Fade to the Edge

by Kathryn J Bain

  But if Kimi left with the money, Jenny intended to tell the police someone came up behind her in the dark, took the money, and disappeared. She went to the cabin to call the police and discovered DJ. A lie that could work.

  She’d have to find a way to keep Tracy quiet then no one would need to know the truth.

  Eventually, Dad would realize something was up between her and Tracy, but she could work that out later. She needed to be careful not to suggest anyone responsible. That’s what always caused suspicion. No, she’d allow the police to draw their own conclusions.

  As she pulled into the driveway, bare tree branches stuck out like thin fingers in the moonlight’s glow, blaming her for all she’d put her family through. Once parked in the clearing, next to Kimi’s car, she reached over and pulled the flashlight from her glove compartment. She grabbed the duffle bag full of money. The light from the flashlight led her way.

  “Mrrrr.” A low roar came from behind her.

  She stopped short. Using her light, she scanned the area but saw nothing. After a moment, she continued. As she neared the footpath, the sound of water smashing against the limestone cliff grew. An owl hooted in one of the pine trees, welcoming her to his land.

  She paused and filled her lungs with cool fresh air. No other place smelled as good as Ross Ridge. Inching her way to the edge of the cliff, she used the toe of her shoe to ensure she didn’t get too close. Once near enough, she took the prepaid cell phone from her purse, raised it to toss over, but reconsidered. What if DJ wasn’t up here? The prepaid was the only number Kimi had to get a hold of her. She returned it to her purse. If DJ was safe she would toss both hers and Kimi’s prepaid cell phones away, telling the police the kidnapper had taken the phone he’d given her. No way for them to trace anything.

  Questions would be asked. Anything she messed up on, she could put down to being terrified.

  She listened as the waves crashed against the rocks below her.

  Memories rushed in. After getting her driver’s license, she would visit Grams as often as possible. Jenny loved to hear stories about working in the hospital. That’s why she had become a nurse.

  But she could lose everything if she didn’t play her cards right.

  She returned to the footpath and headed east to Grams’ property. The grass was to her knees. The eight hundred square foot cabin was up ahead. It and the hundred acres had been in the family for generations, since Dad’s great-great-grandmother. It wasn’t until after Grams died that Jenny had realized the acreage had been sold to the government. Thankfully, there was a clause in the contract that ensured no land could be used for anything other than a park for two hundred fifty years. Ross Ridge would never be covered with cheap cookie-cutter houses for a long time.

  The only thing still in Dad’s name was the cabin and the two acres surrounding it. He and Tracy never came up here, so it was essentially hers.

  When Gary asked her to marry him, she drove him up. She told him about her dream to expand the cabin so there’d be plenty of room when they had children of their own. A perfect place to get away for a weekend. The smile on his face said that he liked the idea.

  That time seemed so long ago. When everything was going well.

  As she drew near the cabin, she scanned the building with her flashlight. A shutter dangled from a back window like it was winking at her. It was like stepping back in time with each visit. She could be young again, relive old memories of chasing birds and planting flowers in the dirt.

  Every day had been fun, except that day in August when she was twelve. Tracy’s teasing had irritated her so badly, she ran at her, tripping over the edge. The accident had occurred near a place that had mounds so she didn’t fall to the water. Tracy tried to pull her up but was too weak. Two hikers helped drag her to safety.

  Jenny had broken her arm that day, but her heart warmed at the love her sister showed her that day. Funny, it seemed as if that experience endeared her more to Ross Ridge. Tracy claimed it was bad luck, but Jenny saw nothing but good in it. Maybe because that day she realized how much Tracy cared. She could have easily gone over trying to pull Jenny up.

  “Tracy, I hope you can one day forgive me for all this.” Jenny looked at the moon half-hidden behind the gray clouds.

  At the back porch, she touched the now dead rose bushes. Grams could grow anything. Her garden was always the best in town. A sanctuary to get away from the world.

