Left Fur Dead

by J. M. Griffin

  “My father never said a word about it. You should have come to me, talked it over, we could have come to some arrangement. I’m sure of it.”

  “Don’t be stupid, Juliette. We didn’t want an arrangement, we wanted what should rightfully be ours. What we were cheated out of all those years. While you grew up in a beautiful place, my brother and I were poor. We didn’t go to a private school, nor were we put through college. I paid my own way, working two jobs while I did so. Have you ever lived like that, Juliette? I bet not.” Lizzy’s lip curled in a sneer.

  “What was the problem between our grandparents and your parents?”

  “My mother dated my father and became pregnant. Her parents were horrified and ashamed, which was normal back in those days, I guess. Mom wanted to get married, but she needed permission because she was underage. My father wasn’t a minor, and your grandfather threatened to have him arrested. When Mom found out, she and Dad ran away. After I was born, they approached our grandparents and were tossed off the property for their effort to make peace.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me all this?”

  “Would it really have made a difference? Your father wouldn’t even speak to my mother in all those wasted years. How ridiculous and small-minded is that? My father ranted and raved about it all, until he died from a heart attack. Mom passed on about a year later, never having been able to make her parents or her brother see reason. From that point forward, my brother and I hatched a plan to take our due from you.” Her driving increasingly erratic, the car skidded on a sharp curve in the road and Lizzy hit the brakes.

  I thought she was right about wasted years and righteous feelings. She and her brother had grown up in a sad and bitter household. Unfortunately for me, I might pay for their losses.

  “How did Arty come into this?”

  “Unwittingly, he overheard us discussing the plan. He tried to intervene on your behalf, to make us realize we were wrong. The poor sot, he couldn’t get us to see things his way. Arty was very ill by then, and not making much sense at times. Often, he rambled on that your rabbits and all animals should be free. I think it was his way of trying to warn you, and everyone he spoke with, that something was afoot. He’d become mentally unstable by the time the frigid weather set in. In my opinion, Ben did him a favor by ending his misery.”

  Gripping the door handle, I shouted, “Watch out, you almost hit that post.”

  The car slowed, until it barely moved. Bun prepared to leap out, as did I. In one swift move, the door swung wide. Lizzy reached over, but only grasped an empty sling as Bun and I sought our freedom.

  I rolled to the ground, got up, and started running. “Wait for me, Jules. I’m right behind you.”

  I slowed a tad, reached down, felt fur touch my fingers, then closed them around Bun’s heavy coat and swooped him into my arms. Scouring the sides of the road for a place to dash into the woods on even ground, I found we’d come to the exact spot where Rusty had left me for dead. Lizzy’s car engine revved as she raced toward us. There was no choice but to jump over the guardrail and take our chances.

  “Hang on, Bun.”

  We flew over the rail and skidded our way downhill, with me grasping at branches one-handedly. Catching my balance, I stood still for a second to get my bearings, until a shot rang out. Lizzy was a maniac, one with a gun.

  We took off. At the sound of a second shot, we ran as fast as my feet would carry us in search of safety. Breathing hard, I crouched on my knees behind bushes. I pulled my cell phone from my jeans pocket. Luckily, I had service and dialed Carver’s number. When he answered the call, I gave him what I thought our location was and urged him to hurry.

  We kept moving as more shots echoed through the trees. Sooner or later Lizzy would run out of bullets, at least I prayed she would. She must have been a poor shot to not have struck us, but then, who knew what she was, other than nuts.

  “Her desperation has made her crazier and crazier. Why didn’t we notice? I should have known with my superpowers and all.”

  “Can we discuss your superpowers later?” I whispered, and peered past the new pile of brush where we’d taken refuge.

  “She’s coming, I think I can smell her. What if I draw her attention so you can attack her?”

  Worried he might be shot, I said, “That doesn’t sound too promising. What if she gets the best of me? Crazy people are strong, you know.”

  We squatted as close to the ground as I could get. We listened, Bun with his superior hearing and me with my human ears that were nowhere near as fine-tuned as his. The gunshots had ended, the silence nerve-wracking, so much so that I could feel sweat running down the sides of my face. Fear was trying to control me.

  “Don’t be afraid, if we’re still, she won’t know where we are.”

  “She will if we aren’t quiet,” I whispered.

  He twisted his head around and peered at me while those long ears flopped forward. Bun had taken my words to heart. My legs cramped from crouching, I didn’t dare move. I only knew that Lizzy had a gun, was off her rocker, and was hunting us.

  “You know I’ll find you, don’t you, Juliette? I heard you talking to the rabbit. Stupid animal. I knew you two were going to make a run for it, I just didn’t think you’d jump from the car. Maybe I’ll shoot him first, so you will suffer more before I kill you. It’s what you both deserve, you know.”

  Bun’s ears perked up, his whiskers twitched so hard they almost spun. I touched the top of his head, loosening my grip to relax the muscles in my arms. It was a mistake, a big one. Bun leapt off into the brush, his feet so fast I couldn’t have caught him if I’d tried. In an instant, I heard a scream and then a gunshot. Anger took hold. I rose from the brush and raced forward.

