Nice To Meet You Cally (Calliaster Doyle Book 2)

by S G Read

  Cally peered down. -Just one more step- she thought and rustled the straw she was hiding in.

  ‘Don't shoot I wasn't doing anything.’ She replied, trying to disguise her voice. ‘Do you own the barn?’

  Fromes was fooled for a second and took the step forward she wanted him to.

  ‘Show yourself.’ He ordered.

  Cally dropped her tired arm and Drummond pushed the hay bale down onto Fromes. He fell to the floor and they slid the ladder down on top of him to climb down, pinning him to the floor. Cally picked up the pistol and offered it to Drummond.

  ‘I don't want it they're dangerous!’ He cried.

  ‘My hero!’ Cally replied and slid the pistol into her pocket. ‘Come on let's get out of here!’

  Fromes was still unconscious when they left and the ladder was still pinning him to the floor.

  ‘One down, one to go!’ Cally said victoriously as they walked away. ‘I'll race you to that tree.’

  The tree was some distance away and without Drummond answering she started running.

  When it grew light Dan started down the rocky outcrop. He climbed slowly down, until he was back on terra firma and grateful to be so. With the rocks behind him, he started walking, looking for sign of someone passing as he went but here the ground was drier and other animals had scuffed the ground up. When he saw the barn he stopped. If Fromes had caught them he might be there with them, just waiting for him to catch them up. Dan took the scenic route to the barn trying to keep out of sight until he was close enough to sneak up to the wall. Then he walked round to the door and peered in. No one was there. A bale of hay lay next to the ladder and there was blood by the ladder. A sixth sense warned him of danger but it was too late and a pitchfork handle hit the back of his head. He fell where he stood. Fromes smiled, thought about sticking the pitchfork in him but pushed the prongs into the ground either side of Dan's neck until he was trapped.

  ‘Now to get those two little turds.’ He said and walked off the way they had run.

  The fat woman woke. She was half laying in the back seat of the patrol car, there was no way she could lie down completely in such a small space. Now it was light she looked through the things in the patrol car. A shotgun in its holster was a nice gain. That patrolman was sure going to have some explaining to do! She found a map and had to get out, to lay it across the bonnet, as there was no room for it and her inside. She traced the valley with her finger and traced the state line with a finger from her other hand until she found the exact spot where the valley and the state line crossed.

  ‘Now that I like to see!’ She said and studied the area to see how she could get into the valley with the patrol car.

  Her mind made up she folded the map carefully and dropped it back where she found it, before climbing into the driving seat. She took a roundabout route as by now they would be on the lookout for her and she wanted to get where she was going without being spotted.

  Dan came to and cursed his stupidity. From where he lay it was an impossible task to remove the pitchfork but he still tried. When it was obvious he was wasting his time he started to think and came up with the idea of digging to loosen the pitchfork. It would also give him room for his big hands between the fork and his neck. He used one of the keys on his set of keys to dig but it was going to take a long time!

  Drummond overhauled Cally just before the tree and claimed his victory. The run took its toll on them as they were hungry and Cally slumped by the tree next to Drummond.

  ‘Not my brightest idea!’ She admitted. ‘If I don't get some food soon I'm going to fall down and not be able to get up again!’

  ‘Come on before, Fromes gets free and comes after us.’ Drummond said and pulled her to her feet.

  ‘If I want to race you again you can punch me!’ Cally said when she was standing.

  They started walking. It was an hour before their luck changed. They were suddenly aware of running water and found a cool stream ahead of them. Cally pulled her socks off and dipped her feet in the cool water.

  ‘That feels nice.’ She purred.

  Drummond looked up from where he was drinking downstream of her and jumped up.

  ‘But it won't taste nice!’ He complained and drank from the stream, up stream of her feet.

  ‘Are you saying my feet smell?’

  ‘No: Well not anymore!’

  Cally used the hand nearest him, her right hand, to tip him into the water. After a lot of spluttering and complaining he pulled her into the stream by her ankles.

