QR Code Killer

by Shanna Hatfield

  Sitting quietly and soaking in the beautiful world around her, Maddie lingered longer than she planned. Getting up to return home, Boone and Rose ran around her barking and wagging their tails in encouragement.

  “Am I walking too slowly for you two?” Maddie laughed as Boone yipped and continued his antics. Rose slowed her pace and kept to Maddie’s side as she headed toward the house.

  By the time she returned from her walk, Lena had the table set for lunch and the guys were just coming in to wash up.

  “I was about to send the posse out to find you, kiddo,” Lena teased. “Looks like you had a good walk.”

  “I did, Aunt Lena. Thanks for suggesting it,” Maddie said, as she carried a plate of biscuits to the table and sat down.

  “Doesn’t she look healthier? I think our wonderful Walla Walla weather has been good for her,” Lena glanced around the table after grace had been said.

  “Sure it has, Auntie,” Zach said, buttering a biscuit. “She doesn’t look quite so pasty and gray anymore. Now if we could just find a cure for her attitude and sass, all would be right in the world.”

  Maddie shot her brother a look that warned him to keep his mouth shut.

  Erik watched the play between siblings and bit back a smile. He thought Maddie looked amazing. He’d never seen a woman with such well-defined muscles. When she walked into the shop this morning, he almost dropped the part he was holding on Ethan’s foot. Those cut off shorts and tank top accentuated Maddie’s assets in a most becoming manner.

  The summer sun put roses in her cheeks and spun highlights in her golden hair. He didn’t think Maddie had any idea how stunningly attractive she was. Looking at her bandaged arm and shoulder, he wondered again how she had been injured, but didn’t feel it was his place to ask. Erik hadn’t even asked what Maddie did in Seattle and no one seemed to want to talk about it.

  That was fine by him.

  A little mystery suddenly seemed quite appealing.

  <><><>

  Mid-afternoon, the guys trooped in for a break and brought in the mail. While Lena poured tea and set out a plate of cookies, Maddie sorted through catalogs, bills and letters. A small, plain brown envelope addressed to her caused Maddie to catch her breath.

  Turning her back, she pulled out a single piece of cardstock, the size of a business card, with a QR code printed in a neat square.

  Taking her phone from her short’s pocket, she scanned the code and braced herself for whatever would come.

  A photo of the farmhouse popped up followed by a message:

  “What a lovely farm you have, my dear, Maddie. And such a sweet aunt. Don’t get too used to having her there…”

  Maddie sucked in a gulp of air and felt her legs give out beneath her. She sank onto the nearest chair and quickly turned off her phone, shoving the code and envelope into her pocket.

  Erik watched Maddie’s face turn a sickly shade of white and beads of perspiration pop out on her upper lip. He worried she might faint and passed her his glass of tea.

  She looked at him with pain-filled eyes and accepted the glass, holding it to her cheeks before gulping down the icy drink.

  “You okay, Maddie?” her dad asked, noticing her pale skin.

  “I’m fine, Dad,” Maddie lied, getting up from the table, and feeling woozy. “Maybe I got a little too much sun. I think I’ll go rest for a while.”

  Erik stood and watched her wobble around the table. “Do you need some help?”

  Maddie looked back at him with a weak smile. “Thanks, but I’ll be fine.”

  Going to her room, she called her boss and let him know she received another QR code. She sent him the code from her phone and they discussed the danger her family could be in.

  “Maddie, like it or not, you need some protection out there. Let me get you set up with a few men on guard.”

  “Tom, I know you mean well, but I don’t want my family terrified of something happening every time they stick their nose outside the door. I don’t want them to know what is going on. All Dad knows is that the guy who shot Mom got away. He doesn’t know about Zeus and I want to keep it that way.”

  “But what about the threat to your aunt in this code? I just don’t feel right not giving you any protection.”

  “I know, Tom, and I appreciate it. But I’ll just have to be on guard. I’ve got a friend here that will help, too.”

