly, keeping her hands up in plain sight. “Let me lock him in the bathroom.”

“Go ahead. Just remember I’m watching.” He looked over at Gram. “If you do anything stupid, you know what’ll happen to the old lady.”

Kate grabbed Yogi by the collar and dragged him to the bathroom.

She opened the door and put him inside, scanning the countertop for a weapon. The only thing there was a pair of small scissors she’d used to cut off a hanging cuticle earlier. She grabbed it and stuck it in her pocket. Pitifully inadequate against a gun, but it was all she had.

She shut the door on Yogi’s barks and walked back to her office.

Jerome smiled a drunken smile of victory.

“What do you want with us?” she asked, as she stood as close to him and as far away from Gram as possible.

“You got the bitch off who killed Toby. She should’ve gone to death row. Since she ain’t going to die, you are.”

He raised the gun and took aim.

“Don’t!” Gram said. “Why don’t you shoot me and let Kate go?”

“Were you the bitch’s lawyer?” he snapped. “Were you the one who sweet-talked the jury into letting her go free? I don’t think so. Nope.”

“Wait!” Kate cried out.

“
What?
For Chrissakes—”

“No one needs to die. Look. I know the sheriff. If you let us go, I’ll make sure no charges are held against you. You can leave town and live your life without a murder charge over your head.”

“Not good enough.”

What would he want the most?

“Money? You want money? I can give you money.”

Interest leaped into his eyes. “How much?”

Could she lie and name a large amount? She’d better not risk it. “Ten grand.” Every penny she’d make from the sale of her condo plus the five thousand Rita would give her.

His mouth puckered as if to whistle, but he was too far gone to succeed. Still, interest was there. “I can go to the bank first thing in the morning, get the money, and you can be on your way.” The money wasn’t there yet, but she could get it if he agreed to the deal.

“The bitch got a hundred grand for Toby. She’ll be living large while I get a measly ten. I don’t think so.”

Kate didn’t have any more money. What now?

“I’ll give you the hundred thousand if you promise to let us go,” Gram said.

Kate whipped around to look at Gram. She sat there like a queen, her head high, her cheeks flushed, a look of determination on her face.

“Do you have that much money?” he asked.

Gram nodded.

Kate had no idea Gram had that kind of money. And here she was, willing to give it away to keep them safe.

“Now that’s more like it.”

“It’s settled then. You’ll let me get the money from the bank, then let us go?” Gram asked, her voice firm and steady.

Jerome studied them. “Deal.”

“How do we know you won’t take the money and kill us anyway?” Kate asked.

Jerome chuckled. “That’s the kicker, isn’t it?”

****

Dugan pulled himself up to the window of Kate’s office for a quick look. Jerome stood there with a gun pointed at Kate. Dugan almost had a heart attack before he ducked down and returned to Ed.

“Well?”

“The bastard’s in Kate’s office with a gun on both women.”

Ed cursed. Dugan agreed. If he didn’t act fast, Kate would die. Dugan's mouth turned dry. He couldn’t let it happen. Wouldn’t.

“If we break down the door, he’ll use the gun before we get to him,” Dugan said.

“Grace hides a key,” Ed said. Seconds later, he waved it at Dugan. “Let’s go.”

Dugan took the key, slid it into the lock. “I’ll go. You stay put.”

“You’re in big trouble if you say that again.”

“Then stay behind me.”

“I’ll be right beside you, son. And don’t forget it.”

They opened the door quietly, although it didn’t really matter. Yogi was still raising hell somewhere in the house. Any noise they made would be covered up by his yelps.

Good boy, Yogi.

With guns drawn, the two made their way from the back door and into the kitchen. At the entrance to Kate’s office they waited a moment before showing themselves.

Dugan peered around the corner. Jerome was in the same spot, the gun even more unsteady than before. He braced himself for what was to come just as—

Sirens sounded. Sirens? What the hell? Dugan could have killed his deputy with his bare hands.

Jerome grabbed Kate around the neck and held the gun to her temple. “How did they know I was here?” he yelled.

“I don’t know,” she insisted. “I certainly haven’t had a chance to call anyone!”

“Shit!”

“Police! Freeze!” Dugan stepped forward just as Kate slammed her hand onto Jerome’s leg, then ducked and rolled.

Jerome hollered. “Son of a—!”

