The Woman Next Door (6 page)

“Stop calling the woman I love names!” he scolded.

“Aren’t you fed up with me?” she asked, and her earnest tone told him she was serious. “I earned a spanking, and wimped out on it.”

“You can’t help it if you have a low tolerance to pain.”

“But, what if…”

“Oh, I can handle it, Miss Matthews. Instead of long spankings, you’ll get spanked more often with short spankings that you can tolerate. It will still hurt, and it will still accomplish the purpose.”

“Or, maybe I just won’t earn any spankings,” she said solemnly.

Craig snorted in disbelief. “Five minutes from now you’ll be giving me sass about something,” he predicted.

“I promise I’ll try not to. My bottom really hurts.”

“How is your head?” he asked.

“It doesn’t hurt as much as my butt does.” She was being honest.

“Good. Your butt is supposed to hurt.” He gently put her on her feet. “Get your jeans on and we’ll explore this place. We need to know where everything is just in case we have unwanted company. We need to be able to move in the dark without the fear that we’ll run into something.”

“That makes sense, but it would be my luck to blindly run into the arms of the bad guy!”

“That I can believe, little one, but that is why I am here to protect you. I’m not expecting trouble, but if it comes, I expect you to obey me instantly.”

“I will,” she promised. She was anxious to prove to him that she was sorry for her bursts of temper.

“Your very life could depend upon it, sweetheart. I don’t want to frighten you, but if something happens, we won’t have time to have this little talk. I can’t impress on you how serious I am, but I need your help to keep you safe.”

“I’ll do my part, Craig.”

“Okay, Lizzy. The first thing we do is look for a good hiding place for you.”

“That’s easy.”

“It is?”

“Sure. Come on. Let’s find someplace small that someone larger wouldn’t think of as a possibility.” Elizabeth suddenly giggled. “Do you realize that you spanked me before we even looked around this cabin?”

“I told you that spanking you was the first thing I was going to do, and I meant it.” Craig couldn’t see why she found that so amusing, but she did. She giggled again. “What is so darn funny?” he demanded.

“I’m just happy to know that you do have a temper. It’s comforting to me; perhaps I won’t scare you off?” She looked at him to see his expression.

“You won’t scare me off, but I just may spank your cute little fanny off!”

“Deal,” she stated. “You really are special to me, and once this situation is cleared up, I won’t be as testy as I have been,” she assured him. “I can go for months without getting upset with anyone, and then I can lose it over something and it sets off a chain reaction. I don’t want you to let me take my temper out on you, or others, not even that nosy woman next door to me!”

“I think Mrs. Huffy is a good woman at heart, Lizzy. She just needs her backside paddled a few times, too.”

“I would pay to see that.”

When he turned and frowned, she quickly changed her mind. “On second thought, I believe I would feel very sympathetic with Mrs. Huffy, and I might even defend her!”

“Don’t rub it on so thick, Miss Matthews,” he said, and then chuckled. “You make me smile, Lizzy, and I really needed laughter in my life.” Then he shook his finger at her. “We need to take stock now.”

“Okay.” She looked at the sofa and said, “Hiding behind the sofa is the first place anyone with a functioning brain would look… too predictable. I don’t think anywhere else in this room is a hiding place, do you?”

“No. I think you’re correct. The first place I would look in this room is behind the sofa. The kitchen is out, too. There is no place besides the fridge, and that is too dangerous.”

“I’ve heard on the news about murderers and burglars helping themselves to food from the fridge. Not a good hiding place. This is a nice kitchen, though. No dishwasher, but granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Wally has some real money invested here.”

“It is nice.” Craig walked ahead and then called out, “Lizzy, come and see this back porch!”

“Oh my goodness. He has all sorts of fishing equipment.” Her eyes scanned the cases and admired all of the lures. “I’m sure Wally makes these as a hobby, Craig.”

