Unwitting Alliances - Hunter Blake Series by Peggy Lea Baker
Chapter Twelve
“Dusty. Talk to me,” Carolyn Allensby said. “I’ve been waiting for your call. What’s taken so long? Do you have him?
“No Ma’am,” a man replied nervously.
“Why not? What happened? Gerry sent him on a simple errand. The location was ideal.”
“We know. We drove in and were hiding in an empty hangar. Blake flew in and we were getting ready to drive out to meet him when a black helicopter came in from the east and set down. It was armed with missiles.
“What!” Carolyn exclaimed. “Who else could have possibly known he was going to be there!”
“I don’t know. We didn’t say anything to anybody. I’m telling you, something’s up because they tried to kill him. They shot one of their own men, too.”
“This is unbelievable!” Carolyn was fuming. “What exactly happened?”
“Blake turned over the attaché to one of their people who dropped the thing. It popped open and some paper fluttered out of the case. Blake took off running then someone from the helicopter took a shot at him. We saw him go down.”
“Was he killed?” Carolyn asked anxiously.
“We thought he was hit, but apparently not because as soon as the chopper left a woman and a dog ran out of the plane. He jumped up and they ran back to the jet. We thought the other guy was dead because he was shot nearly point blank and bleeding. Then he got up and ran for Blake’s plane too!”
“Did you recognize him?”
“Yeah. It was that kid, Brian.”
“Brian?”
“Yeah. The kid Hamilton checked out for us at the compound. Zack got a clear look at him through the binoculars before he jumped on the plane.”
“But Hunter’s okay?”
“Yeah.”
Carolyn let out a sigh. “Why do things always have to be so complicated?” She said. “Okay. What else can you tell me? Anything?”
“Yea, ma’am,” Dusty said. “So the jet takes off in a hurry. A couple minutes later the chopper comes back. It looked like maybe they were on an attack run but just kept heading south. If they thought they could catch up to Blake, they’re crazy. He could easily out run them.”
“Sounds like they were tracking him,” Carolyn said. “But why?” She profaned under her breath. “So the case is dropped and paper starts blowing all over.”
“To be honest, ma’am, it looked like money to us.”
“It wasn’t money. Only paper cut to the size of money but not the real thing.”
“Well, we stayed in the hangar the whole time and waited until we were pretty sure no one was coming back. So about thirty minutes later, we pulled out and could see some of that paper blowing around. So we grabbed some of it. It was ‘C’ notes! So we pocketed as many as we could then got the hell outta there!”
“Hundred dollar bills?” she asked in surprise. “I don’t like this! Someone else knew about our plan but what I don’t understand is how that money ended up in the attaché. Gerry was only to fill it with cut paper. All we wanted to do was get Hunter... but safely! That’s all!” She was furious.
“I know,” Dusty agreed.
“Okay. Tell me about the woman you saw with Hunter. What did she look like?”
“Young, slender, medium height, long brown hair.”
“It must be Janet. Gerry’s assistant. I’m not at all pleased. This was supposed to have been an easy operation. Her instructions were to give the attaché to Hunter and go home. Now everything has obviously escalated. I need to know who’s behind this. I’ll talk to Gerry, but find Hunter. I want him unharmed,” she ordered.
“Yes, ma’am. What about the woman and Brian?”
“If they’re all still together, you may have to take all three, unless you can manage to get Hunter alone.”
“And the dog?”
“He’s dispensable,” she stated. “So you think they flew into to Mexico?”
“Only that they headed in that direction after taking off. My guess though, is he probably circled around and is on his way back to L.A. He may try to get a hold of Gerry.”
“Perhaps,” she said. “We’ll monitor things from here, but see if you can pick up his signal, just in case he decides to head back to Idaho, or possibly someplace else. We need to find him first! Stay in touch.”
“Yes, Ma’am.
She sat at her desk focused on her computer screen when a voice called to her from her partially opened office door.
“Aren’t you coming to bed?”
“Gerry, dear. I said I’d be up soon.”
He stepped into the room. “Carolyn. I’m worried.”
“About?”
“Everything. I thought you said we were getting out... that we were finished with this business.”
“Sweetheart,” Carolyn stood up and walked over to her husband. “Gerry, dear, I told you everything will be fine, but I need to ask you a question.”
“What is it?”
“What did you put in that attaché?”
“Cut up paper, just like you asked. Why?”
Carolyn looked into her husband’s eyes studying his face. “It was filled with money, dear,” she said.
“Money!”
“Yes and Hunter was shot at.”
“What! Oh no... is he...?
