The Prey Bites Back: A Jesse Watson Mystery Book #8

by Ann Mullen

  “Olivia Swales died last night, and Dakota went crazy when she found out. They’ve been keeping her sedated. She’s strapped and handcuffed to the bed.”

  “What about injuries?”

  “Minor. They were going to release her to the police, until she went nuts.”

  “What about Savannah? Have you heard how she’s doing?”

  “Minnie… she’s not doing so well. She was knocked out and then drugged before she was even put in the dryer. The explosion… well, it busted both eardrums, and she has burns from the blast heat. The one good thing I can tell you is that she doesn’t have any broken bones.”

  “How much?”

  “How much, what?”

  “How much skin was burned off? If it was only a little, she should be all right.”

  “It wasn’t a little.” Jonathan paused. “She can’t have visitors, Minnie. I know you want to see her, but you can’t just yet.”

  Mom sighed.

  “Recovery will take time, Mom.” I hugged her. “All you can do is pray for Savannah, and hope she gets better soon.”

  Jonathan spoke again. “Dakota could be faking her craziness. She managed to be lucid enough to call her lawyer. Thanks to Gator, I got to hear the conversation. I think she’s just smart enough to pull off this insanity thing. She almost had me believing her story.”

  “Who’s her lawyer?”

  “Russell Shank.”

  “She’s smart, that’s what she is.” I winched at the thought. “Oh, God. Russell’s the best. He’ll get her off, and then who knows what’ll happen next. We’re doomed. She’ll go free, and the rest of us will go straight to jail. No passing go.”

  “So far, all they can charge her with is reckless endangerment for throwing her cell phone out the window and causing an accident, and reckless driving. The man and woman in the other car came out of it okay. They’re both fine, just a little shaken up, and they’ve already given their account of the accident to the police. Don’t you just love a good eyewitness? Anyway, I had a chat with our friend, Captain Frank Trainum. You know he got Josh Mealphall’s job, right?”

  “Yeah, we know.”

  “Trainum said they fingerprinted both women, and if Dakota’s print shows up on that detonator, there’ll be a string of charges to follow. She’ll do hard time. Olivia died, so she’s in the clear. They can’t do anything to a dead person.”

  “I don’t know about that. She might end up being the fall guy for Dakota. With Swales dead, Dakota can blame her for everything. When Gavin Preston’s autopsy comes back, they’ll know the cause of death was poison, but Dakota can say Olivia did it.”

  “Dakota will say nothing. Even though Preston was poisoned, there’s no evidence linking her to his death, only our word, and hearsay won’t cut it. He told us she poisoned him, but where’s the proof?”

  “Hey, are they allowed to fingerprint you without your consent?” Mom asked. “Don’t you have to be under arrest or something?”

  “Mom, they can do anything they want.”

  “Actually, Jesse, there is a protocol, but since Swales is dead and Dakota is under arrest, they have every right.”

  “Good! Maybe now we’ll find out just who this Dakota woman really is. I’m sure she’s been fingerprinted before.”

  “Maybe not, Minnie. Some people go their whole lives without ever being fingerprinted.”

  “What about her footprints? Hospitals have been taking footprints of newborns ever since I can remember. Perhaps they can match up…”

  “Hmm… now that’s a thought, but I don’t know if footprints are like fingerprints. With fingerprints, no two are alike. They’ll all different. I don’t know how it works with footprints, and as far as I know, footprint patterns may change as a person ages. In theory, it sounds like a good idea, but I’ve never known anyone to be caught based on their footprints as an infant. But hey, with the technology we have now, nothing would surprise me.”

  “Is there any way Dakota might escape from the hospital?”

  “No way, Billy. She’s handcuffed to the bed, and there’re two police officers stationed at the door. The only way she’s leaving the hospital is in handcuffs, escorted by Trainum’s men. She’s not going anywhere… at least not yet. Once she’s in jail, it’ll be up to Russell to obtain her release, and that might prove to be a hard sell. There’ll be no bail for a woman who has been using the social security number of a dead woman for the last five years. That’s a big, red flag. The D.A. will eat this case up. She’ll be indicted and the rest will be up to the judge.”

