The doctor’s pale blue eyes bored into Quinn’s. “Holy Mother of God. How do you know about it?”
I grimaced. “We have it. Callie gave it to us, and we broke the code.”
His complexion grayed. “God help you.” He stepped out onto the porch with us, his face a study in misery. “Listen. I’ll try to have Sky contact you. But I can’t guarantee it. He could risk everything by coming out now.”
I tried another tactic. “We’ve risked a lot to come here, too. Callie’s lost her older sister to them, and we don’t know if it was an accident or because she wouldn’t give them what they wanted. My mother was tied to a chair and questioned, and our house was ransacked. Dr. Trebangle, we’ve put our lives on hold to find Callie. Maybe if we put our heads together with Sky, we could find her.”
“I’ll speak to him,” he said softly.
We both turned to stare at Quinn, who had climbed up onto the porch railing and was pulling at something.
“Damn.” He yanked a long, thin wire from the roofline under the gutter, pulling down a tiny camera and microphone. With a stiff jerk, he separated them from the wires that snaked into the house. Fingers to his lips, he motioned us out to the van.
Dr. Trebangle leaned on the hood of the van, his gray complexion now sheet white. “They’ve heard our every word.” He raised a haggard face to us. “Now MedicuRX knows about Sky. But worse than that, they know you have the data.”
My vision swam, and then settled. I clutched Quinn’s arm. “Would they know where to find us?”
Quinn stiffened. “I don’t think so. The few times we’ve been to the cabin we haven’t exactly reached out to neighbors.”
“We don’t have any neighbors,” I said.
“That’s what I mean. Nobody’s seen us. I mostly bring the groceries in from downstate. Haven’t yet made friends with the grocery clerks up here, plus the nearest store is half hour away.”
“What about last year? The Tiramisu thing?” I was referring to the horrible shootout where the bad guys ended up dead in the river, and we’d rescued my mother from near-death from starvation on an island upstream of Tall Pines.
“The only cops who knew us and came into the camp were McCann and the feds from downstate. Right? And how would they know we actually bought Tall Pines six months later?”
The doctor followed our conversation with interest. “I can ask around and get folks to keep an ear open. If someone’s asking about you, I’ll let you know.” He reached into his pocket for an envelope and stubby pencil. “Here, write your landline phone here. Cell phones don’t work for crap around here.”
I did as he asked. “We’re over at—”
“No! Don’t tell me. Who knows how much torture I could actually tolerate? And if they try to hurt Darla…”
Quinn handed him the speaker and camera. “Isn’t there someplace you two could go? You know, lay low for a while?”
The doctor looked forlorn. “I don’t know. I can’t leave that poor boy to starve out there.” He motioned toward the woods.
“What about your son?” I asked.
His face tightened. “My son is unreliable.”
I brightened. “What if we come by when Sky’s due next? We could give him supplies, offer to put him up at our place.”
Quinn grimaced.
The doctor hesitated. “I don’t know. They’ll probably be staking out the place now that they know he comes here.”
I opened the door to let Beau into the van. “Dr. Trebangle. We can’t let those men hurt you again. We just can’t. Let us help you.”
His face started to crumple, but he caught it and nodded. “Okay. You’re right. Darla’s got to be safe.”
Quinn’s eyes lit up. “I know someone we can call who’s one hundred percent trustworthy. And he’s got ties to the feds from downstate.”
I shot him a crooked smile. “Detective McCann?”
He nodded and turned to the doctor. “Dr. Trebangle. Let us take you and Darla to the airport. You’ve got to get away from here. Anywhere would do.”
Trebangle’s eyes lowered, as if ashamed. “We have a place in Florida. This trailer is our summer getaway. We like it the way it is. Even my old rusty Corvair.”
I realized he was telling me he had money, but he didn’t like to flaunt it. At least up here. “Good. How long will it take you to get ready to go?”
“Let me make a few calls. We usually call a service for the airport. I’ll need a little while to pack her up.” His thumb jerked toward the trailer. “Hang tight while I break the news to her.”
