“Of course I believe you. I saw your face. You’re not the type of woman to see something that’s not there. You wouldn’t make something like this up.”
She let out the breath she had been holding. For some reason she feared he wouldn’t believe any of the story. It was a relief to know he didn’t think she was crazy.
She stood and held out her hand to Josh. “Come, we need to go. I want to get back and talk to Lacy. I have to tell her I saw Hilda.”
He took her hand and she braced her feet apart so she could pull him to his feet. He grabbed the quilt and wadded it up before tucking it under his arm. They quickly saddled the horses and headed home.
Chapter Nine
By the time they got home, the sun was on its last swing before disappearing over the tree line. Beth left the chore of unsaddling the horses and rubbing them down to Josh. She was too anxious to talk to Lacy.
When she didn’t find anyone in the house, she assumed they were on the back patio around the pool. Grant loved to grill and would take advantage of the beautiful weather. He was flipping burgers when she opened the sliding door and stepped outside. Nina stood at his side with a plate in her hand to hold the burgers when they were done. “Where have you been?”
“Josh and I rode the horses to the falls.”
Maria and Grace were enjoying a glass of tea at the wrought iron table at the other end of the pool away from the fumes of the grill. Juan must have been doing homework because he was not present. Beth could hardly contain her excitement. She plopped into the chaise lounge at Lacy’s feet, leaned in so no one else could hear, and whispered, “I need to see you in the house.”
Lacy assumed it was bad news because the color drained from her face. Without asking why, she followed Beth inside the house. No sooner had they sat at the kitchen table than they heard the back door open. Nina stood staring at them. “Is everything okay?”
Beth reached over and took Lacy’s clammy hands into hers. “I saw Hilda.”
A dazzling smile on her face, Lacy said, “No, you didn’t.”
“Yes, I did. I swear.” Beth raised her left hand in the air as if taking an oath. “I saw her standing in the shadows above the falls.”
“Did she talk to you?” Nina sat in the chair across from Beth. Her eyes were huge.
“No, but she motioned for me to come to her.” Beth giggled as she squeezed Lacy’s hands. “I saw Hilda. It was one of the oddest experiences of my life. I saw a ghost.”
“Weren’t you scared?” Lacy asked.
“Hell yes, I was scared.” Just remembering the experience had her heart pounding in her chest. “The wet, black hair, pale skin, blood stains on her dress. Of course I was scared.” Beth cupped Lacy’s face. “She was just like you described her. I asked her what she wanted, but she never spoke, just kept beckoning me to climb the falls.”
“We have to go see what she wants.” Lacy stood and pulled Beth to her feet. “We need to find out why she wants us to climb the falls.”
“No!” All three turned and saw Grant standing in the doorway. “Have you forgotten what happened the last time we tried to help Hilda? You almost drowned.”
Beth stared at Lacy. “What does he mean you almost drowned?”
“A few days ago I climbed the side of the falls to see what Hilda wanted.” She spoke so softly Beth had to lean in to hear. “I fell in.”
In a firm voice, Grant replied without taking his eyes off Lacy, “She could have died.”
“Why didn’t anyone tell me? Are you keeping secrets from me?” Everyone ignored Beth. No one bothered to answer her question. It was if she wasn’t even in the room.
In three long strides, Lacy was standing in front of Grant. She squared her shoulders and pleaded, “I have to go back to the falls. I will not have peace until I find out why she is haunting us. For some reason she has become desperate. It is the first time she has shown herself to anyone but me. She is trying to tell us something. She died some tragic death and she can’t cross over until we find out how she died. I will not stop until I know.”
Grant grabbed her by the shoulders. “I forbid it.”
Hands on her hips, Lacy jutted out her chin stubbornly. “I’m twenty years old. I can make my own decisions.”
“Not when those decisions put you at risk.” Tears cascaded over Lacy’s beautiful cheeks. Grant enveloped her in his huge arms and held her to his chest. “Your father searched diligently for Hilda’s remains. There is nothing at the top of the falls but rocks. There is no way her body is buried in rock.”
