Cowboy Deputy

by Carla Cassidy

  Her head pounded with intensity and the taste of terror filled her mouth. She should have never stopped the car. But she’d had a false sense of safety and hadn’t sensed danger.

  Closing her eyes, she realized what she’d heard was true. When facing death your life flashed before your eyes. She thought of those starlit nights with her grandmother and sweet loving moments with her mother.

  She regretted all the time lost with her Poppy and hoped that he and Margaret would form a lasting connection that would keep them both company until their deaths.

  And she thought about Mary, the daughter she’d lost, the daughter she’d loved. She’d loved her baby and had wanted her no matter how difficult it would be as a single parent.

  She’d planned for Mary, had stroked her own fat belly and sung to the baby. She’d never wished Mary away. She’d been beating herself up for something that hadn’t been her fault.

  In this moment of facing her own death, she realized Benjamin was right. Mary’s death was a tragedy, just like Benjamin’s sister’s disappearance. Both had been tragedies without answers, without blame.

  Tears formed in her eyes once again as she realized she’d had happiness right there in her hand. All she’d had to do was reach out and grasp it, grasp him.

  Benjamin. Her heart cried out his name. She’d been a fool to let fear keep her from immersing herself in his love, for not wallowing in her own love for him. And now it was too late.

  Fate had given her a chance to be with a man who loved her to distraction, a man who made her happier than anyone else on the face of the earth. It had given her the possibility of other babies and beautiful sunsets and a man who would love and support her. And she’d walked away. She’d loved smart and acted stupid and now it was too late to change things.

  She looked at the cracks around the door where faint daylight appeared. How many hours until nightfall? How many hours left before she found herself in the horror of a grave?

  Jeffrey Allen Hudson looked like a broken man when Tom led him into the small interrogation room. His shoulders slumped and his broad face was pale, as if some terminal disease was eating him from the inside out.

  Tom placed him into a chair at the table and gestured Benjamin toward the chair opposite Jeffrey. Benjamin didn’t sit.

  “I don’t know what you want from me,” Jeffrey said. “I’ve already confessed to everything.” He stared down at the tabletop, refusing to look at either man.

  “Jeffrey, tell me about the attack on Walt Tolliver’s granddaughter.” Benjamin placed his hands on the table and leaned forward.

  “I already told Tom I did it, so what else is there to say?” He still didn’t look up. “Why don’t you just leave me alone? I’ll face whatever punishment I have to, but I don’t have anything else to say.”

  “If you cooperate with us, maybe I’ll put in a good word with the prosecutor,” Tom said.

  Jeffrey drew a deep breath and finally looked up. His eyes were filled with torment. “What do you want from me?” he asked wearily.

  Benjamin ran everything over in his mind as he tamped down the urgency that screamed inside him. “I just need to know one thing. When you stabbed Edie in the leg, did you use a paring knife from Walt’s kitchen or was it a pocketknife?” He ignored Tom’s look of surprise.

  There was no denying the look of confusion that crossed Jeffrey’s features. It was there only a moment and then gone as he focused again on the top of the table. “A pocketknife,” he mumbled.

  Benjamin slammed his hands down on the table. Jeffrey jumped and scooted his chair back an inch. “You’re lying, Jeffrey. Who are you protecting? A friend? Your father?”

  “No! My dad has nothing to do with this.” Jeffrey grabbed the sides of his head with his hands.

  “Jeffrey, Edie is missing. Her car was found on the side of the highway and we think she’s in trouble. If you know anything, you need to tell us. Jeffrey, you don’t want to be a part of her getting hurt or worse.” Benjamin wanted to rip Jeffrey from his seat and shake him until the truth rattled out of his teeth.

  Tears formed in Jeffrey’s eyes. “He told me that he’d kill my dad if I said anything.” The words were a mere whisper. “He’s crazy, you know. I didn’t realize it until we were both in too deep. I promised him half of what I made. He thought he was going to be rich and he was so angry when it all fell apart.”

