Under Currents (30 page)

“Open the window,” Julie said.

“I have one side cracked. They won’t suffocate.”

Julie climbed in the truck’s cab beside Frank, still gripping the metal box in her hand. While he concentrated on backing out, she waved to a neighbor passing by.”

“Just remember the cargo in back,” Frank reminded.

How can I forget?

Her kids’ lives were in danger. She didn't doubt for one second that Frank wouldn't hesitate to drive off without her, taking her children with him.

“Have you been working for
the boss
since you first came here?”

“Shortly afterwards.”

“I see.” She had to keep Frank talking, maybe he’d slip up and say too much. “I know why he wants me dead but why Caleb?”

“Let’s just say McGregor and him have a history together. It has nothing to do with him wanting you dead.”

“What did Caleb do to him?"

“The boss was gonna leave McGregor alone until the two of you started snooping into the past. You opened a jar of bees. He’s a marked man.”

Julie’s breath froze in her lungs.

He’s talking about Connie’s diary.

“You’re working for Devin Vincent, aren’t you?”

“Yep. Can’t make a living working for the Faith Police Department. When he told me to take Caleb out, I couldn’t have been happier. I enjoyed every minute of beating his pansy ass.”

“So why are you running if you’re one of his boys?”

“Like I said, I know too much. When his father-in-law who already has terminal cancer dies, his wife will inherit the old man’s millions. Their marriage is already shaky. It wouldn’t take much to make her file for a divorce. I know he’s planned an accident for her once she has her daddy's money. Then he plans to marry his mistress.”

“He doesn’t trust you?”

“He did. Until he learned I’m the one who killed Hopkins. He thinks I’ll turn on him to save your ass. And now that I’m suspended, I’m useless to him.”

Julie glanced back through the glass in the truck's cab. Scott held a sobbing Ally in his arms. They both had sweat running down their faces. Both looked miserable.

“Frank, they’re hungry. Can’t we get them something to eat?”

“Not until we stop for gas.”

An hour down the road, Frank pulled into a service station in Poplar Bluff. Luckily it had a Subway inside. He pinched the end of her chin and turned her face toward him. “The camper is locked.” He dangled the key in front of her. “You try anything and I’ll throw you out and drive away with your kids. I’ll let my friend have them both. You’ll never see them again. Understand?”

“Yes.”

I can’t let him take us out of the state.

Julie waited until Frank had gone inside to open the metal cigar box and removed the long, sharp letter opener. She hid it under her right thigh. At the right moment, she would use it.

Frank carried two bags and drinks. He opened the back and handed Scott one of the sacks and two small drinks before returning to the cab. Julie only stared at the food and drink he handed her. After he ate, he pulled back on the road.

She needed to make a move soon. The Poplar Bluff evening traffic crept slowly due to construction. There were lots of highway workers who might come to her aid. Up ahead she saw a man holding up a stop sign. Brake lights lit up in front of them.

Do it now!

While Frank concentrated on the traffic, Julie tightened her grip on the letter opener. She needed a distraction. He eased his foot down on the brake preparing to stop.

This was her opportunity.

In one motion, Julie leaned toward Frank, stretched her leg over his, and gripped the steering wheel with her left hand.

“Shit, Julie. Let go.” Frank wrestled for control of the steering wheel.

Still gripping the wheel, she managed to stomp on the accelerator. The truck’s engine roared as it lunged ahead, ramming the car in front of them.

“Son-of-a-bitch,” Frank shouted.

A dominoes effect resulted. The impact jolted them forward before slamming them back. She glanced through the small back window in the cab and saw Scott and Ally tumbling around like clothes in a dryer.

“Your kids are as good as dead.”

“No, you are.” Hyped up on adrenaline, Julie drove the letter opener into the bulging vein on the side of his neck.

Blood squirted everywhere.

A look of horror filled his eyes. He raised his hand and jerked out the wicked metal opener. Even more blood came out. He held his palm over the wound, trying to slow the bleeding.

“See you in hell,” Frank whispered in a muffled voice.

He slumped over the steering wheel.

