by Curry, Edna
“Yes. Except for a few years of college and trade school, I’ve always lived in Canton. The folks just moved down to Maplewood about ten years ago. My grandmother needed care and Dad decided to open a practice closer to her. By the time she died, they liked it there and stayed. Mom likes being closer to the malls and Dad likes having a more affluent clientele.”
“So, you’ve never lived in Chicago?”
Cassie frowned at him. “Chicago? No. In fact, I’ve never even been there. Well, I did change planes there one time, when I went to a writer’s convention in Orlando. But all I saw was the inside of the airport except from the window of the plane, if that counts.”
When she mentioned the writer’s convention, he remembered she was writing a novel. “So how’s the novel coming?”
Cassie wrinkled her nose. “Slow. I don’t get enough time to stay in the characters. I spend too much time re-reading what I’ve already done to figure out what needs to happen next.”
“Do you write articles, too? Like for a newspaper, maybe?”
“No, I’ve never tried those. Maybe I will, someday.”
Chance sighed. Should he tell her what Buddy had said? Get her take on it?
“Here’s our turnoff,” Cassie said. “There’s Dad’s car, so they’re already here.”
He parked in the lot and turned to her. “Wait a minute.”
She paused, her hand ready to open her door. “Yes?”
“I need to tell you something. You told me Darcy wanted me to interview that burglar at the hospital.”
Puzzled, she leaned back against the seat. “Yeah? So?”
“So I talked to him. He claims to know you from Chicago.”
“So that’s why you asked me about Chicago?”
“Yes.”
“And I told you, I’ve never lived there. So how could I have known that burglar?”
“That’s what I’d like to know. He says you were a newspaper reporter then and went by the name of Carrie Phipps. You wrote articles about their gang, turning public opinion against them.”
Cassie laughed. “That’s ridiculous. I must just look like someone else he knew.”
Chance chewed his lower lip and shifted in his seat. “And he drives an old blue sedan and wears a John Deere cap.”
She paled and whispered, “Oh, my God. He’s the man who drove past the house that day I found the body.”
He nodded grimly. “And he admits shooting that man, George, and hiding his body in the trunk.”
She swallowed hard. “You said someone saw a blue sedan pull up beside me when someone shot at me, too, didn’t you?”
“Yes. So Buddy was probably the shooter. I’m just trying to figure out why he wants you dead.”
“You are keeping him in custody, aren’t you?”
Chanced nodded. “A deputy is watching him at the hospital because of the attempted murder at the house on Deer Lake. And as soon as the hospital releases him, he’ll be in jail.”
She closed her eyes with a relieved sigh. “Thank you.”
“Cassie, I think I should stay with you at night until we’re sure this is resolved.”
“Okay. But, for now, let’s forget him and just enjoy Mom’s birthday party.” She opened her door and they went inside the restaurant where her family was waiting.
Chance enjoyed meeting Cassie’s family. They all sat together, stuffing themselves with food from the buffet tables. Her parents, John and Doris, and brother, Ken, asked him lots of questions about his work and seemed very possessive of Cassie. He couldn’t help being pleased that they cared so much about her.
His phone rang and, seeing it was Ben, he stepped outside, away from all the noise of the restaurant and to get better reception. It was getting dark now, but the traffic was lighter than before. Mosquitos buzzed his ears and he slapped at them impatiently.
“What’s up, Ben?”
Ben said, “Buddy managed to slip out of the hospital a while ago. Tom thought he was asleep and went to use the bathroom down the hall. When he got back, Buddy was gone. None of the hospital staff noticed him leave.”
“Shit,” Chance said with a groan. “Did you put out an APB for him?”
“Yes, I did that as soon as the deputy called me.”
Chance said, “Was Buddy dressed when he left the hospital? Or only in a hospital gown?”
“His clothes were missing, too. He must have slipped into them, then got back into bed, and pretended to be asleep, waiting for his opportunity to sneak out.”
“But his car’s still at the impound lot there?”