  “Let me send just one guy, Maddie. With your arm in a sling, Zeus knows you are vulnerable. If I send someone in undercover, could you convince your dad and brother you need another hired hand?”

  “Possibly,” Maddie said, mulling over the idea. She did like the idea of having an added gun on the place if Zeus showed up. One who knew how to handle someone like him. “Okay, you send someone as a summer farm hand and I’ll make sure dad hires them.”

  “Fine. I’ll try and have someone there tomorrow. If not, the following day at the latest. I’ll send you the files once I’ve got everything in place.”

  “Thanks, Tom. I appreciate it.”

  “You’re welcome,” Tom said, concerning filling his voice. “And Maddie, please be careful. You know how dangerous Zeus can be and he seems to have a singular intent to get to you.”

  “I know.”

  Hanging up, Maddie felt exhausted and stretched out on the bed. Closing her eyes just brought back visions of all the encounters she had endured with Zeus, including the moment she could have shot him and ended it all.

  Chapter Six

  “You should have seen her,” John, the sheriff, laughed as he told another Maddie story. He seemed to be full of them this evening and had kept everyone in stitches from the time dinner started right on through dessert. “Weighing ninety pounds soaking wet, she took down the star of the wrestling team and ground his face in the mud. What was it he said that made you so angry, Maddie?”

  Maddie shot John a glare that would have made most men squirm in their seats. Her old friend didn’t appear to be bothered in the least.

  “Oh, come on, Maddie, what did he say that made you so mad?” Zach teased. “Something about running funny.”

  “He said I ran like a girl,” Maddie ground out, irritated at John and her brother. They both knew that story from start to finish including what made her tackle that blow-hard Drake and show him a thing or two about wrestling moves he didn’t know. He made sure to avoid Maddie after that. Not that she was trying to impress Erik, but John and Zach were not painting a very flattering picture of her tonight.

  Erik couldn’t help but laugh. He had enjoyed this evening more than any other in a very long time. Zach and John were best friends and John’s wife, Mollie, was just about as sweet as they came. They all sat around the table long after the dishes were done and the food put away, laughing and visiting.

  John stood and pulled Mollie to her feet. “Come on, Mollie, girl, it is past time for us to head home.”

  After thanking Lena for dinner, they all walked outside to say goodbye. Maddie followed him around to the driver’s side door after he held the passenger door for Mollie.

  “It’s great to see you Maddie,” John said, giving her a careful hug. “It’s nice to have you home.”

  “It’s nice to be home, John,” Maddie said sincerely. “I was wondering if you’d have a few minutes to meet with me tomorrow. About some business.”

  John cocked an eyebrow, but nodded his head. “Come by my office about ten in the morning.”

  Maddie squeezed his arm and smiled. “I’ll see you then.”

  When John opened the pickup door, Maddie stuck her head in and smiled at his wife. “Mollie, I don’t know how you put up with him, but I’m glad he found you. Thanks for coming out tonight.”

  Mollie laughed as John climbed in the pickup and shut the door. Rolling down the window, he gave a final wave and headed down the drive.

  <><><>

  Maddie was at John’s office ten minutes early and had to wait for him to come back from a meeting. She pretended to read
a magazine while her thoughts whirled at break-neck speed. Now she wondered if she had left her family open to Zeus by coming into town and not warning them. She didn’t want them to be frightened, but she didn’t want them to be caught unaware, either.

  Zach had grilled her about what she was doing today and all she would tell him was “running errands.” She had to drive Aunt Lena’s car because she couldn’t hold onto the steering wheel and shift the manual transmission in her dad’s or Zach’s pickups.

  When John came in the door a few minutes later, Maddie sighed in relief.

  “Hope you weren’t waiting too long, Maddie,” John said as he guided her into his office and closed the door. Sitting down at his desk, he leaned back and waited for her to tell him what was going on.

  “Have you heard anything about a guy named Zeus?” Maddie asked, deciding to get right to the heart of the matter.

