QR Code Killer (21 page)

“In the barn, Danny,” Maddie yelled.
“Hurry!”

Danny ran down the barn aisle, followed by
John. The blare of sirens in the distance grew louder.

“Are you okay,” Danny asked, stopping beside
her.

“I’m fine, but I’m worried about Erik. He’s
lost a lot of blood.”

“The ambulance is on its way,” John said,
kneeling next to Devin and feeling for a pulse. “He’s still
alive.”

Danny studied the almighty Zeus and thought
he saw something he recognized in the shape of his face.
“Devin?”

“It was him all along, Danny. Can you believe
it?” Maddie said, holding Erik’s head in her lap and trying to keep
the tremors she was feeling from wracking her whole body. “How
could I miss it? I was inches from him the day he stabbed me. How
did I not notice it was him then?”

“Because you saw what he wanted you to see.
You would never, in a million years expect him to be alive, let
alone be one of the most notorious psychopaths we’ve ever
seen.”

“Right now, I don’t even care. I just want
Erik to be okay.”

John waited outside for the ambulance crew
and directed them to Erik. Maddie climbed in the ambulance and sat
holding his hand on the way to the hospital.

“Don’t leave me Erik. I’ve only just found
you and you said you’d be around when this case was finished,”
Maddie whispered through her tears.

“I’m losing his pulse,” the EMT said. “Come
on, buddy, don’t give up.”

“Erik, don’t quit now. Please, Farmer Man. I
need you. I love you,” Maddie slid back as the EMT worked to keep
Erik alive.

“Come on, come on!”

“Erik!”

Two Years Later

Maddie sat on the porch swing breathing in
the hay-scented air. The last cutting of the season was on the
ground, wheat harvest was through and a field of zinnia seed had
been picked, leaving behind acres of rich soil that boasted an
array of rainbow colored blooms through the warm summer months.

Erik’s dog, Boone, lay at her feet. The
bullet wound to his shoulder had long since healed and the dog
became a faithful companion and friend to her in the months since
she shot the infamous Zeus.

She still had difficulty embracing the idea
that a man she once thought she loved had fallen so deeply into his
world of madness that he would stop at nothing to get what he
wanted, which included her.

It continued to puzzle her that someone she
thought she knew so well had really been a complete stranger.

After his chest wound healed, Devin was
tried, convicted and given the death penalty. His attorney tried to
get him off on an insanity plea, but that hadn’t gone far. Despite
his unbalanced state of mind, he was now in a place where he could
never hurt another living thing. Maddie said a little prayer of
thankfulness for that dark part of her past being finished and
done.

Using one foot to push the swing into motion,
Maddie leaned back against the soft cushions, eyes closed as she
listened to the sounds of Aunt Lena in the kitchen. From the smell
wafting out the open window, Lena was frying a chicken.

Maddie’s stomach growled at the thought of
her aunt’s special potato salad and chocolate cream pie for
dessert. It had been too long since she’d enjoyed her aunt’s
cooking.

Following Devin’s trial, Maddie requested an
extended leave of absence from her job. It didn’t take long for her
to decide to make it permanent. Seattle would lose one of its
finest police officers, but Maddie just didn’t have the heart to
give her job one hundred percent anymore. The rough road she
traveled had brought her to this place where the quiet peacefulness
of country life suited her just fine.

Hearing footsteps on the porch, Maddie opened
one eye and smiled at her brother. The only remnant of his nearly
being blown to bits by Zeus was a jagged scar on his chin, which
gave him quite a rakish appearance. It had certainly set some of
the girls at church all aflutter the first Sunday he strolled into
service with her.

Sitting down beside her, Zach smiled and
kissed her cheek.

“How you doing, Little Miss
Maddie-Pants?”

Maddie grinned. “Just great. How about
you?”

“Couldn’t be better. I’m glad we are all
together again,” Zach said, pushing the swing back into motion.

“Me, too. It took a while to get to this
place, but I’m very grateful we are finally here,” Maddie said, a
wistful look softening her face.

Before Zach could say anything further,
Maddie’s phone buzzed and she asked Zach to answer it. He pulled it
from beside her leg. When he answered a QR Code popped on the
screen. For a brief moment, fear washed over Maddie then she
swallowed it down and nodded at Zach. Together, they watched her
phone screen, waiting to see what it would lead to.

“Welcome to Ethan Moore’s World,” read the
banner that flashed across the screen followed by pictures of a
newborn baby boy.

“That is so awesome,” Zach laughed, holding
the phone while they both looked at the photos.

Maddie smiled down at the two-week old bundle
of beloved baby in her arms. Named after her father, little Ethan
was, in her mind, a miracle and a blessing. He represented the
happy direction her life was now headed.

“Your husband has many hidden talents,” Zach
commented as they scrolled through photos of the baby online. “I
didn’t realize he was such a good photographer.”

Maddie laughed. “He really is. One more thing
I kind of like about him.”

The front door opened and Maddie and Zach
both looked up as Erik approached them, camera in hand. He snapped
photos of them together with the baby before taking a seat on a
wicker chair next to the swing. Boone wandered over to rub against
his leg. Erik grinned at the dog, his long-time faithful companion,
and reached down to pat him affectionately.

