by Cat Clayton
“Oh my goodness. Stoney.” I gulped in air, finding it difficult to catch my breath.
“Steely, she’s okay. We saw her in the house. She’s all right.” Jackson put his hand on mine.
“Is he gonna let her go? Why isn’t she out of there already?” Panic took a hold of me, spiking my pulse.
Breathe, Chiquita.
Right. Now, is not the time to panic.
“Steely, I only have a few seconds. He’s refusing to let her go right now. He barricaded them inside the house. Several windows are boarded up on the first floor. But I saw her in an upstairs window twice. We’ve called in a specialized SWAT team and a hostage negotiator from Austin. They should arrive in an hour.”
Tears pricked my eyes, and I fought to keep them from spilling over.
Gertie leaned over me. “We can’t just sit here like this. We’re going nuts.”
“I’m sorry. Y’all can either turn the car around and go back to town and wait for us, or sit tight,” he said, shaking his head. “Now he knows we’re here; the element of surprise is over.”
“Should we stay or go?” Daniel asked.
“I’m staying. Gertie?” I looked into her worried eyes. Exhaustion settled over her face.
“I don’t know how much longer my old body can sit in this little car. Maybe Daniel should take me home. I’ll stay by the phone.”
“Okay. No worries. Take Cuff with you.” I leaned down and picked him up off the floorboard.
No, Chiquita, I am staying with you! He wailed and yelped, like someone was chopping off his tail.
Jackson covered his ears.
“Okay, okay. Cuff will stay with me. Goodness!” I grabbed his leash on the floor and my clutch purse. I pulled out my key chain, holding up a key to Jackson’s house. “Run by and pick up Taffy. She’s been alone in the house all day. We’ll stay in contact by phone. Remember to text and not call. The message is more likely to come through than a phone call. Daniel, will you please wait with Gertie at Pop’s house?”
“Will do, chickie,” Daniel said.
We bid farewell, and I followed Jackson back to the chief’s SUV. Cuff made two pit stops along the way. I hugged Pop and hopped in the back seat to stay out of their way. Jackson retrieved his duty jacket from his car and shoved it through the window.
“This should keep you warm,” he said, offering me a smile.
The sherbet color palette of the sunset was breathtaking, and I tried to focus on the beauty in the sky instead of the ugliness happening inside the farmhouse not too far away. I snuggled Cuff perched on my lap.
“You could’ve gone home with them. I’ll be fine.”
What sort of canine companion would I be if I left you, Chiquita?
“You’re the best canine companion,” I said.
That is true. I am the best. But human and dog partners never leave each other in time of need.
I laid my head back against the headrest, and before I knew it, I was out.
BLARING SIRENS AND flashing lights dragged me from a dead sleep. I glanced at the time on the dashboard. 10:36 PM. During my nap, reinforcements had arrived. Law enforcement from several agencies buzzed around Chief Becker’s vehicle. Printed on uniforms and/or jackets were the words: Police, Constable, Deputy, Sheriff, SWAT, and DPS. It made me feel optimistic having them work together to rescue Stoney.
Cuff hopped into my lap and joined me, peering out the window. I rubbed the smooth fur between his perky ears.
Chiquita, don’t be mad at me, but I gotta pee.
I felt an urge to go myself. “Okay, little buddy.” There’s no time like the present, I thought.
I snapped Cuff’s lead onto his collar and sifted in my purse for a tissue, coming up empty. Leaning forward, I dug around in Chief Becker’s center console and found a handful of napkins.
I zipped up Jackson’s coat. “All right, little buddy, let’s get this over with.” I climbed out of the back seat and walked the short distance near Pop and the others.
“I need to use the outdoor facilities. Can I take Cuff up ahead of the first unit for a few minutes?” I asked.
The large group turned, gaping in my direction. There were too many to count.
Pop nodded his head. “Be quick and be careful. Do you need me to go with you?” he asked.
“No, we’ll be fine.”
Chief Becker lifted the radio to his mouth and pressed a button. “Be advised, Ms. Steely Lamarr is taking her dog for a break ahead of the parked cars.”
