Hunting Down the Horseman

by B. J Daniels

  Faith flashed on the memory. Someone dragging away what had looked like a body. It had been Zander?

  “Zander confessed?”

  Another short silence. “He resisted arrest and, complaining of chest pains, was rushed to the hospital, where he died a few hours ago.”

  “Then how do you know he—”

  “Keyes Hasting had some incriminating photographs taken at Erik Zander’s Malibu beach house the night Camille Rush drowned in the hot tub and had apparently been blackmailing Mr. Zander. It would appear that Hasting had blackmailed him into doing the film.”

  Faith sat down on the edge of the bed. She felt Jud slide in behind her, his hands kneading her shoulder muscles. “He didn’t say anything?” she asked dully.

  “No. It appears he died of a heart attack,” Carter said. “We found more evidence of the blackmail in Mr. Zander’s trailer.”

  Faith was too shocked to think straight. She kept calling up images from the other night, something nagging at her. If only she could remember.

  “So that’s it.” She tried to breathe a sigh of relief as she hung up the phone and told Jud what Carter had told her.

  After their initial shock and disbelief passed, he said, “I’m just glad it’s over.” He pulled her to him.

  Whatever had been nagging at her was forgotten the moment Jud kissed her.

  NANCY CALLED to say that shooting would continue. “I know Erik would have wanted us to finish this film.”

  Jud had his doubts about that, given what the sheriff had told them confidentially. But since Nancy had been in charge of most everything to do with the film before Zander’s death, she said finishing the film wouldn’t be that hard given that they had only two more days of shooting.

  “We’ll shoot the rest of the stunts this afternoon,” Nancy said. “I left a message on Faith’s cell phone. If you see her, let her know.”

  “Will do,” he said as Faith came out of the shower wrapped in a towel.

  Jud told her what Nancy had said, still a little surprised. But then again, this was the movies. No time for sentiment.

  He and Faith were still in shock over the earlier news about Hasting’s murder and Erik Zander’s death.

  “Blackmail?” he repeated, not for the first time. “I still can’t believe it.”

  “Apparently the photographs Hasting had of the night of the Malibu party where Camille Rush died were incriminating enough that Zander went along with the blackmail,” Faith said as he watched her get dressed.

  He would never get tired of looking at her. Or touching her. Or making love to her. In fact, right now, all he wanted to do was climb back into the bed with her. He would have been content just to hold her.

  “Didn’t I hear that you were at that party?”

  It took Jud a moment to shift gears. He nodded. “I left before it happened.” He frowned. “Keyes Hasting wasn’t at the party. So how did he get incriminating photographs?”

  “Someone else at the party?” Faith suggested, sitting down on the edge of the bed next to him. “I found out something yesterday. This wasn’t the first starlet connected to Erik Zander who died. Over twenty years ago, another one died in a car wreck. Zander was allegedly drunk and driving and left the scene of the accident, but he was never charged for the woman’s death. The death mirrors the one in the hot tub in that the woman was allegedly pregnant with his child.”

  “So you kept digging into things, didn’t you?” Jud said.

  Faith ignored him. “The woman had a daughter named Samantha Brooke Keifer. The daughter changed her name to Brooke Keith.”

  He sat up straighter in the bed. “You’re telling me it was Brooke’s mother?”

  “Kind of a coincidence, wouldn’t you say, given everything that’s been going on?”

  “You’re not sorry I talked you into doing the stunts for this film even with everything that has happened?” Jud asked.

  She shook her head and smiled over at him. “You made my dreams come true. I’ll never forget that. Or forget you.”

  He swallowed, realizing that tomorrow the film would be over. And then what? “What are your plans after the film is over?”

  FAITH HAD KNOWN this day was coming and was ready. “Spend the rest of the summer here on the ranch helping my sisters,” she said without hesitation. “McKenna has a horse ranch not far from here and Eve always needs help running the cattle ranch my parents left us. There’s always plenty to do.”

