The Archer [Book 13 of the Hawkman Series]
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CHAPTER THREE
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Driving home, Hawkman couldn't get Laura Aubrey King out of his thoughts. The girl seemed sincere. He'd never been able to figure out the way women think, so he decided to get his wife, Jennifer's, opinion on the situation. She seemed pretty good at analyzing such incidents.
After dinner, Hawkman and Jennifer sat in the living room in their matching chairs. The fireplace crackled and Miss Marple had stretched out on Jennifer's lap. He glanced at the cat.
“Good grief, her purring is getting louder the older she gets.”
“She's just happy and warm,” Jennifer said as she ran her hand down the feline's back.
Hawkman leaned forward, placed his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands together. “I need your perspective on something.”
Jennifer turned off the television and faced him. “Sure. What about?”
He told the story of how Laura literally fell into his office, then what she'd told him.
“I'm not sure I believe her.”
“Why wouldn't you?”
“Women can be devious, either wanting attention or just flat right out lying to see your reaction.”
“What do you know about her?”
Hawkman related what little he'd learned and had checked the phone book, but wasn't sure exactly if he'd located the right Kings. “She told me she'd not confided in her parents over the situation for fear they'd blame her for the man making the advances. Doesn't it sound a bit weird?”
“Not really. The girl told you she had an older sister and brother, who had moved out years ago. So obviously, she came along later in their lives, making her folks quite a bit older than the norm. They've instilled certain behaviors in her and she realizes they might not understand the situation. Also, she's a country girl; they are much more inclined to be truthful. They have a different outlook on things from the city girls.”
Hawkman nodded.
Jennifer raised a hand in the air. “However, if you decide to protect this young woman, you might have to touch base with the parents. I'd suggest you and Laura meet them together; that way, you can explain how her actions might not have had anything to do with this man's harassing.”
“Good idea. I'm hoping this guy saw me walk out to her car. It might make him back off.”
Jennifer frowned. “Or make it worse, if he's jealous. You can never tell about an idiot.”
He raised a brow. “True.”
“Did she mention any old boyfriends?”
“Said she didn't have any.”
Jennifer wrinkled her forehead. “Dig deeper. This sort of sounds like a scorned lover. I can't imagine a twenty year old woman without some man in her past.”
He flopped back in the chair and threw up his hands. “All I need is some romance case to delve into.”
Jennifer laughed. “It'll be good for you. I'm sure you won't get a penny for it either.”
Hawkman shook his head and grinned. “She's already told me she doesn't have any money.”
She leaned over and patted his leg. “We've had a good year, so a charity case is okay, and this girl might be well worth it.”
Hawkman sat at his desk in the Medford office and had just spoken with a client on his cell phone. When he finished, he placed the small instrument on the wood surface while writing down some notes. Not expecting a call, he jumped when it suddenly rang. He grabbed it and placed the ear piece to the side of his head.
“Tom Casey.”
The sound of a woman's hysterical voice pierced his ear. When he recognized Laura's voice, he dropped his pencil and stood.
“Where are you?”
Snatching his hat off the nail next to his work area, he shoved it onto his head and raced out the door. “Do you feel safe enough to stay there?”
He yanked open the SUV door and jumped inside. “I'm on my way.” When the engine turned over, he gunned out of the alley and made a sharp right turn. Knowing the area, he drove down the street parallel to Main, turned into an alley and came out in front of Laura's green Toyota Celica parked in front of the store she'd named. He leaped out and ran to the driver's side where Laura was slumped over the steering wheel. Not knowing if she was hurt, he tried the door, only to find it locked. He knocked on the window and called her name. She raised her head and looked at him with red rimmed eyes, then quickly vaulted from the car, falling into his arms.
“Oh, Mr. Casey, I'm so scared.”
He led her to his vehicle and helped her into the passenger side. Once he climbed behind the steering wheel, he pulled away and parked in a neighboring store's parking lot. He glanced around to make sure no one had followed, then turned toward her. “What happened?”
Her voice shook as she spoke. “He called again. This time he told me he had to have me. If I didn't come to him, he'd get my mother.” Tears rolled down her cheeks.
Hawkman frowned. “I don't like this, Laura. Where did he tell you to meet him?”
“He said he'd call later and give me the time and place.”
“We're going to have to talk to your folks. They have to be aware of what's happening, so they can be on guard.”
She took a used tissue and dabbed her eyes. “I can't tell them about these horrible messages. They'll think I'm a terrible girl and have done something to warrant them.”
“I don't think they'll come to such a conclusion. Regardless, we're going to have to take the chance. I'll go with you. Maybe they'll see things a little differently if a private investigator is at your side.”
She glanced at him. “I don't know, they're pretty stubborn.”
“We've got to convince them that you've done nothing wrong.”
Reluctantly, she nodded. “I can't bear the thought of this person mentioning my mother in such a horrible way. She's old and I couldn't bear something happening to her. I love my folks dearly.”
