Riddle (26 page)

              The detective got a sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach. “Stay put. I’ll be there in a couple of minutes.”

              But Kort was already headed out the door. “I’m going to Norma’s.”

              “No!” Bishop shouted into the phone, swerving around cars. “Stay where you are.”

              Kort was in his truck. “If she has Grace she must have used force to get her. Grace would never have opened the door.”

              “Listen to me Kort. Let me handle this. Don’t do anything stupid.” He heard Kort’s engine start as he turned on his siren and ran a red light.

              The sound of the siren caused Kort to hesitate. He studied his reflection in the rearview mirror. Turning off the engine he said resignedly, “I’ll wait. You better have a plan.”

              “Almost there,” Bishop said in relief before disconnecting. He didn’t have a plan. The case had taken a turn he hadn’t anticipated. He knew he had to think of something to keep Kort from confronting Norma. If he had any doubts he was now convinced Norma was guilty. Knowing it was possible Grace was already dead he composed himself to speak with Kort. As he sped up the hill to the Timbers he passed the accident site. People had left flowers and stuffed animals at the base of the tree where Mandy had died. In a few minutes he parked his car next to Kort’s truck. Seeing him, Kort got out and stood, waiting to hear what the detective had to say.

              “Did you touch anything in the apartment?” Bishop asked as soon as he got out of the car.

              “What?” Kort asked in disbelief.

              “Did you touch anything upstairs?” He had his cell in his hand.

              Kort thought back struggling to recall everything he had done from the moment he discovered Grace was missing. “I looked for your card so I could call you. I saw her cell phone but I don’t remember if I picked it up.” He listened as Bishop paced in a circle, talking to someone about a witness who was missing and was a person of interest in a murder. After he completed the call he turned back to Kort. “I’ll need your key.”

              Frustrated Kort’s voice rose. “Will you tell me what you’re doing? Because if you aren’t going to look for Grace, I’m going to go to Norma’s now and shake it out of her.”

              “No, you’re not doing anything. I have forensics on their way to check the apartment. Normally we wouldn’t be looking for her. She’s an adult and free to come and go as she pleases. But she’s a crucial witness in an ongoing criminal investigation.”

              “You mean Desiree’s murder or the car accident?”

              “I mean in the murder of her ex-fiancé David Lane. His body was found stuffed in the trunk of his rental car just outside Lost River, seventy-five miles from here. He’s been dead for a while, probably from the last day anyone saw him.”

              Kort leaned against the hood of his truck. “What? What are you saying?” David was dead. Who would have killed David? Certainly he and Grace would be prime suspects. Was he about to be charged with another murder?

              “No one here knew him except Grace. Of course you had an altercation with him in public.” Bishop placed his hands on his hips and studied Kort closely.

              “Oh no. No, no, no. If you think…” Kort began.

              The detective stood close to Kort and spoke softly but sternly. “I need to have a reason to search the apartment and to look for Grace. You wanted me to do something. I’m doing something. I know you didn’t do it. I ‘m sure Grace didn’t do it. We’re getting a search warrant for the apartment.”

              “What about Norma? Suppose she has Grace? Searching Grace’s apartment isn’t going to help.”

              “It will if Norma left evidence she was here. Was there ever a time she would have had a reason to be inside that apartment? Did she know Grace well enough to visit her?” Bishop was taking notes again.

              Kort shook his head emphatically. “They had no relationship. In fact,” he stopped a moment before continuing, “Norma didn’t seem to like Grace. She met her at the diner and acted, well, jealous. I didn’t think anything about it. Grace and I didn’t know one another well at the time. Then we all went to the fair together and she seemed fine.”

              Bishop nodded as he continued to take notes. “But they weren’t friends. Grace wouldn’t have any reason to trust her and let her into the apartment?”

              Kort began pacing. “I can’t think of any reason why she would. I’m not even sure Norma knows which apartment Grace lives in.” He stopped in front of the detective. “This is taking too long. She could have Grace right now. God knows what she might do.”

              “Dammit!” Bishop swore. He paced in a tight circle for a moment before stopping in front of Kort. “Call Norma; tell her we are bringing you in for questioning about David’s murder and Grace’s disappearance. Tell her we suspect you. Ask her if you can see her. You can even lead her to believe you’re concerned for her safety. I don’t have time to set up a wire. Maybe she’ll say something or give some indication of where Grace is.”

