Whispers of the Heart

by Woster, Barbara

  “Yeah, you’re psyching me out too with your eerie knowledge of so many serial killers. I’ve known you the better part of twenty years, and didn’t realize you had that level of fascination with the macabre.”

  Dalian laughed, “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, old man.”

  “Obviously. So, you definitely planning to help with the barn today? Or do you and Kat have another picnic planned?” Harvey asked with a wink of the eye.

  Dalian grinned, “I’d like nothing better than a repeat of yesterday, but no, I plan to help out with the barn, which means I’d better get some food in me before it’s all gone. You eaten yet?”

  “Nope, and I just realized that Kat isn’t around. She isn’t alone is she? She planning to eat breakfast?”

  “I left her in the kitchen with Mrs. Guthrie. They’re planning to eat while they bake. Apparently they anticipate feeding an army.”

  “Well, if past experience is any indicator, they probably will be.”

  The two men continued their amiable discussion as they piled food high atop their plates and settled in to eat.

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  Cal slowed his speed as he approached the front gate of The Heart of the Mountain Dude Ranch, but his pulse refused to slow. As when he left, the horde of reporters converged on his car when each realized his destination was the ranch. He sighed heavily and pulled to a stop at the gate, delighted that law enforcement prohibited the nosy journalists sticking microphones in his window. He took a deep breath and affected a calm demeanor when the police officer approached.

  “Mr. Withers, isn’t it? We were under the impression you didn’t intend to return.”

  “I wasn’t planning to, but I left my IPod and some other personals in my room. I need to get them.”

  “Not a problem.” The officer nodded at the sheriff manning the entrance to the main drive. With a return nod, the sheriff opened the immense gate and swung it open, just wide enough for Cal to slip past the wrought iron without scratching the gray paint on his rental car. He waited until he rounded the first bend in the drive, when he was certain he was out of sight of both the main gate and the main house, and then turned off onto one of the many paths used by both guests and maintenance vehicles. He hadn’t thought much about these off roads on his first trek up this drive; however, when he’d spotted it on his way out – or rather when his constant mental companion noticed it – it became part of the plan. The objective at this point, was to wend around without a ranch hand or guest spotting him, and find a location in which to hide the car. A place that he could easily access for a quick escape, once he executed his cerebral collaborator’s plan.

  There! His mind shouted so loudly that he instinctively stomped on the brake.

  “Would you mind not screaming inside my head like that? Especially when “there” doesn’t do me a bit of good. Where is there?”

  If you kept your eyes opened as well as I do, I wouldn’t have to shout, and if you’d just turn your head to the right, you’ll see the there to which I’m referring.

  Cal saw the space between the shrub grasses, backed up a short bit, and then turned the wheel to the right. “I only hope the car doesn’t get bogged down in something, or that we don’t wind up in a ditch.” He muttered beneath his breath. He winced as he heard the branches of bushes scratch at the car’s surface. He imagined they were the tiny fingers of demons taunting him; waiting to haul him off to hell for allowing his mind control over his actions. Of course, he’d allowed that control for the better part of twenty years, so why he suddenly felt apprehensive over his mind’s actions was beyond his comprehension. “Maybe because you never played this sort of game before. Pitting your charm and looks against another. Having to commit murder to get a person’s interest.”

  No, you just committed murder when it was time to move on to another target. Now stop mewling like a banshee and man up.

  “I wish you’d stop talking as if I were the only one to kill those people...”

  You were.

  “Yeah but you’re the one that decided it was time to kill them.”

  It was. Stop here.

  Cal obeyed as he’d done his entire life – with a sigh of resignation, growing agitation, and renewed desire for a return of individualism. If he had any courage at all, he would kick the entity out of his head, but he knew it was more than just a lack of bravery, it also had to do with a lack of knowledge, and, admittedly, a small measure of gratification. He neither knew how to get rid of the voice in his head, nor knew how to live a life without it. The voice was right, without it, his life would have been ho-hum, lacking excitement and wealth. Or would it? Did he only believe that because the voice made him believe it?

