The Harvest Club (30 page)

“Are you expecting trouble?”

“I don’t know. I’m just trying to cover all my bases.”

“I’ll have to get Gary to cover the desk because Fred isn’t coming in this morning and they called me to take his place. Is that okay?”

“Sure, do whatever. You can ask your wife for all I care or leave the desk unattended, but make sure you’re on the job.”

“I’ll be there.”

****

Jessie arrived at the church early. She felt uneasy even though Matt had assured he was just joking about using her as bait. Jessie felt anxious so she got to work and tried not to think at all. It was almost as if she was flying blind, and she didn’t like the not knowing.

Restless, Jessie found herself headed, for the umpteenth time, to the sanctuary to check on—she had no idea what. Out of the corner of her eyes, she caught sight of a familiar movement near the stage at the front of the church. Gina’s floral dress floated about her as she paced back and forth, her desolate eyes fixed on the entrance to the sanctuary.

Jessie knew the moment the Bradleys walked in. Gina drifted up the aisle toward them, watching their every move; she hovered between her children. Jessie could no longer describe how Gina looked. Her throat tightened, tears formed in her eyes, and Jessie turned away not wanting to intrude on the private and poignant moment which only she could see.

Jessie hugged Pam and shook hands with Don. “How are they doing, Pam?” Jessie whispered.

“Okay, so far. This place is sure to bring back memories from not so long ago. It has only been five months since they lost their mother.” Pam placed her arms protectively around her grandchildren. Gina wrapped her arms around her mom’s and proceeded with them as Jessie walked the family back into a small reception area where Pastor Kevin was waiting. After seeing to everyone’s comfort, she went back to helping the ladies and James in the foyer.

Ten minutes before the start of the service, Zach Johnson walked in next to Chief Anderson. Jessie handed them both a bulletin and forced herself to smile at Zach.

“How are you today?” Anderson grabbed a hold of her hand. “Sometime after the service I have something I need to give you for the church. It’s in my car. Do you mind helping me out?”

“Not at all. Just let me know, and I’ll go with you.” Jessie felt a sudden discomfort as she watched them walk down the aisle a few rows and sit down. She didn’t trust Zach. His innocence was still a question to her. She turned to give a bulletin to Melinda.

How strange this day was compared to Rick’s funeral. No one from the Harvest Club would be attending. They were either dead or in jail awaiting trial. It had been a strange few months, but the sight of her two friends Dylan and Kip walking in the church doors lightened her mood and banished her troubling thoughts.

“Hey, sunshine, how are you holding up?” Dylan gave her a hug.

“Fine, and I’m sure happy to see the two of you.” She regarded them with a smile. “Where’s Matt?” She looked past them.

“He’s on his way here, at least he was the last time I talked to him.” Kip grabbed the bulletin from her hand.

“We definitely have to stop meeting like this.” She winked at them. “I’ll see you guys after the service.” Jessie turned around to hand out another bulletin. Matt rushed by, grabbed it out of her hand, and nodded as he passed her to catch up with Dylan. They all sat down by Zach and the chief.

As the music began, Jessie slipped into an open seat at the back of the church. Her eyes were on Gina whose attention was riveted on her children as she hovered around them. Jessie thought about all the lives that had been impacted by the Harvest Club and the greed of a few men. The Bradleys’ loss was great, a daughter, a mother, a son-in-law, and stepfather. How much could one family take?

“I tried to reach you earlier, but you didn’t answer,” Reba whispered as she slipped into the seat beside Jessie. “Today is the day, I can feel it. It will all stop as it began.”

“I know. I’m not sure how, but it will be over soon.” Jessie turned to face Reba. “Gina is by her children.”

“She’s here because he’s here. You know, the one who could have put a stop to this years ago, but didn’t.” She motioned with her hands. “His handprint is on everything that has happened. He will face his accuser alone. Be careful today.”

“I will.” She still felt as though they were missing something.

****

This was his last funeral, and he was damn happy about that. All this mourning gave him the creeps. No one should have died. It was all Rick’s fault. One little detail remained, and then he could slip out of the country unhindered. His wife was due to get the divorce papers sometime later today. He had settled a large sum of money on her as well as the house. He hated to embarrass her this way. She had been good to him. It was all he could think to do to spare her.

