Plain Retribution

by Dana R. Lynn

  Turning the light off, she rose from the bed and made her way to the window. Easing herself down on the window seat, she rearranged and plumped the cushions behind her back before settling into the seat. Then she twisted the rod to open the blinds. The Pennsylvania night sky was awash with stars. They both filled her with awe and humbled her. She’d always loved watching the stars. She and her sister Lizzy used to crawl out their bedroom window and onto the back porch roof at night to watch the sky. They could sit there, silent, for hours. It had always been Lizzy she was with. Besides Levi, Lizzy was the best signer in the family.

  Rebecca sighed, content for the moment.

  But then all feelings of contentment disappeared. What was that light she saw? Something was flashing up in the trees. Or was there? Straining her eyes, she leaned forward, her nose almost touching the glass, trying to see if anything was up there.

  Nothing.

  She sat for another half hour, watching intently, arguing with herself about whether she had seen anything or was being paranoid.

  What was she doing? Anyone looking toward the house might be able to see her with her nose pressed against the glass. Stumbling off the window seat, she hurriedly shut the blinds. Then she ran to the opposite side of the room.

  Heart thumping, she stood in the dark, rubbing her hand over her heart as if she could slow it down.

  What to do?

  More cautious now that the possibility of a threat was there, she crept back to the window and moved the blinds slightly so she could look out. Nothing. Again. The only thing moving was the officer stationed outside the house. She’d forgotten about him. She must be losing her mind.

  A few minutes later, the floor under her vibrated. The front door had slammed. She leaned closer to see that Jess was headed to the stables.

  She tensed. If someone really was out there, would Jess be in danger?

  Lights swept up the driveway. The morning help had arrived. She sighed in relief, sure that the threat was ended. The burly young man who exited his truck and followed Jess into the stables would surely deter anyone from coming any closer.

  The moment Miles arrived, though, she’d make sure to tell him about her suspicions. No doubt, he’d search and find nothing. After all, who even knew she was here?

  She just had to wait for Miles.

  * * *

  He couldn’t sleep.

  Flipping over onto his left side, Miles glared at the digital alarm clock as if it was to blame. Five after five. As in a.m. Unreal. It had been past eleven before he had managed to unwind enough to fall asleep. He was edgy about leaving Rebecca at Seth’s, even with Thompson stationed right outside.

  Why? It was secure. She was fine. He needed to stop worrying about her and get some sleep so he could find the lowlifes who had it in for her.

  Flopping back onto his back, he resolutely closed his eyes. His alarm wasn’t set to go off until seven. If he couldn’t fall back asleep then he’d think about the situation. Images of Rebecca’s face swam behind his closed lids. Think of something else. Mentally, he ran through the latest saxophone solo he had been working on.

  Tossing and turning, he would doze off, only to wake suddenly. Minutes later, he was still thinking. He gave up. Throwing back the covers, he heaved himself to a sitting position. If he couldn’t sleep, he might as well be productive. Hefting himself out of bed, he went through the motions of his morning routine.

  He changed into his sweatpants and a police academy T-shirt. Then he got down to business. Stretching, sit-ups and push-ups got his blood pumping. Fully awake, he left his apartment for his morning run. Pacing himself, he kept his rhythm smooth. The sound of his feet hitting the pavement echoed in the air. While he ran, he allowed his thoughts to return back to the previous day.

  Rebecca.

  How was she holding up at Seth’s house? Was she really safe there? He mentally squashed that worry as his foot hit a puddle and splashed water up his leg. Of course she was safe. Seth and Jess were both with her. They had installed a top-of-the-line alarm system after the attacks on Jess last spring. And he knew that Thompson took his duty very seriously.

  Swerving around in the cul-de-sac at the end of the block, he began the return home. The sun was higher in the sky as he entered his apartment. He took a quick shower, changed and then grabbed a can of Mountain Dew and the pizza he had left over from the night before. He downed half the can while waiting for his breakfast to heat up in the microwave. Hearing it ding, he set the plate and the can on the counter and pulled his worn-out Bible off the shelf.

