The Right Woman Read online

  Sarah’s face was sickly white and Daniel refused to look at her. He couldn’t. He had to stay focused on Claude. “You’re not walking out of this room so you might as well let her go.”

  “Come on, Detective.” Claude laughed again. “You think I’m scared? You saw what I did to those other girls and I’ll blow Sarah baby’s brain all over this wall right in front of you. Now put the gun down.”

  Daniel’s gun never wavered. “You shoot her and I’ll shoot you. You’re not getting out of here.”

  “You’re not fooling me, Daniel, with your tough-cop act,” Claude said, his eyes glittering with contempt. “You wouldn’t harm a hair on Sarah’s head. You’ve had the hots for her for so long it’s pathetic.”

  “Let her go and we’ll settle this man to man.”

  Claude grunted. “In your dreams, Detective.”

  “Why’d you drag Drew into this?” Daniel had to have an answer to that.

  “He was always calling Rudy for drugs so he decided to make good use of Drew’s habit—to get back at you.”

  Daniel frowned. “Drew’s on drugs?”

  “Heroin, big brother, his real medication,” Claude told him. “He’s never been off of it except for the time he was in the hospital.”

  “But…”

  “Got you, hmm, Daniel? Rudy’s been Drew’s drug source since college and you never suspected. You never questioned why Drew wore long-sleeved shirts even in the summer, even when you went fishing. He was getting so thin and you worried he wasn’t eating enough. Hell, he wasn’t. He was shooting up heroin all the time. When Boyd wanted me to finagle my way into Drew’s life, Drew was doing the stuff every now and then. But I made sure he was able to get it every week, then every other day and now the poor thing is hooked so bad what brains he had are totally fried.”

  A rage swelled inside Daniel.

  “What’s the matter, Mr. Narcotics Cop, the truth too hard to take? Little brother might be an idiot but he knew how to hide his habit, especially from you.”

  “Why did you have to shoot him?”

  “Bastard has a soft spot for Sarah baby and tried to stop me,” Claude replied. “Drew does exactly what I tell him as long as I reward him with heroin, like last night. I had to find out if Sarah was here so Drew pretended he’d run away, but I drove him. You thought Drew needed his medication because he was nervous and jittery. All he needed was a fix and he wasn’t getting it until I had my information.”

  The rage turned into a blazing inferno. “You’ve been giving him heroin instead of his medication?”

  “You got it.”

  “You son of a bitch.”

  “Your mother almost ruined our plans with her crazy idea of a home for Drew. I told him he’d better change her mind or he’d never get any more heroin. Enlisting your help is Drew’s solution to everything because he knows you’ll do anything for him.”

  The rage burned out of control.

  “I’m the one who took care of the idiot while you and your parents went on with your lives. You were more than happy to hand over the responsibility and now I’m getting my reward—more money than I ever dreamed about and I don’t have to put up with the idiot anymore.”

  “Stop calling him that, you bastard.”

  Sarah could see Daniel was close to the edge and she knew she had to do something. Claude’s arm was so tight around her neck that she could barely breathe, but her legs were free. She tried to gauge if she could get her heel into his crotch. She didn’t think she could with any degree of force.

  “Drop the gun,” Claude shouted and tightened his arm even more.

  Sarah gasped a ragged breath and Daniel slowly laid his gun on the floor.

  Even though breathing was difficult, Sarah managed to turn her head slightly. She opened her mouth and bit into his bicep as hard as she could.

  Claude jerked, cursing, “Goddamn bitch.” He didn’t release her, but it gave Daniel the opening he needed. He made a dive for Claude and they tumbled backward onto the floor—Claude’s gun landed on the carpet. Sarah crawled away, frantically trying to reach it.

  Claude drove his fist into Daniel’s stomach. He withstood the blow and landed a punch to Claude’s jaw. Back and forth they exchanged blows. Claude was bigger and stronger and Sarah didn’t know how long Daniel could last. She reached the gun and picked it up.

  Daniel was on his stomach, his arm outstretched to reach his gun. Claude had both of his hands linked together and applied blow after blow to Daniel’s head. Daniel kept inching toward the gun.

