Chapter 10

Scarlett

From the back of the cab, the driver sends me a pitying look which I suppose I deserve.

Rather than explain myself, I just smile at him and tell him to drive in the direction of the Academy.

I have no way of getting inside, but I do still have Chelsea’s phone and I’ve already found Jack’s number, so I pick it up and dial.

He picks up instantly. “Hey, pretty lady. Heard you didn’t make it down the aisle?”

I frown at the seat in front of me but make sure my voice comes out higher and breathier than usual. “Guess it wasn’t meant to be.”

He laughs. “You thinking about that night? That why you’re calling me?”

I cringe. By that night I can only imagine he means the sex party he was obviously at. “Maybe. What are you doing right now?”

“Thinking about you, sweetheart. Have been since I laid eyes on you. Maybe next time, I’ll have the pleasure.”

I’m sure I must be scowling but I near purr the words. “Why wait?”

“Darlin, you know I would. But I ain’t dumb enough to mess with Nathan’s woman without his permission.”

Heat rushes through my body and I have to remind myself Chelsea’s morals are a lot looser than mine.

Apparently, Nathan has no qualms sharing his mistress. What the hell is going on with my sister? I’m beginning to wonder if Michael isn’t the only one having a nervous breakdown.

Chelsea has always been a flirt and she’s always been promiscuous. But never to this point. If she was on drugs that night, she might be right in thinking she did a whole lot more than she remembers.

I screw up my face and lower my voice so the cab driver can’t hear me. “You don’t need his permission just to talk to me.”

He chuckles. “I’ll meet you for a drink. But that’s it, darlin.”

I breathe a sigh of relief and agree to meet him at the bar Chelsea said Nathan liked. By the time we arrive, I know I’m pushing my luck timewise.

Chelsea’s phone has been buzzing almost non-stop, but when I see Dexter’s name on screen, I know he’s just trying to convince me not to get involved.

I’m drawing more than a few looks from the bar patrons as I take a seat in a booth.

I can only imagine what they’re thinking. I look hideous, and with the bandage on my hand, and the swelling on my arm still visible, I look about as messed up as I feel right now.

At least I don’t have to worry about anyone hitting on me. And I certainly don’t have to worry about Jack not showing up.

I know who he is from the swagger and the aviator glasses he’s wearing as he walks through the doors.

He spots me instantly, looks confused and ready to bolt when I rise from the booth.

I move as quickly as my legs will allow and try to smile. “Jack? We’ve never met. I’m Chelsea’s sister, Scarlett. I wanted to talk to you about Dexter?”

He eyes the bruises on me, and a flickering of distaste shows on his face before he looks me over. “That was you on the phone?”

I grimace. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to talk to a friend of Dexter’s. I was hoping you could help him. Since you know the Wing Commander.”

His eyes widen, he steps closer and lowers his voice. “Who told you that? Chelsea?”

I swallow hard. “Yes.”

He doesn’t answer just looks around the bar before he nods. “Yeah. I guess she would of. Probably remembers everyone at that party.”

I have to keep my disgust hidden as understanding dawns on me. Whatever Michael was doing, it is completely separate from what his father was doing with his pals.

I’m feeling sick to my stomach when Jack gestures out the door. “My car’s outside. Why don’t we go for a ride?”

I’m not sure that’s the smartest idea, so I shake my head. “I’d rather stay here.”

He smiles, but there’s nothing pleasant or reassuring in it. “Have you told Dexter any of this? The cops?”

A shiver runs down my spine. “I didn’t come here to talk to you about Chelsea and Nathan. I came here to ask you to speak to your uncle and get Dexter his place back.”

Jack’s lip curls and he steps back. “I can do that. I can call him right now. Just come with me and I’ll grab my phone.”

I glance out the window and see his Jeep parked right outside when I hesitate, he shakes his head. “He’s so damn stubborn. Didn’t even say goodbye. Just packed up and left.”

Since that’s pretty much what he was planning on doing to me I find myself nodding.

He smiles again. “Seriously, darlin. I want to help him. But he’s not taking my calls.”

I’m starting to feel drained, and I’m running out of time. My father will be checking in with mom, and she’ll tell him I convinced her to let me be the one to talk to the caterer.

