Sarah Woods Mystery Series (1-6) Boxed Set Read online

  He turned and looked at me. I stopped, waited for him to say something.

  “Something I need to do,” he finally said. “I’ll explain later. Call you in a few hours, okay?”

  He turned and jogged towards his car. Whatever he was up to couldn’t wait.

  “Fine, I’ll be at home,” I said, not sure if he even heard me.

  Chapter 29

  I sat in my car after Max left and pondered the business with Carter and Beth. Carter was right. Beth certainly had been good at what she did. Even I’d been duped, apparently. I’d never have guessed that Beth had been hired to spy on me. But it still didn’t make sense. There had to be more to the story. Beth was dead, and there had to be a reason for that. My cell phone rang. I pulled it out of my purse. The number wasn’t familiar.

  “Hello?” I said.

  “Sarah? It’s Melissa. Hey, I’m sorry to bother you.” Her voice sounded strained.

  “Melissa, are you okay?”

  “Can you come over to my house right now?”

  “Okay. Yeah. I can be there in ten minutes. Is something wrong?”

  “Please. Just come. I’ll see you when you get here.”

  I started the engine and drove straight to Melissa’s. I ran to the front door and was about to knock when she opened it. I could see she’d been crying.

  “What’s happened, Melissa?” I asked, stepping inside.

  “I got home from work early today,” she said, gesturing towards her bathroom. “I was brushing my teeth when I heard the noise.”

  “What kind of noise?”

  “I’m positive I heard someone in Beth’s room.”

  “Did you see anyone?”

  She shook her head and looked down. “No. I was so scared I locked myself in the bathroom and called the police.”

  “So what happened?”

  “The police searched the house and found nothing,” she said, wiping her eyes. “Do you think I’m crazy?”

  I sat next to her and put my arm around her shoulder. “Your roommate died a week ago. I can understand your being a little on edge. But,” I added, thinking back to my own recent experience with home invasion, “if you say someone was in your house, I believe you.”

  She managed a weak smile and got up from the couch. “I think, whoever it was, was looking for something. Cause if they wanted to hurt me, they would have done it as soon as I came home don’t you think?”

  “What would they be looking for?”

  “Something of Beth’s. Like I said, I heard someone in her room.”

  “Did you notice if anything was missing?”

  She shook her head. “It’s not like I’ve taken an inventory of everything in her room, so it’s hard to say. But nothing looked out of place.”

  I leaned back on the couch and thought for a moment. “I had a similar thing happen yesterday,” I said. “I came home and was convinced someone had been through my desk and filing cabinet, but nothing seemed to be missing.”

  “Do you suppose whoever killed Beth is looking for something?”

  “Maybe. But what? What could they possibly find in my house that would have anything to do with Beth?”

  She shrugged and shook her head.

  “Do you have someplace else to stay tonight?” I asked her.

  “Yeah. I already called my parents. I’m going to stay with them for the weekend.”

  “Good. I don’t think it’s safe for you to stay here alone,” I said, looking around. “Max and I saw Carter today. Beth was working on something no one knew about. Not even him. So we’re back to square one, I’m afraid.”

  “Do you think it has something to do with those photos you showed me?”

  “I don’t know. Beth took those photos to prove there was no hanky-panky going on in my therapy rooms. A client’s wife hired Carter to find out, and Carter hired Beth to get proof.”

  “Well, at least that explains the photos. But it still doesn’t explain why she was killed. Would you like some tea?” she asked, starting towards her kitchen. “It’s the least I can do since you came all the way over here.”

  “Thanks anyway, but I have to go. My husband is on his way back from Miami.”

  She stopped, turned back, and walked me to the door. “Promise you’ll let me know whatever you find out?”

  “Sure,” I said. She waved from the window as I walked down the front steps.

  As I walked back to my car, I noticed a new message, a rather long one as it turned out, on my cell.

  It’s Max. Where are you? Sorry about leaving in such a hurry. I have some new information. Call me as soon as you can. And don’t go back to your office until you talk to me.

