Whispering Pines Mysteries Box Set 3

by Shawn McGuire

  “He tried to pass.” Her voice shook slightly now. “Well, he did pass, but he clipped the woman’s bumper with the back end of his car. We swerved sideways, and I was sure we’d spin, but he corrected. I looked behind us once we’d straightened out and saw the woman’s car landing in the ditch. I told him we had to go back and see if she was okay, but he ignored me.”

  “Why didn’t you say something when you got here?”

  “Your dad said you were out on a rescue mission. I presumed that’s where you were. Helping that woman.”

  “We were rescuing a villager locked in a fishing shanty.”

  “I know that now. When you said there was a patient in that room upstairs, I guessed it was the woman from the crash. Since they were safe, I figured the accident hadn’t been that bad.”

  She wouldn’t look at me when she spoke. Still hiding something.

  “Was there any other reason you didn’t say anything?”

  It took a couple of minutes, but she finally admitted, “He hasn’t paid me yet. The agreement was that if I played along all weekend, he’d give me the ten thousand when we got back. I told him I was good friends with the security guys at the club. Big guys.” She held her hands eight inches past her slender shoulders. “I assured him if he didn’t follow through with the payment, they’d make him regret that decision.” She sighed. “Speaking of regrets, I’ve never felt so stupid in my entire life.”

  “Back to the accident. How many people did you see in that car?”

  “I wasn’t paying attention to them so couldn’t say. I was too busy trying to get Jonah to slow down.” She waited for me to respond. “There was only the driver in the car. Right?”

  I studied her face and found genuine concern there. She didn’t know.

  “The woman downstairs was the passenger. The driver didn’t make it.”

  Brandi gasped, both hands went to her mouth and then out to the sides in a surrender gesture. “I swear, I didn’t know there were two of them.” Her eyes went wide. “If I would’ve said something right away—”

  “No. Nothing could have been done. Her death was instantaneous.”

  Hopefully Dr. Bundy would be able to confirm that. In the meantime, it was unthinkable for it to have been anything but instant. Even for an abuser.

  I let Brandi pull herself together for a few minutes.

  “Can I go back to my room now?”

  “You can. I need to talk to Jonah anyway.”

  She pulled the blanket off her legs and scooted to the edge of the sofa but didn’t stand. “Is there somewhere else he can sleep tonight? I really don’t want him in the same room with me anymore.”

  I didn’t want him in my house anymore. Or even my village. “All the rooms are full. He could sleep on one of the couches in the great room.”

  “Works for me.” She shook her head. “How could I have been so stupid as to leave with him?”

  “It wasn’t the smartest decision. You know what, though? You did everything you could have to ensure your safety. People do this kind of thing every day. They meet at bars or social events. They chat and learn maybe three things about each other and then spend the night together. People go on first dates or blind dates. They end up alone with people they don’t know, and they arrive safely at home at the end of the day or the next morning. I’m not saying you made a smart choice, and I suspect you won’t do something like this again, but you’ve come out more or less okay.”

  Her head tilted side to side as though weighing options. “More or less. I may never date again. Or if I do, I’ll only go on group dates. Safety in numbers and all that.” She stood and walked to the stairs. “Maybe it’s time to look into dispatch work now. I’ve saved enough money to keep Grandmama in that home for another six years. If she lives that long, she’s set. Time to take care of myself.”

  “That’s a good plan, Brandi. Sometimes we need to fall in order to find a firm foundation.”

  She gave me a sad smile and left.

  I grabbed a fresh package of cookies from the cupboard and munched a few while I figured out how I wanted to handle this. I had an injured woman under medical care in my bed-and-breakfast, a dead woman in my garage, and the responsible party wandering the halls. If he caused any problems, I had Tripp, Dad, and River to back me up.

  Still, the smart thing would be to call the county sheriff’s office, explain everything to them, then play dumb and keep quiet with Jonah until they got here and took him into custody. Getting Jonah to admit to what happened with Millie would really only serve to satisfy my curiosity. I’d find out the truth eventually. For the safety of my houseguests, it was best to play it safe. I liked that plan. That’s what I’d do.

