by Greg Miller
“You didn’t have to kill him!” Emily blurted.
“Andrew refused to sell it. He kept speculating about how much it might be worth, wanting to split the money. I had no intention of selling it. I wasn’t letting it go again.” Bill’s jaw tightened. “If that damn fool Peter had kept his mouth shut, it wouldn’t have come to this.”
“So you, what, pushed Andrew into the gorge? How did you overpower him?”
“It was quite easy,” Bill casually shrugged. “I used a stun gun.”
Emily took short breaths, glaring at him.
“I thought it would be easy to buy the car from you,” Bill said. “But by then you’d hooked up with this guy and, I guess, figured out what a special car it was.”
“So you tried to steal it,” Emily said. “You’d already committed murder – I suppose thievery wasn’t a moral issue for you.”
“It was my car. Andrew had no right to it. It was just dumb luck that he happened to find it.”
“It was just dumb luck that you got it from your uncle.” Emily sneered. “But, changing engines and selling it – that wasn’t luck. That was just dumb.”
Bill’s eyes narrowed. He turned to Gavin, tightening his grip on the gun.
Gavin’s body tensed. “How did Terrick become involved?”
Bill exhaled another long breath. “During his investigation he interviewed all of the club’s officers. He and I quickly developed a friendship.”
“You’re a psychopath,” Emily said. “And psychopaths are incapable of friendship.”
Gavin looked at her with fearful eyes, shaking his head. “What does Terrick get out of it?”
Bill moved closer to them. “That’s not your concern.”
“I hope you’re being well compensated,” Emily said to Terrick, “because that car is worth millions.”
“No, it isn’t.” Bill laughed.
Gavin lifted a brow, then turned to Terrick. “Three to four million would be my guess.”
“They’re lying!” Bill barked. “Don’t believe them,” he said, glancing back at Terrick. “It isn’t worth a tenth of that.”
Gavin looked Terrick in the eyes. “I hope you don’t meet with any accidents. It wouldn’t surprise me if your demise wasn’t part of Bill’s plan, too.”
“I can take care of myself.” Terrick sneered.
Emily twisted her lips. “You’re a lackey, Terrick, and lackeys are always expendable.”
“That was a nice try,” Bill said, taking another step closer.
Gavin fixed eyes with him. “When did you hatch this whole plan?”
Bill sighed. “Come on, Gavin. I’ve told you everything.” He came closer still, staring down at Gavin. “I’ve lost my patience with your stalling.” He gave a faint smile. “I like you, Gavin. I really do. I’m sorry it has to end this way. You should have heeded my warning.”
Gavin clenched his fists. “One last question … What happens with the car?”
“I thought that would have been obvious,” Bill said. “Terrick arrests Emily, impounds the car as evidence and then, I’m afraid, it will disappear.”
“I meant the gray one,” Gavin said. “How does the gray one figure into it?”
“What gray one?” Bill smiled. “Terrick’s police report says that Peter was found in his yellow Jag. It’s already back in his garage. I’m afraid you were mistaken about everything.”
Emily tightened her lips, glaring at him.
“So,” Gavin said, creasing his forehead, “putting the engine in Peter’s garage, having us find it … That was just for dramatic effect? You wanted to get a kick out of making us think we’d won?”
Bill shook his head. “Oh, no, that was really just a bonus. Peter had it coming. He caused me a great deal of grief, and I thought it poetic justice for the engine to be what killed him. And, he got to see it before he died – the long sought after prize. As did you.”
“That’s so twisted.” She grimaced.
“To have driven you to all this scheming and murder …” Gavin looked down, shaking his head. “Selling that car must have tormented you to no end.”
“It obsessed me. But then, what’s life without our personal obsessions?” Bill chuckled. “A very boring place. Retirement can be boring, too.”
“You wanted to be like those pirates and villains you so admire.” Emily sneered.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this little game.” Bill smiled. “And winning is quite sweet.”
“Does Nicole know anything about this?” Gavin asked.
He chuckled, shaking his head. “Of course not.”
Emily looked up. “She’s really going to hate you.”
“She’ll never know,” Bill said. “No one will.”
Emily glanced at Gavin. He nodded.
“Yes, she will,” Emily said, turning back. “Because we figured it all out and you’re not going to get away with this.”
“No, you didn’t.” Bill laughed.
“Maybe not all of the lurid details. But we figured out that it was you.”
Gavin nodded. “Trying to steal it was the giveaway.”
Bill stared blankly at Gavin.
“They’re stalling again, Bill,” Terrick said, looking at his watch. “Let’s get this over with.”
“I know they’re stalling,” Bill snapped then chuckled. “But Gavin just pulled a rather interesting card from his sleeve and I’m curious to see how he plays it.”
“A long lost E-Type coming up for auction would make headlines,” Gavin said. “Any auction house would expect an impeccable provenance, and so would any buyer. It would have been virtually impossible to sell if reported stolen. That was the giveaway – whoever wanted it, wanted it forever.”
“That was a rather rash act on my part,” Bill said with a hint of a smile. “The only move I regret making.”
“Terrick was the other clue,” Gavin said. “His behavior was very suspicious right from the start.”
