Dangerous Grounds Page 17

  “Him?” The man raised an eyebrow. “Oh, your boyfriend? Nothing. He left about ten minutes ago.”

  Madison blinked in shock. Her stomach clenching like she’d been punched. Gabe had left her. He couldn’t have. But deep down inside she knew the truth. He’d left her. The words looped in her head, keeping her from focusing on the situation at hand. Why? Why had Gabe left? She couldn’t come up with one logical reason.

  “Are you surprised?” the man asked. “Come on now, you women are always complaining about how men are such bastards. Are you really shocked that one would leave you to fend for yourself?”

  His words snapped Madison from her terror and shock. All thoughts of Gabe vanished and it became all too clear. If she was going to survive this, she was going to have to do it herself. Because nobody else was going to save her.

  “Well, I see you’re not going to be much fun.” He sighed and stood, removing the safety on the gun.

  “Hey, wait a minute.” She put her hands up to stop him, her heart pounding as sweat broke out on the back of her neck. “There’s no need to kill me. I mean, do you really have to? You could go across the border to Canada. I’ll forget all about you and pretend this conversation never took place. I hear it’s lovely up there. Ever been to Whistler?”

  “I was thinking about it, actually.” The man looked thoughtful. “But everything changed when the shop owner on Broadway died. The police are such sticklers about that kind of thing. They’d find me and extradite me.”

  Madison swallowed hard as her glance drifted around the room for a weapon. She spotted one by the couch. Trying to be casual, she walked slowly toward him.

  He stepped in front of her. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  “Umm…if you don’t mind, I’d like to sit down for a minute. I’m trying to come to terms with the fact that you’re going to kill me.”

  The man obviously thought he had a sense of humor, so she tried to play on it.

  “Besides if you shoot me on the couch, it’ll leave less of a mess. My parents pay for this place and if you ruin the rug they won’t get their deposit back.”

  “Hmm, interesting concept. I like the way you think.” He gestured with the gun. “Go ahead and sit down.”

  “Thanks.” She sat, not believing her good luck. Or how stupid he was. Her amazement grew when he actually moved to sit beside her. She could see that he seemed to be struggling a bit with his right arm, probably because Gabe had shot him there.

  “So, before you kill me, why don’t you do the tell all part. You know, where you brag about all the things you got away with, only you couldn’t tell anyone because they were illegal.”

  “What’s to tell?” He shrugged. “I robbed twelve coffee shops to pay off a gambling debt.”

  “A gambling debt?” Madison’s fear mixed with anger now as she reached her hand as inconspicuously as possible down the side of the couch. “I’m going to die because of a gambling debt? Couldn’t it at least been for something nobler? Like to pay for someone’s cancer treatment?”

  The man laughed, genuinely amused. “Noble? This isn’t a fairy tale, darling. Your knight isn’t going to ride in on a white horse to save you.”

  Apparently not. She’d realized that five minutes ago. Her hand closed around the object she sought.

  “Please don’t kill me,” she pleaded.

  “Oh, Madison.” He looked disappointed. “I had so much more respect for you. Don’t beg for your life now.”

  “Beg for my life?” She forced a laugh. “I wasn’t begging for my life, I was giving you one last chance.”

  She swung the two-pound dumbbell up and into the side of his head. He fell backwards from the impact with a curse and she ran toward the door. By the time she had it open, she heard him swear and struggle to come after her.

  She screamed and ran down the hallway, knowing no one would hear her. This was an intimate complex; she only had one neighbor on this floor and he was in Jamaica for the month.

  She heard the door to her apartment smash open and fear clogged thick in her chest. The elevator was right in front of her, but like hell was she going to push the button and stand there and wait for it. She ran for the stairs just as he fired the first shot.

  She screamed again, waiting for pain, but none came. Images of an old Oprah episode flashed through her head. If someone shot at you, you weren’t supposed to run in a straight line. If you ran from side to side, you were less of a target.