  “Yeah, I have. He’s trouble and then some. Doesn’t he base his operations out of Seattle somewhere?”

  “Yes, he does. At least we’ve tracked him to several deals in the Seattle area. He comes and goes. Impossible to catch. But I know what he looks like.”

  John sat up. This was news. He liked to keep up on who was at the top of the wanted list and Zeus was permanently there. Illusive and careful, no one had ever come up with a likeness of Zeus. “How do you know what he looks like?”

  “Because he’s the one who gave me this,” Maddie said, nodding toward her sling.

  “I think you better start from the beginning,” John said, leaning forward and grabbing a pen and notepad. Maddie gave him the details, starting with her first QR code from Zeus to the one she received yesterday.

  “So, I wanted to see what you think,” Maddie studied John’s face as he sat looking at her, not saying anything. “Should I tell Dad and Zach or just keep on letting them think everything is fine.”

  “First of all, I can’t believe you didn’t tell me Zeus killed your Mom. We never found any evidence that could be linked to anyone, and you’ve known all along who it was.”

  “I wasn’t at liberty to share that information before,” Maddie explained. The chief thought the less publicity Zeus received the less harm he would inflict. Maddie agreed to some degree. “Now that it looks like he plans to come back, I was given the okay to fill you in.”

  “I can understand that, Maddie, but why is this guy making it so personal against you?”

  “I almost had him, John. Not once, but twice. The first time I was within inches of bringing him down and he got away. Just disappeared. The second time, I could have blown a bullet through his skull and I didn’t. I just couldn’t bring myself to shoot him point blank when I thought he was unarmed. That’s when he pulled the knife on me. I’ve never come across someone as sick and twisted as him before. I hope I never do again. He killed Mom and sent me a warning to back off or else. Then he killed Devin. Now he’s threatening to come after Aunt Lena.”

  “I really think you should tell your Dad and Zach. Lena, too. It’s better for them to be informed and aware than to blindly walk into a dangerous situation.”

  “Aunt Lena is going to be terrified. I just don’t want to take away her sense of safety and security.” Maddie sighed and rubbed a hand across her eyes.

  “It’s a false sense, Maddie, and you know it. You need to tell them. At least tell Zach. And you said Tom is sending someone right away, so that will help. What about Erik? He seems like a guy you could count on in a pinch. What’s your vibe on him?”

  “He’s solid. I don’t know if he can shoot a gun or how he feels about working somewhere that a wanted killer is staking out, but I don’t think he’ll go anywhere.” Maddie hoped he wouldn’t. She was starting to like having Erik around way more than she should. He gave her a sense of peacefulness that she couldn’t remember experiencing before.

  “I think you need to go home, talk to your family and Erik, wait for backup to arrive from your boss and then make sure you keep me informed. I can help you much better when I know what is going on,” John said, rising from his chair and walking around to lean against the desk. “You know my cell number, Maddie. Call me anytime if you need help. I’ll also send patrols out your way a little more frequently. Not enough to be noticeable, but you at least know someone will be driving by a few times a day.”

  “Thanks, John. I knew I could count on you.” Maddie gave her friend a hug and walked with him to the door. Before turning the knob, she offered John a teasing grin. “I still don’t know how a loser like you talked someone as nice as Mollie into being stuck with you for the rest of forever.”

  “It was my good looks and undeniable charm,” John said, batting his eyelashes at her.

  Maddie laughed. “She’s a great girl, John. You couldn’t have picked any better.”

  “I know. Thanks, Maddie. Be safe and I’ll check in with you in a few days.”

  As Maddie walked to the car, she felt better for having shared some of her concerns with John. She would go home, sit down with Zach and let him know what was going on. They’d decide together about telling everyone else.

  <><><>

  “Zach, do you have a few minutes to take a walk with me?” Maddie asked after lunch was over and the dishes were done. Zach and her Dad usually took thirty minutes to rest before heading back out to work. Erik seemed to like to spend that time sitting on the porch with Boone. She knew sometimes he did some wood carving and other times he used a laptop computer. Today, he was reading a farming magazine.

