Running On Fear

by Linda L Lattimer

  Chapter 16

  Melanie had just tucked in Matt and was on her way to tell Tiffany goodnight when Duncan entered the room.

  “Is he asleep?”

  Matt jackknifed up in the bed. “No, Dad. Come sit with me for a minute. I want you to see how shiny I got my badge.”

  “Okay, but not too long. Your mom already tucked you in and now you need to get some sleep. It’s late. I’ve already told your sister goodnight.”

  “Matt, see you in the morning, slugger. After I tell Tiffany goodnight, I’m heading for the shower.” Melanie eyed Duncan, then turned and walked out of the room.

  “You sure did shine it up. Maybe I should let you shine mine one day.”

  “Why does it take so long to grow up, Dad?”

  “Just the process of life.”

  “But at this rate, I’ll never grow up and be like you.”

  “Well now, let’s don’t wish that to happen too fast. Once you get to be my age, you’ll wonder where all the years went and want to be young again. Seems that life moves too fast when you get older, Matt. You need to enjoy life while you’re young. It’s funny, but sometimes old age is something to look forward to, and then again, once you arrive, you want to be young again. Life is weird at times.”

  “But you aren’t old.”

  “No, but I can’t do kid things again.”

  “But all my friends want to hurry and grow up.”

  “I was the same way. And now I wish I’d enjoyed life a wee bit more.” He leaned over and kissed the boy on the forehead. “If you hear anything, you be sure to let me know.”

  “I will. Goodnight, Dad.”

  “Night.”

  “When all this is over, do you think that you and Aunt Melanie will adopt me and Tiffany for real?”

  “I’ve been giving that a lot of thought. Night, son.”

  “Night, Dad.”

  Duncan was about to head toward the bedroom when Tiffany came out of her room and pulled him inside.

  “What’s wrong? Is there someone—”

  “No. I had to wait until Aunt Melanie was in the shower. Can you take her somewhere tomorrow?”

  “Why?”

  “I need to decorate the house. Miss Andrea said she’d come over to help me. I’m going to make Aunt Melanie the best cake ever.”

  “She could use some cheering up. But you kids could, too. You might even need to speak to a counselor about your mother’s death and all.”

  Tiffany flattened her hands on her hips.

  “What?”

  “Agent McGregor, have you forgotten? A man, especially a husband, should never forget this date.”

  Duncan quizzed her with a skeptical eye until it finally hit him. He struck his forehead with the palm of his hand. “Her birthday?”

  “Yep. The big Three-O. She’s going to love that one. Don’t tell me you forgot? We kept dropping hints.”

  “No, with everything else, I guess you could say that it slipped my mind. Tiffany, don’t tell her that I…”

  Tiffany crossed her lips with a finger. “Me? Tell her something like that? No way. But you have to remember that date the rest of her life.”

  “Oh, I will.” Duncan kissed her soft cheek.

  “What was that for?”

  “Honey, you’re going to make some man one helluva wife. Not to mention becoming a great chef.”

  “Thank you. And, Dad, I mean thank you for everything. Matt and I are accepting mom’s death our own way. We cry almost every night. We didn’t want you and Aunt Melanie to know. Everyone deals with death or the loss of a loved one in their own way. You understand?”

  “I do. Goodnight, dear.” He feathered her cheek with one more kiss, then left.

  Melanie was getting out of the shower and drying off when she heard Duncan come into the room. She wrapped the towel around her body, and started applying lotion to her body. “Are they asleep?”

  “Getting there. Do you know they’ve cried every night since their mother’s death? Didn’t want us to know. I mentioned talking to a counselor, but Tiffany said she and Matt needed to deal with it their own way.”

  Tears brightened Melanie’s eyes. “Those are the two best kids that anyone in this world could have.”

  “Matt asked if we were going to adopt them when all this was over.”

  “And?”

  “I want to.”

  “So do I. I’m still in shock over Griffin’s huge insurance policy.”

  “Yeah, that is quite unusual. Of course, unless the man is dead, they don’t get a penny.”

