Swan with the Wind (Bought-the-Farm Mystery Book 9)

by Ellen Riggs

  “If that makes you feel better, sure.” He spun the gun around his thumb and I wondered for a second if it was even real. “Stay focused and the dog might make it back to the farm. Without you.”

  “I appreciate that so much,” I said, grabbing a rope from the kayak Jilly and I had left on the shore the night before.

  “I’m not a bad guy,” he said. “Everyone likes me, except my dad. Never good enough for him and it turns out he was right. This place is eating me alive.”

  I looped the rope around a small tree near the water and tied it to Keats’ leash with plenty of slack. I dropped my phone beside him and whispered, “A leash never held you, buddy. Do what you think best.”

  “Less talk more swim,” Casey called.

  I came back to the dock. “You can’t blame a girl for wanting to say goodbye to her best friend.”

  “If you don’t get in the water, I’ll drown Jilly, too. How’s that for motivation?”

  Keats let out a keening wail and I raised my hand. “Quiet, Keats. Let’s get this done.” I sat down on the edge of the dock and said, “I hate to wreck a good pair of work boots, but I guess I won’t be needing them anymore.”

  Casey gave me a hard kick between the shoulder blades and Keats howled again as I fell into the water face first. I hit my nose on the bottom but it was so spongy it didn’t hurt much.

  I swam a few yards under water, wondering if I could make it to the foliage where Casey couldn’t easily find me. But then he’d kill Keats, Percy and the swan.

  Plus there was the matter of gators and pythons. My chances were better in the open water than the jungle.

  Probably.

  I stood up, flung my hair back and tried to sneeze silt out of my nose. “Water’s nice and warm,” I called.

  “Grab that bird and bag it,” he called back, sending a flashlight beam over the water. “Then we’ll take a drive.”

  My goal was simply to stay alive long enough for Chief Gillock to come out. I had no doubt he would after my emails. Could he make it in time?

  I walked. I fell. I walked again. The water got deeper and deeper till swimming was my only choice. I had little hope of grabbing the bird and staying afloat.

  Treading water near Zeus, I said, “If you can understand me, I want you to know we saved your mate and your babies. They’re heading for a beautiful sanctuary right now. If you come with me, I can get you there, too. At least, I think so. We’ll have to take out the guy on the dock somehow first. So if you understand and trust me, please follow me back.”

  The swan glided a little closer and reached toward me with his long neck. I thought he might hiss in my face, but he just stared at me. I kept treading till he pulled his head back, apparently satisfied.

  Turning, I swam till I could stand and then walked the rest of the way.

  “Well, I’ll be darned,” Casey said. “The swan is following you like a dog.”

  “Get the bag and he’ll hop right into it,” I said. “He wants to leave.”

  Casey put the gun in his pocket and knelt beside the boat to grab the burlap sack. I looked for Keats and saw that he’d chewed through the rope and crept closer to the dock. I silently asked him to wait for my signal.

  Once Casey had the bag, he set the flashlight on the dock and pulled out the gun again. He let the weapon dangle from his thumb as he opened the sack with both hands.

  I gently placed my hands on either side of the bird, under his wings. Lifting him up, I stretched out my arms. Casey had to lean forward with the bag, and I could tell he was flustered at seeing his nemesis up close.

  “Wider,” I said. “I’m afraid he’ll bite as he goes in.”

  He leaned forward even more, grunting from the effort of maneuvering the sack. I eased back ever so slightly to throw him off balance and glanced at Keats.

  The dog took off like a rocket. A fluffy orange missile detonated from the bushes at the same time.

  There was a screech as teeth met buttock and claws met scalp.

  The gun went flying into the water and Casey’s arms pinwheeled. It looked like he was going to find his balance again. Zeus must have thought so too, because he spread his wings, knocked me backward, and then flapped into Casey’s face, beating hard. There was more yelling, and Casey tipped over on the other side of the dock with the bird still on top of him, hissing and flapping.

  That’s when Keats shocked me. Despite Zeus having things under control, he took a flying leap into the water and added his teeth to the fray.

