by Doug Solter
Mr. Raymond melted. “Young lady, your incredible intelligence outshines your incredible beauty.”
Emma’s cheeks warmed.
“She’s too good for you, son. Which means you’ll have to try harder to win her.” Mr. Raymond’s eyes settled on Emma. “Do you love hunting, Miss Rothchild?”
Emma instantly thought of a deer with a target on its head. A gunshot. There was no freaking way she was going hunting. It was barbaric and cruel and…Miyuki and Nadia nodded at Emma with enthusiasm. Did they want her to…?
A lump caught in Emma’s throat. She didn’t want to say it…but she did.
“I love hunting.”
“I knew you were my kinda girl,” Mr. Raymond said. “You should come up to the estate and be our guest for the weekend. I’m sure Ryan will find more music to entertain you with.”
Chapter 18
Mr. Raymond’s estate, Willow Run, was located one hour outside of Kansas City. The large front gate was guarded by a man in a suit. After checking with someone on the phone, the guard allowed Nadia to drive through. Olivia noted the man had a gun under his jacket. The private drive Nadia followed went along a portion of the stone perimeter fence of the property. Piles of barb-wire looped the top of the fence, leaving no doubt that Mr. Raymond took his personal security seriously. The private drive curved around the back side of a wooded hill. Soon the trees opened up to reveal a large western ranch-style mansion. It was three stories tall with a giant front porch capable of holding a backyard party all on its own. Nadia drove up the wide circular drive and let the other girls out in front before parking their rented BMW.
Inside, a butler greeted the Gems and showed them to their rooms upstairs. Climbing up the master staircase, the girls took in the mansion’s interior. Small lamps with cowhide colored shades hung on the walls, and some cowboy-themed art stood on top of tables. The stairs, the walls, the ceilings—all of it made of polished oak. Emma could smell the strong sent of lemon varnish. By the look inside, this mansion must have had about thirty rooms.
Reaching the third floor, the Gems were met by a giant grizzly bear. It was at the top of the staircase, looming above it like a demon from hell. The stuffed bear stood on its hind legs with its jaws wide open as if frozen in mid-roar.
Emma wanted to vomit. It was disgusting to see a poor animal being presented like a piece of fine artwork.
The butler opened up a large suite. “Mr. Raymond is anxious to speak with you, ladies,” he said. “Please join him downstairs in front of the residence in fifteen minutes.”
The Gems thanked him and waited until he shut the door.
“Why is he so anxious to—?”
Emma stopped when Olivia flashed a finger over her mouth for quiet. She gestured to a complimentary pen and pad of paper sitting near the mirror. Olivia scribbled This room is bugged.
Emma took the pen from her. How do you know?
Olivia showed Emma her phone. A red warning flashed across the screen. Surveillance equipment detected.
“Wish my phone had that app,” Emma said.
Miyuki opened up a sliding door that emptied outside to a balcony. She swept her arm out like it was a new car they’d just won on a game show. Olivia nodded her approval and shot a knowing glance at Nadia, who got out her phone and worked on something.
“How about some fresh air?” Olivia asked Emma, who followed her and Miyuki outside to the balcony.
Nadia joined them.
“Want some gum?” Miyuki asked.
Olivia and Nadia declined. But Emma accepted and popped the piece in her mouth. It was grape. Grape bubble gum? Emma didn’t like it, but she chewed it anyway.
“I didn’t like seeing Jacqueline at the party,” Olivia said. “She could be here warning Mr. Raymond or setting up a surprise for us.”
“What about that dude with the goatee?” Miyuki blew a huge purple bubble that popped.
“I didn’t see him last night. But keep your eyes open. Bertrand could show up if he and Jacqueline are mates.”
Miyuki sucked in her bubble. “And if he shows, we take him and convince him to talk.”
“I’ll force him to talk. I’ll keep kicking him in the head until he screams for me to stop,” Emma said, not joking one syllable.
The three girls shot Emma a long look.
“What?”
Olivia folded her arms together. “If we capture Bertrand, we don’t hurt him. We want information. Not revenge.”
