Wrong Place, Wrong Time (39 page)

“He has faith in you.”

“I hope it’s warranted.”

“It is.”

“He had no choice,” Devon consoled herself aloud. “His hands were tied — literally. If he tried anything, your grandmother would have shot Merry. But, God, what if it’s too late? What if — ” She broke off, shaking her head adamantly. “I won’t go there. I can’t.”

“Don’t. We’re almost at Clove Mountain.” Blake slowed down to avoid a collision. Route 55 was completely snow-covered, and the smattering of cars on the road were skidding badly.

It was worse when they turned onto the side streets.

One by one, the drivers thinned out, until there was no one left on the road except them.

West Clove Mountain Road lay just around the bend.

Blake veered onto it.

The initial section was a disaster — slick, snow-covered, and without a single tire tread or car to pave the way. The section they were heading toward would be a death trap.

They had to tackle it, and win.

“There’s the roadblock,” Devon exclaimed, pointing. “See it?”

“Barely, but yeah.” Blake squinted through the pelting snow that was now coming down in a hard, relentless blanket.

“There’s a set of tire treads on the other side,” Devon reported, spotting the dark lines etched on stark white. “Someone’s been here. Probably Luis, since we haven’t heard from the sheriff.” Grimly, she tightened her seat belt, preparing for a jarring ride. “We’ve got to hurry.”

Blake accelerated, slamming into the barrier and sending it careening down the hillside.

The road was buried by snow. Both sides were thickly wooded, with tree branches that hung over the road. Dark and forbidding, they made the already poor visibility nonexistent. To Devon’s right, a steep cliff pitched downward, disappearing past a tangled mass of tree limbs into a bottomless pit.

Devon kept her gaze focused ahead, searching for any sign of movement. She couldn’t allow herself to consider the possibility that they were too late.

“I see red lights ahead,” Blake informed her, leaning forward. “Two of them. They must be taillights.”

“I see them, too.” Devon gripped the dashboard, her heart slamming against her ribs. “It’s definitely a car.”

Blake switched off his own headlights. “I don’t want to clue Luis in to the fact that we’re here.”

“Don’t slow down,” Devon instructed. “The car’s definitely Monty’s. And it’s stopped. Luis must be getting ready to shove the car over the cliff.”

“That’s not happening,” Blake said flatly. He downshifted and accelerated, blasting ahead. The Jag skidded, but obeyed Blake’s command, roaring up to the Toyota.

“There’s our guy,” Devon muttered, seeing the bulky form of a man standing next to Monty’s Corolla and leaning into the driver’s seat.

Luis’s head snapped around. Panicking, he scrambled out of the way as the Jag lurched forward, shearing off the open Corolla door, and showering him with a spray of snow.

Devon frantically scrutinized the inside of the Corolla. For a fleeting instant, she could make out three human forms — Monty, slumped across the steering wheel, Sally, crumpled and unconscious beside him, and Merry sprawled in the backseat.

Her insides wrenched.

Slamming on his brakes and jerking his steering wheel, Blake skidded, winding up diagonally in front of the Corolla and blocking its forward motion. His front tires came to a halt mere inches away from the edge of the road and its sharp drop-off.

Devon burst out of the Jag before it stopped. She raced after Luis, who was trying to flee, and grabbed him from behind. Spinning him around, she slammed her knee into his groin.

Luis collapsed in agony, choking out a curse in Spanish and crumpling in the snow.

Climbing into the Toyota, Blake leaned past Monty and yanked up the emergency brake. By the time he seized Monty and began maneuvering him out the door, Devon was there, helping him.

Together, they carried her father to safety, then rushed back. Blake went around to the passenger side and scooped up Sally while Devon crawled into the backseat and hauled out Merry.

She’d just lowered her sister to the sheltered snowbank beside her parents when she heard the wail of sirens. From both directions, patrol cars twisted their way down West Clove Mountain Road, skidding to a stop as they reached the scene.

Luis, who’d been limping his way along the road — and toward escape — halted, raising his hands over his head in surrender. Two cops sprang out of their vehicles and raised their weapons, cautioning him not to make any sudden moves. They then made their way over, yanking his hands behind his back and slapping handcuffs on him.

“Any other assailants?” one of the officers called out to Devon.

“No. He’s it.”

