“The kid had Down’s Syndrome.” She stroked his head and he grinned up at her admiringly. “No one would want him, so my aunt raised him up here, away from prying eyes. I came up to visit as much as I could. No one in Moose Creek Junction ever knew about him.”
“Carma, I’m confused. What does your affair with Dan have to do with me?”
“I always believed once Dan and I graduated from high school, we could get married and the three of us would be together. I’d be eighteen and it wouldn’t matter what my mom thought. But you came along. You bitch. He fell for you, then you got knocked up with Eva. That was the end of my dreams. You stole him from me. Eva got everything my Danny deserved.”
“How could I steal him from you when I never even knew you two were together? It doesn’t make sense. You should have told Dan you were pregnant. You should have made him take care of things properly. Maybe he would have married you. Don’t you see?”
Carma blinked, seemingly contemplating for a moment, then she began to pace. “Don’t confuse the issue, you whore. It was plain and simple. You stole Dan away from me and ran off to California with him. You had everything. Nice clothes, a home, and a car. A daughter who was normal and had everything she ever wanted: friends, good schools, and now even college. My Danny will never have any of that.”
“That’s not my fault, Carma. Don’t fool yourself into thinking my life with Dan Lightfoot was all wine and roses. He was abusive and violent. He had numerous affairs throughout our marriage and in the end he left me for another woman. Do you see the pattern? He can’t commit to anyone. He doesn’t love people … he only uses them. He used both you and me, Carma. He hurt us both. Blame Dan Light-foot for being irresponsible, not me.”
Carma started to shake and she closed her eyes. “It wasn’t his fault. It couldn’t have been. You were the one who changed him, made him think he loved you and not me. You must have hurt him somehow so he wanted to be with someone else. If he would have stayed with me, I would have been the only woman he ever wanted. He’d have loved me forever.” Carma glared at Lexie, her dark eyes flashing. “You ruined it all, you tramp. You don’t deserve to live.”
Lexie swallowed hard. It shocked her to realize how desperate and confused Carma had become when Dan jilted her. Now it was all becoming clear. “You ruined every attempt I had at being happy once I moved back home. Right?”
“Bingo.” Her eyes narrowed into angry slits. “I killed them all. Hugh Glenwood, Henry Whitehead, and Jack Sturgeon. Of course, I couldn’t have done it if my grandfather hadn’t shared so much of his military training with me. The army teaches men to be killers. Danny’s help made everything possible.” As she stroked his head, he once again glanced adoringly up at her.
“And Elton? What about him?”
“Ah, Elton was a true accident. I was driving past your house that night and I had Danny with me. I thought it might be fun to let him take the wheel. When Elton came barreling out of your house, poor Danny tried to swerve. Since it was his first time driving, he turned the wrong way and ker-splat.” Carma shrugged nonchalantly.
Lexie shivered at Carma’s callous attitude. “Someone attacked me at MacGreggor’s Pub, then threw the rock through my window and set the fire at the café.”
Carma laughed, another high, unnatural laugh. “We did it all, Danny and I. Right down to stealing the butcher knife from your kitchen to kill Whitehead. You really ought to think about putting deadbolts on your doors. Locks are too easy to pick. Of course, you won’t be around much longer to worry about it.”
Lexie sensed she was running out of time and strained at her bonds. They wouldn’t budge. “Carma, you need help. It’s time you admitted it and—”
Carma waved her off and began again. “Every man you went out with was marked for murder, Lexie. Unfortunately for them, they got involved with you. Since you so conveniently came up here and found me, I’ve decided to end it once and for all. I’m tired of keeping up with your whoring. I’m tired of having to kill every man you date.” She snickered. “I’m going to finish you off in flames, the way it should have happened days ago.” She grabbed the brown paper bag on the table, reached inside and produced a box of wooden matches. “The brush and grass around here is extremely dry. No one will think twice about a forest fire burning down this cabin. You, unfortunately, will be inside.”
