When he came back downstairs fifteen minutes later, Randi and Anderson were gone. The baby had oatmeal smeared across his face and in his hair.
“Did he actually swallow any food?”
Krista laughed. “That’s my fault. I was so excited, I kept missing his mouth. Randi will be back in a little while. She’s getting some clothes from Anderson’s place, and then she has to call her mother and Callie.”
“Did Anderson tell you his news?”
“Yes.” Krista laughed. “Although it wasn’t exactly news to me. He also said you suggested they get married here at the house. Randi loves the idea. I do, too.”
Salem pulled his wife into his arms and inhaled the scent of her hair. “I’m glad you’re excited. Maybe we can take a trip down to the boathouse when I get home. Bad weather’s coming.”
She kissed him on the mouth and then pulled away. “You’d better get out of here, or I’ll drag you down to the boathouse right now.”
Storm clouds were gathering, and a northwest wind was sweeping across the lake as Salem climbed in the car. More snow was on the way.
He drove slowly, savoring the prospect of a late-night rendezvous with Krista. The boathouse was a special place they reserved for their most energetic lovemaking. Another winter storm would be a perfect backdrop.
Salem slowed as he neared the end of his property and prepared to turn onto the road leading to the store. A car was blocking his path. Roy Dodd was leaning against the hood, waiting for him. Salem stopped the car and got out.
“Anderson said you’d be along in a few minutes. I’ve already told him.”
“Told him what?” Salem asked. “Did someone else get a note?”
“Yes,” the FBI agent said. “A woman named Donna Tice. We just found her body.”
Chapter 14
Supper was over. Krista cleared the table while Salem distributed bottles of water and sweet tarts. He waited until Krista returned from the kitchen before speaking.
“There’s been another murder.”
He paused to let that information sink in. Anderson and Randi already knew about Donna Tice, but Jay, Bo, and Callie were stunned by the news.
“The victim was a woman named Donna Tice. Her body was found in the parking lot of Billy’s Bar.”
Salem glanced at Randi. Her jaw was clenched, and her eyes looked haunted. Billy’s Bar had been a favorite hangout of her abusive ex-boyfriend, David Case. Salem had beaten the crap out of Case a year earlier and run him out of Shenandoah County.
“Dodd told me this woman rented one of the trailers in that run-down mobile home park next to the bar. A note with a Bible verse was found stuffed in her mouth. The note was signed by the Committee.”
“The people on this Committee are covering the lake,” Callie said. “The homeless camp where the first body was found is on the southern shore near the dam. Billy’s is on the northern end. Olivia and I are on the western side, so I guess we’re next.”
“Melissa’s on the western shore, too,” Bo said. “By the way, I called and asked if she had received a note from the Committee or any threats on her life since she’s been at Passages. She told me everything was fine, but I didn’t like the way she said it.”
“What do you mean?” Salem asked.
“Her answer sounded rehearsed. I hate to say it, but I think she’s lying, or at least covering something up. When I asked her to let me pick her up, she said no. That doesn’t make sense. Melissa was ready to leave Passages almost from the minute she checked into the place.”
“Maybe she’s responding to the therapy and wants to finish out the program,” Randi said.
Bo shrugged. “Maybe, but I think it’s more likely she’s responding to something or someone else.”
“What else did Dodd find out about this Donna Tice?” Jay asked.
“His team talked to some of the other residents of the trailer park. Tice was a working girl who lived alone and spent a lot of time next door at the bar, looking for dates. According to Dodd, she was a full-figured black woman in her forties.”
“Wait a minute!” Bo said. “I know that name…Melissa used to talk about her. Donna Tice was one of Finn Watson’s girls. Jesus, do you think Finn could be involved in this?”
Salem frowned. Watson was the dock manager at Shenandoah Mountain Dock and a former friend of the family. Salem had been shocked to learn his friend was also a drug dealer and escort service operator. Melissa had been one of Watson’s working girls until Bo severed that arrangement. She was probably still buying her cocaine from him.
