Threat: Follow up to Stranded but not Alone (Dragoslava Connection)

by Cora Blu

  “So Officer Greg, you're not convinced Bethany sent the threat are you?” Glenda asked, glancing from him to Bethany. Bethany couldn't believe she asked.

  “This is an open case, Miss. I don't discuss my cases with civilians.”

  “But...you can’t believe Bethany had anything to do with this. You’ve spent time with her; she’s the kindest most generous person. Your detective is wasting his time watching Bethany.”

  Wow. She wasn’t expecting that, but it felt good to hear. “Thank you Glenda.”

  “Bethany, dear,” Martha said, her horse’s nose brushing Bethany's horse’s flank. They were too close. Did the woman know how to ride? “I'm sorry, I'm not comfortable on horses, and I prefer more refined activities.” Bethany angled her reins over putting space between their horses. “Bethany, Glenda’s right, but it must get to you at some point having family so far away in Arizona. No one would fault you if you went back to the states. You helped get the diversity program off to a wonderful start, and I’m certain they would love to have you back. I can't imagine coming all this way with no family or friends for thousands of miles. You must feel so alone once you leave the office.”

  “Excuse me,” Bethany said wrapping her hands tight around the horse’s pommel, she had to hear that again. “How do you know where my parents live?”

  Martha looked to Mikhail. “Am I mistaken, Mikhail? You did say Arizona right. I’m not completely familiar with the names. Was that a secret?”

  Flabbergasted, that was the only word she could think of and shot Mikhail a glowering stare from between her horse’s ears. “You discuss my personal life with other employees, Mikhail?”

  He pulled the reins back on his horse stopping in front of Martha. “It wasn’t your business to repeat, Martha.”

  “Mikhail?” Bethany said unable to tone down her irritation. How dare he speak about her personal business with another employee without her knowing?

  He sat frustrated, eyes focused on Martha before swinging his attention back to her. “The comment, Bethany, was a compliment,” Mikhail tried assuring her, but she was fuming by this time. “Martha anything you hear in my office is confidential regardless to your location. Monday morning in my office…first thing.”

  Well Bethany couldn’t wait until Monday for what she had to say.

  “Martha perhaps you should revisit the company manual on privacy in the workplace. I’m certain there’s a violation of my privacy in there somewhere.”

  Martha shifted in her saddle, cheeks flush and eyes wild. “I wasn’t aware that trying to be conversational was a violation. I just thought you might find more friends if you shared more about yourself. No one really knows that much about you…or your family.”

  Every face paled at Martha’s comment.

  Bethany clenched her fist in the horse’s mane. Calm down. Attacking Martha in front of all these people will only add believability to the accusation of guilt. And she wasn’t going to prison for punching Martha.

  But she had to stand up for herself. “Martha, don’t waste your hollow friendship on me. I don’t accept fakes and there’s nothing genuine about your offer.” Movement at her side brought her around.

  Mikhail’s hand on Martha's horse directing her away from Bethany sent fire down her spine. He gave Martha a sterile scrutinizing tongue-lashing without a word, as her father would always say. Martha’s actions were childish.

  Martha dropped her gaze to the ground and mumbled under her breath, “Ich wette, sie hat von ihren kunden zu stehlen.”

  Bethany could have leapt from her horse at her words but stayed professional. “If you ever accuse me of stealing from my clients, you better have evidence or I’ll sue you for slander and defamation of character.”

  Martha blanched. She assumed Bethany didn’t know enough German to know what she said. Bad gamble.

  “Martha that’s enough,” Mikhail said, but Bethany watched him watching Martha with a distant stare.

  What was he doing standing at her side?

  “Martha,” Glenda piped up shaking her head, both women’s blond hair glowed under the hidden lights in the tree limbs. “Give Bethany a break. The woman had been kidnapped and still she sat and answered every question the detective had. We've all had our integrity questioned enough to last a lifetime and since Mr. Shamochernyi invited us up to his family’s home, the least we could do is act civil. Bethany’s been nothing but accommodating to the polizei.”

