by Debby Giusti
“Maybe, except your fingerprints are on the letter opener.”
“The letter opener with the Montcliff Studio logo on the shaft,” she said, having a clearer vision of the murder weapon.
Kevin smiled. “You do remember.”
“You killed Vanessa with the letter opener on the beige carpet with a lime green trellis design.”
“Sounds like a kid’s board game.” He chuckled. “Vanessa tried to attack you.”
“What?”
“She was in the office and overheard me and Nick talking about giving you a part in the next film. Vanessa thought Nick was going to give you her part. You stepped inside, never realizing Vanessa was there. She grabbed a marble statue off the bookcase and knocked you out. Then she found the letter opener and raised it to strike you.”
Becca shivered. “But you killed her first.”
“Actually, the producer killed her in self-defense. Vanessa turned on him. She knew Nick was no longer willing to put up with her tantrums.”
“The sheriff will arrest both of you.”
“We wiped the letter opener clean and then placed it in your hands so your fingerprints would be on it.”
“Then you tried to clean the bloodstained carpet with bleach.”
“I grabbed the wrong product. Instead of removing the bloodstain, it removed all the color. That’s why we threw the rug over the ledge where you had fallen. I tried to catch up to you that night and saw you slip and fall. I thought you had died.”
“No wonder you looked surprised when you saw me in town.”
“You mean at the Cattle Auction?”
“You were the Amish man who chased me.”
He nodded. “I was in costume for the filming of the trailer for the next movie. I had seen you walking along the road that first day and chased you into the pasture. Once I realized you were alive. I kept trying to find you. After Nick got back to the studio, we decided to make it look like you committed the murder. We were on the ledge soon after you and that Amish guy must have found the carpet.”
“A rug won’t prove I killed anyone.”
“No, but the murder weapon will. We took the small quilt from your bedroom at the studio and wrapped the letter opener in it.”
The green patched quilt she had made with her grandmother.
“The weapon bears your prints, Becky, which will prove you murdered Vanessa. The motive is clear. You wanted Vanessa’s part in the next movie. We’ve thought of everything.”
“What if Nick accuses you of being the killer?” she posed, hoping to burst his euphoria.
Kevin snickered, like a child, and patted his shirt pocket. “I videotaped Nick with my phone. He was in a rage and stabbed Vanessa over and over. He never saw me, but the video is proof in case he shifts the blame to me.”
Knowing she was running out of time, Becca scooted closer to the door. As they rounded a curve, a gust of wind hit the van. Kevin struggled to keep the vehicle on the road.
Becca raised her leg and jammed her foot into Kevin’s injured thigh where she had stabbed him with the pitchfork.
He groaned and lost control of the wheel. The car skidded across the icy roadway.
She screamed, fearing they would plummet over the edge.
Just in time, he turned the wheel toward the mountain. The van went into another skid.
Her heart stopped.
A giant boulder came up to greet them as they crashed into the side of the mountain.
Becca’s head slammed against the dashboard. She moaned and glanced at the gauge on the console. Someone had inactivated both airbags.
Kevin lay slumped over the steering wheel.
She groped for the knob and pushed open the door. She had to get away.
The wind whipped around her head, tearing at her bonnet and sending it flying. Her outer cape billowed as the wind caught in its folds. She slipped and slid down the incline, needing to escape the man who had run after her that night in the woods.
She tripped. Her hands caught her fall, the ice on the roadway as cold as her chilling fear. She stumbled to her feet and continued on.
The car door opened. Footsteps sounded behind her.
“No,” she screamed. Kevin grabbed her and threw her to the ground.
“You can’t run from me, Becky. I’ve got to teach you a lesson. People will be upset when they learn you killed Vanessa and tossed her over the ledge. They’ll also be upset when they find your body at the bottom of the waterfall. Or maybe they’ll never find you.”
“Kevin, please. I didn’t do anything to hurt you.”
