by V. B. Tenery
Wrapping the blankets around her, she returned to the sofa and lay down, bunching the covers around her legs. Howling winds screamed outside, but that didn’t stop her weighted eyelids from closing. In seconds, she was asleep.
“She’s moving again!” Sean said. “And she’s on foot.” She was near, very near but he couldn’t see anything yet. If she was moving, she was still alive, but she wouldn’t last long in this weather.
He had been straining to see through the whiteout for what seemed like hours until his eyes hurt. A tiny flash of light off to the right caught his attention. “Dusty, stop. I think I saw a light. I’m going to check it out.”
“I’m coming with you,” Lotttie said. “Dusty, wait here.”
As they moved closer, Sean could see the glow came from a cabin window. He ran as fast as he could in calf-deep snow. “Candace! Candace!”
Sean burst through the door and stopped so abruptly Lottie ploughed into his back.
Candace lay on the sofa completely still. Terror pulled him forward. He gathered her into his arms. She was ice cold and he couldn’t feel her heartbeat through her thick jacket. “Candace, you can’t be . . .” His voice cracked.
A voice whispered in his ear. “Sean, you came.”
He pulled her closer and felt hot tears behind his eyes he refused to let fall. “I thought, I thought . . . Logan had killed you and left you here.”
“No, I stumbled onto the cabin and came in. I was so cold and tired I dropped off to sleep. Take me home, Sean.”
Shaken to the core at how close he had come to losing her, Sean lifted her into his arms and carried her to the snow tractor. As they were loading, another snowcat emerged from the white curtain that surrounded them. A man stepped forward.
Ranger 24, no doubt.
Lottie met him halfway and assured him the situation here was under control. She told him to alert the station to search for Logan’s car. He got back into his vehicle and crawled away.
Sean and Candace rode back to the chalet with her head resting against his shoulder. Never would he let her out of his sight again until Logan was behind bars. God, let the authorities find him before I do.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Kane Chalet
Christmas Tyme, Colorado
S
ean called ahead to the chalet. “Doyle, we found Candace. She’s okay, shaken up, but otherwise fine. Let Hilda know. We’re headed home. I also called Doc Evans to meet us there, just to be sure, as well as the sheriff. I’ll explain later.
“Can you have soup and hot tea ready for Candace? She’s had a pretty harrowing experience.” Sean paused for a moment. “And Doyle, it was Logan who kidnapped Candace. I’m afraid there may be others. Is he at the chalet?”
“No, I haven’t seen him all afternoon. This will not be good news for Mrs. Kane, but I’ll let her know right away.”
Thirty minutes later the snowcat pulled up in front of the chalet. Sean turned back to Lottie. “Are you and Dusty coming in? I would like to have you on guard here if it’s possible. I know the storm can create a lot of demands at your station and you may be needed elsewhere.”
“We’ll check in and see what the chief says. I’ll let you know.” She turned back to the snowcat to contact her boss.
Sean and Candace moved farther into the entryway, Candace holding tightly to his arm. “Do you want to go to your room and rest? The sheriff will want to ask you a lot of questions. If you’re not up to it, I’ll make him wait.”
She shook her head. “Let’s get it over with. I’ll go into the kitchen until he comes. I need the hot tea to warm me from the inside out.
“We need to find Doyle and ask how Nana took the news. My heart breaks for her.”
“As soon as we get things settled with the sheriff we can check on her.”
Sean accompanied Candace into the warm room. Frank nodded a welcome to Sean and set the tea and broth before her, along with crusty slices of bread and butter.
Sean clapped him on the shoulder. “How’s it going.”
Frank cast a sympathetic glance at Candace. “Right now, I’d say it’s Lions two, Christian’s zero.”
“You’re not wrong, but we know who wins the battle.”
When Candace finished the food, color returned to her face. Sean pulled out a chair beside her. “You look like you’re coming back to life. Is there anything you need?”
She squeezed his hand. “Just you here by me until this is over. Does anyone know where Logan is?”
