by E B Corbin
“You okay?” Callahan did not take his gaze from the window.
Roxanne bobbed her head up and down then realized he couldn’t see her nod. “Yeah, but that was close.” She hated the shakiness in her voice but couldn’t control it. It was anger, not panic, and she needed the others to know that. She wouldn’t allow herself to be the weak link. “That last volley almost hit Puka.”
“To say nothing of me.” Sam shook plaster dust from her head and shoulders.
“Okay, this has gone far enough.” Callahan checked his pistol and signaled to Ron. “Follow me.”
“What are you going to do?” Roxanne touched his arm to keep him in place.
“Sounds like the shots are coming from the direction of the barn. We’ll go out the front door and circle around. Ron, you take the left side, I’ll take the right.” Callahan pointed to Tiffany. “You stay in front and keep an eye on the road.”
“What about me?” Sam pulled a snub-nosed revolver from the holster tucked into the small of her back.
“You stay here with Roxanne.” Callahan held up a hand before she could protest. “We need to cover all the bases and if this shooter is after her, you’ll be our last line of defense.”
“Nice recovery.” Roxanne gave Callahan a light punch. “But we’re not cowering behind this table like two spineless armadillos.”
Callahan gave her a strange look. “Armadillos?”
“Hey, they roll themselves into a ball for defense.” Roxanne shrugged. “It seemed to fit.”
“We’re getting out of this room,” Sam said. “It was the only place in the house with light seeping out. No wonder the bullets came through that window. We’ll move into a room at the front and keep it dark.”
Callahan nodded his approval and crept into the dining room before he stood and signaled for everyone to follow. Roxanne grabbed Puka by his collar and pulled him along. The dog shuddered; Roxanne could feel the tremors in his body. She patted his side but the quiver in her hand did little to calm either of them.
When they all huddled in the hall, Ron slowly opened the front door; Tiffany slid out and dropped to a crouch. Callahan slipped out next, followed by Ron. Sam gently closed the door behind them.
“Let’s sit over there.” Sam pointed to the space on her right. Chester’s house had two rooms along the front side separated by the hallway. Both had fireplaces, and comfortable antique furniture. Either could be considered a living room except for the bookshelves that lined the one Sam chose as their hideaway. Roxanne thought of it as a library although Chester had referred to it as the drawing room. The other room led into the dining area; Chester had called it the parlor.
Two stuffed chairs faced the empty hearth. Sam plopped into one and pointed to the other for Roxanne. Puka sat at her feet, panting. Roxanne tried to soothe him by patting his back but the dog wiggled out of her reach. He dropped to the floor with his head held high, his eyes on the hallway. Every muscle tensed, ready to spring into action.
Sam’s position allowed her to scan the opposite room and hall. Roxanne was more than willing to relinquish sentry duty to the former FBI agent and the dog.
The blonde seemed focused and unflustered. Roxanne thought it might be a good time to probe into Sam’s psyche, if only to distract herself from the danger that surrounded them. She felt reassured when she heard no further gunshots.
Sam broke the stillness first. “So, how long have you known Vicki?”
“Just a few weeks.”
“You don’t know her well, then.”
“No, I guess not but I feel kind of responsible for her situation. She did come to me for help and I blew her off.”
“Not much you could do under the circumstances. If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine.”
Roxanne looked at her in confusion. “Yours? How do you figure?”
“I’m the one who contacted her half-brother about their father,” Sam said.
Everything clicked into place as Roxanne sucked in a deep breath. “I wondered about your involvement but didn’t say anything because I felt it was none of my business.” She paused. “Or anyone else’s, especially Tiffany’s.”
“What is her story?” Sam asked. “She’s quite a…”
“Pain in the ass,” Roxanne finished the sentence with a smile. “Believe me, I don’t tell her any more than is absolutely necessary.”
“Thanks for your discretion. I’m trying to keep a low profile. It comes in handy for what I’m attempting to do.”
“And what is it that?”
