by Ann Mullen
“As far as you know. What about the workers you couldn’t talk to? Like doctors or nurses who might be in surgery. It’s been two hours. Your men have combed this hospital for two hours and come up with nothing, and you still think she’s still here? I gave you more credit than that, Sheriff Hudson.” I turned to Billy, “Let’s get out of here. These guys got nothing.”
Billy and I turned and fast-tracked it to the elevator.
“Stay out of this, Blackhawk!” the sheriff yelled.
We didn’t pay attention to the sheriff’s demand; instead, we got into the elevator and waited for the doors to close.
“As soon as we get out of this elevator, I’ll call Shark and tell him to get Minnie and Eddie out of the hospital and take them to Jonathan’s house. I don’t want them going to our house just in case the Stone woman shows up.”
The second we exited the elevator, heading to the entrance door of the hospital, Billy pulled out his cell phone and called Shark. Their conversation was brief. “Grab Minnie and Eddie and leave right now. Meet us at the entrance. We’ll be waiting.”
Five minutes later, the elevator door opened and Shark hustled Mom and Eddie out.
“What’s all the hurry?” We heard her ask him. “I didn’t get to see Savannah.”
“Billy said to leave, so we’re leaving. There he is, ask him.”
Billy explained as we walked to the parking garage. “Dakota Stone escaped, and Jesse and I think she might be headed to our house. We can’t be sure, but we’re not taking any chances. I want you and Eddie to follow Shark to Jonathan’s.”
Mom stopped in the middle of the crosswalk. “Are you serious? They let her get away?” Snow was blowing in her face, but that wasn’t going to stop her rant. “You mean to tell me that a hundred cops couldn’t keep their eyes on one little woman? How hard could it be? She’s only one person. Incompetents, that’s what they are!”
“Come on, Mom.” I grabbed her hand. “We don’t know where she is. She could be hiding in the parking garage for all we know. We need to get to our cars and get outta here. I’m going to call Helene and tell her to grab the kids and head to Jonathan’s house. I don’t want them at the house in case she shows up.”
We trekked through the snow to the garage, jumped in our cars, and pulled out. If Dakota Stone was hiding there, we didn’t see her. The sheriff said there was no way she could’ve gotten out of the hospital without his men catching her, but obviously, that wasn’t true. Stone was a smart and cunning person. She’d found a way to escape, and most likely, was coming after me.
As we brought up the rear, following Shark, Mom and Eddie, I looked over at Billy and said, “I can’t believe she conked the deputy over the head and got away. These guys aren’t small men. They’re behemoths, strong, and well-trained. Why didn’t he get up and go after her?”
“He got hit over the head with a telephone. Probably knocked him out.”
“We need to call Helene and warn her… tell her to get out of the house. God, it’s been two hours. I hope it’s not too late.” I pulled out my cell phone to make the call, but it rang before I had a chance. “Oh, good, it’s Helene. Maybe she’s checking in. I hope everything’s all right.” I touched the screen. “Helene, is everything okay?”
Helene’s tone was unnerving and her reply floored me.
“What? Say that again.” I hit the speaker icon on my phone so Billy could hear.
“I think I just killed Dakota Stone.”
Chapter 16
I thought for sure my hearing was playing tricks on me when Helene said she might have killed Dakota Stone. Helene? The most harm she had ever inflicted on anyone was to use harsh words, so to think she was capable of killing someone was inconceivable.
“I didn’t mean to kill her, but I had to do something! I had to stop her! She just showed up at the front door! She was going to kill us! She said so!”
“We’re five minutes from the house, Helene. Stay put, and keep the kids safe. We’ll be right there.”
I disconnected, sat there, staring straight ahead. “I’m stunned. I don’t know what to say.” I glanced at Billy. “I guess we were right to be worried. My gut told me she was coming, but I was hoping it was wrong. All I’ve been able to think about was making it home before she got there.”
“Why didn’t you ask Helene what happened?”