              Kort was in his truck and driving, calling Norma before Bishop finished his last sentence. Her voice mail picked up and he hung up and tried again. Once again he got her voice mail. Tossing his phone on the seat he began to drive faster. He considered why she might not answer her phone. She could be at work. Maybe she was in the shower or taking a nap. His mind eventually admitted what he was afraid to think. Maybe she was busy with Grace; a kind of busy that wasn’t good. He thought about calling again and leaving her a message but decided against it. He would just surprise her, hopefully before things went too far.

Chapter 47

              Norma pulled her gloves on and hurried up the steps to Grace’s apartment. Tapping lightly on the door she hoped Grace would answer. She wasn’t disappointed as Grace opened the door without even asking who was there. Norma enjoyed the look of surprise that crossed Grace’s face.She knew Grace had expected Kort.

              “Norma. What’s wrong?”

              Norma grabbed her hand. “Get your coat. They’re going to arrest Kort.”

              Grace’s eyes widened. “What? Why?”

              They found your fiancé’s body at the river. It’s the same place they found Desiree’s body years ago. They’re taking him there to get him to confess to the murder.” Norma was in the apartment, her eyes darting around.

              “No, Detective Bishop knows he wouldn’t do that. He told me…” Grace protested.

              Norma brought her face close to Grace’s. “He lied to you. They’ve been planning this all along. Please get your jacket. We need to get out there.” She gave Grace a little shove.

              Without asking any more questions Grace grabbed her jacket and followed Norma out the door. Sliding into the front seat of Norma’s small black car she began to question the woman. “Why do they think he did it? Is there evidence?” She remembered the expression on Kort’s face when he confronted David. But Kort had sworn he had not done anything to David. Was it possible he lied?

              “I don’t know the details. I happened to be at the City/County Building when they grabbed him going into his parole officer’s office. They took him out in handcuffs.”

              Grace’s eyes squinted as she tried to process what Norma said. It didn’t make sense. They would have questioned him at the police station. Kort would have called her. She looked sideways at Norma who was speeding along the road that rose into the mountains. The sun had disappeared behind the clouds that had been forming all day casting dark shadows on the woman’s face. Norma seemed to be concentrating intently on the road.

              “Maybe I should just call Detective Bishop and ask what’s going on. Maybe you misunderstood.” She reached into her pocket for her phone then realized in her panic she had left it on the coffee table. She saw a small smile touch Norma’s lips. “Can I use your phone?”

              “We’re almost there. Talk to him when we get there.”

              Grace knew then that something was very wrong. “What’s going on Norma?”Her heart began to beat faster. She could hear Kort telling her not to open the door. She had thought he was returning. Everything had happened so quickly after that.

              “I told you. We’re going to save Kort.” She was taking the curves much too fast and Grace was hanging on to the door to keep from sliding around.

              “I think we should go back to the police station and wait there.” There was no way she could jump out of the car at the speed they were traveling.

              Suddenly Norma pulled off the road on to a small barely visible path that was so narrow the branches of trees brushed the doors of the car as they passed. She was going slower now and Grace recognized where they were. This was where Kort had brought her when he spoke about Desiree’s death. She quickly unbuckled her seat belt and tried to open the door. At first it wouldn’t budge but she realized the lock was on and she hurriedly unlocked it and jumped out.

              Norma stopped the car sharply and turned off the engine before getting out and following Grace as she struggled to get past the trees and bushes that blocked her way. Reaching out she grabbed a handful of Grace’s hair which was already damp from the rain. Pulling hard she brought Grace to her knees and kicked her sharply in the ribs.

              Grace clawed at Norma’s hands trying desperately to escape but Norma was dragging her toward the river. She could hear the river rushing in the distance, swollen by the rains that had been falling on and off for days. As hard as she tried Grace could not get her feet beneath her long enough to stand. She slid on the wet ground and pine needles that littered the forest floor.

