She Waits (28 page)

"So you buried the jewelry?" I asked. She was nuts enough to answer all my questions. I was biding time until the cavalry got here.

She laughed. "Yep. Tried to get your little cur, but, boy, that dog is fast." She shook her head in amazement.

"She knows crazy when she sees it. Up your meds, Aunt Sarah," Maggie said sarcastically. Sarah glared at her and took a step.

Dammit Maggie
.

"Now, Maggie," I said evenly and Sarah stopped and cocked her head in my direction. "This took a lot of planning," I said with admiration, I hope.

Sarah curtsied again. "Thank you, again. I still have to kill you, but at least you appreciate me."

She walked over to Maggie and slapped her across the face, it sounded like a whip cracking. Maggie's head snapped to one side and I flinched, but stood still. "That's for not appreciating me," she said sweetly and turned away.

"Continue, Miss Ryan. I love to hear my exploits," she leaned against the desk, but kept the gun pointed directly at me.

I swallowed and continued. "You took the evidence didn't you? Got us out of the house by duping Allison. She took Maggie for a walk and I'll bet you even suggested the lake. When we all went to look for her, you grabbed the bags--but why hide them in the cellar?" I asked another nagging question.

She looked at Maggie. "Out of all the Winfields, I truly like Hannah, but she was a fly in my ointment that night. She followed me everywhere. Chattering away, blah, blah-blah, blah-blah. I swear if I had a gun, as I do now, I'd have shot her. So, when I had a moment to myself I tried to leave but there she was again, and got me in the kitchen. When she asked me to go get a bottle of wine, that's when I had the idea. Clever, Miss Ryan?"

"Yes, very clever. You hid it on top of the wine rack then unlocked the cellar door. That's why you offered to check the cellar, to make sure no one else would go down there. It was you who came back that night, am I right?"

She glared at me. "Yes, and you screwed that up for me as well. You are beginning to annoy me as much as Maggie." She lifted the gun.

"Sarah, why kill Bedford?" Allison asked quickly.

Sarah glared at her, and then looked at me. "Continue, continue. It's all right so far. Not that it matters, you're all dead," her voice was void of any emotion.

"Because he knew and threatened to expose you. I bet that's what he was telling you after he fixed your horse that morning by the stable. Did you argue that night? So, you took a shovel, bashed in his skull and dragged him over to Thunder's stall. It was supposed look like another accident," I said.

"And why didn't it look like an accident?" she asked and waited for an answer.

"Because--" I started to explain.

Sarah interrupted me and screamed in my direction. "Because you are a meddling
bitch!
"

I flinched and took a step back. Who was I to argue? I'd been called worse, but never from someone this insane.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and said calmly, "Okay. Now, Miss Ryan, as I said before, come over here." I didn't move. "Fine. I'll just shoot your beloved Maggie and be done with it." She pointed the gun at Maggie.

"Okay, Sarah, okay," I said quickly and started to move in her direction.

I purposely walked around both Maggie and Allison and walked away from them, to get them out of the line of fire, if there was going to be any. I noticed there was a sheet or tablecloth of some sort covering one of the boxes next to Sarah. If I could only fling it at her, maybe...

As I made my way over to her, we heard a noise. Someone was knocking and banging at the door upstairs. Sarah flinched for a second, which gave me just enough time.

I lunged for her and she fired in my direction, then quickly took the lantern and threw it past me. It crashed into the boxes, which immediately burst into flames. I tackled her and grabbed for the gun. We struggled and I was amazed at her strength. She was grunting and whining, trying to get the upper hand, as she did when we tangled before. Mercifully, the gun flew out of her hands.

By now, there was smoke everywhere, and the flames were engulfing everything in sight. I reared back and punched her dead in the face. She screamed and folded onto the floor.

I could barely see anything as I ran to Maggie and Allison. I fumbled with Maggie's ropes and finally got her free. She threw her arms around my neck and I hugged her for dear life, then pulled away.

In the distance, I could hear someone coming down the stairs. From behind me, I heard a growl and then a scream. I threw Maggie out of the way and I heard a gun go off.

I turned and stared at Sarah, who was standing in front of me with a bewildered look on her face.

