“Matthew, I’m very tired. Can we continue this conversation in the morning?”
“No. I need to know tonight whether I threw my whole life away on a whim.”
“You’re not going to let this alone, are you?”
“No.”
“You always were a headstrong boy.” The affection in her voice made him hope she had an explanation for turning his life upside down. Because he really did love her.
“Maybe I take after my aunt.”
She smiled. “Why don’t we discuss it over a dish of ice cream? I remember us having quite a few talks over ice cream when you were young.”
He nodded stiffly, reluctant to remember his fond childhood memories of her.
She shut down the computer and stood. He led the way out the door, stopping to allow her to twist the lock and close the door behind them.
Matthew followed her down the hallway. He bumped into her back when she stopped suddenly.
Turning her head, she raised her finger to her lips.
Then he heard Jonathon’s voice coming from the kitchen. “We need to go. Are you sure you have everything you need?”
“Yes, Jonathon, I do.” Ruth’s voice was husky. “I can hardly believe I’ll be your celestial wife. Your one and only legal wife.”
Eleanor made a keening sound low in her throat. She slapped her hand to her mouth, silencing her grief.
Fortunately Jonathon and Ruth were too focused on each other to hear. Jonathon grasped Ruth’s shoulders. “You deserve it. You’re the only woman to truly understand me. And you’ve proven to be a devoted confidante. It would have pained me to see you married to Matthew, but I needed to test his loyalty.”
“I was still able to keep an eye on things, even from next door.”
“Yes. You did fine.” He leaned closer, intent on kissing her.
But she held up her hand to stop him. “Not now. I want to leave this second. It’s been a nightmare staying in this house, little more than a servant.”
Jonathon smiled. “As you wish.”
Matthew figured that meant they were headed for the front door. And would pass through the hallway where he and Eleanor stood.
He grasped Eleanor’s arm and pulled her back, jerking his head toward the hallway.
She nodded, following close behind him. When they reached the study door, Matthew almost collided with Angel as she came around the corner.
Matthew pressed his finger to his lips.
She nodded, just as Eleanor whisked a key from her pocket and unlocked the study door.
Matthew grabbed Angel’s hand and pulled her inside behind him. All three pressed against the door, easily able to hear Jonathon. “I’ll treat you like a princess. You’ll never have to lift a finger.”
Their whispered conversation faded. Then Matthew heard the front door click shut.
“That horrible man.” Eleanor’s voice vibrated with anger. “How could he betray me so?”
“I’m sorry, Aunt. I’m sure that was quite a shock.”
“It simply confirmed something I’d already suspected. I’d anticipated he’d add her as a sister wife. But he’s promising things he can’t deliver. There can only be one celestial wife, and I’m it.”
“What’s going on?” Angel asked.
“Uncle Jonathon was here with Ruth. Sounds like they’re running away together. And he’s promised her Aunt Eleanor’s place in his life.”
A position Aunt Eleanor hadn’t yet vacated. An uncomfortable suspicion formed. Could his uncle be that cold-blooded?
Aunt Eleanor spoke his fears aloud. “He’d be free to take another legal wife if I were dead. That may explain why he’s been downloading information on his laptop about explosives. He underestimated my abilities to find things on the computer.”
“You copied those disks and made sure I’d find them?” Angel murmured.
“Yes, I’d hoped you’d carry them to the authorities when you left.”
“Which is why you made up that story.”
Eleanor nodded. “Come, children, we’re following Jonathon. Everyone in the settlement might be in grave danger.”
“Do you have any idea where he’s going?”
“The tunnel underneath the meeting hall. It leads to an unpatrolled stretch on the Mexican side. Unpatrolled by Federales, that is. Our landlord has plenty of his own men there, I’m sure. But knowing my dear husband, I’m positive he has a plan.”
“Let’s go then.”
“Wait.” She unlocked the desk and removed two cell phones from the middle drawer. From the bottom drawer she withdrew a lethal-looking handgun. “Here are your cell phones.”