  I could hear the sirens now but depending on how quickly the gates opened, there was still time for Casey to do some damage with the hands that had ended two women’s lives.

  I was completely unarmed, but help had arrived on stealthy heels.

  Janelle took in the whole scene at a glance and told me to call off the animals.

  “Keats. Zeus. Off!” I said, hoisting myself onto the dock.

  Meanwhile, Janelle leaned over and offered her hand to Casey.

  “Janelle, no!” I yelled.

  Casey’s eyes were glassy and confused, but he grabbed that hand like it was his last hope.

  There was another scream, louder than all the rest, and he fell backward in the shallow water, motionless.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Janelle straightened, smoothed her party dress, and said, “Ivy, are you okay?”

  “Am I—? What did you do to him, Janelle? Is he dead?”

  She shook back her curls. “No, although based on what Chief Gillock said when he called, he deserves it.”

  “The chief called you?”

  “Yeah, he wasn’t sure if he’d get here in time and was worried about you and the residents, of course.”

  “But how did you know to come down here?”

  “Percy walked right onto the dance floor. And when I stepped outside with him, I heard Keats howling as if his heart would break.”

  I stared at Casey, who had floated into shore on his back. Now his head rested on the sand and he was at no immediate risk of drowning.

  “Did you shock him?” I asked, remembering the electric charge I felt the moment we shook hands.

  “Sounds like you’re in shock,” she said. “Casey just fainted. Now, come and sit down with the animals. The police are almost here.”

  I followed her off the dock. “Don’t let him drown, Janelle. Even though he killed Lottie and Alice.”

  “Prison will have to do, I suppose. You just stay focused on getting the swan where he needs to go.”

  I walked over to the park bench with Percy, Keats and Zeus trailing after me. The dog and the swan shook themselves repeatedly, ridding themselves of water and Casey’s contamination.

  “You three were heroes. All of you,” I told them. “Keats, I couldn’t be prouder. I know what it took for you to jump in the water like that.”

  He offered a long elaborate humblebrag that was well-earned.

  “And Zeus, I know how awful all this has been. Helpless to fly and not knowing if you’d ever see your family again. Happily, you will and very soon, too.”

  Keats jumped onto the bench and then climbed into my lap. Since we were both soaked, I didn’t mind at all. Zeus settled into a squat, ready to retreat to the water as the situation required. Percy sauntered back to be closer to Janelle and the action.

  When the police thundered in on heavy boots, Janelle stickhandled everything, still looking fabulous. I wondered if one of her many resort jobs had been fixing certain affairs that required delicate handling. Maybe she had a buzzer like a tiny taser to protect her from threats like Casey. It was clear this wasn’t her first bad guy rodeo. Whatever she had, I wanted it.

  Chief Gillock loped over to me. “You okay? Do you want to use my phone to call Harper?”

  “Mine’s in the bushes if you don’t mind getting it,” I said, pointing.

  Janelle raised both hands and there was a phone in each one.

  “Never mind,” I said. “Janelle’s got it covered.�
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  “She’s something else, isn’t she?” His pale face practically lit up. “Maybe she’ll stick around and manage the Briars. There’s a vacancy.”

  “That’s a great idea.” The first sparks of animation warmed me. “The perfect culmination of all her past work. I’ll put it forward to her, Chief.”

  “You do that. And I’ll tell Chief Harper that he’s got excellent backup in you.”

  “And Keats,” I said. “Don’t forget to mention Keats, Percy and Zeus when you talk to him. A citation would be nice. Something to hang on the wall back home.”

  He laughed. “Kellan said you were pushy.”

  “Pushy!”

  “And persistent. He meant it as a compliment.”

  “We’ll see about that,” I said, as he switched places with Janelle.

  “Go back to Gran’s and change, Ivy,” she said. “You’re shivering. Keats is shivering. You both need a hot shower.”

  Keats gave a full body shudder, proving that his loathing for water hadn’t abated. A mumble made it clear he made an exception for homicidal events only.

