Amy Maxwell & the 7 Deadly Sins (The Amy Maxwell Series Book 2) (17 page)

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum is the Founder’s Day Carnival that Beth runs at her school. Besides being a catered affair with actual carnival rides, there are guest appearances by bona fide actresses and actors of popular TV shows that my kids actually watch. Unlike the one time our school had an appearance by a sad and pathetic washed up old actor, who used to play the butt end of a cow on a local TV station kid show. The kids leave this carnival with prizes like X-boxes and ski equipment, not goodie bags full of left over Charleston Chews and Mary Janes.

“Kevin helped me tremendously last year with organization. He even got our special guest, Abby Large. She’s a singer…”

“I know who Abby Large is, Beth!” I snap. Does she think I live under a rock? Lexie only blasts her music all day long, much to my annoyance. Her squeaky high pitched voice is like nails on a chalkboard. I cannot imagine how she has rocketed up the charts, except the fact that kids must not have any taste whatsoever. Or their eardrums are completely shattered from the headphones they wear all day long.

“One night we were putting the entertainment line up together at my house. Derek was on another one of his extended conferences.” Beth sounds pissed off. “One thing led to another and…well, we ended up kissing.” She blushes and glances at me. “I won’t bore you with the details…”

Oh, thank God!
I was getting a little nervous she was going to share the details of her sex life and I was going to have painful visuals in my mind of Kevin that I would never be able to erase.

“Needless to say, when it happened I was immediately ashamed and embarrassed, and I swore it would never happen again. But then, I found myself thinking about what Derek had done behind my back and…what he
continues
to do behind my back, and I have to admit, it made me vindictive. I saw it as an opportunity to make myself feel like less of a
chump
.”

“You felt like a
chump
?” Interesting choice of words.

“Yes. It was like I was being played a fool and now I could play him like a fool. Of course, I didn’t intend for it to happen more than that one time. But as you can see, it definitely got out of hand.”

Beth’s voice drifts off as if she is remembering something. “Did you ever feel like you never knew who you were, never knew what potential you had, until someone else pointed it out to you? Or did you ever realize that you were not being true to yourself after years and years of doing what everyone else expected of you?”

Um, does a bear poop in the woods? I’m a wife and a mother; when am I ever true to myself?

“And then all of a sudden, it’s staring you right in the face and you realize, your whole life has been a lie and you’ve been cheating yourself out of happiness,” Beth continues. “And so you decide to grab hold of the reins for once and do what makes you happy.”

Like go back to school and
then
discover that what you thought would make you happy doesn’t at all? Or have an affair with a guy who orchestrates the kidnapping of your child? Either one works. The lesson to be learned here is that the grass isn’t always greener, my dear sister.

I am about to point this out to Beth when she says, “He made me feel loved. For the first time in my life, Amy, I thought I knew what love felt like.”

Wait, what?

“What about Derek? What about your kids? You mean to tell me that you didn’t feel love when your kids were born?” Hell, as much as the little boogers drive me nuts, my kids still make my heart feel like it’s going to burst with love. Whenever they’re sleeping, that is. That’s about the only time for now…maybe when they move out I’ll feel it more.

“I’m not talking about feeling love
for
another person. I’m talking about feeling love
from
another person. It’s much different, Amy,” Beth continues in her usual matter of fact tone.

“So Derek doesn’t love you? Is that what you’re trying to say?”

“Oh, he loves me. He loves me in an affectionate family like way,” Beth explains. “Almost like a sister. He cares for me, takes care of me, and I don’t think he would ever hurt me on purpose. Well, except for cheating on me.” Beth laughs bitterly. “That one stings a bit.”

“So you don’t, um, have sex anymore?” I am dying to hear that my sister’s sex life is actually less exciting than mine.

Beth shrugs. “Not for five years.”

Oh wow. Now
that
stings
. That’s definitely worse than me and Roger. I can’t gloat though because I actually fee a stab of pain for Beth. I approach my next thought with trepidation.

“Do you think maybe then it wasn’t love you were feeling with Kevin, but uh,
lust
instead?” Here comes that sin…

“No, Amy, I do
not
,” Beth replies indignantly. “I felt love when I was with Kevin. He gave me butterflies all the time. The way he looked at me, the way he talked to me, the way he held me…
after
. I felt like for once someone was interested in
me
, someone wanted to make
me
happy. Just being with me made him happy…or so he claimed…” Beth’s voice trails off as she realizes that she is wrong. She’s hiding her face, but I can hear muffled sobs and I know why she’s crying.

