Killer Run (23 page)

“You're just going to leave us here?” If we were locked in the room, at least I could call for help with my cell. Apparently that idea occurred to Rachel, too.

She motioned with her hand. “Throw your purses out into the hall. That way you won't be tempted to do anything stupid. Once we're in Nevada, I'll call the police station and let them know where you are. Or, if you were smart, someone knows where you are and they may come looking for you sooner.”

We did as she asked, then Rachel moved to shut the door but paused. “Oh, one more thing? Tell Greg not to cash that check. There isn't any money in that account. I'd hate for him to think badly of me for writing him a rubber check.”

Then she shut and locked the door from the outside. I ran to the window to see if I could open it, but no luck. The window looked out over an open field. We didn't even luck out to be in a room across from the nosy neighbor.

Aunt Jackie dusted off a patch of floor in the corner and sank down. “Come sit. All we have to do is wait until four and Toby will place a call to Greg, who will call the Bakerstown Police, who will rescue us in”—she paused to look at her watch—“three hours, give or take.”

I jiggled the door handle, which was solidly locked.

“Jill, come sit down,” my aunt repeated. “Besides, even if you get out right now, she's still in the building. She could shoot you.”

I hadn't thought of that. Maybe regrouping for a few minutes was for the best. Besides, I didn't want my aunt to be harmed because I was being stupid. I sat down beside her. “Sorry I got you into this.”

My aunt patted my hand. “Believe me, if you had come by yourself, I would have been so mad at you. I enjoy our little escapades.”

I leaned my head back against the wall. I'd always thought if I had gotten into trouble and arrested, Amy would be the friend sitting beside me saying what fun we had. Now I realized it would probably always have been Aunt Jackie. I really had to stop getting her involved in my foolhardy antics. “I've put you in danger.”

“We're only locked in a room. It's not like she's shooting at us or the place is on fire.” My aunt closed her eyes. “Maybe I'll take a little nap. I'll have to put my trip into the city for the new gallery opening off until next weekend.”

I was too wound up to sleep. And now that she'd mentioned fire, I swore I could smell smoke. I rubbed my face. I was so suggestible. I stared at the door. Then glanced at my watch. Five minutes had passed. I heard a car start up and I stood to look out the window, but I couldn't see the parking lot. I figured that we were alone in the building. I tried opening the window. No luck. Something was nagging at me. Why would Rachel admit to killing Sandra? Unless they were leaving the country today and she was pretty sure we wouldn't be rescued for a while. Still, something felt off.

I glanced at my watch again. Six minutes. This was going to be the longest three hours I'd ever spent. I settled back down next to my aunt and closed my eyes. The smell of smoke got stronger. Shaking my head to try to stop my crazy thoughts, I opened my eyes and saw a thin line of smoke coming into the room from the hallway. Now I knew why Rachel felt comfortable telling us everything. I slipped off my jacket and ran to the door, shoving the cloth between the wood and the floor. I felt the door. It was hot. “Aunt Jackie, get up. The place is on fire. The crazy woman set her own building on fire.” My lungs burned, and I felt like I was going to pass out.
Think, Jill, think.

“What are you talking about?” my aunt grumbled, then sniffed and opened her eyes wide. “The room smells like smoke.”

“That's because the house is on fire,” I repeated. “Look around, what can we do?”

There was nothing of use in the room, but in the closet, an old cash box was stashed on the top shelf. I pulled it down and took it over to the window. The drop to the ground was too far for Aunt Jackie: she'd break a hip or both when she landed. I, on the other hand, might just break an ankle. As long as it wasn't two, I could crawl to the Jeep and make a call using the OnStar system.

Except I'd locked the doors of the vehicle. I felt my jeans pockets. The key fob was there. I hadn't slipped it in my purse. I pushed the button to set off the alarm and prayed that I was in range for it to work.

No alarm blared.

 

I stepped near the window and pressed it again. This time I could hear my horn going off. Now at least Cathy next door should notice the alarm and hopefully the fire. I coughed. Even with my coat to block the opening, the smoke was getting stronger in the room. I had to get the window open.

I hit the window with the metal cash box. Nothing. I hit it over and over, nothing. Finally I sank down on my knees to rest and breathe some cleaner air. No way we'd last until four, or probably even until the car alarm clued the neighbor in to calling the police. We were going to die, and it was all my fault.

My aunt pulled me to my feet. “Let me help. Maybe with both of us swinging the box, we can get the glass to break.”

We stood on both sides of the window. “One, two, three,” I counted out and this time, when the box hit the window, a tiny crack appeared. “It's working.” I focused on my aunt, who was getting a little fuzzy from the smoke in the room. “Again. One, two, three.”

This time the glass broke, and I felt the cool air pouring into the room. I pushed Aunt Jackie away. “Turn away, I'm going to break this glass out so I can climb out.”

My aunt came closer and looked down. “It's too far to the ground.”

“Just trust me.” I turned her away from the window and started breaking out the glass. Once the bottom pane was cleared, I looked at my aunt. “Give me that jacket.”

