Flood Zone

by Dana Mentink

  She waited.

  He sighed. “I dunno, something about what you said to her got inside me and stayed there.”

  “What did I say?”

  He tried to repeat the words exactly. “Gracie was little then, just a toddler. Is that what you call that age?”

  She nodded.

  “Anyway, she asked you where her daddy was and you knelt down, right next to her and told her Daddy was in jail because he made mistakes.”

  He heard her sniff. “Yes. I remember now.”

  “And she started to cry so you said, ‘We’re going to be a family, you and me, and Mommy’s going to make it all right.’”

  Mia lowered her head. “I haven’t made it anywhere near all right.”

  He went very still, the sound of the tires creating a soothing cadence. Lord, help me to put words to the feelings, words she can understand. “You were strong then, and gentle, too, just like you are now. I knew how hard it was going to be, with your past, and starting all over with a daughter and Hector’s legacy. I understood because I have wreckage in my past, too.” He reached out slowly, praying she would not jerk away from his touch, and covered her hand with his. “I wanted to help you and Gracie have a better shot at making a way for your family. That’s why I told Antonia I’d do it.”

  She looked at their joined hands and one tear splashed onto their twined fingers.

  “My whole life has been about where. Where will I go next. This time...” He struggled to find the words. “This time it was about the who, about you and Gracie. I wanted you to have a life.” He swallowed hard. “And I guess maybe I wanted to be a part of that in some way.”

  It was too much. She pulled from him. “I didn’t ask you. You invited yourself into our lives and you deceived me.”

  It cut at his heart. “I’m sorry.”

  She fished for a tissue in her pocket. “I understand your motives were sincere. Hector was sincere, too, but he did not trust me with the truth, either.”

  Her words stung like acid. He’d been put on the same shelf as Hector, a manipulator, a disappointment. Had he permanently severed that delicate strand between them? He could think of nothing to say to repair the break, not one word of comfort to bring the warmth back to her eyes.

  * * *

  The miles droned by in miserable silence until he turned on the weather station just to break the terrible quiet. It was not good news.

  “More rain is on the way from an unexpected grouping of storms rolling in. A series of flash-flood warnings and advisories have been issued. Mudslides are already being reported near Mountain Grove and Coal Flats where rainfall on burn areas is causing ground failure. Residents are advised to be ready to evacuate.”

  Dallas took comfort in the fact that at least the trailer park was high enough to keep Antonia and Gracie safe. For a while.

  “We should...”

  She shook her head. “I’m going to see Finnigan. If you want to head back, just let me out.”

  Right. As if he would even consider leaving her on the side of a mountain road. Women. He wisely kept his thoughts to himself and pressed on at as quick a pace as he could manage. The steeper the grade, the more he began to worry about the possibility of mudslides. Slopes already sodden with moisture needed only a tiny push from nature and gravity to loosen tons of debris on the road below.

  Finally, they turned off on an uneven path that took them through acreage so densely crowded with lodgepole pines that he thought Farley might have ferreted out the wrong address, until they came to the edge of a swollen river with a striking house set beside it. The dark wood tones and forest green roofing material made it appear as if the house was a part of the mountainside behind it.

  They got out in time to receive the first drops of rainfall.

  “Peter Finnigan has a nice little piece of real estate,” Dallas said, perusing the boathouse that perched at the waterline and the modern shingled siding on the house above. “And he doesn’t like being too close to the neighbors.”

  “He must have found something better paying than being a dishwasher.” Mia started up the graveled path toward the house. As he followed, Dallas noted a green car parked behind the shrubbery, and the muscles in his stomach tightened. He put a hand on the hood. Still warm.

  “Mia,” he said.

  There was the sudden sound of breaking glass followed by a shout.

  Dallas took off for the house at a dead sprint.

  TWELVE

  Mia was gasping for breath by the time she made it to the house, pulling up next to Dallas who had just about reached the front door when it was flung open. A short, balding man stopped short, mouth wide. His arm was half raised, as if to shield himself from a blow.

