Whispering Spirits (14 page)

The man’s flashlight focused on the brush in
front of her. Should she wait and hope he moved back down the
trail? Should she step out…reveal her position…and lead him away
from Running Crane? Why didn’t Running Crane wake? Her heart
pounded and she shivered in fear.

The man moved the flashlight from her hiding
place and studied the ground again. Summer worked her way out from
behind the huckleberry bushes and inched along the ledge, back
toward several large boulders. If he headed up the incline toward
the hiding place, maybe she could come up from behind…and stab him
with the knife. If only Running Crane would wake.

“I didn’t expect your boyfriend to go down so
quickly. I expected him to be more of a challenge.”

Summer gasped and looked up. She quickly
squinted against the bright light shining in her eyes. “Doesn’t
look like you fared all that well yourself, does it?”

“Come out from behind that rock before I
shoot you right there and leave your corpse for the animals to feed
on.”

She choked back a cry and huddled behind the
boulder, making no response.

“I said come out of there. Where’s your
boyfriend? I saw the blood. Guess it was him I got, huh?”

She stood and stepped out from behind the
boulder. “Are you…after Running Crane. . . or me?” Summer hid the
knife along the side of her jean. He motioned for her to move down
the ridge and she led the way. Each step took them further away
from Running Crane.

“My name’s Stuart Wallace, in case you still
haven’t figured out who has been chasing you down. You might
remember my brother, Derek. You know, the man you killed.”

“I’m…not so sure I killed your brother. Yes,
I hit him with a fry pan, but he was still alive when I ran over to
Jordan. I heard him moaning. I think someone finished the job and
put the blame on me. I’m not the one you—”

“Shut the fuck up! Keep telling yourself
that…but the police said you killed him. He was my only brother and
you’re going to make things right. Before I make you pay…you’re
going to give me Jordan’s documents.”

“Jordan’s documents of what? I don’t have a
clue what you’re talking about.”

“The boys tried telling me you weren’t
involved, but I gotta tell you…I just don’t believe that. Joshua
and I go way back and I told him to keep his brother out of
this.”

“And you should have. Jordan wasn’t the
type—”

“Little lady, you have no idea what type
Jordan was. What you need to be concerned about is what type am I?
You see I don’t give a fuck what you want to make yourself believe,
but I do know Jordan had legal documents that I need. You give them
to me and I might not even kill you. Oh we’re definitely going to
have us some fun…same fun you was having with that Indian in the
water. Hot little piece aren’t you?”

“I don’t have any idea what or where any
documents Jordan had are. You can try beating it out of me, but the
answer will be the same. I can’t tell you what I don’t know.”
Stuart backhanded her across the cheek. Summer reeled back, landing
hard on the ground. The knife jarred from her hand and bounced on
several rocks before landing out of reach. She fought the tears
that surfaced.

‘Now would you look at that? You weren’t
planning on using that on me, were ya?” His forced laugh filled the
early morning stillness.

She stared at his white, Nike Air Force One
sneakers. “What does this job you planned with Jordan and Joshua
have to do with my grandmother? Where did your guys take her?”
Summer scrambled to her feet.

“Girl, I don’t have a clue what you’re
talking about. Put your hands out,” he said, pulling a rope from
his pack. “Where’s your boyfriend?”

“He…he…went to Babb and I headed for
StoneHouse.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“I don’t care what you believe. When he saw
you were still coming after us, he decided we’d have a better
chance if we split up. He—”

“Wouldn’t have left you with me
following.”

“He was going to leave you enough signs so
you’d start following him. That would allow me to make it to
StoneHouse and send him help. You obviously missed them. Not that
great at tracking, are you?”

He whacked her hard with the rope. Summer
cringed and rubbed her arms where the twine snapped her like a
whip.

“Put your hands together and hold them
out…and shut up!”

Summer glared up at Stuart. “You really think
it’s necessary to tie me? How would I outrun you? Tell me what you
guys were up to and what exactly I’m supposed to turn over to
you.”

“You seriously don’t know?”

