Deadly Dozen: 12 Mysteries/Thrillers (322 page)

“Ella Mae, does your husband hit you?”

Ella Mae lowered her eyes, placing the files into the drawer. “It was an accident. He likes to play games. Sometimes they get a little rough.”

Making his way to the coffee pot, Joshua poured a cup to go and headed for the front door. Anger seethed inside him. “He gets rough again, he’s going to have to deal with me,” Joshua stated, slamming the door behind him.

Ella Mae trembled, wringing her hands.

He’ll kill him.

“No,” she whispered. She wouldn’t let him kill Joshua. She’d kill him first.

#

Rob closed the door and glanced at the empty bed. He could hear the sound of the shower running and breathed a sigh of relief. At least he hadn’t gone off without him again. Hearing the water cut off, he sat down on the bed and waited.

“Boo!” Rob yelled as Carl came out of the bathroom.

Dropping the towel draped loosely around him, Carl lunged at the sound of the voice. Rob quickly rolled to the other side of the bed, laughing as he watched Carl bounce off the bed, landing hard on the floor, buck naked.

“You fucking son-of-a-bitch!” Carl yelled, holding his head. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Rob tried to answer, but laughter overcame him. The sight of Carl sitting naked on the floor, holding his head from last night’s hangover was too priceless.

“Payback’s hell,” he finally managed.

Carl’s look was thunderous. “First I get cold-cocked by some old codger old enough to be my grandfather, and then pushed around by an old woman, and now you.”

Rob tried to stifle the laugh, but failed miserably.

“That’s pretty old, partner.”

“You gonna help me up or not?”

Rob reached over, offering a hand, pulling it away as he noted the gleam in Carl’s charcoal eyes. “Almost had me there.” He picked up the towel, tossed it to Carl, and grinned.

“Just remember, payback’s hell,” Carl snarled as he stood up wrapping the towel around him.

Rob held out the cup of coffee he’d brought back from the restaurant. “Truce?”

Carl uttered a curse, but took the coffee.

Rob’s tone turned serious. “What happened last night?”

Carl sat down on the bed, fingering the small lump on the side of his head. “Chief sent me to get a witness out of Glade Springs before we got started. Afraid the media might pick up on her. Damned old fool got herself a boyfriend.” He fingered the lump tenderly.

Rob couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped his lips, bringing another murderous look from Carl.

“Ain’t funny. Old witch got the chief out of bed.” He chuckled. “Called him Junior.”

“You’re kidding?” Rob stated. “She called Walsh ‘Junior’?”

Carl started to nod, but stopped as the movement hurt his head. He chuckled again. “I’d give a month’s pay to have seen his face when she said that.”

Rob chuckled, shaking his head. She must be something else.

“Millie was the best,” Clarence continued, voice serious. “She had my back for almost twenty years. I can’t let nothing happen to her, Rob. We gotta get in and find this bastard quick.”

Rob nodded. The stakes were growing daily. “We’ll get started as soon as it gets dark.”

CHAPTER THIRTY

“What do you think?” Rob glanced over at Carl from his position in the tree.

“Hell if I know. Deputies strung out all over the place. They must be expecting somebody.” Carl held up the field glasses. “Gavin and Sarah are still in the kitchen talking. Ain’t seen the kid.”

Rob couldn’t shake the feeling of impending doom. They were in the wrong place. “I think it’s the kid he’s after. Let’s get back to the car.”

#

Gavin paced the kitchen, his nerves on edge. He wanted to be out there in the darkness stalking whoever was stalking them.

“Call Nikki, Sarah. Make sure she’s okay.”

Sarah glanced out the window. The shadows seemed deeper, darker, more menacing. She knew Joshua and Thomas were out there, along with her reserve deputies, Jed Burdock and Matt Carter. Still she could feel the evil coming closer. Smell the distinct odor of death. Death was stalking them. Where the hell were Rob and Carl?

Gavin placed a hand on her shoulder. “Call her, Sarah. You need to get some sleep.”

Sarah nodded, picked up the phone, and dialed José’s number.

“Hello.”