  “Well, I need to get my gown and get ready for bed. I’ve got things to take care of in the morning. I need to call and make sure the other doctors can get my patient records. Have you heard anything about Harris yet?”

  “No. Hargrove hasn’t sent any message. Guess he wanted to make sure I got some rest. If it was important, he’d have called.” Duncan removed his boots, then turned down the covers. He watched how Melanie spread some lotion on her hands, then rubbed it on her legs. “Here, why don’t you allow me? You might want some on your back?”

  Melanie turned around to find herself an inch from his chest. That firm chest that reminded her of watching the Rock when he was in the wrestling ring. Maybe Duncan wasn’t as beefed up as the Rock, but he was still a mighty fine specimen.

  “Duncan, I don’t want to be a bother.”

  His gaze met with hers, then fell to her lips. Instantly, he claimed them for his own.

  Melanie circled her arms around Duncan’s neck, drawing him closer. She felt the towel fall from her body and pool at her feet. Duncan lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed, still kissing her with lingering passion. She threaded her fingers through his hair when he rested her on the sheets.

  In moments, he was out of his jeans and shirt.

  “Duncan, are you sure you still want me?” Her words sounded almost like sobs.

  Duncan slid into the bed and pulled her into his arms. “Melanie, I want you today, always and forever. I need you in my life more than you will ever know, especially now. I don’t ever want to hurt you again.”

  “We can’t promise that. Marriages have ups and downs.”

  “Then we’ll have to make up afterwards. Tonight, I only want to think of us—you and me—and nothing else. And if we wake up fighting, then we’ll go to bed loving.”

  “Oh Duncan, that’s the sweetest thing anyone could say to me.” Melanie brushed her lips over his. “Are you wearing your watch?”

  He released her with a small chuckle. “You think I’d go to bed without it?” He kissed her cheeks then her neck. “No more talking. You’re wearing nothing, little lady. Time for me to clothe you with me.”

  The man covered the bodies, then got to his feet. He raked a hand through his black hair. “This doesn’t look good, James.”

  “No, Nelson, it sure doesn’t.”

  “Did they find any leads?”

  “A phone number and a tape inside the video machine. The last person he spoke to was some woman he referred to as Melanie. I’d say it was the same Melanie whose number appears on this paper by the telephone.”

  “Melanie Bishop.”

  “They found her name in the phonebook. A therapist here in Nashville.”

  “Doesn’t matter. Not even a therapist should threaten to kill their patient. I say first thing in the morning, we pay Miss Bishop a visit. We need to have a little chat with her.”

  The sun was rising when Duncan caught the aroma coming up the stairs. Something smelled wonderful. Melanie wasn’t in bed. Must be downstairs preparing breakfast, he thought. Then he remembered. Tiffany wanted him to get her out of the house—today was Melanie’s birthday. Well, he’d have to tell her happy birthday. After last night, she had to believe he loved her. That he was truly sorry for everything. Throwing on some clothes, he headed down the stairs.

  “Dad, Tiffany is cooking up a whopper breakfast.”

  “Yeah, the smell drew
me to the kitchen.” Duncan sidled over to Melanie and kissed her softly on the lips. “Good morning, beautiful. Happy, happy birthday.”

  “You remembered?”

  “Me forget? Never.”

  “You two sit down by Matt. I’m dishing it up now. Omelets for everyone. And plenty of coffee for Dad,” Tiffany said.

  “Tiffany you’ve outdone yourself again. This is the best birthday ever,” Melanie said, with a huge grin.

  “Well, gifts come later,” Duncan echoed.

  “I don’t need any gifts.”

  “A girl of thirty should always have gifts.”

  “There we go with the age.” Melanie playfully jabbed Duncan on the arm.

  An hour later, when breakfast and the dishes were done, thanks to Matt and Tiffany, Melanie decided it was time to get dressed. She was at the top of the stairs when a call came in for Duncan.

  “Hello.”

  “Hey, Duncan, you might want to brace yourself for this.”

