Flipping off the T.V. I stared at the wall across from me, drumming my fingers absently on the lid of the ice cream container. Richard had been suspicious of the Rosehill project but why? What was so interesting about a construction zone that would draw his attention? Was something being hidden out there? Were they doing something illegal? Questions and ideas floated through my mind, most of them conspiracy theory related and not even worth considering. But what if I was right in thinking something was going on out there, something being done right under our noses?
Standing from the couch I headed towards my bedroom, tossing the ice cream container back in the freezer as I passed through. Flipping on the light I dug around until I came across the legal papers describing the buy out of the land being used for the Rosehill project. To the naked eye things seemed to be straight up and honest from the description of the farmland being purchased to the projected design and plans for the project. Nothing out of the ordinary…..my eyes flew back up on the page, scanning the info I’d just read about the purchase. Farmland. Rosehill was being built on old farmland, which more than likely, depending on how many years the land had been farmed, would have contained traces of Ammonium Nitrate in it.
My heart pounded as the information sunk in. This was the connection, I was sure of it. Whoever was warning me off was involved with the Rosehill project, which confirmed my gut feeling that something was going on out there. But what? I needed to get a closer look, preferably at a time where there was less likely the chance other people would be around. And I needed some back up. Parsons came to mind but I quickly pushed the thought away. As appealing as going on a stake out with Parsons seemed I knew it would just turn into him acting all macho and not letting me get anything accomplished. No, I needed someone much sneakier, someone who would go along with my scheme, someone who was looking for something to do other than catch up on a television program.
Snagging my phone from the bedside table I flipped it open and hit speed dial. “Hey it’s me, got a minute? I need a favor.”
***
I drummed my fingers on the edge of the steering wheel, hoping to calm my jittery nerves. Normally I was a patient person but tonight I was too edgy. The bright lights of an oncoming car swung into the Time’s parking lot and I breathed a sigh of relief. Parking next to my civic Annie bounded out of her car and into mine.
“Sorry I’m late. I had to wait for Mom to come over before I could get out,” she said breathlessly, shoving her purse onto the floor by her feet.
“That’s Ok, I’m just glad you could make it,” I replied, turning over the engine and driving out of the parking lot. Taking a left I wove through town, heading towards the bypass.
“So what’s up? You were kind of vague when you called last night asking for a favor,” Annie asked.
“Do you want the long version or the short version?” I asked, glancing over at her.
Annie shrugged. “Give me the short version.”
Nodding I took a deep breath. “Saturday night after Tony and I got home we found a butchered mannequin dumped in my bedroom with a warning to back off. We took it down town to the RPD where a friend of Tony’s found traces of a chemical named Ammonium Nitrate on it, which, ironically enough, used to be used in farm fertilizer until people figured out how it could be used as an explosive. Long story short I think I may have connected the Ammonium Nitrate source to the Rosehill project lot and we’re going tonight to stake out the grounds and see if there’s anything fishy going on.”
Annie let out a low whistle. “Geez Tace, and here I thought I was in for a boring night. So what do you need me to do? Is there any breaking and entering involved?”
I tried not to roll my eyes at her enthusiasm. It’d been awhile since I’d involved her in any of my schemes and it was obvious she was more than ready to participate.
“Hardly. I need you to be my back up just in case. I sort of promised Parsons that I’d try to keep a low profile and I’m sure this isn’t exactly what he had in mind,” I explained, taking the turn off that lead to the bypass.
“So what is the deal with you and Parsons anyway? I heard he came over to your parent’s house for dinner last night,” Annie asked nonchalantly.
I groaned aloud. My mother and her big mouth. “How is it possible that you heard about that already? It just happened yesterday for crying out loud! Don’t people in this town have anything better to do than gossip?”
Annie grinned. “It wasn’t too hard to find out actually. I heard it from Berta Dawson at the Farmer’s Market while picking up some zucchini, who heard it from Eliza Stollard at their church sewing group, who heard it from her friend Eleanor Samson via telephone who, as you already know, lives right next door to your parent’s house and happened to be home when you, Tony and Reese arrived for dinner last night. I tell ya kid, just keep up with the little old ladies in this town if you want to know any gossip. They seem to know everything about everyone in town.”
That actually wasn’t a bad idea I thought, surprised that I hadn’t come up with that one myself. I still wasn’t left with a warm fuzzy feeling about being their topic of gossip though.
“Dinner was fine, thanks for asking. Let’s just leave it at that,” I replied tightly, trying hard not to sound as edgy as I felt. Parsons was a touchy subject with me as I still wasn’t sure what the hell was going on between us, nor did I really want to examine it too closely. I felt kind of bad about leaving Annie in the dark but I couldn’t exactly clue her in to something I wasn’t sure about myself.
Annie blew out a sigh. “Alrighty then, your call. But I do feel the need to ask you something.”
I slid her a sideways glance, suddenly suspicious. “What?”
“Are there any other promises you made to Parsons that I should be aware of? You didn’t promise to be his sex slave, did you? I mean, that’s cool with me but he strikes me as a demanding kind of guy. I just don’t know if you have the stamina to keep up with him,” she said with innocent eyes.
