Maximum Guilt (Hidden Guilt Book 2) (17 page)

“You’re okay, sir. I’m a firefighter. I’m here to help.”

“What about the others?” I said.

“We already got the other two out. They’re both going to be okay; all of you are. Let’s get you out of here.”

“Thanks. I’m sure as hell ready.”

The first responders put me on a stretcher, but I was in no mood to stay there.

“Sir, we need to look you over. Please lie down and relax.”

I did as instructed, but I was madder than I’d ever been. They had almost burned us alive! I was tired of being the mouse in this little game of cat and mouse Stacy and I were playing.

As I struggled to sit up again, I saw someone approaching me.

“Porter, relax. It’s me. Chief Davidson. I sent a couple units over to assist you after you left. Good thing I did or you’d be toast right now—literally.”

Considering the circumstances, I didn’t find his pun all that funny. But he was right.

“Thanks,” I said.

“This wasn’t an accident. Looks like someone tried to burn the place down. They were obviously trying to get rid of something and got lucky when they found you here. There’s definitely someone out there who doesn’t like you, detective.”

“That’s an understatement.”

“This have anything to do with what grandma was saying to you during the interrogation?”

“It doesn’t have
anything
to do with it, chief; it has
everything
to do with it.”

“You want to tell me what you could have done to her to piss her off so badly?”

“Long story.”

“
CliffsNotes
version?”

“Eighteen years old, alcohol, college, hazing, football team, sex—all of that. A really bad combination.”

“Sounds like it.”

“De Luca and Lafitte okay?”

“Yeah, they’re both fine. I’m sure you’ll all be shaken up a bit. You guys take two or three days off, and you’ll be recharged and ready to go.”

Days off?
This guy obviously didn’t know me that well.

Chapter 36

Stacy and Brittany put the finishing touches on their makeup. Both of them had purchased skintight, low-cut tops, miniskirts, and six-inch heels. Stacy made sure to let everything she had hang out—and hang out a lot.

“Are you sure you know how to walk in those things, Brittany?”

Brittany laughed. “I’m sure I’ll figure it out.”

“Why are you frowning?” Brittany said.

“Why do you have those things wrapped up so tight? Let those girls out, sister!”

“Well, I don’t want to seem too over-the-top.”

“But we are, remember? We’re two sex-crazed sisters in need of an intervention. We don’t just want it; we
need
it. We have work to do tonight, two bad guys to rid this world of.”

The pair made a few more last-minute adjustments, and then they were off. They didn’t realize Gulfport would have so much going on. Every street corner had a hole-in-the-wall bar that was lit up and packed.

“There she goes,” Stacy said, finally spotting their rendezvous spot.

“I’m nervous, Stacy. I mean, what if something goes wrong?”

“Nothing’s going to go wrong. I know this is different and unscripted, but the only real difference is we’ll get two tonight instead of one.”

They found a parking spot and both took one last look in the mirror before Stacy led the way inside. They were shocked at how nice the place was—almost too nice. There had to be security cameras, probably several of them. It was a much larger audience than they’d hoped for. No turning back now.

“This isn’t the shit hole I expected. Let’s get these boys liquored up and out of here as fast as possible, okay?” Stacy said.

“Got it.”

They sat down at the bar and scanned the joint, looking for the brothers.

“What’ll it be tonight, ladies?” the bartender asked.

“Two Coronas with lime. No salt,” Stacy said.

Kenny Chesney’s “She Thinks my Tractor’s Sexy” was playing on the jukebox, and the huge dance floor in the center of the room was packed with twirling couples.  Still no sign of their dates.

“That’ll be six dollars, ma’am.”

Stacy handed the bartender a ten and told him to keep the change.

“Do I know you?” the bartender asked.

“No, I don’t believe so. You wouldn’t forget me if you did,” Stacy said with a wink.

“I believe you’re right about that, ma’am. You ladies have yourselves a good night.”

Brittany noticed the pair first and tugged on Stacy’s arm. Both had cleaned up pretty well, from what they’d seen online earlier.

“Should we walk over?” Brittany said.

“Absolutely not. Let them come to us. They’re hunting right now.”

It didn’t take them long. “Stacy, right? Even prettier in person. I’m Bubba. Bubba West,” he said reaching for Stacy’s hand and laying a quick kiss on it.

“Wasting no time, I see, Mr. Bubba?” Stacy giggled.

“When a man knows what he wants, why does he need to waste time?”

“You must be Brittany. Hi. I’m Claude.”

He’s actually kind of handsome,
Brittany thought.
Shame he’ll be dead in a few hours. Might as well enjoy him now.
She introduced herself with a sexy smile.

“Quite the pair, you two. What brings you to Gulfport?” Claude said.

“Just passing through. We’ve got some family in Florida,” Stacy said.

“Oh? What part?” Bubba asked.

Stacy hesitated for a second and Brittany stepped in.

“Jacksonville. Aunt and uncle.”

“You boys are behind. This is our third drink. Have you boys even started yet?” Stacy asked.

“No, ma’am, but it won’t take us long to catch up!” Bubba fired back.

“I hope not. We’ve been waiting all day for this,” Stacy said.

Bubba ordered two shots each for himself and Claude and one round for the girls.

“Here’s to a kick-ass night!” Bubba said, raising a toast.

