Chasing Shadows

by Wendy Meadows

  “Shut up!” Don yelled and fired a bullet blindly at Sarah. The bullet flew wide and right into the water, safely missing Sarah. “Shut up! You don't know nothing, cop!”

  Sarah steadied her nerves and prepared to take a shot at Don. “You saw your father die, Don. And you blamed yourself. But then you blocked out the nightmare you witnessed and convinced yourself someone else killed your father, didn't you?”

  “Shut up!” Don yelled and fired a second bullet at Sarah. The bullet struck the river again and vanished, missing Sarah. “You're nothing but a stupid cop who failed to solve my dad's case.”

  “How could I have solved the case, Don, when your mother forced J&P Brothers to make everyone at the studio clam up on me?” Sarah asked. The last thing she wanted was to continue playing a panicked round of target practice with Don. Sooner or later one of the bullets might hit her. “I know that your mother rigged the books for J&P Brothers, Don. I know she covered up your father's death with a lie and claimed he was murdered, when in fact his death was accidental.”

  “I didn't kill my dad!” Don yelled and prepared to empty the clip in his gun at Sarah. “You shut your stupid mouth, cop! I didn't kill my dad...my mom, she found the real killer...I killed him...and you...you were supposed to come back and solve the murder...I had it all planned out!”

  “Until Rebecca caused you a problem,” Sarah said and then stopped talking when she saw movement behind Don. Someone was sneaking up behind him through the darkness. Sarah forced calmness to her mind and continued. “Don, you killed an innocent woman. You killed an innocent man who you only thought had murdered your father. How many people have to die?”

  “Only you,” Don roared and steadied his gun. “I'm going to kill you if it’s the last thing I do. If I'm caught then I'm caught, but Canada isn't too far away. If I'm smart and stay hidden, I should be safe to cross the border,” he said, furiously shaking as the gun aimed at Sarah’s head.

  “I don't think so,” a voice said. “You might pollute the land.”

  “Huh?” Don said and spun around. He was met with a fierce punch to the jaw. The impact caused him to stumble backward, dazed. Don began madly flailing his arms in an attempt to steady his balance. But as he did, his attacker lunged forward and landed a kick solidly in his stomach. Don’s body collapsed to the ground and rolled down the slope toward the river. But instead of hitting the water, his head struck a rock lodged in the mud on the river's edge.

  The last thing Don remembered before his world went black was wondering who hit him. Whoever took him by surprise wasn't a man. Then the darkness took him and he saw and thought nothing more.

  Amanda perched her hands on her hips and shook her head, looking down at Sarah. “Well,” she said, looking like the warmest shadow Sarah had ever seen in her life, “it's a good thing Harry came to sit with Nate, huh? Otherwise, I might still be at the hospital.”

  Sarah felt a huge smile sweep over her face. “June Bug, you are my hero,” she called out as she hurried to wade out of the river and went over to Don. “He's out cold,” she said and sat down on a fallen tree limb. Amanda made her way down to the river’s edge and sat down next to her best friend. Sarah put her soaking wet arm around Amanda and hugged her shoulder. “My hero.”

  “Remember that when you pay for my shopping spree,” Amanda smiled and hugged Sarah back, even though her best friend was coated in mud and dripping with river water. Then she looked down at Don. “Another monster,” she said and shook her head in disgust. “Los Angeles, the next time we go on a trip together, remind me to have my head examined, okay?”

  “Deal,” Sarah promised and then jumped to her feet when she heard someone running up to the river.

  “Sarah?” Conrad called out in a worried voice.

  “Down here,” Sarah called back.

  Conrad made his way down to the river, spotted Amanda, and then saw Don’s limp form at the river’s edge. He slowed and simply shoved his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket. “I guess you girls have everything under control. I better get back to the old man,” he said, pulled a pair of handcuffs from his right jacket pocket, and tossed them down next to Don. “The ambulance is on the way for Mr. Rhodes, I have to get back. Cuff him, partner,” he said with a wink and walked away.

  “You bet...partner,” Sarah smiled.

  Amanda raised her eyebrows, grinned, and didn't say a word. Instead, she helped Sarah handcuff Don and drag his body away from the river's edge. Sure, she thought, being friends with Sarah Garland was risky, but no one could want a better friend.

