The Chupacabra Catastrophe

by Amanda M. Lee

  “How do you think?” Naomi drawled. “I want the silver.”

  “The long lost silver supposedly hidden somewhere in Hooper’s Mill, right?”

  Naomi let loose with a “well, duh” look. “What else?”

  “But you’re rich.” I hated to point it out, but she apparently didn’t realize it. “Why would you need a few lumps of silver when you’re rich?”

  “I’m not rich.”

  “I’ve seen your ranch. You’re rich.”

  “No, you’ve seen the ranch where I live but have no way to sustain,” Naomi clarified. “Do you have any idea how much money is owed on that ranch?”

  “I believe you mentioned it, although you weren’t nearly as aggravated at the time. Still … why would you think the little bit of silver that’s supposed to be here could help?”

  “Because it’s a lot more than a little bit of silver. It’s millions of dollars’ worth of silver and gold.”

  That sounded a bit fantastical. “You think there’s more than a million dollars’ worth of silver and gold here?”

  “I know there is. My father did a ton of research. He was the leading expert on Hooper’s Mill for a reason. Why do you think he wanted the property so badly?”

  “Because his ancestor was one of the original owners.”

  “And he got swindled.”

  “Or he simply sold out because he saw the writing on the wall,” I countered. “I think it probably became clear at a certain point that Hooper’s Mill wouldn’t survive. It was a boom town.”

  “And that means a lot of silver and gold moved through it.”

  “What gold? I’ve yet to hear anyone mention gold.”

  “My father said there was a great deal of gold moving through the town. He would know. He spent years researching the town’s history. That’s why he wanted it so badly.”

  “I get that, but I don’t believe it.” I chose my words carefully. “Why would Richard Hooper leave piles of gold and silver behind?”

  “He had no way to transport it. He was going to come back, but he ran out of time.”

  “See, that’s just it … he didn’t run out of time,” I said. “He lived for another couple decades or so after he left Hooper’s Mill. Why would he ignore that treasure?”

  “No, he died a few months after,” Naomi corrected. “My father told me.”

  “And yet a search we ran earlier in the week says that’s not the case. He moved to a different state. He lived there for years. He had plenty of opportunity to return. He simply chose not to. That doesn’t make sense if he really had a fortune hidden here.”

  “No … my father told me.”

  “And by your own admission when I met you the first time – and essentially the second time, too – you said your father seemed to believe alternative facts when it came to the history of Hooper’s Mill,” I pointed out. “You said you learned differently on your own.”

  “I did. I learned that my father knew something no one else did.”

  “Right.” She was clearly gone in the head a bit. There could be no other explanation. “So … what? You and your father came out here searching for the silver and gold together?”

  “We did that for years,” Naomi confirmed. “We made a grid. We searched high and low. We never found anything. We didn’t even find the door you walked through on the main floor. Speaking of that … .” She broke off, wrinkling her nose. “Where’s Zach?”

  “I knocked him down the stairs. I think he’s still alive, but I didn’t wait around long enough to ask him any questions. You could go check on him if you’re worried.”

  Naomi snorted, legitimately amused. “I’m good. If he’s alive, he’ll keep. If he’s dead, there’s nothing I can do about it, so why work myself into a lather?”

  “Good question. I don’t have an answer. Go back to your father, though. Did you kill him?”

  “I didn’t.” Naomi shook her head. She didn’t appear offended by the question. “That was Zach.”

  “And how did you and Zach hook up?”

  “We went to high school together. We were friends back then. We met up again as adults and things changed a bit. We became involved.”

  “He listened to your father ranting and raving about Hooper’s Mill and got it in his head to come looking for the silver himself,” I surmised. “He wanted to get his hands on the loot before your father could.”

  “Yes, but it took a lot longer than he thought,” Naomi said. “At first we came out looking once a week. We thought for sure we’d find the stockpile within a few days. But days turned into weeks. Then weeks turned into years.”

  “And it never occurred to you that the story was a myth?”

  “No. Legends and myths all have some basis in fact.”

  “Tell that to the Loch Ness Monster,” Millie muttered.

  I flicked a gaze toward her and Chris, worry crowding my stomach thanks to our boss’s pale features. I had to move this along. “So you and Zach were determined to get the silver for yourselves. Something must have changed.”

  “We were working separate from my father,” Naomi explained. “I worked with my father, too. I didn’t want him to get suspicious. I hoped we could find the money and take off without him knowing, start a new life that didn’t involve him complaining about the mortgages and how he might lose the ranch.”

  “But something else happened, didn’t it? Dominic Sully stopped talking about buying Hooper’s Mill and actually moved on it. You realized you were running out of time.”

  “I did. Zach and I upped our game. We started coming out here five times a week.”

  “And dropping earrings, huh?”

  “That is my earring,” Naomi conceded. “If you have it on you, I’d like it back. It’s a family heirloom. I didn’t even know I dropped it until I returned home one day and realized it was gone. I had no idea where to look for it … so thank you.”

  “It’s back at the hotel.”

  “I guess I’ll have to pick it up there.”

  “Is that what you were trying to do this afternoon?” I asked, something occurring to me. “Were you looking for the earring? Is that why you tried to get into my room?”