  “Does that mean we’ll be safe to go on with our lives?”

  “It looks that way, Minnie, but you can count on us to keep our eyes opened. The minute anything changes, we’ll let you know.”

  “Well, folks,” Billy said. “It looks like this case is closed.”

  “The only way this case will be closed is when that woman is in prison. I won’t feel safe until then.”

  “Don’t worry, Minnie. We’ll make sure nothing happens to you or Eddie… or anyone else in this family.”

  “By the way, Jonathan, how are Sarah and Chief Sam doing?”

  “They’re doing fine. Great, as a matter of fact. Mom seems to be her old self again, and Dad’s… well, he’s just Dad. Why do you ask? You got something on your mind you want to share?”

  “I was wondering what Nancy Woodward was doing so close to your folk’s house? Why didn’t she leave after she planted the photos, unless she wasn’t finished?”

  “Wow, pretty good, Minnie. I know why Billy and Jesse want you working with them. It never occurred to me that she had more work to do. I thought she was just trying to find a place to hide until the storm passed, but…”

  Billy frowned. “You got something else, Jonathan?”

  “The police recovered a baggie of cocaine from her purse, more than one person’s usual stash, unless they have a heavy cocaine addiction… and lots of money.”

  Billy and I looked at each other.

  “Hold on a minute, Jonathan.”

  Billy walked to the kitchen and checked out the white powder that was supposed to be the mashed up pill for Athena. “I thought that was a lot of powder for one pill. It’s cocaine.” He dumped the powder down the sink and turned on the water, rinsing the bowl afterwards.

  “What’s the matter?” Jonathan asked.

  “Billy just found cocaine in the bowl where Athena’s doggie pill was supposed to be. Helene mashes it up and wraps it in cheese, so she can get Athena to take it. Athena has a hard time swallowing pills.”

  Mom’s eyes widened. “I wonder if she planted cocaine in my house, too. Oh, Lord, we could be arrested.”

  “I can see where this is headed. Let me get off the phone and call my friend, Rex, and get him to bring out his K9. If there’re any drugs present, that dog can find them. I’ll get back with you.”

  Jonathan disconnected.

  “That’s a scary thought,” Eddie said.

  “What is?” Helene asked, walking into the room with the kids. “What did I miss?”

  “Being arrested for something you didn’t do.”

  “It happens all the time. If you ask anyone in jail, they’ll tell you they’re innocent. Isn’t that right, Billy?”

  Billy nodded in agreement, and then asked Mom to take the kids to the den.

  Without hesitation, Mom and Eddie gladly led the children out. They looked almost relieved to be leaving the room and away from all the talk about murder, drugs, and psycho women.

  Once they were gone, Billy filled Helene in on the conversation with Jonathan. “Olivia Swales is dead, and Dakota Stone is handcuffed to her hospital bed. She’ll be going to jail as soon as she’s released.”

  “Jonathan said she was pulling an insanity stunt, acting all crazy and everything. They strapped her to the bed, and then slapped on the handcuffs. It sure made my day to hear that.”

  Billy continued to tell Helene the entire story, ending with, “T
hat white stuff in Athena’s bowl wasn’t her pill, it was cocaine. Jonathan’s getting a buddy to bring his K9 dog to check everyone’s house. We don’t know how much she planted before she got killed, but she still had plenty left on her. We now think Mom and Dad’s house might’ve been hit by her, too.”

  Helene smiled at me. “If you hadn’t ticked off Dakota, she would’ve never thrown her phone out the window, caused that accident, and then gotten caught. Ironic how things work out, isn’t it?”

  “I don’t want to take the credit. With credit, comes blame. Next thing you know, Sheriff Hudson will be showing up at my door with a warrant, arresting me for contributing to a crime, or something stupid like that. No… I take no credit.”

  Helene started clearing the table. “What are we going to do next? I mean, do we go on about our business as usual, or do we wait around to see what that crazy woman will do next?”

  “She’s done in, so we move on.” Billy walked over to the front window. “Looks like rain. Maybe we’re going to get some of that thunder snow you were talking about.”