  Not fifteen feet away, Lizzy lay on the ground, grasping her ankle with both hands while swearing to get Bun if it was the last thing she did. Nowhere to be seen, Bun had taken off to parts unknown, leaving me alone with this crackpot.

  Lizzy hadn’t seen me right away, and her gun was closer to me than to her. I kicked it behind a rock and began to run. Now aware of my presence, Lizzy howled in pain as she attempted rise, all the while promising bad things would happen to me and Bun.

  At least twenty yards away from her, I glanced over my shoulder. By the time I reached what I considered far enough away to be safe, I stepped into a muddy hole, twisted my ankle, and got up to keep going. Searing pain flew up my leg when I put my foot down. Lizzy and I were now on the same playing field. Limping forward, I took sanctuary behind a pine tree wide enough to hide two people.

  In an instant, Bun was at my side and huddled against me. We sat there for some time, waiting, not hearing another threat from Lizzy. Had she found the gun? Was she sneaking up on us? Fearing the worst scenario, I focused on woodland sounds. I had wanted to have put serious distance between us, but I wasn’t willing to take any chances by taking a peek to see where she was, or even moving on in this condition.

  Shots rang out, I hugged Bun closer, closing my eyes, and praying we wouldn’t be killed.

  Moments later, I heard a mixture of voices and one that called my name. Sheriff Carver had arrived.

  “It’s Sheriff Carver. Come on, Jules, let’s go,” Bun said.

  The voice grew closer as I hobbled toward his voice with Bun keeping watch for Lizzy.

  “Juliette, come out, it’s Sheriff Carver. We’ve been searching for you. You’re safe now.”

  I peered through pine tree branches, clutched Bun to my chest, and answered Jack’s call.

  Shaking from our heads to our toes, the two of us made our way to Jack.

  “Thank you for saving us. All of you,” I said to the officers who had come for us. Nervous, I kept darting looks in all directions, waiting for Lizzy to show up. When she didn’t, I accepted the officers help to reach the road where I saw a rescue parked several feet away. Thinking it was for us, I went toward it, but was stopped. The way forward had been blocked by a wall of policemen.

 
; “What’s going on?” I peeked through a small space between two men and saw a covered body being loaded into the rescue.

  I stepped back, threw up on the side of the road, and then blew my nose when someone offered a hankie. I jammed the offensive cloth into my back pocket and apologized.

  “Everything is okay, Juliette. It happens to the best of people who encounter these circumstances. Lizzy is dead, and her brother is our guest in cell number four at the police station. He’s being charged with their crimes. It’s all over, come on, let the EMTs take a look at you. Then I’ll take you home.” Carver put his hand on my shoulder and turned me in the direction of his car where a rescuer waited with an enormous medical kit.

  Not completely comprehending what he’d said, I asked, “It’s truly over? My rabbits and farm are safe? I don’t have to worry about these two any longer?”

  “No, you don’t.”

  The EMT wrapped my foot and recommended I stay off it until I could get an X-ray.

  I thanked him and scooted farther into the front seat of Jack’s cruiser after the EMT was done with me.

  Jack closed the door after Bun jumped into my lap. He got behind the driver’s wheel and said, “Just relax. I’ll take you to the emergency room. You’re in shock over what’s happened, and you’re soaked from the rain. If you catch pneumonia I’ll be in trouble with Meredith for allowing it to happen.”

  “I’m sure I didn’t break anything, just take me home.”

  Jack opened his mouth to comment, but thought better of it and we started the ride home. It was a shorter trip than I remembered it being with Lizzy. Andrew and Jessica awaited us at the kitchen door, smiles of welcome and relief on their faces. Jessica hugged me tightly and drew me inside.

  “Coffee’s ready, anyone want a cup?” Jess asked as she brandished the pot.

  I nodded, the sheriff took a seat at the table, Bun lolled across my lap, unwilling to leave me for a minute while we all settled in for coffee. As the story rolled out in detail, Carver said Lizzy had brandished a gun and was shot because of it.

  My guess was that she had found the weapon I’d kicked behind a rock. Carver slurped the last mouthful of coffee in his cup and said he’d stop in tomorrow for a formal statement.

  After he left, Jessica asked, “What happened? There are scratches on your face.”

  “Bun and I ran for our lives in the very same spot Rusty left me to die. I bet Lizzy chose that location for a reason. I—”

  Jess interrupted me. “Don’t worry about it now. I knew something was wrong when Lizzy made a sudden excuse to leave before half the work in the shop was complete. Then the sheriff called looking for you. I grew worried and told him you’d gone to the lake. He said he’d find you there, it was imperative he speak to you.”

  “Lizzy showed up at the lake, said the sheriff needed me at the station, and offered us a ride. It wasn’t long before I knew we were in trouble.”

  Jess jumped in when I took a swig of coffee.

  “When Carver couldn’t find you, he stopped by to ask if you’d returned. When I said you hadn’t, he got worked up over your disappearance, and called out all the officers available to search for you. He left here in a hurry and we’ve been waiting ever since.”

