A Lethal Time (A Samantha Jamison Mystery Volume 4)

by Peggy A. Edelheit

  Speaking of partners, if they were in this together, then they were throwing red herrings, so to speak, to keep me chasing my tail trying to figure what was going down when all the while it was happening right in front of me.

  “I need you to be straight about something else, Sarah.”

  “Go ahead. I want to help you all I can.”

  “What were you doing at the rally the other night?”

  “Which night?”

  That threw me. “…That night of that barbecue tent incident when all the fights started.”

  She chuckled. “I thought you saw me.”

  “I did, including your three buddies. Why the outfit?”

  “I was looking for George and needed to blend in.”

  Chapter 71

  The Change Up

  Now, there were a lot of ways I could approach this, but the one that first came to mind was the best, being direct.

  “Did you find him?”

  She hesitated, then smiled. “You know I didn’t.”

  I chuckled. “You saw me follow you in the dark?”

  “You and your friend, Crystal, weren’t exactly subtle.”

  “The art of surveillance is one of my weaknesses.”

  “But I applaud your bravery in following the unknown.”

  “The unknown fascinates me. …So, who was he?”

  “You’re not being subtle now, are you?”

  “It’s an adjective with the least rewards at the moment.”

  “You’re full of surprises, Samantha.”

  “So are you. Now, just tell me who he was.”

  “…He’s my brother from…”

  I finished for her. “…Boston?”

  “Correct.”

  “He’s not exactly friendly.”

  Sarah frowned. “No, that’s one of his negatives.”

  “And his positives?”

  “He’s trying to protect me from someone who is trying to extort money from me and doesn’t trust anyone.”

  “Now, why would someone be doing that?”

  “They have certain information about me that I don’t necessarily want …uh…George to know about.”

  “Would this info upset him in anyway?”

  “Guaranteed to.”

  “Why would you need your brother to protect you?”

  “I don’t want to pay any more money because, now that my money-well is running dry, I can’t fudge funds anymore to pay them off.”

  “So what’s the big deal if George finds out? What would you lose then?”

  “I might lose George.”

  “I thought you were in it strictly for the money.”

  “No. I actually love the old fool, aggravation and all.”

  “So what don’t you want George to know?”

  “I’m not prepared to tell you yet. I need to try this on my own.”

  I was confused. “Do what on your own?”

  She sighed. “I’m not sure who’s blackmailing me.”

  This was crazy. “Why would you be paying money to an individual when you have no idea who they are? How do you know they are telling the truth? How do you know they actually have any proof?”

  She gave me a sharp look. “Of course they have proof! Nothing personal, but do I look like I have blonde hair?”

  I bit back a retort. “None taken. What’s the proof?”

  “A photo of me and someone else who will for the moment remain anonymous.”

  Who was in that picture? Who was blackmailing her?

  Chapter 72

  The Once Over, Once Again

  After talking to George, and then Sarah, I still wasn’t satisfied with where they stood in my book as far as truthful information was concerned. So I took another route and went back to Robinson’s. But this time I’d take a look at his barn. So far all I’d checked out was his house.

  As I stared up at the barn, I knew Robinson’s family had already gone through it looking for anything valuable, but I still wanted to see it with my own two eyes plus five other sets of eyes. My crew insisted on joining in on the search.

  Clay and Crystal pulled on the heavy doors and they creaked open. I stepped forward, the first to enter the two-story barn. Spotting a trap door that led to a lower level, I warned the ladies to watch their step on the old floorboards.

  We were searching for the unusual, but only found rusty tractor chains and harnesses in the stalls, everything you’d expect to find in a barn that sat undisturbed for many years, including small bales of hay stacked in the upper loft.

  “Well, I don’t see any dead bodies yet,” said Martha.

  Betty turned on her. “What a dreadful thing to say!”

  Hazel merely shrugged. “Lucky for her.”

  “What do you mean?” Martha asked, annoyed.

  “You would be the first one out the door if we did.”

  “Says who?”

  Hazel looked up. “Why, I do believe I just saw a bat!”

  Martha ducked, but then realized she’d been had.

  “Just watch out for the black widow spiders,” she said.

  Hazel grabbed onto Crystal in a panic. “Oh, my!”

  Crystal removed Hazel’s fingers. “Hey, easy on the vice grip. You should’ve worn boots if you’re that jumpy.”

  Clay nudged me. “How can we accomplish anything if they are always bickering, taunting each other like this?”

  “Look, you know how they get when they’re frustrated. It’s almost time to go home and we don’t have any...”

  As I spoke to Clay, something in my upper peripheral vision caught my eye. Two bales had moved in the loft. Everyone followed my gaze as the bales shifted once again.

  Pointing, I whispered, “Who do you think is up there and listening to us? That ladder, quick!”

  In seconds, Clay retrieved it and motioned for the rest of us to get back into one of the stall areas where we would be better protected. Not wanting to stand there wasting any time arguing over who should climb the ladder, I ushered everyone out of the way.