Lexie strained once again at her bindings. They wouldn’t budge. Anguish sifted through her soul. The ropes were so tight she could barely move. They sawed painfully through her clothing and into her skin reminding her she would die soon. No one would know the truth behind the murdered men. No one would suspect she’d been murdered. Carma’s plan seemed perfect.
Keep her talking, a small voice persisted in Lexie’s head.
“Carma, back at the casino, why were you crying?”
Her dark eyes flashed again and she rattled the box of matches warningly. “None of your business.”
“If I’m going to die anyway, why does it matter?”
Carma paused thoughtfully, then relented. “Do you think it’s been easy trying to take care of myself and Danny, too, on a nail technician’s salary?” She snorted. “Danny’s medical bills have been enormous. Since he was born, he needed expensive doctors, surgeries, and medicine. I’ve had to support myself by gambling. I’ve done a pretty good job of it, too.”
Ah ha. So Carma Leone was addicted to gambling. It was a disease, Lexie knew, like alcoholism. A debilitating disease. No wonder her father had preached against the sinful habit. “So why were you crying?”
She frowned and her mouth trembled. “Lately I’ve run into a streak of bad luck. My bank account is cleaned out, both checking and savings, and my credit cards are all maxed to the hilt. I’m broke on my ass. Before long, the bank will repossess my car, my house, and my life. I don’t suppose you’d know what that feels like, would you?”
“You’d be surprised.”
“Right, Miss High-and-Mighty. You’ve never suffered a day in your life.”
Lexie decided to get Carma’s train of thought onto something positive, rather than her venomous hatred. “I can tell you love Danny very much. Why would you involve him in all the murders? You’re hurting him. I know you don’t want to do that.”
“Danny doesn’t understand, you see,” Carma said. “He only knows you are a bad person and I can do no wrong. He agrees with everything I say and do because I am his mother.” She patted Danny’s shoulder. “Right, Danny?”
“Right, Mom.” He grinned up at her with his innocent, freckled face. “You are the best.”
“That’s so wrong, Carma. To use your son as you have: you’ve taken advantage of an individual who doesn’t know any better.”
Carma shrugged. “I take care of Danny just fine. He’s helped me these last months as I’ve needed, doing things I couldn’t physically accomplish. Like, for example, who do you think lifted you up and dumped your ass in the laundry cart after I beaned you on the head in your room? It was my sweet child, assisting me with my dirty work.”
“That’s right, Mom,” Danny said. “I always help you. I am a good boy.”
“Of course you are, sweetie.” Carma pinched his dimpled cheek. “Now it’s time to say good-bye to the bad woman.” She nodded at Lexie. “Let’s put her out of her misery.”
Danny looked solemnly at Lexie. “She gave me candy once. It was good.”
“Danny,” Carma said sternly and gave her son a reprimanding look.
He shrugged. “OK, Mom.”
Tears streamed down Lexie’s face. This was it. She was going to die because of Dan, that bastard who was no good for any woman and no good for anyone else. Yet, Carma in her confused, lunatic way loved him and always had.
Carma took Danny by the hand and led him, just like a little boy, out of the cabin. Standing beside the doorway with her son, Carma said, “Light a match, Danny. Do it just the way Mommy taught you.”
“Sure, Mom,” he slurred.
He
tried to light the match, but it sparked out. Frustrated, he tossed the ruined match aside and tried another. This one flared into life.
Lexie whimpered and strained against the ropes tying her to the chair. It was over, her whole life. She’d never see her daughter again, never see Lucy or patootie head Otis or Carl.
God damn you, Dan Lightfoot. God damn you, Carma Leone.
Horrified, Lexie watched the match fall to the cabin floor, instantly igniting the pine needles and debris. Flames leapt into life. Carma and her son stepped back. Through the wall of orange fire, Lexie saw them wave, then disappear from sight.
Smoke crept into Lexie’s lungs as she struggled to free herself. She coughed spasmodically. Her eyes began to sting and water. The fire licked her face with heat. She knew she’d die from smoke inhalation first, but the thought did not comfort her. She cried harder, amazed it could end this way. With one woman’s hatred and one stinking match.
“Lexie! Lexie, are you in there?” a voice shouted.
