Overkill(56)

“I don’t know where I fell in the order of my attacker’s victims, but if I hadn’t remained silent, other women might not have suffered his abuse.” She took a deep breath. “That’s why Eban Clarke’s case is personal. I’m trying to atone for my cowardice.”

“God, Kate.” He reached across the armrest to take her hand, then pulled his back.

She gave him a wan smile. “He didn’t leave me sexually scarred. It’s all right to touch me, Zach. As you should know by now.” She reached over, clasped their hands, and placed them on the armrest. “I like men a lot. But for anyone, of either sex, by force or guile, to claim an unbestowed right to another person’s body is a crime.”

“Kate, I swear to you, going back to the first time I had sex, and for all the raucous parties, and the countless one-night stands, I never—”

“Shh. Zach. Don’t feel compelled to defend yourself. God help the Dave Morrises of this world who throw the first punch at you, but to force yourself on a woman? No. You were under my roof last night and never laid a hand on me.”

“I thought about it, though. Plenty.”

Softly, she confessed, “So did I.”

Each was so focused on the other, they both flinched when the captain’s voice came in over the PA system to announce that they were twenty minutes from landing.

As they were adjusting their seats, Zach asked, “Regarding the case, what’s your next move?”

“I’m not sure I have one. If Doug makes his guardianship legal, it’s over. He will never concede. And by the time Rebecca dies of natural causes, Eban could have disappeared to God knows where.” She hesitated before adding, “But Doug can’t become her guardian unless you’re willing to resign as her agent.”

“I will, Kate. I promised I would never go against his and Mary’s wishes or religious convictions.”

“I know.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I know that, too. The hellish irony of it is that I admire you for upholding your promise.”

“Well, thanks. But that leaves me useless to you. Even if I was willing to approach Doug and try again, he’ll shoot down anything I say.”

Thoughtfully, she tugged at the corner of her lower lip with her teeth.

“What?” he said.

“Nothing you say will alter his thinking. But what if… what if he heard a truthful account of that night from Cal Parsons and Theo Simpson? What if I could get them to retract their original testimony and admit that Rebecca had said the safe word, or at least had tried to but was past the point of no return?”

“I’m all for it, but why would they be willing to do that? They’d be admitting to lying on the witness stand at Clarke’s trial.”

“Yes, but what if they were granted clemency for the perjury, and their probation was lifted?”

“In exchange for telling what actually went down?”

“Exactly. Hearing directly from the two of them what Rebecca suffered might weaken Doug’s resolve, make him want to see Clarke justly punished.”

“Even though it would require taking Rebecca off life support.”

“Even though.”

In doubt, Zach frowned. “I don’t know, Kate. You saw him, heard him. It’s going to be a tough sell. And, from a legal standpoint, can you swing getting them clemency, all that?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “The AG may say absolutely not, and that’ll be the end of it. But it’s my last play.”

“Fourth down and fifty, two seconds on the game clock. You gotta take your shot.”

“It’s my Hail Mary.”

He grinned. “When’s kickoff?”

“As soon as we land.”

A few minutes later, they touched down. During the long taxi to the terminal, Zach checked his phone. “I’ve got two texts and three voice mails from Bing.”

“What does he say?”

“Not much. I think this says it all.” He turned his phone so Kate could read the latest text.

Shit show!





Chapter 24





Melinda and Cal Parsons were in a shimmery haze of happiness as they pulled into the driveway of their home. After cutting the car engine, they smiled across at each other, and then both burst into spontaneous laughter.

While out, she’d received a call from a local medical clinic. The home pregnancy test she had taken two days earlier had been confirmed positive by a blood test. Made giddy by the news, they couldn’t wait to get home and celebrate.

Cal leaned across the car’s console and curved his hand around the back of her neck, drawing her closer. “I love you.”

“I love you, too. So much.”

They kissed sweetly. He pressed his left hand on her flat belly. “Hard to believe my kid’s in there.”

She combed her fingers through his thick blond hair. “It won’t be long before we’ll be able to listen to the heartbeat. We’ll get one of those Doppler ultrasound kits.”

“You can do that?”

“Um-huh.”

He gave her another quick kiss, then got out and came around to hug her as she alighted. With her arm around his waist, and his draped over her shoulders, they walked toward the house.