  I called him, but the phone just rang. Why wasn’t he answering?

  What did he mean about not going to the office? Did he think I was in danger? If so, maybe Gabby would be, too. I started my engine and speed dialed her. Thankfully, she answered on the first ring.

  “Gabby, where are you?”

  “Just left the office. On my way home. Why?”

  “I got an odd message from Max warning me to stay away from the office. Did you notice anything strange before you left?”

  “Not sure what you mean by that. Nothing out of the ordinary. What’s going on?”

  “Look, I’m getting a little freaked out. Can I meet you at your house so we can figure out what to do?”

  “I guess. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  “Great. I’m heading there now.”

  I dialed Max’s number again with the same results as before. I decided not to leave a message.

  As I drove to Gabby’s, I forced myself to think back to the night Beth died. Was there anything I missed, anything out of place, something I might have seen that I’d dismissed not thinking it important at the time?

  There was a reason Beth had been killed. She must have known something. My mind was running in circles, but kept coming back to one person. Jeff Gardner. He’d been in the shower jerking off, presumably. But as I thought back to that night, I’d been in the laundry room for at least five minutes. Would that have been enough time for him to slip out of the bathroom and down the hallway, strangle Beth, and slip back into the shower and be pleasuring himself when I finally walked in on him? Was it possible? And when I found Beth dead in her chair, could it have been him who came up behind me and knocked me out, and then called 911 to cover himself? The big question still remained, “Why?”

  I arrived ahead of Gabby and waited at her front door. She pulled into her driveway less than a minute later.

  “Sorry to alarm you,” I began, as Gabby got out of her car and started towards me, her greeting lost as I continued to run at the mouth, “but I’m getting a bad feeling about all of this. I just came from Melissa’s and her place was broken into, too. Someone is looking for something, but I can’t figure out what the hell it could be.”

  “Just try to calm down. We’ll figure it out,” she said, searching for her house key.

  “Let me try Max’s cell again,” I said, dialing his number and getting his voice message for the third time. “Damn it. What the hell happened to him?”

  “What’s all the fuss? What’s got Max calling you with dire warnings?”

  “He was kind of vague, but it seems he’s found out something. He said to stay away from the office. I have no idea why. And now he’s not answering his phone.” I was talking so fast I ended a bit breathlessly.

  “Okay, Sarah. Just simmer down. Let’s go inside and have a drink while we wait for Max to call you back.”

  “Okay, but I can’t stay long. Daniel is on his way back from Miami.”

  “Hey, that’s odd.”

  “What?”

  “The door’s already unlocked. I’m positive I locked it this morning when I left.”

  “You’re absolutely sure?”

  “Of course I am.”

  “Then someone’s broken into to your place, too.”

  Gabby’s expression turned s
our.

  “This is bullshit! I hope the son of a bitch is still in there so I can wring his friggin’ neck.”

  “No, Gabby. Call the cops,” I pleaded.

  “Screw that shit. I’m going in.”

  There was no way I could’ve stopped her even if I’d wanted to.

  I followed her through the front door and stood looking around while she continued down the hall to her bedroom. She returned with a blank look on her face.

  “Nothing seems out of place,” she said, continuing to look around.

  I hadn’t noticed I was holding my breath until she looked at me and we both started laughing.

  “Thank God,” I said. “False alarm.”

  “Yeah. Whew. I was getting ready to pound on someone.”

  “I need a drink, Gabby. But perhaps I’d better stick to something non-alcoholic. I’ve gotta drive home soon,” I reminded her.

  Gabby headed towards the kitchen and I started to text Brian to let him know I’d be home by five-thirty. When I looked up, I saw Gabby standing in the doorway to the kitchen. She’d stopped in her tracks, her eyes fixed on something I couldn’t see. A chill ran down my spine. What was she looking at?

  “You okay?” I called out.

  When she didn’t respond, I cautiously made my way over to her. When I turned the corner to see what she was staring at, my heart dropped into my stomach.