Though she felt ready to pass out and her throat was dry as a dead leaf, Lexie lifted her head and managed to stammer, “Yes—” Smoke clogged her lungs. She coughed and gulped for air.
Through the crackling flames a loud crash resounded as the back door burst open. In the swirling gray smoke, Lexie saw a tall figure race in her direction. Gabe. Deputy Dog had made it in time. Thankful for his timely arrival, Lexie made a mental vow never to call him Deputy Dog again.
Gabe lifted her up, chair and all, and carried her swiftly outside away from the cabin. As he put down the seat and sliced through Lexie’s bindings with a pocketknife, she watched the ancient cabin explode into licking flames. Trembling, Lexie felt the sweet relief of knowing she would live. She should have been overwhelmed with joy to be alive, to see another sunrise. Instead, she cried harder.
It’s the emotion of the whole thing, she told herself. The murders, the attacks on her life, the café fire. She was probably in shock, and no wonder.
As the ropes fell away, circulation slowly returned to her fingers, causing them to tingle painfully. Taking her numb hand, Gabe dragged her up a weed-choked hill, far away from the smoky, crackling inferno. Lexie cried and coughed alternately, leaning against the detective and glad of his strong arm around her shoulders. Slowly, relief flooded her limbs as she watched a yellow fire truck, siren wailing, pull up to the cabin. Fire fighters jumped out and aimed a fat hose at the crumbling structure, dousing the orange glow.
“Look down there.” Gabe pointed at a dirt road that snaked toward a stand of fir trees. Two uniformed police officers had pulled over Carma’s fancy sports car. As Carma got out of the driver’s seat, they handcuffed her, then loaded both she and Danny into their squad car and drove off.
“The ambulance is on its way,” Gabe said, stroking her aching head and holding her against his side.
Sure enough, Lexie could hear another shrill siren piercing the chilled air. A horrible thought hit her. “Lucy—”
“Is fine,” Gabe reassured her. “One of the hotel maids found her and called an ambulance. She’s down at St. Mary’s Clinic in Rawhide City.”
Lexie relaxed, yet knew she owed a big apology to her sister. That would come later, after they returned home safe and sound. Lucy would forgive her, just like Lexie forgave Lucy whenever she goofed up. That was the thing about families. You might get upset with each other, but you had to forgive and forget. As a kid, Lexie had never understood the concept when her father preached it from the pulpit. She did now.
Through her sniffles and shivers, Lexie allowed Gabe to comfort her. And gosh darn, she actually liked it. It bothered her on a certain level, but now was not the time to question her feelings. Later, she would think about it. For now, standing on the cold, windswept hill and having Gabe’s arm around her was wonderful.
She had survived.
When the detective produced a clean tissue from his pocket, Lexie used it to wipe away her sniffles. She looked around, realizing it was snowing hard. Tufts of fuzzy flakes swirled around the forested area, blanketing the rocky, uneven ground with a shroud of white. They’d been in a drought for years with barely a drop of water. Now it was snowing like crazy. That was Wyoming. Unpredictable and wild.
Lexie hugged herself and tried to quell her shaking and chattering teeth. “How … how did you know where I was? I thought I was going to die.”
“Not while I’m around, lady.” Gabe removed his heavy overcoat and wrapped her in it.
Lexie wondered what it was supposed to mean, but immediately dismissed it. It wouldn’t be good to put a lot of meaning into his comment. Instead, she snuggled against Gabe’s warm, broad chest. Her shivers immediately lessened. Warning bells went off in her head, telling her not to get too comfortable. She knew she could really get used to Gabe’s protective presence. That wasn’t very wise. She had no idea how he felt about her or how she felt about him.
“You’re lucky I found out where you and Lucy had gone,” Gabe admonished. “When I saw Lucy and Otis’ car at Big Daddy’s, I stopped to talk with them. I intended to let Otis know the investigation was coming along fine. You see, I was already onto Carma, but I was taking my time to make sure I had all my evidence in order.”
“You knew she was the killer?” Lexie fought back annoyance as she glared up at him. “You never told us about any evidence.”
