Angels in Disguise (30 page)

"Some stray my daughter brought in while I was back east."

"Okay, tell me about Tulip's purse. Where'd you get it?"

Hank's gaze sank to the floor. “I never gave Tulip that handbag. In fact, her birthday isn't for six months. I don't know why she concocted such a story."

Hawkman spun on his heel, and dashed out the door.

"Where you going?” Williams yelled.

"Grab that white cat when you leave."

When Hawkman climbed into his 4X4, he glanced at the area where the technicians were hovering over the pickup, dusting for fingerprints and gathering evidence. His gaze narrowed on one of the men with rubber gloves lifting out a long cloak from the passenger side of the vehicle. He gently folded it and placed the garment into a large plastic bag. Then he picked up the boots, tagged them and put them into a container.

Hawkman stuck the key into the ignition and the engine roared to life. One good thing about an automatic, you could shift into reverse with one hand. He slowly maneuvered around the lab's van, then followed the driveway around the house. Williams’ car blocked the exit, so he had to bump across the drainage ditch in front of the house. It jarred his arm so badly, he let out a yelp and swore under his breath, but he couldn't let the pain get the best of him right now. Once on the asphalt, he shoved his boot down on the accelerator and sped toward town.

He swerved into the complex of Tulip's apartment. Instead of stopping in front of her unit where her car sat, he went around the corner and parked. He checked his gun and shoved it back into his pocket instead of dropping it into the ankle holster. Taking a deep breath, he sat a moment and tried to relax his throbbing arm. After several minutes, he climbed out of the vehicle and strolled toward Tulip's flat. When he reached the door, he wanted to bash it in, but decided he'd better ring the bell. Tulip opened it immediately instead of peeking out the window. Her face paled when she looked up at him.

"What do you want?"

"We need to talk."

"I have nothing to say to you."

She tried to slam the door, but Hawkman braced his foot against the bottom, then shoved it open with his good hand. He stepped inside, and pushed it closed with the heel of his boot.

Tulip backed away, her gaze darted from him to the closed extra bedroom. “Why are you here?"

"Just came from your dad's place. He said he never gave you that Gucci purse. Where'd you get that handbag, Tulip? Did that belong to Carlotta? Princess was roaming around your dad's house and he said you told him it was a stray you took in. Want to tell me about where you found her."

Her gaze rotated from side to side as she backed toward the small kitchen. “I don't know what you're talking about."

Just as he moved closer, a moan came from the other part of the house. A faint voice called out. “Tulip, help me."

Hawkman turned his head for a split second. But out of the corner of his eye he spotted the light reflect off of something shiny. He whirled around in time to see Tulip's arm swing the long blade above her head. Grabbing a small kitchen chair, he shoved it between them. She let out an animal cry, then kept advancing, and waving the butcher knife.

Hawkman pulled his gun and pointed it at her heart. “Stay back, Tulip, I don't want to shoot."

She suddenly lurched around him and ran into the extra bedroom. Hawkman dashed in behind her as she approached the bed. A small body lay curled in the middle of a bright red spread, her hands and feet bound to the post. Small glassy eyes squinted as Tulip lifted the knife above her head, clenching it with both hands. Tiffany screamed as Hawkman's weapon fired.

Tulip crumbled to the floor. He slowly made his way around her fallen form, his gun aimed at the woman's head. Her arm jerked and Hawkman quickly stepped on the blade. He didn't dare take his eye off the woman as she wasn't dead and he only had the one hand. Hawkman yearned to get the ropes off Tiffany and call the police, but his only option was to stay put with his gun aimed at Tulip. He hoped Williams had figured it out and would be here shortly.

Tiffany stared at him. “Aren't you Mr. Casey?” she asked in a soft voice.

"Yes, sweetheart. And as soon as the police get here, we'll get you untied."

She blinked her eyes several times as the tears spilled down her cheeks. “I'm so glad you're here. And why do you just have one hand?"

He smiled. “It's only for a little while."

"What happened to your other one?"

"Someday I'll tell you all about it. Right now you just save your strength. Help is on the way."

Tiffany closed her lids. “Okay."

Hawkman glanced at the large chest freezer sitting on the opposite side of the room and a chill ran down his spine. He felt the knife under his boot move and bared down harder. “Stay still, Tulip. You're bleeding and the more you move, the more blood you lose. We don't want you to die before the police and ambulance arrive."

He heard the front door bang open and someone shout, “Police."

"In here,” Hawkman called.

Williams ran in with his gun drawn. “What the hell!” He reached down, grabbed the sharp tip of the butcher blade and removed it from under Hawkman's boot, then handed it to one of the officers to bag. Tulip moaned as the detective tried to help her up. “Looks like she's been shot."

