Inevitable Sentences

by Tekla Dennison Miller

  Adrian did drop the cup. “I’m sorry,” she said as she abruptly stood up. “I’ve got to call the sheriff again.” She raced to the phone and grabbed the receiver with such force she knocked the phone to the floor, too. She picked it up and dialed. When she got the dispatcher, she said, “I need to talk with the sheriff. It’s truly important.”

  “You can tell me what’s happening and I’ll get the information to a deputy,” the dispatcher said in a calm voice. “I’m here to help you.”

  “I think I know where the escapee, Chad Wilbanks is,” Adrian screamed. “We need to get the sheriff out there pronto.”

  “One moment, ma’am,” the dispatcher said. “I’ll get him.”

  “This is Sheriff Hunter. What is this about Chad Wilbanks?”

  “You’ve got to get to the lighthouse as fast as you can,” Adrian blurted. “Can you use a helicopter?” Adrian had been used to such emergency rescues as an ER nurse. Several patients had to be airlifted from Monroe Hospital where she had worked to Ann Arbor hospitals.

  “First tell me what you know.” Duke Hunter settled Adrian down with his businesslike tone.

  Adrian told him everything she knew about Celeste’s connection to Chad, as well as about the women at the inn with her. She also told him about the SUV stuck on the side of the road and gave him the license plate number. “How fast can you get there?”

  “I already have one car on its way. I’ll get the task force ready, too. However, the helicopter is out of the question in this wind.”

  “Yes, of course. The weather.” She paused for a moment and then continued, clearly enunciating each word, “I think Chad will try to harm Celeste because she once told me he blames her for not helping him after her daughter was murdered. That may sound stupid and irrational. But he’s a serial killer after all. He’s got to be insane.”

  “We’ll do everything we can,” Hunter soothed.

  “I’m on my way.”

  “Good. I understand.” Adrian said with little conviction. “However, that may not be enough.”

  “You stay right where you are, you hear?” Hunter ordered.

  Did he sense she might do something to try and help Celeste? “Sure. Get there as fast as you can.” Adrian hung up.

  “How did you know about Chad Wilbanks?” Lorraine asked.

  “Celeste told me shortly after I got to the lighthouse. I’m not sure why she trusted me with the information. Maybe she needed someone to talk to.” Adrian stopped and stared off into the distance. “Oh, my God. There’s no way the sheriff will get there in time.” She collapsed against the desk.

  “Are you okay?” Joan and Lorraine asked simultaneously.

  “No. Not really. I think Celeste is in real danger.” Adrian snatched her coat, hat and gloves. “I’ve got to go back and try to help her.”

  Joan stood. “I’ve already seen a police car heading toward the lighthouse. Certainly the deputy can do more than you.”

  “You can’t go.” Lorraine jumped up and grabbed her arm. “It makes no sense to put both you and Celeste at risk.”

  “What makes less sense is for me not to do anything. I’m not sitting in this comfy inn and sipping tea while Celeste is in trouble.” Adrian headed for the door. “Before I go, I have to make one more call.” She dialed Marquette General Hospital and spoke in a low tone so the other women couldn’t hear. When she hung up she opened the front door, and a blast of air sent papers flying off the lobby desk.

  “Please think about what the rest of us will do if both you and Celeste are hurt,” Lorraine begged as tears streamed down her cheeks. “We need you. Your children need you.”

  Adrian spun around and grabbed Lorraine’s shoulders. “Get a hold of yourself. Neither you nor I could live with ourselves if we left Celeste alone to fight off Chad.”

  “If it is Chad,” Lorraine huffed.

  “What difference does it make who it is? Celeste needs help. I’m leaving you in charge here and I’m wasting time.” Although Lorraine was the next oldest, Adrian doubted she could handle the task. Fortunately, Joan and Ned could. Adrian stormed from the inn and ran to the van.

  “I have a real bad feeling about this,” Lorraine called out after her, and then said to herself, Please, please, please, let the sheriff get there soon.

  Adrian quickly started the van. She could see Lorraine and Joan still standing in the doorway shivering. They’d be okay. “Damn.” She remembered that Lorraine had never given her the cell phone back, but it didn’t matter. There was no reception anyway.