Chapter 21
We waited an hour at the good doctor’s house, keeping watch for the return of the MedicuRX thugs. I looked toward the woods every few seconds, wondering about Sky and where he camped in the woods. What did he do when it rained? Was he soaking wet and shivering, dreaming about home? Dreaming about our summers on the lake and our glorious, passionate youth? I glanced at Quinn, trying to hide a shiver of guilt that ran through me. I had to learn not to romanticize Sky. He’d been through hell and back, including his time in the service, and was most likely very unlike the cute boy I’d kissed at the fair.
Dr. Trebangle’s service arrived—a lustrous white SUV limo with uniformed driver. After hurried and hushed goodbyes, the vehicle whisked the couple away. I was shocked that Bungalow’s oversized crate actually fit in the back, but it easily slid into the cavernous compartment. They headed south toward a hotel near the airport, already booked on a flight scheduled to takeoff at 6 A.M.
Quinn had suggested they pay for the hotel and flight in cash if they could, in case the MedicuRX people had inroads into financial systems. Who knew? They seemed to have tentacles that spread everywhere, according to the doctor.
Exhausted, we headed back to Tall Pines, with Beau once again asleep on his quilt. Quinn drove, and I stared out the window, watching for flashes of color in the dark woods. Of course I’d never see anything except the very edges of the forest illuminated by our headlights. But I watched and hoped, anyway. Quinn seemed in a daze, and at this point either didn’t care or didn’t notice.
By the time we got in, it was almost eleven. Beau walked around the porch, found a tree he liked, and finished his business in less than a minute. By the way he plodded inside with his heavy head hanging, I knew we’d tired him out. He circled three times, then plopped on the rug by the table and started snoring.
Quinn dropped onto the couch and turned on the TV. Finding nothing he liked on the amazing three channels we had to choose from, he clicked it off and stared at the wall. “They heard every word we said.”
I slid beside him and tucked my feet under me. My head dropped onto his shoulder. “I know. But we’re safe here. Right?”
He shrugged. “Who knows? What if one of those bastards knows the realtor who sold us the property? What if they look up the town records and search for our name?”
“Why would they think we own property up here, honey? As far as they know, we’re up here looking for Callie, and that’s it. They’d have no way of knowing we’ve even been here before.” I covered a yawn. “And besides. How do we know they even know our name?”
‘They could have gotten it when they broke into our house.”
I thought about it. “Maybe, if they took the time to read that tiny and smudged print on the magazine covers. I put the mail upstairs in the little desk. That’s one they didn’t get to before my mother got home and they tied her up. Besides, those guys were searching for the memory stick, they weren’t being too meticulous.” I yawned again. “That reminds me. I should call my mother in the morning.”
He slipped his arm around me. “But now we’ve got to worry about Sky. Should we call Detective McCann?”
I sighed. “I hate to get the cops involved, especially since they’re looking to pin the murder on Callie. But I’m afraid there won’t be any Callie to worry about if we don’t get their help. Especially after getting a first hand look at those thugs. Damn. I hate to
say it.”
“What?”
“My mother was right. They are professionals.”
“No kidding. And Dr. Trebangle said Sky’s due back at the trailer for more supplies tomorrow. Those MedicuRX bastards probably know that, if they’ve been listening in on all his conversations.”
I rested my chin on the palm of my hand. “Maybe not. You didn’t find any more mics in the back of the house, right?”
“Right. Only the one in the living room and on the porch.”
“And when Sky met Dr. Trebangle, it was in the back, so Darla wouldn’t see, right?”
“Right.”
“So, maybe they won’t know the schedule. Maybe it was just chance they showed up at the time he was due to get supplies tonight.”
He shook his head. “Maybe. If so, it was one helluva coincidence.” He frowned. “No. I don’t buy it. I’m thinking they must have someone keeping an eye on the place. Maybe there’s a neighbor who tipped them off?”
I thought for a minute. “There weren’t any neighbors, honey. Not close, anyway.” I straightened out my legs and leaned harder against my husband. “Wait a minute.”
Quinn looked sideways at me while my brain whirred.
