Hot Springs Murder

by Wendy Meadows

  “I will,” Conrad assured his wife, “but I’ll let the authorities in Anchorage handle that. I’m coming to get you, Sarah, and I’m never letting you out of my sight again. And that goes for Amanda, too. You girls hang tight. I’ll be to you in a couple of hours.”

  “I—love you,” Sarah told Conrad as fresh tears spilled from her eyes. “This entire time all I kept thinking about was you—about us sitting in our kitchen together, drinking coffee, and talking,” Sarah wiped at her tears. “When I get home, I’m never leaving your sight again.”

  “Me, neither,” Amanda added, and wiped Sarah’s tears away.

  “I’m on my way,” Conrad promised, and ended the call. He wasn’t interested in talking on the phone. He wanted Sarah in his arms as soon as possible.

  Sarah handed Amanda the phone. “You better call your hubby.”

  Amanda winced. “My hubby is going to chew my ear off,” she fretted.

  “Good,” Sarah smiled, and wiped the rest of her tears away. “While your hubby is chewing your ears off, I’ll go inside and get us some water and a candy bar apiece. I’m starving.”

  “Me, too,” Amanda said, and let out a tired laugh. “I like caramel candy bars,” she told Sarah and then called her husband and winced, waiting to be chewed out from top to bottom. At least, she thought, watching Sarah walking into the old gas station, the air was fresh, cool, and scented with an early snow. The snow would make life better. “Hello—yes, this is your wife, and well, there’s been a little problem,” Amanda spoke into the phone and then burst out crying. So what if her hubby was going to chew her out? She loved him and she was alive to enjoy their marriage; that’s all that mattered now. Sure, she was a strong woman—a fighter—but she knew it took an even stronger woman to love a good man.

  Amanda rubbed her arm. “That Dr. Green should be shot,” she fussed, and plopped down at the kitchen table resting inside of Sarah’s cabin. “This is the fourth time he’s drawn blood and every time he jabs me like I’m a raw piece of meat.”

  Sarah smiled and poured Amanda a cup of coffee. “Maybe it’s your dress,” she teased.

  “My dress?” Amanda asked. She lowered her eyes and looked down at a lovely pink dress covered with a white silk blouse. “I think I look rather dazzling, thank you.”

  “I was only kidding, June Bug,” Sarah laughed and walked Amanda’s coffee over to the kitchen table and sat down. “Oh, it’s good to be home. After spending a month in Anchorage being examined by every doctor in the world, it’s sure good to be home.”

  “I’m not so sure, with Dr. Happy Needle in town. I can’t believe we have to give blood once a week for an entire year,” Amanda complained. She glanced at the blue and white dress Sarah was wearing and smiled. It was a relief to see her dearest friend no longer wearing a hospital gown. “You always look so pretty in that dress.”

  “I wanted to feel pretty today,” Sarah explained. “After what we went through—nearly dying—it feels nice to wear a pretty dress and enjoy life again.” Sarah took a sip of coffee and nodded at the kitchen window. “It won’t be long before we’ll be dragging our winter coats out of the closet.”

  “Oh, I suppose that will be fine,” Amanda replied. She picked up her coffee, looked at the kitchen window and then looked at Mittens asleep in the corner. “I love the snow, Los Angeles. I love everything about the snow,” she explained, and took a sip of coffee. “The first snowfall is always so clean—so romantic. And now that my dear hubby is home and working on my—our—new dress shop with your husband—life is very sweet again. When the snow arrives it just makes life that much sweeter.”

  “Bitter winds, freezing snow, slippery roads,” Sarah pointed out.

  “Warm fireplaces, hot coffee, snowm—” Amanda stopped. “Oh, sorry, love. I didn’t mean to—”

  “It’s okay, June Bug,” Sarah assured her best friend. “I know what you mean.” Sarah glanced at the back door. “I still see that awful snowman in my dreams—wearing that awful leather jacket and chewing on a peppermint candy cane. That snowman represents all the evils that live inside of people.”

