Bloodstain (11 page)

Chapter 18

The hatch door to the truck topper swung open. Vanessa could see trees behind Norman, but no streetlights. The tailgate dropped, and Norman grabbed her feet, pulling her toward him. Her skin complained as it was pulled across the bed of the truck.

Norman reached into his back pocket and pulled out a folding knife. He opened it and cut the
zip tie around her ankles. She felt instant relief to have her feet separated, but blood oozed from the gouges left by the tie.

He pulled her, by both feet now, making her sit on the tailgate. Vanessa looked at her surroundings. She recognized where she
was. Arnold Park on the south side of town. They’re parked on the long road that does a winding loop, from the entrance of the park to the back, and then around to the entrance again. Vanessa had driven it many times on patrol, both at night and during the day. She got a jolt of adrenaline from the knowledge she’s on familiar ground.

Norman pulled his gun out and bent over to pick up a bag
laying on the ground. Vanessa saw her chance. As he straightened up with the bag, she kicked out with both feet at Norman’s groin. She could tell she was on target by the “umph”, followed by a groan. Norman fell to the ground and she took off running.

Vanessa
was a fit person, but running with your hands tied and no food or water for almost twenty-four hours, was more than her body could deliver. Even with the adrenaline coursing through her, it was only a short distance before she was winded and slowing.

The footstep
s behind her got louder, and she could hear his breathing, and she knew he was right behind her. A blow to the back of her head sent her reeling into the grass. When she gathered her wits about her, Norman was standing over her in a rage. “You’ll pay for that, Marcie.”

The duct tape on her mouth had come loose.
“I’m NOT Marcie!”

He
didn’t appear to hear her. He slipped behind her and she felt herself being lifted by her arms. He placed the gun to the back of her head and forced her to walk back toward the truck. When they got there, he opened the passenger door, and grabbed an oily rag sitting on the seat. He turned, ripped the remaining duct tape off her mouth, and stuffed the rag in. She choked.

Taking her by the arms, he led her to the back of the truck
, and picked up the bag he’d dropped. He steered her toward the trees next to the road.

Vanessa struggled to get loose
, but it was no use. She didn’t have enough energy left, and he wasn’t going to be caught off guard again.

They were only ten yards or so into the trees
, when he jerked her around to face him, and pushed her to the ground.

H
er back was pressed up against a large tree.

*******

Jason shut his lights off just before getting to the park entrance. As he went through the small gate, he turned off his engine. The car coasted to a stop on the grass and he climbed out the window. He didn’t want to alert Norman to his presence with motor noise or door closings.

When he was on the ground, he stood very still, listening. He
didn’t hear anything that didn’t belong. That wasn’t to say it was quiet. Crickets and frogs played a non-stop symphony, something he usually enjoyed, but tonight they just interfered with what he needed to hear.

After a few minutes, he began to move up through the park. The night
was warm, and a quarter-moon offered a small amount of light. He stayed on the grass, moving as silently as he could.

It
figured Norman likely took Vanessa to the back of the park, but it was just a guess. In truth, he didn’t even know for sure she was here.

After several minutes, Jason had made his way nearly half way back into the park with still no sign. He slowed to a walk as doubt began to set in. He looked at his watch.

It glowed 3:45.

Va
nessa’s been missing nearly twenty-one hours.

I
f he’s guessed wrong about the park, and it looked more and more like he had, and Norman didn’t take her to his previous dumping ground, he’ll run out of time.

He was thinking of what he would tell Rob when the light in the cab of a tru
ck came on. It was less than three hundred yards away, and it illuminated two figures. Jason dropped to the ground in a crouch, drawing his weapon.

I
s that Vanessa? It had to be. I’m not too late! Gotta’ move fast.

A door slammed and t
he light went off.

Where was that light exactly?

He pinpointed in his mind the spot where he’d seen it and began moving in a crouch. Circling around to the tree line on the other side of the road, he moved up toward the spot where he last saw the two figures.

In the woods, the moon
wasn’t much help, but it did reveal the truck. As he got closer, moonlight reflected off the hood.

T
hey should be in the woods opposite the truck.

Coming up on the back of the truck, he used it
as cover, and peered into the woods. Not ten yards away, he could see Vanessa sitting at the base of a tree, and Norman pointing a gun at her chest.

*******

Vanessa looked down at the gun resting on her chest. She didn’t look at the man who was going to end her life. She didn’t want his face to be the last thing she saw in this world.

The
smell of metal and gunpowder coming off the gun drifted up her nose.

W
hat will it feel like? Will she hear the gun go off or will things just suddenly go black?

She
hoped it wasn’t too painful. She’d been shot once before, a flesh wound really, but it still had hurt like crazy.

Va
nessa realized it was taking Norman a long time to pull the trigger. She looked up to see him staring back at the truck.

Her heart leapt.
I
s someone there? I didn’t hear anything.

She scanned the darkness but
didn’t see anything. All at once, the park filled with noise.

“Police! Freeze!”

