We'll Share A Double Funeral

Chapter 12

Hank Hollis switched on the radio. “Sheriff?”

“Listening.”

“You were right. There’s a full moon coming up. It’s already lit up the river. In ten minutes or so, it will rise. I’ve changed my mind. It would be too risky to change trees. I don’t know if Logan suspects I’m up here, but it’s surer to think he does. I don’t think he’ll risk coming out in the moonlight. The advantage is mine. If he does come out, I’ll nail him. There’s a big patch of flat ground before my tree. He’d have to cross it, so I’m staying where I am.”

“Hank, hadn’t I better come down? Extra firepower. I’ll be careful. I’ll come by the footpath. I want to come.”

“With respect, Sheriff, don’t. I’ve handled situations like this before. This is a one man show. If I thought you were around and I heard a noise, I wouldn’t know if it was Logan. Understand? l would hesitate to shoot and that could be fatal. So leave this to me.”

There was a pause, then Ross said, “I understand. I’ll stand by. Get in touch with me every ten minutes, and that’s an order!”

“Okay, Sheriff. It’ll work out.”

“Okay, good luck, Hank.”

“If anyone needs luck, it will be Logan,” Hollis said, and switched off.

Logan stood in the kitchen, an evil smile on his face.

An opossum?

Oh, yeah?

He was sure that tough looking Deputy was up there in the tree, with a rifle, waiting for him. Well, okay, he had to get rid of him before he made his break.

He stood for some minutes, thinking. He pulled the gun from its holster, checked it, satisfied himself it was fully loaded and returned it to its holster. Then he turned off the kitchen light and went to the small window and peered into the trees and darkness. So far the moonlight was only flooding the front of the lodge. In another few minutes, the area at the back of the lodge would be lit. Time to go.

He opened the window, got up on the sink, then slid out with the speed of a striking snake. Reaching the ground, he fell down flat, listened, then, using his elbows to propel himself, he worked his way into cover. For several minutes he lay motionless, feeling the damp soil through his shirt. He waited until his eyes grew more accustomed to the dark, then he began to move forward again. Using his elbows and the toes of his boots, he moved forward as silently and almost as swiftly as a snake. He kept moving to his left, away from the tree where he was sure the cop was concealed. His plan was to make a circle and come up on the tree from behind.

When he was at right angles to the tree, now some fifty yards away, he paused. From where he lay, with the leaves of a shrub touching his head, he had a clear view of the tree. All he could see was dense foliage in spite of the now brilliant moonlight.

He nodded to himself. The cop had picked a good spot. He would be up in the top branches from where he would get a good sight of the lodge.

Brown waited. Sooner or later the cop would make a movement. Once he knew where he was, the rest would be easy. Brown settled down to wait.

Hollis eased his aching back. His rifle lay across his knees ready for instant action, his eyes were fixed on the lodge. Lights showed in the living room and one upper room. He looked at the jeep, now brilliantly lit by the moonlight. Logan would have to come out to get into the Jeep. Hollis was confident that he could nail him the moment he appeared. It was Vietnam all over again, but with a difference. Then, his back didn’t ache. He wondered with a feeling of lost confidence, how long he could remain, straddled across the tree trunk. He shifted slightly to ease his back and the burning soreness between his buttocks. Come on, you punk! he thought. Show yourself. The silence and the lifelessness of the lodge depressed him, but he told himself, any moment there would be action. He fingered his rifle, then remembered the Sheriff’s instructions to contact him every ten minutes. He switched on the radio.

“Sheriff?”

“What’s happening?”

“Nothing so far.” Hollis held the receiver close to his lips. “I’m sure he’ll break out sometime tonight. It’s just a matter of waiting.”

“But, Hank, you’ve been up that tree for more than seven hours. How are you making out?”

Hollis forced himself to say, “I’m okay. I could stay up here all night. I feel in my bones, Logan will break out tonight. Don’t worry about me.”

Ross said “You’re a fine man, Hank. I admire you.”

Hollis smiled. Coming from an old cop like Ross this was high praise. He stiffened his aching back. “Thanks, Sheriff. I won’t let you down.”

“Call me in ten minutes. I’ll be at the radio until you have nailed this punk.”

“Okay,” and Hollis switched off. Not once during their brief talk had he taken his eyes off the lodge. What was going on in there? Then a thought dropped into his mind. If Logan was going to break out, he would disconnect the telephone.

Hollis couldn’t accept the thought that this man would kill the Westons before he left. He would probably tie them up, disconnect the telephone and take off. Hollis hoped to God he was thinking right.

