by Chris Pike
“Paper money isn’t much good anymore,” Ralph said.
“It’s not paper money I need to give them.”
“Then what do you need to give them?”
Kurt placed a hand over his heart and thumped his chest. “It’s a message from the heart. You know how old folks are. They get real sentimental when they’re close to death.”
“Oh,” Ralph said. “Sorry to hear your folks are doing poorly.”
“It’s been tough on the whole family.” Kurt cleared his throat and fake sniffled, glancing away.
“Tell you what,” Ralph said. “I’m not supposed to let anybody in who doesn’t live here, but since you know the Chandler family, here’s my business card. I’ll sign it for you. You said your name was Kurt Durant?”
“That’s me.”
Ralph scribbled his name on the card. “You need to give it to the guards at the next corner. Tell them what you told me and they’ll let you through.”
“I appreciate that,” Kurt said. He did a quick calculation regarding how much time had passed and how far Amanda and Chandler could have traveled. Since he didn’t exactly know where they were going, he took another chance. “I go up to 2222 and turn left? Sorry, it’s been a while since I’ve been to their house.”
Ralph ran a hand across his chin. Nick, his son, the one who Chandler made sure the bully wouldn’t bother him anymore, was standing next to him. “Nick, do you know where the Chandler family lives?”
“Yeah, I sure do. Go up to 2222, turn left, go about a mile or so until you come to the second stoplight. Make another left and the road will wind around for a while until you come to a street called Big View. The house is at the end of the street. Can’t miss it because it’s the oldest house in the neighborhood.”
“I remember now. A big, two-story house?” Kurt asked, hoping the 50/50 chance was in his favor.
“Right.”
Kurt breathed an internal sigh of relief. “Thank you so much.” He mentally patted himself on the back. Lying was getting easier and easier.
“Good luck to you,” Ralph said. “It’s about thirty minute bike ride from here.”
* * *
Kurt Durant showed the card to the guards at the next intersection. They let him pass and said the same thing nice old Ralph had said about Chris Chandler. “You only missed him by a few minutes.”
“Just my luck,” Kurt replied.
Since Kurt now knew the exact location of the house, the pressure was off. He thanked the guards, waved goodbye, then leisurely pedaled the rest of the way. When he came to the top of the hill where the main street ended and Big View began, Kurt stopped to take a rest.
The winding, sloping street meandered along the contours of the Colorado River. Million dollar houses on oversized lots faced the river where docked boats sat silent. A few kids played hopscotch on the sidewalks where a grid had been drawn. A younger child, perhaps around six years old used colored chalk to draw on a driveway next to a Range Rover and BMW sitting idly. Further down the street, a man cut grass using an old reel mower which didn’t rely on a motorized engine.
Each house had a mailbox near the street. As Kurt rode along the street, he made a mental note on the mailbox that was personalized with the last name Andrews.
If Kurt hadn’t known better, it might have been a normal lazy Sunday afternoon. Wives would be cooking dinner; husbands watching a football game. The neighborhood didn’t look any worse for the wear. He’d have to tell Zack they needed to make a supply run here some day.
He decided more intel was needed on Amanda and Chandler. He leaned into his bike, pushed down on the right pedal, and bicycled along the street. When he came to the house, he stopped and pretended to fiddle with the bike chain, all the while his eyes were roaming over the property. It appeared the Chandlers were getting ready for a party, which gave him an idea. Stepping off the bike, he walked it up to the house, kicked down the kickstand, and leaned the bike to the side. He knocked on the door and someone from inside yelled, “Just a moment!”
The door swung open.
It was Amanda.
Kurt stood there with his mouth open. He had not expected Amanda to open the door, and he was sure she’d recognize him.
A beat later Nipper came running up, barking.
Amanda bent over and held Nipper back by the collar. “Sorry about that. He always barks at strangers. Can I help you?” she asked, struggling to hold Nipper while looking up at Kurt at an odd angle.
“I’m not sure I have the right house,” Kurt said. He put his hand to his face trying to hide. “I’m looking for the Andrews. Is this their house by any chance?”
“I’m only visiting here,” she said, and Kurt let out a breath he had been holding.
Amanda said, “I’ll get someone to help you.” She struggled with Nipper, who was using all his strength to wiggle away from her grasp. “I’m sorry, let me put him up. He’s stronger than he looks and has been trying to get outside since I got here. I’ll get someone else to help you.” Amanda awkwardly shut the door.
Amanda yelled for Tatiana to come to the door.
A moment later the door opened. “Hello, I’m Tatiana. You’re looking for the Andrews?”
“Yes. Is this the right house?”
“Lots of people make that mistake. I get their mail from time to time, but not anymore.”
Kurt looked at her oddly.
“There’s no mail delivery.”
“Of course.”
Tatiana shut the door and stepped onto the porch. “Their house number is similar to ours. They’re up the street.” She pointed in the direction. “It’s the house on the left, the two-story with the bright red door.”
“I see it now. Sorry to bother you folks,” Kurt said.
“When you see them, tell Faith to come a little early.”
Kurt only looked at Tatiana.
“We’re having a party tonight,” she said. “You’re welcome to come too.”
