Deadly Countdown

by Margaret Daley

  His gaze fixed on her mouth as it moved, no doubt entertaining the others with some of her adventures. As a teen she’d seemed to attract danger. A couple of times, he’d saved her life—once from an alligator she hadn’t seen in the bayou when it decided she was its next meal. After that near encounter with the gator, she had stopped taking risks but still managed to find trouble.

  He scanned the crowd, trying to determine who would stalk her. She was always upbeat and ready to help anyone in need. He missed talking to her every day as they had when he’d lived here, especially since they had lived near each other on the bayou.

  Bo Fayard joined the group surrounding Allie, his heavy eyebrows slashing down, his thin mouth firmed. He could see Bo as the guy behind this harassment. He had left the post office when Allie was inside. Tomorrow, Remy would do some investigating.

  But who else? Remy skimmed the faces—dismissing the married, too young, and the old ones for the moment.

  His gaze fell on Paul Dupree. He was single again. Paul was five years older than he and Allie. Paul’s former wife had been a beauty who couldn’t take the isolation and lack of activities she enjoyed. She’d only stayed half a year, although they remained married a while longer. Paul had always appreciated good looks above anything else. He had that and much more with Allie and her caring nature.

  Two other men, who had shown an interest in Allie while they were young, stood out as Remy finished his perusal. Elroy Thibodeaux, who worked on a shrimp boat with his father, and Anthony Chauvin, who owned the only garage in town. He and Allie had gone to school with him. If he remembered correctly, Anthony had always had a crush on her. He was another one to check out tomorrow.

  Remy crossed the large room, greeting people as he went. He liked living in Dallas, but there were times he missed the quiet of a small town. Life usually moved slowly like the water of the bayou toward the Gulf.

  Suddenly, Evelina Johnson stood in front of him, blocking his way. She grabbed his hand and tugged him off to the side, away from the crowd of partygoers. “Okay, what’s going on with Allie? She isn’t telling me much. I’m supposed to bring Tom home tonight if she decides to leave early. Why aren’t you taking your grandfather home?”

  Allie always tried to protect her aunt. Remy faced down the she bear that had him cornered. “Because I’m leaving early too.”

  Evelina’s eyes grew round. “With Allie?”

  “No, right after her.”

  “Why?”

  He wouldn’t lie to Evelina, but he would have a few words for Allie about not letting her aunt know what was happening. “Someone is harassing her, and I’m making sure he doesn’t follow her home.”

  “A few weeks ago, she found some candy on our porch. She didn’t seem upset about it. I thought she was finally getting over Landry’s death and had a new boyfriend. Is it the person who left the candy?”

  “Probably. His gifts of late haven’t been that nice.”

  “What gifts? She hasn’t said anything about any more presents.”

  “Today, a confetti cannon went off in her car. Before that, she received a framed photo collage of her, each picture taken as she went through her day.”

  “Creepy.” Fury descended over Evelina’s features, and her fists went to her waist. “Who?”

  “Don’t know. That’s the problem. Any suggestions?”

  “Several have asked her out since Landry died, but she hasn’t gone on any dates.”

  “Who would they be?”

  “Bo Fayard, Paul Dupree, and Jules Gauthier.”

  “Papere told me Jules left town about six months ago.”

  Evelina’s frown deepened. “And if he was around, I’d say he would be at the top of the list. He was persistent and wouldn’t take no from Allie.”

  “Where did he go?”

  Allie’s aunt shrugged. “His mama doesn’t know.”

  “Did she file a missing person report with the sheriff?”

  “Nope. When she came home, Jules was gone with some of his stuff and her money. She’d washed her hands of him.” Evelina thrust her shoulders back. “I can follow Allie.”

  “Let me take care of it. I do this for a living.”

  Allie’s aunt glanced over her shoulder at her niece. When her attention returned to Remy, a gleam sparked her eyes. “And you think you can figure out who’s stalking her before you go back to Dallas?”

