All I've Ever Wanted - Adrianne Byrd [50]
“Well, he did it. I know for a fact that he’d contacted the FBI. What does that tell you?”
“That tells me you’re making this up. Marion isn’t here to defend himself against your accusations.”
“Sandy, Sandy, Sandy.” He encircled her in his arms. “I’ve never lied to you. You know that. We had a problem and I handled it. All I need for you to do is to ride the wave. If everybody plays their cards right, the police will have no choice but to conclude Underwood’s death as a gang-related crime.”
Aaliyah’s eyes widened. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Judge Hickman was involved in the ex-husband’s death?
“Get away from me,” Sandra snapped, bolting from his arms. “How can you trust a group of thugs to keep quiet about something like this?”
“Let’s just say, I’ve worked with these people before. But if I ever do feel like they can’t keep quiet, I will handle that, as well.”
Aaliyah shifted her weight, trying to see who Judge Hickman was talking to, but when she did, the bush shook.
“What was that?” the stranger said.
“What was what?”
“You didn’t hear it?”
Aaliyah held her breath and prayed for a good gust of wind to rustle the leaves again, or anything that would draw the guy’s attention somewhere else.
As if on cue, the wind picked up.
“It’s only the wind,” Sandra concluded; then she rubbed her head. “I can’t believe this is happening. You killed my husband, Steve.”
Steve. Now Aaliyah at least had a name.
“I had no choice.” The man glanced back toward the bushes. “Are you sure we’re alone?”
“Yes, dammit.”
“Let’s walk down toward the gazebo. I’ll feel safer down there.”
Aaliyah watched as Judge Hickman followed the man down a path that led deeper into the estate, and incidentally out of her view. It didn’t matter. She’d find out who the man was before she left today. All she had to do was wait for the man to leave.
She smiled and couldn’t believe her luck. Retracing her steps, Aaliyah worked her way quietly back to her car. With any luck, she would even get his picture with the camera she kept stashed in the trunk.
“I think we need to meet again, don’t you, Ms. St. James?”
Kennedy’s hand tightened on the receiver. “Where’s my son?”
“Hey, don’t worry. I’m an excellent babysitter. But you’re just going to have to trust me on that. I don’t have any references.”
Her heart squeezed as panic shook her vocal cords. “Please, don’t harm my baby.”
“Now that will depend on you, won’t it?”
“What do you want?”
“That’s a silly question. I want you, of course. I have to admit that I was surprised to find out that you weren’t traveling with your son, but this will still work out all right. Little Tommy here can still bring you to me. Can’t he?”
“Look, I’ll do whatever you want. Just don’t hurt my son.”
“That was just what I was hoping you would say. Since there is some heat on me right now back in Atlanta, why don’t you come here. How long will it take for you to get to Memphis?”
She hesitated. She’d spent all the money that she had yesterday. “I’m not sure.”
“Don’t even think about telling the police about this. I would hate for something to happen to the little man here.”
“Please.”
“Ah, I love it when women beg. But that’s another thing entirely. You have until 3:00 p.m. Monday to get here. That should give you plenty of time. Meanwhile, I think that I’m going to just hang out here with Tommy and your granny.”
Kennedy lowered her head into the palms of her hands. Grief overpowered her. There was no doubt in Kennedy’s mind that Keenan planned to kill her. However, there was a chance that she could save Tommy and her grandmother.
“Are you still there?” Keenan asked.
“Yes.” She sniffed as tears trickled from her eyes.
“Good. I’ll see you Monday.”
The line went dead.
She continued to hold the receiver, wishing like hell that she were in the middle of some bad dream. What was she going to do now?
She jumped when loud beeps told her that if she would like to make a call she should please hang up and dial again. What had happened to the