by Elaine Meece
These women didn’t have a clue that Dan had murdered Connie.
During the evening after the younger girls and small children retired, the women sewed on a quilt together. Megan excused herself and went to the first-floor bathroom. In the medicine cabinet she found the magnesium Dan took for muscle cramps. She recalled her father saying the pills made him drowsy.
She removed two of the gel caps and put them in her pocket before returning to the others. A small pan of hot milk simmered on the stove. It was Ruth’s nightly ritual. “Ruth, would you like me to pour your milk in a cup and bring it to you?”
“Yes, that’d keep me from having to get up.”
Megan stood in front of the stove blocking their view. She dropped the two pills in the boiling milk. Hopefully, they wouldn’t turn it brown or pink. She stirred the milk, then poured it into a coffee mug. She carefully carried it and set it on the table beside Ruth.
“Always makes me sleep better to have a little milk,” she said. “Thank you, Megan.”
You’ll sleep like a rock.
“I wonder how Connie is doing?” Emma said.
Ruth sighed. “I’m not sure. Dan’s been trying to find out who helps these girls leave.” She looked at Megan. “Has anyone approached you?”
Megan shook her head.
“Not even Mrs. Craven?”
“She makes small talk. I think she finds our life here fascinating,” Megan casually said.
Ruth chuckled. “I can’t ever make out what she says.”
Emma turned the quilt slightly. “I didn’t realize Connie was unhappy. Did you know?”
Megan shrugged. She didn’t want to engage in conversation and end up saying the wrong thing. She had to remember these women were not her family or friends. They could be really mean and petty.
Megan stood. “I’m going to turn in. The baby has kicked until I’m sore. Maybe, if I settle down, he will.”
“Want a sip of my milk,” Ruth offered.
“No, thanks. Milk bloats me.” Megan left them and walked back to her room.
Libby sat up on the bed, drawing horses on the back of old sale ads. “Annie is a good artist. Do you remember her paintings?”
“I do. She painted one of a rose garden that I loved. She’d painted little butterflies over the flowers.” Megan let off a frustrated sigh. “I wish they’d go to bed.” She shared what she’d done to Ruth’s milk. “I need to get in there tonight.”
Libby set the picture aside. “Let me do it.”
“No. If they caught you, you’d end up back with Hawkins.”
“I heard he beat the hell out of Edna for helping me.”
“Bastard.”
Libby leaned against Megan and placed her hand on her mom’s swollen belly. “It’s kicking a lot tonight.”
“I think he senses how stressed I am.”
The lights beneath the door went out.
Finally, the wives had turned in.
“I’ll give it twenty minutes. By then, they should be asleep.”
Time crept by. Megan’s eyes closed several times. She couldn’t let herself fall asleep. When Dan came home the next day, the first thing he’d do is stop by his office.
“I’m going now.” In socked feet, she eased out the door. A small light from the refrigerator gave her enough light to see. It wasn’t until she entered the front hallway that she needed the tiny flashlight. Please don’t let the floor creak.
At Ruth’s door, she turned off the flashlight. The door had been left cracked slightly. Hearing Ruth snore, Megan smiled and crossed the hall to the office door. Just as she was about to open it, lights shined up the driveway. Her heartbeat raced.
Dan was home.
Chapter Nineteen
Megan’s first thought was to return to her room, but if he found those letters, she’d be beaten or murdered. She slipped inside Dan’s office, then turned on the flashlight and shined the small beam around the room.
The manila envelope set on the desk under a stack of mail. Hurry. She snatched it, knocking the other letters to the floor. Her heartbeat surged. She stooped and quickly picked them up, then placed them back on the desk.
The back door opened. Dan’s heavy cowboy boots thudded against the floor. He entered the kitchen. The water at the sink ran. The refrigerator door opened, then closed.
There would be no way to return to her room.
If she went out the front door, he’d hear it.
She glanced at the window. It was her only option. She’d had plenty of practice going in and out of her window. After placing the envelope between her teeth, she unlatched the lock at the top, pushed the curtains back, and tried to raise it. The paint had cemented the window seal shut.
