by Sharon Sala
“Charlotte, I…”
Her hands suddenly splayed in the middle of his chest. He froze. The storm was closer now; the first drops of rain were just beginning to fall.
“Judd…please,” she begged.
He took a deep breath. “Please what?” he whispered.
A shaft of lightning split the night, somewhere between the house and the barn.
“Run!” she cried, then grabbed his hand and bolted for the porch.
He had no option but to follow.
Moments later, they were inside and she was locking the door. Before anything else could be said, Wade was coming up the hall with his boots in his hands.
“What’s going on?” he asked, giving them a curious stare.
“Rachel had a bad dream,” Charlie said. “She woke Judd up. Didn’t you hear her?”
Wade sighed wearily as he dropped down on the sofa to put on his boots.
“Hell, no, I didn’t hear anything but that phone ringing in my ear. There’s a wreck just off the main highway outside of town that’s blocking the road. I’ll be back when it’s cleaned up.”
“Need any help?” Judd asked.
Wade glanced at Charlie, then shook his head. “No, I’d rather you stayed here with my girls,” he said softly, and gave his sister a hug. “Turn on the television and keep track of the weather, honey. This time of year, you never know what it’s going to do.”
“Okay,” she said, and then locked the door after Wade as he left.
Now the house was quiet. Too quiet. Charlie glanced at Judd. He was staring at her. Breath caught in her throat. She lifted her chin, meeting his gaze. He took a step toward her and then stopped as Rachel began to cry in earnest.
“She’s afraid of storms,” Charlie said, and bolted down the hall, thankful for the interruption.
A few moments later, she came back into the room, carrying Rachel and her blanket, then sat down in Wade’s easy chair and began to rock.
And so they sat, staring at the flickering lights from the television screen because it was safer than looking at each other.
Chapter 5
Wilma Self had been born and raised in Call City, and since the death of Francis Belcher more than seventeen years ago, she had been their only librarian. Rain or shine, like the postman, Wilma considered it her duty to open the doors promptly at 8:00 a.m. She was big on duty and short on patience, which could have been part of the reason she’d never been married. Every day except Sunday, she walked the four blocks from her house to the library, using the back entrance. It gave her time to put away her things and smooth down whatever flyaway strands the wind might have tugged from her hairdo. Wilma was also rather fond of coffee, and always started a pot brewing upon arrival, to have with the sweet rolls she would bring from home.
And, as always, after her coffee had been poured and she’d changed the date on the check-out stamp at the front desk, she went to unlock the front door. She was short and plump, and pushing forty, but her step was light. Moments later, she turned the dead bolt and opened the door. After last night’s rain, the day was clear with only a few floating clouds overhead. But it wasn’t the sunshine that bugged Wilma’s eyes. It was the naked and unconscious man on the steps that set her pulse to hammering. She recognized him at once. It was Raymond, all right. Dirty, and in places, even bloody, but in all his natural glory. She gasped, then pressed her fingers to her lips, torn between the knowledge that she must notify the police and the urge to stare at that which she’d never seen—namely, the male body in naked form. Her face flushed as she fought the urge to lean closer. Moments later, the corners of her mouth turned down in disappointment. After all the fuss, she’d expected so much more. Then Raymond began to stir, and Wilma regained her senses by letting out a scream that carried all the way to the gas station two blocks away on the corner.
The attendant came running out from the garage with a wrench in his hand, ready to do battle. Even from that distance, he could see that Wilma was out of her element. He yelled at the kid pumping gas to call the police, then started running. It would be his first visit to the library in more than twenty-two years.
* * *
Wade was on his way out the door when the telephone rang. He paused, knowing that at this time of the morning, it was usually for him. He looked back, watching Charlie’s expression as she answered the phone.
“Wade, it’s Martha. She sounds hysterical. Can’t make too much of what she’s saying other than it’s about Raymond Shuler.”
