by Iris Abbott
“Yeah, the impending storm probably has something to do with that. Nobody factored severe weather into the equation, although I’m glad. If it was up to me, I’d warn everybody and send them on their way, but we can’t.”
“I agree, there’s no way to tell who might be in cahoots or at the very least friendly enough with Rob to give him a heads up.”
They reached the two headstones that belonged to their parents and the small graveside marker that memorialized the lost life that might have been. The two sister’s clasped hands, taking strength from each other. Natalie nestled the two bouquets up against the intended headstones. Marla let go of her sister’s hand, reached out, and squeezed Natalie’s shoulder. She was rewarded with an encouraging smile.
It was her turn. Marla got down on her knees in front of the marble plaque with the engraved angel holding a baby in its arms. The words Baby Taylor and the year she suffered the miscarriage were etched into the base of the stone. Dampness seeped through the knees of her jeans. The clammy wet material clinging to her skin was uncomfortable but grounding. It helped her focus past the memories and the pain to concentrate on the task at hand.
She used a trembling hand to brush away stray debris that marred the once pristine surface of the plaque. A deep and heartfelt sigh escaped her lips before she clenched them together, cutting off the sound of weakness. She closed her eyes and breathed in and out several times to steady herself and pull on her inner strength. She couldn’t fall apart now, she needed to hold on, see this through to the bitter end.
Marla’s eyes snapped open when the sudden wail of sirens broke her focus. Her gaze flew to the wrought iron arch that stood guard at the main entrance of the cemetery. Two patrol cars with sirens blasting and lights flashing roared through the entrance and came to a screeching halt.
A chill slid down Marla’s spine. Her whole body shook from the strength of the shiver. Her eyes met the worried look of her sister. “This isn’t part of the plan, is it?” Natalie whispered.
Marla vigorously shook her head back and forth. Her instincts were on high alert and every sense she possessed was telling her this latest development was not good. A twig snapped nearby and a man rushed toward the new arrivals. Marla and Natalie moved closer to each other and froze. This was an unexpected wrinkle in the careful plans Copper and the others made yesterday.
“I don’t know what to do,” Marla quietly whispered to her sister.
“Me either.”
“We need to stick to the Metal Cowboys’ plan as much as possible. They have eyes on us, we just need to play our part the best we can.”
“Over here,” the stranger said, waving at the deputies. “I’m the one that called 911.”
The deputy in charge took a notebook from his pocket and flipped over a couple of pages. “You called to report a mysterious device?” the lawman enquired.
“I sure did,” the man said. He was slightly overweight and was huffing and puffing from his jog through the cemetery. “I came to visit my dearly departed wife like I do every week. I was almost at her grave over yonder when I looked down and saw a weird looking package. It’s making some kind of beeping noise too,” the man said in an excited voice. “You can’t be too careful these days,” he insisted, “so I phoned it in.”
Marla heard every word the man was saying. It wasn’t sounding good. “A bomb?” she whispered to her sister. Natalie shrugged.
A black SUV sped into the parking lot. The lettering on the side of the door announced that the vehicle belonged to the fire chief. Another siren wailed in the distance. The growing crowd was joined by a bright red fire truck.
“This is getting worse and worse,” Natalie whispered.
Marla agreed. Rob was crazy, but she didn’t think he was brave enough to try something with all these official witnesses looking on. She didn’t move, wanting to wait it out for as long as they could.
That lasted about two minutes. The man who’d called 911 led the deputies and Fire Chief to the mysterious ticking package. On the way, they stopped next to Marla and Natalie.
The fire chief tipped his hat at them. “Ladies, I’m going to need you to move further away from the suspicious package until we’ve checked it out and cleared the area.”
“But…” Marla didn’t want to leave.
The fire chief gave her a stern look. “This is official police and fire department business. I need you to move away from the area. You can wait by the fire truck until we know more, but you can’t stay where you are right now.”
