The Dunn Deal

by Catherine Leggitt

  “Quiet!” Kingfisher held up both hands and yelled. “Quiet!”

  I wasn’t buying Kingfisher’s authoritative stance. His eyes bulged with panic. Nevertheless, the discord settled to a murmur.

  Kingfisher waved over the crowd as if either warding off mosquitoes or invoking an incantation. “You men have overstepped your boundaries.”

  Bodhi’s head jerked and he stammered. “D-disciplinary measures m-must be instituted.”

  A man yelled out. “Maybe we don’t accept your discipline anymore.”

  “Yeah,” yelled someone else. Heads bobbed in agreement while a murmur swelled and died down.

  “We followed you to fight the enemy,” another said in a loud voice. “Not to waste time rounding up dogs and chasing little old ladies.”

  Kingfisher held up his hands. “This little old lady is the enemy.”

  I raised my eyebrows.

  That statement brought a renewed burst of chaos.

  I am the enemy? I could understand why the soldiers were upset. They certainly didn’t need crates of weapons and ammo to get rid of me. Not to mention all the hours of marching, drilling, and target practice.

  Imagining being pummeled to death by an angry soldier mob forced out a groan. A flash of fear flowed from my heart to my extremities, intensifying my aches and pains. My breath came in short gasps. I let the lid down to rest my muscles.

  Out of the ruckus, one voice bellowed, “You owe us an explanation.”

  The din faded.

  When Kingfisher spoke at last, his voice sounded stronger. “This is not a matter for your concern. Your duty is to follow orders and trust our guidance. We have kept our promises to you so far, haven’t we?”

  The crowd grumbled.

  Bodhi’s voice thundered in the chamber. “We will p-preserve this r-regiment and be v-victorious in our cause regardless of the c-cost involved. We p-p-pledge that to you.”

  More murmuring.

  Kingfisher continued. “You must trust Colonel Bodhi.”

  “Why have you ordered the war council?”

  Bodhi jerked his head side to side like a rooster. “Disciplinary measures must be invoked. That requires approval from the war council.”

  “What about Major Colter? Doesn’t he have to be here for the war council?” someone yelled.

  “Major Colter will return in time.”

  Another voice shouted. “It’s almost midnight.”

  “Leave that to us.” Kingfisher’s booming voice echoed when he bellowed, “Men. Assume formation.”

  I hunched my tender back to open the slit so I could peek out. How would they react to the order?

  Sure enough, with only a little fussing, the disorderly mob rearranged itself into military lines. Kingfisher and Bodhi saluted. The soldiers returned the salute.

  Kingfisher bellowed. “Dismissed.”

  Rows of soldiers retreated the chamber without another word, leaving Kingfisher and Bodhi standing alone atop the table.

  Soon, all the men had marched out of sight, even the one who guarded my box. Kingfisher and Bodhi stood at attention until the sound of marching boots could no longer be heard, then climbed off the table.

  Kingfisher looked at his watch in the candlelight. “It’s almost time. We must prepare the room.”

  They shuffled into the tunnel to the right of the table and brought back five large wooden throne-like chairs, one by one. Symbols like I’d seen on the box were also carved into the backs of the chairs and the seats appeared to be red velvet. From the care with which Kingfisher and Bodhi carried them, I guessed they must be ceremonially important.

  They arranged the chairs in a circle, each in front of one of the tunnels, leaving a wide band of space around the table. Apparently satisfied with the placement, they moved toward my box. I let the lid down.

  “Aha! So you’ve found a way to spy on us.” Kingfisher flung the top off my casket and yanked me out by my bad arm.

  Hurt, I cried out.

  Bodhi started his fist clenching.

  “Never mind,” Kingfisher said with a wicked grin. “She won’t make trouble much longer.”

  Candlelight reflected in dark eyes that sparked with hate.

  I shriveled.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Kingfisher reached into the sarcophagus and pulled out the folded material I’d been using to cushion my aching body. Moving in a reverent attitude bordering on the ceremonial, he smoothed the large piece and laid it across the back of the chair at the head of the table.