Unaware that Brown was creeping through the bushes, pushing himself forward by his elbows and toes and slowly circling the tree, Hollis switched on the radio. “Sheriff, I’ve thought of something,” he said. “If Logan is breaking out, he’ll disconnect the telephone. Will you call Weston? If he answers, say it’s a wrong number. I want to know if the telephone is disconnected.”

“Okay, Hank. Hang on.” Ross said. There was a five minute pause, then, “There’s no ringing tone. I guess the telephone is disconnected.”

Hollis nodded. “Then he’s on the move. Okay, Sheriff, I’m ready for him. Can’t be long now.”

“Keep in touch, Hank.”

“Don’t worry.” Hollis switched off. He was very alert, and his eyes remained fixed to the lodge.

By now, his clothes caked with mud, Brown had reached the back of the tree.

He lay still for some moments, then began to move forward until he was within twenty yards of the tree. He peered upward. The foliage of the tree at the back was less thick, but still he couldn’t spot Hollis, so he waited.

The burning between Hollis’s legs was becoming unbearable. He cursed himself for not bringing a blanket to make a saddle across the branch. How much longer could he stay in this position?

He now knew the telephone had been disconnected. Any moment now, Logan would appear. His eyes still on the lodge, he carefully laid his rifle across the upper branches, then eased himself away from the branch he was sitting on, sucking breath in relief.

That movement was fatal. Brown saw him. With an evil grin of triumph, he drew his gun.

Sheila looked up and stared at Perry, her eyes hostile. She stiffened a little as she heard the door lock snap shut.

“Now, what?” she demanded.

“He’s getting ready to leave,” Perry said. “With luck this nightmare could be over in an hour.”

“Well, at least it will give you a movie plot, won’t it?”

“Oh, Sheila! Can’t you think about us?” Perry said, coming further into the room. “Once this is over—”

“Oh, stop it! While you were eating that ape’s food, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. I have decided I have a very small place in your life. All you really think about is your stupid movie plots!” Sheila snapped. “I’m a goddam ornament to you. I decorate your home. You swell your stupid chest with pride that you have caught me as your wife. Your only interest in me is when you get into bed. There are many times when I talk to you and know you’re not listening. All you think about is money!”

Wearily, Perry sat down. “Now, Sheila, this is not the time to start a domestic brawl. You must get it into your head that we are in a very dangerous situation. Brown is leaving. He could come up here and kill us both. Don’t you understand? What has he to lose? I’ve done my best to keep friendly with him. He might be content to keep us locked in here. I hope to God he will be, but until he leaves we both are hovering between life and a violent end.”

“Anything to shut me up!” Sheila exclaimed. “I’m telling you, when this is over, I’m getting a divorce. I’ve had enough of you! I want my freedom! There are hundreds of men with more money than you who will go for me! I know I’ve had enough of living with a scriptwriter. Understand?”

Perry looked at her and saw the cold implacable expression in her eyes.

This was the solution. He thought of those two years he had put up with this girl, doing everything he could to please her, but realizing there were so many times when he was absorbed in his work and he had forgotten her. Writing for the movies was his life. He was dedicated to his talent. Yes! He immediately realized to be free from this girl would be more than a blessing.

Yet, he felt defeated. He had tried desperately to make his marriage a success, but he should have known it was doomed to failure.

Well, he knew now. It was over, and he felt a sense of relief.

He smiled at Sheila.

“If that’s what you want, Sheila, all right. I’ll arrange a divorce. I’ll see you are taken care of.”

“Oh no, you won’t!” Sheila said, her voice hard. “I’ll do the the taking care of. If you imagine I’ve wasted two good years of my life, living with you, you’re making a big mistake! I want the house. I want half your earnings. I’ll take care of it!”

“Spoken like the child you are,” Perry said. “All right. When we get out of this mess, we’ll talk about it. Now please, relax. If you believe in God, now is the time to say a prayer. We could both be dead in a very short time.”

“What corny dialogue! Keep that for your movie script. When that ape leaves, I’m going to leave. I’m going back home and I’m going to pack everything I own. You stay here in your stinking little lodge. I’m going back to Pa. He’ll put one of his smart attorneys on you, and between us we’ll skin you! Make no mistake about that.”

“You haven’t left yet,” Perry said. “You might not leave.”

“Still trying to scare me?” She gave a hard, bitter laugh. “I don’t scare as easily as you.”

“I’m just warning—”

He broke off as both heard the sound of a gun.

Sheila’s eyes opened wide.

“What was that?”

