“You’ve been talking to this nosy bitch for too long. We gotta get outta here. There’s a storm brewing and I told you this was a fuckin’ bad day to try to do this.”
Eleanor rolled her eyes before facing him, speaking as though to a child. “Ken, it’s fine. We’re almost finished here anyway. Now, be a dear and keep an eye on Katelyn while I get ready.”
Passing the gun to him, Eleanor walked to the kitchen counter and grabbed her tote. Smoothing her hands over the wig, she then applied the bubble-gum pink lipstick. Zipping, then belting, Carrie’s dark coat, she turned and faced Katelyn. Laughing, she threw her hands out to the side as she twirled. “Voila! And now I am Ms. Reynolds…at least to anyone who sees me!”
Katelyn had to admit the transformation was good, even if Eleanor was almost twenty years older than Carrie. From a distance, no one would think twice about assuming it was Carrie. Certainly not any of Carrie’s neighbors who might see her drive into her garage. The reality crashed into her that unless she did something, both she and Carrie would die tonight. And Gareth would have no idea where to find me.
“We’ve got to go. What are we going to do with her?” Ken growled, spittle flying from his mouth as he faced Eleanor. “You’ve planned everything down to the last detail and now her showing up is gonna mess it all up. So, what are you gonna do about her?”
Eleanor stood, tapping her fingernail on the kitchen counter, her lips pulled in as she considered her options. “I thought about taking her with us, but that would be too much of a complication. If she were found dead in Ms. Reynolds’ trunk, it could possibly point back here.” The tap-tap of her nails continued, before she glanced out the window toward the pier at the impending storm, the rain beginning to hit the patio. “She’ll have to be taken care of like Walter. Only, when you take her out in the boat, you can just dump her over the side. Weighted, of course.”
“Now? You want me to take her out now?”
“Yes. I’ll start to Ms. Reynolds’ house and as soon as you deal with this one, come and pick me up.”
“There’s a fuckin’ storm coming,” he whined, his eyes narrowed. “I can’t take a boat out in this!”
“Fine! Then kill her, but outside the house on the pier so the rain can wash away the evidence. When we get back, we’ll get rid of her then.”
Ken walked over, grabbing Katelyn by the arm as Eleanor left through the front door. “Let’s go.” He pulled her through the sliding glass door, both immediately drenched with the rain. The wind whipped from the side, causing Katelyn to stagger against him.
Looking ahead, she saw that he was dragging her toward the pier where a small, flat-bottomed boat was tied to a pylon. If he gets me close, I’m dead! Tripping, she landed on the hard, wooden planks, her fingers close to one of the oars haphazardly left on the pier. Even with her hands taped, her fingers were able to latch around the handle, the feel of wood as familiar as the baseball bat behind the bar at Finn’s.
Struggling to stand, she whirled around, whacking the oar against the back of Ken’s head, unheeding of the injury it might cause. “Aughhhh!” she screamed as the wooden oar made contact and he dropped like a stone to the pier.
Not checking to see if he was just injured or dead, she stumbled back down the pier and across the yard, slowing as she neared the corner.
Eleanor was not in sight, but Carrie’s car was still parked in front of the house. Realizing she had parked behind Carrie’s car, pinning her in, Katelyn’s heart leaped. She tried to twist her hands from the tape, but the rain made the process more difficult.
Skirting around the side of the house again, she peeked through the kitchen window, observing Eleanor digging through Katelyn’s purse. She must be looking for my keys! Katelyn grinned, feeling the sharp jab of her keys in her raincoat pocket along with her phone. Her smile dropped from her face as soon as Eleanor realized they were not in her purse and she barely jumped out of sight as Eleanor walked to the patio door, staring out toward the pier. Shit, she’ll see Ken! Hoping the rain would impair her vision, she pressed against the wall of the house as Eleanor opened the door.
“Ken! I need her keys! Ken!”
Hearing Eleanor shouting, Katelyn knew it was only a moment before Eleanor discovered Ken’s crumbled body. The slanting deluge of rain was the only reason Eleanor had probably not realized it was him lying on the pier.
