“They say there’ll be downed trees and power outages. When the power goes, so will the alarm systems. As soon as that happens, we’ll sneak in there and attack them in the room. I bet they’re already asleep, because the light went out in their room a while ago.”
“I doubt they’re asleep.”
“Why?”
“I watched them through the window in Wynburg. They like to hug and kiss and feel of each other. Wouldn’t surprise me for the bitch to have sex with him, even at her age.”
“What’s wrong with that? He’s my age, and I like to have sex.”
She looked disgusted. “Whatever. Open another bottle and we’ll wait for that terrible storm. I hope it comes before we pass out.”
CHAPTER 50
The storm hit about two-thirty that morning, and fifteen minutes later, the lights in the inn were knocked out. Earl knew this because the sign went off and the always-burning porch light went out. His head hurt and he felt like turning over and going back to sleep, but he knew he’d never get another chance like this to get to Alex Hargrove. And that man had to pay for screwing up his life.
Earl glanced at his sleeping companion.
The dumb bitch. She thinks I’m screwed in the head because I call her Anna. She has no idea I do it because I like to hear her complain. I know Anna’s dead. But she probably wouldn’t be if that tight-fisted Alex had put out enough money go get good doctors for her. The bastard should’ve done better. I sure would have if I’d been able to get out of prison in time to get Anna away from him.
Now, Anna’s gone and he’s got another wife who looks okay for an older woman, though not as pretty as Anna was when we were in school.
He looked at Rachelle again. She was slumped in the seat, her mouth open, and she was snoring. He shook his head. She’s sure not a pretty sight, and it will serve Alex right if I take his new bride when we get through with him. Leave enough life in him so he grieves over her the way I’ve done over Anna.
He nodded to himself. Yep, that’s what I’ll do. I won’t let Rachelle kill her. Just rough her up a little. I’ll make Alex sorry. If I can’t have Anna, he can’t have the one he’s got now.
Earl reached over and shook Rachelle roughly. “Wake up, bitch. It’s time to go.”
She blubbered something and tried to turn over, but there wasn’t enough room in the truck seat. She bumped her head on the door handle and groaned. “Leave me alone,” she mumbled.
“Can’t do that. If you want to kill Alex’s woman, you’ve got to get up. The lights might come back on.”
Rachelle opened her eyes, shook her head and straightened her jeans. “Give me a drink to clear my head.”
Earl didn’t argue. He handed her the bottle, and she took a long swig.
He jerked it out of her hand. “That’s enough. I’m going in there in five minutes whether you’re ready or not.”
It was ten minutes before they eased to the front door. It was locked, but it didn’t take Earl long to pick it. He pushed the door open and was greeted by silence. “Told you the storm would take care of the alarm.”
“So you did. Now which way do we go? I want to kill that Heather bitch tonight.”
He snapped on a small flashlight. “Do you think I’m not in a hurry to get to Hargrove, you fool? Head up those steps.”
Rachelle didn’t argue. She simply followed him as quietly as she could.
•♥ •
Carolyn always checked the inn when a storm awakened her. It was not part of her job, but she knew Mr. Hargrove would appreciate it if he knew. She was about to enter the reception area when she heard somebody messing with the front entrance. She eased the door to the hallway together and dialed 911. She then moved to the door and listened as the two intruders went up the stairs.
She heard them say they were going to hurt Mr. and Mrs. Hargrove. This made Carolyn mad. She wasn’t about to let that happen. She loved Mr. Hargrove because he was good to her, and she was sure she’d soon love Mrs. Hargrove, too. The woman was nice.
When she thought of what she could do to help them, she eased into the reception area and crept to the fireplace. She picked up the poker and headed up the steps.
Carolyn was so used to the place she didn’t need a light, so she put her small flashlight in her pocket. She was also used to creeping around. She never wanted to disturb the guests when she went about her duties at night, so she reverted back to her way of creeping around the house like she did when she lived at home. Carolyn knew her mother didn’t want her around, so she learned to move quickly and silently.
She was upstairs and halfway down the hall when she heard Alex Hargrove’s voice. “What do you want?”
