by DiAnn Mills
“Tell me what happened.”
Lindsay leaned against the tree and buried her face in her hands. “He told me Kelli’s apartment building had caught fire, and she’d been taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. He also said my disobedience was the cause.”
“But your mother says Kelli is fine? Why would he lie about something like that?”
Lindsay sighed. “It’s all part of his game. He wants me to know what he’s capable of if I don’t do what he wants.”
Meghan’s phone rang again. She knew without looking that it was Burnette.
“Answer it.” Lindsay’s tone emitted pure strength. “Better yet, let me.”
“Are you sure?”
Lindsay hesitated. “You’re right. If we give any indication you know what’s going on, he’ll target you again.”
Meghan nodded. “Yes, sir.” And she handed the phone to Lindsay.
She listened for a minute, visibly trembling. “I understand. All right. I’ll do it.” She turned the phone off and looked at Meghan. “Just like I said. His call was a warning. If I don’t obey him, he’ll do something to hurt my sister. I need help in figuring out how to deceive him.”
“Depends on what it is.” Meghan and Ash hadn’t found a bug in the kitchen, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t one planted. They couldn’t talk there now.
“There’s another key to the liquor cabinet in the silverware drawer. I want to open it and get a bottle.”
Meghan held her breath. “I can’t let you drink.”
“No, but we can pour it down the drain in your bathroom. Put the empty bottle in my room and pretend I’m drunk. I’m sure there’ll be vodka in the liquor cabinet. Won’t be a smell, so I’m good with my vow to stay clean.”
Lindsay was attempting to beat Burnette at his own game. “We’ll need to hurry. Pepper will be inside soon to start lunch.” She walked farther into the yard. “She’s talking to Luke, but her basket doesn’t look full.”
“I have no idea how you can keep Dave from finding out the truth.”
“I’ll handle Dave. Ash will have to be told. If we had a key to your bedroom, we could lock you inside. Increase the drama.”
“I have one. Courtesy of Uncle Scottard.”
“Great. I’ll get the bottle, and you head upstairs. We’ll stage an argument.”
Lindsay shook her head. “Hide the bottle in your room until later. I want to make these cookies first.” She took a deep breath. “Burnette’s not going to ruin my first cooking lesson.”
She captured Meghan’s gaze. “Days like this, I feel like I could do anything to stop him. But I know tomorrow I’ll panic again.”
Chapter 69
“Carla, you’ve had quite an impressive career.” Ash needed to rule out Carla’s role in Burnette’s plan. They talked in the loft area usually reserved for Lindsay’s counseling sessions.
The gray-haired woman, who looked like a grandmother of a dozen, tilted her head. “Are you talking about what I did before nursing school or after?”
“All of it.”
She removed her orange and purple reading glasses. “I’m sure you have every little detail there. At one time, I dreamed of dancing as a showgirl in Vegas. That’s where I met my first husband. Should have seen his drinking problem. Anyway, I could have made it in Vegas, but deep inside, I wanted to be a nurse.” She grinned like a teen. “Financing my education was a blast.”
Ash laughed. “I heard about it. What caused you to go into psychology?”
“All the weird people I met. Then I realized I was just as . . . unique.” She laughed. “The difference came with a desire to help them over the hurdles of why they chose abusive behaviors instead of facing life square in the face.”
Ash heard the shouts from the kitchen. What was going on? Sounded like the old Lindsay. She and Meghan were supposed to be making cookies. How could that have caused such a ruckus?
“I’m after my patient.” Carla made it to the stairs before she finished her words.
Ash rushed after her. He smelled the tantalizing aroma of chocolate chip cookies, but it didn’t match the fire brewing from one of the cooks.
“It was a stupid idea.” Lindsay’s tone took on a high pitch. He hadn’t seen her like this since the first week at the ranch. “You’re not my mother, Agent Connors, or my sister. Even they didn’t try to teach me kitchen duty. Take a look; I’m not twelve, either.”