  What about closing the loop with him? Jayne in my head asked. And why are you easing off? He caused an accident that killed one person, injured another, and he’s been lying to your face from the moment he walked into this house. Put him under arrest and lock him in a room.

  “Yes, ma’am,” I mumbled with lukewarm enthusiasm. All I wanted was to be done with him.

  I was halfway to the stairs when Meeka started barking her red alert warning. Then I heard the gun go off.

  Chapter 26

  I fell more than ran down the attic stairs. Meeka was still barking—Red alert! Red alert!—but was now standing outside the Jack room.

  As I reached behind my back to get my Glock from the holster, the words the academy instructors drilled into our heads over and over echoed in my head. “The only time you draw your weapon is when you believe there is a lethal threat. You believe the person or persons before you intend to kill you or someone else. Aim for center mass. Shoot multiple times to ensure success and keep your weapon aimed at the target until the situation is under control.”

  Under control meant the suspect was dead, their weapon was out of reach and they had no others at their disposal, or another officer or person had them detained.

  It took me a long time to accept this method, especially the shooting multiple times part. I had such a hard time, in fact, it was almost a deal-breaker for me. The shoot-don’t-shoot simulations had been among the most physically, mentally, and emotionally draining parts of my training. Sometimes the choice was impossible, but not acting put not only other people’s lives on the line but my own as well.

  By the time I got to Meeka’s side, Tripp, River, and everyone else had shown up too. I scanned the group. No, not everyone else. Four people were missing. Jola, Jonah, Leslie, and . . . Briar.

  “Stop!” I held a hand out to them. “Back away, all of you. Downstairs would be best but around the corner at minimum.”

  I knew they wouldn’t go downstairs. They were a stubborn lot that way.

  River stood in front of the group like a human shield. Tripp remained at my side, shaking his head. “I’m not leaving you.”

  “Then go stand by the Jill door.” He didn’t move. “Tripp, please. I know you want to help, but if I’m worrying about your safety, I’ll be distracted. Distractions and guns don’t mix.”

  “Fine.” He backed away, eyes never leaving mine. The entire time, Meeka was still barking, adding to the chaos.

  “Meeka, silence!” She stopped barking. “Go to Tripp.”

  She gave me the same look he just had. Not leaving you. I repeated the command, which she ignored, so Tripp stepped forward and scooped her up.

  “Watch her teeth,” I warned. “Her first instinct is to protect me.”

  All of that transpired over the course of seconds even though it felt like many, many minutes. With my Glock in hand, I stood at the Jack door. My hands were shaking, my heart racing. My breath felt trapped in my upper chest, my legs were like thousand-pound anchors holding me in place. What was I going to see on the other side of that door? Where were my four missing people? I feared for Briar most. There was no reason she would be in that room. So where was she?

  Taking an additional second or two, I closed my eyes and forced deep breaths.

 
Stay alert when you enter, Jayne in my head ordered in my instructor’s voice. Be aware of tunnel vision. You don’t know where the threat will come from, so look around. Remember, there are possibly four people in there.

  As she issued a couple additional reminders—Use verbal judo first. Use the gun only if necessary.—a second gunshot sounded from inside the Jack room.

  “This is Sheriff O’Shea,” I hollered in a voice I hadn’t used since the day Frisky died. “I’m coming in.”

  I turned the knob and stood to the side as I pushed the door open. This would give me a second or two advantage as the shooter tried to figure out where I was.

  Praying whoever had the gun wouldn’t shoot me in the head, I blew out a breath and looked slowly around the corner. I saw him right away. Jonah stood at the foot of the bed, not moving, frozen in place. My gaze darted to the bed next. It was empty. Where was Leslie? And where was the gun?

  Assume if there’s one gun, there are two. Jayne in my head reminded me, still in instructor mode. Assume if there’s one bad guy, there are two.

