Ring of Fire (22 page)

“Please. Let me do this my way. I’m going to go home and pack some things of mine and some of Francine’s. I’ve already told Chuck, one of the men who watches me for Jeb, that I need to go to the funeral home this afternoon. To… to make arrangements. I lied to him before I came here. I said I was going to the church to meet with the minister. I snuck down some back streets to bring Francine here to Nate.”

~~~

“Nate, I did my damndest! Sarah was adamant. She refused to let me send a couple of our men home with her. She said she was much safer if none of them guessed that she’d been here. I insisted that she take one of the throw away cell phones we give to our CI’s. She said Jeb won’t allow her to have a cell phone and he monitors her calls.”

Nate’s growl roared through the ether.

“Yeah, I know, Nate. It gets worse and worse. I do have some good news. I dropped Francine off at Mama D’s. Mama scooped her up like a mother bird bringing a fledgling bird back to the nest. It was the first time I’ve seen Francine smile. And that cute little Norma grabbed hold of her like she’d never let her go.”

Nate’s sigh was audible.

“Thanks, Sam. As frustrating as it is, Sarah is right. No telling what Jeb would do if he knew she was at the station or frankly that Francine is at Mama D’s. I’ve got six men assigned to Mama’s on rotating shifts. I may be giving him too much credit, but I don’t think Jeb will go after Francine. God help him if he does. Any word from the jailhouse?”

“No, nothing that you haven’t already heard. Jeb has three big time civil rights lawyers filing release orders with the judge. Damn these ACLU hotshots. I understand how important it is to protect civil liberties but wouldn’t you think for
once
they’d take a look at the perpetrator not the law?”

The fact that Nate didn’t respond with so much as an expletive underscored how deeply grieved he was.

Doing his best to change the subject, Sam added, “Hey, man, I heard from Annika that you assigned her to protect Erin. That is a ten-stroke, Nate. Annika and Erin are good friends and Erin is safer with Annika than with the toughest of our men.”

“I know that, Sam. Not that I won’t have men on the perimeter but at least both of our women will be inside the apartment. They can keep each other company.”

“I take it Erin didn’t object?”

Nate’s voice was weary. “No, Sam. Every one of us including Erin understands the extent of Jeb’s evil. And by God, we are not going to underestimate him again.”

~~~

Jeb stood outside the station, waiting for Tank. He’d already shooed away those asshole lawyers who sprung him. As if he would thank the liberal bastards for doing their job. He knew they despised him as much as he despised them. But they served each other’s purposes. He got out of jail and they got to tell all their followers how pure they were standing up for the civil rights of the evil White Alliance. Self-righteous bastards.

“What’s the matter, Tank, unhappy to see me? Did you think those sons of bitches would actually be able to keep me overnight?”

“It’s not that, boss. I knew you’d get out. It’s just that a lot’s going on. Nelson said you had three calls from the beaners wanting to know where you were. Fuck, Jeb, those fence fairies even wanted to know which jail you were in. I think we got you out of there just in time.”

Remembering Nate’s threat about the general population at St. Cloud, anger flooded Jeb’s chest, making it hard to breathe. He’d spent most of the day trying to figure out what to do next. Wasn’t much use in telling anyone that the fact that Melanie was at Cougar’s fishing cabin was a freak accident. And Cougar’s boy, Tucker? Fuck, he didn’t know the kid was on speaking terms with Cougar. At the thought of his daughter and that breed Injun shacking up together acid spilled in his gut. No, he hadn’t meant to kill them, but for damn sure once he’d found out they’d be as dead as they were now.

“Jeb, there’s sumthin’ else you need to know.”

Jeb frowned at his right hand man. Tank wasn’t easily riled but he looked damn nervous now.

“What? Spit it out!”

“Hell, I may as well. You know that Chuck was supposed to keep an eye on Sarah. Not sure how, but she fooled him. She told him that she had to meet with the minister and was taking Francine with her. Chuck waited for her for over an hour outside the church. Next thing he sees is the nigger driving down the road in that snazzy car of his with Francine in the front seat. Apparently he dropped your girl off at Mama D’s. Guess you know that Nate’s practically got the armory guarding that place.”

Jeb stared straight ahead trying to decide if the flashing lights he saw were real or just the sparks of his anger exploding. He waited until he was able to speak without screaming.

“Where’s Sarah?”

