“I'm sure Hawk and the chief will be fine,” Lidia tried to comfort Nikki. Deep down, she was worried, too. The escaped convicts were dangerous, desperate men, with nothing to lose and everything to gain.
“I hope so,” Nikki replied. Drawing in a deep breath, she glanced over her shoulder. “Okay, Lidia, whenever you see the burger place, swing in. We're going to have company.”
Lidia nodded. In the distance, she saw a white, glowing sign shaped like a hamburger. When she arrived at the sign, she pulled into a small parking lot surrounded by lush, beautiful trees. A brown wooden building with red stripes and a white roof sat in the middle of the parking lot. “I see the open sign flashing, but only one car,” Lidia said, easing up to the front of the building.
“With the prison break, most people seem to be staying closer to town,” Nikki commented. “Everyone act casual. Let me do the talking.”
Cautiously, Nikki got out of the SUV just as the black sedan pulled up next to her. A large, fat, angry-looking man wearing a dark blue suit crawled out of the driver's seat and glared at Nikki. “Nikki Bates?” he demanded.
Nikki watched Agent Ringston get out of the passenger's seat. Unlike the fat man, Agent Ringston was fit, tall, and intelligent-looking. His black hair was neatly combed back and his face steady and composed. Looking back at the fat man, Nikki studied his thin brown hair and mustache. She quickly observed that he and Agent Ringston were both in their early to mid-fifties and complete opposites—or were they? “If I were a cop, I would write you a ticket for tailgating,” Nikki replied in a sharp tone as a cool wind grabbed at her long hair. Lidia and Tori eased their way over to her side as Agent Ringston walked over to Warden Wayberry. “We thought you ladies were having dinner back in town. When you left, we became worried,” he explained in a fake voice that gave Nikki the creeps.
“The restaurant was far too crowded,” Nikki explained. “We wanted a nice, quiet place to talk. That's not a crime, is it, Agent Ringston?”
Agent Ringston glared at Nikki the way a snake stares at an innocent rabbit before striking. “No, it isn't,” he said without asking her how she knew his identity.
“I wasn't aware the FBI was interested in my dining preferences,” Nikki continued. “I'm just a little confused as to why the warden of North Hill Prison is tagging along as your shadow?”
Warden Wayberry slammed the driver's side door shut. “Listen, and listen carefully,” he snapped. “Twenty-four dangerous men escaped from my prison. I'm in no mood to deal with you, Nancy Drew. Yeah, I know all about you, Ms. Reporter. Now here is what you're going to do. You're going to eat a nice little dinner, get a good night’s sleep, and go back home and make pretty little chocolates for that little store of yours. Are we clear?”
Agent Ringston quickly stepped in. It was obvious he wasn't pleased with Warden Wayberry's temperamental outburst. “Ms. Bates, what Warden Wayberry is meaning to imply is that, due to your reputation, we have concerns that you may be planning to undermine the present media blackout that is in place and resort to reporting illegal and false information to a thirsty public.”
Nikki fought the urge to roll her eyes. It wasn't any surprise to her that Agent Ringston spoke with a poisonous, bureaucratic tongue lined with sharp edges. “Agent Ringston, I was at home when I received a call from Lidia after her husband was assaulted by one of Warden Wayberry's men, I mean, escaped convicts.” Nikki paused and quickly glanced at Warden Wayberry's face. The man snarled up his face into a furious, tight ball. “I simply came to this town to show support for my friend and nothing else. I have no interest in chasing after fool's gold.”
Agent Ringston nodded as he folded his arms together. “Are you implying that there might be more to this...dangerous...situation than we are aware of, Ms. Bates?”
“No,” Nikki flashed a brilliant smile, “all I'm implying is that when the vinegar smells like a rose, beware of what you get. Now don't go worrying your little minds. I will be up and away from this town when my dear friend's husband is discharged from the hospital. I'm a writer now. Oh, didn't Chief Daily tell you that? I'm retired from reporting. I'm writing mystery novels now.”
Agent Ringston unfolded his arms and smiled a fake smile. “I'm glad to hear that, but I do think it would be wise if I remain here while you ladies eat.”