  “Are you making fun of me, Billy Blackhawk?”

  He walked over and gave Helene a hug. “You know I would never do that.” Then, he laughed. “It sure feels good to laugh again. Dakota Stone has plucked my last nerve… as Minnie would say.”

  Helene and I started laughing and couldn’t stop. I think our joyous moment had a lot to do with relief. There was no longer anything to fear from Dakota Stone. We all knew there’d be some blowback from Sheriff Hudson for the part we played, but we’d survive.

  Mom rushed into the room, followed by Eddie, the kids, and the dogs. “Have y’all gone nuts? We can hear you all the way back in the den. What’s so funny?”

  “Ah, Mom, we’re just glad the case is closed. Billy’s nerves have been plucked.”

  That got everyone laughing and the dogs barking, but all soon ceased when we heard a loud clap of thunder overhead. Athena yelped as if she’d been hit with a stick. A moment later, she was shivering and twitching, so much so that you could hear her toenails scratching on the hardwood floor.

  “Time for a pill. Follow me, girl.” Helene went to the kitchen and took down the bottle of pills from the cabinet. A minute later, she fed the chunk of cheese to Athena, and not to leave Thor out, gave him a slice minus the pill.

  Mom clapped her hands and the kids’ eyes lit up when she said, “How about a bowl of ice cream? We need to celebrate!”

  “It’s too early in the morning for ice cream.”

  “You didn’t object last night when we gave the kids a cookie before bedtime, Billy. Besides, it’s never too early for ice cream, is it kids?”

  I winked at Billy. “You’ve created a monster, and just think… she’ll be right next door soon.”

  Billy threw his hands up as if to surrender as Mom and the kids made their way to the kitchen.

  Over a bowl of ice cream, we discussed the day’s plans. Billy was going to get Shark to go with Mom and Eddie to pack up a few things, and Helene would stay home with the children.

  “We don’t know what this thunder snow is going to do…” Billy was cut off before he could finish.

  “Yes, we do. I checked the weather while we were in the den. Channel 29 says the snow’s going to start in this afternoon and we’re going to see significant accumulation by nightfall. The thunder isn’t going to last long.”

  “Minnie, you don’t trust the weather channel, do you?” Helene got up to collect bowls from those who had finished their ice cream. “They never get it right.”

  “I don’t trust the national weather channel, but if Norm Sprouse says it’s going to snow ten inches, I believe him. He’s not an actor like those people you see on TV, he’s a real meteorologist.”

  “He said we were going to get ten inches?”

  “No, he said eight to ten, but that’s just an estimate. He said we could get more or less. It’s hard to predict exactly, but he says we will get snow.”

  “That’s a contradiction in itself, Minnie. What Norm’s saying is, they don’t know. The sun could come out and get up to eighty today.”

  Billy chuckled. “I don’t think so, Helene. Okay… where was I? Oh, yeah. Rex and K9 Suzy are coming, so someone needs to be here. That’s you, Helene. It goes without saying that I don’t want the kids to go anywhere, what with a mutant storm coming, so you, the kids, and the dogs can stay home and wait for Rex. Jesse and I will go visit our friend at the hospital.”

  “Savannah?”

  “No, Minnie, but we’ll check on her while we’re there, and then give you an update. Don’t you worry, we’ll call you as soon as we find out anything. I know you’re concerned about her.”

  “I’m really worried, Billy. Please call me the minute you hear anything, okay?”

  “We will, Mom.” I glanced at Billy. “What about the cops at the entrance? Are they still there, and more importantly, can we leave the compound? Sheriff Hudson said…”

  “Our restriction applied to last night.” Billy grinned. “I got a text from Jonathan saying all is clear.”

  “Daddy, why does the sheriff pick on you and Mom? He tells you when you can and can’t leave the house. I thought this was the land of the free. That doesn’t sound like freedom to me.”

  “Ah, Maisy…”

  There are some things we don’t tell our children, and one of them being the extent of our questionable behavior, and what happens when we don’t live up to our promises.

  “He does it for our safety. He’s the sheriff. His job is to protect people, so if he says to stay home, we stay home.”

