The Chef at the Water's Edge

by Kee Patterbee

  “Good eye. Wes Walker...” Jonas Indicated to the man on the monitor, “is ex-Army. Former Ranger. He’s good people. You can trust him.”

  “Already do,” Hym said, rolling up a sleeve to reveal a Ranger tattoo on his upper left arm.

  Hannah asked to see Hym’s marking. She traced the outline with a finger when he presented it to her.

  “Any others?” she asked.

  Hym grinned. “You’ll have to find out for yourself,” he quipped, causing her to blush.

  “And on that note,” Cate interjected.

  Jonas cleared his throat and asked, “So what’s the plan?”

  Having already explained several times over, Hannah let Hym do the honors. Jonas listened to every word. “Interesting idea,” he said when Hym concluded. “This is going to be a fun night. I’ll get Wes to bring up some extra chairs from storage.”

  The sun was setting as Louie made his way to the Karas estate. Jonas informed Walker of his approach. He guided Louie’s truck inside the garage where there were two unoccupied spots. Once inside, Walker looked into the truck and backed away, his hand on his sidearm.

  Louie stepped out of the truck. “Whoa. It’s okay. I promise. Just let me explain.” Then he proceeded to do so.

  Waiting in the security room, Hannah heard the shuffle of two sets of footfalls coming up the stairs. But it was the third, familiar sound that caught their attention. The door opened, and Critic entered, tail wagging and tongue licking. Louie stepped in along with Walker. Jonas shot Walker a ‘what the heck’ look. The young man patted the dog on the head and headed to the monitor station to talk with Jonas.

  “He’s what you went home for?” questioned Cate.

  Louie grinned. “Yeah. What’d you think? I was going to bring my .9 mm?”

  Cate reached out and hugged him. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  Jonas made his way over to Critic for an introduction. Louie explained that Critic was a trained, yet retired, police dog. “You never know. He might be of use. And I bet he’s faster than any of us.”

  Jonas agreed, having worked with canines in the military.

  “So grab a cup. Join the Scooby gang,” he said.

  Again, everyone waited. Louie chatted with Jonas and Hym about shared military experience. Buster listened with all ears. Cate and Hannah talked as they stood behind Walker and studied the monitors.

  “There’s no audio?” Hannah asked the young guard.

  “No ma’am. Just visual. We can see every end of the property. Most rooms in the house.”

  “Can you focus in on a specific area?”

  He smiled. “Sure can. Name one.”

  Hannah’s voice intensified. “The gazebo.”

  Walker typed at the keyboard, and the left hand monitor dropped all six camera views to one single image. The camera pulled in to reveal the inside of the gazebo.

  “Close enough?” Walker asked.

  Hannah patted him on the shoulder. “That’ll do.”

  Cate watched for a moment and then asked, “How long does it take to learn this system?”

  “The basics? About an hour, to tell the truth. Half that if you have a brain. Why? Looking for a new career?”

  “You never know. Teach me,” she said, drawing up a chair.

  For the next half hour, Walker explained the operation of the cameras to Cate. “You’re a natural,” he smiled. Noticing the far right monitor, he said, “Bring that in close.”

  Cate performed the operation to perfection. Another car approached the garage. The monitor revealed Asa’s Bentley carrying Vera and Jazlyn. Walker, Cate, and Hannah watched as the car pulled into the driveway and up to the garage. Hannah rose and headed back to the door to greet the girls. Cate remained behind.

  Once again, Hannah heard footfalls, but this time there were three. The door opened, and Vera stepped inside. Everyone turned to look, and the room fell quiet. Then Louie said half aloud, “Amazing.” Jonas’s eyes widened. Hym stared. Hannah and Cate both gasped. And Buster’s mouth fell agape.

  Vera had transformed. She had cut her long, dark brown hair short and dyed it black. She wore no glasses and was in full make up. Removing a coat, she revealed a pink, satin nightgown. Over the silent room, Louie uttered, “Julia.

  Having achieved the desired effect, both Vera and Jazlyn smiled. They lifted their hands and gave each other a ‘high five’. It was only then that everyone noticed the young woman in the rear. A round of questions flew forth.