“Remember what the doctor said about his son?”
“Right. That he was untrustworthy or something like that.”
“Exactly. Maybe his son tipped off MedicuRX. Maybe they paid him off to find out about Sky, or maybe…”
Quinn continued. “Maybe they kidnapped him.”
The thought chilled me. I shook my head. “No. Dr. Trebangle wouldn’t have left if that were so. And he seemed really mad—or at least disappointed—in his son.”
“Did you catch his name?”
“I saw a trophy in the bookcase. Several trophies. Football. His name’s Reese.”
“Reese Trebangle? Wow, that’s a mouthful.” He shifted in his seat, stuffing a pillow behind his head. “I want to do more searching and phone calls tomorrow. I need to try to find the doctors and patients who were at the clinic. And find out if some people really did die up there, like the bag lady said. What if she’s telling the truth and it was covered up somehow? What if people really did die in the fire?”
“Good point. If everyone who worked there was from out of town, they could have taken the bodies away without a soul missing them. At least not from this town.”
“But why?” he said. “Outsourcers were the good guys, right?”
I threw up my hands. “How can we know? Maybe they were doing experiments on the side of evil, you know, trying to develop something that gave people leukemia.” I sat up, sobered. “Oh my gosh. That would really suck.”
Quinn shook his head. “No. I think they were doing some great research. Remember Sky’s note about “changing history” or something like that? I’m pretty sure he was on the Outsourcers side.” He gently disentangled his arm and stood, then stretched his arms high above his head and yawned. “Anyway, MedicuRX will soon learn that the good doctor and his wife fled the coop. So, they probably wouldn’t expect to see Sky, even if they knew the original schedule in advance. Why would MedicuRX expect any more visits from him, since his benefactor’s gone now?”
I tried to follow his logic, but my brain was feeling mushy. I yawned and stretched, then followed Quinn into the hall, shutting off the living room light when I passed the switch. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they sneak back in there and toss the place like they did ours.”
Quinn stopped dead. “Crap. You’re right.”
I pushed past him toward the bathroom. “There’s nothing we can do about it now. At least the doctor and Darla are safe. We’ll check it out tomorrow.”
Chapter 22
I always sleep less than Quinn. We can go to bed at ten, and he’ll sleep ‘til eight. If we happen to doze off early, after a hard day of outdoor work, he still sleeps ‘til eight. This morning, it was the same as always.
I woke at seven, freezing because he’d pulled all the covers to his side. With a shiver, I slid out of bed, put on my sweats and slippers, and padded out to the kitchen. As quietly as possible, I put on the coffee and toasted a piece of whole wheat bread. With a thin coating of peanut butter to minimize calories, I carried it, my coffee, and Callie’s diary to the glassed-in front porch.
July 11th. She slept beside me last night, looking so innocent and pretty. I watched her, but she didn’t know. I love the smell of her skin, her hair. Geez, that sounds really creepy. I guess I am a freak. I should just end it all. Nobody understands me. Nobody will ever love a screw-up like me.
July 14th. Mum asked why I mope around so much. Says she’s worried about me. Bitch Willow made fun of me again, said my hair’s too scraggly and should be cut. No way! I’m not cutting it. She’s got no sense of cool, anyway. She and that sleazy boyfriend sicken me. I saw them French kiss on the dock last night while he was feeling her up. Gross. I almost puked.
July 15th. Damn, damn, damn! Willow and her slimy boyfriend came over last night and made fun of me, Sky, and Marcie. I hate her! She was such a bitch. Why does she hate me so much? Is she that jealous of her own sister?
July 16th. God. I can’t believe this. Our family is so screwed up. I can’t stop crying. Willow told Mum she got pregnant and had an abortion the week before, when she was supposedly having a vacation in the Poconos. Mum went insane, screaming at her so I heard every word. Mum called her a slut and said she’d never learn. Damn. I almost felt sorry for W.
July 20th. Things are calming down a little. W has been sulking and staying over at Slimy’s house a lot. Talking about moving out. One good thing – I saw HER again today and sat beside her – really close – on the dock for hours. We talked and talked. I don’t dare write her name in case W. finds this.
