If Pigs Could Fly

by Gen Griffin

  “Jump.” Ian jammed the knife into Katie's skin. She gasped.

  “You wouldn't hurt her. I know you better than that,” Addison didn't look entirely confident in what he was saying.

  “Joe didn't think I would shoot him.” Ian's hands were shaking. “I blew his brains out.”

  Addison paled slightly. “You killed Joe?”

  “He was happy April Lynne was dead.” Ian stared Addison down. “Are you happy she's dead?”

  “No.”

  “You never liked her.”

  “Doesn't mean I wanted her dead. I don't want anyone dead.” Addison sucked in a deep breath. He eyed Ian's awkward grip on the knife. Katie knew him well enough to know he was considering trying to take the weapon from Ian.

  “Ian, don't be stupid.” Katie was still struggling not to panic “Just let me go.”

  “I'll let you go when Addison jumps into the bayou.”

  Addison glanced sideways at her as Ian poked her throat with the knife again. “Jump, Malone. Jump or I'll cut her throat and throw her in the bayou. The blood will attract every gator for miles. Be smart.”

  “What are you going to do to her if I jump?” Addison asked.

  “Throw her overboard after you. I want the boat. Not y'all. The two of you will live to see tomorrow if you just do what you're told for once in your lives. I don't want to kill either one of you.”

  “Katie, what do you want me to do?” Addison asked.

  She swallowed nervously and tried to think. “I don't think he'll kill us. Just give him the boat.”

  Addison took a deep breath and then nodded at her before turning his full attention back to Ian. “Let her go and you can have the boat.”

  “You jump first.”

  “Let her go first,” Addison said. “I'm not jumping unless I know she's safe.”

  “You aren't in control here.” Ian sounded angry. Katie didn't need to be able to see his face to imagine the rage that was shining in his eyes.

  “Throw her into the water.”

  “I'm not that stupid, Addison. You'll try to take me once she's out of the way.” Ian drug the blade of his knife across Katie's throat just enough to make her bleed.

  She let out a hiss of pain. The cut wasn't deep but it stung.

  “I'll cut her again, Malone.” Ian wasn't bluffing.

  Addison cursed. “Katie?”

  “Jump,” she told him. “I'll be okay.”

  Addison swore again and then jumped overboard into the icy water to the left of the boat. Katie didn't have a chance to see whether he came back up for air. Ian slung her off to his right the moment Addison hit the water.

  The bayou was ice cold. Katie's boots and jacket were instantly turned into anchors as they absorbed water. Katie knew that the water wasn't more than about ten feet deep. It wasn't a comforting thought as she struggled to the surface just in time to see Ian speeding off in Addison's boat.

  She frantically looked around for Addison. He was treading water twenty feet away from her.

  “Motherfucker,” he spat the word out as water ran down his face. “Are you okay?”

  “I'll live,” Katie promised as she began swimming for the nearest bit of swampy shore.

  Chapter 58

  “If the boat was down by South Cypress in high tide then I would imagine it started off somewhere near the point.” Pappy tapped his cane against the side of his boat. “Either the point or the old Robinson place.”

  “You're probably right.” David nodded as he settled down behind the steering console of the boat. He cast a sideways look at the old man. “Are you sure you want to come with us?”

  “You and Calvin may not have any use for April Lynne, but she's still family. She's my granddaughter same as Cal is my grandson. Same as you are.” Pappy clucked his tongue at David from the seat nearest to the front of the boat. “Sullivan found her purse in a boat that was abandoned and covered in blood. No one has heard from her since Friday night. Her witch of a Momma is even starting to get concerned. I'm worried about my girl.”

  David frowned. “I'm more worried about you. It's cold out here.”

  “I've got a coat,” Pappy glared back at David. “I'm old. Not dead. Quit your worrying and get moving.”

  “Yes, sir.” David grimaced as he finished easing the boat away from the dock. It had taken them nearly two hours to go pick up Pappy's boat, unload it into the water and then use the trailer to haul Ian's boat to David's shop for an impromptu impound.