  Vera explained that she felt the look was both appropriate and necessary to achieve the full, hoped for outcome. Jazlyn clarified that the young woman was Casey Fronek, the sound producer on the show. Opening the bag she carried, she exposed an assortment of equipment. Of importance were several types of microphones. Most notable were small lapel microphones and a mobile recorder. “It’s wireless, so anything within good eyesight is good to go.”

  Jazlyn turned to look at Hannah. “Showtime?” she asked.

  “Showtime,” Hannah replied, handing Jazlyn her phone.

  A brief few moments later, Jazlyn handed the phone back. “He bought it. He’s on his way.” She frowned and looked at the bandages on her arms. “I’ve no idea what I saw in him. Even for a moment.” She glanced over to Vera before coming back to Hannah. “I think it’s time to grow up.” She then looked over toward Buster, who was still talking to the men. A warm, genuine smile crept across her face. “Well, maybe not too soon.”

  Hannah grinned and shook her head. Then in a serious tone, she asked, “How long did he say?”

  “I told him after shift. He’ll be here around 11:30 p.m..”

  Vera nodded in approval. “Appropriate,” was her comment. “Let’s get ready.”

  Chapter 28

  Hannah, Hym, and Louie watched the monitors with intense focus behind Jonas, who was on point. Cate sat beside him, observing. Buster and the young tech sat at the desk next to the monitors. Two small speakers sat atop plugged into a laptop, as did a small microphone. “Can you hear us?” Casey asked.

  “Clear,” Jazlyn’s voice crackled.

  “Perfect,” sounded Vera.

  The young woman turned to Jonas and gave the ‘thumbs up’ signal.

  “Did you shut off the lights in the back?” Hym asked Jonas.

  He indicated yes.

  Louie shot the two a tense look. “How are we going to see them if it’s dark?” he asked in a panicked voice.

  “Infra red.” Jonas pushed a button and the camera aimed to the gazebo changed to night vision. Vera and Jazlyn’s reddish-yellow form was visible via heat signature. “Mr. Karas spared no expense.”

  Louie let out a breath. “I can’t wait here. I’m going down to the garage. Come on, boy.”

  Critic rose from his place next to the door and he padded out along with his master.

  Hym appeared worried. “Is he going to make it?”

  “He’ll make it,” Cate assured. “Can’t say the same for Xabiere,” she mumbled under her breath.

  Stretching, Hannah requested, “Buster, would you keep him company? Just in case?”

  Buster rose with some hesitation. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.” He added, “He is, after all, only like a hundred pounds larger.”

  “You’ll be fine.”

  “Let Walker handle him if it comes to that,” Jonas tossed in. “He’s more than capable.”

  Buster departed just as Jonas pointed to the screen. “He’s here.”

  On the screen a small, dark Aston Martin rolled to a stop just before the mansion. A dark figure in a long black coat exited. In the security room, Hannah whispered, “Xabiere,” as if he could hear.

  Jonas called down to Walker, who was in the garage, “Condition One.” Walker readied his weapon.

  Casey checked the microphone headset and receiver she placed on Hym. “It’s two way,” she reminded him. “We’ll hear everything and can talk back and forth.”

  Looking to Jonas, Hym asked, “Going d
own?”

  Jonas turned to Cate. “I want to be in on this. Think you can handle it?”

  Grinning, she replied with a quick mock salute, “Affirmative.”

  “Good girl.” He rose and offered Hannah his position. She waved him off.

  “No way. I’m coming.”

  The guard started to argue but Hym cut him off. “Pointless,” he offered. “Let’s just get downstairs.”

  Jonas shrugged and then all three went downstairs to join Louie and Walker.

  Back on the grounds, Xabiere paused to look around. He then headed around to the side of the house. Like a pro, Cate switched camera after camera, following along until he made his way toward the gazebo.

  Though the images were bright on the screen for Cate, the gazebo’s location allowed Vera to mask herself in near darkness. She took an interior seat furthest away from the starlight reflecting off the lake. Jazlyn stood to the far side, where she could bathe in the slight glow. Otherwise, being a moonless night, the whole area was pitch black.

  As he approached, Xabiere’s voice echoed through hidden microphones. Casey earlier placed them around the gazebo and on Jazlyn and Vera.