“And you would be correct. He’s given me a couple of them that he’s made, and I really love them. Look at the fishing rods, and the different reels. Nice!”

“Wally and my grandfather would like each other a lot.”

“You speak of your grandparents with love and respect, but you don’t have a lot to say about your mom and dad.”

“I’m more like my grandmother than my mom. Mom is arrogant and she cares about how things look on the surface. She had to have new carpet one year right before Christmas because she was afraid that someone would notice a stain on the carpet. Dad argued with her, but she bought carpet the next day, insisting it be installed immediately so she could have new carpet for her party. That was the year that she put empty boxes underneath the tree because she couldn’t afford gifts for us kids or Dad or Grandma and Grandpa. No one even noticed the new carpet, either. That’s Mom. My being a nurse isn’t prestigious enough for her. She wants me to be a doctor.”

“What? You are so well respected! What is her problem?”

“Now you know why I live far away from them. I’m who I am, and there is no pleasing her, Craig. I went home last Christmas for a few days, and she had several men lined up for me to meet, thinking I would allow her to find me a husband. It didn’t work. I left early and came home, wondering why I tried.”

“What about your brother?”

“He lives in New York. He got as far away from her as he could without leaving the country, and that
could
happen one day if she doesn’t stop trying to run his life!”

“What does he do for a living?”

“He’s an actor, singer, and dancer. He’s having some success on Broadway now, but it’s taken him a few years of nothing but bit parts to earn a decent role. He’s gay, and Mom keeps offering to have him counseled so that he’ll turn straight. She is terrified her friends will learn the truth about Richard.”

“Your mom is a case.”

“So, who is
your
worst relative?” Lizzy asked, as they walked through the main room of the cabin and turned the knob on the first door they came to. It was a small bedroom, outfitted with bunk beds and obviously designed with grandkids in mind. She watched as Craig opened a closet and tapped the walls. Elizabeth had no idea what he was looking for, but apparently he didn’t find it. She’d looked for a hiding place, and there was nothing in the small room that would work.

“My worst relative is my youngest sister, Jill. She is just so young and full of herself and she gives Mom a hard time. Typical teenager,” he answered with a grin.

“Is she the one you swatted with your fraternity paddle?” Lizzy asked with a smile.

“Actually, no. That would be Faith. She attends Wake Forest in North Carolina. She’s a mite headstrong, but she’s a sweet girl. Heidi is the oldest sister. She’s married and has two little ones. Her husband is a captain in the Marines. He’s gruff and very tough, and she has him wrapped around her little finger. You’ll like Mom. She’s nice, understanding, and firm when she needs to be. The last couple of years have been hard for her since Dad died, but she’s making it happen, mostly for Jill’s and Faith’s sakes.”

“I’m sorry to hear about your dad! What happened?”

“Cancer happened. He put off going to the doctor until he was in Stage Four, and we lost him six weeks after he was diagnosed. He told me before he told Mom and the girls, wanting my promise that I would help them once he was gone.” He looked at her and said, “I’ve been helping Mom with Faith’s tuition. Faith is one smart girl, and she has been awarded scholarships and grants, but still there are some things not covered. Dad left Mom enough to pay off the house, but that’s about it.”

“That is good of you. I’m sure Faith appreciates it.”

“I don’t want her to know. I don’t want her to feel obligated to me.”

“You are such a wonderful man, Craig Johnson. I mean that.” She stood on tiptoe and kissed him, and then said, “I found the perfect place.”

“What?”

“Pay attention, Johnson! What about that chest?”

“Do you think you can fit in there?” he asked in disbelief.

“I know I can.” She walked over and tried to open the lid, but it wouldn’t budge! “What the heck? I cannot budge this lid for the life of me!”

“That’s because it’s locked. It’s where Wally keeps his arsenal.”

“His what?” she asked.