  “Who, Jeffrey. Tell me who,” Benjamin exclaimed, his anxiety through the ceiling. But before Jeffrey could reply the answer came to Benjamin.

  “It’s Josh Willoughby, isn’t it?” he asked.

  Panic swept across Jeffrey’s face and Benjamin knew he had his answer. He looked at his brother. “You’d better send somebody with me to Josh’s place, because if I find out he’s harmed Edie I’m going to kill him.”

  He didn’t wait for an answer but instead strode out of the room and out of the station. He was on the road to Josh’s house when he saw Caleb’s patrol car following him.

  He’d meant what he’d said. If Josh had hurt Edie…or worse, Benjamin wouldn’t blink twice as he beat the life out of the man.

  Josh Willoughby. They all should have realized he had something to do with this. He was in charge of the burials at the cemetery. It would have been easy for him to provide Jeffrey with the body parts before the caskets were covered with dirt.

  From the moment Benjamin had heard that Jeffrey had confessed, he’d found it hard to believe that he was responsible for beating Walt and attacking Edie. It was completely out of character.

  It wasn’t out of character for Josh. Josh was known to have a temper and he also owned an old ATV. It made sense that Jeffrey was involved on the science end of the experiments and Josh was the one who did the dirty work.

  The day was slipping away, the sun sinking low in the western sky. It would be dark soon and the thought of Edie someplace out there in the dark and in danger was almost too much for him to bear.

  You’re probably too late, a little voice whispered in the back of his head. He tightened his grip on the steering wheel and tried to ignore the voice. He couldn’t be too late for her. He couldn’t be.

  He’d already lost Brittany. He couldn’t lose Edie. It didn’t matter that she didn’t want to spend her life with him. It was just important that she have a life to live.

  The cemetery came into view and just after it was Josh’s small house. Josh’s truck was parked out front, letting Benjamin know the man was home.

  Benjamin parked in front and raced to the door where he pounded with his fist. Caleb parked just behind him and hurried to join his brother.

  Josh’s wife, Marylou, answered the door. She was a small, mousy woman who didn’t socialize and was rarely seen in town. She eyed Benjamin and Caleb with more than a bit of trepidation. “Yes?”

  “We need to talk to Josh,” Benjamin said.

  She didn’t look surprised, just weary. “He’s out back.”

  Benjamin leaped off the porch and headed around the side of the house, his heart beating so fast he was nearly breathless. Caleb followed just behind him. “Don’t do anything stupid,” he said.

  “Don’t worry, I plan on being smart when I beat the hell out of him,” Benjamin replied tersely.

  They found Josh in the backyard, a hammer in hand as he worked on a rotting windowsill. “Damn house is falling apart,” he said as they approached. “What are you two doing here?”

  “Put down the hammer,” Caleb said as he drew his gun.

  “Hey, what’s going on?” Josh asked.

  “Where is she?” Benjamin asked as Josh slowly lowered the hammer to the ground.

  He straightened back up and looked at Benjamin with confusion. “Where is who?”

  Benjamin hit him in the chest hard with both his hands. “You know who I’m talking about. Where is Edie?”

  Josh stumbled back a step, his face flushing with color. “Hey, man, what’s the matter with you? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
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  A white-hot rage flew through Benjamin. He slammed Josh on the chin with his fist. “We can do this the easy way or we can do it the hard way,” Benjamin said.

  Josh grabbed his jaw. “What’s wrong with you? You’re crazy, man.” He looked at Caleb. “Aren’t you going to do something?”

  Caleb smiled. “Yeah, I’m going to watch.”

  Josh dropped his hand from his face and fisted his hands at his sides. “Listen, I don’t know what’s going on. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” A flicker of rage darkened his eyes. “But if you hit me again, I’m going to sue you and the whole town for abuse.”

  Benjamin jabbed him in the chin once again. “So, sue me.”

  “Turn around and put your hands behind your back,” Caleb said. “Your partner in crime, Jeffrey Allen, is singing like a canary right now and you’re under arrest for assault on Walt Tolliver and a bunch of other crimes that will be detailed later.”

