For Old Crime's Sake (Chase Charley Mystery Book 1) (13 page)

“You’re coming with us,” Doug said as he yanked on my arm.

“Thanks just the same, but I’d rather not. As a matter of fact, I was just leaving.” I jerked my arm, but couldn’t break free.

The man practically dragged me back to the door where I’d entered the house. I stumbled a couple times and he just yanked on my arm harder.

“Take her back inside,” he ordered Russ.

Once we were back inside the room, he threw me down on the leather sofa. My head hit the arm and I groaned.

“Is that any way to treat a lady?” My voice was muffled since my face had landed on the cushion.

“Sit down and shut up. You talk too much.” Doug sneered at me.

I managed to right myself and scooted to the edge of the sofa. I blew the hair out of my eyes. “You weren’t saying that a few days ago when you wanted to talk to me about Dangerfield,” I snapped. Maybe I shouldn’t have been so sassy with them, but they’d ticked me off.

“We need to tie her up, man,” Russ said.

“Don’t let her out of your sight. I’ll be right back.” Doug hurried out of the room.

“There’s really no need to do any of this. Look, I don’t know what you all have going on here, but let’s just pretend I wasn’t even here. I’ll leave and there will be no reason to ever discuss this again.”

“I don’t think that would work.” Russ walked around behind the sofa where I couldn’t see him.

I looked over my shoulder. He stood right next to the sofa and just over my shoulder. Of course this increased my anxiety by one hundred percent.

After a few minutes, Doug came back with rope in his hands.

“Let me guess, that is for me?” I smirked. “I’m not sure all this special attention is necessary, guys. It’s flattering though.”

“If you think being cute will get you out of this, then you are wrong,” he said as he grabbed my arms.

“Gentle, gentle. You don’t have to be so rough,” I said.

Doug took the rope and wound it around my wrists. Lucky for me, it didn’t feel too tight. Maybe there would be a sliver of a chance for me to escape. When he wasn’t looking I twisted my hands behind my back again. The rope moved slightly. The men didn’t seem to notice what I was doing as they discussed what to do with me next.

Once they focused their attention on me again, Doug asked, “Now are you going to tell us why you are here?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I came to take you up on your offer to watch Mr. Dangerfield.” I shifted my gaze from Doug to Russ, trying to gauge whether or not they believed me. By the looks on their faces, they didn’t believe a word I said. “I’ve had time to think it over.”

Maybe there was a little bit of doubt in their minds now though, so I would keep up with that story.

“That seems unlikely to me.” Doug stepped closer to me. His nearness made me uncomfortable as he leaned down, stopping mere inches from my face. “I don’t believe you.”

I tried to back away from him, but there was nowhere to go. “Ever heard of a Tic-Tac?”

Russ reached his hand back as if he was going to smack me, but Doug grabbed his hand in midair.

“Are you going to tell us the truth?” Doug asked.

“I am telling the truth,” I said.

He narrowed his eyes and just as he was about to speak, his cell rang. Now I had a moment’s reprieve.

He moved over to the door and pulled his cell phone from his pocket. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Russ. He’d stepped from behind the sofa and now stood next to the big desk on the other side of the room.

After a few seconds, Doug said, “Phil, yeah, we’ve got her here.”

Phil? Was that short for Phillip? As in Officer Phillip West? That wouldn’t be much of a shock to me. Of course they were involved with the cop. He had been at this house on that first night when I’d gotten into this mess. I just hoped that the cop wouldn’t show up here tonight. I knew he was involved with this, but this just confirmed it for me.

But how deeply was he involved? Considering he’d gotten rid of a dead body, I’d say pretty deep. But just exactly how was he involved. Was he the ringleader? And the ringleader of what? I still wasn’t sure what was going on, although I was sure it was illegal. I had to think of a way to get out of there before the cop showed up.

“The boss is staying here now. We got rid of the other one,” Doug said.

The other one? Did he mean Michael Hook? And who was the boss?

Obviously the person on the other end of the line was doing most of the talking, so I wasn’t sure what they were planning. Doug continued the conversation, but stepped out into the hallway. This left me alone with Russ. He didn’t look all that sharp, so maybe I could figure out how to get away. One man would be much easier to escape than two.

Russ leered at me when I looked back at him. He seemed pleased that we were now alone. “So why don’t you tell me why you are here?” he asked. As if I would confide in him.

“I already told you. I want to take you up on that offer to look into Dangerfield.”

He sneered at me. “Yeah, right.”

As I sat there wondering what I was going to do to get myself out of this situation, I glanced to my right. Two eyes were staring back at me from the other side of the patio door’s glass. Dangerfield was watching me from out in the courtyard. What was he doing here? He waved as if I was going to open the door. Sure, come on in and join the party.

In spite of how crazy I thought Dangerfield was, I couldn’t help but smile knowing that he’d shown up here. Had he come to help me? Then I remembered that he probably hadn’t come for me after all. He was there for the same reason as me. But whatever the reason, I hoped that he could help me get out of this debacle. How would he get in?

I would have to make sure Russ didn’t see him. This was my only shot at getting away.

Russ had moved over behind the desk. He plopped down in the leather chair behind the desk and then leaned back as if he was perfectly comfortable. A smug smile spread across his face. It made my skin crawl.

“Do you live in this house?” I asked, trying to cause a distraction.

He flashed a toothy grin. “I don’t think you are allowed to ask any questions.”

“I am allowed to do anything I want,” I said with a smirk. That wasn’t exactly true considering that my hands were currently tied behind my back. “What happened to the owner of this house?” I focused my attention on him.

Russ’ eyes widened. “What? Who told you about that?”