“There's no way it will fit you, my dear. Besides, it's not cold in here.” She leaned out and over the open window. “I still don't think you can jump that. You never were the most coordinated child.”

“I'm not going to wear your jacket.” I ignored her jab at my physical prowess. I looked at the wooden window frame.

“Dear, you can't be serious.” She rubbed the arms of her suit. “This is Chanel. Classic Chanel.”

I borrowed and butchered a line from one of the action movies Greg kept making me watch. “Give me the jacket if you want to live.” I may have been overpromising.

She looked over at the locked door, where smoke was now billowing into the room, all around the edges of the door. “Fine, but you're replacing the entire suit as soon as I can find one available.”

Taking the jacket, I looked closely to see if there were any jagged glass pieces left on the frame or ledge. When I was satisfied it was clear, I laid the jacket over the ledge and lifted my leg out the window. I settled, half in and half out, looking at my aunt. “Wish me luck.”

Before I could lift the other leg, I heard a scream from below.

“Don't jump! We'll save you.” Cathy Addy stood next to her walker staring in horror at me. I grabbed hold of the ledge. She was blocking my fall spot, and I didn't think landing on an elderly woman would look good in the local papers. Especially if I killed her.

“Move back. I've got to get help.” I waved her off, but she just shook her head. “Seriously, you need to move. We can't stay in this room much longer.”

My aunt poked her head out the window and took a deep breath of cool air. “What's the holdup?”

Then a fireman came around the building after Cathy. “Lady, you need to go back to the parking lot and away from the house. It's not safe.”

She shrugged and pointed at me. “You really need to save those women before you lose them.”

The man's gaze followed her arm, and when he saw me, he grabbed the microphone on his uniform. “Get a ladder back here.” He put his hand up to hold me back from jumping. “Don't move, ma'am. We'll get you down. Is there anyone else in there with you?”

My aunt poked her head out again. “Me. Please save me.” I swear the woman batted her eyes at the man.

He blushed and nodded. “We'll be right there. Don't worry, you're safe now.”

I glanced over at my aunt. “Do you
have
to flirt?”

She prepped her hair and faced me. “Do I look okay?”

“For a rescue? You look amazing.” I wanted to rest my back on the window frame, but I didn't know if I'd gotten all of the glass out or not.

“For a rescue by a
fireman
.” My aunt shook her head. “You are so clueless. No wonder you're not married.”

I started to tell her that not only had I been married, I was in a serious relationship with no need to flirt with first responders, but before I could speak, a ladder hit the wall of the shop. I glanced down. The lone fireman had been joined by several others. “Can you climb down, or do you need me to assist?”

I swung my leg over to the ladder, then lifted the second to meet the first. I jerked once and wondered if I would end up falling on my butt or worse, even with the fire brigade assistance. But I righted myself quickly and felt my aunt's hand on my shoulder.

“Be careful,” she whispered.

I touched her arm and smiled at her. “Back at you.”

By the time they'd gotten Aunt Jackie out and the fire mostly contained, Greg had arrived from South Cove. He came over to the ambulance where I was sitting with Aunt Jackie. They'd insisted we use some oxygen to clear out the smoke from our lungs. I felt fine, but I knew if I balked, my aunt would follow suit. Besides, she was having so much fun with the EMTs, I didn't want to disturb her.

“I can't leave you alone for a minute, can I?” Greg stood in front of me, his gaze taking in my appearance. “Are you hurt?”

I stood. “Not even a scratch. Which is amazing since the window shattered into shards of glass. You would have thought—”

My next words were lost as he pulled me close to him and kissed me hard. He didn't let go until I relaxed into him. Tears filled my eyes, and I swallowed them away.

“I thought I'd lost you when the call came in.” He looked into my face and pushed my hair back behind my ears. “What were you doing here?”

“Picking up a check from Rachel.” Crap, I'd forgotten about Rachel. “Hold up, you need to know this. Rachel killed Sandra because she was going to leave Michael without any money. So, they are taking off with the money and probably to a country that doesn't extradite.”

He put his hand up to stop my ramblings. “Don't worry about Rachel. We've got lookouts at the local airports and a BOLO out on her car.”

“But I didn't tell anyone. How did you know?”

A voice came from behind Greg. “I told them. I had come into the shop to see if Rachel wanted me to water her plants while she was gone and I heard her telling you all about what she did.” Cathy Addy shook her head. “I backed out of the house as quickly as possible and headed back to my house to call the cops. Good thing I talked her into installing the ramps on the building or the two of you might not have made it.”

Thank God for nosy—wait, make that concerned—neighbors, I thought. “Thank you, Mrs. Addy.”

The woman blushed. “Not a problem, my dear, not a problem at all. But I guess I won't be watering her plants now. I think the fire killed them all.”