  “Feels to me like the temperature is dropping as they day goes on,” Sully said from beside David. He was wearing a thick jacket and had a knit toboggan pulled down low over his brow.

  “It is,” David confirmed. “Did you ever get a hold of Addison?”

  “No.”

  “Remind me to chew his ass when we finally track him down,” David said.

  “I doubt you'll need the reminder after we spend the next few hours freezing our collective butts off searching the bayou for Ian and April Lynne.” Sully shivered visibly as David began to open up the throttle on Pappy's very new, very expensive high-end bass boat.

  Chapter 59

  “Are you sure you're okay?” Addison was hovering over Katie like an overprotective parent on the first day of kindergarten.

  “I'm fine,” she said for what she knew was at least the seventh time. “It's just a scratch. He wouldn't have hurt me. Ian's not violent.”

  “Ian has a higher body count than myself, Cal and Breedlove put together. You might want to reconsider that statement.” Addison wrapped his arms around her and hugged her close against his chest. “I'm so sorry.”

  “For what?” Katie cuddled into him even though he was just as soaking wet and cold as she was.

  “Everything.” He put his chin on top of her head. “Ruining your birthday. Not realizing Ian was a complete and total fucking lunatic. Letting Ian get on my boat. Not killing him when he put a knife to your throat. I have a gun.”

  “Ian would have used me as a shield if you had tried shooting him,” Katie buried her face into his wet hoodie. He was still warmer than she was. “As for the rest of it, I didn't think he was dangerous either. We share the blame equally on that.”

  Addison kissed her gently on the top of her head. “I'm just glad you're alright.”

  “Are you sure you're okay?” Katie glanced doubtfully down at his left leg. “You're limping pretty good.”

  “I just tweaked it. I'll be fine.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I'm fine.” He kissed her again.

  She kissed him lightly back and then sighed. “Sorry about your boat.”

  “My boat will turn back up. Where the hell does Ian even think he's going to get with it?” Addison pulled back from her slightly. She could see the slightly smug look on his face. “It's damn near out of gas.”

  “What?” She frowned at him.

  “We weren't going that far out. I didn't feel like stopping for gas this morning. He's got maybe a quarter of a tank.”

  Katie couldn't help smiling. “He'll run out of gas before he can even get all the way down to the river.”

  “Damn right he will.” Addy grinned back at her. His drenched blonde curls made him look like a very sexy wet sheepdog. “Ian's a dipshit. The most he'll be able to do is run back to the landing with my boat. I'm guessing we'll find it beached or docked somewhere in the next day or so.”

  “You're not worried?” Katie reached up and traced her fingers down his slightly stubbly jaw.

  “Not particularly, no.” Addison took her hand in his. “Though I have to say that I'm not looking forward to the walk home.”

  “The walk home? Don't you mean swim?” Katie blinked at him. “Aren't we pretty much in the middle of nowhere surrounded by water?”

  “Not exactly,” Addison said with a smirk. “There's a fishing camp about a mile and a half from here. It has road access.”

  “Where will the road access put us out at?”

 
“Down around the south bend and Cherokee road.”

  “People live on Cherokee road.”

  “Yup.” Addison began limping down the swampy bank. He kept Katie's hand in his, steadying her when she stumbled. “It's going to be an annoying walk, but I figure we can be home a little after dark.”

  “Amen to that.” Katie tugged on Addison's hand so that he had to stop and face her.

  “What?”

  “I love you,” Katie told him.

  Addison kissed her lightly on the lips. “I love you too.”

  Chapter 60

  “See anything?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Would help if we knew what we were looking for.”

  “Anything that ain't right,” Pappy said.

  David had the boat traveling just slightly faster than an idle as they approached the area of the swamp where Pappy figured Ian must have lost his boat based on the locations where Joe's body and the boat had ultimately been found.

  “I see some trampled brush up ahead.” Sully pointed to an area to the left of the boat.

  “Game trail,” Pappy said.