  “I aim to try. I have a few weeks.”

  She relaxed the tense set of her body. “It’s interesting how God has worked it out for you to be here when Allie needs you and your—skills. Tom and I have often wondered why you two never dated.”

  Remy swallowed hard, remembering what his grandfather had said earlier. “I don’t want to ruin a great friendship. She married Landry.”

  “And he has been dead three years.”

  Remy peered at Allie, who was now talking with Bo Fayard, Adrien Vincent, and a small gathering of others who worked for the marina. Adrien was the harbormaster and Landry’s cousin. He’d often been included in things they did as kids. Remy hated suspecting people he’d considered good friends. “Excuse me, Evelina. I think I’ll join Allie.”

  She sighed. “Yes, you should. Keep an eye on my gal.”

  As Remy made his way toward Allie, his injured leg ached more than usual from the long day.

  Evelina hurried to his grandfather, probably to plot some way to get Allie and him together. After his near death in Dallas, he’d been trying to put his life back together. Maybe assisting Allie would help him with getting his investigative skills back after being on medical leave for over three months.

  * * *

  Allie sipped her lemonade then set it on the table nearby as Bo Fayard shifted toward her.

  “I hear you were down at the dock snooping around the boats. Looking for me?” Bo asked, winking his eye. “All you have to do is let me know, and I’ll make sure I’m there.”

  “I was looking for Captain LeBlanc. I was not snooping.” Bo wasn’t anything like his brother Cal. Those two didn’t get along and never had, even growing up. Most likely the reason Bo signed on to David’s Folly with Captain DuBois instead of joining his uncle’s crew on the Miss Betty. She didn’t want to say anything to upset Bo, so she gritted her teeth.

  Adrien looked at her then swung his attention to Bo. “When are y’all going back out?”

  “In a couple of days.”

  “David’s Folly has had quite a haul these past months. I imagine y’all are exhausted.”

  Allie breathed easier now that Adrien had stepped in and turned the discussion to fishing, instead of Bo wanting her to go out with him.

  “Not too exhausted to take you on a date.” Again, Bo winked at her.

  She scanned the crowd. Remy headed toward her. She didn’t need any more motivation than that to cut short the conversation with Bo. She loved when Remy winked, but not Bo. She grabbed her lemonade from the table. “It’s been a long day. I’m calling it an evening. I’ll see you tomorrow at work, Adrien.” As harbormaster, she worked closely with him concerning the marina.

  “You’re leaving? The party’s just started.” Bo looked at her drink. “Do you want some more to take with you?”

  “No, I’m fine.”

  “Well, then let me escort you to your car at least.” Bo gave her a huge smile as though that would make a difference.

  “That’s okay. It’s right there in the parking lot. Y’all enjoy the party. See y’all tomorrow.” Allie took two more swallows of her lemonade then gave Adrien a smile. When she looked at Bo, she shook her head and started for her car, making sure Remy saw her so he could follow. She tossed her cup in the trashcan at the end of one of the food tables.

  Before stepping off the pier, she paused to get her bearings after such a tiring day. Energy drained from her by the second. Her stomach roiled. She should have eaten more than the desserts since she’d skipped lunch. Spying her car, she kept her gaze on it and headed in that direction.
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  When she slid behind the steering wheel, she tried to insert the key into the ignition but missed two times. She opened the door, and light flooded the interior. This time she managed to start the car, but her hands shook. The incident this morning had affected her more than she realized.

  As she pulled out of her parking space, Remy left the party, jogging toward his SUV. By the time she’d driven to the end of the main street, lightheadedness attacked her, and for a few seconds, she thought she was getting sick. She only had two miles to go. Then she could lie down and sleep.

  The straight stretch of road following the bayou ahead of her blurred. She closed her eyes just for a second. When they popped open, all she saw before her was the ditch on the side. And she was heading toward it. She jerked the steering wheel hard and sent the car into a spin.