“I’m, uh, well…” Sam watched Roxanne closely before the words rushed out. “Barry Gentile is my father.”
Roxanne hid her surprise and inclined her head. “Vicki’s father was one of his marks.”
“Yeah, one of hundreds.” Sam sighed. “I’m taking a stab at paying them all back.”
The resolve in the other woman’s eyes confirmed that she meant what she said. Although Roxanne couldn’t imagine how it was feasible, she found it commendable that she wanted to try. “Wow.”
“Yeah, wow. That’s why I don’t tell anyone my agenda.”
“But I thought the money disappeared. No one can locate it.”
“I did.” Sam beamed at her like a child given an unexpected gift. An instant later, though, her face darkened. “I shouldn’t have told you that.”
“I don’t understand the reason for secrecy,” Roxanne said. “What you’re doing is a good thing.”
“For the victims, yeah. But my father wouldn’t be too happy about it. He still thinks the money will be waiting for him when he gets out.”
“I thought he was sentenced to 120 years or something.”
“He plans to keep appealing until he gets parole.”
“Even if he got out, wouldn’t somebody be watching him?” Roxanne asked. “If he tried to touch the funds, they’d likely be confiscated.”
“He’d never be so obvious. Anyway, it’s a moot point. He believes the funds are still in his Cayman accounts and I hope to keep it that way. You’re the only person I’ve told. Please don’t let anyone else know.”
“I won’t say a word.” Roxanne used her fingers to feign zipping her lips.
Puka’s ears perked and a snarl began deep in his throat. Sam slid silently out of her chair. “Shhh.”
Roxanne’s heartbeat kicked up as she twisted to watch Sam slink around the corner. She heard a scratching at the back door. At the same time Puka’s growl deepened. Then he gave out a loud bark. Roxanne patted his head in an attempt to calm him.
Not for the first time, she wished she had her Beretta Tomcat and cursed her stupidity for leaving it in the office. A lot of good it did tucked away in the desk drawer. Tomorrow, she’d clean the gun and take a run to the gun shop to buy more bullets. The two remaining bullets wouldn’t go far.
Puka’s snarl turned into a whimper as he stood with his tail wagging his body. Roxanne held his collar, afraid the dog might not be the best judge of character. She didn’t want him interfering with the ex-FBI agent if she had things under control.
“It’s okay,” Sam called from the kitchen. “They’re friendlies.”
Roxanne relaxed and loosened her grip on Puka. The dog scampered through the hall and dining room to the kitchen where he jumped on Callahan and tried to lick his face.
Following the golden retriever, Roxanne wanted to do the same thing but controlled the urge to slather Callahan’s face with her tongue. “Did you find anything?”
“The shooter was long gone by the time we got to the barn.” Callahan grabbed Puka’s paws and dropped the dog’s feet to the floor while he rubbed his head. “We saw some footprints in the snow but it was too dark to get a clear picture. We’ll check again at first light.”
“Dammit,” Sam muttered as she holstered her gun. “This is getting old.”
&n
bsp; “Tell me about it,” Roxanne said. “Now this place isn’t safe, either.”
“It’s as safe as any other.” Callahan turned to Ron. “Tell Tiff she can come in now.”
Tiffany wore a disgusted look as she followed Ron into the kitchen. “I saw nothing. Not one car went past on the road. I didn’t hear an engine start or notice any movement under the trees.”
“If he’s hiding in the woods, you’ll never be able to spot him in the dark.” Sam adjusted her sweater to cover the holster. “I don’t suppose you guys have any night vision goggles.”
The female agent scoffed. “We’re lucky we have the M4s. I had to sneak them out of the supply room.”
“It looks like we’re done for now, so I think I’ll head out.” Sam stopped in the entry to the dining room. “If you need me for anything tomorrow, give me a ring. I’ll probably be with Vicki.”
“Do you think it’s safe to go out there if the shooter’s hanging around?” Roxanne asked.
“He’s not after me,” Sam said. “And if he tries anything, at least you’ll know he’s still around and just moved his location.”