Meghan’s gaze bored into their protectee. “You did a fine job. The cookies taste great. I don’t understand why you’re angry.”
Lindsay swept her hand across the countertop and sent a container of flour to the floor. “Clean that up, b—”
He remembered that Lindsay. “What’s the problem here?”
Meghan lifted her chin. “I was trying to find out myself.”
“Lindsay, what’s wrong?” Carla stepped closer to Lindsay.
“Get away from me. All of you are worthless pieces of garbage. I’m tired of living in a fishbowl.” Lindsay swore again. Could she have gotten hold of drugs? “Carla, don’t you see what Meghan and the others are doing?”
“No, I have no clue.”
“You’re an idiot too. They want me to be a good girl—leave the drugs and booze alone. Learn to cook. Play board games. Watch old movies. Next thing it will be sewing lessons. I went along with this baking cookies thing to get Meghan off my back. But now I see what this is all about.” She whirled around to shove a mug off the counter, but Meghan caught it.
“I’ll get Dave,” Carla said. “He’s reading poolside.”
“I’m not talking to him or anyone else.” Lindsay hurried through the kitchen and up the stairs to her room. She slammed the door.
Lindsay had been doing so well, opening up to him and Meghan. What had happened to end her progress?
“Ash.” Meghan’s whisper grasped his attention. “It’s all right. I’ll tell you later. This is cool. Really.”
But he wanted to know right now. “Where’s Bob?”
“Outside, where he’s supposed to be.”
“Get him in here. You and I are going to take a little walk.”
Meghan grinned. “Yes, sir.”
Within a few minutes Ash and Meghan stood in the middle of an empty corral, where she told him what Lindsay had stated about her call with Burnette. “Obviously the VP doesn’t think Lindsay can outsmart him.”
“What she’s doing takes guts. She’s afraid for her family, and his stunts keep getting worse. I admit, I thought she’d spiraled in there.”
“How much longer, Ash?”
He wished he had an answer, and yet he knew she didn’t expect one. “Until we have all the evidence to prove to President Hall that his longtime friend has betrayed him.”
She nodded. “Lindsay gave a convincing performance.”
“She made a believer out of me. If the kitchen’s bugged, then he’ll have heard it all.”
“The look on your face was priceless.”
“Thanks. Tell her it was too bad I didn’t have a tranquilizer gun.”
“I will. Shall we continue our charade? How about tearing me apart on the back porch. That should take care of any possible traitors among us.”
“You’re enjoying this far too much.” He tossed her a grin. “But I do know how to rip an agent apart.”
“I promise not to cry.”
“Okay. I suppose you two have more drama for us?”
“Sure thing. I’ll get the empty vodka bottle from my room, and the two of us will battle it out. Once you take over my shift, we’ll try to talk to her again. Then she’ll lock her door.”
“Not sure how I feel about that.”
“Me either. There’s nothing in her room to hurt her. I looked earlier. We could always tear down the door. Oh, she promised me she’d keep the door locked for no more than one hour.”
“Can she fool Dave?”
“The idea is he’ll be the only one she wants to talk to. This has got to wor
k, Ash. If Burnette doesn’t believe she’s broken her sobriety, he’ll bring out both barrels.”
“Are you documenting all that’s going on?”
Meghan nodded. “I know you are too. Having both versions will keep the truth flowing.”
“Or look like a conspiracy against the vice president of the United States.”
Chapter 70
Friday, just after lunch, Ash contemplated Lindsay’s charade the night before. She’d done a good job of displaying the old Lindsay. Even Dave and Carla appeared to believe her. Now for Burnette to hear about her drunken brawl and leave Lindsay alone. How long could all of this go on before the evidence was compiled against him?
Ash checked his e-mail and saw Warrington had sent him an attachment. The pathologist had completed all the testing. In short, Ethan had been poisoned by oleander, and there were two people on the ranch who could have accomplished this. One was Dave, who had a generous supply of herbs, and the other was their quirky cook. But Meghan had said Ethan wouldn’t eat Pepper’s cooking—too spicy for him. Dave? Ash didn’t think so.