  Adrian sped over the snow mound across the drive, wheels spinning for a moment. When the vehicle was righted, she drove off in the direction of the lighthouse. Snow swirled in a frenzied plume behind her.

  Chapter Seventeen

  FACING THE MUSIC

  “THANK YOU FOR PHONING to let me know what’s happening,” Max told Duke Hunter. His tone was both anxious and sad. “There’s something else you should know.”

  “What is that?” Hunter sounded apprehensive.

  “Adrian already called me, and I’m worried about what foolish thing she might try to do to help Celeste.”

  “Yeah. I thought that, too, when I talked with her,” Hunter said. “Max, I’m speaking to you as both your friend and the sheriff. Don’t you do anything stupid, either. You better stay put like the doctor ordered. Remember, you have had a serious operation.” Hunter sounded more disquieted than usual. He had obviously heard the trepidation in Max’s voice.

  Max and Hunter had been through other harrowing nights when they had faced problems at the prison, like the hostage situation a few years ago. Tonight was different however. This was about Celeste and a serial killer, and not just any serial killer. Hunter didn’t know the whole story about Chad—the one Max should have told Celeste. Now it could be too late to tell anyone.

  “Thanks for caring. I won’t do anything I shouldn’t.” Max tried to sound as convincing as he could, given the circumstances. But he had already made up his mind after he had talked with Adrian about what he had to do.

  “Good,” Hunter said. “I’m headed out to the lighthouse now. In fact, I’m talking with you as I drive. Two other squad cars that were in the vicinity are already en route. They should be close to the lighthouse, if they’re not there already. The Emergency Support Team is also on its way. They should be on the scene shortly, too. I promise I’ll keep you posted on what’s going down.”

  “Thanks. You make damn sure you do that.” Max hung up the phone. He doubted the officers would make speedy headway in this weather.

  Max had hardly a moment to think through his options when he heard shouts coming from the hall outside his room. He looked at the time. Nearly eleven. Who or what was causing all the commotion? All of a sudden the door to his room banged open, slammed against the wall, and shuddered from the assault.

  Don Eagle burst into the room, followed by a night shift nurse yelling, “You can’t go in there. Visiting hours are over, and Mister Whitefeather needs his rest.”

  If it was Hooper tailing Eagle, she would have tackled him and had him tied up in no time. That was, if he could have even gotten past her in the first place.

  “Look, lady.” Eagle spun around to face the nurse.

  “My name is Ms. Alexander.” She stood with legs spread apart and hands on her broad hips.

  “Ms. Alexander.” Eagle’s expression was equally as determined. “This is really important. It’s a matter of life and death. I must speak with the warden.”

  “Big deal,” Alexander shouted back. “I cope with life and death every day, including the warden’s.”

  “Max. My name is Max Whitefeather.” Max waved. He also cringed at the title Eagle insisted on using. “You might as well let Deputy Eagle say his piece, because he won’t leave until he does. He’s as stubborn as any mule I’ve ever encountered.”

  “You need your rest,” the nurse persisted.

  “Too late. I’m wide awake.” Max shrugged and f
lapped his hand at her to leave.

  “This is against hospital regulations.” The nurse stood her ground.

  “I’ll be out of your hair tomorrow. He will, too.” Max thumbed at Eagle. “Believe me. I won’t squeal on you. Please, let us get this conversation over.”

  “Humph,” Ms. Alexander responded. She turned on her heel and stomped from the room.

  Max rubbed his forehead several times. “How can I be this lucky to get two visits from you in one day? What do you want at this hour?”

  Eagle’s small round eyes seemed even more pronounced tonight and his forehead knitted in alarm. “Chad Wilbanks escaped sometime around five today. I wanted to let you know in person. This was the first I could get away. I told you something bad was going to happen if”—he stopped, stared at Max, and continued—“if we didn’t do something about Stump.”

  “If you didn’t do something. How many times do I have to tell you not to include me in Hawk Haven matters? Have you forgotten that I gave you my advice? I’m sorry it was too late to prevent the escape. You have no idea how sorry.” Max sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. “I’m more concerned about where Chad is right now.”