“Hey, José it’s me. I was just checking on Nikki.” She listened for a second. “No, don’t wake her up. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Turning to Gavin she hung up the phone. “She’s asleep. A little angel, according to José.”

Taking her in his arms, Gavin rested his head on hers. “Why don’t you go upstairs and get some sleep? I’ll keep watch down here.”

Sarah smiled shyly, turning off the lamp and taking his hand. “Sleep isn’t what I need right now.”

Gavin knew at that moment what Rob had felt for Cory. He couldn’t imagine living the rest of his life without Sarah. He wanted her. She wanted him. Tonight might be their last night. Pulling her into his arms, he whispered her name. He wanted her, but not like this. Not with the fear of death surrounding them. Not with thoughts of Rob and Carl out there somewhere bleeding, maybe already dead. When they came together, it would be out of love, not fear.

Sarah pulled away, sensing his feelings, gazing into the deep brown eyes. “Lie down with me then. Let’s see if we can get some rest.”

Gavin checked the windows and doors again, making sure everything was locked up tight before following her up the stairs.

Moonlight filtered through the window, illuminating her still form lying on the bed. Gavin stretched out beside her, taking her hand in his. He didn’t want to sleep, but exhaustion had taken its toll, and within minutes he found himself drifting off in darkness.

Sarah lay awake, listening to the sounds of his even breathing. Tears coursed down her face. She loved this man, and when he left, a part of her would die.

Turning, she snuggled against him as emotional exhaustion overcame her, and she drifted into sleep.

Sarah woke with a start, lying with Gavin’s arms tightly wound around her. She glanced at the bedside clock. 5:30 a.m. She snuggled deeper into his embrace. They’d made it through the night and nothing had happened.

Closing her eyes, Sarah waited for sleep to come. Something was wrong. Tension filled the air around them. She’d missed something. She thought back over the dream, seeing it, reliving it. When they’d opened the door, Rob had fallen into Gavin’s arms. She’d rushed out to check Carl. Squirming out of Gavin’s arms, Sarah sat up, concentrating hard on the fleeting images. She saw herself re-enter the room, glance at Gavin, and shake her head. Carl was dead. Gavin had looked at her then, his eyes reflecting the horror he felt, as blood flowed through the fingers he’d pressed against Rob’s chest. Terror hit her in the pit of her stomach as she heard the words echo,
Sarah, check on Nikki.

Oh, God. Nikki had been here. They’d changed it. Changed the course of the dream.

“Gavin, wake up. We have to hurry.” Sarah dashed from the bed, feeling for her shoes.

“Sarah?” Gavin opened his eyes, sleepy, reaching out to draw her back to bed.

She strapped on her revolver and tossed him his shoes. “We changed the dream, Gavin. Nikki was here when Rob and Carl were shot.”

Understanding wiped the last remnants of sleep from his eyes as he pulled on his shoes and followed her down the stairs.

He stopped mid-stride as laughter flowed around him,
Too late, McAllister. You’re too late.

#

Millie crawled out of bed, groaning as she headed for the kitchen. Damned old bones hurt, keeping her awake all hours of the night. After filling a pot with water, she sat down at the table. She should be out there. Helping Carl. Damned old fool would probably get himself killed without her.

A smile tugged at her lips. It sure had been good to see him again. She thought about Clarence. A gentle flush crept up her neck spreading across her wrinkled face. Wanted to get married, sell flowers and books. He knew what he was asking for.

Reaching under the counter, she pulled out a bottle of Kentucky bourbon, pouring a healthy dose into the mug before filling it with steaming hot coffee. Placing it on the table to cool, she paced around the kitchen, pondering what she should do. Couldn’t just sit here. Things were happening. Bad things. She sat down, allowing her thoughts to drift back over the past few months. New people moving into Glade Springs. She thought about the young girl who’d stopped by the bookstore looking for work. What was her name? Ella something another. Mousy little thing. Always looking at the ground. Millie chastised herself and took another sip of coffee. Should have checked on her. Poor thing probably didn’t have a friend in the world. Besides, Millie wanted to see her husband anyway. See what kind of man made a woman look like that.