  You seem to have forgotten that I can hear your thoughts. The voice said in a contemptuous manner. You are beginning to doubt the benefit of our symbiosis. Perhaps I’ll just leave now and let you explain your way out of all of this yourself. Explain why you left against the sheriff’s dictate, why you are carrying a gun in the car, why you’re creeping about in the bushes . . .”

  “No! Stop! I’ll curb my thoughts.”

  Without me, you’re nothing. You’d have nothing. Say it!”

  “My life would be nothing without you.”

  And you best not forget again, that the only thoughts you’re permitted are those that I give you.

  “I understand.”

  Good. Get out of the car, collect the gun, and let’s get into position. I’ll be damned if I’m going to let someone take what I want.

  CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

  It was noon, and Dalian felt a sense of gratitude sweep across his mind – for the progress made on the barn, for the breeze that kept the late April air fresh and cool, and for the hard work of neighbor and guest. Many of his guests had never wielded a hammer or saw, but that didn’t stop them seeking assistance and applying direction with fervency. One guest even commented in passing that he felt like a bona fide member of Dalian’s ranch.

  With so much assistance, the barn’s frame had been erected and the roof was well underway by the time that Mrs. Guthrie announced lunchtime via the bell hanging on the porch. Dalian grinned as each person immediately dropped his tools and made a mad dash over to where two lengthy tables had been set up, each laden with mounds of food, dessert, and freshly brewed iced tea. He glanced at the faces of each, as he settled with a plate at the head of the table. Enthusiasm shone in their gazes and zeal in their mannerisms, but he knew full well that, come nightfall, each would collapse into bed with exhaustion his only companion.

  He pulled his cell from his pocket, only just realizing that he’d not heard from the sheriff, and realized that he’d forgotten to turn the ringer up on the phone. The sheriff had called an hour earlier. Dalian dialed his voice mail and listened to the message. He spied Kat exiting the back door, with a tray full of ham steak, and smiled at her disheveled appearance. Tendrils of hair had fallen free from the loosely piled mass atop her head; moreover, flour coated the front of her apron and a streak smeared her forehead. She looked adorable. She placed the tray on the remaining empty spot on the table and then made her way over to where Dalian sat.

  “Would you like a piece of ham steak, before it’s all gone?” She asked, and then realized he had the phone to his ear. “Oh, sorry,” she whispered, and then settled on the bench next to him. After a moment, he lowered the phone, and leaned over and planted a kiss on her lips.

  “Everything okay?” She asked immediately.

  “That was a message from the sheriff. He didn’t say much. Only that he was finalizing the last of the reports and would be driving out here . . . well, he should be here shortly.”

  “I hope he has some good news to impart.”

  “You and me both, sweetheart. Now, what was it you asked before you sat down?”

  “Oh, um, I just wanted to know if you’re set for food, or if you wanted a slice of the ham steak I just brought out?”

  “Nah, this vulture
descended on the beef steak first thing, so I’m set. Um, sweetheart, I don’t want you to take offense if my attention is less on you and more on my stomach right now. I’m famished.”

  Kat grinned, “No offense taken. I’m rather hungry myself.” With a grin of appreciation, Dalian stabbed at his mashed potatoes and gravy and gave a long drawn out moan of satisfaction as he savored that first bite. Kat laughed, “I’d better go retrieve a plate. You’re moans are making me famished.”

  She stood and grabbed a plate of food and then settled back down next to Dalian. With deliberate drama, she took a bite of her baked chicken breast and mimicked Dalian’s satiated reaction. He laughed at her dramatic delivery, and nearly choked on his second bit of mashed potatoes.

  “Sorry, baby, I didn’t mean to make you choke. Are you okay?”

  “Wrong pipe,” Dalian wheezed and after several effective coughs, dislodged the food from his windpipe.

  “You alright down there?” Harvey called from the other end of the table.

  Dalian nodded, lifted his cup in a salute, and then downed half the glass.

