KnockOut

by Catherine Coulter

  When the grave was deep enough, Blessed wrapped Grace in a sleeping bag and told the sheriff to lay him at the bottom of the four-foot hole. He did.

  “Now come out.”

  Ethan climbed out of the hole and stood silently beside Grace’s grave.

  Autumn slept, her face against her cupped hands. Blessed had taken off his jacket, covered her with it.

  He said, “Now, both of you, fill the grave.”

  Throwing handfuls of dirt over Grace’s body didn’t take as long as digging his grave. When it was done to Blessed’s satisfaction, he told them to stand respectfully on each side of Grace’s grave. “Sheriff, you and the—” He took a quick look at Autumn, saw that she was sleeping soundly, and said, “You and the bitch will pray for my brother.”

  Ethan said, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…” After a moment, Joanna joined him.

  Blessed thought of his mother, at the awful soul-tearing grief she’d feel, and felt his throat clog. He prayed she’d understand. She had to. He’d had no choice. He listened to the smooth, even cadence, a monotone really, no feeling to the words at all. At least they knew all the words. It was good.

  Blessed slapped his hands against his arms. He was getting cold without his jacket, but that was all right, Autumn needed warmth more than he did. She was only a little girl, after all, so small and fragile, and she was his niece. She was important. He wished she understood. But it was too soon and the child was too young, too dependent on her mother, the bitch who controlled her. She would come to understand, to know he’d done the right thing. Blessed tucked his jacket more closely around her. He didn’t want her to get sick. Autumn still slept—a blessing, Blessed thought, and smiled at the irony of it—a blessing, and that’s what he was, that’s what both his mother and his father had told him. His smile fell away. How was he to tell Mama the story hadn’t ended right, that another one of her sons was dead, dead because of the sheriff?

  My fault, Grace had said. No, it wasn’t Grace’s fault, Blessed would never accept that. Grace had a gift, he was good, his soul was in heaven with Martin. Was Martin in heaven? He hoped so, but he’d been away from his family for so many years, nearly half his life, and Mama had finally said, Let him go, let him go, he’ll come back, on his own. But Martin had been corrupted, all her fault, and then the bitch had brought him home in an urn.

  And now Grace was dead too, and he’d rot inside that sleeping bag covered with a mound of heavy black dirt because he’d been doing what he had to do. It hadn’t turned out right. It had all gone wrong and Grace was dead. He’d lie out here forever.

  It wasn’t right.

  Blessed felt his rage build until he shook from the inside out. It was so strong, his need to kill both of them, to wipe them away as if they’d never existed. It would be hard with Autumn, though, if he broke his word to her. He didn’t know what she’d do, and Mama said he had to get her back. She had to have Martin’s daughter. He looked at them. They were filthy, covered with Grace’s grave dirt. He supposed he couldn’t leave the wilderness with them looking like this.

  “Take us to the nearest stream, Sheriff.”

  Blessed picked Autumn up in his arms and followed Ethan and Joanna. Thankfully, she still slept because those two had exhausted the poor child, dragging her through the wilderness, probably not giving her enough to eat or drink in their rush to get her away from him and Grace. The sheriff seemed to know where he was going, even in the dark. Blessed was impressed.

  51

  ATLANTA, GEORGIA

  Thursday morning

  An orange glow lit up the gray dawn sky. Even this early there was lots of traffic on the road, mainly trucks and vans. They checked into a small Hilton because they were both exhausted, but sleep didn’t come. Sherlock finally sat up. Hazy morning light now filled the room. She saw Dillon was awake, staring up at the ceiling.

  “We’ve got Shepherd out of circulation,” she said with satisfaction. “She’s behind bars, scaring her fellow inmates with her chants.”

  Savich turned his head to look at her. He smiled. “When she screamed at one guard, I thought he was going to faint.”

  “See? We did good. You told Ethan we were going to cut off the snake’s head and we did.” She kissed his ear, then looked toward the windows at the bright morning sky. “Well, I don’t think sleep is going to happen.” She called Ox’s cell and, glory be, got through to him. She turned on the speaker and Ox told them they were getting ready to go in since it was light enough now. But Ox sounded really worried.