  Chapter Three

  Driving behind Allie about a football field length away, Remy watched helplessly as Allie’s Jeep spun around twice before sliding off the road and into the shallow ditch running alongside the bayou. No more than ten seconds had passed. The vehicle’s rear end stuck up in the air, leaning to the left with the back tires still rotating. Stunned by the suddenness of the accident, Remy gunned his car and raced to Allie’s rescue.

  His heart thumping against his chest, he parked near her Jeep then fumbled for his cell, hoping this wasn’t a dead zone. No bars.

  Climbing out of his SUV, Remy raced toward Allie, praying she was okay. What happened? She’d certainly driven this road enough. Had she tried to avoid an animal he hadn’t seen?

  As he rounded the rear and approached Allie on the driver’s side, adrenaline pumped through his veins. He’d covered his share of car accidents, but this wasn’t Dallas where medical help was close.

  Gripping the handle, he peeked into the window as he tugged on the door. It wouldn’t budge. The glow from his headlights didn’t illuminate the interior well enough for him to assess Allie’s condition. He felt the bottom of the door, which was jammed into the muddy ground. He yanked again. Nothing.

  His heartbeat accelerated even more with the thought she could be seriously injured. He retraced his steps to his SUV and retrieved a flashlight. When he returned to the Jeep, he opened the rear door. Her car couldn’t fall any further so climbing in this way should be okay. He was just thankful she hadn’t ended up in the bayou, only feet away.

  “Allie?”

  Silence—except for the sound of a bull gator’s growl highlighting the hidden dangers in the swamp nearby.

  “Allie, are you okay?” He crawled over the backseat, the dim overhead light not giving him much illumination.

  He shone the flashlight into the front and spied Allie slumped to the right, the seatbelt the only thing holding her up. A fine white powder from the deployed airbag covered her. He clambered over the passenger seat, twisted toward her and shoved the airbag away from her as much as he could. Seeing no blood, he reached to check for a pulse. It beat beneath his fingertips, and his rigid body sagged in relief. She was alive. Again, the glow from the flashlight bathed her face, then her body, as he examined her for injuries.

  After turning off the engine and pocketing the lone car key, he shook her shoulder. “Allie. Allie.” He kept the light trained on her, watching for any kind of response.

  Her eyelids fluttered, and she groaned. She slapped at the hand holding the flashlight. “What—hap—happened?” Her words slurred together as though she were drunk.

  But she couldn’t be intoxicated. She hated alcohol and drugs, especially after she’d seen what they had done to her mother.

  He stared at his cell phone. Still no bars. He’d have reception at their houses. “Can you move? Do you hurt anywhere?”

  “Surrree.” She tried, but the seatbelt kept her locked in place.

  He released the clasp and then put his hand on her shoulder. “I’ll help you.”

  “I can…” She wilted against him.

  “Come on.” After he grabbed her purse from the floorboard, he crawled between the two front seats then turned and assisted her through the gap.

  When they reached the back area of the Jeep, he hopped off the rear ledge to the soft, spongy ground and sank into the mud. He held his arms out for her. All she did was look at them then droop forward. He caught her and dragged her from the Jeep then wound his arms around her to hold her up.

  After she took several stumbling steps, he scooped her up in his embrace and carried her the rest of the way to his SUV. If he didn’t know better, he would think she was drunk. Was she drugged?

  He quickly secured her in the passenger seat then hurried to the driver’s side. As he drove away from the wreck, he slanted a glance at her. Allie’s head lolled against the window. She stared forward, and he got the feeling she wasn’t really registering the passing scenery.

  Five minutes later, he parked next to her aunt’s house. “Stay there. I’ll help you inside.”

  He came around, digging into her purse for the house key. With her still unsteady on her feet, Remy carried her into the house and laid her on the couch.

  As he cushioned her head, he peered at her. Her eyelids slid closed, and she went limp.

  He’d seen this behavior in someone drunk or in a victim of a date rape drug. He didn’t smell any alcohol on Allie, so he would assume it was the latter. With all that had been happening to her lately, that seemed the most likely cause of her condition. Depending on what was slipped to her, she might be out for the rest of the night.

