Deadly Dozen: 12 Mysteries/Thrillers (329 page)

The sound of a vehicle approaching fast, bouncing over the rocky driveway, wiped the smile from his face.

He glared at Ella Mae, his eyes filled with disgust.

“I’ll bet it’s that goddamn deputy of yours. Give me the gun.”

He’ll kill him.

Ella Mae trembled, her foot on the bottom step. Poised for flight. She couldn’t let him kill Joshua. She struggled to hold the pistol in her shaking hands, bringing it upright, pointed at William’s chest.

“Stay away from me,” she whispered.

He’ll kill him.

He held up both hands, laughing. “You gonna shoot me, Ella Mae? An unarmed man? That’s murder. You’ll go to jail.” He walked towards her, covering the distance slowly. “You don’t want to go to jail, do you, Ella Mae? They beat you there, you know. Every day. Beat you and shove things up inside you.”

“Stay away from me!” she screamed, her finger tightening on the trigger.

His face twisted as he snarled contemptuously, “You ugly whore. Do you know how ugly you are? How much touching you made me want to puke? You disgust me.”

It isn’t murder. Some people deserve to die.

Ella Mae heard the voice inside her head. He drew closer, almost within reaching distance. It wouldn’t be murder. Some people deserved to die.

Steadying her hands on the gun, she looked straight into the black eyes.

“I’m not ugly,” she whispered. She pulled the trigger again and again, watching as his shirt turned red and the black eyes dimmed. He stumbled once, hands outstretched, clutching the air. Ella Mae continued to pull the trigger, the hammer clicking on empty chambers uselessly.

#

“Give me your gun.” Clarence turned to Joshua as the shots rang out inside the house.

“I’m going in,” Joshua stated, hand on the doorknob.

Carl reached over and grabbed Joshua’s arm. “Give him your gun, son. You ain’t in no shape, and neither am I.” Carl met Clarence’s gaze over the back seat. “Besides, I have a feeling he knows how to use it.”

Clarence nodded, taking the revolver and checking it quickly. He glanced at Millie. “I ain’t got time to argue. You’re staying here.”

Millie opened her mouth, but shut it as Clarence slammed the door and raced up the steps, slipping quietly into the now silent house.

Joshua glanced at Carl. “Can’t do it. Can’t just sit here.”

“Me neither.” Carl muttered. “Help me out of this damned death trap.”

Joshua opened the door, standing up slowly, letting the dizzy spell subside.

“Damned fools,” Millie muttered, getting out of the car. “Come on, Joshua, let’s get him out. Probably get his fool self shot again.”

“Lord, God,” Millie whispered, her eyes growing huge as Clarence came out the front door with Sarah, the two of them supporting Gavin between them. Ella Mae followed behind them, Nikki cradled in her arms.

Joshua helped Carl from the backseat, motioning for Millie to help. “Come on, pard. Looks like we missed all the fun.”

Sirens blared in the distance, headlights bumping and jolting as the cars sped over the rocky road.

“Yeah, and here comes the Calvary,” Carl grumbled. “Late, as usual.”

Clarence helped Sarah lower Gavin to the porch and waited for the trio. Joshua and Millie lowered Carl slowly to the porch, seated next to Gavin.

“Williams?” Joshua placed his hand on Sarah’s shoulder.

“In the basement.” Her voice was thick, one arm wound tightly around Nikki, the other around Gavin.

Tommy, Matt and Jed raced up to the porch, guns drawn, eyes darting from Joshua to the group seated on the old porch steps.

“In the basement,” Joshua stated, sinking down on the step beside Sarah, placing an arm around her. Delegation. Sarah had told him he’d have to learn to delegate. Now seemed as good a time as any to start.

Sarah glanced up just in time to see Ella Mae walk away from the others. A lonely silhouette, head bowed, as moonlight created dancing shadows from her trembling hands. Placing Nikki in Gavin’s lap, she kissed him. “I’ll be right back.”

“Ella Mae?”

She jumped, startled, but raised her head. “It was murder. I guess you’ll have to tell Joshua. Put me in jail.”

Sarah shook her head, holding out her arms. “No one’s arresting anybody. You saved our lives.”

Ella Mae stepped into the arms, sobs shaking her thin frame, arms grasping Sarah.

“It’s okay,” Sarah whispered, stroking the stringy hair, much as she’d stroked Nikki’s earlier. “It wasn’t murder, Ella Mae. Some people deserve to die.”

#

Sarah glanced in the mirror, her face glowing with anticipation. The church was full to capacity with Glade Springs residents. Gavin had insisted they get married immediately. He wasn’t letting her out of his sight again.

“Ain’t you ready yet?” Carl jerked on the tie that threatened to choke him. “Damn monkey suit is killing me.”

“Shush, Carl,” Millie chastised him, reaching up to loosen the tie. “Won’t hurt you none to look civilized for once in your life.”

“Humph,” Carl grumbled.

“I’ll be ready in just a minute.”

Sarah turned around, smiling at them before turning back to the mirror and smoothing her hair into place. She stared into her own blue eyes, shining with excitement. She’d never have to wear contacts again. And with Williams gone, she didn’t have to leave Glade Springs. David and Claire Nix were gone. She could stay here. Millie and Clarence were staying. She smiled, remembering the look on Joshua’s face when she’d told him she wanted him to stay on as sheriff. She was trading in her badge for an apron. She knew the dreams would continue. But Jacody Ives could deal with those. She’d convinced Gavin not to give him up. After all, he was a part of what she’d fallen in love with. True love didn’t force people to change. It only enhanced what they really were.