“She’s at home. Told Chuck she’d be going out later. Said she needed to pack some things of Melanie’s to take to the funeral home.”

~~~

Sarah heard his footsteps coming up the staircase. She recognized them. She knew every sound Jeb made. It was the only way she’d survived these last twenty years, how she’d been able to stay out of his way. Even though Melanie constantly told her she needed to stand up to Jeb, Sarah refused. Melanie didn’t understand what he was capable of. Sarah knew and did her best to keep both girls away from him.

She stood with her back facing the door, knowing it was useless to try to hide the suitcase spread open on the bed. Instead, she continued folding her clothes, placing them neatly in the case.

“What are you doing, Sarah?”

She should’ve been frightened. It was the tone he’d used for twenty years to terrify her. Even though he didn’t shout his voice vibrated with anger.

“I asked you a question. What are you doing? Answer me.”

She turned to face him. She saw the red splotches on his face and the sweat on his lip. She smelled the liquor on his breath. Apparently he’d stopped on the way home to drink or more likely emptied one of the flasks he kept in his van. She gave him a dismissive shrug.

“What does it look like I’m doing? I’m leaving.”

Jeb snorted. “You fucking bitch. You think for one minute that I will let you out of this house?”

He grabbed her arm and twisted it up behind her back hard. Pain shot through her shoulder. His eyes gleamed with anger.

“Where do you think you are going, Sarah? Is Nate waiting for you? Or is it his darkie sidekick you have your eye on? Or maybe you and Melanie both had an Injun stashed somewhere. Did you, Sarah? Did you? “

He twisted her arm so hard, she heard a crack, blessedly the intense pain was so intense for a moment she blacked out.

When the fog cleared, she saw Jeb glaring at her, his face inches from hers. His eyes were black with malice. Spittle shot out of the corners of his mouth.

“You knew, didn’t you, Sarah? You knew that Melanie was a slut. Didn’t you?” His voice rose. “Not only that you ignorant bitch, you knew that she was fucking a goddamned Indian!”

Sarah stared at him, seeing the crazed look in his eyes. It was the look that used to terrify her. That she had spent her adult life trying to avoid. She was surprised that her voice was calm.

“Yes, I knew. They loved each other, Jeb. They were going to get married. They were leaving last night. Tucker needed to get some of his personal things from Cougar’s cabin.”

She saw his fist coming. For once she didn’t try to avoid it. His knuckles landed on her nose. She heard the crack but barely felt the pain. Likewise, his boot kicking her stomach, her chest and her hip made loud cracking sounds but she hardly felt the barrage. She wondered if this was what it was like to die. Your body could only take so much abuse and then it was beyond pain. She lay on the ground waiting for him to exhaust himself. She no longer cared. It was as though she was floating over the top of them watching Jeb beat her. She was too numb to care. He’d killed her daughter. And she hadn’t done anything to stop him. Let him kill her too. She was as much as dead as it was.

~~~

Nate rushed into the station and met Sam in the lobby.

“I heard. Where is he?”

“The best we know is that he’s home. Christ, Nate. The only warning we had was that he was out. And then dammit he was gone.”

Sam started at the vibrating sound. He reached in his shirt pocket.

“Jesus God, Nate. It’s Sarah.” He handed the phone to Nate.

Nate heard her voice. It sounded like a wounded animal in a trap.

“Nate, help me….”

Chapter 25

Nate and Sam arrived as the ambulance its sirens screaming, pulled into the circular drive in front of the Jones mansion. Nate barged through the heavily paneled door shoving a startled Hispanic man against the wall.

“Where is she, Victor? Mrs. Jones? Sarah?”

The frightened man paled. He shook his head. Nate’s voice dropped several octaves.

“Victor, I’m asking you. Where is she?”

Victor’s voice shook as he pointed to the stairs.

“Her room. Top… right….”

Nate took the stairs three at a time. Sam and the EMT’s were hard on his heels.

Nate rushed to her side and steeled himself. At first glance she looked like a child, tiny, helpless laying on the floor. Her contorted position spoke to broken bones but it was her shattered face that told the story. Her eyes were swollen shut. A gash on her forehead was still oozing blood. Her lip was split and blood trickled grimly out of the corner of her mouth. Her nose was broken, distorted and bloody. Being careful not to move her, Nate noted the bruises on her arms and neck, knowing more existed beneath her clothes.

