Chapter 6

Rooney's hands shook like leaves caught up in a whirlwind. She thought about putting the gun down, but the thought of who might walk up those stairs—the men who killed Stuart, professional assassins, hell, Chuckie from Child's Play—convinced her to keep it right where Stephan had placed it.

Agony and fear were her closest companions as the minutes ticked by. She prayed for Stephan's safe return, a man she had known for an hour and yet, it felt like a lifetime now. And where was Stuart? She vowed she'd kill him when she saw him again, but then checked herself. How did one kill someone who was already dead? Morbid, dismal thoughts ran through her already feeble brain while she waited, and then she heard a noise from below. Someone had entered the house, their footsteps treading softly across the hardwood floor and heading for the stairway.

Please, please let it be Stephan.

A stair creaked and groaned, along with her suffocating throat. "Set the gun down on the floor beside you. I've had my fill of being shot at today."

Stephan's face appeared before her and she almost collapsed from relief. "Are you all right?"

He advanced up the steps, the rifle resting on his shoulder. "Unharmed."

"Who were they; what happened out there?"

"I got one, the other got away on a scooter."

"Got one…what does that mean? Is he-is he—?"

"Dead. It was him or me."

"Oh. My. God," she said and wondered if she was about to faint. "Are you sure? I mean maybe he's just wounded."

From the top step, he lowered his chin, and if he wore glasses he would have been looking over them right now. "Not just wounded. Did you hear me? The other one got away, which means, he'll be reporting back and more will come."

"More?"

"Yes, more assassins like the two who came today."

"I have to leave, get back to La Bonne Chance so I can have the nervous breakdown my mind and body have been begging me to have. Vi will know what to do, I hope."

"Wrong. You can't go back there, can't go back anywhere now. Even if you could, how would you get there?"

"The rental car I drove here."

He shook his head.

She closed her eyes. "Please tell me they didn't steal the car."

"All right. They didn't steal the car, but they sure as hell made it inaccessible."

Eyes open, she asked, "What do you mean; what did they do to it?"

"Shot out the windows and one front tire."

She clasped a hand over her mouth. "No! Vi will kill me. She took that out in her name. I have to call her, let her know—"

"You don't understand, Rooney. Everything has changed now. We have to move out and fast. They will come back and this time they won't just send two. We have to lay low until we figure this out."

"I'm sure you're saying we, but my mind isn't quite processing it. Maybe you could drop me at the casino and figure this out on your own. Surely with your background in the army, you know about these things, have the resources to get to the bottom of it. I'm sure I'll be safe; they wouldn't try anything at one of the largest casinos in New York."

"Right, because they didn't kill Stuart there."

"I can't go with you. I don't even know you, and I have a life. It might not be much of one right now, but I'd like to hang on to it. Ever since I met you and your brother, I've been caught up in a crazy world of ghosts, murder and professional hit men." Tears came unbidden to her eyes. "I'm just an ordinary girl from a small town; know nothing about any of this."

His voice softened. "I know, Rooney, and I'm sorry about that. I know. You don't know anything about me but I'm asking you to believe me, trust me. On your own out there, you're as good as dead. I can keep you safe; protect you until we get to the bottom of this. I admit, it's going to be harder with two and you might slow me down but we'll adjust."

"Oh, so I'm a liability now? Fine, great! Like I said before, you're a real ass hat."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I'm trying to work all this out in my mind, that's all."

"You meant it, and it's true. I'm a burden and can do nothing to help. But it is what it is. I mean, if I had known I would have honed my Kill Bill skills."

"You have to trust me. I'll do everything I can to see you're not harmed."

"Why would you do that?"

"You were trying to help Stuart, had no idea you'd get caught up in all this."

"Yeah, a little while ago I said I was going to kill him when I saw him again." She sighed. "But then I remembered he's already dead."

She didn't know how he could smile amid all this, but he did, and for some reason she knew her best chance to stay alive right now was with him. "I need to know one thing before I decide. How are you going to keep me safe, what do you plan to do now?"