  When Kat was satisfied that Dalian wouldn’t choke to death, she returned to her meal, and deftly consumed every bite. She wiped the crumbs of the biscuit off her fingers and took a sip of her tea before turning to converse with Dalian again, “I never realized that cooking for so many was such a chore. I know it isn’t as difficult as raising a barn, but it certainly ranks a close second in exhaustive undertakings.”

  “I don’t doubt it, and you ladies outdid yourselves, for certain. The food is delicious.”

  “Thank you kindly.”

  “You’re mighty welcome.”

  “So how much longer do you think it will take to finish the barn?”

  Dalian swallowed his food and downed a gulp of tea before responding, “With the way everyone is moving, we should be done before dinner.” Dalian saw the look of relief pass over her features and laughed, “Worried you’ll have to make another substantial meal so soon?”

  Kat grinned sheepishly, “A little, but if it’ll help in not having to, I’ll gladly pick up a hammer and start helping.”

  “Don’t worry sweetheart. We’ll have it completed early enough, and if anyone is hungry afterward, there is bound to be a few leftovers to eat.”

  Kat looked at the dwindling supply of food dubiously. “I don’t know about that. Everyone seems mighty hungry.”

  “No worries. Harvey will prevent going back for seconds...”

  “Folks!” Harvey called, standing to address the group and Dalian quirked a “told you so” look at Kat. “I hope everyone got enough to fill their bellies. I know that you probably could eat until you drop, but if you did that, you wouldn’t be fit for finishing up the barn today. Rest assured that the food isn’t going anywhere, so as soon as we put the last plank in place, we can all return to the table and eat our fill. However, right now, we all need to finish up what’s on our plates and head back on over to the barn to continue working. Take your time though. We want you to finish up the food in front of you, and I know that not everyone has a vacuum for a mouth like me.”

  “Amen to that!” Dalian shouted, and everyone laughed.

  “You do,” Harvey rejoined, “so you hardly have room to mock.”

  “Touché, my friend.” Dalian lifted his glass of tea in a salute, and then stood. “In fact, I’m probably as ready as you are to head back to work.”

  Harvey picked up his plate so everyone could see how clean it was, and grinned, color seeping into his cheeks from the laughs, “Hardly anyone can out eat me, or eat as fast – except maybe you.”

  “Can’t argue with that,” Dalian agreed, lifting his own clean plate to the amusement of everyone seated, “but as Harvey said, take your time. Just make your way over as you finish. There are trash bins set out near the side of the house that you can deposit your plates into, so please take advantage of them.”

  Everyone returned to their meals and Dalian returned his attention to Kat, “I’m going to get back to it, okay?”

  “Anything I can do to speed things along?”

  “You ladies have done your part, so you relax and let us finish the barn. I don’t want to alarm you, but you’ll have plenty to keep yourselves preoccupied with when we finish.”

  Kat’s gaze widened, “You may not have meant to alarm me, but when you start a sentence like that...”

  Dalian laughed, “It’s just that...well, now that the cooking is done, you ladies get to tackle the clean up.”

  “Eww, yuck.” Kat looked at all of the dishes lining the table, some still half full of food, and winced. It should have registered when they were cooking and baking that there would be a ton of dishes to wash, but it hadn’t; however, now it did, and she wasn’t looking forward to it.

  Dalian laughed again, this time at the mortified expression on Kat’s face, “Oh my! I can’t do it!”

  “Do what?”

  “Tease you about this. It just so happens that I bought Mrs. Guthrie a brand new 2057 Hobart CZ970 industrial-size dishwashing unit a few years back to prevent her having to wash so many dishes during times like this, when the ranch is swarming with people. Clean up will take you ladies less than half hour, tops.”

  “Oh, that was a cold-hearted thing to do, Dalian Rivers,” Kat growled in mock displeasure. “Just for that, I may decide to withhold that slice of cherry pie you’ve been eyeballing since you sat down at the table – and don’t try to deny it! It wasn’t your steak that was distracting you from me, it was dessert.”