In the hall, Sam slipped into her jacket, gave a salute and sailed out the door. In a few seconds, they heard a car start and pull away. Roxanne wanted to peek through the curtains to make sure no one followed but decided it would be a bad idea. She had to believe Sam could take care of herself.
“We need to stay alert,” Callahan said. “I’ll take first watch. In four hours, Ron can spell me.”
“Or I can,” Tiffany said.
Roxanne felt her blood pressure rise every time Tiffany spoke. The danger had subsided but her frustration with the agent caused her to clench her fists and take several deep breaths. “I’ll let you guys decide who’s on guard duty. I’m going to bed.”
“Wait a minute,” Callahan called as she started up the back stairway with Puka at her heels. He turned to Tiffany and Ron who were angling the table for better protection. “You two keep an eye out until I get back.”
When they reached Roxanne’s room, Callahan stayed her hand as she reached for the light switch without thinking. He stood in the doorway, blocking her entrance. “I don’t think you should sleep here tonight. It has a straight view to the barn.”
“So do the other two rooms on this side of the house. We can’t all sleep in the front rooms.”
“Ron can slide his mattress off the bed and sleep on the floor. Tiffany can have the other room in the front.”
“What about me?”
“You can sleep in my room.” He held up a hand before she could protest. “I’ll be on watch most of the night.”
“But…”
“I won’t try anything. Promise.” He lifted her chin, kissed her lightly on the forehead then said under his breath, “At least not tonight.”
Roxanne bit her lower lip to keep from smiling. “I need my toothbrush and pajamas.”
“Pajamas? That’s what you sleep in?”
“Not usually but it was all I could find at Walmart. All my sexy Victoria’s Secret attire was lost in the fire.”
“You had Victoria’s…” The look in his eyes was priceless.
Roxanne laughed. “No, I’m kidding. I only had one negligee from there.” She started to push past him into her room. “Let me get my stuff. I’ll wear the Sleeping Beauty pajamas instead of the ones with Micky Mouse. Does that make you feel better?”
“Just hurry up.” He tapped her on the rear as she went by.
After fumbling in the drawer she chose a T-shirt to sleep in and found her toothbrush in the dim light. Puka stayed plastered to her side making it hard to walk without tripping but she didn’t have the heart to chastise him. She could feel Callahan watching as he leaned against the wall. Before she joined him, she made sure the shades were pulled shut.
She brushed her teeth in the bath adjoining Callahan’s bedroom, deciding to sleep in her clothes in case they needed a quick getaway. She heard Ron and Tiffany’s whispers as they came upstairs but couldn’t make out what they were saying. The murmurs stopped as their doors opened, then closed.
Despite her former exhaustion, Roxanne remained too wired to relax. She rolled across the king-size bed to take the side nearest the windows. It didn’t feel safe. She shifted to a spot closer to the door and forced herself to lie still, taking deep breaths in an attempt to shut off her brain. Light doggie snores came from the foot of the bed where Puka had settled. At least one of them could sleep. She began to count each snuffle coming from Puka instead of imaginary sheep.
It must have worked because the next time she rolled over, her arm smacked a soft wall of flesh. She opened one eye to find Callahan sprawled next to her. Complete darkness surrounded them. Much as she longed to move closer and snuggle, she rolled over, instead.
When she opened her eyes again, sunlight peeked around the edges of the curtains and she was alone in bed. Even Puka was gone.
By the time she showered and changed, the smell of bacon permeated the farmhouse. She entered the kitchen to find the dog next to the table. Tiffany ignored him, but Ron and Callahan snuck him bits of bacon.
“Enough left for me?” Roxanne asked.
“Plenty. We saved you a plate; it’s in the oven.” Callahan took another forkful of scrambled egg then stood to get her meal.
Roxanne never expected such an appetizing breakfast at the farm. At Kate’s B&B, yes; at Roxy’s cabin, yes; but at Chester’s farm, not so much. “Who’s the chef?”