  “That was also Zach. I’m too smart to be seen at that hotel. I mean … you had no idea I was involved, and I’ll bet you didn’t completely trust Zach. I wanted to keep my name out of things.”

  “Your father is dead,” I reminded her. “How did that happen?”

  “He discovered Zach and me out here one afternoon,” Naomi replied, her tone blasé. “He knew what we were doing. He claimed I betrayed him, kicked up a fuss. He tried to hit Zach, but Zach eluded him.

  “Zach wasn’t trying to kill him really,” she continued. “Dad wouldn’t stop ranting and raving. My father had a knife and he threatened to get it. Zach hit him over the head to shut him up. Unfortunately, he realized too late that my father could have him thrown in jail for that.”

  “And that’s how you decided to make it look like the Chupacabra was responsible.”

  Naomi shrugged. “It seemed as good a culprit as any. We looked up the marks on the internet, and Zach copied them to the best of his abilities. It was all we could think to do.”

  “But what about the exsanguination? How did you get the blood out of him?”

  “You’ll have to ask Zach about that. I didn’t want any details. I just know it involved medical hoses and some sort of weird little pump. It was gross, and I’ve chosen not to dwell on it.”

  I couldn’t blame her. I wouldn’t want details on that either. “Still, this entire plan is a mess. How do you think you’re going to get away with it?”

  “It’s not all that difficult,” Naomi answered. “You’re here looking for the Chupacabra. I think it’s time to introduce you to it.”

  My stomach twisted at the maniacal look on her face. “How do you think you’re going to manage that? We outnumber you.”

  “Yes, but this equalizes everything, doesn’t it?�
�� Naomi shook the gun for emphasis. “Now, who wants to die first?”

  That was a question I wasn’t ready to answer. We were out of time.

  28

  Twenty-Eight

  “So you’re just going to shoot us and call it a day?”

  I had no idea how I managed to remain calm despite the gun in Naomi’s hand. I should have been panicking. I should have been crying or begging for my life. I should have at least been trying to reason with her.

  Instead I was still. I was somehow detached even as the walls shook from the thunder and the rain thudded against the roof. I was tired of this … of all of this. She had no idea who she was messing with, and I wasn’t opposed to letting her find out if it meant protecting Millie and Chris.

  “That’s the plan,” Naomi said brightly. “If you have another idea I’m happy to listen to it.”

  “I’m curious about how you think you’ll get away with it.” I opted to go on the offensive. “A gunshot isn’t something you can simply gloss over. Your father was struck on the head and then Zach did … something … to make it look as if it was a Chupacabra attack.

  “While questions are still being bandied about regarding his death, it was much easier for the medical examiner to write off one death as unexplained and possibly caused by a predator animal,” I continued. “It won’t be that easy when you add another three.”

  “Five,” Naomi corrected. “I can’t very well let your other two friends call for help, can I?”

  Yup. She was definitely deranged. There was no other way to describe her flat affect.

  “And how do you think you’re going to get the jump on Jack? He’s a trained military operative. He was like a crazy Navy SEAL or something.” That was a blatant lie but she didn’t need to know that.

  “And mighty fine to look at, huh?” Naomi’s eyes sparkled. “I’ve been considering trading Zach in for a newer model. What do you think? If I pitch my plan to Jack, will he help me find the silver and run away with me?”

  “Not a chance,” Millie hissed.

  “Because of this one?” Naomi waved the gun in my face. “I couldn’t decide if they were together when they stopped at my house to question me. There was a certain … vibe … between them.

  “When Zach came back this afternoon and said he couldn’t get in Charlie’s room because Jack was sleeping in there with her – and he said something weird about a painting flying off the wall and attacking him, but I chalked that up to too much sun – I couldn’t help but wonder,” she continued. “Will Jack avenge your death?”

  I shrugged. “Jack will do his job. That’s what he does.”

  “That wasn’t really an answer.”

  “It’s the only answer I have,” I said. “I’m more curious how you think you’re going to manage to take everyone out now that Zach is out of commission. I mean … you’ve got three of us here and two people outside. Jack is trained. How are you going to get Zach out of here if he’s hurt?”

  “What makes you think I’m taking Zach with me?”

  The way she asked the question chilled me to the bone. “You’re going to kill Zach, too?”

  “It makes sense since he’s been running around with your group. Why take him with me if I don’t have to?”

  “He was still alive when I last saw him. Hurt, but still alive.”

  “That can be fixed.”

  She was unbelievably sick. Her eyes were vacant. I should’ve realized the two times I talked to her, yet I missed it both times. How? I fancied myself someone who reads people well. I read Zach perfectly, for crying out loud. Sure, I didn’t understand exactly how evil he was, but I read him and knew to stay away.

  With Naomi, I didn’t recognize the evil coursing through her. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was because I saw a grieving daughter when I looked at her – something I identified with – and didn’t care to look any deeper. Had I at least tried we probably wouldn’t be in this predicament.

  “So you’re going to shoot all of us and then what?”

  Naomi’s face was blank. “What do you mean?”

