By the time he returned to his car, he was shaking. Where had she gone? He climbed into his vehicle and called her. It went straight to voicemail. It was doubtful she would answer because she was still pissed at him. He called Josh. “Call Lacy and tell her about Grey. She won’t answer my calls.”
“You can’t find Grey?”
“No, I’ll go to his apartment and see if he’s there.”
Dylan put his car in reverse and was just about to back out of the parking spot when he saw Michael Smith looking at him. He lowered his window and asked, “Have you seen Lacy?”
Instead of answering he wrinkled up his nose and asked, “Where did you get this car?”
He didn’t have time for conversation. He needed to find Grey. With more heat in his voice, he asked, “Have you seen Lacy or Tommy Ross?”
“I saw Lacy, Michelle, and Tommy with a picnic basket. They got in Tommy’s vehicle and drove away a couple of hours ago.”
Dylan hit the steering wheel with his fist. “Damn.”
“What’s wrong, Dylan?”
“I don’t have time to explain. If they come back, tell Lacy to call me. Tell her it’s an emergency.”
Brow drew together in worry, Michael placed his hand on the side of Dylan’s car to stay him. “What kind of an emergency? Is Lacy in danger?”
“I told you I don’t have time to explain.” As he pulled out of the parking lot his phone rang. It was Josh. “Lacy’s not answering my calls either.”
“One of Lacy’s friends said she saw Lacy, Michelle, and Grey get into Grey’s vehicle with a picnic basket.” He heard Josh telling Beth.
She took the phone away from Josh. “They are going to the waterfall. It’s the most logical place to have a picnic.”
“Thanks, Beth. Call Grant and tell him where they are going.”
“Grant, Nina, and Grace went to a farmers’ meeting in Raleigh. I’ll try to let them know what’s happening.” There was a pause. “Josh and I are leaving now. We’ll meet you at Twelve Oaks.” She hung up the phone.
Back on the road, Dylan kept telling himself Grey wouldn’t jeopardize anyone finding out his true identity. Lacy and Michelle were not in any danger. But then again Grey might not be able to control his impulses. Again he wished he would have told Lacy something was off about Grey. He pulled off the interstate and increased his speed. Reaching speeds over one hundred miles an hour, he raced toward Twelve Oaks.
****
Lacy did her best not to take her bad mood out on Michelle and Tommy. Last night when she got back to her dorm, she had been too distraught to sleep. Images of Dylan humping his whore kept slipping into her mind. The way his hands clutched her huge ass had her simmering mad. She was a fool. Now that she saw firsthand the life that he led, she knew it was over. He preferred a life of crime and danger, preferred to have sex with big ass whores.
Sitting in the backseat, Lacy grimaced when Michelle leaned across the console and kissed Tommy on the cheek. They had been more affectionate than usual that morning. She should be ashamed of herself. Her best friend was in love and she should be happy for her.
That morning Tommy asked Michelle to move in with him. Of course Michelle said yes. Why wouldn’t she when she had the love of such a great guy? He was one in a million. Too bad she hadn’t fallen in love with someone like Tommy. The man she fell in love with liked living on the edge. Men like Dylan attract violence.
It was time for her to move on and rent her own apartment. On more than one occasion Grant had offered to pay for an apartment. She didn’t like charity so she would keep up with everything and pay him back when she got her first job. Biomedical engineers were in high demand and paid high salaries. She should have no problem finding employment after graduation.
“I can’t wait for Tommy to see the waterfall.”
Lacy had tried to convince them to go on the picnic celebration without her, but Michelle and Tommy insisted she come along. Tommy had been adamant she skip school and spend the day at the waterfall with them. As usual, she felt like a third wheel.
The twelve oaks came into view lifting Lacy’s spirits a little. Thick green limbs stretched toward the sky. She lowered her window so she could breathe in the fresh air. Maybe a picnic at the falls was just what she needed. She had worn her bathing suit under her clothes hoping the water would be warm enough to swim.