Emma leaned on the balcony and glared at the sky.
“Here’s the plan for the day,” Olivia continued. “Emma and I will find a way to distract Mr. Raymond and company while you two have a look around the mansion.”
Nadia smiled. “And if I see a computer, have a peek?”
“Exactly, love,” Olivia said. “Now, let’s see what game Mr. Raymond wants to play today.”
Minutes later, the girls went downstairs and out through the main doors to see three full-size ATVs parked on the main drive. Each had four seats and were decorated in hunter’s camouflage. Seven men carried hunting rifles as they talked to Mr. Raymond, whose belly shook when he laughed at a joke.
Mr. Raymond noticed the girls and excused himself from his friends. “Welcome to Willow Run, Miss Rothchild. Did you settle in all right?”
“I think so. Thank you.”
“Great. You’re just in time. My friends and I are going on a hunt before lunch. Would you like to join us?”
Chapter 19
The caravan of ATVs hummed their way along a wide dirt trail that ran the circumference of a huge private lake. Emma and Olivia rode with Mr. Raymond and one of his Raymond Foods executives.
Mr. Raymond turned around in the passenger’s seat and yelled above the noisy motor, “Your friends didn’t wanna join us?”
Emma raised her voice too. “Sorry. They don’t approve of hunting animals, so they’re going sunbathing instead.” The ATV rumbled along. “Will Ryan be joining us later?”
“He’s still sleeping. Ryan’s not what one would call the outdoor type anyway.” Mr. Raymond leaned forward. “So…this business with your father. You’re saying that someone killed him?”
“Yes. And I want to find out who. Do you know anyone who had a problem with my father? A grudge maybe?”
“I can’t think of anyone offhand, but let me think on it.”
The ATV caravan stopped about fifty yards short of a forest near the lake. The men climbed out of their machines and began loading their weapons.
Mr. Raymond picked a rifle from the back of his ATV and gave it to Emma. “This one has a smaller caliber. Easier to handle and learn.”
Emma cradled the foreign object in her arms. She had seen guns in the movies, and people acted like it was no big deal to pick up one and start shooting. But Emma knew that was probably all crap.
Mr. Raymond went over to his other guests.
“Unbelievable,” Olivia said. “He’s like, Here’s a deadly weapon, love. Have at it.” Olivia took the rifle from Emma. “My grandfather was in the Royal Marines during the Falklands War. He taught me everything about firearms. Let’s go over some basics, shall we? One, always treat firearms as if they’re loaded, even when you think they’re not. Two, never point the muzzle of a firearm at anything you’re not willing to blow the piss out of. Three, keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target and you are ready to shoot. Four, know your target and what’s beyond your target.” Olivia gave her the rifle back.
“I don’t want to do this,” Emma said. “I can’t hurt an animal. Could you shoot a fawn? Or a cute little rabbit?”
“If I was lost and starving in the wilderness for a month while facing my own death? Yeah, I’d shoot the cute thing and eat him. He would understand.”
“Do you think Mr. Raymond would care if I bail?”
“You can’t. He sounds like the type of bloke who’d be impressed by a girl who could hunt. Yet one thing to remember…just because you’re aiming at a tar
get it doesn’t mean you have to hit the target. See what I’m saying?”
Emma thought about it. “Miss on purpose?”
“Yeah. It’s your first gun, right? Your aim will be crap.”
“But what if I accidentally hit the animal?”
“Everyone ready?” Mr. Raymond announced. “Let’s get to the kill.”
Emma floated Olivia a look of unease before carrying her rifle and following the hunters into the dense forest.
Olivia stopped her and pushed down the rifle. “Don’t let the barrel come up like that. Keep it pointed at the ground in case it goes off.”
“I got it. I got it,” Emma said. “Did Mr. Raymond say what we’re hunting?”
“Deer, Miss Rothchild,” Mr. Raymond said. “Although, once in a while we’re lucky enough to find some elk. Let’s spread out. Why don’t you girls take that far left side and step quietly. There’s a hidden meadow through here a quarter mile. The deer love to hide there.”