Megan returned to the desk and shined the light frantically searching for something to pry under the window. She found a pocket knife in his desk drawer and opened it. Her hands trembled so badly, she almost dropped it.
She stood very still and listened.
From the sounds, Dan was heating up something to eat.
At the window, she slid the knife down the sill, pushing it under the window. After closing the knife, she dropped it in her pocket, then tried the window again. This time it raised.
Climbing out, her foot hit something and knocked it over. Hearing his boots coming toward the room, her heart pounded. She slid down the outside of the window until her feet touched the ground. She jerked the curtains over his office window, then started closing the window.
As the office door opened and the light came on, the base of the window touched the bottom.
Thank you, sweet Jesus.
She pressed her body against the house just as he looked through the window. Her throat tightened. She waited for him to step away before she dashed to her window and tapped on it.
Looking fearful, Libby stared at Megan from the other side. She unlatched it, pushed the curtains back, and raised it. “Dan’s home.”
“I know. Help me.”
Once inside, she closed the window and pulled the curtains together. Already in her gown, she hopped in bed. “Get in bed and pretend you’re asleep. Now!”
Megan pulled the cover over them.
Dan could be heard stomping back through the house. He came toward their room. The door opened.
Neither spoke or moved. But it didn’t stop Megan’s heart from pounding with the intensity of a hammer striking a nail. They feigned sleeping. She passed her breathlessness off as snoring.
Finally, he closed their door and returned to the kitchen.
“What now?” Libby asked in a whisper.
“I have to burn the letters tonight.”
“How?”
“You’ll see.”
After Dan had gone to bed, Megan pulled out a cookie sheet with a candle in the middle from under the bed. She lit the candle, then pulled the letters from the envelope. She burned them one at a time. The ashes dropped on the pan. An hour later, she had them all burned. The last thing to burn was the envelope. She couldn’t be caught with it.
“I’m raising the window to let that smell out,” Libby said.
The slight breeze blew the curtains about.
“I’ll be back. I need to flush this down the toilet.” She entered the laundry room/ pantry that had the single sink and toilet and scraped the ashes into the toilet bowl. She flushed the toilet. Hearing toilets in the house during the night was a common sound that no one paid any attention to.
Megan rinsed the pan at the sink and made sure not one ash remained anywhere. She left the pan on a shelf in the pantry.
They left the window open. Megan hoped the burnt scent would be gone by morning.
♦♦♦
Brice paced back and forth in the ICU waiting room. Shea had been in surgery for hours. The bullet had hit her abdomen. The doctors said she’d been fortunate to survive, but it was due to the fact they had gotten her into surgery so quickly.
He regretted the things he’d said. He did still love She
a. He wanted to see her and apologize.
As for his wound, it had been minor. Nevertheless, it made his shoulder sore.
Finally, the early morning ICU visitation started. He walked back with others who had been waiting to see loved ones. The curtains surrounding Shea’s room remained drawn. She lay in the bed with tubes and wires connected to machines. She slept soundly, so he didn’t wake her. While sitting there, he remembered their wedding day, the days Shawn and Gabe had been born. He recalled what Shea had said. He could have it all back as if nothing had ever happened, but something had happened. Not only would he never trust her, he didn’t respect her.
Could he go back with Shea for the boys’ sake?
What about Annie? Her one serious relationship had been with a man who’d returned to his wife. How would this affect her? He didn’t want to break her heart, but damn it, his boys needed him.
Brice had to consider this carefully. After leaving the ICU, he took a taxi to Annie’s house and picked up his car before she woke. Right now, he couldn’t face her. She’d immediately sense he was torn between his family and her.
Brice stopped by his sister’s house to see Gabe and Shawn. Gabe clutched him around the legs like he always did.
“Where have you been?” Shawn asked.
“We want to go home,” Gabe whined.
“Where’s Mom?” Shawn’s eyes appeared worried.