  “Pardon me, Mr. Shamochernyi, no disrespect, but I’m looking out for the safety of our office. We had no problems until she came to Austria,” Martha accused through compressed lips.

  “Martha,” Bethany started, “Do yourself a favor and stay out of my business. You’re a grown woman; act as if you know better than to play with me. If you have something to say…say it.”

  Mikhail watched as if he weren’t truly there. What was going on?

  “Okay, you want honesty. I'm just not convinced, like everyone else is, that you had nothing to do with any of this.” She looked at everyone then back to Bethany. “I'm sorry. Everyone in the office knows you and Mikhail had a rocky breakup. It's no surprise people suspect you as the stalker.”

  Bethany pulled back on the reins bringing her horse to a halt. He whinnied as she led him off the trail. “Is Martha the only person who thinks I'm stalking Mikhail?” she urged and watched the faces pale under the moonlight. Her heart sank along with her shoulders and a bit of her self-confidence because she was certain she had their support.

  They'd all lied to her. Thought she was vindictive enough to send that trash through email. After a steadying breath taking in all the faces Mikhail’s face held no expression. When was he going to pipe up? Spouting how he believed in her to the detective. Well this was his opportunity to prove it. He said nothing when she looked at him. He’d lied to her too.

  Bethany became angry. “Then I guess that’s settled, call the detective and tell him you’ve captured the stalker.” She slapped her thigh in disgust and stared down at the snow biting back the vile curses filling her throat. “What could I possibly have to do other than stalk Mr. Shamochernyi?” She raised her face to the sky then grinned, as everyone watched saying nothing. “I’d thought you all considered me a part of the Heinemann and Heinemann family. I was even proud to say I work in Austria and the people are wonderful. Now…,” she shook her head, she just wanted to go home. “Thank you Martha for opening my eyes and showing me where I truly stand with my co-workers. But try and pull my card like that again in front of everyone, and it won’t end well between us. Your comment was unprofessional and inappropriate and I would think, this isn’t the first time you’ve spoken your mind and no one’s addressed it or else you wouldn’t feel as if it were your responsibility to put me down.”

  Mikhail’s fingers tightened on Martha’s pommel pulling her horse closer, she noticed. What was that? He whispered over to Martha. The woman sucked in a breath then glanced around the space. Folding her arms she said nothing just tipped her chin up until Mikhail shook the pommel again.

  “I’m going to go back to the chalet. I seem to have made an enemy out of myself to Ms. Cansler.”

  That she wasn’t expecting. Bethany watched Glenda's horse step forward coming up closer to her horse. She and Glenda shared a stare over the steam rising from the horse’s nostrils. “They need someone to point the finger at, and you’re an easy target. I’m sorry.” Glenda gave Bethany a sad smile.

  Mikhail finally spoke, “Martha, tomorrow morning I want you off this mountain. Monday morning I want your resignation on my desk.”

  “You can’t just fire me for speaking my mind.”

  “Every employee signed a waiver to never divulge information to the media about anything or person within the firm. You’re on security camera outside of the office speaking to Channel 8’s reporter. Rules are there for everyone’s protection. I tried to wait until next week, but your actions today tells me of your volatility towards Ms. Cansler.”
>
  “I…I,” she stuttered.

  “You’ll leave in the morning.”

  “Officer Greg will escort you back to the chalet.”

  Greg sat quiet, then nodded to Bethany and followed Martha out of the forest.

  “Everyone go finish your searches. Ms. Cansler is not being charged with anything, and you will not make accusations based on your fear.”

  Edward rode up on his horse, a white stallion as large as Mikhail’s black shiny working horse that she’d come to love. She angled her smaller horse back along a tree. Everyone moved back except for Mikhail. The men came close and exchanged words. Edward nodded then moved close to Bethany.

  “Ms. Cansler, I’m riding back to the chalet, if you’d like an escort,” Edward offered. “I could use a partner for darts.”

