Riddle (23 page)

              In moments they were in the bedroom and he was slowly undressing her, his mouth following where his hands led. He loved her slowly and deeply until she was breathless and lightheaded. Afterward they slept with their bodies entwined unaware of what was happening in Riddle and how their lives were about to change.

Chapter 42

              “Hey Grace,” Jack came up behind her. “Now that your car is working would you mind if Mandy ran this lunch order up to the crew at the Timbers?”

              Grace finished rolling the silverware into the white napkin, then reaching into her pocket she pulled out her car keys. “Sure Jack.”

              Coming from the back of the restaurant Mandy frowned. “I left my jacket in my car when my sister took it to school this morning.”

              Grace laughed. “Go ahead and wear mine. It’s in the car. You’ll need it; the heat doesn’t work very well.” She tossed Mandy the keys.

              Jack carried a box filled with sandwiches and drinks out to the car and Mandy followed. Returning a few minutes later Jack was rubbing his hands. “Man it got cold out there. I wouldn’t be surprised if we get snow within the next couple of weeks.”

              Glancing at the window Grace noticed the dark gray of the sky and agreed. “It does look like it might snow.” Then she returned to rolling silverware into napkins.

              After pulling on Grace’s jacket and flipping the hood up over her head Mandy got into the car. She drove slowly at first getting used to the way the car handled. By the time she reached the winding road that led to the Timbers she was more confident. She didn’t notice the black car following her until it tapped the rear bumper of the car. She jerked and looked quickly in the rearview mirror. The car bumped her again, harder this time. Mandy sped up trying to keep her eyes on the road while watching the car behind her. The dark machine hit her again, even harder. Mandy’s eyes darted back and forth looking for someplace to pull off the road. Suddenly the car dropped back and she took a deep breath. But her relief was short lived because the car suddenly sped up as if to pass her. Instead the driver swung to the side catching the rear end of the car and causing Mandy to veer off the road. She tried desperately to regain control, twisting the wheel. The tires slipped on the gravel then hit the muddy edge of the road before spinning across the road and flying into the brush. She hit the brakes but the car skidded and suddenly she was airborne and headed down the brushy side of the hill before crashing into the trunk of a tall pine tree. The front of the car crumpled and she was pinned behind the wheel, the air bag pressing against her face. Pushing the deflating bag down, she felt something warm running down over her lips. Reaching up she was stunned when her hand came away covered in blood.

              “Oh my God!” she began to cry softly. Shaking, she struggled to get out of the car but the door was stuck. Then she smelled the gas and saw the flames begin to flicker from the remains of the engine. Screaming she pushed harder against the door but it wouldn’t budge. Reaching down she tried to release her seat belt but she couldn’t get her fingers between the door and the clasp. Tugging at the belt she tried to push it down and climb out but it held tight. Blood was covering the front of the borrowed jacket now turning the blue to a dark midnight color. Panicking she looked toward the top of the hill and saw a tall form in a long dark coat watching her. She screamed for help but the figure just stood and watched; watched until the flames crept into the car and the smell of burning flesh mixed with the odor of a gasoline fueled fire. By the time she stopped screaming the dark figure had gotten back into the black car and driven off.

              Everyone in the restaurant turned toward the windows as the fire engine and the ambulance sped past. Grace was leading a group of ladies to a table and one of them remarked, “Must be a bad fire.” Soon state trooper cars followed, sirens screaming and blue flashing lights cutting through the gray afternoon.

              As she made her way back to the front of the restaurant a feeling of dread came over Grace. The sound of the sirens faded in the distance but the feeling in the pit of her stomach remained.

              Kort was climbing down a ladder when he noticed the smoke rising from lower down the hill. “Looks like someone started a fire down there.”

              Frank glanced down the hill and saw the thick smoke that was now creating a cloud halfway down the hill. “That doesn’t look good.”

              The crew stood around watching and then they heard the sirens. It sounded as though a dozen emergency vehicles were climbing the hill toward them.

              “What the hell is going on?” one of the guys asked. “I hope it doesn’t slow down lunch.” He laughed and shaking his head walked over to his car.

              Kort squinted, staring at the thickening smoke, the screaming of the sirens carrying on the breeze. Suddenly he ran toward his truck. “Hey! What’s wrong?” Frank called after him. Kort squealed out of the parking lot barely stopping as he pulled onto the road and headed down the hill. Halfway down a police car blocked the road and beyond he could see several emergency vehicles. The smell of burning trees and brush was compounded by the odor of melting rubber and gasoline. Kort jumped out of the truck and tried to run past the trooper who stood beside his car, the red and blue flashing lights casting a rainbow on his peaked hat.