  “I don't think we're going to be able to find Ian or anyone else unless they want to be found.” David made a face as he heard the sound of a boat rapidly approaching. “Y'all hear that?”

  Sully instinctively looked upriver. “Sounds like they're hauling ass.”

  David frowned as the boat came around a bend a thousand yards up from where they were creeping downstream. “Too fast. There are a lot of stumps through here. They're asking for an accident.”

  Sully narrowed his eyes. “Isn't that Addison's boat?”

  David blinked and then squinted at the rapidly approaching boat. “Looks like it.”

  “If that's Addison then he's being damn stupid,” Pappy said. “He's going way too fast.”

  “He's also headed straight for us,” Sully cast a worried look at David. David's green eyes were focused on the approaching boat.

  “Something's wrong,” David said as the distance between the boats continued to shrink.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I don't see Katie and that's not Addison driving it.” David's hand was steady on the throttle.

  “Who is it?” Pappy asked.

  “It looks like Ian.” David bit his lip. “And he's headed right for us.”

  “He's going to hit us if we don't get out of the way,” Sully shifted his weight nervously. “He's not slowing down.”

  The three of them sat for another moment and watched Ian continue to approach. He wasn't slowing down.

  “Call his bluff,” Pappy said dryly.

  “What?” Sully stared at the elderly man in disbelief at what he'd just heard.

  “Call his bluff, David.” Pappy shot a purposeful look at David.

  “You sure?” David hesitated.

  “You're certain it's Ian and not Addison?”

  David nodded. “I can see him. I don't know where Addy and Katie are, though. They took that boat out this morning but I don't see either one of them.”

  “Call his bluff, son.”

  David sucked in a deep breath. “Everybody hang on.” He pushed down hard on the throttle and sent the boat flying straight forward, perfectly aimed for a head on collision.

  “Shit!” Sully yelped as they continued to pick up speed. They were a two hundred yards away from Ian now. Then 150. Then 100. Then 90. Then 80. Ian still hadn't swerved. They continued to accelerate. The boats were only 70 yards apart now. Then 60. Then 50. Then 40.

  “Pappy?” David hesitated on the throttle.

  “You've got him. Don't let up. I want to know where my granddaughter is.” The old man's eyes were steely as they continued to close the distance between their boat and Addison's.

  “David, he's not slowing down.” Sully was gripping the side of the boat with white knuckles.

  Ian swerved hard, jerking the wheel and sending Addison's boat flying towards the bank. As the two boats passed one another, Ian lifted up his right hand and shot David the bird. Seconds later Ian plowed the boat straight into a large, heavy stump that was just barely visible above the water.

  Addison's boat went airborne. David backed off the throttle automatically and then watched in shock as the boat flipped in mid-air. Coolers, life vests, fishing poles and various other items flew in every direction as the boat smashed into the bank with a loud crash.

  “Holy shit,” David cursed. He turned their boat as quickly as he could. “Do y'all see Ian?”

  “No.” Sully was already scanning the water. “I don't see anyone.”

  “Dammit,” David said as he cut the engine of the boat and jumped into the water to see if he could save his worthless cousin.

  Chapter 61

  Katie and Addison had been walking for nearly an hour when she saw the makeshift cross. She stopped walking and stared at it. It had been made out of two pieces of driftwood and propped up on a bare, sandy patch of ground in the middle of the swamp. The ground looked like it had been recently disturbed.

  “You okay?” Addison had realized that she'd stopped walking and turned around to wait for her. “Do I need to carry you the rest of the way?” He teased.

  “What is that?” She wasn't smiling as she pointed at a small black lump that was sticking out of the sand a few feet away.

  Addy bent down to pick the item up, but it didn't come up. His eyes turned serious as he knelt down beside it. “It looks like part of a shoe.”

  “It does. And this is a cross.” Katie pointed at the driftwood.

  “Oh hell.” Some of the color drained from Addison's tan face as he began to brush sand away from the shoe in an effort to dig it free. The shoe didn't come free. Instead, he exposed a leg. He blanched as he looked up at her. “Katie, this is a grave.”

