by L C Hayden
Bobbi straightened up. “Let’s not claim victory so early. Remember our goal: find The Ledger, no matter the cost. You two stay here and watch Daniel. He’s gagged and tied, so he should pose no problems. The threat will come from Bronson and maybe even Sandy, if she finds her boyfriend tied up. If you see either Bronson or Sandy or both, steer them away from Daniel. Make up some excuse for being here. Do whatever you need to do to keep them away from here. Is that understood?”
Both Pablo and Leonardo nodded.
“What about you?” Leonardo asked. “Where are you going?”
Bobbi pointed with her head toward the Hermit’s house. “While you were gone, I was thinking. What about if maybe the Hermit is willing to talk to me? Why must it be Sandy? I came up with a brilliant plan to convince him to reveal the great secret to me.”
“Good luck with that,” Leonardo said.
“It will work.” She smiled, a curvature of the lips that never reached her eyes. She turned and started her journey toward the Hermit’s house.
Chapter 25
For a fracture of a second, Bobbi stood still, staring at the Hermit’s house. She allowed herself to dream of living in this once luxurious mansion. Everyone in the thriving town below her would bow to her and idolize her.
She shrugged off the image. She had work to do. She—
The barrel of a gun in the middle of her back froze her. She slowly raised her arms. “Joe?”
A moment of silence followed by a rough male voice, “Who wants to know?”
“It’s me. Bobbi. Bobbi Lazzarone, your baby sister.” She lowered her arms and slowly turned around.
“I didn’t say you could move.”
Bobbi stopped, but she could see him now. Even though he had that rifle pointed at her, he didn’t seem threatening. Maybe it was his chin-length white beard or his hollow cheeks or even the fact that in spite of his six-foot frame, he couldn’t weigh more than one hundred and fifty pounds. He had aged and not well, and why should he? He had chosen to turn his back on the Lazzarones and live a hermit’s life. He deserved nothing better.
She blinked her eyes several times as though fighting back tears. “I would recognize you anywhere. I’ve missed you so much.”
Joe lowered the rifle an inch and took a step backward. “Why are you here?”
“You’re my brother. My Big Joe. My protector. I miss you. Do I really need a reason for wanting to see you?” She forced her lip to quiver as though she was making an effort to control her emotions.
“Why are you here?” His tone remained harsh.
“Your birthday is coming up.”
“More than a month away.”
“I know.” She raised her sight to meet his. She flashed him the smile she used on him when they were growing up, and she wanted him to do something. “I had to see you. We have such good memories. Can you blame me for being here?”
The Hermit shrugged. “Why now?”
She looked away, and this time her eyes did water. “I’m…” Her voice broke, and she cleared her throat. “I’m dying.”
If possible, Joe’s features sank in even further. “W—what?”
“You heard me right. I’m…dying. Cancer. That’s why I wanted to see you. I was hoping you would hold me and comfort me like you did when I was little. I…need…you.”
Joe dropped the rifle. It landed on the ground with a soft thud.
It took every ounce of self-control for Bobbi not to pick it up and use it to beat the truth out of her brother. She pointed with her head toward the direction of the house. “Can we go in? I’d love to see the place once more.”
He bent down, picked up the rifle, and wrapped his arm around Bobbi.
Bobbi shuddered to be so near someone who looked so filthy.
Joe tightened his grasp on his sister even more. “I’ll help you inside. Can you walk okay?”
She nodded and dragged her feet. She stopped when she saw a dog sitting by the front door staring at her.
“That’s Honey. She won’t hurt you.” Joe waved at his dog.
A low growl emanated out of Honey’s throat.
Joe’s eyebrows moved up infinitesimally. “Girl, what’s wrong?” He turned to Bobbi. “She’s never done that.”
“Maybe it’s because you have your arm around me. She thinks I’m going to hurt you or take you away from her.”
Joe shrugged. “Maybe. Let me go lock her up in the bedroom. Wait here.”
When he returned, he found Bobbi sitting on the ground. He ran to her. “Are you all right?”