Wade bolted for the phone as Judd entered the kitchen, his hat in hand. Today was to be his first full day on the job and he was surprisingly eager.
“What’s up?” he asked.
Charlie shrugged, and then spun to rescue the baby’s milk cup before it fell off of her high chair.
“This is Wade. What’s up?” Then he frowned and interrupted the caller. “Martha…Martha…listen to me. Take a deep breath and start over.”
The daytime dispatcher did as she was told, and in the process accidentally swallowed her chewing gum. After a short coughing spell, she regained her momentum.
“You better get here quick,” she said. “Raymond Shuler just turned up on the steps of the library.”
Wade’s heart skipped a beat. “The hell you say. Is he dead?”
Martha giggled. “No, but he was butt-naked. Wilma Self ain’t never gonna be the same.” Then she added, “He had some sort of injury to his hip. Oh, and Chief, just thought I would remind you that today is Hershel’s wedding, and he ain’t gonna be any help to you at all.”
Wade sighed. On a good day, the young man who was his deputy caused more problems than he solved. He could only imagine the kid’s state of mind today.
“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “For God’s sake, don’t call him in. I’ve already got backup in place until he gets back.” Then he added, “Did you send for an ambulance?”
“Yes, sir. One’s already on the way from Cheyenne.”
“I’m on my way,” Wade said, and disconnected. Then he turned to Judd. “Better fasten that Stetson down real tight,” he muttered. “Our missing banker just showed up naked on the library steps. Other than some sort of injury to his hip, he seems to be fine.”
Charlie grinned. “That I would have loved to see.”
“Well, according to Martha, Wilma Self got more than an eyeful. Says she’ll never be the same.”
Judd stifled a grin as Charlie laughed aloud.
“I’ll call you later, sis. If you need anything, just give Martha a buzz. She’ll know where to find us.”
Charlie nodded, watching as Wade bent down to kiss his niece goodbye.
“Unca Wade,” Rachel cried, waving her spoon toward his nose.
“Hey, shortcake, watch where you’re waving that thing,” Wade said, and removed the spoon from her hand before kissing her cheek. Then he handed back the spoon and tweaked her nose for good measure.
They started to leave when Rachel let out a screech. Everyone stopped, then turned to see what was wrong. Rachel was holding up her arms toward Judd, just as she had the day he’d taken her into the pharmacy with him.
“Wanna go! Wanna go!” she cried.
Judd looked startled while Wade and Charlie stared. He glanced nervously at Charlie, then walked back to where the little girl was sitting.
“Hey, punkin, you can’t go with me today, but if you’re a good girl for Mommy, when I come back, I’ll bring you a surprise.”
Rachel frowned. Only a few of Judd’s words sank in. One of them was can’t, the others were good girl and surprise.
“Surprise,” she suddenly stated.
Everyone laughed, which brought forth a wide grin. She giggled, and when Judd bent down to kiss her, she sopped the side of his face with the milky spoon.
“Best kiss I’ve had all day,” Judd said as he straightened.
“Here,” Charlie said, handing him a towel to wipe his face. “I don’t know whether to thank you for hush
ing the fit, or give you a lecture for bribing her to be good.”
Judd wiped his face and then gave her a slow, studied look.
“She might be little, but she’s still female. I didn’t do anything to her that I wouldn’t have done to you.”
Charlie blinked, a little startled by his answer. “Exactly what do you mean by that?”
Judd never broke a smile. “I don’t pretend to know diddly about what makes women tick, but I have learned over the years that to get along with one, I have to keep her in a good mood, and honey, if bribery is what gets me off the hook, then consider yourself forewarned.”
Wade was grinning from ear to ear.
Charlie was momentarily speechless. The sexual tension between them was growing with every passing day. She’d been sleepless for hours after the episode on the front porch last night, trying to tell herself to leave well enough alone. But her heart kept overriding her head. Now he was playing with her, and she knew it. But unless she chose to reveal her own frustrations to Wade and the rest of the world, she was stumped.
