Chapter 16

SIXTEEN

STEPH BOLTED OUT of the car when she spotted officers escorting a handcuffed Cherry to the nearest cruiser. Other workers had been rounded up, but she’d ignored them. There were only a few customers and they’d been cleared and escorted to their vehicles to leave the area.

“Cherry!”

Her friend looked up, caught Steph’s eye, and burst into tears.

Steph started to run to her, but Tate appeared and snagged her arm. “Not right now, Steph.”

She jerked away from him and shot him a hard glare. He frowned but didn’t flinch. Steph backed down. He was just doing his job.

His stance softened. “Come on, I’ll take you home.”

“No, please. I want to go to the station with you. I know I can’t talk to her, but maybe it will help if she knows she’s not alone. That I’m there. That I believe in her.”

He sighed, then offered her a faint smile. “You’re a good friend.”

“Thanks.”

It didn’t take long to arrive at the station, where Tate escorted her inside and allowed her to sit outside the interrogation room Cherry had been led to.

Benji was next door, their father in yet another room. Their mother had yet to be found.

Tate and Cole had disappeared into the room with Cherry fifteen minutes ago. Steph reached for her phone, only to remember Gage Bolin had taken it and probably tossed it somewhere. She sat back with a huff, then leaned her head against the wall and prayed.

She wasn’t sure how much time passed, but she might have dozed mid-prayer because the next thing she knew Tate was calling her name. She blinked and stood. “What is it?”

“Cherry insists she will only talk to you.”

“What? Why?”

“Because you’re her friend and she needs to tell you what happened. According to her.”

“Oh. Okay. Is that allowed?”

“It is. Follow me.”

When Steph stepped into the room, Cherry brought her handcuffed wrists up to swipe her cheeks. Steph walked around to hug her, and Cherry let loose with a sob followed by tears that seemed to have no end.

But finally, she stopped, drew in a deep breath, and took the handful of tissues that Steph gave her, compliments of the box on the table.

“Okay,” Steph said, “I’m here. Talk to me.”

“They want me to tell them where my mother is, but Steph, I promise I don’t know. She and my dad have been cagey my whole life, but I never knew about their illegal activities until about three weeks ago.”

“But Benji knew.”

“Yes. Apparently.”

“How did they hide it all from you?”

“I guess it all started after I went to college. Then when I came home, they were knee-deep in it. To be honest, I knew something hinky was going on, but just ignored it. I was so busy trying to keep the business going that I convinced myself I didn’t have time to worry about people on the property after hours. Or strange calls in the middle of the night. Or my parents constantly traveling.” She shrugged. “Maybe I just didn’t want to see it.” She scoffed. “You can’t imagine how stupid I feel.” Tears welled once more. “But they’re my family,” she whispered. “I love them.”

“I know,” Steph said. “I never would have thought they’d be involved in anything illegal.” She hesitated. “Well, Benji maybe, but not you or your parents. They were always involved in charities and—”

“Charities that they used for money laundering.”

Steph sighed and raked a hand over her hair. “I’m sorry, Cherry.”

“I am too.”

They fell silent a moment, then Steph bit her lip, pondering how to approach the next subject. She reached out and squeezed her friend’s fingers, always aware that Tate and Cole and who knew who else were watching from behind the two-way mirror. “Cherry, tell me what happened with Brenda.”

Cherry drew in a sharp breath and gulped air. “That was all just a horrible accident. Horrible and no one will believe me. They won’t.” She hiccuped and dropped her face into her palms.

“Tell me.”

“I can’t,” she whispered.

“You have to.” Steph sat for a moment, thinking. Then took a wild stab. “Cherry, you’ve protected him your entire life. You’ve always put his needs ahead of your own. Always. Truthfully, you’ve basically sacrificed your life for his. It’s time to reclaim your life.”

“At the expense of his?” She mumbled the question.

