A Haunting Dream (A Missing Pieces Mystery) (23 page)

I was finally able to force the rag out of my mouth with my tongue, and I started yelling. The sound of the waves crashing was very loud. I wasn’t sure anyone would hear me unless they were close by. After a few minutes, I decided to keep quiet so I wouldn’t lose my voice for when I needed it.

All I had to do was wait until I heard someone on the beach.

I tried to get my feet free, but that didn’t work out so well either. The way Derek had tied me up, the more I pulled, the tighter the ropes got. I was covered in sand from rolling around on the dunes.

I won’t give up
, I told myself as I rested my face in the wet sand. The rain continued to pelt me, and I could feel something crawling across my neck and legs.

People are looking for you
, I reminded myself. Gramps would call the donut shop when I didn’t answer my cell phone. Walt Jr. would notice the bag of donuts on the ground. He’d remember seeing me outside with Jackie and Derek. He’d know something had happened. From there it would go to Chief Michaels. Someone would find me. It was just a matter of
when
.

The rain finally stopped and the sun came out. I could hear gulls playing in the surf but no human sounds. I must’ve slept for a while—courtesy of my headache. When I woke up, my mouth was full of sand. I spit out what I could, but my voice was hoarse and dry from it. There were tiny crabs scuttling across me.

What else can I do?

I thought back to all the TV shows I’d watched and books I’d read where clever heroines managed to escape from much more dire consequences than these. A man had come to the fire department last year and taught a course in protecting yourself from an enemy. I couldn’t recall his name, but I remembered thinking that he’d had great advice. Too bad none of it pertained to my situation.

I didn’t know how long I’d been lying there. It felt like days. My mind was bursting with fears about myself, Betsy and Missing Pieces. The shop would be totally trashed, no doubt. But if I survived, I could clean it up and start again.

I wished I’d had a chance to say good-bye to Kevin and Gramps. I was sorry I would never find the other two silver bells that the monks had hidden. I hated that I would never see the new town hall.

I heard a snorting sound and realized that one of the wild horses must have found me. They roamed freely across this end of the island. Left behind by various shipwrecks, their ancestors had made the Outer Banks their home, adapting and reproducing through the centuries. The wild horses were protected now, although their fate, like mine, was uncertain. Tourists enjoyed visiting them, but population growth—human and horse—on the island might still destroy them.

This horse, a little chestnut, pushed at me with his nose. He snorted again, and I heard him paw at the ground. I wished there was some way to communicate with him. I wished I had a carrot or something to bring him closer. Maybe I could reach up and hold on to him. He’d drag me away from the dunes and into the open. Or he might be able to bite at my ropes and break them.

I closed my eyes on those fantasies. I had to have a concussion to be thinking such strange thoughts.

Maybe now would be a good time to start yelling again.

Chapter 26

“W
ell, what have we got here?” A deep, male voice
startled me. “Looks like you were having a little too much fun on vacation, ma’am.”

“Kidnapped!” I rasped, trying to get my mouth out of the sand. “Not on vacation!”

Gloved hands flipped me over. “Kidnapped, huh? You look all trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey.”

“I’m waiting to be rescued,” I croaked, not caring that he’d just called me a turkey. “You look like Prince Charming to me.”

“Prince Charming, huh?” He chuckled as he felt around for the knots to untie me. “I don’t think anyone’s ever called me that. I’m Jake Burleson, since we seem to be getting personal. And you are?”

“Mayor Dae O’Donnell from Duck.” I briefly told him what had happened.

He made appropriate “hmms”
and
“ohhs” as he wrestled with the knots. But I knew he was listening and the tale would be retold. He was undoubtedly a Banker.

Finally I was free. He helped me to my feet and brushed the sand and my wayward hair out of my face with a gentle hand.

He was a good-looking man, in a cowboy-type fashion. He had longish blond hair and bright blue eyes with dark lashes fringing them. His skin was deeply tanned. He wore a dark T-shirt and tight, low-slung jeans that seemed barely held together by a thread. And he had a very nice smile.

My legs weren’t too steady, and I was grateful for his hands on my arms. “Thank you. Thank you so much, Jake. I-I wasn’t sure if I was going to be found.”

“I’m sure you have friends already out searching for you, Miss Dae. Just relax now. Everything is gonna be fine.”

“I have to get back to Duck right away.” I hated to ask but it was important. I didn’t even know how long I’d been out there. “Can you help me?”

“Course you do. I’m sure you’re a busy lady. I’ve been working on my old truck all morning. I don’t think she’ll get you there. Maybe you could call the police and they could come and get you.”