“I don’t know why Finn would murder one of his own girls,” Salem said. “It doesn’t make sense.”
“Maybe it does,” Anderson said. “Finn Watson’s a pimp and a dealer. If Donna stole some of his drugs, he’d be pissed. If she was trying to go independent and cut him out of the loop, he’d really be pissed. It sounds like she might have been doing just that if she was hanging out at Billy’s, trying to pick up guys.”
Salem nodded. “I hate to think of Finn as a murderer, but that sounds like a possibility. Send a text to Dodd so he can check it out. Before I forget, what did Dodd tell you about the notes?”
“First of all, there were no prints on any of the notes. The author was probably typing with gloves on just to be on the safe side. The good news is that the forensics team was able to determine that all the notes were typed on an Adler J-Five typewriter.”
“I had one of those in the store back in the day,” Bo said. “I wish I could remember what happened to it.”
“Even if Donna Tice is still connected to Finn, it may not be enough for the FBI to get a search warrant,” Salem said.
Anderson shrugged. “They can at least interview him at work. Finn’s an old school guy. Maybe Dodd will get lucky and spot an Adler J-Five in the shop when he speaks with Finn. That’s probable cause. One other thing—I asked Dodd about any white supremacist groups in the area. He told me there’s Klan activity down at the other end of the county. It’s a small group. The FBI doesn’t have any names, but they think these could be the people threatening John Howard and his family.”
“I thought John Howard got the same note Salem and I received,” Krista said. “Is the Committee connected to the Klan?”
Anderson nodded. “Dodd thinks the Committee is an offshoot of this Klan chapter. He also thinks it’s a small group, maybe as few as two or three people. The worst part is, he believes the Committee members are local residents of the community.”
“Crap,” Bo murmured. “It could be anybody.”
Salem turned to Krista. “What did you find out about Davis Lord?”
“I found out he has no social media presence at all. It’s like he dropped out of the sky and landed in Shenandoah County. Google couldn’t even tell me who this guy is.”
“What about his church?” Callie asked.
“Nothing,” Krista said. “They’re not on Twitter or Facebook, and they don’t have a website. I actually had to pull out our old Shenandoah County phone book to find a phone number and address for the church. Lord is in the book, too. He definitely sounds like the kind of person who would use a typewriter instead of a computer.”
“He sounds like the kind of person who would use a quill pen and an inkwell,” Randi said.
“All right, I guess that’s it,” Salem said. “We’ll continue to keep our eyes open and stay alert. Bo and I have been patrolling the yard and the rest of the property.”
“No problems, so far,” Bo said. “I’ve also been checking both boathouses.”
“Everything looks good at the campground,” Anderson said. “I’ll take Jay with me when I do a sweep tomorrow morning. I’ve been checking the homeless camp every afternoon, too. Nothing’s going on there.”
Salem nodded. “When you talk to Dodd about Finn Watson, let him know our thoughts on Davis Lord and his group.
“Do you want to put Watson and Lord under surveillance?” Anderson asked.
Salem
hesitated. “We’ll let Dodd handle things for the time being. I don’t want to borrow trouble. Besides, you and Jay have your hands full right now.”
The meeting broke up, and Salem walked out with Anderson and Randi.
“Did you two find a ring?”
Anderson nodded. “It took long enough. That claw machine at Wal-Mart is harder than it looks, but it was worth it. I got Randi a ring and four stuffed animals.”
“That’s the most romantic story I’ve ever heard,” Salem said.
Randi laughed and held out her ring finger.
“That’s a beauty,” Salem said.
He watched them leave and, a moment later, said goodnight to Callie and Jay. Salem looked up at the sky and smiled. Life was good. All his family and friends had someone to love. He had Krista, Bo and Melissa were together, Jay and Erin were a couple, Callie had Olivia, and Randi and Anderson had finally found each other.
The snow that had begun earlier in the afternoon was coming down faster now. The weather forecast was for another ten to twelve inches by morning. The roads and parking lots would once again be a mess.
