Adrianne Byrd - Deadly Double

“Well, don’t. You’re not at home.” Hernandez dragged a chair back from the table and planted himself in it. “Tell me about your relationship with Michelle Andrews.” “Who?” Hernandez’s lips sloped unevenly. “I’ve always thought of you as an intelligent man, D’Angelo.” “Why, thank you, amigo. I wish I could extend the same compliment.” Hernandez shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m pretty smart. I made it through Yale okay.”

Resentment curled in D’Angelo’s belly. “It’s just like you college boys to throw that up in someone’s face. Book smarts don’t mean a damn thing in the streets. A certificate won’t stop a speeding bullet, know what I mean?” “So you and Michelle are from the streets?” “Damn right. Nothing was handed to us on a silver platter.” “Unlike Michelle’s twin sister.”

Understanding dawned on D’Angelo and in turn he gave the cop a stiff smile. “I got to hand you your props. You knocked me off my game for a minute.”

“Is that what this is to you? A game?”

He shook his head and rolled his eyes. “I just call it like I see it.”

Hernandez nodded. “Well, let me tell you how I see it. I see a man who’s bitten off more than he can chew. And all over a woman.”

D’Angelo laughed. “Man, you don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I’m talking about you two murdering Daniel Thornton, Dr. Meredith Bancroft, Dr. Ambrose Turner, and probably Michelle’s twin sister, Josephine Ferrell.” “That’s quite a list.” “Finally something we can agree on.” D’Angelo shrugged and laughed. “Hey, amigo. You got the wrong guy. ” “I’m supposed to believe you? A minute ago, you told me that you didn’t know Michelle Andrews.” “Look, I ain’t saying nothing else. I want my lawyer. I get a call, right?” Hernandez laughed. “Lines re down. Who knows when they’ll be back up.” D’Angelo’s eyes narrowed to small daggers, but Hernandez’s smile only blossomed.

“So what’s it going to be?” Hernandez braided his hands on the table. “Do you want to rot in a cell and hope that one day we’ll remember you’re there...or do you want to tell us what you know about Michelle Andrews?”

Chapter 31.

Josie returned to William’s house while feeling the onslaught of a headache. She was proud of what she’d accomplished that day, but it wasn’t without its emotional baggage. In fact, her tattered emotions were getting the best of her.

What she wouldn’t give for William to hold her. Maybe even tell her that she was doing the right thing.

After clearing a spot on the bed, she sat down and felt the gun holster at the center of her back. It was one of the best places to pack a piece according to Tammy. The other was around the ankle. Josie removed the new Glock from her back holster and the small .22 from her ankle. At this rate she would be ready to take on the Terminator.

A chill raced down her spine as she took a moment to step outside of herself. Suddenly, she couldn’t find a correct angle in anything she’d planned.

Her hands trembled, and, before she knew it, the tremor moved up her arms. Just when she thought she could bypass William’s advice and not take her shots this had to happen.

Josie searched and found the leather duffel bag, but hesitated in giving herself a shot.

She removed a vial and unwrapped a new hypodermic needle. But before she could administer the methadone, it was all over. That wasn’t so bad, she though. She released her held breath and relaxed back onto the bed.

It angered her that Michelle was responsible for her condition. She was tired of being a victim. The loss of her career, father, and nearly her life was slowly driving her odd the deep end.

An hour passed before she felt a hundred percent better, but during that time, she decided to take a peek at Michelle’s medical chart. She was disturbed by a lot of what was written. Most of it struck too close to home.

When she found herself feeling sympathetic, her wrist itched like crazy. She looked down and was reminded of just why she was going after Michelle. It was time to settle a score.

#

Michelle entered Marcus Hines’s office with glowing contempt and her patience hanging on by a thin thread. “This better be good,” she said, and then stopped short when she saw a team of men in black suits.

She turned toward Hines as he closed the door. “What’s this all about?”

“Ms. Ferrell, I’d like you to meet some of our attorneys.” He gestured to the only vacant chair in front of his desk. “Would you like to take a seat?” “Attorneys?” she asked. “Did I miss something?” Hines’s smile fluttered weakly. “I invited you here to discuss a possible settlement.” She didn’t budge from her spot by the door. “Shouldn’t I have brought my own lawyers as well?” “We just want to make an offer. You’re more than welcome to discuss any of this with your attorneys later.”

Michelle frowned, but then she realized that if Josie had contacted all the financial institutions, she just as likely had contacted her family’s law firm as well. That meant all of this was moot, anyway.

“I would love to talk about a settlement, but I really think this sort of thing needs to be discussed when all our lawyers are present.” She turned toward the door.

Hines jumped and blocked her exit.

Michelle took a retreating step as she frowned at him. “Is there a problem?”

“No, uh. I just wanted to at least go over some items with you. Who knows, if we can agree, we could get a check to you as soon as tomorrow?”

“A check tomorrow?”

Hines’s smile returned. “That’s if we can reach an agreement.”

Michelle said nothing as she mulled over this latest development and her palms itched with greed. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to hear you out.”

“Great.” He sighed with obvious relief. “Won’t you have a seat?”

She turned toward the group of men. “Don’t mind if I do.”

Sashaying her way into the center, Michelle was certain the men were all drawn to her curvaceous figure. She peeled the soft Chinchilla from her shoulders and lowered into the chair.

“Can I get you something to drink?” Hines turned to the cart beside his desk and reached for the glass pitcher of water.

“Some water would be nice.” She flashed everyone a cordial smile as she slid her fingers from her gloves and accepted the offered glass. “Thank you.”

“You’re more than welcome.”

#

Josie retrieved the spare key to her father’s estate from a potted plant near the garage. She was more than a little disappointed that Michelle wasn’t there to greet her. The sooner she confronted her, the sooner she could end this.

Entering through the front door, she stepped into the spacious foyer that brought tears to her eyes. Home .

It was disheartening to see the place empty of life. Growing up, there had always been servants scurrying about while something delicious baking in the kitchen wafted throughout the house.

Now, the place was just...cold.

Josie closed the door and moved deeper into the house. The place was still reasonably clean, but that all changed when she climbed the spiral staircase and visited each bedroom.

Michelle had ransacked the place. The worst room was Josephine’s old room. In no time at all, Josie had deduced how Michelle had gotten her hands on everything from financial information to Josie’s social security number.

“She left no stone unturned.” Josie stepped over a pile of boxes to open her old closet. It was just all stuffnothing that meant anything.

The saddest thing in all of this, she thought, was how she would have gladly shared it all with Michelle. They were all material things anyway. All Josie wanted was a family, to be a part of something. To just belong.