“There’s always evidence,” Gabe said.
“You were certainly in no hurry to see justice done,” Lexie groused. “My life was in danger.”
“Which was why I told you to lay low and let me do my job.”
Lexie stubbornly remained in a silent pout.
“Lexie, these things take time,” he added, lifting her chin and staring into her eyes. “You can’t go busting people without clear cut proof. Otherwise, you compromise the case.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Lexie said, relenting as she stared into Gabe’s handsome face and saw the concern in his eyes.
“Anyway,” he continued. “Carl told me you and Lucy had come here. I had a gut feeling you two were up to no good.”
“So my nephew ratted us out,” Lexie said. “Thank God. I’ll have to give him a big hug the next time I see him.”
“You did a dangerous thing, Lexie. Lucy was hurt and you nearly got yourself killed.”
“You brought the cavalry in the nick of time. Though for a moment, I thought it was all over.” Lexie shivered again, even though Gabe’s overcoat and warm embrace had made her quite toasty. “Carma blamed me for getting the life she thinks she deserved. She and Dan were lovers back in high school and she swears I stole him from her. Danny’s their son.”
“I’ve done my homework, Lexie. I know all about it. It’s over now. She’s going to jail.”
She gave a shuddering sigh. “What about Danny? What will happen to him?”
“The state will put him in a good home. I’m sure the courts will realize he was coerced into helping his mother commit the crimes.”
“He won’t get in trouble?”
“More than likely not. Because of his condition, he can’t be held responsible for what his mother influenced him to do. He’ll get the psychological help he needs.”
“Good.”
“I stopped at Big Daddy’s for another reason.” Gabe stroked the hair back from her bruised and swollen face. The ambulance sirens were wailing louder and he glanced anxiously at the road.
“Why?”
Gabe turned his attention back to her. “I thought you might be there, too.”
Lexie’s heart caught in her throat. “So?”
“I, um …” He trailed off and shuffled anxiously at her side. “I wanted to ask you out.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Nope.” His face turned red and he grinned. “I’ve wanted to ask you out for a while. But I’m a big doof when it comes to women.”
“The big, strong detective has a fatal flaw.”
“So, what do you think?” He chuckled and
squeezed her shoulders. “Will you have dinner with me sometime?”
Lexie smiled up at him. “Why not?”
CINDY KEEN REYNDERS
CINDY KEEN REYNDERS WAS BORN IN PORTLAND, Oregon and has lived all over the United States and also in Japan. She has visited Canada, the Philippines, Samoa and New Zealand and the travels have given her an appreciation of other cultures.
Cindy enjoys crocheting, reading, garage sales and other hobbies along with volunteer work, which she performed with the Red Cross and numerous other charitable organizations. Writing has been, and always will be, the one true passion that lights a fire deep down in her soul. Growing up, she discovered she loved words and found that she had an aptitude for stringing them together into sentences.
Over the years, she has won or placed in various writing contests. She has also written for and edited numerous newsletters. Additionally, she has sold several non-fiction magazine articles to “True West” and “Wild West.” As she raised her children, she always found time to read to them and tried to instill her love of the written word into their lives. She hopes to carry on this tradition with her grandchildren.
Cindy currently lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming with her husband Rich whose family has lived in the state for generations. She has a grown daughter and son-in-law, two grown step-daughters and two grown sons.
At one time, she had three poodles that matched the color of her carpet. She now has one poodle-shitzu mix that likes to “eat” the carpet. Add to the mix two granddaughters who keep everyone in stitches and as you can imagine, her home is filled with lots of love and laughter.
In addition to keeping track of her extended clan, which includes three sisters, two brothers, her father, step-mother and numerous nieces and nephews, Cindy works for Laramie County School District 1 (LCSD1) in Cheyenne. She is a marketing specialist in the district’s Community Relations department and writes feature articles for the LCSD1 Public Schools Chronicle, which has a circulation of approximately 40,000 readers. She has found that her family and friends inspire her to explore human nature and she believes this has enabled her to draw out all aspects of human behavior in her books.
The Saucy Lucy Murders Page 31
