The River Rolls On (Bellingwood Book 10) (24 page)

"How far in did the fire get?" Polly asked.

"The wall between the coffee shop and the bakery will need to be replaced and the kitchen needs to be dried out. It will be fine. At least that's what they're telling me. No one is going in right now. They'll keep an eye on it tonight, just to make sure nothing else pops up, but for now the crisis is over."

One of the trucks pulled out as city workers came in with saw horses and netting. They closed off the sidewalk and street around the building and people began gathering in front of Pizzazz.

"I should re-open," Devin said. "I could sell a lot of pizza."

Mark laughed. "With no cook or servers?"

"You're family," Devin said. "It's your job to help me out in times like this."

"Fine then," Mark said. "I'll call on you the next time I have to deliver a calf at two thirty in the morning."

Devin shook his head and mocked his brother-in-law. "Fine then. But you can tell people that if they want, soft drinks are on the house."

Polly followed Henry back outside as he made his way to the perimeter that had been set up.

"I can't believe it isn't any worse," she said.

"It's bad enough. This is going to push back the opening date by a couple of months. But Sal looked like she was ready to fall apart and I knew I had to give her good news."

"What about the ceiling and the apartments. Do you think they'll have to come down?"

He nodded. "Unless she was counting on those as income, she should just let us strip them out. I'm absolutely positive that the floors will be deemed unsafe once the inspector gets through in there."

Polly took his hand. "Going into business with her might have been the worst decision I've made so far."

"Why's that?" he asked.

"She has no confidence in anything and she was coming unglued. It's just a building and there wasn't anything in it."

"I love you, Polly," Henry said. "But sometimes you are too pragmatic for your own good. This was the first investment that Sal has ever made. She's pouring her entire soul into it. Then for no good reason, she saw it fall apart. How did you expect her to react?"

"Like a grownup," Polly said. "She was acting like a baby. Even Sylvie yelled at her."

"Sylvie's as bad as you are. Maybe even worse. She doesn't put up with people who don't have a strong backbone."

"Are you telling me I'm going to have to apologize to Sal for yelling at her?"

He looked at her and grinned. "Did you really yell at her or do you think it's worse than it was?"

"I don't know," Polly said. "I'm tired. I want to go back to bed. I want to sleep through a whole night without someone waking me up for a crisis."

"You go on back to Pizzazz. I want to talk to a couple of these guys over here before we head home. I'll be there in a few minutes."

Polly dropped his hand and started back across the street. Jason and Sylvie were outside talking to a group of people. Henry's parents were on the other corner with a different group and she waved to them. Marie put her hand up to stop the conversation, but Polly shook her head. She'd talk to them tomorrow.

My goodness, she was tired. She wasn't ready to go back inside and deal with Sal, so she leaned against the corner of the building and watched as the community gathered and dispersed. The excitement was over for the evening and tomorrow morning was going to come whether they slept or not.

"Don't scream or I will tase you," a voice said in her ear. A hand reached around and grabbed her forearm, wrenching it behind her. He grabbed her other arm and held them together. "We're going to walk away from here very quietly. If you make a scene, I will take you down and he will start shooting. You don't want people to be hurt tonight, do you?"

"Did you do this?" she hissed through her teeth.

"Pretty smart, huh? It got you out of that damned building and away from your bodyguards."

"Joey?" she asked.

"It will all be okay. Just come with me and don't do anything stupid. I
will
use the taser. I don't want to have to drag you."

They'd moved further away from the main street lamps. It got darker as they went along.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked.

"Because it's the only way I will ever be happy. It made so much sense when he fully explained it to me. There is only one person who will be able to satisfy everything I need. That's you. I will have you all to myself."

"Oh Joey," she moaned. "You are so wrong. Why did you kill those girls?"

"Because they weren't you." He sounded surprised that she didn't understand that.

"Why did you take them in the first place?"

"I had to do something when you ran away. What else was there?"

Polly shut her eyes as he slowly walked her deeper into the darkness. Trying to talk to or reason with him was useless. He was as insane now as he ever had been. She tried to drag her feet, leaning her weight on him to slow him down.

