by Ken Ogilvie
Hound struggled to sit upright and tapped the elderly driver. “Arthur, go along Main.”
“Sure thing, Hound. What’re you looking for?”
“Kingsley McBride’s Crown Vic and Rebecca Bradley’s convertible.”
“You mean the red Mercedes she keeps at Maggie’s?”
“Yes, that’s the one. You seem to know everything, Arthur. I need to find her. Shorty’s with her.”
“Then let’s go to Duffy’s and ask there. People watch the street. Someone might’ve seen them go past.”
“Good idea.”
Arthur drove to the shop and waited while Hound went inside and spoke to Daisy.
“Morning, Hound. That Arthur I see outside? Why don’t you—?”
“Sorry to cut in, Daisy, but I need to ask people here if they’ve seen Kingsley drive by. And Rebecca, in her convertible.”
“No need. I saw them myself ten minutes ago, heading north. Jackie Caldwell was in Kingsley’s car. Rebecca went past less than a minute later, with Shorty. What’s up?”
“Sorry, Daisy. Gotta go.” He returned to the taxi.
“They drove past here ten minutes ago, Arthur, heading north. Try the Trans-Canada. Maybe we can catch them.”
* * *
Chad took a deep breath and asked, “Sir, what’s going on? Why are we chasing the town accountant and a librarian like there’s no tomorrow? And what’s McBride up to anyway?”
“This whole case bugs me, Chad. How come a small-town chump like McBride suddenly turns into a wheeler-dealer linked to a southern Ontario crime syndicate and a moneyed family in the Netherlands? Cartwright should’ve caught on to that last year, and Constable Bradley hasn’t even got around to interviewing him yet.”
“Speaking of Bradley, what’s the story with her?” Hadi chimed in. “Her father’s in on the mining deal. She said she wouldn’t talk to him until you approved it. Why didn’t she call him right away when she found out he was involved? And how did she persuade Cartwright to hand her the McBride case?”
“It’s no surprise that George Bradley’s involved,” Sykes replied. “He’s involved in numerous goldmining ventures across Canada and around the world. He even collects gold artefacts. But Cartwright tripped up badly last year. He didn’t find out about the mine or the land speculation deals. As for Rebecca, she was right not to contact her father without checking with me first.”
Chad gave a grim smile. “Why don’t we just ask Mr. Big what’s going on? Maybe he’s not so lily white himself, if you know what I mean.”
“Leave him to me,” Sykes snapped, and then felt badly about it. “Sorry, Chad. This whole case is making me touchy.”
“Sure, boss. No problem. Can I ask another question?”
“Shoot.” Sykes raised his eyebrows.
“It’s awkward, sir.”
“Go on. What is it?”
The big detective squirmed in his seat. “Well, sir, Hadi and I have been wondering what your problem is with Rebecca Bradley. I know it’s none of our business, but we think she really does belong in the CIB, even if she has some rough edges.”
Sykes took a while to reply. “Let’s just say I’ve been wrong. I take it you would both agree if I asked Cartwright to transfer her to our branch?”
Chad and Hadi smiled and nodded.
“Good. I’ll submit the request when we return to Orillia. But I’m not one of her favourite people, so it might help if the two of you talked to her first. Tell her I’ve been impressed with her investigative work. Encourage her to come and see me when we’re back in Orillia.”
Chad looked pleased. “Now, one more question, sir. A personal one this time.” He glanced in the rearview mirror.
“You guys are doing a lot of thinking. You sure you have enough cases to work on?” Sykes tilted his head.
“Sorry, sir. Maybe this isn’t the right time to ask.”
Sykes stared at Chad’s eyes in the mirror. “This was your last question, right? So let’s have it.”
Chad took a deep breath. “Well, sir . . . why haven’t you left Orillia for a better position? You’re the top homicide detective in the country.”
Sykes grunted. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, guys. But the problem with a promotion is that I would no longer be on the street, which is where I want to be.”
