Russell's Return

by Ellis, J. J.

  “Yes Russell. I remember you always wanted to play like that,” Vivienne said from the doorway as she finally entered. “Now sit down and cuff your right arm.”

  “Come on Viv, there’s no need to…”

  “Do it now,” she said with a hint of malice in her voice. “Don’t make me shoot you,” she giggled.

  Looking at her eyes, Russell believed she would do exactly what she said. Sitting down, he was reaching for the handcuff when she cleared her throat. Stopping, he looked at her, worry in his eyes.

  “Take off your clothes first,” she demanded. “Get naked and cuff yourself.”

  “Seriously? You want me to get naked?”

  “Yes. Now do it!” she screamed, the pistol shaking in her hand.

  His conversations with Emily about what had happened in Seattle came back to him. Vivienne was nervous, which made her even more dangerous. Not wanting to be shot, he followed her command.

  “Now that’s better,” she said, putting the pistol down on the table. She walked over and cuffed his other arm. Stepping back to admire her handiwork, she put her left forefinger into her mouth and swayed. After a moment she knelt in front of him and sighed. “What did I ever see in you? You’re so…tiny!”

  “That’s not what you said the first time you saw it,” Russell snorted in reply. “You thought it would rip you in half.”

  “I was a naive virgin. I didn’t know better,” she said batting her eyelashes. “Or maybe I fed your ego, you fucking fool!”

  Russell stared daggers at her. She only laughed at the look. Reaching out she cupped his testicles and ran her acrylic nails across his ultra-sensitive skin.

  “You still like me, it seems. Or at least you still want me.”

  “Not hardly. I would like anyone who did that.”

  “It’s even smaller than I remembered,” she said, standing back up and walking to the table. Swaying silently for a while she turned to him. “How dare you take my daughter away to this place!” Her hiss was sudden and violent.

  Russell didn’t show his shock. “But… you left us; we cramped your style, you couldn’t have fun.”

  “Shut up!” she screamed. “I was always the one there. You were at your precious restaurants.”

  “But that’s all you wanted – for me to be rich and successful. Your wish was my command.”

  “And here you are, back at Mommy’s. A failure!”

  He felt his temper rising and knew it could get him shot but he couldn’t help but egg her on a bit. “I still own my restaurants and run the one here. I’m more successful.”

  “You moved back to this shithole town in this shithole state and you’re more successful? Oh well, none of that matters anyway. The fact is, you brought my daughter here,” she screeched as she picked up the pistol. “And now I’m going to make sure you can never keep her away from me again.”

  “Viv stop! This won’t get her back,” Russell pleaded. “You’ll go to prison and she won’t be with you.”

  She cackled. “They won’t know it was me. I have people using my credit cards at home,” she replied with a laugh. “I’m not the bubble-headed bimbo you thought I was.”

  “I never thought you were a bubble-headed bimbo,” he said softly.

  “Time to die, Rusty,” she whispered as a calm, motherly look came across her face. “You’ll finally be at peace with Ben.”

  Russell closed his eyes. “Please take care of Miranda,” he said as he waited for the shot to come. Suddenly there was a loud crack and a flash that burned through his closed eyelids.

  **********

  Emily walked into the kitchen a few minutes after Miranda. She smiled at Ethan who was sitting at the table with a nervous look on his face.

  “Both of the ladies crying can’t be a good thing,” he said as she walked in. “Everything okay?”

  “I had to tell her that I wouldn’t be her counselor anymore.”

  Ethan looked at her sympathetically “I’m going to assume it didn’t go as well as you had hoped.”

  “You could say that,” she replied with a wan smile. “She is more upset than I anticipated.”

  “I’ll talk with her in an hour or so. Give her time to digest the news.”

  “Thank you,” Emily said as she sat down. “Hopefully she’ll come around.”

  “You might have to be ready to rebuild her trust,” Ethan said softly as he reached over and put his hand on her shoulder. “It’s possible that it could take some time.”

  “Do you think we will go back to the way it was?”

  “It could be the same, or better, or worse,” Ethan replied. “Only time will tell.”