“We can’t give up.”
Grant met Nina’s gaze over Lacy’s head. “If it’ll make you feel any better, I’ll search the area again. More than likely she climbed the falls, fell in, and drowned. Her body was washed downstream and that’s why she was never found.”
Lacy pushed against his chest so she could peer into his eyes. “What about her boyfriend Darrell Talbert. What happened to him? Newspapers reported she left with him. Her father swore to reporters that she ran away with him with thousands of dollars worth of family heirlooms. No one ever saw them again.”
“Maybe he suffered the same fate. Maybe they went over the falls together. That’s the most logical reason you see her at the top of the falls.”
Lacy took a couple of steps back and touched her fingers to her temples. “I had a dream while I was unconscious at the falls. As clear as day I saw Hilda and a man I assume was her boyfriend kissing on the banks of the pool of water.” She closed her eyes as if trying to pull the dream from the recesses of her mind. “Someone was calling Hilda’s name. The look of fright on her face gave me goose bumps. She was deathly afraid of the person. Maybe that person killed them and buried the bodies. It’s possible that is what she is trying to tell me. They were murdered.”
Grant reached out and took her by the shoulders. “I don’t care what Hilda’s trying to tell you. You will never go to the falls by yourself. I forbid you to look for Hilda’s remains.”
“I printed off the pictures Nina took the day at the falls. There is a shadow in the picture. I think it is Hilda. Please, Grant. I have to help her.”
“No, your obsession with Hilda is dangerous.”
She struggled to get out of his arms. “You’re not my father. You can’t tell me what to do.”
“When I married Nina, I became the man of the house. You’re safety is at stake and you’ll follow my rules. I have your best interest at heart.” She screamed, stomped her foot, and ran from the room in tears.
Nina snapped, “Don’t you think that was a little harsh?”
“It is time for this to end. She has become obsessed with what happened to Hilda. It is not healthy. I’m going to get a psychic to go the falls and see if she can shed some light on what happened to Hilda.”
Nina snorted, “You don’t believe in psychics.”
“I don’t believe in ghosts either, but it seems we have one.” Before he disappeared through the door, he turned and looked at Nina. “Now please excuse me while I go Google psychic.”
Nina pushed away from the table. “I’m going to go talk to Lacy.”
Beth grabbed her hand, jerked her around, and ordered, “Not until I have the full story of what happened to Lacy at the falls. And you better not leave anything out.”
Chills ran up her spine as Nina related what happened at the falls. Beth was so enthralled with the story, she didn’t interrupt once. The most shocking part was when Nina said Lacy swore she could feel Hilda’s hands pushing her to the surface when she fell in the frigid pool of water. Swore it was Hilda who saved her.
“Now you understand why Grant doesn’t’ want Lacy to go back to the falls. He believes Hilda might want to harm her.” In a single fluid motion she twirled around and replied over her shoulder, “Now I’m going to speak to Lacy. Maybe I can get her to see reason.”
Beth plopped into the chair Nina had just vacated. She could understand Lacy’s obsession. The look on Hilda’s face was
heart-wrenching. She was trying to tell her something important. No one could convince her Hilda would harm Lacy.
It was doubtful Hilda would stop haunting Lacy until the mystery surrounding her death was solved. Grant could make all the demands he wanted to make. Hilda wasn’t going away until she got what she wanted. Problem was no one knew what she wanted.
****
Restless and nervous, Josh paced back and forth in his office. He pointed a finger at Stan Jacobs and Dylan Bauer. “Don’t let your guard down. Just because Shirley Powers is a woman, doesn’t mean she isn’t dangerous. If pushed into a corner, she won’t hesitate to kill you. Keep a safe distance and don’t let her know she’s being tailed.” Palms flat on his desk, he leaned over giving both men a hard stare. “Deep down I feel she is as dangerous as her husband.”
Today was the day they were going to draw Shirley Powers out in the open. If everything went as planned, she would lead them to the black Lincoln.
