Abel was clearly about to say something less than cordial to me when he must have caught a glimpse of the expression on Jake’s face and thought better of it. “There are two sides to every story, Ms. Hart. I’m sure Killian’s version of what happened paints him in a rather better light than what really happened.”
“So set us straight. What really did happen?” I asked him.
Abel started to tell me—I could see it in the way he braced himself—but then he clearly decided against it. “What does it matter anymore? It’s water under the bridge at this point.”
“And over the dam, too,” I replied.
“What? What dam?” he asked, confused.
“The one right after the bridge,” I explained patiently, as though he were unable to grasp the concept.
“Good night,” Abel said, finally deciding that he was better off just dismissing us.
“Night,” I said with a grin, and then turned to my husband. “It’s true what they say, isn’t it?”
“Some of it,” Jake answered as we made our way back to the main level. “What are you talking about specifically?”
“No good deed goes unpunished,” I answered. “Maybe we should have let them all just stumble around in the dark.”
“Maybe we should have,” Jake answered when I saw him stiffen up and shove the candles at me. The moment his hands were free I saw him reach for his handgun, so I looked in the direction he was staring.
We weren’t alone anymore.
Someone was sitting in front of the fire with his back to us.
“It’s just Hank,” I told Jake softly the second I recognized the outline of the big man.
It was clear from his initial reaction that Jake was on edge, and as he put his weapon back in its holster, he said, “Better safe than sorry, you know?”
“I do,” I said.
“What are you two whispering about in the dark back there?” Hank asked us with a smile as he turned around.
“The power outage,” Jake said, covering for his earlier action of drawing on the handyman.
“It’s a part of life on the mountain,” Hank said with a sigh. “Hope you don’t mind, but I got soaked out there trying to check things out, and there’s no power in my apartment. I told Killian I wanted a wood stove with an oven, but it hasn’t come in yet. As it is, I’m going to freeze to death down there.”
“You could always sleep by the fireplace. That’s what we’re thinking about doing,” I said, wondering if Jake and I should do that as well.
“No need for you to. It hasn’t gotten cold up here, has it?” he asked with a grin.
I realized he was right. Though the temperatures were surely dropping outside, inside the structure was still quite warm. “What’s that all about?”
“Killian put some kind of state-of-the-art geothermal something in. I don’t understand how it works, but it’s supposed to keep chugging along no matter what happens to the power. I’m not allowed to work on it, but I don’t mind in this case.”
“But it doesn’t extend to your apartment?” Jake asked him. “How about downstairs?”
“The boss is safe and as snug as a bug in a rug, don’t you worry about him,” Hank said. “I’m guessing he doesn’t even know the power’s out. He’s been sleeping a lot lately, and honestly, just between you and me and the walls, I’m worried about him.”
The concern Hank had for his employer was obvious. “What exactly is going on with him, Hank?” Jake asked earnestly.
“I wouldn’t have said anything, but I know what a high regard he has for you, sir,” Hank said. “Leandra’s not going to be able to hold on much longer, and when she goes, I’m afraid it’s going to kill him. He told me one night last week when we were up here all alone that she’s been the only thing keeping him going lately.”
I felt my heart go out to our host again, and frowned when I thought about the lack of support he had around him. “I think you’re the only one up here on his side,” I told Hank as we took seats by the fire ourselves.
“Besides the two of you, you mean,” Hank said. “You made his week cooking that meal with him. You know that don’t you?”
“It was just dinner,” I said, uncomfortable with the praise.
“It was a whole lot more than that, and you know it,” Hank said. “I just wish I had better news for him when he wakes up in the morning.”
“Is the power situation that bad?” Jake asked him.
“Not just the power, I’m afraid,” Hank said with a frown.
“How much worse could it be?” I asked.
“The road down the mountain is completely gone.”
Chapter 9
“IT’S GONE?” I ASKED loudly. “What do you mean, it’s gone?”
“The last storm we got a few hours ago took care of what the weather’s been trying to do for weeks,” Hank explained. “The guy who cut in the new road cut some corners and decided not to put culverts in. Once the road started eroding, it was a losing battle. At the moment most of our road is lying at the bottom of the mountain, and there’s no other way down.”
I tried to take that in as Jake spoke. “So we’re trapped here.”
“There’s no getting out in our vehicles for a while; that’s for sure,” he said.
“I’m surprised there isn’t some other way down the mountain,” Jake said.
“There is, if you don’t mind hiking down a steep enough hill to kill you with one slip,” he said.
“What about the phone line? Can we call someone for help?” I asked him.
“That line was in the same trench as the power was,” Hank said as he shook his head. “Don’t worry. We have staff coming in the morning, or at least that was the plan. When they see the road is out they’ll get us help, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they helicopter you all out of here by noon tomorrow.”
“What about you?” I asked Hank.
“Oh, I’ll stay here and keep working on the place. The truth of the matter is that I’ve got nowhere else to be,” he said a bit too nonchalantly.
“I’m sorry,” I said, letting the sympathy come through my voice.