“Not yet. On the phone, the sheriff said he would put out a BOLO. Maybe he’ll have an update when he arrives.”
Doc Evans entered the kitchen more than a little windblown, his black medical bag in hand. He too had come by snowcat. That appeared to be the only way to travel tonight.
He pulled a chair up beside Candace. “How are you feeling? Any pain?”
She shook her head. “I’m getting back to normal, Doc. I’m afraid Sean brought you out in this storm for nothing.”
Doc gave her a sly wink. “That’s okay. I’ll send you a big bill for hazardous duty. Come, let’s go to your room where I can see how much damage you suffered.”
Candace and Doc left the kitchen. A few minutes later Sheriff Dawes arrived. Lottie and Dusty trailed him. They leaned against the counter, and she gave Sean a thumbs-up. That took care of one of his concerns. She and Dusty would be here for the night.
The sheriff looked around the kitchen. “Where’s Miss Kane?”
“Doc Evans is giving her a once over. Any news on Logan?”
Dawes pulled out a chair and plopped down. “Nothing yet. Don’t expect we’ll find anything until the weather lets up. Is Miss Kane okay?”
“I think so. Probably just a few bruises.” Sean said. “We’ll know for sure when Doc finishes his examination.”
Frank brought a cup of coffee for the sheriff and placed cream and sugar on the table.
The sheriff nodded his thanks then added three packets of sugar and filled the cup to the brim with cream.
Sean stood and refilled his own cup. “What Logan told Candace clears Clay of both murders. How long will it take to set him free?”
“I need to speak to Miss Kane before I can answer that. There is a lot of physical evidence against Clay Kane.”
“All planted by Logan,” Sean said.
Dusty drawled from behind the sheriff. “Yeah, we lock ’em up fast, and let ’em go slow.”
The sheriff turned and narrowed his eyes at the young officer. “There’s nothing we can do tonight. Most of the judges are away on Christmas leave.”
Sean nodded his acknowledgement. “Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. It would be nice to let Clay spend it with his family. I’ll get his attorney on it tomorrow.”
Doc and Candace returned. “This girl’s healthy as a horse, although I don’t think she should run any races for a while.” He turned to Frank. “I’d appreciate a cup of Joe. It’s past my bedtime.”
Frank grinned, filled a mug, and handed it to Doc. Frank did the same for Lottie and Dusty. “There’s chocolate chip cookies in the cookie jar if anyone is interested.”
Dusty lifted the jar lid. “You don’t have to ask me twice. I missed lunch and dinner.”
Doyle stepped into the kitchen. “Frank, why don’t you make some sandwiches from the leftover roast at dinner. I’m sure these good people are all hungry. I’m going to make some tea for Mrs. Kane.”
He turned to Doc. “Would you stop in and see her, Doc. She’s taking all this very hard.”
Candace stood. “While you make the tea, I’ll go sit with her.”
“I know you want to comfort your grandmother,” the sheriff said. “but before you leave, I need to get a statement from you on what happened with you and Logan today.”
She sat back down. “Of course.”
Doc finished his drink and followed Doyle out of the kitchen. He gave Frank a nod. “I’ll be back for one of those sandwiches.”
The sheriff
pulled out his cell phone and placed it in front of Candace. “Is it okay if I record this?”
She nodded then gave him the details of everything that transpired.
“Logan didn’t say where he was going?” Dawes asked.
“Just that he was going to establish an alibi. May I go to Nana now?”
Dawes nodded and returned the phone to his pocket.
Candace met Doc in the doorway. “Is she okay?”
“I gave her a sedative to help her sleep. I’ll drop by later when the weather clears.”
Frank brought out the sandwiches and everyone dived in hungrily.
Sheriff Dawes gave Doc a lift back to town, and Lottie and Dusty set up guard duty. Lottie took the front door and Dusty set up post at the back entrance.
Sean secured Candace in her room, pulled up a chair in front of the door and sat down, waiting for Logan or dawn whichever came first.