              “I’m sorry sir I can’t let you through.”

              “What happened? What’s going on?” Kort tried to see past him.

              “Car accident. A car ran off the road.” The young trooper began to give him directions to another road he could use to get down the hill. But Kort didn’t hear him. He tried to push past him but the trooper grabbed his arm. “Sir! You cannot go through!”

              Eyes blazing Kort asked him, “What kind of car?”

              “What?” Then realization dawned and he asked, “Do you know who it is sir?”

              “My girlfriend lives up there. What kind of car?” Kort’s voice was shaking now.

              Using his radio, the trooper called to ask one of the other troopers. As soon as Kort heard the description he pushed the trooper out of the way and began running down the hill. He arrived at the scene just as the paramedics were carrying a stretcher over the debris strewn across the road and down the embankment. The top of Grace’s charred hood peeked out from the cover they had placed over the body.

              Several troopers grabbed him holding him back. “No!” He screamed. “Let me go!”

              One of the firemen came up and looked him directly in the face. “Calm down son”

              The smell of burning rubber and gas was even stronger and Kort sagged back against the troopers, watching as the stretcher was loaded into the ambulance. “Is she…?”

              Nodding at the troopers, the fireman took Kort’s arm and led him to one of the nearby police cars. “I’m sorry son. Are you sure that’s your girl’s car? It’s pretty burned up.”

              “I saw her jacket, her hood.” He looked back toward the burning debris. “She was bringing lunch. I work with Riddle Construction. We’re working up the hill. She was just delivering lunch from the diner.” He looked at the fireman.

              Then Butch was there, pale and shaken. When he saw Kort he frowned. “What’s he doing here?”

              “He thinks it might be his girlfriend.” The fireman looked from Butch to Kort. “You know him?”

              “Everyone knows him.” Turning to Kort he said, “You don’t have a lot of luck with girlfriends do you Kort?”

              Kort was on his feet in a flash, grabbing Butch by the collar and pressing him back toward the rear of the car. A low guttural growl came from deep inside of him and he raised one fist to strike. The firemen caught his arm and pulled him back. “Hold on!” The three men struggled and soon a trooper joined them to restrain Kort. He was shoved into the back of Butch’s patrol car and the door slammed behind him. His rage melted into grief and he buried his face in his hands.

Chapter 43

              As he watched Kort speed out of the parking lot Frank realized what the young man was thinking. Digging his cell phone out of his shirt pocket he called the diner. Jack answered on the third ring. “Hey Jack, did you already send Grace up with our lunch order?”

              “No, Mandy is bringing it in Grace’s car. Isn’t she there yet?”

              Watching the smoke thicken he murmured, “No. Looks like something happened on the road about halfway down the hill.”

              “Yeah we heard the sirens go by. Maybe she got stuck in some traffic thing if they blocked the road.”

              “Could be. Why don’t you give her a call? Kort just headed down that way. Maybe they can hook up on the road and save her from sitting there.” Frank suggested.

              “Will do. Let Kort know to look for her.” The conversation ended and Frank quickly dialed Kort’s cell phone. Getting no answer he tried again. When Kort answered his voice was shaking.

              “What’s wrong?” Frank asked immediately.

              “Grace,” was all Kort could manage to say.

              “She’s at the diner. I just talked to Jack. What’s going on?”
              Kort stared out at the ambulance which was pulling away, no lights or sirens to indicate they were hurrying to save a life; there was no life to save. “But they just took her. I saw them take her.”

              “Kort what are you talking about?” Frank’s tone was firm. “What’s going on?”

              “Her car went off the road here. They just took her away. I saw them take her away.”

              Frank sat down hard on the curb. “It’s Mandy. They sent Mandy in Grace’s car. Oh God. That poor girl.” The rest of the crew gathered around when they saw Frank collapse.

              “I have to go!” Kort disconnected and quickly dialed Grace’s phone. She answered immediately. “Grace? Oh God. Grace.” Tears of relief filled his eyes.

              Confused she asked him what was wrong. Kort proceeded to tell her what had happened but she cut him off. “Mandy has my car! Where is Mandy?”

              Sobering, he told her what he had seen. “I think she’s dead Grace. They had her completely covered.”

              Grace’s hand flew to her mouth and she almost dropped the phone. “No. Maybe she’s just hurt.”

              By this time Kort was banging on the window of the patrol car. Butch opened the door and asked impatiently, “What?”

              “It’s not Grace,” Kort told him calmly. “It’s Mandy from the diner.”