“I appreciate that, but it’s not necessary. I’m alone by my own stupidity, so it’s nothing that I don’t richly deserve.” There was so much melancholy in his voice that I wanted to comfort him somehow, but I honestly didn’t know anything I could do. The moment passed, and Hank rubbed his hands together and tried his best to lighten his own mood. “I don’t know about you two, but I could use a little toddy to take the chill off. Anyone care to join me?”
“What did you have in mind?” Jake asked him.
“Well, I haven’t had a drink in seven years, eight months, and three days, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have a cup of hot chocolate to take the edge off.”
“I’d be glad to make some, but how can I do it without power?” I asked him.
“The kitchen runs on propane,” Hank said with a smile.
I’d seen some hot cocoa mix when I’d been in the kitchen working on dinner, so I stood and said, “I’ll get started on it.”
“I’ll keep you company,” Jake said as he joined me.
“Well, if you don’t mind three being a crowd, all in all, I’d rather be in the kitchen with you folks than out here all by myself,” Hank said. “This isn’t a night to be alone with your thoughts, if you know what I mean.”
Jake put a hand on the big man’s shoulder. “I do.”
Hank didn’t pull away. “I could tell that about you. You’ve lost folks you care about too,” he said. “Thanks.”
“Let’s go then, shall we?” I asked as cheerfully as I could manage amid the sadness.
“Lead the way, kind lady,” Hank said.
I grabbed my candle, the other two did the same, and we made our way into the kitchen.
As I got started on warming the milk for the hot chocolate on the cooktop, Hank walked to the kitchen window. “There’s a fog rolling in along with this rain. We’re in fo
r some rough weather before it gets any better,” he said. “That might stop the helicopter from coming for us, but we’ve got plenty of food, we’re warm, and we’re dry, so there are a lot worse places we could be.”
“I’d say that’s looking on the bright side of things,” I told him as I stirred the milk to keep from scalding it. While I did that, Jake got out three hefty mugs and some spoons.
“Where’s the cocoa mix?” he asked me.
“Third cabinet, middle shelf, over there,” I said as I pointed to the pantry.
“How did you happen to remember that?” Hank asked me with a curious look.
“Some people have photographic memories; I’ve got a foodographic one,” I said with a smile.
“I’d say that all in all, that’s a handier one to have,” he answered as Jake followed my directions and retrieved the cocoa mix. “I’ve never heard of this brand,” he said as he read the label out loud.
“It’s French,” I told him, having recognized it earlier. “I never thought I’d get a chance to taste it even when we went to Paris on our honeymoon.”
“Nothing but the best for the boss,” Hank said proudly.
“Has he always had such expensive tastes?” I asked.
Hank laughed. “When we first met, we shared a sandwich he’d packed himself for lunch. The man has had beer taste on a champagne budget for most of the time I’ve known him.”
“So what changed?” I asked him as I poured the warmed milk into the mugs. The aroma of the chocolate was enough to make my mouth water before I even tasted a sip.
“Leandra got sick,” he said plainly.
“I’m willing to bet that’s what made him sell the company,” I said.
“You got it in one. He decided life was too short, so he was going to make sure that his daughter was able to enjoy every last minute she’s got,” Hank answered soberly.
“Is it really that bad?” I asked him as I handed him his mug.
He took a sip and nodded. “That hits the spot,” he said. “Yeah, I’m afraid she’s not long in this world. The boss has her isolated from the outside world, terrified that she’ll catch the sniffles from someone that pushes her over the edge. I doubt more than two people have seen her besides her doctors in the past three months.”
“I’m kind of surprised he planned this outing then,” I said as I took my first sip. It was amazing, as different layers of chocolate exploded on my tongue. I wasn’t sure how much this stuff cost by the ounce, but whatever it was, it was worth it.
“I was too, to be honest with you, but it sounded like it was all Leandra’s doing. She knew what kind of pressure everyone was putting on her dad, and she urged him to put an end to it once and for all so he could have some peace. The boss threw it together three days ago and insisted that everyone on his invitation list come, or else.”
“So we weren’t a last-minute addition?” Jake asked the handyman.
“I wish I could tell you that you were at the top of his list, but as a matter of fact you were the last ones he called. It kind of surprised me, to be honest with you. No offense.”
“None taken,” Jake said. “I wonder why it was so important that we come?”
“Maybe he wanted a few friendly faces around to take the sting out of his other guests,” I said as I took another sip. I was going to have to slow down or I would need another cup soon, which wasn’t the worst thing in the world.
“It wouldn’t surprise me in the least, but I honestly couldn’t say,” Hank answered as he polished off his own mug. “That’s a bit above my pay grade. The boss points me in the right direction and tells me what to do. Truth be told, I like it that way.”
“You’re extremely loyal to him, aren’t you?” I asked Hank.
“I’d die for that man,” he said, and then he smiled as he added, “Let’s just hope it doesn’t come to that.” Hank put his mug in the sink and then thanked me. “That was amazing. Now, if you two don’t mind, I’m going to go down to my place and change into some dry clothes.”
“We don’t mind at all,” I said.