“That’s not true. You rejected me. You weren’t interested in what I offered you. Sometimes I can’t keep things straight, but I know one thing. You rejected me so you need to die.”
* * *
Zeke saw the studio van that had crashed into a boulder on the side of the mountain. His breath caught in his throat.
Where is she? Where is Becca?
Peering down from the buggy, he looked through the open van door to the empty interior and flicked the reins. Sophie forged on. Her pace slow but steady as she labored along the narrow roadway.
Rounding the next bend, Zeke’s heart stopped. He recognized the movie star from the photo Caleb had shown him. Kevin was standing near the top of the ledge, holding a gun to Becca’s head.
Behind him, water spewed over the falls. Ice had formed on the edge of the rock, making it all appear surreal.
“Let her go.” Zeke pulled back on the reins. “She has done nothing wrong.”
Kevin laughed. “She rejected me to sew costumes. She wasn’t even interested when I offered her a part in the next movie.”
Fear flashed from Becca’s eyes.
Zeke raised his voice over the roar of the falling water. “Take me as your hostage instead of her.”
The man sneered. “Don’t be a fool, Amish. Both of you are my hostages. Bring your buggy closer to the edge.”
“Becca, move toward the mountain and away from the ledge.” Zeke’s voice was firm.
Kevin pushed her aside. “Do what he says, Becky. You’ll be with your Amish boyfriend soon enough.”
He motioned Zeke forward. “Bring the buggy closer.”
Sophie pinned her ears back. She pawed the snow.
“Go on, girl,” Zeke encouraged under his breath. “We will show this city slicker how smart you are.”
Zeke encouraged her closer.
The movie star grabbed the harness. “Nice horse.”
“Easy, Sophie,” Zeke soothed.
Kevin pulled his phone from his pocket and motioned to Becca. “Get in the buggy with your boyfriend. I want to take your picture.”
She shook her head. “I’m not moving.”
“Do what I say, Becky. Now.”
A car sounded behind them. Zeke let out a breath of relief and turned to welcome the new arrival, expecting to see Mike Frazier or one of the other sheriff’s deputies. His gut tightened when he saw the Montcliff Studio logo on the side of the van.
Nick Walker, the producer, climbed from the vehicle, gun in hand. “What’s going on, Kevin?”
“Just getting rid of our murderer and her boyfriend.”
Nick pointed to Zeke. “Why’d you include him?”
“We’ll say they were working together. It only makes our story better. We found Becky and tried to talk her into giving herself up, but she and her boyfriend headed to the waterfall. We’ll call it Lover’s Leap, just like in the movies. They couldn’t face going to jail and a future without one another.”
The producer scowled. “You’re a fool, Kevin.”
“What?” Anger flashed from the leading man’s eyes. “I’m the one who stayed behind to clean up the mess you made.”
“And ruined the carpet.”
“I got rid of
the rug and recarpeted the entryway. That kid from food services is our only problem.”
Nick laughed. “I took care of Landers and the kid from food services won’t make it down the mountain. I tampered with his car. Both of them knew too much. Their deaths are unfortunate but will not be tied to either of us.” He pointed to Becca and Zeke. “Now we need to get rid of these two.”
Zeke had expected law enforcement to come to their aid. Time was running out. Zeke could not rely on the sheriff or his men. He had to find a way to save Becca, even if it cost him his life.
TWENTY-FOUR
Chilled to the core, Becca rubbed her hands over her arms and tried to think. She had to do something, but what?
Nick Walker glared at her.
“You killed Vanessa,” she stated, hoping to throw him off guard.
He narrowed his gaze.
“You killed her,” she continued. “Kevin told me.”
Nick laughed nervously and glanced at the leading man. “You talk too much.”
“We’ll take care of them, Nick. I promise.”
“You can’t do anything right.” The producer grabbed Becca’s arm and shoved her toward the buggy.
“No!” She tried to jerk free.
