by Jude Pittman
Kelly stopped at the mailbox, which held nothing but a couple of circulars and the phone bill, then made his way back up the hill to his cabin.
Lorena Wyatt had left a message on his answering machine. Gavin Fletcher would be out of town until Monday and she’d made an appointment for Kelly at ten o’clock. The blackmailer hadn’t called but she was sticking close to the phone.
Since there was nothing to do but wait, Kelly spent the rest of the morning attending to chores around the cabin. He fixed a broken rail on the porch, did a couple of loads of laundry and when the chores ran out, he kicked back in his chair and put his mind to what he knew about Alex Wyatt.
According to Lorena, Alex was a devious charmer who knew how to pull the right strings where women were concerned. Marcy, on the other hand, seemed to have seen an entirely different Alex. To her, he was the handsome prince, the warm and caring lover and the perfect gentleman—all the things a young girl looks for in her first real romance. His role with Marcy seemed to have been that of a southern gentleman protecting and caring for his lady—at least until the incident at the restaurant.
Was it possible Marcy could’ve killed him? She was an impressionable young woman, in love with a married man and obsessed with having his baby. Could his demand for an abortion have pushed her over the edge? She admitted to being hysterical. What if she’d lost her grip on reality and been driven to retaliate against Alex’s betrayal by committing a cold-blooded murder.
“Bullshit,” Kelly muttered with a shake of his head. He remembered his conversation with Marcy in Stella’s house and no way would he believe she could have fooled him that completely. The poor kid had been devastated by Alex’s rejection of their baby and the horror on her face when she blurted out that she could never kill her baby’s father had been genuine.
“Son of a bitch.” Kelly smacked his hand against the arm of the chair. Someone was responsible for the mess that Marcy was in and Kelly was convinced her only hope was for him to get off his dead ass and get some answers.
The telephone shrilled and Kelly reached over and grabbed the receiver. “Kelly McWinter here.”
“This is Lorena. I just got another telephone call.”
“Man or woman?”
“I’m sorry, Kelly, I just couldn’t tell. It sounded like a man but the voice was so muffled, it could’ve been a woman.”
“Okay. It’s not that important at this point. What did he say?”
“He only talked for a minute. Just did I have the money and when I said yes, he told me to wait for a messenger with instructions.”
“So you don’t know whether he’s going to use the same drop-off or not.”
“No. He didn’t say. Like I told you, he only talked for a minute. What do you think we should do?”
“There’s only one thing we can do. I’ll head on over to Arlington and get myself a room at a motel out on the highway not far from the U-Store. As soon as I’ve checked in, I’ll give you a call and let you know where I am. Then we wait to see if he sends you another key.
“I’m hoping he’ll use the same drop-off but even if he doesn’t, we’ll be ahead of the game with me in Arlington rather than out here at Indian Creek. I’ll let you know what to do next as soon as we find out where he wants you to make the drop. ”
“Do you still have the card I gave you?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, my number’s on the card. Keep it handy and call me as soon as they contact you.”
* * *
Kelly hung up the phone, grabbed a jacket and started for the door. The phone rang again. He hesitated, debating whether to let it ring but it could be Lorena calling back. He grabbed the receiver.
“Hello!”
“Sounds like I caught you at a bad time.” Gillian’s cheery voice was in his ear.
“Hi, Gilly. Sorry. I didn’t mean to bark at you. I was just on my way out the door. There’s been a break in Marcy’s case. At least I’m hoping it’s connected.”
“Oh, good! I won’t keep you then. I was only calling to ask if you’d like me to show up with a couple of steaks tonight but since you’re busy, we’ll save it for another time.”
“No, wait. That’s a great idea. This won’t take all night. I should be back well before dinner and if I’m a bit late, you can just come on in and get the grill started.”
“Well, if you’re sure.”
“I’m positive. I’ve got to run now but I’ll see you later, okay?”
“All right, I’ll be there and Kelly, you be careful.”
“Always!”