Life would have continued on as it had for the last several years if it hadn’t been for Jessie and her damn articles. She was going to have to pay. It was too bad really. She was a pretty young thing, but her nose was always where it didn’t belong. He would make her squirm the way she had made him. She had taken down the empire he had spent years building, and he wanted her to pay.

He wasn’t a bad man really. He had tried to talk Gordon out of killing Gina, but Gordon was a stupid man. He never listened, at least not until the end, and then that was all he could do. He was happy he had thought to grab some of Gordon’s exotic drugs just in case. The reason for them had just presented itself. With a little help from a grateful stooge, it would all be over before the lunch was finished here at the church.

When the final notes of the last hymn were sung, the family rose to follow the pastors out to the graveside followed by all the mourners as their row was dismissed. He would watch for his moment. He was always the one with the plan, and his great mind hadn’t failed him this time either.

“Why don’t you go with everyone to the graveside, and I’ll catch up with you at the reception. I need to take care of some business,” he informed the others beside him.

“Is it anything I can help you with?” Zach stood up with everyone in his row to walk out.

“No, Fred will help me. He’s waiting in the car. He had a headache when we arrived earlier, and he’s out there sleeping. Probably just a hangover. You know how these young men can be.” Anderson grinned at Zach hoping he bought his explanation. “To tell you the truth, I never like graveside services. I always feel there is a grave waiting for me.” He snickered.

Just as he suspected, his top three officers followed Zach out. He would be arrested, which gave him the time he needed. Matt was too smart to be hoodwinked for long. It was good he leave the country sooner rather than later.

Fred had parked the car under a tree on Main Street. Anderson stood outside the cemetery and observed. He was feeling a little edgy, everything had to be precise, or he would never get to the airport on time. So he waited. He would know when the moment was right. He would relish it.

He watched as the three of them edged Zach away from the rest of the people who were filing back toward the church. Yep, now was the time. They already had him in handcuffs with no fight. The three of them were too busy to be concerned with him, and there she was with no one to watch after her. He waited until the three of them had Zach in the cruiser and had pulled out of the parking lot. He motioned to Fred who pulled the car up a little closer to the church.

He looked around and didn’t see anyone else from the department watching. He went inside to get her.

“Jessie, you want to come with me? I need to leave a little early. Matt just arrested Zach so I need to get back to the station.” He nodded at Joe standing by the wall.

Relief filled her when she heard Zach had been arrested. “I’ll be right with you.” She couldn’t help but smile as she walked toward Anderson. “You must be happy to see this case coming to a successful close.”

“That I am little lady, that I am. There are only a few minor things left to clean up, and it will all be done.” He held the door open for her.

She followed him to the car and was surprised to see Fred get out of the car and open the trunk. “How are you, Fred?” She walked around to the back of the car.

“Better than you’re going to be.” He gave her a hard shove into Anderson who jabbed her with a needle.

She cried out, but her body went limp so quickly, she slipped toward the pavement. Anderson caught her before she hit, but she could feel nothing, nothing but fear.

“Hurry, someone is coming; get her in the trunk and shut it.”

They pushed her into the murky, smothering darkness of the trunk. She knew now who the Grimm Reaper from Rick’s journal was, but it was too late; Jessie knew she was going to die.

Joe looked everywhere for her, but she was nowhere to be found in the church. He had seen her go outside with Anderson. Fred was waiting by the car for them, which was strange because he had called in sick earlier. Jessie had never come back in. Remembering Matt’s words, he pulled out his phone.

“Hey, Matt, this is Joe. It may be nothing, but Jessie went outside with Anderson a while ago and never came back in. I can’t find her anywhere. Should I be worried? Fred was with him, which I thought was odd.” Joe walked back outside once again to look for her.

“What the hell was I thinking? I didn’t think he would try anything at the funeral.” Matt’s voice made Joe wince. “How long has she been gone?”

“Anderson? Crap! Probably ten minutes maybe more.”

“Anderson is going to kill her, and Fred’s involved in this somehow. I’m on my way to Fred’s. He’ll take her there.”

