Fancy Gap (12 page)
“Listen, cutie pie, I don’t recall any specific rules set at the bottom of this here mountain. You surely didn’t play by the king’s rules, as you cheated near the top,” she blurted out.
“What? Me cheat? I don’t think so. I was simply reacting to your transgressions. I had no choice. Mea culpa!”
“So what’s in the thermos?”
“Well, I really didn’t think I’d need to toast the fleetest of foot at the top of the Buffalo. I have wine in the thermos for us to celebrate with. But, to be honest, I thought we might have just hiked and enjoyed sips of wine every now and then on the way up.”
“Hey, Mister Noncompetitive thanks for bringing the juice. Could we now take the top off that darned thermos and put our lips to that fruit of the vine?”
They sat at the base of the summit rock outcropping, warmed by the late-morning sun. They held hands as they sipped wine from the thermos.
Life is good,
he thought.
Louisa smiled as she lay down in the grass and put her head in Quinn’s lap.
“Quinn, I’ve got a question: How long can I stay here with you?”
He looked at her and smiled. “Well, miss, I may be wrong, but I don’t think there are any other reservations on the Chateau’s schedule.”
She turned to the side and poked him in his ribs. “Hey, I’m serious. If you want me to leave after a while, I would understand.”
“It’s been a very long time since I’ve had this much fun with a woman. And I’m feeling a great deal of emotional and physical connection to you.”
“I know! What a surprise! I really like what’s going on here. We’re so easy and comfortable together, and I like that”, she added.
“So I guess what I’m saying is that I can keep you supplied with toothpaste for as long as you want.”
The moment he stopped talking, her lips met his in a passionate kiss. While she was doing that, she unbuttoned his hiking shirt. He kissed down her neck as her hands worked on his hiking shorts.
He stood up to make the process easier as she wiggled out of her shorts and T-shirt. They were soon leaning against the flat rock ledge, wearing only their hiking boots. The summer breeze floated across the mountaintop and caressed them as they danced the dance of new love on the pinnacle of their desire.
Their moment of release came suddenly as they sunk to the grass and giggled like teenage lovers exploring each other for the first time. After they dressed and started back down the mountain, she stopped in mid-trail and looked at Quinn. “So I guess what you were saying up there is that I can stay a little longer.”
“Yep, you sure can, just as long as you don’t cheat on our hikes, runs, or rides.”
“One other question: Do you suppose any other sixty-year-olds are doing what we just enjoyed up there?”
“Girl, I do believe that we just caused a seismic tremor that would be the envy of any forty-year olds!”
She squeezed his hand harder as they headed back down the mountain.
No,
she thought,
I’m not going anywhere.
* * *
The children had now been missing for several days. Levi Blackburn was frustrated and just plain pissed off. His gut feeling was that they were somewhere in Carroll County. He didn’t think that someone passing through on Highway 52 would stake out the old motel and snatch the kids. No way. There was a local connection. He just knew it.
The sheriff and Craig didn’t necessarily agree with him, but he didn’t care. Leroy Jefferson agreed with his notion when he shared it with him. He was a smart professional with good common sense. He just hoped he was right. He had to be.
His cell phone rang as he headed to his newfangled Keurig for a fresh cup of coffee. These twelve-hour days were killing him.
“Levi,” he said as he picked up his cup.
“Levi, its Freddy Jones from the Surry County sheriff ’s department.” Levi had worked with Jones on a couple of cases in the past, as Surry County bumps up to Carroll County at the North Carolina state line.
“Now Freddy, no need to tell ole Levi where you’re supposed to work. Heck, we all know you’ve just been collectin’ a check for years now. Hey, how they hangin’, brother? You doin’ all right?”
“Well, my smarty-ass friend, how come you ain’t found those two missing kids yet?” Jones asked.
“Brother, this is a mess. The shit is getting thicker every day. The almighty flea market and gun show is only weeks away. The county fathers will have our asses if this mess ain’t cleaned up. Hell, I might even have to look for work in Surry County!”