“Got it,” a static male voice replied.
Chief Becker nodded his head in my direction, handing me a tiny flashlight. “Don’t take too long. Wood has been radio silent for thirty minutes, and if he doesn’t answer soon, SWAT’s moving in.”
“Yes, sir.”
I switched on the light and Cuff led me up the road, past the parked vehicles. Cuff lifted his leg six times. Meanwhile, I grew desperate. After the last car, we found a blinking barricade in the middle of the road announcing the road closure, with a lanky DPS officer leaning against it.
“Chief Becker said I could walk my dog, but I also need to use the facilities. Just wanted you to know.” The urge to go had skated right past oh-my-goodness-this-is-embarrassing straight to a dire if-I-don’t-find-a-place-to-pop-a-squat-I’m-in-big-trouble.
The young officer with the boyish appearance shot me a thumbs up. “Yes, ma’am. I got the message.” He pointed his large flashlight up the road. “You see that big tree up the ways, on the right? If you walk on behind it, it makes a great cover.”
“Thanks,” I said, moving on. I guessed he knew how great it worked because he’d used it already. Note to self: tread lightly and shine the flashlight where you step.
I tiptoed behind the huge oak tree and avoided putting too much pressure on my boot heels so I didn’t sink them. The massive trunk provided complete privacy. I couldn’t see anything. No lights. No cars. Nobody. I dropped Cuff’s leash and placed the flashlight under my arm.
“Walk around and stretch your legs, but stay close.”
Will do, Chiquita. He sniffed the air and trotted a few feet away.
I heard a branch snap somewhere to my left. It’s probably just a raccoon or something, I thought, staring into the dense thicket.
I don’t know, Chiquita. It sounded bigger like a deer or a bear or a—
“We don’t have bears in this area.”
The moment I yanked up my skinny jeans and fastened the button, Cuff started barking his head off.
Chiquita! It is human!
A large, dark figure belly-crawled from under the fence and overgrown shrubbery. I aimed the flashlight at it, and I stared straight into the face of Earl Wood.
“Where’s my sister?”
Cursing, Earl scrambled to his feet. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” He spat in front of me.
Cuff pounced. He tore at Earl’s dark jeans and boots, growling like a tiny demon. I’ll get him, Chiquita!
“Where is my sister!” I screamed at him, forgetting to stay on my toes. The boot heels sunk deep in the soft earth.
Earl twisted and tried to make a run for it, but Cuff’s ankle-biting tripped him, and Earl went sailing into a wooden fencepost. He cried out, but continued scuttling on all fours. Cuff latched onto the side of his black jacket, tugging and being dragged along.
“I won’t let you get away!” I lunged forward, spilling over onto my knees. I dropped the flashlight on my way down. “Someone help! We’ve got him!” I yelled for backup and righted myself. I scurried toward him, crouched, and grasped the back of his jacket, pulling with all my strength. He rabbit-kicked me in the knee, and I lost my balance. I tumbled to the ground as he took off like a bolt of lightning with Cuff hot on his heels.
“Cuff! Come back, he’ll hurt you!” I called after him.
No worries, Chiquita. These steroids make me feel like a super dog!
I heard deafening sirens, voices, and car engines heading in our direction.
I jumped to my feet and rushed after Cuff and Earl as quick as my darned boots allowed. Almost close enough to help Cuff, the uneven ground and pitch-black night brought my pursuit to an agonizing end. I stumbled, twisting my right ankle, and went down, shrieking.
“Steely!” I heard Jackson’s worried voice somewhere behind me.
“Right here! Hurry!” I called back to him, clutching my ankle and wincing in pain.
Cuff attacked, snatching a muzzle full of Earl’s pant leg, and the two of them tumbled onto the pavement. Cuff rumbled tiny yet ferocious snarls as he pulled and tore at his jacket.
Panting, Jackson reached me. He bent, and using his flashlight, checked me over.
“You fell?”
“Yeah, a couple times. It’s my ankle.” I pointed. “I need you to get Cuff before Earl hurts him.”