Agent Dylan Bauer stood and stuffed his hands into his faded jean pockets. Most agents wore suits, but he preferred his comfortable jeans. Most of the time he worked undercover and dressed like a gang member. “Stop worrying, Josh. We’ve got this.” Always cocky and sure of himself, Dylan smiled making him look even younger than his twenty-three years.
Agent Jacobs stood and slapped Dylan on the back. “We won’t let you down.” Jacobs’ grandfather had been one of the first African-American agents to join the FBI. Josh couldn’t begin to imagine the discrimination he had dealt with on a daily basis. Times had changed and everyone respected Jacobs. Most agents considered him a friend and colleague.
He studied them for a moment. In his estimation, they were the best two agents working in the Raleigh office. Both had been instrumental in taking down some of the most hardened criminals in the state. He trusted them with his life. Still he feared something would go wrong. If Shirley Powers realized they were tailing her, she wouldn’t make a move and the investigation would stall. They needed the black Lincoln. “Why do you think I picked you two for this operation? You are the best agents I know.”
Josh skirted around the desk and stood in front of the two men. “The leak in the bureau is Robert Tilley. He has been keeping Powers or his wife informed of every move we make. Today is the day we turn the tables.”
Jacobs asked, “Are you sure he is the leak? He’s been with the bureau for ten years.”
“I’m sure. The moment we have Shirley Powers in custody, Tilley will be arrested. We won’t need him anymore.”
Josh shuddered at the thought of failure. It would be his fault if Mrs. Powers discovered they had set a trap to catch her. She wouldn’t hesitate to defend herself. Stan Jacobs was married with four small children. He didn’t want anyone to get hurt in the crossfire.
“Dylan, you and Stan follow the tracker on her car if she leaves the house. Don’t follow too close because she might see you.”
“Where will you be?” Dylan asked.
“Keeping out of sight. She knows my face and I’ll not take a chance of her recognizing me. Uncle Tate and I’ll stay back and you’ll call me on my cell to keep me informed. Wait until she is in the Lincoln before you make a move. We don’t want some high profile lawyer getting her off. You need to catch her driving the car. I assume she is keeping it in a garage or rented storage facility. We’ve checked all the garages in a five mile radius and have not found the vehicle.” Acid churned in Josh’s stomach knowing how much depended on the plan to work. “Like I said, follow her and don’t make an arrest until she is in the Lincoln.”
Dylan saluted Josh. “Yes, sir. We’ll call you the second we have her.”
Stan offered, “We’ll take my car. That thing you call a car looks like something a gang banger would drive.”
“It is what a gang banger drives. It’s part of my per sauna. If I drove an old grandpa car like you, no one would believe I’m a gang banger.” Uncle Tate arranged for Dylan to get the gold Cadillac after it was confiscated in a drug bust. The shiny chrome wheels, and color stuck out like a sore thumb. It was just what he needed for undercover work. No one would suspect a law abiding FBI agent would drive something so flamboyant.
Dylan took out his keys. “I’m driving. I’ve rode with you and you scare the hell out of me. Besides, Mrs. Powers would never suspect a car like mine to be tailing her.”
The knot in Josh’s stomach tightened when Dylan and Stan disappeared through the door still bickering like a couple of teenage girls. First and foremost he wanted to get the man that put the hit out on Kathy Lassiter. She couldn’t go back to her life until the man was behind bars. It was imperative he solve the case and soon.
He grabbed his car keys off his desk and went in search of his uncle. He didn’t have to go far. His uncle was waiting for him at his secretary’s desk. He was sitting on the edge of Patty’s desk with his arms crossed having a conversation. “You ready to go?”
Uncle Tate stood and gave him a direct look. “I’d feel better if you’d use a couple more agents.”
“We’ve had this conversation before. I don’t trust any other agents. You already have one rogue agent in the bureau. I’m not taking any chances there might me another.”
“Suit yourself.” Moving toward the elevator, Uncle Tate entered and held the door while Josh entered. “You know what you’re doing.” He pushed the button for the garage.