Peeking around the corner, she saw Ken moving slightly. He’s not dead! Unsure if that was a good thing or not, Katelyn knew she had to hide. If they kill me, Carrie’ll never have a chance to be rescued!
Turning in circles for a few uncertain seconds, she ran to a nearby magnolia tree and reached up to a limb, grasping it with her taped hands. Using her feet on a lower branch, she pushed up until the thick, waxy leaves hid her from view.
Gareth grimaced as he willed Mitch to drive faster. The SUVs wipers were flying back and forth, slinging water from the windshield as the raging storm pelted down. Finally, pulling into the Berry’s driveway, Mitch maneuvered to the side allowing a NHSD sedan to pass him.
Mitch growled, “Jurisdiction,” halting any complaint from Gareth.
Colt and several of his deputies were moving into position around the front of the house, as well as a few hurrying to the back, as Mitch pulled up. As the house came into sight, Gareth strained to focus on the movement at the front door, seeing Carrie hustling out into the storm and Katelyn’s car parked in the driveway.
“Carrie Reynolds, stop and put your hands into the air!”
Eleanor halted, her face morphing into confusion and Colt took his opportunity. With her focus on the deputy standing with his gun trained on her, Colt quickly came from the side, hitting Eleanor’s wrist. The gun flew across the ground as Eleanor screamed, dropping to her knees as she held her injured wrist.
“Where’s Katelyn?” Gareth shouted, running through the storm toward her. He and Mitch skidded to a halt as Eleanor’s wig slid to the side. “What the hell?”
Mitch stepped to Colt’s side as he cuffed Eleanor and pulled the wig off. Gareth stared, stunned, as the woman they assumed was Carrie morphed into Eleanor.
“Eleanor? It was you?” he gasped. Startled, he shook his head, refocusing as he growled, “Where’s Katelyn? What did you do with her?”
“I don’t know…”
Gareth grabbed Eleanor by the upper arms before Colt could stop him. “Where is she?”
Her eyes narrowed to slits as she glared at the law enforcement around her. “Ken was taking care of her. Ask him!”
Colt’s radio alerted them to a body found in the backyard, ambulance needed immediately. Dropping Eleanor’s arms, Gareth and Mitch raced around the house as the storm raged, seeing several deputies squatting around a body near the end of the pier.
Unheeding of the rain slamming into him, Gareth’s feet skidded to a stop as the EMT talked to Ken, who was now sitting up, holding the back of his bleeding head.
“Where is Katelyn—”
“Bitch hit me in the back of the head with an oar,” Ken grumbled, his wobbly voice low.
Gareth stood and stared out over the bay, swinging his head back and forth as he tried to think of where she could be. The water was grey, whitecap waves crashing against the pier with sideways rain pummeling all in the path of the storm. Chest heaving, he tried to steady his thoughts but—
“Gareth!”
Jerking his head around, he tried to ascertain where the sound originated. All he could see was the rain soaked yard. Looking at Mitch, he shouted, “Did you hear that?”
Mitch opened his mouth to answer when he was interrupted.
“Gareth!”
This time the scream definitely came from the yard. Both men ran down the pier, their feet slipping on the wet grass. Whipping his head back and forth, slinging water from his face, Gareth looked for Katelyn, but to no avail. Shouting, “Katelyn?” into the wind, he listened for a response, his heart pounding against his chest. Where the hell is she?
<
br /> “Gareth! Up here!”
“Where?” he shouted, his hands on his hips, turning in circles on the patio. Wiping the water from his eyes, he blinked trying to focus.
“The magnolia—up here!”
Looking at Mitch, he swore, “Goddamnit, what the hell is a magnolia? Where the fuck is she?”
Mitch looked to the side of the yard, seeing a tall, untrimmed magnolia, its limbs bending against the storm. Pointing, he shouted, “It’s a tree—there!”
Racing to where Mitch pointed, Gareth steadied himself with his hands against the tree trunk, the thick leaves providing respite against the driving rain. Looking up, he viewed Katelyn’s marvelous ass as she perched on a limb a few feet above his head.
His chest heaving, he grasped the trunk to hold up his weight as his legs gave out from under him. Lifting his head, he wiped the water from his eyes again, this time not sure if it was all rain or perhaps a few tears mingled in.
