Finding Amy (18 page)

C
hapter 27

After a brief update for Ms. Garrett, Amy excused herself. She had to be alone to let
Jamie’s words sink in. Amy couldn’t stop at the swing; she had to get farther away. As she strolled toward the large red barn, three sheriff cars, red lights flashing, pulled into the circle drive. The lead car stopped next to her and an officer exited the passenger side.

“
Ms. Kenner it’s not a good idea for you to be wandering around by yourself.”

“I’m Amy Summers;
Jamie Kenner is my sister.” People were always getting them confused.

The officer stepped closer. “I’m sorry, Ms. Summers. Where are you going?”

Amy glanced toward the barn. “Just taking a walk. I thought I’d check on the horses.”

He smiled. “I’m Deputy
Daniels. I’ll walk with you.”

The other deputies
exited their vehicles and two entered Ms. Garrett’s house. The remaining five disappeared behind the three houses. Amy and Deputy Daniels strolled into the empty barn. The smell of fresh hay filled the air. Someone had covered the floor to keep down the dust. She had helped her grandfather do that at his ranch. Amy loved the sweet scent of clover, alfalfa and bermuda when it’s first cut and baled.

“I guess all the horses are
in the pasture,” Amy walked to the huge back doors of the barn that led to the pasture.

“Ms. Summers I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to go into the pasture.
You can be seen from a good distance away. Let’s walk back to the house.”

Amy didn’t argue even though she
couldn’t face her sister yet. When they were in front of Ms. Garrett’s house, Amy pointed to Carson’s house. “I can’t go back right now. Can we rest at Carson’s?”

The pair
walked the distance to the last log home and entered the front door. “Would you like a cup of coffee?” Amy asked.

Daniels proceeded to check all the rooms in the down stairs before starting upstairs. “That sounds good.” He disappeared into the second level.

Amy found the coffee in the second cabinet she opened and set the pot to brew. The aroma filled the air and brought a homey feel to her surroundings. While she waited for the coffee, the patio doors drew her toward the outside. A large, multi-level deck covered a large portion of the back yard. A built-in stone grill and kitchen occupied the next level down with a dining table on the other side. A pergola covered in sweet smelling Carolina Jasmine covered the first level. A chocolate brown wicker couch and two matching chairs with bright red cushions sat beside a stone fireplace. She couldn’t resist the temptation of the deck. It would be the perfect place to get away from everyone and think. The reprimand she received from Jamie hurt deeply. Maybe after all of their twenty-five years she had been wrong to pick up the pieces for her twin. She never let Jamie take responsibility. Had she done too much damage? Did Jamie really blame Amy for everything that happened over their lives?

Amy reflected on their high school years. Somehow,
Jamie had wound up with every guy Amy dated. Amy hadn’t thought too much about it at the time but now, looking back, she made the connection. Did Jamie resent her? She had tried to include her even when Jamie refused. Could that have been the beginning of their problems? Jamie hadn’t been outgoing in school, didn’t participate in athletics, wouldn’t take time for cheerleading or band and hadn’t run for any offices like Amy had. And when Amy made valedictorian, it must have been the last straw for her sister. Jamie met Martin Kenner at the car lot where she worked after school. The twenty year age difference, made no difference to her. About the only thing she hadn’t tried was marriage and he convinced her to run away with him. When their parents learned Jamie had run away and gotten married, they blamed Amy for not stopping her.

Amy
sat on the couch overlooking the yard. A red metal building that resembled a storage shed occupied a back corner of the yard. A neat row of sunny yellow chrysanthemums lined a narrow rock path that led away from the raised deck and disappeared into the woods behind the house. It had been unseasonably warm for October. The wind blew the multi-colored leaves and the scent of fall hung in the air. Just the kind of day and setting she needed to clear her mind. She wrapped her arms around her waist and raised her head to the clear sky to let the breeze grace her face.

She needed to have a heart to heart with
Jamie. The kind of talk they had when they were growing up. Jamie’s cruel words played over and over in Amy’s mind. Maybe Amy deserved it. Maybe they shouldn’t have run away and gone straight to the police instead. But Jamie had refused to involve the law and insisted on getting as far away as possible so Martin wouldn’t find them. Well he found them anyway. And now she blamed Amy.

“Ms. Summers, the coffee’s ready. Want me to pour you a cup?” Daniel
s leaned through the open door, startling her.

Amy dropped her hands and walked back int
o the house. “I’ll do it deputy.” She found two cups in the third cabinet she looked in. The refrigerator held no cream and she had a hard time finding sugar. “I guess I should have asked Carson where the basics are.” That would have been hard, seeing as how she came in the dark and went straight to bed. They never made it to the kitchen. Actually they were lucky to make it upstairs. Amy smiled as the heat rose up her body.

She handed Daniels a cup, took the other cup and sat at the dining room table.
“Do you have family Deputy Daniels?”

He sipped his coffee and set the cup on the table. “I have two daughters who live with their mother.”

“Do you see them often?”