“He’s fine... for now, but someone flew into that airfield in an armed helicopter, took the attaché, and tried to kill Hunter.”
“But how did the money get into it? I filled it with paper myself and left it on the desk with instructions for Janet to deliver it to Hunter. That’s all.”
“Yes, well, she was with him and so was that mutt.”
Gerry turned away, obviously upset. “I didn’t want anything to happen to Hunter. None of this is his fault! He’s been a good friend to me. He trusts me... at least he did. Now that’s all changed.”
“I care about Hunter too.” Carolyn said. “But we had to do something... to protect ourselves.” She pulled him around and kissed his cheek. “When this is all over we’ll take another trip somewhere nice. How about Europe? You love France and all that wonderful food and wine.” She draped her arms around his neck and smiled.
“Yeah, okay,” he said sullenly.
“Go to bed, dear. I’ll be up momentarily. I have our men working on this.”
Gerry quietly left and Carolyn walked to the large window near her desk staring out into the night. Ornamental lights cast a soft glow in their well-manicured back yard. The water in their spacious, lighted pool was calm and in the distance a dazzling downtown Los Angeles and surrounding communities stretched for miles beyond their lofty hillside estate.
Carolyn organized the papers on her desk, switched off a lamp, and left her office, closing the door behind her. She hesitated a moment at a faint rustling sound and peered down the darkened hall in the direction of the kitchen. Watching and listening for a moment, she finally shrugged and headed upstairs.
A figure stepped out of the shadows of a recessed doorway in the hall. He paused before heading back into the kitchen then slipped out a back door.
Hours later, Carolyn paced anxiously at the top of their sweeping staircase, waiting for someone to answer her call. “Why don’t you pick up?” she whispered tersely.
She shoved her phone into a robe pocket just as Gerry came out of their bedroom and joined her at the top of the stairs.
“Trouble sleeping?” he asked.
“Yes, dear. So much to think about. I need to find out who’s behind this double-cross.”
“In the morning, sweetheart,” Gerry said. “Come back to bed. Staying up all night isn’t going to get us any answers.”
“Of course, my love. You’re right. You can rub my back and help ease the tension, just like you always do. You’re so good to me, you know.”
“I try,” Gerry replied. “You know, maybe the hot tub would feel good instead. It??
“The hot tub does sound like a good idea,” Carolyn said and smiled up at him. “Want to join me?”
“I’d love to.”
“I’ll get my swimsuit,” she said.
“Why bother?” Gerry grinned at her. “Nobody will be watching.”
They wandered downstairs and out to the pool and the adjoining hot tub. Although early spring, the late night Southern California air was unusually warm due to a dry breeze blowing in from the high desert region east of Los Angeles.
“Isn’t it too early in the year for the Santa Ana’s to begin?” she asked, feeling the dry air blow against her face.
“I have no idea, dear,” he responded. “I suppose.”
Unconcerned, Carolyn dropped her robe and Gerry helped her step into the warm water.
“Would you like a glass of wine?” he asked.
“That would be nice.”
“I’ll be right back.”
Gerry headed inside while Carolyn settled down in the warm water. The hot tub was slightly elevated at the near end of their infinity pool with an unobstructed view beyond. She gazed out across the vast Los Angeles basin with its hundreds of miles of avenues and boulevards. All were dressed in the pinkish-orange glow of sodium-vapor street lamps.
There was a never-ending parade of vehicles traversing all sectors of the great metropolis and at all hours of the day and night. Headlights sparkled like diamonds and taillights were equally dazzling rubies.
High-rises sported disproportionate checkerboard patterns of intermittently lit office windows, while red beacons atop each building blinked their constant warning to low flying aircraft. To the west, a passing freighter was barely visible as a collection of tiny pinpoints of lights rising and falling on powerful swells of the ocean. A few crickets chirped harmoniously, expressing their gratitude for a splendid evening, along with one lone frog echoing his sentiments as well.
“A nice evening,” Carolyn said quietly when Gerry returned with her drink.
“That it is,” he replied admiring his wife of fifteen years. “Remember when we bought this place?”
“Yes,” she said looking up at him. “Yes, I do. I love it here. I love being up above everything and being able to see so far. It’s almost like we are living in a castle and our kingdom lies at our feet with so many peasants out there.” She gestured casually with one hand. “So many little people scurrying about, living humdrum lives. So many silly little people. This is so much better, don’t you think?”
“We do live a comfortable life,” Gerry said then looked up at the sound of a slight rustling in some shrubbery beyond. He smiled. “Probably the neighbor’s cat on the prowl.”
