Rita Herron - Lock, Stock and McCullen

Just as she’d faced the fact that her parents hadn’t wanted her, that she’d been a mistake. Well, they had taken care of her, but there had always been an awkwardness between them, a distance, as if the woman and man, Ramona and Syd, didn’t want to get too close.

As if they couldn’t really love her.

She’d been a difficult child, they’d said. Sullen, angry, withdrawn at times...

A crooked tree with several broken branches caught her eye, and recognition dawned. She remembered the tree because it had made her think of herself. She’d felt broken and alone so many times.

“Down that road,” she said, her voice rough with emotion.

Maddox swung the car onto the side road. “You’re sure?”

She nodded and rubbed at her arms as a chill swept over her. “When Thad veered onto the road, I remember wondering if he’d made a wrong turn. It looked like we were going nowhere. But he promised me a night I’d never forget.” A sarcastic laugh rumbled from her. “That’s certainly true.”

Maddox didn’t comment. He didn’t need to.

Winning her trust had been part of Thad’s charm. He’d intentionally driven off the grid, far away from other houses and people so no one would hear her scream for help when he killed her.

The barren land and ridges of the nearby mountain range sent another chill through her. If he’d succeeded, he would have dumped her body in a ravine or thrown her over a cliff and left her for the animals to ravage.

And no one would have looked for her or even realized she was dead.

* * *

MADDOX HOPED TO HELL Rose was telling him the truth. The whole truth and not a fabricated version she’d invented to cover some dark secret.

The idea of locking her in a cell held no appeal. But he was a man of the law and he’d do whatever necessary to see that justice was served.

He made a quick call to his deputy, Roan Whitefeather, and asked him to make the rounds in the town because he was busy, but he didn’t explain. He’d check things out himself first.

The car bounced over the ruts in the dirt road, desolate land passing, the sliver of moonlight barely illuminating the trees and landscape. An animal darted into the wooded area to the left, and Rose pointed to a narrow side road.

“There. The cabin is that way.”

Night noises surrounded them, the deserted area eerie with the sound of a coyote howling, a reminder that the state was on an alert for coyotes with rabies. And that it was the perfect place to dispose of a body.

But what motive did Thoreau have? And who else wanted to find Rose?

“The cabin is in that hollow by the creek,” Rose said.

Maddox’s instincts went on alert as he scanned the area for a car or another person waiting to ambush them.

But there was no car and he didn’t see movement. Not even a light on in the cabin nestled in the copse of pines.

“Did you turn the lights off when you left?” Maddox asked.

Rose tensed, straightening to examine the graveled drive as they approached. “No, I was in a hurry, running to get away.”

Senses alert, Maddox slowed the car and parked, his gaze fixed on the cabin and dark woods surrounding it. “Did Thoreau say how he found this place?”

“No.” Rose rubbed at her arms again as if cold. “I didn’t ask. I...I trusted him.”

Maddox studied the area for tire marks. With his headlights shining on the ground, he spotted one set that had made indentations into the dirt. Obviously Rose’s tire prints as she’d backed away and sped from the cabin.

He cut the engine and his lights, that coyote still howling like it was hunting for prey, and he removed his holster and checked his Colt.

He reached for the door handle. “Wait here and let me check out the house.”

“What if the other man is out here?” Rose asked in a strained voice.

“There’s no sign of a car here,” he pointed out.

Rose touched his hand. “Let me go with you. I...don’t want to stay here alone.”

Maddox sighed, hating the fear in her voice. But he understood it. She’d been through hell and back tonight.

“All right, but stay behind me.”

She nodded, and he grabbed a flashlight, climbed out and shut his door gently, his boots crunching grass and twigs as he walked around to the passenger side. She opened her door and slid out, and he gestured for her to stay close as they walked up to the porch.

The flashlight illuminated the ground, and Maddox scanned it for evidence, also darting suspicious looks around the perimeter of the property and front of the cabin.

“I don’t understand,” Rose whispered. “He chased me out here and collapsed at the bottom of the porch.”

Maddox narrowed his eyes and shone the flashlight across the porch. Rose sounded so sure of what she was saying, so frightened.

But there was no body. No blood.

No sign of Rose’s fiancé anywhere.

Chapter Four

Rose stared at the empty porch in shock. “I don’t understand. He fell...and he was bleeding.” She pointed to the bottom step, where she’d seen Thad collapse, blood oozing from his wound. “I...didn’t see him get up.”

“But you were trying to escape?”

“Yes.” She looked at the drive. “His sedan was under that tree.”

“Where did you say he was hit with the bullet?”

Rose lifted her gaze, the images of her struggle with her fiancé flashing back. “The chest...at least I thought that was where the bullet went in, but it happened so fast.”

Maddox shined his flashlight all along the boards of the porch floor. “Either he got up on his own or someone helped him.” He kneeled and examined the slats. “I don’t see blood, either.”

“But he was bleeding,” Rose said, confused. She started inside the house, but Maddox caught her arm.

“Wait and let me search the place first.” His dark eyes flickered with worry. “He could be hiding, Rose, nursing his wound.”

Maddox held his gun at the ready and gestured for her to stay back. Rose clutched her hands together, trembling as he inched inside the cabin.

Had Thad survived?

If he had...he might come back for her.

* * *

MADDOX EASED INTO the entryway, his senses alert as he glanced left and right. He strained to hear sounds from inside—footsteps, breathing—but he heard only the floor creaking and the eerie sound of a faucet dripping in the silence.

He scanned the living area but other than a faded couch and chair, the room was empty. No signs of blood or bullet casings either.

He crept to the adjoining kitchen and looked around. Hadn’t Rose mentioned that Thad was planning a picnic?

There was no evidence of food or drink, or that anyone had been here. The sink was empty, even clean, and he opened the cabinets to see dishes and glasses neatly organized.

The dripping water pinged again, and he headed toward the sound and found the leak in the tub. The scent of cleaning chemicals and bleach assaulted him.

Had Thad cleaned up?

He still didn’t see blood, but he’d get his kit from his car and spray with luminol. That might turn up something. Although it was possible the bullet had only grazed Thad.

Veering to the left of the bathroom, he found the bedroom. An iron bed draped in a quilt sat against the wall with the window, while an antique dresser and full-length mirror were also in the room.

No sign of anyone. No flyer of a missing girl on a milk carton. And no luggage...

If Rose and Thad were traveling, where were their things? Hadn’t she brought a suitcase?

If she’d been running for her life, she wouldn’t have stopped to get it.

He checked the closet next but found it empty as well.

Either Rose was confused or lying or...her fiancé had survived and escaped and cleaned up any evidence he’d ever been in the cabin.