“Fair enough, sir. It’s none of our business anyway. We’re proud of you. You’ve taught us a lot. We just think you should get more recognition for your achievements. Look at the way Cartwright’s been promoted, and it was you who solved most of his cases for him.”
Sykes laughed. “If that’s what’s eating you, forget it. I’m happy with where I am. I don’t need any more accolades, but I do appreciate the respect my colleagues give me. And I’m proud of both of you. That’s enough for me.”
“Well, sir, we didn’t tell you, but Chad and I have both turned down offers from elsewhere. Not that we’ll stay in Orillia forever, but it’s hard to leave while you’re around.”
Sykes leaned forward and patted both men on the shoulders. Yes, he had been content — until he saw Archie, and was reminded of George Bradley. He would never tell anyone what had happened between him and Bradley, but it had ruined his friendship with Archie. His thoughts turned to his former close friend, still lying in hospital in a coma.
Sykes’s focus then shifted to Rebecca, and the reason he’d kept her at a distance. It was her father, and not her lack of ability that had caused him to block her transfer to the CIB. Now that he’d seen her work on the McBride case, he realized her talent should be nurtured. Her burning desire to bring criminals to justice reminded him of himself. So to hell with George Bradley. Let him find out that his daughter was moving to the CIB to work for him. If Bradley wanted another confrontation, he was ready to meet that formidable man head-on.
Sykes checked his watch. No call from Rebecca. Ten minutes was far too long. He took out his cell phone.
* * *
Rebecca tailed Kingsley’s car along the Trans-Canada until it veered off the highway onto County Road Thirty-Four. So far she’d kept her distance and was confident that Kingsley hadn’t seen her. Now came the dangerous part. If he noticed her following him, he might turn off and lie in wait for her. She couldn’t risk that. And what if he was heading for Hound’s cave? The thought made her stomach tighten. Something about that place seemed to attract trouble.
Rebecca slowed to a crawl. She would wait until Kingsley’s Crown Vic was out of sight before she got off the Trans-Canada.
Shorty turned to her. “What’re you doing? Why are you going so slow?”
“Don’t worry, we won’t lose them.”
Shorty watched Kingsley’s car disappear from view, and then he pounded his fists on his thighs. Rebecca felt sorry for him. Only a week ago he was sitting in Duffy’s, trading insults with his best buddy. Since then, his sheltered world had fallen apart. Now he was risking his life to save Freddie.
Rebecca sped up and spotted Kingsley’s car turning onto the dirt road leading to the meadow. He was definitely heading towards Hound’s cave. A feeling of dread overtook her.
She eased her Mercedes onto the road. Kingsley’s Crown Vic had rounded a bend and was out of sight. She knew she had to time her arrival carefully or Kingsley might get to the meadow and travel too far into the woods for her to find him. She was counting on the element of surprise. If she could creep up on them in the forest and catch them unawares, she might find a way to save Freddie.
She cruised up to the meadow and saw Kingsley’s Crown Vic parked beside it, empty. She took in a deep breath.
“This is it, Shorty. We’ll trail them through the woods and look for a way to free Freddie. You still with me?”
Shorty wore a glazed expression, but he said, “Let’s go.” He opened the car door.
“Right. Off we go.” Rebecca took out her cell phone, which rang before she could make the call to Sykes. He was only a few minutes away. She told him what she was doing an
d gave him directions to the meadow, and then the cave, in case the chase ended there.
Rebecca unclipped her holster and drew out her gun. She got out of the car and started to jog across the meadow, listening for telltale sounds. Shorty followed close behind her. There were no promising noises to guide them, and Rebecca soon realized that she’d lost track of Kingsley. The cave was her only hope now, so she got on the trail that led towards it and continued through the bush until she was almost there. Her gut wrenched. If she was wrong about the cave, Freddie would die, and she would bear the guilt for the rest of her life.
Shorty was puffing at her heels. “It’s okay, Shorty,” she reassured him. “We’ll find them.”
Then a single gunshot pierced the silence of the forest.