Matthew flicked his cell phone open. “It’s charged.”
Angel opened hers. “So’s mine.”
“A precaution. I’ve kept them charged since your arrival.”
“Aunt Eleanor, you are an exceptional woman.” Matthew gave her a quick hug.
“I’m not that exceptional, Matthew. I’d like nothing better than to dissolve in a puddle of tears. But I refuse to let Jonathon hurt innocent people.”
“I think you’re exceptional.”
“So do I.” Angel’s voice was warm.
He held out his hand to Eleanor. “Now give me the gun.”
“Sorry. I’m keeping it.” She tucked it into the pocket of her dress and folded her arms over her chest. He’d have to wrestle it from her, a move that could be dangerous.
Angel stepped forward. “Eleanor, I’m a law-enforcement agent. Please give the gun to me.”
“I figured as much. But this is my battle and I intend to be prepared. Don’t try to take it away from me.”
Angel hesitated, then nodded.
“Is it loaded?” he asked.
“Of course. It’s no good to me if it isn’t loaded.”
Shaking his head, Matthew said, “Remind me never to tick you off. Let’s go.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
ANGEL ASSUMED THE lead, motioning for the others to drop back and take cover behind a building when she saw guards approach.
The guards greeted Jonathon. They were too far away for Angel to hear distinctly, but it sounded as if Jonathon was dismissing them for the evening. Something was definitely up.
Eleanor started forward, but Angel motioned for her to wait. They needed to follow from a safe distance.
Eleanor frowned, impatience evident in her stiff movements.
A few minutes later Angel signaled for them to follow. Eleanor was right—he was headed for the meeting hall.
When they reached the meeting hall, Eleanor grasped her arm. “Let me go first,” she whispered. “I know where Jonathon is.”
Angel nodded and followed. Matthew was right behind.
They entered through the rear door, then Eleanor went to the storage room next to the men’s meeting room. Inside were a couple brooms and a dustpan. But the metal shelves were empty of anything save cobwebs. The storage room obviously hadn’t been functional for quite some time.
Eleanor grasped one shelf and pulled. It moved silently, revealing a metal door. Slowly she released the latch.
Matthew reached for the door, but Eleanor shook her head. Placing her finger on her lips, she whispered, “They’re down there.”
Eleanor opened the door a crack, peering inside. Then she slipped through the door and quickly descended a metal ladder.
Angel followed right behind, trying to process their surroundings. She saw a large anteroom connected to a concrete tunnel, bending sharply to the right. The drug tunnel?
She heard Mathew’s steps on the rungs above her head. She should insist that the civilians stay safely aboveground. But with Eleanor carrying the only weapon, her choices were limited. Holding up her hand, Angel signaled them to stay quiet. They moved toward the bend, where the tunnel continued out of sight.
There was silence. Then Ruth’s voice. “Are you sure we won’t get caught?”
“Positive. The fire will burn so hot all traces
of explosives with be eliminated. It will confuse my enemies on both sides of the border long enough for us to establish new identities. They might even think we perished in the fire.”
“Isn’t there another way? It’s hard to think of all those people dying. Maybe the vision was wrong.”
“No, my love. My visions are never wrong. The community is to be destroyed by fire, to burn away the sins of those left behind.”
“It’s so horrible.”
“God’s will is not to be questioned. He has great plans for our new community in Mexico. I will bring salvation to many.”
Eleanor murmured, “He intends to kill everyone. I can’t let that happen.”
“Neither can I.” Her heart lurched at the thought of all the innocent women and children he could murder.
Angel and Eleanor rounded the corner, moving in tandem.
“What the…?” Jonathon stepped forward.
Eleanor withdrew the pistol and aimed it at his chest.
Angel rapidly assessed the situation. If Eleanor was remotely accurate, she had a good kill shot. Too high, she shot Jonathon in the head. Too low, he was gut shot or emasculated. Either way, he would probably bleed to death before help could arrive.
Would that be a bad thing?