Every flea market aficionado in the Southeast and beyond eagerly awaited the flea market and gun show, which consumed the town of Hillsville and surrounding areas for the entire Labor Day weekend. Antique dealers, gun dealers, and traders of all kinds made this one of the largest gatherings of its kind in the United States. This year’s show was expected to draw more than five hundred thousand visitors. It was one massive, money-making machine for the county. No one wanted anything to scare folks and their money away from Hillsville on Labor Day weekend. The abduction of two children would do just that.
“Well, guess what, Levi. One of my snitches told me yesterday that one of our sexual deviants down here is friends with one of yours up there. Turns out Wilton Tubbs, who lives near Flat Rock, is buddies with Tyler T. Toms.”
“Well, now, ain’t that some shit?” Levi suggested.
“That’s not all. My snitch claims that Wilton went up to Carroll County to see Toms the night the fog rolled in. Now we ain’t got no way of tracking ole Wilton since he isn’t a convicted sexual predator, but we all know he’s a perverted son of a bitch. We just haven’t caught him with any young’uns! At least not yet! Now ain’t that somethin’ to chew on?” Jones asked.
“Anything else?” Levi asked.
“Yep, sure ’nough is. Turns out ole Wilton ain’t come back to Flat Rock since the abduction!” Jones added.
“Holy shit, Freddy! How good is your snitch?” Levi asked with more excitement in his voice.
“Real good, Levi—it’s his Momma!” Jones replied.
* * *
For the past five nights he had read to the children before he put them to bed. He let them watch certain DVDs that he had chosen. They seemed to be getting accustomed to their new surroundings. He wanted them to be happy. They were now his children.
Pete stood in the middle of the room and read
Little Red Riding Hood
out loud. Katie was sitting on her bed. She seemed to be a little more concerned about being naked all the time. Pete at least seemed to be getting used to it.
He was sitting in a recliner he had set up in the dark corner of the room. He began to become aroused as he watched Pete.
“Touch yourself as you read, Pete,” he commanded in a steady voice.
Pete did as he was told with his right hand as he continued to read.
He waited a bit before he got up from the recliner and moved toward Katie. He was almost fully aroused.
“Touch me right there, Katie, and hold tight,” he told her.
Katie flinched and didn’t move her hand. He grabbed her little hand and moved it closer. Pete stopped reading. Katie pulled her hand back.
“Pete, continue reading right now!” he shouted.
Katie started to cry when he raised his voice. He held her hand as he moved it toward his groin.
“Stop doing that to Katie!” Pete yelled at him.
“Shut up, Pete, and keep reading!”
Pete ran across the room and hit him on his arm with the book. His face exploded in rage as he reached back and slapped Pete on the side of his head with a massive backhand. The force of the blow sent Pete flying backward into the side of the dresser, where his head smashed into a top corner. Pete slumped to the floor.
He turned and strode to where Pete had landed. He immediately saw a massive pool of blood forming under his head. Katie rushed over and grabbed Pete’s limp arm.
“Get up, Pete! Get up, Pete!” she screamed.
He couldn’t bear to hear her yell and cry. He clamped his massive hand around her mouth. She was soon unconscious. He gently moved her to the bed and put her under the covers. He then walked back to Pete and held his finger on his neck. He felt a faint pulse. He knew that Pete’s time had come.
God’s will be done
, he thought.
He lifted Pete and carried him to the next room, in which there was a slim, six-foot-long wooden table and nothing else. Thin, white cords hung from the wall. He went to the peg that held the cords and chose a six-foot length with a noose at one end.
Pete began to stir a bit on the table. Blood dripped to the floor below.
“You bad, bad boy! You’re my son, and now you must go to a better place, another place. You were a bad boy. Bad boys must be punished.”
He lifted Pete’s head and placed the noose around the child’s neck. He slowly tightened the noose with his left hand as he stroked himself with his right. Pete’s body slowly lost all life. He soon exploded into passion.
“God’s will be done!” he shouted.
His knees wobbled and buckled.
He passed out and fell to the floor.
Saturday arrived soon enough. Quinn had made reservations at Chateau Morrisette for six o’clock. They had just hired an excellent chef who prepared wonderful gourmet creations. Natalie loved the vineyard setting as well as the food. Meredith, at all of five years old, was already developing a gourmet palate.
They had spent the afternoon riding their bikes along the New River Trail in Galax. This outing was, by mutual agreement a gentle ride along the north-flowing New River.