“Yes. They come to my house every two weeks for the weekend and I have them half of the summer. It works out well and the girls seem well adjusted.”

A loud blast rang out in the distance, startling both of them. Daniels had his revolver in his hand before he rushed through the French doors. “Stay inside and lock the doors,” he yelled over his shoulder before disappearing around the corner of the house.

Amy’s ha
nd shook as she closed the door and bolted the lock. She couldn’t move away, though. Stepping to the side, she stared through the glass panel. She didn’t want to be alone. How could she get to Ms. Garrett’s without being seen? The three houses weren’t close together but close enough to walk. A large flower garden, with several paths leading into heavy, tall foliage separated them. She could walk the driveway but that would put her in the open. Going through the garden, she could hide among the bushes but someone else could, too.

Amy
sat on the edge of a dining chair and stared out the glass doors. She gripped her arms so tight, her nails dug into her skin. The blast from the shots made her jump. Her pulse beat erratically at the threatening sounds outside. Releasing her arms, she covered her ears and backed into the shadows. With her back to the wall, she slid to the floor, leaned her head on her bent knees and squeezed her eyes closed, hoping to shut out the constant gun fire. Her body shook violently at the images built in her mind of the confrontation taking place outside. Even though she covered ears she could hear the people yelling. Where is Carson? What if he’s been shot? Had they returned from the lake? She couldn’t sit here and do nothing. She had to get to Ms. Garrett’s.

Amy eased the French door open and peeped around the corner.
She didn’t see anyone. Stepping out onto the deck, she checked both ways and the trees in the distant. Stooping low, she tip-toed down the steps and into the grass and turned left toward Ms. Garrett’s. Hugging the house, she made her way until it ended and she had to go through the garden. A bright light flashed on the ground in front of her. Amy turned to see where it came from. It flashed again on her face, temporarily blinding her. The barn. Someone signaled her from the barn. Amy bolted in the directions of the light, aiming for the barn, three hundred yards away. When she reached the holding pen, her foot caught the bottom rail, she grabbed the top and propelled herself over the fence and landed on her butt in the dirt. She could hear shots coming from the direction of the houses.

J
umping to her feet, Amy rushed inside. Out of the sun, her eyes had to adjust to the darkness inside. Dusting her dirty hands on her jeans, she walked deeper in, keeping close to the stall doors. Even in the warmth of the barn, a chill ran down her spine, a warning voice whispered in her head just as a hand covered her mouth and jerked her backwards into a solid body.

“Well, well, well. Look what we have here.”

Amy cringed at the sound of that familiar voice.

Chapter 28

Carson turned right off
the pavement onto the wagon wheel dirt road that led to the lake. The thick grass growing between the lines of ruts brushed the bottom of the Jeep making a swishing sound. Rex held the safety bar to keep from bumping his head every time the vehicle hit a hole. They rounded a corner and the lake appeared. Carson drove across the levy to the north side and stopped beside a thick grove of trees.

Rex opened the door and ran for the thicket. He
yelled over his shoulder, “What angle do you think the shots came from?”

Carson pulled his
gun and followed. “There wasn’t an angle. It came straight across from where we were feeding the ducks. That would be about a hundred yards from here.”

Rex had slowed to push his way through the underbrush. “There has to be an opening in here somewhere. I don’t see Martin as a wood
sman and fighting this thicket.

“It might not be Martin. It could be one of his employees.”

“Now wouldn’t that be a great bust? Three criminals off the streets instead of one.” Rex chuckled.

“Hold up.” Carson
held up his hand and stopped, turning his head toward the south. “Did you hear shots?”

Rex stood
still and looked across the lake. “I hear ‘em. It sounds like they’re coming from the ranch.”

“Crap. Let’s go.” Carson turned and ran through the briers, oblivious to the cuts and scratches he endured on the way back to the Jeep.

They both jumped in at the same time and Carson had the Jeep turned around and sprayed rocks behind them when he took off. He pushed the accelerator to the floor. The Jeep took the ruts and corners while Rex held tight to the roll bar.

“Do you think back-up arrived yet?”

Carson pitched him the belt radio he had with him. “It sounds like it. Call Deputy Daniels. He’s in charge.”

Rex pushed the button.
“Daniels. This is FBI Agent Rex Garrett. Are you at the ranch? Over”

Static came through and someone spoke but Rex couldn’t make out what he said.

“You’re breaking up. Repeat? Over.”

The next transmission came through clearer. “Gun shots
, fired. May be three or four shooters. They keep moving. No injuries, so far. Over”

“
On our way. Be there in ten. Are the women safe? Over.” Carson dodged a deep hole that had been washed out by rain causing Rex to drop the radio in the floor and grab the safety bar above him.

“Zzzzss
sss house zzzzzhhhhh child and Mom zzzzzzsssss. Ovezzzz.”

Rex righted himself an
d grabbed the phone. “Daniels are all four women safe? Over”

Zssss no ssss she’s at zzzzssss. Ovzzzz”

“Damn.” Carson hit the steering wheel with his palm and sideswiped a tree growing close to the dirt road.

