A Roux of Revenge (30 page)

“Don’t do it,” Eamon said quietly. “Put the gun down.”

“Why shouldn’t I? He killed my father. He would have crippled you.”

Lucky reached out and grasped Jack’s hand, squeezing it tightly from fear. She prayed that Daniel would not shoot.

“If you pull that trigger, you’ll be just like him. Give me
the gun.”

Daniel remained focused on Devlin. “It would be so easy.”

“It would,” Eamon said quietly. “But you do not want that stain on your soul. He will be punished. Give me the gun.”

Daniel’s hand shook slightly and then wavered. Eamon reached out and carefully took the gun as Daniel’s arm dropped slackly to his side.

Chapter 43

E
AMON HANDED THE
gun to Jack. “Watch him,” he said, indicating Devlin. Then he pulled Daniel close and hugged him tightly. “You did the right thing. But where have you been? Why didn’t you
come back to the campsite?”

“I was afraid. Afraid the police might bother you if I came back.”

Devlin moaned and tried to move.

Jack raised the gun. “Stay right where you are,” he ordered.

Eamon grabbed one of the other ropes and bound Devlin to a nearby tree. “Let’s make sure he can’t go anywhere.” He glanced at Jack. “I think he’ll keep for a while, don’t you?”

Jack laughed
in relief. “Might be a good time to let the police take over. You have your phone?” he asked Lucky.

“Yes.” She reached into her jacket pocket and retrieved her cell phone.

Eamon placed a protective hand over hers. “I can’t stay. Not if the police are coming. I have to find my daughter.” He looked at Jack. “If he comes to, do your best to get more from him about Jane. I don’t want to delay.”

“Jane?” Daniel had a quizzical look on his face.

Eamon nodded to him. “I’ll explain to you later, Daniel. Can you stay here with them until the police arrive? As soon as you hear them, you can take off. But for God’s sake, go back to the camp. Don’t disappear like that again.”

Daniel nodded his agreement.

“Jack?” Lucky said. “I think Eamon’s going to need some help. I’ll go with
him, but I’ll leave you the phone. Can you call Nate?”

“What do you think I should tell Nate when he gets here and asks how we found the money?” Jack asked.

“Tell him he doesn’t want to know,” Lucky replied.

“Nate won’t go for that, but I’ll try,” Jack grumbled. “You two get going. Go find Janie.”

• • •

E
AMON WAS SILENT
as Lucky followed the Old Colonial Road back toward town.
When she reached Snowflake, she drove straight down Broadway, past the Spoonful and headed west to the field where the Harvest Festival was being held.

“He said, ‘At the farmers’ market
.
’ What do you think he meant?”

Lucky shook her head, driving as fast as she dared. “I don’t know. That’s a big area. There are lots of people around during the day. He must be keeping Janie hidden somewhere.
Somewhere she can’t escape. There are just the rides for little kids and the stage area and the pony corral.” Lucky thought for a moment. “There is a barn past the market area at the far end of the field. It belongs to the man who owns the property, but he’s semiretired now and really doesn’t use it.” She shrugged. “I think we should start there. It’s the only place I can think of where Devlin
could have hidden her.”

“What if he lied? What if he . . .” Eamon was tense, terrified Janie could have been harmed. “If he’s touched her, I’ll . . .” Eamon didn’t finish his statement but fell silent once again.

“Nate found her car out there today. Jack told me earlier tonight. I’m thinking she might have gone out there by herself, without telling anybody. Devlin could have followed her
and grabbed her. I know he put two and two together and figured out the connection between you and Janie.”

“How?” he asked.

“She had an attack of nerves at the restaurant when she saw you across the street. Conrad . . . Devlin . . . whatever his name is, was asking some questions. I know he spotted you and took a long look at Janie.”

“It’s my fault. I should never have come here. I’ve
just brought trouble to their doorstep.”

“It’s Devlin who brought trouble.” Lucky glanced at Eamon. She could see in the dim light from the dash that his jaw was clenched. “We’ll find her,” she said in an effort to reassure him. She hoped she was right.

Within a few miles Lucky spotted the gates that led to the parking lot. She hit her brakes, suddenly aware how fast she had been traveling.
She slowed and turned into the parking area. It was empty of cars. She drove close to the entrance gate and stopped.

“Hurry,” Eamon said, climbing out of the car before Lucky could turn off the engine. She climbed out, slamming the door, and hurried after him as he loped toward the entrance. She followed him down the walkway lined with empty stalls, their canvas coverings billowing in the
wind. Only a few short hours ago this deserted area had been full of shoppers and children seeking fun. Janie couldn’t possibly have been hidden in such an open area.

Lucky was forced to break into a run to stay close to Eamon. They reached the end of the road. The barn loomed ahead of them in the field; the building itself was a slightly darker shape against the night sky. Lucky reached for
her cell phone to check the time before remembering she had left it with Jack. It must be close to four in the morning. She struggled to figure the time, but given the startling events at the Stones, she was afraid she’d be far off the mark.

“What time do you think it is, Eamon?” she asked.

He turned to her in the dark. “Don’t know. You’re thinking it’ll be light out soon?”

“Yes.”
She nodded.

Eamon looked at the horizon. “I’d say two, two and a half more hours till sunup.”

Lucky clicked on her flashlight and raked it over the building. “It just
feels
deserted,” she whispered.

“It can’t be. She’s got to be there. What if she’s tied up or hurt?”

“We’ll have to get inside somehow.”