  Best way to start the morning. Eating pizza and drinking Mountain Dew with Jesus.

  Twenty-five minutes later, he set the plate in the dishwasher and made a basket into the recycle bin with the can. It clanked against the other cans. He’d have to empty that soon.

  Now what?

  His peace was interrupted as restlessness crawled through his bones. What he wanted to do was check on Rebecca, but he knew he couldn’t. It was too early. And she was fine. Stop worrying about her.

  Not happening.

  He glanced at the clock. If he left now, it would be eight thirty when he arrived at the Travis home. Surely, that wasn’t too early to stop by. She should be up. And if she wasn’t, he knew Seth and Jess would be. Then he figured he’d get a head start on the business of the day. The sooner he found out who was targeting the sweet former Amish girl, the sooner she’d be safe. And off his mind.

  Grabbing another Mountain Dew from the refrigerator, he bounded down the steps and out to his car, singing a song that he’d heard on the radio recently. He bopped his head to the music in his mind, causing his blond hair to flop on his forehead. Belatedly, he remembered that his neighbors might still be sleeping. A sheepish glance around showed the parking lot was empty, and there were no angry faces glaring out the windows. Shrugging his shoulders, he unlocked his door and slid into the driver’s seat.

  The drive was slow this morning. A thick layer of fog had fallen over LaMar Pond. Visibility was low. Taking his time, Miles bit back his frustration. It wasn’t like he had to hurry to go to check on Rebecca. He had his pager on. And if there was an emergency, he would have heard the call come over the radio.

  The emergency system had just hired a brand-new dispatcher. He hadn’t met her yet, but she sounded young. Jackson thought she sounded pretty. But then, Jackson did like to flirt with the ladies. He never meant anything serious by it. Miles doubted he ever took any woman seriously. He frowned, as the image of Jackson flashing his charming smile at Rebecca hijacked his brain.

  Maybe he should warn her about him. Make sure she knew the score.

  Wait a minute. This wasn’t any of his concern. And besides, Rebecca seemed far too reserved to put up with his jokester coworker.

  And her roommate had just been murdered.

  And she might be next.

  All thoughts of Jackson fled as the reality of the situation again came to the forefront. Tightening his grip on the steering wheel and on his wayward thoughts, Miles maneuvered the sleek cruiser off the smooth paved road and onto the dirt back road that led to the stables. Immediately, the car bounced as his front tire hit a pothole in the road. It was more like a crater. He grimaced. Too many bumps like that and he’d do some real damage to the car. Just what he needed when he was trying to convince the chief that he was responsible.

  Up ahead, he could make out the sign to River Road Stables. A surge of adrenaline caught him off guard. Straightening in his seat, his eyes shifted in every direction as he pulled up the driveway and looked for any signs of trouble. His tension didn’t let up as he passed the lower barns. As he drove by the upper barn, he noticed the brand-new horse trailer parked out front. That wasn’t worrying—in fact, it was probably good news. Business was doing better for Jess, now that her late brother had been cleared of al
l the charges that had been brought against him last year.

  Miles headed up the lane to the house. His heartbeat quickened. He swung the car into the space behind Seth’s pickup truck and stepped out of the car, waving at Thompson. The other man grinned and gave him a thumbs-up before heading out. That was fine. Miles didn’t mind staying until the next shift arrived.

  The hair on the back of his neck prickled. He swiveled his head around, eyes narrowed as he looked for threats. Nothing. But he couldn’t rid himself of the feeling that someone was watching him.

  His right hand settled on his revolver as he stepped away from the vehicle. The feeling of the gun was reassuring, but he quickened his pace as he strode up the walk.

  A movement in the front window caught his attention. He turned his head. And forgot how to breathe.

  Rebecca had pushed back the blue drapes and stood watching him, the lace sheer covering her but not hiding her. Like a wedding veil.