  “Love, we’re home now. Safe and sound. We have to let all the awful nightmares fade away and focus on—well, custard tarts and hot tea,” Amanda said, hoping to bring some humor into the kitchen. Before she could say another word, Mittens raised her head and began growling. Sarah quickly eased her hand down to her ankle and began going for her gun. “Love?” Amanda asked, becoming frightened. She pointed at the pantry door, where Mittens had her eyes trained with urgent alarm.

  “Don’t move,” Noel’s voice slithered into the kitchen.

  Sarah turned in her chair and saw the pantry door swing open. Noel appeared. “Hello, my friends,” she hissed, and aimed a gun at Sarah. “Drop your gun.”

  Sarah stared at Noel and did as she was ordered. “What are you doing here?”

  “Do you always creep around in pantries?” Amanda asked. “Nice outfit, by the way. Black is really your color.”

  “Shut up,” Noel hissed. Her dress was tattered, as if she had been on the run for a long while. She stepped out of the pantry and looked around. “You’re all alone,” she grinned. “And now, you will die.”

  “Why aren’t you dead?” Sarah asked.

  “You left me for dead, didn’t you?” Noel asked Sarah. “But as you can see, I’m alive—alive and very angry. Because of you, my plan was destroyed. The police located my virus. But not to worry, I still have a tube of my virus left—hidden in a very safe place. After I kill you, I will carry out my plan—in time.”

  “Where’s Nolan?” Sarah asked. “What happened after we escaped?”

  Noel narrowed her deadly eyes. “The boss man, as Nolan called him, found us in the cellar. But I was prepared. I sprayed him and his men with my virus and managed to escape. It’s amazing how being infected with a virus can cripple a man. Whitefield and his men turned into the cowards they are.” As she spoke, her eyes darted around as if dissatisfied with something.

  “No, it wasn't that simple, was it,” Sarah objected, reading Noel’s eyes. “Where is Nolan?”

  Noel gritted her teeth. “Very well,” she hissed, and spoke the truth. “There was a hidden door in the cellar that leads away from the cabin. Nolan, in an attempt to find—absolution—held off Whitfield and his men while I escaped.”

  “Nolan loved you,” Sarah told Noel.

  “Nolan is dead,” Noel snapped in a heartless voice. “He did allow me time to escape and for that, I suppose I should be grateful. But I’m not here to talk about Nolan. I’m here to finish some very important business. You two ladies caused me a great deal of trouble, and now you’re going to suffer the consequences.” Noel kicked the pantry door shut behind her. “I’m going to kill you both, then infect your entire town with my virus.”

  “You’re ill,” Sarah told Noel, in a sad voice. “You have no soul—no conscience. I once felt very sorry for you, but my friend here helped me realize the truth.”

  “You’re a sick, twisted cookie, sister,” Amanda told Noel and took a sip of her coffee. “If you’re going to kill us, then do it and stop with all the drama. But let me finish my coffee, okay?” she said, and glanced at Mittens, who had stopped growling, and was now looking toward the living room. Sarah noticed Mittens looking toward the living room, too, which meant only one thing.

  “Where is the virus?” Sarah asked Noel. “There’s no harm in telling us if you’re going to kill us anyway, right?”

  Noel studied Sarah’s face. “You’re not as smart as you appear, Sarah. I know your games.”

  “What games?” Sarah asked. “You’re the one holding the gun. What games can I possibly be playing?” Sarah shook her head and sipped her coffee. “Just kill us already. We’re not going to cower down in fear. That’s what you want, isn’t it? You want us to beg for our lives, right?”

  Noel glared at Sarah with furious eyes. “You’ll die in fear,” she promised Sarah.

  “Why
don’t you just tell me where you hid the virus first?” Sarah asked. “Or are you afraid I’ll defeat you again and find your virus? That must be it,” Sarah said, deliberately pushing Noel to the edge.

  “My virus is hidden—”

  “Oh, shut up,” Amanda fussed, “just shoot us already. Who cares where you hid the dumb old virus. We figured out how to kill it anyway, so there.” Amanda stuck her tongue out at Noel.

  Noel grew furious. She glared at Sarah with deadly eyes. “My virus is right here in Snow Falls, Sarah. I am going to release it—but perhaps instead of killing you, I’ll make you watch everyone die, instead.” Noel’s eyes grew darker. “Mr. Whitfield is infected, and he doesn’t even know it. He’s going to contaminate everyone inside the United Nations building. I won him over, and now, Sarah, I’m going to win you over, too.”