She immediately unlocked the door, stepped out, and hollered for an officer who’d stopped because of the accident. She stood with Frank’s blood covering her.

The officer rushed to the truck. “Ma’am, where are you injured?”

“I’m not. I killed him. He forced us to go with him. My children are locked in back. Please get them out. He has the key in his pocket.”

The officer first checked on Frank. “We need a medic.” He motioned at another officer. “Call for an ambulance.”

“He swore he‘d kill them if I didn’t cooperate, so I caused him to wreck. We fought, and I stabbed him.” Julie glanced at Frank’s blood on her skin and clothes. She couldn’t hold back the sobs.

“Calm down, ma’am. You’re safe now.”

“I don’t want my kids seeing me like this. We have clothes in the back.”

“We’ll have someone drive your kids to the station. You’ll be able to clean up and change before they see you.”

“Thanks.”

Scott and Ally were escorted into another car that pulled out immediately. Maybe it had been a mistake not staying with her children. Both of them had been crying.

An ambulance arrived, and a paramedic checked Frank’s vitals. “I’m not getting a pulse. The object entered his jugular and caused exsanguination.”

The officer joined them. “Call the medical examiner. This is a homicide.”

Homicide.

But she had no choice. Did she? Would they arrest her?

Her hands shook at the thought of killing someone, even someone as rotten as Frank. There had been no doubt in her mind that he would've killed her kids or left them with some deranged child molester.

An officer took pictures of Frank and of her. She felt like a criminal. Was she?

The news vans pulled up and several more police cars arrived on the scene.

Julie climbed in the back of a squad car and was driven to the station where they’d taken her kids.

At the station, she cleaned up and changed into clean clothes before joining a detective for questioning. Again, she repeated what had happened.

“My children are minors. I want to be present if they’re interrogated.”

He grinned. “Once they stopped crying, we couldn’t shut them up.”

“Do I need an attorney?”

“We’re not arresting you. Your children’s stories go along with what you’ve told us. It’s clear Grear took you under duress. An autopsy will be performed and a ruling made later. We’re letting you go home. We’ll need to speak with you again, so we’ll be in contact.”

“The officer said it was a homicide.”

“Justifiable homicide.”

Relief trickled through Julie.

It was eight that night by the time her parents arrived at the police station to take them home.

♦♦♦

Julie soaked in a tub and was numb over what had happened. Her mind drifted to Aunt Noreen’s confession. What prominent family had adopted her son? It had to be someone still in the area since Noreen said she had watched him grow up. He would be one or two years older than Amy. Then she thought of the rich families in the area. All of them had more than one child—but one. 

She recalled the face of Reece Stanford she’d seen from an old article she’d found online. Now she knew why he had seemed familiar. There were a lot of similarities between the two handsome men.

She planned to stop by Aunt Noreen’s house and confront her.

As she stepped out of the tub, she stared at her breasts in the mirror. They appeared larger. She hadn’t had another period since being with Caleb the day they’d met at the river.

You’re pregnant.

Please no. This isn’t the right time.

Her gaze dropped to her stomach, and she recalled the several mornings she hadn’t felt well. Julie placed her palm down on her stomach and wondered if Caleb’s child rested in her womb. She would pick up a pregnancy test and find out for sure before allowing herself to become emotional over it. If she were pregnant, she’d keep it to herself. Caleb didn't need anything else dumped on his plate right now.

Hopefully, she’d just gained a few pounds. Since going to the hospital to visit Caleb, she had been snacking on junk food and not exercising.

She slipped on her robe and walked into the den where her mother and father sat in front of the television.

“It’s all over the news,” her mother said.

Thinking about what Frank said, she called the hospital. Caleb’s condition had improved greatly, and he’d been moved to a room. What if someone tried to kill Caleb? She dialed his room and didn’t get an answer, so she called the nurses’ station. A nurse assured he was fine and had been given something to help him sleep.

No wonder he hadn’t answered the phone.

Julie glanced around the room. “Are Scott and Ally in bed?”

Her father changed the channel before glancing at her. “Ally’s in the tub, and Scott’s watching a movie in our room.”