“Baby, what the hell are you doing up a tree?”
“I’m stuck. I was trying to hide when I saw Eleanor searching for Ken, but my wrists are still taped together—”
Immediately on alert, Gareth swore. “Fuck, Katelyn.” He climbed up the limbs, standing on the branch below her and searching her face. Wet, dark strands of hair hung in her eyes as she blinked the water away. Her wobbly smile hit his heart and he grasped her cheeks as he pulled her in for a kiss. “Scared as shit, babe.”
“I thought I killed him…but he was going to kill me and dump me overboard—”
“Shh, not now. Let’s get you down.” Looking at her wrists, he noticed the bloody skin where she had tried to shuck the tape. Pulling out his keychain, he opened a penknife and deftly sliced the tape between her wrists before slicing through the small branch that was stuck onto her pants. Moving behind her, he assisted her down, one limb at a time until their feet were firmly on the ground.
“Just like old times,” she tried to joke, but the words caught in her throat as she looked into his eyes, seeing fear mixed with relief. She yelped as he swung her up into his arms, stalking toward the house, the storm howling all around.
“No, no, put me down. Gareth—Carrie’s in the trunk of her car. We’ve got to get her out!”
Mitch, water pouring off his police cap, stood next to Gareth, hearing Katelyn’s determined cry. “Which car is hers?” he barked.
“The one in front of mine!”
Nodding, as he looked behind her, he said, “They’re getting her.”
She turned, seeing Zac jump from the ambulance, running over to Mitch and Colt. She ran forward as they opened the trunk to find Carrie taped and still unconscious. The men turned to Katelyn as she said, “Eleanor gave her something. It was in her tea, to make her sleep. I don’t know what it was.”
Nodding, Zac and the other paramedics lifted her from the trunk and quickly placed her in the back of the ambulance.
Remembering Ken, Katelyn grabbed Gareth’s arms. “Ken Berry,” she gasped. “He was working with Eleanor. He was going to kill me but I hit him with an oar!”
As the wind howled and the rain pummeled everyone in its path, Katelyn watched as Carrie and a still-grumbling—but not dead—Ken were taken away in ambulances, while Eleanor sat in the back of a NHSD vehicle. And then she turned toward Gareth and collapsed.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Katelyn, sitting in the pub, surrounded by her family and friends, finally smiled as the feeling of safety crept back over her. The tropical storm had been downgraded, but the rain and wind still howled outside. She knew most in attendance would have stayed in their homes to ride the storm out, but as soon as the news spread, all gathered at Finn’s.
Corrine and Eric came barreling in to check on their daughter. Aiden picked her up, snatching her from Gareth’s arms, and twirled her around until Gareth, grumbling, pulled her back into his embrace. Jillian and Tori rushed in, hugging Katelyn before settling in Mitch and Grant’s arms. Belle and Jade also came, slamming the door behind them, shutting out the rain.
Gareth assisted Katelyn to a chair, making sure she was comfortable before shifting his gaze about the room. He knew the town got behind one of their own, but Katelyn had it in spades. A hometown girl with years at the diner and pub…everyone loved her smile.
Zac made his way in with Jason and Callan in tow, all tossing head jerks of approval toward Gareth. Ginny made her way in, her eyes landing on Brogan before sliding toward Katelyn.
Brogan, surly as ever, placed a plate of Katelyn’s favorite fish and chips in front of her, with a side of the chef’s special slaw next to it. Bending over, he kissed his sister’s head, his shaking hands giving the only indication of his fear for her. His eyes landed on Gareth and he said, “Gratitude, man.” With a slight head nod toward Ginny, he moved back behind the bar.
“How long had she been planning all that?” Tori asked.
Taking a sip of the warm cider Aiden had given her, feeling as though she might never get warm again, she replied, “From what she said, she was suspicious when she called his office a few times and he wasn’t there. She then followed him and discovered he met several times with Cindy Reynolds. Always in public, but it was enough that she thought he was having an affair. Then, she found out it was worse. A daughter.”
“How is that worse?” Corrine asked, her eyes glued on her own daughter.
