by Bo Drury
The sudden silence was almost as bad as the scream.
“I'm going back,” a nervous deputy stated.
“I'm with you, Tim.”
“How about it, Harry?”
“I'm going on. Someone is in here and I intend to find them.”
“You're nuts.”
“Maybe.”
Two of the deputies headed back. The one they called Marty stayed. “I'll hang with ya, Harry.”
“Let's move.”
As they walked on, the tunnel widened. There was a tiny flickering light in a small recessed area. It was the flame of a candle. On the floor a small figure lay on a pad. Harry scanned the room before approaching the light. Kneeling, he turned the small body to face the candlelight.
It was Doris.
“My God,” he gasped as he gathered her in his arms. Was she alive? She was cold and clammy. He felt for a pulse. It was there but weak. He looked around in the gloom.
He caught sight of a moving figure. “Look out!” he warned. The deputy beside him whirled around, pulling his pistol. But whoever or whatever it was vanished.
Picking Doris up, Harry moved quickly back the way they came. “Come on, let's get out of this place.”
As they walked away, a blood curdling scream bore down on them, causing them to tighten up and walk a little faster. They hurried toward the bright light of day and warm sunshine. What a welcome change from what had seemed to be the cold breath of death swirling around them.
Carrying Doris into the lounge, Harry told Orlando to get whiskey for her. He bundled her in a blanket and held her near the fire. She was unconscious. The whiskey rolled out of her mouth as he tried to give her a drink. He rubbed her hands and arms restoring circulation to the chilled skin.
Brushing her hair from her face, he studied her fine features. He ached to have her open her eyes and demand to know why he was holding her. Right now her sass would be a welcome thing.
Josh had followed him in. “Let's get her to the hospital, poor kid.”
“What about Melody?” Scott asked.
“There was no one there but Doris,” Harry told him as he picked her up and headed for the car outside. Working his way through the emergency vehicles that were still on hand investigating the shooting of Hub, he got in the back seat of Josh's patrol car. Holding her close to his heart, he whispered a prayer as Josh shut the door and drove into Sutton to the small private hospital.
The emergency room crew remarked that Harry was keeping them pretty busy bringing in so many patients. Their joke fell flat on Harry as he looked on Doris's pale face.
The doctor could find nothing wrong with her. She had been given a strong unknown sedative that had put her into a deep sleep. They would just have to wait for it to wear off. There was nothing they could do at the moment but make her comfortable and watch her. The doctor felt sure she would be fine when she woke up. “She may feel like she has a hangover, though.”
Harry left the hospital, asking Josh to take him back to the ranch.
To his surprise, Scott had written him a sizeable check and thanked him for all he had done in trying to find Melody. It was obvious he was being dismissed, but he wasn't through yet. There were a lot of unanswered questions floating around. He needed closure and it was far from closed where he was concerned.
Going to his room, he packed the few things he had and went in to gather up Doris's things. Tell-tale peanut shells were scattered around. Someone had been searching the room. For what?
The chart!
He went back to his room and pulled the bag from under the bed. The zipper had been moved. He opened it; the chart was still there along with the other papers he had put away. He scanned the chart before he put it back. Wait a minute... Somehow it looked different; it looked the same but it wasn't. It was a copy of the original. What was missing from it? Who had gone through his things? He tried to remember what he had seen before. The image escaped him. He couldn't bring it to focus.
He carried half the things to the Mustang and came back in for the rest, meeting Orlando in the entry. Orlando seemed to be at home there. Had he moved in with Scott? Seemed they were in a hurry to see him go. He followed him to the lounge where Scott sat by the fire. He seemed to be studying his grandmother's portrait.
“She was a handsome woman,” Harry said from the door.
Startled, Scott turned toward him. “Yes,” he said with a note of sadness in his voice.
“She loved you very much, adopting you and making you an heir equal to your uncle.”
“I suppose so.”
A quiet settled over the room as each man looked at the matriarch of the Stockton Ranch. What secrets were hidden there behind that proud bearing? What had those steel-gray eyes witnessed in this very room, this house, this ranch over the years? What evil presence lurked in the cavern beyond the house?
“Are you going to be all right here?”
“He's going to be just fine,” Orlando answered from the bar. “I will see to him.”
That's what I am afraid of, Harry thought.
Gathering up the rest of his and Doris's belongings, Harry went to his car. Scott came out on his crutches.
“You take care, kid. I will be at the motel for a few days until Doris is ready to go back home. If you ever need me, you know how to find me.” He grinned. “I'm in the book.”
“That's right. ‘The Harry Mann, extraordinaire.’ Be seeing ya, Harry.” He waved as he drove away. Was the look on his face regret or relief?
Harry felt as if he was leaving unfinished business behind. Something was still very wrong out there. Could he just leave, not knowing what it was? He didn't think so. He would wait until dark and go back. He had to know.
After checking in at the motel, he walked to the restaurant for a bite to eat. He had hoped to talk to the waitress, Maggie, who had fed him so much information before. But she was busy and didn't have time for him, although she waved.