One phone call, and he’ll know I’m not where I said I’d be. “Okay. Fine. Get your phone. I’ll wait outside.”

He scratches his chin but doesn’t argue or try to make me get in the car which makes me a tiny bit better.

I follow him out into the sunlight and take a seat on a bench along a wall as Jack reaches inside his Jeep.

About a second too late, I realize it’s not a phone, but a gun in his hand.

I leap to my feet, but his fingers are around my arm, and the barrel of the gun is pressing into my belly button. “Don’t even think about screaming. Or I’ll finish the job Michael started,” he says.

***

Dexter

Every muscle is tensed as I drive just above the speed limit all the way to the bar I hope Scarlett is still at.

I dial Chelsea’s number again and curse as it goes straight to voice mail.

Keeping my eyes on the road, I call Vance and wait for him to pick up. I’m about to talk when a Jeep speeds past me on the other side of the road.

I squint into the rear vision and do a double-take as I can just make out Jack’s license plate.

I spin the wheel, phone call forgotten as I head after him. I press the accelerator to the floor and feel my spine flatten against the seat.

At the faint voice coming from beside me, I reach for my phone and hold it to my ear.

“Vance? I think Jack Carnegie is involved in this shit. And I think he has Scarlett.”

“We know. Sanchez just finished interviewing Chelsea who ID’d a few heavy hitters from Miami. Looks like they’ve been using the route between Colorado Springs and Aspen for some time.”

I’m hardly taking in the information he’s giving me. I don’t give a shit, why I just need to find Scarlett and get her out of harm's way.

“We’ve put an APB out on both the Wing Commander and Cadet Carnegie’s vehicle.”

I squint through my windshield. “Jack’s on CO1 heading towards Arrowhead. I’m right behind him.”

Vance curses. “Leave this to us. We’ve got him in our sights. Keep well back. If he spots you, there’s no telling what he’ll do.”

I clench my jaw and fumble with the glovebox for my Beretta M9. “I’m not taking the chance.”

I don’t wait for Vance to reply, I just toss my phone on the passenger seat and keep my eyes on Jack’s Jeep.

I follow him for a few miles, keeping a car or two between us.

But when he slows and turns down a side road. I have no choice but to follow directly behind him.

When he comes to a stop and sits idling at a fence, I know he’s probably seen me.

I ease my foot off the pedal and pull in right behind him. His door opens, but it’s not Jack that tumbles out, it’s Scarlett, with Jack pointing a gun at her head.

I keep my eyes on him, as he steps back taking Scarlett with him.

He raises his voice as a semi rolls past us. “It doesn’t have to be like this Dex. You have an opportunity to be smart here. If you want to talk about it, step out of the vehicle, nice and slow with your hands in the air.”

I jam the Beretta down the back of my jeans and slowly open the door and raise my hands. “Why are you dragging her into this?” I call back.

He shakes his head. “Not my idea. She came looking for trouble. Guess it runs in the family?”

Scarlett’s lips clench together but she stays quiet as Jack drags her backward. “You’d know all about family, wouldn’t you?” I say.

He shrugs his shoulders. “No one was meant to find out. I thought Chelsea was too out of it to remember the conversation we had.”

He scowls and jams the barrel against Scarlett’s temper, making her flinch. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with, Dex. They’re untouchable. My uncle was stupid enough to think these little parties were without strings. Now they have photos of him doing coke and fucking underage girls.”

Fire is rushing through my veins as I try to piece together what’s going on. Chelsea wasn’t just having an affair with Michael’s father; she was privy to a whole lot of illegal shit too.

I don’t really want to hear any more of this. “Is that how you got mixed up in this? You’re being blackmailed?”

He growls at me and looks about as pissed as I think I’d be. “My uncle thought it would be a good idea to invite me to one of Nathan Burrows’ underground parties. Unlike everyone else there, I wasn’t doing drugs. But I was there for sex.”

When he doesn’t elaborate but gives me ‘a figure it out’ look, his expression paints a thousand words. Whatever it was he was doing it was enough to make him think he was trapped.