She shook her head. “I seriously don’t have a
clue. I knew Joshua was up to something…and…I guess now that I
think about it, maybe Jordan was, too. Was Ali…Joshua’s
girl…or—”

“You really were blind, weren’t you? Jordan,
Josh and Ali go all the way back to grade school. They’ve been a
three-some since I met them.”

“What do you mean, a three-some?”

Stuart laughed loud. “Ali couldn’t make up
her mind which of the brothers she preferred, so she was sometimes
with Josh and other times with Jordan.”

“Who killed her?” Summer asked without
thinking.

“Well, that would be me. You see I wanted a
piece of the action and she definitely was having me in that
shower. Jordan showed up and he caught us together and she started
screaming rape. That was bull shit and I said so. She kneed me and
I punched her. She dropped like a shot pigeon and hit her head on
the faucet…it killed her instantly. It was an accident. I got
dressed and suggested we take her body to the alley and make it
looked like some guy attacked her.”

“Jordan wouldn’t have gone along with
something like that.”

“You’re right, and neither would Josh. He
started punching me and I wrestled him to the ground. Jordan went
after Derek and I guess that’s when you got there. Jordan was dead
and…you killed Derek.”

“I didn’t kill him. I’m telling you he was
alive after I hit him.”

“Derek was dead when Josh and I slipped out
the back. I left the complex and he went back in the front door, to
make it look like he’d just got there.”

“I had my back to your brother when Joshua
arrived. Maybe he killed Derek…because he killed Jordan…and made it
look like I did it. No one questioned it but me.”

“I’m not stupid enough to believe Josh would
kill Derek. We’re all like brothers.”

“But Derek killed Jordan. Don’t you see,
Joshua got even by killing your brother? He was alive after I hit
him. He was groggy, but alive.”

Chapter Seven

Running Crane fought to wake. The loss of
blood had taken a toll. It was an effort to just open his eyes.
Silence filled his senses…he snapped awake.

“Summer? Summer?” he called out in a whisper.
Early morning light filtered through the huckleberry brush in front
of the rocky indenture. He pressed his palm onto the cold ground
and rose slow and easy.

She was gone. Getting to his feet, he moved
off the ledge and hurried up over the next hill. He scanned the
area ahead. On the far hillside he spotted her. The tracker limped
steadily behind her.

Running Crane reached for the backpack and
tore into a granola bar. He took several swigs of water and
instantly felt better. Could he have the edge? Summer wouldn’t have
revealed his whereabouts. She would be expecting him to come rescue
her.

They might be a good hour ahead of him.
Lifting his pant leg, he removed the bandages Summer had carefully
put in place. Gritting his teeth, he grabbed the stick and pulled
it out of his leg. The gripping pain nearly caused him to pass out.
He reached into the pack and took out the first aid kit, squeezed
antibiotic ointment against both open wounds and covered them with
the remaining Band-Aids. He tightly wrapped the area with gauze and
tied it off.

Slipping the pack on, he grabbed the bow and
headed out after Summer. Studying the ground, he noticed the
tracker dragged his right foot. So, did Summer’s remake spear drop
work or his bow trap? It would certainly make it easier to follow
them.

Running Crane wondered how injured the man
was. Could Summer overtake him or was she tied and at his mercy?
Running Crane couldn’t let anything happen to her. His leg felt
incredibly better without the stick. She’d been right about
removing it. He favored the leg, but pushed himself forward at a
grueling pace.

* * *

“What happened to your leg?”

“You need to ask, bitch?” He pushed her ahead
of him.

Summer exaggerated his shove and fell
forward, crying out when she hit the ground. She rolled over and
sat. “You keep being this rough and we’ll never make it to
StoneHouse. I wish you’d get smart and realize you’ve been wrong
about me. Tell me, Stuart, what job did you guys and Ali do that
made you turn on each other?”

“We didn’t turn on each other…it…Ali had a
way of creating drama. I didn’t mean to hurt her, it just pissed me
off she wasn’t being honest with Jordan. She willingly fucked me. I
wouldn’t have tried raping her. She said she was done with the
Perkins brothers. Her cut from this deal was going to get her out
of Missoula. She wasn’t ever coming back.”

“Her cut of what deal, Stuart?”

“Gold.”

