by Marnie Perry
Lando stared at him a moment then took the rifle from Jim’s hand. The man held his gaze for a moment then smiled taking Lando aback before turning and running back to the cabin.
Lomax said, ‘you have some explaining to do, Jonas, and not just to me.’ He nodded over Lando’s shoulder.’
The latter turned to see Sullivan and Leyton coming from amongst the trees. Lomax immediately took the weapon from Lando who looked at him but did not protest.
He rolled his eyes as they approached, Leyton his expression serious as his eyes alighted on Adela sitting on the ground looking as though she had been in a war zone. Sullivan looking smug and pleased with himself.
Leyton immediately squatted down beside Adela and taking her hand in his said urgently, ‘are you all right, Miss. Faraday?’
She nodded and coughed again as if to prove herself wrong.
Leyton frowned as did Lando and his fist clenched tightly as he looked down at the detective and the woman their hands clasped together.
His eyes were drawn to Lomax and that man was smiling a knowing smile and looking down at Lando’s fist. Lando’s frowned deepened as he followed Lomax’s gaze then quickly uncurled his fingers before looking back at the sheriff and giving him a “be careful” look.
Without preamble Sullivan said, ‘well, Mr. Lando, this is some kinda mess you got going on here.’
Lando didn’t answer and Sullivan looked down at Adela, ‘nice to see you again, Miss. Faraday.’ He looked back at Lando, ‘oh, I’m sorry, where are my manners? Miss. Faraday this is Jonas Lando, Jonas Lando, Miss. Adela Faraday.’
Neither Adela nor Lando reacted to Sullivan’s sarcasm so he said to Adela, ‘you need to come with us to Mississippi, there are questions that we need to ask and I’m sure you have the answers.’
Lomax answered for her, ‘she needs to go to the hospital, they both do.’
Lando appreciated Lomax’s efforts on their behalf but, although part of him dreaded being in an interrogation room again, he wanted to get this over with.
But before he could respond Sullivan said, ‘your doc here can fix up his arm, and Miss. Faraday will get all the medical attention she needs in the lock up back in li’l ole Miss.’
The doctor gave him a hostile look and Lomax began to protest but was interrupted by Lando, ‘it’s all right, sheriff, the woman has nothing to hide, and I’ll tell them what they need to know.’
Lomax said, ‘I’d rather he stayed here in Alabama.’
Sullivan shook his head but the sheriff persisted, ‘you have no jurisdiction here, Sullivan, and Jonas has committed no crime in Mississippi.’
‘Maybe not, but the lady is a suspect, sorry witness, in a very serious assault, as well as being intimately involved with a man we now believe to be a professional killer, suspected of murdering at least seven people in the last two years alone. And Mr. Lando here has been aiding and abetting the lady. She might have confided vital information to him.’
Lando said, ‘being involved with a man, intimately or otherwise, don’t necessarily mean she knew what he was. And she had nothing to do with what happened to Maxwell; in fact as I believe it, she saved him from further harm. And if you’re right about Hennessey being a killer, at great risk to herself. She’s a victim of Hennessey too.’
There was silence while everyone looked at Lando, who had spoken calmly and quietly but with an edge to his tone as though warning Sullivan not to try to pull a fast one on him.
He knew that Sullivan wanted the woman back in Mississippi and away from the feds, he would have to hand her over eventually but in the meantime he would get as much information from her as possible, maybe even enough to enable him to crack the case and further his career. And Lando knew the methods would not be pretty or pleasant for the woman. Especially when the FBI got hold of her.
But Lando didn’t want her to go with them, once in their custody she might be in great danger. Hennessey might have been completely wrong about Leyton and Sullivan being decent, honest cops and either or both could be on Glissando’s pay roll. So two good reasons to keep her from leaving the safety of Alban.
Lomax was speaking, ‘Jonas, if you knew she was wanted by the law for questioning, why didn’t you tell them she was here with you? Why did you lie to them?’
Lando turned to Lomax, ‘because I didn’t trust them.’