  “Thank you Dr. Mannon. I appreciate your help.”

  “You’re welcome and I think it would be fine if you called me Ethan or Uncle Cowboy.”

  “Okay, Uncle Cowboy it is,” Emily said, laughing. “Is it just me or does it sound awfully quiet?”

  “You’re right. It is way too quiet for an upset nine-year-old and a puppy,” Ethan agreed. “I think I’ll go check on her now.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Emily said as she got up. “This is all my fault.”

  “Nothing and no one is at fault,” Ethan said, heading up the stairs.

  When they reached Miranda’s room, Ethan knocked quietly. “Miranda, can we come in?”

  When there was no response, he knocked again.

  “Even if she won’t answer, shouldn’t the dog be reacting?” Emily asked, concern coloring her voice.

  Ethan pushed the door open and entered the empty room. Quickly crossing, he opened the closet and found it empty. Dropping to the floor, he looked under the bed. Miranda was nowhere in sight. “She’s gone.”

  “My God! There’s blood on the window sill, and the fire escape ladder is hanging down,” Emily cried in alarm. “What if she’s hurt?”

  “Call Russell and let him know Miranda is missing. I’ll try Jack,” Ethan said as he thought about the conversation they’d just had about someone or something watching them.

  **********

  As soon as he left the house, Jack began to jog toward the lake. He couldn’t shake the feeling that they had been watched. Who was it and what did they want? Hopefully it was just some animal, but he knew deep down inside that it wasn’t. Why hadn’t he checked earlier? God, he was getting old and soft. He should know to always trust his gut. It pulled him through his first tour unscathed.

  As he neared the parking area, he spied Russell’s SUV and slowed down as he approached it. It was empty.

  Pulling his phone out, he dialed Russell’s number only to hear the phone ringing from inside the car. Hanging up, he started to follow the path that led up through the trees. There were recent footprints.

  About a third of the way up, he stopped. Russell’s prints had been joined by an additional pair. The new prints were smaller and left less of an impression. Whoever else was in the area was either small, or a skilled stalker…or both. Jack’s blood ran cold.

  Slipping into the trees, he began to slowly move toward the house. He moved silently from tree to tree, keeping the trail in view. Jack’s mind slipped into a place it hadn’t been in over forty years. He was once again the hunter of men. He was Death.

  As he approached the house, he spotted a blonde woman closing the back door. In her hand, she held a pistol. As he reached the edge of the trees, he laid down and began to crawl the rest of the way to the porch, inch by agonizing inch.

  Moving to the window, he pulled his pistol and chambered a round. Slowly, he stood slightly to the side of it and peeked in. He saw a dark-haired man handcuffed to a large arm chair, his back to him. Across the room stood the woman. Jack watched her kneel down in front of the man, then stand again, laughing

  Jack moved in front of the window and assumed a shooting position. Ensuring the weapon was ready, he took aim. Hearing her screech and pick up her gun, he moved his finger to the trigger. He watched as she laughed at the man and as her face took on an eerie
calm. As she pointed the pistol toward her prey, Jack pulled the trigger.

  **********

  “It keeps going to voice mail,” Emily said frantically. “He isn’t answering his phone.”

  “No luck with Jack either. His doesn’t even ring,” Ethan replied just as his own phone buzzed. “Hello Evelyn, we have a situation here.”

  He put the phone on speaker so Emily could hear. “Emily is here with me.”

  “My God Ethan, I was just talking to Dylan about the lake house.”

  “Evie listen, Miranda is missing.”

  “Damn it Ethan, you listen. Miranda thought she saw someone in the lake house. She may have been right,” she replied frantically. “Remember the dog going crazy by the door, Emily? It wasn’t the raccoon. She died weeks ago.”

  “No, this can’t be happening. Who is it? Why are they hunting her?” Emily cried as she wrung her hands nervously. “It’s like the restaurant all over again.”

  “Evie, we need to go, you might want to head home if you can,” Ethan said as he hung up the phone. “Emily, look at me please.”