“Let me in, Nate.”

Charlie McElroy nudged his arm. Mac was the lead guy on the EMT team and a long-time friend of Nate’s. Nate moved back as Mac knelt at Sarah’s side.

“Jesus Christ, Nate. Did… did… that fucking….”

Mac’s voice trailed off as he and his partners began assessing the damage to the traumatized woman on the floor.

Nate stood to the side, choking at the bile in his throat. He didn’t trust his voice. He just nodded. Mac knew what happened without hearing it from Nate.

Sam came up behind him.

“No one is here Nate—except the servants. They’re scared shitless. Of course, they swear no one heard anything. I’ve called for backup. We’ll need a team of men to search the grounds.”

Mac glanced over his shoulder.

“I don’t know how, Nate, but she’s alive. Christ, what this woman has been through. Her face is a mess, for sure her arm is broken and I’m counting at least four cracked or broken ribs. By some miracle none of them pierced a lung.”

When Nate nodded, Mac stood and clamped an arm over Nate’s shoulder. His voice was tight, strained.

“We’re gonna load her up, Nate, and get her to the hospital as quick as we can. She’s lost a lot of blood, but until we get her x-rayed we won’t know the extent of her internal injuries. From what I can see, the fucker used most of her body as a football.”

Nate turned to Sam and began issuing quiet orders.

“Take over, Sam. I’m going to the hospital with her. Once you search the grounds, post at least four guys here. Put out an APB if you haven’t already. Let the Chief know what happened. Send me an update every ten minutes. Minimum.”

“Go, Nate. I’ve got it. And buddy, we’re gonna fry that bastard.”

Nate nodded. His voice was soft, dangerous.

“Yeah, Sam, we are.” He turned back at the doorway. “Oh, and Sam, after Mac and the guys get pictures of her injuries, send them on to the ACLU guys. Show them know how their efforts paid off for one vulnerable woman.”

~~~

“Oh my God, Nate. That poor… poor woman. Please tell me she’ll live.”

“Yeah, Erin, she will. But how or why I’m not sure.”

Erin heard the despair in Nate’s voice. Dear God, how was he ever going to be able to handle this? Melanie’s and Tucker’s murders had devastated him. Erin was frightened at the toll it had taken. Accustomed to his outrageous gallows humor, his stoic response scared her. It was as though he knew if he let himself feel the extent of his grief it would destroy him. Last night, in halting words, he’d told her and Sam what only the Chief knew, that Tucker had been his CI. He already blamed himself for not keeping the two young lovers apart. He’d said he’d never forgive himself, knowing that he’d allowed Tucker to be in the center of the storm. Nothing Sam or Erin could say made an impression. Erin resigned herself to staying as close as she could and insisting that he rest, and at least
try
to eat. She couldn’t begin to imagine the toll Sarah’s beating would take on Nate. She shuddered at the thought. Determined to take some of the burden from him, she made a suggestion, praying he would at least consider it.

“Nate, I have a proposal. How about if Annika and I come to the hospital? We can stay with Sarah. We’ll be as safe there as we would be here. Sweetheart, someone needs to be with her when she wakes up. Annika and I have both been where Sarah is now. We can help, Nate. Please, sweetheart. Let us help you.”

Erin waited, allowing her words to sink in. When Nate still didn’t answer, she played her trump card.

“Nate, if we’re there, you can go after
him.
You’re the only one who is going to get him, Nate. You know that. And so does he.”

After a long silence, Nate said, “You’re right. Alan and Mort can guard the perimeter. You and Annika can wait in her room. Be with her when she wakes up. Thanks, Erin.”

Nate met them in the hallway. When he left earlier, Erin had thought there was no way he could look more agonized. Seeing him now, she knew she was wrong. His pain had etched deep lines on his face. Annika stood back when Erin rushed toward him and threw her arms around him.

“Oh, Nate, sweetheart. I’m so sorry. This is… hideous. Please, Nate. Believe me. We are going to get through this. I promise you that. Do you hear me?”

Nate nodded. “Yes, Erin, we are. If it is the last thing I do, I’m going to kill that fucker.”

Erin put her hands on either side of his face forcing him to look at her.

“Rephrase that, Nate. It will be the last thing that Jeb Stuart Jones does. Do you hear me, Nate? Say it!”

A tiny glimmer of humor streaked through his eyes then disappeared.