He moves the gun from Scarlett’s head and swings it to face me. My heart rate amps up even further as I consider the angle and speed I can reach for my weapon.

“This is where you start being smart for the first time in your shitty life. I know the cops are looking for me by now, so I’ll make you a deal. You walk away. I take her as a hostage just until I get on a plane and I won't kill you.”

I slowly start to lower my hands. I already know he’s lying. He’ll shoot Scarlett and leave me to take the blame for everything. “You the one who roughed Michael up in Macetown?”

He smirks at me. “He got greedy. When he got the coordinates and he had the contact number, he thought he could do it without me. Stupid little shit he is. He can’t do anything without someone holding his hand. I had to smack a little sense into him. Remind him he can’t do anything without a pilot to get him outta here.”

“The cops are onto him. And when they catch him, he’ll point the finger in your direction.”

Jack scowls at me. “And I’ll be long gone with enough money to get me a new passport and a license somewhere else. Maybe I’ll be flying celebrities around the globe in a private jet.”

So, that’s his game. He didn’t even want to be in the Air Force. He’s probably just been using the training as a stepping-stone, and when he saw a chance, he was more than willing to step on me too.

I slowly shake my head and hide the rage burning in my veins. “You’re right. I can’t fight against this. I should have known I’d crash and burn.”

Jack’s lips crease into a smug smile. “Nice to see you thinking for once.”

I shrug and drop my hands. “You should have clued me in earlier. None of this would have happened if I’d been involved.”

Jack frowns at me. “Is that so?”

My fingers are near twitching to reach for my gun, but I keep my hands at my sides. “Yeah. I could have saved a lot of deaths.”

He eyes me. “No one died.”

I shoot a look at Scarlett and find a wry smile for her sake. “Yeah. They did.”

Before he can answer, I jerk to the left and fire just as his own shot hits my shoulder.

With Scarlett screaming, I keep firing until he’s spitting up blood and in no shape to fire back.

In the distance I hear the sound of sirens. While I’m bleeding in the dirt, making sure Jack isn’t breathing, Scarlett crawls to me, shaking so hard, her teeth are chattering.

I pull myself to sitting, blood leaching from my shoulder as Scarlett wraps her arms around my neck and starts to cry.

“Worst wedding in history,” she chokes out.

I pull her close and whisper in her ear. “I dunno. There were a few hours there that were pretty good.”

With her face pressed into my chest, her reply comes out muffled. “I’m such an idiot. I thought I was helping you. He could have killed us.”

I try for a shrug, but it hurts like a bitch. “We both took a calculated risk.”

She pulls away from me, tears covering her face as she frowns. “What happens now?”

I release a sigh. “You’ll give a statement. So will I. Then we try to get on with our lives.”

Her eyes shift to the highway and the now visible police cars. “What about the Academy?”

I gesture at the blood leaking from me and smile weakly. “That’s the last thing on my mind right now.”

She grimaces and tugs off her shirt, and balls it up so she can press against the wound.

With nothing else to do but wait, I help her stem the blood flow and steer my thoughts away from morose.

I look at her teary eyes, and face creased with concern as my blood soaks through her shirt. “You know the worst part?”

She tilts her head, frowning at me. “Other than being shot?”

I nod weakly, the pain intensifying with every second. “I never even got paid for any of this shit,” I mumble.

A strangled laugh slips from her lips as she presses her forehead against mine. “I’ll talk to Chelsea. Maybe she can sell that rock on her finger.”

I shake my head. “I’ll survive. Might be a little late on my loan payment this month, though.”

My vision is narrowing, and Scarlett’s face blurry but I manage to stay upright in my own strength until I hear vehicles pull up, car doors opening, and Vance’s voice say, “Call an ambulance.”

I look upwards as I start to slip backward until Scarlett is the only thing keeping me from slamming into the dirt

I shield my eyes as in the late afternoon sun, I see him slowly shake his head. “What part of stay back didn’t you understand?”

Scarlett looks at him, her arms still around my neck. Her voice comes out in a wobble. “Is my sister safe?”