Walking back to the room, he was at a loss as to what to do. Suddenly he felt left out. Scott had terminated him and he had no legal grounds to be involved any longer. It was Josh's investigation and he had no need of his help at the moment. He thought of the bogus chart; he should look it over and determine what had been removed. With that purpose in mind, he started for the motel at a brisk trot.
Out of the dark a truck flashed its lights in his eyes, blinding him momentarily. He heard the motor rev up and instantly knew it was coming at him. It was going to run him over. Diving for the cover of the parked cars, he heard the crunch and scrape as the vehicle sideswiped the protecting cars, twisting them sideways as it speed by. Pinned to the wall but saved by the parking post, he wondered how he had escaped being crushed. Several people ran out of the motel to see their automobiles in disarray and Harry climbing over the wreckage, weak-kneed and lucky.
“Does it never end?” he wondered as he dialed the phone and asked for Josh. Someone else was of the same mind as he—'It's not over ‘til it's over.’ And it wasn't over yet!
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* * *
Chapter 18
“My gosh, Mann, I wish you would go back to San Angelo and let me have some peace. Trouble seems to follow you around. This used to be a peaceful little town ‘til you showed up.” Josh scratched his head as he looked at the mass of wreckage in front of the motel. “All this just trying to run over one guy?”
A couple of deputies were taking down information from the irate motel guests.
“Let's go inside, Harry. I don't feel safe talking to you on the street,” he said, half joking but looking around all the same. “Do you have any idea who it was?”
Harry shook his head. He had been blind from the lights. “Did anyone see it?”
“We haven't found a witness yet. They all heard the noise but by the time they got outside, there was nothing but taillights going down the highway. I know you think it is connected to that business at the ranch. We will check on the vehicles out
there.” He paused, looking Harry over. “Do you have anyone else mad at you?”
“Not that I know of, unless it's my landlord and I don't think he's this mad.” He laughed.
“Scott took you off the case looking for Melody?”
“Yep.”
“I have to go back out in the morning early. I will do some checking around and see if we come up with a bent front fender.”
“Thanks Josh. I think I will turn in. I've about had it for the day.”
“Lock up and stay put. I'd like to get a good night's sleep.” He grinned as he went out the door.
Harry waited for the motel to settle back down and then slipped out to his Mustang. Putting it in neutral, he stepped on the clutch and coasted down the incline of the parking lot and onto the highway, where he started the motor and drove out the road to the ranch.
Hiding his car where he had hidden it before, he walked cautiously around the end of the house toward the garden and greenhouse, past the pool.
Glancing toward the house, he was surprised to see a woman standing by the fireplace. Curious, he circled the patio shrubbery and peered inside.
She was slender with soft brown hair. Scott sat in the big chair looking into the fire, and Orlando sat on a stool at the bar. The woman appeared to be talking to Scott. He seemed to be listening intently and nodded occasionally. She turned toward Orlando. Her face was in full view...
The dogs spotted him and came romping across the patio.
Their movement caught the attention of those inside. Orlando came to the door and looked out. Harry hugged the wall behind the oleander bush.
Big Boy heisted his leg and let go on the oleander and anything nearby. Harry couldn't move. Damn dog.
They turned and scampered away across the patio and out of sight. Orlando went back to the bar. The woman sat down on the stool at Scott's feet and rested her hand on his arm. Harry looked down at his wet leg and shook off the excess. That's the third and last time, he thought.
Glancing back inside, prepared to make his escape, he did a double take as a younger, mirror-image of the woman on the stool came into the room. Mother and daughter, no doubt. The woman from the photograph, Scott's Mother. But...she was dead. I saw her in the morgue. And the girl...Melody? I must be getting old...I never would have guessed.
If they caught him out here he was a goner, he knew. There would be no reason to keep him alive. He would just disappear and never be found. They had the place and the means to do it. He had to get away quick. He had to get hold of Josh and tell him what was going on. It had all been a plan to get rid of Jeb one way or another. Plan A didn't work so they had to revert to plan B. He and Doris kept getting in the way. He could see it all now, but what about Scott getting shot and being in the cave? He wanted to hear the answers. And who was the woman in the morgue?
Harry coasted his car onto the highway and headed for town. Josh could forget about sleeping tonight. Pulling up in front of the sheriff's office, Harry rushed in and told them to get hold of Josh.
“He said not to call him tonight, that he was sleeping.”
“He'll wake up for this,” Harry said as the reluctant rookie made the call.
Hearing what Harry had seen at the ranch brought Josh to life. In a matter of minutes he was at the office. Harry told him his theory and Josh ordered a detail of men to surround the house, being sure no one could get to the caverns. They were to close in when he gave the signal.
The caravan of cars stole quietly onto the property and took up position. Josh knocked at the door. A light came on inside and Orlando came to the door.
“What's going on, Josh?” he asked.
“I have a warrant to search the place, Orlando.”
“In the middle of the night? Can't this wait until morning?”
“Afraid not. Step aside. Come on in, men.”
“Now wait a minute.”
“Stand aside, Orlando.” Orlando, in a state of confusion and fear, pushed at the officer.
“You're under arrest for impeding an officer of the law in the process of carrying out a search of the premises,” the young rookie cop said as he placed handcuffs on him. Josh bit back a smile.