Traffic was light into Arlington and thirty minutes after leaving the Creek, Kelly pulled Old Blue into the parking lot of the Crown Motel and made his way to the office.
He asked for a single for one night, grabbed a cup of coffee from the vending machine and took it to the room. Lorena answered the telephone on the first ring.
“I’ve got it.” Words tumbled out of her mouth. “It’s to be exactly the same as last time. A messenger brought the envelope fifteen minutes ago. It’s the same key as last time. I’m supposed to put the money in a bag just like I did before, drive to the storage unit, unlock the door, place the money on the table and lock the shed back up again.”
“Did he give you a time limit?”
“He said to have it done by four o’clock.”
“Fine. We’ve lots of time. Okay, here’s what I want you to do. Put the key in an envelope and address it to me at the Crown Motel in Arlington. Get in your car and drive to your bank. He’ll be expecting that, so even if he’s watching it won’t alarm him. Once you’re inside, take the envelope to the bank manager and ask him to call a messenger. Make some excuse about forgetting to mail an important letter and be sure to insist you need the messenger within ten minutes.
“While you’re waiting, you can have the manager get the money together for you. As soon as the messenger arrives, give him the envelope and tell him there’ll be a twenty dollar bill waiting for him at this end if he gets it here within the hour.”
“But if I send you the key, how am I going to get into the storage shed to deliver the money?”
“The door will be unlocked and I’ll be inside. All you have to do is get the money and drive to the U-store exactly like you did last time, open the door and step inside.
The key will be on the table. I’ll be there but don’t speak. Put the money down, grab the key and get out of the shed. Lock the door, get into your car and go straight home.”
“But you’ll be locked inside.”
“Only until the blackmailer gets there and I’ll be ready for him.”
Kelly hung up the phone, sat down on the bed and unzipped his jacket. His Smith and Wesson rested in the holster snugged against his ribs. He pulled it out and pushed the magazine release. It dropped out and he caught it in his hand. Then he grasped the slide and pulled it back until it locked. The bullet ejected, he caught it and put it back in the clip, slipped the magazine back in the gun, pulled the slide all the way back and let it go. The gun was now loaded and cocked. He pulled the de-cocking lever down, dropped the hammer to uncock it and pushed the lever into the up position. The gun was safe to carry but the first round would fire the instant he squeezed the trigger.
Normally he drew the line at carrying. It was illegal but some situations called for an exception and this was one of them. The Smith and Wesson fitted smoothly and snugly under his arm and it would take an expert to spot the slight bulge beneath his jacket. He liked the semi-automatic because he’d have fourteen shots if he needed them—not that he expected to—but you never knew who you were dealing with when you went up against a blackmailer. They came in all breeds—professionals, amateurs and greedy relatives. Leona’s blackmailer could be anyone but one thing was for sure, he’d be desperate once he realized he was trapped. And desperate men were deadly.
Kelly stretched out on the bed, clicked on the TV set and forced his attention to the screen. He’d have at least an ho
ur before the messenger arrived and he needed to slow the adrenaline down a bit. He sucked air into his lungs and held it ’til they screamed then let it out nice and slowly. He kept this up until every ounce of tension had drained from his body. Then he closed his eyes and let himself drift. He’d learned this technique back in the academy — a combination of meditation and tai chi—it prepared the body and mind and got them ready for action. He’d been drifting for about twenty minutes when the phone rang. Instantly alert, he grabbed the receiver.
“Mr. McWinter?”
“Yep.”
“There’s a messenger down here with a package for you.”
“Thanks. I’ll be right down.”
Kelly sprang lightly from the bed, picked up the gun, snugged it back inside the holster, slipped on his jacket and zipped it up the front. He did a quick double-check of the room, laid the key on the dresser and headed for the lobby.
* * *
Gillian glanced at her watch. Twenty-five minutes past seven. The coals on the grill burned white. She’d been expecting Kelly for over an hour. Pacing back into the living room, she peered out the window. Clouds had moved in and shadowed the moon and stars. It was pitch black out there. She leaned her head against the glass and listened to the wind blow through the trees. A storm was moving in.