She half nodded, as though embarrassed. “I just tire so easily, but I’m fine.” Joe helped her up. “Really.” She flashed him a smile that told him not all was well.
He led her to the living room where both sat. He propped his rifle next to him. Joe lowered his head and rubbed his eyes.
Good. Those are tears. That will loosen his tongue. She wrapped her hand around his. “It’s okay. I’ve come to terms with the idea.”
“How long?”
Bobbi shrugged. “Six, maybe seven months. Right now, I’m fine but the cursed cancer is already starting to take a toll on me. I don’t have as much energy as before, and I’m hardly ever hungry.”
Joe ran shaking fingers through his thick matted hair. “Can’t the doctors do anything?”
“They said to try to live as happy as possible. Make each day count. That’s why I’m here. To see you.” She paused for effect. “For the last time.”
Joe bolted to his feet and walked over to the window. He stretched his arms out and rested his head on his arms. From where Bobbi sat, she saw his body shake with a giant sob. She smiled. This was going better than she thought it would.
“Is there anything I can do for you?” Joe’s voice sounded so weak, that Bobbi could barely hear him.
Bobbi projected her voice to make sure he heard every single word. “I didn’t even tell Papa Lazzarone that I was coming here. I’ve always—always—cleared everything with him first.” She took a deep breath. “But not this time. I’m doing this for me. All I want is for you to talk to me.”
The Hermit went back to the couch and sat next to his sister. “What do you want to talk about?”
“It doesn’t matter. Anything. Tell me about your life here.”
“Not much to tell. It gets lonely, but I’ve got Honey. It’s a better life than being under Papa Lazzarone’s thumb. I’m sorry I left the burden to be yours. When I left, I wasn’t thinking about anyone but me.” He lowered his head as his chest filled with a huge sigh.
Bobbi wrapped her hand around her brother’s and squeezed. “Listen to me. It’s okay. I’ve adjusted. I don’t even mind listening to Papa Lazzarone ranting all of the time. I only wish I knew what is truth and what’s a lie.” Bobbi’s face brightened. “I know. Tell me about the family. If I have all the facts, maybe, before I...I die, I can tell the old man off. Won’t that be a hoot?”
Joe smiled. “Yeah, it would, but I’m not sure I can tell you anything you already don’t know.”
She smiled and looked lovingly at her brother. “Tell me anyway.”
Joe took in a deep breath. “This town once thrived with power and energy. Papa Isaac ruled with an iron fist. We, the Lazzarones and the Sechrests, were the envy of everyone. We were rich—filthy, crazy rich, but that all ended when Papa Isaac decided to walk a straight line.”
“I remember hearing that.” Bobbi sat up straighter. “Supposedly, he wrote all of the bad deeds everyone in the family had ever done.”
Joe nodded. “That’s right. He recorded them on The Ledger.”
Bobbi cocked her head. “Oh, really? That’s what it’s called?”
Once again, Joe nodded.
“But it doesn’t really exist, does it?” Bobbi leaned closer to her brother.
Joe shrugged and looked away.
Bobbi coughed, several times. Nice and loud. She held her chest when she did and grimaced.
Joe wet his lips. “You okay?
” When she didn’t immediately answer, he repeated, “Are you okay?”
She dismissed his concern with the wave of her hand. “Help me to focus on something other than the pain. Tell me about this—what did you call it? Ledger? Do you think it really exists?”
Joe focused his sight on the ceiling, then down to the floor as though the answer lay somewhere between the two. He stroked his beard.
“You can tell me.” Bobbi used the gentlest tone she had. “What harm is there in that? It’s just family secrets, and that’s all I want to know. Before I… I die… I want to know about our family. Please don’t deny me this dying wish.”
Joe took a deep breath and closed his eyes. When he opened them, he looked deep into his sister’s eyes. “Yes, I believe it exists. I even have the general area where it’s supposedly hidden.”
Bobbi tried not to look too eager. She let a moment pass. “And that’s where?”
“I can tell you it’s in the heart of the land.”
