Adrianne Byrd - Deadly Double

The young account representative frowned.

“I think I do remember closing this account now.” She touched her forehead to feign forgetfulness. “I’m getting my banks mixed up today. I meant to stop by First National.”

Clark relaxed a bit and gave her a relieved smile. “Well, we’re definitely going to miss your business.” He extended his hand.

Stiffly, she slid her hand into his, and then turned away. As she walked through the glass doors, she hugged her fur coat tighter around her shoulders, but it didn’t stop her from feeling exposed.

You have to hand it to her. You didn’t see that coming.

Michelle’s jawline hardened. Surely, she didn’t close all the bank accounts. She rushed back to her car, paying little heed to her bodyguards, who tried to keep up with her. Her next stop was First National, but minutes later she left in the same angry huff.

“I don’t believe this,” she muttered, slamming the door to the Jaguar. As she clenched the steering wheel, she took a few deep, cleansing breaths, but her temper escalated.

“If I could just get my hands on her.”

What’s the point of being Josephine Ferrell if you’re broke?

“Not now,” she hissed. “I’m trying to think.” Her inner voice quieted. As Michelle leaned her head back against the headrest, she couldn’t help but wonder if Josie had time to cancel the credit cards as well.

She would be crazy not to, don’t you think?

Michelle didn’t respond. Instead, she started the car and drove to the nearest gas station. She pulled up to the pump and withdrew six platinum cards from Josie’s wallet.

One by one, the automated pump declined them.

“This can’t be happening.” She jumped back into the car. A full-blown panic attack ruptured within her as a long stream of profanity spewed forth. Inside her head, all she could hear was a familiar cackle of laughter.

She didn’t know how long her fit lasted; but when it was over, she found strands of hair in her hands and could taste the blood oozing from her lips. Panting, she glanced around and caught a few frowns from attending patrons. And two from D’Angelo’s men.

Oh, this is classic.

Michelle drew a deep, calming breath, and then used the rearview mirror to straighten her appearance. Other than having a swollen bottom lip, she pulled herself together quite nicely.

All this work, and it never occurred to you to move the money?

Michelle didn’t answer. It was all she could do to control her rage. “D’Angelo can help me find her.”

And how do you expect to pay him?

She had no idea, but her thoughts were interrupted when her cell phone rang. Briefly, she entertained the thought that it was Josie. Who knows, maybe she was getting a good kick watching her make a fool of herself.

Annoyed, Michelle dug through her purse and grabbed the phone. However, her anger evaporated into curiosity when she read Keystone Institute across the ID screen.

#

After hours on the phone, Josephine found the keys to William’s black Mercedes in his bedroom on the nightstand. She clutched the keys tightly in her hand before she made up her mind about what she should do next, and then finally decided to look up the nearest office of the Department of Motor Vehicles.

As she climbed in behind the wheel, guilt settled heavily onto her shoulders. William trusted her to stay put, but her head clouded with thoughts of revenge.

She started up the car and promised herself she would return before William came home. Minutes later, she pulled up to the DMV. After reporting her driver’s license lost, she obtained a new one with little to no hassle. Next, she stopped at a local Western Union, where she picked up the cash she’d wired to herself.

She was back in business.

Admittedly, she didn’t have a concrete plan, but she did know that there wasn’t enough room in the world for two Josephine Ferrells.

Locating an army surplus store was more complicated than she expected, but she finally found one next to a low-key shooting range. The minute she entered the building though, she felt completely out of her element.

At first, she thought the place was just a warehouse of army uniforms. Everywhere she looked were camouflage shirts, pants, hats, and even long johns.

“Is there anything I can help you with, ma’am?”

Josie turned toward a smiling blond female who took the edict: the higher the hair, the closer to Jesus, seriously. “Uh, I’m not sure. I was looking to purchase a gun.”

“Sure.” The blond clapped. “You came to the right place. “My husband, Buddy, will be more than happy to help you.” She turned around and waved Josie to follow.

“I always say that a woman needs something to protect herself. Society tries to tell us girls that all we need is a can of pepper spray. It’s crazy, I tell you. Oh, I’m Tammy, by the way.”

Josie had only managed to open her mouth before Tammy rambled off her conspiracy theory of how she believed the government was trying to take away honest Americans’ constitutional right to bear arms.

“Buddy! Customer!”

Josie wiggled a finger in her ear to stop it from ringing.

From the back of the shop, a General Schwarzkopt look a like emerged. His slow smile never quite reached his eyes and his firm handshake threatened to rip her arm from its socket. “Well, aren’t you a pretty little thing? What can I do for you?” “She’s looking for some protection.” Tammy supplied an answer for Josie. His smile widened as he tilted back his camouflage cap. “Is that right? Do you already have something in mind?” “No clue.” Josie pulled her hand from his, and then rubbed at her sore shoulder. “This is my first time buying a weapon.”

“Ah. A first-timer.” He led her over to a glass counter top. “Now, I have to tell you that Georgia requires a ten day waiting period before I can actually sell you a gun. You can fill out an application, and we can go ahead and pick you out something.”

Josie blinked. “Ten days?”

Buddy chuckled and shrugged. “Government. They want to make sure that we don’t sell any weapons to convicts or any terrorist groups. They hold a monopoly on those sales.” “But I can’t wait ten days.” Tammy and Buddy gave her a curious look. Josie cleared her throat, but it didn’t stop her stammer. “I sort of need the weapon today.” There was new interest in Buddy’s eyes.

“I’m not a convict or anything.” Not yet.

“Then what’s the hurry?” he asked.

“You know, that’s okay.” Josie backed away from the counter. “I’ll go somewhere else.” She turned away and rushed toward the front door.

“Just a minute.” Tammy caught up with her and laid a restraining hand upon Josie’s shoulder.

Josie faced the woman.

“We might not be able to sell you something today,” Tammy whispered. “But if you need help, sugar. I know someone who can. We women have to stick together, right?”

Josie smiled as she winked back. “Right.”

#

A bored D’Angelo leaned back in a metal chair and kicked his feet up on the corner of a table in the police interrogation room. It was another day, but the same old b.s. He didn’t know why he was dragged down here this time, and he didn’t care. Whatever it was, he was confident that these people didn’t have anything on him. He was just too smart to get caught. When the door finally opened, he recognized the tall, baby-faced Hispanic who’d interrogated him before. “Please tell me that you guys didn’t drag me back in here about Danny again.” Detective Hernandez said nothing as he swiped D’Angelo’s feet off the table. “Hey. I was just making myself comfortable.”