Dead Set

by Vannetta Chapman

  “You can do this.” Tony covered her hand with his. “Sometimes criminals hide in plain sight. I need you and Gina to keep your eyes open on the wildlife tour. Take pictures of anyone you see who looks even vaguely familiar. These guys...or gals...have been in Hunt. It could be that you’ve seen them and don’t even realize it. You’re both smart and perceptive.”

  “Done.” Gina looked pleased with herself, either because he’d called her perceptive or because she’d put on the ankle holster, inserted the pistol, and pulled the leg of her jeans down over it. “And you’re right. It’s less obvious this way.”

  “Don’t shoot anybody.” Tony waited until she nodded before he added, “That’s for self-defense only, and I don’t think anyone is going to attack you two in the middle of a wedding party.”

  No. If they were found out, the attack wouldn’t be tomorrow during the wedding. It would happen tonight, before the majority of guests arrived.

  Tony made sure Gina had her cell phone, with his name and number on her most recent contacts list. He even had her call it just to be sure. He reminded them again to text or call if they saw anything unusual, then he squeezed Agatha’s hand and hurried from the room. He passed by the pool, skirted the lobby, and headed to the other side of the parking lot.

  The kid working in the stables was sporting a Texas Tech t-shirt, well-worn jeans, and a battered Stetson. He looked quite at home in the stables. “I have three four-wheelers available. They’re all air conditioned.”

  “I’m old-fashioned. A horse will be fine.”

  Lance—that’s what the name tag read—nearly laughed, but managed to hold it in check. He’d obviously been taught that the guest was always right. “Have it your way, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  “Any places I should stay away from? Places there might be work crews?”

  “Only two that I know of.” Lance reached up and resettled his hat. “There’s preparation going on for tomorrow’s wedding, which is basically the courtyard and the pavilion, plus the overlook where they’re setting up an arch with flowers for the lucky couple and chairs for the guests.”

  Tony thought he put a sarcastic emphasis on lucky couple, but he didn’t call him on it. “And the other?”

  “Some trail clearing on the west side. The plan is to open that up to bird watchers in the fall.”

  Tony thanked the kid, then handed him a ten-dollar tip. He walked his horse, Ringo, out of the stables, pulled himself up into the saddle, and headed west.

  Fortunately the gelding was manageable. Tony felt stiff and awkward in the saddle, but he soon fell into the rhythm of the horse’s gait. The day was hot, easily reaching one hundred degrees. He let Ringo set his own speed, not wanting to tire the horse. Plus, a man dashing around on horseback in one-hundred-degree heat might look suspicious if anyone was watching. No, better to meander, take his time.

  He’d been on enough stake-outs that the feel and focus came back to him quickly. Long hours of boredom punctuated by moments of terror. Wasn’t that how WWI had been described? And this was a war, of sorts. The key was to stay alert while conserving his energy.

  He wiped the sweat that was already pouring down the back of his neck, glad that he’d brought a large bottle of water. He didn’t envy the men working on the wedding venue or the trail, but he suspected that one of those places was where he’d find Kolbe Burke’s killer.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Agatha had never been on a safari tour before. She and Gina climbed the steps of the bus and moved to the very last row. Their plan was to pretend to look at the animals, but in reality, Gina would take photos of anyone working on the ranch. They’d meet Tony for dinner and compare photos. Chances were that one of them would manage to snap a photo of the killer. Of course, it would help if they knew who that was.

  A group of homeschooled children had joined the tour. Apparently, their academic year began earlier than public schools. “So we can take more breaks throughout the year,” a mother of three children under ten explained before dashing off to catch the youngest, who was hanging out a window trying to pet a giraffe.

  Several of the moms on the bus had binoculars slung around their neck. Agatha wished she had thought of that. She had a perfectly good pair for bird watching back at the B&B.

  They passed buffalo, antelope, ostriches, and a camel.

  Agatha had seen a camel before, at a farm in Indiana. The Amish man who owned it sold camel milk for $40 a quart.

