Blue Moon Rising: A suspense thriller

by Lillian Francken

  “She’s okay. On the way to the hospital by now, I expect.”

  Dan looked up at Mac. “Alan’s in there,” Dan whispered as he turned to the tall pines and then everything went dark.

  * * *

  Dan was in and out of consciousness. He tried to wake a few times but then stopped trying and let the darkness consume him.

  He saw Kay in happy times, laughing while playing with Kelly as an infant. He heard arguing but could not make out the words. Slowly the dreams fade and the hazy hue of the room appeared.

  Martha Witherspoon was hovering over his bed like a vulture devouring its prey. She smelt like stale body odor. All Dan wanted was to be left alone.

  “Nurse,” Martha screeched.

  Dan looked up. “It’s cold,” he whispered.

  “Do you want anything?” Martha asked, not hearing what Dan had said.

  “What did he say?” The nurse asked turning to Dan.

  “Cold. It’s cold in here,” he whispered.

  “Get the doctor. He wants the doctor,” Martha yelled out orders.

  The nurse turned to her and then Dan, but Dan just shut his eyes and went back into his self-imposed darkness.

  * * *

  Dan opened his eyes again. The blinds were closed. Nancy had his hand in hers. He felt the warmth it offered and managed a feeble grin. Nancy turned to Dan when she felt his fingers flex. She had a smile on her face as he shut his eyes again.

  * * *

  Dr. Owens walked into the hospital room. He strolled over to the window and opened the blinds, sending sunbeams streaking across the bed. Dan opened his eyes.

  “Kelly?” Dan asked.

  The doctor leaned over Dan. “Your daughter is fine. She has a slight concussion. She’ll be in to see you in a little while, if you’re up to it?”

  “I’m up to it,” Dan whispered weakly.

  Dan was not taking anyone’s word about Kelly. He had to see her for himself that his daughter was okay.

  “You’re lucky to be alive,” the doctor added, and then hesitated. “But I wouldn’t give two nickels for what you’re about to face.”

  “What?”

  “You don’t know, do you?”

  The doctor ran his hand over Dan’s heavily bandaged ribs. He pressed down. “Does that hurt?” he asked.

  “No, not really.” Dan whispered.

  “It will. Four ribs cracked, two of them pretty bad. But you’ll live,” he replied.

  “What day is it?” Dan whispered.

  “Monday. I’m Dr. Owens. If you need a nurse just push the button. But I’m sure one of your female admirers would be more than happy to get you anything you needed.”

  The doctor turned abruptly and walked out. Kelly walked in. She stood looking down at her father. Her forehead was bandaged.

  “I didn’t realize police work was so exciting.”

  “Not always.”

  Dan pressed the control to move the bed into a sitting position. “How’s Alan?” he finally managed to ask.

  Kelly shook her head as sadness came over her face. “Took them a while to find him.”

  “Figured as much.”

  “He was dead when they got to him.”

  “I expect there’s been a lot of talk around town.”

  “That’s one way to put it. Senator Maxwell has been holding press conferences,” she said, and then paused. “He wants your head on a platter.”

  “I’ll bet he does.”

  “Why was Mr. Maxwell talking about Mom?”

  “I think it had something to do with a story she was working on before the accident.”

  “Did someone kill her?”

  “I don’t know for sure. There was speculation that it wasn’t the brakes, that maybe she was forced off the road. But the investigation never went anywhere.”

  Dan took hold of Kelly’s hand as tears streamed down her cheek. This was something he never shared with Kelly. It would have been hard for a young person to accept. It was bad enough she lost her mother. She didn’t need to know that it was not an accident.

  “What did Dr. Owens mean about my ‘female admirers?’”

  Kelly took a deep breath and retained control as a slight smile crossed her face.

  “You do have quite a covey of fans,” she laughed. “Nancy Davie has been here four or five times, and so has Ms. Witherspoon.” Kelly frowned a moment. “Then there was this Ms. Wilcox. Who is she?”

