Where the Sun Sets (28 page)

Who would have gone through that for someone
like her? Anthony did. Did it for her. To give her something she
couldn’t give herself. A little someone who would forever link
their friendship, no matter how far apart they were. So that she
could go back to her Africa, yet remain with Josephine. That’s why
she did it. So she could leave. Leave Josephine and this life that
she detested. Josephine knew that, all along she knew. But like the
bad press from hateful critics, if you shut your eyes to them, they
were never really there. And this monster had ended that. Killed
Josephine’s baby before it was brought into this world and any
chance of Anthony ever having another child. Anthony, Josephine
pictured her lying back in the shack, alone and cold, with God
knows what crawling all over her to get at the blood that was
surely seeping from her wounds. This monster was going to go back
there, to Anthony, when he was finished with her. Josephine
couldn’t let that happen. No matter what happened, she had to give
Anthony time for Billy to arrive. Billy would save her and take her
back to the hospital where she belonged. And then he would stay
with her until she was well again. Josephine just had to keep the
monster busy, for Anthony. She needed to stay alert and not fog
out. She needed to control herself and the moment.

Again he tugged harshly at her hair, bringing
her back to reality. “Are you listening to me? I said start
driving, NOW!!” He shouted it in her ear causing a ringing affect.
And she pulled the SUV away from the side of the road. Headlights
off, she drove at a snail’s pace, away from Anthony.

Chapter 31

Patrick Lang had been running the sky tours
for the past seven years. He enjoyed the job, enjoyed the people,
and mostly enjoyed setting his own hours. When Billy called, he was
free and happy to extend his services. He was standing by the
chopper, waiting for them as they had arrived. They were in the air
within minutes and following the directions Billy had taken from
Banton’s computer screen.

Patrick knew right where he was going. So
thirty minutes later they were hovering over the wooded area along
US-44. “I don’t even see the road, do either of you see the road?”
Harold was as nervous as a mother-in-law.

“We have to get down lower if this lights
gonna help any.” Billy was searching vigilantly, but was only
accessing tree tops. “I don’t see any clear area. Harold, look over
there, I have this side covered. I need your eyes over there; we’re
looking for a fire, not a road. Pat can ya get us any lower?”

Patrick swung the bird around to the left.
Harold thought he was going to fall straight out to his death.
Billy grabbed the old man’s shoulder, in a display of protection.
Harold had his eyes squeezed shut so tight, it took a moment for
his vision to clear once he had opened them. Not a moment too soon.
“There, I see something. Over there, quick. Do you see it?” The
fire was still burning.

Patrick swung out further to the left to find
the main road. “Can’t put her down here. Risk setting the house on
fire. I’ll drop you on the main road and circle back again.”
Minutes later Patrick was passenger-less as his chopper left the
ground.

Billy and Harold followed the dirt road, from
US-44 to the house. Billy was first to arrive, as Harold cramped up
and had to catch his breath. Billy circled the dwelling to ensure
their safety. Harold arrived just as Billy was making his entrance.
Holding an axe he had found on a nearby stack of wood, Billy slowly
stepped through the door frame. Harold had his gun in hand as he
followed.

She was lying on the newspapers, spread out
on the wooden floor boards. Lighting was bad but Billy could see
puddles forming around her body from the blood seeping from her
wounds. A plaid table cloth had been placed over Antonia, and
pushed in towards her body on either side. Billy went a step
closer, glancing back at Harold. Raising his gun, as if to say go
for it, Harold continued to search the remainder of the shack for
any sign of Salvatore, or Josephine.

“No one else is here Bill. Salvatore must
have figured out Josephine was following him, maybe he caught her.
I don’t like it.” Harold walked back to the doorway and stepped out
into the yard searching for any sign of life. Coming back inside he
added, “Did you notice your SUV anywhere? If he took off with her
in that, we’re not going to find them tonight.”

“He’ll be back. He’s not gonna leave Antonia
for any length of time. Not after all he went through to get her
back. He’s nearby and we will find him. But right now we have to
get Antonia back to New Haven.” Billy pulled out his phone and
dialed Patrick. “How far are you?