“Are the rest of you okay?”

“Yes…I think so.” Devon rose slowly, realizing she was trembling all over, with a chill that emanated from the inside out. “But my family’s unconscious. Did you call for an ambulance?”

“Already done. It’s on its way.”

“We won’t need it,” a groggy voice from behind Devon declared.

She nearly wept with joy at the welcome sound.

Monty.

She turned, relief flooding through her in huge waves as she saw her father struggle into a sitting position. He took in the scene around him, then shot Devon a wry grin. “Hey, partner. Don’t crap out on me now. Get over here and cut me out of these damn ropes.”

Devon swallowed hard. “Yes, boss.”

“I’ve got them.” Blake pulled out his pocketknife, shifting over and squatting down to slice through Monty’s bonds. “There.”

“Thanks.” Monty rubbed the circulation back into his wrists, then turned to Sally, who was starting to come around.

Blake was already there, severing Sally’s ropes and helping her sit up.

“That’s it, hon,” Monty murmured, reaching over to gently shake her face and stroke her cheek. “You’re okay. We all are.”

Sally’s lashes fluttered and lifted. “Pete?” she managed, blinking and trying to get her bearings. “Where’s Merry?”

“Right next to you.”

“Next to me — where? Where are we?”

“Safe.” He substantiated his claim with a broad sweep of his arm. “See for yourself.”

She complied, leaning forward and scanning the area, peering through the falling snow. Her eyes filled with emotion as she focused on her older daughter, now hovering over her. “Devon — thank God.”

“Hi, Mom. Welcome home.” Devon dropped onto her knees and hugged her mother, tears burning behind her eyelids. “I’m so grateful you’re all right —
and
that you’re back here with us.”

“Me, too.” Sally clutched her daughter for a long minute. Then Devon felt her stiffen and draw away. “Pete, what’s taking Merry so long to come around?” she asked nervously.

“She’s been knocked out a couple of times today,” Monty replied, having crawled around to his daughter. “She’s inhaled a lot more chloroform than we have. Give her a minute. She’s tough. Right, baby?” He slid his arm behind Merry’s back, raising her up and supporting her, as Blake moved around back and sliced through her bonds.

“There you go,” Monty murmured, lightly patting her face. “C’mon, Merry. Wake up.” He scooped up a handful of snow, letting frosty chunks drop onto her cheeks and forehead.

That did the trick.

With a whimper of protest, Merry averted her face, trying to avoid the chill.

“No way,” Monty informed her, his hand following her motion. “You want the cold to go away? Open those beautiful eyes.”

Frowning, Merry obeyed, her nose wrinkling as she stared up at her father. “Why are you throwing snowballs at me?”

He gave a relieved chuckle. “Reliving your childhood, I guess. Now sit up and I’ll stop.”

Merry squirmed into a sitting position, wincing at the discomfort in her wrists. “What’s going on?” she mumbled, rubbing feeling back into them. “Oh.” Her gaze widened as she remembered what had happened, and fear flashed across her face.

“It’s over, sweetie.” Devon leaned over to smooth her sister’s hair off her face. “No one’s going to hurt you, or Mom and Dad.”

“Mom’s okay?”

“Very okay.” Sally reached over to squeeze Merry’s arm, then climbed to her feet.

“Where are we?” Merry looked around.

“In a snowbank,” Devon reported. “But not for long. Come on. Let’s get you home.” She helped Merry up, steadying her on her feet.

Monty had made his way over to the nearest cop and was issuing a few terse instructions. He then headed back to his family, giving them a quick once-over to ensure they were fine.

“We’re going to your place,” he informed Sally. “That way, we’ll be able to change clothes and eat something hot while we’re giving the cops our statement. The sheriff already sent two cars over to the Piersons’ farm. No one’s getting away, not in this weather.”

“That includes Vista,” Devon added. “Blake called in his license number. The sheriff sent a car over to the Best Western.”

Monty frowned. “I hope they have enough to hold him.”

“They will.” Devon pulled out her cassette recorder and waved it in the air. “Blake told them I had a tape of your enlightening chat with Anne Pierson. Also that I have your file, complete with the documentation of Edward’s illegal payments to Vista. That’s more than enough to issue a search warrant for his trailer. And once they check it out, Vista’s toast.”

