Deceiving Death Read online

  “Yes. But hurry. I don’t want anyone finding me here, or getting these wonderful people involved in this. These guys mean business and I’m pretty sure the only reason I’m not dead is because they think I can lead them to this phantom money. Which means they’re not done with me.”

  He hated that she was probably right. “I’ll get you safe, then figure out what’s going on.”

  “As long as figuring it out doesn’t mean leaving me alone.”

  Of course it meant that. He couldn’t exactly track things from the woods. “We’ll take care of things.” He opened the back door.

  Silence greeted him, but he didn’t let that fool him. Years of detective work taught him that a lot could be hidden in a cloak of silence.

  He eased the cruiser to Sarah’s house with the lights off. He parked it in the driveway, slipped around back and started Boomer’s truck. The roar of Boomer’s engine could have woken half the town, but they were all used to it so no one would even blink an eye.

  Would the truck be more noticeable than the Mustang?

  In some ways, yes, but if anyone saw him tooling around in his brother’s Mustang without permission, they’d figure him for a dead man anyway. The truck won.

  Chapter Three

  “Subtle.”

  Shea muttered the one-word indictment as she scrambled into the passenger seat of the tooled truck. The noise factor alone made tailing them ridiculously easy.

  “Hiding in plain sight. Everyone’s used to hearing Boomer’s truck, but no one would expect to see Joey’s Mustang driving into the hills. Other than the Memorial Day and Homecoming parades, the thing lives a life of leisure.”

  “Do they still have a Homecoming Queen ride in the back?”

  “Unless it’s pouring out. You know things here. They don’t change much, and if they do, it pretty much requires an act of Congress. And even then, we grumble about it.”

  “How is Joey? He was always such a good guy.”

  “Still a good guy. Single. Runs the taxi service that helps old folks get where they need to go.”

  “I saw those Hamilton taxis last month. That’s Joey’s enterprise? Who expected that from the former college quarterback?”

  His cheek quirked in a slight smile. “He makes a good living and he’s nice to old people. And people with disabilities. He’s got four vehicles on the road and a special rate for veterans. Small business at its best.”

  “Now that sounds like Joey. But single?” Shea asked as she craned her neck around to scan the road behind them. “Also unexpected.”

  “No one’s on us.” Tony took the turn toward the back roads. “And yes, single. You still crushing on him?”

  She gave him a serious shot to the arm. “Never was because I was too busy mooning after you. I was such a kid.” She sighed softly. “Luckily I grew up. Eventually.”

  “You married, Shea?”

  “Was. Once. Didn’t end well, but it did end and I let him live after I realized he’d had two affairs at my expense. It was ugly.”

  “I bet it was.” He slid a glance her way as they passed beneath an overhead light. “I’m sorry.”

  “Over and done.”

  “Kids?”

  He could cut her heart out with a rusted knife and hurt less. “Two miscarriages.”

  “Oh, man.”

  “Yeah, well.” She fisted her hands because she’d married Blake thinking she’d found someone who shared her hopes and dreams. The failure wasn’t his infidelity. It was on her for not seeing through his façade. She knew better now and in the end it sculpted her people instincts. Always a good thing. “It can’t be easy raising kids alone. You’ve got two, right?”

  He hesitated, then nodded. “A boy and a girl. Seven and eight. We lost their mom a few years ago.”

  “I heard that.”

  He frowned instantly.

  “My dad mentioned it when you took the sheriff’s position. We talked on the phone regularly. He kept me up on local stuff.”

  “I never took your dad as a talker.”

  She shrugged lightly. “Different with family, I guess. I expect you talk with your kids.”

  “Hazel’s shy. She’s the younger one. I have to work to get her to open up about things. Ben’s my talker. He has ideas and opinions on everything.”

  “You miss them when they’re away.”

