Flames Of Deceit Read online

  Police weren’t saying much about Pam Foley’s death.

  “Center Towne Mall’s public relations staff probably squelched some of the headlines.” Jake offered.

  “Police are looking for a woman of interest to question.” The announcer said. “Sources reported seeing the victim talking to a dark haired woman in the bookstore a few minutes before the body was discovered.”

  Sick to her stomach, Mia turned to Jake. “They think I had something to do with the murder.”

  “Not necessarily. They just need to track her whereabouts before she died.”

  Choking back tears, Mia stared at the TV. “I have to meet my source at eleven.”

  Chapter 9

  King’s, famous for delicious burgers, was located on a corner of a street overlooking the old baseball park. Small businesses lined the dissecting street.

  Ten minutes after they arrived, Jake realized eating at King’s after eleven, meant standing in line to place your order, and waiting, judging by the line curling around the building. Turning to Mia, he voiced his concern. “Are you sure this is the best place to meet?”

  “The best part about meeting here is outside seating. You can see everything.” Mia motioned Jake to follow her.

  Patrons sat at long wooden picnic tables under a shelter to eat their burgers. Mia plopped down at the end of the only vacant table and waved a hand as she put their three bags in the center. “This looks good.”

  Jake lowered three tall drinks to the table and slipped onto the bench opposite her. “You think we missed your contact?”

  “Nope.” Mia carefully arranged a drink and a bag of food on the end of the table next to her and pushed another bag across to Jake. “Eat and tell me what you think.”

  Unwrapping the burger in her bag, she took a bite and closed her eyes on a sigh. “I’m starved.”

  Jake rolled his eyes, but a taste of his burger chased all doubts from his head. Either he was starved, or this was the best burger he’d ever tasted.

  “Well?” Mia demanded when she could speak again. Half her burger had disappeared and she was munching fries. “I told you this was a good idea.”

  Looking at Jake, waiting for him to agree with her, she sighed again and this time it had nothing to do with food. Even with a two-day old beard and his odd mix of clothing, Jake looked as yummy as the cheeseburger in her hand. His rare smile had her insides melting like the cheese on her burger. Strange, she felt close to him as an old friend, yet she hardly knew anything about him. “You never said. Do you have brothers and sisters?”

  Chewing, he eyed her thoughtfully and swallowed. “No, and after what you told me about your sibling, I’m not sure I missed anything.”

  Regret washed over her, dulling her appetite. Putting the rest of the burger on the paper wrapper, she wiped her fingers a paper towel from the roll in the middle of the table. “We had fun when we were kids.”

  “What went wrong?” Jake picked up a French fry and munched.

  “I—“

  The bench shook as someone dropped down beside her. Mia had to fight to keep her gaze on Jake as if nothing happened. “Our teen years hit, I guess.”

  After a startled glance at the newcomer, Jake played along. “Teen years are tough.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, Mia caught a glimpse of hands unwrapping the third burger she had ordered. “I guess. We never recovered.”

  “Yo,” a gruff voice sounded past a mouthful of burger, “who’s the boyfriend?”

  “He’s safe, don’t worry.” Mia kept her eyes on Jake as she picked up her drink. To anyone observing them, she and Jake looked like a couple sharing the table with a stranger. They should be safe from spying eyes.

  The guy beside her lifted the hem of his over-sized sweatshirt, and pulled folded sheets of paper from his waistband. In a swift move she would have missed if she hadn’t been expecting it, he reached for her empty burger bag, stuffed the pages in like discarded trash, and tossed the bag back on the table in front of her.

  “Take care. You’re being watched,” he mumbled as he grabbed his empty bag, wadded it up and tossed it in the trash. His drink in one hand and munching the burger in the other, he sauntered away.

  “Do you see anyone following him?” Jake asked.

  “Not without being obvious and turning my head.” Mia said, slipping the papers under her sweatshirt as she at another French fry.

  “I’ll check.” Jake stuffed his napkin and wrappers in the burger bag and stood. Strolling to the trashcan, he looked around casually as he tossed the bag in the barrel.

