Belker stared at Dan, as though pondering his next move. He wagged the gun at him with a steady beat. “Well, they’ll get here just in time.”
Dan heard the tear and recognized the sound as Skelton turned with a roll of duct tape.
“Nice work, Skelton,” Dan said. “Kidnap your own horse. May have fooled some people with that.” Hank pushed him forward and started taping his wrists together. “You make me sick, Skelton. Killing horses. I can understand him.” Dan nodded toward Belker. “What the hell’s the matter with you?” Skelton didn’t say anything, just kept taping.
“You know, I’m getting a little tired of you,” Belker said. “But it doesn’t matter. They’re going to find you with a dead horse, and this investigation will all be tied up.” He laughed. “So to speak.”
“Whaddya mean, dead horse?” said Skelton. Belker just looked at him. “That’s not the plan. The plan is for me to get my mare back.” He threw the roll of tape onto the table and stepped in front of Dan.
“Plans change,” said Belker. “If you hadn’t been so stupid and let this guy follow you, we might have other options.”
“You’re not killing that horse!” Skelton screamed. His upper body lurched as though he was going to confront Belker, then thought better of it.
“I’m getting a little tired of your weak ass, Hank.”
“That isn’t the plan,” said Skelton, waving his arms but not moving toward Belker. “I need that horse. After this break, she can run out a bunch of money for me. I’m supposed to get her back.”
“Looks like you’ve been taken, Hank,” Dan said. He wanted to keep the argument going. It seemed like the only chance he had. “But I’m sure Belker will pay you for the value of the horse. What is she, a quarter claimer?”
“Guy’s right,” said Skelton. “Mare’s worth twenty-five thousand. You can’t just kill her.”
“Looks like he owes you twenty-five large, Hank,” said Dan.
“Tape his mouth shut. I’ve had it with him,” said Belker, moving toward the kitchen.
“No,” said Hank, stepping toward him. “Not ’til we figure this out.”
Belker calmly aimed the gun at Hank’s chest. “Nothing to figure out. Now, do as I say.”
Hank recoiled and took a step back. “No, this is over. We didn’t need to hurt that many horses, and we sure as hell don’t need to kill my mare.”
Belker stared at Skelton, keeping the gun pointed squarely at the man’s chest. The stare turned into a cruel smile. He re-gripped the pistol, showing his command over the situation.
“Well, Hank, you leave me no choice. Looks like Dan’s accomplice will be found with him. Makes it even tidier.”
Hank lunged toward Belker just as the shot went off. The sound was deafening, followed by a sickening thud as Hank’s body hit the floor. He writhed on the floor making a raspy sound as he gasped for air.
“Holy shit!” Dan yelled. “Are you insane?”
Belker stepped around the boots that skittered and shook on the floor, leaned down, put the gun to the base of Skelton’s head, and fired again. The boots stopped moving, and the raspy sound ceased.
“Stupid fuck,” said Belker.
“What the hell are you doing?” The gunshots pounded and reverberated in his head like he was inside a church bell tower. He wasn’t sure the words leaving his mouth made any sound at all. “Extortion wasn’t enough for you? Now you’re gonna go down for murder.”
“I’m not going down for murder, Slick.” He cocked his head sideways slightly. “You are.”
“I’m going to enjoy watching them put the needle in you over in Jarratt, you bastard.”
“I thought I told you to shut up a long time ago.” He stepped away from Hank’s body and walked behind Dan’s chair. Dan cocked his head around to look at him as the gun swung down toward Dan’s head. He snapped his head back around and tried to duck, then a stab of pain—and all became darkness.
Chapter 46
belker tied Dan’s arms to the chair. He rushed over to where Skelton lay and quickly rolled him up in the throw rug on which the body landed. He hoisted the rolled carpet onto his shoulder and shrugged it through the front door. He carried it across the roadway to the barn. While balancing the weight on his shoulders, Belker slid the barn door open, took two steps inside, and tossed the body down. He grabbed his knee and rubbed it, knowing his heavy lifting was nearly half done. Panting deeply, he ran back across the road to the cabin.