“Yeah,” Ben said. “It’s locked up. He won’t get far on foot. He’s still weak, too, the doctor said. Had to have pulled out his IVs. So, if we don’t find him walking soon, I guess we watch for a report of a stolen car to see what he’s driving.”
“Good. That should make him easier to catch. And he won’t have a gun unless he finds another one. There weren’t any other guns at his camper when we checked it after the Deer Lake burglary,” Chance said.
“He might know other people in the area that he didn’t tell us about who might help him, though.”
Chance sighed. “I suppose. You’ve already had someone check his camper?”
“Yeah, no sign of him at the park, yet. I told the Rangers to let us know if he came back there. They’re keeping an eye out for him,” Ben said.
“Think he’d try Maynard and Jane’s place again?”
“They said they’d stay in the city, so if he goes to the Deer Lake house, he won’t find anyone there. But I’d better call them and warn them Buddy might come after them at their home in the cities.”
“Yeah, Ben. Another thing, we should check with his bank, to see if he’s accessed his money. He’d need cash to buy things, like food, a motel room to hide in or another car or a gun. But we can’t do that until tomorrow morning. I’ll take care of that.”
“Good idea.”
“I’ll stay close to Cassie. He might go after her again.” His stomach in a knot of tension now, he put away his phone and went back inside, deciding to wait to tell Cassie until they left the party. No point in upsetting everyone else, too, by telling them Buddy was on the loose again.
“Sorry about that. Just a business call,” he assured everyone as he returned to their table.
As they ate, Doris eyed the bandage on her daughter’s head and asked, “Cassie, what happened to your head?”
Cassie sent Chance a warning look and said, “It’s nothing, Mom. Just a scratch.”
Doris frowned. “Then, why is it bandaged?”
“Um, to keep it clean, of course.”
“How did it happen?”
Chance knew she was going to be mad, but he thought her family ought to know what had happened to her. Besides, they might have an explanation to help him figure out what was really going on here. So he said, “Someone shot at her. Luckily, the bullet only creased her head.”
Everyone stopped eating and stared at them. “The bullet?”
“Who shot at her?” her mother gasped. “Why would anyone want to hurt you?”
“What the hell is going on in Canton?” Her father demanded, eyeing Chance. “I heard about the murders on the news.”
Cassie sent Chance a nasty look. “Now, see what you’ve done?” She turned to her mother. “I’m fine, Mom. It was nothing, really.”
“Are you sure?” She reached over to clasp her daughter’s hand.
“Yes, positive. I did wreck my van, though, so have to get another one. But don’t worry, my insurance will cover it.”
Doris frowned. “How did you wreck your van?”
Cassie sighed and put down her fork. “I had just started across the intersection by the stoplight in Landers, when the bullet grazed me and I passed out. So, I kept going and smashed into the rocks at the entrance of Interstate Park.”
“Oh, my God,” Doris gasped, covering her mouth. “You could have been killed.”
“Yes, Mom. But I was
n’t. I’m fine. I’ll go shopping for another van tomorrow. Don’t worry about it, okay?”
“But why would anyone shoot at you?” Ken asked, his brow dipping in a puzzled frown.
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out,” Chance said, looking from one bewildered face to the other. “Got any ideas? Enemies?”
“Of course not,” they chorused.
“We’re a very nice family. We’re not into guns and violence,” Doris said stiffly. “What a question.”
Chance took out his cell phone, pulled up the picture of Buddy he’d taken at the hospital and showed it to Cassie. “Do you know this fellow?”
“No. Is he the burglar you caught at Deer Lake?”
“Yes.” He passed it to her father. “How about you?”
John stared at it and shook his head. “No, I’ve never seen him before. Who is he?”
“A suspect in the first murder case. Pass it around.” John passed the picture on to Doris and Sarah. They shook their heads and handed it on to Ken.
“No, I don’t know him, either,” Ken said, passing the phone back to Chance.
“Have any of you ever lived in Chicago?” Chance asked. “This guy claims he knew Cassie there.”