And that was when we heard a scream.
Chapter 10
“WHO WAS THAT?” I ASKED as we all rushed with our lit candles out of the kitchen and into the living room.
“It sounded like a man, so I’m guessing it was either Abel or Jasper,” Jake said as he pulled out his handgun.
“Whoa there, partner. Is that really necessary?” Hank asked.
“I don’t know yet. Let’s go find out, shall we?” Jake asked as he rushed up the stairs.
It only took a second to realize where the scream had come from.
Beatrice’s door was standing wide open.
Jake took the lead, though Hank and I were both close on his heels.
Jasper was standing at the window looking down. This side of the structure had an actual small balcony on every room, and the French doors had been thrown open.
“It’s Beatrice!” he shouted as he pointed below us.
The fog was indeed rolling in, but I could still make out the figure on the rocks twenty feet below us.
It appeared that Beatrice had finally followed through on what I had assumed had just been an empty threat.
From the way she was laying there, there was no doubt in my mind that she had succeeded in the attempt to end her own life.
“We have to help her,” Jasper whimpered as he stood there in the growing rain and expanding fog.
“There’s nothing we can do for her,” I said as I put a hand on his shoulder and started to pull him back inside.
He wasn’t having it, though, and I was surprised by how strongly he was able to resist. “I’m going down there!”
Jasper started for the door when Jake and Hank both intervened.
“You’re not going anywhere,” Hank said.
“We can’t just leave her down there,” Jasper cried out.
Jake was about to say something when Hank spoke up. “He’s right. From here we can’t be sure that she’s really dead. I’ll go check on her.”
“You can’t do that,” I told Hank. “It’s too dangerous.”
“I have a way down there that should be okay,” he answered. “Jasper’s right. We have to make sure she’s not still alive.”
“I’ll go with you,” Jake said.
Before I could protest, Hank replied, “As much as I appreciate the offer, I can’t be worrying about you while I’m trying to climb down those rocks. I’ve got a rope I might need to pull her back up if she survived the fall, but I’m going to need you on the other end of it.”
I knew that Jake didn’t like to stand back while someone else did the dirty work, but what Hank suggested made sense. “Do it his way, honey.”
Jake nodded. “You’re the boss.”
“Don’t say that even as a joke. There’s only one boss around here,” Hank said. “Come on, let’s go.”
As we left the room together in a hurry, Vera came rushing out of her room, her candle sputtering so much that it almost went out. “What is all this nonsense about? I’m trying to sleep here!”
“We’ve got bigger problems than you getting your beauty rest,” I snapped at her. “Beatrice has been hurt.” I had a feeling that she’d been much more than injured in the fall, but I didn’t want to get too graphic with Jasper right there beside me.
“What happened to her?” Vera asked, but I chose to ignore her. When she saw us rushing down the stairs, she said, “Suit yourselves. I’m going back to bed.”
Nobody responded.
Once we were outside, it seemed as though the rain was picking up even more. “Is it really safe to go down there?” I asked as I looked down the twelve feet remaining where Beatrice lay.
“I’ll be okay,” Hank said. “While I’m climbing down, Jake, would you get the rope stashed away in the mudroom? It’s under the bench marked Outdoor Supplies.”
“I’m on it,” Jake said as he vanished.
“I’m going with
you,” Jasper said, trying his best to act brave.
“If you do, then we’re going to have more than one body to deal with tonight,” Hank said shortly. “Stay here.”
Jasper just whimpered.
“I’ll make sure he doesn’t try to follow you,” I told Hank. “Be careful.”
“You bet,” he said as he started over the side of the cliff, choosing each foothold and handhold carefully.
He was almost to Beatrice when I saw the rock he was clinging to start to shift and break free from the cliffside.
“Hank!” I called out as he started to skid past the small outcropping where Beatrice lay.
He managed to grab the ledge as he slid past, and I didn’t breathe again until he pulled himself up to lie beside her. “I’m okay!” he called up to us as Jake rejoined us, holding the rope.
“What happened?”
“The rock he was holding on to gave way, but he managed to save himself,” I told him.
“How is she? Is she still breathing?” Jasper called out to Hank as he got to his hands and knees and leaned over the body.
After checking for a pulse for longer than I would have, Hank looked up at us and shook his head twice.
That’s when Jasper fainted.
“Should we go ahead and haul her up?” Jake asked as he called down to Hank.
“I don’t think we should risk it,” Hank said, “but if you want to give it a shot, I’m game. The boss made me take a CPR class when he started building this place, so I know what to look for when I’m checking for a pulse. Still, I could be wrong.”
“Let’s try it,” Jake said after a moment.
“You bet,” Hank said as he tied the rope around Beatrice’s shoulders and across her chest. “Wait till I get up there so I can help you.”
“Should you use the rope to climb up first yourself?” I called down.
“No, it’s liable to be more trouble than it’s worth,” he said. Hank made it back up the side of the cliff without incident, and then the three of us pulled Beatrice’s body up. Jasper was no help at all, which I could forgive him for this time.
BATTERED BLUFF Page 7