“I wanted to, but she was too distraught, Billy. Couldn’t you tell it by her voice? That must have been awful for her. No… she’s got plenty of time to explain when we get there. I just want her to hold it together until we do.”
We turned onto Bear Mountain Road and then separated from the others when we pulled into our driveway. Shark, Mom, and Eddie continued on to Jonathan’s house as we followed the tire tracks in the snow to the front yard. All the lights in the house were on, and a bright yellow 4Runner just like Mom’s was parked beside Helene’s car.
“Whoa! That can’t be Mom’s car. Am I hallucinating?”
“No, you’re not. Dakota Stone had to get here some way. It’s a coincidence that the car she commandeered was one like your mother’s. Maybe Helene thought it was Minnie.”
Billy parked the truck and we jumped out running, and then plowed through the front door. My heart was pounding out of my chest.
Helene met us, crying as she tried to talk. “She’s dead! I killed her! See…” She pointed to the dining room floor where Dakota Stone lay. “I saw the car and I thought it was Minnie, so I opened the door.”
Billy took his coat off, tossed it on the table, and then put his hands on Helene’s shoulders. “Calm down. We’re here now, and you’re safe. It’s over. Are the kids okay?”
“They’re fine. I made them go stay in the den with the door closed.”
Billy walked over to where Dakota lay by the dining room table, and checked for a pulse. “How long has she been out?”
“About a half-hour. Is she dead?”
“No, she’s not dead, but she’s down.”
I glanced over at the body on the floor, and then back to Billy. “I’ll go check on the kids.” I hurried down the hall to the den, opened the door and peeked in. “Everybody okay in here?”
The dogs jumped up from their hiding places and started barking, while Maisy came over to the door. She turned to them and pointed. “Be quiet and sit back down.”
Athena and Thor dropped to the floor, obeying her command. Maisy turned back to me. “Helene told us to go to the den and stay there, so we did. Is that bad lady still here?”
“How do you know she’s a bad lady?”
“Because Helene yelled at us. She never yells at us. I might be just a kid, but I know when something’s not right. I grabbed Ethan and we hid out here. I didn’t know what else to do. I was scared.”
“You did good, honey.” I looked over at Ethan who was asleep on the sofa, and then looked back at Maisy. “You’re safe and there’s nothing to be afraid of. We’re here now, but I’m going to need for you and Ethan to stay in the den just a little longer. Can you do that for me?”
“I’m hungry.”
“I’ll get Helene to fix sandwiches. Can you hold off for a little while?”
“Sure, Mom. You want me to close the door?”
“Please.”
Maisy closed the door, and I headed back to the dining room, taking off my coat while I walked. I threw it across the back of the living room sofa, and then walked over and stood by Helene and Billy. “That’s Dakota Stone for sure.”
I looked down at the body in relief. My insides had been shaking ever since we learned of her escape, but now my fear was gone. Dakota wasn’t dead, but at least she was incapacitated, sprawled out on the floor like a limp rag doll. I almost laughed when I saw the clothes she was wearing. “I guess your high sense of fashion went out the window when you had to choose your wardrobe from the hospital locker room.”
Dakota was wearing a pair of black jogging pants, the old kind that were thick and bulky, a gray sweatshirt t
hat had UVA in large letters on the front, and tennis shoes that were too big for her feet. A yellow ski jacket hung from the table chair, and a set of car keys lay on the table next to a cup and saucer.
I looked back at Billy. “So… she’s not dead.”
“No, but she’s going to have a doozy of a headache when she wakes up. Helene fed her a cocktail of Xanax and doggie downers.”
I had to laugh. “You did what, Helene? You drugged her with Athena’s pills?”
Now that I knew the woman wasn’t dead, I had to get in a last word. I stepped closer to the body and gave her a swift kick in the side. “That’s what you get for messing with my family!” I thought about kicking her again, but there’s no satisfaction in beating someone when they’re already down. “And you might want to rethink that outfit. It doesn’t do anything for you.”