Brice explained she was in the hospital. He didn’t tell them that she was critical.
“Is she gonna die?” Gabe asked, his eyes glassy with tears.
“No. Mommy will get better.”
“Are you moving back home?” Shawn asked.
“Let’s wait until Mom is better to talk about it.”
Both boys teared up and hugged him.
“Come home, Daddy,” Gabe said, in a quivering little voice.
Shawn nodded. “We miss you.”
“I’ll be gone a few days. Maybe a week. I’m not sure. You’re staying here. When Mom is moved to a room, Aunt Pam will take you to see her.”
They nodded and stepped back. Shawn wiped his eyes, while Gabe let the tears roll down his face.
Brice left tormented by his boys’ crestfallen little faces. They hadn’t given up on him returning home.
By ten that morning, Brice entered the boardroom. Cynthia and the other board members were there including Kayla Miller. Had she realized she’d purchased a warehouse full of scrap metal? Probably not. She’d be gloating about her purchase.
Their accountant reviewed the stats for the month on profits and expenditures. Everyone listened.
The board’s director announced that Garner’s stocks had been purchased by Kayla Miller, moving her higher up the Zurtel ladder. One more large stock purchase added to what she’d bought from Garner’s estate and what she’d inherited from Randall, she’d have a degree of control over the company. Enough to start pushing for a merger with her company, Novik.
Cynthia Conners congratulated Kayla as though she looked forward to working with her.
“Thank you,” Kayla said. “You’re very convincing, but I know better.”
“How’s Novik prospering?” Cynthia asked.
Kayla’s smile blossomed and her blue eyes sparkled. “Now that you’ve asked. We’ve started construction on our new plant in Tennessee where Crammer Industries used to be. And you know, I stumbled across this awesome deal on equipment for my new plant. I got it for a steal.”
Cynthia flashed Kayla a sly smile. “I don’t call two million for airplane scrap metal a steal. I call that a rip off, and you’re the one who got ripped off.”
Kayla’s forehead crinkled in thought, then concern filled her eyes. “What are you talking about?”
“I know you busted your butt to make the purchase yesterday morning.”
Kayla paled “You’re just angry because I beat you to another awesome deal.”
Cynthia laughed as she pulled the Jenny doll form beneath the table.
The doll’s eyes moved back and forth and blinked. “I’m Jenny. I want to be your friend. I’m Jenny, I want to be your friend.”
Kayla’s brows rose. “You’re into dolls now?”
“No, I’m into screwing people who screw me first. You hacked into my daughter’s doll and had Mallory leave it around us when we met. On top of that, you had our daughter crying when she wouldn’t obey your instructions.”
Kayla’s face revealed genuine confusion. “I did no such thing. That’s crazy.”
“I don’t believe you,” Cynthia said.
Brice stepped between them. “Then how did you know about Crammer Industries and Aero Dynamics? How’d you know about Garner’s shares?”
“My father told me.”
“Well, tell your daddy you just paid two million for ten thousand dollars-worth of scrap metal,” Cynthia said, in a rich girl’s slow southern accent.
Kayla frowned. “Scrap metal? Seriously?”
Brice nodded. “We fed the wrong information to the doll.”
He stood prepared to call security if Kayla went berserk.
Instead, she remained cool. “That sucks.” She sat back down in the chair, looking bewildered and lost in thought. Finally, she glanced up. “May I see the doll?”
Cynthia nodded and handed it over. “That’s evidence. You can’t leave with it.”
Kayla turned it on. Then she stared into its face. “Tell my dad I’m not pleased about this one bit.” She turned the doll off, but it kept coming back on. “How do I shut it down?”
Brice took it, flipped it over, and removed its batteries.
When he looked back at Kayla, she had tears rolling down her face.
Cynthia handed her a tissue. “I’m starting to believe you.”
“I need to think all of this over, then have a talk with my father.” She stood. “I’m sorry about your little girl being frightened and upset by this doll. Right now, I’m at a loss for words.” When Cynthia tried to place a comforting hand on her, Kayla pushed it away. “Look, this doesn’t change things. You murdered Randall. I don’t think I can ever forgive you.”
