Ghost River, Jon Coon [ebooks online reader TXT] 📗

“There’s plenty to lose. You be careful.” She hugged his arm and kissed his cheek.

Gabe stood on the crutches by his car and watched them leave. Shortly a blue pickup came down the tree-lined drive and parked beside him. Wyatt got out and stood to admire the mansion. “Dad told me about this place, but I’ve never been here. Cool.”

“We know it was you in the crane, Bodine. So before I arrest you, what do you want?”

“I heard Rogers and Janna are dead. Chalk up two more for Conners. You’ll never get him for any of this, Gabe. They’re untouchable. But we can make a deal.”

“After you tried to kill us I’m not sure I’m in a deal-making mood. What do you have in mind?”

“Your leg, did that happen in the river?”

“Yes, now answer my question.” Gabe shifted, uncomfortably.

“I’m sorry you were hurt, but help me and we can end this. You think they’re going to put up their hands and turn themselves in when you say pretty please? They killed your partner, Gabe, and my family too. It’s not going to stop until we stop them. Give me your evidence, and let me make them mad enough to want to shut me up. Then they’ll come after me, not you and your family. And believe me, I want them to come after me. What I’m offering is your only chance.”

“Wyatt, it’s over. We’ve got enough to stop this without more killing. Turn yourself in. We can work something out. Let us do our jobs, and it’s finished.”

“You found Corbitt’s briefcase?” Wyatt took a step back. His face turned to granite.

“Yes,” Gabe said hesitantly, “and everything we need to prove the fraud is there.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not asking anymore. Get me that briefcase and whatever else you’ve got, or you won’t like what happens next.”

Wyatt pulled a Beretta and leveled it at Gabe, “Get me that stuff, Gabe, it’s the only way to take them down. I won’t ask nice again.”

“Put the gun away, Wyatt. Don’t make this worse than it is. It’s not too late for you.” Gabe shook his head in disgust.

Wyatt ignored him and kept the gun on Gabe while he stepped up into the truck. “It’s going to get worse if you don’t help me. I’m sorry, but I’m out of options. Whatever happens next, it’s all on you.” His tires threw dust and gravel as he sped away from the house.

Gabe pulled the phone from his shirt pocket and called Bob. “He wants our evidence. He thinks he can destroy Conners. He pulled a gun and threatened me if we don’t give it to him.”

“And?” Bob said.

“He needs to learn it’s not polite to point guns at cops.”

Bob scoured, “That’s a big ten-four. We’ve got two units in pursuit. We’ll relieve him of that gun and give him a few years to improve his manners and negotiating skills.”

“Good,” Gabe said. “Call me when you’ve got him. I don’t want to spend the rest of the day looking over my shoulder. Tell me where to meet you, and I’ll pick up Carol. We’ve got a busy afternoon.”

1545

The River House Site

The clean-up crew had done an excellent job. Nothing was left of the old cypress camp house. Only the outhouse remained. Gabe got out and opened the back-seat door for Emily and two very happy dogs. Wesson was cautious, sniffing out the changes, but with taunting from Smith, who could now manage a trot, they were soon on the way to the river. “No skunks!” Emily shouted after them. She was sure the bark she got in reply was their promise to behave.

Carol gave Gabe the plans for the new house. He cut saplings and made stakes. Then got out two rolls of yellow police tape, a hundred-foot cloth measuring tape, and a compass. It took an hour.

When they were done the house was laid out in yellow, including the interior walls. As Emily stepped off the dimensions of her room, bath, and walk-in closet, she protested, “I’m not sure the closet’s big enough, Mom. I’m going to have lots of clothes.”

“It will be fine, honey. If you have that many clothes, we’ll get you a storage pod. Have you decided where you’re going to put the RV?” she asked Gabe.

“Yeah, I’m thinking the little knoll by the river, just past the cemetery. We put it under roof in a pull through, add a deck, a permanent awning, and it will last for years.”

“High water?” she worried.

“It’s on wheels,” he countered.

“Right,” she agreed. “Let’s go check it out. Em, are you coming?”

“I’m going to stay and make sure this is right,” Emily said, perplexed as she stood in her closet with the house plans in hand.

The spot Gabe had chosen was high ground with a great view. He measured the RV space then spray-painted a road with as few trees sacrificed as possible.

They sat on the grass where the new deck would be, enjoying the view. “Put the barn there,” Carol said, pointing to a slight rise in the meadow. “Fence from there to there, down to there . . . Oh, Gabe, it will be perfect. Well almost perfect. Perfect until . . .”

“And you are sure we can afford this?” he asked again.

“God bless you, Charlie Evans, for taking out that insurance,” she said.

“I guess so. Thank you, Charlie.”

The day was slipping past. Golden light and low shadows crept along the sleepy river. Their solace was suddenly shattered by the dogs’ fierce barking and then a gunshot.

Gabe dropped the crutches and ran, as best he could, back to the house plot. Both dogs met him on the trail. Carol pulled up short behind him as he checked the dogs for wounds. Not this time.

“Emily!” Carol screamed, and they bolted back up the trail.

CHAPTER 39

Breathless when they made the clearing, Carol continued screaming for Emily. Gabe got his Remington 12 gauge from the car, but when the dogs dropped at