Kasey entered the room and quickly went to work, going through the dresser and nightstand drawers. She had no idea what she was looking for or what she hoped to find. Her mother had certain house rules. Except for the bottle of dry sherry kept in the cupboard above the sink for medicinal purposes, alcohol and tobacco products were forbidden in the house. Also prohibited were handguns. With the shotgun and rifle in the trunk of the Camaro and Cage an ex-cop, she suspected he also had at least one handgun.
She found it in a cowboy boot in the closet. She carefully tipped the boot, dumping the revolver onto the bed. Along with the large .44 Magnum, a handful of shells spilled out, several rolling off the bed and onto the floor.
Kasey kneeled down to retrieve the shells.
Outside she heard the sound of Sherry’s pickup coming up the drive. A car door slammed.
Quickly coming to her feet, she darted to the window, keeping her body to one side, out of sight. She peered down into the yard, saw Sherry’s truck parked behind her own car. Lucas Cage was lifting several wooden planks from the back of the truck.
Kasey raced to the bed, shoved the gun and shells back into the boot and returned it to the closet. The sound of voices outside made her go back to the window.
Cage, still at the pickup, gestured at someone. From Kasey’s vantage point, she couldn’t see who was down there with him. She hoped it wasn’t her mother. She didn’t want her mother anywhere near the house until the police arrived.
A moment later Sherry came into view. Sherry, wearing a long T-shirt and knee-high leggings, with her reddish-blonde hair caught in a ponytail, approached slowly, glancing around.
Kasey’s heart pounded. What did he want with Sherry? Sherry, with her well-honed creep detector, would immediately sense the evil in a man like Cage. And by the way she was behaving—wary, guarded—she had already.
Cage said something to Sherry. Kasey tried to read his lips, but the angle was off. Sherry responded, shifting uneasily, attempting, it seemed, to keep a certain amount of space between them.
Cage reached up, his large hand cupping the back of Sherry’s neck. She tried to pull away. He held her.
Kasey stiffened, anger flaring again. The bastard had managed to get a foot into her mother’s house, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to get away with threatening or intimidating any of them. It suddenly occurred to her why Snickers had cowered when she reached for him. Cage had had five days to terrorize the dog. She glanced at the boot in the closet. She could get the gun and—
Before she could do anything, Cage released Sherry. Sherry said something, then turned and walked away.
When Kasey looked back at Cage, he was looking up toward the window. She ducked out of sight, but not before his eyes locked onto hers.
She moved quickly. He was not going to get back into their house, she told herself. She rushed from the room, down the stairs, through the house to the kitchen. She reached the back door just as Cage, with two planks on his shoulder, opened it.
She barred the way.
Cage looked her in the eye. He grinned. “Find anything interesting in my room, Ms. Atwood?”
“It’s not your room anymore,” she said evenly, though she was quaking inside. “You’re no longer a roomer in this house. The police are on the way, so just turn around and go back down those steps.”
She tried to close the door. He pushed on it.
For several moments she managed to hold him off, but she was no match for him. She abruptly let go. The door swung open. He lunged forward, lost his balance, slipping on the step. Kasey drove her arm forward, catching him in the Adam’s apple with the heel of her palm, sending him backwards off the porch. She slammed the door and turned the deadbolt.
His face reddened and his blue eyes darkened to black steely pinpoints. With a mighty thrust, he rammed the planks through a pane in the door, shattering it. Glass flew everywhere. Kasey felt the sting of several tiny shards, like bits of burning embers, bite into her throat and upper chest.
He tossed the planks aside, reached an arm through the broken pane, and turned the bolt. The door banged open against the wall.
Kasey turned to run. If she could reach his gun, she could hold him off until the police arrived. And if she had to use it, she would.
She heard barking behind her, and before she knew what was happening, Snickers was there, underfoot. She fell to her knees.
When she looked over her shoulder. Cage was towering above her, reaching for her.
Then he fell back. She saw someone behind him, heard the sound of flesh pounding flesh, and realized that Cage was fending off the blows of Jay King.