“Gold? Where would you all get gold?” Summer
stretched her legs out in front of her.

“We won’t get the gold exactly. We were
getting paid to set up the gold deal. You see there’s a guy
that—”

“What guy?”

“Kevin Wild Horse from Browning. He was
drinking and…got to talking about some core drills he helped hide
in some logs a fella was hauling. “ Stuart sat on a rock and rested
his leg.

“Terry Running Crane?”

“How would you know that? I knew you were
involved.”

“I’m not involved. But I’m starting to get
the picture and…you know about my grandmother, don’t you? I just
knew this was all connected somehow and she’s right in the middle
of it.” Thunder rolled in the distance. It wouldn’t be long before
the storm moved their way.

“For an old lady, she’s one pain in the ass.
She could make the deal work, but we couldn’t get to her. Then we
found out about you…the precious granddaughter living right in
Missoula. Jordan thought we should just grab you. We could
manipulate your grandmother by threatening to kill you if she
didn’t go along with endorsing the sale of that northeast corner of
the reservation.”

“She doesn’t have the authority to sell
reservation land. The Tribal Council must make all those decisions.
I’m still confused…how does this involve Jordan and the rest of
you?” Summer found the whole ordeal confusing. How could she have
been so blind?

“Germaine Worthington’s daughter, Domonique,
and Kevin Wild Horse’s son, Bradley, met in college and want to get
married. The Landscape Mining Company dynasty king doesn’t think
the young man is good enough for his only precious daughter. But
then Bradley shared they found gold on the reservation. Come on,
let’s get moving.” He motioned for her to start walking.

Several water droplets hit her face. Another
roll of thunder announced the coming storm. “You really mean oil,
don’t you?” Summer wanted to keep Stuart talking and not walking.
She could only hope Running Crane had awakened and followed. She
got to her feet and followed the game trail.

“I mean shiny gold. When they sent those oil
cores to be tested they got the surprise of their lives. The ground
had some oil, but it was loaded with the richest vein of gold
they’d ever seen. They wanted the mining rights.”

“But that wasn’t good enough for Worthington,
was it? He wanted to own the land.” Summer started getting the
picture. “But my grandmother somehow discovered the truth. There
was only one way that could happen…Terry Running Crane wasn’t as
oblivious to what was going on as everyone thought. He went to my
grandmother.”

“Morning Star Timber Wolf carries more power
than the President of the United States. She doesn’t hide behind
politicians or threats. Worthington knew he had one chance
only—”

“To control her…she wouldn’t do anything that
would hurt me. She arranged for us to be out here to protect me…and
you kidnapped her instead. Why? What exactly do you think I have?”
Summer stared at the man behind her. This man was much more than
she ever expected.

“We’re gonna get wet. Keep walking,” he
shouted. “Think about it, Summer.”

“You manipulated Jordan because of his ties
to Lawrence Borden, who I would guess is the connection to
Worthington.”

“What would make you think that?”

Summer smiled, glancing at the man she
thought was nothing but a petty thief. “Deep pockets, Stuart. You
figured Joshua would get involved with me…and that is how you
planned on controlling my grandmother. But I wasn’t interested in
Joshua, I fell for Jordan. That put a crimp in your plans. I would
guess the biggest problem was Ali…she also wanted Jordan. Now
they’re both dead and that puts you in a rather exposed position,
doesn’t it? I’m still confused…what are these documents you’re
looking for?”

“Jordan found a document where Kevin Wild
Horse signed a land sale agreement between the Blackfeet Nation and
the Landscape Mining Company…so he says. He hid the document and
used it to bargain a finders-fee payment.”

“He wanted to get paid for his participation.
Let me guess, he was supposed to split it with Joshua, your
brother, and you?” Summer wondered where Running Crane was. She
fought the nausea that gripped her.Was that a twig that snapped?
Stuart didn’t seem to hear it.

“What’s wrong?”

Thunder cracked and lightning flashed across
the sky. “You wouldn’t happen to have anything to eat, would you?”
She waited for Stuart to produce an energy bar and toss it to her.
“Thanks. I’d appreciate some water, too.” A light drizzle came
down.