Breaking Bedrock (Book Two) (14 page)

Patrick recoiled. “What happened with William Hartman, Addie? I
need to know the details.”

“I made a mistake. I slept with him. And then when you left for
China, I was so angry, Patrick. So I just kind of gave into it. I fell in love
with him. I never wanted to hurt you. We had just become so distant, and I made
a lot of really poor choices. I know that doesn’t excuse any of them, but I
just want you know that I am sorry. I’m really, really sorry that I didn’t
handle the dissolution of our marriage better. But I hope you know it wasn’t my
affair, or even yours, I’m sure, that caused it.”

Patrick stood and walked to the kitchen and poured himself a
drink. “You want one?”

“No.”

“I was really hoping after the past few days that there might be
a chance for us, you know.”

“I’m sorry, Patrick. I just can’t do it anymore.”

Patrick took his seat again opposite Addie. “Are you going to
keep seeing him?”

Addie bit back tears. “I don’t know. I don’t think so.”

“There’s something I need to tell you, Addison.” Patrick said,
his tone giving nothing away.

“Okay.” Addie winced.

“Michele is pregnant.”

“Oh.”

“It’s mine.”

Addie shook her head. “Yeah, I think I got that.”

“I don’t know what to do,” Patrick replied, downing his drink.

“What do you think you should do?” Addie asked, patiently.

“She trapped me. That’s what I think.”

Addie laughed. “She didn’t trap you, Patrick. You trapped
yourself.”

“Whatever.” Patrick exhaled.

“Do you love her?”

“I love you.”

“Yes, I know. But do you love her?”

Patrick went to the kitchen and poured another drink. “I don’t
know. I suppose.”

“Then I think you do know what to do.”

Patrick squeezed the bridge of his nose between his fingers. “I
need to know there’s no chance left for us, Addie. I have to know that I did
everything I could to save our marriage.”

Addie softened and gave him what she knew he needed. “You did
everything. It’s just not going to work with us, Patrick. We’ll still be great
parents together, but as far as our marriage goes, it’s over. You can have the
boys whenever you want. You can have the house and anything else you want, but
I’m going through with the divorce. It really is the best thing for everyone,
don’t you think?”

Patrick frowned. “Whatever you say.”

Addie stood, walked to the kitchen, and lightly kissed him on the
cheek. “I’m sorry, Patrick,” Addie offered, before she retreated to the guest
room and slept like a baby for the first time in a really long time.

Penny gripped the wheel tightly as she made her way to
Scott Hammons run down ol’ place on the opposite end of town. She realized it
was time to step away from him after he called her in the middle of the night,
furious and demanding more money. When nothing he was saying made any sense,
something about angels and such, she finally agreed to meet him with this
morning with a check, just to get him to stop calling. The last thing she
needed was for her husband to find out about their dealings. Plus, Patrick had
mentioned there had been some sort of incident with the police, and though he
refused to give any details because he was always protecting Addison, of
course, Penny couldn’t shake the feeling that it had something to do with Scott
Hammons.

Penny parked her Cadillac in the drive and stared at the
dilapidated house, thankful that she’d never have to set foot here again, after
today. What she found inside was disheartening to say the least. Scott had
apparently drunk himself into a stupor and was lying in his own vomit.

He was sprawled out on a dirty mattress on the floor, so she
nudged him with her foot. When he didn’t budge, she nudged a little harder,
which caused him to rear up and vomit, spraying her shoes.

“Mr. Hammons!” Penny shouted. “What has gotten into you? Is this
what you’re spending my money on?” she demanded, picking up one of the many Jim
Beam bottles that littered the floor and placing it back down.

“What time is it?” Hammons asked as he scrambled to sit up.

Penny had to get out of there quickly, she decided. The stench
was making her ill. “I brought your money. But this is the last of it, Scott.
Addie has gone back to my son, and they’ve decided to work things out. I’m
going to let them be for a while. I think it’s best for the children,” she
lied.

“Bullshit,” Hammons spat.

“Excuse me?”

He tried to stand but fell back down, gripping his head. “I’m
pretty sure she was with Hartman just a few days ago.”

Penny rubbed her chin and thought for a moment before responding.
“Well, I don’t know about that, but she and my son and the children, of course,
are at our lake house now, so I’m afraid your services won’t be needed
anymore.”

“The hell you won’t.” Scott spat before grabbing a half empty
bottle and chugging.

Penny placed the check on the table. He really ought to get
someone to clean this place up, she thought. “I’m serious, Mr. Hammons. This
check will be my last. I do appreciate everything you’ve done, but we’re really
no better off than we were when we started.” She called over her shoulder as she
made her way toward the front door.

Scott stood abruptly and grabbed a knife from the table,
intercepting her at the front door. Unsteady on his feet, he wielded it in her
direction. “Now, you listen,” he slurred. “We are NOT finished. You wouldn’t want
your family finding out what you’ve done here, would you? You wouldn’t want
them to know how much money you’ve given me and what you really think of your
daughter-in-law, now would you? You think I can’t prove that cashier’s check
has your name written all over it? Tell me how long you think it would be
before that son of yours dropped you like a hot potato once he found out, huh?”