  But now the world had invaded in the form of Kimi Frazier.

  Chapter 68

  Tommy slowed to about five miles per hour going down Seminole Road. With no lights on, he could easily go off into the woods. That would make for a hard getaway. He grunted a laugh. About fifty feet from where Jenny C. did a turn, he pulled the truck to a stop. Better to be facing the other way, he inched the truck back and forth in a U-turn, making sure he didn’t go into some culvert. Once facing the direction to get out, he put the truck in park and cut the engine.

  He flicked off the dome light then opened his door. The sound of splashing water was all around him. He pulled out his cell and used it for a light. A dirt road was about twenty feet up from his truck. He flicked off the light and took careful steps heading down the road.

  Before too long, he came across two cars. One Jenny C.’s, the other Kimi’s.

  “Got you, you b—”

  “Mrrr.”

  He jumped at the noise. His heart raced. After a second of silence, he moved forward.

  The sounds of the water came closer. He stopped and looked around. The light Jenny C. used had disappeared. To his left was darkness. To his right was the silhouette of a small house.

  Chapter 69

  Myrna’s heart raced. At one point, she thought Jenny had spotted her. She waited until the nurse was on the path then headed toward the house. She cut through a track of trees, not daring to take a chance on the driveway. Before crossing the street to her own house, she spotted a large black truck parked off to the side.

  Who the…

  A hunter maybe. Hunting was illegal in the park.

  No sign of anybody near. She walked to the other side of the street. Looking right then left, she inched closer to the vehicle. At the driver’s side window, she glanced inside. Looked almost new in the glow of her flashlight.

  The only place to go was Esther’s unless the owner was up to no good. But if visiting them women, why not park with the other vehicles? Maybe he didn’t want to get his new truck scratched up from the rocks that bounced up on that road.

  She glanced at Esther’s cabin. What were they doing in there?

  Celebrating Daniel Allen’s death? She laughed under her breath. Who could blame them? He was such an egotistical cad. But if they thought having a loud party out here in the middle of nowhere would keep the media away, they were wrong.

  She’d not put up with the noise.

  Something shuffled on the other side of the truck. Myrna ducked down and waited.

  “Mrrr.”

  She released a stuck breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “Ginger, you about scared me to death.” She scooped the cat into her arms. “Might be smart to get inside and get locked up. Need to wait to see what they’re up to across the way before I make any decisions.”

  Chapter 70

  Jenny turned the back doorknob. It opened freely. She entered the house and walked through the kitchen, placing her purse on the table. Kimi had her feet on the table watching some late-night talk show with karaoke.

  She dropped the bag of money on the floor. “I want DJ now.” Her voice stern.

  Kimi jumped up from the sofa, her eyes wide. She glanced from Jenny to the bag on the floor. “You’re early.”

  “I want this over and I want it over now.” She walked to Grams’ room. The bed was unmade and no DJ. “Where’s is he?”

  “In the smaller room.”

  Jenny nodded. “What was up with that bloody knife? That really made Tracy look bad. Shook everyone up.”


  “Just my way of having some fun with the princess.”

  “My sister’s not a princess.”

  “Doubtful she’d ever hang with someone like me.”

  Jenny had to agree. At times, Tracy came off as stuck-up but it really had more to do with her being shy. “I’m surprised the police didn’t come up here to check the place out once they got involved.” She walked to the back bedroom.

  “They did. I waited until they were gone. Seemed a good idea to hide where someone’s already searched.” She paused. “I’m not as stupid as you think I am.”

  “I never thought you were stupid.” Jenny looked for any sign of emotion in the girl’s eyes but found none. “I thought you wanted away from all those men touching you.”

  A moan floated through the bedroom door. She opened it. The light from the living room shined in on DJ, his eyes closed. She inched closer, careful not to make a sound. The room reeked of urine. Chances were Kimi hadn’t cleaned the boy since taking off with him.

  Jenny felt his forehead, then his pulse. Slow. “What did you give him?” she asked.

