“Right.”
“Look, you were smart to call. Place a tracer on the GPS in Janie’s cell phone.”
“I need Gate’s permission to get into APD’s system to do that, and he’s not picking up.”
“No, you don’t, Connor. I’ll text you my passcode. I’ll take the heat if this pans out to be nothing.”
“Roger. I’ll keep you posted.”
Blake turned to glance in the window. Melody and the kids sat at the table, their gazes glued to him. He waved at them as he spoke. “Yeah, you better. None of the Johnsons will sleep tonight if you don’t.”
THIRTY-FIVE
Janie stumbled and landed on her knees when the stranger pushed her into the cabin. Jonathan reached down to give her a hand. “You really shouldn’t have come, my dear.”
She grabbed hold as he lifted her to her feet. Giving him a daggered glare she brushed off her pants. “Don’t clean much around here, do you?”
Jonathan let out a guttural laugh, but then his face became stone-serious. “You have complicated things a wee bit.”
She pointed toward the door. “No, your goon here has. Mitch is lying out there in the dirt. How are you going to cover that one up? Pull out his teeth, too?”
He rubbed his finger across his eyebrow. “She does have a point. Let’s see. Can’t dunk him in the river or send his car down the cliff. Repetition will cause suspicion.”
Janie’s mouth dropped open.
The stranger jammed a finger under Jonathan‘s nose. “Shut up, Gates. It’s your fault they tailed you.”
Jonathan’s face reddened. He shoved the stranger’s chest. “Don’t lay all of this on me. You left enough bread crumbs to bring every cop in a fifty-mile radius.” He threw his hands up. “Idiot.”
“What’cha call me?”
Jonathan spun on his heel and pointed to Janie. “If she can track us, who else can?”
Janie plopped into a camping chair, one of two in the room. The canvas let off a musty, smoky odor. She gave a small cough. “When did you last wash this thing?”
The other man growled. “Zip it, lady.”
Janie stared at him first, then at Jonathan. “Actually, I followed Mitch. He’s the one who must have put it all together.”
“See?” Gates shot Arnie a narrow-eyed glance and sat in the other chair. A moment of stale silence filled the room. Gates let out a deep sigh. He reached over and ran a finger down Janie cheek. “Sorry, my sweet. We have to make sure you don’t lead anyone else here.”
She recoiled.
The other man rocked on his feet. “What’s the plan?”
“Tie her up and gag her for now. There’s duct tape in the trunk.” He tossed the man his keys.
Janie bolted to her good foot. “Wait a minute.”
Jonathan pushed her back into the lawn chair, which made it creak and wobble. “Hush.” He unbuckled and removed his belt.
She scoffed. “What are you going to do? Beat me?”
“I almost feel like it. You really disappoint me.” He yanked her arms behind her chair and wrapped his belt around her torso and forearms. The leather tightened her skin against the canvas as he pulled and buckled it, securing her to the chair. She wiggled back and forth.
He laughed. “Go ahead, you’ll just land on your side. Then what?”
She snorted her disgust. “I thought better of you.”
He pulled the other chair around to face her. “I’d hoped wooing you would keep you off my trail. Guess I need to work on my charms.”
“I’ll say.”
He pouted. “The lonely widower and the widow, joined by the police force. Sounded like a match made in heaven.”
A shot of bile raced into her throat. She swallowed down her disgust. “How could you?”
He leaned back and rested one foot on the other leg. “Even asked Blake for permission to court you. Nice touch, huh?”
“I actually started liking you.” She turned away and blinked back a rogue tear.
He stood as the other man returned with the silver roll. He pulled out a long piece and slapped it over her mouth, squelching her scream. Gates held her squirming legs as his buddy bound her feet and knees. Then he held her shoulders as his cohort wound the tape around her chest and arms. He loosened his belt from around her and slid it back through the loops on his pants.
She watched in utter disdain, tears dripping onto the silvery gag.
The stranger tossed the rest of the roll to the ground. “OK, now what?”
He snatched the pistol from the man’s waistband, wiping it with his handkerchief. “We knock her out, shove her and Hornsby into her car, put this in her hand and let the police figure it out. They should be here shortly.”
