Henry Wood Detective: Boxed Set (Books 1 - 4)

by Brian Meeks

  Dwight pulled a cigar out of the humidor and clipped off the end. He lit it and leaned back, trying to think through the aftermath. He had fallen in love with Catherine the moment he met her. She made him feel like he would live forever. Love added a flavor to life he had never known, which was why it was so surprising to him that he had done the unthinkable. He had cheated.

  He couldn’t remember what had started the conversation between him and Cindy, but it had ended in an expensive hotel room. Catherine was beautiful, but Cindy had all her looks and more. She knew how to wrap a man around her finger so tight that he couldn’t breathe. It lasted two months before guilt won the day. He broke it off, but Cindy did something he didn’t expect. She moved on without so much as a tear and got her hooks into his friend Daniel Kupton.

  Dwight had replayed everything in his head a hundred times, and it always turned out the same way. Henry Wood would keep digging until he exposed Dwight’s treachery, and Catherine would leave him. He wasn’t worried about prison; the lawyers were much too good to allow that to happen but losing Catherine would destroy him. What he hadn’t considered was how Catherine or he would feel about their new friends being murdered. Initially, he would tell everyone that Henry and Celine had been called away, but that wouldn’t stop Catherine from calling her new friend.

  Catherine hadn’t made any friends her age since they had married. Her old friends faded into the past, and the new ones were all close to Dwight’s age. He hadn’t noticed how lonely she had become until he saw how happy she was around Celine.

  He set the cigar down and put his head in his hands. If there was any way to call it off he would and just leave it up to chance that Henry wouldn’t find the connection to Cindy. That last thought came down upon his psyche like a hammer. He had never considered the possibility that Henry might not make the connection. What have I done? he asked himself.

  * * *

  The strange going-ons had confused the lieutenant, but he kept it together. There had been some sort of gathering by the pool, but he couldn't get a shot from his vantage point. It didn't matter who the next victim was; he just needed to get it done and make it back to the major. He was sure he could take out one of the guests as they talked with Henry, but he had only seen Henry alone. He would give it another hour as it would be dark by then. If an opportunity hadn't presented itself, he would take the shot and go.

  The lieutenant reviewed his exit route in his head, checked his rifle and side arm, and went back to watching the house. The manual rested against the wall. He was ready.

  * * *

  Associate 2’s patience was waning, but he didn’t let it show. “I suspect that the targets will be heading away from the house soon.”

  “We wait until they are in the forest and then put them down?”

  They had discussed it at length, but Associate 3 always checked to see if his partner had come up with a new idea. If he had learned one thing about 2, it was that his mind never stopped analyzing.

  “Yes. It shouldn’t take more than an hour to get to the drop site. The clean up team is waiting for us and will make sure the bodies are never found.”

  They didn’t discuss the car or what it might mean, but both men knew it was on each other’s minds.

  CHAPTER 46

  Dwight didn't have a choice. He sent a few guests off on meaningless quests for clues, then invited Henry and Celine out to the patio. The sun was sneaking off behind the trees. The shadows crept up the lawn towards them. He tried to muster a calm voice, but when he started to speak, it failed him. Dwight cleared his throat. "Sorry, all the goings on have taken a toll on the old vocal cords."

  Celine stood at the edge of the patio and looked out towards the sunset. Dwight, next to her, turned towards Henry on his right. "It has been rumored that Mr. Witherspoon had a rather loud disagreement with one of the guests. They were overheard on the path that leads to the lake."

  Henry asked, "So you think we should check it out?"

  Celine said casually, "We better go now. There won't be light for much longer."

  Dwight was on the edge of despair. He could see his entire life backwards and forwards. It was as if he stood on the gallows and was about to give the command, but something stopped him. "Well...I'm not sure. Maybe it’s best to wait until morning." He hadn't thought about the words, but they just sort of came out. He couldn't send them into the forest.

  Celine and Henry weren't all that interested in traipsing off into the woods, so neither objected. They stood on either side of Dwight and enjoyed the fading summer day…for but a moment.

  They saw the muzzle flash as the sound of the shot echoed off into the distance. Henry reached to bring Dwight and Celine to the ground, but Dwight was already falling. “Celine, get down!”

  The columned rail wasn’t great cover; bullets could still make it through. Henry felt the blood pour from Dwight’s chest. He tried to apply pressure with one hand as he signaled to Celine to crawl into the house. “Go, stay low, and find help.”

  She looked terrified. All the healing of the weekend had been undone. Henry could see she was back in that room in New York with the bullets flying. The terror of it all was trying to swallow her whole. Despite this, she moved quickly and crawled through the door into the house.

  Dwight lay there holding his wound but looking strangely relieved. Henry tried to give him hope. “Stay still, buddy. We’re getting help.”

  Dwight gasped and looked into Henry’s eyes. “You are a good man, Mr. Wood. I’m sorry…so terribly sorry.”

  Henry didn’t understand what Dwight was apologizing for and was about to ask when the sound of another shot rang out…then two more.