  “Just a quarter of a sleeping pill.” Kimi used her head to point to the bottle on the nightstand. Jenny picked up the bottle of Estozolam and read the label stating it belonged to someone named Norma Peterson. The label read one to two mg. at bedtime. At least Kimi hadn’t been stupid enough to give him an adult size dosage.

  “How long ago did you give him a dose?”

  “About two hours. Why?” Kimi stood with her shoulder against the doorjamb. “It’s not like it was too much.”

  “This might be good.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I can drop him off somewhere, maybe near where I used to work. Stick around until someone finds him, then no one will have to know our involvement.”

  “Except for one thing.”

  “What?”

  “You don’t have all the money.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “I’m not stupid. You said ten grand was all you could afford. Doubt if you got it from that hotshot husband of yours.”

  “I sold off my jewelry. But you’re right, it’s only about nineteen.”

  “Not good enough.” Kimi’s lips tightened.

  Jenny walked past Kimi, back to the living room. “If you were smart as you think you are, you’d get out of here.”

  “I. Want. My. Money.” Kimi rubbed her fingers across her thumb.

  “Maybe you need to consider this. You’re the one up to your fake little breasts in this thing. I can claim you extorted the money from me. Who do you think everyone will believe? DJ’s prints are in your car, your prints are all over this place. Let me guess, you and Daniel got it on up here? Probably left a lot of DNA too. Wouldn’t take much to convince the police you and Daniel kidnapped DJ. And then the two of you got into a fight. You killed him so you wouldn’t have to share the money.” Jenny shook a finger in the air. “Yeah, that’s the story I plan to tell if you give me any more trouble.”

  “I’ll tell them the truth. Someone will believe me.”

  She was right, though Jenny wasn’t about to let her know it.

  “So, what will it be?” Jenny dug her cell phone from her pocket.

  “I want the rest,” Kimi spoke between gritted teeth.

  Jenny released a loud breath. “Tell you what, you get out of here and contact me once you get settled. I’ll see if I can’t find a way.”

  “Right.”

  “You’ll just have to trust me.” After a second of Kimi not responding, Jenny pressed the nine on the phone. She held a finger over the one. “Are you staying or going with the money?”

  Kimi jerked the phone from Jenny’s hand.

  “I’ve had enough of this crap.” She slammed Jenny into the wall knocking a picture to the floor.

  Jenny grabbed hold of Kimi’s arms and spun her around. If she could get to the gun, she’d put a stop to this fast.

  Chapter 71

  “Take your hands off me.” Kimi tossed a punch, but Jenny raised her arm and blocked it sending sparks of pain all the way up her arm.

  “Take the money and go,” Jenny yelled.

  Kimi backed up a step. She swiped a hand over her lips. “Now, you get to watch as I dump that stupid kid over the edge of the cliff.”

  She turned and headed for the back room.

  “No!” Jenny reached out and caught Kimi by her hair.

  Kimi swung an elbow into Jenny’s stomach, taking the wind from her in a whoosh. Jenny released her hold, strands of brown hair in her fingers which only angered Kimi more. She punched connecting with Jenny’s cheek.

  Jenny’s hand instinctively went to her face.

  “I’m not some little nothing you can push around,” Kimi screamed. She hit Jenny again, connecting with her jaw.

  Jenny raised her arms to protect herself, but it did little good with Kimi’s fists flailing at her ribs and head. Jenny backed up one step at a time. Kimi followed, now slapping at her. She’d not come this far to lose.

  “You’ll bring me what I want, or I’ll toss him over that edge.” She dug her nails into Jenny’s arm.

  Jenny bumped into the kitchen table. She jerked free and spun around.

  Kimi grabbed out, catching Jenny’s hair, jerking her at a bad angle. She swung her hips back, knocking Kimi off balance. Both their breaths came out in pants.

  Kimi fisted her palms and went to grab out again but stopped short. Her heart stood in her throat. Jenny Braddock held a gun, pointed straight at her face.

