by Susan Harper
“Because he knew he was caught,” Jack said. “After what happened with Patrick.”
“No,” Felicity said, trying not to cringe. “Brian was already buried at that point in order for him to have suffocated. He came up to the hospital because…because he wanted to see how I reacted to the news about Brian. At that point, he knew Brian was dead. He had already buried him. If he was planning on leaving a note, he would have buried it with Brian. So what happened between us discovering Whitney and him putting Brian in his casket?”
“Nothing,” Monte said. “That’s what’s weird. Nothing should have made him change his game. He must have left a note somewhere. We’re just missing it.”
“So maybe he put a message somewhere else?” Jefferson suggested.
“Found it!” Veronica abruptly screamed and jumped out of her seat. She had been skimming through Felicity’s fifth-grade yearbook. “Look!” Veronica turned the book around for the others to see. “You and Autumn were friends. I doubt you drew devil horns on her head and wrote all over her face?”
It was Autumn’s yearbook picture, and someone had written all over her photo in the cryptic lettering. A picture of a clock was drawn next to the writing, just like the other letters. “That creep was in my house!” Felicity screamed at the thought. “He found my yearbook and wrote in it!” She thought about how Steven had mentioned how their houses backed up to one another. Could he have been watching her? Watching her every time she went outside? Whenever they left a window open? How long had he been watching her and Brian?
“Decode that, now!” Jack demanded and grabbed a pen and paper from the chief’s desk. “Call it out to me.”
“Okay, okay,” Felicity said, grabbing the yearbook from Veronica and taking a moment to shake her head to make sure she was focused and not thinking about Steven creeping on her from his home. She nodded approvingly at Veronica. “Good job, Veronica.”
“The first line is just three symbols… One,” Felicity said confidently as she examined the note scribbled into her yearbook. “P…M…”
“We got a time,” Jack said, looking toward the clock. “And it’s approaching quickly. It’s noon already. Hurry up, decode the rest. It doesn’t look like Autumn has much time.”
“Okay, get ready,” Felicity called across the room. “T… R… E… V… I… T… H… I… C… K… that’s it.”
“Trevithick? What is that supposed to mean?” Jack questioned.
“I have no idea, but I need to call Agent Ryan and let him know. Maybe he knows what it might mean?” Felicity suggested and snagged her cellphone.
Agent Ryan answered. “Miss Overton? We’re searching the park, but we’re not seeing any clues that Steven might have left behind. We have officers at his home and—”
“We found the clue,” Felicity said. “He wrote over Autumn’s face in one of my old yearbooks. One p.m. Trevithick. Does that mean anything to you?”
Agent Ryan paused. “I have no idea… It’s noon… Looks like we have an hour. Is there a city or town named Trevithick near here?”
“Not that I know of,” Felicity said.
“I’ll have my research team look into it,” Agent Ryan said.
“Well, have them hurry!” Felicity exclaimed angrily. “Because Autumn doesn’t have the time!” She hung up the phone and slammed it on the table. “What in the world is Trevithick!”
“Wait…” Veronica grumbled. “I know that name.”
“Okay, so it’s a name,” Monte said under his breath.
“Railroads!” Veronica cried out. “Richard Trevithick, inventor of the railway system!”
“What kind of clue is that?” Dawn asked.
Jack froze. “Steven owns property out in Tyrone.”
Felicity frowned. “Let me guess…near the railroad?”
“The railroad runs right through some of his family’s land,” Jack said, pulling out his phone. “Aw, man…”
“What?” Felicity asked.
“I just looked up train departures,” Jack said. “Based on its departure time, a train should be heading right by the Tyrone library in about an hour.”
“One p.m.,” Jefferson said. “Autumn’s going to be hit by a train!”
The entire group seemed to move at once for the door with Felicity leading the way. The police who were supposed to be manning the door attempted to get them to return, but none of them listened. “The event van can fit all of us,” Felicity said, darting out the door and making a crude gesture toward a nosey reporter. “It’s parked down the street at the event shop.”