“Well, now, Miss Hawke, getting a little nervous about meeting the other two women in my life?”
“As a matter of fact, I’m really looking forward to it. After these days with you I really need some female and intellectual companionship.”
“Oh, not to worry, those two will talk your ear off.”
“So, tell me, is Natalie married?”
“No, not anymore. It’s been over a year now. Do understand this about my dearest Natalie: She was born a preemie, and was developmentally delayed. She was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. She had both Achilles tendons lengthened through surgery. That surgery improved her gait. Thank God that helped.
She was smart as a whip in school and went to college. In her second year, she was diagnosed with diabetes. Regardless, she fought though all of that and graduated with her degree in biochemistry.”
“Wow, she’s one tough cookie. Are she and her former husband still friends?” Louisa asked.
“Yes, they are. Meredith seems to understand that life has changed and that Mommy and Daddy don’t live under the same roof anymore. She does have her moments, but I guess you have to expect that from a young child.”
“Looks like a tough situation has worked its way out the best it probably could.”
“Natalie recently began seeing an old friend from high school she’s become very fond of. Plus it appears he keeps her well satisfied in the romance department.”
“Looks like I have my work cut out for me.”
“With Natalie?” he asked.
“No, with you. Need to get you back up to speed in ye ole romance department.” She giggled after her comment.
“Well, a noble endeavor indeed. I promise to give you ample feedback on your efforts and progress, assuming, of course, there is some.”
“Sweetie, you already have it in spades!”
They started to laugh as they heard a car approach the house. They walked down the driveway to greet the visitors. Meredith unbuckled herself from her car seat and jumped out of the car into Quinn’s arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed hard. Quinn loved it. Natalie eased out of her new Dodge Caliper. It was the first new car she had purchased on her own, and she was very proud of it.
“Hi, Daddy, how are you?” she asked.
“All the better now that you’re here safe and sound. I’ve been telling Louisa how great you both are. I think she might have thought you were a figment of my grand imagination.”
Natalie walked right over to Louisa and stuck out her right hand. “Louisa, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I hope my father hasn’t been too overbearing for the past couple of days.”
“Well, he has had his moments, and I’m sure you understand better than most. It’s a pleasure to meet you and Meredith. She’s beautiful!” Louisa replied.
“Thanks, Louisa. I hope you like Dad’s humble place on top of his little hill. We all love it. It’s a very special place.”
“It’s as beautiful a place as I’ve ever seen. And trust me; I’ve traveled all over Mother Earth.” Louisa said as she gazed upon the horizon.
“Meredith, come over here and meet Louisa,” Natalie called to her daughter.
Meredith was a little sheepish as she left Quinn’s arms.
“My, my, aren’t you the pretty young lady? How old are you? You must be…let’s see, maybe seven years old,” Louisa suggested.
Meredith cackled at the suggestion. “I’m only five years old but I’ll be six in October.” “Can I show you my toys?”
“Now wait, you two. If we don’t leave now, we’ll be late for dinner. I’m hungry. How about you, Dad?”
“OK, everyone in the truck. Time to head out. Chop, chop!” commanded Quinn.
“I like your Volvo, Louisa. It looks new.”
“Thanks, Natalie, it’s brand-spanking-new and your Dad loves it.”
“Do you know that he drove a Volvo several years ago?”
“Enough, Natalie, if you want to eat,” warned Quinn.
“Oh, my, Natalie thanks for sharing. I knew there was a softer, intellectual side to him. That big, macho Ram thing is a big put-on.”
“Go, girl! You got wise to him real fast. He’s just a big cream puff,” Natalie teased.
“OK, enough, you two. If we don’t get going before you say too much more, the Ram won’t let you ride in it.” They all laughed as they piled in.
Louisa asked Natalie, “Do you mind if I sit in the back with Meredith?”
“Oh, by all means, please do, but be warned: She’ll talk your ear off.”
Quinn rolled his eyes as all doors closed and they headed down the Parkway to Meadows of Dan and Chateau Morrisette.
The restaurant was packed when they arrived. Meredith hadn’t stopped talking to Louisa since they left the house. Once they were seated, Meredith directed her attention to Quinn.