  Maisy wasn’t buying my cover-up, but said nothing. She knew the truth, and her question was her way of saying we were being pushed around by the sheriff. We were, but we had deserved it. I’m sure she knew that, too.

  Billy’s a Cherokee Indian and the Cherokees believe in teaching their children how to hunt, survive off the land, and think for themselves. He had taught Maisy well. At the age of six, they were out in the backyard shooting targets with a rifle. Of course, I protested, but then gave up when I realized I was wasting my time. When she was almost seven, they came home with two rabbits, and she had been the one to make the kill. Billy was so proud, and I was just glad they made it back home alive. Hunting, using a knife, and roughing it in the woods, especially with all the bears and wild animals around, gave me plenty of restless moments, but the part about Maisy learning to think for herself made it all worthwhile. Now, all I had to do was survive the trauma one more time. Soon it would be Ethan’s turn.

  “Sometimes we have to do things we don’t like, but it’s for our own good.” Mom winked at Maisy.

  Eddie glanced out the front window. “There’re a couple of cars coming up the driveway, a black Hummer, and I think the other one might be a cop car.”

  It was Shark, Rex and his German shepherd, K9 Suzy.

  The first thing Rex said after being introduced was, “Jonathan says you have a cat. You might want to lock him up. K9 Suzy loves cats, but they don’t seem to care for her.”

  “I can see why.” Helene went over and grabbed the kids by the hand, getting them out of their chairs, and then stepping back. “She looks intimidating… as if she could chew you to pieces.”

  “Ah… not to worry.” Rex bent down and patted her head. “She loves kids. She’s just like any other dog, except that she has a job to do.” He looked at Maisy and Ethan. “She sniffs out stuff for people. She’s friendly. You can pet her if you want to.”

  Both of them delighted in doing so, and K9 Suzy was just like he said. She was charming and playful. Rex, on the other hand, looked more intimidating to me than his dog. He was a replica of most cops around here—tall, handsome, and built for the kill. He looked to be about thirty-five, and I was surprised when he said he’d been doing this for almost thirty years, ever since he got out of the police academy. That would make him about forty-eight, but he sure didn’t look his age. I told him so.

&n
bsp; “Thanks, Jesse, but to be honest, I’ve seen my share of dogfights.”

  With that said, K9 Suzy started barking.

  “That’s my cue, so where’s the cat?”

  The pill had kicked in and Athena had been lying by the fireplace without a care in the world, with Thor for company. Thor, on the other hand, had lain still too long. He had been reserved and didn’t approach… until K9 Suzy barked. Once she had made her presence known, Thor wanted to do the love dance. She was having none of him, and took off down the hallway.

  “Find your cat,” Rex called out.

  The search was on to find Spice Cat after everyone had confirmed that he hadn’t been seen all morning. Even Shark, who had said little, helped. We searched the house and came up with nothing, and by that time, K9 Suzy had finished her job. She, too, had found nothing.

  Helene looked down at Spice’s food bowl. “He ate most of his food, so he’s probably outside. That’s why y’all put in that doggie door, and he takes advantage of it. He’s out there getting into something right now. He’s fine. He’ll come home when he’s ready.”

  Thor moaned and groaned when Rex and K9 Suzy left. He was in love and heartbroken after being snubbed. Thor has always been a whiner, but he’d get over it after a few days of being a crybaby and seeking consolation from everyone. Then, he’d find something else to whine about. It was his way.

  Maisy took Ethan’s hand, and then motioned to Thor. “Come on, Thor. You can watch TV with us and cry on my shoulder.” She smiled back at us before leaving the room.

  Shark, Mom and Eddie were the next to go, leaving in two separate vehicles—Shark in the black Hummer, and Mom and Eddie in her canary yellow 4Runner.

  “Billy, we should ask Mom to get rid of that car. It sticks out like a bad knee scrape. She needs a more generic color, something black or dark blue that looks like all the other cars on the road. She can’t do surveillance work in that thing.”

  “She has been.”

  “And I’ve never liked it. You’re the one who taught me to be discreet. How can anyone be discreet when they drive a big, bright yellow banana?”