“Oh…you’re such a man,” she muttered.
At that point, Judd laughed. It was a quiet, secretive sort of chuckle that held promises only Charlie understood.
“Guilty as charged,” he said, and then followed Wade out the door.
* * *
Betty Shuler was sobbing profusely when Wade and Judd exited the hospital elevator. Judd’s first thought was that the man must have died. They hastened their steps to get to her.
Wade touched the brim of his hat with his forefinger in a gesture of respect, then introduced Judd to Raymond’s wife. In spite of her tears, the woman took time to give Judd a curious glance. She’d heard all the gossip about the good-looking stranger staying out at the Franklin place, but she hadn’t really believed he was a cop until Wade introduced him as such.
“Oh, Wade, you should see Raymond’s poor hip. It’s awful…just awful.”
Wade frowned. “What’s wrong with it? Was he shot?”
She set up another wail and poked a wad of tissues beneath her nose to stem the flow.
“No,” she cried. “The doctor said he’s been burned.”
Judd grabbed a handful of fresh tissues from a box on the table and handed them to her. She took them, nodding gratefully.
“Ma’am, did he know his captors? Has he said anything to you about where he’s been?”
She shook her head. “No, and he says he doesn’t remember a thing.” Then she frowned. “And that…that mark…it will be there forever.”
“What mark, ma’am, the burn scar?”
She rolled her eyes. “Not just a scar. A brand. Those horrible people branded my Raymond.”
Wade and Judd exchanged looks, then Wade led the woman to a chair and quieted her down while Judd waited. Judd accepted the fact that this was Wade’s territory. He would be the one to call the shots.
A few minutes later a doctor emerged from the room across the hall. Wade identified himself, then introduced Judd.
“When can we talk to Raymond?” he asked.
The doctor shrugged. “Other than the fact that he’s been sedated, anytime should be fine, as long as he gives his consent.”
“Exactly what are his injuries?” Judd asked.
“Dehydration, a few bumps and bruises, and one hell of a sore on his hip.”
Wade frowned. “Mrs. Shuler said it was a brand?”
The doctor shook his head. “Damnedest thing I’ve ever seen. It’s the letter R…for Raymond, I suppose. But why someone would kidnap a man just to slap a brand on him is beyond me.”
“Thanks, Doc. If we have any other questions, we’ll let you know.”
The doctor shook their hands and walked away, leaving them with the next step in their investigation—to interrogate the victim himself.
* * *
Shuler was propped lying on his side, but he was cognizant enough to appreciate the fact that his hands and feet were no longer tied. His injured hip had been cleaned and bandaged, and the stuff they’d given him for pain was making him woozy, but he remembered that he’d been found. What he couldn’t figure out was how. The last thing he had remembered was another knockout shot in that filth, and then coming to on the steps of the library. His ears were still ringing from Wilma Self’s screams.
He flinched as the door to his room suddenly opened.
“Raymond, it’s me, Wade. Feel like talking to me a bit?”
Raymond sighed. The police chief. Thank God.
“Yes, sure,” he mumbled.
When Judd moved into Raymond’s line of vision, he saw fear in the man’s eyes.
“Sir, I’m Detective Judd Hanna, from Oklahoma.”
Shuler frowned, trying to compute in his drug-induced mind why a policeman from Oklahoma would be in Wyoming, and then he sighed. He didn’t give a damn who was here, as long as they caught the people who’d done this to him.
Wade put his hand on Raymond’s arm, making the man focus his attention.
“What can you tell us about your abduction?”
Raymond started to move and then moaned.
“Easy, Mr. Shuler,” Judd said. “Is there something I can get for you?”
“A drink of water.”
Judd promptly obliged, waiting patiently while the man took several sips.
“That’s better,” Raymond said. “Thank you.”
“Sure thing,” Judd said. “Now, as Wade was saying…what do you remember?”
Raymond frowned. “Nothing except a pain in my head and waking up to realize my clothes were gone and I’d been blindfolded and gagged.”
