by Rita Karnopp
Running Crane stood and faced the lake for a few seconds. “We believe Borden and Winter want your father to suffer…really suffer…like they suffered when they lost their son. The best way to do that is to make him experience what it’s like to lose a child.”
“Lose a child?” Domonique jumped to her feet. “You two are here to kill me so my father can experience the loss of a child! Fuck you!”
Summer stood and grabbed Domonique by the arm. “No, we aren’t trying to kill you…we wanted to warn you we believe Borden and my mother want to see you dead. We…are trying to protect you.”
“Why? Why would either of you care whether I live or die?”
“Because your father has Nah’ah hostage and wants these documents in exchange for her life,” Summer said. “Before we hand them over…we wanted you to know the truth. The only way that was going to happen is if you saw the real documents.”
“So now what? You go your way with those documents and I’ll go mine? What if I want those documents…and I’ll do my own sort of payback?”
Running Crane picked the computer case up off the rock. “Don’t do this, Domonique. If you want, maybe we all should go to the mine and face your father.”
“And do what?” Domonique stared at them.
“Offer all these documents over, and our silence, for the release of Nah’ah, Kevin Wild Horse, and John Timber Wolf.”
“You really think my father would be willing to accept that deal? He has no guarantee you won’t talk. He has no—”
“How do you think he could explain their deaths as well as ours? Five people die and you don’t think there’ll be an investigation?”
“What are you saying?”
“You don’t think he’s been under investigation for the past year? Have you forgotten I’m BIA and they know what case I’m working on?”
“Let’s go see what my father has to say. I guarantee you—”
“Just walk right up to the man? Are you crazy? You can’t guarantee shit.”
“He’ll listen to me.”
“Domonique, he didn’t listen to you when you wanted him to spare Bradley Wild Horse.”
“He didn’t kill Bradley…I know that for a fact.”
“No, but he hired Stuart Wallace to do it for him. So…you might say he killed him. That’s the man you want to trust? He knew you loved Bradley, but he still ordered his death. He killed your baby brother and posed you, his ten-year-old daughter, at the crime scene so he wouldn’t be accused of murder. What kind of man does that?”
“We’re going to the mine and ask him.”
“I’ve been working in tandem with two friends of mine, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Director Josh Black Weasel and Chairman of the Blackfeet Law Enforcement Committee and Secretary of the Blackfeet Tribe, Tyson Running Wolf. I know they could have an army up at the mine in a snap. We’ll shut them down and arrest everyone. We have the documents and we can prove every accusation.”
“He has money…he’ll buy his freedom.”
Running Crane turned around and faced the women. “You knew all this…didn’t you, Domonique? Those pictures of you holding that knife, covered in blood wasn’t staged…it was real. You stabbed and killed your baby brother, didn’t you?”
Summer glared at Running Crane, shocked by his accusations. “She was only ten years old. How can you even say such a thing?” Summer asked.
“But I’m right, aren’t I, Domonique?”
“We’re going back to the mine, no BIA and no Blackfeet Law Enforcement.”
Running Crane set the computer case on the rock. “Why would that be, Domonique? You already knew what was in these documents, didn’t you?”
“How would she know, Running Crane? We just found them.”
“I think she saw them before Jordan ever stole them. You knew about your brother, didn’t you? I saw no shock on your face when I told you. You knew that little tike wasn’t really your brother, because even at ten your father told you the truth.”
“What are you saying, Running Crane?” Summer couldn’t believe he was attacking Domonique.
“Like I said, that murder scene was staged…was it? You really did kill your brother…didn’t you? Why? Because your father told you to, didn’t he?”
“I was ten…and…I loved my father. I hated Winter and I refused to call her mother. But my father loved her and when she was around he had little time for me. Then she became pregnant and they had a boy. I ceased to exist. I hated all of them. But, then my father found out that Winter was having an affair with a rich man…that’s all he knew at the time. He was furious. He threatened her that if he found out Little Lawrence wasn’t his son—he’d stab the kid to death himself.”
“So you decided you’d do it for him?”
“I…listened to all their fights. Then one day when father was away on business a very handsome man came to the house. They teased each other and made love in the kitchen, the bathroom, and in father’s bed.”
“So you told your father, didn’t you?”
“I was his daughter…and I wanted him back. Yes, I told him. He…told her to end it. I couldn’t believe it. He should have thrown her and the bastard out the front door. He told her if that man, or any man, ever came to the house again, he’d kill her himself.”
“He still didn’t know little Lawrence wasn’t his son?” Summer asked.
“No…and if he suspected, he didn’t want to admit it. He wanted a son to take over his businesses and that son was going to be Lawrence Anderson Worthington. So…that night I told Winter I knew the truth. That father had found proof Little Lawrence wasn’t his son. She quickly ran to her room and pulled a drawer open and pulled a taped envelope from the bottom of it. I watched her put it back and pack a travel bag.”
“After she left you went back into her room and got that piece of paper…Little Lawrence’s birth certificate, right?”