“I’m sorry, sir,” Earl said in a professional voice. “The lightning has damaged some wires and we smelled smoke. We’re warning the guests that there might be a fire. We’re asking everyone to come out of their rooms and gather downstairs.”
“Okay,” Alex said. “We’ll be right down.”
“He didn’t open the door. Now, what are we supposed to do?” Rachelle asked.
“We’re going to wait. They’re probably putting on robes. He’ll open the door in a minute, and we’ll push our way inside and have them cornered.”
He was right. Alex opened the door, and Earl’s fist met him in the face. Alex staggered backward against Heather, almost knocking her down.
Rachelle followed Earl through the door. “I’ve got you now, you slut,” she said as she grabbed Heather’s arm and kicked the door together with her foot.
Carolyn was at the door now. She hesitated and wondered what she should do. She listened for the police sirens, but she heard nothing. “I’ve got to do something,” she whispered to herself as she took a deep breath and listened to the scuffling inside.
She reached for the door and found it unlocked. Easing it open, she saw the woman had her hands on Heather Hargrove’s throat, and the man had a gun pressed to Alex Hargrove’s temple.
Carolyn didn’t hesitate. She ran into the room and in one quick swoop of the poker, she came down on the man’s shoulder. He yelled, fell sideways, and dropped the gun.
The woman was so startled she let go of Heather’s neck and staggered backward. When she did, Carolyn gave her a whack across the knees with the poker. The woman screamed.
Earl went for his gun, but Alex kicked it under the bed and reached for Heather.
The faint sounds of sirens filled the room.
“I’m out of here,” Earl yelled and started for the door.
Carolyn hit him again with the poker.
He screamed in pain as he lashed out, hitting her in the mouth with his fist. She crumpled to the floor and he ran out the door.
Heather and Alex rushed to Carolyn as Rachelle looked around for something to attack them.
Carolyn looked past them and said the shortest sentence she’d said since her accident. “Watch her.”
Heather whirled in time to see a vase headed for her head. She jerked to the side and the vase struck her shoulder. Heather had fury in her eyes when she balled up her fist and hit Rachelle in the nose. Blood spurted, and the woman fell to the floor. Heather turned back to Carolyn, ignoring Rachelle.
When Alex started toward Rachelle, she jumped up and fled the room.
By now, the other guests were filling the hall. Some had flashlights, other had candles. Alex went to the door to waylay them. “It’s all over folks. We had a couple of people break in, but it was nothing to worry about. The police are here.”
It took a little while to calm everyone. The intruders were forgotten when a lightning strike hit a tree in the corner of the inn’s lawn. Guests rushed back to their rooms to peer out windows to see if there was any damage to the vehicles they owned.
Carolyn looked at Alex and said, “Mr. Hargrove, I hope that wasn’t the big oak tree that keeps the side of my porch shaded when the sun is setting and the one the guests like to sit under because you had those nice benches built there for
them because you care for your guests and they like to sit on them when they want to take their drinks or their snacks outside and watch the sunset or their children playing in the yard or they like to park their cars under in the summer so they won’t get so hot and take so long for the air conditioning to cool them down and if it was we’ll have to plant a fast growing tree but it will still take a few years for it to get big enough to give shade or…”
Alex looked across the top of Carolyn’s head and smiled at Heather. She smiled back.
CHAPTER 51
The guests were settled in their rooms. Carolyn had been transported to the hospital to be checked out. Heather and Alex were in the inn office with Chief of Police, Richard Staples. Other officers were stationed to watch the damaged truck and to wait for the coroner.
“Well, I can’t say I’m not glad it’s over,” Alex said. “I do wish it could’ve had a better ending.”
“So do I, but at least no innocent people were hurt. A few more feet, and it would’ve been me or the guy that wheeled in behind them,” Richard said.
“We’re glad it was neither of you.”
“Do you think they died instantly?” Heather asked.
“Probably. They were dead by the time I got out of my car and over to them.”
“It’s ironic how you wheeled in front of them and the other car came in behind, pinning them in as lightning toppled the tree on his old truck.” Alex was shaking his head.
