Something Borrowed, Something Bleu Part 12

aI talked to Krista Jaikes.a Frustration lent a rasp to my words. aShe told me about that night.a I gestured behind me. aDown there, by that river. Youave lived where it happened all this time. How does that make you feel?a Her fingers crept over her mouth.

aShe knows there werenat any runaway siblings, no Tom and Jane Smith. She knows who was really there.a I was half-fishing, though Iad thought about it a lot. The look in Tabbyas eyes said I was on the right track. aThere was Tabitha Atwood and Joe Bines.a It could have been Bobby Lee, but he wasnat the one who blackmailed Ogden Dunner.

aTheyare going to reopen Gwen Milleras case.a Yes, a flat-out lie. Tabby didnat notice. I didnat have any qualms about telling it, and I wished to G.o.d it were true. Maybe that was the key: needing to believe your own lie. aAnd theyall be asking questions. Lots of questions.a She still didnat say anything.

aTabby! Gwen Miller is dead. Bobby Lee is dead. Joe is dead. They have to be connected.a Fear shone from her eyes.

aArenat you frightened?a And I could tell Iad hit home. Tabby Bines was downright terrified.

aPlease, please: tell me what happened. Was Bobby Lee there? Was Gwen Miller the reason he killed himself?a aNo,a she whispered. aHe came later. To pick us up. I called him. I was scared.a So she had been there. And Bobby Lee hadnat been, at least not until later. I wanted to crow over this small victory, this tiny bit of information Iad finally managed to extract.

But I kept my voice even when I said, aThank you for finally admitting that. I mean it.a She gave a tiny nod in response.

aSo Joe was there with you? Why couldnat he take you home?a Her shoulders slumped, and she covered her face with both hands as something inside of her let go. She half-sat on the table. Her arms fell to her sides, knocking photographs of her dead husband to the floor. Tabby didnat seem to notice. Red-rimmed eyes regarded me for a long moment then her gaze shunted away.

aWe came out here with Gwen and Krista. In Kristaas car. I wanted to leave, but she wouldnat take me home.a Her words were hesitant, heavy with memory.

As gently as I could, I asked, aWhat happened that night, Tabby?a She looked out the window behind me, toward the river. I followed her gaze. The water she was remembering was invisible from where we were, but I could see the thunderheads, gray and threatening, stacked high on the horizon. The hay in the field undulated in waves as the wind picked up. Distant rumblings through the thick summer air gave fair warning of an impending storm.

aIt was late.a Her voice had a dreamy quality to it. aThe cold was bitter, raw. We didnat careawe were just stupid kids, goofing around, joking and smoking. A little snow had fallen, and the moon was almost full. It was almost as bright as daylight, but everything was in black and white. It was so beautiful.a She licked her lips. aThen Gwen screamed. From behind me. She she fell in the water, slipped and went under. It wasnat that deep, but she couldnat get out. Maybe she hit her head. I donat know. So Joe waded in and took hold of her arm and dragged her to the riverbank. G.o.d.a She closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. Opened her eyes. aGwen was so cold. So was Joe, but he hadnat been in the water as long as she had, and he was only wet to his thighs. We tried to walk her back to the house, but she kept falling. Joe and Ray had to carry her between them. Krista ran ahead to get Rayas dad out of bed.a aWhat did Ogden do?a I asked when she paused.

aHe met us in the yard, helped get her inside. Tried to get her warm. Wrapped her in blankets, put heating pads around her, rubbed her hands and feet.a aHe didnat take her straight to the hospital then.a Hesitation, then, aNot right away. He tried to save her, tried really hard. Her lips were blue. I could see she wasnat going to make it.a aIs that what scared you?a aYeah. That and Ray. He was so angry, yelling at her to wake up, telling her how stupid she was to fall in like that.a She licked her lips. aKrista wasnat going to leave her friend, but I wanted to leave. Joeas feet were in bad shape, too, from wading in the freezing water, but no one paid any attention to him. So I called Bobby Lee to come get us.a aYou called him at home? That late?a aI told him Iad call when I got home that night. As long as we planned it ahead of time your parents never woke up when the phone rang.a I knew why, too. Iad taught Bobby Lee how to unplug all the phones in the house except the one in the bas.e.m.e.nt when he was expecting a phone call after Dad and Anna Belle went to bed.

aAnd he came and got you?a She nodded. aBy then they were talking about taking Gwen to the hospital. There wasnat room for us in the car anyway, with her lying in the backseat. Joe pulled Ogden aside and talked to him for a few minutes. Then everyone else left, and we waited until Bobby Lee showed up.a aWhy didnat you follow them to the hospital in Kristaas car?a Tabby looked out the window. aWe didnat want to be involved. Joe had been in some trouble with the policeaminor stuff, but only a few weeks before. And there wasnat anything I could do to help. There was no reason for us to go to the hospital.a I didnat know what to say. Their behavior wouldnat win them any awards for bravery, but I could understand it, too. They were kidsanot little children, but not adults, either. And there was an adult present who was supposed to know what to do in emergencies. Plus, it didnat help that theyad probably been sampling some of Ray Dunneras illegal offerings.