“Bout five minute walk.”

“I’ll put the flash light in the window; you
should be able to follow the sound. Coming out of the house you
want to head right. Looks like the dirt road takes you half way,
but it’s not too rich after that. You shouldn’t have any
trouble”.

“Did you find the girls?”

“One, we found one, and she needs to get back
to New Haven in a hurry.”

“Well whatcha standing around gabbing for,
bring her on out. I’ll call ahead and let them know we’re bringing
her home.”

Billy tossed the phone to Harold. “Call up
that Banton fellow. See if he can still see the SUV. Hopefully he
still has it on the monitor and can tell us how far they got. Looks
like we’ll be on foot, so pray it’s not far.” He bent down and ever
so gently picked up Antonia. She never made a sound. Billy never
checked for a pulse or heartbeat, not wanting to know anything bad.
He pulled her into his chest and whispered, “I am so very sorry
baby. This will be the last of it, I promise you. It will all be
over tonight. It ends here. Just hang in there a little longer.”
And he headed for the chopper, without looking back.

Harold didn’t know quite what to do. He
looked at the phone, wondering where the numbers would be stored.
How was he supposed to make a call without a number? He started
after Billy who had just reached the shadows of the darkness, when
two squad cars came blazing up from behind him.

He walked up, self assured, to the first car.
The officers in the second car jumped out, weapons drawn and told
him to freeze. He tried to explain and reached his hand slowly into
his breast pocket to withdraw his I.D. The older officer from the
first car put his hand in the air, signaling the officers to stand
down. “Inspector Davis? Lieutenant Barsky mentioned you’d be here,
but I never really expected it to be you. James MacCaffery, sir.
Long time admirer of your skills as an investigator. Might I assume
by your solitary posture, the place has been abandoned?”

“No, uh yes, that is to say, the suspect has
gotten past us. Ms. Dal Santo has been taken back to an awaiting
chopper, to be air lifted back to New Haven for some much needed
medical attention. However Ms. Ferrero and the suspect have
disappeared into the darkness of the mountains, or so it seems. You
wouldn’t by any chance have the number for the fine Lieutenant
Barsky handy now, would you, MacCaffery, sir?”

“No, not on me, but I can come up with it
pronto if it’s a necessity.” He waived his hand in the air for his
officers to search the grounds. Harold watched the action, as he
bounced Billy’s phone in his hand.

“I have to get in touch with her, yes, it
would be a necessity. Please if you don’t mind.” The officer
extended an invitation for Harold to sit inside the squad car for a
moment while he retrieved the information needed. Harold didn’t
need to be asked twice. He realized early on this evening that this
was a younger man’s game. And that he should be home, playing
checkers through the mail.

The officer patched Harold straight through
to New Haven and soon he was explaining his needs to Officer
Banton, who took a special interest in helping to end this
nightmare. He watched the chopper rise up from the darkness and fly
away with Antonia. Silently he said a prayer for her safe return.
Then in a whisper to himself, over heard only by the officer
sitting next to him, Harold added. “I’m gonna make this right,
tonight I’ll put it all to rest, once and for all. I am so sorry
Antonia, so very sorry.” He let his tired hand wipe away his tears,
and then drug his fingers through his hair as he cleared his
throat, not wanting to give himself away.

“This your partner here?” The officer said,
as he got out of the car. Billy was walking straight for them.

“Got Banton searching the screen. Just
waiting for him to call back. How is she?”

“I don’t know, she seems to be OK. She’s a
tough cookie. Patrick’s gonna take her right back to Saint
Bartholomew and they’re waiting for her arrival.”

Billy introduced himself to MacCaffery, as
the others returned with little more than they had started out
with. Now they were all standing around waiting for the call. “What
is it you think happened? I know that you think Ms. Dal Santo was
abducted and Ms. Ferrero took off after her, but when they got
here, to this point. What do you think happened?”