I searched my pockets, but my cell phone was gone. “They must have taken my phone. Do you have one I could use?”

He looked contrite. “I’m sorry, Miss Dae, but I don’t have a phone. Some rescuer I turned out to be, huh? Do you ride?”

As we walked toward his home, Jake explained that he had taken in three wild horses several years back when it looked as though all of the animals might be kicked off the island. A few newcomers had complained about them getting into places they didn’t belong—yards and gardens. That was why the state had moved to protect them. I had hoped they’d never be threatened again.

Jake’s home was a one-room cabin set off in the woods, surrounded by fences and horses cropping grass. When we got there, the hunky cowboy looked me over and asked me how much I weighed.

“About a hundred and twenty,” I said. “Why do you need to know?”

“Penelope can get you to Duck fastest, but she won’t tolerate inexperienced hands on the reins. I’d have to go with you. She shouldn’t have any problem with our weights together—as long as you’re telling the truth.”

His sky bright eyes searched mine as though he could see into my soul. “That’s what I weighed this morning,” I said in my most sincere tone.

He grinned. “All right. Then we should be good to go. Let me get a blanket. Penelope doesn’t like saddles.”

A few minutes later, I was on the back of one of the wild horses. My escort sat in front of me, and I was holding on for dear life, hoping not to fall as we galloped down the side of the highway.

I’d never ridden a horse before, wild or not. It was a lot worse than a motorcycle. I hoped I’d be able to walk once we got back to Duck.

Jake clearly lived off the grid. He was one of those strong, silent types. He hardly said two words to me as he spurred the brown and white along. I kept hoping we’d pass someone who was looking for me and willing to give me a ride. But I wasn’t that lucky.

It had been hours since Derek and Jackie had dropped me off—I’d checked a clock at Jake’s cabin before we left. Anything could’ve happened during that time. It was more than enough time to search Missing Pieces.

Jake and I, astride the sure-footed mare, were nearing Sanderling. My legs and feet were numb. I was also barefoot since I’d been unable to find my shoes on the beach. My suit was wet, sandy, and torn in a few places. There were rope burns on my wrists and ankles.

I was a mess.

All I needed was long hair streaming down, blowing in the salty air, and I’d look like one of my Banker ancestors. I was glad my hair was short. I was also grateful to be alive.

“Okay back there?” Jake called out as we went around a sharp curve in the road.

“Fine. Thanks.” I clenched my teeth and held on tight. I hoped he didn’t think I was groping him. It was more that I was terrified by all the up-and-down, back-and-forth motion. But my hands were still all over him. He
was
very lean and muscled.

I couldn’t believe we hadn’t seen a car all that way. I knew it was off-season, but still, wasn’t anyone out looking for me? Surely they would’ve come in this direction. It seemed to me we should’ve passed someone going from Corolla to Duck or back again. Where was everyone?

“So you’re the mayor of Duck.”

I nodded, then realized he couldn’t see me. “Yes. I’m up for reelection.”

“I’m not much on politics,” he said. “But if all mayors looked like you, I could be persuaded.”

“Thanks.” He’d meant it as a compliment and I smiled. He was very sincere. “It was wonderful for you to take those horses. I hoped someone would at the time. I didn’t want all of them to go to people off the island.”

“They belong here,” he said. “They’re part of our heritage, like the sea and the wind.”

A cowboy poet, I mused, as we reached the police/fire station.

“Do you want to stop here?” he asked.

There were no police cars in the parking lot. One FBI agent in a dark suit was getting into his plain black car. He stared at us with narrowed eyes as we slowed our frantic pace.

“Would you mind taking me farther into town?”

“No problem.”

I didn’t stop to ask for help from the FBI agent. No doubt it would have taken me an hour to explain who I was and what had happened. I didn’t have that kind of time.

We finally galloped into Duck, past the big blue water tower. I wanted desperately to go home and change clothes—but what if I didn’t stop Derek and Jackie at Missing Pieces? They would get away with what they’d done to me as well as the two murders. Without their help, we might never find Betsy.

I knew I’d have to go on to the shop. If people saw me looking like a wild creature, there was a good story that went with it. I was prepared to tell it as many times as I had to. It would take a while for people to discuss and understand what had happened. But if I could catch Derek and Jackie red-handed, it would all be worth it.

I asked Jake to let me off in the Duck Shoppes parking lot. He slowed the obedient horse, jumped down and put his hands on my waist to help me slide to the pavement. I had a moment when I wasn’t sure if my legs would hold me, but Jake kind of smiled and stood there as though he understood.