  Filling gaps in the story, I said, “If anyone had ever told me Lizzy was unhinged, I would have thought they were wrong, until today, that is. I just don’t know how they accessed the barn.”

  Her expression odd, Jessica fiddled with her coffee cup handle. “I hate to admit this, but I left my keys unattended on a couple of occasions. That could have been when Lizzy got hold of them. Her friend and I met for lunch once last fall. Lizzy stopped by our table and invited herself to join us. Of course, she was so charming, neither of us gave it a thought. The other occasions were when we worked in the yarn shop. I’d added my new key to the rest of the ones on my key chain and left the lot on the counter. She could have made an impression of it when I was out of the room. You know, both times Lizzy mentioned I should always be conscious of where I left my keys.”

  Silent during the discussion, Andrew said, “It’s over now. Time to move on and create a happier atmosphere for yourselves and the rabbits. Isn’t that right, Bun?” He looked at Bun, gave him a wink, and rose to leave.

  I blinked when Bun said, “You’ve got that right.” He leaned against my midriff and said, “He heard me, I’m positive.”

  I ruffled his fur, set him on the floor, and gave him a small tray of chopped fruit and veggies before he could whine about starvation.

  We thanked Andrew and watched him stride into the darkness.

  Jessica murmured, “He’s a complicated man.”

  I wholeheartedly agreed.

  * * *

  The following day, Sheriff Carver came by to take our statements and told us Ben Grady would be tried and more than likely convicted of murder, assault on several counts, and a host of other charges. If found guilty, he faced thirty years to life in prison, without parole. Sheriff Carver said Ben lost control once he’d found his sister had died after being shot during their search for me. Ben’s attorney might offer an insanity plea on his behalf, but Carver didn’t think it would mean he’d get a lighter sentence.

  On his way out the door, Carver said, “I guess a Realtor in town is going to buy Arty’s house. Gordon Miller, the Realtor, operates one of those ‘I Buy Ugly Houses’ kind of real estate companies. Andrew will be able to make a decent life for himself, and he deserves it.”

  “He sure does. Thanks for letting us know what’s going on. I suppose I’ll have to testify?” I asked.

  “It’s possible, so keep an opening on your calendar, Jules.”

  “Tell Meredith we’ll be having a sale on yarn.”

  “Not gonna do it, Jules, I’m just not.” Said with good humor, Carver marched out the door.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  A couple of days later, I spoke with my father. He had some explaining to do, and I refused to be put off this time around.

  The phone rang three times before my call was answered. “The Bridge residence.”

  “Hey, Dad, how are you?”

  “Great, your mother isn’t here right now, do you want her to call you back?”

  “I want to speak with you, not Mom. I’ve had quite a serious problem on my hands these past few months, you know.”

  “No, I didn’t know. You should have mentioned it when you called. We’re always willing to help you, Juliette. You know that, don’t you?”

  This was it, my one and only opportunity to learn the truth. I took a deep breath.

  “Years ago, a man and woman came to the house. There was an argument and you slammed the door in their face. I now know—”

  “You don’t know anything.”

  “Don’t interrupt, I have questions and you owe me answers. If this problem had been straightened out in the past, my life wouldn’t have been on the line a few days ago.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Lizzy Grady, your niece, tried to kill me to take what she considered hers. The farm, Dad. She and her brother, Ben, wanted the farm.” I continued on with the story Lizzy had told me, including what had taken place just prior to Lizzy’s death. My father listened in silence.

  “I’m sorry you went through that. Lizzy and Ben must have been quite mad to have done those things. I have no excuse for not taking them in, it was pigheadedness on my part. I never thought that man was good enough for my sister, and held it against him all these years. I tried to reach out to them more than once, but they never returned my calls or contacted me by any other means. Your mother searched their names on the computer and found they both had died. It was too late to make things right. Their kids did ask to buy the farm from us, but we refused. We wanted you to have it. I should have helped them out.”

  “Those years were wasted, Dad. All this could have been avoided if only Gram and Grampa, and you, had put your judgments aside.”

  “True, very true.
All I can say is that I apologize for all that’s happened.”

  “Her story was true, then?”

  A heavy sigh came across the line.

  “I’m ashamed to say it, but it’s true.”

  “Are there any other secrets like this one that I should be aware of ?”

  “No, there aren’t. I should have been truthful to you and to those two kids. All I can say is that I regret what’s happened to all three of you.”

  Not wanting to go on over something that could never be changed, I left well enough alone and ended the call. We only have one life to live, and make our decisions along the way. Whether they’re good or bad, we must shoulder the consequences of our actions, and by the way my father had spoken, he surely carried the burden of his.

  It wasn’t long before life at Fur Bridge Farm got back to normal. Summer was on its way, kids were having events at their homes, Bailey and I entertained, and all was well for the moment.

  I’d finished unloading and reloading a rack of yarn when Bun scampered into the shop and skidded to a halt. “I’m bored, how long do you think it will be before our next great mystery will take place?”

  I tossed a few loose skeins of yarn in his direction, laughing when he became tangled in them. I wondered how he’d manage to get out of the mess he’d created by jumping up and down erratically when the yarn struck him. That was mystery enough for me. Right now, anyway.