They all darted down the road and across Main Street toward Overton’s Events. Felicity started up the van with Jefferson in the passenger’s seat and the rest crowded in the back. “There are not enough seatbelts,” Jack said.
“Pair up,” Jefferson snapped.
“That’s illegal,” Jack said.
“Stop being a nark,” Brittany demanded, squishing between Jack and Monte.
Felicity didn’t give any of them time to get comfortable. She backed the van up and pulled out onto Main Street. “We’re headed for Tyrone,” she said.
“I left Ryan’s gun in the chief’s office!” Jack exclaimed.
“We don’t have time, Jack,” Felicity said, watching the clock on the dash. “I don’t know if we can make it to Tyrone by one!”
“I’m calling Ryan,” Jack said. “He can put on his sirens and beat us there.” Jack dialed Ryan’s number.
Felicity zipped through a red light. “Felicity!” Jefferson exclaimed, gripping his seatbelt anxiously.
“I already lost Brian today,” Felicity said. “I’m not losing Autumn too.”
“Yes, Agent Ryan?” Jack said into his phone. “We’re headed to Tyrone. I’m sending you the address now. We think Steven might have strapped Autumn to an active railway!” Jack hung up the phone. “He’s going to meet us there. He told us to stay behind.”
“Not going to happen,” Felicity said.
“Good,” Jack said. “Now floor it!”
Chapter 13
Felicity was amazed that she had yet to be pulled over with the way she was driving. She could hear her friends being tossed about in the backseats with every turn. “Ten minutes until one,” Jefferson said, eyeing the clock on the dash.
“Turn here!” Jack shouted abruptly, and Felicity swerved off the small country road into the parking lot of a local thrift store. “Steven’s family land is just down that grassy hill on the other side of the parking lot…and according to the departure time… my guess is the train will roll through here right at one.”
“The same time as what was on the note,” Felicity said, going over a curve to get to the opposite end of the parking lot as quickly as possible. She slammed on the brakes, and everyone bolted out of the car. The edge of the parking lot of the local Tyrone thrift store overlooked an enormous and incredibly steep hill. At the bottom of the hill were the train tracks, and sure enough, there was Autumn.
“Help!” Her voice could just barely be heard over the sound of cars from the nearby highway.
“Autumn!” Felicity shrieked and began her descent down the hill. The hill was so incredibly steep that she wound up having to lean back a good bit to keep from tumbling. Jack didn’t waste any time. He threw himself down the hill, head over heels, and stopped abruptly right at the tracks ahead of all of them.
“Get me off this thing!” Autumn screamed, and Felicity could see her friend crouched down—handcuffed to the middle of the railway.
“My cuff keys won’t work on these,” Jack said breathlessly as the others, all but Jefferson who had lingered back at the van, caught up to him.
Autumn looked pale, and Felicity could see that her face was bruised. No doubt she had put up a fight. “Do something!” Autumn shouted just as the distant sound of a train whistle could be heard.
“What do we do?” Felicity shrieked.
“I am not about to be ended like some damsel in an old western!” Au
tumn shouted from her knees. “Aw, man… I see the train!”
Felicity glanced down the railroad tracks. The train could just barely be seen in the distance chugging away.
“Maybe I can signal the train to slow down?” Monte suggested.
“Go,” Jack said, and Monte took off.
Felicity knew there was no way he’d get the train to stop in time, but at the moment, it was as good of a plan as any. Even in this dire moment, Felicity couldn’t help but admire Autumn. Always so stoic and calm no matter the circumstance.
“What do we do?” Brittany shrieked.
“I’m coming!” they heard Jefferson shout from the top of the hill. He carried some hedge clippers above his head as he bolted down the hill, desperately trying to not fumble.
He tripped right at the end, but redeemed himself with an impressive slide like a ballplayer stealing home. Felicity nodded approvingly; in her worry for Autumn, her judgement had been clouded. She had not even thought to check the event van for supplies; they always kept a box of tools in the back.