  “Jeffrey Allen is a lying piece of crap,” Josh exclaimed. “He’s just trying to get away with everything he did.”

  “Turn around, Josh,” Caleb repeated, his easygoing smile gone.

  Josh looked at Benjamin, a small smile curving his lips. “Gee, hope you find what you’re looking for.” His gaze slid from Benjamin and to the cemetery in the distance.

  It was a quick glance, almost imperceptible, but it shot a bolt of electricity through Benjamin, along with a horrifying sense of dread. “Get him downtown,” Benjamin said just before he took off running.

  “You’re too late,” Josh’s voice rang out. “The bitch ruined everything. She’s dead, Benjamin. You hear me? She’s dead and buried.”

  Benjamin nearly stumbled as grief ripped through him. “No. No. No.” The single word escaped him over and over again with each step he took.

  Too late.

  Too late.

  The words thundered in his head and his grief was so intense he thought he might puke. The sun had sunk beneath the horizon and twilight had slammed in without warning.

  The distance between him and the cemetery seemed agonizingly big. He ran so hard, so fast that a stitch in his side appeared.

  Too late.

  They’d all been too late for Brittany. They hadn’t known she was in trouble until she’d been gone for too long. They were probably too late for Jennifer Hightower and Suzy Bakersfield.

  But this isn’t the same case, he reminded himself. Edie wasn’t one of the women who had disappeared without a trace. She’d been taken by Josh to punish her for destroying his dreams of wealth.

  He released a sob as he flew through the cemetery entrance, his gaze seeking a fresh grave. It was not only grief that ripped through him but also a killing guilt.

  They’d all told her it was over, that she was safe. They had taken Jeffrey’s confession without asking the hard questions, without doubting the veracity. He’d put her in her car and sent her on her way. This was his fault.

  He careened up and down the row of graves, seeking something that looked suspicious as darkness continued to fall. He’d always had a secret fear that he didn’t have the capacity to feel deep emotion, to love with every fiber of his being. But as he hurried up and down the feet-worn paths between the graves, tears blurred his vision and he wished he couldn’t feel.

  He finally reached the end of the graves and didn’t know whether to be relieved or disturbed that he’d found nothing. Where was she? Dear God, where could she be? He knew she was here somewhere, knew it with a sickening certainty.

  Tom’s patrol car pulled up, the lights of the vehicle cutting through the encroaching darkness. “Find her?” Tom asked as he hurried out of his car.

  “No.” The word worked around the lump in Benjamin’s throat.

  “Did you check the shed?”

  Benjamin stared at him in confusion. “What shed?”

  “Beyond that rise there’s a little caretaker’s shed.” He pointed in the direction. Benjamin took off running. He’d forgotten about the shed, which was tucked out of sight from the cemetery proper. He heard the sound of Tom’s footsteps behind him and was grateful when his brother turned on a flashlight to light the way.

  The old shed came into view and once again he felt like throwing up. Please, he begged. Please let her be inside there. Please let her be okay.

  He tried not to think about all the places Josh could have buried her body. The cemetery was surrounded by land and he tried not to think about how long it might take before a burial site would be found.

  Too late.

  The words once again screamed in his head. Please, please don’t let me be too late. He sent the prayer into the air and hoped that somebody was listening.

  Darkness.

  It surrounded her and invaded her soul. He’d said he’d come for her when it was dark, when nobody would see him bury her alive.

  Her wrists were raw and bloody from working the ropes and the last piece of hope she’d entertained was gone. The darkness had arrived and the monster would arrive anytime.

  Edie leaned her head back against the wall. Her head still hurt and she was more tired than she’d ever felt in her life. It seemed ridiculous that all this had happened because Poppy had thought he was seeing space aliens.

  It also seemed ridiculous that she was going to be killed not because Josh wanted to protect himself, but because he was angry with her. Killing her was simply about revenge.

  People were crazy, but she had been one of the craziest to walk away from Benjamin and love. “Love smart, Edie girl.” Her grandmother’s voice whispered through her head.