  She started weaving from one side of the hallway to the other, even as she heard more shots being fired. There was no pain and she knew it was working, especially when he started to swear louder at her.

  She reached the stairwell and swung open the door. Looking down the five floors of descending stairs, she would be dead if she tried to outrun him.

  When the door shut behind her, she hid behind it. She would be in his blind spot when he opened the door. Her heart pounded double from the adrenalin rush, even as her senses became a great deal sharper.

  The door swung open and the man ran through. Without hesitation she jumped him, using surprise and her weight to catch him off guard. He stumbled toward the railing and lost his balance, going halfway over.

  He grabbed her T-shirt, halting his fall and jerking her forward. She toppled over the railing after him, just managing to grab onto the bars before she fell. The man’s grasp on her shirt loosened and he slid down her leg, still clutching her calf until they both dangled over the edge.

  Madison screamed. The shrill sound resonated in the stairwell as she tried to kick him free. All that kept him from falling to his death was his grasp on her leg. She had both arms wrapped around the railing but slipped a little more with each passing second.

  God, we’re both going to die!

  He must have lost his grip on her leg, because he slid further down her leg and suddenly only held onto her ankle. She heard a pop, followed by a fierce throbbing. Her scream turned into a mix of terror and pain. Oh God, whatever had happened to her foot wasn’t good.

  She heard another snap and all the weight on her foot disappeared. The man’s horrified screams rang in her ears until there was a thud and all went quiet again. She glanced down, seeing her sandal was gone. The leather must’ve broken. Her gaze drifted farther down and she saw the man’s body twisted and lying like a sack of potatoes, her broken sandal clutched in his hand.

  She swallowed hard and closed her eyes against the horrific image.

  “Help…” Her fingers slipped a little more from the railing.

  No! I’m not going to die after everything else I’ve just survived!

  Sweat broke out on her brow and raw frustration ate in her gut. Her fingers closed tighter over the railing and she gave a grunt of determination, swinging her leg toward the stairs. Her ankle burned as it connected with the railing. The first try she didn’t make it up. The second, she did. Slowly, she managed to pull herself up and onto the stairs.

  Only after she knew she was safe and no longer in danger did she let herself fall apart.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Madison had curled up into a ball, shaking and crying when the police finally arrived.

  Gabe pushed past them all, coming to kneel beside her.

  “God, Maddie! Maddie, mi vida, I am so sorry.” He tried to pull her into his arms.

  An onslaught of emotions poured through her, anger being the strongest of them. Madison fought just as hard as she had when fighting for her life.

  “Get away,” she screamed, beating at his arms.

  “Maddie, wait—”

  “Where were you? You show up now? Now that I’m no longer in danger of dying? You left me, Gabe. He was going to kill me. I was all alone and he was going to kill me!”

  “Maddie, I got a phone call—”

  “You promised me you’d be there for me,” she cried hysterically. “You promised to protect me! Why weren’t you there, Gabe? When I needed you most you, why weren’t you there?”
>
  “Christ, will you let me explain.” He groaned as he tried again to pull her against him. “I came as soon as I figured it out—”

  “Let go,” Madison screamed.

  Finally another officer interceded and pulled Gabe away from her. He leaned close and said something into his ear. Gabe’s mouth tightened, but he finally turned and walked away.

  “Ma’am.” The officer came and knelt beside her. “Is there someone we can call for you?”

  With the distance between her and Gabe, she managed to compose herself enough to nod. “My mom.”

  “All right.” He put a gentle hand under her elbow and helped her stand. “I have a daughter your age, you know. I wouldn’t want her to be alone at a time like this. Let’s go back into your apartment and you can sit down and wait for her.”

  She followed him, almost in a trance. Her head still swirled with the horrific images of what had happened. When he turned her toward the couch, she shook her head.

  “Not there. I don’t ever want to see that couch again.” She moved instead into her bedroom and fell down onto the bed. “When my family comes, please send them to me.”

