by D'Ann Lindun
Finally, she got up and replaced the sleeping bags where she’d found them, then wrote Cooper a note telling him she was going to follow his tracks. If she didn’t find him at the horses, she was going to the cabin alone. She stuck it on top of the stove, in the most obvious place she could think of.
Taking one last look around, she said, “I hope this isn’t a mistake.”
Opening the door, she at first thought the figure on the other side was Cooper. The sun was too bright to look in his face. “Oh thank God. I was worried about you.”
“Were you?” The voice sounded unfamiliar.
By the time Elizabeth realized she wasn’t talking to Cooper, she was backed against the wall, a handgun in her face. The man wore a red bandanna over the lower half of his face. His eyes looked mean. “Who are you?”
“That don’t matter.” He brandished the weapon. “Where’s your partner?”
She put on her best L.A. accent. “I’m here alone. Just camping for a few days. Trying to find myself.”
“If you don’t tell me the truth, you’ll be finding yourself back in that hole.” He gestured toward the metal lid.
A shudder ripped through her, but she stood her ground. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the hole. Terror filled her, and Elizabeth fought to free herself. Dying up here where someone could find her body was better than being back down there in the dark where no one knew where she was. She’d go insane in there before she died. “Okay, I’ll tell you.”
“Where’d he go?” the gunman demanded.
“I don’t know. I woke up and he was gone.” Tears threatened. “He probably dumped me. He said I’ve been nothing but trouble.”
“You better be telling me like it is,” the man threatened, “or you’ll regret it.”
“I am.” Elizabeth gave into the emotions she’d been holding in check and began to sob.
“I’ve got orders to bring you both back to base. Let’s go. I’ll take you there first, then go find the guy.”
Half-dragging her, he pulled her outside, marched her into a nearby stand of trees and made her get behind him on a waiting snowmobile. “Don’t try anything funny, or I’ll shoot you,” he warned. “Now hold on.”
Seeing it would do no good to try and escape, Elizabeth did as he told her.
Chapter 16
After the man parked the snow machine, Elizabeth got off as she was told to do, and walked toward Cooper’s cabin. Her gaze roamed the area. Was Cooper watching? The gunman prodded her in the back and she sped up, tripping slightly. Her pulse pounded so hard she could hear it ringing in her ears. Was her mother on the other side of that door?
Reaching it, she turned the knob and stepped inside.
The interior was dark and it took a minute for her eyes to adjust. For a fraction of a second she thought she was dreaming. Two women sat at a kitchen table, Sabrina Frazier … and Mom. Elizabeth stumbled toward her. “Mo … Mom.”
“Lizzie, baby.”
“You’re alive.” Reaching her, Elizabeth dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around her mother, squeezing so tight she thought she might break her in two. Tears poured down Elizabeth’s face and her body shook uncontrollably. For a minute it didn’t register that her mother didn’t have her arms around her, too. Pulling back, Elizabeth’s grew wide when she saw Lillian’s hands tied together. “Why is she tied up like this? Let her go immediately.”
The gunman prodded her with his weapon. “Sit down and shut up.”
Reluctantly, Elizabeth did as she was told, never taking damp eyes off her mother. She was afraid if she looked away, she might disappear again. Keeping her hand on her mother’s arm, she studied her.
Free of any makeup, dark red hair disheveled, she looked a decade older than normal. Her skin seemed to have added dozens of fine lines and she had dark circles around her eyes. Her beige silk suit, a Donna Karan original, was filthy and torn in several places. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. “Fine, sweetheart, now that you’re here.”
“As touching as this family reunion is, you’ll have to save it for another time.” A man standing near the fireplace answered. “We’ve got a bit of a problem here. These two broads thought they could join forces and escape.”
“Good for them.” On closer inspection, Elizabeth recognized Rufus from the bar. She looked at Sabrina, who had a black eye, and was also tied. “My God. What happened to you? Why are you here?”
“Came hunting for you,” Sabrina muttered through swollen, bloody lips. “Fought back.”