“His guns, weapons. Wally is a collector. He buys old guns and fixes them.” He grinned at her and said, “We’ll have him show them to us sometime. The real arsenal is right here,” he told her, as he took out his knife and ran it between two sheets of paneling. Elizabeth heard a click and the paneling opened and out came the weapons! She looked at Craig in shock.

“Is Wally former CIA?” She whispered the question as if she was afraid of being overheard.

“I don’t rightly know. I do know that he’s honorable, and I know a collection of this sort costs a bundle. He was doing something on the side besides working as a police officer.”

“You’ve never asked him?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because it is his personal business.”

“But, I want to know!”

“Ah, there it is, just like Wally said. See this little door? You can hide inside there. I want you to go inside. There is a flashlight just inside the room. Click it on, find the lever, and then push it up. It will close this. Be sure, however, that you close the door to the little room first. They won’t realize that room is there…
if
they manage in some way to open the larger door.”

“This is just crazy. I do have one question,” she asked once she crawled through the opening to find a small room on the other side.

“What is it?”

“Where will
you
be while all of this is going on?”

“Playing the part of an unhappy fisherman,” he said.

“And if they kill you, then what?”

“Then you stay hidden until they’re gone.”

“What if they blow up the place?” she asked, and saw his face pale. “Yeah, neither you nor Wally thought of that one, did you? I watch television and I read books. Also, I am
not
going to hide and leave you alone to fight with them.”

“You are going to do what I tell you to do,” he ordered.

“Not if it means losing you, I won’t. Either you come into the room with me, or I’ll grab a gun and start shooting at them with you!”

“That would be suicide, girl! Do you even know how to use a gun?”

“As a matter of fact, I do.”

“That makes me feel a little better. I’ll fix you up with a small pistol, and you will only use it if they find you.” Hear me?”

“I hear you,” she said, but he saw in her eyes that she wasn’t going to obey him.

“Lizzy, I am trying to keep you safe.”

“At what price?” she asked. “I’m
not
going to permit you to sacrifice your life to save mine. I won’t have that, Craig. I still think I need to confront McMaken and tell him I didn’t overhear or see anything.”

“He wouldn’t believe you. He probably forgot you were in the cubicle with him, and took a call. Think, sweetheart. Think hard.”

“I’m not going to be distracted, mister! No sacrifices. Either we both come out of this alive, or neither of us. I refuse to hide and cower while you bravely die to save me! Darling, I couldn’t live with that on my conscience.”

“Let’s just hope that it won’t be necessary for either of us to die, but you promised to obey me if there is trouble, and I am going to hold you to that. Your life could depend on it.”

“I won’t have my life if you sacrifice yours; it would have no meaning at all to me.”

“Lizzy, are you planning to disobey me?”

“No, I’m not. Are you planning to keep yourself safe?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Then we should be just fine.”

They both lied, and Elizabeth wondered if Craig knew it.

Craig knew they lied, but how could he punish her when he understood how she felt? “See that bed? I want your little fanny in there for a nap. If your head is still aching, then you need a pain pill.”

“No! I don’t like to take those. The last one had me waking up with Sylvia on top of me, trying to smother me! I don’t like sleeping so soundly.”

“Okay, I won’t insist on a pill, but I do insist you lie down and rest, take a nap if possible.”

She opened her mouth to protest and remembered that her bottom was still stinging. She decided that lying down for a while might be best. “Okay, I’ll rest for a little while. I want to stop having these headaches.”

“Did that hurt so much?” he asked her with a gentle smile.

“No, not really. I think I’m argumentative because of my mom. I’m sorry that I take it out on you when you really do have my best interests in mind.”

“I think you might be right; arguing with your mom must be second nature by now with the way she treats you and your brother. I’ll be right outside in the living room area. If you need me, just call out.”

“I’m not afraid of spiders,” she said, grinning.

“Good girl.” He turned back for another look, and then looked away quickly. Elizabeth was removing her jeans and planning to sleep in her tee shirt and panties. Even though he’d seen her earlier, he wanted to show her respect now. Baring her for a punishment was one thing, and peeking another.

