“Where are you?” Ross’s voice was still mocking, but Liv could hear the barest hint of actual question in it. He didn’t know where she was. And she was going to use that to her advantage.
She stood, silent, waiting. She could now hear the faint steps of his footfalls, the hint of his clothes as he brushed through some leaves. He was close, and she was going to get him.
There he was.
She let go of the tree branch, letting it snap him firmly in the chest with a loud thwack. Ross fell to the floor, apparently winded.
“What next,” Liv muttered, heading straight for him and grabbing the gun out of his hand. Now she had both of them, and he had none. She hoped.
A loud crushing in the underbrush sent Liv’s adrenaline skyrocketing. Had Dane escaped? Had something happened?
“I radioed for help.” Ryan’s voice filled her with relief. “I found some zip ties on Veronica, let’s tie him up.”
“I hit him with a tree.” Liv offered her the gun. Gingerly Ryan took it, then she placed it on the ground and went to bind Ross up. Liv looked at Ryan, and Ryan looked at Liv.
“You scared me,” Ryan said softly. She pulled Liv close, ignoring their surroundings and the bound criminals.
Liv kissed her, trying to apologize. She had scared herself, too. Had she actually been prepared to shoot Ross? She wasn’t normally a violent person.
Angry sirens pierced the quiet of the clearing. “They’re here.” Ryan pulled back, but she took Liv’s hand and squeezed it.
Liv helped her get Ross up, and walked him back to where Dane and Veronica were bound. Both were conscious now, but Veronica was crying while Dane just looked like stone.
Chief O’Conner stood there, looking at Dane with a face like rock. “Want to explain why you’re tied like the other two?”
Dane’s eyes flickered with something that may have been considered fear in anyone else. “I want a lawyer.”
That was enough for the Chief. “Get them out of here,” he snarled.
Liv stood at the side of the clearing, her arm around Ryan’s shoulders. Now that the adrenaline was starting to fade, exhaustion was setting in.
“Dane killed Cairo,” Liv said, her words wooden. “She discovered who he was.”
“Why Charles?” This was the Chief speaking, who had apparently overheard them. And who was apparently willing to trust her as a witness.
“To cast more suspicion on Steven,” Liv said. “Ross and Dane needed a fall guy.” Her voice was bitter. “Ross was the actual killer.” She looked at Jasmine, who was getting attended by the paramedics first. “He killed Ashley and Dane dumped the body.” It had taken her a long time to put the pieces together, but she had.
A pair of paramedics came over, their medical bags in their hands. It was only then that Liv realized she was covered in scrapes, with blood dotted on her body. She had been so hyped up that she hadn’t even noticed.
“Charles knew what Cairo knew,” Ryan said. “He met Ross at the weekly poker nights and figured out there was something going on behind it, so Cairo trusted him.”
“There’s something you need.” Liv looked at Ryan. “She has a flash drive.”
Ryan nodded in agreement.
Liv turned to face the Chief. “Cairo kept a record of the ring’s activity and roster on a flash drive. She was using that to blackmail them. It’s encrypted, so no information showed up on my computer. But it’s on there.”
“How do you know all this?” The Chief frowned.
Liv chuckled, then hissed as the paramedics wiped antiseptic over her wounds. “Ross talked while I was being held captive. And then talked some more. I think he wanted to unload.”
“What about the settlement?” That was Ryan, now. She had missed most of the talking, so Liv had to fill in the blanks.
“She’d gone back to playing poker in order to leave Steven, I think.” Liv pondered. “Ross left the specifics out, but she had to have a reason that she had that much cash, right?”
Ryan nodded in agreement, even as her face said otherwise.
To Liv’s surprise, the Chief let out a laugh. “They just have to talk, don’t they?”
Liv turned to watch Jasmine being strapped to a gurney and placed into an ambulance. Jasmine smiled at both of them, but her eyes were distant. “Will she be okay?” Liv wasn’t certain she wanted to know the answer.
“She’ll make it.” Ryan nodded. “She’s strong.”
Liv agreed. She bowed her head. Then she lifted her head, alarm flooding through her. “I need to check on Gram – I’ve been gone so long, what if something’s happened? She’s supposed to come home soon, and I’m not there.” Panic flooded her. “And Mocha. Where is she? We have to find her.”
“I’ll take you.” Ryan looked at the Chief.
“Go,” he said, waving a hand. “I’ll send someone later to take your statements.”
Liv grabbed Ryan’s hand and ran to her patrol car.
31
Epilogue - February
Ryan pushed the door open, heading into what was formerly Liv’s house but was now theirs. The thought still sent shivers down Ryan’s spine. “You’re not supposed to be lifting more than ten pounds!” Liv’s voice rang from the kitchen.
“You’re not the boss of me,” Gram retorted, even sassier post-surgery.
Gram’s recovery had gone well and after a couple weeks of rehab, she had returned home. Ryan had offered to move in to provide support.
It was a sham, and they both knew it. But Liv had wanted her there.
“If you guys get into a fist-fight, I’ll have to arrest you,” Ryan called out.
Liv huffed. She came out of the kitchen, giving Ryan a quick kiss. “She’d heal faster if she listened to the doctor’s orders.”
Gram came out of the kitchen, her eyebrows raised. “Whippersnapper. I’m already back to normal!”
“That’s your new favorite word, isn’t it?”
“You bet.” Gram grinned. “Don’t you two have some work to be doing?”
Ryan and Liv exchanged looks. They had started renovations on the house,