  Dalian swept Kat into his embrace and gave her a thorough kiss, and then whispered sincerely, “There isn’t a dessert on this planet that is as sweet as you, or one I would rather eat.”

  Kat was about to respond, when she suddenly stiffened and cried out in pain. Everyone, but the embracing couple, reacted swiftly to the discharge of gunfire. It wasn’t until Kat swayed into Dalian, her gaze wide-eyed and filled with disbelief, than the two lovers realized what had happened. Harvey shouted for someone to find a police officer and to call the paramedics, but to Kat and Dalian, his pleas sounded far away and muffled. Kat slowly drifted to the ground, a stunned and disbelieving Dalian clasping her tightly in his embrace.

  CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

  We’re done!

  That one short phrase, uttered with such urgency, and dripping with revulsion, should have spurred Cal into motion, but it didn’t. Instead, he sat stunned that he’d not only failed again, but that he’d again injured the wrong person. “To my credit,” he muttered dejectedly, “I did try to tell you that it was simply too far a shot for this caliber weapon.”

  Get up, you imbecile! It won’t take them long to determine the trajectory of the bullet and to descend on our location.

  “You sound scared,” Cal taunted. “Why would you be scared? You always have a plan, don’t you?”

  A plan that you continually mess up, and that you’re about to botch again. Now get up. We have to get to the house.

  Cal laughed, “You’re mad. That’s like stepping into a viper’s nest.”

  We need to plant this gun in Chloe’s room. She’s been after Dalian, so the assault on Kat will give the sheriff the motive, and we’ll provide the means. Once we’ve slipped the gun in among her possessions, we’ll dash out the front door, as if we heard the shots fired and are coming to check. If anyone asks about why you’re back, the police officer at the front gate will substantiate your statement about forgetting some things. Since suspicion will be deflected away from you again, we’ll ride out the investigation and leave with the rest of the group; however, my plan will fail and you’ll be caught if you don’t get up and move now.

  “First I want to know what you meant when you said ‘we’re done’. Did you mean that we‘d leave and forget all about this woman? Find someone else to target?”

  Sure. That’s precisely what ‘we’re done’ meant, and yes, I mean it. There were too many errors this time around. You’re slipp
ing up too often.

  “I told you that I’m getting too old,” Cal muttered. He slid the gun into his trouser pocket, shifted to hands and knees, and instinctively began crawling down the path to the car. He muttered curses beneath his breath as twigs stabbed at his hands and branches tore at his clothing.

  Stop whining like a banshee, his brain snapped, in response to the tacit complaints. If you stand up, the people scurrying about in the yard below will see you. We’ve got to get out of their line of sight fast. Once you get to the car, floor it. This path is bound to lead back to the house. As soon as you get there, make a mad dash into the back door and up to Chloe’s room then back downstairs equally fast – and you’d better not tell me you’re too old to run.

  “Don’t worry. I can run.”

  I’ve done nothing but worry ever since we got here. Now, though, we have the chance to get out of here without a shred of suspicion tainting our life.

  Cal jumped behind the wheel of his car and sped along the path, ignoring the damage the potholes were causing to its struts and shock absorbers. He stopped short of the tree line and peered out of the dirt-caked windshield, trying to catch sight of anyone running around near the back door of the house. There was no one. Everyone was near the barn or searching the area he’d only moments before vacated. He accelerated cautiously and eased from the trees, and then parked along the back of the house, next to the other work vehicles and ATVs. He slipped from the car and immediately ducked, peering over the hood of the car to see if he was still in the clear.

  Looks like we’re going to make it. Get inside so that we can get our alibi sewed up tighter than a lady’s corset.

  CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

  “Dalian,” Harvey said gently, kneeling next to his distraught friend, “she’s just fainted from shock. The paramedics are on route, and the deputies stationed here are out scouring the grounds for the shooter, along with everyone else. The sheriff arrived and already called in backup. There are so many people searching that there is no way in hell this person will escape the dragnet this time. We’ll catch ‘em.”