Dr. Javier turned away to hide his grin at Lando’s forthrightness but Lomax’s face remained serious. He said, ‘so why didn’t you come to me for help? I told you you could.’
Lando’s eyes never left the sheriff’s and for the life of him he couldn’t tell the old guy that he didn’t trust him either. Besides he wasn’t sure that it would be the truth.
But Lomax said quietly, “I see.”
Before Lando could reply Adela spoke up, ‘he wanted to, sheriff but I begged him not to.’
She attempted to rise but sank back down as her legs gave way beneath her. Leyton who had remained silent so far said, ‘steady, take it easy, you’re still suffering from the after effects of the smoke as well as shock.’ He looked at the doctor, ‘we need to get her to the hospital.’
The doctor nodded but Sullivan looked at his partner impatiently, they all knew that Leyton was contradicting his partner’s demand that she be taken to Mississippi immediately. As for Lando he was looking at Leyton as though he could cheerfully throttle him, he didn’t look at Lomax so didn’t see the second knowing smile on his face.
Adela said, ‘I’m all right, really.’ And as if to prove it made a valiant effort to rise, and this time made it to her feet assisted by Leyton’s arm. She turned to him and gave him a shaky smile before looking at Lomax. Her voice was barely audible as she said, ‘I’m sorry, sheriff but it’s true, it was I who didn’t trust you not Mr Lando, he wanted to bring you in but I pleaded with him not to. He said you could be trusted but I was afraid, afraid to trust you or anyone. He didn’t like it but then those men came and we were trapped and the decision was taken out of his hands.’
She turned to Sullivan, ‘Mr. Lando has done nothing wrong, Detective Sullivan. He didn’t invite me here; I came here unbeknownst to him and hid in the barn. He didn’t lie to you when you came because he didn’t know I was there at that time.’
Lando’s eyes widened at the blatant lie and felt his anger growing. There she went again trying to protect him and he didn’t like it. He opened his mouth to refute her statement but she rushed on effectively preventing him from speaking. ‘And Mr. Lando had nothing to do with what Hennessey did. So he can give his statement to his local sheriff about what happened here. There’s no need for him to come with us to Mississippi.’
Sullivan was about to argue but then picked up on what she had said, “Come with us.”
He wanted to talk to Lando too because not for a moment did he believe that he had no idea she was hiding out in his barn. He knew he had lied to them earlier but she was the important one, if he could get her back to Mississippi he could get the upper hand over those damn feds, for a time anyway.
Leyton said, ‘let’s get her to the hospital first, there’s no hurry to get back to Mississippi. She won’t go anywhere will you, Miss. Faraday?’
Adela still looking at Sullivan shook her head. ‘I really don’t need to go to the hospital; I just have a sore throat that’s all’
Leyton looked doubtful and Sullivan satisfied.
Lando wanted her to get checked out at the hospital but that was just one more place she could be at risk. He was about to set the record straight about his role in harbouring her but then changed his mind. He would let them take her to Mississippi but he would follow them, and he couldn’t do that if he was in custody for lying to a police officer in the commission of his duty or for harbouring a fugitive could he? He knew he had a lot of explaining to do to the sheriff about what had occurred here, and why there were so many dead bodies in and around his cabin. But that was for later. For now he had to think of a way to ditch Lomax.
&n
bsp; He turned to Adela, ‘go with them. But lady, tell them the truth all right, tell them everything about Hennessey and what he did to you. About the girl and Glissando and what happened here. Leave nothing out.’
Sullivan and Leyton gasped and Sullivan said, ‘Glissando?’ He almost choked on the name, ‘what the hell does he have to do with this?’
Lando ignored him as he said added to Adela, ‘tell them everything.’
He looked at Sullivan and Leyton in turn his eyes finally rested on Sullivan for a moment before turning back to Adela ‘but don’t say a single word until you have a lawyer present, a good lawyer. Have him stay with you at all times whilst you’re being interviewed. Then try to get bail as quick as you can then your attorney will provide you with protection.’