"Well, meeting with that lawyer is out of the question. They'll be watching him. I plan to call him though, let him know what's happened. I have to find out more about this Catskill Resource Inc. and probably put a bug in the sheriff's ear about what happened here today."

"Won't he be looking for you too if you do that?"

"Maybe, but he'll have a hard time finding me. Enough talking. We don't have much time, so make up your mind. "

"Do I have a choice?"

"None that I see."

"Great, just frickin' great. Like I said, Vi is going to kill me."

"Once we clear out of here, you can call her. You'll have to make it short since I have no idea if they've already gotten to her, bugged her phone."

"What! They might go after Vi?"

"They'll go after anyone who gets in their way. Think of it as collateral damage, but in reality, they want you and me now."

A prolonged groan fell from her lips. "How are we going to make this grand getaway? The rental car isn't an option now." Another groan. "And they've no doubt seen your truck parked in the driveway, know what you're driving."

He reached down, plucked the gun from the floor and tucked it into his waistband again. "I need to gather a few things. Stay here and I'll be right back, and then I'll show you."

"I can hardly wait," she said, vaguely aware of him brushing past her and scurrying down the hallway.

Minutes later, Stephan had returned, the large duffel bag that held weapons in one hand, a smaller one in the other. "We better clear out now. Can you make it to the barn?"

"The barn?"

"Yeah, our transportation awaits, madam."

"Don't know that I'll ever get used to your odd sense of humor."

He pushed his arm out and helped her to her feet with a crooked smile. "Stay close to me, okay? I'm pretty sure the one that got away is long gone but I'm not taking any chances."

She followed him down the stairs and through the kitchen. In the yard, she walked to the shot-up rental car and grabbed her purse and cell phone from the seat, aware of her stomach taking a nosedive. How would she explain this to Vi?

Hugging his back, she followed him to the double doors of the barn. He lifted the latch and the massive doors swung open. Her eyes fell upon the shiny blue Trans Am sitting in the middle of the barn.

"Wow! What a beautiful ride. What year is it?"

"Two-thousand five," he said, pride lacing his words. "I bought it before I joined the army and thought about it many times while in Afghanistan and Iraq."

"I can see why."

"It's unlocked, go ahead and settle into the passenger seat while I put the bags in the rear."

Seconds later, he slid behind the wheel, started the engine and turned to her. "All set?"

"Considering I don't have any luggage or even a change of clothing, I'm as ready as I'll ever be. I guess," she added with another wave of discomfort.

"We'll have to remedy that…a change of clothing."

"Just where are we headed anyway?"

"To a small town called Eden about an hour away. We'll be safe there."

Rooney checked her watch, a reminder she had to call Vi. "Look I have to call my sister. She's expecting me to be there for tonight's séance." She chewed on a finger. "I don't know what I'm going to say to her."

Watching the road, and the rearview mirror and the countryside, she realized how attuned he was to their surroundings. When things settled down—if they ever did—she'd ask him more about what he did in the army. Breaking into her thoughts, he said, "How about the truth? That always seems to work well."

"Easy for you to say. You're not the one who has to tell her the rental car is shot to pieces, I'm at a farm several hours from Victory following up on a murder…oh, God, a murder a ghost told me about, and now I'm on the run with an army veteran who killed a man today."

"Does sound pretty far-fetched, doesn't it?"

She sighed. "Yes, and that's the problem. It's not far-fetched, it's reality."

"Look, make the call and then you have to ditch that cell phone."

"What!"

"They could have bugged it, might have seen it in the front seat."

"Why would they do that? They didn't expect us to live through that Wild West shootout."

"They never leave a stone unturned, Rooney, trust me on that."

"They?"

He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "Professionals. Paid hit men."

She clutched her stomach and groaned. "I'm gonna be sick."

"No you're not. You're going to buck up, call your sister and tell her everything will work out."

"You're just so calm about this, too calm. What did you do in the army anyway?"

"Sniper."

She shook her head. "Of course you were. Stupid question. Will you pull off for a minute while I call her?"

