A Killer Duet

by Mary Winter

  Chapter 11

  Rain knew something was wrong. Not just because Case was late for their practice session, but also because he hadn’t been at her dressing room door when she’d emerged. The presence of additional security around the stage, as if the men were protecting her on some kind of orders, also tipped her off.

  “Hello, I’m Vicki Holden,” a tall female security officer said as she offered her hand. “I’ll be accompanying you this afternoon and evening.”

  At first glance, the tall woman with her black hair pulled back in a ponytail and sharp features that hinted at native ancestry, appeared more than capable to take on any threat. “Thank you. Do you know where Case is?” If the agent thought it odd she addressed him by his first name, well there were rumors swirling about. “He’s supposed to be here to practice.”

  “I’m sure he’s fine, ma’am. Shall we?” And with as abrupt a dismissal as she’d ever received, Vicki led her to the stage.

  Rain’s heart pounded. She’d left her phone in her dressing room. Now, she wanted to turn around and get it. But whatever was going on, she doubted Case’s receiving a text from her would fix it, or help him.

  A state police officer tapped on Vicki’s arm. “We have his location. Officers are on the way.”

  Rain stopped. “His location? Will someone tell me what’s going on?”

  The officer and Vicki exchanged a look with each other.

  “Does this have anything to do with why my bus and driver weren’t at the hotel this morning?” The silence from the two security officers spoke far louder than anything they might have said. She battled the worry rising within her. “Is Case in trouble? Is he hurt?” She bit her lip, a more horrifying realization coming to the fore. One which she wouldn’t name and wouldn’t give voice to.

  Vicki laid her hand on Rain’s shoulder. “We’re doing everything we can to prevent that. I know it’s hard. We need you to go on stage, practice, and pretend that everything is normal. Make an excuse for his absence.”

  Rain breathed deeply. She’d done gigs before when everything wasn’t right. Had battled through uncertain weather conditions and even the potential threat of tornadoes, but nothing had been as stressful as this moment. “Please keep me posted.”

  “Actually it’s better if we don’t. I’m sorry. This is tough for you. But Case is highly trained. Whatever is happening, I’m sure he’s got it completely under control. Let’s go.”

  She allowed Vicki to lead her to the stage, mostly because she knew she had to practice, or at least check in with the band. Vicki waited just past the curtains, and Rain took a moment to paste a smile on her face and stride on stage as if nothing were happening. The show must go on. The show has to go one.

  “Where’s Case?” her guitarist asked.

  “He had something come up. He’ll be here later.” I hope. “I thought the intro to Truck Stop Girlfriend was a bit rocky last night. Shall we go over it and the bridge first?”

  “Yeah, sorry. I missed my cue,” the bassist said. “Pretty girl in the front row wanted to flash me.”

  Everyone laughed, because that girl had been drunk as a skunk and security had taken her out before she’d had her chance to flash anyone. The venue promised a family friendly atmosphere. Every once in a while someone imbibed too much and things got rowdy. She counted out the bars and a few moments later the opening guitar notes to her hit song filled the auditorium. Even without the microphones turned on, the sound echoed and carried. Soon, they’d gone through the opening several times, hitting it perfect each and every time.

  She moved through their usual pieces, picking and choosing some of the transitions and hitting the entrances and choruses that the audience liked to sign along with to make sure there wouldn’t be any errors. The practice ran flawlessly in spite of the worries and fears dragging around in her mind. When it finished Case still hadn’t shown up. Whatever was happening, it couldn’t be good. She met Vicki at the edge of the stage.

  “What’s happening?” she demanded. “Where is he?”

  Vicki shook her head. “I haven’t heard anything. I’m sorry.” The way she spoke, as if there were nothing to do except see what would happen bothered Rain. It was almost as if they thought Case’s disappearance wasn’t their problem. Never mind that there’d been threats against her, and now her former bodyguard and bus driver were missing, too. She hated thinking the worst of Dale. He’d been with her for years. And yet, the fact that he wasn’t there, the bus wasn’t in the parking lot waiting for her told her all she needed to know.

