He opened the door, slipped into the room, and hurried to Tom on the floor. He felt for a pulse.
Chapter Ten
Lacey rotated slowly toward the Trey Dawson imposter, trying to remain as calm as possible, but when she saw the man gripping her son’s shoulder as he stood in front of the pretender, her first impulse was to rush to Shaun and grab him close against her. The sight of the gun in the imposter’s free hand stopped her—as if she’d frozen in place. Sheer terror gripped her as tight as the man did her son. Shaun’s wide eyes and stiff posture showed he was every bit as terrified as she.
She tried to relax her tight muscles. She didn’t want to fuel her son’s fear any more than it already was. Somewhere deep inside her, she focused on the Lord. He was here with her. She wasn’t alone.
A surreal composure replaced her alarm. She had to remain calm if she and Shaun were going to make it through unscathed. “What do you want?”
“I need to search this house without interference.”
“What you see is what’s in here. You’ve been here for several days. You should know that.”
“It’s here. My cellmate told me right before he died.”
“You were in prison?” Stay calm.
“Yes. I won’t harm you two if you do as I say. You’re gonna help me find what I’m looking for.”
“What is it?”
“A bag. That’s all you need to know.”
“Where is it?”
“If I knew that, I would have gotten it the first time I looked in here.”
What was going to happen if Ryan arrived and discovered they were being held hostage? The imposter had always been nice and respectful. Would he hurt them if Ryan approached? “You made all those holes in the walls?”
“Yes, I used a camera to see behind the plasterboard. I didn’t want to sling a sledgehammer just anywhere. It would have heightened the risk of being discovered.”
“If you didn’t find anything, then maybe the bag is gone. How long has it supposedly been there?”
“Nineteen years ago. It was hidden here when Mr. Hopewell renovated this place the first time. My cellmate was an electrician on the site. He rewired this building.”
How was she going to help him? She hadn’t lived here at that time. “What’s in the bag? How big is it?”
“It’s not any bigger than that.” The man gestured toward a small teakettle on the counter.
There couldn’t be much money in a bag that size. So what? Diamonds or some other gems? Bearer bonds? What it was didn’t mean much to her. All she wanted was for Imposter to leave her and Shaun unharmed. “What do you want me to do?”
“Help me find it before anyone comes.”
* * *
Tom was alive. Ryan released his breath in relief. After examining the contractor and noticing a wound on his head, Ryan stood and made a sweep of the office first, then the reception area and the meeting room to make sure no one else was in the small building. As he finished up, Deputies Washburn and Carter entered with their guns drawn.
“It’s all clear.” Ryan holstered his weapon, and the officers did likewise.
“Who’s hurt?” Washburn asked.
“Tom Avant was hit over the head. He’s unconscious but breathing. After the EMTs take him to the hospital, I want this place processed. I’m following the ambulance. If Tom wakes up, he might be able to tell me what happened.”
As Ryan drove toward the Calvert Regional Medical Center, he placed a call to Lacey. Her phone rang and rang until it went to voicemail. “I might be a little late for dinner tonight. I found Tom Avant unconscious at his office. I’m going to the hospital to see if he’ll recover consciousness, so I can interview him. I’ll keep you informed. I really want to share dinner with you and Shaun tonight. This is an important occasion, celebrating being in your new home.” He punched the off button, wishing she had been available to talk.
Questions plagued him the whole way to the hospital. Had whoever impersonated Dawson attacked Tom? Why? Where was the guy now, and what was he after?
* * *
“Don’t answer it.” Imposter held his hand out. “Give me your cell phone. As soon as I get what I’ve come for, I’ll leave. Police will only mess everything up. I’ll be forced to do something I don’t want to do.”
Seated next to Shaun on the couch, Lacey wished she could have talked with Ryan. Imposter—no, she was going to call him Trey as she had for the past weeks—snatched her phone from her grasp. As long as she had it, she’d felt a connection to Ryan. She’d hoped to have a chance to alert Ryan about what was happening. She needed to find another way. When he came to dinner, he’d be held captive or worse, and end up like the real Trey Dawson.
“Trust me. I’ll be gone soon.”
Through the last five minutes, Sadie hadn’t barked once. Had this man done something to her? The dog was in her kennel and wouldn’t have been able to attack Trey. Maybe she was quiet because the painter was familiar to her. “Sadie has been in her crate for a few hours. I need to give her some water. You can watch and make sure that’s all.”
“No need. I gave her something to sleep.”
Shaun gasped.
Trey turned his attention to Shaun. “Come over here.”
Her son’s eyes grew huge.
“Now!”
Shaun flinched but slowly moved toward Trey.
“Turn around.” After Shaun did, Trey grabbed a length of rope. “Put your hands behind your back.”
He didn’t.
Trey jerked first one arm then the other behind Shaun and wound the rope around his wrists.
Tears ran down Shaun’s face.
Lacey rose a few inches off the couch.
“Sit!” Trey shifted his focus to her, his look menacing, like daggers stabbing her. “You’re next. If you follow my directions, you’ll be okay.”