  I stepped toward it. “What’s that for?”

  In an instant, Kingfisher and Bodhi reacted.

  Kingfisher yelled, “Don’t touch that.”

  Bodhi quivered. “Pagan hands.”

  I stared at the fabric. “Why? What’s it for?”

  Kingfisher planted himself between the chair and me. “The general.”

  Bodhi’s face contorted with twitches. “ No one can touch it. You would defile it.”

  Kingfisher motioned me to step back.

  I moved where he pointed. “Don’t be silly, I’ve been using that for a pillow. It’s a good thing I had it too. Old bones and all.”

  They ignored me.

  Could I sneak out while they concentrated on their arrangements? I didn’t know, so I watched in silence. Without warning, Kingfisher grabbed my bad arm and dragged me toward the box.

  I dug in my heels and pulled back as hard as I could which made my arm hurt all the more. “Please. I’d rather not go back in there. Now that you’ve removed my cushion it’s going to be most uncomfortable.”

  Without a word, he pulled a rope out of a hidden compartment in the platform under the box and tied my hands behind my back. Then he pushed me to a sitting position on the rock floor with my back against the platform and looped the rope around my feet so I could barely move.

  The candles in the tall stands around the room flickered, burning low. Kingfisher bustled off. Bodhi stood guard when Kingfisher left the chamber, but soon returned with more candles. While Bodhi hurried down a different tunnel, he threw a jerky backward glance.

  “Frankie,” I said when we were alone. “You know it’s pointless to keep me. You’re just making it worse for yourself. The police are coming. Right now, we can pin the kidnapping charge on Colter, especially if you help me get out of here. I came to get my dog because I can’t imagine life without her. Being a dog lover, I’m sure you understand. Mary said you have a kind heart. This position is very uncomfortable for an old lady, especially the rock on my behind. I never did you any harm, did I?”

  He stopped working to glare at me.

  “Okay, just that dog thing. But you got all your dogs back, right? How would your mother feel all trussed up like this?”

  “My mother was no prize.”

  “Oh, well, think of the mother you should have had then.”

  Kingfisher bent to stare directly into my eyes. “Look. I would have eliminated you already if it was up to me. But the general’s in charge here. He ordered us to go by the manual. The manual calls for the war council to order punishment.”

  “So you said.” I tilted to the other side, hoping to relieve the pressure on my tailbone. It didn’t help much.

  Kingfisher returned to bustling about the chamber.

  I closed my eyes and lowered my head onto my knees. The General. Colter was their Major and Bodhi was their Colonel. Kingfisher spoke of this other person as the General so it obviously wasn’t him.

  The rank of General topped the pecking order. I remembered that much from Jesse’s stint in the army. But I thought Bodhi and Kingfisher were the top dogs around here. They had set up five chairs. Kingfisher, Bodhi, and Colter would only use three. Who would sit in the other two? Could there be someone I hadn’t seen yet who actually called the shots? Were these buffoons just pawns in someone else’s scheme? Scary thought. Who could the other two people be?

  I raised my head. “Frankie?”

  He stopped an
d looked at me.

  “Who’s the general?”

  Kingfisher consulted his watch. “You’ll find out soon. Meanwhile, shut your—”

  Before he finished speaking, scuffling feet and gruff voices announced someone hurrying toward the chamber through the same tunnel Colter used, the tunnel I assumed must lead to the boulder door and freedom.

  Kingfisher turned in the direction of a spec of light bobbing toward us. Deputy Colter soon came in view, dragging someone behind him. Colter’s gun was drawn and pointed directly at the other person’s head. His victim, who wore expensive high-heel shoes, tripped and stumbled on the rocky floor.

  I gasped.

  Constance Boyd!

  Kingfisher’s expression mirrored my shock. “What have you done?”

  Colter doubled over, panting.