“Call him ba
ck when we get on the pavement. Maybe reception will be better.”

“We’ll only be five miles from the ranch. I’ll wait and see what we
’re walking in to.”

Within two minutes Carson swerved into the road to the house. Gravel and dirt spewed
causing a cloud of dust that resembled a sand storm
.
Before they could exit the vehicle a sharp spray of bullets pounded the side of the red jeep.

“Damn.” Rex had
just bought the Jeep a few months back.

When Carson pulled behind the barn, Rex
pulled his gun and started marching toward the spot he thought the bullets were coming from. His face red and he had a grip on the gun so tight, his knuckles were white.

“Rex wait.” Carson ran to catch up with him. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? You can’t just walk into
gunfire and expect to not get shot.” When Rex didn’t stop, Carson grabbed his arm and turned him around. “Rex. Get a grip. It’s a car. It’s replaceable. You can’t be replaced.”

Rex stopped and looked at the ground. “What’s the plan?”

“First we need to make sure all the women are safe. Then round this bunch up and haul their butt’s to jail. Are you with me?”

Rex glanced over his shoulder at the bright r
ed car then nodded. They headed in the direction of their mother’s house when another shot started a chain of bullets. Carson and Rex ducked behind the wood pile. “He’s behind the tool shed,” Carson whispered. “You go around the house and sneak up on him.” Rex nodded and took off.

Carson fir
ed a shot at the shed and got one in return. If he held the shooters attention Rex could get close enough to take him down. Carson fired another shot and the gunman returned fire.

“Drop the gun and lay flat on the groun
d.” Carson smiled when he recognized Rex’s orders. He rose from his hiding place and yelled over the pile of wood , “If you don’t need me, I’m going to check on the women and the rest of the deputies.”

“Yeah. I’m good. I got this one. One down and four more to go. I hope.”

Carson already had the radio in his hand. “Daniels. We got one. Any luck with your guys? Over.”

Daniels came
right back. “We captured three. That may be all of them. Over.”

“I don’t know. Let’s
do a complete search and then get these guys off to county. I want to check on Mom first.” Seeing the deputies had the perps under control, Carson rushed to his mother’s house. He tried the door and found it locked. “Mom, it’s Carson. Open the door.”

T
he lock clicked and the door swung open. Trish flew into his arms. “Carson that man came back with a gun and we went to the basement and Nana locked the door. We heard him shooting and I got scared.” Tears streamed down her tiny cheeks.

Carson hugged her. “I told you I would protect you. You have nothing to worry about. We
caught them and they are going to jail.” Carson glanced around. “Where’s Amy?”

Jamie
and Ms. Garrett exchanged glances. “I thought she went with you. She left shortly after you did for the lake and I thought she might have caught up.” Ms. Garrett explained.

Deputy
Daniels entered and stood beside Carson. “Have you seen Amy?” Carson asked.

The deputy scratched the side of his jaw. “Yeah. We were together at your house
when the shots broke out. I told her to stay there and lock the doors. I bet that’s where you’ll find her.”

Carson grabbed his phone on his way out the door and dialed his home number.
No one answered. He picked up his pace and dialed again. No answer. Carson dropped the phone and ran. Pulling his gun from the holster, he tried the front door. Locked. Carson banged on the door and dug in his pocket for keys.

“Amy,
it’s me. Open the door.”

Inserting the
key, he crouched and pointed the gun, checking every corner. He entered the home and searched downstairs. The curtains around the French doors fluttered from the breeze blowing in the open door. A quick check of the rest of the house told him what he needed to know. Amy wasn’t here. Grabbing for his cell he realized he had dropped it. He reached for the house phone and called Rex.

“She’s not here. Have the cops start searching. I’m going to the barn.” Carson threw the phone down, not waiting for Rex to comment. A sudden burst of adrenaline pushed him. He could have come in first in any
race at the speed he had. When he reached the barn, he pressed his back to the outside wall and did a quick glance inside the door before entering. Not seeing anything suspicious, he yelled, “Amy, are you in here?” When he didn’t get an answer, he eased into the dark barn. His eagle eyes searched the loft and the floor for any sign that Amy might have been here.

A thin layer of hay on the dirt floor would show any disturbance. He could hear the pounding of feet outside. Rex entered first and came up behind him
. He pulled out a flashlight and shined it around the floor.

“Did you find her?” h
e whispered. Carson only shook his head and took the flashlight. He walked in every stall searching for something, anything that would help. The closer to Thunder’s stall, the more the ground looked as if there had been a struggle. He crouched and moved the light slowly across the area. If Rex hadn’t brought the light, he might’ve missed the glimmer. Partially covered by the scattered hay, he caught a glimpse of something shinny. The light caused it to sparkle. Dropping to his knees, he dug around in the hay until he spotted the gold chain. Attached to the end of the chain hung Amy’s five star necklace her parents had given her. Carson thought his heart had stopped when Rex eased down beside him.

“What is it?”

“Amy’s necklace. Martin has her.”