Kevin doesn’t love her, either. He only acted like he loved her to use her. And now the truth has registered with Beth. She was played a fool not only by her husband, but by her lover as well.

“I’m sorry, Beth,” I tell her, wishing I could give my prickly porcupine sister a hug. It wasn’t her fault she was cold and heartless. Hey, look what happened the one time she let her guard down. Maybe she was right for being so stony all the time.

“It’s fine,” Beth tells me, trying desperately to cover her tears.

“It’s not fine! He used you and now…well, quite frankly, I’d like to kick his ass.”

“I’m not worried about me anymore. I’m an adult. I can handle a little rejection. It’s Jillian that I’m worried about.”

Oh crap! Jillian! I’ve forgotten about my niece during this lovely Lifetime Original Movie moment.

“If she’s not here, where is she? And what’s more, if this whole thing was a ruse to kidnap my daughter, what do they plan to do with her?”

For someone who has just bared her soul and is tied up contemplating her child’s kidnapping, Beth sounds extremely level-headed. I am exceptionally proud of her. If we are calm, we have a better chance to-

“We have to get out of here, Amy! We just have to!” Beth shouts frantically as she kicks her bound feet in the air
. Oh, here comes the irrational behavior. It’s time for cooler heads to prevail.

“Stop panicking, Beth,” I tell her in a soothing voice.

“I can’t! They have my daughter! Do you have any idea what that feels like?” Beth screeches at me.

“As a matter of fact, I do,” I tell her. Hell, I know what it’s like to be tied up and helpless while your daughter is being held at knife point. For all we know, Jillian has been delivered home, safe and sound, alerting Derek to the fact that something is wrong.
Who knows? Maybe the police are on their way right now!

My spirit is buoyed by this idea.
Jillian is fine! She has to be!
I feel giddy with elation. This whole thing is going to work out just fine. A minor blip in this evening’s regularly scheduled events.

I am about to share my theory with Beth when I hear the door creak open.

~Thirteen~

“This is the police! Put your hands up where we can see them!” I hear a loud booming voice shout through a megaphone.

“Oh, thank God!” Beth moans with relief as the entire room is flooded in an obscene amount of light.

I squint to adjust to the sudden brightness, watching several officers swarm into the room. I have to blink a few times to assure myself that I am not seeing things.

“Jason?” I squeak.

He rushes toward me, shining a flashlight in my face, even though there is no need for a flashlight at this time. I think he’s purposely trying to blind me.

“Amy, is that you?”

“Yes, yes, it’s me!” I reply, closing my eyes to shield them from his offensive light since I can’t put my hands up.

“Oh Amy! I’m so glad we found you!” Jason cheers, clicking off the flashlight. He reaches into his pocket and holds up a pocket knife. After flicking it open, he begins to cut through the duct tape around my wrists. In one swift motion, I am freed.

“Oh thank God!” I moan, rubbing my sore wrists.

“Are you okay?” Jason asks with concern. He crouches by my feet.

“A little help here?” Beth remarks with sarcasm dripping from her voice.

Jason ignores my sister and begins cutting through the tape that binds my feet.

“Jason, what are you doing here? Not that I’m not grateful, but…”

“We’ve been following this guy for a while,” Jason tells me.

“Following this guy? I’m confused. Do you mean drugs were involved? Aren’t you a DEA agent?”

Jason clasps his hand in mine, sending tingles down my spine and, er, even further. As he helps me to my feet, he replies, “Drugs weren’t involved. It was even worse than drugs. He was going to sell you.”

“Sell us?” My sister is incredulous. “He can’t sell us! We are not slabs of beef! That is the most asinine thing I have ever heard.”

“Um, I think he means like human trafficking,” I tell Beth, who immediately recoils.

“Or prostitution,” Jason interjects. “Turns out your buddy Kevin is running a very expensive escort service.”

I now see my sister turn the color of watermelon guts. She also looks like she may be close to spilling some of her own guts as well.

“Well, thank goodness you got here in time to rescue us and we didn’t need to be led down that seedy path,” I gush, throwing my arms around Jason’s neck.

He scoops me into his arms and carries me to the door. “Yes, I would never be able to live with myself if something like that happened to you.”

“Oh, Jason,” I swoon. “You’re my hero.

“Uh, a little help here!” Beth complains while rocking on the ground, hands still duct taped.

“Hello, ladies.” Kevin has returned.

“Kevin, this game is getting a little old. Please untie us and we will be on our way,” Beth remarks, trying to keep the fear out of her voice. I must admit, she is doing a pretty decent job. A bystander might actually believe that she is calm, cool, and collected as usual. But for someone who knows her, I can tell that she is petrified.