  I did, Grandma. I loved smart when I fell in love with Benjamin and now it’s too late for me, too late for us.

  She stiffened and snapped her head upright as she heard the sound of running footsteps. He was coming. She closed her eyes and tried to become invisible in the darkness. A moan erupted from her as the door crashed open. She opened her eyes and saw only a dark shadow in the doorway.

  Death. He had come for her.

  “Edie.”

  She shivered at the voice that spoke her name, a cruel trick for he sounded like the man she loved.

  Another body appeared in the doorway and a flashlight beam half blinded her. “Edie!” He rushed toward her and she realized it was Benjamin, not Josh.

  She began to cry as he took the tape off her mouth. “It’s okay, baby. It’s all right. You’re safe now. I promise you’re safe.” He pulled her forward into his arms as Tom got behind her and worked at the ropes that bound her.

  “He said he was going to bury me alive,” she cried as Benjamin held her tight. “He said I ruined his life so he was going to take mine.”

  When Tom freed her hands she wrapped her arms around Benjamin’s neck, clinging to him as the fear slowly shuddered away.

  Tom cut the rope that held her ankles and Benjamin scooped her up in his arms. “Let’s get you out of here,” he said as she buried her face into his broad chest.

  The night was dark and cold, but she felt warm and safe in his arms as he carried her toward the house in the distance where the cars were parked.

  “He drove up next to me,” she said. “He motioned that something was wrong with my car. I was stupid to stop, but I thought it was safe.” She clung tighter. “He told me my tire was going flat and when I bent over to look at it, he knocked me unconscious. I thought I was going to die.”

  When they reached the car, he placed her in the passenger seat and then hurried around to the driver’s door. “Josh?” she asked as he slid in behind the steering wheel.

  “Is in jail and I’m taking you to the hospital to get checked out.”

  She didn’t argue with him. Her head pounded and her wrists were encircled with dried blood from her attempts to get loose. “Why did Jeffrey confess to something he didn’t do?”

  “Josh threatened to kill Jeffrey’s father if he talked,” he said.

  She leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes, trying to proc
ess everything that had happened, trying to forget how close she’d come to death. “How did you find me?” she asked, not opening her eyes.

  “We leaned on Jeffrey and he came clean about Josh. Then I went to talk to Josh and leaned on him a bit.”

  She cracked an eye open and looked at him. “Leaned hard, I hope.”

  He smiled grimly. “I would have killed the bastard if Caleb hadn’t been there.”

  She nodded and closed her eyes, satisfied with his reply. She was exhausted, her emotions a jumbled mess. The taste of horror still clung to the roof of her mouth and all she wanted to do was fall into a deep, dreamless sleep.

  Two hours later her wrists had been treated and she’d been checked into a hospital room for a night of observation. “You and Walt are becoming familiar faces around here,” Dr. Drake said when she was settled in a hospital bed. “You took quite a hit on the back of your head and I want to check those wrists again in the morning to make sure there’s no infection setting in.”

  At that moment Benjamin appeared in the doorway. “I just brought Walt up to speed on everything. He said it’s a good thing we arrested Josh, otherwise he would have had to release himself from here and kick his butt.”

  Edie gave him a weary smile. “That’s my Poppy, ready to take on the bad guys and any space aliens that might invade his town.”

  “Get a good night’s sleep, Edie,” Dr. Drake said. “You’ve been through trauma and rest is the best medicine.” He turned and gave Benjamin a stern look. “Don’t you stress her with your questions. There’s time enough to finish your investigation tomorrow.”

  “Don’t worry, Doc. I’m just going to sit here for a little while until she falls asleep.” As Dr. Drake left the room, Benjamin eased into a chair next to the hospital bed.

  “You don’t have to stay here,” Edie protested as she fought to keep her eyes open.

  “Yes, I do,” he replied. “I need to sit here and watch you sleep. I need to assure myself that you’re really okay. I just need to sit here and listen to you breathe.” Emotion thickened his voice. “I’ve never been so afraid as when I saw your car parked on the side of the road. I don’t ever want to be that afraid again.”