Until death, p.26
Until Death, page 26
“Wait here,” he announced. “The police should be here soon. I’m going to see who’s up there.”
He attempted to release her hand, but she refused to let go of him.
“Are you insane?” she gasped. “First Levi disappears then Sloan and Titus. Now you want to go off on your own and investigate a strange noise. Have you ever seen a horror movie? You’re not going up there without me.”
Dane eyed the gun in her hand, considered her comment, and nodded. “Okay, you cover me.”
Raina held the gun with more conviction and nodded. Dane clutched his baseball bat and led her toward the stairs. She kept watch behind them with her back to the wall as they headed up the stairs. Once they reached the landing, Dane released her hand and held the bat in both hands. He quietly walked along the hallway with Raina behind him while clutching his shirt in her free hand. She kept her back to the wall and held the gun close to her chest while darting looks around the dimly lit hall. The alarm continued to wail, which didn’t settle her nerves any. It was loud enough to keep her from hearing anyone moving around. Dane opened the master bedroom door and peered inside but didn’t see anything. He moved to Raina’s room and looked inside. They still didn’t find anything.
They crossed the hall to Jenna’s bedroom. He opened the door and peered inside the mostly dark room. Dane suddenly darted into the room startling Raina, who lost her grip on his shirt. Raina entered the room behind him and saw him hurry for the bed. He turned on the bedside light, which was on the emergency outlet, brightening the room. Raina let out a sharp gasp when she saw Jenna lying naked beneath the covers. Dane checked her pulse and appeared relieved.
“She’s alive.”
As he moved from the bedside, Raina lunged for the bed and sat on the edge. She nudged her friend gently at first then with added vigor.
“Jenna! Jenna, can you hear me?” she cried out with concern.
“I’ll get a cold cloth from the bathroom,” Dane announced. “Stay here.”
Dane hurried into the bathroom and turned on the light. Miller lay on the floor wearing only his boxer shorts. Dane knelt alongside Miller and nudged him.
“Miller? Come on, wake up,” he announced then looked out the door to the bedroom. “Raina, Miller’s on the bathroom floor. He’s out cold as well.”
Raina remained on the edge of the bed while attempting to wake Jenna and looked toward the bathroom. “Is he okay?” she called back.
“I think so,” Dane responded from the bathroom.
Raina tapped Jenna’s face with a little added vigor. Jenna groaned and opened her eyes. Raina heard shouting from downstairs followed by thundering footfalls on the steps. Raina slipped Dane’s gun under the pillow then attempted to keep Jenna awake.
“Jenna, are you okay?” she asked.
Jenna again opened her eyes and looked at Raina with bewilderment then looked around the room. “What the hell happened?”
“You tell me,” Raina replied.
“I don’t know,” she gasped and felt the sheet over her naked body. “Miller and I were--” She suddenly gasped with horror and nearly shot up in bed. “Miller!”
Jenna clutched her head, swayed slightly, and collapsed back onto the bed with a groan.
“He’s okay,” Raina insisted and handed her Miller’s discarded shirt. “Dane found him on the bathroom floor.”
As Jenna struggled to sit up with Raina’s assistance, they could hear the police calling from the hallway.
“In here!” Raina called out then helped her friend slip into Miller’s shirt.
Raina buttoned the shirt for her. Jenna shook her head with some disorientation almost unaware that Raina helped dress her.
“I don’t know what happened. Miller and I were just kind of fooling around. When things started heating up, I suddenly felt dizzy. I didn’t even have that much to drink,” she announced while holding her head. “Miller went into the bathroom to get me a cold washrag, and that’s all I remember.”
Raina heard the police officer now calling from the second floor hallway.
“In here,” Raina called back.
The police officer appeared in the doorway with his weapon drawn and scanned the room. He saw them and lowered his gun.
“Is everyone okay?” the officer asked. “Is there an intruder?”
“We were having a party,” she informed the police officer. “Someone must have spiked the martinis. My friend and brother passed out up here, but we can’t find the others. The cook, maid, and chauffeur were attempting to locate the others, and then they disappeared.”
Dane appeared from the bathroom with a disoriented Miller leaning heavily on his shoulder. Dane helped him to the bed where he collapsed with a groan. Jenna collapsed alongside him and held his head to her chest.
“Someone cut the power and the phone lines an hour ago,” Dane informed the officer. “We’re on the backup generator. We can’t find the others. At least eleven people are unaccounted for.”
“I’ll contact my partner downstairs,” the officer announced. “We’ll search the estate for the others.” He then spoke into his hand radio and hurried from the room.
“Why don’t you see if you can get them dressed?” Dane announced then drew a deep breath. “I’m going to check the other rooms.”
Raina gave him a concerned look. “Maybe you shouldn’t go off on your own.”
Dane tensed and appeared to be holding something back. “I think the alarm and the police presence ended whatever happened here.”
She stared at him with a strange look. “You think something happened, don’t you?”
“I don’t know what happened here,” Dane insisted, “but I don’t think someone drugged the entire house just for a cruel prank. Wait here for me.”
Raina nodded and watched him leave the room. Jenna struggled to sit up and looked at her friend.