“Like you and your charming mother, she butted into business that wasn’t her own,” Rufus said.
“What in the hell is going on around here?” Elizabeth demanded. “Are you the one behind all this? What is so damn important you have to kidnap and beat up innocent women?”
“Kirby, go out and find our other unwelcome guest,” Rufus ordered the masked gunman, ignoring Elizabeth. “Do whatever it takes to bring him in. We can’t afford to let him escape.”
“No,” Elizabeth cried. Fear jerked through her. What if Cooper got shot? “Leave him alone. Cooper hasn’t hurt anyone.”
“Cooper, huh?” Rufus sneered. “I should’ve known. Well, he had to find out the truth sooner or later. Unfortunate he had to come out here and stick his nose into our business.”
“What do you mean?” Elizabeth wanted to jump up and run outside screaming for Cooper to hide. If something happened to him she didn’t know what she’d do. She stood up and darted toward the door, with the intention of opening it and screaming at Cooper, hoping he’d run for it.
“Liz, don’t,” Lillian cried.
“Look out,” Sabrina chimed in.
Elizabeth saw stars, then darkness.
• • •
Cooper had taken just a few steps when he heard the snowmobile. Hiding behind a tree, he watched a masked man force Elizabeth off the vehicle and into the cabin. “Why couldn’t she just do what I asked her to do, for once?” Cooper muttered out loud.
Drifting back into the trees, he began to plan.
Slipping around to the corral, he whistled softly. The horses pricked their ears at him and came toward him. He swung the gate wide and shooed them through it. “Ya! Get on out of here!”
They galloped toward the trees.
The gunman barreled outside. “What the hell?”
“Looking for me?” When the guy turned toward him, Cooper hit him over the head with a tree branch. After the wannabe gunslinger fell in a heap, Cooper took his gun and pulled down his makeshift mask. A jolt of recognition went through Cooper. Kirby. The guy he’d met at Lassiter’s ranch. As he groaned and opened his eyes Cooper lifted him by the collar, and pushed him toward the door.
At the cabin’s entrance, Cooper took a deep breath. The last time he’d been here he’d had one of his flashbacks. Forcing the image away, hand on gun, he prodded Kirby through the door and stepped behind him.
It took a minute for Cooper’s eyes to adjust. When they focused, he saw Sabrina Frazier tied to a chair, one eye blackened, a trickle of blood at the corner of her mouth. Another woman, Lillian Adams he presumed, was also bound to a chair. But it was Elizabeth he searched for. “Where’s Elizabeth?”
Lillian didn’t answer, her gaze darted toward the couch. Following her line of sight, Cooper spotted Elizabeth’s still form lying on the sofa. Dropping Kirby like a sack, Cooper was at Elizabeth’s side in two long strides. She groaned when he gently touched her cheek. She’d really done it this time. “What the hell happened?”
“Just a tap on the head to remind her whose in charge around here.”
Cooper turned toward the voice. He jerked in surprise. “Rufus Taglioni.”
“That’s right.”
“What do you have to do with all this?” Cooper demanded. “There’s no call to ever touch a woman like that.”
Taglioni snorted. “I’ve never met a mouthier bu
nch than these three. Somebody had to shut them up. Kirby got the honors.”
Cooper wished he’d hit him harder. But right now he had other things to worry about. He turned his attention back to Rufus. “The way I see it, you’ve got a bit of a problem on your hands. There’s not just one woman to deal with now. Not only are you holding Lillian and Elizabeth against their will, but also Sabrina Frazier.
“She has family in this area. A lot of family. Four brothers and several cousins. You think they’re going to give up looking for her? Those Frazier boys will turn over every rock, every tree, every mountain from here to Alaska to find her. You messed with the devil, or at least his closest relatives when you picked on her.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Cooper saw Sabrina lift her head and smile through bloody teeth. His words had given her courage back. He grinned and shook his head. “I almost pity you.”
Rufus paled a bit, but he said, “I noticed you didn’t include yourself on a list anyone would care about.”