  “Not her, too. I can’t believe they made such a fuss.”

  “Nancy has been just fine, but Martha has been driving everyone absolutely crazy. First she thought you were going to die. If that wasn’t bad enough, then she caught on why Nancy was here. Ms. Wilcox left as soon as she saw the other two. Frankly, I don’t know what any of them see in you.”

  Dan shook his head. “Me neither.”

  “People are really curious about what happened.”

  “I’m still trying to sort it out,” Dan said, shaking his head.

  “Why did he want to hurt you?” Kelly asked as her hand reached over and touched her father.

  “It has to do with a twenty-year-old murder and I think what happened to Junior and the Ames Boy.”

  “You mean he killed them all?” she asked with a puzzled look on her face.

  “I thought so at first.”

  “But now?” Kelly asked.

  “I don’t know. He claimed he had nothing to do with any of it.”

  “Maybe he lied.”

  “He didn’t have any reason to lie. Those razorbacks worked him over pretty good.”

  Kelly shuddered a moment. “He wasn’t the only one they worked over.”

  “Yeah, well, I had the gun.”

  Kelly laughed mockingly. “A thirty-eight! I’d think you’d have more sense than to go chasing a man into the tall pines knowing those devils were there.”

  Kelly looked ready to cry as Dan reached up, took her hand, and then squeezed it reassuringly.

  “Everything is okay now,” Dan whispered.

  “Nancy’s been coming over to the house. She’s nice.”

  “I’m glad you’re getting along and you like her.”

  Dan shut his eyes. Kelly reached over and hugged him. The last few days had been nerve-wracking, worrying if she was going to lose her father. She was just thankful he was on the mend now.

  CHAPTER 20

  Nancy parked her Outback outside Dan’s house. She quickly walked around to the passenger door, where Kelly was already helping her father out of the car.

  “Here, let me help,” Nancy said, reaching for Dan.

  Dan held up his hands. “I’m not an invalid,” he snapped.

  “You’re also not a well man,” Kelly added.

  Dan winced in pain. He swayed a moment and then grabbed hold of Nancy’s arm. At that moment he knew he would need their help and arguing about it would get him nowhere fast.

  “My head hurts,” he said.

  “See! You need us. There’s nothing wrong with letting people help you out until you are better,” Kelly argued.

  “Just get me into the house.”

  It was slow going and they managed to get him into the house and settled in bed. Although they’d released him from the hospital, there was still a long recuperation period ahead for Dan.

  * * *

  Dan sat on a chaise lounge while Nancy stood at the grill turning the chicken. He’d enjoyed the past week doing nothing but letting Nancy and Kelly care of him. It reminded him of another time in his life when things were right with the world. Nancy would not let him see the paper and the local news was never turned on. However, as nice as that was, Dan knew he had work to do and tomorrow it would be back to the salt mines for him. He would eventually have to face the Senator.

  Kelly handed Dan the envelope marked “Confidential” that Mac had dropped off earlier.

  Dan looked at it and laughed. “This must have killed Mac,” he commented as he glanced at the return address, “FBI.” Dan qu
ickly opened it.

  Nancy turned to him. “Is it from your friend?” she asked.

  Dan held up his hand a moment as he read. “Oh, this is just great!”

  Nancy walked over to Dan, she read over his shoulder. “Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Why are you checking murders that far north?” she asked with a puzzled look.

  “Something Alan said,” Dan relayed and then looked up. “That friend I have in Little Rock. He did a little checking for me. This Jackson Hole murder was in ’89. That was the year Alan and the Senator were up there bear hunting.”

  “And?” she asked as she quickly walked over to the grill to turn the chicken.

  Dan flipped through the pages. His face turned white suddenly.

  “Shit,” he snapped as he turned to Nancy. “There’s a list of unsolved murders that match our MO in Virginia, Maryland, and the Delaware area.”

  “How many?”

  “Looks like fifteen at least.”

  The phone rang suddenly. Dan picked up the portable phone on the table.