“Of course,” Nikki said and then added, “Warden Wayberry, why aren't you at the prison? And Agent Ringston, it was so nice of you to drive down here so quickly just to offer me protection.” Smiling, Nikki grabbed Lidia's and Tori's hands and walked them into the building.
4
“What was that all about?” Lidia asked Nikki as they stepped into a brown and white lobby lined with booths nestled against oversized windows. A large wooden clown with a cheesy smile stood near the front, pointing to the menu board. A well-scratched wooden counter was stuffed with two old cash registers manned by a very bored teenage girl.
“Reaction,” Nikki explained, walking up to the front counter.
Tori glanced over her shoulder at the wooden clown and shivered. “Clowns give me the creeps.”
“Me, too,” Lidia agreed.
Nikki glanced back at the clown. The large clown was creepy, but not as creepy as Agent Ringston. “I'm starved. Let's have a good dinner, on me.”
A girl with short blond hair with blue highlights greeted Nikki. “Can I take your order?” the girl asked as she chewed on a piece of gum and played with the stud in her eyebrow.
Nikki glanced at Lidia. Lidia rolled her eyes. From the appearance of the wrinkled brown and white uniform the girl was wearing, along with all her piercings, Nikki knew it was best just to place a simple order rather than offer a motherly lecture. “Yes, we'll have three double cheeseburger meals,” Nikki told the girl.
“No mayonnaise on mine…or onion,” Tori quickly added.
“Same with my meal,” Lidia told the girl.
“Me, too,” Nikki finished. “Three cheeseburger meals, no mayonnaise or onions.”
“Just like the three stooges,” the girl mumbled under her breath.
An old man with a pleasant face walked out from the kitchen wearing a white apron over a well-pressed work uniform. His short gray hair was neatly combed, and his eyes were lit up with life. “Hello!” He smiled at Nikki, Lidia and Tori. “Welcome to Smile for a Burger. My name is Eric. I'm the owner. This is my granddaughter, Melissa, who is still learning how to greet customers.”
Tori watched Melissa rudely roll her eyes. “Three double cheeseburger meals, minus the mayo and onions, Grandfather,” she said.
“I heard the nice lady place her order.” Eric smiled at his granddaughter. He was a patient and loving man, struggling against the horrible parental upbringing that had transformed a sweet, innocent girl into a rude, selfish brat. “Ladies, what would you like to drink with your meal?”
“Soda is fine,” Tori told Eric.
“Same with me,” Lidia added.
“Me, too.” Nikki smiled. There was something special about Eric that brought a sense of calmness and security to her worried chest.
“Fine. You ladies go sit down, and we will bring your food out when it's ready. Dinner is on the house.”
“Oh, no, we can pay,” Nikki insisted.
Eric glanced at his granddaughter. “We’d like to treat ‘the three stooges’ to dinner and take the cost out of our pay, wouldn't we, Melissa?”
Melissa's eyes grew wide. She pouted. “That's not fair. I was only—”
“Being vulgar,” Eric corrected his granddaughter with a firm but loving voice. “Next time we will greet customers the proper way, correct?”
Melissa rolled her eyes again. “Yes, Grandfather, I will greet every last customer with a big, cheesy smile.”
“Good girl,” Eric smiled.
Nikki winked at Eric and walked Lidia and Tori to a booth next to the front window. Sitting down with her back against the wall, she could see her SUV, and Agent Ringston and Warden Wayberry were
standing next to the black sedan. The two men were talking. Agent Wayberry was smoking a cigarette. “What are you thinking?” Lidia asked Nikki, sitting down next to Tori.
“The prison break was planned.” Nikki opened the thought box in her mind and peered in.
“We're all ears,” Lidia told Nikki. Tori nodded and scooted closer to the table.
“If Hawk gets harmed, I'll make it my life's mission to destroy those men,” Nikki promised. “Hawk is in danger because of them.”
“Honey, let's focus on the prison break. Worrying about Hawk will not do you any good.” Lidia rubbed Nikki’s hand. “How was the prison break planned?”
“Twenty-four deadly men all escape at one time...how?” Nikki asked. “I believe certain convicts were assigned tasks to distract the authorities, while the rest of them gathered in one location.”