Summer glance from Domonique to Running Crane. “That doesn’t make sense, since Borden was the one who had it.”
“I gave that certificate to my father and he was furious. He told Winter they were going to get married and she would be the wife he always wanted her to be. If she crossed him…he’d make her pay…most likely with her life.”
“He still wanted her?” Summer asked.
“Exactly. I couldn’t believe it. He said he loved her…and in time she would love him, too.”
“That must have pissed you off!” Running Crane said.
“That’s an understatement. So I…got my father’s hunting knife and I climbed inside Little Lawrence’s bed…and I stabbed. . . and stabbed…and stabbed him.”
“What happened next?” Running Crane asked.
“Winter came into the room and screamed and cried hysterically. She called Borden and he came over and took all sorts of pictures.”
“Your father came home and hearing the commotion came upstairs to find you with his hunting knife and blood all over. He checked the boy to see if he was alive, then ran from the room.”
Summer nodded. “Of course, that’s the picture where he’s fleeing with blood on his hands.”
“I’m not sure what was said after that. I know Winter left that night and I later heard people saying she ran off and married some Indian man from Montana. The police came and talked to me. I said…what my father told me to say. I didn’t know it was going to hurt Little Lawrence. I was just playing. I talked to some lady for months…and then it was over. No one ever brought up Little Lawrence’s name again.”
“Why didn’t Winter and Borden get married? I don’t understand why she tricked my father into marrying him.” Summer glared at Domonique.
“My father threatened them if they ever got together he’d reveal the truth about Little Lawrence’s death.”
“The truth?” Summer shook her head.
“His truth. He came home from a meeting and found me in the crib with a knife and his son covered in blood. He checked to see if Little Lawrence was alive,
but he was dead. Winter and Borden were taking pictures and he ran from the room to call the police. He did just that. There was blood on the phone and before they arrived he told Winter and Borden what was going to happen. He was going to tell the police he found me in bed with the knife and Little Lawrence was dead. If Winter and Borden ever got together again, he’d see to it they were brought up on murder charges.”
“Why not accuse them right then and there? He had them both by the balls?”
“Because father had control of them and he might need them later. Make them sweat is what he always said. He had the pictures to prove it.”
“How could he prove they were behind the camera?” Summer asked.
“You forget, I was not only the killer…I was the witness to what happened before and after. I also would have said anything my father told me to say. Father warned them I could say I overheard them say they’d kill Little Lawrence if my father didn’t sell Borden oil leases on the outskirts of Waco. Just so you know, those land lease sales were drawn-up, and father made it known that he refused to sign them. I could have told the police Winter and Borden set me in Little Lawrence’s bed and put blood on me, then took pictures. Who wouldn’t believe a little ten-year-old girl?”
Chapter Fourteen
Running Crane cleared his throat. “What did your father tell you to say?”
“Borden and Winter agreed they’d never communicate with each other again. Father told me to say I was just playing and I didn’t know it would really hurt Little Lawrence. I had to talk to a shrink and then that was the end of it. I was certain he’d finally kick Winter out…but he didn’t.”
“So your father still wanted Winter to stay? After all that happened?”
“That was hard for me to understand. I did all that for father…and he still wanted her? He shouldn’t have done that. I told Winter to leave and never come back…or I would tell the police I didn’t stab Little Lawrence, that I watched her do it. Then Borden came over and they took pictures of me with my brother. Father had the pictures to prove it. Winter knew I wasn’t just threatening…if she didn’t leave I’d tell my shrink all she needed to know. Everyone would have believed me…no kid could lie about such a thing.”
“Borden could collaborate Winter’s story.” Summer said.
“I’m the one person who could put them in prison for Little Lawrence’s murder. There’s no question that I was at the scene when the murder took place. I could either take the innocent fall…or I could accuse Winter…and even Borden. She didn’t want him involved, so I had her by the throat.”
“So Winter left…and met my father and boom, just like that they were married?” Summer glared at Domonique.
“Just like that. She said nothing to father. She just packed her bags and left. Winter told the police she was too distraught to stay. Once she left it was just father and me again, and I was never happier.”
Running Crane reached down and picked up the computer shell. “You know everything that’s in here, don’t you? This wasn’t about Winter and Borden getting even—”
“Wait…a minute,” Summer took several steps toward Domonique. “Your father has been threatening to disown you hasn’t he?”
“Why would he do that?” Running Crane asked.
“Bradley Wild Horse—that’s why,” Summer said. You really loved him, but your father hated him…didn’t he? He wasn’t good enough and all that, was he? You threatened him with those documents and pictures. That picture of your father running from the scene…blood on his hands…birth certificate…need I go on? You involved Winter and Borden because you needed help and they had a score to settle with him, too. Once and for all you’d be getting even with a father who should have loved you…but never did. He went from woman to woman, putting them ahead of you. You could never measure up to a son—the one thing he wanted…but no longer had. The one thing you took away from him.”
“He never forgave me—”
“For killing Little Lawrence?” Summer coaxed.