  “I don’t like it,” Rain said. “There’s got to be something we can do.”

  “My job and the job of the officers here is to keep you safe. We’re doing our job, Rain. And I can guarantee you we don’t like the fact that we’re not out there either. But we’re stationed here to protect you and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

  “Against what?” She stopped outside her dressing room door. “The person who we thought was the biggest threat to me is missing too. Or at least judging by the FBI agents that stopped by the hotel, he’s missing. We really don’t know.”

  Vicki touched her arm “Exactly We don’t know. Rest. I’ll have your dinner brought to you and then you’re going to go on stage and give these people the best concert they’ve seen. That’s what we can do for Case and the others. We can do our jobs.”

  She couldn’t argue with that, and so she did as Vicki ordered.

  Case needed to get the gun out of Scott’s hands. As long as Dale kept the bus on the road, Case’s instinct told him the driver would do his job—drive. The curves of the highway led off toward smaller towns and deeper into the Ozark hills He found it hard to balance as the bus navigated the turns. Dale wasn’t slowing down or doing anything to make it easier. Instead, it was almost as if he wanted to crash, because he took the curves higher than the posted speed limit, which Case knew from experience pretty much needed to be obeyed, or at least closely adhered to.

  A plan formed in his mind. On the next curve, he stumbled, as if thrown off balance by the bus. He went to his knees, rolling and kicking Scott’s feet out from beneath him.

  The gun fired.

  A bullet went through the windshield, close to where Case’s head would have been had he been standing. Silly amateur, Case thought realizing that Scott really hadn’t been a security guard or at least not a competent one. Obviously he didn’t know that it was easier to aim for body shots or he was such a bad shot that he’d missed entirely. The gun hit the floor, discharging again toward the bus doors. Case tried not to think of the damage to the bus, not when he needed to get back to Rain and make sure there was nothing else planned for her back at the theater. He swept his hand and shoved the gun toward the door. It clattered against the glass.

  “Watch it. You don’t want me taking this bus off the road,” Dale growled.

  Case pounced. A quick punch smacked Scott’s head against the floor. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth onto the carpet. Scott reached for him, his hands pushing up against Case’s arm and torso. A second punch disoriented him, and Case grabbed the man’s hands and pinned them above his head. “Tell me Rain is safe. That you had nothing planned for her.”

  Scott sneered. “Not yet.”

  “Damn it.” He jammed his knee into Scott’s side, his vision turning read at the idea that this man, this worthless human being would try to hurt the woman he loved. “I need to know.”

  The faint sound of sirens came to them.

  “Damn it,” Dale said. “I think we have company.”

  “Get rid of them,” Scott said. “You know what I promised you.”

  “Yes, sir,” Dale replied, sounding wholly defeated.

  “What’d he promise you?” Case asked. “You know if he threatened your family, those grandkids of yours we can protect you from that. You don’t have to go along with this”

  “I do,” Dale said. “It’s all too late for that. My family will be safe and
protected. They’re not involved in any of this.”

  Scott wiggled, trying to get free. Case grabbed his hands and slammed them into the floor and kicked him in the ribs again. The slight feel of bone breaking met his knee and Scott yelped. “Just slow the bus down.” He hoped this was being broadcast, maybe even given to the cops in real time. “You won’t get in trouble, Dale.” He hoped he was right, hoped that if the man cooperated he’d be shown some leniency.

  “Don’t listen to him. He’ll turn you in. If the FBI is looking for me, then they’re looking for you too!” Scott called.

  “The agents said nothing about Dale and he wasn’t even a topic of conversation. Don’t scare him just to get what you want. I think you’ve done enough.” He felt the bus slow as Dale complied. The sirens grew louder and the flashing red and blue lights shone off the interior of the bus.

  “I don’t want to get shot,” Dale said.