I stared at her for a heartbeat of a second before bursting out laughing. In all truthfulness she might have an actual point on that one as I was sure Tony’s sex drive was way higher than mine. Whatever the case I was glad the mood had been lightened.
“Annie sometimes you amaze me by the things that come flying out of your mouth. Does your mother know you talk that way?” I asked with a grin.
Annie chuckled. “Lord I hope not because she might send me back to my psychiatrist for some more therapy.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The drive to Rosehill took all of fifteen minutes, just long enough for Annie to get in a few more ribs about my wayward relationships. A preliminary drive past the construction site was unrevealing, obviously not much was going on at 11:30 at night save for a few construction lights that had been left on. No employee vehicles loitered the parking lot and the large machinery was disturbingly quiet. I drove well past the site before executing a quick three point turn around, flipping off my headlights as I came about to face the construction site again. It didn’t look like anyone was around but I wasn’t about to take any chances.
“Looks pretty quiet out here,” Annie commented.
I shrugged. “Looks that way but let’s hang out for awhile just to make sure.”
With lights still off I turned off the bypass, following the same road I’d taken days earlier. Slowly creeping along the gravel road I watched for signs of the abandoned barn I noticed, giving a smile when the stark building came into view. Driving around the back I shifted my car into park, cutting the engine.
“Alright fearless leader, where to next?” Annie asked as we left the car. Grabbing my backpack from the back seat I slung it across my shoulder.
“We get to hike back down the road and do some spying on the construction site down the road,” I said, flashing a smile at Annie’s soft groan.
“And you picked me for this mission? Have you looked at me lately or haven’t you noticed that I’m not the size 10 I u
sed to be?” she asked.
I laughed quietly. “Oh come on Annie, be a sport. Just look at it this way; this will be the perfect opportunity to start that exercise program we’ve always talked about.”
Annie blew out a sigh, throwing her hands up in the air. “Fine, but when I pass out from an asthma attack and can’t go on you’re going to walk your scrawny little butt back here and get the car to pick me up.”
“Annie, you don’t have asthma,” I pointed out.
“Maybe not, but I bet I can fake it if it means not walking any further,” she grumbled in response, already marching past me. I shook my head, a grin still on my face.
The walk back down the road was actually easier then I expected though you wouldn’t have thought so for all the grunting Annie did. Finally we reached our destination and set up camp, or rather perched ourselves on the ground to study the construction site below. I could still make out the few construction lights from the distance but that was about it. A glance through my binoculars confirmed the place was a ghost town. Despite the lack of action I was undaunted. I knew something was going on out here, everything I’d come across so far had lead me back in this direction. I just needed to be patient.
Two hours later Annie and I were seated on the ground, a deck of cards scattered on the ground between our sprawled legs. Annie reached over and took the flashlight I’d tossed on the ground between us, turning it on to study the cards in her hand.
“Do you have any eights?” she asked, handing me the flashlight.
I held the flashlight up to my own hand, giving a shake of my head. “Nope, go fish.”
Annie sighed, setting her cards down. “Ok, are we seriously sitting here in the middle of nowhere on a Monday night playing go fish at 1:30 in the morning?”
I studied my cards, drumming my fingers steadily on my knee. “Looks like it. Come on Annie, you can’t tell me you aren’t enjoying the peace and quiet.”
Annie laughed softly. “Ok, you got me there. But how much longer are we going to sit out here? Our snack food is all gone, I gotta pee and my legs fell asleep an hour ago. I gotta tell ya Tace, I don’t think anything’s going to happen here tonight.”
I sighed, laying my cards down. I’d been thinking the same thing for the last hour but I hadn’t wanted to give up just yet. Guess it was fair to say we’d given it an honest shot; tonight was just an off night.
Standing up I brushed the dirt from my jeans. “As much as it pains me to admit it I think you’re right. Come on, let’s get out of here before you pee your pants.”
The sound of tires crunching on gravel reached my ears and I grabbed Annie’s arm as she stood, jerking her flat against the ground as a beam of headlights swept across the road. Holding my breath I waited anxiously while two vehicles rolled past, seemingly unaware of our presence.
Carefully I shifted myself onto my elbows, peeking up and over the road to see where the vehicles were heading. Cussing softly I lay back down on the grass, pressing my forehead into the dewy depths. Crap, crap, crap.
“They headed for the barn, didn’t they?” Annie’s voice fairly squeaked in my ear. I swallowed the lump that suddenly formed in my throat, trying to hide my fear.
“No sweat Annie, it’ll be OK. I’m sure it was just a couple of high schoolers looking for a place to make out where their parents won’t find them. We just need to sit tight until they leave before we can get back to the car,” I said in a hushed voice, trying to at least sound reassuring. I couldn’t tell if Annie believed me or not but I was really hoping I was right.
“And if they aren’t a couple of high school kids?” she finally pointed out.