The second they cleared the last two oaks, Shadow ran out to meet them barking loudly as he did each time an unfamiliar vehicle drove into the yard. Lacy was the first to emerge, dropping to her knees, she lavished him with attention. Suddenly his demeanor changed. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end and he began to growl. Tommy offered his hand, but Shadow inched back.
“I don’t know what’s gotten into Shadow. He’s usually very friendly.” Positive he would attack Tommy if she didn’t restrain him, she wrapped her hands around his neck. “Shhh, Shadow. What’s wrong, boy?” Embarrassed at his reaction toward Tommy, Lacy placed her hand in his collar and pulled him toward the house. “Sorry Tommy, I’ll put him in the house.”
Michelle looked at Shadow in confusion. “I’ve never seen Shadow act vicious before. He’s such a loving, devoted dog.”
“There’s definitely something about me he doesn’t like.”
Something in the way Tommy spoke caused the hairs on the back of her neck to stand up. What was wrong with her? Was she so exhausted she was imagining things?
Lacy tugged Shadow in the house and shut the door. She dropped to her knees and stroked her hands over his shiny coat to calm him. “It’s okay, Shadow. Tommy’s a good guy.” Guilt consumed her. She had planned to take him with them to the waterfall. He loved to explore the forest and all the new smells. “The family will be back in a couple of hours. They’ll let you out when they get home.” Mondays, Maria volunteered at Juan’s school and Grant, Nina, and Grace had gone to a farmers’ meeting in Raleigh.
Shadow crawled to the door on his belly and began to whine. Even though she found his behavior odd, she opened the door wide enough to wiggle through and hurried outside. Loud barks penetrated the quiet and she couldn’t shake the feeling he was trying to tell her something.
She stood and watched Tommy and Michelle. She was dragging him toward the horses begging for attention at the fence. It was obvious he was uncomfortable with the animals. Michelle coaxed him closer while she stroked the horses’ noses. Instead of touching the horses, he stayed back and watched her. “They don’t bite.”
“That’s what you said about the dog.”
“Isn’t it beautiful here?”
He gave a quick sweep of the pasture and barn. “Yes, it is. It’s very peaceful except for that incessant barking.” He reached out and grabbed her hand. “Come on, Michelle. I’m hungry. Let’s go see that amazing waterfall you can’t stop talking about.”
Lacy pasted a fake smile on her lips and peered at Tommy and Michelle as they crossed the yard hand in hand. “We’ll take the truck.”
“My vehicle’s fine. It has four-wheel drive.”
“It might get scratched. The road is narrow and full of mud holes.”
“I don’t mind.” He opened the back door of his Edge and waited for her to step inside.
Tommy’s vehicle was almost new. It didn’t have a scratch on the body. She couldn’t believe he would drive such a nice ride on the treacherous road to the falls. Well, she warned him. She slipped into the backseat and he closed the door. Thankfully, she couldn’t hear Shadow barking any longer. She wished she knew what had him so upset.
Tired from not getting any sleep last night, she curled into the seat and shut her eyes. In moments the sway of the vehicle bumping over the road lulled her into a deep slumber.
****
A gentle hand on her shoulder woke Lacy. “We’re here.” Michelle was smiling from ear to ear.
She sat up and stretched. It felt great to get a little shut eye. It had helped her ill mood immensely. It was the first day of June and very wa
rm. Tommy carried the picnic basket to the shade of the oak and placed it on the quilt Michelle had spread out under the limbs. Lacy shouted, “I’m not very hungry. I think I’ll go for a swim.”
She shucked off her clothes on the bank of the pool of water. Scanning the top of the falls, she searched for Hilda. It was the first time Lacy had come to the falls and she hadn’t showed herself. She shivered as she stepped into the cold water. Inch by inch she felt the frigid water cover her body. Finally, she stood neck deep getting accustomed to the temperature. She swam to the rocks where the water tumbled over the top to the pool of water below. She stretched out on the rocks and let the sun warm her skin. The earthy smells of the forest and cleansing water from the falls filled her nostrils. The smells mingled together giving her a few seconds of bliss. The moment didn’t last because as soon as her eyes closed, Dylan’s face popped into her thoughts. Despair settled in and quiet tears fell from her eyes. All the hurt resurfaced of seeing Dylan with another woman. Lost in her thoughts and misery she let out a loud, weary sigh. She lost focus and became emotionally involved with the wrong man. No reason to feel sorry for herself. She had to pull herself together and get over Dylan. There was nothing more she could do about him.
