The pilot interrupted, “We have a bit of a headwind, and we should land in approximately three hours.”
“Three hours,” moaned Hunter as he slumped in his seat.
“We’re in a small plane. You’re used to traveling in larger planes on vacation. It’s still faster than driving. Fortunately, Officer Calver’s father owns the plane and Calver can fly,” Mike said.
“Yes, sir, I’ll get you there as fast as possible. I know my wife has been worried sick about Kellie and Taylor. We’re all thrilled they’re safe,” the officer answered.
Hunter rubbed his face with his hands. He glanced at Mike, who was watching out the window. “I know you were worried, too.”
Mike nodded. “I’d give my life for either one of them. I hope the sheriff finds Berner alive. I just want two minutes with him.”
“After I get my turn,” Hunter smiled for the first time since the plane took off. He pulled his sunglasses out of his pocket and slipped them on, leaned back, and closed his eyes.
Chapter Twenty-two
Sheriff Kolnik was waiting for Kellie and Taylor when they entered the clinic’s waiting room. He stood when he saw them.
The sheriff approached them and held out his hand, “Hello, I’m Sheriff Kolnik. My car’s outside and I’d like you to accompany me to my office and give your statements.”
“I would like to call my husband first,” Taylor said lips pursed and staring into the sheriff’s eyes.
“I heard from your local police that a Detective Stellion and your husband are flying here. Should be here in a couple of hours.” He fanned the air with his hat. “Ready?”
“Uncle Mike’s coming,” Kellie said. She allowed the tears she had been fighting to flow down her cheeks. “We’re going home; we’re really going?” She threw her arms around Taylor.
Taylor answered, “I never thought it would happen.”
“Yes, ma’am, you’ll be going home soon. Follow me, my office isn’t far, but I brought my car. I wasn’t sure what your injuries might be.”
Taylor and Kellie sat in the back of the sheriff’s vehicle holding hands.
Taylor said, “I feel like a criminal with the screen between us and the sheriff.”
Kellie laughed her first laugh in almost two weeks. She watched the small town shops whiz by as they headed for the sheriff’s office.
The sheriff pulled up in front of a one story cream brick building. When he opened the door, both young women let out a sigh.
The sheriff bent over and looked in the backseat. “Sorry, that the ride made ya feel trapped again, but we’re here now. Follow me.”
The sheriff held the door open, and they walked into a brightly lit room with plastic chairs lined up along the front of the room. Across from the chairs a young female deputy with her brunette hair twisted up in a neat bun smiled at them. The phone rang pulling her attention away. She listened then looked at the sheriff.
“Sheriff that was Mrs. Pool, she said someone stole old Pete’s truck.”
“Is she sure her good for nothin’ nephew didn’t come pick it up again without telling her?”
The deputy glanced up at him, “No sir; she said she heard the truck start and some strange man drove away down the lake road. She said there was blood on the gravel.”
“Call Henry and have him block the lake road where it meets the highway. Tell him I’m on my way.”
Kellie and Taylor looked at each other while the deputy called Henry and relayed the order. Then she looked up at them and asked, “Have you had lunch?”
Both young women shook their heads.
“Okay, sit down. I’m going to call the diner.” A few moments later she glanced in their direction, “You two like roast beef?”
Both nodded.
“Yup, make that two blue plate specials and be sure to add pie. Can you have Tommy run them down here? Thanks. Put it on the sheriff’s bill.” She hung up; stood and said, “Follow me.”
She opened the door to what appeared to be an interrogation room. She turned and gave them a big smile, her eyes sparkling. “Don’t worry, I’m not locking you up, I’ll leave the door open. It’s a small station, and we use this room for everything. It’s our break and lunch room along with where we question suspects, but we don’t get many. Most of the crime in these parts is our regular drunks on the weekend who sleep here after they stumble out of the Brown Bear.”
“Brown Bear,” Taylor scrunched her eyes. “You have bears here?”