  “Hargrove, don’t tell me that Harris got off.”

  “He got bail, but that’s not the butt of our problems.”

  “Wait. How did he get bail?”

  “Never been in trouble before. No minors or anything. The judge did post bail of a hundred thousand, and his sister came up with it.”

  “Of course, from the sale of the drugs. They probably have a huge stash put away.”

  “Duncan, did you hear me? That isn’t the butt of our problems? The Tennessee Bureau of Investigations found Dunbar and Brewton dead.”

  “What?”

  “Yes, they were shot. And, get this, they found them in the same bed.”

  Duncan immediately shot a glance to the kitchen. “Any reporters? I mean—”

  “No, don’t worry. The Bureau jumped right in. But they’re coming over to talk to Melanie.”

  “For what?”

  “Seems they found her number by the phone. Also found her voice on the machine when she was talking to him that night, saying she was going to kill him.”

  “I was with her. Didn’t the coroner pronounce the time of death?”

  “Yes. Within an hour after he got off the phone with Melanie.”

  “Then it won’t stand up in court.”

  “They still want to talk to her.”

  “She doesn’t need this. And not today. It’s her birthday. Look, where did this happen?”

  “Here in Nashville.”

  “Wait a minute. You’re telling me that the both of them have been here in Nashville?”

  “Yeah, but under different identities.”

  “Still won’t hold up in court. Melanie was in Chattanooga, almost an hour after she got off the phone with Brewton. I was with her. You were there guarding us. Unless she had a magic wand, there’s no way she could get there to kill them and then get back to the hotel unnoticed.”

  “I realize that, but they have to investigate.”

  The doorbell sounded.

  “Something tells me they’ve arrived. Someone’s at the door.”

  “I’m on my way. Should be there in five minutes.”

  “Thanks, Hargrove.”

  After answering the door and listening to introductions, Duncan got the two TBI agents a cup of coffee.

  “Melanie should be down in a moment. She was almost through changing.”

  The doorbell sounded again. Duncan was glad to see not only Hargrove, but Andrea also.

  “Would you take the children upstairs, Andrea? Keep the door closed. Turn on the TV or something.”

  “Sure, Duncan.”

  Matt started toward the stairs then stopped. “Do you guys have a shiny badge, too?” He showed his own badge to the agents. “Agent McGregor, who is my dad now, gave me this one. One day I’m going to be an agent just like him.”

  “We need all the agents we can get,” James stated.

  “Matt, go with Tiffany and Andrea. We’ll be done in a few minutes.”

  “Okay, Dad.” Matt’s feet flew up the stairs.

  Melanie waited until he was at the top before she went down to the living room. She and Duncan exchanged a glance.

  “Gentlemen, I didn’t mean to keep you waiting. How can I help you?”

  “I’m Agent James. This is Agent Nelson. Your husband told you we were with the TBI?”

  “Yes, but what does this have to do with me?”

  “You might want to sit, Miss Bishop.”

  “Actually, it’s Mrs. McGregor. Duncan and I are married.”

  “Mrs. McGregor then. This concerns your phone call with Riley Brewton a couple of nights ago.”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you aware that you mentioned if you got your hands on him that you would kill him?” Agent James flashed the tape that was sealed in a clear bag.

  Melanie leaned back into the sofa. “Saying it and doing it are two different things. Riley Brewton killed my sister. Now what does that tape have to do with me, and why do you have it?”

  “We found it at his place, here in Nashville.”

  “He’s living in Nashville? All this time that lunatic has been hiding here?”

  “Was hiding here,” Agent Nelson stated.

  Melanie jumped to her feet. “You let him get away?”

  Duncan put his arms on her shoulders.

  “No, Mrs. McGregor. He’s dead.”

  “Dead?” Melanie slumped back in the sofa. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, ma’am. He’s been dead for two days.”

  Melanie closed her eyes, and then opened them again. “Wait a minute. You aren’t implying that I killed him?”

  “Them.” It was Agent James speaking.

  “Them?”

  “Griffin Dunbar and Riley Brewton were found murdered.”