Penny held up her hands in protest. “You’re right. I’m sure we
can work something out, but I really must be getting back now.”

Scott let out a booming laugh. “You’re scared of me aren’t you,
Penny. Ha-ha! Look at you. You’re shaking.”

“Put down the knife, Scott.” Penny pleaded.

Scott eyed the knife in disbelief. “Oh this old thing?” he said,
stabbing it into to wall just above Penny’s shoulder. “You know I’m really glad
we could work this thing out, you and I. I guess I can expect that I’ll hear
from you in a few days, then?”

Penny swallowed hard. “Sure. I’ll call you.”

Scott moved over so as to allow her passage to the door. “Not if
I don’t call you first.” He laughed wickedly.

Penny grabbed the handle and turned. “That sounds wonderful,” she
said, forcing a smile.

She got to her car as fast as she could and didn’t look back
knowing Scott had followed her out onto the porch. This wasn’t good, she knew.
She probably ought to tell someone about him threatening her like that. Better
yet, maybe she’d just let him drink himself to death. No need to stir up
trouble, after all. Men like Hammons always were more bark than bite, anyway.

Scott showered and attempted to sober up. Yeah, he’d
fallen off of the wagon, again. But it happens. He had to stop the voices, so
what else was he to do? But now, things were looking up. He had a check to cash
and work to do. Damn, that Penny Greyer had pissed him off, which all by itself
had been enough of a buzz killer. She was a dumb bitch just like her daughter-in-law,
and he’d be damned before he’d just let her cut him off like that—toss him to
the side, as though he were nothing.

He wasn’t nothing. He was brilliant. And because he was brilliant
and he had the angels directing him to do God’s will, he had a plan in place
just as quickly as he’d cleaned up the place a little. He sat down as his
computer and got to work, first pulling up Penny Greyer’s personal property tax
records until he had the exact location where his target was staying. He worked
well into the night, mapping, plotting, and planning. It was all coming
together perfectly now. The visions in the woods at the bottom of the hill with
Addison wrapped in the blanket all bloodied up from his handiwork made much
more sense now that he’d had a chance to thoroughly study the property on
Google Maps.

Better yet, for all his brilliance, he realized he now had the
perfect little situation right there at his fingertips, practically served up
on a gold platter. Garnish included. No one in his or her right mind would
suspect
him,
after this. How easy it would be now to frame the husband,
the angels whispered quietly.
Think about it,
they’d said
.
The wife
has an affair and files for divorce; the husband plans a getaway to the middle
of nowhere, only to have the wifey turn up missing and then later found
brutally murdered. Of course! That was it. It was time to get to work, time to
dig in and get his hands dirty. This was going to be sweet as pie. His
decisiveness must have pleased God because He sent the angels to sing him to
sleep that night, which was good because it felt nice not to be so all alone.

Thirteen

Addie awoke to sounds of laughter coming from the
kitchen. When she noticed the bright light pouring in beneath the blinds, she
grabbed her phone from the bedside table and checked the time: 9:12 a.m. Addie
couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept past 7 a.m., much less this late.
Opening her email, she scanned her phone. She still hadn’t responded to
William’s email and wasn’t sure whether she was going to or not. There was
something about not saying anything back that appealed to her, as though if she
weren’t a part of the conversation then maybe it wasn’t really happening. She
clicked on and was responding to an email from Sondra when her phone buzzed. It
was Carl.

Mrs. Greyer we’d like to request permission to resume
providing security. I know that you asked us to stand down during your time
away, but we at Hartman Enterprises strongly disagree with that decision. Our
team promises to stay out of your way and as inconspicuous as possible. Please,
consider it, Addison.

Carl.

Addie thought for a moment and responded.

Thank you, Carl. But we are fine
here.

With that she clicked off her phone, got up, and headed in the
direction of the sound of laughter and the smell of bacon. Following breakfast,
she, Patrick, and the boys took a trip into the nearest town for supplies and
then stopped for ice cream.

“They’re going to be so messy.” Patrick exclaimed, watching the
boys run around in a grassy field next to the mostly empty parking lot.

Addie leaned back against the car, folding her arms across her
chest, trying to keep the chill out. “They always are.”

“So how long are you thinking we need to stay here before the
cops can nab this guy? Because, I’m a little worried. I’ve got work and
Michele’s pretty sick. I called and spoke with the detective this morning, and
it sounded to me as though they don’t have much on him.”

Addie sighed. “You’re free to go if you need to, Patrick. The
boys and I can stay on a few more days, just to give them a little more time.”

“Nah, I’m good for a couple more days at least. And, anyway, I
think this is good for the five of us.”

Addie smiled. “Me too.”

They spent much of the rest of the day fishing and playing
outside. It wasn’t until close to dinnertime that Addie realized she hadn’t
checked her phone since this morning. There were several missed calls, three
from Penny including a voicemail she’d left and two from William.
Why was he
calling?
She checked her email and noticed how her heart raced when she saw
his name.

From: William Hartman

Date: 01/25/13

To: Addison Greyer

Subject: Call me. It’s urgent.

Addison,

I’ve been trying to get ahold of you all day. Call me. Please.

William

Addie dialed his number then hesitated and hung up. Just as she
was about to gather up the courage, her phone rang.