Dig Deeper: A Hallie James Mystery (The Hallie James Mysteries Book 1)

by DK Herman

  "We'll stop at your truck, so you can follow us home." I put Chitty in gear.

  Ben was behind us when I pulled into our driveway. I waved and gave him a thumbs up as he parked next to us. He got out of the pickup and looked around.

  "He seems like a nice, young man,” Gram said. "Such a shame about his sister."

  I nodded. Gram and I gathered our things and joined Ben.

  "Wow! I really like your house,” he said.

  "It's home." Gram chuckled. “You'll stay for supper, Ben. Hallie won't be here."

  "Why won't I be here?" I asked.

  "You have a date, dear." Gram chuckled again, at my puzzled expression. "Hank came to the hospital after you left, to see if there was anything he could do. I promised him, I would remind you to be ready at seven."

  "I did forget!” I slapped my forehead. "I'll call and cancel."

  "You will not!" Gram declared. "I'll be fine alone, for a few hours."

  "I'll stay here, till you get back,” Ben offered.

  "You're exhausted, you need sleep before you fall over,” I said.

  "We have a dozen spare bedrooms, Hallie. He’ll stay here." Gram decided for Ben. She took his arm and walked toward the house. "Wait until you meet my cousin, Liv. She cooks for us. She's fantastic and will enjoy feeding such handsome young man."

  I smiled at Ben’s overwhelmed expression and followed them into the house. My Gram, the mother hen.

  Gram went to her rooms to rest before supper. Ben and I went to my sitting room. I popped Don’s disc, into the built-in DVD player on my flat screen. Ben was waiting on the couch, so I sat at the opposite end and picked up the remote.

  The split image on the screen was a good view of the mall’s main entrance, and the other public entrance near the movie theatre. The date and time was on the bottom of the screen. It now read, August thirteenth, at 1:55 p.m.

  We could see people walking in and out of the mall with cars parking and leaving. I wasn't surprised when I recognized many people I knew from town. I saw old classmates, our plumber, and a barista from Brew’s. Everybody went to the mall.

  A few minutes in, we both leaned forward when an older, blue Corolla came into view. The driver found a space near the center of the lot. After a minute a slim, young, blonde girl, got out of the car. It had to be Ashley. She moved with grace and energy toward the entrance. She was wearing blue jean shorts with a red, cropped top. It was a good outfit for spotting her in a crowd. As we watched, she disappeared inside the mall.

  Ben and I continued to watch, waiting to see who she left the mall with. After a few minutes, I saw Peter pull in. He parked near Ashley’s car and went inside the mall, only to come back out a few minutes later with a large bag from the hardware store. He left and we stared at the screen for another half hour. But there was still, no Ashley.

  Ben watched while I got us each a can of soda from my mini fridge. I blessed Liv when I saw a humongous slab of chocolate cake on the middle shelf. I took it over to Ben and cut it in half with a plastic fork. Handing him the larger piece, I was treated to the sight of those dimples again. Damn, if he wasn’t so young, he could give Hank some serious competition. I gave myself a mental shake and concentrated on the screen. We savored the cake while watching for Ashley.

  I almost choked on the last bite when I saw Hank walk out of the mall. He had no shopping bags when he climbed into his pickup. I hadn't noticed it was his truck parked in the lot. There are thousands of old pickups around here.

  "What?" Ben had noticed my reaction.

  "Just the guy, I’m going out with tonight." My eyes back on the screen, I took a slug of cola.

  Another half an hour went by, and Ben and I took turns going to the bathroom. When I came back from my turn, he shook his head. Still no Ashley.

  At six, Gram called for Ben to go eat supper. Not sure how long the footage was, I stopped the DVD and told Ben we'd finish watching it later. I had no plans of returning it to Don the pervert. Damn it, I should have asked for footage from inside the mall, in the same time frame, too. She had to leave with someone. If somebody knocked her out and carried her, people would have noticed and reported it. I stayed on the couch another minute, feeling guilty for taking the time to go out and enjoy myself. What if another girl ended up dead before this monster was caught? I had tears in my eyes as I stood with the remote in my hand. I couldn't bring myself to put it down.