“Gun fire. What did you think it was? A goddam hiccup?”

Moving swiftly, Perry snapped off the light, then went to the open window. His heart was hammering as he looked towards the big tree where he was almost sure the cop was hiding. The tree was lit by the moon. He saw the foliage move violently.

Then to his horror, he saw a khaki clad body tumble from branch to branch and land at the foot of the tree. A moment later, a rifle came spiralling down.

He drew back.

“He’s killed the policeman,” he whispered.

Sheila ran to his side.

“Policeman? What are you talking about?”

Roughly, he shoved her back. “This is trouble, Sheila. Prepare yourself.”

Still at the window, he saw Brown appear from the bushes. He could see him clearly in the bright moonlight. Brown was covered with thick mud. He paused for a long moment to stare down at Hollis’s body, then he kicked Hollis’s face savagely with his mud-encrusted boot, then he turned and began to run towards the lodge.

“Put on the light,” Perry said huskily. “Sit down. Now listen. This is our only chance. Do exactly what he says. Understand?”

“You mean he’s killed someone?” Sheila said as she switched on the light.

“There was a cop up in the tree across the way, waiting for him to come out,” Perry said. “Brown found him and has killed him.”

The color drained out of Sheila’s face as she sank on the bed.

“Oh, God!” she muttered. “Why did I come?”

“Quiet!” Perry snapped. “Get hold of yourself! Listen!”

They heard the front door slam open, then slam shut. They heard Brown come thudding up the stairs. He thudded past their door and ran into the spare room.

They looked at each other.

“Don’t make a sound,” Perry whispered. “He may be leaving. He may not come in here.”

Listening, they heard the shower running.

“He’s washing.” Sheila shivered. “If he comes in here, I’ll scream the place down.”

“You’ll do nothing of the kind! Antagonize him, and he’ll kill us.”

“You’ve got to get me out of this!” Sheila whispered. “You’ve got to protect me!”

“Listen!” The shower had stopped running. They could hear Brown’s tuneless whistle.

They waited for more than five minutes, then they heard thudding feet along the passage that stopped at their door.

“He’s coming in,” Perry said. “Now, get hold of yourself!”

The lock snapped back and the door slammed open. Brown, wearing one of Perry’s white shirts and a new pair of jeans, stood in the doorway. He looked at Sheila, crouching back, and then at Perry, forcing himself to relax as he sat in the armchair. Brown moved further into the room.

“I killed your opossum, Perry. A smart animal. It had a rifle and a radio. Real smart. What do you know?”

Perry tried to find words, but words wouldn’t come.

“I’m off, Perry. I’m heading for Jacksonville. I’m taking a chance, but I guess I’ll beat them.”

The evil smile was in evidence. “We’ll say good-bye. I like you. Everyone makes mistakes. You thought there was an opossum up there, but I didn’t, and I was right. Let’s shake hands, Perry. Maybe you feel like wishing me luck.”

Perry got unsteadily to his feet. “I do wish you luck, Jim. Will you be all right for food? Do you want anything from the freezer?” Perry was forcing himself to speak calmly.

“I don’t need a thing. I’ve got money. I’ve got a gun, and I’ve got the jeep.” Brown held out his hand. “So it’s good-bye.”

Perry forced himself to cross the room so he faced Brown who continued to smile evilly. He hated to touch this killer, but he had to do it. He clasped Brown’s hard sweaty hand. His hand was gripped in steel like fingers, crushing his finger bones. He felt himself being jerked forward. As he was off balance, Brown hit him with his left fist on the side of his jaw. Perry went down as if he had been pole-axed. It was a terrible blow that sent him into black unconsciousness.

Sheila, her hands to her mouth, released a stifled scream. She didn’t dare move. She sat staring down at her husband. Utter terror ripped her as Brown stepped around Perry’s body and regarded her.

“Come on, baby,” he said. “You and me are going places. You start tricks and I’ll break your neck.”

He reached for her and jerked her to her feet. “You’re doing the driving. As long as I have you with me, the cops won’t shoot. Come on!”

Her legs scarcely supporting her, his hand gripping her arm, she was bundled down the stairs and out into the moonlight. She was forced into the driving seat of the jeep. Brown ran around and climbed into the passenger’s seat.

“No tricks, baby. Just drive.”

“I don’t think I can,” Sheila said breathlessly.

“Too bad. Drive or I’ll slap you. I’ll loosen your goddam teeth!”

With a shaking hand, Sheila turned on the ignition. The jeep started with a jerk.

“Make for the highway,” Brown said. “Get moving!”