“Yes, we do, but the Brown Bear is friendly, it’s our local bar. Have a seat, I’ll send Tommy back with the food when he gets here.” She waved with her left hand as she walked back down the hall.
Kellie pulled out a chair. “Hot food, we’re getting hot food.” She slid her arms out along the table top and laid her head on her arms.
“We can eat something besides stale crackers, cookies, and peanut butter sandwiches.” Taylor licked her lips.
Kellie’s head popped up when they heard footsteps coming down the hall.
A gangly teenager shuffled into the room carrying a large brown paper bag. “Umm, I’m Tommy from the diner. These dinners are for you. Pops said to tell ya that the lemonade was fresh squeezed by my mom this morning.”
Kellie stood to take the bag, “Thanks, Tommy. I’m sorry, but I don’t have any money to tip you.”
The boy shoved his hands into his pockets and stared at the floor. “That’s okay. Pops said not to take any tip. The meals are on him and mom. We’re glad you’re okay. I gotta run.” He backed out of the room and hurried down the hall.
Taylor bit her lip to keep from laughing. “He sure was nervous.”
“He probably doesn’t see two gorgeous women like us every day,” Kellie smiled as she pulled two large Styrofoam containers from the bag.
“Yeah,” Taylor agreed. “There’s nothing sexier than dirty clothes and stringy hair.”
“Smell this,” Kellie slid one of the containers toward Taylor.
“Heavenly and hot,” Taylor said.
Kellie pulled out two smaller containers. “Yum, cherry pie with ice cream.”
Taylor took a sip of one of the lemonades. “Wait until you taste this.”
Both young women dug into their meals as if they had never tasted roast beef, mashed potatoes with gravy, buttermilk biscuits, and corn before. They finished their meals before the ice cream melted from the warm pie.
Both sat back sighing and holding their full stomachs.
“I never had a better meal,” Taylor said. “Just don’t tell my mom.”
Kellie was laughing when the deputy they first met on the road walked into the room.
“Hi, it’s nice to see you’re feeling well, eating some good food, and laughing. You must have been through hell.”
“It was terrifying, but we survived. What about Wills?” Kellie shuddered.
“I can’t disclose much about our investigation, but I can tell you that we found two fresh bullet holes in the wall and a blood trail leading to the lake. I know you were concerned that you had killed him,” she said laying her hat on the table and pulling up a chair.
“When I shot, I wasn’t thinking. I wanted us to get away, but thinking I could have killed him did bother me even after what he did to us,” Kellie drummed her fingers on the table.
“Well, no worries there. We think he stole a truck, and we’ll catch him. Stay put here where you’re safe until the sheriff returns. I have to get back on patrol. Nice to meet you and good luck to both of you,” she stood, put her hat on, and strode toward the door.
Taylor called after her, “Thanks for all you did for us.”
“It’s part of my job, but I’m glad it all turned out well.” She waved and disappeared down the hall
#####
Deputy Henry’s phone rang; he listened and turned toward the sheriff. “That was Martin Banlor. His house is a mile down the road. I called him earlier to have him watch out for old Pete’s truck. He said it just passed h
is place going like a bat out of hell. It should be here any minute.”
“Good thinking, get ready.” The sheriff and deputy stepped behind their cars for cover as they saw the old red pickup near the intersection.
The pickup sped faster as it approached the intersection. Taking the corner too sharply, it slid on the gravel two tires slipping into the culvert running alongside the road. It flipped in the air, landed on its top, slid another twenty feet, and burst into flames.
The sheriff and deputy ran to the truck carrying fire extinguishers. Unable to put out the entire fire, they concentrated on the cab and pulled a male body from the burning wreck. The body wasn’t badly burned, but they could see blood pouring from his leg and shoulder. He had a large gash on his forehead.
The sheriff knelt next to the body and checked for a pulse. He looked up at the deputy and shook his head. “He’s gone, looks like his neck is broken.”
#####
Kellie and Taylor were talking when a familiar voice drifted into the room.
“Uncle Mike,” Kellie said.