He nods. “The feds are interviewing her. And after taking advice from his lawyer, Michael is going to give evidence against his father to shave some time off his sentence. There’ll be a shit storm coming this way. And you two are right at the center of it. Your lawyers will tell you the same. But stay away from each other until we know these assholes are behind bars.”

As Vance walks away, Scarlett’s fingers lace with mine, and I clench them tight as I lock eyes with her. “Soon as I can, I’m flying you somewhere nice.”

She chokes on a laugh and wipes her eyes. “Please don’t. I hate flying. If you want to take me somewhere nice. For God’s sake, Drive me.”

***

Scarlett

I watch Dexter get loaded onto a stretcher and officials from the Air Force arrive to question him.

In the midst of more police arriving, and I think federal agents, I’m able to eavesdrop long enough to know the Wing Commander, Jack’s uncle has been brought in for questioning too.

Detective Vance has stayed beside me the entire time as if he thinks I’m about to break down.

It’s by sheer will power I haven’t turned into a sobbing mess. I still don’t know the extent of what Chelsea got mixed up in. And maybe I never will, all I know is I’m alive because Dexter came to find me.

By the time my father pulls up, looking equally furious and worried, Dexter has been taken away in an ambulance and I’m just about done.

He approaches me, looks at Detective Vance and they shake hands like they’re old friends. “How much of this is going to be made public?”

Vance frowns at me as he drops his hand. “It’s a federal case now. They’ve been trying to catch Nathan Burrows out for as long as I’ve been on the force. They aren’t going to let this drop.”

My father’s shoulders stiffen. “But Michael will be punished for what he did to Scarlett?”

The detective nods sagely. “We’ve added attempted murder, assault and battery to his list of crimes. On Scarlett and Dexter’s evidence alone, we had enough to send him away for the rest of his life.”

I exhale loudly, feeling completely wiped out as both my father and the detective look over at the Air Force officials conversing amongst themselves. “So much for living up to their own high moral standards,” my father mumbles.

Vance nods. “No arguments from me.”

After another handshake, and a promise to tell me what is happening, we say goodbye to the detective, and leave him to sort out the paperwork he’s started to grumble out.

I follow my father back to the station wagon and climb in, waiting for the rebuke I know is sure to come.

But all I get is a weary sigh and a head shake as though I’m a lost cause. “Your mom thinks Chelsea needs therapy.”

He slides a look sidelong at me. “What did I do wrong with her? Was I too lenient? Too tough?”

I shake my head. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I think mom’s right. She needs help. Her behavior has gotten worse in the last few years. No one is to blame.”

His nod is grim as he starts the engine and checks the road is clear before pulling out onto the highway. “I thought this marriage was a sign she wanted to settle down. But it was a sham to cover for criminal activities.”

I lean my head against the window and yawn. “Dexter thinks she’s just self-absorbed,” I murmur.

Dad glances at me and the tiniest of smiles flickers at his mouth. “He’s not wrong. But she’s getting more and more self-destructive, and I aim to put an end to it.”

I know he means it, and won’t let Chelsea out of his sight, so I close my eyes and let the gentle movement of the car over the highway lull me to sleep.

When I wake, my neck is twisted at an odd angle, and my head is aching as I find Chelsea and mom sitting on the porch of the villa.

Dad is gone from the station wagon, and I see him loading my bag into my rental.

Mom notices me first and springs to her feet, near ripping the door off the hinges in her haste to check me over. “What were you thinking? I knew I shouldn’t have let you go.”

I wince and look to a deflated Chelsea as I pull myself out of the car. “I’m sorry mom. I had no idea Jack was dangerous. I thought it would be a quick conversation before I spoke to the caterer.”

She almost glares at me, but Chelsea touches her arm. “Maybe you should call Veronica and explain why Scarlett didn’t show?”

Our mother looks between us and shakes her head. “Fine. But we’ll be leaving as soon as the police say we can.”

I lean against the car and look at Chelsea. She’s completely flat when she looks at my bandaged hand. “I have to testify about all the things I did with Nathan and the people I saw him meet with.”

She sniffs and looks at dad. “He’s so disappointed in me. So is mom. I think that’s part of the reason I wanted to get married. Mom was so happy when I told her I’d found a nice guy.”