  It was all that Melanie could take. First Allison, then the truth about the two men. Harris’s arrest, and now this. Not to mention Spencer and the invisible stalker. She rested her elbows on her knees, then covered her face with her hands. After a minute, she removed them, releasing a breath.

  Duncan observed how all the color seemed to drain from her face. He lowered himself to her side and took hold of her hands. “Are you all right?”

  “You do appear a bit pale,” Agent Nelson noted.

  “Like I told you agents. On the night these two men were killed, I heard every word that my wife told the man threatening her. We’ve been working with the GBI and even with the TBI with the arrest of Harris Galloway. We were in Chattanooga when those two men were killed. You said, from the coroner’s report, that they died within the hour after the phone call. There is no way my wife could have made it to Nashville in that time.”

  “No, she couldn’t have.” Agent James put the tape back inside his jacket pocket. “We were pretty sure that she couldn’t have murdered them, since she was in Chattanooga at the time. But we wanted to see her reaction.”

  Duncan bolted to his feet. “I ought to slam you against the wall. Don’t you know all that she has been through? I’m sure your sources have checked into that.”

  “Yes, Agent McGregor, we are aware,” Agent James stated. “Still, we wanted to make sure.”

  “You wanted to torture her just a wee bit more is what you mean!”

  “Duncan, please. Leave it alone,” Hargrove said, trying to calm him down. “Look, guys, I must agree with my partner. I understand you have to investigate, but you could have simply told her the bad news and nothing more. Mrs. McGregor has been through a difficult time with her sister’s death. I tried to tell you that before you stampeded over here.”

  Agents Nelson and James stood up.

  “We still have to investigate and file a report. You two have to do the same in your line of work,” Agent James told him.

  “Well, you’ve found your answers. Go file your report,” Duncan said. “Today happens to be my wife’s birthday. She sure didn’t need this on top of everything else.”

  “We’ll see ourselves out. Again, Mrs. McGregor, we meant no harm. If you
can think of anything that could help in this case, anyone that might have wanted to see them both dead, here’s my card.” Agent James handed the card to Melanie, who only nodded.

  Hargrove showed them to the door.

  Melanie was looking out the windows blindly when Hargrove entered the living room again.

  “Duncan, is she okay?”

  Duncan shrugged. “Who knows?”

  “I don’t understand what is going on,” she said quietly. “First my sister is murdered by Riley—he even says so on the tape. Then Dr. Marrow, no wait, Spencer, because he really isn’t dead to begin with, and then the doctor. I learn the wonderful information of Riley and Griffin’s relationship and then discover Harris is being arrested for harboring drugs in my office, a charge he denies. Now Griffin and Riley are both dead. And there’s a million-dollar life insurance policy out on him.” She turned around and saw the seriousness stamped on Duncan and Hargrove’s faces. “Now what?”

  Duncan scratched his forehead. “I think enough has been said this morning.”

  Melanie shook her finger at him. “Oh no. Neither one of you gets off that easily. You’d best start talking. Now!”

  “One thing the TBI is unaware of, at this point, is that there was a million-dollar insurance policy on Brewton, too.”

  “So?”

  “It went to Allison, but in the event of her death, Riley Brewton stipulated in bold print, it would go to her sister, Melanie Bishop.”

  It was as if someone had placed a cannonball in Melanie’s throat. It was so huge, and lodged so tight that she couldn’t swallow or catch her breath. Duncan had to rub her back.

  “Melanie? Breathe, honey. You’ve got to breathe.”

  I can’t. I can’t.

  Hargrove wet some paper towels and rushed to her side to mop her face.

  Duncan eased her to a chair.

  “I don’t think she can breathe, Duncan.”

  “Can you blame her? That lunatic really hated her to do something like this. If he couldn’t get her while he was living, he was determined to get her from the grave.” This time he gently rested one of the paper towels over her forehead and held it.

  Finally, Melanie managed some slow breaths. “I’m all right. It sort of caught me off guard. Hargrove could you get me a little cola, please?”