Zeke leaped down to protect her.
The producer jammed his gun against her head. “Stay back, Mr. Amish, or she dies.”
“Let her go,” Zeke demanded, his hands fisted.
The producer laughed. “I thought the Amish were nonviolent. Read my lips. You breathe, and she dies.”
He dragged Becca to the buggy still holding the gun against her temple. “Get in. Now. Or I’ll kill your boyfriend.”
“You’ll kill him anyway.”
Kevin stood in front of the mare and jerked forward on the harness. “Come on. Nice horse.”
“Back,” Zeke commanded under his breath.
Sophie pinned her ears. She whooshed her tail and took a step back.
Nick twisted Becca’s right arm behind her. “Climb in. Now.”
Her left hand was numb from the cold as she tried to grab the metal arm rail. She raised her foot, but her shoe slipped on the icy step and she fell against Sophie’s flank.
The mare reared up. Her front hooves nearly hit Kevin. He dropped the harness and jumped back. His feet slipped. He tried to right himself and flailed his arms. Zeke lunged around the buggy and reached for him, but not in time.
Kevin’s eyes widened. His splayed fingers clawed at the icy ledge, unable to grab hold.
“No!” he screamed as he slipped over the edge.
Becca gasped and covered her mouth with her hand, fearing she would be sick.
Zeke seized the reins and backed Sophie away from the ledge. “Good, girl. Easy now.”
The producer sneered. “I planned to kill Kevin. You saved me the trouble. We’ll forget the buggy. Both of you can jump off the ledge. Kevin was right. We’ll call this Lover’s Leap.”
Unable to comprehend his callous disregard for life, Becca moved toward him. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Zeke rounding the far side of the buggy.
“You’re evil,” she shouted at the producer, flailing her arms as a distraction. “You killed Vanessa and Larry Landers and now you caused another person to die, but you won’t get away with any of the crimes.”
He laughed. “You’re amusing, Becky, and much too righteous, especially since the police will learn you killed Vanessa as well as Kevin.”
She took another step toward him. “Do you know what righteousness means, Mr. Walker?” She accentuated his name as if he were scum. “It means God-fearing and virtuous. A righteous person is decent and honorable, not like you.”
“My, my, you might have an acting ability after all. What a shame you won’t star in our next movie. Now get back with your Amish boyfriend.”
He glanced toward the buggy and hesitated for half a second. Long enough for Zeke, who had inched around the rear of the buggy, to tackle him. The producer crashed to the icy ground with a thud. The gun flew from his hand.
A siren sounded. Zeke turned as Mike Frazier pulled his cruiser to a stop. The deputy jumped from the sedan, gun raised and at the ready.
Zeke quickly filled him in.
Mike cuffed the producer, read him his Miranda rights and then shoved him into the rear of his squad car. He secured the producer’s weapon while Becca explained what Kevin Adams had revealed.
“Nicholas Walker killed Vanessa,” she said. “They wiped the letter opener clean and put it in my hand so my prints would be on the shaft. Kevin tried to clean the rug and then threw it over the ledge.”
“Our guys found the rug about an hour ago. They used bleach on the main stain, but blood spatter was also found on other areas of the rug. We’ll have the forensic guys check it out.”
“Kevin’s phone,” Becca suddenly remembered. “He made a video that shows the producer stabbing Vanessa.”
Mike Frazier glanced around. “So where’s the actor and his phone?”
Zeke peered over the edge. “Lying on a ledge about twenty feet down. I have rope in the back of the buggy.”
“You’d be crazy to go down the mountain in this weather,” Mike said.
Zeke looked at the deputy and smiled. “Like old times, Mike, when we were kids.”
“Don’t do it,” Becca pleaded. “It’s too dangerous.”
“The storm will only get worse. The wind’s increasing. Our only chance to save Kevin is for me to go down now.”