  Bethany turned her horse to leave. “I appreciate your concern, thank you.” Mikhail’s pained stare crushed her. “Mr. Shamochernyi, you’ll have my resignation on your desk Monday morning. What client in their right mind will want me handling their account after this distrust is fed through the office?”

  Faces glowed crimson under the lights.

  Bethany tugged on the reigns getting her horse to dive into the darkening forest. She couldn’t wait to get away. Edward would have to catch up. Time for a reality check. This wasn’t working.

  Chapter 15

  Bethany

  As she slowed the sweaty black horse in the calf deep snow, Bethany had no idea where they’d ran off to, except for the river gurgling under the sheet of ice just to the right of the trail.

  The same river someone tried to trick her into riding into bogusly marking her scavenger hunt map leading her to an icy death.

  Maybe Martha…heifer.

  Pulling the flashlight from the side belt to see where she’d ran off to, Bethany was surprised to see how far she’d gone into the darkening forest and the night had begun to awaken around her with chirps and groans, the crunching of crusted snow sounding more like someone rummaging through a bag of chips.

  Holding onto the reins she gave him slack to dip his head to take a drink close to the edge where it was safe to walk. Tired, she dismounted then squat next to him on a long stump half buried under the snow.

  Angrily, she dug her foot under the heavy snow chucking it out over the ground to dig into the hard packed earth. She knew it wasn’t moving but she needed to destroy something and digging a hole was distracting to her raging mind.

  What happened back there with Martha? She was a busy body but never like this.

  This was getting her nowhere; the accusations and snide remarks. Somehow, she’d prove she had nothing to do with this and when she did… cut off by the horse whinnying attempting to nibble at something on his chest.

  Patting a hand down the horse’s thigh, she noticed a glint of blood matted in the hairs.

  “When did that happen?” she grumbled dabbing at it with her gloved finger, coming away with a smear of blood. It wasn’t oozing so it had to be a superficial cut, easy enough to stop the faint spots of blood. She fought back the nausea at the sight. Even a small amount set her off. Good thing it wasn’t more or whatever else was out there would emerge looking for something wounded to snack on tonight.

  Grabbing up a hand full of snow she rubbed it over the cut. The horse drew back, whining and stomping the ground at her touch. “Hey, hey, it’s okay, boy. Let me look at it and see if there’s anything in there.” Tentatively, she held her palms out allowing him to nuzzle her hands showing she wouldn’t hurt him, she then worked over the length of hair to see a small twig poking out of the flesh. She scrunched her nose. “Alright this won’t hurt at all if you just hold still. I can’t hold the flashlight and take care of your wound.” Working the piece of wood gingerly out soothing the spot with more fresh snow she spoke to the horse, “There you go, boy, see it didn’t hurt much,” stepping back admiring her work, “Everything’s okay and once we get you back to the barn; we’ll get some ointment on that or whatever horses use.”

  “And what will I put on your emotional cuts, Bethany? Obviously you’re hurting but running won’t make it better.”

  Mikhail’s accent had her jerking back, the reins tight in her hand; she wasn’t ready to deal with anyone.

  “Baby don’t run from me, I’m here to help you.” Mikhail’s rich voice bled through the forest with the clomping of horse hooves crunching through the snow. He settled his horse draping the reins over the branch and crouched low in front of the horse inspecting her untrained veterinary work. “Not bad, Cansler. My boy might live.” He stroked a hand down the nose before turning his big body to face her.

  Making room, she scooted over on the log. “She was the one I’d avoided on the elevators because she’s a gossip at the office. Eh. It doesn’t matter now if I did it or not, they need a suspect and it’s me.”

  “It’ll matter to me, Bethany. Will it matter to you that I care or will you keep sticking your finger in my eye when I’m trying to help us, help you?”

  “How were you helping letting her bump her gums like that?”

