by Debby Giusti
“That was Sergeant Gates. His opener activated your garage the night my uncle died. He wanted to scare you so you couldn’t do your job.”
“Lola plans to kill me, Kyle. That makes you an accomplice to murder.”
“I don’t believe you.” He pushed her toward Lola’s trailer, his fingers digging into her arm.
Spying the man with the grill and his possessive wife, Kelly knew they might be her only chance to survive. She threw her full weight against Kyle’s chest, jerked her arm free and stumbled into the crowd.
Pushing deeper into the mass of people, Kelly glanced at the trailer, surprised to see Staff Sergeant Gates standing next to Lola. No coincidence there. The sergeant had to be involved with the widow and with her husband’s death, as well.
Lola’s eyes widened as she realized the agent was on the loose. “Stop her!” Gates pulled a .38 special from his waistband and disappeared into the crowd.
Approaching the man and his wife, Kelly grabbed both their hands. “I’m an army CID agent. Lola Taylor plans to kill me. I need your help.”
The woman started to say something, but the husband pushed her aside. He grabbed Kelly’s shoulders, spun her around with a dizzying effect and shoved her toward the center of the throng. “Look what I’ve got for you, Lola.”
Kelly had made a terrible mistake. Her stomach roiled and bile climbed up her throat. Weak as she was, she dug in her heels and tried to free herself from his hold.
All around her, the angry mob raised their fists and jeered. Hands reached for her. Someone struck her face. She gasped, unable to understand their frenzy. They poked and prodded her as the man continued to push her forward.
“No,” she demanded.
With one violent thrust, he shoved her into the pit. Her leg buckled. She went down on one knee.
The cocks swirled around her. She put her arm over her eyes to protect herself from the knives attached to the gamecocks’ legs.
Lola broke through the crowd and stood on the sidelines. “Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen. Who’s going to win this fight, the cocks or the woman?” Her laughter floated over the taunts of the mob.
The birds flew at Kelly. Their wings flapped the air while their sharp talons and the metal gaffs cut into her flesh. Blood ran along her neck and down her arms. Her eyes burned, and she coughed at the dirt raised from the wild birds and the even wilder crowd.
In a final flurry of feathers, the birds clawed at Kelly’s back and plucked at her hair.
“Dear God, help me,” she screamed.
TWENTY-THREE
Phil shoved his way through the crowd like a madman. He had to get to Kelly. Hands held him back, but he fought them off.
“Kelly,” he cried, seeing the birds attack. Blood spattered her hair and clothing.
He lunged forward, jumped into the pit and swatted the fighting cocks away from her bleeding body. Pulling her protectively into his arms, he turned to fight off the crowd that booed and hissed around them.
“Back off!” Phil raised his voice. “She’s with the CID. Military law enforcement. You’re all under arrest.”
“Don’t listen to him,” Lola shouted from the sidelines. She waved her hands with frustration as the crazed crowd suddenly quieted. People backed away from the pit. Others turned and scrambled to their cars. “Wait. Don’t leave.”
Jake and his two buddies came out of the trailer. “What the—”
Seeing an opening in the crowd, Phil pointed to the woods. “Run, Kelly. I’ll hold them off.”
She clung to him. “Not without you.”
Gates came up behind Phil and shoved a revolver in his back.
“Go,” Phil insisted, urging her forward.
Kelly’s knee buckled and she stumbled. Hands grabbed her. She turned to see Kyle.
Lashing out at him, she tried to get free, but he wrapped his arm around her neck and held the Sig Sauer to her head. “Don’t make me hurt you.”
Phil tensed, ready to lunge. Even if Gates fired, Phil might be able to get to Kelly in time.
“No you don’t, Captain.” The sergeant slammed the revolver against the side of Phil’s neck. He groaned and doubled over.
Twisting Phil’s hands behind his back, Gates forced him upright. “I wouldn’t do anything foolish, Captain, if I were you.”
“Phil,” Kelly gasped.
He blinked until she came into focus. Her hands gripped the teen’s arm, which was around her neck, trying to keep him from tightening his hold.
