In the Event of My Death (32 page)

She began circling, chanting. Audra said nothing, but Laurel joined in. She was so dizzy and weak she could hardly stand on feet she couldn’t feel anymore. Audra flashed her a look that clearly said “traitor” because the child thought she was cooperating completely. Actually, she had a plan. A poor plan, but better than nothing. By holding Crystal’s hand, she had some control over her movements. Maybe if she could muster enough strength, she could keep Crystal from kicking over the lantern or knocking Monica off the bale of straw.

They began to circle again. “Hail, the Lords of Darkness. In the name of the rulers of the earth, the kings of the underworld…”

Thirteen years ago. The cold. The dancing shadows. The chant. Laurel looked up at Monica. She was swaying, just as Faith had done. But this time Laurel wasn’t sitting helpless on the floor.

Laurel thought she heard something outside, something above the wind. Imagination. Wishful thinking. Then she heard something again. Someone running in the snow? A muffled voice. Audra’s gaze flew to hers. She’d heard it, too.

They finished the chant. Thirteen years ago they had finished the chant together once before the fire. That meant—

Summoning all her strength, Laurel jerked on Crystal but she was too late. Crystal’s booted foot suddenly shot out and she kicked over the lantern. Audra screamed as fire ate the straw on the floor, making its way to the bale on which Monica stood.

Between the kick and the jerk Laurel had given her, Crystal was off balance. She staggered backward and fired the gun. This time Laurel and Audra both screamed.

Monica flung herself violently to the right and at first Laurel thought she’d been hit. Then she saw the fire licking at the bale, igniting the clumped pieces of straw. Just like Faith, Monica was falling in her attempt to avoid the flames. “Hang on to the rope!” Laurel screamed. “Monica! The
rope
!”

Monica’s gaze met hers and Laurel saw her reach with her left hand for the rope. Oh, God, she doesn’t even have the strength of both hands, Laurel thought. She’d been shot in the right shoulder. Still, Monica clawed frantically with one hand, keeping herself from being choked by the noose.

“Damn you!” Crystal screeched at Laurel. “You
pushed
me. But you can’t stop me!”

Monica shrieked. Laurel glanced at her. Monica’s right pant leg was on fire. “Crystal, we’ve got to get her down!” Crystal looked at her coldly.

Laurel turned loose of Audra’s hand and lunged forward, into the flames, just as she had thirteen years ago. She grabbed futilely at Monica’s legs.

“Don’t move!” A man’s voice, Laurel thought. “I said don’t—”

She looked back. Crystal whirled, pointing the Glock at a man in uniform. A shot. Then another. Crystal screamed and dropped the gun. Another shot.

Crystal weaved and fell backward into the flames.

Laurel’s eyes snapped open. For a moment she thought she was in the freezing barn while Monica stood on a bale of straw with her head in a noose as flames licked at her legs. Her heart raced until the scene changed. She was lying in a warm, narrow bed. Across from her, mounted on the wall, sat a television. Light streamed through a window on her left. A hospital room.

Something pushed gently against her right thigh. She looked down. Neil sat on a chair beside the bed, bent at the waist, sleeping peacefully. She reached down and touched one of his sandy curls. So soft. She ran a finger down his cheek. Slowly his smoky blue eyes opened and he stared at her. Then he smiled. “I was afraid I’d never see those beautiful amber eyes again.”

“I don’t know about beautiful, but you never
would
have seen my eyes open again if you hadn’t come to the farm. How’s Audra?”

“Fine. Griping that she had to spend another night in here for exposure. By the way, she’s one forceful little girl. She wouldn’t rest until I roused a locksmith, went back to your house, got the dogs, and took them to Dr. Ricci. He says their eyes will be sore for a day or two, but otherwise they’re fine.”

“Thank goodness. What about Monica?”

“All right. Shot in the shoulder but no bone damage. Some first-degree burns on her legs. Suffering from exposure, of course, but she’ll be all right.”

“Crystal?”

“She’s been taken off the critical list. She fired at the police but didn’t hit anyone. One of them got her in the leg. She dropped the gun, it went off, and she was shot in the chest.” He sighed. “I think it might have been better if she
had
died considering what’s ahead of her.”

Laurel closed her eyes. “My God. Life in prison without possibility of parole? Life in a mental institution?”

“That’s for the courts to decide,” Neil said.

Laurel shivered. “Well, I guess everyone is accounted for.”

“Not quite. It seems Kurt went out to the farm earlier in the day to check out the noose you described to him. He went into the farmhouse. Crystal was there, too—”

“Oh, no!” Laurel cried. “Don’t tell me he’s dead!”

Neil patted her hand. “No, Laurel. She took her tire iron to him. Maybe she thought she’d killed him, but she didn’t. He has a fractured skull, broken collarbone, broken arm. Also, he lay in that cold house unconscious for eight hours, but he had on a wool coat.” He grinned. “
And
thermal underwear.”

Laurel smiled weakly. “I used to tease him about wearing that underwear in the winter. I guess he’ll have the last laugh.”

Neil looked at her soberly. “You really love him, don’t you?”

“Love him?” Laurel frowned. “We’ve been friends forever. I love him like a friend. I tried to love him romantically, but it didn’t work for either of us.” She sighed. “I’m glad he’s all right, and I seem to be fine.”

