“You’re not doing this alone,” Sabre said. She turned to JP. “Right, JP?”
“You heard the lady. We’re a team. But they’re way too close to us already. The shooter and the cops will all soon be on us like stink on a polecat. Which means we have to go somewhere else because if we found you, so can they.”
“But where do we go?” Sabre asked.
“This is the only place I knew of that would be safe,” Ron said.
“I know a place.” Tuper’s soft voice was heard for the first time.
Ron turned to face his friend. “I’m sorry, Tuper. Now I may have brought the killers to you.”
“I ain’t scared. Let ‘em come.” Tuper stood. “We better go.”
The next few minutes were spent in silence while Ron gathered up his things. Then Tuper told Ron, “Put your stuff in my car. Leave your car here. They’ll be looking for it.”
“Where are we going?” JP asked. “In case we get separated, we should have a place to meet up.”
“Stay north on I-15 until you reach the city limits of Great Falls. Take the first exit, which is near the airport. We’ll meet at the Flying J gas station in about two hours.”
After they loaded the car, Ron said, “I’ll ride with Tuper and Ringo, if that’s okay.”
Sabre hugged him, reluctant to let him out of her sight, but she figured it was best. She had hoped the ride would give Ron and JP time to get to know one another and JP would see him for who he really was, but that would have to wait.
Chapter 26
“He’s different somehow,” Sabre said as they worked their way down the mountain.
JP glanced her way. “How’s that?”
“He was always so much fun to be around. But right now he’s scared and sad. I’m really worried about him.”
“Things will be better when we find out who’s doing this.”
Sabre really hoped he meant that.
“What was ‘the accident’ that you and Ron were talking about earlier?”
Sabre hesitated for a moment before she spoke. “We swore never to tell anyone, but I guess you should know. It may help you to understand him.” She told him every detail about that day over twenty years ago when Ron accidentally shot and killed his best friend. “He hasn’t been able to touch a gun since and has never forgiven himself.”
“Wow, I can’t even imagine dealing with something like that at twelve years old.”
The way he said it, with the emphasis on the age, Sabre wondered how many times he had been forced to shoot someone. She knew of at least once because she was with him. In that instance, he had saved a cop’s life and some hostages who were also at risk. But JP was a very private man. He didn’t share much about his feelings. She hoped that when they had the chance to know each other on a more personal basis, he would open up a little. She knew not to push because she was the same way.
“It hasn’t been easy,” she said.
JP slowed down so he wouldn’t rear end Tuper. “I hope he drives a little faster than this on the highway.”
“He doesn’t seem to get too excited about much, does he?”
“Dang,” JP mumbled.
“Tuper will do better on the good roads.”
“Not that. I’m frustrated because I can’t really do anything to help right now. All I can do is try to keep you safe.”
“I’m glad you’re here with me.”
“I’d rather we were home,” JP said. “But for now, you’ll do to run the river with.”
Sabre smiled for the first time in a while. “We’re both smart people. Let’s put our heads together and figure this out. You said there were only three scenarios, right?”
“Three that make any sense.”
“So, let’s eliminate Ron as the killer. That only leaves two: someone protecting Ron or someone framing Ron.”
“Right.” JP said. “And either way, it has to be someone who knows Ron testified against these men.”
“Why couldn’t it be someone who doesn’t necessarily know about his testimony but cares enough about him to watch his back?”
“You mean like a stalker?”
“Maybe. Remember the movie Fatal Attraction with Glenn Close and Michael Douglas? Maybe this whole thing is ‘Ron’s Fatal Attraction.’”
“His Fatal Attraction would have to be a woman who knows her way around guns.”
“Sure, why not? That’s very possible.” Sabre said.
They reached the bottom of the mountain and JP followed Tuper onto I-15, where Tuper only picked up his speed by ten miles per hour.
“It’s going to be a long ride to…wherever we’re going,” JP muttered. “So let’s go with your scenario for a moment. Assuming this female stalker knew about his testimony, how would she know unless she knew him before he went into witness protection?”
“She wouldn’t, unless she worked for WITSEC, because Ron never told anyone.”
“Then we’re looking for a woman marksman, or is that markswoman, who was obsessed with Ron, and she knew Ron when he was Ron, not Buck, or whoever else he was, or she is someone with all those qualifications who works for WITSEC. Right?”
“Sure, whatever you said.” Sabre laughed.
“But there’s one problem with that. Kaplan didn’t make an attempt on Ron’s life, nor did Ruby or Upton. So why would she kill them?”
“As far as we know, they didn’t try to kill him,” Sabre said. “But maybe they did. Maybe they got close and Ron didn’t even know it because they were killed before they could get to him.”
“Maybe, but not likely,” JP said. “It’s more probable that the shooter has been following those dirtbags. The problem I have with that is there would either have to be more than one shooter or someone close enough to the victims to know they were going after Ron.”
“You’re right. Otherwise how would they know who to follow?”
“Besides, if someone was that obsessed with Ron, you—or at least Ron—would know it. Don’t you think?”