“Yeah, no can do, sweet cheeks,” Kevin replies casually as he flops down on to the chaise lounge near Beth. “You see, I might have been born at night, but it wasn’t last night. You’ll be on your way to the police station before I can even pack my bag for the Cayman’s.”

“The Cayman Islands?”
Isn’t that where people launder ill gotten money? Or is that the Swiss Alps? Or maybe I’m just confused from lack of nutrients.

“Yup. That’s where me and the missus are headed to once we get our money,” Kevin explains, tucking his hands behind his giant pumpkin head.

“What money?” Beth snaps impatiently.

This is where another one of the Seven Deadly Sins enter the scene. This one is GREED, and it’s all on Kevin and Claudia.

“The money your dear hubby is in the process of wiring to my bank account in exchange for your release. Oh, and Jillian’s release as well.”

“Jillian!” Beth gasps, and if she could clutch her chest, I’m pretty sure she would have. “What have you done with her?”

Kevin chuckles and arches his back as he stretches. “Oh, she’s in good hands. No need to worry about Jillian. I may be a heartless jerk, but I’d never hurt a kid. You however…” He shrugs and lets out a sinister chuckle.

“You bastard,” Beth practically spits. If she wasn’t as mild mannered and well-bred as she is, I’m sure she
would
have spit at him.

Kevin pulls himself to his feet. “No need to worry your pretty little head about Jillian. She’s going to be A-ok. Maybe slightly traumatized, but I’m sure her daddy will be more than happy to shell out money for therapy.” He trails his fingers down the side of Beth’s face and she freezes. “That’s more than I can say for you two lovely ladies.”

Oh, crap.

Beth’s voice is high pitched and squeaky. “Just what do you mean by that, Kevin?”

Kevin offers Beth a patronizing smile. “Oh, Beth…and here all this time I thought you were the smart one.” He sits down on the arm of the chair, pulling his leg up on the cushion. “Have you ever read a book? Seen a movie?”

“Of course I have you…
nincompoop
!” Beth shouts. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“It means that a killer rarely reveals his secrets if he doesn’t intend on killing the person, or in this case, people to whom he is revealing those secrets.” I offer Kevin a smirk filled with hatred. “Am I correct?”

Kevin laughs and stands. He gives me a pat on the head and I am really, truly tempted to bite his arm. “Good job, Amy. Boy, that college education is doing you well. Too bad you won’t be able to finish it.”

“How do you know I’m going to college?” I ask with annoyance.

“Oh Beth didn’t have many secrets, did she?” Kevin replies with a smirk. “Did you, Beth?”

“Shut up, Kevin,” Beth mumbles.

Kevin returns to his position on the chair, tenting his fingers together. “No siree. My Beth was one talkative lady. Especially after I would get her to squeal like a-”

“Shut up, Kevin! Just shut up!” Beth shouts, her face burning red.

Suddenly, I am curious. “What do you mean, Kevin? What secrets did Beth share with you?”

“Don’t you dare!” Beth growls.

“What? What difference does it make if Amy hears your secrets, Beth? It won’t matter to either of you in an hour or two. In fact, it may be cathartic to you. You know your last words and all.”

“Ok, that is definitely enough,” Beth replies indignantly as she struggles to stand up.

Kevin takes great pleasure in tapping her chest lightly. It’s enough for her to fall right back down.

Beth is fighting back tears, her face turning crimson, her cheeks puffing out.

What did my sister ever see in this guy? Not only is he unattractive and slovenly, he’s a real pompous jackass!

“Kevin!”

This less than playful banter is interrupted by the shrill voice of Claudia. She is standing in the doorway, tote bag slung over her shoulder, impatiently tapping her foot. She has changed into cropped yoga pants, sneakers that probably cost more than my car, and an off the shoulder tee shirt reminiscent of the Jane Fonda workouts my mother used to do. All she needs is the headband and leg warmers. She has her make-up flawlessly applied and her shiny black hair swept into a ponytail, held in place by a playful pink scrunchie. Of course, she looks nothing short of glamorous. When I wear sweats, I look like I have the flu. But then again, Claudia probably has a hair and make-up artist who just sits in her bedroom and pops out whenever necessary.
Probably after sex, Claudia has her make-up touched up.
For some reason, I find myself giggling; Beth shoots dangers at me with her eyes.

Kevin’s head whips around at the sound of his wife’s voice. He leaps to his feet like a dog caught with his head in the trash can.

“Yes, dear,” Kevin says, head still hanging.

“Stop chatting and let’s get on with this.” She glances at her watch. “I have an early shooting tomorrow and I want to be done with this nonsense.”