“Everyone move aside!” Jefferson commanded, stepping onto the track. “Stay still, Autumn, I got you,” he promised.
“Hurry! Oh my gosh, Jefferson, it’s coming quick!” Autumn screamed, her stoic nature slowly fading.
Felicity glanced up; the train was approaching rapidly. “Dang!” Jefferson roared. “These cheap clippers aren’t working!” Jefferson then turned to Jack. “You’re stronger than me, come here!”
Jack bolted over and gave it a try. A few grunts and quite possibly a busted blood vessel in his temple later, the chain on the cuffs at last snapped. “Move!” Jack shouted, and the three of them rushed off the track with seconds to spare.
Autumn burst into tears and jumped up, hugging both Jack and Jefferson and planting kisses on both of their cheeks. She turned and wrapped her arms around Felicity’s neck, thanking everyone profusely. “That creep! Officer Steven!” Autumn exclaimed.
“We know,” Jack said. “And that tool is going down.”
A whistle alerted them just as the train blew by, and they turned to see Steven standing right behind them. He had managed to grab a distraught Brittany. “Let me go!” she shrieked as he stepped toward the fast-moving train, pushing her toward it as it flew by.
“Stop!” Jack shouted. “Steven, please!”
With one hand gripping Brittany’s hair, he pushed her face closer to the speeding locomotive, and with his other, he gripped his sidearm. “You would think out of everyone here, you would be the one to understand, Jack!” Steven roared just as they started to hear police sirens in the distance. The noise was just barely audible over the noise of the train.
“Don’t hurt her!” Jack again pleaded, stepping forward. But when he did, Steven pushed Brittany even closer to the tracks.
“Don’t move, Jack!” Steven warned. “With how fast the train is going, it’ll rip her head right off!”
Brittany had tears in her eyes, and Felicity again felt her anger boiling inside of her. “Steven, why?” Felicity threw the question out, hoping to distract him long enough for Agent Ryan and the others to get a shot if need be. She was certain he was already entering the parking lot at the top of the hill.
Steven again attempted to address Jack. “She’s an embarrassment, Hudson!” he shouted. “Instead of just letting us do our jobs, she put her nose into everything! She has humiliated our department and—”
“Who cares?” Jack shouted over the sound of the roaring train clicking over the tracks. “Who cares who solved those crimes, Steven? All that matters is that they were solved; that justice was served! Isn’t that why you became a cop to begin with? To seek justice?”
“I care, that’s who!” Steven shouted. “She’s just a civilian! What makes her so special? I proved that she’s not now. Otherwise, she would have been able to save Whitney and her lawyer boyfriend.”
“Ha!” Brittany snarled. “My sister’s still alive, you freak!” In his surprise, Brittany threw a kick into his shin. It hurt him, but he didn’t let her go.
Instead, he pointed the barrel of his gun at her neck and then looked up at Felicity and the others. “Once I shoot her, how far do you all think you could get before I put a bullet in each of your backs too?” he questioned.
“Don’t!” Jack again pleaded.
Before Steven could pull the trigger, Monte had arrived back on the scene after failing to stop the train. Coming up behind him, he threw a fierce punch into the man’s jaw. It caused Steven to drop his gun and stumble back, giving Jack a moment to lunge forward and throw a second punch, knocking Steven to the ground.
“Jack!” Brittany exclaimed and fell into his arms.
Jack suddenly lost any brave persona he had been putting on, and he became a blubbering fool, burying his face into Brittany’s shoulder while he cried. Felicity took a moment to observe the reaction, and a part of her felt bad for how she (and everyone else) had been assuming that Brittany was just some phase Jack was going through. Clearly, Jack cared about her.
Steven moaned, and Felicity jolted. She bent down to pick up his gun, pointing it at Steven.
“Felicity?” Jefferson beckoned.
“I’m not going to shoot him, though a part of me really wants to,” Felicity assured him. “Just making sure he doesn’t try to make a move before Ryan gets down here.”