The group splintered off as it disappeared into the woods, leaving Olivia and Emma alone.
Olivia still spouted safety rules. “Everyone is wearing orange, so remember that before you pull the trigger.”
“Relax,” Emma said. “There’s no one watching, so I don’t have to shoot anything.”
After ducking around trees for a few minutes, Olivia and Emma emerged from the woods and caught the edge of a hidden meadow. Just as Mr. Raymond predicted, a dozen or so deer were grazing out in the open. None of the creatures had a care in the world.
“Aw…” Emma knelt down and watched them.
Olivia did the same.
“They look so peaceful,” Emma whispered.
The mother stepped up to the baby and nudged her, causing the baby to cling nearer to mama.
“Reminds me of Africa,” Olivia whispered. “My father was stationed in Zambia for a brief time. We lived way out in the boonies. Every morning I would step on the porch and see a herd of gazelle just standing in our meadow. Hundreds of the buggers roamed freely around the area. For some reason they loved starting their day in our meadow. They were beautiful.”
“That sounds amazing. I would love to go to Africa and see that someday.”
Olivia sighed. “You know what? I can’t blame you, love. I couldn’t shoot at those gazelles either.”
“What does your father do?”
“Works for the diplomatic service. Usually as an assistant to the ambassador. He and my mum move around a lot.”
“Do your parents know about The Auth—”
“Not here,” Olivia interrupted. “Ask me again some other time.”
Trees rustled to their right. Someone or something was approaching them.
Emma took a few steps back. Olivia didn’t move.
Finally, Mr. Raymond emerged from the brush. “Ah, you’ve found them. Lovely specimens too,” he whispered.
Mr. Raymond aimed his rifle at the deer.
Adjusted the gun sight on his rifle.
Emma closed her eyes. She didn’t want to watch.
“Range is fifty yards. Quite an easy shot. Why are your eyes closed?”
Emma opened them and faked a yawn. “I didn’t get much sleep last night, sorry.”
“No worries.” Mr. Raymond laughed. “You should have first dibs.”
“Oh no, it’s your property. You should shoot first.”
“I insist. Ladies first.”
Emma glanced at Olivia.
“Just watch your aim,” Olivia reminded her.
Emma thought that was great advice. She didn’t have to hit anything. One loud shot from her rifle and those deer would scamper away.
“You should lie on your stomach,” Mr. Raymond whispered. “It will steady your aim.”
Emma placed her rifle down on the ground and lowered herself flat. Once she found a comfortable position to lie in, Emma pulled the rifle back to her and balanced her hands and arms while pointing the rifle towards the meadow. She peered through the gun sight. A sharp X hovered over something out of focus.
“I can’t see through this thing.”
“There’s a knob on the side for adjustments,” Olivia said.
Emma found the small knob and turned it one way and then the other. Soon the meadow came into focus. The X was centered on the fawn’s little head. Emma took her finger off the trigger and coaxed the rifle farther left, putting the X near a faraway tree. She hoped the tree would forgive her. Emma’s hands trembled. She feared this would cause her to shoot the fawn on accident.
“Don’t be shy, Emma. You can drop the momma deer. She’s a big target,” Mr. Raymond whispered.
Emma ignored him. She wasn’t about to kill a little girl’s momma. Emma took a deep breath and tried to settle her hands. If she jerked at the wrong time, her shot could kill the momma or the baby. Emma took the safety off the rifle, relaxed, then placed her finger on the trigger. She double-checked her shot. Right at the trunk of the tree. You can do it, she told herself. She began squeezing the trigger just as the fawn hopped into her shot.
Emma froze and released the trigger again. Relieved the gun didn’t go off, she nudged the muzzle over another few feet to the left. Emma aimed at another tree.
Not wanting to give the fawn time to move again, Emma swallowed and squeezed—
“Stop!” Olivia yelled.
The deer flipped their heads at the sound and bolted. Gunfire came from the woods as the hunters unleashed their weapons on now moving targets.