  Creases marred Constance Boyd’s perfect dress where the rope had bunched the expensive black fabric. Smeared makeup streaked her face. Her coiffure looked like her hairdresser had gone on an extended vacation. A knotted scarf dangled around her neck, looking out of place with the rest of her outfit.

  Colter pushed her to the floor where she landed in a most unladylike position. She glared up at him. “You will be very sorry, little man. You don’t know who you’re dealing with.”

  Kingfisher gaped in amazement. “You brought Constance Boyd to the chamber?” His voice squeaked like a frustrated schoolboy. “Constance Boyd? What were you thinking? Every cop in the country will be looking for her.”

  Colter swiped a hand across his mouth. “They’re onto us. We need big leverage. I am not going to prison without a fight.”

  Kingfisher shoved Colter in the chest. “What do you mean they’re on to us? Are you crazy? The general will never be able to get us out of this now.”

  Constance lifted her head and pushed back hair that had fallen in her face. “I told him that already. Heads are going to roll. Apparently your deputy has air where his brain should be.”

  Colter pointed the revolver at Constance. “Look, you. Shut up.”

  Then Colter aimed the pistol at Frankie. “As for you. You keep your dirty hands off me. Do you understand?”

  Kingfisher backed up, lifting both hands. “Hey, you’re the one running on fear. Pull yourself together. And put that thing down before you hurt somebody.”

  Constance hooted. “This is total insanity! Help me up and get me out of here.”

  Colter didn’t lower the gun.

  Kingfisher heaved a heavy sigh. “What do you plan to do with her?”

  Sweat glistened on Colter’s forehead and dripped down his big nose. “We need a hostage!” he yelled. “Do you understand that?”

  “What about her?” Kingfisher nodded toward me.

  Constance lifted her head to glance at me. Recognition dawned in her eyes.

  “Not her.” Colter shook his head. “We need someone big. Someone the authorities care about. Someone the media cares about.”

  Well, I never! Invisible again.

  Kingfisher arched his eyebrow. “Did she see where you brought her?”

  Colter looked insulted. “Of course not.” He reached toward Constance and flicked the knotted scarf around her delicate neck. “I blindfolded her.”

  “At least you thought of that.” Kingfisher plopped onto one of the chairs. He closed his eyes and rubbed his face. “You’ve sealed our fate, you know. We’ll never get away now. This woman is known all over the world.”

  The gun wobbled. Colter looked flustered. “The general will know what to do.”

  Shuffling and spots of light in the tunnel on the right announced Bodhi’s return. With him, a third man marched in. I recognized him as the man in the lab coat, the tall man with the shaved head. Now he wore army fatigues and a scowl. The general?

  When they spotted Constance Boyd, they halted, speechless as a couple of mimes.

  Colter quickly explained Miss Boyd’s presence.

  Bodhi bounced and fidgeted, jerking his head from one person to another. “Bad karma, very bad.”

  Kingfisher nodded in agreement, fists clenching and unclenching.

  The tall man expelled a loud curse. “Of all the lame-brained schemes.” Stepping toward Colter with a hand resting on his holster, he looked like a gunfighter in a spaghetti western. “As your superior officer, I order you to holster that weapon immediately, Major Colter.”

  Superior officer? Then this must be the general. Silver bars on his sleeves must denote his rank. Didn’t generals have stars though? I wished I remembered.

  That accounted for four of the war council. Who sat in the fifth chair?

  Colter vacillated a moment before holstering his pistol.

  I sensed a collective relief. Even Constance’s demeanor softened.

  Not having to witness bloodshed, my thoughts turned to escape. How would guards be summoned to the chamber if needed?

  Bodhi lurched and bumped behind the chairs while the new man focused his attention on Constance Boyd.

  She sat straight-backed as a proper lady. When she saw Colter put away his gun, she extended her hand to the general and barked an order of her own. “Help me up.”

  He reached for her hand and pulled her to her feet.

  Constance smoothed the front of her wrinkled dress and unknotted the scarf before leveling a stare at the general. “I demand to be released.”