“Hunter,” Taylor called. She ran down the hall. He turned, and she leaped into his arms. He spun her around knocking over one of the plastic chairs.
Kellie ran to her Uncle Mike while Taylor and Hunter were busy hugging, kissing, laughing, crying, and talking.
She assured Mike she was fine. They called her Aunt Rita, and it took her fifteen minutes to convince Rita she was okay. She looked at Mike and said, “Aunt Rita is going to meet the plane when we get back. You better talk to her.”
The sheriff returned while Mike spoke to Rita. He ended the call when the sheriff walked in the station.
After Mike finished his conversation with Rita, he handed the phone back to Kellie. “You better call Peter. He’s been worried sick.”
Sheriff Kolnik spoke to Kellie and Taylor. He explained about the wreck and asked them to identify the man driving. He had used his phone to snap a picture.
“That’s Wills,” Kellie said.
Taylor began to tremble, “Yes, it’s him. Is he really dead?”
The sheriff assured them he was, and the coroner was taking the body to the county hospital.
Kellie said, “I want to see him. I have to know for sure he’s dead, or I’ll never feel safe.”
The sheriff said he would arrange it as soon as he took their formal statements. After that they would be able to return home.
#####
The door to the sheriff’s station opened, and a young girl about seven years old skipped in. “Hi, Mommy,” she said to the deputy sitting behind the desk.
“Did you and grandma have fun today, Corie?” The deputy asked the little girl.
“Yes, we did.” Dressed in pink shorts and a white and pink striped shirt that had chocolate ice cream dribbled down the front, she was a small image of her mom complete with brown hair and big brown eyes. She stood with her hands behind her back, looking at the floor, and kicking the floor with her white tennis shoes.
Corie looked up at Kellie. “Hi, are you the lady the bad man hid at his house?”
“Yes, I am, but I’m fine and the bad man is gone forever and ever.”
“Really? That’s good. Grandma thought you might be sad, so we picked these for you.” She removed her hand from behind her back and handed the flowers to Kellie.
“Thank you very much. It was sweet of you, Corie.” Kellie took the flowers from the little girl. She looked down at the three pretty pink carnations relieved not to see any roses.
#####
Sheriff Kolnik hung up the phone and motioned to Mike that he wanted to talk. Mike and the sheriff stood in a corner of the interrogation room where the sheriff took Kellie and Taylor’s statements.
“I spoke to the coroner and he has Berner’s body at the county hospital morgue. He doesn’t have a problem with the two of them seeing the body before he starts the autopsy. You pass the hospital on the way to the airstrip. The deputy who brought you here will stop at the hospital and then take you to your plane.”
Mike shook the sheriff’s hand and said, “I can’t thank you enough for helping the girls and getting Berner. If he had escaped, they would never sleep soundly again.”
“My pleasure,” the sheriff said pumping Mike’s hand. “I have a daughter a few years younger than they are, and I can’t imagine her going through this. We seldom encounter crime of this magnitude up here. Happy my deputies were able to help.”
Chapter Twenty-three
Mike nodded and walked up to Kellie. “Ready to go?”
“Yes, as long as we get to see him before we leave town.” She rubbed her arms with her hands. “I have to see he’s dead with my own eyes. It’s not that I don’t trust you, but I need to know, Uncle Mike.”
He dropped his arm over her shoulder and hugged her. “I know and I understand. Let’s go.”
#####
The county hospital was small, but when the four of them stepped off the elevator the morgue in front of them could have been found in any hospital. The room was large and well lit. A wall of sparkling clean stainless steel doors with large handles greeted them as they approached the large picture sized window. Two autopsy tables sat in one corner near a stainless steel table covered with a white cloth.
“Instruments,” Kellie thought and shuddered.
The coroner walked out of the adjoining office and introductions were made.
“I haven’t had time to prepare him. They brought him in about ten minutes ago. Are you sure you want to see him?”
“Yes,” Kellie and Taylor said in unison.
The coroner’s assistant opened one of the stainless steel doors and pulled out a long shelf. He transferred the body now in a clear plastic bag onto one of the tables and covered it with a sheet. He pushed the table in front of the window.