Shrugging, Katelyn said, “That’s where her issues came to play. A mistress could be gotten rid of…or at least wouldn’t have had any claim to Walter’s money. But Eleanor wanted it all. She wanted his love as well as his money. And a daughter could ruin that. A daughter was the one thing that Walter might end up loving more than her.”
Aiden chimed in, “Sounds fuckin’ bonkers, if you ask me.” He ducked as Brogan walked near, but kept his smile in place.
Nodding sadly, Katelyn could not help but wonder what drove Eleanor to such extremes.
“But the hotel receipts, trying to build a case against someone else…that took a great deal of plotting and planning,” Jillian said, stealing one of Katelyn’s French fries.
Shaking her head, Katelyn agreed, “Yes, it did. What I struggle with is that she cared for her husband, but felt as though he betrayed her in the greatest sense. He not only had an affair many years ago, which was long over, but had a child from that union. To her, it was the ultimate betrayal, and he needed to be punished.”
“She knew he had not changed his will, so she had to get rid of Walter before he decided to. But, she was smart enough to know to divert all suspicion away from her. Hence the elaborate setup,” Gareth added, his arm wrapped around Katelyn, his fingers splayed on her shoulder, gently rubbing. “Playing on Ken’s insecurities and money problems, she convinced him to go along with it. It was the two of them going to the hotels, her dressed in a blonde wig, to cast suspicion on someone else.”
“I don’t get that Ken guy at all,” Brogan piped up. “To kill his own brother.”
“She did the killing, but Ken was willing to get rid of the body. He got his hands on a small motorboat and took the body over to the golf course. That was just one more dig toward Walter. His brother was the country club socialite, while Ken was the stay-at-home, take care of their mother kind of man. Eleanor probably knew that Ken had resented his brother for years,” Gareth explained.
“The lawsuit threw a monkey wrench into her plans,” Katelyn said, abandoning her food to lay her head on Gareth’s shoulder, offering him a small smile as her hand on his thigh squeezed.
“But you solved the case!” Jillian pronounced, gaining an eye-roll from Mitch and Grant. “Okay, fine, the Baytown Police helped,” she giggled as Grant grabbed her waist, pulling her toward him.
“Oh, no, I didn’t!” Katelyn refuted. “I just ended up at the right place at the right time. Or rather, perhaps, the wrong place at the wrong time!”
“Don’t want my baby sister having to do anything like that again, but thank God for her bat-swinging skills!” A
iden quipped.
Leaning in to whisper in her ear, Gareth said, “And her tree climbing skills.”
“I told you I’d bring all kinds of different skills to the job,” she quipped, then moved to speak so others could not hear. “And later, I’ll show you some of my special, just-for-you-skills.”
Smiling as he leered, she leaned her head back on his shoulder, her gaze roaming around Finn’s, her heart full of the friends and family gathered.
One Month Later
“Harrison and MacFarlane, Private Investigations. Katelyn MacFarlane speaking. How may I help you?”
Gareth walked by, winking at Katelyn as he watched the sign painter finish adding her name to the door. Taking the invoice, he turned and walked back over to Katelyn’s desk as she finished the call. She reached her hand out, but he shook his head.
“Now that you’re a partner, you shouldn’t have to handle all the invoices as well.”
Making a play for the piece of paper, she placed her hand on her hip as he held it away from her. “Well, as the office manager, I happen to know that we can’t afford to hire someone else right now…so, I’ll still handle the payments.”
Stepping closer, he pressed his body right up to hers, towering over her as he said, “We’ll need to figure it all out as we go, but with you now licensed private investigator, we’ll share the office duties…at least until we can afford someone else.”
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled him closer. “We can economize by you moving in with me. Every penny counts, you know?” she teased.
One Year Later
Gareth watched the sign maker as he painted the finishing touches on the front door.
Harrison and Harrison Private Investigations.
“I like it,” a soft voice came from behind. Gareth turned, seeing Katelyn walking across the street, a Finn’s lunch bag in her hand. He moved to take it from her, planting a kiss on her forehead.
Clues of the Heart: Baytown Boys Series Page 26