“Self-defense.”
“I don’t buy it. I still plan to take over Zurtel. I wanted to do it on my own. I don’t need my dad’s help.” Kayla Miller placed the doll on the table, grabbed her purse and laptop bag, then left.
Cynthia turned to Brice. “She needs a reality check on Randall’s evil alter ego, Adam Quinn.”
“Any proof left?” Brice asked. “Maybe he recorded some of his activities.”
“I’m not sure. His place in Brazil is boarded up. The jungle has already reclaimed the property.” She removed her cell phone. “I’ll call the convent. There’s a nun down there who will help me.”
“Hopefully, she can find something,” Brice said. “I’m still flying Annie to Phoenix tomorrow.”
“Good. The jet has been altered to accommodate Vega I. It will be in the cockpit when you arrive at the airstrip.”
“Thanks for letting us use it. I know you’d plan to unveil it to the public after your Miami flight.”
“That’s not an issue. You can have my spot in the limelight. A successful run of the first robotic copilot with Zurtel’s CEO as pilot will bring in the endorsements. We can try it out another time. With us both leaving tomorrow, Dad flew in tonight.”
Brice glanced at his watch. “I’ve got to run. If I hurry, I can make it to the hospital in time for the next ICU visitation.”
“Sure. Go. Be safe,” Cynthia said.
At the hospital while waiting to see Shea, Brice thought of Annie. At some point, he needed to have a sincere talk with her. Until Shea was better, and he gave careful consideration to what would be best for the boys, his relationship with Annie was grounded. It didn’t mean he didn’t love her, but this wasn’t about love, it was about doing the responsible thing.
♦♦♦
Annie waited at the airstrip in the Citation for Brice. His SUV had disappeared from her drivewa
y, and he hadn’t even stopped to explain what was happening. He hadn’t called and had ignored her texts. He had all the signs of a man who was about to run back to his wife.
If he didn’t show up, she would take a commercial flight to Phoenix and somehow rescue her sister and niece.
Right when she was ready to give up, his SUV pulled up. She drew in a long deep breath to keep from falling apart. She knew the minute she looked into his eyes what she’d see. Guilt.
He waved. “Sorry, I’m late. I picked up some things you’ll need. It won’t take me long to load them.”
“I’ll help. What can I carry?”
“I have some basic camping supplies. Just grab something.”
While they transported the supplies from his car to the jet, he talked about the doll and Kayla claiming she wasn’t the one behind it.
“Do you believe her?” Annie asked, searching for anything to talk about. A definite gap existed between them. She could sense him pulling back.
“I do. I think her father is behind it.”
She paused and looked at him. “I can load the rest while you do the preflight check.”
“Sure, I’ll get on it now.” He gazed at her with troubled eyes that revealed guilt, anxiety, and regret. “If you need me holler.”
Annie’s heart ached, but she bit her bottom lip to prevent tearing up. She’d warned herself not to become involved with him, but did she listen? Nope, so she only had herself to blame. She didn’t dare ask about Shea, fearing he’d tell her. She wanted to prolong the inevitable as long as possible.
The jet was the smallest Zurtel had. The cargo hold was full. She had to fit the rest of it in the cabin.
After completing the interior preflight tests, Brice checked the outside.
Once she loaded everything, she walked around to him and shielded her eyes from the sun. “Everything is loaded. How much do I owe you?”
“Nothing. It didn’t cost much.” Rather than look at her, his gaze stayed on the plane. “I’m almost done.”
“Thanks. I would’ve never thought about setting up a camp.” Annie climbed the steps. Inside, she peeked in the cockpit and saw the white human-like robot in the copilot’s seat. A thick power cord connected it beneath the instrument panels. If these automated copilots functioned as well as expected, she couldn’t see Zurtel keeping any copilots. Frankly, she didn’t like it. It looked like something out of a Star War’s movie.