Tori stared at Nikki. “Kinda like sending all the mice toward one location using bait, right?”
“Yes.” Nikki nodded. “The convict who robbed the bank back home could have easily slipped into Canada. Why is he holding out in a rental cabin? The people behind this prison break need the authorities spread out all over the state to strain their resources and manpower while they go forward with whatever they want to accomplish.”
“Oh dear,” Lidia lowered her voice, “Warden Wayberry and Agent Ringston, they're responsible, aren't they?”
Nikki leaned forward. “I was a little confused as to why Agent Ringston was in our hometown.”
“The bank back home was robbed,” Tori reminded Nikki.
“Yes,” Nikki replied, “that was the most logical reason. I believe Agent Ringston was in our town to collect the convict who robbed our bank. But somehow, he found out I was a resident of the town and quickly exited through the stage door. An FBI Agent wouldn't dismiss a bank robbery conducted by a dangerous criminal just to chase down a nosy reporter unless—”
“Unless you're in the diamond mine,” Lidia whispered as her eyes grew wide.
Nikki nodded. “Exactly,” she whispered back.
Tori understood. “This is headquarters, right?”
“Whatever those two rats are up to, this little town is where their plan is going to go to full steam,” Nikki told Tori. “The town is under tight watch. But my guess is, come tomorrow, an all-clear sign will be given, and the authorities will move on, leaving open fields to run in.”
“A play of hands,” Lidia agreed. “Make the town the convicts are gathered in look like a hot spot for a couple of days, and then they come out and play when the coast is clear. Smart.”
“The only question is, why this town?” Nikki asked. Looking out the front window, she saw Agent Ringston glance at her as he tossed his cigarette butt down onto the ground and stomped it out. Suddenly, a horrible feeling struck her. “The man I saw standing on the side of the road wearing the black suit—he wasn't an FBI Agent. He was one of the escaped convicts.”
“Honey, let's go to the hospital, wake Herbert up, and drive home. Please,” Lidia begged.
“I agree,” Tori said, becoming anxious. “Nikki, we're three women. We're not strong enough to fight twenty-four convicts who are armed and deadly.”
Before Nikki could speak, her cell phone rang. Snatching it out of her purse, she studied the incoming caller. “It's Hawk,” she said, closing her eyes and saying a quick prayer of thanks. “Hawk, are you okay?”
“False lead,” Hawk answered. He leaned against his jeep and stared up at a two-story wooden cabin surrounded by dark trees; he closed his eyes and imagined Nikki's beautiful face. “We found a homeless teenager living in the cabin. He broke in through the basement.”
“I thought that might be the case,” Nikki said, wishing she were at his side. “I'll explain what I mean later. Hawk, I'm taking the girls back to the hospital. We're going to get Herbert and drive home. I need to talk to you.”
“I'll be waiting,” Hawk answered. “I think I know what you want to talk about, too.”
“Not on the phone.”
“Got it. Hurry home.”
“I will...and Hawk?” Nikki hesitated.
“Yeah?”
“I love you, too. Bye,” Nikki replied and ended the call.
Lidia and Tori glanced at each other. Nikki shrugged her shoulders. “What can I say? He has grown on me.” She smiled. Putting her cell phone away, she saw Eric walk up, carrying their meal on a brown dinner tray. “Dinner is served,” she announced in a hungry voice.
Eric carefully placed three white plates down onto the table as Melissa walked over with three glasses of soda. “Please, enjoy your meal,” she said through gritted teeth. Putting the sodas down, she quickly hurried away.
“Thank you, we will,” Nikki called out.
Eric sighed. “Her parents divorced last year. She's a very bitter young lady.”
“We understand,” Lidia assured Eric.
“Thanks,” Eric said and turned to walk away.
“Uh, please, I have a question,” Nikki said to him.
He paused. “Okay.”
Nikki braced herself. Glancing out the window, she saw Agent Ringston staring at her. “Act like you're talking about my order,” she urged. Lifting a burger into the air, she pointed at it. “Eric, how long has Mayor Brown been mayor of this town?”