Cooper ignored that jibe. “Covering up the murder of four people is going to be a bit much. Even for a rich, powerful guy like your boss.”
“Who said anything about murder?” Rufus demanded.
“From where I sit, it doesn’t look like you have a lot of choice. How else are you planning on covering up this fiasco? Do you think Mrs. Adams and her daughter are just going to go back to L. A. and forget Lillian has been held prisoner for the better part of a month? Why? Because you’ve been so good to Mrs. Adams? Giving her an unplanned vacation and all.”
“Lassiter could make it worth your while … ”
Cooper snorted. “If he keeps buying folks off, pretty soon all the money you’ve been making is going to go like water down a drain. One of these days you’re going to bribe someone who decides he didn’t get enough the first time and comes back for more. Then what?”
Rufus shifted. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, I think you do.” Like an invited guest, Cooper sat at the end of the sofa. “Things are starting to add up now. For instance, the lack of enthusiasm to look for Mrs. Adams. Bet Lassiter paid a bit for that one, didn’t he?”
Rufus didn’t answer.
“Who’s on the payroll?” Cooper demanded. “Marlowe? Harper? All of them?”
“The police were paid to not look for me?” Lillian looked surprised.
“That’s what I’m guessing,” Cooper said. “Because Elizabeth went to them for help a bunch of times and they didn’t respond.”
“My God,” Lillian breathed. “This is insane.”
“You’re right,” Cooper agreed. “You’re looking into the face of greed. The question is why? What would be enough incentive to make a man pay off cops? Big corporation greed.”
“All speculation.” Rufus waved a handgun. “You have no proof.”
“Don’t you think Mrs. Adams’ word is enough?” Cooper leaned forward and fixed a hard stare on the other man. “I’m sure a jury will be interested in knowing why you’ve held her prisoner out here for most of a month. They’ll probably also like to know why Marlowe and his crew haven’t lifted a finger to help Elizabeth.”
“Rufus? You said you had things taken care of. I don’t wanna go to jail.” For the first time, Kirby spoke. “This is getting out of hand. It’s one thing to keep a woman locked up for a couple weeks, but I ain’t going to do more. I ain’t going to jail for nobody.”
“Shut up,” Rufus commanded. “You’ll do as you’re told.”
“You don’t get it,” Kirby said. “I’m done.” He scrambled through the door. A few seconds later the sound of a starting engine reached them.
“Looks like your foundation is cracking,” Cooper said. Next to him, Elizabeth’s leg jerked a little. He glanced at her and noticed her eyes were open. Not wanting to draw attention to her, he pretended not to notice. “Why don’t you ‘fess up and tell us what’s so important to you that you’d commit a kidnapping?”
“I know it has something to do with oil.” Lillian cowered when Rufus shot her a look, but bravely continued. “They keep talking about the well.”
“We found a note in your pocket that said ‘gas’.” Elizabeth struggled to sit up, holding her head. “Is that what you meant?”
Lillian looked puzzled for a minute. “No.”
“Shut up,” Rufus said roughly.
“There’s no call to talk to her like that.” Cooper’s anger was rising. He’d had about enough of this. “Untie the ladies, and we’ll be going.”
“Sounds wonderful,” Lillian said. “Now, please.”
“I’ll second that,” Sabrina muttered, looking determined again.
“All of you, clam up,” Rufus yelled. “No one’s going anywhere.”
“Except you, straight to jail.” Cooper fixed a stare on him. “Because not only did you kidnap this woman, you’re also trespassing. But that’s not all, is it? Not only did you kill Lyle, something else just clicked. I saw a pickup pulling a portable oil drill this morning. That’s what all this is about. You’ve hit on an oil deposit. A good oil field could be worth millions.”
Rufus’ face paled. “Lassiter’s the one. He’s behind all of it. The whole thing is his idea.”
“I think you’ll need to explain this to the cops,” Cooper said. “Now, let the ladies go.”
Slowly, Rufus walked over to Lillian and untied her, then Sabrina. Both rubbed their wrists.