She glanced over at the phone. The red light flickered on the answering machine. The last call had come in about half an hour ago. She had thought about answering it but she hadn’t wanted to mix into Kelly’s business, so she’d let the machine pick it up. Now she wondered. Maybe that had been a mistake. What if Kelly had been trying to reach her?
She walked over to the machine, reached her hand toward the playback button and stopped. She hated this. What if the call was personal? What would Kelly think when he got home and found out she’d played back his messages.
“Damn!” She stomped back into the kitchen and poured herself another cup of coffee.
Another thirty minutes went by. Rain had started to pound against the roof of the cabin. Gusts of wind howled down the chimney and spattered the ashes against the grate.
The telephone rang again and Gillian raced across the room and grabbed the receiver.
“Hello!”
She heard a short gasp on the other end. “I’m sorry. I must have the wrong number. This isn’t the McWinter residence, is it?”
“Yes. No, you don’t have the wrong number but Kelly’s not here. I’m a friend of his. I’ve been waiting for him and I thought he might be calling so I picked up the phone.”
“Oh!”
There was a long pause and Gillian hurried on before the woman could hang up. “Can I take a message?”
“Will you tell him that Lorena Wyatt called and ask him to call me?” She sounded frightened.
“I’ll give him the message as soon as he gets here.” Gillian paused. She hated to ask questions but fear crowded out doubt and she hurried on. “Do you have any idea where Kelly’s supposed to be?”
“No!” The answer came in a gasp. “I’m sorry. I can’t help you.”
The phone clicked in Gillian’s ear. Now she was really worried. That woman had sounded scared and her fear had transferred itself to Gillian. Gritting her teeth, she reached out and pushed the button on the answering machine.
“Kelly.” It was the same woman. “I’ve been waiting for three hours. What’s happened? Call me, please.” The tape clicked, whirred and moved on. “Kelly.” The woman’s voice came again. “Where are you?” Hysteria tinged her voice. “Did the blackmailer come? My God, what’s happened? Please call me.”
Gillian shivered and sank into the chair. The woman’s terror had gripped her completely. She shook herself, willing her mind to concentrate on what to do. Kelly was obviously in some kind of trouble. That woman had mentioned a blackmailer and Kelly had told her he was going out on an errand that might be connected with Marcy’s case.
“Stella!” She shouted the name and Jake, who’d just come in through the hatch, backed up against the door.
“I’m sorry, Jake.” Gillian moved over beside him and dropped to the floor. “I’m just worried, boy.” She reached out and stroked his neck. Jake nuzzled her hand before he strolled across to Kelly’s chair where he sat back on his haunches.
“I’m going to call Stella and see what she thinks,” Gillian said, picking up the receiver and reaching over to dial the Hideaway.
“Indian Creek Hideaway,” Cam answered.
“Cam. This is Gillian. Is Stella around there?”
“Hi, Gillian. Yep, she’s right here. Just a sec and I’ll get her.”
“Hello.” Stella’s voice was neutral, not overly warm perhaps but casual and interested.
“Stella, I hate to bother you but I need some advice. It’s about Kelly.”
“Oh.” Her voice cooled. “I’m not much good at giving advice.”
Gillian laughed. “Not personal. I’m sorry, Stella. I didn’t mean to give the wrong impression. It’s not about Kelly and me—it’s about Kelly. I think something might’ve happened to him and I’m worried.”
“What do you mean?” The coolness was definitely gone. “Why do you think something’s happened to him? Where is he?”
“That’s it. I don’t know where he is. I was supposed to meet him here at the cabin for dinner at five. It’s after eight now and I haven’t heard a word from him.”
“Well, maybe he got held up somewhere.”
“No. He went out on an errand connected with Marcy’s case and I think something’s gone wrong. I just got a call from Lorena Wyatt. She asked for Kelly and when I said he hadn’t shown up, she sounded terribly upset. When I asked her if she knew where Kelly was supposed to be, she hung up on me.