  Nate sat down at his kitchen table and eyed Conrad. “What's the matter, cabbage soup too hot for you?”

  “No,” Conrad said with a red face, “cabbage soup...just fine,” he finished and dived for his glass of tea.

  Sarah shared a grin with Amanda. They were eating delicious warm bowls of pinto beans and cornbread. “Nate, how are you feeling?” she asked, turning her attention away from Conrad for the moment.

  Nate looked at Sarah and Amanda. He smiled to see both women looking so pretty in the sunflower yellow dresses that looked like the same style that his wife once wore. The girls, who were leaving the following morning, had picked the dresses to wear for him as a special gift. “Old Nate is just fine,” Nate promised. “You heard that fancy doctor. Only thing wrong with me is my old cancer. My body let go of me the other day at the courthouse because I was running too hard, that's all.”

  Sarah reached out and patted Nate's hand. “We're going to get through your cancer together,” she promised.

  “Old Nate leaves his cancer up to God,” Nate smiled at Sarah. “When it's my time, it'll be my time. Besides, my wife is waiting for me and I'm sure anxious to see her again and tell her about you girls. Of course, my wife has been watching the whole time and probably kicking up a fuss over you.”

  Amanda took a bite of beans. Her heart felt sad. The last thing in the world she wanted to do was say goodbye to Nate. She had come to love the old man very deeply. “I can stay with you a while,” she offered.

  “You got a husband waiting for you,” Nate told Amanda and patted her hand. “Old Nate will be just fine.”

  Conrad looked across the kitchen table into Nate's eyes. The old man still had some good years left to him, he saw. “Now, ladies. The last thing a man like Mr. Ringgold wants or needs is two women sticking around and babying him every day. He’s an independent man who knows his way in life,” Conrad said, feeling a warm respect and admiration for the man. He turned to Nate. “We'd still like to visit you, if that's okay.”

  “Sure, sure,” Nate assured Conrad and pointed at his bowl of cabbage soup. “Eat up, son. Don't let your cabbage go and get cold on you. Old Nate don't like cold cabbage. Cold cabbage is a crime. Cabbage is meant to be eaten right out of the pot.”

  Conrad winced, lifted a bite of cabbage soup to his mouth, and gobbled it down. His face turned red as a chile pepper. “Good,” he said with tears pooling in the corners of his eyes. “Kinda hot...a little heavy on the cayenne, but good.”

  “Cayenne is good for the heart,” Nate replied and winked at Sarah and Amanda. “So, you girls are going to Los Angeles after you leave here, huh?”

  “I still want to see Pete,” Sarah admitted. “And I promised to take Amanda on an all-expenses paid shopping trip.”

  Amanda grinned from ear to ear. “Ah, the price us selfless heroes have to pay to get some recognition.”

  Conrad rolled his eyes. He adored Amanda but he knew that the woman was definitely going to milk her hero status for all it was worth—or at least until his wallet was empty and Sara's credit card was drained. “I'm chipping in on the shopping trip,” he told Nate.

  Amanda nodded. “Yes, kind sir, you are. But not to worry,” Amanda said and threw her right over up to her forehead. “Alas, this fair maiden will only shop in the most expensive clothing shops and eat at the most luxurious restaurants and sleep on the softest beds.”

  Conrad winced
. “Really?” he asked in a painful voice.

  Amanda lowered her hand and laughed. “No, love, not really. I called my dear husband this morning and he has ordered me home. It seems he misses me too much. It looks like you and my dear friend are going to Los Angeles alone. Well, not completely alone.” Amanda looked at the back door where Mittens was lapping up a warm bowl of milk.

  Sarah slowly put down the spoon she was holding and folded her arms. “You know…as much as I want to see Pete, I think I would rather pass and go home, myself. I miss Pete, but right now he's going to be busy tying this case up. I'll get down to Los Angeles and see him another time, or he can fly up and stay a week with me at the cabin like he’s always promised. Besides,” she said looking at Mittens, “my baby girl is getting homesick.”