But I love her. I finally know what’s happening. I’m a homo. Damn. Can’t believe I wrote that. Can’t tell a soul.
Quinn stirred in the bedroom and I closed the diary with a flash of guilt. I hadn’t told him I was reading it and I wasn’t sure why. I guess it was because Callie wrote it in the summer I lost my virginity to Sky. I didn’t want him to see Callie’s comments when it came to August 10th. Yeah. I memorized the date. I still remember every detail of that night.
I slid the book into my purse, snapped the cover, and walked over to pour him a cup of coffee. He came out with his hair sticking out every which way and crease lines on his cheeks.
“Morning, handsome.”
He grunted, smiled a little, and walked unsteadily toward the bathroom. When he came out, his hair was combed, his breath smelled minty, and he walked like he was actually awake. He kissed me and accepted the mug. “Mmm. Coffee. Thanks, babe.”
“You’re welcome. I’m going to call my mother. If I don’t get it over with now, I’ll probably procrastinate.”
“That bad, huh?” He chuckled and his eyes crinkled. He knew just how hard it was for me to deal with Thelma when we were away from home. Like a needy child, she sucked the life out of me.
“Don’t you want breakfast first?” He opened the cupboards and fridge. “I could make you blueberry pancakes.”
“Oh, sounds good, hon. Let me call her fast while you beat up the batter, then I’ll have a good excuse to hang up. Make sure you call me really loud when they’re almost ready.”
He grabbed the chef’s apron off the hook on the wall and wrapped it around his body. For a minute, I pictured him naked beneath it. I slapped myself mentally and walked toward the landline phone in the corner. What’s wrong with me? Am I turning into a guy? I plopped down on the rocking chair and picked up the phone. Must be all these memories I’m stirring up about Sky and me. Damn. We had some sweet times together.
After ten minutes of explaining and defending our actions to my dear mother, I got off in a hurry when Quinn called me. “Mom, gotta go. Pancakes are ready.”
A long-suffering sigh preceded her words. “All right, if you have to. But we just got on the phone. Call me later?”
“Mom? Mom? I can’t hear you; it’s a bad connection. But if you can hear me, I love ya and I’ll try to call in a few days.” I hung up, trying not to feel guilty for the lie. There was no way I could call her twice, not with all we had planned for today.
We sat on the porch to eat, with all the windows open. Across the way, the green mountains stood silent and majestic. The sound of the river reassured me, once again, and I felt my strength and resolve build the longer I heard its soft murmurs. Quinn’s fluffy pancakes went down effortlessly, and when we’d cleaned up and finished the dishes, we got serious.
“Let’s get showered and over to your aunt’s shop.” He grabbed clean clothes from the bureau. “I’ll research some of the names in the medical reports and make some calls.”
I tapped my finger on my lips. “I’m thinking I’ll do some research on crystals.”
“What?”
“I don’t know. Maybe there’s some protocol to this thing. Somehow, before, I was tapping into Callie’s consciousness.”
“Good idea.”
I twisted the mood ring and tried to convince myself that what I’d seen was real. “Tell me I’m not crazy. I saw her, right? I saw her wrists bound. I heard water rushing. Like a waterfall.” I bit my lip. “I know I did.”
He patted my shoulder. “Honey, it’s all possible. Remember, I was there when Ruby pulled off her miracles last year. Nothing would surprise me after that.”
Our bird had somehow exchanged a psychic link with my dear mother, and it had been her idle chirps that had allowed us to rescue Thelma.
Quinn always made me feel better.
“Come on, Marcella. Let’s get a move on. We’ve got a lot to do before we stake out Sky.”
Chapter 23
Customers streamed in and out of The Mountain Memories Gift Shop at a steady pace, keeping Roberta and her assistant busy. She set us up in a small room in the back fitted with a love seat, rough plank coffee table, computer, and a coffee pot. Her wireless router sat in the corner, lights flashing green. Beau and Mimi lay together on a rug in the corner.
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