The coroner walked up to the window, and his voice came through a small speaker on the wall beside the window. “Ready?”
The young women nodded.
He pulled back the sheet and the pale face of Wills Berner was clearly visible through the glass. His body was less than a foot from Kellie’s face. Taylor buried her face in Hunter’s chest.
Kellie asked, “Can I see his right shoulder?”
The coroner nodded and pulled the sheet down enough to expose the shoulder. A bullet hole gaped open, and Kellie nodded. “Thank you.”
“Wait,” Taylor spoke up. “What about his left leg.” When she saw a bullet hole she nodded, and the coroner covered the leg with the sheet.
Kellie asked, “What about that gash on his forehead? Did a bullet cause it? Did it kill him?”
The coroner saw the worried expression on her face and answered, “As close as I can tell without the autopsy is that the gash on his forehead came from blunt trauma. It could be from a fall or impact in the accident. Initial cause of death is a broken neck. If you’re worried, you killed him; I don’t think that’s the case. Neither bullet wound is in an area that would have caused imminent death. With medical care, he most likely would have survived. Remember, he was alive long enough to get across the lake, steal a truck, and drive over a mile before he crashed trying to avoid the police. Even if one of the bullets caused his death, it was him or you. You saved your lives. Go home, forget about him, and live those lives to the fullest.” He smiled and covered Wills face with the sheet.
Taylor and Kellie called out, “Thank you.”
Kellie refused to move until she saw Wills body placed back into the stainless steel drawer, and the door closed.
#####
It was dark when the small plane landed back at the Oaklin County airport. Kellie glanced out the window and could see Peter and Aunt Rita standing in the glow of the light coming from a nearby hanger.
She grabbed Taylor’s hand. “We’re home. We made it home.” She brushed away the tears she felt run down her cheeks.
Peter sprinted to the plane as soon as the stairs lowered. Kellie followed Mike down the stairs and fel
l into Peter’s arms. He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed until she said, “I can’t breathe, Dad.”
He let go for a moment, fought tears in his eyes, and grabbed her again. “You have no idea how worried I was about you. I’m happy you’re home.”
“Me, too. I was never so frightened in my life.”
He whispered, “I think your Aunt Rita needs a hug.”
Rita’s arms were wrapped around Taylor when Kellie walked up. She wrapped one arm around each girl and didn’t let go for several minutes.
Hunter said, “My parents and Taylor’s are waiting for us at our house. They can’t wait to see you.”
Peter drove Kellie. Mike, Hunter, and Taylor rode in Rita’s car.
When they drove down the street, the car’s headlights illuminated two sets of parents standing in Taylor’s driveway. Mrs. Stewart and Mrs. O’Neil began to cry as soon as they saw the two vehicles.
Mrs. Stewart hurried to the end of the drive and Rita wasn’t able to pull in, but Taylor was out of the car in a heartbeat holding on to her mom. Both women cried and talked at the same time. When Kellie walked up, Mrs. Stewart hugged her without letting go of Taylor’s hand.
“I was so worried about the two of you. I wasn’t sure if that evil man hurt you and I couldn’t get the thought out of my mind.”
“It’s okay, Mom. Kellie and I aren’t hurt. A few bumps and scratches are all and Wills Berner is dead.”
“Are you sure?” A questioning look of hopeful relief came over Mrs. Stewart’s face.
“Yes, we’re sure,” Kellie said. “We went to the morgue and saw his body. It was the only way we would believe it.”
“Oh my goodness,” Mrs. Stewart’s hands flew to her face. “You saw a dead body in the morgue.”
“Yes, Mom and as much as I hate to think of anyone dying, I’m glad he’s gone and I saw the body. I can sleep now. He’ll never hurt Kellie or me again.”
Mrs. Stewart smiled at her daughter and hugged her again.
Hunter spoke up, “Let’s take this reunion into the house.”
SUMMER OF EVIL Page 20
