Chapter Twenty-nine.

A black, leather gloved hand slowly pushed the master bedroom door open. The intruder entered the quiet, dimly lit bedroom that once belonged to Catherine and Brandon Remington. The Remington's bed was neatly made, and, although the comforter and decorative pillows weren't the originals, they were painstakingly close to it. The room looked just as it had with the exception of the empty gun cabinet. The bathroom door was partially open, revealing the glow of a light. The jets from the whirlpool tub were heard circulating. Romantic music played softly from within the bathroom. The intruder quietly crossed the bedroom, paused before the bathroom door, and slowly pushed it open to reveal the large white, bright bathroom. The intruder looked at the circulating jetted tub. It was empty! Deputy Tucker stood in the doorway with his gun in his hand and a surprised look on his face. He quickly turned within the doorway to the bedroom and came face-to-face with Casey, who was now dressed in a black stalking outfit. She swiftly kicked the gun from his hand, caught it mid-air, and aimed it at his face. Tucker stared at her holding his gun and appeared alarmed while holding his hands up in front of him. From the look in her eyes, it was almost surprising she hadn't pulled the trigger.

"Casey, put down the gun," Tucker said gently.

Casey stared at him with no emotion and c.o.c.ked her head slightly. "What are you doing in my bathroom, Deputy?"

"Sheriff Holt said we should patrol your farm," he sternly informed her. "The front door was open and no one answered when I called. I don't know what you're thinking, but I need you to give me the gun."

Her expression didn't change. "So you heard the tub circulating and just decided to have a look-see?" she asked. "Wouldn't you a.s.sume I was in the tub? A courtesy knock would have been appropriate."

"This is all a misunderstanding, Casey," he said firmly. "Don't do anything stupid."

"Trust me, anything I do will be smart and deliberate," Casey scoffed. She nodded to the window. "If you were patrolling, where's your cruiser? You weren't driving it when I saw you sneaking to the house on those cute little spy cams Diesel installed."

His expression suddenly dropped. "You saw wrong," he insisted and looked more nervous now.

"Don't f.u.c.k with me, Tucker," Casey growled. "I'm still a little p.i.s.sy about the last time I ran into you in this bedroom."

Tucker stared at Casey and appeared stunned. For a moment, he was unable to speak. He slowly shook his head. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Sure you do," she insisted. "Remember, that's the night you murdered my parents and gutted me." She casually indicated the bedroom door. "That's the door I blew out with the shotgun when I nearly took off your head." She smiled innocently. "I would think that would still be fresh in your mind," she announced then suddenly sneered. "It's fresh in mine."

"Casey, you're making a mistake."

"I don't think so," she insisted. "You told Melanie that Vaughn interrupted a rape attempt, but Vaughn never told you that. He never told anyone that."

"No, of course he didn't," Tucker replied. "I read it in his police report."

"It wasn't in the report, because he arrived after the fact. Vaughn didn't know anything about it," she informed him and again smiled sweetly. "The only people who knew about that were the two people in the kitchen that night. Me and the killer."

Tucker suddenly tensed while staring at her. Her look was cold and frightening. "You can't prove anything," he informed her. "I have an alibi for the time of the murders. I was with Melanie."

"Oh, please, Tucker," she scoffed. "As deputy, you could easily manipulate the time. I doubt anyone ever questioned your whereabouts. You probably showed up at Melanie's house right after your little side trip here." Her look was now oddly psychotic. "Besides, I don't care what I can prove." Casey raised her brows while tilting the gun. A twisted smile crossed her face. "I'm just looking for revenge."

Tucker's look slowly faded to fear. Casey was on the edge, and it wasn't going to end well for him.

"Let's see," she announced reflectively. "An eye for an eye, right? Now what would be the male equivalent to my reproductive organs?" She grinned most sinister. "I think you know what's coming next--"

Casey c.o.c.ked the hammer and aimed the gun at Tucker's crotch. He suddenly cried out. A car was heard pulling up the gravel driveway. Casey frowned and pulled the gun back.

"d.a.m.n, that's Sheriff Holt here to ruin my fun."

For some odd reason, the sound of the approaching car allowed Tucker to regain some of his arrogance. "I doubt Vaughn will be making your date tonight. He met with an unfortunate accident on his way over," Tucker bluntly informed her and smiled deviously. "Some drunk driver in a stolen car ran him into a tree."

Casey's look suddenly changed from sinister to concern. She removed her cell phone and pressed a b.u.t.ton. The phone rang on the other end. Vaughn's voicemail picked up. Casey disconnected the call then glared at Tucker.

"For your sake, you'd better be lying," she growled. "Toss your handcuffs and keys to me."

Tucker tossed both to the floor near her. As Casey reached down to pick them up, Tucker suddenly lunged for her. Casey spun into an upward kick from the floor and struck him in the face. Tucker fell harshly against the dresser then collapsed to the floor. Casey casually collected the handcuffs and snorted a laugh.

"Thank you," she announced to the unconscious deputy. "That was actually easier than telling you what to do." She sighed while grinning. "And ten times more satisfying."