Ethan must have tripped onto information revealing the identity of who was working for Burnette. He probably approached the person and was poisoned before he could relay who’d been betraying them. Ethan’s warning about the flowering bush repeated.
Everything about the oleander bush is poison. Just stay away.
Could Chip have any insight to what might have happened? Always questions. What did this new development mean for Lindsay and the president?
Ash powered off his computer. He needed to talk to Chip. On his way outside, he reached inside the fridge for a Diet Coke. Pepper was nowhere in sight. Normally, this time of day she was busy in the kitchen.
Chip had a horse on a lead rope, urging it around the corral. Lindsay watched from the fence, and Meghan stood beside her. Ash wasn’t so sure Meghan should be in the heat with her recent concussion, but she was a stubborn woman. She’d have to faint before giving in to resting. Bob watched from the shade, a smart man.
Ash joined Meghan. “How’s my girl?” he whispered.
“I’m fine.” Lindsay laughed. “Excuse me. You were referring to me, right? Is this a nomination for my Oscar performance last night?”
Ash tossed her a grin. “Was there any doubt?” The change in his protectee demonstrated the power of prayer and determination. He hadn’t given up on her approaching the president with the truth about Burnette.
Ash also saw what was developing between Lindsay and Chip. Not sure if a relationship between the two would work. Chip had the strength, and Lindsay looked to him as a sort of father figure. Not exactly a textbook perfect match but not necessarily a bad one either. Then again, her maturity level had taken a big boost.
“I’m assuming you want to talk to me. Why else would you endure this heat?” Meghan still looked pale. She probably had a headache, to which she’d never admit. They were so much alike.
“Honestly, I need to talk to the main man in the center of the ring.”
“This must be important.” Meghan leaned against the fence. “Your eyebrows are giving you away.”
He wanted to kiss her. “This won’t take long. Hey, Chip. Can I see you for a few minutes?” The man released the lead rope and walked with Ash beyond the stables.
“More questions?”
Trusting Chip with the truth reminded Ash of the need to bring the ranch’s secrets to light. “You know me pretty well. This is about your dad.”
“The rest of the autopsy report?”
“Just got it. The findings aren’t good, Chip. He was poisoned—oleander.”
Chip’s face flushed red. “My dad was murdered. I can’t believe it. Who would dislike him enough to kill him? Unless . . .”
“What are you thinking? Because I have my own idea of who might have wanted him dead.”
“I bet he learned more about who shot Wade, which means the person who killed him had to be an agent or a friend.” Chip paused. “Before I accuse anyone, I want to hear your thoughts.”
“Other than you, who did he trust on this ranch?”
“Pepper.” He spat the word. The suspicion that had kept Ash awake at night had surfaced as truth. “She often brought him a glass of iced sweet tea in the evenings. Dad claimed no one could make it like she did. She could have boiled a few flower petals and added it to his tea.” He punched his fist into his hand. “No one else could have done it. Dad ate our food, and one of us cooked it.” He studied Ash’s face. “If you don’t have her arrested, I’ll have to question her myself.”
“I’m going to talk to her now. Get some answers. Get her off the ranch and into custody.”
“Fat chance of that. She left about eight thirty.”
Fury raced through him. Had Burnette tipped her off about the autopsy? “Any idea where she was going?”
“No. Only that she took Burnette’s truck. Headed east.”
The cameras at the front gate would have captured the footage, but she still had over two hours on them. Ash whipped out his phone and pressed in the county sheriff’s number. “We have a murder suspect who left the ranch at approximately 0830 this morning, driving east. She’s driving a black 250 Ford truck. Name is Pepper Davis. I’ll call back in a few minutes with the license plate number.” He snapped it shut and studied the anguish on Chip’s face. “She won’t get far.”
“I thought her husband was a Secret Service agent.”
“Yes; he retired and had a heart attack.”
“How convenient.”
Ash hadn’t considered that aspect.