Over the commotion of the two fighting men and the large dog bounding among the three of them, Kasey heard the solid punch land on Cage’s jaw. Then Cage, with twenty pounds on Jay, charged him, sending him across the room to smash into a utility cart. Jars of jam and honey crashed to the floor. Cage kicked Jay in the side, pulled a hammer from a loop on his belt, and swung it at him, narrowly missing his head. Snickers leaped up and sank his teeth into Cage’s arm, and an instant later four uniformed policemen rushed in and quickly put an end to the fight.
Chapter Forty-Three
Kasey dressed the small cut above Jay’s left eye. They sat at the kitchen table, bandages and antiseptic spread out on the table.
After the police and federal agents had taken Lucas Cage away, Marianne had chased everyone out of the kitchen before finally taking herself outside to the garden, giving Kasey and Jay some privacy.
“You should have a doctor look at this,” Kasey said, dabbing the cut with peroxide. “It could use a stitch or two.”
“It’ll be okay. That spot is nothing but scar tissue. In the service when I boxed, it was my Achilles’ heel. Some guys had glass jaws, I had a glass brow. A bandage will take care of it.”
“Jay.” She paused with her fingers pressed lightly to the side of his face. “Thanks.”
“For what?”
“For coming when you did. For stopping Cage.”
“For trying to stop him. The dog’s the hero.”
“Thanks,” she said, ignoring his attempt at modesty.
His eyes met hers. He nodded.
“I don’t know why you came out here today, but I’m glad you did.”
“I came to apologize for last night in the lounge,” Jay said. “I’m not sorry for what I did or said. I’m sorry for dragging you into the middle of my chaotic life, my deteriorating marriage. It’s over between me and Dianne. I think it’s been over for years now. I wanted you to know that. I can’t make any commitments just yet, so if it’s Brad you want…”
“Brad?”
“When I saw him leaving your room this morning, I, well, let’s just say I wanted to beat the shit out of him. But then I realized I had no right to be jealous. Brad’s single, with no commitments. And he’s a good kid. You could do worse.”
Kasey felt a knot in her stomach. Jay knew she and Brad had slept together. He thought she wanted Brad.
“We can still work together on this, can’t we?” he asked when she remained silent. His eyes met hers. “I need your help. Work with me, please.”
“Jay, I want that sonofabitch behind bars as badly as you do,” she said. “He’s after me, too. All the time the cops were looking for him, he was right here in my mother’s house. It makes me sick to think that he was so close to her and the others. These people are family to me. I intend to stop him if it’s the last thing I do.”
“We’ll stop him,” Jay said.
Kasey heard footsteps coming down the staircase and across the parquet floor of the entry hall. The screen door at the front of the house creaked open and closed. Several minutes later, she heard Sherry’s truck start up, then drive away.
Kasey closed the gash on Jay’s brow with a butterfly bandage. “I went through Cage’s car and found a prescription capsule of some kind. Loweman said he’d check it out, though he didn’t think it was a controlled substance. I also
found a very large gun in a boot upstairs.”
“Do me a favor. Don’t go sticking your neck out again unless I’m there. This guy can be ugly, real ugly. Will you promise me you won’t try to confront him alone?”
“I promise.”
“Now, we’ll get you fixed up,” Jay said, gently pushing her into a chair.
He cleaned the tiny wounds where the flying glass had cut her; then he removed the bee stinger on her forearm, which had begun to swell. All through his tender administrations, Kasey was acutely aware of his nearness—the heat from his body, the heady scent of his aftershave, the humming energy that seemed to pass from his fingertips through her skin to touch deep inside her.
Afterward, she gave him a tour of the ranch. They were at the bee boxes at one corner of the property when Marianne called to them that Det. Loweman had phoned and wanted to see both of them at the county jail as soon as possible.
*
“The capsule you found in Cage’s car is an antibiotic, like penicillin.” Loweman held it up between thumb and forefinger. “Amoxil. Fairly common, as prescription drugs go.”