Moments later, within the kitchen. Deputy Mitch.e.l.l poked his head in through the open door and cautiously looked around with his hand on his gun within his holster.

"h.e.l.lo? Anyone home?" Mitch.e.l.l uncertainly called out while scanning the empty kitchen. It was too quiet. "Casey? Grey? Big, brawny dude?"

Mitch.e.l.l slowly entered the kitchen while continuing to scan the area then uncertainly approached the living room archway. He cautiously entered the dimly lit living room and looked around. Nothing moved. He slowly headed toward the main stairs. Casey emerged from the shadows, slinked across the floor, and entered the dark dining room. Mitch.e.l.l hesitated, looked back from where he stood near the bottom of the stairs, and scanned the room. Nothing moved. He focused his attention on the stairs and headed up them. Mitch.e.l.l quietly walked along the upstairs hallway, glancing into each dark room as he pa.s.sed. He uncertainly peered into the dark, master bedroom. There was a thump. Mitch.e.l.l removed his gun and fumbled with the light switch. Tucker was naked and standing facing the bedpost. His wrists were handcuffed to the canopy, his ankles were tied to the bottom post, and his sock was stuffed in his mouth. Red lipstick scribbled across his b.u.t.tocks read, "Vote for Grey". Mitch.e.l.l hurried toward him while appearing alarmed and removed the sock from his mouth.

Tucker spit several times then glared at Mitch.e.l.l. "Untie me," he cried out in mild panic. "She's in the house!"

Mitch.e.l.l quickly removed his handcuff keys and unlocked the cuffs on Tucker's wrists. "You said you could handle her," he protested with the alarm evident in his voice.

"Are you sure you didn't see her?" Tucker demanded.

"No, she must have slipped out." Mitch.e.l.l removed his knife and cut the ropes binding Tucker's ankles while avoiding looking at his naked body.

Tucker grabbed his clothing and quickly dressed. "Guard the door," he ordered.

Mitch.e.l.l hurried to the bedroom door and watched the hall as Tucker dressed. Casey appeared in the bathroom doorway and somersaulted across the room.

Tucker saw her and suddenly cried out, "There she is!"

Mitch.e.l.l spun with his gun aimed. Casey was already in front of him, spun into a roundhouse kick, and knocked his gun across the room. Mitch.e.l.l gasped and ran from the room. Tucker lunged for the gun on the floor. Casey flipped through the air, struck him in the head with her foot, and gracefully landed near the gun as Tucker was thrown onto the bed. He groaned and appeared disoriented. Casey picked up the gun and shook her head with disappointment.

"You're not even making this sporting," she scoffed. "I'll be back to deal with you."

She darted across the room and disappeared into the hallway.

Dina held back her sobs while she half lie frozen against the steering wheel of the vertical car. She again looked at her purse on the dashboard. She had to reach it. She had to get her cell phone. It was her only hope for survival. The Camaro suddenly jolted and the tree creaked loudly. Dina screamed. The large evergreen swayed slightly as the car pulled away from it. She stared out the windshield as the front of the car was pulled backwards and away from the tree. She clutched the steering wheel in both hands as the car was pulled up the ravine. Within seconds, the car was pulled through the mangled, metal railing that resembled torn tinfoil. The driver's side door was pulled open with a loud creak. As Dina looked at the open door, Ruger stared back at her with fatherly concern.

"Are you alright?"

Dina held back her laugh, clutched her bleeding temple, and slowly shook her head. "Honestly? No."

Ruger helped her from the car. She leaned heavily on him while holding her head.

"What happened?" she asked.

"I'm guessing you had an accident and ran off the road," Ruger replied.

Diesel removed the tow cable from the Camaro and returned to Grey's jeep. Dina stared at Grey's jeep a moment then looked back at Ruger with alarm.

"No," she announced firmly. "I was driving Grey's jeep."

"We found it abandoned at the tavern with the keys in the ignition," Diesel informed her as he approached.

Dina remained disoriented then looked at both men. "Someone hit me as I approached Casey's car!" She was now horrified. "We need to find Casey. I know who's behind this!"

Chapter Thirty.

Mitch.e.l.l ran down the backstairs, crossed the Remington's kitchen, and ran for the partially closed door. He threw open the door to reveal Grey, who was out of breath and clinging to the doorframe. Grey looked at Mitch.e.l.l, appeared surprised to see him, and uncertainly straightened.

"I thought Sheriff Holt was here," Grey said.

Mitch.e.l.l was in a state of panic. "Casey's gone crazy. You've got to stop her!"

Grey appeared surprised while staring at him. There was an eerie silence. "Did you do something to her?"

"No--"

A twisted smile suddenly crossed Grey's face. His look was oddly psychotic. "Did she accuse you of something?"

Mitch.e.l.l slowly backed away from Grey. He entered the house while grinning in a creepy manner. Mitch.e.l.l appeared frightened and continued to back up. Casey appeared in the living room archway and casually leaned against it. Mitch.e.l.l saw her behind him, panicked, and lunged for Grey, the obvious lesser of two evils. Grey spun into a high, roundhouse kick, and struck him in the chest. Mitch.e.l.l flew backwards and into Casey. She caught him, smiled sweetly, and brushed the dirty footprint from his chest.