“Thank you. I can’t—”
Tatiana waved him off. “Of course you can stop by. We have cold beer on the patio. Go ask my husband. He’s out back with our two sons and their Uncle Billy.”
“I wouldn’t want to be a bother.”
“No bother. It’s a great day and we’re getting ready for a celebration.”
“What are you celebrating?”
“Originally it was to celebrate my youngest son bagging a deer, but now since my oldest son is back, we’re going to celebrate that. We haven’t seen him in over a year. And we’ve got company.” Tatiana checked to her right then left. She lowered her voice and said, “He brought home a girl.”
“How nice. Well, ma’am, you must have a lot of work to do and I wouldn’t want to intrude on your husband and boys.”
“Thought I’d ask,” Tatiana said. “Maybe we’ll see you tonight.”
Kurt tipped his cap and said, “On the other hand, maybe I will pop by. Save me a cold beer, will ya?” Taking the handlebars of his bike, he turned it around and walked it along the sidewalk. He stopped at the street, waved and said, “Thanks again.”
“You’re welcome,” Tatiana said.
Kurt biked over to the Andrews’ house and leaned his bike at the mailbox. He strolled up the sidewalk, glanced back at where Tatiana had been, and waved in case she was still watching. Satisfied she had gone back into her house, Kurt grabbed his bike and disappeared over the hill. He had to make it back to the Tower before it got dark.
* * *
An hour later, Kurt was back at the University of Texas Tower, reporting what he had learned to his brother.
Zack was sitting at the table in the cramped room. He had taken apart his Glock to clean it. Various cleaning supplies were laid out in an orderly fashion. On the table was a bore brush, powder solvent, an old toothbrush to clean the nooks and crannies, a jag for pushing cleaning patches through the bore, gun oil, and lithium grease.
“You sure they’re having a party?” Zack asked.
He took a chamber brush and dipped it in the solvent, scrubbing to loosen grime.
“His mom told me herself. She said something about having a bunch of neighbors over for a potluck dinner because her oldest son was back in town. She was happy that—”
Zack put up a hand. “Spare me the details.” He set the chamber brush on the table. “How many are there?”
“Don’t know. The party hadn’t started yet.”
“That’s not what I mean. How many live at the house?”
“His mom, dad, his brother, and Uncle Billy.”
“Hmm,” Zack said. “That means they have four armed men. What about the mom?”
“She looked harmless.”
“About as harmless as Amanda looked when she shot that man dead at her grandfather’s house?”
Kurt didn’t reply.
“Don’t ever underestimate someone by their size, Kurt. Guns are the big equalizer. A 45 is just as deadly in a woman’s hand as a man’s.” Zack rose from the chair, walked over to a window, and gazed out at the view. He kept his thoughts to himself as he mulled over what he had learned. “Did you see Amanda?”
“Actually, I did,” Kurt replied. “She answered the door.”
“What!” Kurt exclaimed. “You didn’t knock on the door, did you?”
“Yeah, I did. So what?”
“That was a stupid thing to do.”
“I didn’t expect her to answer the door.”
“Did she recognize you?”
“Not at all.”
“Are you sure she didn’t recognize you?”
“Absolutely sure. When she came to the door, her dog started barking, trying to get outside. She was struggling with the stupid mutt and never got a good look at me. Besides, the last time she saw me was five years and thirty pounds ago.”
“What kind of dog?” Zack asked.
“I don’t know. Some kind of mutt,” Kurt replied.
“Big or little?”
“Medium sized. The dumb mutt means so much to her that she made a special crate for him and packed him on the horse. All the way from East Texas.”
“How do you know that?” Kurt asked.
“Don’t you remember? I stopped at Holly’s ranch pretending to be looking for a long lost relative. She and Dillon gave me all the details.”
“Oh yeah, I remember now,” Zack said. “She must really love the dog.”
“I suppose so,” Kurt said.
Zack gazed upon the campus and beyond to the center of Austin. To the south, the capitol building stood like a sentry overlooking the city. The downtown skyline of hotels and banks loomed in the distance. Rolling hills lined the horizon to the west. A buzzard glided effortlessly on a cold draft.
“What are you thinking about?” Kurt asked.
“Her dog gave me an idea,” Zack said. “Round up two men and get my car ready. We’re going to put a damper on that party. It’s rude they didn’t invite us, don’t you think?”
Chapter 22
“Who’d you say got murdered?” Amanda asked.
Tatiana had asked Amanda to check on the guys and ask them how much longer it would take to set up the backyard. Amanda’s footsteps on the winter grass were silent as she approached Chandler, his dad, Luke, and Uncle Billy. They were sitting at a picnic table, engrossed in their conversation and had not noticed her.
Amanda loosely held Nipper by a leash. When she stopped, she tugged the leash, instructing Nipper to sit on his haunches beside her. He looked up at her for further guidance.
The four men exchanged wary glances. Uncle Billy set down the beer he had been drinking.
“Practicing your Ninja skills, I see,” Chandler said.
Amanda ignored the attempt at humor since she wasn’t quite sure she didn’t hear them right in the first place. “Who did you say it was?”