“I don’t think she hears you, Jesse. She’s been like that for a while. I tried to call you as soon as the body hit the floor, but you were at the hospital and all I got was your voice mail… until…”
I grabbed Helene’s hand and led her over to the opposite side of table away from the body. “Come on, Helene. I want you to sit down and tell me everything that happened.” I looked back at Billy and winked. “We could use a good shot of whiskey right about now.” I pointed to the body. “She’s not going anywhere.”
Billy fixed us a drink and set them down in front of us. “I’m going to get the handcuffs. She’s not getting away this time. I have a few questions for her.”
“Then, you might want to think about getting some rope and tying her up. She’s a crafty one. She might come to her senses and try to choke one of us. It wouldn’t be hard. Catch one of us off-guard, come up from behind, and get one of us in a chokehold. She’d be strong enough with those handcuffs on. Don’t you think so?”
Helene took a big gulp of whiskey and then sat the empty glass down. “I like duct tape. Handcuff her, and then duct tape her to the chair.”
Billy left the room and then returned with handcuffs and duct tape. He rolled Dakota over and handcuffed her hands behind her back, and then lifted her limp body off the floor to the chair. He grabbed the duct tape and taped her feet to the legs of the chair, and then ran the tape around her waist, securing her upper body. When he finished, Billy walked over to the kitchen counter, poured himself a whiskey, downed it, and then poured another. “This is going to be a two-whiskey kind of day… maybe three. Anyone else?” He held up the bottle.
Helene raised her hand. “Hit me again.”
I downed my drink and held up the glass. “Me, too.”
“I don’t think so, ge `ya. You took a tranquilizer earlier, and I don’t want you to go into a coma and die from mixing drugs and alcohol.”
“I see your point.” I put my glass down and turned to Helene. “Tell us what happened here today, and don’t leave out anything.”
Billy walked over and sat down, waiting to hear the rest of Helene’s story. “I’ve heard most of it, but I’m listening. Go ahead, Helene. Tell Jesse what happened.”
Helene began her account of Dakota’s visit. “I saw the yellow 4Runner pull up, so I thought it was Minnie. I walked over to the door, opened it, and then saw Dakota standing there holding Spice Cat by the scruff of the neck… and he wasn’t happy. He meowed like he was in pain. I was afraid she’d choke him or something, so I invited her in. I know it was crazy, but I didn’t know what to do. When she walked in, she dropped Spice Cat on the floor like he was a piece of dirty laundry. He howled and ran off. Then, she looked at me and asked me if I knew who she was. Of course I knew who she was, but I didn’t say so. All I said was that you wouldn’t like it if she hurt your cat. She laughed at me, and then pushed me back. She demanded to see you, but I told her you weren’t here, so she said she’d wait. I figured if I didn’t let on that I knew her, maybe we’d get out of this alive. That’s when I yelled at the kids to go to the den and take the dogs with them.”
“Yeah, Maisy said she knew something was wrong when you yelled at them.”
“I never yell at them, and I still feel bad about it. That’s no way to treat a child.”
“Don’t feel bad. You did the right thing. The kids will get over it. I’m just glad Maisy knew what to do. Most kids would’ve argued with you and made the situation worse. Go on with your story.”
“Anyway… I figured I should act innocent and be polite. I asked her if she wanted a cup of tea while she waited, telling her I would love one. I told her she looked like the kind of person who would appreciate a good cup of tea. I also said that I had fresh mint. She liked that idea. I guess she is a tea drinker after all. I went to make the tea while she made herself comfortable at the table. I think she thought I was harmless. Boy, did I ever show her. When I put the kettle on to brew the tea, I noticed the mashed up doggie downers, and that’s when I got the idea to put it in her tea.”
“She could’ve switched the cups on you. Did you think of that?”
“Of course I did. That’s why I gave her the cup without the stuff in it. I knew she’d switch them on me, and when I turned my back, she did. Her mistake. You see, I dropped in a few of your Xanax, too. They dissolve easily. I topped off the tea with a mint leaf.”
“How many pills did you give her?”
“Four, I think. I don’t remember. They’re only five milligrams each, so I didn’t know how many it would take, and I didn’t have much time. I wanted to knock her out, or at least make her too woozy to do anything. Then, I could go get my gun.”