  “Yeah, what’s up?” Dan asked and then listened a moment while Nancy watched him intently. “If you can reach Billy Bob, send him out there for backup.”

  Dan set the phone down and then struggled to get up off the lawn chair. He stood for a moment before taking a step forward.

  “Where do you think you are going?” Kelly asked.

  “I have to go to the Senator’s house,” Dan said.

  Kelly tried to step in front of him. “The doctor only released you for desk duty. You aren’t well enough yet to go traipsing around the countryside.”

  Dan looked down at Kelly. “It’s important. I have to go.”

  Nancy quickly stepped closer to Dan. “Why?” she asked.

  As much as he appreciated their concern for his well-being, right then he had a job to do.

  “It’s Jeffrey Ames. He went out to confront the Senator last night and hasn’t been home since.”

  Kelly stared at Dan and then turned to Nancy while shaking her head, wanting Nancy to convince her father not to go.

  “Why would he do that?” Nancy asked finally.

  “Seems he found a journal in Richie’s room, and wanted to confront the Senator about it.”

  “Let someone else take care of it,” Kelly cried.

  “Conroy’s wife is in labor,” Dan said as he reached for the envelope. “Besides, it’s my job and I have to finish what I started.”

  Nancy quickly took the chicken off the grill and put the platter on the picnic table.

  “I’ll drive you,” she said and then turned to Kelly. “He’ll be okay. I promise you.”

  Dan walked slowly into the house while Nancy followed close behind.

  CHAPTER 21

  The squad car quickly came to a skidding halt in front of the Senator’s house narrowly missing Jeffrey’s pick-up truck that was parked near the front entrance. Dan refused to let Nancy drive and only let her come under the condition he drove. That didn’t set well with her but there was nothing she could do to stop him.

  The grounds looked deserted. Dan slowly got out of the squad and searched around for signs of life. Given all the activity earlier that week, this troubled Dan now. Nancy hurried around the car and followed Dan up the path. Dan grabbed hold of the railing and steadied himself. He stopped and took a deep breath and then climbed the few steps to the front door.

  “Are you okay?” Nancy asked with concern.

  “There’s no turning back now.”

  “Maybe we should wait for backup?”

  “There’s no time.”

  Nancy glanced at the front door with concern.

  “It’s open,” she said, turning to Dan.

  As Don slowly shoved the door wide open, he could hear noise coming from down the hall. After a few moments he realized it was a television coming from down the hall. Dan pulled out his gun. He motioned for Nancy to stay behind him.

  “Maria, Senator,” Dan yelled and then hesitated for a moment. “Anyone home?” he asked and then listened for a moment.

  Dan entered the foyer and slowly walked down the hall to an open room to the right but saw nothing. He glanced around the room. The television set seemed to be coming from a room at the end of the hall.

  Dan peeked around the corner and then glanced into the room. He reached for the television set that sat on the edge of the counter and turned it off. It was then he looked across the room beyond the butcher-block island near the patio doors that he saw the pool of blood on the floor. As he walked around the butcher-block island he could see Maria lying on the floor in one of her scantily clad outfits staring blankly at the ceiling. Her throat had been slit from ear to ear. The bruises on her face and arm contested to the fact she did not go down without a fight.

  Nancy rushed over to Maria while Dan winched in pain as he stood hanging onto the counter.

  “Even she didn’t deserve that.” Dan said looking away.

  No matter how many dead bodies he saw in the line of his work, it still bothered him the senseless way people killed their fellow man.

  Dan wished now he had taken a Vicadin before they left, but didn’t dare ask Nancy for something for the pain.

  * * *

  Dan slowly maneuvered into the Senator’s study. He held the gun ready to fire at a moments notice. Dan heard something and then stopped. Nancy was close behind him and stopped also.

  “What is it,” Nancy whispered.

  Dan motioned to Nancy to be silent. He glanced around the room and the whimper could be heard again. Dan pointed to the closet door. Slowly Dan edged his way over to the door. He reached for the knob and opened the door slowly. There on the floor Jeffrey sat bound and gagged. Jeffrey’s eyes widened when he saw Dan in the doorway. Nancy quickly bent down and took the gag from Jeffrey’s mouth.