  What she hadn’t let herself think about was fall. She’d finished college with a liberal arts degree and no plan for the future. Because nothing but trick riding had interested her.

  Doing the stunts on Death at Lost Creek had only made her more interested in trick riding. She just wasn’t so sure she wanted to do movies. She loved Montana. This was home. Unlike Jud, she didn’t like the moving-on part after a job was over.

  “What about you?” she asked when he fell silent.

  “I have another movie, this one being filmed in Wyoming down by Laramie. I was thinking that maybe I could see about getting you a job on the film.”

  She shook her head. “Thanks, but I don’t think so.” She couldn’t imagine anything worse than trailing after Jud film after film. Better to end it later today after their last stunt, no matter how painful. Make their goodbyes short and sweet.

  Faith glanced at the clock. “I suppose we better get going.”

  Jud seemed to hesitate as if there were something more he wanted to say. Whatever it was, he rose and without another word headed for the shower while she went down to make them something to eat before they left for the set.

  THE AFTERNOON SHOOT went off without a hitch. Jud couldn’t believe how professional Faith was or how talented. She did all but one of the stunts on the first take. He could tell that Nancy was pleased.

  Nancy seemed different without Zander around—more confident, definitely in control. She’d pulled her hair back into a ponytail and, on closer inspection, appeared to be wearing makeup. Jud knew people dealt differently with tragedy, but Nancy seemed to be in awfully good spirits. Either that or she was trying hard to hide her shock and grief.

  “You did a great job,” Nancy told Faith when they went to Nancy’s trailer to collect their pay. “Here you go.” Nancy had their checks ready.

  “Jud, as always,” she said as she handed him an envelope.

  She rose to shake their hands. “I added a little extra to both of your checks. Best of luck to you both.”

  As they stepped out of the trailer, Faith shot him a look. “Was that odd or was it just me?” she whispered.

  “Very odd. I’ve never been paid more than I was contracted for per stunt.”

  “I meant Nancy,” Faith whispered as they walked toward her trailer.

  “She does seem to be in a fine mood. I think she likes calling the shots. Zander held her back. I think she’s glad he’s gone.”

  Jud realized everything had gone much smoother today than it had when Zander was directing. “Chantal even showed up on time and didn’t complain. Nevada didn’t scowl at me.”

  “It’s as if a cloud was over this place before,” Faith commented as they reached her trailer. “I just have to get my things. Fortunately, I didn’t bring much out here.” She seemed to hesitate and Jud feared he knew what was coming. “I think we should say goodbye now. Leave it on a high note.”

  Jud couldn’t speak as she held out her hand to shake his. He took her hand and held it. “At least let me take you to dinner tonight to celebrate.”

  She shook her head. “Thank you, but I think this is best.” She smiled then, her blue eyes shining. “See you in the movies.” With that she extracted her hand from his and went into her trailer, closing the door behind her.

  FAITH STOOD on the other side of the trailer door, fighting to hold back the tears. She had trouble catching her breath. She couldn’t remember ever doing anything as hard as saying goodbye to Jud.

  Her heart felt as if it would break i
nto a million pieces. Each beat was a labor. How would she ever get over him?

  She’d done the worst thing possible. She’d fallen in love with him. Hadn’t she told herself not to? She knew from the get-go that Jud wasn’t the staying type, let alone the marrying type. Neither was she, she reminded herself.

  And yet now she finally understood what had happened to her friends, why they’d traded their dreams of adventure for a mortgage and diapers when they’d fallen in love.

  Love. It changed everything.

  She quickly packed up her few things, then, checking to make sure no one was around, she hurried to her pickup. Five miles down the road, she had to pull over, she was crying so hard.

  “SO THAT’S THE END of that, huh?”

  Jud turned to find Brooke standing behind him. He’d been sitting off by himself on an outcropping of rocks, staring out across the prairie. “Film’s over,” he said gruffly, wishing she’d leave him alone.