“He hurt, probably killed, someone. If you continue to protect him and don’t tell the truth, he’s going to hurt someone else. Can you let that happen?” Steph didn’t bother to add that Benji probably wouldn’t be hurting anyone for the rest of his life if convicted of all the charges against him.

After a few seconds, Cherry lifted her head, her tears gone, but grief still in her eyes. “She’d discovered everything. The crazy numbers in the accounting, the fake sales to various customers, the return of equipment but the refund was never deposited. Everything. She was suspicious for a while, but she took her time and put together hard evidence against my parents and Benji—and brought it to me. I didn’t know what to think. I told her she was out of her mind. That she was making it up or lying or ... I don’t know. While I yelled at her, she just sat there, this sad expression on her face. One of indecision and pity. Benji overheard the argument and stormed in. He grabbed Brenda and locked her in the office closet.” Cherry shook her head, her eyes wide with the memory. “I didn’t know what to do. I reached for my phone to call the police and Benji grabbed it from me. He was furious, in a panic, unsure what to do.” She swallowed hard. “But he wasn’t letting Brenda go, that was clear.”

Steph gritted her teeth hard enough that her jaw ached. “Go on.”

“He left, never thinking I’d go against what he planned.” A low scoff escaped her. “I admit I’ve protected him and covered up a lot for him since he was a child, but murder? There was no way I was going to let him do that to Brenda. To our friend. The person who came to me, begging me to get Benji to do the right thing so she didn’t have to turn him in.”

“Oh, Cherry...”

“A couple of hours passed. Benji paced the office, tossed threats in my direction, but he wouldn’t leave. He even cut the cord to the phone line. And I didn’t dare try to go anywhere to find another phone or involve one of the innocent guests. I worked the front desk—minus answering calls—until closing, knowing that time was running out for Brenda. Benji canceled all of the activities that would involve him leaving the area—and me. But finally, he stepped outside to talk to someone, and I hurried to let Brenda out of the closet. I shoved her out the office’s back door and got her to her car. She was practically hysterical. I told her to go to the police and tell them everything and I’d back up her story. Just as she was leaving, Benji came back and realized what had happened. He raced to the nearest vehicle, one of our SUVs, and climbed in. I knew he was going after her. Unfortunately, I had no way to call for help, so I jumped in the passenger seat, begging him to stop, but...” She shook her head and tears tracked her cheeks once more. “He was determined and took off after her. I was horrified to see her go in the Youngstown Road direction. I guess she was hoping that Benji would be too scared to follow.”

“Benji took her phone?”

Cherry nodded.

Of course. “Then help was closer. The store at the bottom of the hill.”

“Yes. I thought about that too. Anyway, Benji bumped her car toward the drop-off, but she managed to stay on the road. I grabbed the wheel and he pushed me off, screaming at me he was going to kill me next. My head hit the window, and it dazed me for a few minutes. He took advantage and bumped her one more time. That time she went over.” Cherry lowered her head to her hands and wept. When she regained control, she sat for a brief second, pulling in gasping breaths. “Then he stopped,” she said into the table, “got out of the car, and fired a gun at her.” She sniffed, lifted her head, and grabbed another handful of tissues. “I didn’t even know he had a gun on him. The rest of that evening is a blur. I was screaming at him that he’d crossed a line and I wasn’t going to be a part of it. He put the gun to my head and told me to shut up. So I did. Then we drove back to the office and he told me to think good and hard about reporting him to the police. Because our parents would go down too. It was then that I realized my whole family were crooks. And now ... killers.”

TATE LOOKED AT COLE, who couldn’t seem to take his eyes from the drama unfolding in the interrogation room.

James had come from Benji’s room just in time to hear the full story. “Wow,” he said. “Benji wouldn’t say a word and Cherry can’t seem to stop talking.” He glanced at his phone.

“Shows which one of them has a conscience,” Tate said.

Cole nodded. “Must have been killing her keeping all that bottled up inside.”