  He rechecked her pulse rate and looked for any signs of an injury. Then he retrieved his cell phone to call Evelina. She could contact Celeste Young, the town’s resident physician assistant, whom he’d seen at the party, and have her come out here to make sure Allie was okay. Until then, he would have to wait for answers.

  * * *

  He balled his hands and struck the punching bag that hung from the ceiling in his house. He was gonna have to take care of this newest threat to Allie. He pictured the guy who put something in Allie’s drink at the party tonight and slammed his fist into the bag over and over as though he was beating up the man.

  She could have died tonight. Didn’t men understand she was special? To be treated with as much care as she gave others. He didn’t want to kill again, but he didn’t have a choice. Allie’s safety came first. One day she’d appreciate what he’d done for her.

  * * *

  A pounding against her skull pulled Allie from the black void. She opened her eyes halfway in the dark and moved slightly. Her cheek rubbed against what felt like a pillow. Her bedroom?

  She tried to lift her head, and her world spun. She collapsed back, tempted to surrender to the black void. But questions began to intrude in her dazed mind. Where am I? How did I get here?

  A noise infiltrated her thoughts. A creak—like the chair in her bedroom made. She eased her eyes open again and spied Aunt Evelina walking toward her in the dim light suffusing the area now.

  “Allie? How are you doing?”

  The sound of her aunt’s voice and a quick perusal of the room told Allie where she was. She tried to remember how she’d gotten here and couldn’t.

  “What happened?” Aunt Evelina asked.

  “That’s what…” Allie swallowed several times to coat her parched throat “…I was going to ask you.” Her words came out in a raspy string, but at least they made sense. Nothing else did. She felt so disorientated that her heartbeat hammered against her ribcage. “What day is it? What time is it?”

  “It’s Saturday. Five in the morning. You’ve been out for nine hours.”

  “Out? What do you mean?”

  Her aunt sat on the bed beside Allie. “You were in a wreck—”

  “A wreck?” She shoved herself up on her elbows while Aunt Evelina switched on the bedside lamp, brightening the room even more.

  “Your Jeep is in a ditch between here and town. Remy found you and brought you home.”

  “Where’s Remy?”

  “In the
living room sleeping on the couch. He didn’t want to leave until you woke up and he knew you were all right, even though Celeste said it didn’t appear you had any injuries other than maybe whiplash.”

  “Whiplash? Did I hit someone?” Panic invaded her confused mind.

  “You don’t remember?” Remy asked from the hallway.

  Allie looked at him, his dark hair rumpled. His day’s growth of beard made him appear rugged. The sight of him kept the panic at bay. He would know what happened—she prayed. “No. I got into my car to drive home. I saw you come out, and that’s the last thing I remember. How did I get in a wreck?”

  “Your Jeep was headed for the ditch. You must have realized that and jerked the wheel to steer clear. Instead your car went into a spin.”

  She listened to him describe what happened and tried to picture that occurring, but her mind was blank. Panic nibbled at her composure again. “I don’t remember it. Did I hit my head or something?”

  “Celeste didn’t find anything that indicated you did.” Her aunt took her hand. “Thank the Lord you’re okay.”

  Remy moved into the room and folded his long body into the chair Aunt Evelina had been sitting in. Leaning forward, he placed his elbows on his thighs and clasped his hands. “You appeared drunk to me. Did you have anything alcoholic last night? Or take any medication that would make you drowsy?”

  Allie shook her head, the action making her dizzy. “I had two lemonades and way too many sweets, but neither should give me a high that would make me black out.”

  “It would if someone doctored your drink.”

  “Like my secret admirer?” Allie frowned. “No, he isn’t my admirer. My stalker.”

  Remy nodded. “Did you get your own drink?”

  “The first one. Paul gave me the second lemonade.”

  “Did you leave your glass unattended at anytime?”