  “I will, Miss Phillips,” the officer replied quickly. “You just let me know if you need anything.”

  “Thank you.”

  Gabe paced the hallway, fists clenched, jaw tight, worry and guilt tearing at his gut.

  “How is she?” he demanded of his superior when he came out of her apartment.

  “Pretty much in shock,” the man replied stroking his jaw. “She has some strong feelings against something that happened on the couch.”

  Gabe’s eyes snapped shut as another wave of guilt and self-disgust washed over him. “It’s my fault.”

  “You’re not to blame, Martinez. Hell, Danica fell for it too. She’s the one who gave him your number when he called in. In any case, you got us back here as soon as you figured it out. Things could have turned out a lot worse.”

  “I should have realized that it wasn’t Valentino calling from the precinct this morning. But he confirmed all the information. He sounded so authentic.” Gabe shook his head grimly. “And then he called me again to get me out of the apartment, so he could have her alone. Shit! How? How can this not be my fault?”

  “Valentino’s a rookie. Half the precinct still doesn’t know who he is. He had his ID stolen on Monday, and I’m sure it’s safe to say that the Bandit probably stole it.” The older man’s tone gentled. “Why don’t you take the rest of the evening off, Martinez. We’ll wrap things up and direct the M.E. when he gets here.”

  “I don’t want to leave her,” Gabe argued fiercely, jerking away from the hand the older man had put on his shoulder.

  “I know you don’t. But your presence seems to be causing further distress to Ms. Phillips. I understand how you’re feeling, but please, just go with me on this one. I’m sure she’ll come around.”

  Gabe’s jaw flexed and finally he gave a terse nod. “All right. Thank you, sir.”

  He turned to walk down the stairs before realizing that the area had been taped off around the body. His gaze hardened on the crumpled figure of the dead man. If Maddie hadn’t completed the job, Gabe would have killed the man himself.

  Maddie…his chest tightened and he fought the urge to go back and find her, and to hell with his orders. God, would she ever forgive him?

  “Can I bring you some tea, darling?”

  Madison looked up at her mother almost in surprise. Her family had arrived an hour ago and stayed by her side while the police questioned her. She had finally gone numb from it all and tonelessly relayed answers to the questions they threw at her.

  The older officer was nice. He’d been the one to make Gabe leave. The thought of Gabe made some flicker of emotion penetrate her numbed mind, but she quickly pushed it aside.

  “I’m sorry, what did you say?” Madison asked as her mother continued to stare at her.

  “Tea, Madison,” her mother asked again gently. “I was wondering if you’d care for some.”

  “Sure.”

  She didn’t drink tea. Her mother knew that. She was a coffee lover, but right now it seemed completely trivial and easier just to accept the tea.

  Eric sat in the corner of her room, giving her a long and considering look.

  “What is it, Eric?” she finally asked, sensing he wanted to say something.

  “I was wondering why Gabe isn’t here with you.”

  Trust him to get straight to the point. Madison’s eyes narrowed slightly and a twinge of anger and pain finally penetrated.

  “Because I didn’t want him here.”

  “Do you blame him for what happened?” he asked without censuring the disapproval in his voice.

  Madison didn’t answer right away. “I don’t know.”

  Eric stood and walked toward the bed, where she sat propped up against pillows. He dropped a slip of paper onto her lap.

  She lowered her gaze. Picking it up, she read it through. It was from Gabe, saying he’d gotten an urgent page to come to the precinct as soon as possible. It told her to meet him there ASAP after her shower.

  “It was on the fridge.”

  Madison handed him back the slip of paper. “I guess this would explain why he left me.”

  “He would never have intentionally put you in harm’s way, Madison.” Eric sat beside her. “In all the years I’ve known Gabe, I’ve never seen him look at a woman the way he looks at you.”

  Her head jerked up and she met her brother’s probing stare.

  “So you figured it out? We tried to hide it at the restaurant.”