  "I know what you’re thinking,” Ben said. "But your Grams right. Go get ready, and go out with this guy. Your mind will be fresher with a little R and R." He took the remote from my hand. "Besides, you need to ask him what he was doing at the mall the day Ashley vanished. He may have even seen something and not thought about it since that day. So, you’re still going to be working on the case.”

  "OK." I sighed. Then I headed for my bathroom.

  EIGHT

  I made it downstairs with less than five minutes to spare. Gram, Liv and Ben, were just leaving the dining room, looking chummy. They all gave me a long look. Gram and Liv told me I looked pretty, Ben gave me a whistle and a grin.

  I had gone all out with my hair and makeup before slipping into an emerald green, silk dress from my previous life. It still looked great with a plunging neckline, and the knee length hem had a six-inch side slit. There were black, peep toe, three-inch, spike heels on my feet. I’d walked through a cloud of lilac body spray before I dressed. Diamond studs, Gram gave me for graduation, sparkled in my ears.

  I heard the rumble of duel exhaust coming down our lane. Curiously, Ben went to the front door.

  There, pulling into my driveway, was a piece of my youth that I didn't know still existed. It had a shiny, new coat of black paint, the same color it had been twenty years ago. The chrome bumpers and wheels sparkled in the setting sunlight. I smiled at the memories it brought back. I loved this car, Hank’s 1967 Mustang, Mach 1.

  "Holy crap! Freaking awesome!" Ben was practically, jumping up and down. "This guy must be so cool."

  I smiled at Ben, silently agreeing with him, and I walked to the front door. I watched Hank climb the steps to the porch. He wore well-fitting blue slacks and a sport coat with a white dress shirt. Yep, freaking awesome!

  I opened the door to that sexy grin. I felt the heat of his gaze as he took in every inch of me. I reminded myself that we weren't alone and led him to Gram.

  "Nice to see you again, Mrs. James."

  "And you too, dear boy." Gram replied. "Hank, do you remember Liv?"

  "How could I forget a woman that cooks like an angel." He gave Liv a smile that made her giggle.

  "This is Ben," I said.

  "I like your car!" Ben enthused.

  "Thanks." Hank replied. "I like it. I've had it since I was sixteen."

  "Shall we go?" I asked Hank.

  "Yes. I made reservations for seven thirty."

  We said our goodbye's and walked to the Mustang. Hank held the passenger door for me.

  "The upholstery's different, very nice," I said, admiring the black diamond, patterned leather before I slid into the car. Where are, we going?"

  "The Wayward Inn,” Hank said. My eyes followed him as he walked around the car and got behind the wheel.

  I was glad I’d dressed up. The Wayward Inn was a few miles north, toward the town of Fairton. It had good wine, elegant food, and candlelight and flowers on every table. And there was a band playing soft music in the evenings, and dance floor. It was pricey but very romantic. Hank must have connections, it usually took weeks to get a reservation.

  "You look beautiful, Hallie,” Hank said. He started down our lane.

  "Thanks,” I replied. "Gram said that you stopped in to see George."

  "Yeah. He's a nice guy." He looked for traffic before pulling onto the highway. "He owns some land, next to my bar that I want to buy. I need to expand the dining room, maybe add space for private parties."

  I didn't know George owned land, other than where his house sat. Highway frontage was worth a lot of
money! It was a good-sized lot with a huge garage, and several sheds, on it. Maybe another talk with his son would be worth my time. Ryan had only been to the hospital once since George was shot. Another item on my mental list.

  The wind was making a mess of my hair, so I rolled up my window. I flipped the sun visor down and looked at it in the mirror. Yep, a mess. I opened the black clutch I was carrying and pulled out a small round brush.

  "What the... Jesus... Hallie!" Hank sputtered. "Why do you have a gun in your purse?"

  "Do dead bodies in my family's woods, and someone shot George, sound familiar,” I said, brushing my hair.

  "The is first time that I've been on a date with an armed woman,” He grumbled. His wide eyes kept coming back to my Glock.

  "That you know of." I returned the brush to my purse. "Don't be scared. I've carried a gun almost every day, for the last fourteen years."

  "It's kinda sexy." He grinned. "What else do you have in that purse?"

