by Anne Barwell
“Don’t worry, dear. It’s not your Ethan,” she said quietly. Mrs. O’Neil was always there when something went down. Heidi swore she had a sixth sense for trouble, but Donovan stuck to his theory that she had a direct line to the local police station. “It’s that young Ms. Fitzgerald from the bank. Poor thing.”
“Ms. Fitzgerald? But Ethan….” Donovan yanked free of her and walked briskly over to Doug. “What happened? Is she okay?”
“I’m no paramedic,” Doug said, “but the ambulance is on its way. Lucky it was Trudy who found her, so she’s done what she can.” He lowered his voice. “Why did you ask about Ethan? Do you know where he is?”
“I came looking for him. He was supposed….” Donovan trailed off.
“Trudy heard shouting, but by the time she got here, Ms. Fitzgerald was on the ground,” Doug said grimly. “There’s blood on the back of her head from a nasty-looking wound, but no sign of whoever is responsible.”
“Perhaps she slipped?” Donovan knew that was very unlikely. He’d already seen the red stain on the wall, and if Jane had been walking through here she wouldn’t have had her back against it.
“Come on, we both know that’s not what happened. Trudy said one of the people shouting was a man, but there was no sign of him by the time she got here.”
Trudy would have had to go around through Ross Street to reach the alley. While she had a view of it from her back window, there was no direct access to it from her property.
“Anyone could have come and gone during the minutes it would have taken her to get there. She wouldn’t have been close enough to identify someone out of a lineup.”
“I’m not one to jump to conclusions, but it does look as though Ms. Fitzgerald was attacked. You said you were looking for Ethan, and you expected him to be here, or have been here.”
“Surely you can’t think Ethan is involved in this?” Donovan asked. “He’d never hurt anyone.”
“At least not intentionally.” While Doug was doing his job in playing devil’s advocate, it didn’t mean Donovan had to like it. “He was seen entering the lane shortly before Ms. Fitzgerald was found.”
“Come on, Doug, you know as well as I do that there’s another explanation for this. Ethan would have stuck around and gotten help,” Donovan insisted. “Look, I’m not saying it’s an accident, but if someone’s responsible, it’s not Ethan.”
Doug held up his hand for Donovan to stop talking while he listened to his radio. “Ambulance is nearly here. This isn’t the place to be talking about this. I have a couple of leads to follow. Go home and check Ethan isn’t there. I’ll be in touch.”
“I can call Heidi—” He needed to find Ethan, not waste time on a wild goose chase. Something was wrong. He knew it.
“Heidi’s not home,” Doug said. “She’s gone to visit Mrs. McPherson. Please, Donovan, this is a police investigation. Let me do my job.”
“Okay,” Donovan said reluctantly. “I’ll go home like a good boy. Let me know how Ms. Fitzgerald is when you have news?”
Doug nodded, his attention already shifting onto clearing the growing crowd of onlookers and well-meaning busybodies. Donovan slipped away, heading back to his car. He couldn’t do anything for Jane, and he trusted Doug enough that he’d keep his word and update him on any change in her condition.
If Ethan had entered Woolsey Lane shortly before she’d been attacked, had he seen something? Or worse still….
Donovan punched in Ethan’s number and waited.
“Pick up, pick up,” he muttered. “I need to know you’re okay.” If Doug was right and someone had done this to Jane, what was to stop them attacking someone else?
Oh shit.
Donovan cut the call quickly. What if Ethan had seen what had happened and that was why he couldn’t be found? He’d be a witness and…. No, Donovan wasn’t going there.
If Ethan still had his phone, they still might be able to track him.
“Stupid, stupid!” Donovan hoped he hadn’t just well and truly screwed over that idea. If, and that was a big if, that was where Ethan was, making that call could have just alerted someone else to the fact that Ethan had his phone on him.
ETHAN FELT his phone vibrate in his pocket for a second time. He ignored it and focused on the road ahead.
Oh hell. Donovan. He must be worried sick by now, especially if he knew what had happened to Jane.