She looked at her father. “Then we need to talk.”

Julie waited until her mother left the room to check on Scott and Ally before she discussed what Frank had said.

“Dad, the man who wants me to sell is the same man who wants Caleb dead. You’ll never believe who it is.”

“Who?”

“Devin Vincent. I have no idea why. He isn't one of the property owners who would benefit from the sale. He must have some kind of interest in the casino.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t make that drive to St. Louis alone.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“I want you to take my Walther P-.22. It’s a semi-automatic and easy to use.”

"I remember how to shoot.” She hugged him. “I probably won't need it, but just to be safe.”

“Never put a gun in your purse. Keep it in your pocket, ready to use.”

Ally and her mother returned to the den, so Julie ended the conversation.

“I wanna go. I wanna see Caleb,” Ally said, with a slight pout on her lips.

“The hospital doesn’t allow small children. Why don’t you draw him a picture for when he comes home?”

“Would Caleb like that?”

“I think he would. Draw one of him helping us fly our kites."

“Okay. Tell Caleb I love him.”

Neither of her parents looked too pleased. A lot of people would have to eat crow once Caleb’s name was cleared, especially her mom.

Early the next morning, Julie headed out alone for St. Louis.

Before hitting the highway, she drove to the other side of town and parked in Noreen’s driveway, left her car, and knocked on the door.

Noreen answered it. “Julie, what’s wrong?”

“Is Uncle Bob home?”

“No, he left early for the tire store.”

“Is Devin Vincent your son?”

Noreen paled. She nodded. “Now you see my dilemma. To help Caleb who has suffered the same fate as Reece means I betray my son. I realize if I had never slept with Reece, or if I had faced my parents and kept my baby, Amy wouldn’t have died.”

“Don’t blame yourself.”

“I want to show you something. Have a seat.” Aunt Noreen returned with a scrapbook and sat beside her. She opened it. Her aunt had all Devin’s school pictures. “I ordered a yearbook every year to get pictures of him. I saved everything about him that made the paper.”

“I don’t think you’ve missed one year.”

“I used to attend the football games to see him play. I was so relieved when the police arrested Caleb instead of Devin.” 

“That’s understandable.” Julie couldn’t believe the living memorial her aunt kept. “Uncle Bob has never seen this?”

“No, he never snoops.” Aunt Noreen hesitated. “I’m confessing everything to him tonight. I’m tired of keeping secrets. And if he wants to leave, I’ll let him.”

“I doubt he will. I have to go.” Julie leaned and kissed her aunt’s cheek. “I love you.” She stood and left.

While driving, Julie called Caleb’s attorney, Samuel Malone. He seemed cold and unfriendly. Then she recalled that Devin’s father had recommended him. Had Devin’s father helped his son cover up a murder by framing Caleb? The lawyer insisted Caleb would need to request the records not her.

She waited until she was outside of town before she stopped at a drug store and purchase a pregnancy test. If she bought it in Faith, the news would get back to her mother before lunchtime. She stuck the small box in her tote bag, then headed toward St. Louis.

Several times Julie glanced in the mirror and spotted the same car behind her. It unnerved her to think someone might be tailing her. Were they working for Devin Vincent? She sped up trying to lose them, but they remained one or two cars back.

By the time Julie reached the hospital, the light blue sedan that had been behind her had turned off. She pulled into the garage and parked. Julie left her van and didn’t see anyone. Remembering Frank's warning, an eerie feeling swept over her.

Julie walked toward the garage elevator. The sedan pulled up, and its brakes squealed. Two big, burly men quickly left the car and walked her way.

She turned and ran down a row of parked cars. Behind her their heavy footfalls echoed in the vastness of the garage. She urgently hit the button. When the elevator door didn’t open, she pulled open the heavy blue door beside it and ran up the stairs.

Run. Run. Run. Don't stop.

Adrenaline shot through her veins, sending her heartbeat into overdrive. Julie paused halfway up and listened. At first, she only heard her heart hammering loudly. Then heavy footsteps thudded the concrete steps. The two men rounded the corner and lunged toward her. She turned and ran up the second flight of stairs.