  “I know you both better than that. Did you think I’d disapprove? You could do a lot worse than Gabe. He’s a good guy. The parents would be thrilled, too.” Eric’s mouth twisted into a brief smile.

  Madison’s heart sped up even as she dropped her gaze. “It wasn’t serious, Eric. Just a fling.”

  “He only had eyes for you on Monday night. Are you sure he sees it in the same light?”

  “It doesn’t matter anymore.” She gave a weary shrug.

  “Madison, we need to talk about something that happened awhile ago. Something that—”

  “Here’s your tea, darling.” Her mother entered the room carrying a cup of tea in a Tinkerbell mug, and a few saltine crackers.

  Eric’s expression turned frustrated and he stood, walking back to the window. Obviously he wasn’t about to keep up this conversation with their mother in the room.

  “Did you know that you’re out of food?” her mother asked. “I swear that tea must be as old as you are, and I had to fight off a mouse for those crackers.”

  That finally pulled a smile from Madison. “Funny, Mom. I plan on going to the store sometime soon.”

  Her mother laced her hands together and glanced down at her daughter, biting her lip. “Actually, Madison, I’ve been speaking to your father in the other room. We were thinking that it might be best if you came to stay with us for a while.”

  Madison made a noise of surprise, and thought about the offer. The last place she wanted to stay was in this apartment. She couldn’t look around without reliving it all. Maybe going back to her parents’ home wouldn’t be such a bad thing until she could find another place.

  “All right. I’ll come home.”

  “Wonderful. When you finish up with your tea, we’ll take you over to Dr. Burton and have him look at your foot.”

  Madison lifted the tea and took a tentative sip, then set it down resolutely.

  “Let’s just go now. I can’t stay here any longer.”

  Gabe gripped the remote control in his hand, staring at the television that had started showing the evening news. The death of the Espresso Bandit was the top story. When they flashed Maddie’s picture across the screen, he hurled the remote to the wall in frustration. He didn’t care that it broke open and fell to the ground in pieces.

  Damn it, he should be with her right now. He grabbed his cell phone and punched in
Eric’s number.

  “Hey, Gabe,” Eric answered wearily.

  “Eric. How is she?”

  “She’s getting her ankle plastered. It was broken in the struggle.”

  Gabe took a deep breath. God, he would have done anything to spare her this.

  “Is she…is she asking for me?”

  Eric didn’t respond for a few seconds. “You know that I’ll call you as soon as she does.”

  His gut twisted and he felt a bit sick. She hadn’t yet asked for him. The words were unspoken and unneeded. If she hadn’t asked for him by now, she probably wouldn’t. The fragile trust they’d established over the last week and a half had snapped. It was totally gone.

  “Gabe, you there?”

  “I’m here.”

  “Look, don’t take it personally. Give her some time,” Eric advised. “If you haven’t heard from her in a week, why don’t you drop by my parents’ house? She’ll be staying with them.”

  The end of the week sounded like an impossible amount of time to wait. But he knew he would wait however long it took. He’d do anything to get her back.

  “Fine. Thanks, Eric.”

  “No problem.”

  Gabe disconnected the call and stared at the television again. The newscasters had already moved on to the weather.

  He got off the couch and went to find his keys. Just sitting around was driving him crazy—he needed to do something. Working out had always been a good distraction before; maybe it would do the same now. Somehow he doubted it, though.

  Sunday afternoon, Madison sat at a table on the balcony of her parents’ house, drinking coffee and taking in the sunshine. The Seattle Times sat untouched next to her. She stared at the view of Seattle, trying not to think about what had happened almost a week ago.

  The reporters hadn’t stopped calling, asking for interviews. She still had no desire to grant one. It was all too fresh, the wound too raw.

  The quietness of the morning suited her. She’d been left alone in the house, since her parents had gone to attend an early morning church service. But she wouldn’t be alone for long. Eric had promised to drop by later with Lannie.