She listened attentively and the scared lost look came back into her eyes. He knew what she was thinking. She had not wanted him to get into trouble with the police that’s why she had lied. She had not wanted them to take him for questioning, but perversely she wanted him to come with her to Mississippi. He understood and wanted to tell her he would be with her every step of the way, but couldn’t of course without giving himself away. He knew she was thinking about him, he saw in her eyes that she worried for him and wanted to protect him, just as she had from the start.
He put a curt almost dismissive note into his tone as he said, ‘I’ve done what I can for you, now it’s time for you to rely on someone else.’ He looked over at what was left of his cabin before looking back at her his eyes cold, ‘this is where we part ways, lady, before I lose what little I have left.’
Adela’s eyes opened wide with shock at his words and her bottom lip trembled slightly. She stared into his eyes for a moment longer then took a deep breath straightened her shoulders and raised herself to her full height before saying calmly, ‘I’m very sorry for the trouble I’ve brought to you, Mr. Lando, if there’s anything I can do to help you please let me know. You can probably contact me through the Mississippi Police Department.’
She spoke in clipped tones and her expression was almost haughty but he knew she was deeply wounded by his apparent dismissal of her. He wanted to tell her he hadn’t meant it but had to keep up the pretence that she was nothing but trouble to him to throw off the two detectives.
He said offhandedly, ‘I think I can cope. But if ever I need my place invaded by bad guys or set alight, I’ll let you know.’
She flinched as though he had slapped her. Before she could reply Leyton stepped forward and after giving Lando a malevolent look took her arm saying gently, ‘come on, let’s get you cleaned up before we head back to Mississippi.’
She kept her gaze locked with Lando’s for a few seconds longer then nodded to Leyton and let him lead her away.
Lando did not turn to watch her go but Sullivan did a smug smile on his face. ‘That’s women for you, Lando, not one you can trust and they all bring trouble eventually.’
Lando looked him up and down as though he were something distasteful. Sullivan’s face darkened then he turned to Lomax and said, ‘fax or email me a copy of his statement when you have it and if there’s anything I think needs clarifying, or something that doesn’t quite ring true, which will be just about all of it, I’ll be in touch,’ he looked at Lando, ‘you can count on that.’
Lando ignored him and Sullivan after casting him a look of dislike said to Lomax, ‘sheriff.’
Lomax said, ‘Detective.’ Sullivan tuned and followed his partner and Adela through the woods towards the town.
Lomax turned to Lando, ‘well, Jonas.’
‘Well, sheriff.’
‘You’ll need someone to take care of your menagerie whilst you’re gone.’
Lando’s face was a picture of confusion and suspicion. The sheriff held out the rifle to him, ‘you’ll need this.’
Lando looked at his own weapon as though Lomax was handing him an explosive device then slowly reached out to take it as if Lomax might snatch it back and say “got ya.”
But he didn’t and Lando said simply ‘why?’
Lomax shrugged, ‘I can’t expect my townsfolk to have faith in me if I don’t have faith in them.’ Lomax then handed him his car keys saying.'
Lando’s throat constricted at this gesture, a gesture of trust and friendship. The lump in his throat prevented him from speaking but his expression said everything he needed to say.
Lomax said, 'you need any help, Jonas?’
Lando was all business again as he checked his rifle. He shook his head, ‘no, sheriff, no need for us both to do time in the state Penn, I been there and believe me, you wouldn’t like it.’ He gave a half smile to take any seriousness out of his words.
Lomax laughed, ‘no, I reckon not. Well, you better get going.’
Lando nodded and moved to go but turned back and held out his hand to Lomax, the other man gripped it firmly, ‘good luck, Jonas.’ Lando nodded then was gone.
Lomax watched Lando disappear amongst the trees then sighed and said under his breath, ‘take care, son.’ He then turned to the others and yelled, ‘how we doing people?’
He was met with a chorus of questions, answers and advice. He smiled, well pleased with his townsfolk and friends.
