Buffalo Bill's Defunct (9781564747112) (36 page)

“Okay. Will you go over and talk to the Two Falls contingent? Tell your cousins we’re going to start negotiating in a few minutes.”

“That it?” He sounded as if he expected a reprimand.

“That’s it.” For now. “Hand me back to Earl.”

Earl wanted to detail all his brilliant arrangements, but Rob could see Jack coming down through the trees, so he signed off. When Jack got close enough to speak to without shouting, Rob stood up.

“Did you find her?”

“No. She was there earlier, though.”

“What do you think?”

Jack’s eyes were dark with misery. “I think she got impatient and went down to talk to him. I think he captured her. She’s in that place. Call that a lodge? Goddamn.” He began to cry.

“Hey, take it easy. We’re going to talk to him ourselves, and we hold all the cards.”

“Not if he has Maddie.” Jack wiped his eyes on his sleeve.

Rob unhooked the bullhorn from his belt. “Did you bring your cell phone, Dr. Tichnor?”

Tichnor patted his pockets. “Yes. I turned it off so it wouldn’t ring out here and betray our presence.”

“Thanks,” Rob said gravely. “Is one of Vance’s cell phone numbers on the speed dial?”

“Yes. Number seven.”

“Good. I’m going to hail him now, and tell him to answer the phone. Then I want you to call him.”

“What do I do when he answers?” Tichnor sounded nervous.

Rob didn’t answer because he didn’t know. His own stomach was doing flip-flops. He was glad he had skipped lunch. “Here goes.” He thumbed on the bullhorn and walked out into the open where Tichnor could see him.

“Vance! Vance Tichnor! It’s Robert Neill from the sheriff’s department. I want to talk to you.” He waited, watching snow-flakes whirl like dust motes in the distant yard light. There was no response. No gunshots, either.

Rob raised the bullhorn again. His voice always sounded odd through a microphone. “Tichnor, I know you’re in there. I have your brother here.” He beckoned to the doctor, who rose slowly and walked to Rob’s side. “Here’s Ethan, Vance. He has news for you. He’s going to dial your cell phone. When it rings, answer it.”

Jack said, “Somebody’s moving down there.”

“Good.”

It was so quiet Rob could hear the doctor’s cell phone as it dialed the number. The phone rang seven times and a message came on.

“Disconnect,” Rob said. He raised the horn again. “Answer the phone, Vance. Carol’s in the hospital. Your sister. Ethan needs to talk to you.” He thumbed the horn off. “Try it again, sir.”

Dr. Tichnor hit the speed-dial number. This time Vance answered on the fourth ring.

“Vance.” The doctor cleared his throat. “Carol’s been hurt. They think she may have to have her leg amputated. She says…they tell me, she confessed to killing young Redfern. Is that true?”

Vance gabbled something.

“Yes, I know you’re in trouble. I’m trying to help.”

Rob said, “Hand me the phone, sir.”

Tichnor said, “Lieutenant Neill wants to ask you something. You do? Oh, God, Vance, why?” More gabble. He thrust the phone at Rob. “He has Ms. Thomas.”

Jack said something sharp.

“Wait,” Rob said. He put the phone to his ear.

Vance was swearing.

“Mr. Tichnor, will you confirm that you’ve taken Chief Thomas prisoner?”

“Chief? What the hell?”

“Madeline Thomas is principal chief of the Klalos. I’m sure she told you that.” Not to mention the earlier confrontation over the camas meadow.

“She told me a bunch of crap. I didn’t listen. I don’t listen to trespassers.”

Or look at them, apparently. “I want to know whether or not you have her.”

“Yes, I have a hostage, Neill, all trussed up like a turkey, and I intend to use her as soon as it’s dark.”

Rob waited.

Vance went on, bluff, bragging. “I roughed her up a little but she’s all right. Stupid bitch.” He sounded like Hal Brandstetter.

Rob said, “The artifacts in your vault, the one hidden behind the media center, belong to the Klalos. You have Chief Thomas, Vance, but she posted a dozen or so people outside your gate waiting for you to come out. And I have patrol cars blocking the highway in both directions. I warn you not to harm Chief Thomas in anyway.”

The silence crackled. Then Vance said, in something closer to his normal voice, “I won’t hurt her unless I have to. I’m going to take my collection and my hostage and drive out of here.”

Rob drew a long breath. “I have a more plausible scenario for you.”

“What? I suppose you’re going to threaten me, fuzz.”

“Stop talking like a child. I want you to release Chief Thomas now, unharmed.”

Vance cackled. “Not on your life.”