  “Potential lawsuits from angry employees are a businessman’s daily concern. I’ve had my doubts about Martha for some time. I think she’s a plant from a competitor. I’ve been watching her the last few weeks and wondered who she was after.” He took her flashlight shining its beam out through the trees over the freshly fallen snow for tracks she thought. Happy with what he saw, he returned it to her on the stump. “I let her bury herself in front of the other employees so when I fired her it was legitimate. And not a favor to you.”

  “What’s between you and GCT Holding’s?”

  “Nothing. It’s between me and Mark.”

  “Mark, why?”

  “When I proposed the diversity program originally, my first employee left and never returned. Mark was the first to say the program wasn’t working and letting everyone know I’d failed.”

  “And you didn’t fire him?”

  He laughed dark and wicked. “You don’t fire family.”

  Her tongue blocked her airways choking down his confession leaving her gasping for a breath. “Hold on—slow down the wagon with the broken wheel and stop talking.” She roiled at his words because this had been a vital issue and he’d chosen to leave it out. “Family? I need more explanation,” she finished gripping his arm to keep from shaking him in exasperation.

  “I told you he was close to my grandfather; well he’s the child of a midlife affair and has always presumed he’d get the company because my mother didn’t want to run it. She willed it to me when I turned thirty.”

  “Do the employees know who Mark is?”

  “No…Grandfather asked that I keep him on after he retired, but I’m certain he’s starting his own company. I have no proof though.”

  “GCT Holdings,” she asked incredulous of all Mark’s flowery words and offering to help all the time.

  “I never would have thought…that’s his interest in me and offering to go to bat for me with GCT Holding’s.” Could the storm hit any closer to home? This was crazy.

  “He considers you his. I took you from him.”

  “And to the financial community, I’m proof of your talent in creating this new way of saving money moving your employees around the country instead of hiring new all the time. And the diversity edge you’re getting the employees to mix ethnically so they can support one another with the clients. And if he takes me from you, I acknowledge him as the better employer.”

  He smiled under the sporadic solar floodlights illuminating dots of light on the ground around the river. Small bushes and tufts of tall grass poked through the snow. “I told you Bethany, you’re brilliant.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me before?” she asked tilting her face up to look at him.

  “Because you were certain I’d hurt you, and I didn’t want you to leave out of vengeance, going to my mother’s brother, but because it was a career move. That I could handle.”

 
Holy crap…this was seriously dysfunctional.

  “I’m adopted, not a Heinemann by blood. I’ve had to prove myself every step of the way to those who have seen the company grow from nothing. Bringing you on and your status solidifies the trust my grandfather has in my ability to handle business.”

  She never knew there was any animosity between him and Mark and now everything made sense.

  “I don’t have it all figured out but somehow he’s behind all this. I’ve been a playboy all my life and it’s coming back to haunt me. Company heads all over are watching this program and me.”

  Lifting her hand, she brushed the black curl off his brow tucking it under his cap, his warm eyes trained solidly on her mouth making her blush. “They’re waiting to see if I’m Mikhail’s prop, saving his reputation, or am I legit and have a brain in my head?”

  The nerve of some people judging her intelligence on his indiscretions, she thought. Get a grip; they would have thought that about any woman he brought over.

  “In business, a solid reputation is everything. Company heads are watching us and the customers you bring in. I’m not letting my family down nor the people who trained me or the two degrees that say I’ve got the brains to back my future status as owner.”

  “Securing future business for their companies,” she added.

  He nodded confidently. “Investors from other countries feel comfortable knowing we employ other nationalities and come to us over other investment firms.”

  “Swapping employees from the states and Switzerland and Austria makes you a pioneer.”

  “And the recognition has gotten me mentioned in European Movers and Shakers magazine. That’s why the photographers.”

  “The world is watching us make history.”

  “Welcome to my world, Bethany.” He maneuvered closer. “Us breaking up and you not leaving Heinemann’s and your numbers steadily growing says the talent is yours and I didn’t hire you for your looks, but your brains.”