“I read it in the newspaper and I know that man lived here. What did you do with him?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Now shut up.”

Russ swiveled in the chair and faced the painting above the desk. He studied the abstract horse drawing hanging on the wall. Now he was turned to Dangerfield again.

My heart thumped harder as Dangerfield eased open the door. There was no way he would be able to make it over to me without the other man noticing him. What did Dangerfield have in mind anyway? Did he think he would be able to get us out of there? The chances of that were very slim.

Once the door was open, Dangerfield crawled through and along the floor toward the sofa where I sat.

Russ still had his back facing me as he stared at the painting and twirled a paperclip between his fingers. Dangerfield inched over to me. It was as if time was in slow motion. Dangerfield had made it to my feet now. He was dangerously close. At a time like this I shouldn’t wonder what kind of cologne Dangerfield was wearing or why he smelled so good, but I couldn’t help myself. He made my stomach flip and my knees weak.

Dangerfield stared into my eyes the whole time as he eased up from the floor. He leaned in close to me, reached around behind my back, and then untied the rope. My hands were now free, but what would we do now? Dangerfield motioned for me to get up. My legs shook so bad that I wasn’t sure that was possible. However, I had to try.

Russ’ cell rang and we froze. My heartbeat was loud in my ears as I waited for Russ to turn around and catch us. “Yeah,” he said into the phone. He still hadn’t turned around.

We had to continue our mission. I eased up from the sofa, never taking my eyes off Russ. He was still chatting away on the phone and twirling the paperclip. I held my breath, hoping that he wouldn’t turn around. Dangerfield and I maneuvered over to the door. Russ still hadn’t turned around to see that we were almost out the door. We might actually be able to get out of there. If we did it would be a miracle. A miracle was needed right about now.

Dangerfield practically shoved me out the door. We ran across the courtyard. Dangerfield was only slightly in front of me. I had never run this fast in my life. If this situation hadn’t been so scary I’d laugh at myself. My side hurt, but I continued toward the gate. I hoped that we would be able to get it open this time. If it was locked when I’d tried it, then how had Dangerfield gotten in?

We’d almost made it to the finish line when Doug and Ross yelled out to us. I didn’t have to turn around to know that the men were in the courtyard now. They yelled out to us, but they had to be crazy to think I would stop at their command. And that they would actually yell out for me to stop was utterly absurd.  There was no time to debate it now though. In a matter of seconds the men would catch up with us.

When I neared the gate, I made a giant leap. This time I would get a running start and I wouldn’t fall flat on my butt. However, I hadn’t counted on the gate being unlocked and Dangerfield opening it for me. So instead of falling on my rear, I fell forward. I did catch myself with my arms and hands before landing face first on the pavement. Thank goodness for small favors.

After Dangerfield helped me up and through the gate, I ran down the sidewalk. Even though it would slow me down, I had to glance back. Doug and Russ were running after us.

“That was a close one,” I said through my panting.

Dangerfield looked over his shoulder. “Looks like they aren’t giving up just yet. Aren’t you going to thank me for saving you?”

I refused to look at him. I supposed thanking him was the right thing to do, even if he wasn’t sincere about it.

“Thanks,” I mumbled.

“You’re welcome, although that wasn’t exactly a heartfelt display of gratitude.”

“Take it or leave it,” I said.

I had no idea where we were headed since I’d now left my car parked back near the house. I hoped they wouldn’t notice my Porsche and get rid of it. I wouldn’t even be able to report it missing. Maybe I could have someone else go back later and get my car. But I wouldn’t want to put anyone else in danger. The men would probably go through all my belongings. As long as they didn’t take the bags from the trunk with my latest Bath and Body Works purchase.

“You know, Dangerfield, I figured you would show up,” I panted between breaths as we ran down the sidewalk. “But I know it wasn’t because of me. You were there for the same reason I was there.”

“And why were you there?” he asked.

“Why were you there?” I countered.

“I asked you first.”

“I knew it had to be for the same reason,” I said with a click of my tongue.

“You are avoiding my question,” he said.

“Yeah, you’re avoiding mine. Okay, I saw the news today that the man was missing. I suppose you saw it too.”

He frowned. “What man is missing?”

“You mean you didn’t hear?” A smile spread across my face at the thought that I had scooped him.

“No. What man is missing?”

“The man who owns the home hasn’t been seen. I don’t know who Doug and Russ are, but they’re not the person who should be in that house.” I hoped I didn’t sound too pleased with my revelation.

“How do you know this for sure?”

I knew he would ask that question. “I don’t know for sure, per se, but I have it on good authority.”

His eyebrow tilted up. “That is certainly an interesting tidbit.” 

After a couple blocks, Dangerfield and I made it back to his car. The men weren’t behind us. I wasn’t sure why they hadn’t followed us the entire way, but I knew there had to be a reason. We’d probably find out the reason soon, and I was sure we wouldn’t like it.

“Why did you have to park so far away?” I asked. “My feet are angry with you right now.”

“I didn’t want them to see my car.” He glanced over at me.

“Okay, point taken. I should have parked my car away from the house.” I knew that now.

I was full of plenty of mistakes though, what was one more?

We finally reached his black Mercedes. He opened the door for me and I slid onto the leather seat.

“I know the perfect place to go. We can discuss what happened.” Dangerfield started the car.

“Okay, I guess I trust you. Just don’t get us into any more trouble.”

He pulled out onto the road. “I think you’re pretty good at that on your own.”

The evening was beautiful, with a sky full of twinkling stars and warm temperatures. That should have been enough to help me relax, but it wasn’t. I wanted to enjoy it and not think about what had happened. A walk along the river might just be what I needed to ease my mind.