“No, it wasn’t,” Terrick said.
Bill looked back at him and frowned.
“Gavin figured out that we were being set up.” Emily smiled. “And I figured out that it had to be by you. He realized that the car had to have been used by British Leyland and that the engine had probably been changed by the first owner. We knew that British Leyland had their US Headquarters in New Jersey, and I remembered Bonnie mentioning that you had lived there too, which put you in the right place to have bought it. The fact that you were the only one who seemed like he might be obsessed with collecting Jaguars, and also had the money to pay Terrick off made it pretty conclusive.”
“That’s pretty good.” Bill said. “If only you’d really figured this out sooner – you would’ve played things differently. And you wouldn’t have walked right into my trap.”
“We just figured it out tonight,” Emily said.
“Then it’s a good thing I moved quickly.”
“Not quickly enough,” she said. “We told Terrick’s boss.”
“Oh. That’s good.” Bill chuckled. “That’s really quite good.”
“Liar.” Terrick snickered. “The Chief was off all day.”
“We know that,” Emily said. “Gavin called him at home and we went by to see him.”
Terrick’s jaw dropped. “The Chief did say he knew Gavin when he first came to see me.”
Gavin nodded. “He’d been interested in buying a car.”
Bill looked at Terrick’s grim face and cackled. “They’re bluffing! Your chief would have come with them – he never would have let them come home alone.”
“He didn’t believe us,” Emily said. “He thought we were being paranoid, and were still in shock after finding Peter.” She flashed a wide smile at them. “But, he did say he’d stop by to check on us.”
“So where is
he? Nice try.” Bill laughed. He raised the gun. “I’m afraid my time for indulging you is over.”
Gavin’s eyes opened wide.
“If you kill him, the Chief will know it’s all true,” Emily cried, panicking. “He’ll believe everything I say. Think about it, Terrick!”
“What if it’s true?” Terrick turned to Bill. “He’d believe her story.”
“It’s not true,” Bill shouted. “And so what if it is? What’s another murder?”
“I haven’t murdered anyone. I might be an accessory, but –”
“Don’t start with all that – you could have killed them both when you shot out their windshield! Don’t let them play with your mind,” Bill said, lowering his voice. “It’s all a bluff.” He took aim at Gavin’s forehead.
Emily tried to move between them, but Gavin held her away.
“You really gave it a valiant effort,” Bill said, his eyes flashing dark. “But your time is up.”
“Don’t let him do it,” Emily yelled. “How do dirty cops fare in prison?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Terrick said, tugging at an earlobe. “I don’t believe you.”
Gavin slid forward to the edge of the couch, his body tense, as if ready to try dodging the bullet. Emily eyed a lamp on the end-table beside her. They heard footsteps on the stairs. Bill and Terrick looked toward the door.
There was a knock, followed by a voice calling: “Gavin, what’s going on? Are you alright?”
“No!” Gavin and Emily yelled in unison.
Terrick lifted his gun and pointed it at Bill.
“They have guns,” Gavin shouted.
Bill sneered at Terrick. “You idiot.” He whipped the pistol away from Gavin, pointing it straight between Terrick’s eyes.
“Don’t.” Terrick’s yell fell flat, as he adjusted his grip on his gun.
Bill’s finger trembled on the trigger.
Behind the door, voices crackled on a police radio as the Chief shouted: “Put your guns down. Backup’s on the way.”
Bill pulled the trigger, it clicked, and Terrick stumbled back.
“You can come in now, Chief,” Gavin called. “My gun isn’t loaded.”
Bill lowered his head. He pulled out the empty clip and dropped it on the floor.
The Chief pushed the door open, entering with his pistol drawn. “Put down the gun, Terrick.”
“Bill’s the killer,” Terrick said. “I figured it out this afternoon.”
The Chief shook his head as Terrick held his gun firm at Bill. A deafening bang shattered the air. Emily ducked and Gavin wrapped his arms around her.
“Don’t insult my intelligence,” he said as Terrick fell to the floor clutching his leg. The Chief turned to Gavin and Emily with a smirk. “He pointed his gun at me, didn’t he?”
They nodded in unison.
He looked over at Bill who was standing glassy-eyed in the middle of the room. “You’re both under arrest.”
Two other police officers arrived. They put Bill and Terrick in handcuffs. Neither looked up as they were led away.
“I can’t believe you were right,” the Chief said, after they’d left. “I never liked Terrick, but I didn’t think he was capable of something like this.”
They got up from the couch.
Gavin breathed a sigh of relief. “I was beginning to wonder if you’d forgotten about us.”
“You sure took your time getting here,” Emily said, wrinkling her nose.
“Yeah. Sorry,” the Chief said, rubbing his wrist. “I should have just come with you. You’re both okay, though?”
“Yes,” Gavin replied. “We’re fine.”
“Oh,” Emily said, lifting an eyebrow and reaching into the front pocket of her blouse. “I thought it would be wise to record it all on my phone.”
“That’s excellent,” the Chief said, smiling at her and reaching to take it. “I need to get a few things from my car, but this is a crime scene, so please don’t disturb anything.” The Chief left.