James glanced at his phone again. Tate raised a brow. “You expecting a call?”

“Lainie’s coming by. She said she’d text when she got here.”

Tate shoved his hands in his back pockets and nodded to the two in the other room. “Cherry would have come to us eventually.”

“You believe her?” James asked.

“I do.” He pursed his lips. “She won’t walk away from this without some consequences, though. I’m guessing she’ll have to face some charges for covering up a crime.”

James crossed his arms after another look at his phone. “Maybe she can get those reduced for testifying.”

“You think she’ll do it?” Tate asked.

Cole shrugged. “Only one way to find out. Let’s see if we can get a deal worked up fast while she’s still getting all of this off her conscience.”

“Cherry.” Steph’s soft voice reached them once more. “What was Stan’s role in all of this?”

“I asked Benji that after the detectives left. He found out about the money laundering before Brenda did and came to Benji, wanting in on everything . . . especially the profits. He demanded a percentage for his silence.”

“Ohhh, I see. So, all of his zip line adventures...”

“Yeah, just a cover-up. He never paid for that stuff, but it was a way to account for some of the money coming in. Just a small part, of course, but...” She shrugged. “It kept him quiet, according to Benji. And culpable should he ever decide to turn.” She swiped a hand over her hair. “I can’t believe this,” she whispered. “I just can’t.”

James nodded. “I’ll call the ADA.”

He left to contact the assistant district attorney, and Tate turned to focus on Steph. She was sitting quietly while Cherry continued to weep. He couldn’t imagine it. Finding out your whole family was involved in something so awful. And then trying to cover up the murder. He sighed. “I’ll get Steph. We’ll let Cherry sit there and get herself together while James gets in touch with the ADA.”

“Works for me.”

Tate went to the interrogation room, opened the door, and motioned for Steph to join him. When she did, the grief in her eyes hit him. She’d suffered too much of that over the past three days. But at least Brenda and her family would have closure. He touched Steph’s cheek. “I’ll call you and keep you updated, okay?”

“Sure.”

“I was invited to the lake house. Do you think you’re going to go after all of this?”

She shrugged. “Yes. As much as I might want to hide under the bed at the moment, I won’t do that.”

He offered her a faint smile. “Good for you.”

“See you there.” She headed for the lobby.

Tate watched her go for a brief moment, then walked back to let Cherry know they’d have some information for her soon.

He stepped inside. “Hey.”

She kept her gaze on the table.

“I just—” An alarm sounded, cutting him off.

A gunshot followed somewhere beyond the room.

Cherry jerked her head up. “What’s going on?”

Tate ran from the room and locked it behind him while James and Cole rushed past him, headed to the front lobby.

“Stay with her,” Cole said over his shoulder.

“Where’s my family!”

Tate was opening the door to the interrogation room just as the scream ripped through the building.

Cherry jerked. “Mom? Mom!”

“Put the weapon down!”

“Put the gun down!”

“Drop it!”

The shouts echoed over the blaring alarm.

“I want to see my daughter! Just let me see Cherry and I’ll drop the gun!”

Cherry turned pleading eyes on Tate. “Don’t let them kill her.” She yanked at the handcuffs attached to the table. “Let me talk to her! Please!”

After a split second’s worth of hesitation, Tate unlocked her from the table but kept her cuffed. He led Cherry down the hallway, stopping just beyond the lobby where James and Cole were covering the situation, out of the way of any stray bullets.

“Shut that thing off so we can hear,” James said into his radio. The blaring alarm stopped seconds later.

Just beyond them, officers were hidden behind anything that might offer cover. James looked like he wanted to puke. Cole didn’t look much better. And finally Tate saw why.

Helen Bolin stood just inside the front door, her eyes wild, gun clutched in her right hand. The gun rested against Steph’s temple. Officers had closed in behind the woman, blocking her, but she had the upper hand at the moment.