              Butch’s eyes squinted. “What? What are you talking about?”

              “Mandy was driving Grace’s car. Grace is at the diner. Mandy was in the car.” He offered his phone to Butch. “Here. Talk to her if you don’t believe me.”

              Butch took the phone hesitantly. When he heard Grace’s voice on the line a look of shock crossed his face. “Stay where you are. Someone will be there to talk to you in a couple of minutes.” He handed the phone back to Kort. “Get out of the car and get out of the way. Now!” Then he turned to find the sheriff, stalking off and leaving Kort to climb out of the car.

              Grace was crying. She kept seeing Mandy hurrying out the door, remembering how she told her to take the car. “Can you come here?”

              “I’m on my way. It will take me a while because I have to go up the hill a little farther to reach the back road.” He was already running toward his car. “The police are coming to talk to you. I’ll be right there.” He took a breath as he got into his car. “I love you.” Crying harder Grace told him she loved him. He could hear voices in the background and knew Jack was asking her what had happened. Suddenly the phone disconnected and rather than call her back Kort sped up the hill.

              Jack had tried to call Mandy twice but got her voice mail both times. Figuring she was probably either driving or had reached the Timbers and left her phone in the car he gave up. Then he saw Grace sit down at one of the tables. Her face was pale and he could see her hand shaking as she talked on her phone. Frowning, he walked toward her. He could see several people standing in the parking lot looking toward the plumes of smoke in the distance. His eyes moved slowly back to Grace who was obviously crying now. “Grace what’s happening?”

              She didn’t answer, didn’t seem to even hear him. He repeated his question, afraid of the answer he would get. By this time two of the servers had joined him. Laying her phone on the table Grace looked up at him. “There was an accident. Mandy,” she hesitated, “Mandy had an accident.”

              “Was that her? Does she need me to go there?” Jack asked nervously.

              Grace shook her head. “No it was Kort. The police are coming here.”

              “Is she okay?” Ashlee asked.

              Uncertain what the answer was, she struggled for words to say. “I don’t know. Kort said they took her in an ambulance.”

              A siren was screaming closer and closer and as the car pulled in to the parking lot several customers stood up to see what was happening. All heads turned toward the door as a tall trooper came inside, his face serious. Ignoring the stares of the diners he headed directly to Jack. “Let’s go to your office,” he said shortly. Then looking down at Grace he asked, “Are you Grace Donahue?”

              She nodded speechlessly.

              “I need you to come with us.” He ignored Jack’s questions as he followed him back to the office, Grace trailing behind. The murmur of the voices behind her all asked the same question, what had happened? Was Mandy hurt?

              Once in Jack’s small office the trooper leaned against the file cabinet and told Jack and Grace to sit down. “Jack do you have Mandy’s contact information? Everything in the car was burned up.”

              Grace covered her mouth to stifle a cry. Jack’s mouth dropped open. “Is she…?”

              The trooper nodded somberly. “I’m afraid so. The car went off the road and it looks like it rolled down the hill a ways before hitting a tree.” He turned back to Grace. “I’m sorry ma’am. I’m State Trooper John Hightower. How did Miss Davis happen to be driving your car?”

              Jack answered before Grace could gather her thoughts. “I needed to send a lunch order up to the construction crew at The Timbers. Mandy had loaned her car to her sister and Grace said it was okay if she used her car.” He stopped. “It was my fault. I sent her.”

              “Jack, no.” Grace broke in. “It was an accident. It could have been any of us. It could have been you.”

              Jack was shaking his head, his face drawn and pained. “I should have taken it myself. I never should have let her go. It should have been me.”

              At that point John Hightower stopped them both. “It appears she just went off the road. Of course we’ll have to investigate but it wasn’t your fault sir.”

              Still shaking his head Jack dug through his desk drawer looking for Mandy’s emergency card. “I should call her mother.” His voice cracked.

              “Sir, that’s my job.” Hightower took the card from Jack’s trembling hand. “I’m going to head over there now.” Turning to Grace he asked for her contact information. “We may need to ask you a few questions about your car. And your boyfriend freaked out a little up there.”

              Biting her lip to hold herself together she nodded. “I know.”

              Touching the brim of his hat he turned to leave. But he stopped at the office door and turned to look back at her. “Miss Donahue, have you had any problems with anyone in Riddle?”

              “No. I haven’t been here that long; I don’t know that many people.”

              “Your car was working okay?”

              Nodding she said, “I just had a new transmission put in. Jerry looked over everything. It was fine. Why?”