Her thoughts turned to Ella Mae. She was talking about attending night classes, maybe becoming a deputy. Millie had taken her under her wing. It wouldn’t be easy, but with the love of Joshua and Mary, Millie and Sarah, maybe Ella Mae could finally find herself.

The last week had been a nightmare. Carl and Gavin had been right about the cards left with the bodies of the young girls. Williams had hoped the cards would hit the paper. Hoped that Sarah would see them. Know it was him. Show herself. Campbell had speeded up the process by looking for his daughter’s killer. Somehow he’d uncovered Sarah’s story, gone to Corrine Larson, put two and two together. They still weren’t sure how he’d found and killed the Coopers, taking the Reverend’s place. Finding a starving prostitute to play his wife. They didn’t know why he’d killed Jasmine Little. There would always be questions. He’d come here, seen Nikki, and confused her with his own daughter. His tortured mind had seen what it wanted to see.

They still didn’t know for sure who had cut the line on Johanna Nelson’s brakes, but they were pretty sure Williams was responsible for Marisa’s death. Gavin had called it a Gordian puzzle.

Sarah shook her head. Today wasn’t for questions. Today was meant for happiness, love and laughter. Today was the first day of a new life. A real life, without secrets and lies.

Smiling again, she turned from the mirror and picked up Carl’s cane. She handed it to him and took his arm. “Let’s go get married.”

“About damn time,” Carl grumbled, the glow of pride on his face belying his anger as he pushed Millie out of the room ahead of him. “Get on down that aisle, woman. We ain’t got all day.”

“Humph,” Millie snorted, signaling the organist to start playing.

Sarah could see Gavin standing at the altar, his eyes sparkling with promise, as Nikki walked slowly in front of her, tossing rose petals.

“Look, Mommy, rainbows,” Nikki whispered, just loud enough to be heard. Chuckles rang out in the church.

The sun was shining through the stained glass windows, creating rainbows on the rose petals. The only thing missing was Joshua and Mary. The baby had chosen a perfect day to enter the world. They were all going to the hospital as soon as the ceremony was over.

Reaching the altar, Carl placed Sarah’s hand in Gavin’s, squeezing them both before he took his seat on the family row next to Millie.

“Do you, Gavin McAllister, take Sarah McKnight to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love, honor, cherish and obey until death do you part?”

Gavin smiled at her, his eyes full of love.

“I do.”

“Do you, Sarah McKnight, take Gavin McAllister to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love, honor, cherish and obey until death do you part?”

Nikki was pulling frantically on her dress.

“Look, Mommy!”

Sarah glanced at Gavin before they both followed Nikki’s gaze. Standing in the back of the church, shimmering like the rainbows, stood Rob and Cory, hand in hand. Tears filled Sarah’s eyes as she turned to Gavin. Smiling tremulously, she squeezed his hand, and in a clear, loud voice said, “I do.”

EPILOGUE

“It’s almost time, Mrs. McAllister. Would you like me to turn on the television?”

“Please.”

Sarah smiled up at the nurse before turning her attention to the small child snuggled in her arms. “Daddy and Nikki are going to be on TV. What do you think of that?”

“Humph,” Millie grumbled from the side of the bed. “You gonna hog him all day, Carl?”

“Hush up, woman. You wake him and he’ll start that caterwauling again.” Carl sat in awe of the tiny figure snuggled inside the blue blanket, sleeping peacefully in his arms. His old face beamed as the boy wiggled.

Sarah smiled fondly at both of them. “Here, Millie, you can hold Cory. I don’t think Carl is ready to give up Rob yet.”

Millie grumbled as she beamed down at the little girl. “You just wait until Clarence gets here.”

Sarah turned her attention to the television screen. Pride filled her as she watched the unveiling of the new series of children’s books,
The Ballerina Tales
by Gavin and Nikki McAllister.

They stood side by side, hand in hand, both grinning from ear to ear. Picking up Nikki, Gavin took the microphone.

“It’s an honor to be here today. Writing
Ballerina Tales
with my daughter was one of the greatest experiences of my life. However, there’s something else that’s even more wonderful. Nikki, you want to tell them?” Gavin grinned as he handed the microphone to Nikki.

“I have a new baby brother and sister.” Nikki beamed at the camera.

“Isn’t there something else?” Gavin urged her on.

“We taped the show, Mommy.”

The door opened at that moment. Love filled the room, surrounding Sarah with its warmth, as Nikki bounded from behind Gavin, a dozen red roses clutched in her tiny hands. Nikki stopped in mid-stride, her eyes widening, as she gazed in wonder at the two babies.

Leaning over the bed, Gavin kissed Sarah and whispered, “We came to take you home.”

THE END

#

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About the Author

Kentucky author living in Lexington, Kentucky. I have always had a penchant for things a little outside the norm. I saw my first “ghost” when I was five years old, and I’ve spent a lifetime trying to understand that vision. Was it real? And if it was, why? I became a paranormal investigator and love old houses that go bump in the night. I can often be found in old cemeteries just hanging out.

I’ve studied metaphysics, including the areas of touch healing, dream analysis, meditation and hypnosis. The power of the mind has always fascinated me. When reading I love books that allow me to travel around the world without ever leaving home. As an author my greatest desire is to create characters that readers can love and hate, laugh and cry with, and stories that allow the reader to spend a few hours in sheer entertainment.

The Jacody Ives series was my first attempt to combine my love of true mystery and the paranormal. The Catherine Mans’ series continues and expands that combination, delving into the darker side of the power of the mind.