  “We don’t know in what direction he went. We do know he had to have inside help.” Max had no idea the usually taciturn Eagle could speak so fast.

  “We think it was Lizzie Chatfield.”

  “Why do you suspect her?”

  “The food service truck she drives is missing. Her own pickup is still parked at the prison.” Eagle rubbed his forehead several times.

  Max stretched his neck. Then he lowered his head and massaged his neck. “I know where Wilbanks is.”

  “You know where he is? How—?” Eagle shrieked the question.

  “Help me get dressed.” Max pointed to the clean clothes hung out for his morning departure.

  “What are you doing, sir?”

  “Since you drove all the way here to tell me something I had already heard from the sheriff, I’m going to let you drive me to the lighthouse.” He pointed and nodded at his clothes.

  Eagle grabbed the garments and piled them on the bed next to Max. “You can’t up and leave. And I’ve got to get back to the prison.”

  “Why can’t I?” Max slipped the hospital gown off and pulled a T-shirt over his head. “I’ve been completely unplugged.” Max showed Eagle both arms and circled one arm in front of him pointing out that all the monitors had been wheeled away. “I’m scheduled to be discharged on Monday, and that’s one hour from now. By the way, you’ll probably be sent to where we’re going anyway. You might as well go with me.” He stood up and pulled on his undershorts with little red hearts spattered over them. He chuckled, then checked Eagle and stopped abruptly. They were the ones Celeste had bought him for Valentine’s Day last year.

  Eagle glanced down at the underpants and quickly looked away, his face reddening slightly. Although Eagle’s shocked look amused Max even more than the sight of the hearts, he decided not to explain his choice of underwear. The idea he’d wear such an undergarment would be great fuel for gossip that Eagle could spread, if the straight arrow was capable.

  Max buttoned only half his shirt before he drew a sweater over his head. His lack of strength made his movements far slower than he liked. Before he put his coat on, he tucked the packet of nitroglycerin tablets in his pocket. It was only a precaution. He didn’t think he’d really have to use them. Max faced Eagle and said, “Let’s go. We are running out of time.” What he really thought was that Celeste could already be out of time. His only hope was that Chad wanted to see Celeste languish in terror for a while. Hope? How could he want that? Maybe Chad would want to keep her alive for as long as he believed he would need her as a hostage and a bargaining chip. Even that consideration was more than Max could bear. With those thoughts banging around in his head he tried to move faster.

  “But … but …” Eagle stammered.

  “I’ll explain everything to you on the road. Get a move on.” They headed for the door but didn’t even get to the hall before the phone rang. “Damn. Now what?” Max snarled. It had better not be bad news about Celeste. He lifted the receiver.

  Duke Hunter was on the other end. “We found the food service truck we think was used in the escape,” he said.

  “Where?” Max paced the room, checking the clock several times. He wanted to act surprised about the truck to keep Hunter from knowing Eagle was with him. If Hunter knew about Eagle he might also surmise that Max would leave the hospital. Hunter would move heaven and earth, and Ms. Alexander, to stop him.

  “Out at Dead River Falls,” Hunter said. “A powerhouse employee went there to check the place to make sure everything was in working order because of the storm and the power outages. The electrical company is trying desperately to restore the power to the area’s residents.”

  “Other than the electrical problems, is what you’re about to tell me good news?” Max wanted to hear that the deputies on the scene also found Wilbanks stuck there.

  Hunter didn’t answer at first.

  “Are you going to finish telling me what you know?” Max sounded as irritated as he felt. Time was ticking and he had to get out to the lighthouse.

  “The deputies found two victims in the cargo area.” Hunter paused. “One is Lizzie Chatfield …”

  “Damn,” Max interrupted Hunter. “Not Lizzie. Dumb girl.”

  “You know her?”

  “Yeah. She’s a food service worker whom Deputy Eagle had thought was mixed up with Wilbanks.” Max’s eyes locked onto Eagle’s.

  Eagle raised his eyebrows in question. Max shook his head to let him know he would tell him later.

  “You said victims. Is Ms. Chatfield dead?” Max asked.