“Where is everyone?” He looked around at the cars packed into the parking lot but no one to be seen.

The groundbreaking! Of course! I forgot
. “They’re at the groundbreaking for the new town hall.” I didn’t want to seem ungrateful, but I needed to get to Missing Pieces. “Thanks for your help.”

“If these people are as bad as you say they are, I’ll come with you. This isn’t something you should try to do alone.”

I didn’t have the time or the energy to debate him. “Come on!”

Every part of my body was screaming in pain as I forced myself to run up the stairs to the boardwalk. I stopped at town hall. No one was there. Nancy was at the groundbreaking and reception for the new town hall with everyone else. I regretted that I had to miss it, especially since Mad Dog wouldn’t hesitate to step into my shoes and take over. But I had bigger fish to fry.

I ran to Missing Pieces, not sure what I’d do when I got there. Jake was big and looked like he could handle himself, but Jackie had the little pistol, and I felt sure Derek had something bigger. I didn’t want Jake to get hurt trying to help me.

I thought if I could catch them at the shop, I could keep them there and call for help. There was bound to be at least one part-time police officer on duty that day.

But I was too late.

The door to the shop was wide open. They’d plowed through everything on the shelves and in the aisles like wild animals. I wasn’t sure if there was a single piece of china or glass that wasn’t broken. They’d split the cushions on my sofa and knocked over the cash register. The glass case in front was smashed.

I sat down on the wounded sofa anyway and choked back tears. All my beautiful things that I’d collected, cleaned and cherished while I waited for their rightful owners were destroyed. I hadn’t checked on the St. Augustine monks’ bell in the storage room. I didn’t have the heart to look.

And I’d let everyone down. Dead Chuck, Betsy and Port. Without Derek and Jackie, there would be no justice. They were gone. It was over.

“Guess they beat you here,” Jake acknowledged. “Are the police at the groundbreaking too?”

“Probably.

“Let’s head over there,” he said in a brisk tone. “No good feeling sorry for yourself right now. You might still be able to catch the culprits. Come on!”

He took my hand, and we ran back down the boardwalk. He put me up on the horse first this time, then climbed up behind me. “Which way?” he asked after he’d wrapped his arms around me to hold the reins.

“That way,” I sniffled, pointing toward Duck Municipal Park. “Thanks.”

“My pleasure, ma’am.”

The horse moved quickly along the side of the road. As we rounded the curve, I could see the large crowd at the site of the new town hall and hear people speaking at the makeshift podium.

“Sounds like this must be it,” Jake said as we reached the spot. “Plenty of police cars.”

I agreed. “I can get off here. Thanks for your help. I don’t have any money to offer you for your time, but I’d be glad to cook you a meal at my house whenever you can make it.”

He jumped down first and lowered me to the ground. “I’ll be sure to take you up on that. It shouldn’t be too hard to find the mayor of Duck.”

People had started to notice me and Jake and Penelope. Mad Dog’s voice faltered as he spoke into the microphone.

“I’d love that. Thanks again, Jake.”

“Any time, Dae O’Donnell.” He smiled, lowered his head and kissed me lightly on the cheek. “You take care now.”

I knew I had things to do, but I hated to see him go. He’d saved my life. He’d brought me back home. It was all I could do not to start crying again.

He jumped back on the wild horse and started back down the road toward Corolla.

I turned, faced my family, friends and neighbors, and walked resolutely to my place at the podium. I knew I was a mess, but I was past caring about that either. Without considering my actions for once, I bumped Mad Dog out of the way and gave the speech that I’d prepared for this day.

When I’d finished, there was complete silence.

A moment later, thunderous applause broke out. I smiled at everyone and thanked them. It was great to be mayor of Duck. I loved this town.

Bypassing the people who surrounded me at the podium, I made my way quickly to where Chief Michaels stood at the edge of the crowd. I told him my story, and he got on his radio.

“Are you okay?” he asked once he’d gotten the word out about Jackie and Derek.

“I will be,” I promised.

He started to speak, must have thought better of it, nodded and walked toward Tim. The two of them got in a police car and headed away from the groundbreaking.

Paramedics were on the scene because of the large gathering. One looked at the cut over my eye to see if it needed stitches, then gave me a bottle of water and examined my badly bruised wrist.

“What the hell happened to you?” Kevin demanded when he’d reached me. The crowd was breaking up, but they were buzzing with plenty of fodder for the grapevine. “Are you okay? Why didn’t you call me? Who was the cowboy?”