“That’s crazy,” her father said, glancing around the table. “None of us has ever lived or worked in Chicago.” The others nodded in agreement.
“Maybe you should come stay with us down here for a while,” Doris said, looking worriedly at Cassie.
“Mom!”
Her dad put in, “Good idea, sweetheart. Just until things settle down up there. When they solve those murders and it’s safe there again, you can go back home. We’ve got plenty of room and you know you’re always welcome.”
Sarah put in, “Sure, Cassie. You and I and your mother can do girl stuff, like shopping or take in some movies. It’ll be a nice little vacation for you. Okay?”
“No.” Cassie’s voice was flat and definite. “I will not be chased from my home and work by some nut. He probably thought I was someone else and now that the accident was reported in the paper with my name and everything, he knows he was wrong. So he’ll look for the right person.”
“But what if he doesn’t…”
“I’m sure whoever it was just thought I was someone else,” Cassie repeated firmly. “I don’t want to hear another word about it.”
Chance ignored her order and asked, “Maybe someone from the past?”
“I’ve never had any enemies who would shoot at me,” Cassie insisted.
The others murmured in agreement. Further discussion got Chance nowhere. In fact, Cassie’s anger that he’d told them at all and her family’s response, put a damper on the rest of the evening. They sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to Doris and ate the birthday cake.
***
I’d had about enough of family coddling. Time to call it a night and go home. I rose and headed for the bathroom toward the back of the restaurant. I took care of business, then, as I stepped back out, a man grabbed me and clapped a hand over my mouth. I struggled, kicked out and bit at him, but he was stronger. He dragged me down the hall and out the back door. No one seemed to notice us leaving.
He shoved me against a fairly new, white car in the dark alley. He pulled my hands behind me, my purse dropping to the ground, and slapped handcuffs onto me. As soon as his hand left my mouth, I began screaming as loud as I could, but saw no one around to notice. He quickly tied a gag around my mouth to quiet me, shoved me inside the car and fastened the seatbelt around me. He picked up my purse and threw it on the floor by my feet. Slamming the door, he hurried around to the driver’s side. He got in and we roared away.
I tried to rub the gag off with my shoulder, managing to get it partway down and swore at him.
The man looked over at me and laughed, then reached over and jerked the gag down. “Want to talk, Carrie?”
“Damn you. I’m not Carrie, I’m Cassie. Who the hell are you, and what do you want with me?” I gasped out, thankful to be able to breathe properly again.
“I’m Buddy, remember me? One of the Bears you’re always writing about in that Chicago newspaper, telling everyone how bad we are?”
I stared at him. He had to be the burglar they’d caught at Deer Lake. So he still really believed that story he’d told Chance about me being someone else? Was he nuts? But crazy people were even more dangerous than ordinary crooks, weren’t they? I swallowed hard. “You’re mistaken, Buddy. I’m Cassie Jennings, the locksmith from Canton, Minnesota. I don’t know anyone in Chicago. I’ve never lived there.”
Buddy shook his head, changing lanes and speeding around another car. “Lie all you want to, Carrie. I’m good at remembering faces and I know yours. Yeah, you cut your hair and maybe it’s a little lighter, too. You probably dyed it.”
I sighed and decided to drop the subject. He’d believe what he wanted to believe, no matter what I said. “I thought you were in the hospital. How did you get out?”
He laughed. “Just walked out. I just waited ’til the deputy wasn’t looking and slipped past him.”
“Where’d you get this car? I thought you had that old blue sedan?”
“Swiped it. It was in the hospital parking lot with the keys in it. Real handy for me. The cops probably still have my car.”
“But how did you find me down here at this restaurant?”
He smirked at me. “I know where you live, even searched your house one time.”
She gasped. “So you were the one who broke in and made that mess? Why?”
“I was pissed ’cause I couldn’t find that key for Goldie’s house. And then your damned cat scratched me, bad. You ought to teach it some manners.”