  “I’ll call you guys as soon as we find them, or I know more.”

  She told him about Shepherd in jail in Atlanta, then, “Ox, we think Blessed and Grace are headed back home, to Bricker’s Bowl. Please keep in touch.”

  When she punched off her cell, Savich said, “I’ve tried to call Autumn, but there’s no answer.” He sighed. He was scared for them, really didn’t see a good outcome here if Ox and all the rest of the deputies hadn’t heard from them. Then again, there wasn’t much reception in the wilderness.

  Sherlock was right. They’d had one victory. He thought of everyone’s shock when they first saw the little old lady in cuffs, being hauled into booking. The chanting and screaming took care of the shock. Shepherd was tucked away tight. That left Grace and Blessed. He felt panic nibbling away and wanted to smack it out of his head. Well, he’d gotten what he’d wanted. He’d bet his gym membership Shepherd had somehow contacted Blessed and Grace.

  He had four FBI agents at Bricker’s Bowl, staking out the house, waiting for them to come back. But what if they didn’t come back? Maybe Joanna and Ethan were both dead. No, Savich couldn’t accept that, he simply couldn’t. He had to stop this, he was driving himself crazy.

  He said, “I wish Autumn would pick up my call.” He gathered Sherlock against him and they fell into an exhausted sleep.

  It was near eleven o’clock in the morning when Savich’s cell phone sang out Rihanna’s “Umbrella.”

  It was Ollie Hamish. Just as Sherlock had done with Ox, Savich turned on the speaker.

  “Savich, everything’s okay, let me say that first off. Lissy Smiley and Victor Nesser somehow found your home address. As you know, we’ve been keeping your house under watch. Dane Carver and Jack Crowne spotted them trying to sneak around to the back just after dawn this morning. They spotted each other, actually. They’d managed to get back to their car and floor it out of there before Dane and Jack could bring them down. Lissy was hanging out the passenger-side window, shooting at them for all she was worth. Victor knocked down a couple of mailboxes and mangled a kid’s bike on the way. Thank God none of your neighbors were up and about yet.

  “Jack told me it was a wild honker chase, with a half-dozen local cop cars joining in. They left an injured pedestrian and a small Volkswagen flipped over on its side near the Potomac, and got across the bridge before we could close it. Then they drove right into the gates of the Arlington National Cemetery.”

  Savich was gripping his cell. It was hard to be silent and wait and listen. He wanted to shake the words faster out of Ollie’s throat. Finally, he couldn’t stand it. He said, his voice flat, “They didn’t get them. Lissy and Victor got away.”

  “So far,” Ollie said. “They blew out a rear tire driving over the grass and bushes, knocked over some of the grave markers, and skidded into a tree. Dane said the car was totaled, both front and back windshields shattered from gunfire. But Lissy and Victor were out and away before they reached the car.”

  Savich said, “That means they’ll have to get a car, and they’ll carjack one if they have to, doesn’t matter how many people are around.”

  “Yeah, we’ve got local police patrolling the streets within a mile of Arlington National Cemetery, setting up a perimeter, checking all the houses. You know, Savich, Lissy can’t be back to one hundred percent yet, so she’s got to slow them up. We may get them yet.”

  But Savich wasn’t at all sure about that. It wa
s a whole lot easier being a killer than a cop—cops had to follow rules. Lissy and Victor could have grabbed a car and been on the road again in five minutes, if they were willing to create havoc—and they were indeed willing, Savich knew. They didn’t care what they left in their wake. Lissy would kill everyone in the car if it would give them a few minutes before the bodies were discovered.

  Dane, Jack, and Ollie knew it too.

  Savich said, “I’m an idiot. I should have had Sean and Gabriella moved out right away, but I didn’t think there was a chance Lissy and Victor would be back so quickly. Sherlock and I were going to Titus Hitch or maybe back to Bricker’s Bowl, we weren’t sure yet exactly where, but not now, not with those two running around in Washington. We’re coming home, Ollie, as soon as we can.”