“What happened?” Jenna asked with concern.
Raina held her breath a moment. “I’m afraid we’re about to find out.”
Chapter 50
Gut Feeling
Raina sat on the coffee table in the lounge across from Miller and Jenna, who still appeared slightly groggy. Gilda and Farley Nixon sat in the far corner of the room attempting to stay awake. Dane had found the couple passed out in their bedroom after the police had arrived. It was now after eleven o’clock, and the power remained out leaving just the backup generator to power various lights and other appliances. The limited lighting would hamper the search for the remaining missing guests. Dane, now properly dressed, entered the lounge with Jimmy Love dramatically draped over his shoulder. Hanson, Tia, and Olivia followed with the same look of disorientation. Everyone collapsed into chairs with exhausted looks. Dane attempted to place Jimmy Love in an oversized chair, but he was reluctant to release Dane.
“You’re such a comfort in my hour of need,” Jimmy Love announced while clinging to the butler.
“It was just a sedative,” Dane muttered. “I think you’ll live.”
Dane finally shook him off his shoulder. Jimmy Love fell into the chair with a bounce and a delighted squeal.
“Oh, you’re so dominating,” Jimmy Love cried out. “I love that in a man.”
Dane ignored him and approached Raina, who watched him with a concerned look on her face. She was hoping he had an update on the others.
“One of the officers is still trying to wake Levi in the Rolls Royce bay,” Dane informed her. “It would appear as if he drank the sedated martinis after the others. They said he’s fine just out cold.”
“No word on my father yet?” she asked while nervously wrenching her fingers together.
“No, not yet,” he replied. “I’m going back out to help look.”
She made a motion to follow him. He stopped her with a stern look.
“You should stay here with the others,” he announced. “I’ll let you know when we find your father.”
As Dane turned, the second officer helped Sloan and Titus into the lounge. Both held dishtowels to their heads. Dane and Raina appeared alarmed when they saw blood on Titus’ dishtowel.
“What happened, Sloan?” Raina gasped.
“I was checking the bedrooms like Dane told me,” she insisted. “Dane’s bedroom door was open, so I went to check it out. When I entered his room, the door shut behind me. I turned, and that’s all I remember until I woke up with an officer standing over me, and Titus was on the floor alongside me.”
“Of course,” Dane deducted. “The two of you took some of the guests home in the limousine. The martinis must have been drugged after you’d left.”
“I wasn’t drinking martinis,” Titus insisted. “I only had a couple of beers since I needed to drive some of the guests home.”
“I didn’t have any alcohol tonight,” Sloan announced. “Levi was making another pitcher of martinis when I left.”
“Anyone else still missing?” the officer asked.
“My father,” Raina quickly announced.
“Possibly three guests,” Dane informed him. “I’ll help you look.”
Dane left with the second officer. Sloan sat on one of the sofas alongside Titus. He smiled sympathetically and brushed her blonde hair matted with blood from her face. Sloan returned the smile and sank against him as he held her.
“I should help look for my father,” Raina announced while fidgeting.
Raina stood and hurried for the archway. She nearly collided with the first officer guiding Elana and Keefe into the room. Elana wore Keefe’s shirt over her otherwise naked body.
“I found these two passed out in the gazebo,” he announced.
Jimmy Love eyed the couple. “What happened to your clothes, honey?”
Elana shook her head with disorientation. “I’m not sure,” she muttered while remaining unsteady.
“They were both, uh, in the buff,” the officer reported. “We were lucky to find what clothes we did.”
Elana managed a soft laugh. “Some party, huh?”
“It’s best if everyone waits here for now,” the officer informed them while gesturing with his hands. “We’d like the paramedics to check you out first. No one’s in any condition to be up and about until the drugs completely wear off. Just relax and take it easy for a little while longer.”
Elana and Keefe sat on the nearby loveseat and clung to each other. As the officer left the room, Raina paced and glanced at those seated around her. All appeared exceedingly groggy and disoriented. She thought about Dane’s earlier comment. Why had everyone been drugged? Whoever drugged them didn’t want any witnesses to something. Alarm swept over her, and she ran from the room. Miller watched her, appeared concerned, and attempted to stand. He fell back onto the sofa with a groan. Raina ran along the grand hallway and hurried into the kitchen. A paramedic tended to Levi, who sat at the table with his head resting on it.
“Oh, I feel like crap,” Levi moaned.
Dane entered the kitchen with the second officer. “We haven’t checked the basement or the attic yet,” he informed the police officer.
Raina ran to Dane, grabbed his arm, and pulled on him. “I had a terrible thought,” she cried out. “Come on!”
She pulled him toward the back kitchen door. Dane hurried after her with the second officer following on their heels.
§
Dane hurried alongside Raina while holding her hand as they approached the crypt. He seemed to know what she was thinking and was slightly apprehensive. The officer was only steps behind them.
“Why would he come out this far?” the officer called out to them while attempting to keep up.
“He wouldn’t on his own,” Raina responded with increasing concern.
As they hurried past the crypt, they heard a tree branch creaking. Dane suddenly grabbed Raina and pushed her into the officer.