“Is oil the reason they’ve kept trying to force me to sign my land deed over to them?” Lillian stood and came over to Elizabeth. Sitting beside her, Lillian took her daughter’s hand and kissed it.
“I’d say so,” Cooper replied. “Because they didn’t want you to catch on that there’s oil out here. With a large oil deposit on your land, the value would increase by millions.”
Elizabeth sat up, holding her head with one hand, the other twined in her mother’s. “Why didn’t they just buy it for a large enough amount of cash that we would’ve taken it? Enough that we would’ve gone quietly away?”
“I can answer this one,” Sabrina said weakly. “When I went to town to search for the missing deed, I found out that one of Cooper and Henry’s property lines was surveyed wrong. Some of Henry’s land is actually Cooper’s. To legally control that land, Lassiter would’ve had to buy Cooper’s too. He didn’t want to sell.”
“Who says? Did anyone think to ask him?” Elizabeth still held her head.
“His wife did.” They all looked at Rufus. “That’s right. Cooper bought out his wife rather than split their property in their divorce. He made it clear his land wasn’t for sale.”
“So you’re admitting you’ve held Mrs. Adams here to try and coerce her into signing the deed without having a survey done?” Cooper looked like he could spit nails.
“Yeah.” Rufus’ shoulders slumped. “Lassiter figured if he could gain control over the Harper land, he could continue the operation as planned. He didn’t want to draw unwanted attention. Mrs. Adams insisted he get an appraisal. That was out of the question. So we brought her here to try and bargain with her. But she won’t listen to reason.”
“How did Lassiter know there was oil out here in the first place?”
“He had someone out here searching as much as two years ago. It’s not oil they found, but natural gas. He lucked out and found one of the biggest deposits in Colorado. The potential income is worth a fortune.”
“But it wasn’t your land to mine,” Cooper said.
“If your ex-wife hadn’t gotten involved, things would’ve been fine,” Rufus said, ignoring the comment.
“Esperanza? What does she have to do with all this?” Cooper’s gut clenched.
“When Lassiter’s guys originally found the deposit, he approached Henry Harper with a generous offer to buy him out. The old fool refused. Lassiter asked around and found out you’d likely have the same reaction. A month or so ago, he found out Esperanza is a waitress living on a low income. Lassiter offered her
a generous amount if she’d help us get you to leave. She knew you wouldn’t sell your land, and she came up with an idea on how to force you off it.”
“How could Esperanza know about the oil?” Cooper shook his head. None of this made sense.
“She didn’t until I told her.” Rufus smirked.
“What did she suggest?” Cooper’s heart sank. He had an idea of what was coming and he braced for it.
“She said if something went wrong with your cows you’d go bankrupt and Lassiter could buy you out with a minimum of fuss.”
“So you rustled my heifers at her suggestion.” Cooper’s voice went deadly.
“Yeah.”
“Where are they?” Cooper stood up. His fists curled into balls.
Rufus shrugged. “In one of Lassiter’s pastures.”
“He’ll be returning them.” Cooper never wanted to strangle someone as much as he did at that moment. If Esperanza walked through the door, he wasn’t sure he could control himself. “What did she get out of it?”
“Who knows what Lassiter gave her,” Rufus answered. “Maybe a little action. Maybe some money.”
Cooper felt Elizabeth’s hand on his and he took a deep breath. Esperanza had gotten a big settlement check from him. What had she done with it? He couldn’t believe that she would sell him out like this. Another thought occurred to him. “Who ran Elizabeth and me off the road?”
Rufus smirked. “You shouldn’t have punched me.”
“Who opened all my windows?” Elizabeth shuddered. “I was scared half to death.”
Rufus looked puzzled. “I don’t know.”
“Tom Harper? Is he part of this?” she demanded.
“Not as far as I know.”
“My cousin,” Elizabeth said, “has been horrible ever since I came to town.”
Lillian looked appalled. “All of this is insane.”
“I think Tom’s actually been working on his own,” Cooper commented. “But who killed Lyle and why? He was just a harmless old guy who didn’t ever do anyone any harm. Someone knocked him off.”