Harold looked over to Billy, waiting for him
to respond to MacCaffery’s question. Billy was leaning up against
the hood of the car. Searching the ground by his feet for an
answer, he just shook his head slowly. He was more relaxed now that
Antonia was safe. Josephine? She was something else entirely. He
didn’t feel the same type of concern for her. He knew it was wrong,
but the woman left a sour taste in his system. All he wanted to do
now was find the guy who caused all this trouble. And if the
Inspector was right, and it was Salvatore, well Billy wanted to see
him dead.

Harold was tired and worn down. He couldn’t
go chasing after anyone else. He just didn’t have the gas. But he
wasn’t going to let Salvatore live to see another day. No matter
what else happened, he was going to end this right, for Antonia. He
hoped this other woman, Josephine, was able to hold her own until
they tracked down the SUV.

The crackle of the radio broke the silence.
MacCaffery answered the call. “New Havens on the line sir, I’ll
patch them through.” And then, “We found them. You there,
hello?”

“Yea, we’re here, just give us their
location, son.” MacCaffery was feeling like the Scout Master.

“The SUV’s headed north, just past where we
spotted her earlier. But it looks like they took a side road, or
maybe just drove off into the woods. Right before mile marker 83.
Took off to the left. Traveled bout four more miles before they
stopped. I’d say they’re no more than ten miles up the road. SUV’s
not moving at the moment. Want me to call back if it starts up
again?”

“That will be fine son, just fine. Thanks for
your help.” Mac Caffery clicked off the radio. “Let’s do it.” He
shouted and everyone piled into the two cars.

“Right up the road a piece, there’s a fire
break. It comes up just before the mile marker, so I’ll be laying
odds that’s what he was referring to. We’ll head down that way,
with any luck we’ll come up right on them. But if they got out and
walked, it’s going to be a long night.”

“It already has been a long night.” Billy
added without much emotion.

The cars turned left as if pulled by an
invisible magnet, right at the opening. A few minutes later they
pulled up next to Billy’s abandoned SUV. Billy jumped out and ran
over to his vehicle as if he hadn’t seen it in months. He opened
the passenger side door and went straight for the glove box. “Try
not to touch too much in there, we might...”

“It’s not here...my gun, it’s not here.” A
flash light swept the interior of the SUV. Its beam crossed the
grip of the weapon, catching Billy’s eye.

Standing outside the cars now, the group
mapped out a plan. MacCaffery designated directions. “Foster, you
and Joe head due east one mile. Then go left and travel west a
mile. Inspector, you and Bill go north, just keep walking. We’ll
head west a mile, then off to the right. We should all meet up, in
the middle, in say about twenty minutes or so. If any of us happens
not to be there, then the others will know where to look. Watch
each other’s back, we have to consider him armed and
dangerous.”

Chapter 32

“Turn left, here, HERE!” Josephine jumped at
the sound of his voice. She had drifted into the past while
driving. Thinking of all the ways she owed Anthony. Wondering when
she became the person she wound up being. Josephine couldn’t
picture what her life would have been like if they had never met.
The years they were apart were the worst in Josephine’s life. The
movies she had made during those years were all tragedies.
Publicity was horrendous. Her parents had both passed away. Her
mother first, of cancer. Her father soon after from a broken heart.
Their attorneys took over her interests in the family fortune and
squandered all the assets in less time than it took to sign the
deal. She broke ties with her manager and tried to go off on her
own. ‘Ten years of Turmoil’ the tabloids had called it. She had
managed to graduate with honors from one of the top Ivy League
schools in the country, but she did it alone, finding it difficult
to connect with her fellow students. Everyone wanted something from
her. She had to pay to play basically, because of who she was.
Anthony was her lighthouse. The only one who could help Josephine
find safety in the fogs that forever enveloped her.

Josephine turned to the left, as she was
told. There was no road, but it was clear enough to drive through.
As she drove, Salvatore watched her. Studied her. Using the blade
of his knife, he traced a line up and down her chest. At first he
did it to see how she would react. But it seemed to entertain him,
so he continued. He felt no physical attraction for Josephine. The
very thought of taking her made him grimace. But there was
something sensual about the way the blade cascaded over her. He was
drawn to it. He let it crawl up to the flesh of her neck. Pulling
back on her hair, as to extend the game playing field.