All of a sudden, he released her arms and she heard him drop to the ground. Polly spun and saw Jason standing over Joey, fury on his face.

"Jason," she cried. "What did you do?" She looked around desperately, trying to see if Allendar had noticed. It terrified her that he might open fire on the people still gathered.

"You were gone," Jason said. "I saw this guy walking with you and I realized it was the man who kidnapped you." His breath caught as he spoke, emotions threatening to overwhelm him. "I wasn't going to let him hurt you again. I told you that someday I would be strong enough to protect you."

She put her hands on her temples and clenched her fingers in her hair. "Grab his arms," Polly said. "We have to get him off the street. He has a partner who threatened to start shooting if I didn't go with Joey. They're the ones who started the fire."

Jason looked at her in confusion, but obeyed and put his hands under Joey's armpits. They dragged him into the alley and Polly directed him behind a dumpster. She took out her phone and dialed the one man she needed.

"I'm downtown, Polly. I know there aren't any dead bodies from the fire. Tell me you haven't found another one."

"Come to the alley behind Pizzazz," she said quietly. "Jason just knocked Joey out when he was trying to take me."

"He did!" Aaron said. "Good for him. That boy's brain is growing into those muscles he has."

"Aaron, Joey told me that Allendar has a gun and threatened to shoot it into the crowd if I didn't go with him. I don't know if he's here or not. They're the ones who started the fire. They did it to draw me out."

"I'll be right there. Keep him quiet."

"He's out for now," Polly said. "Hurry."

"I'm with Ken Wallers. We'll get everyone sent home. I'll be right there. Tell Jason to sit on him if necessary."

"Got it."

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

As Jason bent over and patted Joey Delancy's pockets, Polly stopped him. "Don't touch it," she said.

"Why not? It's just a taser."

She patted her own pockets and couldn't come up with anything that would protect the taser from Jason's fingerprints. "Just don't touch it. Who knows what they need for evidence. The Sheriff said you could sit on him, though."

He stood back up and placed himself between her and the prone body on the ground. "He won't hurt you again, Polly."

"You made sure of that. Thank you."

"Did he say there was someone else who would shoot up the people on the street?"

"He did, but now that I think about it, that wouldn't happen. If his partner saw him go down, he's on the run. From what I understand, this guy needs someone else to do his dirty work. All he does is play mind games until he's tired of the weak-minded fool that he's manipulating."

They heard running on pavement and she stepped backward as both Ray and Jon Renaldi entered the alley. Ray was livid.

"What were you thinking - running out of Sycamore House without us?" he asked.

"Ray," Jon said, putting his hand on his brother's arm.

Polly squared her shoulders and stepped forward again. "Don't push me tonight, Ray. What was I thinking?" She paused to make sure he was listening. "I was thinking that my building was on fire, that everything my friend had invested was going up in flames, that my husband's work was threatened. That's what I was thinking. I was thinking that this is Bellingwood and I'm part of the community. That's what I was thinking."

This time he took a step back. "I'm sorry," he said. "I've been pushing you pretty hard. You're right. So, who put him on the ground this time?"

"You know Jason Donovan, right?" she said.

Ray shook Jason's hand. "You did this?"

"Yuh."

"Good job. He hasn't moved?"

There was a squeak from the ground as Joey turned his head. "Didn't dare," Joey said. "Easier to play dead."

Jon took Joey's arms and zip-tied them behind him, then hauled him to his feet. "At least Polly didn't kick you this time." He turned Joey and headed for the back steps of Pizzazz and pushed him to sit down. Joey sat and looked up at them.

"Where's Allendar?" Ray asked, looming over Joey.

"I don't know. He said he'd meet me when I had her."

"Where have you been living?"

"Here and there." Joey shook his head. "I don't know where he is."

"Where's the girl?"

Joey looked up, rolled his eyes at them and then dropped his head.

"Where's the girl?" Ray asked again. "Is she alive?"