  ‘Now none of you smells!’ He declared.

  Cally was about to remonstrate but a blueberry bush covered in blueberries caught her eye. She was there first but when Drummond saw where she was heading, he was not long in following. They ate until they were sick of blueberries then walked on, full but not feeling very well. The walk took the edge off their aching stomachs and apart from them both having to find a private place, while the other kept guard, they kept on walking. They came to a fence and climbed over it.

  ‘There must be a farm round here.’ Drummond said when he saw the fence. ‘I wonder why there's no gate in the fence?’

  ‘We can't see all the fence from here, it's probably just over there but I'm not walking over there just to find out!’ Cally replied.

  In front of the fence they could see a track that had tyre ruts either side of it. It ran along the fence from their left to their right.

  ‘There's been cars along here!’ Cally pointed out.

  ‘Well let's hope on comes along soon, I'm fed up with walking everywhere!’

  ‘Which way do we go?’ Cally asked.

  ‘I've no idea.’ Drummond replied. ‘Which way takes us furthest from Fatty and shorty?’

  ‘That way!’ Cally pointed to her right.

  ‘Then that's the way we'll go!’

  They walked off. It was long way until they were out of sight but just after they disappeared from view a car drove up the track. It stopped

  by the fence.

  ‘This is the state line.’ The trooper said. ‘Technically I am out of my jurisdiction but I don't think we'll split hairs especially as we are going back into the state.’

  They climbed the fence and headed into the valley. They passed the stream where the two children had played and approached the barn. The trooper signaled Barbara to stay back and approached it with a great deal of caution. When he eventually risked a look inside he saw Dan still pinned to the floor with a pitchfork. He looked all round carefully before he pulled the pitchfork out.

  ‘Good morning.’ He said and walked to the door to signal Barbara forward.

  When she saw Dan she threw her arms round him.

  ‘It's nice to see you in one piece again Dan!’ She cried.

  ‘I'm a silly old fool!’ Dan replied. ‘Fromes was here and got the better of me! It was him who forked me to the floor!’

  ‘Did you see Cally and Drummond?’ She asked.

  ‘They were here. I think they must have dropped that hay bale on Fromes, I found blood there, where it fell. He must have just recovered when I walked in like a lamb to the slaughter!’

  ‘Then we must have just missed them and Fromes.’ Barbara said in anguish.

  They started back and were in time to see the trooper's car drive away.

  ‘That's my car!’ He shouted and ran after it but he was too far away to even shoot at it.

  Fromes looked across at him and waved as he drove away. He drove the way the car was facing, as that was the way the children had gone. Barbara and Dan caught the trooper up. He was an angry young man, that car was his pride and joy. All they could do was to follow the car along the track until they could find a telephone to get help.

  Dermot woke to find his left leg moving more or less when he wanted it to. During the morning he changed from the walking frame to two walking sticks, then down to one walking stick. They fed everyone, then, to Helen's surprise, he offered to drive her into the hospital to see Samantha. The
truck had been returned to them and Tom had repaired it. After several attempts to get into the truck Dermot made it, after that it was plain sailing. The only problem he found was getting in and out of it. He had barely made it to the ground when Helen emerged from the hospital again.

  ‘She can come home with us!’ She announced. ‘Do you think it's safe enough now?’

  Dermot smiled.

  ‘I reckon it's as safe as anywhere. Go and get her while get back into this thing.’

  Before he was in the driving seat Helen was back, carrying Samantha in her arms.

  ‘Hello uncle Dermot!’ Samantha greeted cheerily.

  ‘Good morning to you Samantha.’ Dermot replied just as cheerily, even though he was worried about Cally and Barbara.

  Back at the home he looked in the kitchen, for once it was well stocked up with food. He found Helen in the lounge, she was cleaning and Samantha was helping.

  ‘Can you cope if I go off and look for Barbara and Cally?’ He asked.