“He…hated himself for loving Winter and her betrayal turned him mean. He used women…and he hated I was not his son. The more I loved him…the more he rejected me. I…told Borden I didn’t kill Little Lawrence…that my father did. I took the fall, because they’d never charge a ten-year-old child.”
“How often are you going to change this story?” Running Crane asked.
“Fuck you!”
“He didn’t mean that, Domonique. I want to know the truth. I…believe you loved Bradley and when your father had him killed that was…all you could take. Bradley wasn’t the first man you loved…that he didn’t approve of…even paid off to leave, or made sure they’d never pursue you again, was he? You didn’t get involved for a long time…then you met Bradley and the two of you fell madly in love with each other.”
“Can it be so wrong to love? Can it be so wrong to want a normal life? I didn’t care if father didn’t give me one red cent from his estate—I just wanted to be free. Bradley and I were going to go to Browning and…it doesn’t matter. He’s dead and my father’s going to pay.”
“You went to Borden to help you before Bradley was killed. Why?” Running Crane asked.
“Because father had already ordered me to break it off with Bradley. He didn’t care we were in love. He didn’t care I was pregnant with Bradley’s baby. He said we’d split-up…or he’d make it happen. I knew what that meant. So Bradley went to his father and warned him about the kind of man Germaine Worthington was.”
“The land contact isn’t legal, is it?” Running Crane asked.
“That was the idea. Borden helped Kevin Wild Horse slip in a few words throughout the document that weren’t noticeable, but made the entire document invalid. The courts would argue it was the intent that showed my father’s character, along with the core sample results proving he intended to swindle the Blackfeet. Plus that added hazardous waste document Borden and Winter drafted. I gave Borden those pictures and the birth certificate and my father no longer controlled them. Borden had everything he needed to put my father away—”
“Except Winter wanted Nah’ah to be implicated…and she wanted those documents to be real and damaging to both Worthington and my grandmother. My mother changed the documents before they were signed, and that’s what we have here. Then she made sure he found out Borden had the goods on him. It was payback time.”
“That’s when my father paid Jordan Perkins to steal from Borden every last document that incriminated him.”
“I suggest we head to the claim and face your father. We have all the goods he’s looking for. He releases Nah’ah and the others in exchange for their silence and no charges if he destroys the land contract.” Running Crane kicked a rock in disgust.
“He’ll never agree to that and neither will I. I won’t let him get away with…killing Bradley. We have enough evidence to put him away for life.”
“Really, Domonique, think about it and face the fact you’re never going to get away with this. First off, the contact for the land deal has been tampered with—”
“That can’t be proved and I’ll deny I ever said that.”
“Kidnapping just can’t be forgotten or ignored, and there are several murders that need explaining. You knew everything that was going on—that makes you an accessory,” Running Crane said.
“I’ll plead a deal for immunity. There’s a lot I know.”
“It just might be too late for that.” Running Crane shook his head.
“So you’re not interested in knowing when the mine is going to accidentally blow…collapsing and killing every worker? The office is close enough to be leveled and if you haven’t guessed it, that’s where your father, grandmother, and Bradley’s father are being detained. And if I’m not mistaken, my father’s actually meeting with Borden and Winter in the conference room…right about now. How convenient, don’t you think? When they ask him where he was during the explosion he’ll have to admit he was right there. All my problems sol
ved in one big accident that can easily be proved my father’s doing. It’s not my fault, you know.”
“What’s not your fault, Domonique?” Summer asked.
“My fate was dealt the moment Little Lawrence was dead. You have no idea what it’s like. Every time I looked at my father…I saw the look on his face when he realized Little Lawrence was dead. He blamed me for that every day of my life.”
“Not really,” Running Crane motioned for them to get going. “Let’s take the chopper and get there before it blows. There are people who can help you, Domonique. Let’s go to the mine and you can tell us how to stop that explosion. By saving all those people – you’ll—”
“It’s too late.” She looked at her cellphone. “It’s set to go off in twenty minutes. We don’t have enough time to—”
“Call your guy and tell him the explosion’s off. Tell him to—”
“I can’t! You have any idea how long it took to get this setup…to put all the players into action get them at the mine all at the same time? It’s been near frickin’ impossible. I don’t want to call it off.”
“Domonique, think about it, please. There are too many innocent people at that mine. Can you live with their deaths?” Running Crane stopped walking and faced her. “I’ll make sure we throw the book at your father. He’ll be inside prison walls the rest of his life. You stop this from happening and I promise you, you’ll never be charged.”
“I…would call it off…but I don’t have Terry’s phone number with me.”
“Terry Running Crane—my brother?” He glanced over at Summer and swallowed hard. “I was afraid he was mixed up in all this.” Running Crane pulled out his cellphone and pressed Terry’s number. It rang and rang…he didn’t answer.
“Text him and tell him Domonique called the whole thing off,” Summer said. “Add - just do it and you’ll explain later—”
“Get your guy to fire up that chopper, Domonique. We have to try to get there before that thing blows.”