  Sarah closed her finger around the trigger and a loud boom resounded in the room, then another. Claude slumped to the floor, blood running from his torso. Daniel grabbed his gun and swung to his feet, staring down at Claude.

  Russ squatted and checked Claude’s pulse. “The bastard’s dead. Good riddance.”

  Sarah didn’t even realize Russ was in the room. She sat on the floor still holding the gun, unable to move, then she started to shake.

  Daniel dropped down beside her and gently took the gun from her. She flew into his arms.

  “You okay?” he asked in a shaky voice.

  She nodded. “Did I…did I…”

  Russ shoved his gun into his holster. “No, Ms. Welch, I shot him.”

  “Oh.” She wasn’t sure. She heard the sound but couldn’t remember pulling the trigger.

  Daniel helped her to her feet and picked up her blouse from the floor. She immediately slipped into it, not even feeling embarrassed that Russ had seen her this way. She was just glad they were all alive.

  Russ headed for the doorway. “The ambulance is here.”

  Daniel and Sarah hurried down the stairs. At the bottom Daniel swayed and Sarah wrapped her arms around him.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine,” he lied.

  “You are not,” she said. “He hit your head repeatedly.”

  “I’m fine,” he insisted and rushed to Drew. The paramedics had Drew on the stretcher, trying to get him stabilized.

  “Daniel,” Drew mumbled.

  “I’m right here, buddy.”

  “I—I—I’m sorry. I—I—I had to have…the heroin. Y-y-you wouldn’t understand…couldn’t tell you.”

  Daniel couldn’t speak.

  “We have to go.” A paramedic spoke up.

  “I’m coming with you.” Daniel found his voice and turned to Sarah. “I have to go with him.”

  “Go,” Sarah replied. “I’ll get Russ to bring me to the hospital.”

  Daniel ran after the stretcher.

  Sarah wrapped her arms around her waist, feeling so exhausted that she didn’t know how she was still standing. Russ walked up to her.

  “Ms. Welch, are you okay?”

  She glanced at him. “I’m not sure. I, uh, could you please take me to the hospital?”

  “My pleasure.”

  Not much was said on the drive. Sarah was just worried about Daniel, wanting to be with him as soon as possible. It had been a horrific night and she prayed it didn’t get any worse, but as soon as she walked into the emergency room she knew another nightmare had just begun. Daniel stood outside the double doors, his skin white, his gaze disoriented. She immediately went to him.

  “He’s dead,” he said in a trembling voice. “He died on the way, saying, ‘I’m sorry’ over and over.”

  “Oh, Daniel. I’m so sorry.” She slipped an arm around him.

  Daniel’s whole body was stiff and he didn’t respond to her words or her touch. She wasn’t sure he’d even heard her. He pushed back. “How could they do this? He was innocent. He didn’t deserve this.” Tears filled his eyes and he moved off down the hall. Sarah followed him. Russ watched from a distance.

  “Daniel.” She reached out to touch him but he swung away and her heart pounded with alarming force. He was putting distance between them; she could feel it. He wasn’t letting her get close to him. The pain was controlling him totally.

  “They killed him bec
ause of me.”

  “That’s not true,” she refuted, looking into his watery eyes. “Drew is not as innocent as you think. He started this years ago with his drug habit and it escalated into violence. Even when he almost died, he still went back for more. He kept it a secret from you, from your parents, because he knew that you would disapprove and seek help for him. He didn’t want help. He wanted to live the way he was. That was his decision, not yours.”

  “They used him.”

  “Yes. That’s the sad part, but Drew never said a word to you about Boyd. That was his decision, too. He did try to stop Claude, though, and that’s why Claude shot him.”

  Daniel swayed slightly and she immediately caught his arm. “You have to see a doctor. You probably have a concussion.”

  “What the hell does it matter?” he cried. “Nothing matters anymore.”

  “Daniel—”

  “I have to tell our parents,” he cut in. “I’m not quite sure how to do that.”

  “With the truth.”

  “Yeah.” He let out an angry breath. “I’ll tell them that through our negligence and insensitivity to Drew’s needs that he’s dead.”