“What?”
“Come on, Arnie. You don’t think Hornsby called this in?”
“She’ll sing as soon as she comes to.” Arnie pointed at her face. “Won’t you, lady?”
Janie blinked.
Jonathan harrumphed and began to pace. He swung his hand toward her. The pistol whacked her in the face.
Her neck snapped back to the right. Her whole head tingled as the room turned to black.
THIRTY-SIX
Betsy Ann jumped when her phone rang. The other biddies shuffled toward her with quizzical anxiety on their faces. She clicked it on as she took in a gulp of air. “Hello?”
“It’s Detective Hemphill. I got hold of Blake.”
She shoved her shoulders down in a sigh and cupped her hand over the phone. “It’s Connor Hemphill. Blake knows.”
The ladies relaxed as well and sat back down.
“So, what’s happening? Have you learned where Janie is?” She punched the speaker button.
“Not yet.” His voice penetrated the room. “We’re tracking the GPS on her cell phone. Appears to be coming from a ranch southwest of Austin. Does she know anyone down there?”
Betsy Ann scanned the room as each lady shrugged or shook her head. She spoke into the phone. “No, Connor. Not that any of us are aware. Maybe she followed a lead.”
His moan came over the airwaves. “Yeah, that’s what we’re afraid of. Wait. Hold on.”
His voice became a murmur. Another man’s could be heard as well.
Ethel tucked her lip into her teeth.
Mildred wrung her napkin through her hands.
Babs grabbed Betsy Ann’s free hand and sniffled.
“Betsy Ann?” Hemphill’s voice became more audible. “Hornsby sent a text to the A.P.D. He left his phone on. The GPS coordinates match those of Janie’s phone. They’re together.”
“Is that good or bad?”
“Well, the text said 10-71.”
“Oh, no. It’s the police distress code, correct? Officer needs assistance.” Ethel placed her hand over her eyes and shook her head.
Gasps filtered around the room.
“Yeah, ’fraid so. They have a squad headed in that direction. I’ll keep you posted.”
Betsy Ann put her phone down, a lost expression in her eyes. Her voice quivered. “I’m getting so tired of this. If I ever see Janie again, I’ll kill her.”
Everyone laughed, mostly out of stress relief.
Betsy Ann’s cheeks turned the ruby color of the nail polish she wore as she slapped her hand over her lips.
Babs wrapped her arm around her shoulder. “We all feel the same way, honey. Trust me.”
Mildred stood. “Time to pray, ladies.”
Eleven heads bowed in unison.
~*~
Ellie and Jamie sat, knees tucked to their chest in the lounge chairs of their parents’ hotel room. Mel perched on the end of the bed as her eyes followed her husband’s pacing. “We should check out of this hotel and head back, Blake.”
He slammed one fist into his other one. “Dang that woman. First, she says she wants to solve my caseload so we can go on vacation, then she ruins it by trying to solve another one in my absence.”
His wife shot to her feet with a whimper. H
e coaxed her into his embrace as he raised his gaze to his children. “Sorry, kids. I don’t mean to bad-mouth your grandmother.”
Ellie gave him the defiant teenager glare. “We aren’t kids. And we’re just as worried as you two.”
He gave his wife a squeeze. “OK, let’s pack and get out of here. Jamie, Ellie. Meet ya in the lobby in fifteen minutes.”
“Yes, Dad.” The two responded in unison and left the room.
He cupped Melody’s chin and peered into her now tear-stained face. “She’s a tough ol’ bird. You know that. Dollars to donuts we’ll be halfway home, and Connor will call with the all clear.”
She wiped her face. “I hope you’re right. Even so, I want to be there when she gets home.”
Blake’s lips curved into a soft smile. “To hug her or spank her?”
Melody grinned. “Both.” She shook her head. “You’re right, you know. The roles are reversing.”
“Uh, huh. Let’s start packing.”
He folded his clothes and laid them in his suitcase, hoping he could continue to mask the concern he felt in his heart. He opened his phone and read Hornsby’s text, sent two hours ago. Gate’s open. Going in. Not expecting a warm greeting.
