Jenn McKinlay - Due Or Die

“Rifle shot through the window,” Edmund confirmed.

“Oh, dear Lord,” Bill gasped and clutched his chest. “Murder? You committed murder.”

“Apparently, I was not the only one with the idea to steal the rare books and sell them,” Edmund said. “The night you were jettisoned from office, I stole your key and went out to the storage shed. I figured I’d better get the goods before you were out of office and lost your key. Well, whom did I meet out there but Markus Rushton. He’d heard about the rare books from his wife and planned to take them before she was voted into office, so the blame would land squarely on you, Uncle. Quite a conniving fellow, that Rushton. Of course, we couldn’t find them, so we figured we’d have to go back. Neither of us knew at the time that Warren had handed off the books to Mrs. Rushton instead of putting them in storage.”

“But why kill him?” Lindsey asked.

“He knew too much, and I had no intention of sharing my profit,” Edmund said. He stated it as if it should be obvious. “I went back to his house with him to work out a deal for when we got the books, but instead I just cut him out of the equation. With the Friends meeting in full swing, Carrie wasn’t there to hear the gunshot. It was perfect.”

“The day we were shoveling snow in front of the library, after the storm…” Lindsey’s voice trailed off.

“Yeah, I had just come from breaking into the shed; a small explosive device ripped it wide open. Sadly, I found nothing. I was so sure someone must have put the books in there by then, but no. You never even suspected, did you?” He made a silly, mocking face at her, and Lindsey wanted to smack him.

“I can’t believe it,” Bill said. “My own flesh and blood.”

“Yes, but not for long,” Edmund said. He glanced at his watch. “I have to say it was really accommodating of you two to have your little tiff in front of Simpson. This is going to be great. We’ll drive out to the storage area and make it look like you’ve had a fight over the books, a tragic fight where you both end up dead. Poetic, don’t you think?”

“So, you were the one who locked us in the storage shed?” Lindsey asked. Dread filled her at the thought of being locked in again.

“Oh, heck, no,” Edmund said. “That really was Batty Bilson. She is going to mourn you, Uncle. But I expect she’ll have time to get over you while doing time for killing Markus Rushton.”

“You won’t get away with this,” Bill said.

“Oh, please,” Edmund said. “Spare me the histrionics.”

“He’s right,” Lindsey said. “Too many people know that I had lunch with you today.”

Edmund tipped his head and studied her. “Yes, but I fell ill and Bill offered to take you home. I can’t imagine why you went to the storage shed.”

Lindsey felt her heart thump in her chest.

“You know, I do hate to kill you,” he said. “I’m quite fond of you, but you weren’t as much help as I had hoped with finding a buyer for the rare books. So, moving on, shall we?”

Edmund gestured with the gun, and Lindsey and Bill moved forward, down the hall and out of the mansion to the waiting car that would drive them to their deaths.

BRIAR CREEK

PUBLIC LIBRARY

Bill drove. Lindsey sat in the passenger seat. What had seemed like such a luxurious car on the ride over now seemed more like an opulent coffin.

She peeked into her handbag. The blue glow of her phone was no more. She had no idea if anyone had heard them or not. When they got to the storage facility, Edmund ordered Lindsey to go and open the gate.

“Don’t try to run off,” he said. “I’m an excellent marksman. Thanks for those lessons when I was a kid, Uncle Bill.”

Lindsey glanced at Bill. He looked like he was about to choke. The bitter winter air hurt her lungs when she took too deep of a breath. The hurt felt good. It reminded her that she was still alive.

She hefted the large metal swing gate and pulled it open, shuffling her feet as she cupped the end of the gate in her gloved hands. When it was propped open, she went back to the car. The idea of running tempted her, but she knew Edmund meant what he said. He would shoot her, then he would make it look like Bill had done it and then kill Bill. The only chance she and Bill had was to stay together. Maybe they’d get lucky. Maybe Edmund would make a slip. Maybe they could overpower him.

When she climbed back into the car, Bill gave her a wry look. “You should have run.”

“I’m not like that,” she said.

“I was wrong about you,” he said. “I’m sorry.”

“Yes, yes, very touching,” Edmund said from the back. “Move it forward, Uncle; I’m on a tight schedule.”

“You know, there is more to me than being the keeper of the family estate,” Bill said to Lindsey. “Did you know I study Kung Fu?”

“I didn’t,” Lindsey said. “That’s actually quite cool.”

“Thank you,” he said. “And I want someone to know that I have been very discouraging of Ms. Bilson. She reminds me of a little sparrow the way she hops around. Not terribly restful.”

Lindsey smiled. “I thought the same thing when I met her.”

“Blah, blah, blah,” Edmund said. “Is there a point to this drivel?”

“Yes, in fact. I wanted to warn Lindsey that I am a huge fan of action-adventure films and advise her that she might want to fasten her seat belt.”

Lindsey saw the manic look in Bill’s eye and hurriedly buckled herself in.

“Why would she want to do that?”

“Because of this!” Bill yelled, and he slammed his foot onto the gas.

The Jaguar’s rear wheels scrambled for purchase, hit a patch of fresh dirt that had been laid down and lurched forward, picking up speed just as the car hit one of the speed bumps as hard as a fist through glass.

Edmund, who did not have his seat belt on, smacked his head on the roof and let out a violent string of curses, but when he would have righted himself, Bill let out a maniacal laugh of his own and cut the wheel sharply to the left, sending Edmund into the door, face first.

“Oh, my nose!” Edmund dropped his gun and clutched his face as blood spurted forth. “Why you…”

But anticipating his move, Bill cut the wheel again in the other direction and Edmund was sent careening into the other door.

Lindsey bent over and reached under the seat trying to find the gun. It was just out of her reach.

“Slam on the brakes!” she yelled.

Bill did and the gun slid into Lindsey’s fingers. It was cold and hard and gave her the heebie-jeebies. What if she shot someone by mistake?

Edmund’s head appeared between theirs. “Drop it or I shoot him.”

Lindsey glanced over her shoulder. He had another gun to Bill’s temple. She opened her hand and dropped the gun.

“Get out,” Edmund said. “And don’t try anything.”

Both Lindsey and Bill eased out of their doors. She glanced at him over the roof. “Nice driving.”

He shrugged. “A man has dreams.”

Edmund had wadded up his plaid scarf and was holding it up to his nose. He waggled the gun at them, indicating that they should walk.

If there was anyone in the storage facility, surely Bill’s driving would have brought them forward. The place was as quiet as a cemetery. Lindsey regretted the imagery immediately.

“Walk,” he said. “And keep your hands up, so I can see them.”

Bill and Lindsey walked side by side. The Friends’ new shed was halfway down and around a corner toward the back. As they turned the corner, they were each grabbed and yanked in separate directions.

Lindsey would have cried out, but a hand was clamped over her mouth and a voice said, “Shh. You’re safe.”