  “I hear you, buddy,” I said. “And I promise to try to avoid all swamp monsters in the future.”

  “Easier to manage back in hill country,” Janelle said.

  “We’ve got swamps there, too.” Turning to the swan, I added, “That’s all I’d have to offer you if I took you home, Zeus. But I wish you could be my wingman in the more literal sense. You’ve got moves.”

  “Ivy, go,” Janelle said. “I know you don’t want to trust me with the swan but Jilly’s only five minutes out and I’ll stay right here till I officially surrender custody.”

  “It’s not personal,” I said. “I think you’re amazing and so does Chief Gillock.”

  “Well…” She pretended to scuff her stiletto. “He wasn’t a tough sell. You were.”

  I pushed myself to my feet and held onto the back of the bench till my legs firmed up. “I hope you and Jilly will patch things up before we leave. For Bridie’s sake, especially. But also, you helped save my life and I’d love to throw open my barn doors to you.”

  Janelle laughed. “I could teach you and Jilly a thing or two about running an inn, but I’ve got other plans.”

  “Running the Briars?” I said. “The chief and I agreed it would be the best thing that ever happened to the place.”

  She stared over at the police as they took Casey away. He was cuffed and on his feet, but none too steady. “I suppose I could stick around long enough to get things in order. But there’s somewhere else I need to be.”

  “The Strathmore?” I asked.

  Standing on tiptoe, she smiled. “I hear Jilly now, calling for Percy.”

  “We all need some creature comforts tonight,” I said. “But after I get showered and changed I’m running Zeus down to the sanctuary.”

  “I’ll drive,” she said. “Nothing against your truck but this bird deserves a sweet ride like mine.”

  I laughed. “Please. Yours is bumpier and louder.”

  “I have an automatic transmission, at least. I noticed those stutters as you drove into the Strathmore parking lot.”

  I cocked my head. “Do you hear that?”

  “What?”

  “The sound of barn doors closing. Runaway Inn’s honeymoon suite is no longer available to you.”

  “Honeymoon suite!” She pushed curls off her forehead and looked truly flustered for the first time. “What are you talking about?”

  “Something I saw in Lottie’s crystal ball,” I said.

  “You did not.”

  “You and a man in uniform. Clear as day.” I grinned at her. “Jilly could never say no to a wedding at Runaway Farm.”

  “Don’t underestimate my cousin,” Janelle said. “And get going before someone gets a shock in the backside.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Jilly and Asher were quite happy to turn around at first light and drive to the waterfowl sanctuary for the big reunion. They’d already gotten Amos out of bed to come down and he stayed there to welcome us.

  Bridie and Edna were chatting up a storm as they got into Asher’s truck. Edna even insisted that Bridie take the front seat.

  “I’ll probably get carsick back here from Officer Galloway’s driving,” Edna said, as she rolled down the window. “You could lose the uniform now, young man. You’re officially off duty.”

  “I feel like wearing it,” he said. “Although I did change into my spare. It’s pretty hot down here.”

  “It’s not hot, it’s humid,” Bridie said, and everyone laughed.

  It was hot and humid, and I’d be glad to get back to the sweet spring breezes of hill country soon. I’d wanted to leave right after the swan reunion but was cautiously optimistic that another day or two without murder hanging over our heads might be enough to heal the family rift.

  It seemed promising that Jilly not only chose to ride in Janelle’s old beater, but also to take the front seat. I sat in the back with Keats on my lap so the big swan had enough room beside me. He hopped in on his own, and I marveled once again at the trust animals could bestow on humans whose hearts were in the right place. That said, when I tried to pat him, he opened his beak in a menacing hiss. Keats made the wise decision to adjourn to the footwell.

  There was silence in the front seat for a few miles, but it felt lighter than usual. Finally, after another hiss from the swan when Keats apparently looked at him the wrong way, or with the wrong eye, Jilly spoke.

  “I’m glad you’re going to stay here with Gran, Janelle. That’s really good of you.”

  “Just for a bit,” Janelle said. “I can’t stay forever.”