  Max was sitting at her kitchen table. I looked down and there was a gun lying in his lap.

  “What the hell are you doing in my house?” Gabby shrieked.

  Max was looking at us calmly. “You know exactly why I’m here,” he said.

  I noticed a vein pulsing in his neck as he glanced at me, then back at Gabby. I stood with my mouth still hanging open.

  “I don’t have a clue why you’re sitting in my kitchen with a gun, but you’d better start explaining,” Gabby shot back.

  “Why’d you do it, Gabby?” Max almost whispered.

  “Do what?” Gabby shouted and put her hands up.

  “You killed her,” Max said, swallowing hard. “And now I can prove it.”

  “What the fuck are you talking about?” Gabby said, crossing her arms. “You’re insane, and I want you out of my house right now.”

  “Max, what the hell is going on?” I said, not wanting to move any closer to him. I kept a watchful eye on the gun. Where’d he get it? And was he planning to use it? He’d broken into Gabby’s house and was now accusing her of murder. Had he lost his mind?

  “I know exactly what I’m talking about. I found this in your basement.” Max pulled a small pink cell phone out of his jacket pocket. “Look familiar?”

  My vision went slightly blurry, and I felt like I might faint. I leaned against the wall to keep my knees from giving out.

  “Max, why are you doing this?” I pleaded weakly. “Gabby would never hurt anyone. But you, I’m not so sure about you anymore.”

  “Well don’t take my word for it,” he said, extending his hand as if to offer me the phone. “Look at the images on Beth’s cell. They speak for themselves.”

  Before I could move towards him, Gabby lunged forward and grabbed the phone out of his hand. With fury I never saw coming, she threw it down on the tile floor, shattering it to pieces.

  “I rest my case,” Max said softly.

  “You’re a liar, Max. Why are you doing this to me?” Gabby pounded the table, but Max brought the gun up and pointed it at her chest.

  “Holy shit, Max! Calm down,” I begged.

  “My patience is wearing very thin. I want Gabby to explain why she had my sister’s cell phone.”

  Were there pictures of Gabby on Beth’s phone? Doing what?

  “Gabby, why did you smash the phone? What was on it?”

  “What was on it is on my phone now,” Max said. “I downloaded all the images from Beth’s phone to mine, just in case.” He reached inside his jacket and produced another cell phone.

  “Take a look if you don’t believe me.”

  I stood, unable to move. Gabby’s eyes were fixed on the phone Max was holding in his other hand. Was he telling the truth?

  “Wait, Sarah.” Gabby said before I could decide. She held up her hand to stop me. “Please don’t.”

  “What, Gabby? What is on that phone?”

  She shook her head and I could see her eyes tearing up. She was breathing hard, her chest heaving up and down, and there was something in her expression that told me Max was telling the truth. I felt like I was going to throw up.

  “I’m sorry,” was all she said to me. “It was an accident.”

  Sorry for what? What accident? “What is it? Tell me, please,” I begged, feeling like my heart was ripping in half.

  Gabby looked at Max, then back at me, and her shoulders slumped. She wiped her forehead with her sleeve and looked at the floor in front of her. A few agonizing moments passed before she finally spoke. “A few months ago one of my male clients asked if I’d jerk him off after the massage for an extra fifty bucks. I didn’t think it was such a big deal.” She covered her eyes with her hand and took another deep breath. “But before I knew it, I had four or five clients requesting ‘special treatment.’ The money came so easily, but I knew you’d be pissed if you found out.” She paused and looked at me. “Beth somehow figured things out. She set up cameras in both of our rooms and got photos of me giving hand jobs to my clients.”

  “Then you did know why Beth had those pictures of me and Jeff.”

  She nodded. “You were the reason Beth put the cameras in our rooms, but I was the one that got nailed.” Gabby closed her eyes. “She confronted me and threatened to tell you about what I was doing. She said she had proof. I begged her not to, told her I would stop doing it.”

  “But you didn’t stop, did you?”