“There’d been a couple of calls earlier but I hadn’t answered because I didn’t feel comfortable taking Kelly’s calls. After Lorena hung up, I decided I’d better listen to the messages, so I played the tape and both of the calls were from Lorena. She asked Kelly if he’d caught the blackmailer and begged him to call her back.”
“I’ll be right there,” Stella said and the phone went dead.
Gillian dropped the receiver back in its cradle. Resolutely she went out to the grill and turned off the burners. “At least Stella took me seriously,” she muttered, returning to the living room and sinking into Kelly’s chair.
Ten minutes later Stella burst in the door of the cabin and raced across to the answering machine. “Let me listen to that message,” she said, dropping to the floor and punching the playback button.
Lorena’s voice, high-pitched and hysterical, rose and fell in the room. Gillian’s hand rested on Jake’s back, her fingers absently ruffling his fur. Jake stood patiently, his eyes fastened on Stella.
The tape played out and clicked, the machine whirred in rewind and Stella reached for the phone.
“I’m going to call her,” she said. “She’ll tell me where the hell he went, or I’ll show up at her house and snatch her head bald.”
Gillian clapped her hands to her mouth to keep from giggling. She wasn’t taking this lightly, she was worried about Kelly but it was impossible not to laugh at the idea of Stella yanking that poor woman’s hair out.
“Hello, operator. I’d like the number in Dallas for Alex or Lorena Wyatt. Thank you. I’ll hold. Lorena Wyatt’s the wife of the man Marcy’s supposed to have murdered,” Stella said, covering the mouthpiece.
Gillian nodded. “I thought I recognized the last name but I wasn’t sure.”
“Hello. Yes, I’ve got it. Thank you.”
Gillian handed over a pen and a piece of paper and Stella scribbled down the number.
“Here.” She handed it back. “Better keep this in case we need it again.” She punched out the number.
They sat motionless waiting. Even Jake had caught the mood. He squatted in front of the chair, ears perked, eyes on Stella’s hands.
“Hello. Mrs. Wyatt. Oh, I see. This is Mrs. Davis. Would you have Mrs. Wyatt ca
ll me? Tell her I’m at Kelly McWinter’s cabin and it’s imperative I speak with her immediately.”
Stella hung up the phone and swiveled to meet Gillian’s eyes.
“The maid said she was in the shower but I don’t believe it. This is a stupid time of the day to take a damn shower. It was probably an excuse. I’ll give her thirty minutes and if she hasn’t called by then, I’m going to Dallas.”
“I’ll go with you.”
Stella narrowed her eyes. “This could get nasty.”
“I can handle myself. I’m worried too, Stella and I might be able to help. I’m trained in emergency medicine. I run a riding stable, you know. I’m not saying that means anything but you never know. Maybe you’ll need me. Anyway, I’m going with you.”
Stella shrugged. “Okay. You’re the boss.”
Gillian gave her a look and chuckled. “I can just imagine anyone being your boss.”
The phone rang and Stella reached out and grabbed the receiver. “Hello,” she said then was silent for a moment. “Yes, this is Mrs. Davis,” she said into the phone. “I called you because I want to know where Kelly McWinter went this afternoon.”
Gillian kept her eyes on Stella’s face, straining to figure out Lorena’s responses.
“Don’t give me that bullshit,” Stella snapped. “I’m the one who hired Kelly to look into this mess and I want to know what the hell is going on.”
Gillian nodded her approval. Stella was pulling no punches. If anybody could get Lorena’s cooperation, she’d be the one to do it.
“Listen to me, you stupid bitch,” Stella shouted into the phone. “I’ve just finished listening to your message on the tape and I know damn well Kelly’s looking into some kind of blackmail scam for you. So don’t bother denying it. Now you get this straight. If anything has happened to Kelly and I find out you knew where he was and didn’t tell me, I’ll have your tight, little ass nailed to the hot seat so fast you won’t know what hit you.”