  I smiled mysteriously and let the hem of my dress drift up a few inches. Hank forgot about the gun.

  Dinner was excellent, but dancing in Hank's arms was even better. Hank chose the best tasting wines. He was so different from the beer guy, I used to date. I wondered what other talents he’d been hiding.

  We sat down at our table after a dance. I had eaten a filet mignon with all the trimmings, but I still had a slight buzz from the wine.

  "I missed you." The admission came easily from Hanks mouth. "I was a jerk back then. I'm sorry."

  "I missed you, too,” I said honestly. I wasn't expecting to talk about our past yet. I hadn't even let myself think about it until last week. "How about, we just start over?" I suggested.

  "Sounds good,” Hank drawled.

  I watched him pour more of the delicious Cabernet Sauvignon into my glass. “Trying to get me drunk?" I asked but took another sip.

  "Just trying to show you a good time." He raised an eyebrow. "But, whatever gives me an edge."

  I dissolved into giggles while the band began playing an old love song I adored.

  “Would you like to dance again, Hallie?”

  I nodded, so very glad I’d come home.

  We didn’t stop on the bridge when Hank took me home. He pulled into my driveway and turned off the car. Besides the security lights, someone had left the front porch lights on for me. I took a deep breath from the open car window. Most of the effects of the wine were wearing off, but there was an incredibly handsome male about to kiss me. My hands shook slightly in anticipation.

  Hank got out of the car and walked around to the passenger side. He opened the door, and offering me his hand. I took it, and we walked to the front porch. Once we were up the steps, he gently swung me to face him. I couldn't breath as his lips slowly descended on mine. Strong hands caressed my back, then over the curves of my hips. The hands moved lower, cupping my butt. I felt his tongue touch mine, and he pulled me tight against him. My head spun, I had never felt such passion with anyone.

  "I should go, it’s too soon." Hank mumbled against my lips.

  "I know." I buried my face in his neck. He smelled so good. I inhaled deeply, wanting to give in to the moment and ask him upstairs.

  He held me close for several minutes and then tenderly, kissed me again before stepping back.

  "Can I see you, Wednesday night?" Hank asked. “We’ll go to Rivers Edge and a movie.”

  "Uh huh." I nodded, mesmerized by those gorgeous, sapphire eyes.

  "I know you have a gun, but please, go inside before I leave."

  "OK." I smiled. "Watch for deer, going home."

  I unlocked the door and stepped inside. Hank started for his car, whistling the last song we danced to that evening. He got into the mustang and started the engine. I locked up and turned on the alarm system before heading upstairs.

  I soaked in a bubble bath until my fingers wrinkled. When I got out, I put on a robe and got a bottle of water out of my fridge. It was almost midnight, but I was wide awake. I realized I’d forgotten to ask Hank, what he was doing at the mall last Saturday. I'd have to call him tomorrow.

  I started looking for something to wear to bed when my bedroom door crashed open. Princess and Buddy ran into the room, going straight to the patio doors.

  "Don't tell me, you guys have to go outside?" I asked annoyed. I was so warm and clean, all I wanted was to climb into bed and fall asleep while thinking about Hank.

  The dogs wouldn't get away from the balcony doors.

  "Just want some fresh air, guys?" Hopefully, I pushed back the drapes on one side. "Is this what you want?" I looked through the glass and threw the door open, rushing out onto the balcony.

  I stared into the darkness of the woods. Were my eyes playing tricks on me? I held my breath and scanned the trees. There...near the creek. The light was back!

  I ran into my room, my hands shaking as I dressed in jeans, a sweatshirt, and sneakers. Grabbing my gun and cell from the nightstand, I took off. I almost fell, going down the stairs, taking them two at a time. I grabbed a flashlight out of the kitchen, deactivated the alarm from the patio keypad, and ran out the door. I debated calling the cops as I ran for the woods gate. What if it was just kids or looky-loos, who’d heard about the dead girls. I dialed Hanks cell. Damn, it went straight to voicemail.

  "Cops it is,” I mumbled into the darkness and hit 911. I told the dispatcher who I was, and what I’d seen. Hanging up, I ran again. "Please, don't be burying another girl." I panted.