  “It would be tough to be the only one under sixty in the compound, other than Doug,” I said. “Even with a few hot dates to Clarington with Chief Gillock.”

  “Chief Gillock?” Jilly said. “What did I miss?”

  “Janelle’s got her very own Chief Hottie,” I said. “He was impressed by how well she handled herself during the, uh…”

  “Violent attack by a murderer?” Jilly said. “Well, she has had some experience.”

  “She has?” I said.

  “Not much,” Janelle said. “A bit more than Gran thinks and a lot less than Jilly imagines.”

  “Are you a sleuth, too?” I asked. “Is that something else you have in common?”

  “No,” they chimed at once.

  I stuck my head through the seats and Keats grumbled over being squished. “You do have tons in common. Always did, always will. You’re both ready to let bygones be bygones. Am I right, Keats?” His agreement was muffled by the cracked leather of the seat. “Time is running short to talk through it in person.”

  “My bygones are gone,” Janelle said. “Jilly thinks I did something I didn’t, that’s all. She took the side of the town against me.”

  “I didn’t.” Jilly sounded a shrill note. “Your own mother said you did.”

  “She hoped I did,” Janelle said. “But I didn’t. And I couldn’t. Maybe I could now, but not then.”

  I sat back. “This is all very cryptic. Are you catching any of it, Keats?”

  He panted a happy ha-ha-ha. In his opinion, the mediation was going great. I wasn’t so sure.

  “It’s best if you don’t hear the details, Ivy,” Jilly said. “On that, I’m sure Janelle and I agree.”

  “Yeah. Sorry, Ivy,” Janelle said. “I know it’s frustrating.”

  “Not at all.” I rolled down the window a little. The old beater’s air conditioning didn’t have much life in it. “After what happened at the motel, and the cars tailing us and the creepy black sedan at the Strathmore, I think I know enough, which is basically nothing. I’m just a simple hobby farmer and I’d like to keep it that way.”

  “Good decision,” Janelle said. “You’re so lucky to have a calling you love.”

  “You have a calling,” I said. “And it isn’t hotel or facilities management. It’s matchmaking and mediation. Sin
ce you got here you keep trying to set people up.”

  “Without much success so far,” she said. “I’d love to help Videa Dumasse find love, but the pool of decent men is so small. I’ve been thinking about arranging dance nights with similar gated communities nearby. And once Larry’s back, we’ll hire more security.”

  “Hoverboards for all,” I said. “I still hope to get a ride on that thing.”

  “I don’t know about mediation,” Janelle said. “It would be hard to hang up my shingle given the rift in my own family.”

  “You don’t need a clean record to start over,” I said. “Mine isn’t and neither is Jilly’s. No one’s perfect and everyone deserves a fresh start. You can’t stay here for the rest of your days.” I thought about it for a second and added, “This is where the dog comes in.”

  “What dog?” Janelle said.

  “The right dog. Once you find her everything will all fall into place. I may not have your woo-woo talents, but I know this to be true.”

  “You have woo-woo talents,” Jilly said.

  “Not at Janelle’s level.”

  “Too much woo-woo only causes trouble,” Janelle said.

  “You can say that again,” Jilly said. She took a deep breath. “But Ivy is right, Janelle. You are a natural matchmaker and mediator. Don’t let what happened in our family stop you from using your gift.”

  Janelle almost veered onto the gravel shoulder and caught the car in time. “Really?”

  Another deep breath from Jilly forced the words past her block. “I want to leave the past in the past. Ivy’s shown me the wisdom of doing that.” Glancing over her shoulder, she added, “You’re a role model for handling the manure life drops at our feet.”

  I laughed. “I am something of an expert in manure. Used well, dung can bring glorious growth.”

  One more deep breath and Jilly looked at her cousin. “Let’s try to be a family again. We can’t let decades pass between reunions.”

  There was wriggling at my feet as Keats tried to wag his tail in a confined space. Zeus stuck his long neck between the seats and swiveled to look at each woman in turn, making them both flinch.