He placed two fingers on Morgan’s neck to check for a pulse. Finding one, he unwound the arms from the chair and hoisted Dan over his shoulder as well. He grabbed the billfold off the counter and carried Dan to the barn. He stepped past the body and walked to the stall holding Exigent Lady. Belker quickly unlatched the stall door, and it slid sideways on its overhead rails. The door only opened enough to throw the body in. Morgan landed on his side and flopped facedown in the straw.
Exigent Lady’s eyes were wide, and she danced sideways, fearful of whatever had just landed in her stall. Belker tossed the billfold next to Morgan, closed the stall door, and stared at Morgan’s body.
Would a medical examiner know his hands were bound in duct tape? Not likely, after what Belker had planned. He drew his gun from the back of his pants, where he had tucked it after shooting Skelton. He threw it into the stall on the far side from where Morgan lay. It disappeared beneath the bedding of straw.
Next, he quickly unrolled Skelton from the carpet and tossed the material into an adjoining stall. Skelton lay facedown, likely the way he would have landed had he been shot in the back of the head while running away. Belker was breathing hard as he surveyed the scene.
What would the sheriff conclude? Would they be able to tell Skelton had been shot in the chest first, then in the back of the head? Stupid shits in these po-dunk towns—Belker could convince them of anything. He just needed to make sure the investigation stayed local. But even if they brought in forensic experts, the scene would work, and the local guys would screw up the scene anyway. The story would be good enough for rural Virginia.
Belker spun around and ran to the barn door. He pulled the door closed. The fifteen-foot-high doors slid haltingly on the overhead rails. Once secured, he fastened the latch, pulled a padlock off the hook nearby, and fastened it secure. Then he ran to the other side of the barn and confirmed that the padlock was in place on that side.
He wiped sweat off his face and raced to the cabin. He made a quick scan of the interior. Belker grabbed the two bulky packages with the cash and ran outside, tossing them into the passenger side of his Jeep. Back inside, he decided to leave the half-empty beer on the counter. He studied the spot where Skelton hit the floor.
A large knick appeared in the floor where the bullet through Skelton’s head was lodged in the floor. Belker grabbed a knife, got down on one knee, and dug the slug of lead out of the wooden floor. Not much blood or brain matter had gotten through the carpet onto the wood floor. He scuffed the area with his boot.
After scoping the cabin one more time, he ran to the front door and secured it open with a brick, then shot across the cabin and exited through the back door, securing it open as well. It might be helpful for the story and at the same time would allow the gunshot residue to air out.
Belker was tired and dripping in sweat, but he had to keep moving. On the off chance that Morgan was telling the truth, he had to get out of there fast. He ran to the gas generator on the side of the cabin. About three feet from the generator was a beaten and rusted garbage can. Belker lifted the lid, reached inside, and pulled out a five-gallon can of gasoline.
With one hand weighed down by the gas can, Belker rushed as quickly as he could to the barn. He began sloshing the accelerant onto the walls of the barn and around the base. He did his little dance with the gas can all the way around the barn and poured the remaining gallon or so on the wall just outside Exigent Lady’s stall. Belker ran to the end of the barn and threw the gas can as far as he could into t
he trees and brush.
He took some deep breaths and walked back to the spot outside Exigent Lady’s stall. He reached in his pocket and drew out a Bic lighter. He knelt and touched the flame near the base of the barn. The flame popped and rapidly ignited the gasoline. Fire shot out in both directions around the barn. The aged, dried wood from the barn instantly absorbed the energy of the fire, and flames licked up the side of the barn. Belker ran to his Wrangler, fired it up, drove around the cabin, spitting gravel as he raced away from the burning barn.
Chapter 47
shuffling, crackling sounds.
A horse whinnied. The whinny turned to fright. More shuffling. A hoof cracked against wood. The taste of straw in his mouth.
Dan blinked and spit out a handful of straw sheaths. The pounding in his head wouldn’t stop. It hurt to open his eyes. A horse shrieked, nearby. A hoof cracked against solid wood again. Can’t move my arms. Head was pounding. Now it’s coming back.