  “I can see you’re in a good mood,” she said sarcastically. She sat down on a rock next to him. “It’s not the first heart you’ve broken. She’ll get over it.”

  He laughed and looked over at her. “What makes you think it’s her heart that got broken?”

  Brooke pulled back in mock surprise. “You have a heart?”

  “Funny.”

  “Come on, Jud, this isn’t like you,” she said. “Finishing a film is always a letdown. You just need to get on to the next one. You won’t even remember that little cowgirl.”

  He could have argued the point, but didn’t. “No one seems very upset by what happened with Zander.”

  “It was a shock, but it’s Hollywood. Maybe we’re all cynics or maybe we’re just numb to this sort of thing.” She shrugged. “You have to admit Nancy seems to be as good a director as Zander was, maybe better because she’s sober during the day.” Brooke laughed and nudged him. “Come on. I’ll let you take me out to dinner tonight. The Corbett Code doesn’t apply now that we don’t work together.”

  He shook his head. “I’d make a lousy dinner companion, trust me. Anyway, I need to go out to the ranch. But maybe some other time. Are you heading to Wyoming for the next Western?”

  She shook her head. “I’m taking some time off. Regrouping,” she said, getting to her feet and brushing off her backside.

  “Can I ask you something?” Jud said, looking up to her. “What was your mother’s name?”

  “Angie. Why?”

  “Just curious. Angie Keith?”

  “Yeah,” she said and lied to his face. “But she changed her last name a lot. I lost count of all the stepfathers I had. Why would you want to know that?” Her eyes filled with suspicion.

  “I thought you’d mentioned before that you had stepfathers,” he said casually. “I have a stepmother now. It’s a little strange. I call her Kate. But it turns out she has a daughter, so now I have a half sister. So what does that make her to me?”

  Brooke laughed. “She’s just a stepsister by marriage. Kids usually come with stepparents. How old is this stepsister?”

  “My age. Instant relatives.”

  “Been there,” Brooke said, seeming to relax. “One day you’re an only child and the next day your new daddy’s kids are moving in and taking your stuff and telling you what to do. It sucks, but it comes with the territory.”

  “It must have been hard growing up like that.”

  She shook it off. “What doesn’t kill you makes you strong. Actually, it was okay having stepsisters. There’s a bond between sisters. It’s hard to explain. Even when you don’t share the same blood. Good luck with your next gig. Maybe we’ll see each other around.”

  “Maybe we will,” he said, watching her walk away. His first instinct when Brooke was out of earshot was to call Faith. She’d want to know what he’d learned, wouldn’t she?

  As he keyed in the number, he didn’t kid himself. It was just an excuse to hear her voice. Unfortunately, her voice mail picked up.

  “Hey, it’s me, Jud. I just talked to Brooke. I verified what you found out about her mother. Sounds like she had a rough life, lots of stepfathers and step-siblings. Bet she didn’t have sisters like yours.” He hesitated, wishing he’d waited to tell her all this. Now what would he use for an excuse to call her later?

  JUST OVER THE NEXT RISE, Brooke listened to Jud’s phone call, balling her hands into fists as she heard him click off.

  Who had he called?

  Faith.

  She quickened her pace, not wanting him to catch up with her. She didn’t want him to know she’d overheard his call.

  As she reached the camp, she hurried to her trailer to deal with her disappointment.

  She’d thought for sure that once the film shoot was over Jud would forget about his little cowgirl and be ready to move on to his next conquest.

  Not that Brooke saw herself in that role. But why not? He’d never even asked her out. And what about his stupid Corbett Code? He’d gone out with Faith. She knew for a fact that they’d spent the night together.

  Her disappointment with Jud was almost too much to bear. He was acting as if he’d fallen in love with Faith. That wasn’t possible, but she’d never seen him this despondent.

  Letting out a cleansing breath, she straightened, dried her eyes and readied herself to go see Nancy and collect her money. She’d get over this and move on.

  But as she left her trailer, she felt at loose ends. She hadn’t expected having this over would be such a letdown, let alone having Jud disappoint her the way he had.