Blake sighed. And he gave the man permission to court his mother-in-law. When Melody discovers that tidbit, he better already have his pillow and blanket stationed in the doghouse. He’d be sharing it with Rex for a long while.
~*~
Two officers parked their vehicle at the edge of the farm to market road. They’d killed their lights as soon as they left the highway. Another patrol car followed them and stopped. Connor stepped out first. The others exited their vehicle as well.
The four gathered in a tight circle. “From here we walk it. According to the GPS, both Detective Hornsby and the woman should be a half mile that way.” He strapped on his APD bulletproof vest.
“Right, Detective Hemphill. We’ll follow your lead.”
The other three did the same. They walked in the soft moonlight, sticking to the shadows it cast among the mesquite trees as much as possible. When they reached the dirt road, Connor and Marley zigzagged across the field as the other two stuck to the rutted path.
A few minutes later, Connor got a soft buzz. He looked at his phone. Woman’s car empty. He showed it to Marley. “Great. Where did they take her?”
The officer pointed. “What’s that, sir? A shack?”
Connor drew his weapon. “Right. Let’s go.”
He texted their coordinates to his backup and squatted close to the ground, his gun clicked off the safety feature. They stepped flat-footed through the knee-high prairie grasses trying to minimize the rustling. Off to the left they saw the other two policemen on the road. Their pace quickened to a trot. Then they stopped.
Another text. Hornsby down. Faint pulse.
Connor typed back. 10-4. Calling it in. He peered at the map on his phone. He pressed his finger to copy and pasted the coordinates to headquarters. N30.117448 W975720.57. He typed in 10-52 to request an ambulance.
His partner gave him a quizzical eyebrow cock. Connor motioned forward. They continued toward the shack. One of the other cops joined them. He spoke in a barely audible whisper. “Jeff stayed with Hornsby. As soon as the sirens near, we better be ready.”
Connor nodded. He motioned for the cop to go with him and for his partner to veer off to the left. When they reached the front porch, he stopped and pointed down. Even in the soft gray of the moonlight he could detect the worn and bowed planks. Better than a bell. Once they stepped foot on them, they’d creak loud and clear. He raised his finger and counted on them. One, two...
On three, the two dashed up the porch, flicked on their halogen flashlights, arms extended and weapons aimed. They stormed the door and shoved it open. “Police, drop your weapons.”
Chief Gates and another man crouched and raised their hands to their faces to shield them from the sudden brightness.
“Hands in the air where we can see them. Now.”
Gates lifted his as high as he could, but the other man yanked the gun from Gate’s fingers and fired three rounds blindly into the sound of their voices.
Connor returned one round, straight into the shooter’s chest.
The man dropped to the floor. His eyes rolled back and his mouth gaped. Blood oozed from his torso onto the floor. The third cop rushed in and yanked Gate’s arms behind his back, shoved him to the wall, and cuffed him.
Marley kicked the gun out of the other man’s now limp hand. He called it in via the walkie-talkie on his shoulder. “All clear. One suspect down. Need additional ambulances. Victim bound and...”
Connor placed two fingers on Janie’s throat. She blinked and groaned.
“...Alive, but barely conscious. Woman, early sixties.”
Janie spoke in a raspy whisper. “Early sixties, huh?” A weak smile spread across her lips.
THIRTY-SEVEN
Janie opened her eyes and groused. The acoustical tiles over her head, the smells of antiseptic, and the institutional green walls came into fuzzed view. In the distance, a faint female voice called out. “Dr. Olson to Ortho. Dr. Olson to Ortho.”
She flopped one arm over her eyes. “Not again.”
Melody sat on the hospital bed and wiped her mother’s brow. “My sentiments exactly.”
Janie peeked out of one eyelid. Blake stood next to his wife, his arms crossed, feet straddled.
“Don’t scold me, Blake.”
“I have half a mind to.”
She rose, but a stab of sharp pain zapped her strength. “Oh, my head and neck.” She slumped back into her pillow and let the sounds, odors, and faces fade away again.