I sighed. Leave it to Annie to see the loop hole in my explanation. “Then we stay under the radar until they leave before high tailing it out of here. Honestly Annie, you act like you’ve never hung out with me before.”
Annie snorted. “This is a little different then being sixteen and toilet papering the principals house then hiding out from the cops. Having kids changes your perspectives a little bit.”
“Oh, so you do remember what it’s like to have some fun. And here I thought having kids sucked the fun out of ya,” I replied lightly.
“Not all the fun, just most of my energy. You know, I probably should have just gone to bed tonight instead of taking you up on your little adventure. I don’t why I let you talk me into doing these escapades when I have to get up early to get the girls on the bus,” she mumbled.
I bit my lower lip as her words sunk in. I knew it was a little too late to think it but in retrospect I realized I probably shouldn’t have called Annie for tonight’s little escapade. If something happened to her the girls would be left to their father and lord knows how that idiot would raise them. I knew Annie was always up for having fun but she would never willingly choose to do something that could possibly affect her girls. Great. Now I really needed to figure out how to get us out of here, because if something happened to Annie my conscience would probably kill me.
“Sorry I dragged you out here in the middle of the night, kid. Seriously, I should have been thinking a little bit better,” I whispered apologetically.
Annie chuckled, reaching over to squeeze my shoulder. “Well it’s not like you dragged me out here against my will or anything, so don’t sweat it. Let’s just get out of here as soon as we can without getting caught.”
I nodded in agreement, turning my gaze back towards the barn which was now lit up. That’s odd; I’d thought for sure the barn had been abandoned. Even from this distance my ears picked up the soft hum of machinery running, adding to my mounting suspicions. Turning I gave a glance at Annie’s outline in the darkness, pretty sure she was beginning to follow my train of thought.
“Um, hello? Did we take our crazy pill today because I’m pretty sure you’re not thinking what I think your thinking of doing,” she whispered fiercely.
I rolled my eyes. “We aren’t going to get caught, I just want to get a closer look. Then I promise we’ll jump in the car and take off before anyone’s the wiser.”
Annie sighed resignedly. It was hard to reign me in once I decided to do something and she could hear the determination in my voice.
“Fine, we’ll go check it out then we’re out of here. But keep it quick, I’m getting kind of a funny feeling about this,” she finally said.
I silently agreed. I had the same feeling in the pit of my stomach; obviously not enough to deter my plans though.
Carefully crossing the gravel road we made our way through the dewy grass on the opposite side, stepping carefully to avoid any noise. As we neared the barn the hum of the machinery was more noticeable, as were the sound of voices inside. As one of the voices drifted out to me I paused in mid step, a frown crossing my face. I recognized that voice, I was sure of it. Giving a quick glance in Annie’s direction I motioned towards a window on the far side of the barn. She silently nodded her head and began to move, freezing at the sound of the barn door being opened.
Acting fast I grabbed Annie’s hand and pulled her behind a stack of empty crates, flattening her between the wall of the barn and myself. I could hear her heart pounding in her chest as the sound of footsteps crunching across gravel reached us, coming to a stop in front of where the crates were.
There was a rustling of paper then the unmistakable sound of a lighter being lit. The smell of cigarette smoke wafted to where we stood, making my nose wrinkle. I really hated cigarette smoke.
“Hey Jerry, are you going to stand out here all night or are you going to help us get the shipment ready? The boss wants this one finished tonight,” a voice called out from the doorway of the barn. I heard Jerry inhale a deep puff of smoke and blow it out before moving away from the crates.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming,” he muttered, flicking the cigarette butt into the tall grass before going back inside the barn.
I waited on baited breath for a few minutes longer, my ears searching for any signs of movement beyond our hiding spot. When
it was clear we were alone I shifted over to let Annie move, catching her when she nearly sunk to the ground in relief.
“Th-thanks,” she mumbled, bracing herself against the wall of the barn to regain control of her wobbly legs.
“Anytime. Listen, why don’t you go around to the back of the barn and get in the car while I take a look. There’s no sense in both of us sticking around here,” I offered. Annie gratefully nodded her head. I watched her sneak off in the darkness, making sure she was a safe distance away before heading towards the window.
The window was higher up then I’d expected and even on tip toes I still wasn’t able to see inside. Returning to the balls of my feet I glanced around, my eyes falling on a nearby empty crate. Dragging it over I propped it against the side of the barn under the window, setting my feet carefully on the top before standing up to peer in the window.
A row of workers stood lining both sides of a long assembly table. At the beginning of the table were crates that had obviously just been brought in to be opened. On the side of the crates engrained deep in the wood was the name Fox River Construction Company. One of the crates had already been opened and one glance at the white pristine powdered package made me pretty certain it wasn’t sugar these guys were peddling.
As the white packages were being pulled from the crates they were opened and moved along the line. The white powder was then being taken out of the clear bags and deposited into plain papered packaging before being shipped to the next person who would then stamp a new label on the front. Upon reaching the end of the table the newly repackaged and relabeled powder was then packed into another crate for shipping.
Deadly Reunion (The Taci Andrews Deadly Series) Page 14