  Chapter 72

  Tommy listened from outside the door. He twisted the knob. It opened freely.

  “What do you plan to do with that?” Kimi asked, a gun aimed in her direction. Her eyes widened when she saw Tommy behind Jenny C.

  “Tommy!” she shouted.

  Stupid woman. Jenny C. spun. Tommy grabbed her hand. They twisted and turned. She reached up and scratched his face with her long nails.

  Anger flowed in.

  “Let go,” Jenny C. cried.

  Bang!

  The gun fell to the floor. Tommy jerked his hand back and shook it, his palm on fire. Jenny C. stared at him for a second then crumpled to the floor.

  Chapter 73

  Myrna jolted awake. What was that?

  “Mrrr.”

  “I heard it too. Sounded like a gunshot.” She listened more intently. Her shoulders were stiff from all the digging she’d been doing. She yawned and pulled the curtain aside.

  No signs of life in the dark woods.

  Ginger scooted to a new location at the end of the bed. She kneaded the blankets until she was comfortable enough to lie down again. “Mrrr.”

  “Okay, okay.” Myrna reclined back down. “But if I hear it again, I will call the police.”

  Chapter 74

  Kimi stared down at Jenny’s body. Blood seeped into the green linoleum floor from the head wound. “You killed her.” Her voice rose an octave. “You fool.”

  Tommy grabbed her around the throat. “What did you call me?”

  She clawed at his hand. After a second he let her go.

  “You ruined everything,” she screamed, tears raining down her face.

  “Me. You’re the one who cut out on me, remember.” He aimed the gun at her face.

  Her breath left her.

  He grinned. “Maybe I should take that duffle bag and cut my losses right now.”

  Kimi swallowed hard. Think. You didn’t come this far to come away empty-handed. “But there’s more to be had. Daniel Allen will bring it to us.”

  Tommy let loose a laugh. “He ain’t bringing nothing.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Don’t you watch the news? Man died yesterday at your place.”

  Kimi gasped. She raised her hand to her mouth.

  “He shouldn’t have walked in on me at a bad time.”

  Kimi’s pulse pounded in her ears. Something in Tommy’s eyes said if she didn’t play her car
ds right, she’d be next. She only had one trump card.

  “We still got the kid.” She smiled. “He’ll make us a fortune.”

  “What do you mean us?”

  “That’s why I did all this. For us, baby. So you could do your own film. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?”

  “Like you weren’t leaving me to deal with Filmore.” His lips all but disappeared.

  “No, I swear.” She walked to the blue duffle bag. “You ever seen nineteen thousand dollars in cash?” She unzipped the bag. “More than enough to pay Filmore back and have some extra.”

  He stared down at it, a twinkle in his eye, always the greedy one.

  “We could have made a lot more than this.” He grabbed hold of her by her hair.

  She winced. “But there’s more to be had by Daniel’s wife, and then you can do your own film with me as the star. You said I’d be a star, so I thought I’d find a way to be your big star, not Filmore’s.” She hoped he bought the lie. The last thing she wanted was to find herself next to Jenny in that cold basement, dead.

  He looked at her for a long time before he released her. “Zip it back up. We got some cleaning to do.” He tucked the gun behind him. “Get me a sheet.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “Can’t have this body out here when Tracy Allen arrives.” He glanced at her. “Move.”

  Kimi went back to the bedroom and pulled a sheet off the bed. Tommy was standing over the body in the kitchen. “Is she dead?”

  “Don’t know. Don’t care.”

  “Did you really kill Daniel?”

  “Yeah.”

  “But why? He was loaded.”

  “Something else you didn’t tell me. Besides, he thought he was a tough guy.” Tommy got close to her face. “I showed him he wasn’t.” He jerked the sheet from her hands and placed it on the floor. “Roll her onto it.”

  “What?”

  Her grabbed Kimi’s arm and forced her to the floor beside him. “I said roll her body onto the sheet.”