Neil hesitated. “Well, you did sustain a little damage. Frostbite.”

Fear rushed through her. “I knew it! My feet! Oh, Neil, did they have to amputate my feet?” she cried, already trying to throw back the covers so she could see. Neil stopped her.

“Calm down, Laurel. You lost the little toes on both feet. That’s
all
. The
little
ones. No one will even notice. It could have been so much worse.”

She lay back against the pillows. “You’re right. Considering what I went through, it’s a miracle.” She forced a smile. “I never liked sandals, anyway.”

“That’s my girl.”

“Neil, how did you know where we were? How did you save us?”

“The police saved you. I just found you.”

“Very modest. But how did you know something was wrong?”

“I’ve told you throughout this whole thing I wasn’t the father of Faith’s baby. I’ve always thought figuring out who
was
the father was the key. At the visitation I was talking to Crystal. She seemed a little strange, almost giddy but like she was trying to hide it. Then she started talking about how hard it was for Wayne to lose Denise, but it would have been even worse if he’d lost Audra. She said something about it being even worse for a father to lose a child than the mother. Then she went on about poor Chuck probably behaving so erratically lately because he’d lost
five
babies. I was only half listening, but after I went to bed, I remembered you telling me Crystal had three miscarriages and a stillbirth. That’s four, not five.”

“And that’s it?” Laurel asked incredulously. “That one slip tipped you off?”

“No. I told you she wasn’t acting right. She had this funny look in her eyes. I started thinking back to high school. Crystal was so pretty and dated Chuck. Then I thought of Faith and how she said she didn’t think Crystal was quite as sweet as everyone thought she was. I also remembered how I was certain at one time that Faith had a crush on Chuck.”

“Neil, Faith left a letter. She wrote it the week before Crystal killed her. It was hidden in my teddy bear. She entitled it ‘In the Event of My Death.’ She knew someone wanted her dead. I believe she thought it was Chuck.”

“Speaking of Chuck, Kurt asked me to give you a message. He said, ‘Tell Laurel the book of sonnets wasn’t mine. I was keeping it for someone.’”

“Chuck. Why didn’t Kurt just tell me at the time?”

“Still protecting a friend.” Neil paused and his gaze drifted away.

“There’s something else,” Laurel pounced. “More bad news.”

“It’s not really
bad
news,” he said slowly. “I talked with your parents.”

“Good heavens, you’ve been busy this morning! The dogs, Audra, Kurt, my parents.”

“Laurel, it’s three in the afternoon, not morning. Anyway, I know your parents drive you crazy, but I had to call them. You’re their child and you’re hurt.” She nodded. “Your mother was horrified.” He drew a breath. “Your father was distressed, but he seemed equally distressed by the fact that last night your sister gave birth to twin boys.”

Laurel grinned. “Twins!”

“That’s right. Apparently Claudia knew for months she was expecting twins but didn’t tell your parents.”

“She was afraid that Dad would literally run for the hills. My God, two more little boys from
The Omen
.” She reddened. “Oh, that sounded awful!”

Neil laughed. “No it didn’t. Your father had the same note of horror in his voice. Your mother said Claudia and the babies are fine, although, and I quote, ‘Claudia is a bit on the testy side today.’”

Giggles overcame Laurel. “That means Claudia is cussing her head off, sending nurses and doctors fleeing in desperation. Her poor husband. He’s such a wimp. I sure wouldn’t want to be in his shoes.”

“There’s more. Your father said he doesn’t know if he can take all the commotion anymore. He told me to tell you he thinks he and your mother will come back to Wheeling in a couple of months.”

Laurel’s smile faded. “I see. That means Dad will want to take over the store again. He can’t stand to be here and not be in charge even though I’ve increased business by thirty percent. And of course they’ll want their house back. They aren’t dog lovers—I’ll have to find a place to rent where they accept pets…”

“I know a place that accepts pets,” Neil said. “My house.”

“Oh. You’re putting your father’s house up for rent after he dies?”

“No, I meant my house in Carmel.”

“
Your
house.
You
want to take my dogs?”

Neil closed his eyes and shook his head. “Laurel, I know you’re a very bright woman, but I’m having trouble getting through today. I want the dogs
and
you, not necessarily in that order. I make enough money to support the three of us, but if you want to work, I believe the Carmel—Monterey area could support another floral shop. Lots of rich people and movie stars in that area, you know.”

Laurel looked at him in astonishment. “Neil, are you asking me to move in with you?”

“If you want to try that first. Of course, I’m an old-fashioned guy. I’d prefer having you on a more respectable basis.”

“
Marriage?
” Laurel squeaked.

“You sound like you just saw a mouse.”

“I didn’t mean to sound insulting, but Neil…I mean…we hardly know each other.”

“We went to school together for twelve years. Besides, I feel like I’ve known you better than I’ve ever known anyone.” He kissed her cheek, patted her hand, and smiled. “I won’t be going home for at least a month until I get all the business around here wrapped up. In the meantime, we can see each other and you can think it over. In a few weeks, you can send me packing if you want, no hard feelings.” He glanced at his watch. “Got to go, now. See you later, beautiful.”

As he walked out the door, Laurel grinned. You certainly will be seeing me later, she thought impulsively. I hope you’ll be seeing me for the rest of my life.