Joey sat there, not saying a word, not reacting

"Look, you little prick. We aren't law enforcement. We can do anything we want to you and there's no one to stop us," Ray said, menace filling his words.

"Ray," Polly said quietly.

"No," he hissed. "You don't get to stop me this time. He's killed two girls and threatened you. This guy's life is worth nothing." Ray spat on the step beside Joey, making the man jump.

"Let me try," she said again.

"He won't talk to you. He's a scared little baby. I'll bet he wants his mommy." Ray stepped back as he taunted Joey, making room for Polly to move in.

"Joey, you have to tell us where she is. Don't make this worse on yourself. Please tell me." Polly reached in and lifted Joey's chin with her finger. "Look at me, Joey. Tell me where she is."

"Why did you run away?" he asked, his voice whiny. "You made me kidnap those girls and then kill them. I'm not a killer."

"No you're not," she said, continuing to hold his chin. "Tell me where to find her."

He turned his head away from her and dropped it again. "I had to do horrible things. He wouldn't do anything. I had to do it all. He made me touch dead bodies and..." Joey looked up again. "Why didn't you stay, Polly? I just wanted to be with you. We're meant to be together."

"I'm here now," she said. "Look at me and tell me where she is." Polly felt a hand on her back and stood up to see Aaron and Henry standing there.

"Joey, you have to tell me," she said again.

"I can't go back to that hospital. They'll know I failed. I told everyone that I was going to get you back and that I'd be free."

"I promise you won't go back there," Polly said. "I promise."

"Really?" He looked at Aaron and then at Ray.

Both men nodded. "You won't go back to Boston," Ray said.

Somehow that brought relief to Joey. "I don't know how to tell you where she is, but I can take you." He leaned into Polly. "Your truck and clothes are there too."

"Where's Allendar?" she asked. "Help us find him and end this tonight."

"He won't go back," Joey said. "He doesn't care about the girls. He only cares about me."

Aaron walked away and took out his phone, then, using two fingers, beckoned Ray to join him.

"Don't move," Ray said warningly to Polly.

Henry started to step forward, but Polly gave him a slight shake of the head. She didn't want to aggravate the situation with Joey any further.

"Come on, Jason," Henry said. "Let's leave this to them. We'll find your mom. She wondered where you'd gone." He took Jason's arm to lead him back out onto the street.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Jason asked Polly.

She gave him a hug. "You were my hero tonight. I've watched you grow up for nearly three years, but I don't think I realized just what that meant. You were amazing."

He turned away, embarrassed, and followed Henry out of the alley. Polly watched them turn the corner and suddenly felt exhausted. She sagged and Jon took her arm.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm so tired. These emotional late nights are wearing me out."

"At least this one is nearly over."

"Is it?" she asked.

Aaron and Ray came back to join them. "If the only person in this whole scenario that is important to Allendar is Joey here, we're going to use him to draw the man out."

"Oh, Aaron," Polly said.

"We'll keep him safe. I have two vehicles coming in now. You go on home and let us do our job tonight."

Ray took Joey's arm and stood him up.

"Don't make me leave, Polly," Joey said, reaching for her. "Please take care of me."

Her heart went out to him. He was so pathetic ... so easily manipulated. She no longer saw the man that she had thought she loved three years ago, but his familiarity tugged at the part of her that remembered their time together.

"I'm sorry, Joey. There are so many things that are more important than you right now. You have to go." Polly turned away as Aaron and Ray led him down the alley.

Stu Decker opened the driver's door and FBI Agent Marla Lane stepped around from the passenger side. Polly didn't feel any satisfaction or joy as they put Joey in the back seat. Aaron got in the driver's seat and closed the door. She felt tears run down her cheeks as she realized that this was mostly over for her.

"Are your friends inside?" Jon asked, pointing at the back door to Pizzazz.

"I suppose," she said. "But I don't want to see anyone tonight. I just want to go home." She started to cry as she took out her phone. "Let me call Henry. He'll come get me."

Jon stood silently as she made the call.

"Henry, where are you?"

"I'm in Pizzazz. Do you need me to open the back door?"