Like the real Trey Dawson was. She couldn’t believe a word this man said. The only one she could trust was the Lord. He would give her a way out of here unharmed.
Trey had her son sit next to her. Then he motioned for her to stand. While he tied her hands behind her, he asked, “What’s your security code?”
She told him, and when she settled next to Shaun, he walked to the security pad by the door and set it to go off if anyone left the carriage house. The very device used to keep people out would keep them in.
He came back into the living area. “This way I can work freely without worrying you’re gonna escape. The quicker I find the dia—what I came for, the quicker I’ll be gone.” He took another piece of rope and tied her feet then started to do Shaun’s too, but her son sobbed against Lacey’s side. Trey stuffed the rope in his pocket. “Stay put and this will be over soon.”
As he left, Lacey said, “Thank you.”
Trey paused in the entrance into her bedroom. “For what?”
“For not scaring my son anymore.”
He gave her an odd look right before he disappeared into the room.
She was furious with the man, but she’d meant the thank you. “Shaun, we might not have a lot of time to talk freely.”
Her son twisted toward her, blinking his red eyes.
“Turn your back to me and let me try to untie your hands,” she whispered. “If I can, then you can go into your closet and escape through the trap door. Use the stepladder I left in there.”
“But—” he said in his normal voice.
“Shh,” she said over the banging and sawing noise coming from her room.
“How do I get out of the attic?”
“This is the only time I want you to do this. Jump to the tree branch and climb down. Get to the house and have them call Ryan. He and the Bells will know what to do.” She would never have suggested that to Shaun, but she needed him totally safe. The limb was only inches away and would hold his weight.
“But you’ll be in here. He’ll hurt you. Like he did Sadie.” His voice caught on his dog’s name.
“Hon, Sadi
e will be all right. He said he gave her something to sleep.” Lacey had to believe the man was telling the truth. If Sadie was dead, Shaun would be devastated. So would she. “Shaun, he isn’t going to hurt me. He’ll use me as a hostage so he can get away once he finds the diamonds. I don’t want you involved. I have to know you’re safe. Can you do it?”
He nodded and shifted so he faced away from her. While she turned and worked on his ropes, she kept an eye on the doorway into her bedroom. She heard shuffling of feet and whispered, “Sit back.”
Trey poked his head through the entrance. He didn’t say anything but returned to his work.
After she resumed loosening his knots, she inhaled to keep herself calm and said, “Let’s hurry. He was gone about fifteen minutes, so I need you out of here and safe before he comes and checks again.”
Five minutes later Shaun jumped to his feet, hands untied. “I’ll do yours.”
“No. Go. You don’t have much time.” The sound of Trey destroying what had just been renovated should have angered her, but right now as long as it went on, her son would be safe.
At the door into his bedroom, he hesitated and glanced back.
She nodded her head and mouthed the word, “Go.”
Now the waiting began. Probably no more than ten minutes before Trey would be back to check on them.
* * *
Ryan stood at the side of Tom’s bed at the hospital. “I’m glad you’ll be all right. Having suffered a concussion recently, I can tell you that you should be much better in a week or so. I only have a few questions. Then one of my deputies will take your statement later. Do you know who did this to you?”
“Trey Dawson. I came into my office and found him going through my files on my computer. Some papers he’d filled out were on the desk by him. Before I could react, he was out of my chair and came at me. The next thing I remember is being transported to the hospital by the paramedics.”
“What kind of papers?”
“His employment information, current address, as well as a contact number. Why would he take that?”
“Because he isn’t the real Trey Dawson. He was covering his tracks. Do you remember where he was staying?”
“At the Sunflower Motel.”
“Thanks. I’ll check in later to see how you’re doing.” He walked toward the door.
“What’s going on?”
Ryan paused before leaving. “I’m not sure, but the fake Dawson most likely murdered the real one.”
Tom’s jaw dropped. “I guess I’m lucky to be alive.”
Ryan spoke to Deputy Carter outside Tom’s room. “Stay here and watch him. Don’t let anyone but staff or family in there. When he’s up to it, take a statement of the events. He might remember more later.”
“Where are you going, Sheriff?”
“To catch a killer.”
Ryan couldn’t shake the urgency that took hold of him and squeezed. When he reached the Sunflower Motel, he found the assailant was gone. He hadn’t paid his bill or checked out, but there was nothing in his room. It hadn’t been cleaned yet, so he had Deputy Washburn process the area for fingerprints.
Standing outside by his SUV, he called Lacey. It again went to voicemail. He kneaded his shoulder and neck. His gut roiled with tension. Something wasn’t right.
* * *
Lacey looked at the clock on her kitchen wall. Ten minutes since Shaun left. Had he made it? Was he safe now with Harriet and Richard? She’d asked a lot of her son, but with him gone at least she could breathe easier. Sweat ran down her face as she imagined all the possibilities.
Suddenly she stopped. Live in the moment. Don’t worry about what could be.
He’s in Your hands, Lord. He’s safe.
Again silence from the other room, then the sound of footsteps growing closer. She closed her eyes and fortified herself with a vision of Shaun free, smiling, safe.
“Where’s your son?”