“Where is your gun?”
“In my back pocket.” She pulled the small handgun out and laid it on the table. “I was going to be ready in case she woke up before y’all got here.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t tie her up.”
“I didn’t want to get that close. What if I hadn’t given her enough? What if she woke up the minute I got near her? I panicked. My mind was racing and all I could think about was getting my gun. The minute she fell over, I knew the stuff had worked. She just flopped right over, and I was sure I’d given her too much. I just knew she was dead, but I still went and grabbed my gun… and then I called you. When I couldn’t get you, I sat in the chair and held the gun on her. I’m glad I kept calling.”
“What did she say to you? I know she must’ve said something.”
“Not really. She treated me like I was beneath her and a waste of her precious time. She sat there, sipping her tea, saying nothing, until I couldn’t stand it anymore. I was waiting for the pills to kick in, but the wait was driving me insane, so I tried to be civil. I told her that we might as well introduce ourselves since it might be a while before you got home. I offered to call you, but she said not to bother. I told her I was Helene, but before she could say anything, she closed her eyes and fell out. It seemed to take forever for the pills to kick in, but when they did, it happened so fast. Next thing I know, she’s lying on the floor, out cold.”
“I didn’t know you were a tea drinker, Helene. I always thought you were a coffee fanatic.”
“I fix coffee for y’all, and a lot of times I drink it, too, but tea is my favorite. And… there’s something about tea that helps dissolve tablets. I learned that a while back when I was taking some medication. I had a hard time swallowing pills, so I’d just toss one in a cup of hot tea. Did the trick.”
I got up from the table, walked over to Dakota, and then stared down at her. “She isn’t so tough anymore.” I grabbed her hair, jerked her head back, and then slapped her across the face.
Helene looked shocked by my actions. “Hey… crazy lady. What are you doing? She’s out. No need to beat her up.”
“I’m not beating her up. I’m waking her up.” I walked over to the sink, filled a glass with water, and then walked back over to Dakota. When I threw the water in her face, she stirred and shook the water from her face.
Billy got up from the table, walked over and stood next to me. “Let’s liven up this party. Slap her again. I thin
k she’s coming around.”
I slapped her once more.
Helene looked away. She wasn’t accustomed to seeing someone get slapped around, but then her curiosity got the best of her and she looked back at us.
Dakota blinked a couple of times before opening her eyes. She tried to focus in on her surroundings. She glanced around, looked down at herself, and then looked back up at us. A moment later, she gave us an evil, stab-you-in-the-eye look. She looked like she was stone-drunk, but her words were cold sober. “You’re going to be sorry you ever met me.”
I leaned over and whispered in her ear. “We already are. We’re sorry we ever laid eyes on you. You’re a killer.”
She closed her eyes and dropped her head. Then, she looked back up at me. “You’re… crazy. I haven’t… killed anyone.”
I stepped back, crossed my arms, and let out a sigh. “Now you see, Dakota, that’s just not true. You’re a killer, and you’re the worst kind. You kill your friends, your lover, and people who trust you. You’re heartless, and you have no remorse. I can see it in your eyes.”
I filled the glass again and tossed the water in her face.
She shook the water from her face and gasped for breath. She was starting to slowly come around. She opened her eyes, and then jerked back and forth in the chair. She was trying to break free of her restraints, cursing all the while.
“Is this coffee left over from this morning, Helene?”
“Yes, but I cut off the pot, so it’s probably cold.”
“That’s the way I want it.” Billy walked over to the coffee pot, poured some into a cup, and then walked back over to Dakota. He grabbed her by the chin, held her head back, and poured the coffee in her mouth. “Drink up. If you spit it out, I’ll just pour more in.”
At first she spit out the coffee and then coughed as if she was choking.
“Here we go again.” Billy poured more coffee in her mouth, and this time she swallowed it. “That’s better. Let’s try again.”
“Why are you doing that, Billy? She’s going to choke to death.”