“Ruth, you go sit on that chair in the corner.” Eleanor’s voice echoed in the room fortified by concrete on all sides.
Not as bad as metal but still too great a chance for ricochet.
The girl lost no time scuttling out of range. Jonathon was apparently on his own.
And he realized it, too. He reached out his hand in appeal. “Now, Eleanor, there must be some misunderstanding.”
Eleanor released the safety and cocked the hammer. “Go sit in that chair.”
He hesitated, his gaze straying to the pistol. The damn fool was considering charging Eleanor.
“Eleanor, give me the gun.” Matthew stepped closer. “Somebody might get hurt.”
“That’s exactly what I intend.” Her voice was cold and deliberate.
Fear flashed in Jonathon’s eyes. “Eleanor, think of our life together. Our history, our children.”
“Don’t bother, Jonathon. I heard your plans for me. For all of us. Now sit in that chair or I’ll shoot you.”
Ruth stood, as if thinking of going to Jonathon. “Ruth, you little twit, sit down.” Eleanor barely glanced in the girl’s direction.
Angel held her breath until Jonathon complied.
Ruth raised her chin. “Jonathon doesn’t love you. He loves me. I’m going to be his celestial wife.”
“Shut up, Ruth,” all three said in unison. Jonathon and Matthew because there was a real possibility someone would get shot. Eleanor because she could.
“Now stand over there, Matthew. I’ll trust you to let me know if either of them looks as if they’re trying anything stupid.”
Angel stepped forward. “Eleanor, you can’t take the law into your own hands, much as I know you want to. Give me the gun and I promise Jonathon will pay for his crimes.”
Eleanor hesitated. “You’re like a daughter to me, Angel. I’d hoped to get you out of here. I had no idea the extent to which Jonathon was prepared to go. But this is between Jonathon and me. It’s something I have to do.”
She took another step closer. “I understand, Eleanor. I really, really do. I’ve been hurt by a man. My first husband. He terrorized me until there was very little left.”
“First husband? You were married before?” Eleanor asked.
“Yes. He was killed. I was grateful for being rescued from him. But a part of me has been so angry. My power was taken from me. I thought I could regain that power if I’d just had the chance to do to him what he’d done to me.”
Eleanor nodded. “I felt a connection with you from the start. Knew you’d understand.”
“I do understand. But I also know you have to reclaim your power another way.”
“No. He has to be made to suffer like I’ve suffered.”
“No, Eleanor, your healing depends on two things. Justice, which I promise will happen if you give me the gun.”
“What’s the second?”
“You will have to help others. Once you open your heart to women who’ve been hurt as you have, Jonathon will no longer have any power over you.”
“Angel, I wish that was true. But I’m not a young woman.” Eleanor’s voice broke. “I can’t take care of myself in the outside world, let alone help someone else.”
“Yes, you can. And you will. Because I’ll be there beside you every step of the way. And by allowing me to do that, you will be healing me.”
The gun wavered in Eleanor’s hands, and tears ran unchecked down her face.
“You promise?” she whispered.
“I promise.”
Eleanor lowered the gun and handed it to Angel. Angel kept it trained on Jonathon while she gave Eleanor a quick, reassuring hug.
Everything would be all right. Suddenly Angel knew it was true. For Eleanor. For Angel.
Matthew’s throat grew scratchy as he watched Angel comfort his aunt. He was grateful to her for stopping Eleanor before she could destroy her life. He also suspected Angel’s discussion with Eleanor had helped Angel as much as Eleanor.
But frustration made him want to scream. He couldn’t allow his uncle off the hook this easily. He had to find out what had happened the night his father died.
Angel murmured something to Eleanor and his aunt nodded, moving next to Matthew.
Angel stepped close to Jonathon, pressing the barrel of the gun to his temple. Her voice was very soft. “No worry about ricochet this way. Is this how you want it to end, Jonathon?”
“You promised you’d leave my punishment to the justice system.”