  Looking at his sister, Zach was about to make some smart-aleck comment until he saw the pleading look in her eyes.

  “Sure, Maddie,” Zach grabbed his hat and put it on. “Let’s go.”

  They wandered away from the house toward the barn, walking slowly. When they were out of ear shot of the porch, Maddie filled Zach in on the briefest of details.

  “So your shoulder wound wasn’t just in the line of duty?” Zach asked. “This guy is really out to get you.”

  “It would seem that way,” Maddie said, stirring circles in the dirt with the toe of her sneaker. “I don’t know why he has such a personal vendetta against me, but he does. It looks like he plans to hurt Aunt Lena next. I’m scared, Zach, and I’m worried. I’d leave if I thought it would keep you all safe, but look what he did to Mom. I was in Seattle then.”

  Zach pulled her into a hug and held her there, offering what comfort he could. He couldn’t wrap his head around the information Maddie just shared.

  “I just can’t understand any of it. What does he have to gain by hurting you? Hurting those you love?”

  “Nothing,” Maddie said, trying to think of a way to explain so Zach would understand. “There are just some people who derive pleasure by hurting others. You remember that kid in fourth grade who used to pull the wings off butterflies?” When Zach nodded his head, she continued. “He took pleasure in bringing pain to something else. Zeus is like that. I’ve been leading the charge to track him down and arrest him, so that is why I’ve become a target. A very personal target.”

  “How long has this been going on, Maddie?”

  “Three years.”

  Zach exploded. Throwing his hands in the air, he stomped a circle around her, yelling. “You’ve been living with this fear, never knowing who or where he’d strike next for three years? Why didn’t you tell us, Maddie? Why didn’t you back off from it? Why did you let Mom get killed?”

  His words couldn’t have hurt Maddie more than if he’d raised a knife and stabbed her through the heart.

  At the look of raw pain that ripped across Maddie’s face, Zach took a step toward her and placed a hand on her back. “I’m sorry. That was totally unfair. It’s not your fault what he did to Mom.”

  The tears prickling Maddie’s eyes trickled down her cheeks and a sob ripped from her throat. Burying her head against Zach, she finally allowed herself to cry out her grief and fear. “It is my fault. If it wasn’t for me, if it wasn’t for my investigation, Mom
would be here right now. Aunt Lena would be safe. Devin would be alive.”

  “Maddie, you don’t know any of that. You’re not God, you don’t control who lives or dies. It isn’t your fault.”

  “But Zach…”

  “No, Maddie. I’m sorry. I don’t blame you. You need to get it through your head that it isn’t your fault. This guy sounds like he’s a psychopath. Nothing will change that. You were just doing your job.”

  Zach continued to hold her while she cried. When she stopped, he pulled out his bandana and handed it to her to mop up her face.

  Looking at her brother she offered him a watery grin. “This clean?”

  “Clean enough,” Zach smiled. “Now, tell me what we need to do. You said Tom is sending in someone undercover soon. What else can we do?”

  She and Zach discussed some options, decided not to worry their dad, Lena or Erik yet and see what happened in the next few days. Maddie had a doctor’s appointment the next day and she was hoping she could start regaining use of her left arm. Right handed, it hadn’t slowed her down much, but she wanted to get in some shooting practice. She would fly to Seattle in the morning for the appointment and be back in the afternoon.

  Maddie borrowed Lena’s car and left bright and early to catch her flight. At Sea-Tac she caught a cab and went directly to see her boss. Tom was surprised but glad to see her. He ran over details of a plan with her, gave her a file of info to study and told her to expect someone to show up that afternoon to fill the position of ranch hand.

  The doctor’s appointment went very well. She would no longer have to wear the sling and would slowly regain use of her arm. The exercise regimen would start with some basic strengthening moves then each week she would add more until she was back at one-hundred percent. Anything less was unacceptable to her.