A shot rang out.

Kate screamed. Dugan lunged toward Jerome and caught him in a chokehold, which made him pass out and drop his gun.

Ed ran to Grace.

Ralph burst in through the front door.

And Yogi was still barking his silly head off.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Dugan handcuffed Jerome behind his back, wrapped a bandage around his bleeding thigh, and helped Ralph put him in the back seat of his cruiser. Dugan then yanked the prisoner sideways in the seat, slapped on another pair of cuffs and hooked them to an iron bar stretched across the back of the cruiser.

Jerome rained curses down on anyone within earshot.

“You won’t get out of these,” Dugan promised. He turned to Ralph. “I called Jonathan. He’ll meet you at the office. Don’t take the prisoner out of the cruiser until he gets there.” Otherwise, Dugan would have to go in himself. Right now he wanted to be with Kate. “Call Doc Pullman and have him take a look at his leg.”

“Bitch almost killed me!” Jerome yelled. “I’m bleeding!”

“You’ll live,” Dugan said dryly.

“It's only a few blocks, Jerome, so settle your butt down,” Ralph barked as he started the motor.

Dugan gave the cuffs another yank to make sure they were secure, and waved Ralph on his way.

As the cruiser made its way to the jail, Dugan’s mind flashed back to the moment he’d thought Kate would die. His heart still hammered so hard it was a wonder he could still function. One thing was clearer than ever in both his heart and mind. He loved Kaitlin Maroney. He believed she loved him, too. It might take time, but he wanted Kate back in his life. As more than a lover or friend. He wanted a forever relationship.

He went back inside, stood in the doorway, crossed his arms, and watched as Kate made sure her gram was all right. Ed had a protective arm around the woman he loved. She didn’t seem to mind at all. Yogi, unused to so much excitement, ran back and forth between all of them. Poor dog probably wasn’t sure what had happened to his peaceful home.

To see everyone safe and whole was such a relief that Dugan let out a sigh of gratitude. It could have turned out so different.

“You were wonderful, Gram,” Kate was saying as she gave her grandmother a hug. “I didn’t know what to do.”

“You did well, Katie-Girl. You stopped him with those scissors.” She wrapped her arms around her granddaughter.

“You’re coming home with me, Grace,” Ed said, the same firmness in his voice Dugan had heard earlier. “There’s no way I’m going to worry about you the rest of the night.” He took her hand. “Get your things.”

Grace’s gaze shot to Kate. “I can’t leave Kate here by herself.”

Ed, his dark eyes full of determination, cornered Dugan. “You’ll see to Kate, won’t you?”

Dugan swallowed. It was the same kind of order Sheriff Clark had given when Dugan was a wet-behind-the-ears-deputy.

“Ed. No. Really. I'll be fine,” Kate was protesting.

“Don’t worry about Kate. I’ll take care of her. You two go on.”

“You need to take care of your prisoner,” Kate said, sounding more desperate than she’d sounded with Jerome.

Dugan’s gaze never left hers as he hit speed dial on his cell.

After a short few words he turned it off. “The prisoner is right where he belongs. Doc Pullman’s on his way to tend his wound. No problems.”

“I’ll be fine,” she insisted. “Go home and get some sleep.”

His own determination surged. “I don’t think so.”

****

Kate wanted to raise more objections, but her brain couldn’t get past the fact that Dugan planned to spend the night, with Ed and Gram’s blessings no less.

It wasn’t because she didn’t want him to. To be able to curl up in his arms would be the best thing she could think of to erase the memory of what had just happened.

“Are you sure about this, Katie-Girl?” Gram asked.

Kate’s heart was only now beginning to settle into its normal rhythm. She’d never been so frightened in her life. When Dugan showed up, he had been an answer to her prayers.

Now she was faced with a different sort of danger. Hadn’t she vowed to end the affair with Dugan? How could she resist him in the state she was in?

“I'm fine. I love you, Gram.” Kate hugged her, blinking back a sudden spurt of tears.

“We’ll talk tomorrow,” Gram promised. “Get some sleep. It’s been a grueling few days.”

Ed had left the room and now stood there with Gram’s overnight bag in his hand, a worried look on his face.

He’s afraid Gram won’t go with him.

The man had asked her to marry him. Gram hadn’t given him an answer. If she left with him tonight it would be a good sign she would say yes. If she didn’t, it was a resounding no.