“Are you sure?” Joe asked. “Why not Anderson’s?”

“His wife is there. Fred lives alone.” Matt yelled at Dylan and Kip to get to the car and drive. “Joe, call an ambulance, and tell them a drug may have been used that shuts down the system. It could be Pavulon or something similar, so if they have something to counteract it, bring it. Hurry and meet us there. No sirens. Tell them no sirens.”

“I’m on my way, Matt. Crap, I didn’t know Anderson was in on it.” Joe ran to his car, jumped in, and tore out of the church parking lot.

“That’s my fault. No one was told, I couldn’t believe it myself.” Matt held on as Dylan peeled out of the parking lot.

Speeding with lights only from two sections of town, both cruisers pulled up in front of Fred’s house within minutes of each other. Anderson’s car was parked out front with the trunk partially open. Inside was one of Jessie’s shoes. Dylan muttered an expletive when he saw it.

Matt motioned for them to be quiet as they entered the house. He was tense, every nerve on edge as he followed the sound of the mumbling voices to the basement. His .40 caliber Glock at the ready, he slowly inched his way down the stairs trying not to alert Anderson.

****

“I hope you’re comfortable, Jessie. Of course I’m joking. You can’t possibly feel anything. The only way you know you’re breathing and are alive is you can hear me and see me.” He patted her hand as he snickered. “I’m sorry for the plastic you’re lying on but, it gets messy when you remove someone’s kidneys. Which I’m about to do to you.” Anderson took out a scalpel and a couple of knives. “I’m no skilled surgeon like Gordon was, so there won’t be any tiny incisions, but it won’t matter. You messed up my life with all your damn meddling, now I’m going to mess up yours.” He laughed as he reached for the scalpel.

“Chief, do you mind if I leave? I don’t want to be around to see what you’re doing. I get sick at the sight of blood.” Fred stood up and walked past him.

“Sure, get the hell out of here. I don’t need you anymore. I bailed you out, you’ve helped me today, and now we’re even.” He watched him retreat toward the stairs. “Where were we before we were so rudely interrupted? I’m sorry you can’t talk to me, but you understand it was the only way. I must admit I would have loved to hear your screams. It would have been music to my ears. Instead all I get is the terror in your eyes.”

Out of the corner of Jessie’s eye she saw a floral dress float by and heard a sound coming from the stairs.

Anderson had heard it, too. “It would seem we have visitors. Matt, I know you’re there. You may as well join us. I knew you would figure it out eventually, but I had hoped to get away before you did.” Invincible, Anderson in one fluid motion pulled out his automatic, his finger caressing the trigger, and whirled around to face Matt, but it was Gina who stepped between them, suddenly solid, suddenly very real. Wild-eyed, Anderson fired several rounds at her, one missing Matt by inches. Matt didn’t miss. He hit the mark with deadly accuracy. Anderson was dead before he hit the ground, his eyes wide open.

****

Anderson had to have seen Gina was her last coherent thought. Everything was in slow motion, and it was becoming hard for her to focus. People’s faces were blurred, and their words sounded jumbled. A needle was inserted into her arm, and an oxygen mask was put over her nose and mouth. She could feel the panic, but she was trapped. She couldn’t scream or even move. They were free to do whatever they pleased to her. She felt herself slipping away, but she didn’t want to; she wanted to live. Gina was by her side looking with love and peace-filled eyes at her. Why could she see her and not anyone else? Gina bent down and kissed Jessie’s cheek. Gina’s transformation was beautiful. She hovered above Jessie slowly fading into a bright light never taking her eyes from Jessie’s face. Was this what it felt like to die? Mercifully, Jessie passed out.

****

From a distance Matt had watched as Jessie’s eyes, which had been filled with terror, suddenly looked serene. He had seen something hovering next to her until she passed out, something he wouldn’t even try to explain.

Matt knew Anderson had seen something also that had frightened him. When he had first come around the corner, Anderson was terrified and shot wildly, but not at him. He looked through him with a shocked look on his face. One bullet flew within inches of Matt’s head, and he didn’t give Anderson a chance to get off another shot. He killed him, one bullet, one shot.