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Jacqueline stood up, staring down at Annette, who was paralyzed at best, and dead at worst. It took a moment before Jacqueline turned to see that the bed was empty. Another moment longer before her gaze settled on Alex and the gun that was pointed at her chest.
Alex took a calming breath, focused her mind like a laser, allowing the image of Raymond standing outside their parents’ bedroom to fade from her thoughts long enough for her to concentrate. First on her shoulders, then her arms, her hands, and finally her right index finger. Then, she squeezed the trigger.
PART VII
Full Circle
“There’s no way I can stay.”
—Alex Armstrong
CHAPTER 69
Washington, D.C. Saturday, June 10, 2023 3:32 p.m.
JACQUELINE JORDAN HAD BEEN PRONOUNCED DEAD BY EMTS WHEN they arrived at room 109 of the Shady Side Motel. Alex and Annette were taken to the hospital and released the next morning after the succinylcholine had been flushed from their systems with copious amounts of saline delivered through an IV drip. They were no worse for wear, and Annette’s only injury was a dislocated shoulder suffered when Jacqueline Jordan had crashed down on top of her during their violent struggle.
Both Alex and Annette had been questioned by police. They each offered a similar story. They were working together—Alex on a case for Lancaster & Jordan, Annette on a vet for the federal government—when they learned that their respective cases overlapped, with the common denominator being Duncan Chadwick. They were chasing a lead that brought them to Wytheville. Annette went to Alex’s motel room for a scheduled meeting, and all hell broke loose when she found Jacqueline Jordan standing over Alex’s paralyzed body. The story had plenty of holes, but it held enough water to get them by. Annette’s standing at the FBI, and her direct ties to the White House, prevented many follow-up questions that might have otherwise been asked.
As promised, one week after their harrowing experience, Alex met Annette to turn over everything she had managed to discover about Laura McAllister’s story: her notes, her briefs, and a copy of Laura’s episode. They met at The Perfect Cup and drank Americanos as they talked.
“This hardly seems like a fair trade,” Alex said. “I’m giving you information in exchange for you saving my life.”
“No,” Annette said. “You’re giving me information in exchange for information, just like we agreed to.”
Annette’s right arm was secured by a sling that immobilized her injured shoulder.
“And the whole saving my life thing?”
Annette smiled. “I could argue that it was the other way around.”
Alex took a sip of coffee, reflecting on that night. “I guess we helped each other, but you instigated it.”
“That,” Annette said, “I’ll take credit for.”
“I was pretty out of it when you showed up, but were you wearing high heels when you busted through the motel room door?”
“Standard issue,” Annette said with a laugh. “I knew the information Lane turned up was pretty devastating to you, so I planned to keep an eye on you. See if you needed anything. I ended up following you out of town, and that’s when I saw Jacqueline Jordan follow you to the motel. I wasn’t planning on getting into a gun fight.”
Alex shrugged as she turned over her research, pushing a large accordion file folder across the table. “I owe you more than this, so if there’s ever a way I can repay you, let me know.”
Annette took the information. “I’d say we’re even. If you ever decide to come back to DC, look me up. We’ll have a coffee.”
“Will do.”
Annette reached over and took Alex’s hand.
“Thanks, Alex. You’re going to be okay.”
Alex nodded. “I know.”
* * *
An hour later, Alex knocked on Garrett and Donna’s door. As a united front, and surrogate parents, they answered the door together.
“Hi, sweetie,” Donna said.
Alex smiled. “Hi. Did it come back?”