Humming softly, Millie set down the coffee and pulled out her mixing bowl. Chocolate cake. Why, the girl could be quite pretty if she’d put on a little weight. And a good neighbor would take a chocolate cake, wouldn’t she? Everybody loved chocolate cake.

#

Grabbing her cell phone, Sarah rushed from the house, Gavin right on her heels. She dialed José’s number as she swung open the door of the Explorer, ignoring Joshua’s frantic yells.

Climbing in quickly, Gavin called out “Follow us!” just as Sarah put the car into gear and spun out of the driveway.

“There’s no answer,” Sarah whispered, closing the phone and handing it to Gavin as she pressed down harder on the gas pedal.

“Maybe they’re asleep, Sarah.” Gavin placed his hand gently on her knee, offering comfort, as his own chest tightened in fear.

The drive to José’s took only minutes, but to Sarah it felt like an eternity. She should never have let Nikki out of her sight. She shouldn’t have left. Her hand tightened on the wheel. No, she should have killed Todd Williams six years ago. She wouldn’t make that mistake again. She’d find him, and this time she’d kill him.

The small frame house was dark as they pulled into the driveway and parked. Sarah could hear the sound of other vehicles approaching quickly. A shadow moved near the rear of the house. Pulling her revolver, she opened the door quietly, motioning for Gavin to stay in the truck. Sarah moved silently toward the house.

Her gut instinct told her something was wrong. The sound of approaching vehicles should have caused the intruder to flee. She waited for Joshua to join her as the others fanned out, surrounding the house. After climbing the steps, Sarah peered cautiously through the living room window. Her face paled at the sight of José lying motionless on the floor.

Motioning to Joshua, Sarah slipped around the side of the house, headed for the spot where she’d seen the shadow move.

Sarah heard the sound of the high-powered rifle, saw the blaze of flame, just before someone rushed toward her, pushing her aside. The sound of bullet striking flesh thudded loudly. She heard the grunt, saw Joshua reach out to grab the young man before he fell. Answering gunshots went off in the woods. Someone was yelling. Seconds. Everything had happened in seconds.

Joshua lowered the body to the ground, placing his hands over the chest wound trying to stem the flow of blood. Sarah gasped. She knew the face. She’d seen it in her dreams. Rob.

“Oh, God,” Gavin whispered. Kneeling beside Rob, he took Joshua’s place, applying pressure to the wound, cursing silently as blood gushed over his fingers. Not too late. Dammit, not this time.

“Gavin?” Sarah placed her hand on his shoulder.

“Find Nikki.” Gavin didn’t look up. He couldn’t meet her eyes. Couldn’t bear the sympathy and pain.

“Call Edgewood, Joshua. Get us some help over here.”

Gavin could hear Joshua on the cell phone, heard Sarah’s pounding footsteps as she raced toward the trees.

“Gavin…” The whisper pulled his attention from the blood seeping through his fingers. He looked into Rob’s eyes.

“Don’t talk. The doctor’s on the way.”

“Couldn’t let her die. Not like Cory. Knew the son-of-a-bitch was gonna shoot.” Rob coughed, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his lips. “Carl?”

Gavin thought about lying, telling him Carl was okay. The pale blue eyes pinned him with a steady gaze and he shook his head. “I don’t know.”

A smile tugged at Rob’s lips as he gazed at something behind Gavin. “Can you see her?”

Gavin turned, looking in the direction of Rob’s gaze. Cory stood there. “Yeah, I see her.”

“I gotta go, bro.”

“No.” Gavin spoke through clenched teeth, hot tears spilling down his face.

With great effort, Rob moved his hand, covering Gavin’s. “That Sarah, she’s pretty special.”

Gavin nodded, clutching Rob’s hand.

“And the little girl?”

Gavin smiled through his tears. “Very special.”

Rob coughed again, and Gavin could hear the death rattle.

“Do me a favor?” Rob whispered.

“Anything.”

“Marry her.” Rob squeezed his hand. “And tell Carl I said payback’s hell.”

Gavin felt the hand grow limp. He stared into the sightless blue eyes through blinding tears. Bowing his head he let the tears flow freely. Too late. He was always too damn late.