Marla and Natalie gave each other worried looks but did what the fire chief wanted. They slowly retreated from the family plots and moved toward the entrance. Marla whispered in Natalie’s ear as they walked, so as not to be overheard. “I have a funny feeling about this.”
“It does seem sketchy,” Natalie whispered back.
“It could be a coincidence, but what are the chances? I think we should stay put until we hear from Copper or Chrome. If the men maintain their cover, maybe we can still salvage the plan after all the emergency personnel clear out.”
****
Damn! The blaring sirens and squealing brakes made Copper frown. This sudden invasion definitely put an unexpected wrinkle in things. “Stay put,” he ordered just loud enough for the other men to hear him through the earpieces they all wore. “Storey might be trying to flush us out if he suspects a trap. Maintain your position until we know why the deputies are here or the ladies try to leave.” He got four confirmations.
“Steel, the emergency personnel are congregating in your quadrant. “Stay low and keep out of sight. Mercury, keep your finger on the trigger of that sniper rifle just in case.” The twins confirmed that they heard the orders and knew what to do.
“I’m going to move closer to the women in case I have to act fast. If the deputies and firemen look like they are going to spread out and do a thorough search of the area, everybody bug out and regroup at Iron’s position.”
Chrome could be heard grunting in the earpiece. “What about you, Copper?”
“I’m staying put, but one of us having to explain things to Luke is more than enough.”
Ironically, Iron was the furthest away from the ladies, but he was the one that could reach the main entrance the fastest without being seen by the deputies and firemen. They certainly didn’t need anyone asking questions about why they were staking out a cemetery with weapons. Iron and the SUV he drove were hidden behind an abandoned building across from the seldom-used back entrance of the cemetery. “Iron, if Natalie and Marla make a move to leave, I need you to circle around to the front entrance as fast as you can, just in case Rob set this up to flush the ladies out of the cemetery.”
“Roger that,” Iron replied. “I’m ready to go, as soon as I get the word.”
Copper burrowed even closer to the ground and used the scope to get a better look at what was unfolding in the cemetery. He held his breath when the fire chief and deputies approached Marla and Natalie. He watched the women slowly make their way to the arch guarding the entrance. They didn’t make any attempt to exit the cemetery, so Copper stealthily crawled to the thickest tree trunk near him. He rose to his full height when he was sure he was blocked by the breadth of the tree.
Texting Marla to give her verbal support crossed his mind, but they’d agreed as part of the plan not to communicate. If Rob was watching, they didn’t want him spooked at the idea of Marla contacting someone to meet her at the cemetery. Cowards like Storey always ran to hide when faced with a stiff opposition. Copper definitely qualified. He could kill Marla’s stalker with his bare hands if forced to, and Storey probably knew it too.
He put the scope on a loop in his belt. His hand clutched the plastic so hard his fingers cramped, but he welcomed the pain. It kept him centered and put a hold on the overwhelming urge he possessed to rush to Marla’s side. He knew better than to charge blind into a sensitive and potentially dangerous situation. But instinct and ingrained rules of survival were at w
ar with each other inside him, because Marla was in danger.
Reaching down, he rubbed the handle of the sheathed knife that was strapped to his thigh. Then he touched the handles of the two guns stowed in shoulder holsters. Touching the weapons was a ritual he’d picked up as a SEAL. It helped center him and keep him on task. It never failed him in the past.
He slowly scanned the area. When he was certain he was alone and not being observed, Copper slowly backed up until he was in the deeper canopy of the wooded area. Confident that the foliage was too thick to give away his location, he circled around until he was only about forty feet from the Taylors’ graves.
He almost wished he’d come across Marla’s stalker skulking in the woods so that he could take him out without the women even knowing about it. Unfortunately, he wasn’t that lucky. He made it to his new position without coming across another living soul. He found a good hiding place and settled in for the long wait.