  Associate 2 stepped back instinctively when he heard the shot. A heavy, dry branch on the ground snapped in two with a loud crack. He whispered, “Damn…”

  3 pulled his gun and ducked behind the wall. “What the hell was that?”

  “The director has lost faith and sent in his own team.”

  The next shot impacted the tree just above 2’s head and both men fired back. They hadn’t seen where the shooter was because their binoculars had been trained on Mr. Palmeroy, Henry, and the woman they presumed to be Celine. They both knew that if the director had sent in someone to eliminate Dwight that they would be next.

  It had been a very simple job. Find the woman who was causing problems for Mr. Palmeroy and kill her. They hadn’t counted on her last meal being with a detective and that’s where the trouble started It meant they had someone snooping into her life and that might lead to their client and ultimately the Enclave. That was unacceptable. Both men knew the importance the Enclave put on secrecy and had been thinking this scenario was possible but neither was ready for it.

  * * *

  The shot had been relatively easy. Lieutenant Randolph Vance was pleased with how everything worked out. He doubted that it could have been a better scenario, what with Henry standing inches away from the victim, and his beloved secretary was there, too.

  It was but a moment later when he heard the shot from his right. The sound was unmistakable. It was a Karabiner 98 Kurtz, likely being wielded by a German patrol. He tried to bring his rifle around, but the thick covering of the trees made it impossible.

  The lieutenant set his rifle down while drawing his M1911. A .45 caliber handgun, it was the same model he had carried during the war. The lieutenant was a crack shot but couldn’t see anyone in the dark. He was sure the patrol would be along the fence line to the south. He waited for a moment to see if they would fire again, but the sound of a bombing run in the distance caused him to take the initiative. He fired a shot, grabbed his rifle, and moved away from the wall.

  He heard the return shot ricochet off the wall in front of him. It was easily five meters off, which meant they didn’t have visual. He wanted to get back to his gear and try to make it back to his unit, but he had to be careful. Another shot flew past. It worried him. It was much closer. Maybe he had been spotted. The l
ieutenant popped out from behind a heavy tree and fired two more quick rounds, then moved again.

  * * *

  Associate 2 pointed away from the wall. “Head that way. We need to split up. Keep firing and moving south. Get to the car.”

  Associate 3 took two steps when two more shots came from another spot. “Was that the same shooter?”

  “I don’t know…probably not.”

  They each fired three quick rounds and started to make their way through the darkening forest towards the outer estate wall. Earlier in the day 2 had found a spot where a tree had fallen against the wall. If they were unable to use the south gate, this was their fall back position. Things were getting bad and a tactical retreat was the best option.

  * * *

  Henry after one more quick check on the gun battle he leaned in to hear what Dwight was trying to say.

  Dwight coughed. In a labored voice he said, “I don’t know why I did it. I’ve made so many mistakes...”

  “Don’t you worry about that now.”

  “Listen, Henry,” he said with a sudden burst of adrenaline, “I have no time for foolishness. You must listen. I love Catherine with all my heart. Temptation got the better of me, but, even after it was over, I let that woman bore into my mind. She drove me crazy and that’s why I did it...but the choice was still mine and...” He gasped as the energy was gone then grabbed Henry’s shirt and looked into his eyes as he said, “and...and she didn’t deserve to be killed. Her death is on my hands. You should let it die with me.”

  Henry felt his grasp loosen. Mr. Dwight Palmeroy III was gone. Henry looked at him for a moment and felt a profound sadness. He replayed the last words in his mind, Her death is on my hands, as he turned his attention back to the forest. He heard the shots but could no longer see the flashes. They had moved deeper into the woods. It seemed the guards had the shooter on the run.

  Catherine flew through the door despite Celine yelling, “No! It’s not safe!”

  Henry waved Celine off. Catherine fell by her husband. Her reaction was typical for the newly widowed but surprised Henry nonetheless. He had pegged her, perhaps unfairly, as a woman who had parlayed her considerable good looks into a cushy life. The tears were real. She screamed and wept until finally her grief had sapped everything she had. Celine knelt beside her and said, “Henry and I will find out who did this. I promise.”

  It was a promise she had no right to make, but it was one Henry had every intention of keeping. He had been hired to play detective, but, at that moment, the real detective shoved the actor aside. “Take her upstairs. We need to preserve everything for the police.”

  “I don’t want to leave my husband,” Catherine pleaded.

  Celine pulled her from the body. “Henry knows what to do.”

  Three security guards burst through the door with their revolvers drawn. The tall one asked, “What happened?”

  Henry looked up and said, “Someone has shot Mr. Palmeroy. He’s dead.”

  “Where did the shot come from?”

  Henry pointed to the spot and added, “A couple of guards are already chasing him.”

  A few more muffled shots could be heard and everyone flinched. The tall guard said, “What guards? It’s just the three of us.”

  Henry’s instincts took over. “If they aren’t with you, then we have at least three people with guns on the estate. Somebody call the police and get everyone inside to the library.”

  “The phones aren’t working.”

  “Listen, the game is over. We have a real murder!”