  He ran both hands over his face. “I guess I’d better do it before they hear it on the news.” He sucked in a long breath. “It’s all over, so it’s safe for you to go home.”

  “I suppose,” she said, not liking that detached tone in his voice.

  His eyes held hers. “I mean it’s all over. Whatever we had between us is over, too. I’m not the man for you. You’d have been better off if you had continued to hate me. I’m sorry—that’s just the way I feel.”

  His words were like a blow to her chest and it took a moment to catch her breath. “Daniel…”

  “I didn’t want anyone to ever hurt you again and I’m the one who’s hurt you. By being who I am I’ve put you through hell once again. So get as far away from me as you can.”

  “Daniel.” She tried again.

  “It’s true,” he stated. “Get on with your life. You deserve one.”

  She bit her lip to still her emotions. He was hurt beyond belief and didn’t know what he was saying.

  “So do you,” she said, hoping to reach him. But he didn’t even seem to hear her.

  “Russ will drive you home. I have to check on Chad and Mac.” He strolled off down the corridor toward Russ.

  Her insides trembled then convulsed with the worst pain she’d ever felt. She knew in that moment that she loved Daniel Garrett more than she’d loved anyone in her life. Through the pain she held on to that truth. Daniel would change his mind. He had to.

  Russ walked up to her. “You ready?”

  She blinked. “What?”

  “Daniel said to drive you home. Chad and Mac are in surgery, so he’s going to see his parents.”

  “Oh. Yes.”

  They made their way to the entrance. “Daniel’s not thinking too straight right now.”

  “Don’t tell me about Daniel,” she flared.

  He held up both hands. “Sorry.”

  They got into the car and she apologized. “I’m sorry. You’ve been very nice and I’m being rude.”

  “Hell.” He grinned. “That’s the first time anyone’s called me nice. It’s usually the other way around.”

  “Yes. I’ve seen that other side and it’s definitely not nice.”

  “Ah, now don’t go and hurt my feelings.”

  Some of the tension eased in her, but the pain was still there. “Please watch out for Daniel. He needs to see a doctor.”

  Russ backed out of the parking space. “I’ll be there, but getting him to see a doctor is another thing. I’ll tell the lieutenant—that’s all I can promise.”

  Silence ensued.

  Then Russ said, “Give him some time. That’s all he needs.”

  She wished she could believe that, but Daniel’s words were so final. She knew him well enough to know that he’d meant everything he’d said.

  When they reached her house, Russ searched the place and deemed it safe, then he asked, “You sure you feel safe here?”

  She bit her lip. “Yes. All the demons have been slain tonight.” And more created.

  “Sometimes life is hard to take, but I’ve been told there’s always a brighter tomorrow. And, Ms. Welch, you’ve had more than your share of dark days so your tomorrows should be as bright as—” He frowned. “What does my kid say? As bright as the stars in the skies. I’m not very good with words.”

  She tried to smile, but failed miserably. “Thank you. And please call me Sarah.”

  “Okay.”

  “You don’t have a toothpick in your mouth. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you without one.”

  He scratched his beard. “It’s kind of dangerous to have one in your mouth when you’re in a life or death situation—swallowed, they could puncture a lung. I started chewing them when I stopped smoking. My wife, now my ex-wife, said she’d leave me if I didn’t stop. I quit and she left anyway. Go figure women…”

  Russ’s words drummed on inside her head, but she didn’t hear anything—just Daniel’s words. It’s over. Whatever we had between us is over, too. I’m not the man for you.

  “I’d better go.” She heard Russ’s voice. “My lieutenant’s probably screaming his head off for me. If you need anything, here’s my cell number.” He scribbled it on a piece of paper and handed it to her.

  “Thank you,” she said. “And…”

  He held up a hand. “I know. Be there for Daniel.”

  “Yes.”

  “As I said, tomorrow will be better, and when you feel up to it, we need to get a statement.”

  Russ left and she collapsed onto the sofa in her living room and took a couple of deep breaths. She was home and for the first time she felt an incredible joy in that. But home wasn’t a place—it was a feeling in the heart that came from love. Gran, Serena and Celia loved her. She knew that and had gained confidence from it. And now she loved Daniel and wanted to be with him. But he didn’t want her.