********
Meanwhile Lando was headed for town not quite believing what had just happened. Not only that Lomax had handed him his own weapon and given him permission to follow the woman, but everything. That he had lost his home, that everything he possessed had been destroyed, things that had once belonged to his grandparents, things they had owned and used. But no, he had not lost everything; he still had the most important things, Dante, Josie and her foal as well as his other animals. They were really all that mattered.
Dante he still had because the woman had gone back for him. He better than anyone should know that a house did not make a home, not without someone, or something, to share it with, to care for, to protect, to love. Thanks to the townspeople, people he had rejected and despised and ignored, and the woman, he had something to come home too.
He thought of all of this to prevent himself from thinking about the woman and the way she had looked when he had said what he had. He had seen her look of guilt at his words; it probably matched his own at uttering them, she had enough guilt to deal with as it was without him adding to it. But it was the look of hurt in her eyes which now haunted him.
He cursed, impatient with himself, why should he care what she thought or felt? She had brought him nothing but trouble, had almost gotten him killed, so why should he care whether she was hurt or not? He told himself he was doing this because deep down he was still a cop and because he felt responsible for her whether he wanted to be or not.
He was so deep in thought that he jumped when the sound of a shot came to him. He froze on the spot trying to work out from which direction the shot had come. This is what you get he thought, when you let your mind wander, when you let your mind dwell on unimportant things, like women.
Just then he heard two more shots in quick succession from his left, he moved quickly but stealthily in that direction. When he heard nothing more he stopped dead and listened but there was only silence, an eerie silence in a place usually so full of noise. He was used to these woods; he knew every path and swamp, every pitfall, every sight and sound, almost every tree, he was as attuned to the dangers here as he had been as a cop in the city.
He moved forward and had walked maybe fifty feet when he froze again at the sight of two bodies, one lying face down in the dirt, the other staring sightless at the sky.
He looked around but could hear or see no one around. He bent down next to the first body but already knew who it was before he turned him over. Sullivan. He had been shot in the heart, his gun was half out of its holster, he hadn’t even had time to draw his weapon.
Lando closed his eyes for a moment. As a cop he had seen his fair share of sudden violent death, but no matter how many dead bodies he saw he had never gotten used to it, he had never wanted t
oo. He owed it to the victim to be professional yet never losing sight of the fact that this person had once been a living breathing being, suffering all of life’s pains and ills and sorrows, and enjoying that same life’s pleasures and joys.
In his view to get used to horrible, violent death was to become uncaring and complacent.
Most cops didn’t want to know about the victim, what they liked, disliked, loved or hated, what made them angry or happy. They preferred to put anything personal aside and concentrate on finding justice for them and considered that enough. But he didn’t feel like that, to him they were people still, dead or not, and deserved more than a cold, impersonal detachment. He had the idea that to feel anything less would put him on a par with the perpetrator who had taken that life so callously, that to become detached would make him lose his humanity. As the woman had said, to become dead inside. Like Hennessey.
He felt a special sadness towards Sullivan’s death, although he had not liked the man he had been a fellow cop, and even after almost eight years he still felt a certain affinity with law enforcement people.
He looked up and saw several holes in the trees caused by bullets he knew.
He turned to the other body. He had a single gunshot dead centre in his forehead, and part of the back of his head was missing. He had also been shot in the shoulder and both legs.
He had never seen this man before. He searched his pockets and found a cell phone and a driver's licence in the name of Terence Manning.
He ran through the names and numbers on the phonebook and saw “Wood” followed by a number. Obviously Wood was Woodson the guy Lando had killed in the barn.
So this confirmed that Manning was one of Glissando’s men, but did that mean that Sullivan was one as well, if so who had killed them both and where were Leyton and the woman? Was Leyton on Glissando’s payroll and had killed his partner and taken the woman? Suddenly he tensed as he heard a movement in the bushes behind him; he turned quickly his rifle in his hands but froze as he found himself looking down the barrel of a Glock fitted with a suppressor. His eyes moved slowly upwards until they met the other man’s and Lando’s face showed no surprise to see who held the gun.