"How about you start by telling us what you did with Sheriff Holt?" Casey demanded to know with a look that immediately sent chills through the deputy.

Mitch.e.l.l was now terrified. In her state of mind, there was no telling what Casey would do. "I didn't do anything with Vaughn, I swear," Mitch.e.l.l cried out. "It was Tucker! He had someone run him off the road. I swear; it wasn't me!"

Casey looked at Grey. Her expression changed to that of concern. Grey gave her a firm look and a quick nod. Casey resumed her slightly psychotic att.i.tude and forced Mitch.e.l.l to look her in the eyes.

"Was it Tucker who killed our parents?" Casey demanded to know.

"Yes, it was Tucker," Mitch.e.l.l stammered while attempting to keep watch on both. "Tucker did it to keep the mayor in office. Your father was a threat to his position."

"And what was your part in it?" Grey demanded, causing Mitch.e.l.l to gasp and look back at him.

"I was supposed to keep an eye on Vaughn at his speed trap, but I fell asleep," he announced nervously. "I didn't know he was going to kill anyone, I swear."

"And the mayor ordered the hit?" Grey asked.

"There wasn't supposed to be a hit," Mitch.e.l.l protested. "It was supposed to be a warning." He suddenly hesitated. "He said he was just going to rough up Casey and her mother to frighten Brandon. He never said anything about killing anyone." Mitch.e.l.l remained tense and looked from Grey to Casey. "That's why I volunteered to go after Dina the other night. I didn't want to see anyone else hurt, but then someone jumped me--" He suddenly eyed Casey with an odd realization.

She grinned and shook her head. "Sorry," she replied. "That wasn't me. If I came across a man in a mask, I probably would have shot first and asked questions later."

"If it wasn't you--" Mitch.e.l.l gasped softly then looked at Grey.

Grey grinned. "Sure, blame it on the psycho brother," he teased.

"I knew it!" Casey suddenly announced with a twisted smile. "You were acting a little too innocent. You were behind the Harford boys and the cannon too, weren't you?"

"We all vent in our own way, sister dear," Grey replied.

"And here I was blaming Ruger," she scoffed while hiding her smile. "I'm proud of you."

A gun was suddenly heard c.o.c.king just behind Casey. She tensed to the familiar sound near her head. Mitch.e.l.l darted away from her, turned to look back, and held his chest. Tucker stood behind Casey with a small, semiautomatic pistol to her head.

"Look what I found in daddy's nightstand beneath the dirty magazines," Tucker teased.

Casey remained still as horror crossed her face. She didn't chance looking back at him but knew it was a gun against her head. "The twenty-two?" she asked softly.

"That's right," Tucker said with a chuckle.

Casey groaned softly and shut her eyes. She then muttered, "Forgot about that one."

Grey appeared stunned while staring at her with his mouth hanging open. "Good job, Casey!"

"They know everything, Tucker," Mitch.e.l.l informed him and appeared less nervous now.

"Of course they do, thanks to your big mouth," Tucker snapped. "We'll continue with the original plan."

"How do you intend to explain your missing guns?" Casey asked while resuming a little of her earlier confidence.

Tucker suddenly glared at Mitch.e.l.l. "Cuff Grey to the banister and find our weapons. Check the upstairs bathroom."

Mitch.e.l.l removed his handcuffs and kept a safe distance from Grey while subconsciously rubbing his chest. He nodded him to the stairs and tossed him the cuffs.

"Cuff your right wrist to the banister," Mitch.e.l.l ordered.

Grey hesitated and eyed Casey. She raised her brows in silent response. Grey frowned then groaned as he cuffed his right wrist to the banister. Mitch.e.l.l took a wide birth around Grey then darted up the stairs.

"Who ordered the hit on our family?" Grey asked while glaring at Tucker across the kitchen. "Was it the mayor or that b.a.s.t.a.r.d Ernest?"

"The same person who stole Casey's car and ran Vaughn off the road tonight," Tucker informed him while grinning slyly. "Although an investigation will reveal it was Dina behind the wheel, that is, once they identify her body."

Casey and Grey exchanged horrified looks. Grey sneered and gave a firm tug on the handcuff attached to the banister. His look was once again psychotic. Abby appeared in the open kitchen doorway and stared at Tucker with a strange look on her face. He looked at her and appeared surprised. A clearly visible cut on the corner of her mouth bled freely.

"Abby?" Tucker gasped. "What are you doing--?"

Vaughn forced Abby into the kitchen while holding his gun to her head. She was obviously frightened by her run-in with him.

"You know, I never hit a woman before," Vaughn said firmly. He casually looked around the room then eyed Casey. "I wasn't expecting quite so many people on our date."

"Yeah, the party got a little out of control," she muttered while casting a sideways glance at the gun to her own head. "Nice of you to finally join us."