"Can you just get the truck and come get me? I don't want to see anyone. I don't want to have to talk about this or explain why I'm crying. I just want to go home and go to bed."

"We'll be right there. Are you safe?"

"Jon's with me."

"Give me time to get to the truck. You're fine, honey."

"I know. Thank you."

Jon reached out to take her arm. "You are fine," he said. "I can't believe what you did here tonight."

"I didn't do anything. I just talked to a man that I used to know. He thinks he's in love with me and he'd do nearly anything to make me happy." Polly shook her head. "I can't believe they're using him as bait to catch Allendar. He's been through enough."

"Polly, he killed two young women because they weren't you," Jon said with disgust.

She dropped her head. "I know. But that's because he is so weak. I wasn't surprised that he was so easily manipulated by a psychopath. Anyone that knows Joey wouldn't be surprised."

"At least it's over for you," Jon said. "We'll stick around until Allendar is caught, but you're nearly rid of us."

Polly grinned at him. "I wish you two could have come to Iowa just for fun."

Henry drove in with Rebecca in the back seat.

"You know that we'd never have thought to do that, Polly. I'm just glad we had a reason and that you're still safe at the end of it." Jon opened the front door of the truck and waited as she climbed in. "I'll be right behind you," he said. "Our car is down the street."

"I'm just going to go upstairs and go to bed," Polly said. "Text me when you get to your room and I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Good enough. Get some sleep, everyone."

Polly pulled the door shut and sagged in her seat. "I'm exhausted. Take me home and put me to bed." She craned her neck to look at Rebecca. "How are you doing, honey?"

"I'm good. Is it really over?"

"It is," Polly said. "The police have Joey and they're going after his partner."

"What about the girl who was kidnapped?"

"He's taking them to her. It's time for us to go home, sleep until tomorrow and then finish preparing for your mother's memorial service."

Rebecca huffed a small chuckle. "That seems like it was so long ago. A lot's happened today."

"How are you doing with that?" Henry asked as he turned into their driveway.

"It's okay. I cried when I went to bed. It felt strange not to be downstairs in her room. In fact, it feels strange not to have to do anything or worry about her. I wonder how long I'll still think that I should check on her?"

"It might be a few weeks," Polly said. "Did you talk to Evelyn about that?"

"She said that caregivers feel a sense of loss not only because they lost someone who was close to them, but also because their schedules have changed and they have free time again. I think she's right."

"If anyone would know, she would," Polly said.

Henry pulled into the garage and they unbuckled and climbed out of the truck as the door came down.

"Are you going to be able to go back to sleep?" he asked Rebecca. "We messed with your schedule tonight."

"I might read a book, but I'm pretty tired," Rebecca said. She hefted her backpack out and Henry took it from her, then held the door open as they went inside. Rebecca opened the door to the upstairs and started up the steps.

"Obiwan and Han must be sleeping," she said. "Good for them. It's late."

Polly looked at Henry. His brows furrowed and he said, "Rebecca, stop."

She crested the top step and turned to look at him. "Why? What's up?"

At that moment, an arm grabbed her wrist and the man pulled her against his body.

"Come on up, Mr. and Mrs. Sturtz," he said.

Polly shuddered as she realized that she recognized the voice. He had been so calm when she was blindfolded and tied to a bed. She wondered if that was his normal demeanor.

"Go ahead," she said to Henry. She used his body to block her actions as she swiped her phone open and called Aaron. "You're Marcus Allendar, aren't you?" she asked loudly, hoping to cover Aaron's usual witty repartee at the beginning of their phone calls. She slipped the phone into her back pocket, thankful that technology had gotten to a point where this was even possible.

Henry must have realized her intentions because he stamped his feet up the steps and shouted, "What in the hell are you doing in my house?"

"Calm down, Mr. Sturtz," Allendar said. "We all know why I'm here. I've been following your wife all week. That is, whenever she had enough bodyguards to protect her so she could go outside. You know, your boyfriend and I were in that old house across the street there." He pointed toward the front of the building. "They say it's on the market, but no one paid any attention to us when we were there."