Mr. Raymond raised his gun, but cursed before bringing it down. “Can’t get a clear shot.”
The deer quickly scattered into the woods.
“Stupid girl. Why did you yell? You scared them off,” Mr. Raymond said.
Emma stood up with her rifle.
Olivia immediately took the weapon from her. She put the safety back on and took out the magazine, then ejected the live round from the chamber. “This rifle is defective. See the chamber? That piece of metal is separated from the stock and blocking the barrel. If Miss Rothchild fired this weapon, it would blow back into her face.”
Mr. Raymond examined the defect. “My God you’re right. There’s also a piece of loose metal sticking out of the side here. Excellent observation. Emma, your assistant knows her guns. You’re a lucky girl.”
Emma glanced at Olivia. Both girls had the same thought.
Emma wasn’t lucky. Someone had tried to kill her.
Chapter 20
When Mr. Raymond offered a different rifle to Emma, she declined, finally stating her heart wasn’t into hunting as much as she thought, so Olivia offered to take her place. Mr. Raymond acted like he understood. An hour later, one of Mr. Raymond’s executives shot a mother deer while Mr. Raymond found a wild buck and took it down with one shot. They dragged both animals back to their ATVs. Emma couldn’t look at their slain bodies. She knew that one peek would make her lose control and bawl like a baby. Instead of the carnage, Emma concentrated on the shimmering private lake, its soothing and gentle currents breaking against a large tree half-submerged in the waters.
“Hey, I looked all over for you guys. Nobody woke me up,” Ryan said, his face pissed.
“There he is,” Mr. Raymond said to everyone in the group. “Jesus, it’s about one o’clock, son. I know you like sleeping in, but…that’s just plain lazy.” He looked for approval from his friends, who all chuckled in agreement. “Well, you missed the hunt and slept through welcoming our guests.” Mr. Raymond gestured towards Emma.
Ryan frowned. “Someone should have woken me.”
“You’re not six anymore, kid.”
“I was working late on a school project. It’s due Monday.”
“Discipline is an important attribute. You need to learn it.” Mr. Raymond addressed his men, “Who’s hungry for some barbecue and cold beer?”
The men replied back with enthusiasm as they tied the deer carcasses to their ATVs.
Mr. Raymond climbed into the ATV. “You coming, Emma?”
> Olivia began walking over to Mr. Raymond.
Emma lingered near Ryan.
“You should go ahead,” he said. “You’re probably hungry.”
Emma took one step, but hesitated. She noted another two-seater ATV, which was blue. Ryan must have taken that, which meant…
“Can you take me back to the house?” Emma asked.
Ryan drove the two-seater ATV behind the caravan heading back to the house. This ATV wasn’t as smooth as the bigger ones. It took the bumps and jolts of the rocky trail harder, making Emma and Ryan jump in their seats.
Emma yelled above the motor, “I got up late this morning too and made us late getting here. And I didn’t have a good reason, other than honoring my motto of sleeping is awesome and I love doing it as much as I can.”
“So you’re not mad I wasn’t there to greet you?” Ryan asked.
“I wasn’t mad. Maybe a tiny bit disappointed.”
“Disappointed? I can’t have that on my conscience. What can I do to make it up to you?”
“Let’s see. Your punishment is to show me this family estate of yours.”
“Do you want the nickel tour or the full top-dog one?”
Emma took a moment to answer. “Do I look like a nickel-tour type of girl?”
Ryan grinned. “More like a girl who wants everything out of life and will stop at nothing to get it.”
An electric spark ran up her back. This boy knew how to say all the right things.
“I lost my mom. Now my dad. I’ve learned that life is too short. Too precious. Why settle for something you don’t really want?”
“I like how you think.” Ryan steered the ATV around the final turn, which would lead them up to the mansion. “Hope you’re not a vegetarian because my father doesn’t believe in vegetables as a food group.”
Emma didn’t look forward to hearing Mr. Raymond talk about shooting animals during lunch, plus that would take her away from spending time with Ryan.
“I’m not hungry,” Emma said.