Chapter 40
Kingsley reached the end of the meadow road and brought his Crown Vic to a stop. He turned to face Jackie.
“Now what? Is this where we get rid of Freddie? Not here, surely?”
Jackie ignored him and got out of the car. She gazed slowly about her.
“We have to get moving. There’s no time to lose.” Kingsley wanted to get this over with. “Come on. Just tell me where to go.” He opened the trunk and hauled out the bound and gagged Freddie.
Kingsley fumbled with the rope around Freddie’s ankles. He glared at Jackie. “Get over here and help me.”
“Yes, dearest.” She hovered at his shoulder while he released Freddie’s feet.
He sighed. “Okay then, just get your rifle.”
Jackie grinned happily and removed it from the car. Kingsley peered at the safety catch. It was off. Good.
“Take me to this secret place you told me about, and hurry,” he snapped.
Jackie pivoted and started to tramp across the meadow. Kingsley followed, dragging Freddie along with him.
Jackie led the way to the end of the trail, and then pushed through a stretch of bush. She entered a clearing and halted. She closed her eyes for a moment, and a blissful expression settled over her face.
“This is where my husband met his end, near the thicket by the rock wall over there. That was the moment the gold mine came to me, and you did too, Kingsley.” She sighed. “Freddie will rest peacefully here. We’ll bury him in the thicket. No one will ever find him.”
Freddie sank to his knees, weeping. Jackie cuffed his head.
It was time to make his move. Kingsley edged closer to her and held out his hand. “Give me the rifle, Jackie. Let me do it.”
Freddie struggled against his wrist restraints, but Jackie ignored him and said, “Why, Kingsley?”
“Because I’ve never killed anyone before. I want to know what it feels like. I want to be able to talk to you about it. Please, dear, give the gun to me.” His hand was almost on the barrel, but Jackie stepped back a pace. She gave him a puzzled look, and then her face contorted with rage.
She’d figured it out. Kingsley panicked. He lunged at her and seized the rifle with both hands, but she held onto it. They fought for control of the weapon, Jackie twisting and yanking on the butt while he clung desperately to the barrel. Freddie was staring at them. Then he seemed to wake up. He backed slowly into the thicket and through the narrow cleft in the rock leading to Hound’s cave.
Meanwhile, Jackie gave a final wrench to the rifle butt and tore it from Kingsley’s sweaty palms. Her finger hit the trigger. Kingsley spun around and dropped to the ground. He rolled on the grass, bleeding from a graze on his shoulder. Jackie watched him, wide-eyed. She moved closer.
Kingsley groaned. “Bitch! You murdering bitch. See what you’ve done.”
“Not me, Kingsley. It was you. You did it to yourself.” The sight of fresh blood had a strange effect on Jackie. Her eyes went glassy. But then she stiffened. She whirled about.
“Where’s Freddie?”
Kingsley looked at the spot where Freddie had stood just a few seconds ago.
Jackie put a hand to her forehead. “He’s gone, Kingsley. It’s your fault. I’ll find the little rat and blow his brains out.” She ran around, looking into the bushes. Then she stopped and tilted her head. She strode to the edge of the clearing and peered into the dense foliage. To the sound of rustling leaves and snapping twigs, Rebecca Bradley burst out in front of her and froze, staring straight down the barrel of a rifle held inches from her face.
* * *
“Drop the gun.” Jackie’s voice dripped with venom.
Rebecca opened her mouth. She dropped the weapon close to her feet, just as Shorty crashed through the bushes and came to a stop beside her. Across the clearing, Rebecca saw Kingsley McBride swaying on his knees. He was clutching his shoulder and wheezing, and one arm of his shirt was covered in blood.
Jackie fixed her glittering eyes on Rebecca. A triumphant smile spread across her face. “I’ve saved a special bullet for you, vixen.”
Finally Rebecca understood everything.
“You’re the one. You murdered Abigail and Herman.”
Jackie bared her teeth. “Yes, I killed them. And now I’m going to kill you.” She stepped back and pointed the rifle at Rebecca’s heart.