Although her eyes were wide with fear, her voice was calm. “You’re not a killer, Kyle.”
“My dad is and people say I’m just like him.” The teen shook his head. “Besides, I…I can’t trust you.”
“Then listen to me.” Phil raised his voice. Unable to break free from Gates’s hold, his eyes flicked between Kyle and the three big guys who were fiddling with something at the side of the pit. “My dad went to jail, Kyle. He made a mistake that cost two people their lives. I’m his son, but that doesn’t make me a bad person. You can be a better man than your father.”
Hearing Phil’s comments, Lola shook her head. “Don’t listen to him, Kyle.”
Jake glanced up from what he was doing. The brute’s eyes were dilated, and a manic sneer spread across his wide face as he stared at Phil. “Because of you, we’re gonna lose a lot of money this weekend, Captain. The way the boys and I figure, you owe us.”
Lola wrinkled her brow. “What are you doing, Jake?”
“We’re going to have a fight to the death, baby. Only it won’t be the cocks that die.” He held up his mammoth hands. On each finger, he had strapped a two-inch gaff, the blades razor-sharp.
Tightening his hold on Phil, Gates chuckled. “We’ll let Jake have a little fun with you, Captain Thibodeaux, before we kill you and the agent.”
Phil’s eyes focused on Kelly. The color had drained from her face, and blood matted her hair and clothing. He had to protect her. Lord, I need help.
“You’ll never get away with this, Gates.”
“Sure we will, Captain. No one will ever find your bodies.”
“What about all the people watching the cockfight? Someone will talk.”
“No, sir. They’ll be too afraid for their own sakes.”
As Phil looked around, he realized Gates might be right. Many of the people had already fled. Even if someone called the police, they wouldn’t get here in time.
Kelly’s heart lodged in her throat. She had to do something. “Give me the gun, Kyle. I’ll help you get out of this rap.”
The two thugs stepped into the pit and circled around the sergeant.
“You know what I don’t like?” Jake stood on the sidelines and flexed his fingers.
The sergeant swallowed hard and nervously eyed Jake and then the men who approached him from each side.
Kelly’s pulse accelerated. Phil was in the middle of a bunch of lunatics vying to get the upper hand. Dear God, protect him.
“I don’t like someone else messing with my woman,” Jake sneered.
Gates’s face paled. He glared at Lola.
She laughed nervously and shrugged. “I had to tell him.”
Jake flicked his wrist at the taller of his two friends and pointed to the sergeant. “Take care of that weasel.”
The tall one stepped closer. “Drop the gun, Sarge.”
Gates eased his hold on Phil and took a step back. “Let’s be calm, boys. Remember, I’m the one with the weapon.
Glancing over his shoulder, Gates eyed the second man, who was moving closer. Raising the .38, Gates took aim and fired.
The second guy clutched his chest. Blood covered his flannel shirt. He staggered backward to the edge of the pit and crumpled to the ground.
Phil grabbed Gates’s arm and wrestled for the gun. The thug kicked and his boot caught Phil’s chin, forcing him to his knees. He rolled clear as Gates and the tall guy fought for control of the .38. Two more rounds exploded from the revolver.
Lola screamed.
The tall guy gained control of the weapon and fired. Gates’s eyes flared. The thug fired again and again until the sergeant collapsed in the dirt.
Six rounds spent. The cylinder of the .38 was empty, although Kelly doubted Jake or his friend had done the math.
“Now that we’ve taken care of that problem, let’s see what we can do about you, Captain.” Jake jumped into the pit and lunged at Phil.
He dodged the first strike, but the tall guy with the gun jammed the weapon in his waistband and caught Phil in a bear hug, pinning his arms behind his back. From the smirk on his face, the guy in flannel appeared to be enjoying himself.
Jake danced closer and jabbed at Phil’s chest.
He struggled to free himself. “You’re a coward, Jake.”
“No one ever said I had to fight fair, Captain.”
Phil kicked, blocking Jake’s hand, which only enraged the brute more. He swiped at Phil’s chest. The gaffs ripped at his uniform and drew blood.