  The guard was not used to being yelled at by anyone other than Mr. Palmeroy. “We have been having problems with them all week. It isn’t part of the game, but Mr. Palmeroy decided...”

  “Okay, then someone needs to drive to the nearest phone.”

  That was an order the guard could follow. He seemed relieved to have it. He told one guard to stay low and watch the body and the other to usher everyone to the library. Henry took the tall guard’s revolver and said, “Stay with Mr. Palmeroy, but don’t touch anything. When the police get here, tell them I’ve gone after the shooter.”

  Daylight was almost gone, so Henry moved quickly down to the wall. He couldn’t hear any more shots and guessed that the battle had ended, but he kept the gun out just in case. It took almost no time at all to find the spot where the first shot had been fired. On top of the wall was a field manual. Henry knew it well, and it stopped him cold. This was much worse than just a murder.

  CHAPTER 47

  Associate 2 arrived at the car and 3 was already in the driver’s seat. 2 asked, “You okay?”

  “I took one in the arm, but I’m fine.”

  “Slide over; I’ll drive.”

  The car was running, and 2 jammed it in reverse. The car lurched back, and they were on their way. 2 had a couple of options but chose to drive past the spot with the car that they had checked out earlier. It was still there. Maybe the team sent to kill them had abandoned it, he thought to himself.

  3 was relatively calm, considering the wound, and said, “I may be naive, but I’m surprised they would give up on us so quickly.”

  “The director doesn’t tolerate mistakes.”

  “Why wait so long?”

  “Maybe we’ll get to ask him one day?”

  Associate 3 liked that answer. “What now?”

  “I have a safe house that’s outside the Enclave network.”

  “That’s why you are in charge.”

  They drove to Long Island and pulled into a lot. Associate 2 removed a lock pick set and hot wired a new car. They drove for another hour, taking a cautious route, until they arrived at an old brick building. The neighborhood was quiet and not the sort of place one went without a gun. They had many guns.

  Associate 2 had seen worse wounds and had 3 patched up in no time. He prescribed a bottle of whiskey and left to find some food at the deli across the street. He returned and found 3 cleaning his gun.

  3 took an apple and kept cleaning. “So we lay low for a few days and then try to disappear?”

  “We lay low, but I’m not sure about our next move. I have a lot of questions.”

  “You want a pull?”

  2 shook his head. “Did it seem like there were one or two shooters?”

  “It felt like one, but why would they just send one guy to take out Mr. Palmeroy and both of us? It’s offensive, if you think about it.”

  “I’d think we at least rate a team of three,” 2 said and took the bottle.

  “How would you take out a team?” 3 said as he finished his apple.

  “I’d have two main shooters, two more as a backup, and I’d probably have disabled the car.”

  “I think I might have used silencers and taken us out before Mr. Palmeroy.”

  “Good point. They did tip their hand,” 2 said as he started making sandwiches.

  3 leaned back on the couch, took another pull from the bottle, and closed his eyes. He couldn’t quite get his head around everything, and the pain killer was starting to work. He was sure of only one thing...he was safe for now. Sometimes that was all he could ask for in his line of work.

  * * *

  The lieutenant's heart pounded as he crawled towards the edge of the water. His mind tried to convince himself that he was back in the war, but the voice in his head said he was in New York. His mission was complete. He needed to get back to the major.

  There hadn't been any shots for a while though he kept hearing Messerschmidt 109's passing overhead. The sound of bullets strafing the forest had frozen him for a long time. Now that it was quiet, he was moving forward again. His gear made the moving slow, but he couldn't leave it behind.

  Night had descended during the battle. The water was still. He slid in with his gear. It wasn't very deep, and the mud pulled at his boots. He tried to swim but gave up, choosing to slog his way to the other side.

  As he pulled himself out of the water and mud, the sounds of battle faded. "Damn, that was
a bad one," he said to the trees. This side of the lake was uncharted territory. The lieutenant knew the road must be to the south. It took 45 minutes to reach the estate wall. It took another ten to find a way over.

  When he finally got to the car, he was drained but felt alive. He pulled out, drove around the bend, and realized his mistake. There was a roadblock. The flashing lights sent a wave of panic through him. If he were stopped, they would find his gear. His voice reminded him that the car was stolen as well. He gunned the accelerator.

  * * *

  Celine had been glued to Catherine’s side since the shooting. Henry had found the manual and realized that he was in the middle of a serial killer’s madness. Mike wouldn’t have forgiven him if he messed up the crime scene, so he went back to the house to try to get a handle on things.

  The state troopers were first on the scene. He pulled the troopers aside. “I don’t want anyone else to hear this.”

  The trooper took out his notepad. “Go ahead, Mr. Wood.”

  Henry was taken aback. “You know me?”

  “I read the paper, too.”

  Henry wasn’t comfortable with this, but he had gotten his fair share of ink this year, and shrugged it off, “Did you hear about the officer stabbed to death or the diner shooting?”

  “I heard about the stabbing, not the other.”

  “I was present for both of them.”

  The trooper looked concerned. “Are you admitting to being involved in these murders?”