  I followed the right fork in the path, keeping my flashlight beam on the ground in front of me. Soon, I could see the light again, barely visible through the trees at this angle, about a hundred yards away. I tried to be quiet, but my breathing sounded loud to my own ears. I held my breath and stopped to listen. The woods were eerily quiet, except for a scratching noise that echoed through the trees. I bolted for the light again.

  I more than halved the distance to the creek before I slowed my pace. I held my gun in my right hand and thumbed the safety off before clicking off the flashlight. After a minute my eyes adjusted a little, so I crept towards the light. It looked more like a lantern than a flashlight.

  I smothered a curse when I stepped on a large branch, and a loud crack filled the air. The scratching noise stopped. I dove off the path and standing perfectly still, tried to control my breathing. The light stayed where it was, but I heard footsteps coming towards me. Hunkering down against a tree trunk, I listened to the footsteps get closer and closer until they sounded as if they were feet away from me. The trees made any sound echo around, making it hard to tell the direction of the sounds. But someone was close, I could hear them breathing heavily, like an angry bull in the darkness. I gripped my gun and hoped for a chance to blind him with my flashlight beam. I had to be careful, I wasn’t sure it was the killer. I didn’t want to go to jail for shooting a trespasser. But if I saw a gun or knife, I would shoot.

  Suddenly, there was the sound of police sirens, screaming in the distance. They were coming fast, up the highway from town. It was obvious they were heading in my direction.

  The person in the dark must have thought so, too. I heard them run, back toward the light. I started to make my way through the trees after them, but I stumbled over a tree root. The light went out, and a small engine started. It moved quickly away, north through the woods.

  I turned on my flashlight and began walking to where the light had been. I crossed the spot where the three girls had been buried. I walked carefully, not wanting to ruin any evidence if another crime had been committed. I came to a blue bundle, laying on the ground. There was a hole dug next to it, about two feet deep. That son of a bitch had murdered, again.

  Damn it! Why again, so soon? Judging from his past victims, he had been murdering about every six months. Now it was less than a week. What was making him escalate?

  A small sound triggered an adrenaline rush throughout my body. My heart skipped beats when I heard a moan, just a few feet from where I stood. Playi
ng my flashlight around the trees, I saw nothing. Did the killer double back on foot, or maybe an accomplice had stayed to trap me? I heard the moan again. I whipped the flashlight beam in that direction.

  There was nothing except the shallow hole in the ground and the bundle next to it. I stepped closer, hoping I wasn't destroying any footprints. Hunkering down next to the it, I played my flashlight beam over the blue plastic.

  It was obviously a body. A little over five feet long and slim, I suspected it was a young girl. The murdering prick had wrapped her in a blue, plastic tarp, secured with duct tape.

  "I'm sorry this happened to you. I'm even sorrier that I couldn't stop him,” I said to the unknown victim.

  Suddenly, I jumped backwards, falling on my butt in the soft soil. The body in the blue tarp had moved. Another moan reached my ears. A spot on the blue plastic moved slightly, in and out. They were breathing!

  "You're still alive!" I cried, scrambling to my knees next to the body. I dropped my gun and flashlight into the dirt and tore at the duct tape wrapped around the head. "Hang on, I've almost got it off your face.”

  With shaking fingers, I worked on the duct tape. Finally, I pulled the tarp from the head and neck of a young, blonde girl. Her swollen, discolored face was smeared with tears, dirt, and blood. It was obvious, she’d been badly beaten. I looked lower and gasped. There was a slit in her neck, at least six inches long. Starting out shallow under her right ear, it got deeper and was still oozing blood towards the center of her throat.

  "Don't move, honey. You’re safe now, I'm here with you." I put one hand on her throat, applying pressure to the bleeding. Using my other hand, I got my phone out of my pocket. The poor girl could only open one eye halfway, but I could tell she was terrified. "I won't leave you alone," I said gently. "The cops are almost here, and I'm calling for an ambulance for you.

  I wasn’t sure if she understood, but she seemed to watch me with her one scared eye as I made the call. I put my gun in my waistband, keeping pressure on the girl’s neck wound at the same time.

  "Hear that?" I said soothingly after I hung up. "That's the police. They're walking this way."