“All right, but it sounds like he’s doing a bang-up job. You stay put,” Jackson said, rising. He slowly approached the area near the tangled two.
Several cop cars squealed to a halt. Red and blue flashes blinded me, illuminating the inky black. I’d never been so happy to see emergency lights. The blaring sirens cut off, and Chief Becker’s voice roared through a loudspeaker.
“Wood, stay on the ground! Slowly put your hands on the back of your head! Now! And don’t do anything stupid.”
Moaning, Earl tried putting his hands behind his head, yelling about the damn dog on his back.
Jackson whistled. “Cuff! Come!!”
“Cuff! C’mon, little buddy!” I yelled.
My hero pup released Earl’s jacket, twisted his head at me, and bounded in my direction. He showered me with puppy kisses. With a wagging tail, he yipped.
And that’s how you fetch a felon, Chiquita!
Chapter 30
Jackson drove Cuff and me to the farmhouse. He assisted me toward the back of an ambulance. Cuff rambled as he walked beside us.
Chiquita, you are limping. Do you have the arthritis too? It looks like your boot bit the dust.
“My ankle hurts from falling, little buddy. I don’t have arthritis. And yes, my boot bit the dust.”
Jackson glanced down, wearing a peculiar expression. He held my boots in his hand.
“Are you talking to the dog? Did you bump your head too, buttercup?”
I chuckled. “Yes, and no. My head is fine.”
While I sat on a stretcher, one of the EMTs not attending to Stoney looked at my swollen ankle. She put an ice pack on it and offered to run me to the emergency room for x-rays. I thanked her and promised Jackson would take me as soon as we left. Stoney had several minor ligature marks on her wrists and ankles, but she was safe. Earlier, when the officers realized Earl had escaped through a back window, they kicked the door in and discovered Stoney bound to a chair.
Once the paramedic team finished checking us over, Jackson and Pop helped us both into the farmhouse. Cuff followed us in and investigated the room with his sniffer. Stoney sat down to rest on an old couch covered with a dingy, once-white sheet. Pop sat down beside her and wrapped his arms around her.
“Do you want to sit with Stoney until we’re ready to go?” Jackson asked, supporting me.
I shook my head, eying my camo boots near the front door where he left them. The right boot’s spiked heel had snapped in half. I guessed it happened on my last tumble when I rolled my ankle.
“It appears I’ll need a new pair of boots. Maybe some without heels.”
“Nice try, buttercup. I believe we can have them repaired.” He winked.
I laced my arm through his and watched Cuff investigate, my right ankle throbbing. “True.”
“So far, what we’ve found is disturbing.” Jackson readjusted my arm over his shoulder. “Put all your weight on me and avoid placing pressure on your ankle.”
“No argument there. It hurts like crazy. So, about what y’all found here. I want to see. Can you help me walk?”
“I have a better idea. You can ride piggy-back.”
“No way, I’m too heavy.”
“Seriously?” He shot an eyebrow toward the ceiling. “Come on.”
Next thing I knew, I was on his back, and we headed down a dim hallway. The old farmhouse smelled of mothballs, and thick layers of dust covered everything. Even though the house had been vacant for many years, it remained filled with heirloom furniture, family portraits on the walls, china in an antique hutch, and a floral-pattern tea set on the living room’s coffee table. A time capsule of the Wood family’s past.
Jackson carried me through an archway into what appeared to be an office. A small lamp illuminated the dusty surface of a dark wood desk with a vintage typewriter perched in the center. He walked me over to the desk. I leaned over, studying the antique. It was missing the “C” key. A stack of cards and a pen sat off to the side. He’d filled out the Secret Santa cards for days eleven and twelve, envelopes sealed. I covered my mouth with my hand.
“Oh my gosh.” My heart pounded against my ribcage as the reality settled over me. “It really was him. He kidnapped her all those years ago, and he’s the one who has been leaving the creepy gifts.” Even though I’d come to this conclusion earlier after finding Earl’s case file at the department, and speaking with Trudy and Angie, part of me had doubted my ability to read the clues and uncover the truth. I needed to learn to trust myself and my instincts.