“The only person I can think of is Elizabeth Murdock. She really cared for Ron, but she’s a pretty normal person and I don’t think she was ever obsessed with him. I’ll call Detective Carriage back and see if he found out anything that might help us.”
Sabre placed the call to Joe’s cell. He answered on the first ring and said, “I was hoping you would call soon. I checked on the dates you asked about. The March date was spring break for Alexis and they went to Disney World.”
“In Florida?”
“Yes, does that mean something to you?”
“It’s pretty close to where something went down that has a remote connection to her. I’m sorry I’m being so cryptic. Hopefully, I’ll be able to explain later. What about June 13th?”
“They went to Disneyland in California.”
“Really?”
“Yes, ma’am. Apparently, Alexis is quite the Minnie Mouse fan.” When Sabre didn’t respond immediately, Joe asked, “Sabre, are you sure you don’t want to tell me what’s going on?”
“I can’t right now, but could you please keep an eye on Alexis and make sure that she’s alright?”
“Of course.”
When Sabre hung up the phone, JP said, “Did I hear she was in Florida when Kaplan was murdered?”
“Yes. She was at Disney World. How far is Orlando from Sarasota?”
“Just a couple of hours.”
“She was also in California when Upton was shot, although it was Anaheim and not Gilroy.”
“About six hours away. That would be a little harder to pull off.”
“I really can’t believe she could be involved. And I asked Ron earlier today if he had had any contact with Elizabeth, and he said he saw her once at the trial but they didn’t really talk and he never saw her after that.”
Chapter 27
JP slapped the palm of his hand against the steering wheel. “Dang, Tuper, Congress doesn’t take this long.”
It startled Sabre. She chuck
led.
“It’s not funny,” JP said. “They shouldn’t allow a man who drives that slow to live in the state with the most liberal speed limits in the country.”
“Not any more. The feds threatened to cut their funding if they didn’t enforce speed limits.” Sabre laughed in spite of his irritation. “Do you want me to drive?” She knew full well he wouldn’t give up the wheel. He was the guy who still opened car doors and carried packages.
“No.”
Sabre reached over and put her hand on his leg. “A little patience,” she said.
He turned to her and smiled. “That only makes me want to drive faster.”
She started to pull her hand back but he placed his on top of hers, squeezing it gently. “I just want this all over with,” JP said. “I don’t like you in the middle of this mess. I’d feel better if you’d go back to Arizona and let me take it from here.”
Sabre didn’t respond to his request. Instead she said, “Let’s brainstorm a little more. We still have about twenty miles until we reach Great Falls.”
“So, about two more hours, then.”
“He’s not that slow.” Sabre pondered for a moment. “Elizabeth is a possibility if it’s someone trying to protect him. Who else could it be?”
“Ron claims there is no one else he was close to.”
“What about someone trying to frame him?”
“It doesn’t look like it’s the dirtbags because they keep getting bumped off, but it could be someone close to one of them.”
Sabre rolled her eyes when JP called them “dirtbags,” not that she cared about these men. They were bad guys who may be trying to kill her brother. It was more about how the two of them looked at situations and people. Things weren’t as black and white for her as they were for JP. She already knew they were very different in so many ways. Part of that was what she liked about him, but sometimes she couldn’t help but wonder if they would be able to get past their differences. She looked over at his handsome face. He was an incredible man with a kind heart. She knew in her heart he was worth the effort.
“If it’s someone close to the ‘dirtbags,’” she said with a little sarcasm in her voice, “maybe it’s their boss. He could have motive to have them all killed and send Ron to prison for testifying.”
“What would you like me to call them?”
“Who?”
“The dirtbags? Would ‘ex-cons’ be better? How about ‘gangsters’?”
“Now you’re just yanking my chain.”
“I’m trying.” He smiled. “The mob boss theory—that was the first thing I thought of before the bodies started dropping—but there is no mob boss anymore. He died of a heart attack not long after the trial. He left no heirs and it looks like he was grooming a couple of these dirt…uh…guys to take over his business until everything hit the fan. Then another gang came in and took over his territory.”
“So is the gang Ron testified against gone?”
“Looks like it.”
“There goes that theory.”
***
Approximately two hours later, they finally reached Great Falls. JP followed Tuper down the first off-ramp and pulled into the Flying J gas station where Tuper had parked near the side of the building. JP pulled in alongside him and Sabre rolled her window down.
“I want you to follow me,” Tuper said. “We have to make a stop. It’s not far, but I don’t know the street names to tell you how to get there.”
They drove away and within about five minutes reached a small casino with a large sign that read, Dimes Casino. “You don’t suppose he’s stopping to play poker, do you?” Sabre said.
“Maybe. He’s a strange bird.”
Tuper got out of his car, but Ron remained inside. Tuper walked over to JP who had started to get out. “Just wait here,” he said. “This won’t take long. I just need to talk to a guy.”
“Okay,” JP said and got back in.
Tuper returned in less than five minutes and told JP and Sabre, “We need to put your things in my car. You’re leaving yours here.”
“Why?” Sabre asked.
“Because it’s better this way,” Tuper said, offering no further explanation.
