A Lethal Time (A Samantha Jamison Mystery Volume 4)

by Peggy A. Edelheit

  Another vanishing.

  I had my hand on the doorknob and paused. It was still daylight, so as far as I was concerned, I was pretty safe. I went and peeked behind the curtain. Standing there was Jacob, the artist from across the way. Now, what did he want? This wasn’t exactly working into my playbook. I never liked snags and this sure as hell felt like one.

  I wanted this thing over. We were all leaving the next day. Sally and Tom were due anytime. If everything went as I planned, everyone was going to be surprised by my sleuthing. My investigative skills and posse would then be history and we’d all be happily on our way home.

  I was sure Sally would be shocked and maybe upset, about being used for a base of operations, but she was the one who had wanted me here in the first place. Of course no doubt with good reason, what I thought was going on and what was actually going on was more complicated than I had previously thought.

  Could Sally and Tom have been in on this thing from the beginning? Did they give Dan permission to move in and set up here for the purpose of an investigation? Were all of them aware how extensive this whole thing might be?

  I had to slow down. I was starting to run in overdrive. I couldn’t let my crazy writer’s imagination get ahead of the facts, which at the moment were not exactly well-defined, but I was working on making them so.

  …Okay, attempting.

  My immediate problem was how to get rid of Jacob. I faked a smile and swung the door open. A flash of metal caught my eye. I looked down. Damn. A gun was pointed in my direction. That was definitely not a good sign.

  Nailing my smile in place, I said, “Well, what took you so long? I didn’t expect you to show up today, Jacob, but I figured there was always that slight chance you might.”

  Can I be honest here? I was completely shocked.

  Chapter 84

  What Do I Do Now?

  There was a flicker of doubt, and then he said, “Yeah? Then you’re much smarter than I originally thought.”

  “I have been known to turn a few heads.”

  He gave my body the once-over. It was unsettling.

  “I hadn’t intended it that way. I meant, mentally.”

  “Yeah, yeah, I guess I’d give you credit for that, too.”

  This guy was nothing like the affable painter I had encountered a few days earlier. He was bordering on loathsome. My mind began back-stepping, remembering a previous conversation Martha, Betty and Hazel had with the substitute librarian, who placed that lumber truck driver at Jacob’s house.

  I took a shot. “I guess you knew more than you let on about the forest stripping around here.”

  He merely blinked, motioning with his gun for me to back up into the house, then closed the door and locked it.

  That was not a good sign. I glanced out the kitchen bay window, noticing the sun was setting behind the farmhouse over the forest. Evening and dread were seeping in. I didn’t have a plan B because I thought plan A, getting Sarah, was the one.

  Note to self: remember to expect the unexpected.

  I slid my eyes over and glanced out that window again, looking for Dan. He was nowhere to be seen. He must be done with Amanda and Luke and was over by Boss’ coral.

  I was weak-kneed, but certainly not going to let Jacob know that. Never show doubt or weakness. At least that much I’ve learned over the last few incidents I was lucky enough to walk away from.

  “Sit down,” he said. “Make yourself comfortable. I’m expecting someone shortly, then we can be done with this.”

  I didn’t like the sound of that. It had a kind of final ring to it, you know? And as far as that word, final, I wanted no part of it. I was totally into words like continuing, constant, lifesaving… You get the idea? I was not going with this negative rant of his. I needed to get out of there, pronto!

  After several minutes of finger tapping, I asked to use the bathroom, adding a heartfelt plea, “It’s urgent.”

  He looked at his watch and motioned for me to go.

  I headed for the stairs and the guest bedroom where I was staying with Clay. He stopped me on the first step, pointing. “The powder room is right next to the kitchen.”

  I hunched my shoulders and tried to look embarrassed. “It’s that time of month and my stuff is upstairs, sorry.”

  He paused, uncomfortable with the subject matter. “…Okay, but I’ll stand outside the door waiting for you.”

  He followed me up. I entered the bathroom that attached to our bedroom and locked it quietly. …And now my exit!

  Chapter 85

  The Not So Great Escape

  I made the necessary noises, banging, scraping, opening and closing the medicine cabinet. Then flushed the toilet and ran the faucet at a trickle, enough to camouflage me cranking open the window and lifting off the screen in the attached guest bedroom.

  Below was the roof of the pergola that covered the back patio in front of the bay window in the kitchen. Since Jacob was upstairs outside my bath, he wouldn’t see me climb down and land in front of the bay window in the kitchen.

  When I dropped to the slate patio, I heard a shout from up above. “Hey, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  It was Jacob hanging out of my bedroom window.

  I guess that colonial lock wasn’t as good as I thought.

  I took off, running for the covered arch that connected the house to the barn, racing toward the pond and Boss’ corral. Dan had to be there and hopefully I would be safe. I heard more yelling and glanced back to see Jacob snagged in the pergola. Perfect. I had a jump-start.

  I ran like there was a fire under me, panting and shoving branches out of the way as I flew down the path to the right. It was now getting shadowy and dusky out. I had to get there before it was completely dark. Surely Dan would be carrying a gun and I’d have protection.

