Jami Alden - Unleashed (The Gemini Men)

Also by Jami Alden

CAUGHT

KEPT

Published by Kensington Publishing Corp.

J esus Christ lady, look where youre going! A stocky man in his fifties climbed out of the SUV and slammed the door. I could have killed you.

Well maybe if youd been paying attention instead of looking at your phone you would have seen her. What in the world are you thinking goin that fast in a goddamn parkin lot? Caroline, are you okay?

She looked up to see Melody Easterbrook, Patrick Easterbrooks wife, a look of concern on her face as she helped Caroline get to her feet.

Are you hurt? the man asked, slightly contrite after Melodys ass chewing. Caroline recognized his face if not his name. He was a regular at the gym and worked out around the same time she did. He had a red windbreaker over his UC Berkeley T-shirt and his face was red with exertion and anger.

Caroline did a quick assessment of herself. Her knee was a little sore where shed landed and her right palm had a big gash, but she was otherwise okay. It flashed again, the huge dark SUV bearing down on her.

For a terrifying moment shed been convinced it had been the killers making good on their threat.

That wasnt my fault, you know, the man continued. Lots of people saw you just walk out without looking, he said.

You were speeding and everyone saw it, Melody broke in. Shed be totally within her rights to sue you if shes injured.

Im fine, Caroline managed to break in, raising her hand to calm Melody down. The last thing she needed that morning was a public altercation. Im sorry I wasnt paying attention. Her lips were stiff with cold and it was hard to push the words out.

The man nodded and climbed back in his car.

I dont know what people are thinkin bombing through the parkin lot like its a NASCAR track, Melody muttered, then turned her attention to Caroline. Honey, youre shakin like a leaf. She wrapped an arm around Carolines shoulders and steered her out of the SUVs way. Even after twenty years in northern California, Melodys voice was heavily laced with a Texas drawl. And though shed turned forty-five that past December, she still looked the part of the Dallas beauty queen. For Melody, a trip to the gym merited a full face of makeup, sprayed and teased blond hair, and a perfectly coordinated outfit of designer workout wear. Whats got you so out of it youre walkin into traffic without even lookin?

I think Im coming down with something, Caroline replied shakily, trying not to shrink away as Melody put a hand on her shoulder. Her skin was tight and too sensitive, and the comforting touch was unpleasant.

Well, its freezin out here, Melody said. If youre not sick already youll catch your death out here if you stand out in this cold in those sweaty clothes.

Caroline let out a slightly hysterical laugh at Melodys choice of phrase. Yeah, she was liable to catch her death if she wasnt careful. But now that Melody mentioned it, she was cold, down to her bones, so cold her body trembled and her teeth began to chatter. I just need to get home, she said, barely able to force the words from between her clacking teeth and trembling lips.

You better let me drive you.

Caroline tried to fend off Melodys offer, only to find her arm seized in a no-nonsense grip as she was steered gently but firmly across two rows of cars to Melodys powder blue Porsche. Get in, honey. I couldnt forgive myself if I sent you home like this and found out later you got into an accident.

Thanks, Caroline said. Im sorry about all this. I think the stress is starting to get to me.

Melody clucked and gave her a concerned look as she backed out of her parking space. You know you can always call us if you need anything.

I know, but youve already done so much.

Hey, we trophy wives have to stick together you know. Although, she slanted a look at herself in the rear view mirror, Id say this old trophy is due for another polish.

Caroline let out a weak laugh. Part of the reason she and Melody got along was because they were both younger second wives of two best friends and had formed a friendly alliance against the disapproving first wives in their social set. Though they would never be best friendsat the core they were too different for thatCaroline and Melody enjoyed each others company.

And theyd grown closer over the past six months, as Patrick and Melody stood firmly by her, even when she was accused of murdering Patricks best friend of over thirty years.

The initial adrenaline spike was wearing off and Carolines knee and hip started to throb where shed hit the pavement. She risked a look down and saw a nasty road rash decorating her knee. She shifted in her seat to alleviate the pressure in her hip, which hurt even worse. God knew what she was going to find under there when she took her shower.

Caroline blocked out the pain and leaned against the headrest trying to focus on Melodys chitchat about how their daughter, Jennifer, was coping with her freshman year at UCLA, trying and failing to shove aside thoughts of the note. Shove aside the knowledge that whoever had killed James had her in their sights.

James had been found shot to death in their house while Caroline was away, consulting with a client who wanted Caroline to design the closets in her new vacation home in Sonoma. As the investigation intensified, the police quickly dismissed their initial theory that the murder was a home invasion gone wrong and instead seized on Caroline, the scorned wife, as the prime suspect. Terrified, Caroline had started her own digging, going through every detail of Jamess life trying to find out who really killed him. Shed told the police about the crying woman and suspicious conversations, but they hadnt wanted to hear any of it.

Caroline knew shed been on to something, because it wasnt long after she talked to the cops about the mysterious woman that shed found the first note.

Back off, or well finish you like we finished James .

But the cops hadnt cared about that note or the ones that followed, convinced shed printed them off herself in an amateurish effort to throw them off the trail.

Shed hoped, prayed the notes would stop, that maybe they were a cruel sick joke by someone who wanted to mess with her.

As the weeks since shed been released lengthened to a month, then two, she half convinced herself it was all a sick hoax. Jamess killer wasnt really out there, biding his time, waiting for the opportunity to silence her before she discovered whatever secrets she wasnt supposed to find.

And where they think hes going to come up with two thousand more dollars a month, I have no idea.

Melodys harsh laugh momentarily jolted Caroline from her dark thoughts. Patrick and Melody werent having an easy time of it lately either, which was part of why Caroline hadnt wanted to bother them. Last year Patrick had been found liable in a medical malpractice suit where a patient had been misdiagnosed and subsequently died in surgery. His malpractice insurance paid out the settlement, but now his already sky high insurance premiums threatened to drive his practice into bankruptcy.

But I can still pay you for the work youre doing on our closets, Melody said, with a reassuring pat on Carolines leg.

Mel, dont worry about it. Despite her skyrocketing legal costs, and decline in business Carolines bank balance was very healthy. But Melody had hired her, Caroline suspected, out of sympathy since her business had completely dried up.

It seemed most people werent keen on having a suspected murderer in their homes, organizing their stuff. Go figure.

You have to finish, Melody said emphatically. Oh, and I had a great ideaI want you to think about a special way to display Patricks lab coat from when we first met.