“Keep her here!”
The officer held Raina despite his confusion. She fought the officer’s grip, pulled away, and ran after Dane. The officer ran after her. Dane suddenly stopped past the crypt with a look of horror on his face. He spun and attempted to grab Raina before she could see it. She darted away from him before he could grab her and looked at the tree. In the dim lighting, she saw the outline of a bound, naked man hanging from the very same tree as Callie had. His innards lay on a pile below his bound ankles as his body swayed. Dane grabbed Raina and attempted to turn her away as she screamed. The officer ran past them and shined his flashlight on the hanging man. To their surprise, it was Nole.
Chapter 51
Not Again!
It was just before midnight and an hour after they’d found Nole gutted and hanging from the tree behind the crypt. Detective Payne and several officers were tending to the investigation at the back edge of the estate. Raina sat at the island counter in the kitchen wearing Dane’s jacket and trembled while he clung to her. The second officer stood near them and attempted to drink coffee with trembling hands. He was equally traumatized by what he’d seen.
“I’ve never seen anything like that before,” the officer admitted while shaking his head repeatedly. “Ten years on the force.” He eyed Dane while maintaining his disbelief. “Who’d do that to a man?”
“It takes a special brand of sociopath to gut a man, I assure you,” Dane informed him.
“I’ve never seen anything that--that violent before,” the officer continued while staring at Dane. “How can you be so calm?”
“I lived through similar nightmares before. I guess I’m immune now,” Dane replied then nodded to the officer’s coffee cup. “Drink your coffee, Officer. You appear to be going into shock.”
The officer obediently sipped his coffee and stared blankly at the countertop. Dane handed Raina her cup of tea then placed his arm around her and attempted to help keep her warm. She looked at him as he held her.
“I’m worried about my father,” she announced, unable to think about anything else.
“I know,” Dane replied. “Detective Payne is here with four more officers. They’ll find your father. I’m sure he’s fine.”
“You’re sure because you think he did it, don’t you?” she asked timidly.
“No, I don’t,” Dane announced with certainty and rubbed her arms to keep her warm. “Your father isn’t capable of doing that to another human being, particularly someone who was once his best friend.”
“Who would be capable of doing something like that?” Raina then asked.
“Most likely a psychopath with hunting experience,” Dane informed her. “Judging by what I saw, there was little to no hesitation. Our killer drugged everyone in the house, shut off the power along with the backup generator, and executed Nole methodically and with great forethought.”
The officer looked up from his coffee and stared at them with surprise. Another officer entered the kitchen through the main door with Otto, who appeared unsteady and disoriented. Raina jumped from her chair, ran to her father, and hugged him.
“Dad, I was so worried when we couldn’t find you,” she cried out.
“I’m fine, just a little groggy,” he informed her then appeared curious. “What the hell happened?”
“Just about everyone had been drugged with the martinis,” she replied. “Where were you?”
“We found him out cold in the hall closet,” the officer alongside him replied.
“The hall closet?” Dane asked with surprise.
“I don’t know how I got there,” Otto insisted. “I was heading into my study. The next thing I know, I’m waking up in the hall closet with a police officer standing over me.” He stared at them and remained puzzled. “Levi made those martinis. Certainly, they don’t suspect he had anything--”
“Nole’s dead,” Dane informed him.
Otto stared at Dane with shock and surprise. “What?” he gasped. “How? When?”
“Over an hour ago,” Dane replied. “He was hanging from the tree behind the crypt.”
“That’s impossible,” Otto insisted. “He left hours ago. You showed him out.”
“I didn’t exactly watch him leave,” Dane informed him. “He must have come back inside.”
Detective Payne entered the kitchen with another police officer at his side. He looked around then focused his attention on Otto.
“I’m afraid I’ll need to take you in for questioning, Mr. Steele,” Detective Payne announced.
Otto groaned with annoyance. “I didn’t kill him,” he snarled. “I was unconscious in the hall closet. Someone drugged me and put me there.”
“Everyone knows you hated Nole Oaks,” the detective announced. “You caught him having sex with your bride on your wedding night. The manner in which he was killed was violent, like a revenge killing. The fact that he was hanging from the same tree as your wife tells me it was symbolic.” Detective Payne studied him a moment. “Considering that criteria, you’re my best suspect. Now, do you come along willingly, or must I place you under arrest.”
“That won’t be necessary. I’ll go along willingly,” Otto reluctantly replied then cast a look at Dane. “Call my lawyer. Put him on retainer.”
Dane frowned and nodded. Raina hugged her father then pulled back as they led him away. The officer at the table left with them as well. Once they were alone, she turned to Dane with some hostility.
“He didn’t do it, Dane,” she insisted.
“I know.”
“They’re going to pin it on him,” she remarked fighting her concern and anger. “It looks bad for him.”
“Yes, I know.”
“What are we going to do?” she demanded while her frustration elevated.
“Put his lawyer on retainer,” Dane candidly admitted with a sigh.
“That’s it?” she launched with surprise.
“What do you want to do, Raina?”
Dane headed for the staff wing door and passed through it. She hurried after him, following him down the hallway with concern and annoyance.