An hour later she awoke to find Blake and Melody still at her side. She gave them a small smile, about all she could muster at the moment. “Am I allowed water?”
“Yes. The doctor says you’ll be fine. But your neck is strained. Which is why they have it immobilized. Oh, and your ankle is sprained again as well. I hope you still have that knee crutch thing.”
She pushed her chin down and lowered her eyes to try and view the cloth and foam circle that encircled her neck, but felt woozy in the attempt. Melody pumped the automatic bed’s headrest and placed the bendable straw near her lips. Janie drank in a few sucks of refreshing cool liquid, letting it cascade down her throat. “Better, thanks.”
The scrape of chair legs across linoleum caught her attention. She leaned to the right to view Blake pulling up to her side. He sat, his face now more level with hers. “Ready to talk?”
She blinked. “Yes. How’s Mitch?”
“In surgery. Bullet lodged near his spine.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “Oh, dear.”
Blake squeezed her shoulder. “What possessed you to follow him?”
She shifted her head as much as possible, ignoring the pain. “I went to confront Jon...” she stopped and gulped.
He nodded. “I’m sorry, Janie. None of us knew, though Hornsby suspected.”
Melody wiped a lock from Janie’s brow. “Oh, Mom. He seemed like such a nice man.”
She took in a deep breath. “Seemed a little too nice. I should’ve known. Anyway, George discovered that Les Holden had been involved in the robbery that injured Mitch. I was livid. How could Gates do that to him, putting him on the I.A investigation?”
Blake let a huge sigh out through his nostrils. “I imagine Gates thought Hornsby would be more likely to skim over stuff rather than relive it.”
Janie reached for his arm. “You knew? Of course you did.”
“I questioned Gates about his reasoning. Even offered to postpone our vacation.” He rubbed his wife’s back. “I know, dear. Sorry.”
She huffed. “We’ll discuss that one later.”
Janie pressed her lips together.
Blake raised his eyebrows. “I figured as much.” He shifted in his chair and tugged his collar from his neck. “Anyway, Gates insisted I go on vacation because the police t
herapist recommended it. Now I understand why he really said that. He wanted me out of the way.” He snickered. “He’s the one who should’ve known better. Mitch is a true professional.”
“Poor guy. I don’t understand how Jonathan got involved.” Tears threatened.
Melody interrupted. “Blake, let’s do this later. Mom needs to rest.”
“No!” Janie’s voice bounced off the walls. Another pain shot through her temple, and she regretted her reaction.
A nurse dashed in. “Are you all right, Mrs. Manson?”
Janie waved a hand. “Fine, fine. A pain pill might help, though.”
The nurse glanced at her watch. “In another hour. Until then, keep calm.” She shot a teacher’s frown at Blake and Melody, and left the room.
Melody raised an eyebrow. “See?”
Blake rose. “Yep, I do. Janie, do as she says. You rest up. I’m going to check on Mitch’s progress. Be back in a few hours.”
~*~
Janie dozed on and off, partially lulled by the pain medication the nurse finally brought. But each time she drifted off, her mind replayed the events in the shack. She still had a hard time wrapping her brain around Jonathan’s flip from police chief to criminal. And who had Arnie been? She gathered he now lay on a slab in the morgue. She cocked open one eye. “Mel. I really have some questions for Blake.”
Melody hushed her. “Let’s talk of mundane things instead. I’ll tell you what we did at the beach.”
Janie appreciated her daughter’s insistence to relax, but until she got answers, how could she try?
A little after five that evening, Blake returned, hands shoved into his pockets. Janie sat up slurping the last of her grape juice through a straw. Remnants of mashed potatoes, meatloaf, and peas lay on the plate.
“Hmmm. Exactly what they’re serving in the cafeteria.”
Melody scrunched her nose. “Darn. And I felt hungry.”
Blake embraced her and pecked her forehead. “Go, hon. I’m sure they have a Cobb salad or something. “
She gave him and her mother a lopsided grin. “You two behave.”
Threes, Sixes & Thieves Page 19