              Beneath the sound of the rushing water she could hear Norma muttering but the words were not clear. Branches scratched at her face as she was dragged along and she felt a sharp pain in her thigh as one branch tore through her pants leg. “Stop!” She tried to shout but she was breathless from her struggles. “Norma stop!”

              Suddenly she did stop but it was only to turn and slap Grace repeatedly across the face. “Shut up, shut up, shut up!” she shouted emphasizing each slap with a word. Grace attempted to grab her hand but Norma would wrench her hand away and come back with a harder slap. The last slap was so hard Grace saw stars and for a moment she thought she would pass out.

              By the time they reached the riverside Grace was covered in dirt and debris from the ground. Norma flung her toward the water and Grace grabbed at the ground and the thin vegetation trying to prevent Norma from actually throwing her into the river. Rolling onto her back she began kicking out at the woman, conscious of Norma’s greater strength, but Norma stepped easily over her and managed to deliver a punch to Grace’s face. Her head snapped back striking one of the many rocks at the river’s edge and she everything went dark. Stunned, Grace stopped fighting for a moment and that was all Norma needed. Grabbing her hair once again she pulled Grace to the water and forced her head into the icy stream. The jolt of cold caused Grace to inhale sharply drawing water into her mouth. The metallic taste of the river filled her mouth and she pushed back against Norma’s hands long enough to sputter out water and take a quick breath. But her respite was short lived as Norma pushed her head back into the water. Water filled her mouth and nose and she reached back to scratch at Norma’s hands, but her fingers slipped on Norma’s gloves. As she twisted and struggled the bottom half of her body slipped into the river and the freezing water made her skin tingle. Opening her eyes she saw the water was shallow where she was being pushed beneath the surface. Controlling her panic she forced her body to relax and allowed her arms to slip into the water. They floated and bounced on the surface, her legs floating downstream with the current. Norma loosened her grip on Grace’s head and then released her entirely. Grace’s lungs were bursting and she heard her heart pounding in her head. Then bright lights began to appear behind her eyes. Suddenly Norma pulled her back toward the riverbank and turned her over. Holding her arm with one hand, she reached back into her pants pocket to pull out the knife she had brought to cut Grace’s hair. Grace kept her body limp praying Norma would think she was dead and go away. Norma tried to hold on to her and pull her out of the water to check her pulse but her gloves were wet and slick and she lost her grip on Grace. Although she grabbed at her limp body she couldn’t get a firm hold on Grace. The river was rushing and Grace slipped away her body bobbing further into the river and downstream, her bright red hair fanning out around her head. Suddenly Norma realized the knife had somehow fallen onto Grace’s chest and it glittered in the glare of the lowering sun. For a moment Norma panicked fearing the instrument would lead back to her. Then she realized it would be lost in the river long before Grace’s body was discovered.

              Norma watched the body as it disappeared around a curve in the river. Even if Grace wasn’t dead yet she would never survive the freezing water or the rocks that stuck dangerously out of the river further downstream. Apparently satisfied with her handiwork, Norma began to make her way back to the car. When she reached the car she opened the trunk and withdrew an overnight bag. Quickly removing her clothes down to her bra and panties she stuffed them into a heavy duty trash bag and closed the trunk. Then she took the fresh clothes and got into the car to re-dress. Listening carefully to be sure there was no traffic on the road she backed out and headed toward town.

              Driving straight through Riddle she didn’t stop until she was near the highway and then pulled off into one of the many truck stop gas stations. Looking around to be sure she wasn’t watched she got out of the car and popped the trunk open. Tossing the garbage bag into the dumpster she then pulled off the gloves and threw them in as well. Parking near the ladies room she grabbed a trial sized bottle of shampoo from under the front seat and she ducked inside. Several minutes later she emerged with wet hair, got back in her car, and drove toward home. Half a mile before she reached the turn off for her road she pulled into a self service car wash, purchased the deep clean and after a thorough cleaning of the outside of the car, pulled over to the vacuums. Once she had run the vacuum three times over the interior of the car she got back in and drove home.

              As she got closer to her house a smile crossed her face. If the weather was good over the weekend maybe she could get Kort go to the mountains with her. They could rent a cabin. He would need someone to cheer him up after Grace disappeared. It would appear her fiancé had either kidnapped her or worse. Or perhaps she had left everything and run off with David. Whatever he believed, Kort would be hers once and for all.