“Search the house.”
Scott came down the hall in his pajamas. Behind him, a deputy had an angry young woman in tow. Hearing a commotion at the lounge door, Harry and Josh came face to face with the beautiful woman from the photograph. She studied them with cold gray eyes much like her mother's in the portrait. “What is the meaning of this intrusion?” she asked haughtily.
“Lady, you are under arrest for suspicion of murder and kidnapping. And anything else I might think of later.” Turning to Harry, he said, “Now can I get some sleep?”
They loaded the four of them into the cop cars and left for the sheriff's office. The ranch hands were standing in the yard by the bunk house, watching what was happening. “I will come out in the morning and explain it to you fellows,” Harry called out as they drove away.
Harry stopped by the restaurant as he drove back into town. They didn't need him any longer; his job was done. He got a cup of coffee and visited with Maggie a bit, then got up to leave. As he paid for his coffee, he picked up a bag of peanuts. He looked them over, then laid them down and picked up a pack of Camels and a book of matches.
Going out the door, he opened the pack and took out a cigarette. He thought about it for a second, then placed it between his lips, lit it and took a deep drag... Man! He dropped the pack in the trash as he went to his room, looking for a great night's sleep.
It had been a perfect day.
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* * *
Chapter 19
Waking up the next morning, Harry felt like a million bucks. Knowing the mystery of the Stockton ranch was about wound up, he had a good feeling of accomplishment. He could never have left and let it rest, not knowing the conclusion of what was going on out there. It hadn't ended as he'd expected it too.
He was so grateful to have Doris back. At least he hoped he had her back when she woke up. She may quit after this.
He needed to go out and explain what had happened to the men at the ranch. But someone else may have done that already, he thought. First he had to go by the sheriff's office and see what they had found out. Then he needed to go check on Doris and fill her in on what had taken place and tell her how that dumb chart of hers has done the trick in figuring it out. The puzzle was falling into place.
They were still filling out claim forms when he went out to the parking lot. He was lucky he had parked his little Mustang to the side of the motel. The morning air was fresh and crisp, a new day.
When he walked into the sheriff's office, Josh waved him into a seat while he finished a phone call, then turned to him with a grin.
“What a night. Are you ready for this?” He leaned forward, eager to tell Harry the story he had gotten from the four suspects. “When the old woman died she left everything to Jeb, Scott and the unknown daughter of Rebecca. Although she knew Rebecca was still alive, she cut her out of the will. A search was to go on to find the child and the three were to share the ranch and anything else she had.”
Josh leaned back in his seat. “Jeb was hot. He was mad about sharing with Scott, and he didn't plan on sharing with an unknown niece. Rebecca showed up and they had a fight. Rebecca was mad now because her mother cut her out. She wanted Jeb to change the will and give her the girl's share. He told her he would think about it. She went to the motel.
“Orlando had seen her and followed her back to town. He is Scott's father; Scott knew this and hated the way his grandmother Stockton and Jeb had always put Orlando and his grandmother Rosa, down.”
He paused to explain. “Rosa has been more of a mother to Scott than a grandmother or servant.
“Orlando and Rebecca started drinking and formed a plan to do away with Jeb. She knew where Melody was; she had been in contact with her for some time. She could get her in on it and they would t
ake it all.”
Josh got up and poured coffee and offered Harry some along with a fresh donut.
Taking a phone call, Josh motioned for Harry to wait. Hanging up, he asked, “Where was I? Oh yeah... They didn't know that Hub had also seen Rebecca come to the house. Orlando didn't know Hub was Melody's father. Rebecca didn't know Hub worked on the ranch. She pitted the men against one another once she found out. She didn't care for either of them.” Shaking his head, he continued, “She is a cold-blooded female. Like a black widow spinning her web and trapping both men in it along with her son and daughter.
“The girl is just like her, though. It was them in the cavern making the sounds and music.” He was thoughtful, then said, “Scott is innocent of any wrong doing. He was unaware of any of this going on. Rebecca just made her presence known to him last night and introduced Melody as his sister. She was trying to convince him her showing up now was just a coincidence. Orlando doesn't know it, but they are both victims. So was Hub.
“Rebecca arranged for Scott and Melody to meet and Scott to bring her home. Jeb saw the resemblance to Rebecca and put two and two together. She had it planned out that Melody was to disappear and Jeb would be blamed. Rebecca knew Marie had seen her, so she did away with her and made it look like Jeb had done it. But Jeb was too smart; he suspected Rebecca was behind all this but couldn't prove it.”
Thumping the newspaper on his desk, he went on, “He had seen the Jane Doe in the paper; he checked and knew it wasn't her. He didn't know you were going to tie her in to the picture. When you did, he needed to get rid of you. Shooting Scott was an accident on his part. He only meant to scare you off. He figured you didn't make enough money on the deal to hang in there, but you persisted.”
Getting up, Josh closed the blind, shutting out the bright sunshine. “Scott's fall in the cavern was no accident. Had you not found him he would have died. Rebecca and Melody put him in there, knowing he would never find his way out.”
“How could a woman do that to her own son?”