“Something wrong?” Gary asked from the passenger seat next to him.
“Apart from the fact you have a gun pointed at me, everything’s just peachy.” Ethan cringed inside after blurting out the words.
The bloke has a gun. Don’t upset him, you idiot.
“Smartarse kind of bloke, are you?” Gary’s voice hardened. Ethan didn’t dare take his eyes off the road to look at him.
“No,” he said quietly. “I’m scared, okay? I didn’t mean anything by it. I’ve already told you I’ll do what you say. I got into your car like you asked, and I’m driving you where you want to go, aren’t I?”
It hadn’t taken long to put the town behind them. Ethan recognized the road leading out to the inn, but he had no idea as to their destination. Was Gary planning to hole up somewhere or just keep going until they ran out of petrol? Despite having the gun, Gary seemed a little nervous, although pointing that out probably wouldn’t be a good idea.
“That’s good,” Gary said. “Keep being scared and doing what you’re told and everything will be okay. I’m not going to shoot you unless I have to, and if I do, well, that will be your decision, won’t it?”
What was it with bad guys always telling their captives that they were responsible for their own death? Ethan wished he hadn’t read that stack of detective novels. A couple of them had described all too well what it felt like to be shot, and he didn’t want to test how accurate the writer’s research had been.
“You’re the one holding the gun,” he muttered.
He saw the sign for Crossroads Inn ahead. It waved in the breeze, inviting him in. Donovan would still be in the village, wondering where he was, and Ethan didn’t want him anywhere near this. Donovan had enough issues with losing….
“Where are we going?” Ethan asked brightly, deliberately interrupting his train of thought.
“You really don’t know when to shut up, do you?” Gary leaned over and shoved the barrel of his gun against Ethan’s side. Ethan flinched. “Not long now. Keep driving and I’ll tell you when to stop. Don’t get any ideas of trying to escape. You’re useful for now. That’s not going to last forever.”
I thought you said you weren’t going to shoot me. Make up your bloody mind.
Ethan nodded, then wondered if he should have shaken his head instead. His hands tightened on the steering wheel. He noticed idly they were shaking.
“Turn left up here,” Gary said.
“You want me to drive across a field?” Ethan wondered how stupid this guy was. It had rained the night before, and the grass was wet. Anyone following them would see their tire tracks. X marks the spot and all that.
If there was anyone following them.
“It’s not a field; it’s a road of sorts.” Gary seemed annoyed at the question. “But if I asked you to, you’d drive across a fucking field, okay?”
“Okay, sure. Whatever you say.” Ethan indicated he was turning left and kept an eye out for the road Gary had mentioned.
If you’re that stupid, I’m not going to stop you.
“You don’t need to indicate. There’s no one out here. That’s why we’re here.” Gary shook his head. “Turn here, and keep driving until we reach that old barn in the distance.”
“Okay.” Ethan could see it now that they were almost on top of it. Gary was right. It was a road of sorts, very old and full of potholes.
He frowned. Wasn’t this barn on Sally’s property? Why go to the trouble of going on the run and then hole up next door to the inn?
Gary chuckled. “I see you’ve figured it out. No one will look for us th
is close to home. They’d expect us to run as far and as fast as we could. This barn is deserted, has been for months. Sally’s not planning to start repairs on it until next summer. It’s funny how chatty people can be when you ask the right questions and pay them a few compliments. You can find out a lot of useful information that way.”
“Where do you want me to park the car?” Ethan asked as they approached the barn.
Although both the barn doors were closed, one of them had a plank-sized hole in it. Had someone broken in, or had the piece of timber already been missing?
“Get out and open the doors,” Gary said, “then walk inside. Don’t get any ideas of making a run for it.”
Where would he go anyway? The field around the barn was very exposed, and Ethan had no doubt Gary would follow through on his threat to shoot him.
Once Ethan entered the barn, Gary drove the car inside. “Close the doors behind us,” he ordered.
Ethan hesitated as he began to push the doors shut. Could he slip through them, slam them shut, and lock Gary in somehow? Damn it. He couldn’t remember if there was anything lying around outside that might be used as a makeshift lock.