"I had no other alternative; she attempted to stab Tiffany. Make sure you call for two ambulances. I don't want the child riding in the same vehicle with this murdering bitch. Just let her lay there. Then as soon as we get Tiffany on her way to the hospital, I'll call Paul and Delia."

"Is the child okay?"

"I think so. It appears she's been drugged and needs attention. Get her untied from the damn bed,” Hawkman said. Then he glanced at the detective. “Did you bring the cat?"

"Yes,” the detective said, motioning for the officer holding Princess to come forward. Williams quickly untied Tiffany's restraints and helped her into a sitting position.

"My arms and legs hurt,” she groaned as she tried moving.

"They'll feel better in a little while,” Williams said, handing her the feline.

Tiffany's face broke into a big grin as she cuddled the animal. “I didn't think I'd ever see my little Princess again."

"You probably can't take her into the hospital,” Hawkman said, “but I'll bring her home."

After the ambulances arrived, the first one loaded Tiffany onto a gurney and took off. The second one had to tether Tulip to the stretcher, and two officers were assigned to her vehicle.

Once the ambulance carrying Tulip disappeared down the street, Hawkman pocketed his gun, then immediately called Delia and Paul telling them the good news. Both were in tears, and said they were headed for the hospital. He reached down and ran his hand along Princess’ soft fur as she curled up on the bed cuddling against the pillow. He turned toward Williams and pointed at the freezer. “See if you can open that thing."

The detective tried to budge the lid. “It's locked."

"Get a locksmith."

The detective pulled out his cell phone and then looked at Hawkman with an incredulous expression. “You really think..."

Hawkman nodded.

It took close to an hour for Williams to locate one of the certified locksmiths. When the man arrived, he worked on the chest type freezer for only a few minutes before he popped the lid, then slammed it shut and stepped back in horror, falling backwards into a nearby chair. “Oh my God!"

"What's wrong?” Williams asked as he stared at the ashen faced man.

He pointed a shaking finger at the big white box. “There's a body in there,” he gasped.

The detective quickly opened the lid, then moved his head slowly toward Hawkman. “You were right. We've found Carlotta Ryan."

Hawkman peered into the cavern of the freezer. “At least she isn't butchered like a piece of beef."

"How the hell did Tulip cram her into this thing without a fight?"

"Probably drugs."

He dropped the lid and told the locksmith he could go. After the man hurried out the door, Williams ran a hand through his hair. “Wonder why Tulip didn't kill the little girl?"

Hawkman sat on the chair and elevated his hurt arm with the other hand. “I don't think she planned on killing Tiffany until I showed up. She knew the child was the key to any relationship with Paul. If anything happened to his daughter, she could kiss it all goodbye. She probably had some weird plan on how she'd return Tiffany to the family. When I showed up tonight, she figured every thing had gone awry."

The detective called the coroner and the lab technicians. When he hung up, he sighed. “This has been one hell of a case. It's going to be interesting to hear more answers during Tulip's trial."

Hawkman stood, scooped up Princess and the two men walked out into the front yard.

"Do you think Hank had anything to do with this scheme?” the detective asked.

"I did up until earlier today when I saw him check the pickup for the flat. His face literally dropped when he glanced down and saw the inflated tire. He never questioned his daughter about anything, and believed everything she said. But when Tulip said he'd gotten her the Gucci purse for her birthday, he began to doubt her. He's going to be shocked about Tiffany and Carlotta. I don't think he had any idea what she'd really been up to."

When the coroner's wagon arrived, the two men watched them load Carlotta's frozen body into the van.

Hawkman carried Princess to the 4X4 and told her to ‘stay’ on the passenger seat. She obeyed and curled into a ball as he drove away. Stopping at the pet shop, he bought a thin white rhinestone studded collar. At a nearby jeweler, he purchased a small silver bell, engraved with the name ‘Princess', and had it attached to the glittering piece of leather. Then he headed for Delia's place.

After six months, Jennifer's cancer went into remission and she didn't have to take any more chemotherapy. Her kidney suffered no damage and worked perfectly after the stent removal. Now she's waiting patiently for her hair to grow back, her energy to be restored, and prays the lymphoma cancer never returns.

Tulip Withers was convicted of first degree murder in the case of Carlotta Ryan and was sentenced to spend the rest of her life under maximum security in the Oregon State Penitentiary. Three months into her incarceration she was killed by a prison inmate.

Hank Withers closed the butcher shop, sold all his property and went back east to settle near his ill brother.

Paul Ryan sold the dwelling where Carlotta had resided, then bought another home near his mother, where he, Tiffany, and Princess now live. Tiffany still spends most of her time with Grandma Delia.