Chandler sighed. “I’m not sure how to tell you this…”
“Tell me what?”
Chandler looked at his dad for confirmation. John nodded for Chandler to go on. “Your great aunt was murdered.”
“Mayme Hardy?” Amanda looked at him with a mixture of disbelief and horror. “I thought that’s what you said. Are you sure it was her?”
“I’m sorry,” Chandler said. He went over to her and put a hand on her shoulder.
“Come sit down at the table with us. Uncle Billy, can you get Amanda something to drink? A beer maybe?”
“Is she old enough?” Uncle Billy asked.
“Does it matter?”
“Guess not.”
“For the record she is old enough.”
Amanda sat on the bench, sandwiched between Chandler and Luke. Nipper jumped up on the bench and squeezed in between them. Amanda’s hand went to her dog and she stroked him along his back, then up to his ears. Nipper leaned into her, sensing her anxiety.
“Thank you,” Amanda said when Uncle Billy handed her a beer. He had already popped the top. She took a sip, made a face, then took another sip. “I don’t even like beer,” she said.
Amanda sighed deeply. “I don’t know how to feel about what happened. I didn’t even know her.” She hung her head, her eyes focused on the wood grain of the table, mesmerized by the simplicity of the pattern. She traced one of the swirls. “What kind of wood is this?”
When nobody answered her question, Luke asked, “Dad, do you know?”
John shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe cedar.” He shot Chandler a confused look.
Amanda nodded. “My grandpa made a picnic table out of redwood. For some reason, it reminded me of him.”
To say Chandler was baffled by Amanda’s reaction was an understatement. He had expected her to cry at learning her great aunt had been murdered, maybe even get up and run back to the house. But to talk about wood? It was quite strange. Perhaps she wasn’t feeling well. He placed a hand on her back. “Amanda, are you okay?”
She handed the beer to Uncle Billy, who didn’t waste any time consuming it. “I met her once when I was little, then saw her again at my parent’s funeral. After that, I went to live with my grandfather. You’d think since she was alone and lived near Austin she’d want me to live with her, but she didn’t. She never even came to visit us. It’s not like I’m sad or anything. It’s just that she was the only connection I had left to my parents and grandpa.” Amanda raised her eyes to Chandler’s dad. “How did it happen?”
“Well,” John said. He cleared his throat and shifted his weight. “It happened before the EMP. It was all over the papers. From what I read, she lived by herself on the ranch. She was somewhat of a recluse and didn’t have many friends. She had a maid that came out to the house once a week, and it was the maid that found her. She had been shot once in the back of the head.”
“That’s awful.” Amanda scowled. She put her elbows on the table and rested her hands on each side of her cheeks.
John nodded. “It must have been quite a shock for the maid to find her like that, with half her head blown off.”
“Dad!” Chandler’s voice was scolding. “Details like that aren’t needed.”
“Sorry.”
“Was it a robbery gone bad?” Amanda asked.
“Nothing was taken,” John said.
“Was she assaulted?”
“Not according to the paper.”
“My grandpa didn’t even know about it. Why wasn’t he notified?”
“It happened so close to the EMP I guess the authorities didn’t have time to contact him.” John paused then continued. “According to the paper, several developers were getting ready to take her to court to force her to sell her property by using eminent domain.”
“I learned about that in school,” Amanda said. “It’s some law where the government can confiscate private land for the good of the people.”
“They can,” John said, “but only if certain legal requirements are met, and only if fair value of the land was paid. I’m not a lawyer, so I can’t give you the specifics of the law. According to the paper s
he owned the land 50/50 with her brother—your grandfather.”
Amanda snapped her fingers. “I remember now. She and my grandpa must have talked about it. I heard him on the phone cussing about the government and how no good and crooked they are, and how they were trying to confiscate the family homestead.” She paused and took a breath. “Then he got sick, and I didn’t hear anything about it anymore. I thought it had been dropped.”
John said, “Well, it never was. Now that your grandfather is deceased, and from what Chandler told me, you are the only heir to your grandpa’s estate.”
Amanda looked confused. “I don’t quite understand. I know I’m his only heir. Where is all this going?”
“With your great aunt gone, and since she never had any children, you are the sole owner of five hundred prime acres in West Austin and a large spread in East Texas.”
“But I still don’t understand,” Amanda said. “If the courts were going to force her to sell, why would someone murder her?”
John leaned into her. “That, Amanda, is what we would like to know too.”
Chapter 23
Using her thumb and middle finger Amanda massaged her temple. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go lie down for a little while. I have a headache.”
“I’ll come with you,” Chandler said.
He escorted Amanda to the house. His mother was at the kitchen sink preparing a fruit salad with canned goods she had stocked up on from the local Costco before the grid went down. She immediately sensed the tension between the two.
“Is something wrong?” Tatiana asked.
“Mom,” Chandler said, “is there someplace Amanda can lay down? She’s not feeling well.”
Tatiana wiped her hands on a hand towel, folded it, and put it on the counter. “Use Kate’s room.” Tatiana put her arm around Amanda. “Can I get you anything, honey?”
“Do you have any Advil?” Amanda asked. “I’ve got a terrible headache coming on.”