Chapter 41
Hound directed Arthur to turn onto County Road Sixteen. A few miles later, he pointed to the right. “Take the dirt road just ahead. Drive until it ends at a meadow.” He slumped back in the seat, moaning.
“Yes, sir, Hound. I take it you’re going somewhere in the woods. Sorry to be nosy, but I’m guessing you’ll be wanting me to wait for you?” Arthur sounded hopeful.
“Yes, please. And stay near the car. I may need you in a hurry. If I’m not back in an hour, you can go. Mind if I pay you later? I didn’t bring any money.”
Arthur chuckled. “No problem, your credit’s good with me.”
They pulled up at the meadow. “Looks like you have company,” said Arthur.
Rebecca’s Mercedes was parked behind Kingsley’s Crown Vic. Hound’s pulse quickened. He got out of the taxi and staggered. Sweat dripped from his chin. With a supreme effort, he fought down the pain and pushed himself away from the car.
“I’m off.” He limped across the meadow and into the woods. He’d feared that Rebecca wouldn’t heed his warning. And when Daisy told him she’d seen Kingsley and Jackie heading north, he knew where to look for her. Jackie had shot her husband in the vicinity of his cave, so the chances were good that she would go there again to kill Freddie. If not, then Hound didn’t have a clue where else to look.
This whole tragic business had started near his cave. Hound prayed it would end there.
Chapter 42
Sykes urged Chad to drive faster. He tried calling Rebecca’s cell phone again, but got no answer. He had an uneasy feeling she was heading to Hound’s cave. He decided now to approach it using the shack route, rather than from the meadow. He was worried that he might not find her in the woods around there, and he wasn’t certain he could find the cave from that direction. Using the shack route was a gamble too, but lives were at stake and he couldn’t afford to get lost. He called the ERT and gave them directions to the meadow as well as the cave. They would check the woods near the meadow first, and then head to the cave if they found nothing there. That way both areas would be covered. Then he called Cartwright and briefed him.
“Are you mad?” Cartwright bellowed. “You’re going on guesswork. What’s got into you?”
“Sorry, sir, but time is tight. We need to check both possibilities, without delay.”
Cartwright spluttered. “If you’re wrong, Sykes, I’ll have your ass. And if Rebecca gets hurt and you’re not there to help . . .” His voice faded.
“I understand, sir, but it’s the best plan I can think of. If you have a better one, tell me now.” He waited.
Hearing nothing, Sykes cleared his throat. “We’re at the shack, sir. I have to go.” He cut the call and got out of the car. “Let’s hustle, guys. And don’t ask questions.”
They raced past the shack, in the direction of the cave. A shot rang out.
Sykes grimaced. Freddie? Or Rebecca? He burst into a sprint. They were drawing near to the cave when they heard a second shot, and then a third. Sykes pulled out his gun and pushed through the bush until he was just outside the clearing. A shrill voice pierced the air.
“I’ll kill you all!” Jackie Caldwell was almost hidden by the surrounding bush, but Sykes made out the rifle butt pressed against her shoulder.
“Stop! Drop the rifle.”
Jackie twisted around, aimed and fired. Sykes dove to the ground. A bullet whizzed past his ear. He waited a moment, then raised his head. Jackie had turned back and was pointing her rifle again. He raised his gun and shot twice. The second shot winged her. She dropped to her knees, and the rifle slipped from her hands.
Sykes pushed to his feet. He needed to get to her before she could recover. He kicked Jackie’s rifle away, and almost recoiled at the look she gave him.
Seconds later, Chad and Hadi arrived and put her in handcuffs.
Sykes looked around and saw Hound lying sprawled on the ground. Beneath him were two bodies. He raised his head and rolled onto his back. The right side of his shirt was soaked in blood. Rebecca struggled to her hands and knees and crawled over to check his wound. Shorty got up and stood staring down at his friend.
Hound tried to sit up. “Hold still,” Rebecca urged. “Let me stop the bleeding first.”