  “It shows, huh? Yes.” He thrummed his fingers against the steering wheel as he turned onto one of the many graveled, hilly roads in central Pennsylvania. “Being with my parents is a good experience though. My mom’s great with them. They need that.” He turned down another road, then hooked a left on yet another. “A woman’s touch.”

  Maybe that’s why she dug her heels in on a regular basis and got all up in people’s faces. Her mother had walked away when she was six, barely old enough to remember anything about her but old enough to know she’d been left behind. “Balance is good.”

  “Yes, that. And I wanted them to be close to Mom and Dad. I’ve made them legal guardians if anything happens to me. The kind of thing every parent puts off until you’re forced to get things in order. When you realize your kids are one step away from being orphans.”

  He thought ahead.

  He always had. A planner, a doer, focused and phlegmatic. It had served him well in his past. She hoped it would do the same for present and future. He swerved around a fallen tree branch, barely made it, then pulled into a convenience store with a gas station. “You stay here. Don’t look around. That shiner makes you memorable. Not that you weren’t before the shiner.” He winked to lighten the moment. “I’m going to grab some food and fill the gas can and the propane tank. You’ll need firewood. And some staples.”

  “Bread. Jam. Peanut butter. And no fires.” She shook her head. “That’s like broadcasting my location.”

  He swept the vast roll of Pennsylvania forests a long look. “I’m pretty sure you’ll be as unfindable as you can possibly be. A little bit of smoke won’t out you. But your choice.”

  “Our choice.” She leaned across the seat and locked eyes with him because she might give in on the smoke for the sake of warmth at the higher altitude, but not on his leaving. “You see this?” She pointed to her face. “Those goons meant business and I’m pretty sure they’ll finish the job the next time. If your plan is to park me and leave me, then turn the truck around and take me back to town. I’d rather have these guys seek me out on my old stomping grounds than in an entirely unfamiliar area. You know your way around up here. I don’t. And no way in this world am I staying alone in the woods where bears, coyotes, possible murderers and Yetis abound. Your choice.”

  Chapter Four

  Two things raised Tony’s hackles.

  She knew he was familiar with the area.

  How?

  They hadn’t talked about where they were going.

  And would a stray fact about him have stuck with her for four years? Maybe. The loss of a spouse was significant. But it wasn’t like she’d kept in touch with anyone much, except maybe Marilee. He wasn’t sure to be glad she remembered... or suspicious because she did.

  He kept his face flat. “Understood. I’ll let Roy know to take over for a couple of days. But no more than that. I actually have a job to do in Hamilton and all the little towns surrounding it.”

  “Then I go back with you. Maybe they’ll have given up by then.”

  That decision didn’t need to be made now. “I’ll be right back.”

  She nodded.

  “And don’t look at anyone, Shea.”

  “Wasn’t born yesterday, Sheriff.” She made a face at him and winced when the movement caused pain. “Consider me incognito.” She slumped down, tipped her chin away from the window and feigned sleep.

  Tony ordered sandwiches from the fast food counter. While the young guy flipped the burgers, Tony grabbed quick grocery essentials including two bags of candy because Tony Sanchez had a theory that had kept him on the job for a long time: M&Ms
make everything better.

  Antonio was sharp. Always had been. But when there was serious business afoot, Shea wasn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with anyone, even a former Philly detective. She’d been hired to do a job and one way or another...

  She was going to do it.

  She grabbed out her second phone while he was busy inside, sent a quick text, and had the phone tucked away when Tony carried three plastic sacks of groceries back to the truck. He went back inside and returned with to-go containers. He climbed in, set them down, then wheeled the truck around. He went a mile up the road, took a left, then a right onto another of the ubiquitous gravel roads, and parked. “We can eat out of sight here. While it’s hot.”

  The amazing smell of the food intensified her hunger. There’d been no time for food earlier that day, and not much thought of it as she got things done.

  “Can you eat a hamburger with that swelling?” He’d unwrapped his, then paused, chagrined. “Maybe chicken tenders would have been easier for you.”