When Gram finally turned to hug and say goodnight to Dugan then walked over to Ed, the poor man almost sagged against the wall. His relief equaled Kate’s. The two of them
should
be together.

Kate watched them leave. Ed would make Gram happy and take care of her.

But Kate didn’t need to be taken care of. Plus, she was bone tired. Packing all day, the drive back, plus the confrontation with Jerome...

We stand on our own two feet, Kate.

She pulled herself up, stiffened her spine. She might be beyond tired, and she might have faced down a killer tonight, but she’d been taking care of herself for years.

“Thanks, Dugan, but you can leave now. I know you told Ed you’d take care of me, but—”

“You can take care of yourself, I know. But there are times when a little help comes in handy. Do you have any idea how stubborn you are?”

She wanted to cry with any number of emotions: fear, relief, exhaustion, frustration, gratitude, you name it. “You came just in time,” she finally settled on, feeling her resistance crumble. Was she starting to shake? Good Lord.

Dugan cleared his throat. “I'm sorry about the stubborn thing. That was my frustration talking. Listen, maybe I didn't get a chance to tell you with everything going on, but you were wonderful in court.”

Her heart stilled as her eyes met his. “You told me. But you didn’t call.”

“Work got in the way. Then you weren’t here. What’s with the U-Haul?”

“I sold my condo. This episode tonight just reinforced my need to be here for Gram. She isn’t as young as she once was.”

“She has Ed.”

“I know. He’s wonderful to her. It’s me.” She put her hand to her chest. “Here, inside, I feel as if I should stay. Look what happened a few weeks ago. I was in the next room when she fell and broke her arm. I’m so afraid she’ll get hurt again and I...I won’t be close enough to help.”

Tears leaked between closed eyelids. She opened them and summoned her last reserve of strength. “Like I said, thanks for everything, Dugan. You’ve been wonderful. If you’re worried about Ed,” she said. “I’ll tell him you took good care of me.”

“Kate…?”

She opened her mouth to protest. But Dugan stopped her.

“Don’t say a word. I’m staying.”

Now was the time. “Dugan—about our affair. It can’t continue.”

“What? You didn’t enjoy it?”

The look of disbelief on his face made her wonder what he saw when he looked at her. Determination, she hoped. “I was wrong. We can’t make love, have a long-term affair, and survive. Neither of us. So let’s call it what it was, a wonderful interlude where we visited our past. This is the here and now, Dugan, and we need to cool it.”

“Cool it?”

He came over, touched her cheek, ran a hand to her mouth, circled it with a finger.

“Does that feel cool to you?”

She shivered, but not from the cold. Her insides were practically melting—from just a touch. Was she doing the right thing? Or making the same mistake twice?

“I thought we had something special going on,” he said softly.

“We did. But it—we can’t continue, Dugan.”

He turned away from her, swearing. “All right, then. I’ll sleep on the couch.”

Her heart leapt. Dugan in the next room when she wanted him in her bed? What could be worse? She couldn’t let him stay. He barely listened to a word she said. The way she was feeling, it would be a disaster. For both of them.

She held up a shaky hand. “No. Absolutely not. It’s not—
Dugan
—!”

He was already heading for the linen closet.

Chapter Twenty-Three

It was over. Dugan felt as if his world was crashing down around him. Whatever they had shared so gloriously barely days ago had vanished when she stormed into her room, leaving him to make up his bed on the couch. She was having no part of him.

He slumped onto the overstuffed thing. Was there nothing he could do or say to change her mind?

Not as long as she had that look of stubborn determination etched on her face.

Maybe she'd soften up by morning.

In the meantime, he tried to make himself comfortable on the too soft, too short couch. It wasn’t possible. He gave up, went to the den and stretched out on the lounge chair. Better. There was a drawback, however. He could hear the water running in the shower—reminding him of their last encounter there. Her smooth skin, the tiny mole on her right shoulder he ached to kiss again, and the other one near her left hip.

Shit! He’d never see either of them again if he didn’t do something.

He got up and paced the room. Maybe moving around would take away the urge to push the door open, stalk into her bathroom, take her in his arms, and take up where they’d left off earlier in the week. Something had changed since they’d last seen each other. Kate was holding herself in tight reserve. Holding herself back. From him. From them.