It had been a long, hard twenty-four hours for everyone. He didn’t expect Logan to try harming Candace tonight for the simple reason Logan didn’t know she was safe. But Sean wasn’t taking any chances.
The authorities were pulling out all stops to find Logan Kane, and Sean hoped they found him before he returned to the chalet.
It was hard to believe that the man was so demented he would have killed Candace for no other reason other than he could. Logan had to know there was no chance of him getting more than a small share of the inheritance money. Control of Kane Industries, if he managed to take over, would only mean long-term gain. And Candace’s will might even prevent that. However, Logan probably didn’t know about the existence of her new will.
The sheriff had Logan’s license number, SUV model, and color. He and the state police would find him if he didn’t hole up somewhere in the mountains.
When daylight came tomorrow, they would search with choppers, on horseback, and jet skis.
It was after midnight when Sean settled into the chair and waited for the adrenalin rush to dissipate so he could relax.
He must have dropped off, because the sound of his phone snapped him wide awake. He glanced at the clock. 2:00 a.m.
“Sean,” Nana’s shaky voice sounded in his ear. “Come to Logan’s room immediately. Something horrible has happened.”
Seconds later, Sean knocked on the door. Hilda Kane answered. Her face pale and tear stained. Without a word she led him to the bedroom, opened the door, and stepped aside. She smothered a sob with her hand.
Inside the room, Velma lay beside Logan, her head on his chest and her arm across his waist. Seemingly two hauntingly beautiful people peacefully sleeping.
They hadn’t been dead long.
“What happened?” Sean asked.
Hilda collapsed into a chair and handed him an envelope addressed to her. “I think it was poison. I woke up and found this on the floor in my room. She must have slipped it under my door.”
He removed a handkerchief from his pocket and opened the letter.
Dearest Nana:
I’m sorry it had to end this way, but I could see no other way out.
I’ve loved Logan all my life, even though I’ve known he had serious flaws. He was born without a soul, a narcissistic sociopath that derived pleasure in hurting others.
I tried to deny it for years, until I finally came to realize how depraved he was the night Annie died. He killed her just to see how the poison worked before he gave it to Candace. He paid a janitor at the lab where Clay worked to steal the cyanide. Logan planted Clay’s hair on Annie’s body. He tormented Clay since we were children and poor gullible Clay never had a clue.
Logan framed Clay for petty thefts until dad sent him away to military school. Away from Logan, my brother got his life together.
When Clay came back to the chalet last year, Logan wore Clay’s cologne and assaulted the Collins girl.
I’ve always felt the reason his sister Heather became a nun was to escape from Logan. He tormented her just as he did Clay. As children I suspected he set up Clay and Heather as fall guys, but at the time I thought it was only childish pranks.
I don’t know why I love him, Nana. He was evil to the core. I believe he loved me as much as he was capable of loving anyone. That’s how I justified his treatment of me.
Although I had suspicions, it wasn’t until Annie’s death last week that I realized what he was capable of. He arrived Wednesday night and lied the next morning about being delayed in New York.
I saw Annie go into Logan’s room that night. After she was found dead, I confronted him. He didn’t deny my accusation. In fact, he boasted about it, and about the Collins girl.
I fear there are many others, but thank God, I don’t know who they are.
When Logan killed the girl at the ski lodge, and framed Clay, I knew he had to be stopped. I couldn’t let Clay go to prison for something he didn’t do. There was no way of knowing when Logan might turn on me, or Teddy, or even you.
I think you guessed Logan was Teddy’s father. I never dared show my son affection in front of Logan. He was insanely jealous. No one was ever allowed to compete with him. Not even a child.
Teddy suffered rejection from me, but I felt that was better than death.
I couldn’t see Logan go to prison. He wouldn’t have lasted a week there. And I couldn’t let him harm anyone else.
I heard from friends in New York that Sean McGregor was asking questions around town and knew it wouldn’t be long before he discovered the truth.
Logan parked his car a few miles from the chalet on an off road and called me to pick him up. I brought him here through the back entrance, knowing what I had to do.