  In other words, stay alert, be aware, don’t let your guard down until you’re positive the situation is secure.

  After a glance into the Jill room and seeing no one there, I made myself a smaller target by putting my back to the wall. I sidestepped into the hallway between the two rooms, alternating between scanning the Jack room for movement and taking quick looks behind me. The door to the toilet/shower room was partially open. As I stood there, it opened further. I aimed my weapon, and Jola’s hands immediately went into the air, her eyes wide and terrified. I lowered the Glock and motioned with my free hand for her to stay where she was. Then I patted downward, indicating she should lay flat and keep low. She did as I instructed, and I returned my focus to the Jack room.

  “Jonah?” I took two steps toward him and stood in a wide stance. My finger rested along the Glock’s barrel, ready to drop to the trigger in an instant. Speaking in a gentle yet firm voice, I asked, “What’s going on? Are you hurt?”

  Where was that gun? Did he have it? I couldn’t see his hands. Where was Leslie? Did she have the gun? No, that wasn’t logical. She hadn’t had a weapon on her and there’s no way she could have wrestled it away from him. Jonah had it. He must have known she’d been in the car all along. That’s why I found him in the hallway trying to get a look at whoever was in the room.

  “Jonah, show me your hands.”

  My eyes darted to the scene before me. The fabric on the upper right corner of the mattress was shredded and stuffing poked out. But I’d heard two shots. Where had the second one gone? I scanned a little further and stopped on a hole in the wall between the bed and the nightstand. My whole body went cold. Drywall didn’t stop bullets. Briar’s room was on the other side of this one.

  Elevating my voice, I repeated the command. “Let me see your hands. Lift them slowly to the side. Do it now.”

  It felt like an hour had passed before he raised his arms like a vulture spreading its wings, a pistol gripped in his left hand.

  “Put the gun down!” I ordered, my voice getting louder, more authoritative. “Do it now!”

  With his arms still out to the side, his grip on the pistol loosened, but he didn’t relinquish the weapon. He turned toward me.

  Every curse word I knew ran through my head as I realized I might have to shoot him. One twitch of his hand on that gun and I’d have to take action. To my knowledge, I was the only one armed in this house. If I went down, they might all go down. I couldn’t let that happen.

  In my angriest cop voice, I yelled, “Put the gun down and get on the floor!”

  He flinched but didn’t move otherwise.

  Jayne in my head used the same commanding voice. He’s not your ex. He’s the bad guy. You’re here to protect the people in your home, not feel sorry for him.

  Regular Jayne was still in there, too, but she sounded weak. For the love of all that’s holy, Jonah, don’t make me shoot you.

  “You’re not going to ask why I shot her?”

  Was he talking about Leslie or Millie? Where the hell was Leslie?

  He laughed. A hollow sound. “That’s because you know. Don’t you? I saw you go outside earlier. I watched you from the window in your office. You saw the damage to the back of my car so know I ran her off the road.”

  Her. Not them. Did he know about Esther?

  With eyes locked on him, I called out. “Leslie? Where are you?”

  A muffled, “Here,” came from beneath the bed.

  “Are you hurt?”

  “He didn’t shoot me.”

  My finger was on the trigger now but not applying force. Leslie was under the bed. Not in the direct line of fire, but I’d prefer to not shoot with her on that side of my weapon.

  “This is the last time I’ll say it, Jonah.” My voice, or maybe my resolve, was weakening. This was one of those impossible times. Could I really do it? Did I have any other choice? I cleared my throat, steeling myself, and demanded, “Put your weapon down or I will shoot you.”

  In a flash, Leslie popped up behind him with her casted arm raised high overhead. She brought it down on his gun arm with a roar I’d heard before. It was a sound built of rage, terror, and simple unwillingness to take another moment of abuse. This toxic stew had been coming to a boil inside her for years, and now she was releasing every bit of it onto Jonah.

  His gun flew out of his hand and skittered into the corner behind her. I thought for sure she’d go for it, but instead, she leaped onto his back and appeared ready to smash that cast against his head next.