“Kyle, don’t you understand, they’re going to kill him.” Kelly’s pulse raced. “Give me the gun.”
The teen looked confused.
She pushed on. “That’s what they did to you the night I saw you on the road, wasn’t it, Kyle?”
He nodded. “They…they were drugged up and wanted to show me what a cockfight was like.”
Jake taunted Phil, the sharp gaffs inches from his face. With his arms pinned back, Phil didn’t have a chance.
Kelly’s voice was soft but firm. “Kyle—”
He relaxed his hold. The Sig Sauer slipped from his hand into hers.
One shot. If she missed the brute, she’d hit Phil.
If she didn’t fire, he’d be dead in seconds.
“Jake?”
Kelly’s voice caused Jake to glance at her over his shoulder. His eyes were on fire with rage and drugs.
“Stop or I’ll shoot,” she ordered.
Turning back to Phil, Jake raised his hands to strike. “I’m gonna kill you,” he screamed, just as her father had screamed at her so long ago.
Kelly aimed her Sig Sauer and fired.
TWENTY-FOUR
The last thug still standing fired back at Kelly. Too late, he realized the revolver was out of ammo. Phil took him down and jammed his face into the dirt.
Kelly ordered Kyle and Lola to lie down on the ground with their hands clasped behind their heads. “Don’t move or I’ll shoot.”
Sirens sounded in the distance. Within minutes, a string of police cars turned into the clearing.
“Law enforcement. Drop your weapons.”
At the sound of Jamison’s voice, gratitude swept over Kelly. Cops swarmed the campsite and took the guilty into custody.
Suddenly light-headed, Kelly collapsed onto the nearby picnic table. Phil was at her side.
“I’m okay,” she assured him. “What about you?”
Blood soaked the front of his uniform and his chest and arms were cut, but his face and eyes were clear.
“Nothing a little tape can’t fix.” He smiled and she sighed with relief.
The EMTs approached them. “Let’s get you cleaned up, ma’am.”
Kelly shook her head. “I’m okay. Take care of the others first.”
“Gates is dead, ma’am. Along with one of the big boys in flannel.”
“What about Jake?”
“He’s still breathing. Nice shot, by the way.”
Jamison worked with the local authorities to load Lola, Kyle, Jake and the surviving thug into the squad cars while the EMTs bandaged first Kelly’s wounds and then Phil’s. When the medics moved on, Jamison joined them at the picnic table.
“Took you long enough to get here,” she teased.
Jamison smiled, but his eyes were serious. “I was worried, Kel. We circled around Montburg for over an hour but didn’t know where to look. Luckily, the attendant at the local service station mentioned a petite blonde with blue eyes who stopped for gas and information. About that time, a stream of travel trailers and pickups screeched onto the main road. Only one reason I could think of that so many people would be running scared.”
“We owe you,” Phil said.
“Yeah? Well, between the voice mails you two left, I was able to piece together the general vicinity of where you were headed. That made all the difference.”
Kelly raised her brow. “Speaking of voice mail, where were you earlier?”
The usually put-together CID agent averted his gaze and shrugged. “I had a date after the Hail and Farewell.”
Phil smiled knowingly. “The colonel’s daughter?”
Jamison made up an excuse about needing to talk to the Pine Gate Landing chief of police and excused himself without answering Phil’s question.
“Looks like Jamison may be in love.” Kelly laughed, but when she looked at Phil, she realized he might be, as well.
She needed to clear the air about her past before they went any farther. Phil deserved to know the whole truth.
She sat silently for a long moment before she spoke. “I…I never talk about the night my father came after my mother. She had bought a gun for protection and kept it in the kitchen. My dad broke into the house. He had a knife and was cutting her.”
Kelly bit her lip. “I blocked out the rest of what happened, but when Jake turned on you, it all came back.”