  Conrad felt relief settle into his chest. He knew Pete was just a friend of Sarah’s, but he couldn’t help but be pleased that she was coming home to Alaska and not spending the week visiting her old stomping grounds in Los Angeles. “I'll return the SUV to the rental car agency and we can drive back together.”

  “Sounds good,” Sarah smiled at Conrad.

  Nate saw a warm glow enter Sarah's eyes every time she looked at Conrad. Love was in the air. But the love he saw forming in Sarah toward her man wasn't a love that needed to be rushed. The love in Sarah's eyes was a sweet, honest, patient love that needed nurturing a bit. “Well,” he said and turned his mind to Don for a minute, “what is going to come of this mess before you three drive back up to Alaska tomorrow?”

  Sarah unfolded her arms. “Don Street,” she said and picked her spoon up again, “has confessed to the killings. But he's pleading insanity, saying that seeing his father die caused him to go insane...and maybe that's half true. But a boy like Don, the murderous intent I saw in his eyes, he would have grown up to be—”

  “The next Back Alley Killer?” Conrad finished for Sarah. “You ladies could have stopped a future serial killer in his tracks.”

  The thought of Don growing up to become a serial killer sent cold chills down Sarah's back. “I'm just thankful this case ended well and that we're all safe.” Sarah turned her head and looked at Amanda. “Thanks to you, June Bug. You're always saving me.”

  “Well, someone has to,” Amanda teased Sarah then she grew somber. “When I heard the gunshots I panicked. And then I heard that crazy kid yelling at you. I...well, I wasn't very brave. I acted out of...well, fear rather than courage, love. I was scared that snake might hear me sneaking up on him, turn around, and shoot me.”

  “You did just fine,” Conrad assured Amanda. “You always do.”

  Amanda nibbled on a bite of beans. “Guys, can we not tell my dear husband about any of this? If he finds out that I slugged a killer in the face he might not ever let me leave the cabin again.”

  “Deal,” Sarah promised, laughing. Then they heard someone knock on the back door.

  “Door is unlocked, but watch the puppy,” Nate called out.

  Paul opened the back door and stepped inside the kitchen. Harry followed behind, holding a deck of Uno cards in his right hand. “Nate,” Paul said and nodded, “Detective Garland.”

  “Sheriff Bufford, how are you?” Sarah asked.

  “Retiring,” Paul replied with a deep sigh of relief and closed the door behind him. He looked down at the puppy and then back at Sarah. Mittens wasn't in any mood to be bothered. All she wanted was her warm milk and her momma's lap. “I heard that you're leaving Prate tomorrow?”

  “Yes, we're driving back to Alaska,” Sarah explained. “I was going to stop by the courthouse and say goodbye.”

  “Don't bother,” Paul replied. “I've cleared out my office and turned in my badge.”

  “What in the world for?” Nate fussed.

  “Because I was a coward,” Paul said and held his head down in shame. “I failed my wife, I failed the good people of Prate...and I failed myself.”

  “Oh, you're acting like a big dummy,” Nate retorted. “You got scared over your wife, that’s all. I would have acted the same way you did, Paul.”

  “Already told him that,” Harry said and studied the kitchen table. He spotted the cabbage soup. “Mind if I have some cabbage, Nate?”

  “Why ask a silly question? My house is your house, you old fart,” Nate groused at Harry and pointed to an empty chair. “Sit down and eat. We'll play Uno shortly.” Harry sat himself down, grabbed a green bowl, and ladled out some cabbage. “Paul,” Nate continued, “if you go retiring because you feel ashamed of yourself, then you'll go round kicking yourself for the rest of your years.”

  “I can't forgive myself for betraying my badge over a threat from some stupid kid,” Paul argued.

  “Don Street was a killer, Sheriff,” Sarah pointed out. “Maybe his appearance was that of a kid, but his mind was that of an evil killer.”

  “I've seen ten-year olds walk into gang fights with guns,” Conrad added. “Sheriff, you got spooked because Don Street threatened your wife. It happens.”

  “I appreciate your kind words,” Paul said and walked back to the kitchen door. “I wanted to come back and say goodbye in person. I'm taking my wife away from Prate for a little while. We need time to figure out whether we want to remain living here or move away.”