What I still didnat understand was why no one had admitted Tabby and Joe had been there in the first place. Why the story about the runaway siblings?

Tires crunched on gravel outside.

Tabby whirled and peered out the window. Her eyes widened. aOh, no.a I joined her. The same big black pickup that had been parked in front of my parentsa house when Iad come home from my walk had pulled in next to the dairyas delivery van.

Her fingers closed on my arm. aHeas here for me.a Ray Dunner climbed down from the driveras seat and slammed the door. His ruddy face was visible from our vantage. He stood with his fists on his hips and surveyed the area.

aHere for you?a I asked, even though I knew.

Her fingers tightened, and I winced. aTo kill me.a Hearing the words sent a trill of terror through my veins, but there was a part of me that resisted panic, too busy trying to figure out the rest of the puzzle. aI donat get it. Nothing you told meawait a minute, what about the blackmail? Was it completely unrelated to Gwen Milleras death?a Ray walked over and looked in the window of Anna Belleas car.

Tabby whispered, aJoe saw Ray push her in.a My mind scrambled to make sense of her words. Ray had killed Gwen. Joe witnessed it and made a deal with Ogden, who had given up his dream to protect his son. It explained the antagonism between Ray and Joe, the frequent fights. Joe got the land and the girl with the pretty blue eyes; Ray got to work in a rundown car dealership and wake up every day to the knowledge of his fatheras sacrifice. It all added up to more than enough motive for murder.

Ray opened the door of the Audi and pulled out my tote bag. I groaned as I saw him take the car keys out and put them in his pocket. My cell phone followed, and then he rifled my wallet. Holding it up to the light, he eyeballed my driveras license. Then he took the cash out and stuffed that in his pocket, too.

What a jerk.

Thatall teach you not to leave your keys in the car, small town or no small town.

Ray started up the little hill to the house. As he walked, he reached around to the small of his back and pulled something out of his waistband. It glinted in the odd gray light of the oncoming storm.

aGun,a I said without thinking.

Beside me, Tabby nodded.

She was right about Rayas lethal intentions. This time there would be no spur-of-the-moment use of whatever weapon came to hand; this time head come prepared. Whether or not she had been directly involved, Tabby knew Joe had blackmailed Ogden. Ray had crossed the line when he killed Joe, and for someone with such a violent nature, my bet was that the second time it would be easier. Make that the third time, since head been responsible for Gwen Milleras death as well.

A new reason for panic surfaced. aIs Delight up there?a I asked.

Tabby shook her head. aSheas at my momas.a Gently, I tried to pry her grasp from my arm. aWhere are Gretchen and Eduardo?a aEduardoas day off. Gretchen wasnat feeling well, so I sent her home early.a aWeare here alone?a Tabby nodded, and I heard her swallow. aI should have known. Why didnat I think to bring it with me?a Her voice rose.

aShh. Bring what?a aMy gun. Itas up at the house. On the kitchen counter.a Fear laced the words.

My jaw slackened as the realization struck me. Good Lord. Shead been expecting something like this. It was why Delight wasnat home. It was probably why her help wasnat here either.

And Iad walked right into it.

aYouave known all along who killed Joe,a I breathed. Turned to look at her.

Her face was a mask of hard determination, but her chin swung back and forth. aI only suspected. They had a history.a Well, that was true enough. Even Schumaker had admitted that.

aWe have to get my gun,a she said.

aIad rather get a phone. Or get out of here,a I said. aDo you have the keys to your Jeep on you? Or to the delivery truck?a Her response was an impatient shake of her head.

aCell phone?a aNot with me.a c.r.a.p. aThen wead better leave before he comes back out of the house. Run down to the county road and flag someone down.a She looked at me and bit her lip, indecision all over her face.

aLet the authorities take care of Ray Dunner.a Tabby still didnat move.

aWe have to get out of here. Now.a aRight. Okay.a She put her hand on the door handle. aLetas go.a Her hip brushed against one of the crates stacked against the wall. The empty milk bottles inside rattled and clanked against each other.

The crate began to tip. Tabby opened the door.

My hand flew out to steady the crate.

Not in time.

It fell to the floor with an unholy crash audible in Kansas. If Ray Dunner hadnat known where we were before, he certainly did now.