  “I’m sorry, ma’am.” He put both hands behind his back and spread his feet apart in a military at-ease stance. “I don’t have authority to do that. You don’t belong here, but now that you’re here, we wait for orders.”

  Constance wrinkled her flawless brow. “You’re not in charge?”

  Bodhi stopped pacing and jerked his head back and forth. Kingfisher lowered his eyes. Colter stepped back. The tall man I’d assumed to be the general started to speak, but closed his mouth again.

  What was going on?

  Tall Man bit his lip. “No, ma’am. I’m not in charge. But the general will arrive soon. Please allow me to make you comfortable until he decides what to do.”

  Who was the authority behind this operation?

  Tall Man commanded Bodhi to fetch one of the chairs, then winced while he watched Bodhi’s wretched movements. When Bodhi dragged over one of the red-cushioned chairs, Tall Man gestured for Constance to sit. “Make yourself comfortable, ma’am.”

  Constance crossed her arms and remained standing. “I demand that you let me out of here. Now.”

  Instead, he reached for her.

  She wrenched her arm away.

  He put his hands on her shoulders and pushed her onto the seat where she landed with a most unfeminine plop. Constance crossed her legs and arms, as if pouting would matter to this motley crew. I remembered her telling Zora Jane that for a long time no one had talked to her in the way Zora Jane did. Constance Boyd had been calling the shots for a very long time. The predicament she found herself in right now must frustrate her to the max.

  Bodhi, Colter, Kingfisher, and Tall Man huddled around the chair. From their stern looks and hushed conversation, I guessed they were discussing what Colter discovered when he went to town or possible courses of action they might take since bringing Constance Boyd had complicated the situation even further.

  From my position on the floor, I had a clear view past the huddled group into three of the tunnels across the chamber. I’d decided that the tunnel to the left must lead to the outside to the sliding boulder door Zora Jane and I found. Since I could no longer hear their conversation, I stared into that tunnel and prayed.

  Please, God. Help Molly bring help. Show Jesse where to look.

  As I prayed, a slight movement caught my eye. Only a flicker, but enough to be certain I’d seen motion.

  Someone or something moved in the dark tunnel.

  Desperate to see more, I strained into the inky blackness. Every bone and muscle in my body ached from sitting on the rocky floor in such a cramped position and from the other injuries inflicted on me. It must b
e nearly midnight and real fatigue had set in. But I ignored all that and held myself as still as a cat waiting beside a mouse hole.

  Surely I didn’t imagine it. I knew I’d seen something but I didn’t dare blink in case I missed the next sight of whatever or whoever hid in the tunnel. I held my breath. When my lungs felt as if they would burst, I let the air out in one long rush. Then I gulped in another lungful.

  Bodhi’s head jerked in my direction at the sound of air being expelled. He looked concerned, eyebrows twitching. I shrugged, giving a sheepish look. He yanked his head back into the huddle.

  Several more minutes passed.

  Maybe I imagined I saw something because I wanted someone to be there.

  I fixed my eyes harder on the darkness, trying to penetrate it with my stare. If only I had my night-vision binoculars.

  There it was again. Only this time, the person moved close enough to the light for me to see a man in uniform crouched in the tunnel. He remained in the light for a fraction of a second before retreating into darkness. I couldn’t see his face, but the glint of a raised pistol made my heart flip-flop in hopeful anticipation.

  God heard my desperate plea.

  Someone had come to my rescue.

  Chapter Thirty

  I held my breath, glancing from the dark tunnel to the group circled around the chair. Considering the coming confrontation, my heart beat faster than a jackhammer. When would the general arrive? Would he come with guards? Why didn’t I wear a watch so I’d know when midnight came? I must warn the man in the tunnel.

  With all my willpower, I forced my eyes to remain on the center of the chamber without a peek in any other direction. I spoke loudly and clearly, “Frankie, this position is becoming quite uncomfortable. Would you untie these ropes please? Or at least loosen them. I’m not going anywhere. How could I when any minute you’re expecting the general to arrive for your war council meeting? Isn’t it almost midnight?”