“Why would he be on antibiotics?” Kasey said.
“I asked him that. He said he wasn’t, that he had no need to be. Said he was in perfect health,” Loweman said. “Of course he could be lying. If he’s got a case of VD, he might not want to advertise it.”
“Is it a similar drug to what was missing from the dead woman’s purse?” Kasey asked.
“It’s the same drug. The same strength.”
Kasey and Jay both leaned forward.
“Well, there, doesn’t that implicate him in her death?” Jay demanded. “He could have easily gotten into her room, stolen the drugs, and murdered her. We know Cage wouldn’t think twice about breaking a finger to get at a diamond ring. He could also have planted the ring in the dishwasher’s locker.”
“Except he has an alibi for the night she died.”
Jay and Kasey looked at each other.
“Not only does he have an alibi for that night, he also has one for the day the bomb was planted. If you recall, a surveillance camera recorded a blond, curly-haired man in maintenance clothes toting a toolbox from the service elevator. The exact time is indicated on the tape; and we know, from specific markings, that the toolbox he was carrying was the same one planted in the mechanical room. As it stands right now, we can’t hold him on either charge.”
“His alibi, is it valid?”
“Someone, a woman, claims to have been with him on both occasions. In a motel on Lake Street. The motel manager substantiated his alibi.”
Kasey and Jay exchanged looks.
“Look, I’m not supposed to do this,” Loweman said, “but I think this is something you can help with, Kasey. The source happens to be someone you’re acquainted with. And let’s just say there’s something about this whole thing that don’t smell good. In fact, it stinks.”
“Who is she?” Kasey thought of Paula Volger. Had Cage threatened her? Was that why she wanted to meet with her that evening?
“She’s in the reception area. Go have a word with her.”
Kasey rose, left the small office, and went down the hall to the waiting room, fully expecting to confront Paula Volger.
Sherry Kidd paced the empty room, puffing nervously on a cigarette. When she saw Kasey, she quickly looked away.
‘‘Sherry?”
Sherry turned her back to Kasey, stared out the window.
“Sherry, what are you doing here?” Kasey pulled her around to face her. “My God, it can’t be true. You can’t be that man’s alibi?”
“Oh? Why not?”
“He threatened you, didn’t he? I saw the two of you talking in the yard. He has something on you. He does, doesn’t he?”
“I was with him. What can I say?”
“I don’t believe you. There’s no way you’d let someone like him touch yo—”
“Oh, c’mon, Kasey, I’m a whore. I let all kinds of men touch me, fuck me. You of all people know what I am.”
“Not him. I saw the way you shrank from him today. He put you up to this somehow. You never met Cage until he moved into my mother’s house.”
“That’s not true. He was security at King’s Club. He set me up a couple times with men staying there. I owed him, so I took it out in trade.”
“You’re lying.”
“Kasey, drop it,” Sherry said angrily, tossing the cigarette out the open window. “You don’t know what the fuck you’re getting into. Just drop it, okay?”
“It’s you who doesn’t know what you’re getting into. The man is garbage. He’s…he’s probably a killer. Sherry, you can’t protect him.”
Sherry tried to push past Kasey. Kasey grabbed her by the shoulder and pulled her around. Sherry winced, cried out sharply.
“What? What’s wrong? Did he hurt you?” Kasey grabbed the neckline of the large T-shirt and yanked it down in back. She caught only a glimpse, but it was enough. She took Sherry’s arm and pulled her the few feet into the ladies’ room.
Once inside, Kasey closed and locked the door, bracing her back to it. Sherry struggled, tried to get the door open; but Kasey, more determined than ever to see what Sherry was hiding, quickly pulled the shirt over her head.
Sherry retreated, crossed her arms over her bare breasts, tried to cover herself. But she couldn’t hide the hideous marks on her back and shoulders reflected in the mirror behind her.
Kasey wadded the shirt and held it to her face, too stunned to speak. Sherry’s entire back was covered with tiny cuts and what appeared to be bite marks and cigarette bums.