  Tears streamed down her face and she didn’t try to stop them. The events of the past few days caught up with her and she cried until there was nothing left, only an empty, lonely feeling. She’d lived through the nightmare, endured the horrifying outcome and she wasn’t going to fall apart. Her reactions were normal and she could handle the aftereffects. She couldn’t handle losing Daniel, though.

  She grabbed some tissues and blew her nose, then she picked up the phone. Staring at the grandfather clock she slowly replaced the receiver. It was 5:00 a.m. and Serena would still be sleeping. Ethan was probably up, though. No, she had to talk to Serena.

  She stretched out on the sofa. She should take a shower, but she didn’t have the strength. She’d rest then call Serena again. Once she heard her voice she’d be able to face the future. “Daniel,” she murmured as she drifted into sleep.

  The ringing of the doorbell jarred her awake. She glanced at the clock—9:00 a.m. It had to be Daniel. He was back. She flew to the front door and yanked it open. Sarah’s mouth fell open. Serena, Ethan and Gran stood there. Daniel was nowhere in sight. Her heart sank for a brief second before she embraced her sister then her grandmother.

  “What are you doing here?” Sarah asked.

  “Daniel called us,” Ethan replied. “We caught the first flight out of San Antonio.”

  Daniel had called—that meant he was thinking about her. “Did Daniel tell you everything that happened?”

  “Yes,” Serena said. “Are you okay?”

  Sarah brushed back her hair. “I’m not sure. I’m just so worried about Daniel. What did he say when he called?”

  Serena glanced at Ethan. “After he told us what had happened, he said he felt you didn’t need to be alone and I agreed with him.”

  Aurora smoothed Sarah’s hair. “Darling, you look so tired. I should have stayed with you.”

  Sarah rested her head on her grandmother’s shoulder. “I just need some rest and now th
at you and Serena are here, I’m much better.”

  Ethan cleared his throat.

  “You, too,” Sarah added quickly.

  “Just didn’t want to be left out.” He grinned and hugged her. “I’m going to try to find Daniel.” He kissed Serena and walked toward the door.

  Sarah looked at Gran and Serena and felt their love. Why had she ever questioned it? Insecurity, fear, but those things were now gone and she embraced her family with love…real love…family love.

  Gran hugged her tightly and kissed her check. “I’m going to unpack. I know you and Serena want to talk.” Aurora wiped a tear from Sarah’s cheek and went upstairs.

  Serena linked her arm with Sarah’s and they made their way into the study. “Where’s Jassy?” Sarah asked as they sat on the settee.

  “She’s at home with Pop. We woke her up at six this morning and told her that you were sick and we had to come and take care of you. And that she had to stay at home because we didn’t want her to catch what you had. It was a lie, but Ethan and I agreed it was the best thing to do. We weren’t sure how things were here. I’ll call her in a few minutes. We’ve talked to her twice already. Alma’s coming over and they’re going to make tea cakes and have a tea party, so she’s excited.”

  Sarah twisted her hands and they were quiet for a moment.

  “Tell me everything that happened.” Serena’s voice was soft.

  “It’s a nightmare.”

  Serena caught her hands. “We’ve been through those before.”

  “It was almost like last time. Claude broke in and shot Chad and Ron and…”

  “Oh, Sarah.”

  “I didn’t fall apart like before, though. I fought back until he shot Daniel’s brother.”

  “You saw all this?” Serena asked in a shocked voice.

  Sarah nodded. “Yes. I tried to help them, to help Drew, but…”

  Suddenly, Sarah grabbed her sister and they clung together. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

  “I wouldn’t be anywhere else—not when you need me.”

  Sarah pulled back and brushed away tears. “I need Daniel, too.”

  Serena blinked. “Oh.”

  “The past few years you’ve been trying to get me to date and I have stoutly resisted saying I wasn’t like you, that I didn’t need a man in my life. But I realized I’m more like you than I ever thought. I want a man who loves me—a home and kids. And I want Daniel.”