  “Now, Paul—” Nate began to object.

  Paul held up his hand. “You folks have a good night,” he said and slipped out of the back door.

  “That poor man,” Amanda said and shook her head. “He's sure beating himself up about this.”

  “Yep,” Harry said and began working on his cabbage. “But don't worry about Paul. In time, he'll come around to the truth and settle his insides.”

  Sarah wasn't so certain Harry was right. Paul's eyes told her that the man would never forgive himself for betraying his badge and the people of Prate. But what could she do? Paul Bufford would have to reckon with the consequences of his own choices to remain in a job that he had not fully believed in, and perhaps that was important. The truth was, she was so homesick and anxious to sleep in her own bed that she had trouble focusing on Paul’s problems. “I guess Don Smart had another victim, one he's not aware of,” she said.

  “Yep,” Nate said and took a sip of coffee. “Well, no sense in worrying over Paul when supper is before us. Keep telling Old Nate the scoop, Sarah.”

  Sarah took a drink of tea. “Don Smart confessed that he saw his father die. The death happened the way I theorized it did and his mother confirmed it. Don's father was working on a roof, preparing a stunt, when Don called out his name from the ground. Don said his father startled some, tripped on the ropes he had on the roof, and...well, you guys can figure out the rest.” Sarah put down her tea. “Bonnie Smart confessed to covering up the death and making it appear as murder or an accidental death in order to protect her son. And because she had been rigging the books for J&P Brothers, she tossed around a few threats that forced J&P Brothers to keep their employees silent.”

  Nate shook his head. “My, my,” he grunted, “the messes this old world has going on in it sure are enough to keep an old man awake at night.”

  “Tell me about it,” Harry agreed. “It's getting to where I'm almost ready to start locking my back door at night.”

  “Almost ready?” Amanda asked. “You mean you don't lock your doors at all?”

  “Nah,” Harry said and filled his mouth full of cabbage, “never saw a need to. I don't like being scared in my own home.”

  “You better believe it,” Nate said and scratched his head. “Ain't fitting for a man to be scared when he lays down his head to sleep at night.”

  The kitchen grew silent. Sarah looked into Nate's face. The old man was staring at his back door. Finally, Amanda spoke. “Well, my sweet loves,” she said to everyone, “when are we going to play Uno? I don't see any sense in letting the outside world ruin our night together.” Amanda pointed at the back door. “Outside that door, there are plenty of ugly people roaming round like snakes and there's not a thing
in the world any one of us sitting in this kitchen can do about it. All we can do is trust in the Lord and handle one day at a time. So, with that said, I'm going to check on the brownies I have baking and Harry, you start shuffling those Uno cards.”

  Sarah looked at Amanda with admiration. “Well said, June Bug.”

  Amanda winked at Sarah and then smiled at Conrad. “Uh, love, your cabbage soup is getting cold.”

  Conrad looked down at his cabbage soup, grimaced, and then took a bite. “Nate...maybe not so much cayenne pepper next time.”

  Mittens finished her milk, padded over to Sarah, and began whining. “Okay, baby,” Sarah smiled and picked Mittens up into her arms. “I think my baby has to go outside. I'll be back in a few minutes.”

  Sarah walked Mittens outside and set her down in the fresh grass and raised her head up at the night sky. She saw a breathtaking canvas filled with endless twinkling stars over her head. For a while, she pushed the thought of Don Street from her thoughts and listened to the beautiful silence of the night as she stared up at the heavens. “The world can be very ugly,” she whispered, “but the world can also be very beautiful. All we can do is take it one day at a time, right Mittens?” Mittens snuggled up next to Sarah's legs and let out a sweet little bark. “That's right, baby. Now,” she said and picked Mittens up, “let's forget all about our problems and have a peaceful night.” Sarah walked Mittens back inside and settled down for a cozy night of Uno and coffee, contented and safe.

  But far away, a daring prison escape was taking place. Soon Sarah was going to meet a monster that had never forgotten about her in his dreams.

  Dear Reader,

  Hi there. Thank you for reading.

  I hope you’ll leave a review and/or rating at the retail website where you purchased it, I appreciate you and your feedback.

  Thanks again,

  Wendy Meadows