Sherry now stood quietly in the corner, her head lowered, eyes closed, breathing heavily through her mouth. Kasey’s fingers hovered above the wounds, wanting to give solace, yet not wanting to hurt her further. The injuries looked fresh, no more than a day old. When this had happened, Kasey had not been there to soothe her childlike friend, to make her hot chocolate and gently rock her as on those occasional nights in the past when Sherry had “goofed” and had paid the price.
These wounds, wounds certain to scar, were not merely marks of abuse, they were marks of calculated torture. And the attacker nothing less than a sadistic monster.
Kasey tenderly folded her arms around Sherry, who leaned into her. They stayed like that for many long moments, with Kasey holding her, neither saying a word.
Then quietly Sherry said, “Drop it, Kasey. Please.”
“I can’t. He can’t get away with this. If he’s behind bars, he won’t be able to hurt you again.”
Sherry’s laugh was harsh, ugly. She pushed Kasey away, snatched her shirt and quickly pulled it on. “Drop it. I won’t change my story. I was with Lucas Cage on both occasions. I was with Lucas Cage. I was with Lucas…”
Kasey went out the door with Sherry’s words echoing in her head.
When Kasey told Loweman, he said that he suspected as much but there was nothing they could do unless Sherry decided to come around.
“What about the FBI?”
“They’re backing off, too. There was no mention of money in the suspect’s telephone conversation to Howard Cummings; therefore, no proof of an extortion attempt.”
“Can you arrest him for what he did this afternoon?”
“What did he do?”
“He came after me.”
“According to his statement, you attacked him. Chopped him in the throat as he was coming up the back steps with a load of lumber for some shelves he was going to make for your mother. He says he didn’t lay a hand on you. Is that so?”
“Well, no, he didn’t, but if Jay hadn’t shown up when he did—”
“He says you tripped over the dog and fell down. He was only giving you a helping hand.” Loweman raised a hand to silence both Kasey and Jay. “I know it’s bullshit, but all we got here is a broken window. Jay jumped him from behind before he could lay a hand on you. Neither of you can deny that. He’s talking about having the dog put to sleep
for biting him and pressing charges against the both of you. Jay in particular. Even if we could prove he intended bodily harm, he’d be out on bail before the day was out.”
“I don’t want him on my property or anywhere near it. What he did to Sherry was—He’s a sick and very dangerous man. If I have to get a restraining order to keep him away, I will. I’ll shoot him if I have to.”
“I’ll take him back out there to get his car and personal things. I’ll make sure he leaves. Go ahead and get that restraining order as an added precaution,” Loweman said to Kasey. He looked from Kasey to Jay. “Now, what else do you two have?”
“Meaning what?” Jay asked.
“Meaning, I seem to be a pace behind in this investigation. Are you keeping something from me? Something I should know about?”
Kasey thought of her appointment that evening with Paula Volger. The last thing she wanted to do was tell the police about Paula and have them scare her off. The maid just might prove to be their ace in the hole.
“No, nothing,” Kasey said.
*
It was late afternoon when Jay took Kasey home. Loweman, with Lucas Cage, followed in the detective’s unmarked car.
While Loweman waited for Cage to pack his belongings, he talked with Jay outside. He handed Jay a slip of paper with a name and phone number written on it.
“The guy was a cop in Vegas. He was Cage’s partner for a while. You might give him a call. He wouldn’t give me anything, but he may open up to you. It’s worth a shot.”
Jay folded the paper, thanked him.
Kasey and Jay stood in the yard as Cage backed the Camaro out of the shed. Looking directly at Kasey, he mouthed the words, “I’ll be back.” Then, with an ugly smirk on his face, he drove away, Loweman tailing close behind.
Kasey walked Jay to his car.
After settling in behind the wheel, he asked, “Will you be coming back to the club?”
“Yes. Tonight. I’m meeting Paula Volger in my room at the hotel. She called me. I think she has information on Cage.”
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