I grabbed her hand. aCome on!a aTabitha a Rayas voice drifted in from the parking lot, and he walked around the back of the delivery van to find us half out of the doorway. We hadnat seen him return from the house.

He smiled and held up a hand gun. aThis yours, Tabby?a Thunder rolled across the sky as we ducked back into the cla.s.sroom. I slammed the door shut and threw the bolt lock.

aNow, what did you go and do that for?a His voice drew closer.

Tabby and I stared at each other like scared rabbits. I swear my nose twitched with fright.

aEnough is enough, Tabitha,a Ray yelled from the other side of the door. aYou have our land. You canat have anything else. Iam putting a stop to it.a aI donat want anything from your family,a Tabby called. aI never asked for anything in the first place. That was all Joe.a Ray kicked the door, and we jumped.

aStop antagonizing him,a I hissed.

Barr was going to kill me when he found out about thisaif I werenat dead already. The thought galvanized me. I was going to get married, d.a.m.n it, and I wasnat about to die at the hands of this violent nutcase. My gaze swept the room, weighing the options. Hoping.

There.

I hurried to the window in the back and slid it open. It was three feet wide and low to the ground. Piece of cake to climb out. The wind blasted in, scattering the photos of Joe around the room. I hiked one leg over the sill and lifted myself through.

Tabby was right behind me. The sound of the front window breaking followed us as we veered to the right and ran up toward the house. The sky loomed above, packed with volatile potential. A few fat drops of rain splatted down. We reached the front door, and I turned to see Ray lumbering up the hill.

aDo you have another gun?a I yelled to Tabby, my heart loud in my ears. Why werenat we inside yet?

aThat son of aahe locked the door!a aDonat you keep a spare key out here?a She shook her head in disgust. Together, we launched off the step and sprinted around to the rear of the house. Tabby started for the back door, but I grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the barn. If head locked the front door, head probably locked the back one, too.

We zig-zagged to the far side of the milking barn and stood with our backs flat against it. The small herd of dairy cows crowded into the covered area near the doors. I didnat know whether it was time for them to be milked, or if they didnat like the weather. The temperature had dropped, and the wind had a bite to it. The rain came down faster. Bigger.

Harder. Rounder.

Great.

aWe have to get inside the barn,a I shouted as the hail increased in intensity. The ground around us squirmed with half-inch ice pellets.

aNo. Heall look there, and we canat keep him out. Come on.a She took off toward the trailer that housed the mold-ripened cheeses.

I followed, the hail bouncing off my skull, striking the bare flesh of my arms and shoulders. The smooth soles of my sandals slid on the slippery ground, and I went down on the same knee Iad sc.r.a.ped when Billy the goat sent me flying.

Ow.

We stumbled in through the door. Tabby slammed the door closed and twisted the dead bolt home.

The sudden darkness made me blink. Humid air brushed clammy fingers against my cheek. Hailstones pummeled the metal roof above, an inescapable, earsplitting roar of pure sound. The concentrated odor of mold lodged in my throat and sinuses. I gagged. My arms, neck, and back tingled and stung from a hundred tiny blows, and my damp clothes clung to my skin. Shivers ran from my scalp all the way to my toes, and I clamped my jaw shut so my teeth would stop chattering.

I took a step and ran into a table. Turned the other direction and earned another bruise. Something grabbed at my arm, and I shrieked, flailing. The greater cacophony buried my screams. Whatever it was, it let go.

Sinking to the floor, I sat huddled, rocking. Waiting. I couldnat see, couldnat hear, and could barely breathe. Tears streamed down my face from the smell.

At least I blamed the smell.

Oh, and I was probably going to die, too.

A curtain twitched at the end of the trailer. The tiniest bit of light seeped in, granting instant vision to my fully dilated eyes. Tabby stood by a small square of window. Thick black plastic covered most of it, but shead worked the staples out of one corner.

Mold grew better in the dark and the wet. Hence the caves. Of course. We were in a simulated cave.

I shook my head and stood, trying to orient myself. Shelves stacked with rounds of cheese ran down both sides of a narrow aisle. Strips of plastic sheeting hung from the ceiling to provide crude cover. One of them must have touched my arm in the dark.

Nice, Sophie Mae. Panicked by a sneeze guard.

Like a pan of popcorn cooking on the stove, the hail slowed, gave a few more raps on the roof, and ceased. An eerie silence descended for a long moment. Then a crack of thunder split the air, and my slowing heartbeat jumped again.

My hands were shaking. But nothing had grabbed me. We were still alive. I could hear myself think. My nose was becoming inured to the odor of mold, and we had enough cheese to survive in here for months.

So why did the light from the window reveal such intense fear on Tabbyas face?

I lurched to her side, scanning the artificial twilight outside for danger. No sign of Ray Dunner.