  “Jazlyn?” Xabiere called.

  From the security room, Cate and Casey watched the images playing before them. Jazlyn turned, peering into the darkness. She said nothing but reached forth with an outstretched arm. Xabiere moved to her, and she embraced him. Holding tight, she turned him away so that he could not make out Vera sitting opposite them.

  “I knew you would come to me,” Xabiere said.

  Listening through an ear piece, again supplied by Casey, Hannah thought he sounded like a man in love. But she knew better. Obsession does not equate to love, she reminded herself.

  Stepping back from her embrace, Jazlyn kept her hands on Xabiere’s upper arms and kept her focus on his face.

  “She’s controlling the situation,” Cate noted. “Clever girl.”

  Never losing her gaze, Xabiere cleared his throat. “Why did you bring me here?”

  Jazlyn let her grasp slip until she held his hands. She lifted them to her face and kissed them. “It took me a while,” she said. “To figure it all out.” Pausing, she added, “What you did.”

  Xabiere took a quick step back and jerked his hands away. His stance became defensive.

  From upstairs, Cate called out the visuals as the others listened. “Under control,” she reassured.

  Although hesitant, Xabiere listened to Jazlyn’s every word. She assured him of her new found commitment to him.

  “It upset me at first,” she confessed. “I became hurt and angry. She was my aunt, after all.”

  Jazlyn approached him again, arm extended. With hesitation, he reached out to her. They locked hands but stood apart.

  “Just knowing what you did...” She squeezed her hand tight and lured him toward her. “Did you do this for me? To help me? To bring me back to you?”

  Xabiere took a cautious step forward. “Yes,” he issued in a low tone. “I didn’t mean to…”

  Jazlyn stepped forward and put her finger across his lips. “Shhh,” she quietened. “It doesn’t matter. It brought me around. Back to where I needed to be.” She leaned forward once again and embraced him. “Is that why you killed her?”

  “For you.” He let go and moved back. “For us.”

  From the security room, Cate called out in an anxious voice. “Will that do?”

  From the garage, Hannah, Louie, Buster, and Jonas were ready to go. But Hym shook his head, held out his hand and kept everyone at bay. “Not yet. It has to be absolute. No doubt.”

  Jazlyn let go and pushed Xabiere away. He stepped toward her, arms reaching. Jazlyn moved around the gazebo’s inner side. She then came to a stop beside Vera. Both now stood in the shadows.

  Xabiere had followed Jazlyn’s movement around but now stood motionless before the two women. There was a pause.

  “I haven’t been myself since the fire,” Jazlyn said in a low tone. “It’s like someone called to me.”

  Hannah listened and held her breath. Her whole plan, odd though it was, depended on the gullibility and mental status of Xabiere. She was sure he was on the edge. All his recent actions and behaviors suggested a man about to cross the line between sanity and insanity. She could tell that line was, at present, blurred to him. But was it enough to make him fall into this charade? A trick of light, shadow, and mind? Jazlyn was the consummate actress but would he go for it? Hannah prayed so.

  Xabiere stepped back half mumbling. “No.”

  “I’m sorry Asa kept us apart,” Jazlyn said. Again, she reached out. With little hesitation, Vera mirrored her movement.

  “Is that why you did this to me?” both Vera and Jazlyn said in near perfect unison.

  They practiced this, thought Hannah as she listened in.

  “No!” cried out Xabiere. “Because I loved you. Love you. I… I…” Turning to run in a blind panic, he slammed against the post which he had pushed Julia into. Hitting the ground, blood erupted from his nose, and the cuts on his cheek and brow. He rolled over to see Vera step out of the shadow and into the little light that showed from the reflecting stars on the lake.

  “Julia,” he uttered in absolute terror. He scrambled toward the gazebo exit, but Jazlyn stepped between him and his pathway. Now caught between what appeared to him as his two loves and victims, he began flailing about. “No,” he cried out. “No. No. I killed you! You can’t do this to me. I did this to you!”

  Wiping the blood from his face, he flung it in Vera’s direction. The warm droplets landed across Vera’s face. She did not flinch. Instead, she raised a pointed finger. “Why, William? Tell me why?