Fluffy had scratched him? Good. “That doesn’t explain how you knew I was down here.”
“I just went to your house to finish what I started when I shot at you and missed. Saw your cop boyfriend pick you up. So, I followed you here. I came in the back door and stayed in that back hallway of the restaurant, waiting for a chance to get you alone.”
I heaved a sigh. It all made sense when he explained it. Did Chance or the sheriff know he’d gotten out of the hospital? How long would it be before anyone realized I was in trouble here? “Where are we going?”
“To Jonsey’s house.”
Puzzled, I asked, “Who’s Jonsey?”
“You know very well who he is. Only, he’s pretending to be a she, now. Calls herself Jane and lives with a couple of men who are her bodyguards. Damn coward.”
I frowned, trying to figure out what he was talking about. Then it dawned on me; the people whose house he’d burglarized at Deer Lake. He thought they were someone else, too. His mind must really be screwed up. I’d better play along. No telling what this nut might do before someone could stop him.
It was dark now, and I could barely see where we were going. He’d left the interstate and was following some back streets in a nice residential area. Tall trees lined the street, but I couldn’t read the signs. But the darkness had an advantage for me as well. He couldn’t see what I was doing very well inside the car. He’d thrown my purse by my feet and it lay on its side, contents spilling out. My flip phone lay on its side, partially opened. I’d never gotten around to buying a fancy smart phone. Now I wished I had, maybe that would have allowed Chance to track us. I’d set my phone to vibrate when we’d entered the restaurant, not wanting the party to be disturbed by a client calling me.
Quietly, I pulled the phone towards me with one foot, and pushed it open, then pressed on it with my toe, hoping to hit the speed dial number for 911 or my mother’s phone. Then I pulled my purse over the phone to hide it, in case he heard something.
He’d turned on the radio to a news station, apparently worried that someone was looking for him. But no local news came over the airwaves.
He turned into a driveway and stopped, then pulled a gun from under his jacket. “See this? I need you to do exactly what I tell you, or you’ll get some lead, okay?”
/> I swallowed hard and nodded, my birthday dinner food threatening to come back up. Was this how my life would end? Shot by a nut who thought I was someone else?
“Lights are on, so Jonsey is home. We’re going up to the front door and you’re going to ring the bell, got it?”
“Sure. But she doesn’t know me.”
“Of course she knows you. All the Bears and Lions know you and they’ve all sworn to get you for writing those articles about them. So, I’m sure she’ll invite you in so she can shoot you. If she pretends not to know you, I’ll at least get a clear shot at her this time. Got it?”
Oh, my God. He’s going to kill this woman and then shoot me. “Won’t she think it’s funny that I’m wearing handcuffs?” I asked.
“I’ll take them off. Don’t run unless you want a couple of bullets in your back.” He got out and came around the car to open my door, then helped me out. Somewhere a dog barked and something rustled in the hedge nearby. A cat yowled, evidently being chased by the dog.
“Turn around,” he ordered roughly, yanking on my arm.
I knew he’d need both hands to unlock the handcuffs, so he would have to put the gun down or hold it between his knees. I’d have only a couple of seconds to react before he’d have the gun ready again. I flexed my stiff fingers. Would they be too numb to do what I needed to do? I had to try. It was my only chance.
He unlocked the cuffs and pulled them off one hand. As soon as I felt that arm drop free, I spun and brought a knee up between his legs, swinging the other hand around with the cuffs still attached, and smacked the side of his head. He howled and bent over, dropping the gun and cupping his privates. He cursed me as I desperately reached down for the gun, and he kicked out at me. I turned and ran, hoping to put the house between us before he regained the gun.
Suddenly bright lights shone on us and I heard men yelling, “Freeze! Police!”
Relief surged through me and tears ran down my cheeks. I raised my hands and turned. Uniformed men were handcuffing Buddy.
“Are you okay, ma’am?” one of the men asked. He came forward and put an arm around me. “We got him. You can relax and put your hands down. You’re safe now.”