  I was wrong. He wasn’t even there. Boss was nibbling on some grass. I stopped at the fence totally out of breath, panicked at what to do. Then I heard pounding footsteps in the distance. It had to be Jacob. Now what? I gave Boss the once over and became sick to the pit of my stomach.

  There was no way I would even try to ride him.

  Just then I heard a whinny coming from my left and I turned. Amanda, that good-natured Morgan I rode, trotted over out of the shadows, happy to see me. The minute Amanda hit the rail I reached out and she gently nudged me. I didn’t have time to think what I was about to do. I climbed up onto the rail fencing, grabbed her mane, leapt on, and without thinking, gave a kick to her flank.

  I was hoping she had more sense on getting me out of this dangerous situation than I did. She immediately took off in the opposite direction across the corral. I briefly turned back and saw to my amazement Jacob race through the corral gate behind us and leap onto Boss. Uh, oh!

  Two bad-asses riding as one!

  I turned forward again. We were approaching the end of the long corral. No gate! My flash recall came up with the spill into Jackson’s pond. Panic stricken, I yelled, “Hey, Amanda, remember? We don’t do the jump thing! Wait!” To my disbelief, she arched her back, took a leap and sailed smoothly over the top rail with ease, just like in the movies, while I desperately strained to hold on, laughing out loud.

  My editor was not going to believe one word of this.

  Chapter 86

  What Great Escape?

  When we approached the main path that led back to Sally and Tom’s farmhouse, Amanda, for some reason, headed in the direction of the darkest section of the forest. Why countermand her and go back when whoever was meeting Jacob might be there? Maybe Amanda knew of a shortcut to Major’s. At least he had a gun.

  To my dismay, she stayed on the exact course I had previously taken the other day. It was all I could handle, dodging and ducking the branches as she weaved around evergreens and leaped over downed logs on her way into the densely-canopied area.

  A quick prayer passed my lips as I clung to her wide girth and mane. Was she traveling on pure instinct at this point? I bare
ly made out the wall looming up ahead and was sick. No! The property-line stone row! Twice in one day? I still felt those bruises from my spill in the pond.

  “Stop!” I pleaded. “Now you’re pressing our luck.”

  But Amanda had her own agenda. I braced myself as she picked up speed and cleanly flew right over it.

  After another minute, Amanda slowed down to a trot. I briefly turned back to have a look. Thank goodness the moon was out. No one was there as far as I could see. Nor did I hear anyone. Jacob probably thought we kept on following the stone wall. With luck, he was now doing the same. I kept checking for a cell signal, but there was none.

  I turned back to stare straight ahead, patted Amanda’s neck as she kept moving. “What do you think, Amanda? Think those two are long gone?” I turned once more to have another look. “Sure looks like it.” Having no idea as to where or which direction we were traveling, I let Amanda take the lead. As we rode in silence, I was still amazed by my inexplicable, lucky escape.

  We emerged from the woods at the rear of Robinson’s property. I patted Amanda again, elated. “Great job!” As she walked, I checked my cell again. Damn! Nothing. I glanced around. Nobody. All was clear up ahead, too.

  I kicked Amanda’s flank and headed straight for the Fielding’s and was there in no time. As we approached, I gave a sigh of relief at seeing their lights on.

  “Hold up!” Amanda abruptly stopped. “No more fences! I’ve had enough.” I’d climb the Fielding’s fence and run the rest of the way on foot. I carefully slid off and gave her rump a tap, already knowing from Crystal that Amanda was a homebound horse. I gently tapped her rear flank again.

  “Go on home, Amanda. Thanks.”

  After a look back at me, she slowly trotted back toward the fields and disappeared into the night. I turned and headed toward my ticket out, feeling relieved, knowing the Fieldings would let me use their phone to call for help.

  Chapter 87

  What Plan B?

  If I made the necessary phone calls, I could still recoup my plan to trap Sarah that I had intended in the first place. But then I stopped. Wait a minute! Was I rearranging chairs on a sinking ship? What was I thinking? There was no longer a grand plan, A or B for that matter. Jacob had thrown me off. Was he working for Sarah? Most likely.

  I really didn’t know who else was involved, did I? Who was going to join Jacob at Sally’s house? It could be anybody. Plus I had to get hold of Martha and everyone else to tell them not to meet me back there. Going back to Sally’s farmhouse was clearly dangerous.

  I didn’t want to go the police route, at least, not yet. If only I could get hold of Clay. At least I’d know the ladies were safe and away from the farmhouse. I tried to call him on my cell. Still, no signal! I couldn’t get in the Fielding’s door fast enough. Major had a gun. Another gun would be more than welcome, especially since I had no idea where Jacob was. I started to run.

  By the time I made it to their side door, I was out of breath. It seemed that all I was doing lately was running out of breath. I was also running out of time and convinced that the paths through the woods were used to cut through these properties without being noticed. It worked perfectly, especially for anyone thoroughly familiar with which way to go and how long it took. Jacob knew it, but hopefully wouldn’t figure out that now I realized it, too.

  And believe me, there were enough people around here who knew which way was safe and which way wasn’t. Now it was up to me to figure out who was who. Not so easy when everyone was throwing me off by surprising me with his or her unexpected behavior.