“No, Jonathon. Listen carefully. I said justice would happen if Eleanor gave me the gun. The kind of justice you receive is up to you. If you tell me what I want to know, I’ll turn you over to the authorities and you might get a vacation at the federal prison, complete with television and tennis courts.”
His eyes flashed with impotent anger. “And what if I don’t cooperate?”
“Then I will shoot you. I know exactly where to place a bullet to cause excruciating pain but not kill you. My choices are endless.” She shrugged. “It could be hours, maybe even days before I get around to calling the authorities. It would be your word against ours.”
“Who are you?”
“Angelina Harrison. I’m a detective with the Department of Public Safety.”
“Bitch.”
Matthew stepped forward, but his aunt grasped his arm. “No. Don’t interfere.”
“Jonathon, the last man who called me a bitch died on my kitchen floor in a puddle of blood.” Her tone was so matter of fact, only an idiot wouldn’t believe her.
And Jonathon was no idiot. He raised his chin. “What do you want to know?”
“How and when is this fire to happen?”
“Explosives. Tonight.”
Matthew shifted uneasily, but Angel barely blinked.
“What’s the status?”
“The explosives are armed and ready.”
Angel’s tone was conversational. “Are they on a timer?”
“No, the detonator is in my briefcase.” He nodded toward the corner.
She turned. “Eleanor, we need to get an explosives team in here right away. We’ll use the land line from your house. I don’t want anyone getting hurt. Can you dismiss the guard at the gate for the evening? Tell him it’s Jonathon’s directive?”
“Yes. They’ll believe me.”
“Good. Otherwise, I’ll have to incapacitate him.”
“What do you want me to do?” Matthew hated feeling as if all his options were held by another. All he needed was a few minutes alone with his uncle.
Angel held his gaze. Could she trust him? The question was plain as day without being uttered.
He nodded.
“You can count on me.”
S
he handed him the weapon. “I trust you.”
His heart ached at his deception. She might not ever trust him again. It was a chance he’d have to take. Because he owed it to his father to see that Jonathon was held accountable for his murder.
He was careful to keep his face bland while he accepted the gun. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t go anywhere.”
“Whatever you do, don’t use your cell phone,” she instructed. “We don’t want to take the chance Jonathon has lied about the method of detonation and inadvertently set off an explosion.”
“How will you call for help?”
She smiled grimly. “Prearranged signal—glow sticks. Low-tech, but effective.”
“You smuggled those in, too?”
“Yes. You sure you’re okay guarding Jonathon?”
“Positive.” He wanted to prepare for a confrontation he’d anticipated for years. Revenge no longer seemed right, though his uncle deserved it. But he’d learned to expect the unexpected with Jonathon. “Will the explosives go off if the gun discharges?”
“Not unless Jonathon is suicidal and that’s not the case, in my opinion. This is his escape route. But if I’m wrong, I’m sure he’ll be very careful not to give you cause to shoot him. I’ll bring rope back to tie him up.”
MATTHEW EYED Jonathon for a long moment after Angel left.
“I could kill you before she returns. Say you tried to escape.”
Jonathon licked his lips. “Now, son, you know I only wanted what was best for you.”
His uncle went into a long discourse on the things he’d done for his brother’s children, recounting stories of old times.
Matthew allowed him to talk, hoping he might let important information slip. When he could stand no more of his uncle’s self-serving speech, he asked, “How was killing my father best for me?”
“I didn’t kill your father.” Jonathon straightened, the epitome of affronted dignity.
“You removed the blankets and water from the barn that day. When he went out to check on the animals, you tossed a Molotov cocktail in the straw and padlocked both doors shut.”
“That’s preposterous. I did nothing of the kind. Your mother lied.”
Matthew almost lost control. He wanted to kill the man with his bare hands. He took a deep breath to regain his equilibrium. At one time, he’d thought he might be able to avenge his father’s death. But his father had taken the ten commandments very seriously and it would have been obscene to defile his father’s memory in that way.
Carrie Weaver - Count on a Cop Page 22