IT’S JASON!

The gun left her chest and fired. The deafening
sound made her ears ring. Norman fired again. She gathered herself enough to understand Norman was firing at Jason.

Oh, no you
don’t!

She mustered all the strength she had left and thrust both feet out at the man standing in front of her.

She heard a loud crack as his knee gave way. He tumbled on top of her with a scream, his gun dropping to her side.

Vanessa’s hands were still tied and his weight pinned
her. He groaned as he felt around for his gun. She watched in horror as his hand fell on it.

“You twitch, and I’ll blow your head clean off!”

Norman froze. Jason’s gun was on the back of his head. Norman slowly withdrew his hand from his gun.

Jason grabbed one arm and pulled it behind the man, putting cuffs on
one, and then the other. Jason then rolled him off her. Norman groaned as his knee twisted.

“Vanessa? You okay?”

“I am now.”

He took his shirt off and wrapped it around her. Picking up his phone
, he called the lieutenant. Within minutes, sirens filled the air, seeming to come from everywhere.

Jason cut her wrists free, and she threw her arms around him.
Jason wrapped himself around her.

“It’s over.”

Epilogue

Jason turned his car into the station parking lot. He’d just returned from the preliminary hearing for Norman Lasiter. In the four months since Norman was arrested, very little legal work had gone forward due to poor health. Actually, his health was fine, but his knee wasn’t. It had required surgery and traction.

Remember
to never get Vanessa Layne mad at you!

He smiled to himself as he thought of
his partner. She’s quite round now, and the baby will be coming soon. She’d been on desk duty since coming back from her ordeal. The lieutenant had seen to that.

T
he first time John Patton had seen her, after she was safe, he’d given her a huge bear hug. With tears in his eyes, he’d stepped back and pointed a finger at her.

“You’re lucky I don’t kill you myself for not telling me.”

She’d smiled and done her best to look sheepish. It had worked. The lieutenant gave her another hug before smiling back at her. “Desk duty for you, young lady.”

Jason parked and walked up to the station. Dave was manning the front desk as usual.

“Hi, Dave. How’s Vicky?”

“Hey, it’s our hero!”

Jason gave him a dirty look. The hero crap was not something he was comfortable with, and Dave knew it. He liked to tease Jason. “Vicky’s as mean as ever.”

“That’s
‘cause she puts up with you.”

“Too true, too true.
You going up to the party?”

“Yeah. Does
Vanessa know yet?”

“Not from me.”

“Okay. You make time to come up.”

“I will.”

Jason got on the elevator and back off at the third floor. He dropped the bag he was carrying on his desk and leaned into the lieutenant’s office. “Where is she?”

“Sent her to the evidence room after some file or other. Their setting up in the conference room now.”

Jason left Patton’s office and walked around to the conference room. Streamers had been hung in a hurry, and a blue cake was on the table. Vanessa learned she was having a boy, and the rumor going around was his name was going to be Jason. That had not been confirmed by the parents.

Nina Jefferson was laying out
paper plates and plastic forks, and a pile of presents were on a table at the far end of the room. As he stood there watching, he thought about the next three months. Nina Jefferson had accepted a position with San Antonio Police and moved down from Austin. She’d been given the dubious honor of being Jason’s partner while Vanessa was on maternity leave. He liked her, and she came with a solid record.

While he was standing there, Rob
Layne came into the room. “I gather I’m not late.”

Jason turned and shook Rob’s hand.

“Actually, perfect timing. She should be here any second.”

*******

Vanessa leaned against the elevator wall as it rode from the basement to the third floor. Her feet hurt and the little boy inside liked to kick incessantly.

When the doors slid open, she stepped into an empty squad room.
It took about ten steps before she realized she was alone.

Where is everyone? Did
I miss a memo or something?

She took the file she had in her hand and laid it on the lieutenant’s desk before going around toward the conference room.

“SURPRISE!”

She nearly jumped out of her skin. When she caught her breath, she saw Rob, Jason, and John standing in front of the rest of the squad room personnel.
“What is this?”

Jason grinn
ed from ear to ear. “Just what it looks like, a surprise baby shower.”

Tears started running down her cheeks.
“What it looks like is a bunch of grinning idiots!”

She laughed and wiped at her eyes. Then softly, she said to everyone, “Thank You.”

*******

After the cake and presents, with work having to be resumed by most, Jason found a moment alone with Vanessa.

“You gonna’ come back as soon as possible?”

“Why? Don’t like your new partner?”

“I like her fine. In fact, that’s why I’m asking. I was hoping to keep her. She’s awesome!”

Vanessa took a swing at him
, but she was slower than usual, and missed. “Don’t mess with the pregnant woman!”

“You know I’m kidding.” He turned serious.
“I’m gonna’ miss you.”

“Thanks.”
  

“Anything you and Rob need, you call Sandy and
me. Anything, you understand me?”

“I will.”

He gave her a hug. “You can count on us.”

She smiled.
“I know.”