A Lethal Time (A Samantha Jamison Mystery Volume 4) (19 page)

Chapter 82

Walking Away, But Not Walking Away

I walked away from Dan, who still refused to admit to anything. If this was true, it changed so much. I stared at the farmhouse. Did Clay know about this? Probably. He had tentacles reaching to the most unexpected places, both good and bad. But that was okay because after all this time, I now understood what he dealt with day in and day out.

I had my share of shockers since we’ve met and one thing continually stuck with me. Clay always had my best interests at heart. Well, maybe not always in the very beginning when we first went at each other, but we’ve sort of come to an understanding, a mild truce so to speak.

Inside the house, Clay was standing at the kitchen window from where he had obviously seen me speaking to Dan. I sidled up real close from behind and whispered, in case there were other ears around.

Trust me, there were always other ears around.

“You knew about all this beforehand, didn’t you?”

I was slightly put out at being left in the dark.

He leaned into me, giving me one of his distractingly killer kisses, and then he kissed my forehead.

“Yes, but I knew with your help we’d catch a break.”

“I’m not there yet, but I will be. You’re so sneaky.”

He kissed me again then laughed. “You, too.”

This time I joined in, chuckling. “What should I do?”

“Play it out like you always do.”

“And how do you propose I do that?”

“The notable
story-purveyor
is asking me? I think not.”

“Okay, now I get it. You’re going to let me handle the intricacies with you as tight back-up.”

“That’s what I do best, isn’t it?” he asked.

“You know, I think you’re right. It’s too many hands in the pot sort of thing. I’ll need to finesse a few things.”

“Don’t you always?” he said, chuckling.

“Yes, but I’m still not sure of all the players.”

He shrugged. “Neither are we.”

“By ‘we,’ you mean you’re helping the FBI, right?”

He grinned.
Was his silence meant to keep me safe?

I smiled. “This was planned way back in France, right?”

“You are so sexy when you have me pegged.”

I leaned into him, brushing my lips on his. “I know.”

“And you aren’t going to let me forget it, are you?”

“What do you think?” I asked.

“Oh, brother! I can see I’m going to be paying for this for a long time to come.”

I rubbed up against him. “Gosh, you’re so perceptive.”

He gave a lazy smile. “I know.”

“I find work mixed with play so sexy.”

“I know.”

“So, what do you say we get this show on the road.”

He grinned again. “My words exactly.”

Chapter 83

There Are Plans, And Then There Are Plans

I had no idea how this whole thing would play out, but after talking to the female portion of this team, I felt pretty confident I had a good strategy in place. Of course, some of the best-laid plans sometimes don’t go as intended.

…Okay, in my case, more than sometimes
.

Just as I was about to walk out the door, the doorbell rang. I stopped, trying to think of who it could possibly be. I had spoken to my crew earlier and they were scattered, waiting to hear from me. Dan was
supposedly
tending the horses. Clay had taken off and headed for who knows where, promising to be back by nightfall.

Another vanishing.

I had my hand on the doorknob and paused. It was still daylight, so as far as I was concerned, I was pretty safe. I went and peeked behind the curtain. Standing there was Jacob, the artist from across the way. Now, what did
he
want? This wasn’t exactly working into my playbook. I never liked snags and this sure as hell felt like one.

I wanted this thing over. We were all leaving the next day. Sally and Tom were due anytime. If everything went as I planned, everyone was going to be surprised by my sleuthing. My investigative skills and posse would then be history and we’d all be happily on our way home.

I was sure Sally would be shocked and maybe upset, about being used for a base of operations, but she was the one who had wanted me here in the first place. Of course no doubt with good reason, what I thought was going on and what was actually going on was more complicated than I had previously thought.

Could Sally and Tom have been in on this thing from the beginning? Did they give Dan permission to move in and set up here for the purpose of an investigation? Were all of them aware how extensive this whole thing might be?

I had to slow down. I was starting to run in overdrive. I couldn’t let my crazy writer’s imagination get ahead of the facts, which at the moment were not exactly well-defined, but I was working on making them so.

…Okay, attempting.

My immediate problem was how to get rid of Jacob. I faked a smile and swung the door open. A flash of metal caught my eye. I looked down.
Damn.
A gun was pointed in my direction. That was definitely
not
a good sign.

Nailing my smile in place, I said, “Well, what took you so long? I didn’t expect you to show up today, Jacob, but I figured there was always that slight chance you might.”

Can I be honest here? I was completely shocked.

Chapter 84

What Do I Do Now?

There was a flicker of doubt, and then he said, “Yeah? Then you’re much smarter than I originally thought.”

“I have been known to turn a few heads.”

He gave my body the once-over. It was unsettling.

“I hadn’t intended it that way. I meant, mentally.”

“Yeah, yeah, I guess I’d give you credit for that, too.”

This guy was nothing like the affable painter I had encountered a few days earlier. He was bordering on loathsome. My mind began back-stepping, remembering a previous conversation Martha, Betty and Hazel had with the substitute librarian, who placed that lumber truck driver at Jacob’s house.

I took a shot. “I guess you knew more than you let on about the forest stripping around here.”

He merely blinked, motioning with his gun for me to back up into the house, then closed the door and locked it.

That was
not
a good sign. I glanced out the kitchen bay window, noticing the sun was setting behind the farmhouse over the forest. Evening and dread were seeping in. I didn’t have a plan B because I thought plan A, getting Sarah, was
the
one.

Note to self:
remember to expect the unexpected.

I slid my eyes over and glanced out that window again, looking for Dan. He was nowhere to be seen. He must be done with Amanda and Luke and was over by Boss’ coral.

I was weak-kneed, but certainly not going to let Jacob know that. Never show doubt or weakness. At least that much I’ve learned over the last few incidents I was lucky enough to walk away from.