Salem turned to go inside and felt snowflakes plaster his cheeks and eyes. The wind was still blowing off the lake. He felt his body stir. It was past time for a visit to the boathouse with Krista. He hurried inside and found his wife at the kitchen sink with her back to him. Salem crossed the room and pressed his body against her as he reached around and cupped her breasts.
“You ready to go to the boathouse?”
Krista made a sound that started deep in her throat. “It’s about time.”
He grabbed her hand and headed for the door. Snow was blowing onto the porch as they stepped outside. Krista couldn’t stop laughing.
“What a perfect storm. Let’s go, cowboy.”
Salem didn’t reply. Krista followed his gaze over the railing to the fresh set of footprints in the snow.
* * * *
Bo was in his pajamas and brushing his teeth when he heard Salem calling his name. He opened the bedroom door as Salem pounded down the stairs to the ground floor.
“We’ve got fresh footprints outside in the snow. I need you to get everyone to the safe room and secure it.”
Salem turned and raced for the stairs with Bo close behind him. They reached the main floor, and Salem grabbed his shotgun and a handful of shells from the closet.
Bo heard the door slam as he reached the third floor. Krista and the children were already in the room. Monday was sitting on one of the beds with Henry in her lap. Krista was pacing the floor and trying to get Anderson to fall asleep.
“Where’s Diva?”
Monday and Krista looked at each other.
“I think she’s down the hall in my room, Grandpa,” Monday said. “I’ll go get her.”
“No, sweetie, you stay here. I’ll find her. Keep the curtains closed and stay away from the windows.”
Bo ran down the hall to Monday’s room. The large bedroom had originally been designed as a girl’s dormitory. There were six twin beds in the room, including the one Monday used. It was a perfect place for play dates and slumber parties.
The Siamese was nowhere in sight. Bo looked under the beds and swore. Diva could be anywhere. He almost missed her. She was perched on a window sill, staring out into the darkness.
“There you are,” Bo said. “Come on, let’s go see Monday.”
Diva whined as he reached for her. A flash of metal from a stand of trees caught his eye as he picked up the Siamese. Bo pulled the agitated cat against his chest and tried to spin away from the window.
A sharp crack shattered the night as a bullet ripped through the glass. Bo stumbled and fell across one of the beds. Diva yowled and tried to run.
“It’s all right, Diva,” Bo whispered. “We need to go now.”
The bullet had caught him high on the left side of his back. His shoulder was on fire.
Bo staggered to his feet and wobbled down the hall. Diva cried as he clutched her with his right hand. He reached the safe room and knocked. Krista flung open the door and helped him inside.
“Stay down!” Bo gasped.
“You’re hurt, Grandpa!” Monday cried.
Krista rummaged through drawers. She pulled out some old clothes and brought them over to the bed where Bo had collapsed. “Can you take off your shirt, Daddy?”
Bo shook his head.
A second gun roared, and Bo staggered over to the window. Nothing was moving.
“Call Anderson,” Bo said. “We need backup now. Tell him there’s a shooter on the grounds. Let him know I’ve been hit, and Salem’s status is unknown.”
Krista pulled out her phone and started to dial while Bo opened one of the closets and picked up a shotgun and shells.
“No, Daddy, you can’t…”
Bo winced and headed for the door. “Call Anderson and lock the door behind me.”
He loaded the gun and hobbled down the stairs to the main floor. The shot had come from the front of the house. Bo opened the side door and eased his way along the side of the porch. His body shook from the cold and the gunshot wound. He peeked around the corner. Sudden movement from the woods caught his eye. A shadowy figure with a gun emerged from the trees.
Bo stepped off the porch and drew a bead on the man. “Right there, motherfucker! Drop the gun, or I’ll blow your fucking head off!”
The man dropped the gun and moved closer. “It’s me, Bo. Don’t shoot.”
Bo lowered the gun and collapsed on the porch steps.
“Jesus, you’re hit,” Salem said.
Bo shook his head. “I’ll be fine. Anderson’s on the way. I’m going back to the safe room. You need to clear the house.”