  I lunged for them both, pressing my knee and all my weight into the center of Jonah’s back. With my left hand, Glock still in my right, I grabbed hold of Leslie’s good arm.

  “Tripp!”

  He was in the room in the blink of an eye.

  “Take her.”

  Hooking his arm around her waist, he yanked her away. I looked behind me, verified that Jonah’s gun was out of reach, and then removed zip strips from my cargo pocket and secured his wrists.

  “River!” I screamed next.

  He appeared in the doorway a second later with the others behind him. I motioned him over to me and whispered, “Go to Briar’s room. Make sure she’s okay. Keep Morgan out until you know.” At his confused expression, I explained, “There’s a bullet hole in the wall over the bed.”

  He looked and instantly paled when he saw it.

  Once again, seconds seemed like hours until River returned to my side. “Lady Briar is quite frightened but unharmed. Morgan is comforting her. The television set in The Treehouse will need to be replaced.” He glanced down at Jonah, who was still pinned beneath my knee and in danger of having his nose ripped off by Meeka if I gave the command. “May I assist?”

  “If you would, please, get him to his feet and keep a grip on him.” While he did that, I walked past Tripp and Leslie, motioned for them to stay where they were, and continued out into the hallway. There, I leaned against the wall and slumped to the floor.

  My dad was at my side in a heartbeat. “Are you all right?”

  I couldn’t form words but nodded my head.

  His jaw set as he looked at me. “I don’t just mean physically.”

  I let him hold me, and everyone else turned away when I burst into tears.

  Chapter 27

  Deputy Atkins gave me a minute to regain control of myself. I didn’t cry in front of him but my voice broke. The emotions behind standing there with my weapon pointed at Jonah flooded back as I spoke, and my body shook as though the encounter had just happened. Without question, those minutes had been the hardest of my life.

  “Are you all right?” he asked, his voice gentle. “If you want to take a break—”

  “No,” I insisted. “There’s not much left to tell. I’d like to finish this.”

  “All right. Go ahead whenever you’re ready.”

  ~~~

  The worst of the incident was over. Jonah was
securely detained and either Tripp, River, or my dad was at his side constantly. I had questions for him, lots of questions, but I had other things to deal with before that.

  First on my list was ensuring that Briar was okay.

  “I gave her some extra potent relaxation tea,” Morgan explained. “One part each rose, lavender, and chamomile. She should be sleeping soundly in a few minutes.”

  As she spoke, her hands played with the fringe on her shawl. Then, realizing what she was doing, she tugged the thick but soft wool wrap snuggly around her shoulders and rested her arms on her belly. It was the first time I’d ever seen her even slightly less than calm and in control.

  “I think you could use a cup too.” I patted her baby belly. “Why don’t you take the little one to bed.”

  “I’ll do that.” She grimaced and arched her back. “It’s been a long day.”

  Before retreating to the Grand Suite with River, she wrapped me in a hug. When I tried to pull away, she held on tighter. The embrace was as much for herself as it was for me. Probably more.

  “We’re okay now,” I assured. “It’s over.”

  She hummed her agreement and released me after a few more seconds. “Mama and I have something we want to do for you and Tripp before we leave.”

  “You don’t have to—”

  “We want to. Trust me. You’ll appreciate it.” Centered again, she placed a hand on my arm. “I’d tell you to get some sleep as well, but I don’t think that will happen until your house is empty again.”

  I sighed. “As much as I love having a houseful, I’m ready for quiet.”

  Next, I went back to the Jack room and stood by while Jola reevaluated Leslie’s wrist.

  “Not the smartest move,” Jola scolded. “I’m sure you injured it further. You’ll need another x-ray to know for sure. And a new cast. You cracked this one.”

  Leslie chewed on her lip guiltily while Jola poked and prodded her. “I initially planned to thank him. But smacking him was kind of therapeutic. I don’t even care what I did to my wrist.”