  Ollie knew he’d do the same thing; he’d run all the way back if he had to, to ensure his child was all right. He said, “I understand. Listen, our agents will continue the watch on your house in Georgetown. Go to the airport. I’ll call you as soon as I have a couple of reservations for the first flight to Washington. Listen, guys, Sean’s okay.”

  When he flipped off his cell, Savich felt Sherlock’s warm breath on his neck. “That was too close, Dillon, way too close. They’re not going to give up. Lissy won’t stop until she’s in handcuffs or she’s dead.”

  “I agree. Revenge is what’s driving her, nothing but rage and revenge. If Lissy’s driving the horses, and I think she is, we can expect more crazy behavior and not much planning. What they did early this morning—trying to break into our house in Georgetown, the sheer craziness of it—scares me to death.”

  “We’ve got to try to find them before they try another attack. And the fact is, we don’t know where Ethan and Joanna and Autumn are right now. But maybe we can get Victor and Lissy.”

  “It could be,” Savich said slowly, “that Victor’s really scared, that he wants to find a rock and crawl under it. But not Lissy, never Lissy. Still, even though we know she’s the alpha dog, I’m betting they’re going to go back to Winnett.” He shook his head, shrugged. “But what do I know?”

  “You know it in your gut, don’t you?”

  He nodded, and she kissed him and tossed him his pants. “Let’s get dressed and get to the airport. We’ll have a better idea of what’s going on after we get home.”

  Savich thought about Autumn. He tried contacting her once again before they boarded the plane, but she didn’t answer.

  52

  GEORGETOWN, WASHINGTON, D.C.

  Thursday

  Savich held Sean close, smoothed his fingertip over his boy’s left eyebrow. He felt such blessed relief that he was all right. Sherlock was tickling his ribs. Sean was laughing and yelling at Astro to save him. Astro was jumping on them, yipping his head off, his tail whipping back and forth so fast it was a blur.

  Savich smiled over at his mother, who stood close, watching and smiling too, a plate of chocolate-chip cookies in her hand. Behind her stood Congressman Felix Monroe from Missouri, a widower of ten years, and he too was smiling as he watched. Savich didn’t know the congressman well, since he’d just begun seeing his mom. Savich felt funny about it but knew he shouldn’t. He looked over at his mother, saw the worry in her eyes that she managed to hide from Sean.

  Dillon? Are you there? Where are you, Dillon?

  Savich said, “Sherlock, take this monkey, stuff a cookie in his mouth. I’ve got to take a call.”

  “Autumn?”

  He nodded.

  “Thank God. Go, Dillon. Hey, sweetie, let’s go scarf down some of your grandmother’s cookies, okay? I can see Felix is drooling for some, too.”

  “Astro loves cookies,” Sean told Felix. Sean considered Felix cool since he’d showed him how his iPhone worked.

  “Your mom’s right. I do too,” Felix said. “Your grandmother makes the best I’ve ever eaten.”

  “But you can’t give Astro any chocolate, Sean, it’ll make him sick.”

  And naturally, the first question out of Sean’s mouth was “Why?”

  Savich walked swiftly from the living room, down the hallway toward the kitchen, and into the half bath on the main level of his mother’s house. He closed the door, then closed his eyes for the simple reason that it immediately cut all distractions. Autumn? Are you all right? Your mom? Ethan?

  He saw her then, clear as day, her back pressed against a wall, her legs drawn up to her chest, her hair in a tangled ponytail, tear streaks dried on her pale cheeks. She didn’t look hurt, but she did look wrung out.

  Tell me what happened.

  Blessed guessed I called you before, Dillon, back at Ethan’s house. He told me he’d kill Mom and Ethan if I called you again, so I couldn’t take a chance until now. We’re in a motel somewhere. I’m in the bathroom. I heard him tell Ethan and Mama that we were going back where I belonged. I don’t belong at that bad place with my grandmother, do I, Dillon?

  No, of course not. I won’t allow that, Autumn. Neither will Ethan and your mama. Tell me how you managed to call me now.

  Blessed wanted to go to sleep, so he tied Mama and Ethan to chairs. I think he was afraid if he left them and went to sleep he couldn’t control them anymore. He locked me in the bathroom, told me he’d know if I called you, but I don’t believe him. He doesn’t know, does he, Dillon?