  Eyes on Jake, Mia didn’t notice an arm reaching over her shoulder until a hand grabbed her burger bag, and shoving her sideways, whirled away.

  “Hey,” Mia cried, trying to regain her balance and get a look at the intruder. All she saw was the bottom of his athletic shoe as he raced around the back of the building.

  When he heard Mia cry out, Jake whirled around in time to catch a glimpse of a hooded figure running away. Cursing under his breath, Jake rushed toward her.

  An employee appeared at Mia’s side. “Miss, are you all right?”

  Mia smiled as she turned to the man wearing a King’s apron and carrying extra paper towels. “I’m fine, just clumsy. I almost fell off the bench.”

  “Are you sure?” The man insisted. “Some woman said a man pushed you.”

  Eyes wide, Mia looked up at Jake. “Darling, tell him I have two left feet.”

  “I get to pick her up a lot. That’s always fun.” Jake wagged his brows at the man in a comical way and moved to Mia’s side. “Let’s get you home. You haven’t been drinking have you?”

  Mia jabbed his side with her elbow as he urged her toward the car. “You’ll regret that remark. Hurry.”

  “Slow down. We attracted enough attention.” Jake glanced over his shoulder, pretending to check traffic, but he didn’t see anyone following them. “Give me the keys. I’ll drive. Did he get the phone records?”

  Mia hesitated a second, then pulled her car keys out of her jeans pocket, making the papers in her waistband crackle. “A minute earlier and he would have. It was a man, wasn’t it?”

  Jake turned the ignition and checked for on-coming traffic. “Hard to tell. I couldn’t see much.”

  “Is anyone following us?”

  Jake heard the tension in her voice and winched. He wanted to reassure her, but he couldn’t. Two vehicles had pulled out behind them. “I’m heading for the mall. Can you look at those phone records?”

  Two blocks later, Jake was confident they had a tail.

  One eye on the highway and watching in the rear-view mirror, he considered their options. But they were out of choices. They were in the Honda Dan had hidden in his parents' garage. If someone had picked out their change of vehicle, they were in more danger than he’d thought.

  “Edward Poole called several numbers consistently.”

  “Anyone you know?” Jake watched the car two vehicles back make the same turns he made.

  “Two of the other VPs, Pam, Leigh Anne and Phil.” Mia snapped her head up and stared at him. “I know what you’re thinking, but Edward Poole is the man who invited Phil to that dinner. He introduced Phil to Leigh Anne, so it makes sense he called Phil’s number.”

  “Relax,” Jake whipped the wheel, turning down a side street. Yeah, right. Relax. They were two steps away from a murderer and he needed to protect Mia. “I’m not saying your brother is guilty. Just give me the facts.”

  “It’s hard to read with you going this fast. How much further?”

  As long as it takes to lose the person on our tail? “Not far, I thought this was a shortcut, but it’s not.”

  Mia held on to the dash and stared at him with wide eyes. “Is someone’s following us?”

  Jake clenched his jaw and made another quick turn. The car was still there. “Hard to say, but I think you’re right.”

  A quick turn off a side street at the next corner brought them out on Hwy 7
51. Center Towne Mall was a mile away. The mall was their best chance of losing the person following them.

  He glanced at Mia’s white face. “I may have to park more than once to lose this guy. When I say the word, jump out and head for Barnes and Noble.”

  “Are you sure?” Mia darted a look over her shoulder. “We went there once. If it’s the same person, he’ll know where we’re going.”

  “Right, but it’s the only place I can think of with doors on two sides.”

  Mia opened her mouth and turned wide eyes on him. Jake saw the hint of amusement in her eyes, even with trouble on their bumper.

  “Don’t even go there. I know those lingerie shops have two doors, but I would stand out like a sore thumb in one of those stores. It’s the bookstore, or nothing.”

  “Then what?”

  Jake heard her voice quiver, but she kept her chin high. He admired her courage. He admired many things about Mia Clark. When this was over, he would miss spending time with her. If they made it out of this alive…

  ***

  “There’s a spot, across from the Italian restaurant.” Mia pointed.