  “One way or another, this burger has seen its last day. Thank you for thinking of it. I never stopped to eat today.”

  “Probably not much in your father’s cupboards, is there?”

  Rookie mistake, Shea. Your dad’s been gone for over a month. “Canned goods and boxed stuff I’m donating to the food pantry once I double check the dates,” she said, chewing carefully. “Nothing that can spoil. Marilee took care of clearing out perishables last month.” For just a moment she paused. A genuine pause this time because she’d loved her father. And he loved her. His death left her quite alone on the planet. Maybe that’s what God intended all along. “I can’t imagine getting the house ready to sell and taking care of his things with all of this going on. I can’t be away from work forever. I don’t know how to stop it and I can’t keep running up here.”

  “Leave the stopping to me. I’ll advise Roy once we’re tucked away. Cell phones still get spotty in places out here. That reminds me.” He stretched out a hand. “Let’s disable your phone. If whoever this is has tracing access, we don’t want to give them a pinpoint.”

  “Limited cell phone coverage?” She let her voice show what she thought of that as she pulled the phone apart to remove the battery. “I’ve forgotten that was even a thing.”

  He acknowledged that with a soft hum. “Took me a while, too. Everything’s connected in the city. Although it’s better up here now. Fewer dropped calls. Did you have to close down your shop?”

  Right now she wished she wasn’t a polished liar. And that he wasn’t the person she was lying to. Maybe that was the bigger portion of regret. “I’ve got two gals running the schedule. Closing down is always bad for business. I booked light for the next week.”

  “Mom and Dad said you were having a monster heat wave there when they drove through a few days back.”

  “Every summer,” she replied and hoped her ambiguous answer didn’t send up any red flags. “Do you miss Philly?”

  He inhaled the rest of his sandwich and thrust the truck into gear. “I loved my job there, but Hamilton was a better choice after I lost Rebecca.”

  “I can’t imagine how hard that must have been, Tony.” That at least was sincere. He had the ideal life. A job he loved. Rising in command. Two beautiful kids. And then—

  “She loved us. We loved her. Some folks never have that experience.” He steered onto the gravel. “They go through life on the outskirts and never have that full rise and fall. I’m not recommending the fall.” He worked his jaw as he focused on the gravel road. “But the rest was amazing. And that’s what we hang on to.”

  Her heart melted right then.

  What would it be like to be loved that much? Respected that much? To have someone care that way?

  Her dad had been like that. He’d stood by her through all her ups and downs. Then he’d died here, in Hamilton, alone, because she hadn’t taken his illness seriously enough. He’d always gone the distance for her. The thought that she hadn’t returned the favor bit deep.

  “Could your ex have anything to do with this attack?” he asked as they drove further up the forested path.

  “No.”

  “You’re certain of that? Most crime is committed by people close to us.”

  “One hundred percent certain. He wasn’t after money. He had plenty of that. He was after excitement.”

  “Let me just say that the man who doesn’t find you to be a twelve-point-five on a scale of ten is a moron. I hear what you’re saying, but I should run a check just in case.”

  All she needed was for him to go internet searching for Blake and uncover stuff she didn’t want him to know. “He’s scum for cheating, but he’s on the right side of the law. The thought of prison would be enough deterrent.”

  “You’d think that of most people, wouldn’t you?” He peered ahead. “These branches need trimming. They’re swallowing the road.”

  “And it’s dry so we’re not leaving any tracks.”

  “Correct. You watch cop shows.”

  She smiled. “Only the good ones. Should I know where we are? Because you lost me about three turns back.”

  “Somewhere safe.”

  “You’re seriously not telling me?”

  “Seriously. The less you know, the safer you are.”

  “It’s not like I’d be broadcasting our location,” she shot back. The lie fell from her lips easily. Too easily. Years of practice could do that to you. “Are there beds at this place? Or sleeping bags on the floor? Either is fine by me. All I want is a pillow and a blanket right about now.” That part was completely honest. Her face stung, her headache had returned and the constant darkness of woven tree limbs disoriented her.