She blinks away tears and stares at the engagement ring on her finger. “What is wrong with me? Why do I keep doing things like this? It’s like I can’t help myself.”

I sigh and push off the car so I can hug her. She starts to cry, and I wrap my arms around her bony back. “Maybe you can’t help yourself. Maybe you need help?”

She pulls away, weepy but nodding. “I just want to make this up to you and to Dexter.”

I smile even though I don’t feel like it right now. “Well, Dexter never got paid for his time. I’m sure he’d appreciate it if you could compensate him?”

She nods quickly. “Absolutely. Anything he needs. It’s the least I can do.”

I smile, glad she’s taking responsibility for once.

“And, maybe find a therapist who can help you figure all this stuff out?”

She nods wearily. “I think I’ll be taking a vow of celibacy. Maybe become a nun after this.”

I’m too tired to tell if she’s serious, so when she strolls after mom, I head inside and plonk down on the closest sofa.

My pocket vibrates and for a moment I ignore it. Until I realize I still have Chelsea’s cell.

I drag it out of my pocket and frown as I see Dexter’s number come up. “Hello?”

He sounds either sleepy or drugged when he replies. “Hey. They let me keep my cell. I wanted to hear your voice. You okay?”

I lean my head back on the sofa. “I’m fine.”

He’s slurring and sounds half asleep. “I might be off my head on morphine right now, but I wanted to ask you something.”

My lips curl into a smile. “What?”

“How’d you feel about phone sex?” he says.

I snort a laugh. “I guess we’ll find out,” I promise.

***

Dexter

I should have known this wasn’t over. And as I recline on my pillows, still on a pleasant buzz, my SL confirms it when he strolls in looking pissed.

He shakes his head at me as he stands alongside my bed. “Are you trying to sabotage your career?”

I try for a shrug but can’t make my shoulders cooperate. “No, Sir,” I slur.

He eyes my shoulder wound. “Well, you’re doing a damn good job of it. First the instructor’s daughter, then the criminal activity and now you’ve shot and killed a fellow cadet.”

I have zero response to that, but when he looks over his shoulder, then takes a seat, even in my drug-induced delirium, I know he’s got something important to tell me.

“Look. I can’t get involved in this. But I wanted you to know, I’ll lend my support and give you a personal reference. You’re a fine pilot and I’ll be sorry to see you go.”

I know he’s offering his commiserations, but I’m too spent to really be able to process it.

I’m still trying to figure out what I’m going to do when this dies down. For now, I’ve been granted a reprieve while I’m in the Air Base hospital.

I’m not a criminal, but I’m not free to go either. I’m in no man’s land—neither civilian nor military.

My SL appears harried as he looks me dead in the eye. “You must know that even if you are cleared and reinstated, Jack had friends here. This may not be the best place for you to complete your training.”

I let that sink in along with the other shit I’m trying to deal with. I’m sliding closer to sleep; my eyes are drooping and I’m fighting to stay focused on his face.

“Your mother lives in New York, doesn’t she?”

I nod wearily and a small smile appears on his face. “Colorado isn’t the only place to make your mark, cadet. I know you wanted to study here to broaden your horizons, but sometimes we need to return to where we started from to get where we need to be.”

I squint at him and try to make sense of what he’s trying to tell me. “Sir?”

At the sound of shoes squeaking on the floors outside my room, he rises to his feet, every inch of him the officer I’d hoped to one day be. “I’ll let you rest. Take some time, you’ll have my backing. But think about what I said. This base isn’t the only way you can get to the moon.”

I blow out a breath and sink back into my pillows as I watch him walk out the room completely puzzled as to what he was talking about.

Whether I understand everything he’s trying to tell me, I know I can’t stay here.

Unlike me, Jack did have friends and they won’t take too kindly to my continued presence.

No matter how much I want to stick things out and prove everyone wrong, there’s no place here for me now.

I close my eyes and try to think about everything but my future.

For a couple of years, I was somebody. I was going places.

Now, I’m almost back to square one, and my chances of getting all the way to NASA are almost zero.

When I fade into a hazy doze, my SL’s words are ringing in my ears.

This base isn’t the only way to get to the moon.