  “I was kind of afraid of that.” She knelt down beside him in the sand. Her eyes were bright with tears. “Who do you think it is?”

  Addison swallowed. “I think we both know who it is.”

  “April Lynne.” Her high school nemesis's name tasted bitter on her tongue.

  “Has to be.” Addison moved up to what he figured was the head of the grave and began very carefully digging.

  “Addy, don't-.” Katie shuddered. “Don't dig up her grave.”

  “We have to know for sure who it is,” he said. “We can't just walk away and pretend we didn't see this.”

  “I didn't say to walk away. I just...I don't want to see her dead. I didn't like her, but I don't want to see her dead.” Katie blinked back unshed tears. She still couldn't believe that Ian had held a knife to her throat. He'd turned into a monster without her even noticing until it was too late.

  “The sandbar should be just ahead. Walk the rest of the way down this trail and wait for me,” Addy told her.

  “Are you sure?” Katie hesitated.

  “Yes. I'm sure.” He reached into the small of his back and took out a small silver handgun. He held it out to her. “Take this. If you see Ian, shoot him.”

  Katie stared at the gun in shock. “Where did that come from?”

  “I borrowed it from David. I was going to take you out and let you shoot it today. It's Trish's. I wanted you to carry it until we got this whole mess with Ian and his creepy buddies sorted out.” Addison frowned at the little gun. “Not that it did us any good today. I didn't trust myself enough to shoot him without hitting you. I'm a decent shot, but I'm not David. He could have shot Ian without hitting you.”

  “Like I said earlier, he would have tried to use me as a shield.” Katie took the gun from him. It felt comfortable in her hand. “Is it a .22?”

  Addison looked vaguely nauseous as he stared down at the grave. “9 mm. It's gotten too hard to find .22 ammo. That's why I didn't give you my old .22. I don't have any ammo for it.”

  Katie tested her grip on the gun and then tucked it into the pocket of her soggy jacket. “I'll wait for you at the sandbar.”

  “I won't be here long,�
�� Addison promised as he began to dig. “I just need to see her face.”

  Chapter 62

  “Are you okay?”

  Katie blinked up at David through a haze of tears and nodded. She wiped her eyes with the back of her own hand. She'd been sitting on the edge of the bank with her knees pulled into her chest when Pappy's boat had come slowly creeping down the river with David driving it and Sully and Pappy sitting on either side of the bow.

  “Where's Addy?” David offered her his hand and she took it. He pulled her onto her feet easily. His green eyes were dark with worry.

  Katie pointed back towards the trail.

  “Is he okay?”

  Katie nodded again. She was so cold that her teeth were chattering. Sully was securing the boat with the anchor since David had just haphazardly beached the boat and jumped onto shore when he'd seen Katie waving to him.

  “Are you sure you're okay?” David pulled his own jacket off and she noticed that he wasn't wearing a shirt underneath. She had full view of the various southern kitsch tattoos that covered his chest, shoulders, and stomach. There wasn't much skin left between the ink anymore.

  His jeans, she noted almost absently, were just as soaked as hers were.

  “I'm okay,” Katie shivered. “Just cold. Why are you wet?”

  “Take off your coat,” he said to her.

  “Why are you wet?” She repeated. Her hands were shaking too badly for her fingers to work properly as she tried to unfasten the zipper that held her jacket closed.

  David reached over and pulled the zipper down for her. He helped her shrug out of the coat. “Take your shirt off. You'll be warmer if you don't have anything wet against your skin.”

  Katie knew he was right. “Close your eyes.”

  He responded by rolling his eyes and turning his back to her. “Where's Addison?”

  She cast a sideways glance at Pappy. He was well within hearing distance and she didn't want him to overhear her. Maybe the body in the grave they'd found wasn't April Lynne's. She was almost certain it was, but she'd been wrong before. Lots of times, actually. Katie was a freaking ace at getting it wrong. Her marriage was proof positive of that.