“I do hope you’re not planning to leave,” Gary said softly from behind him.
“Of course not.” Ethan closed the doors to what he hoped wouldn’t become his tomb. He blinked, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. It wasn’t completely dark, thank God. A sliver of sunlight snuck in through the missing board on the door, and more illuminated the top of the hayloft from the high window above it.
The sudden burst of loud music made both of them jump.
“Sit down, and don’t move.” Gary reached into his pocket and pulled out his mobile. He frowned. “I told you not to call me! What do you want?”
Ethan edged into the corner and sat down on a pile of straw. He kept his movements slow, so as not to aggravate Gary any further. Despite Gary’s bluster, he seemed on edge, and Ethan suspected it wouldn’t take much for him to do something really stupid. Like shooting his hostage.
Was that what he was now? A hostage?
Okay, he wasn’t going to think about that too much. Hostages didn’t tend to have long life spans once they stopped being useful. Gary had already told him his usefulness wouldn’t last forever. So if he wanted to survive this, he needed to convince Gary to keep him alive.
How the hell was he supposed to do that?
Chapter 14
BRAKES SQUEALED as Donovan pulled up outside the inn. He ran from the car into the inn, then fumbled with his keys and took a couple of goes to get the front door open.
“Ethan!” Donovan yelled as soon as he was inside, although he knew it was a waste of time.
Of course Ethan wasn’t at the inn. Why would he be? He was supposed to be on his way to the hardware store to meet Donovan. He wouldn’t have just walked back. Not without letting Donovan know.
The house was empty. Not even a cat to greet him, as they still hadn’t found her. Heidi wasn’t home yet either.
Fuck this. He needed to do something. Donovan had never been one to sit and let stuff happen to him, and he sure as hell wasn’t about to stay home when Ethan was in trouble.
He had to be in trouble. Otherwise where the hell was he?
Donovan stalked into the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee. He had to think this through logically without letting his emotions cloud his judgment.
Ethan would be okay.
He’d be okay.
Doug was doing his job. He’d had to send Donovan away. Whatever had happened, Doug was right. They couldn’t continue their conversation in the middle of a crime scene with witnesses listening in.
Tires skidded on the gravel on the ground outside as he was finishing his coffee.
“Door’s unlocked,” Donovan yelled, pouring another cup of coffee when he refilled his own. “I’m in the kitchen!”
“Is that for me?” Doug took his police cap off and set it down on the table before grabbing his coffee. He didn’t sit down, but instead leaned against the counter next to where Donovan stood.
“Yeah, it’s for you. Any news of Ms. Fitzgerald?”
“She’s awake.” Doug’s expression was grim. “You’re not going to like this.”
Donovan knew that look. It was never followed by good news. “Are you here officially or unofficially?”
“A bit of both.” Doug took a long sip of coffee. He’d speak when he was ready to. Donovan had learned from experience that it didn’t pay to hurry him. “Ms. Fitzgerald isn’t making a lot of sense, but she’s said enough so we can figure out what happened. Officially I’m here to see if I can find any clues as to where Ethan and Gary Smith might be.”
“Gary Smith? What’s he got to do with it?”
“Remember those bank robbers? He’s part of the gang.” Doug put down his cup. “Trudy said she heard a man’s voice. Ms. Fitzgerald did some checking about the story Smith told her, and put a few pieces together. They argued and he pushed her. She remembers seeing Ethan. He was trying to help, and she thinks she saw a gun….”
“Oh hell.” Donovan bit his lip, images flooding his mind. Memories he didn’t want to deal with right now. This wasn’t like that. It wasn’t going to be like that. He pulled himself together sharply. “There’s more. What else aren’t you telling me?”
“There were bloody fingerprints on the wall behind her.”
“Surely you don’t think they’re Ethan’s?” Donovan stepped closer to Doug. “You know damn well he’s not working with this Smith guy. Ethan’s a good guy. I trust him.”
What if it was Ethan’s blood? What if he’d been shot?