  “Yes. Shot in the back of the head at close range. It’s not Wilbanks’s usual style. As you know, he likes knives. I guess he couldn’t be picky and used the weapon he had.”

  “What about the other victim?” Max could feel his blood pressure rising. He didn’t need to hear about Wilbanks’s weapon of choice at a time like this.

  “She’s alive but barely hanging on. We found her body draped over Lizzie’s. She confirmed Wilbanks killed Lizzie. Her ID says her name is Jane Sinclair. But …” Hunter took a deep breath. “That’s not who she is. Jane Sinclair is one of Wilbanks’s dead victims from over ten years ago. And the address on her driver’s license is occupied by an elderly man.”

  “Using another victim’s name is a cruel joke.” Max sighed. “Do you think Chatfield had anything to do with Wilbanks’s escape?”

  “Had to,” Hunter said. “Someone got him a gun and street clothes. His prison uniform is piled inside a cabinet on the truck. Also the powerhouse worker passed an SUV about a mile away on Forestville Road leaving the area. Someone had to get a vehicle out there—a rental. The truck would have been easily spotted. The powerhouse worker thought it was odd for anyone to be in that isolated area, especially in the storm. He didn’t expect to find two victims, though.”

  “My God. This gets worse by the minute.” Max checked the time. “How do you know that SUV is a rental?”

  “Adrian got the plate numbers from an SUV off the road near the lighthouse. We traced the license to Rent-a-Wreck. The owner wasn’t too happy about having to go back into the office.”

  “Who cares?” Max shouted.

  “Anyway, a Jane Sinclair leased it this evening. The description fits the vehicle the powerhouse employee saw.”

  “Who is the woman playing Jane Sinclair?” Max didn’t expect an answer. He assumed if Hunter knew he would have already said.

  “We don’t know. You should know one other odd thing.”

  “What’s that?” Max wasn’t sure he wanted to hear it.

  “It looks like Wilbanks stuffed a pack of cigarettes in Chatfield’s mouth.” He paused. “What do you make of that?”

  “No telling. Maybe it’s an angry, hysterical reaction. It’s not like Wilbanks. It’s not his u
sual MO.” Max hesitated for a moment. Apparently Chad had become unpredictable. He wasn’t the same calculating serial killer any longer. He was carrying out a vendetta. “Hey. One last thing, old buddy,” Max said. “Don’t go crashing into the lighthouse before you know if Celeste is okay.”

  “You don’t have to tell me to be cautious.” Hunter sounded miffed. “I’ve dealt with serial killers before and I’ve handled hostage situations, just not the two together.”

  “I know and that’s the problem.” Max couldn’t hold back his edginess. “This isn’t about a serial killer. Wilbanks wants to settle a score.”

  “Do you want to fill me in on what that means?” Now Hunter really sounded annoyed.

  “Not at the moment. Anyway, thanks for the update, Duke. I’ve got to get some rest or the doctor may not let me go home tomorrow.”

  “Yeah. Take care.” Hunter hung up. Did he sound suspicious of Max’s trustworthiness, that he’d stay put?

  Max nearly jogged to the door. “Let’s hit the road, Dep.”

  Eagle jumped up and followed. The hall was quiet. There was no one at the nurses’ station so they were able to sneak out undetected. In fact, hardly a sound could be heard in the entire building and the two nurses they met in the elevator paid no attention to the men leaving the hospital.

  The parking lot was nearly empty. Eagle had parked his car only a few steps from the entrance, which was a good thing. Max wouldn’t have been able to make it much farther. He’d never let Eagle know, however. “Damn lot of snow falling, eh?” Max lifted his head toward the black sky. “We shouldn’t have to deal with this kind of weather in November.”

  Eagle unlocked the doors and both men climbed inside the old four-wheel drive Bronco. “I hope you have good tires on this thing,” Max halfway teased.

  Eagle didn’t answer. He turned on the ignition, shifted into drive, and the tires crunched slowly through the ice-crusted snow. How long would it take to get to the lighthouse in these conditions? On good days it was a long ride. Max decided he had to see his situation as a glass half-full. Otherwise he’d simply break down, knowing the life of the woman he loved was in the hands of a serial killer hell-bent on payback.