****
Marla grabbed Natalie’s hand when she noticed the deputies and fire chief approaching them along with the man who confessed to calling 911. They didn’t hear from Copper or any of the other Metal Cowboys, so they held their ground and stayed in the cemetery, waiting for an explanation. It looked like they were about to get one.
“Ladies,” the fire chief greeted with a nod. “Looks like a false alarm. The mysterious object is some kind of medical device. Whoever dropped it may not even realize it’s missing yet. We’ve checked out the immediate area, and it’s clear. You’re welcome to reenter the cemetery if you wish to do so. I’d be much obliged if you’d send anyone who comes looking for a missing item to the sheriff’s department.”
“We’ll be sure to do that,” Marla replied.
“Definitely,” Natalie added to the conversation.
They waited until the emergency personnel were loaded in their vehicles and driving off before walking back to the family plots. “I want to talk to Copper so bad, it’s killing me,” Marla whispered
“Stay strong,” Natalie encouraged her. “You’ve come this far. Remember the whole horrendous ordeal can end today, right here.”
Marla shrugged. “Only if Rob didn’t come by earlier and get spooked when he saw the police cars and fire truck. That’s a good possibility.”
“No, I have a suspicion that he orchestrated the whole thing to see what we would do and how we would react.”
“He’s devious and crazy enough to make that thought cross my mind, but you sound really sure that’s what happened. Why?”
“Um, probably the smug look he’s wearing as he saunters this way.”
Marla whipped her head around and saw the confident swagger of her stalker as he strolled toward them. It felt like her heart jumped into her throat. She sucked in a huge gulp of air and almost choked on it. The gun Rob was haphazardly swinging around probably had something to do with her reaction.
“What are you doing here?” Marla asked in a shrill voice. The two sisters huddled close together, offering support. It wasn’t too much of a stretch to act terrified. She knew Rob got off on her terror, and she hated to give him the satisfaction, but she couldn’t stop the catch in her breathing or the shaking of her body. Even knowing that Copper and the rest of the Metal Cowboys were nearby didn’t lessen her terror. Being confronted by a crazy man brandishing a gun was more than enough to chill the blood in her body.
She held her breath as he slowly moved closer. The two sisters carefully choreographed their steps, moving behind their parents’ headstones. It wasn’t much, but the two proud tablets of marble standing between them and a lunatic, offered some comfort. They didn’t dare retreat any further.
Marla knew better than to make any sudden moves. She needed to get Rob talking and keep him occupied while Copper and the men did what they needed to do. She casually wrapped her arms around her middle. The snug fit of the bulletproof vest she was wearing gave her a small amount of comfort. It served as a reminder of why she and Natalie were having this face-to-face with her worst nightmare come true.
“You look mighty happy with yourself.” Rob loved to talk about himself. She hoped he took the bait and started talking instead of shooting. Anything to buy some time, Copper would make his move soon. She had utter faith in her man.
“I am,” Marla’s ex agreed with a smug grin. “I finally have you cornered.” He vigorously rubbed his hands together. “As a bonus, your no-good interfering sister’s here too. It’s kind of like that old saying, killing two birds with one stone. Well, in this case it’s more like killing two sisters with one gun. That’s close enough for me.” He chuckled.
The evil sound made Marla and Natalie both flinch. Marla’s chest tightened, and there was an unusual pounding in her ears. She felt lightheaded and swayed toward Natalie, who might have collapsed under the extra weight, if it hadn’t been for their dad’s sturdy headstone holding them up. She knew facing off with Rob was a possibility when she insisted on coming to the cemetery. The reality of the situation was a lot different from what she’d imagined.
“It was really a lot easier than I thought,” Rob continued with a snicker. “Tina couldn’t wait to call and tell me that you and that biker were on the outs and why.”
“How’d you know I’d be here?” She wanted to keep him talking. As long as he was busy bragging, he was less inclined to shoot them and give up his captive audience.
“You’re pretty predictable, Marla. I knew you’d be here today of all days,” he said with a sneer. “It’s really fitting that on the anniversary of the day you ruined my life, I get to end yours.”