Donovan swallowed. He wasn’t going there, couldn’t afford to go there. Ethan wasn’t going to end up dead like….
“For the record, I don’t think he’s working with Smith either.” If Doug noticed Donovan’s reaction, he was decent enough not to comment on it. “Craig and Patricia confirmed they told him about the shortcut and he was going to meet you. I think he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and probably tried to help.”
“That sounds more like it. So what are you doing here? You guys need to be out looking for them.” Donovan clenched one fist. “If they’re both missing, there’s a good chance Ethan is a hostage… or….”
“We haven’t found a body,” Doug said quietly. “I’m going with the hostage idea too. I also doubt Ethan’s hurt. If he was, he’d only slow Smith down, so it would make more sense he’d leave him behind if that was the case. That’s the other reason I’m here. Someone spotted a car matching the description of Smith’s rental taking the road out this way. She said there were two men in the vehicle. Have you seen anything?”
“No.” Donovan fished out his cell. “Ethan has a GPS app on his cell. We can track him. Right?”
“Right. I can track him, because it would be illegal for you to do it.” Doug gave him a pointed look. “Smith’s turned off the GPS tracker on his car, so that’s out.”
It was illegal for Doug to do it too unless he thought Ethan’s life was at risk, but Donovan wasn’t about to remind him of that just yet.
“Whatever you say,” Donovan said. He’d get more information from Doug if he didn’t argue with him. So Gary had at least thought enough to turn his own GPS off. How long would it be before he realized Ethan had a phone and destroyed it?
“Grab the number for me, and I’ll make a call.” Instead of speaking into his radio, Doug pulled his cell from his pocket and punched in a number. “Amy? It’s Doug. Can you do something for me, off the record?” He put one hand over the mouthpiece of his phone. “If I wait for a warrant, it might be too late. You didn’t hear any of this.”
Donovan shrugged. “Hear what?” They’d deal with any legal crap later, and he’d take the blame if he had to. He wasn’t putting his job on the line like Doug was. A warrant wasn’t needed. Ethan’s life was in danger. Donovan would swear that to whoever would listen and worry about the proof later.
“Number?” Doug asked a few moments later, after he’d outlined the situation to Amy. Donovan held up his phone so Doug could read it out. Constable Amy Wilson had worked with Doug for about a year. Shortly after she’d arrived, stories had circulated the village about her computer skills. He nodded in response to something Amy had said and then repeated the number. “You’re sure? Crap. Okay, thanks.”
“Problem?” Donovan crossed his arms over his chest. If Gary hadn’t had any qualms about shooting civilians at the bank, he’d get rid of Ethan as soon as he wasn’t needed. The clock was already ticking.
“I have a location. Amy’s called for backup.” Doug grabbed his cap. “Thanks for your help. I’ll call you.”
“You’re not waiting for that backup.” Donovan cut Doug off at the door, moving in front of him to block his way. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“This is a police matter, and it’s dangerous. You’re not coming with me.”
“Like hell I am.” Donovan glared at him. “I’m capable of holding my own. You know that.”
Doug hesitated. “If something happened to you, Heidi would kill me. Hell, I wouldn’t be happy either. Just let me do my job.”
“What. Aren’t. You. Telling. Me?” Donovan stood his ground. “I’m a fucking Marine, Doug, and you know it. You’re not going into this without backup, and we’re doing this together whether you like it or not. Heidi would kill me if something happened to you. Stop arguing. We’re wasting time.”
“Okay. Heidi’s right about you. You’re as stubborn as a mule. You know that, right?” Doug still wasn’t sharing.
“Doug?” Donovan grabbed Doug’s shoulder. “Yes, I know I’m emotionally involved, but we’re wasting time. Time Ethan doesn’t have.”
Doug grimaced. “Okay, but you do what I say or forget it.”
“I’ll do what you say,” Donovan said. Sure he’d follow orders; he was good at that. Once Ethan was safe and Gary had what was coming to him. He gave Doug a mock salute and stepped out of his way. “Sir.”
