Then she groaned. “I can’t believe it. Five years I’ve been able to live in peace up here, and Helpful Hannah trips me up. She must have added my address after I gave it to her to mail.”
“Why have you been hiding out?” Maggie asked.
“Reasons you wouldn’t understand. Now, because of you two, I have to find another place. And you’re going to finish loading the truck. Grab those.” She pointed to six boxes by the door.
“What are you going to do with us?”
“Haven’t decided. Now, move.”
“I can’t carry anything,” Andi said.
Jillian stared at the homemade crutch, then sighed. “I can’t leave you in here unrestrained.” She pulled a rope from her pocket and tossed it to Maggie. “Tie her hands to the wooden arm of the sofa.”
Once Jillian checked Maggie’s knots, she motioned her toward the boxes. Maggie grabbed two and walked out the door. As soon as they were out of sight, Andi wiggled the rope and tried to slide it off the sofa arm and onto the brace so it would be low enough for her to reach the knife in her boot. It was so close, but she’d never get it this way. She had to get the boot off to get the knife in her hands.
Footsteps hit the porch, and she straightened up.
“Take three this time,” Jillian said to Maggie.
Maggie’s eyes glanced toward her then darted away. She picked up three boxes.
Buy some time, Maggie. Andi wished telepathy worked. Once they were on the porch, she used her left foot to get the boot almost off, then brought her right foot across her knee. Pain ripped her thigh, and Andi bit her lip to keep from crying out. She jerked her foot back down. She couldn’t do it. God, help me!
From outside, Jillian yelled, “How can you be so clumsy! Now pick up the boxes and the stuff that fell out. And be quick about it.”
The words were music to her ears. Bracing herself for the pain, Andi forced her foot back on her knee. Nausea washed over her. Her head swam. Gritting her teeth, she closed her eyes and inched her foot closer.
Just a little more and her fingers could grab the boot. Got it. She blew out a breath, then slid it off, careful not to dump the knife on the floor. Once she had the knife, she opened the largest blade. Hurry. Maggie couldn’t delay forever.
As soon as her hands were free, she hobbled to the side of the door and waited. Footsteps crossed the porch again. Andi lifted the homemade crutch over her head. Maggie came through the doorway first, then Jillian.
“What!”
Andi brought the crutch down and across Jillian’s shoulder. The shotgun clattered to the floor, and Jillian pitched forward, grabbing for Maggie as she fell.
Maggie flipped her on her back and yanked the .38 from her waistband. “Good job,” she said to Andi.
Andi beamed at her. “I think we should tie her up. Then maybe we can get a few answers.”
Maggie shook her head. “Tie her up? Yeah. But I think we need to get your wound seen about first. We can question her on the drive down the mountain.”
“There’s that too,” Andi said. “But some of those boxes will have to be moved out of the truck.”
The clouds had moved on, and the sun almost blinded her when they stepped out on the porch. Jillian led the way with her hands tied in front of her, and Maggie carried the rifle. She’d hobbled Jillian’s feet so that she couldn’t easily run.
Andi brought up the rear with Jillian’s shotgun. The pain had eased enough that she left the makeshift crutch behind. She hadn’t been able to handle both, and the shotgun gave her more security.
Maggie hurried ahead to the truck and started unloading boxes. Andi and Jillian had almost reached the pickup when a crack echoed from the tree line. Jillian screamed and crumpled to the ground.
“Run for the cabin, Maggie!” Andi hit the dirt as another bullet whizzed by. She crawled to where Jillian lay, blood staining the side of her flannel shirt. Her eyes fluttered open.
“Should’ve killed them up on the ridge,” she muttered. “They’ll kill us all.”
“Not if you have more guns in the cabin,” Andi said. When another bullet hit the pickup, she raised up and pulled one of the triggers on the double-barrel. The recoil knocked her backward. Rubbing her shoulder, she said, “That ought to keep them at bay, maybe long enough to get inside.”
Maggie crawled to where they were.
“I told you to run,” Andi said to her.