Well, yes. “I want you to agree to exchange Chief Thomas for me.”

Jack gasped and Dr. Tichnor made a noise of protest.

“Why the hell should I?”

“Because I can talk you through those patrol cars, once Chief Thomas has sent her people home. It’s that simple, Vance. Chief Thomas is dangerous to you. You’ve already offended the Klalos by taking their sacred objects from Lauder Point.”

“I didn’t steal them.” Vance sounded sullen.

“You paid Brandstetter and Meek to steal them. The law doesn’t recognize a difference between a crime and the commission of a crime, between theft and hiring a thief to steal. You’re a thief.” He drew a breath. Better tone it down. “The people waiting out by your gate know you stole the petroglyphs and the knife and the ceremonial drums. I wouldn’t give a nickel for your chances while they’re out there.”

Rob was bluffing. So was Vance. It was a game of blindman’s bluff with Maddie Thomas the prize. Rob wondered if he should play the DDT card or save it.

Vance said, “I want to talk to Ethan.”

Rob handed Ethan the phone. “Don’t let him break contact.”

Tichnor nodded, eyes on the ground as if he were embarrassed or ashamed.

Jack took Rob’s arm. “Do you think he’ll let her go?”

Rob said, “Yes. When he does, I want you and Maddie to walk out to the highway on the track we came in on. Go out and send your young people home. They could get hurt in a shoot-out.”

Jack mumbled an assent and let his hand drop.

Dr. Tichnor said something low and angry into the phone.

Rob and Jack looked at him.

The oncologist shook his head. “No, no tricks. I’ll let you talk to him.” He handed Rob the phone. “He wants to arrange the exchange. I’m sorry, Neill.”

Rob said into the phone, “I’m glad you’re willing to see things my way, Vance. We’ll wait while you untie Chief Thomas. Bring her out so we can see her.”

“I’ll bring her out with a gun at her head, Neill. I’m not shitting you. I’ll kill her. I’ve killed before.”

“Yes,” Rob said. “I know you have. But Brandstetter was blackmailing you, wasn’t he?”

“He was bleeding me dry!” Vance sounded astonished, almost grateful to be understood. “He threatened Carol. He was an evil man. He deserved to die. So did Meek.”

“Chief Thomas doesn’t.” Rob kept his tone matter-of-fact. “Untie her and bring her out to the deck. Leave the phone on. When I can see she’s all right, we’ll talk.”

“No tricks. I know you have snipers who can shoot the eye out of a squirrel. The minute I hear anything I don’t like, the bitch dies.”

Rob waited. He could hear breathing on the line.

Then Vance said, “Okay. It’ll take a few minutes.”

“Doit.”

In the blank silence that followed, Jack blew his nose and Dr. Tichnor sat on the log again as if his legs wouldn’t hold him up.

Rob felt nothing. He was open to the universe, listening. The wind moaned and a few snowflakes whirled through the cone of light that shone down on the van. His radio crackled.

He keyed it on and spoke low. Earl listened, giving an occasional squawk of protest, but Rob knew he would see the logic of an exchange. He agreed to keep Thayer back from the house. In reserve.

Rob turned the radio off. Suddenly he could hear voices through, but not on, the telephone. Vance must have stuck it in his pocket. He was shouting, and so was Maddie. Oh please, Madeline, just shut up, Rob begged silently. Shut up and for once cooperate.

Perhaps she heard him. The voices stopped. He could hear thumps and brushing noises, as if Vance were bumping into things. A light came on in the lounge. At last, a dark blur appeared at the door that led out onto the deck. After an interminable moment, the door opened. Vance thrust Maddie out ahead of him. Her hands were bound behind her, and he was holding a handgun to her right ear.

He fumbled in his pocket with his left hand and withdrew the phone. “Okay, here she is. What now?”

Rob said, “Untie her hands, Vance. I’ll wait.”

“Not until I know what’s going to happen.”

Rob beckoned to Ethan Tichnor, who stood up slowly as if his knees creaked. “When Chief Thomas has spoken to me and I know she’s all right, I’ll give my gun to your brother. Then I’ll walk down with my hands out where you can see them. Chief Thomas will walk across the deck, down the stairs and across the yard. She’ll meet me at the footbridge. I’ll come over to you when she’s on this side of the creek.”

“How do I know you don’t have hidden weapons?”

Rob said, “Your brother is going to pat me down. I’ll hand him the phone when I’ve spoken to Madeline Thomas. Free her hands.”

“I need to cut the rope,” Vance muttered. “I’ll have to put the phone down.”