  No, he doesn’t know. It’s all right. Thank God Ethan and Joanna were alive. Good, Blessed’s asleep. Is Grace there?

  No, Dillon. Grace is dead. Ethan shot him with his rifle.

  One down. Do you know where this motel is? Did you see the name of the motel?

  She thought and thought. He saw tears come to her eyes.

  Too much, too fast. She was just a little kid, a couple years older than Sean, and here he was questioning her like he would an adult. But again, he saw she was looking thoughtful, focused. He felt a strong pull of affection for her, and admiration. She was smart, she had grit. Even this young, she hadn’t frozen.

  Did you drive a long time, Autumn?

  I don’t know, Dillon. I slept because I was so tired. I think Blessed did all the driving. I don’t know why he didn’t have Ethan or Mama drive. Maybe you can’t drive when you’re stymied.

  That’s possible. Tell me about the highway you were driving on. Was it big? Lots of lanes going both directions?

  Yes, it’s real big, with a million cars. Blessed pulled off an exit and bought us some Wendy’s hamburgers, then he looked at a motel across the road, but he shook his head and drove onto this old road. He pulled up to this motel.

  Did you see the name of a town?

  I don’t think so.

  Did you see the name of the motel?

  She frowned and her fingers began to fret. I can’t remember it, just some old sign—it’s orange and some letters are missing.

  If only he could help her remember. Autumn? I want you to close your eyes and listen to my voice, okay? Don’t worry about Ethan or your mama, don’t worry about anything, just try to relax and listen to me. Will you try?

  She nodded, then cocked her head to one side and obediently closed her eyes.

  Good girl. Now, get comfortable, that’s it, lean back against the wall, put your hands on the floor, and pretend you’re floating in a swimming pool.

  Bless her, she did exactly what he said. He saw her small hands, palms up, on the cracked linoleum floor beside her. He watched her fingers uncurl.

  Autumn?

  Yes, Dillon.

  That’s really good. Now, you were eating your hamburger. In the car?

  Yes. Blessed went in and brought back bags of food. I was sitting in the front seat beside Blessed. Mama and Ethan were in the backseat. They were just sitting there, like they were dead, but they’re not—

  He saw her breathing hitch, saw her stiffen up. It’s okay, sweetheart, it’s okay, I promise. Your mama and Ethan will get through this. That’s it, just don’t worry about anything right now, listen to my voice. That’s right, that’s good. You were eati
ng, all right? Did you have mustard on your hamburger?

  No, Dillon, I like catsup, lots of catsup. I squeezed a whole bunch from those little plastic packets, more than Mama usually lets me have. I know it’s bad, but—

  A little more catsup is all right, your mama wouldn’t mind. Was your hamburger good?

  It was real good. Blessed was eating a hamburger too, and a bag of french fries, but he didn’t put catsup on them. All Mama and Ethan did was stare straight ahead and eat. I wanted to talk to Ethan and Mama, but when I turned around they didn’t even look at me.

  I know, sweetheart, I know. Now, Autumn, Blessed started up the car again, right? And he drove away from the highway.

  She nodded, never moving. Yes. He drove us down this little road, but just a little ways. Then he smiled, and he pulled into this bumpy parking lot and stopped the car by the office. He has a horrible smile, Dillon.

  I know. I’ve seen it. What kind of car are you in, Autumn? He held his breath, this was right out of the blue, he couldn’t really expect her to know, to even under—

  It’s a white van. He had Ethan steal it out of somebody’s driveway not long after we left Titus Hitch.

  Okay, you were sitting in the front seat in front of the motel. Did you see a sign?

  Yes.

  Describe it to me.

  It’s kinda old, a real ugly orange color, and the sign isn’t hanging exactly straight.

  Now, the name, look at the name. Can you read it?

  It’s two words, but I’ve never seen them before. I can’t read them.

  Picture it in your mind and show it to me.

  Where had that come from? And then he saw that orange sign, couldn’t believe it, but there it was, bright and clear right before his eyes. She was right, there were some letters missing.

  LIZ RD’S HIDEA AY.