  Jake wheeled past the trees planted in the median, turned in the parking lot and glanced in the mirror. “The same car is still behind us.”

  Mia stared out the back window of the Honda. “The black SUV? The windows are tinted so dark I can’t see the driver.”

  Jake rolled past the vacant parking space.

  Mia watched him glance in the rearview mirror and guessed he was searching for a chance to elude the car behind them. She grabbed her seat with both hands and held tight. Several twists and turns later, an elderly driver in a boxy sedan barely missed hitting the Honda in the side and pulled out in front of the car behind them.

  Taking advantage of the mini-traffic jam, Jake pressed on the gas. “Change of plan. When I park in front of Belk’s, run for the door.”

  “If we run, won’t that draw his attention?”

  “With a little luck, we’ll get in the door before this guy spots the car and knows we’re on foot.” Jake wheeled into a parking spot and stopped the car. “Let’s go.”

  Mia jumped out, slinging the backpack over her shoulder as she dashed over the concrete median and in the front entrance to Belk’s.

  Jake followed on her heels. Once through the glass doors, he grabbed her hand and pulled her to a stop. “Let’s get a look at this guy.”

  They stood, camouflaged by the tinted glass doors at the entrance and watched. The black SUV rolled slowly though the lot. When it stopped behind the Honda, Mia gasped. “Can you see the driver?”

  “No, but we’re going to wait him out.”

  “How,” Mia demanded. “We don’t know what he looks like.” She stared at the rear window of the SUV as it circled out of the lot. “Come on, let’s follow that car.”

  Jake looked at her as if she were crazy. Then he grabbed her hand as they ran out the door and to the Honda. “Keep your eye on that vehicle.”

  Mia stared after the black SUV until Jake started the car, then she jumped in and said, “It’s in the second lot over, almost to the exit.”

  Jake reversed out of the parking spot and turned left. “I see it.”

  For the next few minutes, they eased through the huge parking areas around Center Towne Mall. When the black SUV stopped, Jake slowed, then picked up speed as the black vehicle moved forward. After they circled the lot twice, he sighed. “The driver must have spotted us.”

  Mia kept her eyes glued to the SUV. “Why do you say that?”

  “Why keep circling the lot…unless…he might be waiting for reinforcements.” Jake slammed his hand on the steering wheel. “I should have thought of that. We played right into his hands by following him. When his friends arrive, we’ll be outnumbered.”

  “What now?”

  “We don’t know where he’s leading us. It’s time to change the game.” Jake slowed the Honda. The SUV pulled away.

  “Maybe he didn’t recognize the car like we thought.” Mia frowned, remembering the SUV stopped behind her Honda in the parking lot. “Go faster. Make him run.”

  “It’s risky.”

  “If that’s the killer, we need to get a description.” Mia gripped the door handle. “Speed up. He’s getting ahead of us.”

  Center Towne Mall’s parking areas are small lots with trees planted in the strips separating the parking area from entrance ramps from surrounding highways. As Jake drove across the second entrance road, the black SUV popped out from behind the trees and pulled close to their rear bumper.

  Hands clasped on the wheel, Jake glanced at Mia. “This can’t be good.”

  “My fault. I lost track of him.” She stared straight ahead. “What do we do now?”

  “Try to lose him again.”

  Mia held her breath as Jake darted between two cars leaving the lot. Horns blared. Tires screeched. When she glanced back, the SUV had lost two car lengths. “That helped. My heart stopped, but we gained a lead.”

  “Not enough.” Jake swung the Honda around a tight corner, and turned in a lot near Champs restaurant, but the area was blocked for valet parking. Teeth gritted, he said. “Hold on.”

  Mia gasped as he aimed straight for the rope barrier.

  Jake drove through the rope. Metal posts holding the rope, clanged against the side of the car. One end of the rope whirled in front of their eyes like a cowboy’s lasso, before falling to the ground. Pushing on the gas, Jake steered toward the wrap-around road that circled the mall.

