Page 19 of Tango
“Who blocked the door?” When they both stare at me, I continue, “When I got there, I had to move a coffee cart that was wedged beneath the door handle, locking her inside.”
They both stare at each other. “We didn’t do that,” Jemma says.
“Maybe they shoved it in front of the door?” Fred questions.
I doubt two bruisers would have taken the time to block the door to an empty room, but I don’t say it out loud. The truth is, Alice being locked in that basement is likely the only reason she’s still alive.
“Walk me through what they said to you.”
Jemma and Fred exchange glances; then Fred clears his throat. “They demanded to know where Alice was. Said that she was a murderer and on the verge of committing treason.”
“Treason?” I arch a brow.
“Yes. When I pressed, they wouldn’t tell me why, just told me that, if I were harboring a murderer, I could get into a lot of trouble.” He looks over at Jemma. “That’s when they forced their way into the house.”
“How long before I got there?” I know it wasn’t long since Alice was just starting to try to come out of the basement—maybe minutes, if that—but I need a time stamp. Every detail counts.
“Less than five minutes,” Jemma replies. “Or maybe right at five minutes.” She shakes her head. “It felt like hours. But they’d had time to do a quick search of the house. When they went down into the basement, I thought it was over. But God shielded our little girl.”
I think of the coffee cart wedged tightly beneath the handle. Yes, I believe He did.
“I can understand that.” I offer her a smile then make another note on my notepad, jotting down the treason angle as well as the estimated timeline. “Once they were inside, what happened?”
“One of them hit Jemma,” Fred growls, his gaze landing on his wife. “I lunged for them, and they grabbed me. Started hitting me and telling us that things were only going to get more difficult if we weren’t honest. Then that picture broke, and he sent his partner toward you.” He glances over at Tango, who is happily eating some kibble my mom put in a bowl for him. “I’ve never seen an animal move that fast. The second you gave the order, he was like a blur.”
“Tango’s the best,” I reply, pride warming my chest.
“And the shot you took—that seemed impossible. I heard that gun go off, and I thought Jemma was—” Fred tears up. “I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize. It was a tense moment. Duck joke aside.”
“Duck joke?” Frank questions.
“My way of lightening the mood while also getting Jemma out of the way,” I reply.
“Thank you for saving us,” Fred says. “I can’t even remember if either of us thanked you. But thank you.”
“No need to thank me, Mr. Sterling.”
“Please call me Fred.”
“Fred.” I offer him a friendly smile. “Now, you said they accused Alice of being a murderer. Do you believe it was because of the partner of theirs she killed in that alley? Or—” I trail off and glance at Frank, who’s standing near the front door, completely silent. “Ramiro?”
“We don’t know. But I do know that Alice would never hurt Ramiro. They were best friends. They started going to church together, did trivia night?—”
“Ramiro started going to church?” Frank asks.
Jemma nods. “Alice had been trying to get him to join her for months, and he’d finally agreed. They’d gone two, maybe, three Sundays.”
Frank’s expression softens, and I can see the weight of their words settling over him like a warm blanket. His nephew was finding his way to God, and that’s something Frank can take back to his sister. Hopefully, a little peace will come from knowing that—if it turns out that Ramiro Caine is truly gone.
“Alice is such a good girl. She had such a rough start, but she’s a good kid,” Fred says, taking his wife’s hand in his. “There’s not a violent bone in her body. You have to believe us.”
“I believe there’s more to this story,” I tell them, mirroring what I told Frank. “And I intend to uncover the truth. No matter how hard it is.” My hope is that they read between the lines. I don’t believe Alice is a murderer, but if she is, I won’t shield them from it. “Is there anywhere Alice might go to lie low? Any favorite places?”
The Sterlings look at each other for a moment.
“If you don’t tell me, and Web Safe gets to her first?—”