Bobbi shook her head. “What does that mean?”
“Your guess is as good as mine. That’s all I know. I’ve spent many hours trying to figure that out, but I’ve always come up empty handed.” Joe looked down at the rifle, then out past the window. “Why all the interest in The Ledger all of a sudden?”
Bobbi coughed, only once this time. “I told you. I want to know about the family. Wish I had been interested before, you know, before, when I still had time.”
Joe’s eyes narrowed as he studied his sister. “I get that, but I wasn’t referring to you. I’m talking about those men that threatened me today. They demanded I tell them where The Ledger is. They almost killed me, and the ironic part is that I don’t really know where it is. All I know is what I told you. But I didn’t even tell them that much. I pretended I didn’t know what they were talking about.”
Bobbi slightly tilted her head as she carefully listened. She gasped. “Men? What men?” She’d forgotten all about her acting, and for once, felt serious concern.
Joe picked up his rifle and placed it on top of his lap. “Don’t worry. Like I said, I didn’t tell them anything. Only said it to that fellow—the one who rescued me.” He squinted. “What is his name? Bronson? Yeah, that’s his name.”
“Bronson was here?” Bobbi wiped her forehead with the palm of her hand.
Joe’s eyebrows shot up in the air. “You know Bronson?”
“Where is he now?”
“He said something about his niece being in trouble. He had to rescue her.”
“Sandy?”
Joe shot to his feet. “Sandy? Our Sandy? How’s he related to her?”
“He’s not. If she marries his nephew, then he’ll be part of the in-law family. Now, tell me exactly what happened here. Start at the beginning.”
He did.
When he finished, Bobbi said, “I’ve got to find Sandy—to protect her.”
Joe grabbed the rifle. “I’ll go with you.”
“No. You stay here. Sandy knew I was going to be here. She’s probably already on her way here. Someone’s got to be here when she arrives in case we miss each other. You wait here. Promise me you’ll wait here.”
Joe took a step back. “We can leave her a note. It’s better if both of us search for her.”
Bobbi pointed to the rifle. “You’ve got that rifle to protect both of you. Please wait here for her. It would make me feel so much better. Please.”
Joe frowned. “I’ll give you fifteen minutes. If she or you are not here by then, then I’m going after you both.”
“Sounds fair.” Bobbi turned around and dashed out the door, forgetting that she was supposed to play the sick role.
Chapter 26
Shiiit and double shiiit.
That creep—Cricket—had vanished. Bronson better get back to Sandy and protect her.
Bronson’s muscles protested as he dashed up the hill, toward Sandy. His mind focused on her safety. He wanted to call out her name but was afraid someone would hear him. He pushed forward, his muscles on fire, but he ignored them.
Sandy, be safe.
He was moving through a wall of heavy brush, and just beyond that, he’d find Sandy. She’d be safe and would smile when she saw him.
The bushes to his right swayed as though a gust of wind had swept by.
Sandy? Bronson hesitated before continuing.
A man, holding a Glock pointed at Bronson, jumped out of the bushes. “Freeze, asshole.”
Bronson moved forward.
The man took a step back, still holding the gun on Bronson.
Bronson extended his right leg, swung it forward, connecting with the assailant’s hand. The gun went flying through the air.
Without wasting a second, the khaki-clad man unsheathed a fighting knife he carried strapped to his chest under his shirt.
Bronson ignored the inner voice that urged him to get away from the blade. Instead, he stepped closer, limiting the attacker’s ability to swing the knife.
Using a single swift movement, the man flipped the blade and moved it toward Bronson’s chest.
Bronson attempted to grab his wrist, but the attacker shifted his weight, gathering himself for one more effort—that last thrust, the one that would surely kill Bronson. There wasn’t much Bronson could do. They stood much too close to each other, and the man seemed very capable of handling a knife.
Bronson quickly inventoried his mind, recalling the names of each of the four khaki guys. Bronson flashed him a chilling smile aimed at disarming him. “You know you’re goin’ to lose this one. I was raised with knives. Can you say the same, Jay?”