“Did you ever hear their voices?” Wade asked.
“No. Not ever. I don’t even know how many were involved. All I do know is that after they burned me, someone kept giving me shots that put me to sleep. I ran a fever. Probably from some infection. They gave me something for that, because the fever finally went away.”
“Do you know why you were taken?”
Raymond looked a bit startled. “What do you mean? Wasn’t it because of a ransom?”
Wade shook his head. “No, sir. We had no contact with them whatsoever.”
Raymond paled. “They never asked for anything?”
“No, sir.”
“Then why did they turn me loose?”
Wade’s expression changed from serious to stunned. “You mean you didn’t escape?”
“No,” Raymond muttered. “Hell, I couldn’t have crawled from here to the door, let alone gotten myself into town.”
At this point, Judd interrupted. “Mr. Shuler, I’m going to ask you a question, and I want you to think very hard before you answer.”
“Okay,” Raymond said.
“Do you have any enemies?”
Shuler snorted, then winced when the motion caused him pain.
“I’m a banker, sir. Of course I have enemies.” Then he added, “But none that I think capable of this.”
Judd persisted. “Think back. Before you worked at the bank, what did you do?”
Shuler frowned. “I was in college. Before that, I was in high school. My father owned the bank. I came to work straight out of college and took over when he died.”
Wade interrupted. “Judd, exactly what are you getting at?”
“This was never about money,” he said.
Both men looked startled, but Raymond was the first to speak.
“I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
Judd never took his eyes from Shuler’s face. “What happened to you was a case of pure revenge. Whoever took you wanted you scared and miserable, and the brand is so that even after you’re well, you will never forget.”
Shuler blanched, while Wade congratulated himself on bringing Hanna into the case. This was an angle he hadn’t considered.
“But who?” Shuler whispered.
Judd leaned closer. “You tell us, Mr. Shuler. Think back—five, ten, even twenty years. Have you ever done so
mething you weren’t proud of? Something that hurt someone else, maybe not physically, but socially or financially? Enacting revenge is a crime of passion, and the public humiliation they wanted you to suffer is all too obvious.”
Shuler looked angry, as if he was insulted by the very notion of what Judd had asked.
“No, of course…” Suddenly, Shuler froze. His eyes glazed over and his mouth went slack. To Judd’s surprise, Shuler looked away. Judd knew without asking that something had occurred to him—something he didn’t want to admit.
“What?” Wade asked. “Did you think of something that might help?”
“No,” Shuler snapped, then closed his eyes. “I need to sleep now.”
“Yeah, sure,” Wade said. “We’ll talk later.”
“There’s nothing more to tell,” Shuler muttered.
Moments later, the two lawmen were standing in the hall with their hats in their hands as Betty Shuler bid them goodbye and went into Raymond’s room.
“Well, that wasn’t much help,” Wade said.
Judd shook his head, then set his Stetson firmly on his head.
“Oh, I don’t know about that. If I read the man right, I think he remembered something he’d rather forget.”
Wade shrugged. “Maybe so, but that’s all we’re going to get out of him for now. He’ll be released soon. We’ll talk with him some more after he comes home.” Then he grinned. “And speaking of home, it’s time we were heading back. No telling what sort of mischief has been going on in Call City with me out of town.”
They headed for the door, their long legs matching strides. As they reached the police cruiser, Judd paused.
“Wade?”
“Yeah?”
“What’s it like being the only cop in town?”
Wade grinned. “Busy.”
“Did you ever think of working in a larger place? You know…where you would at least have someone to work another shift. From what I can see, you’re basically on call twenty-four hours, seven days a week.”
Wade nodded. “That’s about the size of it, and while a competent deputy or two would be nice, nothing would be worth what I’d lose if I lived somewhere else. Call City suits me, and even more, it suits Charlotte and Rachel. I don’t want that baby growing up in the big city and getting lost in the hell that goes on there.”