He rolled onto his side and saw a terrified horse on its hind legs, the front legs clawing in the air. The horse shrieked, eyes wild. The legs were going to come down right on him. Dan slid backward as the hooves hit the ground, inches from his face. Then he smelled the smoke and saw the flames rising up.
He had to get to his feet before the horse stomped him into the ground. He slid up on his side and leaned against the corner of the stall for balance, then jumped to his feet.
The horse, which had to be Exigent Lady, shrieked and lunged toward him. She slammed Dan into the siding, knocking the wind out of him. She reared up, and Dan dodged to the left, toward the front of the stall.
He could see flames all around the barn, and, given the way the fire was moving up the far wall, the place would be tinder in a few minutes. Dan turned his back to the stall door and faced Exigent Lady. He grabbed the iron railing above the wooden door and tugged to pull the door open. It wouldn’t move.
The horse reared again and lashed out at him with her hooves. Dan ducked and moved left just as one hoof slammed the wooden door where he’d been standing. The noise from the fire was deafening enough to drown out the frightened noises made by the mare.
Dan slid back over to the stall door and leaned forward to get his bound hands high enough to make it through the railing. If he could get his hands out there, he could find the latch and open the stall door. After that, he had no idea. His bound hands wouldn’t fit through the opening.
The flames had ignited the straw bedding in the stall. He moved to the back of the stall and began stomping on the flames. At best, it would only buy a few seconds. He dodged the mare, got a running start, and slammed his shoulder into the barn siding. It didn’t give.
The mare spun around, and, as Dan was gathering himself to ram the wall again, her hind legs shot out at him. It hit him thigh high and buckled him back into the corner of the stall. Dan’s head slammed against the wall. He shook his head to gather his senses. He had to move. She was going to kick again, and now she had a target. Smoke was filling the barn. Dan could barely see the horse in the same stall with him.
He saw the hind legs wind up again and tried to move, but he was jammed in the corner of the stall. His leg was killing him. It might be broken. The horse cried out and snorted. Dan ducked down as low as he could go. The hooves hit the wall just above his head. He started to think which way he wanted to die, being kicked to death by a horse or burned alive. They seemed equally inevitable at the time.
The mare backed closer. She wouldn’t miss this time. All her primal fear was focused on one thing, killing this person in the stall. All had been fine in the horse’s world until Dan entered. The fear, flames, and smoke were all bound together in one purpose—attack this thing in the stall with you. The horse spun around, going in and out of Dan’s vision through the smoke. Their eyes locked briefly; then, she spotted where Dan was and turned her hind legs toward him.
He slid as far as he could toward the ground. Although his legs and body were completely exposed, he was doing all he could to prevent a blow to the head. The mare panted and cried out in continuous fright. The left hind leg went up ready to bash his brains out. Dan closed his eyes and braced for the blow.
Chapter 48
dan waited for the kick. It never came. He blinked quickly. Smoke and dust quickly filled his eyes. He squeezed them shut and tried to get as low as possible. Nothing happened.
Dan opened his eyes, and the mare was standing perfectly still. He could only see the back half of her, but she was just standing there. Dan scrambled to his feet. The pain in his leg was excruciating, but he was able to stand by putting most of his weight on his good leg. The stall door was open, and someone was standing next to the horse. Dan stepped closer.
“AJ, let’s get out of here.” The flames had reached the ceiling, and the whole barn was going to collapse in a matter of moments. Fire was rolling up the sides of the barn, and pockets of straw scattered around the barn were adding to the inferno. AJ didn’t move. He just held the horse. His body was shaking, and he was crying. Tears ran down his face. “AJ, come on. We gotta get out of here.”
He turned and looked at Dan. He had a blank stare in his eyes, and he trembled and cried. It was like he had no recognition of him or the surroundings. He was somehow locked into the emotions of the animal. Dan bounded forward and bounced into him. “AJ, let’s go.” The jostling caused AJ to lose balance, and he fell. The mare’s fright came back, and AJ stared at him. “Let’s go. We gotta get out of here.”
AJ jumped up, grabbed the mare’s bridle, and began to pull her out of the stall.