“Did you get my message?” Erik asked, smiling
fondly at both his wife and son.

“Yes, we did,” Maddie said, quirking an
eyebrow at him. “Really? A QR Code for Ethan?”

“Well, why not?” Erik said, leaning over and
rubbing a gentle finger on the baby’s soft cheek. “This little man
is going to grow up to do great things, so he needs his own
website. It will be a fun way to keep his Aunt Lena and Uncle Zach
up to date on his achievements, like champion drooler and sleeping
for three hours straight.”

“Don’t forget diaper-filler,” Zach said. “He
seems to be quite talented at that.”

Indignant on behalf of Ethan, Maddie huffed.
“He’s perfect just like he is and there is no need to start
planning an illustrious career of world-renowned achievements for
him. If he grows up to be like his daddy and uncle, that will be
more than good enough for me.” Maddie kissed the baby’s downy
crown, covered in soft brown hair, and breathed in the heavenly
scent that can only be found on baby’s heads.

“Maybe he’ll be the next top-notch firearm
trainer in the Seattle police force,” Zach teased. “You just never
know.”

“You just keep that thought to yourself for
now, brother of mine,” Maddie said, shooting Zach a sisterly glare.
If she had anything to say about it, she wanted her baby to grow up
to have a safe occupation like an accountant or librarian. Erik
might even talk her into letting him be a farmer.

“Just saying. Between the two of you, it is
entirely possible he’ll be a world-champion shooter. Maybe he’ll do
that cowboy action shooting or be a steam-punker. Wouldn’t that be
something?” Zach said, knowing each idea was setting his sister on
edge.

Erik grinned at his brother-in-law, changing
the subject before Maddie punched her brother. “I’m so glad you and
Lena came to visit for a few weeks. Maddie was getting too used to
being pampered and appreciated. With you around, I can get a few
weeks of respite.”

Maddie would have smacked her husband if her
hands hadn’t been full of their sweet baby Ethan.

Ignoring her scowl, Erik looked at Zach. “If
you’re game, we can drive around tomorrow and visit a few of the
neighboring farms. My friend Mike is excited to have you check out
his new corn chopper. He just got it delivered yesterday. While we
are out and about, you’ll have the opportunity to see how real
farmers get things done.”

Zach laughed at Erik’s teasing. He and Lena
drove down from Walla Walla to Erik and Maddie’s farm in Ontario
last week, a few days after the baby arrived. They had one more
week before Zach had to get back to his own farming
responsibilities. The hired hands he’d added to the payroll in the
last year were dependable and more than capable of managing things
in his absence, but he still didn’t want to be away too long. Then
there was the fact that his fiancée wouldn’t appreciate him being
gone for an extended stay.

After Maddie got married, Zach finally
realized he was about to miss the boat on a great opportunity and
decided it was time to make a commitment to his long-time
girlfriend. Maddie and Erik promised to drive up for the wedding in
November and stay for a week or so.

“If all the farmers get things done around
here like you do, it might be something to see,” Zach said,
standing up and clapping a hand to Erik’s shoulder. “I need some
more of that good tea you made, Maddie. Who would have thought you,
of all people, would ever get domesticated? I’d have been the last
one to think it could be true if I hadn’t seen and tasted it for
myself.”

“Oh, go on with you,” Maddie said, quietly
pleased at his backhanded compliment.

When Zach went back into the house, Erik sat
down beside Maddie and the baby on the swing, putting his arm
around them both. His life felt so full and complete now. He and
Maddie wed soon after he was released from the hospital. He stood
beside her during Zeus trial and once she could leave Seattle
unfettered by the past, they moved into Erik’s farmhouse and
started a new life in Ontario. Erik remodeled much of the interior
of the house, not only to update it, but to let Maddie know he was
ready to move on from his life with Sheila. A little part of his
heart would always belong to his first wife and love, but Maddie,
and now little Ethan, filled up the remainder to overflowing. He
never imagined his life would come full circle and bring him back
to the land that was so much a part of him.

Looking out over the prosperous farm, Erik
smiled to himself.

“What’s that look for?” Maddie asked, leaning
her head on his shoulder. “You look more than a little pleased with
yourself.”

“Not me,” Erik explained. “With you, and baby
Ethan, and life.”

“I know just what you mean. I feel like we
have really been blessed,” Maddie said, watching as the baby
stretched. Soon he would be awake and demanding to be fed.

“Who would have thought when I signed on to
put up wind turbines in Walla Walla that I’d end up falling in love
with a tough cop who happened to be the farmer’s daughter?”

“Well, I’m extremely glad you did,” Maddie
said, turning her head to place a kiss on Erik’s chin. He bent down
and pressed his warm lips to hers. “I love you so much, Farmer
Man.”

“And I love you, Mad-Dog.”

###

3 mint tea bags (Bigelow Plantation Mint is
preferred)

4 cups boiling water

8 cups cold water

2/3 cup sugar

Mint sprigs

Add the tea bags to the boiling water and let steep
for about 10 minutes. Discard tea bags, stir in sugar until
dissolved. Pour tea into a 12 cup pitcher. Add cold water and stir.
Toss in a few fresh mint sprigs and serve over ice in chilled
glasses.

So refreshing on a hot day or anytime you need a
pick-me-up.

Available now!

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