  “Peter Finnigan?” Dallas said.

  The man glared, the fleshy pouches under his eyes bunching. “Who wants to know?”

  “We heard a scream,” Mia panted, by way of explanation. “Glass breaking.”

  “There’s nothing wrong,” he said. “Everything’s fine. Go away.”

  “Not quite, Peter” came a singsong voice.

  Mia gaped as Susan stepped up behind Peter. She wore clean clothes, her hair in a neat twist, a placid smile on her lips. Dallas seemed equally at a loss for words until he managed, “Are you hurt?”

  Susan laughed. “Such a gentleman.” She gave Mia a coy look. “You should keep him.”

  Mia’s cheeks burned. “Susan, what’s going on?”

  She waved them in with an airy gesture. “Come in, why don’t you? I just came to see Peter. We’re acquainted. He’s the man who tried to save my drowning husband, so he says.”

  Peter scanned the porch quickly, as if he was assessing the likelihood of an escape. Then he mumbled something, stepped aside and allowed them to enter.

  “I’m glad you’re here. She’s some loony who busted in. When I wouldn’t give her what she wanted, she started throwing things. I’m leaving just as soon as I can get her out.”

  Mia noticed a floral fragrance in the air and there was something familiar in the smell. Peter pulled keys and a wallet from a small bowl. While his back was turned, Mia spotted an old photo on the floor, partially hidden by shards of glass that littered the hardwood floor.

  The snapshot was old and grainy, but it showed Peter with a taller man, heavily bearded, standing in a small boat. A third man was seated, holding a net. Peter stood to the left of them, dangling a fish for the camera, grinning.

  She saw Susan looking at her. Quickly Mia tucked the picture into her pocket.

  “What got smashed?” Mia asked.

  Susan waved an impatient hand. “I startled Peter and he dropped his drinking glass. I was asking him what he knew about my husband’s death.”

  He flashed a sullen look. “I dunno what you’re talking about. She’s crazy, like I said.”

  Susan sighed. “All right, I’ll get the ball rolling. Let’s stroll down memory lane. Fifteen years ago, you saw my husband, Asa, drown, didn’t you? What a story you told the police about how you tried in vain to save him, battling the waves at your own peril. Made yourself look like a real hero.”

  Peter folded his arms, then unfolded them and shoved his hands in the pockets of his faded jeans. “You already know what happened, Susan.”

  “So,” Susan said, her tone cheerful as if she was reciting a bit of poetry. “You lied. You and Thomas.” She looked at Mia and Dallas. “Dr. Elias, as you know him. To me he’ll always be Thomas. Peter arranged with Thomas to make it look like an accidental death. Thomas was hoping to get his hands on the life insurance money. He pays you to keep quiet. That’s how you afford this lovely home, isn’t it?”

  Peter grimaced. “You’re nuts, and you’re not telling the whole story.”

  “I probably am nuts. I’ve had a
hard life after all. It took me a long time, years and years, to find Thomas and you. I tracked him down to Spanish Canyon. What a surprise to find out he’d started a whole new life here as a well-respected doctor. And you, too. Cora overheard Thomas threaten me at the clinic after I confronted him. She wanted to go to the police, but I told her they were on his side. She promised to help me find proof to take to the authorities.”

  “Cora?” Mia gasped. “Susan, tell us what happened.”

  Peter cut Mia off. “This is nuts. I’m not talking to any of you anymore. Get out, all of you.”

  Susan’s face whitened and filled with hatred. “Thomas killed Cora because he knew she was looking into his past, and the truth was coming out. Now Thomas’s going to have to eliminate anyone who can incriminate him and that means you.”

  “Are you insane? I’ve never caused him any trouble. I’ve kept my mouth shut about everything for all these years. He trusts me.”