Wally had told Craig to help himself to anything they wanted to eat. Craig looked in the freezer and found fish. That would make a great meal. The small cellar had all sorts of canned goods and plenty of root vegetables, such as potatoes, beets, and onions. Craig selected a few things, and returned upstairs, keeping alert as he did so. He couldn’t be absolutely positive they weren’t followed. He worried about Wally, and was afraid that McMaken would recall the man was a cop. He also didn’t put it past Wally to do some investigating on his own.

* * *

Elizabeth was floating in that state where she wasn’t actually awake, but she wasn’t asleep, either. Her mind returned to that day she had McMaken as a patient. He was complaining of chest pain and shortness of breath. They immediately put him on oxygen and hooked him up to a heart monitor. She did the normal work up, and then stepped out of the cubicle to see if the doctor had any further orders. She told Dr. Lehman that McMaken was still complaining of chest pain. He asked if she’d contacted family, and she told him that McMaken didn’t want anyone to know he was in the ER. The doctor gave written orders for medication, and she placed the order, hoping it would come quickly. She went back to check on him, and he’d climbed out of bed and had his back to her. She wasn’t really paying attention to what he was saying, but in the background she heard the name Gregory repeated a few times. She wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but he said something about loyalty to the family, and if he wasn’t going to help take care of Grandma, he could be taken out. Like a ninny, she thought he meant he could be taken out of her will, or told he wasn’t family any longer. She woke suddenly, and jumped out of bed. She ran to Craig.

“You haven’t rested nearly long enough, young lady. Go back to bed.”

“I remember now!” she said excitedly. “He’s planning to take out someone named Gregory because he wasn’t being loyal to the family, and he was angry that Gregory wasn’t going to help take care of Grandma.”

“Are you sure about this, Elizabeth?”

“Yes, I am. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. At the time I thought Gregory was a brother or cousin, something like that, and I thought he really meant his grandmother. Now I think he was speaking in code, just in case, but he knows darn well that if someone named Gregory was murdered, I would remember hearing him say that!”

“I think you may have given us the lead we need to finally take down the McMaken family, Lizzy. I need to contact Captain Jordan, and let him head up this operation. Peyton Gregory is due in town very soon, and…”

“
Peyton Gregory!
Do you think
he
is the target?” she asked, squealing.

“I am pretty sure. Why would McMaken waste his time on someone who isn’t powerful? Besides, Peyton Gregory is in a position to help McMaken. I’m sure McMaken backed him and provided money to help him get elected, and now that he’s in office, McMaken wants payback. It more than likely has something to do with drugs or human trafficking.”

“You mean the white slave trade?” she asked, clearly frightened. “There was a girl in nursing school who went on a date one night, and she didn’t return. We went to the police, and they searched for her. Finally, a couple of months later, they found her in a house of prostitution. Those horrid men who took her beat her and raped her over and over until she felt completely worthless, then they threw her in that house and made her sell herself. She was never able to come back to school. If McMaken is responsible for that, then I want to help capture and arrest him, and I will testify to what he said.”

“It might not come to that if we can set some sort of trap for McMaken to walk into.” Craig took out his cell phone and punched in a number. The call didn’t go through. He checked the number, and then realized he had no bars! The cabin was so isolated that there were no cell phone towers close by, and Craig couldn’t use his phone. “Great!” he muttered in disgust. “My phone isn’t picking up a signal here,” he explained to Elizabeth. “I am going to have to hike back to my car and make my report.”

“Okay, let’s go,” Elizabeth said eagerly.

“I think you should stay here.”

“Why?” She was obviously disappointed.

“The less people who see you, the less people who can recall seeing you. It’s safer.”

“How long am I going to have to stay cooped up here?” she demanded indignantly. “Can’t they pick him up now?”