  “Cots. It’s pretty bare bones. No place anyone would think of on their own.”

  On their own... She seized the red flag quickly. “You think someone could rat us out?”

  “Not everyone would understand the gravity of the situation and there are some who might be coerced by the sight of a Ulysses S. Grant or two. Only a handful of people know about this place but a couple of them are down on their luck.”

  “Unbelievable.”

  “The odds of them asking the right person in the right way are slim to none.”

  “I just want odds I can live with, Tonio.”

  He’d been drumming the steering wheel lightly. The old nickname made him pause. “That’s the goal, Shea. Here we are.”

  He cut the engine and parked the truck in the woods, then climbed out. “Now if the key is in the right place...”

  She got out. Cool air hit her like a brisk October morning. That was a surprise.

  “Higher elevation equates lower temperatures. I expect you’re re-thinking that no fire edict you threw down an hour ago.”

  She grabbed grocery sacks and followed him inside.

  Muggy, musty air bathed her face.

  She hated that smell. It was the smell of old and unused, but the cool night breeze swept the stale air aside quickly.

  Tony motioned ahead with his big flashlight. “Can you get the lamps lit? They’re on that shelf. Lamp oil is in that jug on the shelf below them. I’ll get the fire going.”

  She pulled down the first two lamps and set them on the square, rustic table. When she reached for the third, something small, gray and fast flew off the shelf.

  She screamed.

  “What’s wrong? Are you hurt? Are you—?” He turned her around as the mouse skittered toward the dark recesses of the next room. “Oh, that.” He indicated the speedy rodent with a far-too-casual glance. “Usually the traps take care of them. Must have run out of room,” he added cheerfully, as if full mouse traps were something to celebrate.

  “Please don’t say it’s my job to re-bait the traps after we remove the current remains. That might not be my strong suit.”

  “We’ll do that in the morning.” The first lamp flickered to life and cast broad shadows around the small room. The second lamp chased the shadows into abeyance,
and the third brightened things up nicely.

  “Big red totes have sleeping stuff.”

  “Linens?”

  “That’s aiming too high, but you’ll find sleeping bags that got washed at some point in the last few years. I won’t try and guess when.”

  She pulled them out and unrolled them on the cots. A second tote held pillows. “No mothballs.”

  “Tommy hates the smell.”

  “Me, too. My grandma used them all the time. I hated to go help her in the spring, not because I didn’t want to help but the smell just turned my stomach. Didn’t get me out of it, though.”

  “Knowing your grandma and your dad, I expect not.” He poured ice into the cooler, set some food inside, then poured the remaining half a bag of ice over it. “This will keep us for a couple of days. We’ll figure out timelines in the morning. Grab one of the cots in there.” He motioned to the small adjacent room. “I’ll sleep out here. You look done in, Shea.”

  Not what a woman wants to hear from the guy she crushed on for years. Couldn’t she be a Scarlett Johansson-type heroine, gorgeous under stress?

  Although she couldn’t remember Scarlett sporting a black eye, so the comparison fell short. “Thank you?” She made sure the words smacked with doubt.

  He cringed but smiled. “Sorry. Just meant you’ve got to be tired. A lot to handle when your normal life is doing hair.”

  He was being nice. So nice.

  He’d want to kill her once he discovered the truth, but for now... for this moment... she let “nice” win the day. “Then I shall adjust my gratitude accordingly.”

  She crawled into the cot. Phone vibrations would wake her if anything went bad tonight. Not from the battery-less phone on the table, but from the small, slimmer version she had stashed in her front pocket. She waited a few minutes, listening, and when a soft, muffled snore assured her that Tony was tucked in for the night, she sent a silent “all clear” to her partners.

  And then she let herself fall asleep.