She unbuttoned Jillian’s shirt. “And leave you? We’re in this together,” she said. “Doesn’t look like the bullet hit an organ. Just need to get the bleeding stopped.”
“Do you think if we get her to the front of the pickup, you can crawl around to the back of the house with her? We’d be sitting ducks to try the front door.”
“I think so.”
Andi nudged Jillian, and her eyes opened again. “Do you have any more shells?”
“In the right front pocket.”
Andi unsnapped the pocket and found four shells, then nodded to Maggie. “I’ll cover you while you pull Jillian to the house.”
Maggie looked down at Jillian. “Can you help?”
She pressed her lips together. “I’ll try.”
Andi peered around the bed of the truck that partially hid them. Nothing moved. “Go,” she whispered.
As Maggie and Jillian inched toward the house, a flash glinted from the woods. Andi fired in the direction she’d seen the flash. This time she was better prepared for the recoil.
Still watching, she crept backward to the front of the truck.
“We made it,” Maggie said, her voice low.
Andi glanced to see where they were, then back at the woods. A man in camos crept out of the tree line. She put the shotgun to her shoulder and fired, even though he was beyond the range of the shotgun. He dropped to the ground, and she dashed to the corner of the house.
“Let’s get her inside.” Holding on to the gun, Andi helped drag Jillian to the back door and into the cabin.
“Where’s your phone?” Maggie asked.
“Doesn’t work. Limb fell and broke the line two weeks ago, and no one’s come to fix it.” She shifted, groaning. “There’s a .22 rifle under the sofa. And a deer rifle in my bedroom closet.”
“That ought to be enough to hold them off until help arrives,” Maggie said.
“What help?” Andi said. “Nobody knows where we are.”
35
THE MINUTE HAND MOVED SLOWLY as Andi watched the clock over the mantel, her thigh throbbing with each movement of the second hand. It’d been at least fifteen minutes since there’d been any activity from the men. Jillian had recovered somewhat, and under her instructions, Maggie had applied a pressure bandage to her shoulder, and the bleeding had stopped. She’d insisted they prop her against the wall that faced the kitchen. And they’d given her the .38. They each had rifles.
Andi peeked out the window that faced south and scanned the woods, then moved to the one that faced west. Maggie stood sentry at the east window. The blind spot was the north side facing the river. Even if the men realized there was a blind spot, it would be difficult for them to work their way around to the back side of the cabin without being seen. “Do you think anyone has even tried to call us?”
“You know they have,” Maggie replied. “I’m sure they’re looking for us now. Once they get to Doskie, someone will recognize the photo of Jillian and tell them how to get here.”
“I hate to tell you,” Jillian said, “but even with directions, they’ll probably get lost. It’s up to us, ladies.” They’d wrapped a blanket around her, and she pulled it tighter. “Why in blue blazes were you so determined to find me?”
“We told you. We’re trying to help Jimmy,” Andi said, “and I wanted to know what happened the night Stephanie died.”
“Why didn’t you ask Lacey? Jimmy said she wrote him a letter saying he didn’t kill Steph. With what she knew, that should’ve been enough to get him out of prison, and satisfy you.”
Sh
e didn’t know about Lacey. Andi shifted so she could see her. “Lacey is dead. Murdered.”
Jillian gasped. “What?”
“Didn’t Jimmy tell you?”
She shook her head. “He killed her,” she said softly.
“Who killed her? Jimmy?” Maggie said.
“No.” Jillian closed her eyes, and Andi thought she’d passed out. She knelt beside her, feeling her wrist for a pulse.
“I’m still here,” Jillian said. She opened her eyes.
Andi had never seen such sadness before.
Jillian took a deep breath and released it. “What do you want to know?”
The words dropped like a bomb into the still room.
“Were you there?” Maggie asked.
“I’m afraid so.” She shifted on the floor and groaned. “You know, I might not get out of here alive.”
“You are not dying here,” Andi said. Not when she was so close to knowing the truth. “What happened that night?”
“Are you sure you want to know?” Jillian pinned her gaze on Andi. “Stephanie wasn’t perfect.”