Pride flashed in Monty’s eyes. “You did good.”

Devon’s lips curved. “Like you said, I learned from the best.” She turned to Blake. “And I had help.”

“Yup. Pretty impressive help.” Monty gave Blake an approving nod. “You know that test we discussed? Consider it over. You aced it.”

Blake’s smile was weary. “Thanks, but I’d be happier if I’d accomplished that under different circumstances. I wish this case had played out any other way but this.”

“I know.” Monty blew out a breath, then gestured for Blake to give him a hand. “Let’s push my car back on the road and head out. You can either follow us to Sally’s or stop at your family’s place. It’s your call.”

“I’ll follow you.” Blake didn’t hesitate. “Before I do anything else, I want to give my statement to the police. I’ve got time to see my family. I’ll call them from the car, make sure Dr. Richards is there for my grandfather. I’ll also call Louise. We’ll need lots of legal counsel, personal as well as corporate, since so much of this nightmare threads through both. Between the company funds my grandfather siphoned into that offshore account to bankroll Vista and Paterson, and the fact that more of those funds were used to pay off my grandmother’s hired thug in Uruguay — state and federal authorities are going to be swarming all over us.”

“There’s no way around it,” Monty agreed. “You’re going to have your hands full. But your family’s strong. So’s your company. Both will survive.”

“I’m sure they will.”

“As for Louise,” Monty said thoughtfully. “You and I need to talk.”

“About?”

“Later. Right now, you need a good attorney. And she’s it.”

“All right.” Blake met Monty’s gaze head-on. “You must think I’m out of my mind for still giving a damn what happens to my grandparents.”

“Nope. I think you’re doing what you have to. It’s your family.”

“Most of whom are good, decent people who’ll be stunned when they find out the truth. I have to be there for them
and
for the company.”

“Be there for them first,” Monty suggested, his tone uncharacteristically raw. “Take it from a guy who screwed up and is just now realizing how much. Family is everything. The rest is icing.”

Startled by her father’s poignant admission, Devon slanted a quick glance, first at her sister, then at her mother. Merry was smiling, watching Monty with the kind of admiration and love that said she was lowering her walls of self-protection. And Sally was visibly moved, her eyes misting over as she absorbed her ex-husband’s words.

Devon found herself crossing her fingers.

Clearing his throat, Monty tromped around his Corolla, picking up the mangled door. “Come on, Blake. Let’s toss this in the trunk and get this baby back in commission.”

IT TOOK ONLY a few minutes of organized pushing for the Corolla to be pointing in the right direction, its engine cranking away.

Monty cleaned off the windshield and punched on the heat, helping his family dethaw by warming up the interior as best he could, given the missing door. That done, he climbed out and gave the car a nod of satisfaction. “There you go,” he declared. “Almost like it never happened.”

Devon’s lips twitched. “You know, Monty, now might not be a bad time to consider getting a new car.”

“Why?” He patted the hood. “This baby’s still got a lot of life in her. I’ll just get her fixed up, and she’ll be as good as new. Maybe better. Especially after I’m done with Blake’s insurance company.” Chuckling at his own dry humor, Monty waved his family over. “All set, gang. Time to hit the road.”

Reluctant to comply, Devon stood where she was, watching her mother and sister pile in. “Monty?” she heard herself call out.

He turned, his brows drawn in question.

“I’m riding with Blake.”

Monty hesitated for an instant, then gave a satisfied nod. “Yeah. You do that.” He snapped off a mock salute, sending a spray of snowflakes sailing through the air. “See you there.”

Devon watched her father hop into the car, a smile curving her lips. “You know,” she murmured to Blake. “I think you just signed on for a lot more than a driving companion.”

Blake bent down, brushed her lips with his. “I’m counting on it.”

The police took their statements, one by one, verifying all the details. Then they listened to the tape and pocketed it as evidence. Armed with more than enough to make their arrests, they said their good nights and headed for the door.

“Wait.” Monty stopped them in the hall, where Blake was already zipping up his jacket, ready to accompany the police.

Tompkins, the younger of the two cops, turned to Monty. “We called over to our guys next door, sir. Dr. Vista’s been picked up and brought over there. Between the snowstorm and the overlapping jurisdictions involved, it makes sense to detain all the suspects at the Pierson farm. We’re going over there to make the arrests.”