  Whoa, buddy. Don’t even go there.

  He waved at her. She waved back and offered him a smile so radiant, it made his chest tight.

  Then she whirled and vanished from sight.

  Less than a minute later, he heard the click and twists of the locks and bolts being undone. The door swung open, and Rebecca stepped out to greet him. Her hair was pulled back in a French braid. Without the hair framing her face, her cheekbones seemed impossibly high and fine. Delicate.

  Abruptly, he realized he was staring at her. His face heated as he lowered his head. His bangs flopped over his forehead. He brushed them aside as he brought his head back up...and his eyes caught on something glinting in the trees.

  Fully alert, he motioned Rebecca back. Then he saw it, the muzzle of a gun. The picture window she’d stood in front of a minute before shattered. Without thinking about it, Miles jumped toward Rebecca, pushing her to the ground and covering her shaking body with his. A second slug hit the porch, sending wood chips flying in every direction.

  Miles raised his head and looked at the damaged area. His blood froze.

  If the gunman had been two seconds faster, Rebecca would be dead.

  SEVEN

  Miles shot to his feet, his hand pulling his gun from the holster in the same movement. A motor roaring to life beyond the trees caught his attention.

  Whoever it was, they were getting away.

  “Are you hurt?” he signed, checking her pale face for signs of pain. He saw fear and more than a little shock, but no injuries. As soon as she shook her head, some of the pressure in his chest eased up.

  Stepping in front of Rebecca, he motioned for her to stay down. Just in case the car he had heard wasn’t the shooter. Or, his mind whispered, if there was more than one person up there.

  Seth burst into the hall. “Was that a gunshot? What’s going on?”

  “Get her in the house and stay away from the windows.”

  Miles risked a brief glance to see that his orders were being obeyed. They were. Rebecca had already been hustled into the house and out of his sight. Out of the sniper’s sight, too.

  Gun ready, Miles edged behind the column on the porch and peered toward the hillside. Nothing visible. Which meant absolutely nothing.

  Not taking his eyes off the line of trees where the shots had come from, he used his left hand to find his radio and called for backup.

  The wait for help to arrive seemed to last forever. In reality it was only about ten minutes. Lieutenant Jace Tucker was the first to arrive, followed shortly by Lieutenant Dan Willis and Jackson. He did a double take when he saw Jackson. Jackson wasn’t on the clock until noon. Same time as him.

  Being a cop, though, meant you were always prepared to answer a call.

  “Shooter, up in the trees,” he said to the men. “It appeared the shots were intended for Miss Miller.”

  Lieutenant Tucker nodded, his own blue eyes squinting toward the hillside. “How many shots, Olsen?”

  “Two, Lieutenant. One hit the window, and the other the porch.” He indicated the damaged area behind him. The other officers all whistled at the hole in the porch. Miles tried to hide a shudder as he recalled how close it had come to Rebecca. He was completely sure it was God’s protection that had saved her. Saved them both.

  “And Miss Miller?”

  “She’s fine. In the house with Seth.”

  “How do you want to play it?”

  That gave him a start. Then he remembered. He was in charge of this case. The chief must have passed the word along.

  “We need to sweep the trees for evidence. I doubt the shooter stuck around. I heard a motor revving up in that direction right after the shots were taken.”

  “You joining in the search?” Lieutenant Willis pulled his sunglasses down over his eyes. He suddenly looked every bit the former soldier that he was.

  Miles hesitated. But only for a moment. The urge to stay with Rebecca was strong. But he didn’t need to. Seth was present to interpret—he wasn’t completely fluent but he was good enough to handle just about anything conversational. Moreover, Seth was a paramedic, and would make sure that Rebecca hadn’t been injured. Yes, she’d be well taken care of inside—she didn’t need him there. His place was with the team, to make sure the area was safe. That she was safe.

  “Yeah, I’m coming. Jackson?”