All Andi’s life, Stephanie had been her hero. Maybe she didn’t want to hear what Jillian had to say.
“Tell us,” Maggie said. “Did Jimmy kill Stephanie?”
“No.” Jillian breathed deeply through her nose, and her body shuddered when she exhaled. “JD had called and told me to find out where Stephanie had the diamonds he had slipped in her purse in Paris. When I went to the studio, she refused to hand them over. Claimed she didn’t know what I was talking about and she was done with smuggling diamonds into the States.”
“No!” Andi planted her feet. “She was not smuggling diamonds!”
“I warned you that you wouldn’t like it.” Pity filled Jillian eyes. “I went to her studio . . .”
Jillian jerked open the studio door and stormed into the room. Lacey followed on her heels.
“Where are they, Steph?” Jillian balled her hands. If Stephanie didn’t give the diamonds back, she didn’t know what would happen.
“Would you hold it down?” Stephanie sat on a high stool at her worktable. She bent the leg of the horse she was working on, then picked up a piece of clay and smoothed it over the wire armature. “Jimmy is dog-drunk and finally went to sleep. You’ll have to deal with him if he wakes up.”
“Where are they?” Jillian repeated, not quite as loud.
“Where are what?”
“I told you she wouldn’t cooperate,” Lacey said. “What you’re doing is stealing.”
“Oh, give me a break,” Stephanie said. “Like smuggling isn’t. ‘Come on, Stephanie, it’s easy money. All you have to do is bring a few dirty-looking rocks home,’” she said in a falsetto voice. “That’s what you and JD told me, but after that one time, I said no, I’m not doing it again. And then he sneaks those three in my purse.” Her gaze hardened. “What is this, anyway? A board meeting? Where’re the others? Or did they send you to do their dirty work?”
“I don’t know about anyone else—I’m just trying to make you see reason. If you keep those diamonds, we’ll all suffer. Give them back to him,” Jillian said.
“You mean JD and Adam aren’t coming?”
“Leave Adam out of it,” Lacey said. She grabbed Stephanie’s arm. “You can’t just steal those diamonds. They’ll kill you, and us too, if you don’t turn them over.”
“No, they won’t.” Stephanie shook Lacey’s hand away. “Tomorrow morning I’m turning them over to the FBI. Would’ve today, but the person I need to see was out of town, and if anything happens to me, I’ve written everything down in my journal, naming names. I’ve documented everything.”
“Where is it?”
“You think I’m stupid?”
When Stephanie cut her eyes toward Lacey, Jillian realized Lacey knew where the journal was. “You didn’t name us, did you?”
Stephanie shrugged. “I did, along with dates and how many stones we brought in the time I was involved.”
Jillian stepped closer. “Where is this journal?”
“In a safe place. Just like the diamonds.” She set the sculpture on a shelf and covered it in plastic. “JD should have left me out of this.”
Lacey plopped down on the sofa next to Jimmy and buried her face in her hands.
“Not now, Lacey.” Jillian paced the room. She stopped and fisted her hand on her waist. “Where did you hide them?”
“Like I would tell you. They’re in a place where you’ll never find them.”
Jillian closed her eyes and counted to ten, then tried one more time. “Look, if JD promises to never involve you again, will you just hand those over and forget they ever existed?”
The side door opened, and JD burst into the room. Jillian groaned. He would only make things worse.
“My, my,” Stephanie said, “the gang’s all here, almost. When does Adam arrive?”
“He’s coming. Has she told you where the diamonds are?” he asked Jillian.
She shook her head. “She says she’s going to the FBI.”
JD took a threatening step toward her.
“Don’t come any closer.” Stephanie pulled a .38 from her pocket.
Jillian screamed.
“What’s going on?” Jimmy said as he raised up with a whiskey bottle gripped in his hand. “Hey! Leave Steph alone.”
JD halted. “Give me the diamonds, or I’ll take the gun away and use it on you.”
“I don’t think you can.” Stephanie waved the gun.
“Be reasonable,” JD said. “Hand over those diamonds I put in your purse, and we can all walk away from this.”