“Do you know who owns this barn?” he asked.

“This acreage belongs to
the farmer Ernie White rents from. Maybe they use this barn for the horses or for storage.”

“We can’t take the time to wake anybody up.”

“I agree. Let’s find a way in. If she’s in there, we’ll find her.”

Eamon walked toward the barn. He aimed his flashlight at a small door at the side.

Lucky followed him. The door was locked with only a simple hasp. “We need bolt cutters.”

“No we don’t,” Eamon said. He pulled a small flat screwdriver out of a back pocket and focused on removing the screws holding the hasp in place. He managed to pull out three of the screws, but the head of the fourth one broke off. Frustrated, Eamon slipped the screwdriver into the space between the hasp and the door and forced the flat plate away from the wood. “Hate to do this, but we have no choice.”

Their breath was frosty in the cold night air. Lucky’s hands were chilled though she tried to hold the flashlight steady. They didn’t hear the footsteps approaching.

“You two—hold it right there!” A man’s voice rang out. Lucky jumped involuntarily. She turned, only to be blinded by a powerful light.

Chapter 44

L
UCKY SHIELDED HER
eyes as the man behind the flashlight approached. Eamon cursed under his breath. He slipped the screwdriver into his back pocket and stood up straight.

“Lucky? Is that
you?” the man called out. The light flashed across Eamon’s face. “What are you doing?”

“Remy?” she cried with relief. “Oh, I’m so glad it’s you. I could ask the same question.”

“I’m staying in the trailer back there,” he said, indicating the rear of the barn. “Keeping close to the horses. I thought I heard voices so I came out to check.” Remy was obviously curious who Eamon was. “I know
I’ve seen you before. You’re with the Gaelic band, aren’t you?”

Eamon breathed a sigh of relief. “We have to get into the barn.”

“Remy, you might not know this, but Janie’s disappeared. We thought she had run away again, but . . . it’s a long story, but we think she’s being held somewhere here. We have to find her.”

Remy’s look was quizzical. “Janie?” The color drained from his face.

“We don’t know exactly where. But we think she’s being kept somewhere around here. We have to search the barn. I’m just praying she’s in there.”

“I have a key,” Remy replied.

Lucky shrieked, “Why didn’t you say so?”

“You didn’t ask.” Remy reached into his back pocket, retrieving a ring of keys. “Ernie arranged for the barn so we could stable the horses here.” He reached forward
and, tucking his flashlight under his arm, released the padlock. He stepped inside and held the door open for Lucky and Eamon.

Inside, the smell of sweet hay and pungent manure permeated the air. Lucky heard the soft snorting of horses.

“Wait. Don’t move. There’s a light switch over here.” Remy shone a light on the wall near the door and spotted the switch. He flicked it on, and the entire
lower level was illuminated by hanging lamps. They were shaded by shiny metal coverings hanging from the eaves. “There’s not much to see down here—other than the horses. It’s pretty empty. There’s some feed stored in the corner over there. And some tools, and that’s about it. I’ll check the stalls.”

Remy walked the length of the barn, peeking into each stall, shining his flashlight into corners
and gently murmuring to the horses. Eamon skirted the inside perimeter, looking into darkened spaces, examining old tarps hanging from beams along the wall. He reached the corner and continued along the next wall. Lucky and Remy watched him in silence.

“What’s up there?” Eamon asked, pointing to the loft.

“No idea, but you can get up there on the ladder,” Remy replied.

Eamon silently
climbed the wooden ladder to the loft. Lucky and Remy waited, listening to Eamon’s boots stomping above them on the wooden flooring. After a few minutes he descended the ladder. He shook his head. “Nothing. No one’s been up there at all.”

“Are you sure?” Lucky asked.

“There’d be something. Some scuff marks, things moved. If she were held in this barn, there’d be something to see. Don’t
think she was ever here.”

Lucky’s nervousness was growing by the minute. What if Joe Conrad or Jim Devlin or whatever his name was had left Janie tied up without water or someplace without enough air to breathe? Janie must have come here and been overpowered the night before. Was she outside in the elements with only a sweater or a thin jacket? It was still warm during the day, but the nights
were growing colder. Lucky hated to think of Janie shivering somewhere for a second night or worse.

“Remy, you’ve been working here every day. Do you know if there’s another barn or building nearby?”

“Just this one. It’s the only one I know of.”

“So you haven’t noticed anyone hanging around? You put the horses in last night and tonight?”

“That’s right. I’m sure no one’s been in
here.”

“And there’s no other place he could have taken her?”

“Who’s ‘he’?” Remy asked.

Lucky took a deep breath. “A man claiming to be an insurance investigator has been hanging around town. He’s kidnapped Janie.”

“What? Why?”

“I promise to fill you in. Right now there’s no time to waste. Just help us.”

“Of course. I will. Other than my trailer, I can’t think of any other
hiding places. Well, maybe behind the stage area.”

“We have to search everywhere. She’s got to be somewhere around here,” Eamon said.

Lucky turned to him. “Eamon, you know the stage area. You take that. Remy and I will go through the vendor stalls, check any storage bins, check underneath the tables . . . everywhere. It’s unlikely that she’d be there, but we have to look. Even if we call
Nate in, it’ll take too long. There are three of us and only one of him. Besides, I’m sure Nate’s busy at the Stones with Jack right now.”

Eamon turned without a word and left the barn. Lucky stayed and waited for Remy to turn off the overhead lights and lock the door behind him, replacing the padlock as best he could.