  She shook her head slowly. “I wanted to, but I was so used to getting all that extra cash. I just figured after a while Beth would let it slide. But she was so fucking persistent.” Gabby’s hands were shaking. As she took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, obviously trying to decide what to say next, Max lowered the gun slightly, his face red and wet. “I knew you were working late last Friday. I came into the office as Beth was getting ready to leave. We talked for a few minutes. She said she was planning to tell you about what I was doing. I begged her to reconsider. I knew I’d be fired and have nowhere to go. Then she made a call on her cell, just sitting at her desk like she owned the place. She gave me that look. Like I was a loser and she was perfect. I knew if she told you, you’d never let me take over the business.” Gabby clenching her fists. “I couldn’t let that happen.”

  “Oh god,”I said, feeling sick.

  “I swear, I never meant to hurt her. I just became so furious and I … I couldn’t control myself. But when she passed out, I realized right then what I needed to do. I grabbed her cell phone and planned to get the hell out. That’s when I heard someone coming down the hall … I tried to hide. But when you came in and found Beth in her chair… I freaked out. I didn’t want you to know I was there so…I hit you with her cell phone. I didn’t want to hurt you, Sarah. I swear, I never wanted to hurt you.”

  The tears cascaded down her cheeks as she spoke, and all the terror of that night came rushing back. I could never in my wildest dreams have imagined that Gabby would be capable of such things.

  “So that’s when Jeff came out of the shower?”

  “Yes.” Gabby swallowed hard. “When I heard him shouting for you, I ran out and waited a few blocks away. I still wasn’t sure if Beth ... or you ... if anyone was ... dead. So I watched as the police and ambulance came and went. I knew you were still alive when I saw you walk out and get into your car. I ... I was so relieved that you were okay. You can’t even imagine.” She was shaking and the floor was wet at her feet.

  “Even if Beth had told me what you were doing, I’d never have fired you. We would have worked it out,” I sobbed, tears streaming down my face now.

  “I never wanted
to hurt anyone, honest. I’m ... so ... sorry.”

  “So my sister is dead because you wanted a little extra cash. Was it really worth it? Huh? Was it?” Max stood up, reached into his pocket, and threw a wad of bills at her.

  “Here ya go, if you need it so bad. Had I known that’s all it would take I would have gladly drained my bank account for you!” Max gave her a disgusted look and then pointed the gun at her face.

  “Max, don’t! Please! Let the police handle it. It’s over now.” I inched closer to him. He had a steady hand. I wondered if he had ever fired a gun before. Gabby’s expression went blank and she hung her head.

  Max looked over at me. “Fine,” he said. “Call the police. Tell them we have Beth’s killer.” He lowered the gun.

  My hand was trembling as I reached into my purse for my phone. I could barely breathe, my lungs felt constricted. Just as I felt the hard metal device, I grabbed it to bring it to my ear. A movement caught my attention. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Gabby lunge towards Max, her outstretched arms reaching for the gun. I looked up. Taken by surprise, he struggled to keep control, fighting Gabby for the gun. The sound was something I would never forget. Nor the look on Gabby’s face as the bullet tore through her chest driving her body back onto the kitchen floor.

  Chapter 30

  We weren’t positive Gabby was dead when Max tried to give her CPR, but it soon became apparent that she was already gone. Seeing her lifeless, blood soaked body spread out on the floor caused me to shake uncontrollably as I huddled in the corner of the kitchen crying into my hands. My sobs sounded more like a pitiful, hollow wheeze. Then Max came to me and held me, smoothing my hair with a gentle hand. It seemed we waited an eternity for the police and ambulance to arrive. The examination was brief and she was quickly carried out. Max helped me up and led me into the living room. As I took one final glance back towards the kitchen, I saw Beth’s pink phone, shattered into many pieces, lying in a pool of Gabby’s blood.

  We were sitting on the couch when Detective Flynn walked in. He looked around and scratched his head, then walked towards us. “This is quite a mess we have here,” he said, pulling up a chair and sitting next to us. His face expressed remorse.