  Sarah kept calm. “Not likely. Where is the virus, Noel? Where did you hide it?”

  “Who cares,” Amanda told Sarah, understanding the game. She had to play the role of the bad cop. “This sour tart isn’t worth our time. Just let her shoot us and get it over with. I’m tired of hearing her blather way.”

  “Your words are unpleasant,” Noel hissed at Amanda. “And I haven’t forgotten that you hit me.”

  “Oh, shut up,” Amanda snapped, and went back to her coffee, hoping Noel wouldn’t shoot her.

  “Where’s your virus, Noel?” Sarah asked again. “Are you afraid of me? Is that why you won’t tell? Because you’re afraid I’ll over-power you. Again?”

  “I’m not afraid of you, Sarah,” Noel assured Sarah.

  “Then tell me where you hid your virus and prove it. After all, I’m a dead woman. What can I do?”

  Noel continued to study Sarah’s eyes. She didn’t like being called a coward—and she despised being challenged. Her authority was on the line and she had to silence the arrogance of her opposition. “My virus is hidden in a cabin.”

  “Where?”

  “214 Pine Snow Lane,” Noel confessed, then pointed a hard finger at Sarah. “Now, Sarah, let’s see you try and get my virus from me. Do you think you can?” Noel lowered her finger. “Do you think you can really defeat me, Sarah? I can see in your eyes that you honestly believe you can win the war. So go ahead and try.”

  “I can’t win this war against you, Noel,” Sarah replied, her voice sad. “You are mentally ill and need help. But, you’re beyond any help that can be offered. The only help for you is—” Sarah stopped talking and looked toward the living room. “Now, honey!” she yelled.

  Before Noel could react, a single bullet struck her gun hand. She let out a loud cry, grabbed her hand, and dropped down to her knees. Conrad ran into the kitchen, kicked Noel’s gun away from her, slammed the woman down onto her stomach and slapped handcuffs onto her wrists. “I forgot my hammer,” he told Sarah, with a grin and a shrug. “I can’t build shelves at the dress shop without my hammer.”

  “Perfect timing, honey,” Sarah smiled, and let out a sigh of relief. “Remind me to bronze your hammer.”

  “How?” Noel cried. “How is this possible?”

  Sarah stood up, walked over to Noel, and bent down. “Love,” Sarah whispered. “Love will always defeat hate, Noel. Love will never fail. It’s true that this world is full of evil and hate, and sometimes evil harms love, but as long as there are people who continue to care and love, hate will never win.” Sarah leaned closer to Noel. “Nolan loved you. He gave up his life to protect you. He loved you.”

  “Shut up!” Noel screamed, as blood poured from her wounded hand. “Shut up—I am powerful. I don’t need love, I would never let a man like this control me—”

  “I don’t control my wife,” Conrad told Noel, wrapping her bloody hand in an old kitchen rag. “I love and respect my wife. I would die for her, any given second.”

  “And I don’t control my husband,” Sarah continued. “I love and respect him and would die for him at any given second, too.” Sarah leaned up and took Conrad’s hand. “Noel, I don’t know what darkness harmed and destroyed your heart in the past—and I’m truly sorry for whatever happened to you.” Sarah shook her head. “But in this life, those who continue to love will never let the darkness win.”

  “You chose your path, sister,” Amanda told Noel, “and now you’re going to suffer for it.” Amanda stood up, kissed Sarah and Conrad and said, “I think I’m going to go help my hubby build a few dress shelves.”

  “I’ll get you,” Noel promised Amanda, struggling on the floor. “No prison in the world can hold me. I’ll come for you.”

  “I’ll be waiting,” Amanda promised Noel, and began to leave. Then she paused, walked over to Noel, and lifted the woman’s face up to hers. “Why?” she asked. “Why do you hate so much?”

  “Because I was hated,” Noel spat at Amanda. “My parents hated me, I became what they wanted to see—a monster—trying to earn their love. I failed. But it was Kraus who hurt me the most. He never, never held me or told me that he loved me.” A single tear dropped from Noel’s eye. “I learned that absolute power is the only love I needed.”