T
he Business-to Business meeting started on time that next week. We had a special speaker, and without Sasha even calling the regular members to check on their attendance, we had a full house. Christopher Snider, Harrold's grandson, was presenting on “10 Reasons You Need a Website.” I'd asked Toby to come in to help with refreshments as Sasha was actually going to be sitting at the table, representing Coffee, Books, and More. I had added the website design and upkeep to her list of duties.

Sadie slipped into a seat next to Dustin Austin, and I watched with humor as he looked over at her. Austin looked totally smitten with my friend. I tapped her on the shoulder in greeting, then went to sit next to Sasha. Amy was on my other side.

“We on for shopping on Sunday?” she asked, keeping an eye on Bill Sullivan to see when he was actually going to call the meeting to order.

“I still need a rug and a quilt, so if you're available, I'm game.” I'd had a busy week since being rescued from the fire at Rachel's travel agency. Greg had been even busier and hadn't been able to make this meeting. Rachel and Michael were in custody, and each was pointing the finger at the other as the ringleader for their plot to murder Sandra. Tomorrow, Allison Delaine was meeting me at the shop to talk about hosting joint ventures between South Cove and Bakerstown's committees.

Frank Gleason had shown up yesterday at the house to take pictures of the wall and explain that the California Mission Society had misspoken when they said what he was now calling the South Cove Mission site had been approved. The wall had been moved up to a formal study process. Frank thought it was a good step. I was thinking the wall should be either on the list or not within the next twenty years or so.

Of course the Society still wanted us to host a race next year. I told them to call Darla. She could make that decision.

“You look tired.” Amy rubbed the back of my neck. “Maybe you need a vacation from your vacation.”

 

A month later, we were finally on a beach at an all-inclusive resort. Greg and I sat side by side in loungers, drinking the fruity umbrella drink of the day. I had just finished a historical fiction book about Jack the Ripper's wife and was thinking about going to the hotel room to switch out to a new book.

“You guys up for snorkeling?” Amy sat down on my lounger. “Justin and I are dying to get in the water.”

“Sounds good to me.” Greg stood up and put his hands out. “You done reading for a bit?”

“Researching,” I countered automatically.

Greg laughed and pulled me up. “Then you are done. Researching is work, and this is a no-work zone.”

Greg and Justin sprinted to the shed to grab the snorkel gear. Amy sat down in Greg's chair. “Too bad Jackie and Josh couldn't make it. She would love this beach.”

I shook my head. “I'm kind of glad they stayed behind. I mean, really, could you picture Josh in a bathing suit?”

“You're so bad.” Amy laughed and shook her shoulders. “Great, now I can't get that image out of my mind.”

“Exactly.” My phone rang and I reached to answer. The caller ID didn't show a name. “Hello?”

Amy shook her head and whispered, “You're on vacation. You should have let it go to voice mail.” I watched as she stood to go join the men.

“Jill, is that you?” a tear-choked Sadie asked.

Fear gripped me. “What's wrong, Sadie? Is it Aunt Jackie? The shop? Oh no, did something happen to Nick?”

I heard her blow her nose and waited. “What? No. Everyone's fine.”

“Then why do you sound like you're crying?”

Sadie sniffed. “Austin broke up with me. He's going back to his wife.”

Dustin Austin has a wife?
Greg was waving at me to come over to the shed. I held up a finger and grabbed my tote bag, filling it with the stuff we'd brought out to the beach from the room. “I'm so sorry. I didn't know he was married.”

“Believe me, I didn't, either.” Sadie paused a moment. “The worst thing is, they are opening a food truck selling gluten-free desserts. And they're parking it in front of Austin's shop. He told me all about the plan. Then he . . .” A fresh wave of sobs filled the phone.

“He what, Sadie?” I wished I was home so I could go over to the bike shop and give this creep a piece of my mind for hurting my friend.

“He asked for my Summer Lemon Surprise Cheesecake recipe.”

After I'd calmed Sadie down and promised to call later that afternoon to talk more, I rejoined the group getting ready to snorkel.

“So, what's going on?” Greg nodded to the phone, which I slipped into my tote and then handed to the guy manning the counter for safekeeping while we were out.

I told them Sadie's sad news and then told them about the food truck. “The weird thing is, I think that's the truck Lille and I were trying to buy a couple of months ago. Which means Austin has been planning on breaking up with Sadie for a while now.”

“You don't think he was dating her for access to her recipes, do you?” Amy shook her head. “He can't be that conniving of a person.”

All I knew was that one of my friends was hurting. And Dustin Austin was the cause. We walked to the shore and slipped into the water, where, for a couple of hours, I forgot everything but watching the life that happened under the waves.

I couldn't help but compare my day with Sadie's that evening when we were sitting around a fire. You never really knew what was going on underneath until you took the time to look.

When I got back to town, finding out all about Dustin Austin was going to be my first project.

“Earth to Jill.” Greg stroked my hand, and I looked up from staring at the flames. “You want a beer?”

I pulled him down into a kiss, then nodded. As he walked away, I blessed the hand that had put the four of us together as friends. And then, I let my worries go.

Time to recharge.