  We stood there watching and speculating in low whispers what it might possibly be as Clay slowly climbed up. For once I was glad Clay took the lead on this with his extra hundred pounds of solid muscle.

  He turned back signaling for us to be quiet, while he stealthily stepped off the last rung and disappeared from our view...

  Chapter 73

  Goodness Snakes Alive!

  Within seconds, chaos broke loose in the upper hayloft with thumping and yelling, as several incoherent words drifted down our way. Curious, we ventured closer to the ladder to catch what was being said.

  “What the hell?” yelled Clay from up above.

  Betty grabbed my arm. “Shouldn’t we be helping him?”

  “Whatever it is, it doesn’t sound good,” said Hazel.

  As hay went airborne, we somehow managed to dodge the larger clumps that began dropping everywhere.

  Martha edged closer to me. “Maybe one of us should climb up to find out if he needs help.”

  Crystal came over to me, but I held up my hand.

  “No, Crystal, I’ll go up.”

  “Be my guest. I was just offering to hold the ladder.”

  “…Oh.”

  Since no one else stepped forward and volunteered to take up the cause, I reluctantly took a deep breath, turned and faced the ladder. I no sooner had my foot on the first rung when something came flying and landed between us.

  “Snake!” Hazel yelled, trying to release my grip and shove me aside to climb up the ladder to get away from it.

  We watched in horror as it slithered between Martha’s legs. Shocked she was frozen to the spot. It disappeared into the tall grasses beyond the barn doors. Noise and hollering started up again in the hayloft and we reluctantly tore our eyes from where the snake was last seen and turned our attention back in Clay’s direction.

  Why wasn’t Clay telling us what was going on up there?

  I started up again, but anothe
r clump fell to the floor.

  “God almighty, another snake!” Martha yelled, jumping.

  This time Crystal started shoving me aside, but I stood my ground. If anyone was going up first, I was. I grabbed on and was instantly shoved upward by the others, who were just as anxious to get off the ground, when it suddenly dawned on me what a dumb move I was making.

  “Wait!” I yelled to the others. “Forget it! Look out!”

  Everyone stepped aside, giving me room to leap to the floorboards. Betty was hopping up and down, itching to go somewhere, but wasn’t sure what was safe at that point.

  “Why are we going up,” I asked, “when that is exactly where the snakes are falling from?”

  “Good point,” said Martha, glancing back to where the second snake had disappeared.

  Suddenly the ladder lost its appeal as an escape route, but those two snakes were still lurking somewhere outside. We stared at each other trying to decide on rescuing Clay or getting the hell out of there. No one raised their hand.

  “Clay’s used to dealing with undesirables,” said Crystal.

  Martha agreed. “If anything, he’s street-savvy.”

  Chapter 74

  Giving Chase

  I was about to tell them they were better off in the house when loud shuffling sounds came from above. We stepped back, giving a wide berth to whatever might fall next.

  But instead of seeing another snake flying down, it was Clay, yelling as he descended, “Move! There’s more!”

  We didn’t need to be told twice. By the time he hit the floor, we were already at the barn doors, disregarding the threat that slithered in the deeper grasses beyond.

  For a split second, the group froze, trying to decide which way to go. I held up my hand for all to see, and in it was the key to Robinson’s house. Without a word said, the group tore a path to it, shoving and pushing to get in first.

  “I’m moving as fast as I can!” I hollered, unlocking it.

  When we were all safely inside the small kitchen, I slammed the door shut and turned to Clay.

  “What happened up there?”

  “Well, I can tell you I never expected snakes.”

  “From the sound of it, more than two?” Martha asked.

  “There was a whole nest of them.”

  “But why the ruckus?” she asked. “What took so long?”

  “I found myself surrounded when I made the mistake of shoving one of the bales off to the side. I’ve got news for you. They don’t take too kindly to someone disturbing their nest, especially when there are babies involved.”

  No one spoke for a second as the visuals played out.

  “You could have been bitten!” I said, thinking the worst.

  “I’m lucky I wasn’t.”

  “How did they get airborne?” Crystal asked.

  “From a board. Did you know they climb them, too?”

  Since we were all picturing it, there was another pause.

  “…That explains the commotion,” Betty finally added.

  “You sure flew down that ladder,” said Martha.

  “Like a real pro,” laughed Hazel.

  “Any other bright ideas?” Clay asked, turning to me.

  “I think we can write the barn off for now, but still...”

  “…But still what?” he asked, warily.

  Martha got it. “…We haven’t checked one area yet.”

  The others stared at her.

  “…Now, where’s that?” Crystal asked skeptically.

  She gave a half smile. “…The basement?”

  No one wisecracked. There was dead silence…

  “…You did say the basement, correct?” Betty asked.

  “Yes.”

  Barely audible, Hazel whispered, “…With a dirt floor?”

  “I guess it’s old enough to have one,” I said.

  “Hey, no worries,” Clay offered smugly. “I’m here.”

  “Ha, the big snake killer,” said Martha. “We’re so safe!”

  They weren’t exactly jumping on board and embracing Martha’s idea, so I chided, “Hey, what could possibly be down in the cellar? Some cobwebs and spiders?”