Gavin and Emily stood gazing at each other.
“You were great,” she said. “Unbelievably great – I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks,” he replied, wrinkling his forehead. “You were great too.”
“Yes, I know.” Emily nodded.
He moved closer and hugged her.
She gave him an awkward wink. “We can stay at my place tonight,” Emily said, taking hold of his shirt collar as they kissed.
EPILOGUE
The trees in Watkins Glen were almost bare, and the first snow flurries were blowing around outside Gavin’s dealership.
Gus and Daryl had their heads beneath the hood of a rusty, yellow Jensen Healey.
Gavin climbed out from under the dashboard. He stood up, stretching his back and yawning. “I’m really dragging today. I need some more coffee.”
“Another late night?” Daryl smirked. “Jeez, is Emily like that bunny in the battery commercials? She’s wearing you out! I hope you’re taking lots of vitamins.”
“Very funny.” Gavin smiled.
“Have you been to the doctor for a check up, lately? I don’t want her giving you a heart attack or something.”
“Leave ’em alone, Daryl,” Gus said, lifting his head from the engine and snickering.
Gavin rolled his eyes. “I can’t believe you two. You’re like a couple of goofy teenagers. If you must know, she’s had me up late watching these old movies of hers.”
“Oh, is that it?” Daryl grinned.
“Yes,” Gavin said. “That’s … well, half of it.”
Gus and Daryl snickered together.
Gavin left the shop, shaking his head. As he walked down the hallway, he heard Emily’s voice.
“Combien coûtez-vous monsieur pâtisseries? Oui. Je voudrais vous acheter des pâtisseries. Mmm … Délicieux pâtisseries.”
Entering the office, he saw Emily sitting at the desk with dreamy eyes, licking her lips.
She turned to him with her lashes fluttering. “Bonjour Monsieur.”
Gavin stared at her for a moment. “Bonjour.” He bent down to get a cup of coffee from the machine.
Emily put her glasses on and studied some papers.
“Can I get there for a second?” he asked, carrying his mug over. “I haven’t checked my email since this morning.”
“Bien sûr, Monsieur,” she replied, relinquishing her chair and moving to the couch. “In case you hadn’t noticed, I’ve been brushing up on my French while reviewing this week’s parts orders.”
Gavin yawned, looking at the computer. “Any particular reason?”
“I’ve been doing some online shopping.” She smiled. “I found something in France that I just might buy.”
Gavin leaned closer to the monitor. “Oh, we’ve got an offer from the Jaguar Heritage Trust.”
“Well, if that isn’t some uncanny timing,” she said. “How much?”
“£100,000.”
Emily twisted her nose. “£100,000? That’s only around $150,000. Well, we certainly won’t sell it to them.” She snorted. “We’ll send it to auction.”
“You might get a little more at auction.” He shrugged. “But I think it’s a pretty fair price.”
“A little more?” Her arms stiffened as she sat up straight. “What do you mean ‘a pretty fair price’?”
“I mean, I think it’s probably about right,” Gavin said. “They’d buy it as is, and do the whole restoration themselves.” He gazed out at the snow flurries through the showroom window. “It was really nice of Nicole to just give you the engine. She must be going through hell right now with Bill awaiting trial.”
Emily’s nostrils flared. “Don’t try to change the subject – you said it would be worth millions!”
“What? No, I didn’t.” He g
rimaced. “I never said any such thing. I told you it would be worth more than any regular Series 3 – which it is.”
Her eyes narrowed. “When Bill had the gun on us you told Terrick that your guess would be three to four million.”
“I thought that was just a clever ruse to try and divide them,” he said, wrinkling his forehead.
Emily took a deep breath. “When we were first discussing the car’s value you said that an E-Type had sold for seven million dollars.”
Gavin nodded. “And I told you it wouldn’t be worth that much.”
She glared at him. “Yes. Not ‘that’ much. But you implied it would still be worth millions.”
“I implied no such thing. You asked me about the most valuable E-Types that had sold and I told you about one. But I also said that was very a special version with a racing history.”
Emily took another deep breath. “Well, why would you even tell me about that car if you knew this one wasn’t going to be worth very much?”
Gavin opened his palms. “Because you asked.”
She tightened her lips. “You should have understood that I was only trying to get an idea of this one’s value. You should have been more clear that it wouldn’t be worth anywhere near that much!”
“I was.”
“No … you … weren’t!” Emily huffed. “I take things very literally and your language was extremely imprecise.”
“I don’t think it was,” Gavin said. “And besides, you said you didn’t care about the money.”
“Yes.” She pouted. “But that was before I found the chateau.”
Gavin took a sip of his coffee. “What chateau?”
“The 34-room, nineteenth-century chateau that’s for sale in Normandy.”
“You wanted to buy a chateau? I thought you wanted to stay here with me and work at the dealership.”
“I said nothing about staying here. You could have moved your dealership.”
“To France?” Gavin chuckled. “I don’t think that would have been very realistic.”
“Well, you could have come and visited me, then.” She sighed.
Gavin wrinkled his forehead. “How much was this thing anyway?”