A fly buzzed at her ear and she swatted it away. Clouds covered the sky and cold penetrated her skin. Sitting up, she wrapped her arms around her chest for warmth. As quick as the sun disappeared behind the clouds, it reemerged warming Lacy.
From her view point she could see Tommy standing on the bank from the other side of the pool of water. Through the distorted vision of tears, she watched him taking off his clothes. Wearing only his boxer shorts, he climbed the rocks and dived in.
Grant always said that was the best way to get accustomed to the cold water. She could never bring herself to try it, preferring to inch her way into the cold water. He swam toward her. She took his hand and pulled him onto the rocks next to her.
“You’re right. It is a beautiful spot. If I owned this land, I’d build a house right over there.” He pointed to the crop of trees at the far side of the river. “That way I would wake to the sound of the waterfall every morning, go to sleep by the sound every night.”
It was doubtful any of her family would ever build a house at the falls. The place was special to all of them. It wouldn’t be fair for one of them to spoil the untamed, wild beauty by building a house near the river.
He placed his arms over his chest and shivered. “The water is cold.”
“Next month will be the best time to swim. The temperature will be much warmer.” She craned her head toward the oak where Tommy and Michelle had been sitting earlier. “Where’s Michelle?”
“She’s taking a nap.”
“A nap! Michelle doesn’t take naps.” Especially when she’s at the falls. It seemed odd she didn’t join Tommy for a swim. Michelle loved to swim. White puffy clouds blocked out the sun again and she felt chilled to the bone.
“She said she was exhausted.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Are you cold?”
Many times Tommy had touched her and never had she thought it anymore than friendly affection. Something about the way he held her seemed too intimate. Alarm bells began to ring in her head. He leaned in for a kiss. Lacy jerked her head back. “What are you doing?”
Danger sparkled in his eyes. “I just can’t get over how great you look in a bathing suit. I always thought you too thin for my tastes, but you do have some curves.” He placed his hand high on her thigh. “I haven’t been able to keep my eyes off those long legs.”
Shocked, Lacy placed her hands on Tommy’s chest and pushed. “What the hell is wrong with you? Where is Michelle?”
“I told you, she is taking a nap.” Gone was the sweet, sensitive Tommy and in his place was a seducer. She feared what he had done to Michelle.
Lacy tried to jump in the water but he caught her by the arm. “Sorry, Lacy. I really like you but Bret asked me to make sure you don’t testify at his trial. Without you as a witness they’ll have to release him. Obstacles are only obstacles until you eliminate them. Bret said you have to be eliminated.”
Taken aback, she sat staring at him with her mouth open. “Have you lost your mind? You don’t even like Bret. What are you talking about?”
A grin angled at the corners of his mouth. “We are better friends than you know. In fact he knows a secret about me. Wish I had time to explain, but I need to get the deed over with quickly.”
Lacy felt as if he had hit her in the stomach. He planned to murder her. The man Michelle was in love with was a cold blooded murderer. He stood on the rocks and offered his hand. “Let’s swim to the other side.” When she just sat there staring at his hand, he replied, “There’s no reason to fight, Lacy. It will only prolong the inevitable. I promise to make it quick and as painless as possible.”
“How-I mean?”
“It will look like an accident. You fell from the rocks and hit your head.” It was if she were having an out of the body experience discussing how he planned to kill her. “Stop procrastinating and let’s get this over with.” He pointed to the bank. “Now swim to the other side before I lose my patience.”