              A slightly dissatisfied expression crossed Hightower’s face as turned and left the office. As he headed out the door Kort pushed past him, bursting in to Jack’s office. As soon as Grace saw him she threw herself into his arms, sobbing. He held her tightly looking at Jack over the top of her head. Without a word Jack left them alone in the office knowing he had to tell the rest of the staff what had happened and wondering where he would find the words.

              First he went to the front door and turned the “open” sign to “closed”. Then he told Ashlee, “When the last customers are finished comp their meals and close it down.”             

              Ashlee’s eyes searched his face. “Mandy?”

              Jack shook his head slowly and Ashlee’s hand covered her mouth to stifle a cry. “We’ll have a meeting when we close. Can you hold it together?”

              “Yes,” she responded unsteadily. Then she turned and went back to her job .It was obvious from her shaking shoulders that she struggling to keep her composure and failing miserably.

              Jack glanced back at his office door before going to the cash register to start closing out the day’s sales. As he began counting cash a murmur spread through the restaurant and several women gasped loudly. Jack resisted looking up and kept his eyes on his hands and his mind focused on what he was doing. At one point he was aware of Ashlee hurrying past him to the kitchen and then he heard his cook’s deep voice loudly proclaiming, “Oh my God!” Glancing over his shoulder he could see Ashlee being embraced by the man’s huge tattooed arms.

              The diner door opened and a cold draft of air swept through like frosty fingers. Allowing himself a quick look at the departing guests, he saw their bowed heads and caught traces of their whispered and shocked voices. No one looked back at him and he was glad. Jack wasn’t certain how long he could keep control of his emotions.

              Back in Jack’s office Kort stroked Grace’s hair as she sobbed into his chest. Taking a deep breath he whispered, “I thought I lost you. I can’t lose you.”

              Grace bent her head to look up at him, tears glistening on her cheeks. “It could have been me. It should have been me.”

              “It was an accident Grace. Mandy always drove a little too fast. She probably took one of those curves too fast and hit a wet spot. It isn’t your fault. It isn’t anyone’s fault.” He kissed her softly. “I’m taking you home. I’ll tell Jack we’re leaving and I’ll call Frank and Chad and tell them I’m taking the rest of today and maybe tomorrow off.”

              For the first time in a very long time Grace was willing to let someone else take charge. Her mind was racing and her head throbbed with the beginning of a headache. Beneath it all was a sense of guilt. In spite of what Kort said she felt as though she should have been driving her car.

              “Where’s your jacket?”

              Grace’s eyes widened and her eyes filled with tears again. “Mandy borrowed it. She was wearing it.”

              Kort didn’t say anything as his mind processed the additional information. Mandy was driving Grace’s car. Mandy was wearing Grace’s jacket. Mandy was driving toward the Timbers where Grace lived and he worked. “Grace who knew you weren’t in the car?”

              “What?” She shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

              “Never mind. Let’s just get out of here.” Taking her hand, he led out to talk to Jack. The restaurant was eerily quiet and the few remaining patrons turned to stare at them. Four middle aged women were standing at the register talking to Jack but abruptly stopped as Kort and Grace drew near. Kort wondered if they were talking about the accident or if they were talking about him. Their hurried departure answered his question.

              “Go on home Gracie,” Jack squeezed her hand. “We’re closing for the day. And take tomorrow off. I’ve got you covered.” He turned his gaze on Kort, “You might want to lay low for a couple of days.” He inclined his head toward the ladies who were scurrying out the door into the cold, gray day. “You know how Riddle is.”

              Kort sighed heavily. “I had a feeling. Thanks Jack.” Before Grace could say anything Kort guided her to the door. He could feel the eyes of every person left in the dining room in the restaurant boring in to his back. And he knew what they were thinking. He didn’t look back at them and it was just as well. Even Ashlee had stopped clearing a table to stare at him as he led Grace outside to his truck.

              Once in the truck Grace spoke. “What did he mean about laying low? What did you mean about my car and my jacket? What’s going on?”

              “I don’t know Grace. Something doesn’t feel right.” He kept his eyes on the road. Traffic was slow and slowed even more at the turn for the Timbers. Butch stood at the bottom of the road directing traffic and when he saw Kort’s truck he signaled him to pull over. “Shit.” Kort swore softly.

              Pulling onto the shoulder he watched as the cars that passed slowed to look at him. He opened the window as Butch approached. “It’s okay,” he said more to himself than Grace.

              His legs slightly spread, hand on the butt of his gun, Butch spoke softly and coldly. “I think your crew called off for the day. So you can go on home.”