  “Because of him. You loved me. Not him. But you stayed with him. And wouldn’t come back to me. All you wanted was your money, fame, and show. I was there beside you. Within arm’s reach. Always. But you paid more attention to her. Not me…”

  Xabiere’s voice trailed off. “Her,” he half said aloud. “Vera…” He shook his head as if trying to clear the image before him.

  From the garage, Hannah said, “He’s cracking. Don’t we have enough?” Hym called Cate and asked if it had recorded. Casey confirmed. Finally, Hym said, “Let’s go. But be quiet. Just to be safe.” Then Hannah and the men exited the garage toward the gazebo, Critic following along.

  In the gazebo, Xabiere’s turned between Jazlyn, who blocked him, and Vera, who stood behind him. He mumbled and rambled. “Even when he brought his niece into your own house. I wanted them to be you. I didn’t mean to.”

  He walked to the bloody post and put his hand on it. “Did it hurt?” he asked in an almost apologetic tone.

  “The water was cold,” Vera answered. “Why’d you put me there?”

  Xabiere stiffened, eyes remaining on the post. “So no one would find out. You came when I called. I told you I was afraid to come in, remember. Afraid of him. So you came outside to get the information. It was cold. You had that coat on. His coat. He was still keeping you warm. This covering.” He thumbed the sleeve on the article he wore. “I wasn’t the mole. I kept everything to myself. It was Tim. I would never betray you.”

  Jazlyn watched Xabiere unravel in a dazed, confused manner. Hearing Hannah and the men approaching, she put her hand back, signaling them to hold off. Cate coached her through an ear piece and encouraged her to get as much as his confession as possible. She complied without hesitation.

  By this time, Xabiere had crossed the tipping point. He wept through his words as he leaned in and hugged the post. Everyone who was listening felt some pity. “I had to,” he confessed. “It was an accident. You just…” He turned to look at Vera. “Why couldn’t you love me?” he yelled as his whole body shook. “You just kept telling me no. No. No! NO!”

  Both Vera and Jazlyn watched as his imagination replayed the events through pantomime. As his actions played out, he tried to kiss Julia, and she pushed him away. He then grabbed her by the neck and slammed her into
the post. He carried through by kneeling beside her and kissing her goodbye as he cradled her non-present body while sobbing.

  Having seen enough, Jazlyn motioned for the others to approach. Stepping into the gazebo, Hym placed his hand over his holster. Seeing him, Xabiere rose to his feet. He looked around at everyone. A mixture of terror, panic, rage, and desperation ran the gamut on his face. He let out a terrifying roar that gave everyone pause. Seizing the moment, he jumped over the inside rail of the gazebo and landed at the water’s edge. He made his way onto the bank and scrambled toward the side of the house where he had first made his way.

  Louie, who was behind the rest, now found himself first in place to react. He started after Xabiere on foot with Jonas, Walker, and Buster just behind. Hannah made for the other side of the house. Seeing her, Hym followed suit. She lost sight of everyone just as she rounded the rear corner. Round the corner to the front, she saw Xabiere running blind. The men were just behind with Walker ahead, Buster next, and Louie trailing. Critic led the pack.

  Seeing Hannah, Xabiere bolted in her direction just as Hym turned the corner behind. Pulling a gun from inside his coat pocket, Xabiere got within a few feet of her and shot. She ducked to the ground as the round burrowed into something. Then she heard Louie yell, “Take!” Critic bounded forward and knocked Xabiere to the ground with force and clamp down on his arm. The gun tumbled away just as she heard a voice sound off in pain, “Unnnhhhh.” Hannah raised her head to see Critic jerking at Xabiere, twisting and pulling on the sleeve of his coat.

  He screamed in a horrified voice, “Get him off,” something Louie apparently hesitated to do. Finally, she heard him say, “Heel,” and Critic let go. The hound then sat beside Xabiere, staring. The man curled up into a ball and clutched his knees. He sobbed once more.

  It was just then that Hannah thought to look back. Hym lay on the ground. “HYM!” she cried out. She scrambled to her feet and made her way back to where he lie. Reaching him, she found blood flowing from his thigh. Although she wanted to say something, nothing came forth. Hym blinked and looked up at her. “Are you always this hard on all your dates?” he asked in a half-joking tone but a pained expression.