In only a few minutes, Agent Ryan and his team arrived at the base of the hill as the train disappeared from sight. One of Ryan’s companions cuffed Steven and yanked him to his feet. “I think his jaw’s broken,” the agent said. “We should call an ambulance.”
“Which one of you broke his jaw?” Agent Ryan asked.
“I did,” Jack and Monte said in unison, like it was a bragging right. The two of them huffed slightly at one another.
While his men forced Steven up the hill and into the parking lot of the thrift store, Agent Ryan remained behind. “Don’t tell me he had you chained to the train tracks?” Agent Ryan asked Autumn.
Autumn held up her wrists, both with the cuffs still attached. “Yup.”
“Cliché,” Agent Ryan said.
“You’re not kidding,” Veronica snorted. “The only thing that would have made this more hilarious is if we had driven a mustang instead of the event van here.”
Agent Ryan laughed and seemed quite tickled by the comment. He then looked to Felicity and held out his hand. She shook it. “Good job, Miss Overton.”
“It wasn’t just me,” Felicity said. “Veronica figured out that we needed to locate a train track.”
Agent Ryan smiled at Veronica. “Smart woman,” he told her. “Have any of you ever considered going through FBI training? Frankly, Miss Overton, with your record, I’m shocked that you’re still just doing party planning.”
“I enjoy it,” Felicity insisted.
“Let’s get you all back to the station for a debriefing,” Agent Ryan said. “I will personally stop and get us all some nice coffee from somewhere. I think you all deserve it after the day you’ve had. Any recommendation?”
Felicity nodded. “Yes, we know a place. For now, let’s just get out of here. I’m ready for today to be over.”
Chapter 14
At least it waited to start raining until I got home, Felicity thought as she pulled into the driveway. She reached around for her umbrella and hurried to the front stoop, whose arch would protect her from the sudden downpour. Dressed in black, Felicity was just arriving home after Brian’s funeral. There would be a family gathering shortly at his grandmother’s home north of Atlanta, and she needed to grab the dish she had prepared before the long drive up north.
She entered the house and a sinking feeling overwhelmed her. She had already begun packing, starting with pictures and any décor she had hung up on the walls. That alone made the house seem much emptier. The thought of leaving this house saddened her, but in the end, she knew it was for the best. She certainly couldn’t afford the upkeep of a home like this on her
own. Plus, it had too many memories of him. It would be far too difficult.
Felicity headed for the kitchen, pulling the casserole dish out of the refrigerator. The viewing and the funeral had been difficult enough, but the thought of going to Brian’s grandmother’s home where his family would have easier access to her made her anxious. She was the grieving fiancée. Everyone had wanted to talk to her at the funeral, and she knew that would just continue at the little family get together.
As she placed the casserole dish on the kitchen counter, she saw a few picture frames sitting out that she had been in the process of bubble wrapping. Picking one up, she smiled at the image of her and Brian. It was from Dawn and Monte’s engagement party. One of many memories that had become nothing more than that—a memory.
Her doorbell rang. She certainly wasn’t expecting any guests. Most people knew she would be heading to Atlanta after the funeral. Hurrying to the front door, she paused to glance through the window first. After everything that had happened with Steven, she had become increasingly paranoid. She saw Jefferson, still dressed in his funeral attire, standing on the front stoop, soaking wet from the rain.
“Jefferson,” she said as she opened the door.
“Mind if I come in?” he asked. “My back end is still getting soaked with the wind.”
“Of course,” she said. “Come on, get out of the rain.” She opened the door wider, and he was kind enough to slip his shoes off so he didn’t drag muck in with him.
“Sorry to pop in unannounced,” he said. “I know you have somewhere to be.”
“Honestly, I’m not in a hurry,” she said. “I was going to just redo my makeup real quick. I failed to use waterproof mascara, so now I look like a raccoon.”
“Well, you rock the raccoon look,” he teased.
“Thanks,” she said, returning to the kitchen and pulling some makeup wipes out of her purse. “Everything okay?” she asked as Jefferson sat down on one of the bar stools near her.