  “No one is going to believe we were all killed by the Chupacabra … especially if we’re full of bullets.”

  “I don’t care about that,” Naomi said. “I only care about finding the silver and running. I should be across the border before anyone discovers your bodies. I just need a few days. With all of you here … I’ll get that.”

  “You won’t.” I felt bolder as I squared my shoulders. “We have people at the hotel.”

  “So I’ll take care of them when they get here. It’s only two women … and I owe one of them for making out with my boyfriend anyway.”

  “It’s not only two women,” I argued. “The only reason they stayed behind is because they’re waiting for federal agents. The head of the Legacy Foundation – who just happens to be Chris’ uncle – sent help. They’re waiting to show the agents the way out here.”

  For the first time since I stumbled into the room, Naomi looked legitimately afraid. “You’re making that up.”

  I shook my head. “It’s true. They’ll be here in a few hours.”

  “But … no!” Naomi pressed the heel of her hand to her forehead as she struggled to maintain control. “That can’t be. I had it all planned out!”

  For a brief moment I thought she would see reason and let us go. I would’ve let her flee to protect Millie and Chris. Local authorities or the feds could’ve picked her up later. I wouldn’t have cared.

  The way Naomi’s expression twisted, however, told me she was leaning toward making things worse. She wasn’t going to let reason get in the way of her plan. She was going to kill us. She thought that was her lone way out. That meant I had to stop her because I was the only one who could.

  “You’re lying.” Naomi screeched as she shifted the gun in my direction. I reacted the only way I knew how – with magic.

  “Son of a … !” I ducked my head and gathered my powers, focusing on the piece of wood in the corner and throwing it in Naomi’s direction. Hard.

  The woman sputtered as it hit her, smacking her face so hard that blood instantly appeared at the corner of her mouth. She looked dazed, confusion etched on her pretty features. She didn’t relinquish the gun, though.

  “What happened?” Naomi asked, her voice thick.

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I replied, flexing my fingers and using my powers to lift the board a second time. I knew this blow would take her down. “But you’re not going to make it to Mexico. I can promise you that.”

  The board slammed into the back of Naomi’s head, pitching her forward. I kept my eye on the gun so I could catch it, making sure it didn’t fall to the ground and inadvertently go off.

  I watched with dispassionate eyes as Naomi collapsed to the floor. She used her face as landing gear, which probably meant a broken nose, and the sound echoed when she bounced against the wood planks. I couldn’t feel too bad about it. Sometimes karma does come through in the end.

  I stared for a long moment and then shook myself out of my reverie, turning toward Millie and Chris with a purpose. “How is he?” I knelt next to them and pressed my fingers to Chris’ neck. His pulse was rapid and thready. “Do you know what’s wrong with him? Did they hit him on the head?”

  “He’s got a knot on the back of his head,” Millie replied, her eyes lasers as they connected with mine. “I think he’ll be okay as long as we get him help.”

  I moved to stand. “Jack and Bernard are out there. I’ll find a way out of this room and bring them to you.”

  “Yeah. That sounds good.” Millie’s expression was thoughtful. “Just one thing.”

  “And what’s that?” I averted my gaze as I stared at anything but Millie’s face.

  “What did you just do?”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I lied, wiping my palms on the front of my jeans. “I’ll get help.”

  “But … .” Millie’s expression was
hard to read. She didn’t look disgusted – or even fearful – as much as intrigued. We couldn’t get into this now, and I was hopeful she would let it go in favor of fussing over Chris. If she let it go now, there was a chance she’d later think she imagined it.

  “I’ll find Jack.”

  I grabbed the lantern from the hook and ran it parallel to the wall, letting loose a low whistle when I managed to find an ancient door handle. I turned it, gave a hard tug, and heaved a relieved sigh when the door opened.

  I was so thankful for light – even that which accompanied a storm – that I could do nothing but smile. We were going to make it after all. “Good. This is good. I’ll leave the door open so I won’t have any trouble finding my way back.”

  Millie arched a challenging eyebrow. “Can’t you just use whatever magic you have to find your way back?”

  Crap! She wasn’t going to let it go. I should’ve seen that coming. “I think you’re tired,” I replied calmly. “You probably think you saw things you really didn’t.”

  “Yeah, that’s not what happened, Charlie.”

  I ignored her, moving the lantern to a spot on the floor to her right. “Wait here. I’ll get help.”

  “Fine.” Millie trailed her fingers through Chris’ hair. “Hurry. I want him checked out by a doctor as soon as possible. He only opened his eyes long enough to see it was me and then blacked out again. I don’t like it. He’s too still. I want him back on his feet … like pronto.”

  “We both want that.” I forced a smile before moving into the adjacent room, widening my eyes when I realized where I was. It was the bedroom where I’d found the earring. That made sense, of course. If Naomi and Zach discovered the hidden staircase, they would’ve spent a lot of time moving inside – looking for doors and hidden crevices – as they searched for their precious silver.

  I moved to the window, my eyes widening at the torrent of rain. Zach mentioned something about storms being rare but fierce in the area on the day we met him, but I hadn’t given it much thought. The street was practically flooded, and it was going to make getting help here all the more difficult.