  “I’ll remain on guard,” Jackson responded.

  Wow. He’d expected a bit of an attitude. Jackson was a sergeant. As Jackson joined him on the deck, he clapped a hand on Miles’s shoulder.

  “Don’t worry, Olsen. I’ll take care of your girl,” Jackson said in a low voice before heading inside.

  A leaden ball settled in Miles’s gut. Apparently, he hadn’t been able to hide his growing attraction to the former Amish girl.

  No matter. He had a job to do.

  The search didn’t take long. Within the space of an hour, they had found the place where the shooter had hidden. It wasn’t difficult to spot. Branches had been sawed off trees and left in a pile. From the resulting hole, Miles had a clear view of Seth’s porch. How did the perp know that Rebecca would be here? She really didn’t have time to tell anyone. Unless she had contacted her family after the fact so they wouldn’t worry? Still, Miles had a hard time envisioning her family giving out information about her. She might have left the community, but they were still Amish and tended to keep to themselves. No. It had to have been something else. He’d kept a close eye on the rearview mirror the whole time they’d driven here the previous night and he was sure they hadn’t been followed. So what had given her hiding place away?

  What was that on the ground?

  Miles kneeled down beside the tree. There, on the ground, was a small, pink blob with tooth marks in it. Of all the stupid, careless mistakes for a wannabe killer to make!

  “Lieutenant Tucker!” Miles was careful not to touch the object or the area around it. “I have some evidence to bag.”

  Tucker trotted over and peered over Miles’s shoulder. His exclamation made Miles smirk. “Of all the dumb things...is that chewing gum?”

  “Yep. Sure is, Lieutenant. Freshly chewed and loaded with DNA.”

  “Oh, yuck.” Dan Willis stopped by to check out the discovery. “Well, isn’t that disgusting? But sure is a nifty clue.”

  “Yeah.” Miles carefully bagged the evidence. “Who knows how long it will take to process, though. LaMar Pond is hardly like one of those shows on prime-time television. And when it comes to the district’s crime labs, we always have to wait our turn.”

  Tucker grimaced. “Ask the chief if he could try to put a rush on it.”

  Miles nodded, although secretly he wondered what good that would do. There was only so much pull a small-town chief had, especially surrounded by bigger departments with higher crime rates.

  “You kn
ow, even if the results come back and you find the chewer of that gum, that won’t be enough to prove anything.”

  Miles ducked his head in acknowledgment of the fact.

  “I know. This gum is just circumstantial evidence, but it is a place to start.”

  “That it is.”

  The officers completed processing the scene. Miles was antsy to get back to Rebecca. He needed to reassure himself that everything was well. He also needed to get into the office so he could continue hunting whomever it was who was attacking women and now had Rebecca in his sights.

  Even though Ashley and Holly had not been shot, Miles was convinced Rebecca’s attacker and the one who had attacked the other girls were one and the same. It would be too much of a coincidence otherwise. He needed to find the connection to the kidnapping ten years ago. Fast.

  Rebecca was sitting in the kitchen with Jess when he returned to the house. A cup of tea was cradled between her hands, but he doubted if she was truly drinking it. It was more likely just a prop to keep her hands busy.

  Miles grabbed the chair across from her and pulled it next to her, angling it so that he could look directly into her face. Into those blue, blue eyes. He blinked, and refocused. “I’m sorry that you have to deal with all this. I will do my best to get you some answers as quickly as I can. I want to catch the person who is after you.”

  “I’m scared,” she signed back. His heart ached at the sorrow he saw in her hunched shoulders. “Not just for me, but for Brooke. And Ashley.”

  Understandable.

  Lieutenant Tucker and Jackson joined them. Jess rose and left them, telling Rebecca she’d be there if she needed her. Miles switched back to pidgin, interpreting for Rebecca with her consent.

  “I was wondering about the night you were attacked in your car. You said that your boss had asked you to close for her. Is there any way anyone could have known this?”