She pointed up.

Dark gray clouds scudded overhead, but to the northeast the sky loomed an evil slate-green. A flash rent the rumpled flannel, then another. Constant, almost conversational thunder rolled all around us. Staying in a metal building during a nasty thunderstorm wouldnat be terribly smart. At least the hail seemed to be over.

Tabby swirled her finger in the air. I frowned, and then my eyes widened in comprehension.

Uh oh.

The thunderhead spread dark fingers toward the landscape, and, while we watched, a spiral of clouds slowly tightened. A hailstorm was one thing, but a tornado? In August? That was a whole different can of worms.

aThis isnat necessary.a It was a manas voice.

We jerked back from the window.

aYou have to trust me, son. Just go on home.a I almost wept again. We were going to be all right. aItas Ogden Dunner,a I whispered.

Tabby put her hand on my arm and bent close to my ear. aWait.a Well, I hadnat been planning to run right out and hug him.

aGive me the gun,a Ogden said. A pause, then, aOkay, good.a A grin spread across my face, and I gave Tabby a thumbs-up. Slowly, I pulled up the corner of the window covering again. A quick peek revealed more dark, rotating clouds, but neither of the Dunners were visible. The voices had come from below us and to the right.

Leaning forward, Tabby whispered into my ear. aRay has my thirty-eight, too. He may not have given both of them to his dad.a Ogdenas voice again. aNow go. Iall take care of this.a aWhat are you going to do?a Ray asked. He sounded angry, but I didnat think it was at his father. aOnce Tabithaas gone, we wonat have to worry any more. No one else knows anything.a aWe canat count on that,a his father said.

aBut you said there was nothing in Watsonas letter.a Rayas tone had a whiny edge to it.

aHis sisteras asking a lot of questions, and now the sheriffas people are looking into everything that has to do with this property again, digging up old relationships. Theyare investigating you. Itas my fault, I know. But Joe didnat exactly give me a choice. Iam afraid Iave backed us into a real corner, son.a Tabbyas shaking hand still gripped my arm. I watched the sky and listened.

aWe canat keep trying to patch this mess. Trying only made it worse.a Ogden continued. aYou havenat killed anyone yet. At least not that anyone can prove. Iave thought long and hard about what to tell the authorities about the Miller girl, and I donat think youall have to serve time. Or at least not much time. After what I did, I donat think Iall be so lucky.a Holy c.r.a.p: Ogden Dunner had killed Joe!

I strained to hear more.

aIam not serving any time, old man.a Rayas voice dripped with disgust. aNot then, and not now. Gwenas death was an accident. You were so ready to believe Joe, to believe Iad hurt her, that you gave away everything we had.a aRayaa aYou were a fool then and youare a fool now if you think Iam going to jail.a aThey think you killed Joe.a aBut we know better, donat we a Rayas voice faded as the pair walked away.

Tabbyas grip on my arm was starting to cut off blood flow. I pulled away. aWhat were you thinking, trying to blackmail the Dunners all over again?a She shook her head. aI wasnat. Ray thought I was, but I never wanted anything from them. The blackmail was all Joeas doing. I didnat even see Gwen go in the river that night; I told you that.a aYou wanted the dairy,a I said. aMore than anything.a aBut by the time I married him, Joe already had this land.a aIs that the reason you married him?a She licked her lips and looked away. aPartly.a aAnd you knew how he got the Rancho Sueo property, didnat you.a aWell yeah.a Whatever look crossed my face made her flinch.

Outside, something hit the mold house with a loud crunching noise. The trailer rocked, and we stumbled. Rounds of cheese flew off the shelf, and I ducked as one narrowly missed my head. Tabby tore the blackout covering from the window, exposing the fully formed funnel cloud now dancing across the landscape. It was still miles away, and it was unclear which direction it was moving. In the artificial gloaming, the muscular twister conveyed power and malevolence.

Iad grown up in this area. May and June dinners were often eaten in the bas.e.m.e.nt because of tornado warnings. Old hat, but that thing still scared the bejesus out of me.

Frightened me more, even, than the two men with guns searching the dairy for Tabitha Bines and yours truly.

aWe have to get out of here,a I said, no longer trying to be quiet. aWhere?a This wouldnat be Tabbyas first experience with a tornado, either. Shead know the best place to hunker down.

aWe always go in the bas.e.m.e.nt when thereas a warning, but if the house is still locked we canat get in.a aNowhere else? Storage under the barn?a aBarnas right on the ground. Too open. The cla.s.sroom has those big windows.a Not to mention all the gla.s.s bottles.

aWhat about the river cut bank?a she suggested.

A cut bank was where the river had eaten away at the soil, leaving a vertical drop to the water. aHow deep?a I asked.