“Sophie came over early this morning. She misses her time at the diner and she’s thrilled to be cooking for us,” he said. “The eggs are fresh from Gramps’ chickens and the hash browns are one of Sophie’s specialties.”
Roxanne glanced at Tiffany’s plate—a few potatoes, sliced tomatoes and toast. How could anyone sit at the table with bacon and eggs available and not crave them? She continued to scan the kitchen. “Where’s Sophie?”
“She’s upstairs, cleaning the bedrooms. If you weren’t such a sleepyhead, my room would have been the first cleaned.”
“Sorry. It took me forever to fall asleep.”
“While you were sleeping, we checked the area around the barn.” Tiffany pushed away from the table, taking her plate to the sink. “Looks like there might be two sets of footprints. It’s hard to tell with all the trampled snow.”
“But it was clear there were two sets leading into the field,” Ron said. “We followed them about a mile to the paved road. They had a vehicle waiting.”
“Two of them?” Roxanne almost choked on a piece of toast. “That means it could be those two guys from out of town in the black SUV.”
“Looks more and more likely,” Callahan said.
“Why would two strangers be shooting at us?” Roxanne asked.
“Us? I thought they were shooting at you.” Tiffany poured hot water into a cup and added a bag of green tea.
“I’m saying us because Ron and Callahan were around twice when the sniper hit. Then at the campground yesterday, Roxy and Conor were there, too. I don’t have to be the only target.”
Callahan laced his fingers and rested his chin on his hands. “But you were the common denominator each time.”
Roxanne couldn’t argue with that. “It’s insane. There’s no motive.”
“Maybe we just don’t know what it is.” He moved to the counter to refill his coffee.
In spite of the kitchen’s comforting warmth, a shiver ran through her. “I’m not doing anything to threaten anybody.”
“Maybe you just make a good fall guy. They could be using you as a warning to back off.”
“Back off what?”
Callahan shrugged. “Maybe finding the money. Maybe searching for Pearse and Seamus. Or maybe one of your clients is unhappy with your work.”
Roxanne would have laughed at his last sugge
stion under different circumstances. Instead, she frowned at him. “I don’t do substandard work, but even if a client were dissatisfied, it doesn’t warrant shooting me.”
“Probably not. Maybe it’s just some nut job trying to get your attention.”
“Two nut jobs,” she corrected him. “And what makes you so sure it’s not Pearse and Seamus?”
“Could be, but I doubt it. Even if they’re still trying to get their hands on the money, what would they gain by shooting at you?”
“I don’t know. They could be crazy enough to think it will scare Roxy or something. And don’t forget, if it is those two strangers in town, they implicated you.”
Callahan’s cell rang before he could respond. He walked into the hall, mumbling to the caller. When he returned, he said, “Pete just got a call from the hospital. Clancy’s been in a panic all night and this morning. Claims Pearse and Seamus were in to visit him last night, although the state trooper we appropriated to watch his room swears he had no visitors. Clancy’s demanding to see us right away.”
- 16 -
Roxanne asked the DSS agents to drop her and Puka at the law office. She still wanted to pick up her car, but this wasn’t the right time. Making a detour would only delay the agents from reaching the hospital to see Clancy. They had protected her from two shooters last night; she could survive another day without wheels.
Pebbled glass now replaced the temporary wood on the front door and made it impossible to see inside. Of course, it also prevented anyone from looking out. The firm’s name and hours of operation that had been painted on the old glass now appeared on a piece of white cardstock taped to the side of the bay window.
From that vantage point, Roxanne had a clear view into the office. Any passerby could do the same. So what was the point of obscuring the door?
Sylvia looked up when Roxanne and Puka entered. “How do you like the new door?”
“It’s, uh, nice but doesn’t it bother you that you can’t see through it?” Roxanne hung her coat in the small closet.
“No. I’m going to replace that bay window with the same type of glass. I’m tired of people staring at me as they walk by. The glass is bulletproof, too.”