  “No one is going to shoot you,” Case said. “You did good. When the officer comes to the door tell him we need help, okay? I have a suspect down.”

  Dale opened the door.

  “I’m not going anywhere,” Scott yelled. He wrenched himself from beneath Case, sending him sprawling. Case got up, not fast enough, because Scott dove for the gun.

  Case drew and fired. His shot hit Scott in the side and sent him stumbling down the now-open door of the bus.

  “Stop. Police. Drop your weapon,” the officer said.

  Case set his gun down on the table next to him and held his hands in front of him. A moment later, there was an exchange of words, then gun shots and Scott fell to the side of the road.

  An officer stepped into the bus, gun drawn.

  “Case Trenton with Treble Security. This is Dale, Rain’s driver.” He said, still keeping his hands in front of him. “You can check, but I’ve been broadcasting this entire time.”

  Something crackled across the man’s radio. “Don’t go anywhere. An ambulance is on the way. Mr. Parmeter isn’t dead and one of my officers is giving first aid.”

  Case breathed a sigh of relief. “Any trouble at the Newton Theater?”

  “None that I’ve heard.”

  “I’m going to get my cell phone out of my pocket and check in. I’ll sit right here,” he told the officer and at the man’s nod, sat down.

  Soft sobs came from the front seat. “I never meant for any of this to happen. I think Scott was planning something for after the show. I don’t know, though. I don’t want Rain to get hurt. She’s always been so nice to me.”

  “We’re going to do everything we can to protect her,” Case said. “Why’d you do it, Dale? You know she thought so highly of you.”

  “I…I got into a bit of trouble. I should have known better. I lost money right along with Scott and he promised to get me the money back. See, I took it out of me and the wife’s retirement fund. He said I just have to go along with this.” The man sniffed. “I know what I didn’t wasn’t right. I should probably go to jail.”

  “We’ll see about that. You slowed the bus. You helped. We’ll figure it out soon enough.”

  The ambulance came and took Scott to the hospital in Springfield and when he checked his phone, Case realized they’d been on the road for nearly an hour and a half. More officers came. The bus would have to be gone over by evidence techs, and looking at the blood spots, Case wondered if Rain would even want to use it again. The police accompanied them back to Branson, and a deputy gave him a ride to his hotel to shower and change, then to the theater. The show hadn’t started yet.

  Rain looked at her phone, then at the door to her dressing room. She’d had Vicki take her back to the hotel to shower and change. There’d been no sign of Case. She’d watched as Vicki went from stoic to worried over the course of the afternoon. She heard muffled whispers, saw the police officers getting anxious over something. And yet, no one told her anything.

  She was getting frustrated. Demanding answers wouldn’t work. She knew that since she’d already tried it with Vicki. She’d tried talking to the other officers and security guards. No one knew anything. And all of that meant trouble for Case.

  She stared into the mirror and willed herself not to cry. It’d only spoil her makeup. She could do this. She’d gone out on stage without Case for years, even when there’d been a bit of trouble or minor emergency. The crowds had loved her and in the end, it all worked out. She had to believe that would happen today, too.

  She hoped. She tried to immerse herself into the routine of getting ready for her show. She moved methodically, not thinking about anything except the next step—fastening a button, clipping her hair back. She gave her cowboy boots some polish, did some deep knee bends to make sure she could move in the tight jeans, more like jeggings, though they appeared to be distressed designer jeans that fit her perfectly. She checked herself front and back in the mirror. Then, when the call for “fifteen minutes to opening” came through she gave the two knocks on the door letting Vicki know she was ready.

  The door opened. She blinked, realizing that it wasn’t Vicki, but rather Case stood there, dressed and ready for stage with his guitar slung over his shoulder. “Case,” she breathed, then stepped forward, cupped his cheek and kissed him.

  He clung to her, sweeping his tongue over her lower lip and inviting her to open for him. She did and cupped the back of his head and pulled him into an even tighter embrace. A couple of whistles and clapping surrounded, and she realized the band stood in the hallway around her.