“More than likely,” she agreed then playfully tapped the surface of the water. “I thought you were going to join me. Change your mind?” She studied her husband’s face. “Is there something wrong, dear?”
“I don’t know. I’m just worried about everything. I’m worried about Hunter.”
Carolyn flicked some water at him. “Like you said, there isn’t much we can do right now. Come join me. We can worry later this morning, when we can think more clearly.”
“I hope so.”
She coyly eyed her husband. “Are you keeping something from me? Something you haven’t told me?” She giggled. “Are you keeping delicious secrets from me?”
“Delicious secrets? I can’t keep anything from you, delicious or otherwise.” He gazed out across the darkened expanse. “I think I need a drink too. I’ll be right back.”
Carolyn leaned back and closed her eyes while Gerry went back inside. He slowly poured his drink, swirling it in his glass for a moment before heading back outside. Approaching the hot tub, he stopped and stared where his wife now lay slumped over, the water turning a light pink. He stared in disbelief and looked around then quietly stepped back into the house. Locking the door he picked up the phone and dialed.
“911. What is your emergency?” a voice answered.
“It’s my wife!” Gerry said in a panicked whisper. “She’s been shot!”
Within thirty minutes the Allensby home was alive with police activity.
“What have we got?” Detective Miller asked a uniformed officer.
“Not sure yet, sir. Either a murder-suicide or a double homicide. Won’t know until Stratton gets the bodies back to his lab. Either way, it’s a mess.”
“Yeah,” the detective agreed examining the bloody scene in the kitchen.
“So, where is Stratton?”
“Out back,” the officer pointed.
Detective Miller headed outside to the hot tub. “What have you got?” he asked his forensics expert.
“Apparently the lady of the house decided it would be a nice time of night to go skinny dipping in the hot tub,” he said in his comfortable southern accent. “She’d been sipping wine, it appears, but the glass fell into the water so we can’t be sure what she was drinking, although an opened bottle of wine was sitting on a counter in the kitchen. I’ll know better when I have a chance to examine it, her stomach contents, and any blood I can still extract.”
“She was shot, though?”
“Yes. Once. From the back. Through and through. They’re looking for the bullet, but in the dark, it’s going to be difficult to find. Given the possible trajectory, though, I’d say the shooter stood over there.” He pointed to a side yard gate. Some of your guys are collecting evidence.”
“Good,” the detective said nodding thoughtfully. “So what about the guy inside?”
“Looks like a suicide.”
“You’re not convinced?”
“Not yet. Like I said, I’ll be able to tell you more after I’ve gotten them both to my lab.”
Detective Miller wandered back inside the mansion observing the various teams collecting evidence. They were going through every room, but the kitchen in particular, where a body lay covered with a sheet. He eventually walked out the front door.
“Neighbors hear anything?” he asked his partner, Detective Morgan.
“No. At this hour, everyone else around here was asleep. Plus, it isn’t like they’re all crammed in here together in this neighborhood,” she gestured.
“Yeah, okay,” Miller said with a nod. “These high and mighty people sure know how to live, don’t they? I mean, look at this place.” He glanced around.
“Yeah, all this and a bloody kitchen and hot tub to boot. It’s definitely my idea of a dream home,” Morgan quipped.
“Very droll. Okay. How much longer do you think?”
“You and I can probably wrap up things here and let everyone else finish,” she said. “They’re going to keep a team overnight, so no one can tamper with the crime scene.”
“Yeah, and I’m sure they’ll want to do more digging around in the daylight,” Miller added. “Okay, then I guess we can go.”
The detectives headed for their car. “You know what’s interesting,” he remarked, “is the 911 call dispatch received from this residence. The husband apparently made the call before he was shot. But he didn’t stay on the line very long. Hung up before dispatch could confirm the location or ask any other questions.”
“Maybe someone interrupted his call. Shot him and hung up the phone,” she suggested. “Or the shooter might have made the call.”
“If it was the shooter, why would he do that?”
“I don’t know. A lot of crazy people out here looking for some kind of a thrill,” she said. “They come here, kill a couple of rich people, call it in, then sit back and watch the show unfold on TV.”
“And then we catch them,” he said, “So what’s the point?”
“Point? When has there ever been a good reason to commit murder?” she asked. “But then... it keeps us busy. Besides, you didn’t have anything better to do in the middle
“You mean besides sleep?” he muttered then looked up the street. “Here they come,” he said referring to a van and television crew. “Can we duck out of here before they start asking a lot of questions?”
“Sure,” she laughed. “Let’s go. I’ll drive.”
“I thought it was my turn.”
“I have the keys.” She dangled them from a finger and smiled. “Come on. Let’s go.”