Murder by Yew (An Edna Davies Mystery #1)(65)

“Going somewhere, Ladies?” The storm had abated slightly and Zach’s words were loud and clear. He was standing a few feet away, a pistol in his hand. Shoes stood behind him, looking apologetically at Edna.

“Give me your gun.” Zach barked the command as he stared hard at Mary.

When she reluctantly obeyed, he stuck the weapon into his belt and spoke to Shoes without taking his eyes off her. “Go get the van and pull it around to the kitchen door.”

As Shoes ran off toward the garage, Zach waggled his revolver at the bedraggled group. “Back in the house. Move it.” But when Mary turned toward the bulkhead, he stopped her. “Not that way. I don’t want any of you disappearing again,” he said, glancing at Danny, then motioning with his chin. “Round the corner to the back door, and one of you better hang onto that mutt, if you want him to live.”

Taking hold of Hank’s leash, Mary slogged along the side of the house. Edna reached for Danny’s hand and followed, her mind whirling. She wouldn’t let these thugs harm the boy. She had to stop them.

When they entered the living room, Dee moved from the hearth where she’d been standing. Danny hung back, tugging at Edna’s hand. “Davy,” he said, pointing, his eyes wide and frightened.

“I know,” she said looking down and squeezing his hand. When she saw a violent shiver shake his small frame, she hugged him to her side, wanting to both warm him and protect him from the woman who had killed his grandfather.

Ignoring the others, Dee frowned at Mary. “What are you doing here? I saw you drive away.”

Mary grinned, saying nothing, but Edna sensed the smile was all bravado.

After a second or two, Dee shrugged as if the answer didn’t matter and turned to Edna. “You’re shaking. Are you sick?” Her smile looked evil and her tone was sarcastic.

Edna let her anger show, knowing precisely why Dee was asking. If Edna had to, she’d feign illness, but for now, she wanted to keep on her feet. Covering her bases, she said, “I’m wet and cold, and I feel nauseous. You’re scaring me and this poor child and my friend. Why don’t you stop all this and let us go home?”

Holding onto Danny, she scowled at Dee, who was facing her, slightly to her right. Trying to show contempt and hide her fear, Edna turned her head away to catch Mary’s eye over the heads of Danny and Hank. The boy was gripping Edna’s slacks with one hand while he held tightly to Hank’s collar with the other. Mary had dropped the leash, and Edna wondered if it was so her hands would be free. At the moment, the lanky redhead was glowering at Zach and the gun in his hand.

“That dog gets loose, I’ll shoot him,” Zach warned as he sat down slowly onto the arm of a chair, resting the elbow of his gun hand on the high, upholstered back.

“Where’s Shoes?” Dee’s words were sharp.

“I sent him to get the van. We can’t wait ‘til dark. We’re gonna move now. The storm’ll cover us.”

“You’re putting them all in the van?”

“You got a better plan? I figure Shoes can go with ‘em, too. We won’t need him after this, and he knows too much.”

“What about her car?” Dee tipped her head toward Edna, then jutted her chin at Mary. “She left that Jeep somewhere. I’m guessing it’s down beside the road. We’ve got to do something with those vehicles. I don’t want them found on or even near my property.”

Zach didn’t look pleased at the complications. Shifting his eyes from one to the other of his hostages, he reached down with his left hand and fumbled a cigarette out of a small box on a nearby table. Placing it between his lips, he patted his breast pocket and, with two fingers, picked out a small, yellow disposable lighter.

Edna’s heart skipped a beat. She glanced sideways at Mary, then down at Hank. Hope mixed with fear and caused her heart to flutter as she thought of the trick Jenny had taught Hank when she had wanted Tom to stop smoking. Edna’s left hand squeezed Danny’s shoulder, noticing as she did so that the small boy, also, had his eyes fixed on Zach and the lighter in his hand.

“When Shoes gets in here, we’ll send him down for the jeep.” Talking around the cigarette, Zach toyed with the lighter, but hadn’t yet tried to ignite it. “Where’s your keys?” he growled at Mary.

From the corner of her eye, Edna saw Hank wiggle slightly as he sat staring at Zach’s hand, waiting for the signal. She also noticed that Danny had loosened his grip on the dog’s collar. Her heart beat faster. Would it work?

She looked at Dee, who was frowning at Zach. Hoping to distract her so she wouldn’t notice Hank’s intent interest in the man, Edna said, “I’d like to ask you something.”

Dee shifted her glance to Edna. “What?”

“With all this …” Edna paused to play her eyes around the room, “why would you need to steal from other people?”

Dee gave a short, bitter laugh. “Honey, I don’t think I could ever have enough money.” Her eyes narrowed, and her frown deepened. “And why not steal from them, all these wonderful, wealthy folks who turned their backs on me and my mother? What do I owe them?” She shrugged. “I’ve been waiting a lifetime to pay them back for all the insults, all the misery they put me and my mama through. Serves ‘em right.” Her laugh, usually so melodic, was shrill this time. “I never really thought I’d have the chance to get even with this town, but thanks to my man here, I’m at least having a good time being a thorn in its side.”