“Did someone kill her?”
“I don’t know for sure. There was speculation that it wasn’t the brakes, that maybe she was forced off the road. But the investigation never went anywhere.”
Dan took hold of Kelly’s hand as tears streamed down her cheek. This was something he never shared with Kelly. It would have been hard for a young person to accept. It was bad enough she lost her mother. She didn’t need to know that it was not an accident.
“What did Dr. Owens mean about my ‘female admirers?’”
Kelly took a deep breath and retained control as a slight smile crossed her face.
“You do have quite a covey of fans,” she laughed. “Nancy Davie has been here four or five times, and so has Ms. Witherspoon.” Kelly frowned a moment. “Then there was this Ms. Wilcox. Who is she?”
“Not her, too. I can’t believe they made such a fuss.”
“Nancy has been just fine, but Martha has been driving everyone absolutely crazy. First she thought you were going to die. If that wasn’t bad enough, then she caught on why Nancy was here. Ms. Wilcox left as soon as she saw the other two. Frankly, I don’t know what any of them see in you.”
Dan shook his head. “Me neither.”
“People are really curious about what happened.”
“I’m still trying to sort it out,” Dan said, shaking his head.
“Why did he want to hurt you?” Kelly asked as her hand reached over and touched her father.
“It has to do with a twenty-year-old murder and I think what happened to Junior and the Ames Boy.”
“You mean he killed them all?” she asked with a puzzled look on her face.
“I thought so at first.”
“But now?” Kelly asked.
“I don’t know. He claimed he had nothing to do with any of it.”
“Maybe he lied.”
“He didn’t have any reason to lie. Those razorbacks worked him over pretty good.”
Kelly shuddered a moment. “He wasn’t the only one they worked over.”
“Yeah, well, I had the gun.”
Kelly laughed mockingly. “A thirty-eight! I’d think you’d have more sense than to go chasing a man into the tall pines knowing those devils were there.”
Kelly looked ready to cry as Dan reached up, took her hand, and then squeezed it reassuringly.
“Everything is okay now,” Dan whispered.
“Nancy’s been coming over to the house. She’s nice.”
“I’m glad you’re getting along and you like her.”
Dan shut his eyes. Kelly reached over and hugged him. The last few days had been nerve-wracking, worrying if she was going to lose her father. She was just thankful he was on the mend now.
CHAPTER 20
Nancy parked her Outback outside Dan’s house. She quickly walked around to the passenger door, where Kelly was already helping her father out of the car.
“Here, let me help,” Nancy said, reaching for Dan.
Dan held up his hands. “I’m not an invalid,” he snapped.
“You’re also not a well man,” Kelly added.
Dan winced in pain. He swayed a moment and then grabbed hold of Nancy’s arm. At that moment he knew he would need their help and arguing about it would get him nowhere fast.
“My head hurts,” he said.
“See! You need us. There’s nothing wrong with letting people help you out until you are better,” Kelly argued.
“Just get me into the house.”
It was slow going and they managed to get him into the house and settled in bed. Although they’d released him from the hospital, there was still a long recuperation period ahead for Dan.
* * *
Dan sat on a chaise lounge while Nancy stood at the grill turning the chicken. He’d enjoyed the past week doing nothing but letting Nancy and Kelly care of him. It reminded him of another time in his life when things were right with the world. Nancy would not let him see the paper and the local news was never turned on. However, as nice as that was, Dan knew he had work to do and tomorrow it would be back to the salt mines for him. He would eventually have to face the Senator.
Kelly handed Dan the envelope marked “Confidential” that Mac had dropped off earlier.
Dan looked at it and laughed. “This must have killed Mac,” he commented as he glanced at the return address, “FBI.” Dan quickly opened it.
Nancy turned to him. “Is it from your friend?” she asked.
Dan held up his hand a moment as he read. “Oh, this is just great!”
Nancy walked over to Dan, she read over his shoulder. “Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Why are you checking murders that far north?” she asked with a puzzled look.
“Something Alan said,” Dan relayed and then looked up. “That friend I have in Little Rock. He did a little checking for me. This Jackson Hole murder was in ’89. That was the year Alan and the Senator were up there bear hunting.”
“And?” she asked as she quickly walked over to the grill to turn the chicken.
Dan flipped through the pages. His face turned white suddenly.
“Shit,” he snapped as he turned to Nancy. “There’s a list of unsolved murders that match our MO in Virginia, Maryland, and the Delaware area.”
“How many?”
“Looks like fifteen at least.”
The phone rang suddenly. Dan picked up the portable phone on the table.
“Yeah, what’s up?” Dan asked and then listened a moment while Nancy watched him intently. “If you can reach Billy Bob, send him out there for backup.”
Dan set the phone down and then struggled to get up off the lawn chair. He stood for a moment before taking a step forward.
“Where do you think you are going?” Kelly asked.
“I have to go to the Senator’s house,” Dan said.
Kelly tried to step in front of him. “The doctor only released you for desk duty. You aren’t well enough yet to go traipsing around the countryside.”
Dan looked down at Kelly. “It’s important. I have to go.”
Nancy quickly stepped closer to Dan. “Why?” she asked.
As much as he appreciated their concern for his well-being, right then he had a job to do.
“It’s Jeffrey Ames. He went out to confront the Senator last night and hasn’t been home since.”
Kelly stared at Dan and then turned to Nancy while shaking her head, wanting Nancy to convince her father not to go.
“Why would he do that?” Nancy asked finally.
“Seems he found a journal in Richie’s room, and wanted to confront the Senator about it.”
“Let someone else take care of it,” Kelly cried.
“Conroy’s wife is in labor,” Dan said as he reached for the envelope. “Besides, it’s my job and I have to finish what I started.”
Nancy quickly took the chicken off the grill and put the platter on the picnic table.
“I’ll drive you,” she said and then turned to Kelly. “He’ll be okay. I promise you.”
Dan walked slowly into the house while Nancy followed close behind.
CHAPTER 21
The squad car quickly came to a skidding halt in front of the Senator’s house narrowly missing Jeffrey’s pick-up truck that was parked near the front entrance. Dan refused to let Nancy drive and only let her come under the condition he drove. That didn’t set well with her but there was nothing she could do to stop him.
The grounds looked deserted. Dan slowly got out of the squad and searched around for signs of life. Given all the activity earlier that week, this troubled Dan now. Nancy hurried around the car and followed Dan up the path. Dan grabbed hold of the railing and steadied himself. He stopped and took a deep breath and then climbed the few steps to the front door.
“Are you okay?” Nancy asked with concern.
“There’s no turning back now.”