At the Crossroads (Buckhorn, Montana #3)(64)

He said he hadn’t known about it until his wife recognized her and fired the housekeeping company, saying that Jana had broken something. Apparently it was after that that Jana had gotten into the house and taken the necklace.

Willy had been furious but had to hold his tongue. If Buzz had been able to keep it in his pants seven years ago, this would never have happened. Willy had come up with a plan to buy Jana off by throwing her together with Culhane—until Atwater decided he wanted the kid. He’d found out that his wife couldn’t have kids, and Jana was carrying a male baby.

Willy couldn’t believe everything he’d been through for Atwater. He’d brought all of this on himself. Not that Willy had a choice but to clean up the mess that had been made. Atwater had introduced him to the right people, invited him to the right parties. Willy wasn’t ready to give that up.

“I don’t think it should be business as usual for a while,” Furu said as if Garwood cared what he thought. “I would think you’d want to let things settle down for a while first.”

That’s why you aren’t in charge and I am. “It’s almost Christmas. This time of year there are a lot of people at Big Sky for the holidays. There are lots of parties, lots of drinking, lots of jewelry. I should have all the information soon.” Another reason he had to kiss Atwater’s rosy behind. The man provided what houses to hit, when and what to take. “We can’t pass this up.” Atwater would want his split. “Once the holidays are over, most of the really wealthy residents will be off to St. Barts or Monte Carlo or wherever they all go.”

He waited for Furu to argue the point and was glad when he didn’t. “What I need you to do is call Culhane in the morning. Just let her talk long enough that he knows she’s all right, then tell him to call me. That’s it. I’ll let you know about the exchange.”

“We are going to exchange her for the necklace, right?”

Garwood didn’t like what he was hearing. “You getting squeamish, Furu? I thought better of you.”

“Not squeamish. Just cautious. I think it’s bad business if Culhane or Alexis get killed, especially with the lawsuit against the department.”

“You don’t have to worry. Culhane is dropping his lawsuit, and both of them are going to keep their mouths shut because they will have no proof. It already looks like his case is just sour grapes over being fired. Once he drops it, all of this will go away.”

“I hope you’re right. I’ll make the call.” He disconnected, leaving the sheriff feeling anxious. Maybe it was time for Furu to have an accident. Garwood would miss him. But before he’d come to take the local-sheriff position, he’d realized that men under him often had an expiration date. Furu’s seemed to be up.

In a perfect world, Furu would take Cline with him. But that would have to wait for a while. He couldn’t have too many bodies turning up—and right before Christmas. Culhane’s and Alexis’s would be plenty. After all, they were both wanted for questioning and were considered armed and dangerous. Anything could happen.



CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO


ALEXIS WOKE TO the thin stream of light that bled through the basement window. She blinked and sat up to listen. No sound. The deputies must still be asleep. Which meant she had an opportunity. She considered the room for a moment. There were three doors. The one Cline had locked, one that was probably a closet and the third...a bathroom? A bathroom with a window that opened? If she was right and this was a basement, then under law it needed an egress window in case of fire.

She began to wriggle and felt the straps loosen from her efforts last night. A little more and she would be able to get an arm out. She felt stronger this morning, more clearheaded than she had last night. The sleep had done her good.

After freeing an arm, she quickly rubbed feeling back into it before she slipped down the straps that bound her and threw the dark blanket aside. She knew she had to move quickly. She heard a phone ringing in the other room. That meant something was likely to change.

She moved as quietly as possible toward the first of the two doors. She listened for a moment, then eased it open just enough that she could see inside. Closet.

Moving swiftly but as quietly as possible, she opened the second door. Bingo. It was a nice-sized bathroom with a window. She stepped inside, locking the door behind her. If they came into the room and saw her no longer on the mattress, the locked bathroom door might buy her a few minutes tops. But she’d take them.

She hurried to the window afraid she was going to find that it didn’t open. With a surge of relief, she saw the crank and quickly began to turn it. As the window opened, she saw that she would have to pull herself up and then fall out of the window onto a pile of dirt just outside.

But this part of the house backed up on forest. Once she was through the window, she could run into the trees. That was if she could run. The drop was more than she expected, considering that the window was in the basement.

She shoved out the screen, knowing that the noise she was making might bring them. But she had no choice. The screen came loose, she set it aside, then tried to pull herself up. Her arms still felt numb from being tied up for so long. But she managed on the third try.

Outside the bathroom door, she heard someone come into the room. There was a cry of alarm, then footfalls. Someone tried the closet door and then she heard the knob rattle behind her. Any moment, one of the men would knock down the door and be on her.