  Chapter 75

  Step By Step

  After making our way down the old, rotted, wooden steps and ducking under a low beam, we stood there staring around the dusky-smelling cellar via Martha’s trusty, keychain light that was proving its worth, like once before. Sagging, moldy shelves were loaded with canning jars.

  “Looks like food was stored down here,” I said.

  Martha chuckled. “…And maybe something more.”

  “That wasn’t necessary. It’s creepy enough,” said Hazel.

  “Lighten up,” said Martha. “It’s just an old dark cellar.”

  “…We forgot a shovel,” teased Crystal from the rear.

  Betty clutched my arm. “…Are we looking for bodies?”

  I felt warm breath on my neck and jumped. “…Clay?”

  “Who did you think it was?”

  “It wasn’t me,” laughed Crystal, who was trailing the group. “I feel just fine way back here following all of you.”

  Martha turned back. “Ever hear of a rear attack?”

  Crystal shoved her way through. “Hey, move over.”

  From behind us in the shadows, there was a creak.

  “Don’t tell me one of you is leaving!” mocked Martha.

  Clay whispered. “We’re all standing here, Martha.”

  We heard it again.

  “Uh, oh!” I whispered, looking around.

  Martha flashed her light on the steps as the door clicked.

  Clay raced up the stairs. “We’re locked in!”

  “Who would do that?” asked a terrified Betty.

  “Someone who doesn’t want company,” said Crystal.

  “You don’t suppose they’d start a fire, do you?” I asked.

  “…With us still down here?” Hazel asked nervously.

  Clay started to ram the door with his shoulder, but after numerous attempts, gave up. “Solid as a rock.”

  Martha grabbed my shoulder. “Is that smoke I smell?”

  There was a sudden inhaling of breaths.

  “No!” Hazel snapped. “Now, stop scaring us to death.”

  “Hey, I’m just asking. All this dampness is clogging my sinuses and affecting my finer skills of detection.”

  Betty nudged her. “How are your mental ones? Got any bright ideas how to get us out of this?”

  “Hey, let’s all check our cells,” I suggested. A few seconds passed as motions were made to check for a signal.

  “Forget it. There’s no signal down here,” said Clay.

  “Ditto for me, too,” added Crystal.

  Everyone shoved their phones back into their pockets and began looking for a way out. No one felt like rubbing up against the unknown out of Martha’s beam of light and didn’t venture too far. The walls didn’t look that promising as far as touching, either with their spidery cobwebs. So we shuffled like a small pack under the cover of Martha’s mini light, going from one area to the next looking for an escape.

  Suddenly, dragging sounds were heard from above us.

  “Whoever it is, they’re searching the house,” I said.

  Chapter 76

  Searching For & Getting The Unexpected

  “I don’t see windows, and we need an out,” said Crystal

  I had an idea. “Hey, remember that raccoon? There must be something here to pry those boards that were refastened. I’m not about to let someone snuff us out with fire, smoke, or lack of air when they’re finished searching the house.”

  Approaching a wardrobe laced in stringy cobwebs, we all stepped back as Martha flung it open. “Nothing.”

  “Let’s keep going,” said Crystal, nudging the group.

  “Wait!” Martha said “Remember Robinson’s room?”

  “Let’s not waste time on that old thing,” said Clay.

  Considering the
situation, I knew I had to confess to him about finding those hidden, before and after photos of the missing woods that I’d discovered in Robinson’s wall safe.

  I turned to Clay. “I know I should have confided…”

  When I finished, Clay said sarcastically, “…I like this communication thing we’ve got going here. Kind of makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.”

  “Don’t be a smart aleck,” said Martha.

  “Yes, Clay,” added Betty. “It doesn’t suit you.”

  “Mind your manners, young man,” scolded Hazel.

  “Hey, last time I looked, I was your boss, you two.”

  Hazel shot back. “We just let you think that Clay.”

  “Yes,” said Betty. “We know who really runs the shop.”

  He taunted back, “Oh, really? Well please don’t let that well-guarded secret out. It’d ruin my sterling reputation.”

  “Ha!” I said.

  He whirled on me. “What?”

  “Let’s not talk reputations,” I said, laughing. “Between the two of us, we both know you’d lose on that score!”

  Crystal stepped forward. “You know, all this chit chat has got me so choked up I don’t know if I can get this out, but I’ll try. Let’s stay focused here, people! Has anyone bothered to notice the noise upstairs had dropped off?”

  “So it has,” observed Martha, looking up.

  “And what do you propose we do now?” Clay asked me.

  “Slide the wardrobe like I did Robinson’s bookcase.”

  Crystal moved to the other side. “Let me help, Clay.”

  Between the two of them, they gradually edged it out. Martha hit the wall with her keychain light. There was nothing there but a stone wall.

  I tried moving a few stacked stones. Everyone joined in. It was a lost cause. Frustrated, I turned away then stopped.

  “Hey, look at the back of the wardrobe! What’s that?”

  Everyone turned as Martha swung her light around.