Pure survival kicked in and Lacy lashed out with her legs. He lost his balance and fell to the rocks behind the falls. She dived in the water and swam for the bank. The moment her feet touched the bottom, he grabbed her from behind and pulled her under the water. She opened her mouth to scream and took in water. Just when she felt herself weakening, he pulled her to the surface coughing and sputtering. Gasping for air, she began to punch and claw at Tommy. She felt her nails dig into the tender skin on his face. He loosened his hold long enough for her to jerk free and swim for the bank. Crawling on her hands and knees over the thick, green grass, she fought to stay conscious. She rolled to her back and peered up at Tommy who was standing over her with a look of pure anger on his face. He had a cut over his brow where he had hit his head on the rocks. Blood oozed from his cheek where she had scratched him. He wiped his hand over his cheek and peered at the blood. “This will be hard to explain.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I’m sure I’ll come up with something. I was injured trying to save you when you fell from the rocks.”
Chest heaving, she struggled to talk. “Yo-u won’t get a-way with kill-ing me.”
“I’ve gotten away with murder before. How does it feel to be powerless?” He smiled and Lacy could see he was deranged. How had he kept it from them? “Your life ends here.”
Numb with terror, she stared at him not believing what she was hearing. Who had he murdered? “Dylan Bauer is a FBI Agent. He’ll know what you have done.”
All the color left his face proving he didn’t know Dylan was an agent working undercover. “It doesn’t matter. He was after Robertson, not me. He has no knowledge of my crimes.”
“You killed Tiffany Swift?”
“Let’s just say Bret and I both were involved. From now on I’ll work alone.” His eyes raked over her body. “I wish I had more time, Lacy. I would love to take the time to make love to you.” His hands clinched into fists. “I would love to strangle you, but I must make it look like an accident. I must drown you.”
Tiffany Swift had been strangled. “What did you do to Michelle?”
“I gave her something to make her sleep. She’s okay. I’ll wake her in a few minutes and tell her the terrible news. I’ll explain how I tried CPR to revive you.” He leaned over her. Lacy kicked out and caught him in the groin. He bent over in pain. Holding his breath, he placed one hand between his legs, the other around her neck. “I should have been prepared for that.” She clawed at his hand squeezing the breath from her.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Hilda at the top of the falls. Suddenly a rock hurled from the top and hit Tommy in the back of the head. Face first he fell onto the grass. Lacy struggled to stand, picked up the rock, lifting it over her head with two hands intending to hit him again. She had watched too many horror films to take a chance on h
im being dead. The bad guy always regained consciousness.
Suddenly, Tommy rolled to the side and knocked the rock out of her hands. He slapped her across the face sending her to the soft grass. Sprawled on her back, she watched in horror as he came closer. Another rock flew by narrowly missing his head. “What the hell?” His eyes darted in every direction trying to see who threw the rock. If the situation wasn’t so serious, she would have laughed at the look of fear on his face.
She used the opportunity to dive into the water and swim to the other side. She crawled up on the rocks. Looking over her shoulder, she saw that Tommy was almost upon her. She felt strong arms pulling her. Hilda was tugging her toward the falls. Lacy climbed the side of the cliff. She dug her toes into the sides of the rocks and pulled herself higher and higher. Scrapes covered her knees and feet. She ignored the pain and gave all she had to get away from Tommy. She was almost at the top when she felt Tommy’s hand around her ankle.
****
Dylan heard Shadow barking through the open window of his Cadillac. He slowed the car and tried to pinpoint where the barks were coming from. He threw the gear shift into park and raced across the yard and opened the front door. Shadow bolted through the door and began jumping all over him. “Come on, boy.”
He opened the door of Nina’s old truck. Luck was with him when he saw the keys in the ignition. Shadow jumped in and sat next to the window on the passenger side. He leaped in and started the engine. He popped the clutch and sped toward the road to the falls.
Forty-five agonizing minutes later Dylan emerged from the forest. He gunned the engine and increased his speed now that he was in the open. He slammed on the brakes at the edge of the pool of water. The front tires slid right into the pool of water.
His heart stopped beating when he saw Lacy teetering at the top of the falls. Grey was right behind her. Everything seemed to be in slow motion when Grey wrapped his hand around Lacy’s ankle. He opened the door and jumped out of the truck. Shadow jumped out of the passenger window, bounded into the water, and started swimming toward the cascading water. His vicious barks could be heard over the roar of the falls.
Secrets of the Falls (Twelve Oaks Farm Book 3) Page 23