“Wait a minute.” The force of Chip’s tone demanded Ash’s attention. “Who is she taking orders from?”
“We don’t know. Look, I need to make a call to DC.”
Chip waved a finger in front of Ash’s face. “Not so fast. I’ve lost a friend and a father in this chaos. And I think I’ve put it together. The reason Wade’s killer wasn’t found and the reason my dad’s dead is because the one calling the shots is a high-profile figure.”
“Chip.”
“Sorry, bud. I’m not a stupid redneck.”
“I can’t give you classified information.” Ash needed to call Warrington and update him.
“Does Lindsay know? I bet she can make a few good guesses.”
“I would like for—”
“Forget it. I’m finding the answers.”
“You’ll upset her.”
“She’s stronger than you give her credit for.” He pressed his lips hard. “I bet it’s Burnette. Lindsay hates him. Pepper and Dad swore by him.”
“And you?”
“I thought he was manipulative.”
“Chip, I’m asking you not to say anything to Lindsay about the autopsy report or anything we’ve just discussed. It could hinder her mental health.”
Chip hesitated. “For how long?”
“Until we’re able to talk to Pepper and evaluate what she says. Even then, Dave may need to talk to Lindsay first. She’s been my protectee for over four years. I’ve got a stake in this too.”
Chip drew in a deep breath, the range of anger and grief evident on his face. “All right. I need to wrap my brain around some of this and figure out why the VP of the United States—or anyone—would want Wade and Dad dead and what that has to do with Lindsay.”
Ash nodded and left the stables. As soon as he’d walked beyond earshot, he had Warrington on the line and explained Pepper’s disappearance.
“I’ll add more firepower to the search,” Warrington said. “If she’s behind the crimes there, then we’ve got a start in drawing this to a close.”
“You and I know this isn’t about drugs.” Ash realized he might be stepping off a cliff.
“But that’s all we have been able to figure out so far.”
“I imagine the VP will be upset about his cook potentially poisoning his number one man.” A swirling hole of fury raced through him.
“Doesn’t look good. Keep
in touch. I want to know the moment she’s found. I have a few questions of my own.”
If the media got hold of the autopsy report, they would splatter it from sea to shining sea. The repercussion against the president and the party could be devastating. Ash was certain the VP had no concerns about his own reputation. Even with Pepper a prime suspect in the ranch killings, Burnette still held the winning hand. For that matter, Pepper probably wouldn’t live through the day. That meant Victor, Bob, or Dave could take her place and would continue with Burnette’s plans.
“To think I liked the woman.” Meghan wanted to go after Pepper with her rifle and SIG.
Ash’s jaw tensed. “Looks like she cooked more than three meals a day.”
Answers crept into her many questions. “Do you realize she could have cut Lindsay’s girth that day? I remember seeing her in the garden earlier. Worse yet, she could have poisoned all of us.”
“Calm down. We’re another step closer to bringing Burnette to justice.”
Meghan concentrated on those techniques that shoved away emotion and centered on logic and reasoning. “Do you still think Warrington might be involved?”
“No clue. I tried to bait him, but he didn’t bite.”
“Is Dave telling Lindsay now?”
“He’s waiting for you. She leans on you as much as she does Dave and Carla.”
Meghan moistened her lips. “I’m on my way. I’d like to think this might be the incident that pushes Lindsay into calling the president. Ash, let’s be real. Pepper will be dead before lunch. Burnette won’t risk her trying to cut a deal.”
Meghan wished she could see and hear the responses from the other agents when they learned about Pepper. More could be involved, and she was a fool if she chose to believe otherwise. She walked back to relieve Bob. The house was bugged but hopefully not the front porch. She prayed Lindsay would be able to keep her mind clear . . . and not fall apart. Or perhaps faking a breakdown might ease Burnette’s mind that his plan was intact.
Dave, Carla, and Lindsay sat waiting for her. Dave’s eyes revealed his concern and rightfully so. Lindsay’s strength was about to be tested one more time.