  “Why would anyone pay that?” Gina stared at the camel with renewed respect. “And how do you milk a camel?”

  “Supposedly it’s good for people with Crohn’s disease and such. As to how...you’d need to ask the farmer.”

  They slowed down to get pictures of a giant tortoise, and when they passed a work crew, Gina had to pretend that she saw a zebra in the distance, which sent the children scurrying to their side of the bus. Agatha felt a little guilty about the deception, but it would no doubt be worse if they said they were looking for a killer.

  Horses, deer, longhorns, a couple of donkeys, and a herd of goats rounded out the animal safari. “That was interesting. Could you believe the size of that longhorn?”

  Ninety minutes after the tour had begun they were back at the main building.

  “We need to find Tony.” Gina only had eyes for her phone. She scanned through the pictures she’d taken, but Agatha was looking around in surprise.

  Paper lanterns had been hung across the outdoor sitting area. A group of women were dressed in matching dresses and stood close together, having their pictures taken with tall giraffes standing a few yards behind them.

  “Now there’s an original wedding photo.”

  Gina finally looked up from her phone. “This place is really swanked out.”

  “Do you think he’s here? Our guy?”

  “Or gal,” Gina muttered. “And yes, I do. This is the perfect place to hide until the trail goes cold.”

  Gina was a big fan of the detective shows on her cable channels. She’d made her way through all of the Longmire episodes and was now watching Bosch. Honestly, Agatha didn’t know what a Bosch was, but she was afraid to ask. Asking questions about Gina’s shows resulted in long lectures about intricate plots she didn’t grasp. Maybe she should start a book club. Then they’d be able to read and discuss something they both understood.

  Find Kolbe’s killer.

  Repair the B&B.

  Visit her family in Indiana.

  Start a book club.

  It was doable.

  They were skirting the pool area on the way to their room, when Gina grabbed her arm, digging her short fingernails into Agatha’s flesh.

  “Four o’clock.”

  “What? It’s way past that...”

  “To your right. No, don’t look that way.” Now she tugged on Agatha’s arm and pulled her toward the outdoor bar.

  “Can I help you, ladies?”

  “Sure. We’ll take two of those frozen wine drinks.”

  Agatha wasn’t sure she should be drinking frozen wine.

  “Look up in the mirror. There...” Gina nodded toward the long mirror running the length of the bar, at the top, above the many bottles and Texas signs.

  And then Agatha saw what Gina had seen—or rather, who she’d seen. Jackson, the man who’d been in charge of her outdoor lighting, was helping to put the finishing touches on a set of tables that looked as if they were supposed to hold wedding gifts.

  A woman in a fetching pantsuit and carrying a clipboard rushed over to where the tables had been set. Agatha couldn’t hear her actually berating the two men, but it was plain by her expression and demeanor that they’d done something wrong.

  For a moment, Jackson’s pleasant expression slipped and Agatha thought she saw something more primal—something that seemed to hold a world of hurts and perceived injustices. It didn’t last long. Jackson plastered on a smile, seemed to apologize, then motioned for the other man to help him move the tables.<
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  But Agatha wasn’t fooled.

  She understood that she’d seen a glimpse of the man’s true emotions. It reminded her of one of her friend Bishop Henry’s drawings that revealed more than some people would like to have revealed. Like those drawings, she’d seen more than Jackson would have liked her to see. She quickly lowered her eyes when he looked up, accepted the drink the girl working behind the bar handed her, and took a big sip.

  She wasn’t thinking about the wine, though. She was thinking that they needed to find Tony, and they needed to do it fast, before Jackson had a chance to get away.

  It was five minutes until seven, so Agatha and Gina downed the rest of their drinks, made sure that Jackson was no longer in the area, and hurried over to the chuck wagon. They arrived as Tony was walking up. By the expression on his face, Agatha understood that he also had news to share.

  “Should we skip dinner?” she asked in a low voice.

  “Nope. First law of detective work—eat when you can.”