Tuper walked around to the back of his Toyota, untied the rope from the bumper, and opened the door. JP transferred the suitcases to Tuper’s car, and Sabre and JP got in the back seat with Ringo, stepping on paper coffee cups and tools on the floor. The seat behind the driver was torn and the stuffing was spilling out. Sabre looked around for something to cover the tear, but the only thing she found was a shirt that she quickly laid back down on the floor because it smelled like grease and sweat.
“The seat’s a bit torn up,” Tuper said. “Ringo did it when he was a pup. This is his car so I don’t complain.”
Sabre sat on one side, JP on the other, with Ringo in the middle.
“How far is this place?” Sabre asked, being careful to not sound ungrateful.
“Not far,” Tuper said.
They drove northwest from Great Falls on I-15 and then exited onto a paved road, but it wasn’t as well maintained as the interstate. It curved around through hills and valleys further and further away from the city. Ringo climbed onto Sabre’s lap and stuck his nose in her face. “You’re a sweet dog, Ringo, but you have to stay in your spot,” she said, as she petted him and then tried to push him back. JP reached over, wrapped his arm around Ringo, and pulled him back. He stayed there as long as JP continued to scratch his head and rub his ears.
Snow covered the ground, but it wasn’t as deep as it was in the mountains. Tuper made another turn and Sabre could feel the difference in the road. This one wasn’t paved and because everything was white, the only way to know where to drive was to follow the tracks where someone had recently driven in the trail of dirty snow.
They came up over a small hill and off to her left she saw a small complex of crude buildings. Dusk was approaching, making it difficult to see them, but she could make out three long structures in a row, all the same proportions and style. Off to the right was another building with a slightly different configuration. It was situated at a ninety-degree angle to the others, but all the buildings wore the same coat of beige paint.
Tuper turned into the complex and parked in front of the first long building.
“You’ll be safe here,” Tuper said.
“Where are we?” JP asked.
“It’s a Hutterite village. I know people here.”
“Did they know we were coming?” Sabre asked.
“Not yet, but they’ll welcome you. None of you smoke, right?”
“No,” Sabre spoke for all of them. Then she looked at her brother. “You don’t, do you, Ron?”
“No,” Ron said. “I’ve picked up a few bad habits, but that’s not one of them.”
“One other thing. They’re not big on guns. I expect you’re carrying, JP. I wouldn’t give it up; just keep it to yourself. I don’t think anyone can find you here, but you should have it in case they do. That should about do it. Let’s go.” He stepped out of the car and the rest followed. “Come, Ringo.” The dog jumped out and ran around sniffing and wagging his tail.
Chapter 28
The door opened cautiously when Tuper knocked, and a gentleman about seventy years old with a long, gray beard extended his hand. “Tuper, you heathen, it’s good to see you.”
“And you, Jacob. I hope you don’t mind our coming so….”
“Come in, come in,” Jacob said before Tuper could finish. “And your friends as well.” He stepped back and let them all enter. Then he said something that sounded like German to Sabre and Tuper responded in the same language.
The room looked like an old movie set from the silent era with only the bare essentials. The wooden table and chairs were simple and functional, but finely finished.
“Where’s Ringo?” Jacob asked.
“He’s outside. We had a long ride. He’ll come along in a minute.”
He turned to
his wife, “Mary, please get these folks some hot tea and stritzel.” He turned back to the group. “Sit, sit,” he said, motioning them to the chairs around the table.
“These are my friends,” Tuper said, nodding at each one as he said their names: Ron, Sabre, JP. This is Jacob, the Haushalter of the colony.”
Jacob looked from one to the other. “The Lord has blessed you to give you a friend in Tuper…as he has me.”
“You’re too good to this old sinner,” Tuper said.
“He has been extremely kind and helpful,” Ron added. JP and Sabre nodded in agreement.
A scratching noise could be heard at the door. Jacob opened it and let the dog in, reaching down to scratch Ringo’s head. The dog wagged his tail and rubbed up against him. “That’s enough,” Tuper said. “Lie down.” Ringo dropped to the floor still swishing his tail back and forth.
After the tea and stritzel, Jacob dismissed his wife and then asked, “What brings you here?”
“We need shelter for a few days. All of us.”
“From the weather or the world?”
“The weather is fine.”
Sabre was fascinated at the way they conversed. She surmised they had known each other a really long time. She wondered what bonded the two men from completely different worlds.
“You know you are welcome.”
“It could be dangerous,” Tuper said.
“The Lord will take care of us all,” Jacob said. He called again for his wife who came immediately. “These folks need a place to sleep. Please make a place for them.” He looked first at Ron and then at JP. Then he turned back toward Sabre and Ron and asked, “Is this your wife?”
Sabre said quickly, “No, this is my brother,” nodding at Ron, “and this is my friend.” She motioned her head toward JP. Then she realized it wasn’t her he had addressed. She hoped she didn’t offend him, although she found it a bit irritating that he didn’t speak to her.
“Are you a married woman?” he asked her directly.
“No, I’m not.”
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