“Hey. Untie me.” AJ quickly unwound the duct tape while keeping one hand on the bridle. When freed, Dan rubbed his hands together to bring back the circulation.
AJ trotted the mare out of the stall and to the barn door on the left side. He tugged on it. It wouldn’t open. “AJ, how’d you get in?”
“Came in through that window.” He pointed to a window covered with a piece of plywood that had been pushed open. The flames had almost completely covered it.
“What about the other side?” Dan said, pointing toward the opposite door.
“Locked.”
Dan saw a body lying on the ground alongside one of the stall doors. He was still a little dazed, but the shooting in the house came back to him. The smoke was heavy, but it was Skelton. Had to be.
Parts of the roof were beginning to fall in flame balls from the pitched ceiling. A beam came down in a fiery blast like a blazing tree falling. The barn creaked and listed to the side. The whole thing was going to cave in. Dan covered his head and limped over to where AJ was standing.
“Get on,” AJ said, motioning to the mare.
“What?” Dan looked across the barn. Smoke filled the inside, and flames were running up the inside of the barn.
AJ had his hands back on the mare, calming her. “Get on.”
Dan went around the side of the mare and put his leg up. AJ grabbed his ankle and hoisted him on the mare’s back. The pain in his leg caused him to cry out, but that was the least of his worries now. AJ reached up with his right arm, and Dan pulled him up in front of him on the mare. Dan didn’t know what he had in mind, but the barn was beginning to collapse.
AJ leaned down, gripping the mare’s bridle on either side of her head. He whispered something to her, then shouted. The horse took off and was at full speed in two strides. Dan nearly flew off the back but had AJ around the waist. What the hell was he doing?
They flew across the barn. AJ half turned and said, “Get low.” Dan closed his eyes. They were going to run right into the barn door on the other side. He leaned forward over AJ, getting as low as he could, and braced himself.
The trio hit the barn door like a head-on car collision. They veered to the right slightly. Wood splintered. The mare cried out. Despite the explosive force, they nearly came to a stop, then the remaining momentum carried them through the wall of wood and flames. They spilled out on the other side.
A sp
lintered part of the barn door swept Dan from the horse’s back. He landed and rolled just outside the barn door. AJ stayed on, but the horse stumbled forward and fell.
A loud creaking sound rose from behind Dan. He rolled away from the barn just as the roof collapsed, and two sides of the structure crumpled. The wash from the falling building sent flames skyward and blew ash, straw, and splintered wood outward, covering Dan.
He scrambled to get the burning embers away from him. A mushroom cloud of smoke erupted into the night sky. The remaining sides of the barn slumped inward as if giving up—too tired to actually fall. The flames kept eating the building.
Dan rolled over and got up, limping toward the mare. They had fallen several yards beyond where Dan went down. AJ was standing and had his hands on the horse. She was trying to get up. The mare lunged, couldn’t get her feet under her, and fell again. AJ moved to her side. She lunged again and this time got her bearings. Who could blame her? Hitting that wall would knock anyone silly.
Blood was running down the side of AJ’s face from a laceration over his eye. His head had to have slammed into the barn siding when they burst through. The blood oozed and mixed with soot that covered his face, making a twisted watercolor of black and red. He was oblivious to it. He shivered and mumbled, keeping his hands on the mare.
“AJ, we better get out of here.” He had his head against the mare’s chest and was breathing heavily. Dan reached out and touched him. “AJ?” He flinched from his touch, then pulled his head away from the horse and looked at Dan. “She’s okay.” Tears mixed with the blood and soot covering his face. He patted the mare. “This one’s got the heart of a champion.”
“I know, okay?” Dan said, looking around. He wasn’t sure if Belker was nearby, perhaps drawing a bead on them as they spoke. “Let’s get out of here.”
Chapter 49
dan forcefully pulled open the door to the racing office. Allan Biggs and Detective Darrell Manning followed, with two deputy officers in tow. He limped down the hallway. A picturesque multi-colored bruise adorned his upper thigh. He was lucky the mare hadn’t broken anything. The plump gray-haired secretary outside the office looked up. “He in?” Dan said.
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