Then, all at once, blood oozed out of her mouth and she dropped face down on the floor. I watched for a stunned second, then ran over to Maggie, who was not moving. With all the confusion, I thought Maggie was shot by Sarah.

Steve was at Allison's chair untying her, before he quickly guided her through the smoke and up the stairs.

I picked up Maggie and carried her to the stairs. Coughing uncontrollably, I couldn't see a thing. I blindly climbed the stairs behind Steve, who had picked up Allison and now carried her.

Once outside, Mac met me and grabbed Maggie as I fell to my knees. Teri had her arm around my shoulders as I coughed.

"Are you all right?" Teri asked urgently.

I nodded but couldn't say anything. I looked over at Maggie. She started coughing. Breathing a sigh of relief, I knelt next to her.

"Maggie," I exclaimed as I put my hand under her head, lifted her and held her close. She opened her eyes, and coughed again.

"Why did you push me?" she demanded in a raspy voice.
Why the little...

"Push you? You little idiot, I saved your ungrateful hide," I said staring down at her.

My arms were around her and I never thought I'd be this content to argue with her once again.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Hey, Maggie, you okay?" Steve called out. He looked awful, coughing and wheezing as he ran up to us.

"Yes, thanks," she said coughing as we stood.

I looked around to see the Fire Department soaking Allison's building. They moved us back to a safer distance as we stood watching the flames.

Then Allison ran over to Maggie and hugged her. "Maggie, are you all right, sweetie? Please tell me you're fine."

"I'm fine, how about you?" Maggie asked as her hands roamed over Alison's body looking for signs of injury.

I looked at them then walked away. Looking back at the burning building, I saw a fireman come out with Sarah's lifeless body. Mac and Teri were talking to Steve as I turned away once more. I heard Teri calling me and saw another ambulance with its lights flashing. A paramedic came over to me and guided me toward the ambulance.

"What the hell are you doing?" I asked pulling myself free.

"Ma'am, you're bleeding," he said and put his gloved hand on my ribs.

I looked down at the blood on my side.

Mac and Teri came running over. "What in the hell?" Teri said looking at me.

"I don't know. I feel fine," I said.

As I sat down on the back of the ambulance, the paramedic looked under my shirt.

"Well, it looks like you got nicked," he said.

"I don't feel like I've been nicked," I said. "Nicked by what?"

He gave me a worried look. "Well, I'm no expert, but I'd say by a bullet."

Mac was shocked. "Kate, get in the ambulance!"

I got in and then I felt something. Funny how you don't feel sick until someone tells you--you look sick.

Teri got in and looked at Mac, "Go tell Steve and Maggie." He kissed her and was gone.

"You two are so corny."

"Shut up," my wonderful sister said as the door of the ambulance closed and we took off.

I smiled ruefully at Teri. She smiled and patted my hand. "When we get back you have to tell me what the hell happened," she said.

"You'll never believe it."

The paramedic had opened my shirt and put a huge gauze pad on my side. "I've never been shot before."
I'm sure he cares.

"First time for everything," he smiled and patted my shoulder.

The clinic--my favorite place next to the kitchen table.

Once again, the small emergency room greeted me. Doc was standing there smiling sadly. "Okay, I think I've seen about enough of you," he said and put his hand on my forehead. "Had a full day?"

I explained the ordeal as he worked on me. Several times, he stopped and stared at me in amazement. When he was done, he sat back.

"Well, either you live right, or you're the luckiest SOB I've ever met," he said, shaking his head. "It was definitely--" he started as Maggie burst into the room.

She stood there breathing heavily for a moment, then rushed over to the bedside. "You can't be left alone for a minute," she said, and grabbed my hand.

"I've been nicked," I said stupidly, enjoying the concerned look in her blue eyes.

Maggie looked at Doc, who nodded and said, "Well, she's right. I was about to say, it was definitely a bullet. It grazed your side, doesn't even need a stitch. Just keep it clean."

He smiled sadly. "I'll stop by and we can get this sorted out." He kissed Maggie and patted my shoulder. "And you, I think you're accident prone," he said and left the room.

"How do you feel?" she asked softly and put her hand on my brow.