  He didn’t seem to understand what a good friend she was. Maybe she’d have to tell him, she thought bitterly as she walked through the quickly disappearing camp. But then, that would spoil everything. Better to let it go, right?

  By this time tomorrow, no one would ever know they’d been here. That was the way it should be, Brooke thought as she knocked on Nancy’s door. Here and gone.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “They’re packing up and leaving,” the deputy sheriff said when he reported in. “Looks like a damned carnival—everything loaded on trailers, and pulling out.”

  Sheriff Carter Jackson swore under his breath. The evidence had been collected. He had no reason to detain the film crew. Just a few loose ends to tie up and this case would be history.

  He covered the mouthpiece with his hand and hollered in to the office. “Any word from the coroner on the autopsy or from the crime lab on that DNA test?”

  “Not yet,” the clerk called back.

  “Let them leave. We have no reason to hold them,” Carter said.

  As he hung up, he told himself that he had Keyes Hasting’s killer. All the evidence pointed directly to Erik Zander. Maybe that’s what was bothering him. It was all too neat, right down to the director’s heart attack.

  Carter remembered his sister-in-law’s reaction when he’d told her the killer was apparently Zander. She’d sounded doubtful. Something about all this was bothering her, as well. She’d seen the killer dragging the body away to an old pickup. Had she remembered something?

  The crime team had gone over the pickups the film crew had rented for the shoot but found nothing. That damned rain had washed away any evidence. Everyone had access to the trucks, including Zander. He had motive and opportunity. He’d tried to make a run for it when they’d gone to arrest him.

  What more did Carter want?

  He snatched up his phone on the first ring, hoping this was finally some good news. “Sheriff Jackson.”

  “Bad day?” It was his wife, Eve. His tone changed at just the sound of her voice.

  “Not anymore.” She’d been through so much lately and he’d missed it. He couldn’t believe that she’d finally found her family. The change in her had been dramatic. Now maybe she could move on.

  He’d been thinking about that. Sometimes this job got to him and he thought about going back to ranching so he could spend more time with Eve.

  “Are you coming home for dinner?”

&nb
sp; He groaned, suddenly aware of how late it was getting. “I have to wait for two reports on this Hasting murder. I’m sorry.”

  “McKenna and Nate have invited me over,” Eve said. “Maybe I’ll go if it’s all right with you. If you get your reports early, you can join us.”

  “That sounds great. Have you told your sisters yet?”

  “Not yet. But I will when the time is right.”

  He loved the serenity in her voice. Finding out about her mother had been painful but had released her. She now had a family that shared her blood. He knew how much that meant to her.

  “I’ve been thinking,” she said. “I know you’re busy, but I think I’m ready to start a family.”

  He wanted to let out a whoop of joy. “Oh, Eve, I wish I could come home right now.”

  She chuckled. “Maybe after you get your reports…”

  He hung up, happier than he could remember being.

  FAITH CAME BACK from her ride and saw that Jud had called. She considered erasing the message without listening to it. After saying goodbye to Jud, she’d come straight to the ranch, saddled her horse and ridden deep into the Missouri Breaks.

  But nothing would take away the ache inside her. Jud Corbett had broken down all her barriers. She’d opened herself up to him, knowing full well how it would end. At the time, she promised herself there would be no regrets.

  But there were plenty of regrets.

  Hadn’t Brooke tried to warn her? Don’t take anything about movies seriously, especially Jud Corbett.

  Faith hesitated for a moment, then played Jud’s message. He sounded odd, she thought. She played the message again, actually listening to his words and not trying to read something into his tone.

  “Sisters?” Bet she didn’t have sisters like yours. As Faith snapped the phone shut, she stood for a moment trying to understand why something was still nagging at her about Hasting’s murder.

  From where she stood, she could see the dark outline of the Little Rockies against the deepening darkness. Suddenly, she didn’t want to be alone tonight. She picked up the phone and tapped in Eve’s number. No answer.