“All the more reason we've got to talk to them.”
She looked at him with fear in her eyes. “When?”
“As soon as possible.”
“You mean today?”
“Yes.”
Laura bit her lower lip, as she clenched her hands in her lap. “I'm not sure I'm ready. Besides, I told Mom I'd pick up her list of groceries after my class.”
“I'll take you back to your car, follow you to the store, then you can lead me out to your house.”
She sucked in a deep breath and exhaled loudly. “You sure don't leave me much choice.”
“If we talk to your folks, it'll prove you're telling me the truth about these episodes.”
“I had the feeling you didn't believe me. My story sounds absurd, but I'll swear to God it's true.”
Hawkman turned on the ignition. “Okay, let's go back to your car. After you finish shopping we'll go to your house.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
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CHAPTER FOUR
When Laura came out of the grocery store, Hawkman helped her load the bags into the car. As he returned from rolling the cart to a holding cage, he found her still standing outside the vehicle, her expression clouded.
“Are you having second thoughts about talking to your folks?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yes, but I realize I'm going to have to confide in them eventually. It just worries me.”
“Letting them know what's happening is better than leaving them in the dark. They need to be made aware of the situation.”
Laura sighed and unlocked the car door, then climbed inside. “Okay, follow me.”
As Hawkman tailed her through town and past the city limits, he tried to analyze the young woman's personality. She seemed reserved and mature, not like a bubbly teenager. It appeared she'd grown up under strict rules guided by her parents. However, he realized he'd only seen her under stressful circumstances. He didn't have the vaguest idea what she might be like among her peers.
two-story frame house. She pulled around to the back, but Hawkman decided the gentlemanly thing to do was park in the front. He hoped both parents were in the house, as sometimes the men stayed in the fields until dark.
Laura trotted around the corner, with a bag of groceries in her arms, and motioned for Hawkman to follow her up the stairs of the front porch. She pushed open the door, and led him into a modest, neat living room, decorated with spindle-legged furniture, faded floral upholstery, and crocheted doilies adorning the backs of each piece. Family pictures in metal frames were lined up on end tables and propped on a book shelf made into the wall. He could hear a television blasting the world news from a nearby room.
“Mom, Dad, I've brought a visitor,” Laura called, putting the sack on the couch.
Mrs. King came out of the kitchen, removed her apron, dropped it on the back of a chair, smoothed out her hair on each side and stood in the doorway. Laura scurried past her.
“I'll get Dad,” she said, touching her mother's shoulder.
Hawkman noticed the older woman seemed a bit nervous as she clasped her hands in front of her and kept glancing over her shoulder. She had a gentle face, with smile wrinkles around her eyes and mouth. Her short white hair had a tinge of yellow, and appeared to have a natural wave as it turned under near the collar line. She had a stout build, but not big, probably a woman who'd spent time in the fields. Her dress appeared homemade with a small pastel blue and white stripe, mid-sleeved, and hung to mid-calf. She wore slip-on shoes with a thick rubber sole, and warm socks which would not only protect her feet from hours of standing, but keep them warm from a drafty floor.
The noise of the television ceased in a matter of seconds, and Laura returned, dragging Mr. King by the hand. Hawkman concluded the man had seen much of the outdoors with his sun-leathered skin. His eyes sparkled a light blue, and he'd maintained a set of shoulders and biceps from years of toil.
“Mom and Dad, I want you to meet Mr. Tom Casey, a private investigator. Mr. Casey,” she motioned toward her mother, “Violet King,” and then to her father, “Oliver King.”
Hawkman extended his hand. “My pleasure.”
“Call me Olly,” Mr. King said.
Hawkman nodded, as he felt the strong grip of the farmer's hand. Both parents then turned and gave Laura a questioning glance.
“Sit down and I'll explain why Mr. Casey is here,” she said.
Laura's parents took the couch, and Hawkman settled onto a tall straight back chair facing the couple.
Mr. King suddenly pointed a finger at Hawkman. “I know who you are. You're the man they call ‘Hawkman'. You retired from the Agency, married that cute little widow who writes mystery novels, then started your private investigating practice in Medford.”
Hawkman smiled. “You're right.”
“How in the world did you run into our Laura?”
“I'm going to let her tell you the story.”
The young woman lowered herself onto an ottoman in front of her parents and proceeded to tell them her tale. After many gasps from her mother, and frowning contortions from her father, Laura finally ended her dramatic story with the frantic call she'd made to Mr. Casey earlier.
“Oh, my dear child, why didn't you tell us about those horrible calls?” Mrs. King said with tears in her eyes. “How terrible to suffer such a thing alone.”
Laura bowed her head. “I thought you might think I'd done something bad to warrant them.”
