Chapter Thirty-Two
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
“Is something wrong?” Geoff asked, frowning as he spoke. “Finish what you were going to say.”
“Sorry, I’m having a bit of a dizzy spell,” Annie lied as Brody disappeared. “I need some air. This space is so claustrophobic it’s getting to me.”
“You wouldn’t be trying to pull a fast one, would you Annie? That would be a mistake. You know how I hate being lied to,” he snapped, then raising his gun, he jerked sideways and stared out the small opening. “Stay where you are, and I mean it, Annie. Stay here! I’m going to have a quick look around, but I’ll be watching this cave the whole time. Don’t do anything stupid. Understood?“
“But I need some air.”
“You’ll get some air when I know everything’s okay. Once you start cooperating things will be a lot easier for both of us. While I’m gone think about how great things were when we first started working together. It can be that away again. I’ll be right back.”
* * *
As Geoff climbed out the narrow entrance, he darted his eyes from side to side. Everything appeared to be normal, but he was sure Annie had seen something—or someone—over his shoulder.
“Brody, show yourself,” he demanded, thinking it must have been him. “We can talk this out. Annie and I have been discussing her new album. She’s only halfway through and she needs to come back to Nashville to finish it and prepare for her next tour. She’s under contract. She can’t just up and leave because she’s a bit homesick. I’ve told her you’re welcome to visit, but taking off like she did isn’t acceptable.”
“Geoff…stop this craziness,” Annie called from behind him.
Looking over his shoulder he saw her standing a few yards away.
“Annie, what the hell are you doing?” he demanded, spinning around to face her. “I told you to wait.”
“I may be under contract, but that doesn’t mean you can make me your prisoner.”
“Get back in there,” he ordered, raising the gun and waving it at the cave’s entrance. “If you don’t you’ll be—”
But a deep growl sent a chill down his spine.
Darting his eyes around he spotted Brody’s dog, but she wasn’t snarling. She was just sitting there, staring at him and panting.
“I think you’d better put that gun down before someone get’s hurt,” Annie continued. “Don’t you know you’re already in terrible trouble? You’re only making things worse.”
“Annie, if you die before your contract expires I’m entitled to not just all your recording royalties, but the money that comes in from your merchandising. Did you know that?” Geoff asked, walking slowly towards her. “And that contract has an automatic renewal clause. Unless I receive a termination in writing it continues on. I’ll make a fucking fortune if anything happens to you. Maybe that’s what I should do. Just get rid of you once and for all,” he grunted, raising the gun and pointing it at her. “You could just disappear, or better yet, I’ll find Brody and make it look like he was behind your death…yeah…then he shot himself because he was riddled with remorse.”
“No-one’s shooting anyone,” Brody declared, moving out from the shadow of the trees. “It’s over, Geoff. The sheriff and his deputies are on their way, and they know exactly where you are and what’s goin’ on.”
“FUCK YOU!” Geoff screamed, stepping forward and taking aim.
But he suddenly heard the menacing growl again.
It had come from above and behind him.
And this time it was louder and sounded more threatening.
Slowly pivoting on his feet, he looked up and spied a huge, snarling, drooling canine sitting on a narrow ledge above the cave. Before he had a chance to shoot the animal leapt on top of him sending him crashing to the ground, and as the dog sank his teeth into Geoff’s arm the gun fell from his hand. Charging forward Brody picked it up and shot at the ground to scare the animal away.
* * *
Though she’d watched the mayhem in shock, Annie quickly recovered and ran to Brody’s side.
“Are you okay, darlin’?” he asked urgently, hugging her tightly but keeping his eyes on Geoff who was groaning in abject pain
“Merlin saved me…he saved us,” she exclaimed. “He’s a hero.”
“That was Merlin?”
“Yes, and look, it seems he and Bella already know each other,” she added, pointing across at Bella and Merlin sitting next to each other.
“But…he’s a wolf.”
“Brody, he can’t be, he just looks like one.”
“We’ll talk about this later,” he said as the sound of sirens filled the air. “I called the sheriff when I found the car empty. That will be him and his deputies. But are you sure you’re okay? That creep didn’t hurt you, did he?”
“No, it was just scary. I knew he had a dark side, but—”
“Brody? Annie?” a deep voice called, interrupting her. “It’s the sheriff. Where are you?”
“Over here, sheriff,” Brody called back. “We need an ambulance, not for us, for Geoffrey Palmer.”
“It sure is good to see you both,” the sheriff declared, striding towards them with two of his men following. “How are you Annie?”
“Just a bit shaky,” she replied, but as the deputies hurried across to Geoff, the sheriff stared down at Merlin.
“What are you doin’ here, fella?”
“You know him?” Annie asked, wondering if the big dog had a home.
“I sure do, but I’ll tell you the story after I’ve finished dealin’ with the situation in here. You need to wait out by the cars. I called an ambulance just in case and it looks like its needed. If it arrives before we come out can you please tell them where we are?”
“Of course, sheriff,” Brody replied, and as he guided Annie away, Merlin and Bella walked quietly along beside them.