  “Not anymore,” she said quietly. “Not after he’s had to murder again. This time he’s going to button up all the loose ends.”

  Including Susan. Mia shuddered.

  “Crazy, but I’m not gonna take the time to sort it out,” Peter snapped, turning away. The back of his neck was red.

  Mia’s mind was still spinning, trying to put it all together. When Peter whirled back around, he held a gun snatched from his pocket.

  Dallas stepped in front of Mia. “You don’t need to do that, Peter. We’re not here to cause trouble for you. We just wanted the truth.”

  “I’m getting out of this whole business. I was going to leave because of the flooding anyway, so I’ll just make it permanent. If any of you tries to come at me, I’ll kill you. I don’t want to, but I will.”

  Susan chortled. “You can’t get out. You’ll never get out.”

  “Shut up,” Peter barked. “Move away from the door.”

  Dallas and Mia edged aside. Mia took Susan’s skinny wrist. “Let him go, Susan.” Surprisingly, she did not resist.

  “He won’t get away,” she said softly. “You’ll never, ever get away.”

  Susan allowed Mia to guide her to the corner. When Peter fled out the door and down the path, Dallas ran to the window.

  “He’s got a boat ready.” Dallas was dialing 911 as he watched. After a minute, he disconnected with an exasperated groan. “No signal.”

  Peter thundered down to the edge of the dock where a motorboat was moored. He cast off the lines and began to putter out into the swiftly moving water. A duffel bag in the back indicated his departure had been planned out.

  Keeping low, Dallas sprinted toward the boathouse. He was going to see if there was another boat.

  “Stay in the house,” he yelled.

  Mia watched as Peter piloted through the rough waters.

  She and Susan edged out onto the porch. Mia could not stand it a moment longer.

  “You have to tell us everything, Susan. We have to know who killed Cora.”

  Dallas vanished into the darkened interior of the boathouse, emerging a moment later with hands on hips. There was no other boat. Peter would get away and take his answers with him.

  Dallas began to jog back to the dock. Mia started down the steps, leaving Susan behind. Thirty seconds passed. A flash of light and an earsplitting bang shook the boards under their feet. Mia’s ears rang. Following Dallas’s horrified gaze she realized the explosion had come from the boat.

  Peter’s duffel bag was burning, along with the interior of the vessel. Peter lay facedown in the water, his shirt on fire.

  Susan stared, hands jammed into her pockets.

  Dallas finished his sprint to the dock and jumped in the water, arms chopping through the waves. Bits of flaming debris sprinkled down around his head as he pressed on. It was a futile effort. By the time he’d cleaved through the swirling river to the spot where the boat had exploded, Peter’s body had been sucked away by the current. The swollen river jerked and pulled at Peter, tumbling him along like a discarded doll. Dallas swam after Peter, and Mia found herself shouting, stomach twisted in fear.

  “Dallas, come back. The water’s too strong.” You’ll drown, her heart finished for her. She doubted he’d heard over the swirling cacophony, but he must have come to the same conclusion. She watched with her heart hammering at her ribs as he fought the water back toward the bank and Mia grasped his forearms to pull him from the river.

  He stood, head bowed, water running from his hair and clothes. His broad shoulders drooped and quite suddenly, she wanted to comfort this man who had betrayed her. She raised her arms to embrace him. Strength, not emotion, you ninny.

  Instead, she snatched up a towel that lay drying on the wooden rail and draped it around his shoulders. His eyes were shocked, horrified, drawn to the river where Peter Finnigan had just lost his life. In spite of herself, she pressed her hand to his biceps for a moment.

  He imprisoned her palm there, his own fingers cold. “I couldn’t get him.”

  She allowed the touch to linger before she pulled away. “No one could.”

  He heaved in a breath. “I’m guessing there was an explosive device in his duffel bag. It was motion triggered.” He paused. “Or someone set it off by cell phone.”