  They loaded their plates with BBQ ribs, pinto beans, and potato salad, then hustled off to a back table that was set a bit apart from the rest.

  “How did you even reserve our room?” Gina asked. “It’s obvious the wedding party paid for the entire resort this weekend.”

  “I knew someone who knew someone,” Tony admitted. “Our room was supposed to be closed until fall.”

  “Because...”

  “Something to do with snakes in the air conditioning vents.”

  Agatha dropped her fork onto her plate. “You’re making that up.”

  “Guilty.” Tony smiled around the giant bite of potato salad he’d stuffed into his mouth. After swallowing, he added, “They were redoing the floors. I made it worth their while to finish a few days early.”

  “You’re putting a lot of dough into this operation.” Gina sniffed at a forkful of potato salad, then took a tentative bite. “Not bad, but yours is better, Agatha.”

  “I hate to think of you spending your money to save my B&B.” Agatha reached for her iced tea and took a long drink as she watched Tony.

  He shrugged. “You’re worth it, Agatha. What else was I going to do with that money?”

  “Buy fishing waders? Better tackle? A new truck?” Gina took a bite of the ribs. “I have to say their meat is more tender than ours. I wonder if it’s the cut or the way they cook it.”

  “I don’t need any of those things.”

  They ate in silence a few moments, the weight of what they weren’t discussing hovering over their table like a west Texas storm.

  Tony finished what was on his plate, glanced around to make sure no one was within earshot, then pulled out his phone. “Speaking of money, remember that there is a fair amount of reward money still out there.”

  “That reward money is why my B&B keeps getting overrun with amateur sleuths.”

  “We’re amateur sleuths,” Gina pointed out.

  “And if we do find the lost items and receive the reward, Tony will get reimbursed first thing.” Agatha stood, stacked their now-empty plates together, and carried them over to a tub with a Put Plates Here sign. It wasn’t unlike how they did things at their church luncheons. Now that she thought about it, why hadn’t they ever tried outdoor meals with their B&B guests?

  She hurried back to their table, her mind full of images of guests spread around her garden enjoying Amish BBQ. But then she saw the grim look on Tony’s face and one of outright anger on Gina’s.

  “What is it? What did you find?”

  She sat next to Tony, and they all leaned forward over the two phones—heads touching, eyes locked on the screen.

  Gina’s phone showed the picture of Jackson.

  And Tony’s? Tony’s phone showed a picture of Tamara Bishop, the Channel 4 news reporter, and her cameraman, Cooper Knox, standing side by side.

  “I’LL ADMIT THAT I WAS more focused on the work crew. We put Tamara and Cooper on your list, but I didn’t seriously consider they might be involved.” Tony sat back, crossing his arms and studying the group of wedding guests. There was something they still weren’t seeing. He was sure of it. They’d assembled most of the pieces, but they weren’t quite ready to put the puzzle together.

  “So, Tamara or Cooper dropped the business card?”

  “Apparently.”

  “How did she end up on a work crew?” Gina stabbed a finger at the screen of his phone. “Her arms are like pixie sticks. She can’t be much use on construction or maintenance projects.”

  “The manager of the YO Ranch probably doesn’t even realize she’s here. You’ve seen the size of this place. It would be easy enough to slip the head of the work crew a hundred bucks to just hang out with them.”

  “Because...” Agatha tapped her fingers against the table, then pressed her palm flat against it. “I give up. Why would she want to be here?”

  “This is an old facility. Perhaps they think the jewels are here. Now would be a good time to look. Most everyone on staff will be busy with the wedding party.”

  “So they’re going to punch holes in walls? Here?”

  “Doubtful. You saw our cabin—the walls are made of stone.”

  Gina had grown uncharacteristically quiet. Now she looked up and grimaced. “I’m having trouble picturing Jackson working with those two newspaper people. Something doesn’t fit.”

  “I agree. Which probably means there are two different parties here this weekend, both searching for the treasure.”

  Agatha sighed. “At least we’re not outnumbered—it’s three against three.”