  Mia looked back. The SUV and another vehicle had stopped, nose to nose, at the entrance to the valet parking. “He stopped for another car.”

  Jake pushed on the gas pedal and headed back toward the Belk’s entrance to the mall. “We need to ditch this car.”

  ***

  Mia ran to keep up with Jake as they left the car in a different spot and headed to the entrance to Belk’s department store. “We should buy new shirts.”

  Jake held the door open for her. “Good idea, but we stay together.”

  “You first,” Mia said, staying by his side as he led the way to men’s department. They should be safe in the busy store, but not knowing what the person following them looked like gave her chills. “Buy this one.”

  Jake looked at the bright green shirt and shook his head. “May as well paint here I am on my back.”

  Mia put the shirt back on the rack. The color matched Jake’s green eyes, but his comment brought the danger back in focus. “You’re wearing black. Black blends, why change?”

  “Humor me,” he picked out two black t-shirts and paid the clerk. “Let’s go to the women’s department.”

  Heat chased along Mia’s limbs as he touched her arm, making her alert to the alarms going off inside her head. Jake would get plus marks as an escort, especially in the dangerous situation they faced. She was happy to have him at her side. Images of fun time spent with him chased through her head and she tried to pull away from his touch. She couldn’t think about her feelings for Jake until they were out of danger.

  “How about this one?” She pulled a black shirt off the first display they passed in the Ladies’ department.

  Frowning, Jake put the shirt back. “That neckline would show your navel.”

  Laughter gurgled close to the surface as Mia stared in his eyes. When this was over…

  “I thought you wanted me to wear black.”

  Ignoring her needling, Jake stopped by another display. “Navy will do.”

  Two navy shirts in hand, Mia stepped up to the counter and reached for her credit card.

  Jake stopped her with a hand over hers. “I’ll take care of this.”

  Heat crawled up her neck as Mia stood by his side while he paid for the shirts. When he turned to walk away, she fell into step beside him. “Guess I failed undercover work 101.”

  Sending her a glance out of the corner of his eye, Jake shrugged. “I hope you aren’t going to make a habit of this type of activity.�
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  Teeth clamped on the inside of her cheek, Mia struggled for a new topic. “Where are we going to change shirts?”

  “Food court,” he said, steering her toward the escalator, “we can mingle in the crowd while we wait. Oh, look…stop here.”

  They stopped outside a beauty salon with hair products and wigs in the window. Mia frowned. “You want me to get my hair cut?”

  “Too drastic,” Jake pulled her toward the entrance. “I think something temporary.” He led the way to a display of wigs. “How would you like going blonde?”

  Mouth open, Mia started to refuse, but she saw the challenge in his glance and decided to play along. Ten minutes later, she walked out of the shop wearing a short blonde wig. The pixie style made her feel daring and different. “You should have a wig, too.”

  With a hand on her arm, Jake turned her toward the food court. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”

  “We’re trying to change the way we look.” Mia batted her eyes at him in a flirtatious manner. “You look the same.”

  “I took off my cap.” Jake nodded toward the food counters. “What do you want to eat?”

  She opened her mouth to say nothing, but her stomach growled. “Pizza.”

  Ten minutes later, pizza and drinks on a tray, Jake led the way to a table near the restrooms. “You change first.”

  In the bathroom, Mia changed into the navy shirt and washed her hands. A glance in the mirror stopped her as she turned toward the paper towel dispenser. Was that her reflection? The feathery blonde wig made her look like a different person.

  Did Jake prefer blondes? Stop.

  Forcing her attention away from her image and reaching for a paper towels, she snapped to alert. This was not a game of dress-up. This was real. They were hiding from a killer. With that thought, she rushed out to join Jake.

  He stood the instant she appeared. “Eat. I’ll be back in a second. If anything upsets you, bang on the door.”

  Biting into the slice of pizza, Mia kept her eyes on the crowd. Chill bumps popped on her arms as she watched strangers eating their food. Would the person following them recognize her? She remembered the wig. She should feel safe, but fear had followed her like a shadow ever since someone shoved her in that closet.