“I know. You wouldn’t believe that crap if it turned up in one of Heather’s stories, would you?” Richard smiled at her.
“Sometimes, it’s true that real life is stranger than fiction,” Heather said.
“What’s our next step, Richard?”
“Mostly sorting out the details. Of course, you have to get your house cleaned up and the damage repaired. You can start any time you want to.” He glanced at Heather. “I’m sorry she destroyed your computers. I hope you can recall your work.”
“I have backups of all my work. I learned to do that a long time ago.”
“Good, then you can start putting things back together.”
“We’ll call professional cleaners. I wouldn’t ask my wife or Irma to tackle anything like that.”
Richard nodded. “Heather, we’re pretty clear on why Earl was after Alex, but the facts are still fuzzy about why Rachelle Albright wanted you out of the way, though they’re falling together fast. Seems she wanted your fiction hero to marry a woman named Rachelle and forget all the other women you let him consort with. A coworker of hers said she sent a book in to your publisher written about the marriage, but of course they rejected it. She was determined the man marry a Rachelle.”
“She was delusional, wasn’t she?”
“We think so. Seems she couldn’t separate reality from fiction where your Sergeant Alex Hargrove is concerned. For some reason, she thought if you were out of the picture, he’d then belong to her.” He grinned. “By the way, why don’t you make him a police chief and use me as inspiration?”
“She’s got all the inspiration she needs.” Alex reached over and took Heather’s hand.
“I’ve read her books, Alex. Ain’t no way you could pull off the things she has her Alex do. You’re like me. You’re too old.”
“Please, guys. You’re going to embarrass me.”
Richard smiled at her. “Why don’t you two try to get a little more sleep? I’ll take care of things outside.”
“Maybe we will, then I have the rest of our day planned.”
“Oh, you have?” Alex eyed her.
“That’s the way it is when you’re married, Alex. They tell you what you want to do all the time. Margie does it to me.”
“If that’s a fact, then may I know what we’re doing?”
“Of course.” She patted his hand. “As Richard suggested, we may sleep a little more, then we’re going to take showers, come down and have a nice, big breakfast. Next, we’re going to check on Irma and Carolyn, then go pick up our sons and grandsons. The six of us are going to the hospital and introduce the boys to their new sisters. At sometime, all ten of us are going to get together and have a family prayer of thanksgiving for all the blessings we have had this week.”
“Looks like she’s come up with a pretty good plan, Alex.”
“I’m sure it’s fine, but I was only half-listening. I was trying to keep track and see if she kept the number of people in the family straight. I didn’t want to end up responsible for somebody I don’t know.”
“You goof ball.” She playfully punched him in the stomach.
“Looks like you two don’t need me any longer. I’ll be in touch.” Richard left the room.
Alex and Heather followed him across the lobby, but as he went out the front door, they went up the stairs with their arms locked around each other. When they reached their room, they dropped their robes, climbed back into bed and snuggled together. Dawn was appearing on the horizon, but neither of them bothered to look out the window. They didn’t want to see the old truck with the crushed cab and the bodies of their enemies trapped inside. They only wanted to think of the wonderful future they and their children had before them.
ABOUT Agnes Alexander
Agnes Alexander is a multi-published author with over 40 books in print. She writes in different genres: Mystery, Romantic Suspense and Western Historical Romance. She loves all these genres, and plans to continue writing in each. Her first book, a mystery, was published in 2004 and was a nominated for the best mystery fiction by a North Carolina writer by the NC Arts and Historical Society. Agnes enjoys working with serious new writers and has helped 4 unpublished writers see their books in print. She is delighted that Prairie Rose Publications has decided to re-print the Coverton Mills series after the demise of the original publisher. She can be contacted at: www.agnesalexander.com.
More by Agnes Alexander
MYRA’S ESCAPE
The Barlow Wives Book 1
He placed an ad for a cook and housekeeper…what he got was a mail-order bride!
XENIA’S RENEGADE
Lured by a lie, Xenia must save herself and her sister.
BELINDA’S YANKEE
Knowing Union soldiers killed her father, will she save the Yankee major’s life?
Stalking her Dreams (A Coverton Mills Romance Book 1) Page 25