“This means he also killed Lloyd out of pure jealousy. He’s responsible for murdering an innocent man.”
“I know.” Jackson squeezed my leg. “Let’s hope the justice system finds Earl guilty for everything he’s done. Stoney’s first kidnapping, the trafficking, stalking, murder, and this latest kidnapping. We believe he had help though, either from Kramer, the delinquent Santa, or hell, both. There’s still so much we need to investigate before we figure everything out. But I can tell you one thing, it’s over.”
Tears stung my eyes as my mind whirled with all that had happened over the past ten days. I rested my forehead on the back of his head.
“You okay, Steely?”
“Yes, but it makes me so angry. To think I felt bad for him when Ziggy died, and this whole time he was stalking my sister, concocting a plan.”
“Yes, but she’s safe now. There’s more if you’re up for it.”
I nodded. “Show me.” I realized I had to know everything to help Stoney put her life back together.
He led me further down the hallway and into a tiny bedroom painted sky blue. A white crib occupied one wall, an umbrella-shaped mobile with five ducklings hung over one end. A changing table stood against the opposite wall with baby supplies stacked high. Sippy cups, toys, blankets, clothes, boxes of diapers, and cases of infant formula.
“It appears Earl intended on keeping your sister here with the baby,” Jackson said.
Dismayed, I shook my head, my skin breaking out in chills. “He is deranged to think his crazy plan would’ve worked.” I sighed. “I’m so glad we found him before...” My voice trailed off, thinking of another horror show Stoney would have suffered through.
“Yes, and you played a huge roll in figuring out it was Earl and where to find him. C’mon, let’s check on Stoney.”
Jackson carried me back into the living room where we found Cuff lying next to Stoney, his head resting on her lap. Pop sat vigilant beside them. A quiet calm had settled over his face.
Chiquita, she is safe.
I know, little buddy.
Pop stood up when we approached. “Steels, can you stay with her for a few minutes?” He nodded for Jackson to follow him. “Jackson, can I see you for a minute?”
Carefully, I slid down Jackson’s back and sat down next to Stoney, the old sheet warm where Pop had been sitting. I placed my hand over hers.
“How’s your ankle?” she asked, her hand trembling underneath mine.
“Hurts, but I’ll survive. I’m more concerned about you. How are you?”
She nodded. “I’m okay. And I’ll survive too.”
“I’m
so sorry this happened.” My eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry we didn’t figure it out before he took you.”
She stared across the room with a faraway look in her eyes. “But thanks to you, I’m safe. Pop told me it was you who discovered who’d taken me from the hospital, and it was also you who found me, Steely. You’re my hero.”
“I had help. It was a group effort.” I squeezed her hand gently.
“I hear this little guy is another hero of the night,” she said, petting Cuff’s back.
Chiquita, am I a hero?
My heart swelling with admiration, I smiled down at my pup. “He sure is.”
We sat silent for a few seconds. I didn’t want to blurt out too much and overwhelm her, so I remained quiet and motionless. Her soft voice startled me.
“I had a family before I ran away, and then, it was a long time before I felt that special bond again. When I took care of the younger girls, I felt needed. We created a family, the girls and me. When Larry and I began our relationship, again I had a sense of family and belonging, as unhealthy as it may have been. But then I was rescued, and everything I related to family vanished. I realize now all of it was toxic and wrong and hazardous to my health. When I came home, it took some time to realize again that you, Pop, Gertie, and even Daniel are my family, and even though Mama was gone, and things were so different at home, it could still be good. I learned to be grateful for what I had and not focus on all I’d lost.”
It was the most she’d said since coming home. “You’re right. We’re family, and we love you. Don’t you ever forget it.” I turned to face her and rested my hand on her tummy.
She placed her hand over mine. “Remember the night of the Cookie Crawl, when I saw the man staring at me in the crowd by the bar?”
“Yes.”
“It was him. He said he’d been watching me. He said he watched me all the time. At night through my window. While I sat in the shop lobby working, he’d sit down the street positioned so he could see me through binoculars in the window. He even claims he followed Caylee and me to College Station when I went to the doctor.”