  Mia glanced into the acres of dark trees and shivered. Were there eyes watching from the shadows? Eyes glowing with satisfaction at the death they had just witnessed? As they moved back toward the house, she realized Susan was still staring out at the burning boat, spinning in helpless circles as it moved downriver.

  “I told you, Peter,” she whispered.

  * * *

  Dallas left a trail of water along the floor as the three of them searched for a phone with a landline. Nothing. His own cell was now waterlogged thanks to his instinctive plunge into the river and there was no chance of getting a signal anyway. In the course of their hunting, thunderclouds began to roll in along the river canyon, obscuring the mountaintops under a blanket of grey.

  “We need to get out of here,” Dallas said. “We’ll keep trying to call on your cell as we drive.”

  Mia patted the photo still tucked in her pocket. “Come on, Susan. You can fill us in on the way.”

  “My car is here,” she said. “In the bushes.”

  “We’ll bring you back for it later.” Dallas was not about to let the woman slip out of their grasp again. Especially not after what had just happened to Finnigan. He still burned inside with the knowledge that he had not been strong enough or fast enough to pull the man from the monster river. An epic failure and a life lost. Trying to keep watch for any sign of movement from the tree line, they returned to the truck. He fought the urge to bundle both women back into the house and barricade them safely inside, but with floodwater rising all around them, it was not an option. “Let’s move a little faster,” he said, putting an encouraging palm on Susan’s bony shoulders.

  Back in the truck with Susan in the backseat, Mia didn’t waste a moment.

  “How did you know about Peter?”

  Susan sighed. “I’m very tired.” She leaned her head back on the seat.

  “I’m sorry, Susan,” Mia snapped. “But we just saw a man murdered back there. You need to start talking.”

  Dallas felt the tingle in his stomach at the strength in her tone, the fire in her words.

  Susan sighed and tears welled up in her eyes. “I killed him.”

  Mia gasped.

  Dallas gripped the wheel as Mia blinked in shock. “Who?” she managed.

  “My husband, because I got involved with Thomas. He was a medical student, deep in school loans and credit card debt, but charming, and he seduced me. Made friends with Asa, or pretended to. He knew how unhappy I was in my marriage, but I never dreamed... How could I know Thomas would murder Asa? Actually murder him? I blame myself for
Asa’s death. I always will for bringing Thomas into our lives.”

  “You had no idea what kind of man he was?”

  “None,” she sniffed. “Thomas knew Asa had planned a fishing trip. Asa had a high-stress job running his own business, so fishing was his escape. I think Thomas drugged his bottle of tea so he became unconscious. Peter was waiting nearby, and he made sure Asa tumbled out of his boat and drowned and then he told the story of trying to save Asa so the police wouldn’t look into it too closely.”

  “Dr. Elias did it, why? Out of jealousy? So you two could have a life together?”

  Her voice hardened. “Nothing so romantic. Thomas knew Asa had a life insurance policy, and he figured after he killed Asa I would give him the money because we were, um, in love. At least I thought we were. Completely stupid of me, of course. Maybe Thomas figured once I received the payment he could kill me then, too.”

  What was one more murder for the guy? Dallas thought.

  “When the insurance company signed off, I collected the money and ran as far and as fast as I could, but I always knew I’d make Thomas pay.” An edge crept into her voice. “Thomas wanted to make a fresh start with a new identity, the good doctor beloved by all, but I found him. And Peter, too.”

  Dallas hit the brakes as a small pile of rocks showered down onto the road. He guided the truck around it, trying to process Susan’s revelation.

  “I confronted him, and Cora overheard and started checking into things. She told me she found a photo that she could use against Thomas, but before she could show me, she died. Thomas killed her, I’m sure of it.” Dallas saw tears slide down her face. “He got himself a new life. And a pretty new woman.”

  He remembered finding Susan breaking into the BMW outside the makeshift evacuation center. “It’s Catherine Elias, you’ve been following, isn’t it?”