“Then do it.”

If Rob had been standing where Maddie was, he could have taken Vance out in the clumsy interval while Vance wrestled one-handed with a pocket knife. He had slipped the phone into his jacket pocket again. Madeline stood head down, as if dazed. Rob hoped she wasn’t.

When her hands were free at last and she held them out, Jack gave a little sob.

Rob said, “Let me talk to her.”

Vance handed Maddie the phone.

“I have Jack here, Madeline. Can you hear me?”

“Yes.” Her hand fumbled the phone. “My hand’s asleep. Tell Jack I love him.”

Rob waited.

“I won’t let you do this, Lieutenant.” Her voice was hoarse from disuse. She cleared her throat.

“Why not? It makes sense.”

“Maybe to you. I have a responsibility to my people.”

Rob’s anger blazed. “What is it with you, Chief? Do you always hog the limelight? There are more lives at stake here than yours. You’ve already sacrificed one young man to your little project. If Vance Tichnor is cornered out at the gate, he won’t hesitate to shoot everything in sight.”

I can’t—”

Rob closed his eyes and counted backwards from ten. “I’m sorry. That was out of line. Please, Madeline, just walk out of there and tell your kids to go home.”

“You’re sure? The Dancers—”

“I’ll bring The Dancers out to you.”

Silence. Rob heard Vance say something sharp.

“All right.” Madeline sounded weary. “I’ll do what you say.”

Vance took the phone from her. “Satisfied?”

“Yes. Thank you. Can you see me?”

“Yes, but I don’t see…ah, there’s Ethan. Okay, big brother, disarm the bastard.”

Rob handed Dr. Tichnor the telephone and withdrew his handgun from the shoulder holster. The doctor took it with shaking fingers and dropped it into his pocket. His jacket sagged from the weight.

Rob held his arms out. “Tell him you’re searching me.”

Tichnor complied and Vance said something.

“He asked if you’re wearing a bulletproof vest. He wants you to remove it.”

“Okay.” Rob dropped the Kevlar vest on the weeds at his feet. He felt lighter and colder. He pulled his jacket back in place.

The snow had almost stopped. Patches of white gleamed on the dirt of Vance’s yard.

The doctor kept the phone to his ear with his left hand. His right moved lightly over Rob, patting but not prodding. Vance’s voice squawked.

“He says you can start walking now. Take care, Robert.”

“Yes.”

“She’s coming,” Jack muttered.

Rob picked his way down the uneven slope to the footbridge, careful to keep his hands in sight. When he reached the bridge, he waited for Maddie. She walked as if something hurt.

When she reached him, she said, “I am more sorry than I can say.”

“Go send your people home.” Rob kept walking. Vance Tichnor loomed. He stood well back, close to the door as if wary of snipers. He kept the gun centered on Rob’s face, holding the weapon in both hands. Rob thought it was a .38.

“Come up here, sucker.”

Rob climbed the stairs with deliberation, hands out from his sides. Empty hands, he thought. That’s good. Tichnor was sweating. As Rob approached the door, Tichnor took a step sideways and Rob felt cold metal touch his ear.

“In the house ahead of me. No tricks.”

Rob took his time, eyes narrowed against the light. The lounge was huge and unfurnished except for a couple of plastic outdoor chairs. It had a very high ceiling and the colors were muted. The hardwood floors needed polishing. A huge wall of teak cabinets on the left had to be the media center.

“Sit,” Tichnor said. “I’m going to tie you up.”

Empty hands, Rob thought. He turned slowly so as not to alarm the other man. “I thought maybe you’d show me the Lauder Point loot first, Vance. I’ve been looking for it for ten years, after all.”

Vance gave a sneering laugh. “Some detective.”

“It’s supposed to be interesting, especially the petroglyphs.” Rob kept his face blank, hands out from his sides, light and empty. He had an impulse to remove his boots, too, as if he were engaged in some kind of mystical martial arts lesson. He held Tichnor’s gaze.

Vance laughed, a sharp, uneasy sound, and shrugged. “Sure. Why not?”

“You’ll want me to help you move the stuff. The petroglyphs must weigh a lot.” They were on the small side, as rock drawings went, but had to be heavy.

Vance thought. “You move them. I hold the gun.”

“Whatever. Where is it?”

“Over there.” Vance gestured with the gun. Getting careless.

Rob walked slowly across the room and touched the handle of the “closet” door. It opened with a heavy, soundless swing that indicated its true function. “Where’s the light?”

“Left of the door.”

Rob felt and touched a switch. The lights came up gradually and he caught his breath.