Jay’s eyes widened at the mention of his name.
Bronson took full advantage of Jay’s momentary distraction and turned sideways, making himself as small a target as possible. At the same time he spun around, he threw his right hand and caught Jay with the heel under the nose.
Jay dropped the knife, yelped and put both hands to his face, the knife forgotten under the forest’s foliage.
Bronson took advantage of Jay’s weakness. He hit him three consecutive times in his belly. When Jay folded up, Bronson cupped his hands and brought them down on the back of his head.
Jay let out a large hmphh as he crumbled to the ground, his forehead hitting a sharp protruding rock. Blood oozed out, immediately turning the ground crimson.
Bronson allowed himself a second to catch his breath, then bent down and felt for a pulse.
Two down and two to go.
He spotted the half-hidden knife. He wiped the blade with his jeans, flipped it closed, and stuffed it in his pants pocket. He quickly scanned the ground. He found the Glock at the foot of a giant pine. He pocketed that as well, being especially careful to avoid tangling the trigger. “Sandy,” he whispered, knowing she was within listening distance.
No answer.
“Sandy!” This time, his voice carried a tone of urgency. He stepped around the cluster of trees where he had told her to wait.
She was nowhere in sight.
Shiiit!
Chapter 27
“Psst, Sandy.”
Sandy held her breath. Had someone called her name? She had been watching Bronson descend the hill so intently, she had failed to observe her surroundings. Had Cricket somehow managed to sneak up behind her? Her skin crawled.
She swallowed a deep breath, bolted to her feet, and slowly turned.
A blowing breeze caressed her cheek. Sandy let out the breath she didn’t know she was holding. She was safe. She was alone.
“Sandy!”
Sandy gasped. This time, there was no denying it. Someone had called her name. She remained still, but her gaze searched the ground, looking for anything she could use as a weapon.
“It’s me, Aunt Bobbi.” She stepped away from the trees so Sandy could see her.
Sandy bolted toward her. “Aunt Bobbi! What are you doing here?”
Bobbi wrapped a protective arm around Sandy. “I was concerned. I had this crazy feel
ing that something would go wrong. I had Leonardo bring me. I’ve been going crazy looking for you. You look so… so frightened. Are you okay?”
Sandy straightened up and took a deep breath. “Now, I am.”
“Good. Then come with me.”
Sandy looked down the hill. She could no longer see Bronson. “I told Bronson that I would wait for him right here.”
“Where is he now?”
“There’s this man named Cricket and he tried…he tried to…” Her voice failed her and she cleared her throat. “He tried to rape me. Bronson is after him.”
Bobbi’s hand went up to her throat. “Oh, you poor thing. Are you okay? Did he…did he…?”
“No,” Sandy answered. “I got away before he had a chance to do anything.”
Bobbi let out a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank heaven. Who is this…Cricket? I thought this town was deserted, except for the Hermit.”
“I think it is deserted. This monster can’t live here. He looks so out of place.”
“How’s that?”
“This guy is wearing khakis, as though he’s trying to camouflage.” Sandy shrugged. “I got the impression that he’s not from here.”
“Then what is he doing here?”
Sandy threw her hands up in the air. “Maybe it’s all bad timing. Maybe he came here for who knows what reason at the same time we decided to come.”
Bobbi shook her head as though dismissing the thought. “I don’t like that. We, the Lazzarones, always stand together. Come with me. I’ll take you to Leonardo.” When Bobbi noticed that Sandy hesitated, she added, “And Daniel, too. He’s with us.”
“I promised Bronson to wait for him here.”
Bobbi shook her head. “No. I’m not going to allow that. Here, you’re in danger. Out there with Leonardo and Daniel, you’re safe. Soon as I know you’re okay, I’ll come back and wait for Bronson. Then I’ll take him to where you are.”
Reluctantly, Sandy agreed, not so much because she felt she had to do what her aunt dictated, but more because she was anxious to see Daniel again. She couldn’t wait to feel his protective arms around her.