Eric caught sight of Agent Ringston and Warden Wayberry. “Over twenty years,” he answered Nikki in a voice that let her know he was on her side. “I can spot a Fed a mile away. And if I'm not mistaken, that's Warden Wayberry standing outside.”
Nikki put down her cheeseburger and picked up a hard, red plastic glass. Lidia leaned forward and dropped a straw down into the glass. “Twenty years is a long time,” she said, taking a sip of her soda.
“This town is a creature of habit,” Eric explained, picking up Lidia's dinner plate. Pretending to examine the cheeseburger, he eased his eyes out into the night again. “Ladies, you're in shark-infested waters. Get out of town. I wasn't eavesdropping, but I did hear you say you were going back to the hospital. Please, do that and leave.”
Nikki lowered her glass. She was shocked to hear Eric speak so openly. The man was in possession of very valuable—if not dangerous—information. Calmly, she spoke her phone number. “Call me tomorrow morning. We need to talk. I'm coming back here with Detective Hawk Daily. Are you willing to fill us in with more details?”
Eric shook his head. “I wish I were on a wild, strong horse that was willing to chase after outlaws,” he said in a regretful voice. “I have my granddaughter to take care of. Both her parents have disowned her. They blame her for their divorce instead of taking responsibility themselves. I can't walk into a den of snakes. I'm sorry.”
“I understand,” Nikki replied sadly. “Please, tell no one we spoke.”
Eric put down the plate in his hand and shrugged his shoulders. “Burger seems fine to me,” he said and walked away.
“I wanted my burger well-done!” Nikki yelled loudly enough for Agent Ringston to hear outside. “Jerk!”
Agent Ringston lit a second cigarette. The last thing he was interested in was hearing Nikki fuss over an undercooked burger. “Hurry up and eat already,” he mumbled. Warden Wayberry crawled back into the sedan the way a snake slithers back into his hole. “Don't worry,” Agent Ringston said, “Nikki Bates is the least of our worries.”
“Then why did you rush back here so quick?” Warden Wayberry asked, propping his elbow out of the driver's side window. “I say we snatch her and silence the smart-mouth.”
“No,” Agent Ringston snapped. “We'll play it safe. As soon as Nikki Bates leaves, we'll go to phase two. Right now, our main concern is getting her out of town.”
“Sure, sure,” Warden Wayberry fussed. Staring at Nikki, he sensed something dangerous about the woman. But what could he do? Agent Ringston was the man in charge of the circus.
5
Agent Ringston listened to Nikki as a light sprinkle fell. “I see,” he said, allowing Nikki to speak
her mind. “I can certainly understand your worry.”
Nikki faked a smile. “I'm very grateful. I believe it's wise to drive back to Maple Hills as soon as possible.”
Warden Wayberry glared at Nikki from the driver’s seat of the sedan. “Why the sudden change of heart?” he asked in a gruff voice. “Before you went inside, you asked me why I wasn't at the prison. Now you're in a rush to leave Fall Cliff?”
“Didn't you hear her?” Lidia barged in like a motherly bear protecting her cub. “Ms. Bates said she needs to go back home to Maple Hills because I asked her to. I want to get my husband and leave this town. I don't feel safe here, and I'm afraid the criminal who mugged my husband may try and harm him at the hospital.”
“Yeah,” Tori added and quickly lowered her eyes to her worried hands.
“Gentlemen,” Nikki said in a controlled voice, “I admit, the reporter in me is curious. But, as I explained, I am retired. It was foolish for me to ask you why you were absent from the North Hill Prison, Warden Wayberry. I apologize. You must understand, I moved away from Atlanta to begin a new life. It's true that I was forced into a few last rounds in the match. However, participating in those last rounds was entirely against my wishes. All I want now is to write my books, run a little chocolate shop with my friends, and drink coffee in the peace and tranquility of my new home.”
Agent Ringston studied Nikki's eyes. Professionally trained to detect deception, he searched for any telltale signals in Nikki's eyes, tone and body language. The woman he was worried about seemed to profess the truth. “Old habits die hard, Ms. Bates. I'm not an enemy of the press, you understand. But certain matters concerning public safety must be handled under the guidelines of careful protocols.”
Maple Hills Mystery Box Set Page 10