  She turned toward him, tears flowing uncontrollably from her eyes. “It’s my fault. It’s all my fault…again.”

  “This isn’t your fault. We don’t even know what’s going on,” Ethan said calmly. “She’s probably safe as long as the dog is with her.”

  A scratching came from the door, followed by whimpering. Ethan quickly moved to open it only to find Rizzy on the porch. She barked and ran off. Ethan and Emily quickly followed her.

  “She isn’t headed toward the lake house,” Ethan exclaimed. “Where is she leading us?”

  “As long as it isn’t the lake house, I don’t care,” Emily said as she finished wiping her tears. “That’s the barn up ahead.”

  Rizzy stopped and looked back at them, then turned and ran closer to the barn. As they reached the old building, Rizzy began howling and pawing at the door. When Ethan got there, he opened it and the puppy ran in, startling the horses inside.

  “Miranda! Miranda, where are you?” Emily yelled trying to be heard above the commotion of the animals. “Rizzy, be quiet! I can’t hear.”

  As Ethan calmed the horses, Emily picked up the squirming puppy. A soft whimper, like a cry, could be heard coming from above. Looking up, they saw Miranda hugging a crossbeam far above the floor.

  “Hold on, sweetie. I’m coming up,” Ethan shouted to her.

  “Ethan no!” Emily commanded, grabbing his arm. “That beam won’t support your weight, it’s cracking.”

  “I’ll grab a ladder…”

  “No time. Take the dog, I’m going up to get her.”

  “Emily, is that wise?”

  “I don’t care, she needs me. I’m going,” she said, gritting her teeth. “Take the damn dog.”

  Ethan grabbed the wriggling pup and Emily ran over to the built-in ladder. Climbing to the hayloft, she made her way to the beam and straddled it. She worked her way out slowly until she heard a slight cracking sound. “Randi, I need you to crawl to me.”

  “I…I…I can’t,” she stuttered. “I’m scared.”

  “I’m scared too, honey. It’s okay to be scared. Everyone is afraid at some time,” Emily said calmly. “Can you please try to crawl to me?”

  “I’ll try, but I know I can’t. Sometimes when I’m scared I can’t think right.”

  “Just take it slow sweetie, a little at a time,” Emily said, smiling at the girl. “I know you can do it.”

  Miranda began to move along the beam with her arms wrapped tightly around it, slowly sliding a few inches at a time. Ethan and Emily watched, barely breathing. When the beam cracked and dropped a couple of inches, Miranda screamed and grabbed a hold even tighter.

  “Randi please keep coming,” Emily cried. “You’re almost here.”

  Miranda’s only response was a loud whimpering and a shake of her head.

  “You can do it Miranda. It’s only a couple more feet,” Emily said reaching toward the girl. “A couple of more feet and I’ll have you in my arms.”

  After a few agonizing moments, Miranda started forward again. “I’m coming Miss Emily.”

  “That you are. You’re such a brave girl.”

  As Miranda reached Emily, the beam cracked again and nearly split in two. “Randi, I’m going to lay back. You need to crawl over me and get on the floor of the hayloft. Do you understand?”

  “Yes ma’am. I’ll do it,” she replied as she began to move over her. “I’m almost there.”

  Emily heard a loud grunt as Miranda’s weight left her. As she sat up and began to slide back, there was the loudest crack she had ever heard. The beam split in two and she began to fall.

  **********

  Russell slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was Vivienne laying across the table, her face serene. As he looked closer he saw the hole in her chest and began to cry. A mixture of relief and guilt assaulted him. He jerked when a hand landed on his shoulder.

  “You’re safe now, kid.”

  The scene in front of him seemed so unreal. There was Jack calmly going through Vivienne’s pockets. Blood seemed to be pooling beneath them rapidly. As Jack turned, keys in hand, Russell swore there was a growing red spot by his new friend’s shoulder. The old man passed out, just after un-cuffing his right hand.

  **********

  Emily felt her body jerk to a sudden stop. “I’ve got you,” came her guardian angel’s voice. The voice of Ethan Mannon. How had he caught her? The last thing she remembered, he was holding Rizzy way down on the barn floor.