“Sit down,” he said. “Make yourself comfortable. I’m expecting someone shortly, then we can be
done
with this.”

I didn’t like the sound of that. It had a kind of
final
ring to it, you know? And as far as that word,
final
, I wanted no part of it. I was totally into words like continuing, constant, lifesaving…
You get the idea?
I was not going with this negative rant of his. I needed to get out of there, pronto!

After several minutes of finger tapping, I asked to use the bathroom, adding a heartfelt plea, “It’s urgent.”

He looked at his watch and motioned for me to go.

I headed for the stairs and the guest bedroom where I was staying with Clay. He stopped me on the first step, pointing. “The powder room is right next to the kitchen.”

I hunched my shoulders and tried to look embarrassed. “It’s that time of month and my stuff is upstairs, sorry.”

He paused, uncomfortable with the subject matter. “…Okay, but I’ll stand outside the door waiting for you.”

He followed me up. I entered the bathroom that attached to our bedroom and locked it quietly. …
And now my exit!

Chapter 85

The Not So Great Escape

I made the necessary noises, banging, scraping, opening and closing the medicine cabinet. Then flushed the toilet and ran the faucet at a trickle, enough to camouflage me cranking open the window and lifting off the screen in the attached guest bedroom.

Below was the roof of the pergola that covered the back patio in front of the bay window in the kitchen. Since Jacob was upstairs outside my bath, he wouldn’t see me climb down and land in front of the bay window in the kitchen.

When I dropped to the slate patio, I heard a shout from up above. “Hey, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

It was Jacob hanging out of my bedroom window.

I guess that colonial lock wasn’t as good as I thought.

I took off, running for the covered arch that connected the house to the barn, racing toward the pond and Boss’ corral. Dan had to be there and hopefully I would be safe. I heard more yelling and glanced back to see Jacob snagged in the pergola. Perfect. I had a jump-start.

I ran like there was a fire under me, panting and shoving branches out of the way as I flew down the path to the right. It was now getting shadowy and dusky out. I had to get there before it was completely dark. Surely Dan would be carrying a gun and I’d have protection.

I was wrong. He wasn’t even there. Boss was nibbling on some grass. I stopped at the fence totally out of breath, panicked at what to do. Then I heard pounding footsteps in the distance. It had to be Jacob. Now what? I gave Boss the once over and became sick to the pit of my stomach.

There was no way I would even try to ride him.

Just then I heard a whinny coming from my left and I turned. Amanda, that good-natured Morgan I rode, trotted over out of the shadows, happy to see me. The minute Amanda hit the rail I reached out and she gently nudged me. I didn’t have time to think what I was about to do. I climbed up onto the rail fencing, grabbed her mane, leapt on, and without thinking, gave a kick to her flank.

I was hoping she had more sense on getting me out of this dangerous situation than I did. She immediately took off in the opposite direction across the corral. I briefly turned back and saw to my amazement Jacob race through the corral gate behind us and leap onto Boss. Uh, oh!

Two bad-asses riding as one!

I turned forward again. We were approaching the end of the long corral.
No gate!
My flash recall came up with the spill into Jackson’s pond. Panic stricken, I yelled, “Hey, Amanda, remember? We don’t do the jump thing! Wait!” To my disbelief, she arched her back, took a leap and sailed smoothly over the top rail with ease, just like in the movies, while I desperately strained to hold on, laughing out loud.

My editor was not going to believe one word of this.

Chapter 86

What Great Escape?

When we approached the main path that led back to Sally and Tom’s farmhouse, Amanda, for some reason, headed in the direction of the darkest section of the forest. Why countermand her and go back when whoever was meeting Jacob might be there? Maybe Amanda knew of a shortcut to Major’s. At least
he
had a gun.

To my dismay, she stayed on the exact course I had previously taken the other day. It was all I could handle, dodging and ducking the branches as she weaved around evergreens and leaped over downed logs on her way into the densely-canopied area.

A quick prayer passed my lips as I clung to her wide girth and mane. Was she traveling on pure instinct at this point? I barely made out the wall looming up ahead and was sick. No! The property-line stone row! Twice in one day? I still felt those bruises from my spill in the pond.

“Stop!” I pleaded. “Now you’re pressing our luck.”

But Amanda had her own agenda. I braced myself as she picked up speed and cleanly flew right over it.

After another minute, Amanda slowed down to a trot. I briefly turned back to have a look. Thank goodness the moon was out. No one was there as far as I could see. Nor did I hear anyone. Jacob probably thought we kept on following the stone wall. With luck, he was now doing the same. I kept checking for a cell signal, but there was none.

I turned back to stare straight ahead, patted Amanda’s neck as she kept moving. “What do you think, Amanda? Think those two are long gone?” I turned once more to have another look. “Sure looks like it.” Having no idea as to where or which direction we were traveling, I let Amanda take the lead. As we rode in silence, I was still amazed by my inexplicable, lucky escape.

We emerged from the woods at the rear of Robinson’s property. I patted Amanda again, elated. “Great job!” As she walked, I checked my cell again. Damn! Nothing. I glanced around. Nobody. All was clear up ahead, too.

I kicked Amanda’s flank and headed straight for the Fielding’s and was there in no time. As we approached, I gave a sigh of relief at seeing their lights on.

“Hold up!” Amanda abruptly stopped. “No more fences! I’ve had enough.” I’d climb the Fielding’s fence and run the rest of the way on foot. I carefully slid off and gave her rump a tap, already knowing from Crystal that Amanda was a homebound horse. I gently tapped her rear flank again.

“Go on home, Amanda. Thanks.”

After a look back at me, she slowly trotted back toward the fields and disappeared into the night. I turned and headed toward my ticket out, feeling relieved, knowing the Fieldings would let me use their phone to call for help.