“Unfortunately, no. At the moment, it is your word against his. We need to catch him in the act. Don’t worry; every attempt will be made to protect Gregory and keep him safe. It’s what we do best,” he announced. “I need to go now; I want you to rest while I’m gone. Hopefully, I’ll get cell phone reception when I walk a bit closer to the main road.

“I can’t see that it would hurt for me to walk with you! There isn’t a soul around here.”

“That we know of, but I still think you are safer here, Lizzy. The doors have heavy dead bolts on them, and by the time someone would break in here, you could be safely hidden behind the walls.”

“Fine!” she snapped. “I just
hate
this! I’ve read stories and watched movies about this sort of thing, and how romantic it is, but it just pisses me off! I want to go home, Craig!”

“Elizabeth, I am going to wash your mouth out with soap if you don’t watch your language,” he said mildly, and then added, “I know you want to go home, and so do I, but you are safer here right now, so we stay.”

“One week. That is my max, Craig. Arrest him by then, or I go home, and I am
not
joking!”

“Elizabeth, are you trying to pick a fight with me?”

“No. There will be no arguing. If I decide to leave, you won’t be able to keep me here against my will. Go and make your call, Craig. I’ll be here when you return.”

“You’d better be. If I have to track you down for
any
reason, I’ll blister you raw!”

“It isn’t likely I’ll run to the convenience store for a pack of cigarettes!” she dryly proclaimed.

“Lock this door behind me, Lizzy,” he ordered, then pulled her close and gave her a kiss that curled her toes. “You drive me crazy, woman!” he announced and then unlocked the door to let himself outside. “Be safe, sweetheart,” he murmured, his hand caressing her cheek gently.

“You too, darling. I won’t be a bit happy until you return.”

“I shouldn’t be gone longer than an hour to ninety minutes, Lizzy. Don’t open the door for any reason,” he warned.

Craig stood there until he heard her slide the heavy deadbolt into place, and then he turned and headed back to where he left his car. For some reason, he didn’t trust the sassy little redhead to behave herself and stay put inside the cabin, even though she said she would. Craig honestly didn’t think she had one ounce of fear inside her, either. The best thing he could do, was to make his report and get back to her as quickly as possible.

While he was walking, Craig mulled over the things that Elizabeth recalled, and decided she truly had no clue at the time that she’d heard anything useful. It wouldn’t occur to someone as sweet as Lizzy that the man was discussing a hit from the emergency room in the hospital. It made Craig wonder just how ill the man was, too. He also knew that Lizzy wouldn’t discuss that with him unless he had a court order forcing her to do so. She had integrity, and even though McMaken was trying to have her killed, she wouldn’t break her code of ethics.

Suddenly, there was a shot and Craig felt a sharp pain before he passed out and fell to the ground!

* * *

Wally didn’t have much in the way of entertainment in the cabin. There was no television, and no movies to watch. Elizabeth finally found a deck of cards that was brand new, and she suspected that Wally bought them ‘just in case’. It was obvious that he spent his time out fishing or making his lures. The cabin was a fisherman’s paradise, but she wasn’t a fisherman. Oh, she didn’t mind fishing occasionally, but there were other things she enjoyed more. She dealt out a game of solitaire, wishing she could call Craig and tell him to pick up some books and some electronic games.

“Help! Help!” Elizabeth heard a voice calling from a distance. She got up and looked out the front window of the cabin, and saw a young boy running toward the cabin, yelling for help.
What should she do?
He didn’t look like a criminal, or anyone connected with a crime boss.

Soon, he was banging on the door. “Help! Help! I shot someone and I need help!”

He shot someone?
Elizabeth had a terrible feeling that it was Craig! She had no choice but to open the door in spite of all the warnings she’d had from him. If he was shot, then she had to go to him! If it wasn’t Craig, then she still had to help. It was what she did as a nurse. She opened the door to see a freckle-faced young boy standing there.