  But then again, I seemed to thrive on being thrown the unexpected and running with it. This time though, I was running more than usual, which should have been a clear warning signal for me to take precautions and keep my nose to the ground so to speak.

  I bent forward, resting my hands on my knees to catch my breath. I didn’t want to scare the two elderly Fieldings, but I needed to get to their phone and get some backup. I smiled. I was finally safe. I could call Clay.

  Chapter 88

  Knock, Knock, Who’s There?

  I stood there patiently waiting for someone to answer the door. I always referred to it as hurry up and wait. I suffered from that condition on a daily basis. So whenever I had all the time in the world, things sailed smoothly. Now was not one of those times.

  I started to bang on the door, desperate to get in and get to a phone. Finally, after about three minutes, someone opened it. It was Major, wearing, are you ready for this, a dressing gown and scarf. I had stepped into a Humphrey Bogart movie.

  Of course, at that particular moment, he could have been wearing a bright red clown suit and it wouldn’t have fazed me. I needed to make some calls. I grabbed the door from his grasp and rushed by him looking around for a phone.

  “What the…” he said, surprised by my presence.

  “I know, I know, you weren’t expecting me. I’ll explain in a minute. I need to find your phone first to make a call.”

  “Whatever for?” he asked, closing the door.

  I turned back. “I need to warn Clay. Jacob is after me!”

  “Why would he be after you? I don’t understand.”

  “I don’t either. Well, no, I guess I do. It looks like he’s involved with all the clear-cutting going on in this area.”

  I wasn’t sure about the bikes, so I said nothing.

  “You don’t say!” said Major, completely surprised.

  “He might also be involved with someone else, too. I didn’t hang around to find out who. I took off. Being alone, I grabbed the only mode of transportation, Amanda.”

  “Why would you be calling Clay and not the police?”

  “I don’t want to scare whoever it is away just yet.”

  “You don’t?” he asked, still somewhat confused.

  “No, but I intend to find them before it’s too late.”

  “Too late for what?” he asked now intrigued.

  “Time for whoever else is guilty to skip town.”

  “Who did you originally have in mind?”

  “Well, it sure wasn’t Jacob, I can tell you that.”

  “I’m quite surprised myself,” said Major.

  “Don’t be. The guy was a total fake.”

  “But he’s such a good artist.”

  “Trust me, don’t let that fool you.”

  “…Why would he be involved in all of this?”

  “That’s what I can’t figure out,” I said.

  “Now, what is this related to again?”

  “Sarah’s missing forests, remember? The clear-cutting.”

  “Oh! Right! …But how did you figure that out?”

  “Someone in town saw the same lumber truck driver talking to Jacob in front of his house.”

  “Who? …Is that all you have?” Major asked skeptically.

  “It’s the exact same driver spotted being paid a wad of cash by Robinson before he pulled his truck away.”

  Major stepped back. “…How clever you figured it out!”

  Chapter 89

  Who Saw Who Do What?

  “And how unfortunate,” said a voice from the hallway.

  I turned around to have a look and found myself face to face with Millicent, who was holding a gun. “I…”

  “You don’t have to explain further,” she said. “Jacob already called us from Sally and Tom’s farm. That idiot went in circles looking for you on foot in the dark.”

  “But the last I saw, he was riding Boss.”

  “The moron didn’t realize that was a mistake.”

  I tried not to, but couldn’t help picturing it and laughed.

  “What’s so funny?” Major asked.

  “After Boss, I’m surprised he could still talk.”

  Major shrugged. “He’s talented, but not very smart.”

  Even though the situation was heading south, I was now more curious than ever. “What surprises me is the two of you,” I said, looking from one to the other,
still amazed.

  “Why?” Millicent asked, affronted. “Do we look that decrepit and stupid? Major, dear, how about you go get us some tea while I babysit Miss Troublemaker here.”

  I bit my tongue to stop myself from spewing a stinging retort. I could see I was treading on thin ice with anger lacing every word this sweet-looking, old lady uttered. I was wrong about Sarah. That meant George lied.

  “I would never have suspected your involvement.”

  She smiled and sat down in a wing chair, making herself comfortable. “Why thank you, Samantha. Coming from you, that is a real compliment.”

  “What I don’t understand is why you’re involved with clear-cutting? There’s not that much money involved, is there? I would think it’s not worth your time, considering this house and your lifestyle.”

  She laughed. “You’re right. In the long run, it doesn’t amount to a hill of beans, but you see, it’s only a sliver of our enterprises that we’re involved in.”

  I nodded, finally understanding where this was all tied together. They were running a syndicate here, a lot of enterprises running under one roof. But I still wasn’t sure to what extent their tentacles reached. In the meantime, I wanted out of this spider web I was trapped in.

  She watched me like a hawk. “Don’t get any ideas. You are not going anywhere and certainly not using our phone.”

  I smiled. “Understood. Can I ask you some questions?”

  Millicent said, “Depends on what they are. I do have my limits as to what you should know.”

  “Oh, I was just curious as to why you went to all this trouble playing the innocent couple. Did you think you would actually get away with murder?”