Cole looked at Tate. “You heard all the commotion?”

“Yep. So did she.”

Cherry stepped forward, stopping only when Tate wouldn’t let her go any farther. “Please,” she whispered.

“You think you can talk her down?” James asked, a muscle jumping in his jaw.

“I don’t know. All I know is I have to try. You have to let me try.”

They didn’t let family negotiate with family except in extremely special situations. This might qualify.

“Cherry!”

Cole nodded to her.

“I’m here, Mom!”

At the sound of her daughter’s voice, the woman froze. Steph stayed perfectly still, her eyes searching. Finally, her gaze landed on Tate and almost instantly, the fear in her eyes lessened. He suppressed a shudder. She trusted him to get her out of this. Her family, James, was right there. Tate couldn’t let him watch his sister die. Live with the grief, the regrets, the what-ifs. Oh, God, help me...

He could hear Benji banging on his door. The father was quiet.

“Mom, please, don’t do this,” Cherry said. “You know Steph. Please.”

“Where are Gage and Benji?”

“They’re here. They’re just answering a few questions.”

“Don’t lie to me! Where are they? Get them out here.”

“They’re in the rooms here. Just answering some questions.”

Tate had to admit he was impressed with Cherry’s composure. He wouldn’t have thought she had it in her after the breakdown with Steph. Her gaze clung to his and her pulse thrummed visibly in her throat.

“I saw them get arrested,” Helen said. “I want them released! Now! Or I’m going to start shooting people. Starting with this one!”

Steph closed her eyes and Tate’s breath hitched.

“No, Mom! She’s my friend!”

Cherry broke away from Tate and rushed toward the lobby.

“Stop!” Tate yelled.

She stopped several feet from her mother and Steph. Tate and the nearby officers held their fire. The officers at the glass doors behind Helen and Steph wouldn’t shoot for fear of the bullet going through Helen and into Steph. A head shot from a sniper could cause her to jerk her finger in reflex and send a bullet into Steph’s brain.

Panic swirled. How could he help resolve this?

Steph’s eyes were open and locked on Cherry.

Cherry walked forward. “Mom, I need you to put the weapon down.”

“Cherry...”

She ignored James’s tone full of warning. This was about the worst situation Tate could imagine playing out. Nothing was going according to the rules. Well, it didn’t matter at the moment. Right now, they had to get Steph away from the woman—and Cherry might be their best chance of making that happen.

Cherry’s mother hesitated. “What are you doing? Stop right there! I’m your mother. You do as I say!”

“I want to help you, Mom. I want to help Steph. Do you understand? I want to help. Steph, she’s not going to hurt you. Are you, Mom?”

Cherry took another step, and Steph gave a faint nod at whatever she saw on Cherry’s face. Cherry finally stopped about three feet away, and Tate grabbed a breath into air-starved lungs.

“You told me to take care of Benji,” Cherry said. “All my life, you’ve told me to take care of him. But I can’t do that if I’m in prison, can I?”

Confusion flickered on Helen’s face. “What? I...”

“Drop, Steph!”

Cherry’s cry sent Steph down like her legs had turned to wet noodles. The weapon slid away from Steph’s temple and time slowed. Cherry launched herself at her mother and the two women joined Steph on the tile floor.

Tate bolted toward them.

A gun went off.

Everyone went still.

“Steph!” His shout echoed in the split second of silence, then chaos erupted.

Steph rolled one way. Cherry the other. A red stain on her green business shirt.

Then time sped back up. Cherry’s mother had a matching red stain on her abdomen, only hers was growing. But her hand still searched for the weapon, closed her fist around the grip, and yanked it up to aim it right at Tate.

Cherry threw herself in front of him as two shots sounded. One hit Cherry and she dropped.

The other hit her mother right between the eyes.

Cherry slapped a hand to her side and met his gaze while tears slid down her cheeks. “I had to make it right,” she whispered. Then her eyes closed and she went limp.