“Early shooting,” I comment dryly, amused at the irony. “
Hilarious
.” Nobody else seems to get the pun.

“But I thought we were leaving for the Cayman’s tonight!” Kevin bellows.

Claudia marches over to her husband and smacks him in the back of his head with her hand; the one with the giant diamond ring.
Ouch
. I almost feel sorry for the guy. I hate him, but she’s a Grade A first class
Beotch
. Even I wouldn’t hit Roger with my ring hand and trust me, a lot of times he deserves it.

“Don’t be a twit, Kevin! If we disappear and that idiot child mentions anything about me picking her up from her playdate, don’t you think the police might put two and two together?”

Kevin replies, “Oh yeah,” at the same time I see Beth’s eyes nearly bug out of her head. She pulls her body up straight (as straight as she possibly can under the circumstances) and practically spits fire at Claudia.

“Don’t you talk about my child that way! How dare you!” Beth is fuming.

Claudia simply laughs and taps my sister with the tip of her sneaker, causing her sway for a moment and then topple over once more. She’s like a Webble except not only does she wobble, she
does
fall down.

Claudia takes the opportunity to reach into the bag on her shoulder. She pulls out a Smith and Wesson. Or maybe a .38 special. Or a Glock. I don’t know. We didn’t get to that chapter in my criminal justice class yet. All I know is it’s a GUN. Needless to say, both Beth and I collectively hold our breath and shrink back against the wall.

“Listen, honey, I’m the one with the gun here,” Claudia remarks, waving the gun carelessly in the air. “I would watch what you say to me.”

“Uh, Claud?” Kevin is tip toeing toward her, his arm out. “Uh, where did you get that?”

“The same place that you got your gun from,” Claudia points out. “Where
is
your gun?”

Kevin pats his pockets and turns red. It is apparent that he has left his gun somewhere. Claudia scoffs at his incompetence. He quickly tries to change the subject. “Is that registered?” Kevin asks while pointing at Claudia’s gun.

Claudia rolls her eyes. “Of course it’s not registered, you lamebot!” She throws her hands up in the air and shakes her head. “If it was registered, it would be traced back to me when I blow your girlfriend’s brains out.” She offers me a bright toothy smile as Beth gasps. “And her meddlesome sister.”

She takes a step toward me and softly brushes the butt of her gun against my cheek. “You really should have just continued on and picked up the pizza for your family,” she remarks casually, as if we are discussing the best way to get grease stains out of silk.

“How did you know I was supposed to be picking up a pizza?” I ask incredulously.

Claudia gives me a haughty laugh and waves her hand around the vast space. “Did you really think we would leave you down here with no idea what you were plotting?” She points to one of the security cameras. “There’s a sweet little audio feature in that one over there. We could hear everything you said.”

Beth turns purple, causing Claudia to laugh. “Oh, yes. It was
so sweet
what you said about Kevin, how he made you feel like you were loved, and how he understood you and blah, blah, freaking blah,” Claudia retorts sarcastically. She leans in toward my sister, so close that her nose job is practically touching my sister’s nose job. “Did you really think Kevin would leave
me
for
you
? If you did, you’re more delusional that Kevin told me you were.”

Beth swallows hard and I can see she is gasping for air while she chokes back a deluge of tears. For the first time ever, my heart is breaking for my sister. I had no idea she had felt so unloved, and when you realize that you’ve been used by the only person you thought loved you, well, that had to be a rough pill to swallow.

I silently thank my lucky stars for Roger. Despite his (many) flaws, I’ve never once doubted that he loves me or the kids. I can’t imagine how it would be to live with someone and not know that somewhere deep down, they are wild for you. Not that Roger often showed me…

“Okay, well I’m done with this touching edition of Dr. Phil.” Claudia nods toward Kevin, who until this moment, had been hovering in the corner of the room. I glance at him quickly and almost swear a look of sadness passes across his face. But then, his normal gruff expression returns and he steps toward us, all business.

“Time to take a little trip, ladies,” he remarks with the evil grin returning. He pulls Beth to her feet and props her against the chaise that he was previously sitting on. He then flicks a switchblade, not unlike the one Jason was using in my fantasy, and begins to saw through the duct tape that is holding me to the chair.

Claudia waves her gun around and announces, “Don’t forget about my gun. I would hate for you to meet your demise all over my expensive carpet while attempting to escape.” Her eyes are narrowed into slits as she stares my sister down. Beth is mimicking her expression with her own eyes. It’s like a showdown on one of those Real Housewives shows or something. The hatred in the room is charged and palpable.