  “Where’s the Senator?” Dan asked, hanging onto the doorsill.

  “I don’t know. I came out last night and overheard him and his wife arguing. He killed her,” Jeffrey sobbed for a moment as if trying not to think about it. “I tried to leave but he caught me before I could get to my pickup.”

  Dan looked down at Nancy. “You take care of Jeffrey. I’m going out to the barn to check things out,” he said and then turned back to Jeffrey.

  “Why did you come out here?”

  “I found Richie’s journal and I wanted to let the Senator know I dropped a copy off at the newspaper office. The world has to know what a pervert he is.”

  “Why did he kill Maria?” Dan asked.

  “They were arguing about him killing Junior. I think she wanted money to keep quiet.”

  Dan bent over in pain but then recovered himself. Nancy grabbed his arm and helped steady him.

  “You aren’t strong enough to go after the Senator,” she said.

  “I have no choice.” Dan looked down at Jeffrey and shook his head. “It ends here,” was all he mustered up to say.

  Dan knew what he had to do. He only wished Jeffrey would have come to him instead of trying to confront the Senator on his own. It only made matters worse.

  * * *

  Dan walked slowly through the barn with gun in hand. The sun streaked in through the open side windows. It caused shadows to dance across the floor. Dan walked around a corner and saw Jack Finnegan lying on the barn floor in a pool of blood. He suddenly heard movement from behind. Dan turned quickly.

  “You killed my boy?” the Senator snarled.

  “I don’t know what you mean,” Dan said.

  “Alan is dead because of you.” The Senator’s jaw muscles tensed as he aimed the gun at Dan.

  “It didn’t make sense why he stopped at the tall pines until now. Your property butts up to Murphy’s just beyond the woods. He was trying to lose me in there. Were you going to take him out of the country?”

  “Don’t matter now,” the Senator snapped.

  “You were going to let him take the blame for all of this,”

  “He was weak, he always was.�
�

  “Drop your gun.”

  Dan hesitated a moment before tossing his gun. He raised his hands and then continued.

  “You’re sick” Dan said. “Why did you kill Maria?”

  “She caught on. Bitch was going to turn me in and take everything,” the Senator snapped.

  “That, and screwing the help didn’t set well with you, did it?”

  This angered the Senator. He had been to busy with his own sick ways, he hadn’t even realized his wife was sleeping with anyone who would bed down with her. He only married her to give the illusion of normality.

  “I made her respectable and how does she repay me?”

  “What about the others?”

  “You wouldn’t understand.”

  “You’re right. Nothing you’ve done makes any sense to me. Including killing Kay.”

  The Senator’s anger was clearly visible on his face and then he snapped. “She was digging into things. She was getting too close. Nosy bitch got what was coming to her.”

  “You’re sick, and I’m going to see to it that you pay for your crimes.”

  “My old man taught me well. You take what you want in this world because no one will give it to you willingly.”

  “That includes killing young boys.”

  “They all had it coming to them. Flaunting their innocent youth. They all taunted me, as if they were better than me, me a Senator and all.”

  “I’m taking you in,” Dan snapped.

  “You don’t have it in you. You’re just a small town cop, besides, you don’t have proof.”

  “I’ve got Jeffrey. And I’ve got Richie’s journal. Maybe I can’t get you for all those other boys you’ve killed but Maria and Junior’s death will be enough to put you away for life.”

  “They made me do it,” the Senator whispered, while rubbing his temple as if to ease the pain. “The voices told me to kill them.”

  Dan laughed mockingly. “You working on an insanity plea now?” he said and then paused a moment. “Put the gun down and I’ll get help for you.”

  “Help!” the Senator yelled. “I don’t need help. People look up to me. I’m a respected leader.”

  Dan laughed to himself, thinking about how people looked up to the man in front of him. He slowly moved closer to where the gun lay on the ground.