  ‘Of course I can. They say they're coming out to fix the telephone sometime today.’ Helen replied. ‘After that, if I have any trouble I can telephone for help! You go off and find them!’

  Dermot made the door and was climbing down the steps when a car swept round the corner. The door opened when it stopped and Archie stepped out. He stood there without crutches, sticks or anything.

  ‘Should you be doing that?’ Dermot asked as he walked toward him.

  ‘Yes. I was just given a clean bill of health and as long as I take it easy, I can do most of what I like!’ Archie replied. ‘How come you're doing what you're doing?’

  ‘I took a turn for the better, I'm even up to driving the truck!’

  Archie rubbed his hands together.

  ‘Then what are we waiting for? We got villains to hunt and a woman and two children to help.’

  Dermot climbed into the cab slowly as Archie waved good bye to the judge who had brought him home. Archie had planned to drive the truck if no one was there to do it for him. It was the judge who arranged to have the truck brought back from the mill where Fromes had left it. Dermot drove away, following the judge, until they hit the highway, there they turned and headed for the last known sightings of the children. They stopped at the gas station where Mountpurse had kidnapped the little girl as a hostage and Archie telephoned the judge to see if there was any new information. What he heard made his lip curl and on the way out he bought a map.

  Drummond heard a car coming from behind them at the same time as they saw a farmhouse in front of them. They ran for the farmhouse in case the car contained Fromes or the fat woman. Luckily the car was traveling slowly enough along the track for them to make it through the gate and up to the door. Cally banged on the door as the car grew closer. The door opened a little way.

  ‘Yes?’ A woman asked through the crack.

  ‘We need help!’ Cally said urgently. ‘There are two people after us. A very fat woman and a little man!’

  ‘Come inside then.’ The woman replied.

  Cally walked into the room followed by Drummond and the door slammed behind them.

  ‘I wouldn't say very fat!’ Mountpurse said evenly. ‘Now lay down on the floor or the girl dies here and now!’ She had her little pistol in her hand pointing it toward both of them.

  Drummond took in the situation quickly. It was him they wanted and it was likely that Cally would soon become a problem to them but him they wanted alive. He jumped at Mountpurse and knocked the gun out of her hand.

  ‘Run Cally. Go and get help!’ He shouted.

  Cally did not want to leave Drummond but it made sense and she ran out the back door. Mountpurse threw Drummond across the room and picked her pistol back up.

  ‘You little brat I'm going to teach you some manners if it's the last thing I do!’

  ‘At least you can't hurt her!’ Drummond shouted.

  ‘Are you sure about that sonny?’ Fromes asked as he pushed Cally back inside.

  Mountpurse walked over to where Cally stood and held the pistol to her head.

  ‘Are you going to co-operate?’ She asked looking Drummond straight in the eye.

  All fight was gone from him and he nodded.

  ‘No more trying to escape?’

  He looked at her. She cocked the pistol to force his answer.

  ‘No more trying to escape.’ He said tiredly.

  ‘Good. Now we are in Indiana you can sign a few papers for me then you can go where you want.’

  He did not believe her for one moment but for now he had to go along with it. Unfortunately for Mountpurse the papers were in the car which had exploded after they had fired at it. Now she had to get more printed to do that she had to find someone to do it for her.

  ‘Put them in the car Fromes and tie them up! We'll keep little miss pain in the ass, to make sure my future son behaves himself.’

  ‘What about her?’ Fromes asked, nodding to the woman who had opened the door to the two children.

  ‘I'll deal with her, you just do as you are told!’ She turned to the other woman. ‘Do you have a cellar?’

  ‘Yes.’ The woman answered.

  ‘Show me.’

  The woman took her to a door which opened onto to the cellar stairs. She opened the door to show her. Before she could move, Mountpurse threw her down the steep stairs. She landed at the bottom and did not move again.

  Chapter 15

  Ethel Mountpurse walked out through the kitchen and saw car keys hanging up on a hook. She knew they would soon be looking for the car they were in and decided to see what the woman's car was like. She liked what she saw and opened the shed door wide to drive it out. Fromes watched from the trooper's car, the patrol car Mountpurse had stolen was parked in the trees out of sight.