The compassion she saw in Phil’s gaze helped her find the courage to go on. “I was fifteen and had never handled a firearm before that night, but I had to help my mom. I opened the kitchen drawer and grabbed the gun—”
Pulling in a deep breath, Kelly continued, “My mother told the police it was self-defense, but I wasn’t sure whether she was telling the truth or trying to save her daughter from going to jail.”
Kelly attempted to smile, but her lips quivered. Phil reached for her hand. “And now you know the truth?”
She nodded. “The first round missed him. I thought he would run away. Instead, he turned on me with the knife. When he lunged, I fired. The round hit him in the chest.”
“That’s a heavy load you’ve had to carry, Kelly.”
She licked her lips. “My mother and I never talked about what happened. I…I always thought she hated me because I’d taken him from her.”
“But that can’t be true, Kelly.”
“I realize it now. She told one of the nurses at Magnolia Gardens that I was a good daughter.”
Kelly swallowed down the lump that filled her throat. “All I ever wanted was a normal home and loving parents. I never admitted it to anyone, not even myself, but I loved my dad. More than anything, I wanted him to love me.”
“Oh, honey.” Phil scooted next to her and pulled her into his arms.
“In the end, my dad thought more of the drugs he took than either mom or me.” Tears stung her eyes. “I didn’t have a choice that night. If I hadn’t stopped him, he…he would have killed both of us.”
“That’s why you’re so determined to be an ace shot.”
She nodded.
“But good came from what happened.” Phil put his finger under her chin. “Do you know why?”
She shook her head.
“That sharp-shooter ability of yours saved my life.” Phil pulled her deeper into his arms. “I love you, Kelly.”
She melted into his welcoming embrace. “Oh, Phil, I love you, too.”
Feeling the strength of his hold and the steady thump of his heart, Kelly knew that the past was behind her. At long last, she had come home to a man who would love her and cherish her for the rest of her life.
TWENTY-FIVE
Kelly slid into the pew next to Phil on Sunday morning and grabbed his bandaged arm. Private Stanley sat a few rows ahead of them, his Bible open, his eyes closed.
“He’s going to be okay,” Phil whispered. “Thanks to you.”
“Include yourself in that. Chief Agent in Charge Wilson said we both did a good job.”
Phil squeezed he
r hand, taking care not to hurt the cuts that were starting to mend. “The Chief is proud of you, Kelly. So am I.”
Her cheeks warmed with the praise. “Mrs. Foglio says she wants to help Kyle any way she can. I’m not sure what will happen.”
“Sergeant Meyers and his wife told me the same thing.” Phil rubbed his fingers over her arm. “Did you see Mildred?”
Kelly nodded. “She’s back at Magnolia Gardens and gaining strength. They found her brother’s body and Lola admitted she and Gates killed him, never realizing Mildred owned both pieces of land. If that housing deal goes through, Millie will be a wealthy lady and wants to use some of her money to help with Kyle’s rehabilitation.”
“Maybe he’ll make it after all.” Phil leaned closer. “I called Aunt Eleanor and thanked her for keeping me on the straight and narrow.”
“I’d like to meet her someday.”
“The feeling’s mutual.”
Kelly’s heart skipped a beat. “You mentioned me?”
His eyes twinkled. “I told her I’d found someone special.”
The organ began to play. Chaplain Sanchez entered the sanctuary, and the congregation stood. Kelly gazed up at Phil, dreaming of a day in the not-too-distant future when she would be standing next to him at the altar in this very church. Oh, Lord, if only that could be.
After the service, they chatted briefly with the chaplain and then stepped into the warmth of the sunny fall day. “There’s a path that cuts through the trees and heads to a pond.” Phil pointed to where the pavement disappeared into the woods.
Hand in hand they strolled, enjoying the rich colors of the leaves and the unseasonably mild temperature. When they got to the secluded pond, Phil stopped and pulled in a deep lungful of air. Concern tingled Kelly’s neck as she realized a problem was weighing heavy on his mind.
He released her hand. “There’s something we need to discuss before we go any farther. I’ve got another year at Fort Rickman before the next assignment. Then I’ll have to move wherever Uncle Sam sends me.”
Her pulse quickened with apprehension.