  “You’re here,” she said when the kiss ended. “What happened?”

  He smiled. “That’s a long story, and I just smudged the hell out of your lipstick. I’ll tell you after the concert, but know that you have nothing to fear. The threats to you have been taken care of.”

  Something in his eyes told her there was more to that then what he’d just said, and she vowed to ask him about it. Ducking back into her dressing room, she checked her makeup in the mirror. As he said, he’d smudged her lipstick. She smiled, reapplied it, then grabbed her guitar. “Are you ready to sing with me?” she asked.

  “Oh I’m ready to do more than that. But let’s start with our duet.”

  She slid her hand into his and tangled their fingers together as they walked to the stage. Vicki fell into step in front of them, stopping with them just off stage. The band clapped her on the shoulders, and she wondered if they didn’t know what was going on too. Their congratulations and the thumbs up they gave as they made their way to their places, told her they knew that her duets with Case Trenton would be an official part of her show. Then, the announcer’s voice came over the loud speakers, the crowd began to cheer, and the spotlight was on her. Except it wasn’t just her, it was her and Case, and together, they walked onto the stage to the strains of music. She released his hand, strummed her guitar, and began to play.

  Chapter 12

  Two weeks later…

  Case Trenton had taken the country world by storm. His picture appeared on industry and gossip sites alike. Some said he’d only gotten his break due to Rain. Others reported his earlier history playing music and said he’d taken the long road to stardom. Frankly, Case didn’t care. He finished packing his suitcase. The bus had been packed with what they could salvage from Rain’s hotel room, which frankly hadn’t been much. Dale had gone back to his family pending charges or a trial, so Case had been promoted—demoted?—to bus driver. It was okay, because they were headed for Rain’s sprawling home.

  “You sure you don’t mind staying with me a little longer?” Rain said. “Just until the legal stuff has been taken care of?”

  “Of course not. I don’t mind at all.” His truck was already on the tow dolly behind the bus, his fishing gear packed in the cab. There’d be time enough to fish later, he supposed. “Making sure you’re safe is my mission. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

  She stepped forward and flattened her palms on his chest. “What if I want more than that? I—” She paused and licked her lips.
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  He almost kissed her then. He also knew if he distracted her, they wouldn’t get back to conversation for a long while, and they had to check out in less than an hour.

  “Look, I’ve seen the movies. You’re not supposed to get involved with me, and I’m not supposed to allow it to happen. But we’re good together. And I’m not just talking on the stage either, though the reviews of our duets are enough to have managers asking to rep both of us. Once this is all settled though you’ll have another mission. And I’ll have to do another tour sometime next year. Whatever we got here, it’s not going to stay the same.”

  Warmth filled his chest. Looking down at her, he couldn’t imagine being anywhere she wasn’t. Mission or not, he frankly didn’t want to go out on another one, and he’d spoken with Johnny. He knew now that his prior mission hadn’t gone bad because of him. And this one hadn’t gone bad at all. “Nothing stays the same. The important part is that we learn to appreciate the changes and make them work for us. I haven’t made any decisions yet. I love singing with you. And I love being on stage just as much as I thought I would when I was fresh out of high school. I’m not quite ready to hang up my security work for good, but I am inclined to a long term position.” He brushed his lips across hers.

  “I could hire—”

  He captured her words with his lips, the check-out time be damned. He kissed her, hopefully showing with his mouth and hands just what kind of long term position he was thinking about. When the kiss ended, he wasn’t the only one breathing heavily. “The only duets I want to sing are with you, Rain Chowden. I’ll let the rest sort itself out.” He waited for her answer. They hadn’t talked about this, hadn’t talked about the future much after he’d explained what had happened. He’d let her focus on the shows, and he’d done the same. Even after speaking with the police and FBI about what had happened, his entire focus had been on her, making sure she was good with everything.