  ‘Put the little angels in this one,’ she said smugly, ‘and we'll soon be rich.’

  Fromes did as he was told but took the time to yank out wires from both the vehicles they were leaving behind.

  ‘Just in case the ones I stole that car from come looking for it.’ He explained.

  ‘Good thinking.’ Mountpurse said, not trying to patronise him.

  As soon as they were alone Cally and Drummond tried to undo their bonds but Fromes knew what he was doing. Mountpurse climbed into the woman's' car, threw the car into gear and drove off.

  ‘Catch me if you can!’ She cried and laughed, deep and long.

  ‘What's the plan?’ Dermot asked when Archie climbed back into the truck.

  ‘We got two ways we can go.’ Archie replied. ‘One, we can go and do what the others are doing, two we can assume the worst happens and fatty gets them back. If we go for two, we need to go back a ways and take the first right. That road was the first one they blocked off and she would have known that but we can go through. We should be in Indiana inside an hour and we can decide what to do and where to go when we get there.’

  Dermot looked at Archie.

  ‘Sounds like I got to vote for two!’ He declared.

  ‘You have!’ Archie retorted.

  ‘Two it is then! But I hope you're right!’

  ‘So do I. Now drive.’

  Dan knew he had two options, follow the car that had just been stolen or go the other way. The trooper decided for them and led the way, he wanted his pride and joy back! The three of them walked until they came to the farmhouse. The trooper took charge when they arrived, he saw his car in front of the house with the wiring torn out. He searched the house and found the woman who had lived there at the bottom of the cellar steps. He called Barbara and she felt for a pulse but the woman was dead and starting to grow cold. When he knew he could do nothing for her the trooper walked over to his car to assess the damage. He looked at the wires which had been pulled out and smiled, he also looked at the telephone wires; they had been pulled out as well. This was a new breed of trooper and he knew how to repair his car, just as he knew who had done what and where at the farm. He repaired the telephone wiring and telephone
d his boss with the news that Mountpurse and Fromes had crossed the state line. He told them of the dead woman and where he had found her. She could have fallen accidentally but he had to admit it was unlikely. His duty done, he started on his car. From a box under the rear seat he took out his tools, spare wire and connectors. Barbara telephoned the home and spoke to Helen. She learnt that Archie and Dermot was on their way in the truck and was relieved that Archie was now as good as new, or going to be. Half an hour after they arrived at the farmhouse the trooper started his car.

  ‘I have holidays owing.’ He announced. ‘Where do you want to go?’

  ‘Follow that car!’ Dan replied.

  ‘I can't keep calling you trooper, trooper. What is your name?’ Barbara asked.

  ‘Jack Boulter.’ He replied as he jumped in his car.

  ‘Well Jack, I'm Barbara and he's Dan. Nice to meet you.’

  They drove off on the almost impossible task of finding the car somewhere in Indiana with an almost cold trail but at the gate Jack braked and the car slithered to a halt.

  ‘That's the patrol car the Mountpurse woman stole!’ He declared looking through the trees. ‘That means they took the dead woman's car!’

  ‘So?’ Dan asked.

  ‘Stealing a car is against the law! And that means if we can find the number of her car,’ he nodded back toward the house, ‘we can report it as stolen and they'll be on the lookout for it!’

  He reversed back to the house and all three rummaged through the papers until Dan found the number. Jack phone the local police and reported the car stolen, he did not mention the dead woman as that was already being dealt with by his sergeant.

  ‘Now we look for sparks!’ He said as he drove away.

  Dermot stopped at a junction. Left took them toward the state line, right deeper into the state. He turned left but no sooner had he turned than Archie spotted two children in a car that passed them going the other way. The girl had the same color hair as Cally but that did not mean it was Cally. He turned to look through the rear truck window and saw a fat arm resting through the open window.