Zeke guided Sophie into a turn so the mare and the buggy were faced away from the cliff. He gave the reins to Becca, and then tossed his hat into the buggy and slipped on his heavy work gloves.
“Give me a hand, Mike. We did this when we were kids. We can do it again today. I can make a Swiss seat out of extra rope and use snaplinks to secure Kevin so we can haul him up.”
Mike nodded. “It’s worth a try, if you’re willing to take the risk.”
Working quickly, they anchored two ropes to the buggy. Mike helped Zeke thread another rope between his legs and around his waist to make a seat. Together they attached the rappelling ropes to the seat with a snaplink.
Once satisfied with the position of the ropes, Mike nodded.
Zeke glanced at Becca, then walked backward. He crouched low and disappeared over the edge.
Her heart nearly stopped, and she trembled, not only from cold but also from fear.
Gott, help Zeke. Protect him, she prayed silently.
She stood next to the buggy, holding Sophie’s reins. “Steady, girl.”
“He made it to the lower ledge,” Mike shouted back to her.
“I found something else,” Zeke called, his voice barely audible over the howling wind and the waterfall.
After what seemed like an eternity, she heard his voice again.
“Pull up.”
“Let’s go, Sophie,” Becca said to the mare. “Come on, girl. Nice and slow.”
Sophie shook her mane then took a step forward, then another and another.
The deputy worked the rope at the edge of the ledge.
Kevin’s man bun came into view. Mike grabbed his shoulder and the rope that secured his arms and pulled him over the edge. The movie star appeared unconscious but still alive. Mike disconnected the ropes and threw them back to Zeke.
Becca held her breath.
“Pull.” Zeke’s voice.
She encouraged Sophie forward.
A face appeared, then a man’s body.
Zeke!
Relief swept over her, and she blinked back tears of joy.
* * *
“He needs medical attention,” Zeke shouted over the wind after assessing Kevin’s injury. “We must get him down the mountain.” Working quickly, Zeke and the deputy bundled the movie star into the squad car.
Zeke handed the deputy the cell phone. “This is what I also found on the ledge. Play the video, Mike. You will find out the truth about Vanessa Harrington’s murder.”
“I need the judge to okay a warrant, Zeke. Besides, it’s too cold for a cell phone to work out here.”
“The producer mentioned tampering with Caleb Gingerich’s car. Do you know anything about him?”
Mike nodded. “His car was stalled on the side of the mountain. One of my deputies picked him up, along with his father from your aunt’s house. Both of them were taken to the hospital for evaluation. As far as I know, they’re both doing well.”
Zeke nodded his thanks, then headed to his buggy.
Becca sat wrapped in blankets in the front seat, waiting for Zeke.
“You should go with the deputy,” he said as he climbed in next to her. “His squad car has a heater.”
She shook her head. “I’ll stay with you.”
Mike Frazier waved as he started down the mountain. Zeke flicked the reins and encouraged Sophie. More than anything, he wanted to pull Becca into his arms and hold her close, yet she looked tired and cold and probably still in shock after everything that had happened.
The initial blow to her head had been severe enough to block her memory. He feared more damage had been done today. When he glanced at her pretty face, his gut twisted, seeing the new bruises and scrapes, feeling responsible. If only he had worked harder to keep her safe.
“Thank you for all you did, Zeke,” she said, her voice little more than a whisper. “I never wanted to be a bother.”
He smiled weakly. “You bring joy to my life, Becca. You could never be a bother.”
She rubbed her forehead. “I still don’t remember everything from my past.”
“Whatever happened in the past remains there. Today starts now. Who you are is who you are at this moment.” He took her hand. “Much has happened today. You need some of Hattie’s good cooking and a sound night’s sleep. Tomorrow will be a new day.”
As usual, Hattie saw them coming and stepped onto the porch as the buggy came to a stop.
“Oh, Becca, it is so good to see you. Come, dear, you need to sit near the stove. There’s coffee and a pot of hot soup to warm you.”