Marla bit her tongue to keep from speaking the bitter retort that sprang to mind. She needed to keep her cool. She felt Natalie’s fingers biting into her arm, silently reminding her to keep her mouth shut. Antagonizing a madman with a gun was never a good idea.
When she and Natalie remained silent, Rob started to ramble. “I dropped one of my dad’s insulin pumps on the ground and waited for someone to find it. The police came and went, and none of those bikers crawled out of the woodwork to come to your rescue, so I decided it was finally time for my payback.”
He slowly raised the gun he was holding in his hand. An eruption of gunfire sounded around them, three shots were fired. Acting on instinct, Marla dragged Natalie to the ground with her, and they huddled together in a tight ball. A loud thud sounded nearby. Marla fervently hoped it was the fallen body of her tormentor.
Before she could muster up the strength to take a peek strong arms were surrounding her and helping her to her feet. She recognized Copper’s touch and gratefully sank into his body taking strength from his nearness. She heard him give the other men an all clear message.
She glanced over his shoulder at the prone body of her stalker. Copper’s aim was true. A bright red circle of seeping blood soaked Rob’s shirt right above his cold black heart. There was also a hole right between his eyes. Copper went for the kill shots, and he succeeded.
She closed her eyes tight and buried her face in his neck. The shaking started, and she might have fallen back to the ground if the arms holding her hadn’t tightened and pulled her close. “Are you hit? Are you hit?” she exclaimed while running her hands up and down his body. She was examining every inch of him and was relieved not to see any dark red stains or other signs of injury.
Copper grabbed her hands to still them. “His bullet didn’t even come close to me. He was as lousy a shot as he was a human being,” he observed.
Marla appreciated the wit but couldn’t muster up a laugh. Instead, she hugged Copper as hard as she could, trying to transmit as much relief as possible. “It’s over! It’s finally over!” she whispered.
Natalie joined them wrapping her arms around the couple as best she could. “Yes it is. Now it’s up to you to leave the nightmare behind and embrace the dream.” Marla knew her sister was referring to Copper. “I plan to,” she promised. “As long as you do the same, no more putting things on hold for my sake,” she reminded Natalie
.
The sound of an approaching vehicle stopped the conversation. Marla glanced around and saw a county SUV that she suspected was being driven by Luke Davis. Her guess was proved correct when the sheriff stepped out of the parked vehicle.
He took one look at Marla, Natalie, and the gun still clutched in Rob’s hand and shook his head. “Copper phoned me about fifteen minutes ago and told me I’d want to be here before hanging up.” He glared at Copper when he added that last part.
“I’m glad I didn’t let his rudeness put me off.” He turned his attention back to the ladies. “I’m going to need a statement from the Taylors.” He glanced at Copper, “with marksman ship like that, I’m sure you’re the one that pulled the trigger. I need your statement too.”
Copper’s mouth flattened into a straight line, and he nodded in the affirmative. “Damn straight! Storey got off a shot too, but it went wide left. You might be able to find the spent casing if you look hard enough.”
“Don’t need it. I’ll test his hand for gunpowder residue and inspect his gun to verify that it was fired. But the bottom line is that I have an armed man who confronted two women with active restraining orders against him. As soon as I get your statements and make an official report, the matter’s closed. I won’t be filing charges. This is an open and closed case of self-defense.”
Marla cleared her throat. “What about Rob’s family? They might want an investigation. He was their son after all.”
“They can push the issue, but I doubt if they’ll want the bad publicity. If they make noise, I’ll shut them down with the facts. The DA wouldn’t waste his time or reputation trying this case.”
Marla broke away from Copper and Natalie. Her whole bodied shook while she stared down the sheriff. “Can we do this in the parking lot?” She glanced back at the bloody body still lying on the ground. “I know he can’t hurt me anymore, but I need to get as far away from him as possible.”
“The parking lot will do just fine,” the lawman agreed.