Chapter Twenty-Nine
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Though Heather was shaking in her shoes she continued to stare at Joe Meyer, her eyes narrowed, silently demanding an answer.
“Follow you?” he finally repeated. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“You were parked under a tree just down from Three Oaks Ranch a couple of days ago.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Both Blake and I saw you, though of course we didn’t know it was you at the time. Then that same car—yours—followed me home. Not then, another time.”
“You must be—”
“I’m not mistaken.”
“If, and I do mean, if, I was behind you on that road it would have been a coincidence.”
“And parking under the tree? Was that a coincidence too?”
“I didn’t park under any tree,” he retorted, a frown crossing his brow. “I happen to own a popular car. There are many people who have that model.”
“Not around here. Most of us drive trucks or SUV’s. I’ve never seen a silver Hyundai—until I saw yours beneath that tree! Just tell me what you want? What’s going on? Why did you follow me, and why did you come back to Smoky Hill?”
“For the last time, I did not follow you, and why I’m here is none of your business. Heather, I’m a busy man and I don’t have time for this nonsense. You’ve done your job, you’ve delivered my lunch, now please leave.”
“Fine, but if I see you behind me again I’m calling the sheriff!”
Before he could respond she spun around and marched through the door. But her bravado was contrived. Her legs felt like jelly and her heart was racing. Desperate to sit down and catch her breath she hurried to Cabin Four, and with trembling fingers she punched in the code.
“I guess he’s not so timid after all,” she muttered under her breath. “He’s like Jeckyll and Hyde.”
Pushing open the door and stepping inside, she flopped into the nearest chair and took in several long, deep breaths. When she started to feel calmer her focus turned to the bracelet. She had to have a quick look and get back to the restaurant before it opened.
Glancing around the floor and seeing nothing, she rose to her feet and began checking behind the chairs. Still coming up empty, she was lifting up the sofa cushions when she heard a noise from the bedroom. For a moment she froze, then thinking the guests must not have left she crept to the front door.
“Hey. I don’t know how you found me but you can’t get away that easy!”
Instantly she knew the voice.
It was Courtney.
* * *
A short time before the sheriff’s unexpected visit, Joe had helped Courtney as she’d painfully hobbled to the next door cabin. After making her way up the steps to the back porch, she’d picked the lock, limped into the bedroom and laid down.
“I’ll be back with something to eat soon,” Joe had said. “You’ll be safe here for a while. We’re lucky. Apparently this is the slow time of the year.
“Oh, yeah, real lucky,” she’d grunted sarcastically.
“Get some rest. This afternoon we’ll figure out where to go from here, but we should leave overnight.”
“I agree, but I think we should still go to Puerto Rico. Will we need new ID’s?”
“Probably. We’ll discuss all this later. I won’t be long.”
A few minutes had passed when she’d heard what she thought was someone walking in through the front door. Startled, she’d sat up, but her elbow knocked an ornament off the side table. Realizing she needed to check, she’d hobbled across the room to peek.
Seeing Heather she’d almost cheered.
Now staring at Heather’s wide eyes and shocked face, Courtney knew, in spite of her painful, bandaged ankle, she had the upper hand.
“Sit down, Heather.”
“The hell I will. I’m calling the sheriff right now, and from the looks of things, you can’t stop me.”
“If you don’t sit down, I’ll make sure King Henry won’t survive the next six months.”
“You’re crazy!”
“So I’ve been told, and maybe I am, but I don’t make empty threats. It doesn’t matter where I am I can still make a call, and there are people I know who will do exactly what I tell them.”
“But why would you do something like that?”
“I said sit down and you’re still standing. If you don’t do as I say that’s what will happen. Did you forget I’m a drug dealer? I do other things as well, but that’s irrelevant. The point is, I have friends, and those friends are not people you want visiting your horses. Now sit the fuck down or you’ll be sorry.”
Seeing Heather’s fright and fear Courtney savored the heady feeling of power and triumph. She’d learned early in life that she could make people bend to her will just through nasty threats. It didn’t matter if she could make good on them or not. All that mattered was the victim believing she would.
“Okay, okay, but will you at least tell me what you want from me? What’s going on? Why was Joe stalking me?”
“Why do you think, you stupid cow?”
“I have no idea.”
“Did you forget what happened at the show? Your fucking boyfriend turned me into the cops, that’s what happened.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
“The best way to hurt him is to hurt you,” she sneered. “But you’re guilty too. You called the damn vet to check on King Henry.”
“But he was in a terrible state. You should be thanking me for helping him, not—”
“Hey, you stuck your nose where it didn’t belong, and that pissed me off. It still pisses me off. But enough of all this shit. Ah, finally, Joe’s back,” she exclaimed as they heard the sound of the patio door opening and closing. He’ll be very happy to see you here. You’ve saved him a lot of trouble.”
As if on cue Joe walked into the room, but seeing Heather he stopped short and broke into a wide grin.
“Well, well, look who’s here,” he exclaimed. “Talk about perfect timing.”
“Joe, please, I’ve done nothing to you. Just let me go. I won’t tell anyone I’ve seen Courtney, I swear. “
“I’ll make you a deal. Do exactly as I say and you’ll be fine.”
“And so will your horses,” Courtney chimed in.
“Okay, fine, whatever you want I’ll do it,” Heather said urgently.
“Good. It’s a simple request. Just follow my instructions to the letter. Start by pulling out your phone.”