“How many times do I have to say this? They are going to stay where they are until I need them.”
“Come on, Steph, put the gun down,” Jillian said.
Stephanie didn’t take her eyes off JD. “No. Not until you all leave.”
With Stephanie’s attention on JD, Jillian edged closer. She had to get the gun or something terrible would happen.
JD took another step closer to Stephanie, and she raised the gun level with his chest. “Stop right there.”
“Come on, honey. You’re not going to shoot me. Not after all we’ve meant to each other.”
The gun didn’t waver. Stephanie jutted her chin. “You’re wrong about that, just like I was wrong about you. You never loved me. You used me, just like you did Jillian. I just hate it took me two months to figure it out.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Come on, give me the gun and then tell me where the diamonds are.”
Jillian froze. Six months ago, she thought JD was going to propose. Instead, he broke up with her, saying he only wanted to be friends. She’d clung to the belief he would change his mind. Bits and pieces clicked into place. Stephanie avoiding her until Jared Donovan entered the picture.
Stephanie turned to her. “I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you, but you’re better off without him.”
Anger shot through Jillian like a white-hot bullet. “You’re the one who stole JD?”
She rushed Stephanie, tackling her and knocking her off the stool.
“Stop!” Stephanie kicked and struggled with her. “He’s not worth it.”
Jillian wrapped her hand around the gun, and a roar blasted her ears.
Stephanie slumped against her, and the gun clattered to the floor. Jillian pushed her off and climbed to her feet, her chest heaving.
“Steph!” Jimmy staggered to his feet and shoved her aside. “Stephanie,” he keened and knelt beside her.
“Why did you shoot her?” JD yelled.
“I didn’t. The gun went off.” Jillian turned to Lacey. “You saw what happened. She was going to shoot him.”
Lacey grabbed Jillian’s arm. “It doesn’t matter what happened. We have to get out of here!”
“No, we have to call 911,” Jillian said.
“Are you crazy? Do you want to go to jail?” JD shook her. “Nothing will bring Stephanie back, and there’
ll be questions. They’ll find out about the diamonds. Go!”
Her mind whirled, thoughts firing faster than she could process. He was right, they had to get out of there.
Jimmy looked up, his glazed eyes staring straight at her. Blood stained his shirt. “Why . . . ?”
“It was an accident, I’m sorry.” Jillian’s legs trembled and threatened to buckle. She couldn’t breathe.
“Steph,” Jimmy sobbed. He cradled Stephanie in his arms.
“We have to get out of here.” Lacey pulled on Jillian’s arm again.
“You two go ahead,” JD said and picked up the Jack Daniel’s bottle Jimmy had dropped. “I’ll see to him.”
Jillian followed Lacey to the door and stopped. She looked back as JD used one of Stephanie’s hammers to crush a long blue tablet and pour the powder in Jimmy’s glass of whiskey.
“You need something to calm down,” he said, holding the alcohol out to him. “Drink this.”
She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t leave Jimmy to take the blame. That’s what JD was doing—setting him up. “No,” she said. “We can’t—”
“Shut up! And get out of here!” Then he turned back to Jimmy. “Come on, drink this and all your problems will go away.”
Jimmy swayed, his eyes on JD. “You’re my friend, aren’t you?”
“Of course I am.”
Then, like an obedient child, Jimmy gulped the liquid down, and JD wiped the blood from his right hand with a handkerchief, then used the handkerchief to pick up the gun and place it in Jimmy’s hand. “Just hold on to it,” he said softly. “I’m going to get help.”
Jimmy stared at him. “Yeah,” he said, slurring the word. “Get help.”
Jillian grabbed JD’s arm. “You can’t do this.”
He looked up at her with eyes as cold as steel. “Leave now, or I’ll kill him and make it look like a murder-suicide.”
Jillian turned to Andi. “I knew JD would do it. I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt Stephanie.”
“What happened to Stephanie’s journal?” Andi asked.
Jillian sighed. “Lacey found it first. Since she’s dead, I assume JD stole it and then killed her.”
Justice Delayed Page 30