Chapter 37

They danced to every song that was played. They even requested a few tunes of their own. The chemistry was great, and the girls knew they’d hit the jackpot with Bubba and Claude. The bar was packed now; it’d probably take a good five minutes to even get to the front door.

Stacy placed a kiss on Bubba’s cheek. “Hey, baby, we’re gonna go freshen up. Don’t leave us.”

“Leave? Hell, we ain’t goin nowhere without you!” Bubba said.

Stacy grabbed Brittany by the arm, and they weaved their way in and out of the crowd as they headed for the bathroom.

They both went into a stall and locked the door.

“We’ve had enough fun. It’s time to get the hell out of here,” Stacy said.

“Why? I mean . . . I kinda like this one.”

“What the hell is wrong with you? He’s a rapist! Or did you forget that?”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. He just seems different.”

“Okay, so he’s a charming, handsome rapist. That better?”

“I get it, Stacy.”

“Good. Stay focused. Let’s grab them and head back to their place.”

They headed back and found Bubba and Claude right where they’d left them.

Stacy leaned in close to Bubba and nuzzled his neck. “We’re ready to go. Let’s go back to your place and, you know, get to know each other a little better.”

Bubba perked up. “Well now, I’m sure Claude and I can make this night memorable for you.”

“Oh, it will be memorable. You can take that to the bank,” Stacy said.

The two couples ducked through the crowd and finally made it to the front door.

Stacy kissed Bubba lightly. “Brittany and I will follow you. How far away do you live? I kinda want to hurry, if that’s okay with you.”

“You don’t waste any time, do you? I live about ten minutes from here. Cozy little place out in the woods. It ain’t much but it’s mine. Hope that’s okay.”

“You have neighbors that live close? If not, maybe we can play outside some. I mean, if you’re up for it.”

A grin crept across Bubba’s face. “I’m up for whatever you throw my way, sweetheart. Claude, head for the truck. Let’s get the hell outta here now!”

Stacy and Brittany headed for their car. They heard a few catcalls as they walked through the parking lot but chose to ignore them.  Stacy pulled out behind Bubba’s oversized, jacked-up truck, and they were on their way.

“Look, when we get to Bubba’s place, you just follow my lead. No more drinking. We use our special cups from here on out. We need to have our heads in the game. You with me? I need you focused until we get these country-ass hillbillies cuffed. If they decide to get violent, we end it with this,” Stacy said, pointing to her gun.

Brittany nodded. She knew Stacy was right about them being rapists, but she really liked Claude. She was conflicted about what she was about to do to him and his brother.

Ten minutes later, they turned down a dirt road and pulled to a stop in front of Bubba’s house. He was right; it wasn’t much to look at, but it would do.

“I like being out here alone. No neighbors to hear you scream tonight,” Bubba said to Stacy as he walked her to the door.

“Maybe it’s you they won’t hear screaming. Ever thought about that?” Stacy said, a cunning grin on her face.

“I’d love for you to make me scream, sexy.”

“Remember you said that.”

Bubba unlocked the front door, and everyone piled inside.

There wasn’t much to see: a tiny living room connected to an even tinier kitchen, a couch, and a table with an old-school TV.

“First round’s on me,” Stacy said before the door could even close. “Have a seat on the couch, boys. Mama’s gonna take real good care of y’all.”

The boys did as they were told and grinned at one another.

Stacy turned on some music from her iPhone.

“You think you can dance to this, Brittany?”

“Just watch,” Brittany said.

Brittany had spent several months working at Heartbreakers in order to get close to John Blake before murdering him. She’d learned a thing or two and was anxious to show Claude.

Brittany moved right in front of Claude and dropped to the floor seductively. She toyed with her finger in her mouth as she rubbed Claude’s leg. Claude’s eyes bulged.

Stacy chuckled. It was funny to watch her baby sister being seductive. She had to admit she was doing an amazing job. Stacy sauntered over and sat on Bubba’s lap to watch.

“You like what you see?” Stacy whispered in his ear.

Bubba looked like a kid in a candy store.

“Hell, yeah! You and your sister are goddesses, I swear! Where the hell’d you come from?”

“Well, if you play your cards right, maybe you can have her, too.”

Chapter 38

Paul and I were sharing a motel room, and De Luca’s room was next to ours. We decided to crash after we’d been released from the medical team’s care. We still needed to go through the stack of papers I’d retrieved from the vault and discuss the findings from the Carl Blake murder.

I texted Miranda to tell her I was okay and that I loved her. I also wanted to see how she and Karen were doing.

“It’s too early to be stirring around over there,” Lafitte said.

“What do you mean? It’s six a.m.”

“Why don’t you be a dear and go get us some breakfast from the lobby?”

What were we, an old married couple now?
Lafitte rolled over and hid under his pillow. I got up, put on some clothes, and did as I’d been told. When I got back to the room, De Luca was sitting on my bed.

“I tried to wake Sleeping Beauty over there, but no luck,” De Luca said.

“He’s never been an early riser.”

“Hey, I can hear you two,” Lafitte said.

“That was kind of the point,” De Luca said with a smile on her face.

“Let’s see . . . I got eggs here, sausage, some bacon, and coffee,” David said.

Paul rolled out of bed and rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

“So, food can get you up but not a woman?” De Luca said.

Paul stared at De Luca and smiled but said nothing.

“Wow! I’ve know this man for over two decades, and I’ve never seen him at a loss for words.”