  Most of the wedding guests were now out on the dance floor, but something else had caught Tony’s eye. He stared, waited, refused to look away—and there it was. Cooper Knox’s geeky form, on the far side of the patio area, looking straight at Tony.

  “We’ve been spotted.”

  There was a swish of straight blonde hair, and then Tamara headed toward the stables and Cooper took off toward the parking. “I’m going after Cooper.”

  “We’ll follow Tamara.”

  “Keep your phones close. Follow but do not intercept, and call me as soon as you know where she’s going.”

  Tony didn’t dash across the dancing area. Instead, he skirted around it. There was no doubt in his mind that the young cameraman had seen him. Why was he running, though? Tony thought of calling Bannister, but they had nothing. Better to follow, assess, and then make the call.

  He broke into a jog when he was out of view of the wedding party. Sprinting around the building and across the parking area, he saw an old Jeep peel out of the lot. He jumped into his truck and headed after it. The sun had set and darkness was descending across the Hill Country. The person in the Jeep wasn’t using any headlights, but each time he braked on a curve, Tony saw his vehicle.

  He backed off even farther. There were no roads off this one until the county highway. There was no danger that he’d lose Cooper’s trail. The danger was that Cooper would crash head-on into someone and Tony would be hit by debris. He didn’t see anyone coming their way. Breathing out a sigh of relief, he backed off a little farther.

  And then, like a cigarette suddenly stubbed out, the Jeep was gone. No brake lights. No indication where he’d pulled off. Tony slowed, made it all the way to the county road, then turned around and drove back toward the ranch headquarters. Nothing.

  Where could Cooper have gone?

  He drove slowly, pausing at every clump of brush. He found the Jeep abandoned at a pull-out in a curve of the road. He’d been focused on his driving at that point, watching for Cooper’s brake lights. He’d underestimated the young man. Retrieving his flashlight from his glove compartment, he walked around the Jeep and easily found the tire marks from the four-wheeler that had been waiting to pick him up.

  Cooper could be anywhere now.

  So what was the point in leading him away from the wedding venue? Why the glance his way, then the mad dash, only to return to the place he’d started?


  Unless it had been a distraction.

  Unless the real target had been Agatha.

  Tony pulled out his cell phone and tapped Gina’s number. It went straight to voice mail—no ringing at all. Which meant someone had turned the phone off, and he was pretty sure it wasn’t Gina or Agatha. His pulse kicked up a notch and sweat broke out on the back of his neck.

  Climbing back into his truck, he stared at his phone.

  Call Bannister or wait?

  Bannister was over an hour away.

  He still had nothing to prove Tamara and Cooper were involved. Or Jackson, for that matter. And for all he knew, Gina’s cell phone battery had died.

  Tony dropped the phone on the seat next to him, shoved the gearshift into drive, and headed back toward the wedding party.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Agatha and Gina were shoved into an old silo. Tamara and her goons stood just inside the door, blocking their exit, a single flashlight pointed at the ground though the sky outside still held some light. The silo, though, was pitch dark, and it smelled of dust and mildew. Agatha remembered a young man in Indiana who had breathed in silo dust and contracted farmer’s lung—a terrible disease for sure. Considering the gun that Tamara was pointing at them, she suspected farmer’s lung wasn’t the most pressing threat.

  “Tell me why you’re here.”

  “We were following you.” Gina was still angry that Tamara and her two goons had surprised them. They’d held a gun to Agatha’s head, and there’d been nothing Gina could do except let them take her pistol from her holster and her phone from her hand.

  “Impossible. You couldn’t have known I’d be here.”

  “We didn’t know who,” Agatha admitted. “We suspected the Dewalds, or at least someone from their work crew. We found the business card...”

  Tamara wagged her head back and forth, causing her hand and flashlight to drift left then right. “I gave that card to Cooper, and he lost it. Just my luck you’d find it.”

  “Were you also in charge of the break-in at Agatha’s house? Did you kill Kolbe?” Gina practically spat the questions.