She shrugged. “I untied his hands, gave him the code, and told him to leave.”
Trey stormed toward the security pad. “It’s still on. Is he hiding in here?”
She didn’t say anything.
Trey crossed the room, jerked her to her feet, and wrapped his hands around her neck. Then he squeezed.
* * *
Ryan drove toward his house, pushing the speed limit. Pain streaked across his shoulders and down his neck and spine. Every muscle in his body tightened into a hard knot. He needed to see Lacey. Then he’d laugh about his frantic drive to the bed and breakfast.
He called her again. Nothing. He started to punch in Richard’s number when his cell phone rang. He quickly answered without looking at who it was and automatically said, “Lacey.”
“No, this is Harriet. Shaun is here in the house. He’s shaking and saying that the painter has his mother. Then something about jumping to a tree and climbing down.”
“Lock the doors. Don’t open them except for me. I’m two minutes away. The painter who worked at the B and B killed a man. Calm Shaun down. I need to know how he got out of the carriage house.”
He disconnected from the call and floored the gas pedal. If he’d been there when he said he would be, maybe he could have prevented this. A minute later, he pounded on the front door.
Richard, holding a rolling pin, opened the door. “What took you so long? We’re upstairs where we can keep an eye on the carriage house.”
At the window in the Harbor Suite on the second floor, Ryan stared down at the building where Lacey was being held. “How did you get out without the painter knowing?” he asked Shaun.
“Mom told me to use the trap door in my closet. It leads to the attic. Then I jumped to a branch on the big oak tree out back by the double doors.”
Ryan pictured that part of the carriage house and sucked in a deep breath. That was a fourteen-foot drop. The situation was bad if Lacey told him to do that. “Why is he there?”
“Mom says looking for diamonds.”
“Diamonds!” Harriet exclaimed. “Where did she get that idea?”
“From that man.” Tears filled Shaun’s eyes. “Please save her. I can show you how I got out.”
Ryan knelt in front of Shaun and clasped his arms. “I will. Don’t worry. You stay here with Harriet and Richard.”
Shaun swiped the wet rivulets from his cheeks and nodded.
Richard followed Ryan into the hall.
“Call the station and tell them about the hostage situation. Until they hear from me, I don’t want their presence known to anyone in the carriage house, so they need to take cover.”
“Will do.”
* * *
Lacey’s throat burned, the pressure around her neck making her lightheaded. “I’m not good to you dead,” she managed to squeak out.
He squeezed tighter.
His face spun before her eyes, and she closed them.
Suddenly he released her and shoved her onto the couch. “You’d better hope I find the diamonds soon. If I can’t escape, you’ll die. I have nothing to lose now. I hope the sheriff cares about you and he’ll back off when we leave.”
“We?”
“Yeah, you’ll go with me until I feel safe and free. Then I might let you go.”
Might?
Don’t panic. A lot can happen. God is with me.
“You’re coming with me.” He stared down at her tied feet, bent over, and scooped her up into his arms.
Bile clogged her throat.
He dropped her onto her bed. “Don’t move an inch.” The glare that accompanied the implied threat bore into her.
She nodded.
* * *
Ryan stared up at the open double doors above him. With a ladder from his garage, he’d sneaked up to the carriage house and propped it against the building. It wasn’t quite tall enough for him to easily crawl into the attic. He would have to haul himself up to the opening.
He scrambled up the ladder. Every second counted. Once the fake Dawson discovered Shaun was
gone, no telling what the man would do. At the top, he perched on tiptoes, got a good grip of the ledge, then hoisted himself into the attic. Breathing hard, he hurried across the floor to where Shaun’s room should be and spied the trap door.
He withdrew his gun and crept down the steps into Shaun’s closet. The light was on, but the door was closed. Smart thinking on Shaun’s part.
A string of curses wafted to him. The killer was losing it, getting angry. Not a good sign. Ryan eased the door open. As he sneaked out of the closet and across Shaun’s bedroom, something like a sledgehammer struck against the wall. The sound urged him to move faster. Out in the hallway, he sidled up to the entrance to Lacey’s room and slowly peered through the crack created by the open door. He caught sight of Lacey on her bed.
Their gazes met, and she gave him a smile.
“Why do you think it’s in here?” Lacey asked in a hoarse voice.
“Because I didn’t search this part of the house much the first time. It has to be here. I’ll find it if I have to tear down all the walls.” Frustration and anger coated each of the fake Dawson’s words.
“How do you know there are diamonds stashed here?”
What had the killer done to Lacey to make her voice so raspy? Ryan fought the rage threatening to rob him of his control.
“My cellmate told me they were hidden in a crevice in the carriage house.”
“Where did the diamonds come from?”
“He robbed a big jewelry company outside D.C. nineteen years ago. He got caught not long after he hid them here.”
“Crevice doesn’t necessarily mean the wall. What if it’s under the floorboards—under the carpet. When I was a little girl and played in here, there were some loose planks that I used to hide things in.”
The killer came into view through the crack. He clutched a sledgehammer. Ryan aimed his gun through the opening.
“Where?”
“Living area, not far from the large bay window.”
Deadly Legacy Page 9