              Norma turned onto the road that led to her house and was startled to see Kort’s truck parked in her driveway. She pulled in beside it and looking through the window saw he wasn’t inside. Taking a deep breath she got out of her car and walked quickly toward the house looking around for him. Suddenly he came around the corner of the house and she squeaked.

              “You scared me!” She laughed nervously.

              “Why?” He kept moving toward her. He’d arrived at the house ten minutes earlier and had immediately begun looking around when he saw she wasn’t at home. As he looked in the back windows he’d called Detective Bishop who told him not to do anything. He’d considered breaking in but decided against it. If Norma wasn’t home then she wasn’t holding Grace inside. Now Norma was home and his patience had worn thin.

              “I didn’t expect you and you weren’t in your truck…” Norma began, her voice unsteady. Looking at his face she realized he suspected something. Trying to get herself under control she continued. “I’m glad you came by though. Come on in and I’ll make us some coffee.”

              As she unlocked the door and stepped inside Kort grabbed her arm and spun her around to face him. “I don’t want coffee Norma.” His phone buzzed in his pocket. He hesitated but his fear was stronger than his common sense at that point.

              “Your phone is ringing,” Norma pulled her arm away from him and backed into the living room. “Shouldn’t you answer it?”

              Kort kept pace with her. “Why should I answer it Norma? Who do you think it is? Do you think Grace is calling me?”

              Norma had backed up against her couch. “Maybe. I don’t know. How would I know who is calling you?”

              “But you know who isn’t calling me, don’t you?” Kort was directly in front of her. “You know it isn’t Grace.”

              She placed her hands against his chest to hold him away from her. “What’s wrong with you? What are you talking about?” Her heart was pounding, her eyes darting around like a cornered animal. Over and over she thought “He knows, he knows.”

              “Where is she? And don’t tell me you don’t know.” He grabbed her arms. And suddenly she brought her knee up sharply into his genitals. Releasing her immediately, he bent forward and she slipped past him running for the kitchen. Holding himself he limped after her. “You bitch!” he shouted, bursting through the kitchen door.

              Norma grabbed a large knife from the kitchen drawer and turned to face him. “Stay away from me. You’re crazy.”

              Leaning against the refrigerator to steady himself he growled, “No Norma, you’re the crazy one. You’re crazy to think I ever had any feelings for you. You’re crazy to think I could ever want you.”

              “Shut up,” she hissed. “You wanted me the other night. You couldn’t get enough.”

              “Really? Is that what you think? You may have drugged me but when I left here I scrubbed myself clean to get the stink of you off my body.”

              Raising the knife she howled and leapt across the kitchen at Kort He threw up his arms to block her attack when a gunshot exploded from the back door. Norma crumpled to the floor, screaming in pain and fury. “I’ll kill you, I’ll kill you. I did everything for you. I freed you from them and this is what you do?”

              Detective Bishop and Butch stepped into the kitchen, guns drawn. Butch kicked the knife away from her hand and pulling her arms behind her back proceeded to handcuff her. As Butch pulled her to her feet, Kort grabbed her shoulders. “Where is Grace? What did you do to her?” He began to shake her but the detective stepped between them pulling Kort away. The sound of sirens in the distance grew louder.

              “Hold on! Let her go!” Bishop shouted at Kort. Then he told Butch to sit her down until the ambulance got there. Blood was leaking slowly from Norma’s leg where the bullet had grazed her. She stared at Butch in disbelief. “We’re friends! We agreed to help each other and you shot me?” Then shaking her head frantically she turned back to Kort.

              As Norma was screaming that Kort tried to kill her, Kort was shouting that she knew where Grace was. Bishop shoved Kort against the refrigerator. “Let me handle this!”

              Suddenly EMT’s and another trooper were in the kitchen. Before they could touch Norma, she had jumped to her feet and leaped toward Kort with her teeth bared. “She’s dead. You killed her. You killed her just like you did Desiree. You left her body by the river. You made me swear not to tell. But I’m not afraid of you.” She turned to the detective as Butch tried to pull her back. “He killed Desiree and he killed Grace. He told me.”