Teddy is my only regret in the decision I’ve made.
Considering my actions here today, I don’t know if my wishes will carry any weight. If so, I would like for Candace to get custody of Teddy. He adores her, and I think she loves him.
My parents won’t want to raise the boy. They couldn’t even be bothered with him on school holidays and vacations. Thank you, Nana, for always welcoming him into your home.
Keep all this from Teddy until he’s old enough to perhaps understand. Poor baby, he certainly drew a pair for parents.
It’s probably too late to pray for us, but don’t hate me, Nana. I did the only thing I knew to stop Logan.
Velma
Sean returned the letter to the envelope and slipped it into his inside coat pocket then sat beside Nana. “Did you know?”
“D-Doyle warned me last year, but I didn’t w-want to believe it. The night Cathy Collins was assaulted, he saw Logan come in late. Clay had been in his room most of the e-evening.” She gulped back a sob. “I-It seemed inconceivable Logan would deliberately frame Clay for s-something so terrible.”
Sean held her for a long while until the tears stopped.
Sean picked up the house phone and called Doyle. He appeared at the door, within minutes in his dressing robe and slippers. “What’s wrong. Is anyone hurt?”
“I’m afraid so.” Sean nodded towards Logan’s bedroom then quickly gave him an overview of what happened. “Will you take care of Hilda. I’ll find Candace and contact the sheriff.”
Doyle went quickly to Hilda’s side. “Come, ma’am, let me take you to your room. I’ll get you something hot to drink and keep people away until you can cope.”
As soon as Hilda and Doyle were gone, Sean summoned the two police officers then dialed Sheriff Dawes number as he made his way down the corridor. “Sheriff, this is Sean McGregor again. Logan Kane came back to the chalet. We have a murder/suicide. I’ll explain everything when you get here. Lottie and Dusty have sealed the room off until your forensic team arrives.”
The sheriff breathed a heavy sigh. “Well, at lease the snow has stopped.”
Sean stopped at Candaces’ door and knocked. She answered in her pajamas, her hair mussed. “What’s wrong? Is it Logan?” she asked, her voice frightened.
Sean stepped into Candace’s room and told her the whole sordid tale.
Tears welled in her eyes. “Is this nightmare ever going to end? Poor Nana, and poor Teddy. He’s probably asleep but I’m afraid when the sheriff arrives all the noise will wake him.”
“Do you want to move him into your room? He shouldn’t see his mother’s body being removed from the premises.”
The realization of what had happened shook Candace more deeply than her mother’s death. Her mother’s long illness prepared Candace for the inevitable. These deaths came out of the blue without warning. “Let me put on a robe and slippers and I’ll get Teddy. By the grace of God, he’ll be so dazed he’ll go right back to sleep. I’m going to need a lot of prayer until I can figure out how to tell him his mother is dead.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she put her hands over her face. “Poor baby. Santa Claus is supposed to come tonight and instead he has to deal with this.”
She and Sean moved down the hallway to Teddy’s room and brought him back to Candace’s bed. He was out cold and barely stirred.
The chalet was once again filled with chaos. The sheriff, his deputies, forensic team, and the coroner filled the hallways.
At 6:00 a.m. Christmas Eve, the corridors were cleared and the bodies removed.
Sean closed the door behind the last deputy and turned to look at the bright Christmas tree. He would spend the day trying to comfort two women and see that a little boy had the best Christmas possible under the circumstances.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Kane Chalet
Christmas Tyme, Colorado
S
ean grabbed a couple of hours sleep then stumbled downstairs for an eye opener. Frank and Doyle stood with long faces by the coffee urn, sipping their drinks in silence.
“Good morning, gentlemen. Can you spare a cup of brew for a fellow mourner?”
Frank pulled down a cup, filled it then handed it to Sean. “Cook made some cinnamon rolls before she left for the holiday. They’re still warm in the oven. I’ve had two myself. I lost count of how many Doyle has consumed.”