Thirty minutes later Josh parked his car a couple blocks from the Powers’ house. He punched in Dylan’s number. “Is anything happening?”
“No, she’s still in the house. Stan is hanging out behind the house in case she calls a taxi or something and goes out the back. From where I’m sitting, I can see the front of the house.” He let out a shrill whistle “Nice place. It looks like crime pays better than being a law abiding citizen.”
“It is something. I guess being a hit man pays well.” Josh had seen the house when the FBI seized the computers. He estimated the house had about 10,000 square feet of floor space. It was an awesome place with high ceilings and solid wood floors. It was impossible to comprehend they could afford such a mansion on the salary of a building contractor. After doing a thorough investigation, he only built twenty houses a year. Not near enough income to send his three children to the prestigious private school they attended. Shirley Powers didn’t work outside the house, called herself a stay at home mom. None of the pieces of the puzzle matched. They lived as if they were millionaires.
“Call me when something happens.” Josh closed his phone and tapped it against his leg several times. He slid his seat back trying to get comfortable.
“Nervous?”
He looked at his Uncle Tate sitting in the passenger seat. “I hate surveillance.”
“Being an FBI agent isn’t all action.”
Several teenagers sped past on skateboards. “It should be against the law for young men to show their underwear in public.” He shook his head in disgust. “If I thought the charges would stick, I’d haul them in for indecent exposure.”
Josh chuckled, “Since the dawn of time people have fought against convention. You were young once. Didn’t you ever do anything to embarrass your mom and dad?”
The question brought a huge smile to his face. “Once your dad and I let our hair grow out. Michael’s grew faster and it was all the way down his back. What a head of hair. Coal black and thick. From behind he looked just like a woman.” He rubbed his hands over his thighs and laughed out loud. “Can you imagine a big tough Marine with a couple of sons that looked like sissies with all that hair? He was embarrassed to be seen with us.” Tate laughed so hard tears ran over his cheeks. “We just about drove our old man crazy during our rebellious years.”
Josh hooted with laughter. In his mind he could see his father and Uncle Tate rebelling against a strict father. God, he missed his father. He wished he would have lived to see the men he and Grant had grown up to become. He would be proud of them.
The phone rang and they sobered quick
ly. “Hey, she’s on the move. The garage door is opening. I’ll call you back.”
The hard knot returned to Josh’s stomach. He wanted to prove Powers was a professional hit man so bad he could taste it. Nothing would give him more pleasure than to tell Powers they had his wife and the get-away car. Hopefully, there would be enough evidence inside the black Lincoln to prove he attempted to kill Kathy.
Twenty minutes later Josh’s phone rang again. “Mrs. Powers just went into the school. It looks like they are having some kind of parent day or something. The parking lot’s full of cars and parents are everywhere.”
“Damn, that’s how she plans to evade us.” He slammed his fist against the steering wheel. “She’ll come out in a disguise. Do you have your eyes on her?”
“Yes, she’s climbing the steps now.”
“Memorize her body build, the way she moves, anything that’ll help you recognize her when she emerges.” His anger escalated. She was going to evade them. Talking quickly, he ordered, “Send Stan around to the back of the school. She might exit out a different door.”
Josh ended the call and threw his phone into the cup-holder on the console between the seats. He turned the key and pressed his foot to the gas pedal. Peeling away from the curb, he headed to the school twenty minutes away.
“What’s going on?”
“Shirley Powers is at the school. She’s planning to give us the slip there.” Deep down he knew she’d be gone before he got there.
****
Shirley Powers backed out from her garage. She peered into her rearview mirror but saw no one watching the house. As she pulled out the drive, she looked in every direction to see if she was being observed. She saw no one.
She shifted into drive and headed to her children’s school. Yesterday she emailed all the parents inviting them to have lunch with their children. No one would suspect anything out of the ordinary since she was President of the PTO. She could easily get lost in the many parents that would be attending.
Shadows of the Falls (Twelve Oaks Farm Series Book 2) Page 16