“Nonsense,” her father said. “We know you better than that. There are lots of weird people in this world. We see them every day on the news. An innocent bystander can get a bullet through his chest, if he's at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Laura reached over and took a hand of each parent. “Thank you for being so understanding. Mr. Casey told me you'd be, but he had to persuade me to bring him out here to meet you.”
Olly glanced at Hawkman. “I'll pay you to help my little girl. We've got to find out who's harassing her and put him behind bars.”
Hawkman raised a hand. “This deal is between Laura and me. I've already told her she doesn't have to pay me a thing. I don't like to see women taken advantage of and am willing to do what I can to find the scoundrel.”
“What can we do to help?”
“I have questions that I need to ask and hope you have a few answers.”
“Shoot,” Olly said.
“You have a pretty good spread, and I doubt you take care of it by yourself. Do you have hired hands?”
“Sure do.”
“I'd like a list of the names of your regular men. Also anyone you've hired part-time or had to fire within the last year. I'd also like to know the color, and makes of all their vehicles, plus license plate numbers if you can.”
“I can have it for you by tomorrow.”
“That will be a great start,” Hawkman said.
He turned his attention to Laura. “I'd like you to make a list of your male acquaintances from school, and anyone you notice watching you. I also want to get your cell phone number so I can keep in touch.”
Laura quickly rose and went into the other room. She returned carrying a sheet of paper and handed it to Hawkman. “Here's my number, along with our home phone, also Mom's and Dad's cells.”
“Good, this will help immensely.” He then spoke to Violet. “Mrs. King, I know this whole thing scares you, but do not change your way of doing things. If you want Laura to stop by the grocery store, have her do it. We don't want to vary in the way she goes about her day. If so, it may raise suspicion and our culprit may find another way to frighten Laura. Right now, we can hopefully control it, and keep him at bay.”
“But he might do her physical harm,” Violet said, her eyes wide. “Sometimes it's almost dark when Laura comes home.”
Hawkman raised a hand. “Those are the times we keep in close contact with her, and keep notes on her whereabouts. As far as we know, this man has never gotten close enough for Laura to even spot what type of vehicle he's driving. I'm sure he doesn't have the nerve to approach her yet, but that can change. So we want to move quickly.”
Olly rubbed the back of his neck. “I don't even want her to leave the house now. I sure don't like the idea he's threatened Violet too.”
“I figure that's a scare tactic. If you have men working around this house, there's no way he'd take the chance of approaching your wife. By the way, don't tell your hired workers what's going on until I've talked to them. I'm sure they're innocent, but I want to check them out. I'll do that soon, so we can clear them; then we can ask them to watch for any strangers who might come to the house, especially if you're not here.”
“A couple of my men have been with me for years, and we've never spoke a harsh word between us. They're honest and hard working. Don't you think I could confide in them?”
Hawkman looked at him. “How many years?”
Olly looked up at the ceiling and closed one eye. “Ed Fowler has been with me about twenty years. His wife, Sofia has helped Violet in the house on several occasions. Then Clay Hicks for at least fifteen years. After he lost his wife, Edna, he needed a friend and has been with me ever since. Both men live on the property. There's a couple of small cottages over the hill at the back of the house. You can't see their places from the road.”
“They sound very loyal, but I'd still like to speak to them first.”
Olly waved a hand and shook his head. “Okay, you know your business better than me. When would you like to talk to them?”
“As soon as possible.”
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CHAPTER FIVE
The two men walked outside and proceeded toward a lean-to affixed to the side of the barn where a dark brown
Ford F150 was parked under the shelter. Olly gestured for Hawkman to get into the passenger side.
“Are the men in the field right now?” Hawkman asked, as he strapped on the seat belt.
Olly checked his wristwatch. “Hard to say. It's late in the afternoon and not a lot going on right now, except milking later in the evening and keeping an eye on the livestock. We'll drive by their places and check first.”
“So you don't have any extra hands working right now?”
He shook his head. “No, just Ed and Clay; they can handle the chores for a couple of months before it's time to plant the crops".
Hawkman pointed out the window as they bounced along a dirt road. “I see you have a few head of cattle.”
“Yeah, used to have a much larger herd; sold them off a couple of years ago. I have a good bull, some milk cows, a few steers and calves I market. So many regulations it doesn't pay a small farmer like myself to keep a big herd. We're doing fine. I make enough money off the crops to pay my men and keep the family clothed and fed.”
“You have an impressive spread,” Hawkman said as they drove over the small crest into a beautiful valley where a stream cut into the property. He spotted two cottages nestled under a thick grove of trees directly in front of them. The larger of the two had a white picket fence surrounding the yard.
Olly pulled up in front of the larger home and parked. “Looks like Ed is in.” He pointed to the side of the property. “That's his pickup.”
The two men sauntered up to the front. A big black lab dashed around the corner of the house barking, then went straight to Olly, wagging his tail.
“Hi there, Ranger. You being a good dog?” he asked, pulling a treat from his pocket and giving the animal a pat on the head.