  “I’m…” Emily muttered as she was pulled into the hayloft. “Alive.”

  Miranda crashed into her friend with a bear hug. “Mama, you’re safe.”

  Emily returned the hug. “We’re both safe now, Randi.”

  “I love you. I don’t want you to leave,” Miranda sobbed. “I’m sorry.”

  “I love you too, sweetie. I’m not planning on going anywhere,’ Emily soothed as she stroked the girl’s hair.

  Ethan sat back, watching the exchange with a smile. As his back came to rest on the wall he felt a sharp pain run through his shoulder, back and arms. “I think I’m going to need help getting down. I won’t be able to use the ladder.”

  “I’ll help you, Uncle Cowboy,” Miranda said, releasing Emily. “You saved Mama.”

  “Randi, I’m not…” Emily started.

  “Let it go, Emily,” Ethan said through a wince. “She has accepted you as a major player in her life.”

  “You’re the doctor, Doctor,” Emily chuckled as she pulled out her phone. “I better call for help. The sheriff’s department can get the volunteer fire crew here to get us down.”

  “You better make sure they send an ambulance,” Ethan said as he closed his eyes against the pain. “I’m not sure, but I think I hurt myself pretty bad.”

  “Ethan,” Emily said shakily as she hung up the phone. “Help is being sent. Something has happened at the lake house.”

  “What? How do you know,” he asked, concern joining the pain in his voice. “Did they tell you that?”

  “No. I overheard the other conversation,” Emily replied, close to tears. “A man and a woman have been shot.

  “Oh no. Jack got there too late,” he murmured.

  CHAPTER 17

  Two hours after the beam fell, Ethan was loaded onto an ambulance just as Logan Harper arrived. News of the problem on the ranch had spread quickly and he’d come down from where he was staying on the mountain. “What’s going on, Em?”

  “I don’t know. There was a man and a woman shot at the lake cabin. Can you watch Miranda? I need to get to Russell.”

  “I’m coming with you. Jayna sweetheart, could you watch CJ and my niece for me?” he asked the pretty blond woman standing nearby with a baby in her arms.

  “Of course,” she agreed. “We’ll be fine.” Her hand rested on the filled holster at her hip.

  “The main house is open so you can take th
em there,” Emily told her before calling Miranda over.

  “Randi this is Miss Jayna, do you think you could stay at the house with her and help with the baby?”

  “I love babies,” she said excitedly “Can I hold him?”

  “Of course you can, as soon as we get back to the house. Can you show me the way?” she asked, holding her hand out to the little girl.

  “Come on!” she said, grabbing Jayna’s hand. “It’s this way.”

  As soon as Miranda was on her way, Logan and Emily climbed into his SUV and headed for the lake cabin. As they arrived, the back side of the home was deserted. They quickly ran around to the front where the coroner’s van was pulling away, followed by an ambulance without its lights on.

  “Oh no,” Emily whispered. Her heart was beating so fast. She couldn’t breathe. She was going to throw up. “Russell!” she screamed. “No! Russell!” It was Daniel all over again. Only she still loved Russell. But Daniel had died because of her, so the pain of his death had been just as excruciating.

  Logan grabbed her so she wouldn’t flee into the middle of the crime scene. “Calm down. It’ll be okay.”

  “I’m right here, Em,” Russell said stoically as he stepped out from behind a police vehicle.

  A whimper escaped her as she pulled away from Logan to run to her boyfriend. He caught her in his arms.

  “Oh my God! What happened? Are you okay?” she questioned, desperately checking his torso for any signs of injury.

  “I’m okay,” he murmured, pulling her close again. “I didn’t get a scratch on me.”

  “What happened, big brother?” Logan asked, stepping up to them.

  “Vivienne,” he mumbled. “She wanted to kill me to get to Miranda. But she’s dead now.”

  “Oh baby,” Emily whispered.

  “You had no choice brother,” Logan cut in.

  “What?” Russell said, confused. “No, I didn’t kill her. Jack did.”

  “Jack? Where is he?” Emily asked, looking around.