"I'm fine. Let's get out of here." I stood and buttoned my shirt.

She tried to help but I waved her off as my wall formed brick by brick. She gave me a bewildered look and stepped back as I walked out ahead of her looking for that safe, detached loop I had misplaced a few days ago.

Amazingly, we all sat in the living room. I retold the story from beginning to frightening end as they all sat in stunned silence.

"Sarah wanted to see the new antiques I got in. We went back to my shop and that's when she started," Allison said and put her hand to her forehead. Maggie put her hand on her shoulder. "She told me that I was useless. She ranted and raved. I was petrified and didn't know what to do. Then she pulled the gun and told me to call Maggie; if I didn't, she'd kill Maggie and me. I didn't know what to do." She looked sick and I felt bad for her.

"I don't blame you, Allison; she scared the life out of me as well," I said.

"Then Sarah slapped me across the face and I blacked out. When I came to, I was in a chair and so was Maggie," Allison said and looked right at me. "Maggie said you would come, and you did. Thank you," she said, looking at her hands.

"Well, it's over. Have you gotten in touch with Nathan or Charlie?" I asked Hannah and Maggie.

"Nathan is on his away back as we speak," Hannah said. "This is going to devastate him. I can't believe Sarah did all this." She sighed. "And Charlie, I have no idea how he's going to react. He's in New York. I've already called him. I'm sure he'll be calling soon."

Maggie shook her head. "I can't believe it. Uncle Nathan is my real father. Do you think he knows?"

"My guess is he
might
have suspected, but I don't think so," I said.

Steve tiredly rubbed his face. "I can't believe this. I can't believe in five days you broke open and solved a twenty-year-old murder. I'm impressed."

"Well, I wish there wasn't such heartache attached." I took a deep breath and winced.

Teri frowned. "I can't believe how many times you've been tossed around this weekend."

"I know. I can't either. Good thing this isn't my full-time job anymore."

"What difference does that make?" Mac said. "Remember when you fell off that ledge, taking that picture?"

"Okay, okay. I get it," I said chuckling.

We all laughed for a moment then the laughter faded.

"I can't believe how close we came to being killed," Allison said and shivered as she grabbed Maggie's hand. I tried not to notice that.

"Kate, you saved a family. I feel like a tremendous weight has been taken off my shoulders," Hannah said as she took my hand and cried softly.

"I'm glad for both of you, Hannah."

Tears now filled my eyes and I blinked them back. I was exhausted.

"So you called Steve?" I asked both Teri and Mac.

"Exactly a half-hour after you left. We met him at the shop. We tried the front door, then Steve and I smelled the gasoline. We ran around back and the door was open."

Steve nodded. "I went down the stairs and saw someone. I thought it was Sarah, coming after you holding something over her head. I didn't know what it was but I fired," he said, staring at the table.

I reached over and touched his arm. "Steve, she was crazy, and I do mean crazy. Thank you."

"I know. I just never shot anyone before," he said sadly.

"Wyatt, thank goodness your aim is good," I said, very relieved.

Steve, who had already gotten full statements from all of us, left.

I looked at my watch: nine o'clock. I was tired and my side ached. Maggie and Allison had left the living room. Not that it mattered to me at all.

"Well, I think I might go to bed," I said tiredly.

"Where in the world is Margaret?" Hannah asked, looking around.

"She's where she should be, Hannah," I said getting up and feeling very old.

"I can't believe you did this. I can't believe you got shot," Teri said sniffling. "Dad would be so proud of you."

Mac put his arm around her and agreed. "Maybe you should try it again? Private investigating worked once."

I cringed, feeling the back of my neck. "Forget it. I can't wait to get back to the mundane, everyday life of photography. We leave tomorrow." I sighed heavily and ran my fingers through my hair.

"Go to bed. Tomorrow is another day," Teri said philosophically.

Mac and I stared at her.

"Oh, I wish I'd have said that," Mac said, disappointed. Teri slapped his shoulder playfully.

"Good night, children," I said and waved them off.

Sprawled out on the bed was my dog. I looked down at her. "Boy, you missed everything, you lazy mutt."

I went into the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror. "Well, Kate, you did it. Almost got killed, but you did it."