  Amanda wiped Noel’s tear away with a gentle hand that shocked everyone. “I’m sorry that you’ll never understand love and forgiveness,” she whispered, and stood up. “Los Angeles, I’ll be by for coffee later on, after you’ve cleaned up this mess.”

  “Coffee will be waiting,” Sarah promised, and saw Amanda out. As soon as Amanda was gone, Conrad called the station and ordered two men out to the cabin and then called Anchorage. “I need someone to come and get that virus,” he told Sarah.

  Sarah nodded and decided to tend to Noel’s hand. “Why are you showing me kindness?” Noel demanded, as her hand was washed with disinfectant. “I came here to kill you—to kill everyone in this town.”

  “It’s like my friend said,” Sarah told Noel, dabbing her hand with a clean cloth. “It’s all about forgiveness. Maybe someday you’ll learn what that word means.”

  Noel rolled over onto her back and stared up at Sarah. “If I ever get the chance—and I will someday—I’m going to return and kill all of you.”

  “Maybe so,” Sarah said, “but it won’t be today.” Sarah stood up. “On this day, Noel, I forgive you for hating me.”

  “Fool,” Noel hissed. “You are weak.”

  “Maybe you see it that way,” Sarah agreed, and walked over to Conrad and rested her head on his shoulder as he made a call to Anchorage. “And maybe you don’t know what strength really looks like. I have someone to keep me strong.”

  Conrad turned and looked at Sarah and smiled. “Ditto,” he said, and kissed Sarah’s cheek. “How about dinner at the diner tonight? I could go for a cheeseburger and some fries.”

  “How about baked chicken and some vegetables?” Sarah smiled.

  “Deal,” Conrad agreed, and made his call.

  Later, after Noel was safely tucked inside a secured jail cell, Conrad and Sarah met Amanda and her husband at the diner for a lovely dinner where they all tried to forget the troubles that Noel had brought to their town. After dinner, Conrad drove Sarah home, made a fresh pot of coffee, and began baking a cake while she rested her feet on an easy chair. “How are you feeling?” he asked Sarah when she got up.

  “Fine,” Sarah promised, as she hooked a pink leash to Mittens. “I need to take Mittens for a walk.”

  “I can come—”

  “You work on your cake,” Sarah smiled. “You're becoming quite the baker. Also,” Sarah added, walking Mittens to the back door, “the baked chicken at the diner we had didn’t really fill me up. A slice of cake and some hot coffee will really hit the spot.”

  Conrad leaned against the kitchen counter and looked at Sarah with loving eyes. “You sure are beautiful.”

  Sarah felt her cheeks turn pink. Even though Conrad was her husband, every compliment he gave her seemed to make her blush. “I love you, too,” she smiled. “And speaking of love, maybe we can hike up to our cabin tomorrow and have a picnic? You know how muc
h I love our picnics.”

  “Supposed to rain all day tomorrow,” Conrad explained. He walked over to Sarah and softly kissed her. “But we can spend the entire day inside playing your favorite board games, eating cake and drinking coffee. We can even invite Amanda over.”

  Sarah considered Conrad’s offer. “Well, if we must,” she laughed, and kissed Conrad. “I better go walk Mittens before she bursts.” Sarah hurried outside into a late evening wind and walked Mittens toward the front road. Before she reached the front road, she paused and listened to the wind playing in the trees. In her mind, she saw the hot springs and all she had faced there, and then she saw a hideous snowman grinning at her from the shadows. “You’re still around,” she whispered, “but I’m not going to run from you, because I have love—and love will always win.” Sarah moved toward the front road with Mittens trotting at her side.

  She took a relaxing walk along the chilly and scenic rural road as the world continued to turn and monsters continued to roam. But for the time being—at least in Snow Falls, Alaska—one deadly monster was locked safely away. At least for a while. Sarah wasn’t sure what the future held for a person like Noel, who could not even fathom the kind of love that Sarah held so close to her heart. Sarah only hoped that whatever the future held for the woman, it no longer involved her and her town.

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