“He’s gone,” Salem said. “I chased him through the woods and got off a shot.” Salem helped Bo to his feet.
“Clear the house,” Bo repeated. “This guy could have a partner. We’ll be upstairs.”
Ten minutes later, Salem knocked on the door to the safe room. Bo was sitting on a bed with his shirt off. Krista held a rag against the back of her father’s shoulder. Diva was curled up in Bo’s lap.
Salem turned at the sound of heavy footsteps taking the stairs two at a time. Anderson and Randi hurried down the hall.
“You brought Randi?” Bo asked.
Anderson shrugged. “She insisted. Let’s take a look at that shoulder.”
Bo tried not to scream while Anderson probed the injured area.
“It’s clean. The bullet went all the way through. You’ve lost some blood, but I can pack the wound.”
Bo tried to smile. “So, what’s the plan?”
“Randi and I are going to take you to the hospital ER. I’ve notified Dodd. He’s on the way over here to interview Salem. Krista said the shot came through a window in Monday’s room. Dodd should be able to recover the round and maybe a shell casing, too, if Salem can show him the location of the shooter. Dodd also said he would post a man outside the house tonight.”
Krista retrieved the first aid kit for Anderson and then went downstairs with Salem to get some clothes from her father’s bedroom.
Anderson finished packing the wound while Krista helped her father get dressed.
“God, I wish everyone would stop treating me like an old man,” Bo said.
Randi and Krista helped Bo stand.
“You are an old man,” Anderson said. “You’re also a damn good man. Let’s go.”
Chapter 15
Randi sat in the back seat beside Bo while Anderson drove. She rummaged through her purse and removed the cap from a small bottle of Tylenol. “Take these,” she said.
Bo dry-swallowed three of the tablets and closed his eyes.
Randi’s phone buzzed, and she checked the screen. “It’s a text from Krista. They’ve notified the hospital ER that we’re on the way. Dodd and his team are at the house, working the scene. He’s going to post two men there tonight, one inside and one outside.”
Anderson glanced in
the rear-view mirror. “Are you hanging in there, Bo?”
“I’ve got no choice,” Bo grunted. “How much longer before we get to the hospital?”
“Thirty minutes,” Anderson said. “I’m sorry, but I can’t push it in this weather.”
“I can’t believe Diva was sitting in your lap,” Randi said. “She’ll barely let me pet her.”
Bo smiled. “Monday told me that Diva believes I saved her life.”
He told them about finding Diva and pulling her away from the window just before the gunman fired.
“You did save her life,” Randi said.
Bo closed his eyes again and tried to get on top of the pain.
“We’re here,” Anderson said.
Bo jerked awake and looked around. The short rest had helped to clear his head but had done nothing for the pain in his back and shoulder.
Two attendants were waiting with a gurney. They eased Bo out of the truck and onto the stretcher. Anderson found a parking spot and then headed for the ER. A nurse rushed over as he and Randi entered the room.
“Sir, I’m sorry…”
“I’m with him,” Anderson said, pointing in Bo’s direction. “The doctor will need my information.”
Randi and Anderson stood next to Bo’s bed and waited for the doctor to appear. There was no place to sit in the cramped cubicle.
“Mr. Carson, it’s nice to see you again. I’m sorry about the circumstances.”
Bo tried to smile at the man standing at the end of his bed. “Dr. Christian, thanks for remembering my name. I’m glad you’re the one on duty tonight.”
The doctor moved to the head of the bed and removed the dressing from Bo’s wound. Nobody spoke while he conducted his examination.
“You’re a lucky man, Mr. Carson. The bullet passed all the way through. I’m going to get some X-rays just to make sure there aren’t any fragments we need to clean out. We’ll also get you a unit of blood, antibiotic, and some pain medication. Who packed your wound?”
“I did,” Anderson replied. “I also irrigated it and applied a topical antibiotic. He’s got three Tylenol on board as of forty-five minutes ago. Any pain meds you want to run through his IV should be fine.”
Pieces of January Page 9