He took a left at the first dirt road they came to. "Sure." When the car stopped, he opened the door. "I'll stretch my legs for a spell."

"Thanks." Rooney punched in Vi's cell phone number and drew a deep breath when her sister answered. "Rooney. Thank God, I've been calling your cell for an hour. Where are you?"

"Vi, are you sitting down?"

"No, I'm not sitting down. I've been pacing the room for the last thirty minutes. Thought you were in a car wreck or something."

"Something would be closer to the truth."

'Talk to me. Are you all right and what's going on?"

"Yes, I'm all right, but the going on part is gonna take some time."

"Rooney, whatever it is, spit it out. We have to get ready for tonight's séance."

"I won't be at the séance, Vi."

"What? Why not?"

"I don't know how to tell you all that's happened so I'll just tell you straight up."

"I like it straight up, especially the part about why you won't be here for the event tonight."

"You can handle the séance by yourself; I have no doubt about that."

"Rooney…for God's sake, what is going on?"

"All right, here goes. When I returned to our room last night I met a ghost by the name of Stuart."

During the ensuing silence that reigned, Rooney looked at the clouds overhead and realized the sultry heat of the day had been ushered out and replaced by heavy, damp air. She wondered what was going through Vi's mind right now, but didn't have to wonder for long. "You don't believe in ghosts. Did you hit your head or something? If you wrecked the car, it's all right. I need to know you're okay, that's all."

"I didn't hit my head, no, and I'm so relieved you feel that way about the car."

"Oh, no. What does that mean, exactly?"

"No, I don't…didn't believe in ghosts."

"The car, Rooney, how is the rental car?"

"The last time I looked, not so good."

She heard Vi blow an exasperated breath of air. "Stop talking in riddles! What is wrong with the car and what in God's name is wrong with you?"

"Look, I've had one hell of a day, so do you mind not yelling at me?"

Another huff of air. "All right. I'm calm and I'm listening. You said something about a ghost named Stuart."

"Yes, do you remember last night during the séance you said, 'Someone has joined us and his name is Stuart?'"

"I do. Continue."

"He's real. That is, there really is a ghost named Stuart and I met him in our hotel room last night."

"Still listening."

"He died at the La Bonne Chance Resort and Casino two months ago. All the papers said it was a suicide, even the coroner ruled his death a suicide, but he was murdered."

"The ghost told you this?"

"Yes, he did, and he asked me to let his brother know he didn't commit suicide."

"Rooney, darling, maybe dropping out of college, joining me for the séances, not to mention Vanessa's illness, has been too much for you. I understand, really I do. Why don't you come back to the hotel, we'll talk about it and schedule an appointment with a doctor—"

"I don't need a doctor. I need you to believe me because right now, I'm in a heap of trouble and—"

"I know, that's what I'm talking about…you're troubled and I want to help you."

When Stephan tapped on the window, she rolled it down a fraction. "Car coming. We can't sit here, have to move out."

"Right. Vi, I'll call you back, can't talk right now."

"Was that a man's voice? Rooney, don't you dare hang up on me. Tell me what in hell is going on!"

"Gotta go, Vi. Don't worry about me." She glanced up at Stephan. "I'm in good hands and I can explain everything later, okay? I love you."

"Rooney, Rooney, don't hang—"

She pushed the 'end' button on the phone as Stephan jumped behind the wheel again. "That went well, and I didn't have time to explain everything."

"Sorry, but we're sitting ducks out here."

Rooney slumped down in the seat. What a mess she'd made of everything. The urgency in Stephan's voice convinced her to end the conversation with her sister. The hit men had already proven they meant business and unless she wanted to get them both killed, she better start listening to Stephan. Tomorrow, she'd call Vi again and explain everything. If they were still alive tomorrow.

Stephan pulled out onto the highway and sped away. "Didn't go so well, huh?"

"Of course not, and I don't want to talk about this anymore tonight. I'm hungry, I'm tired and I'm scared, so let's just head to this place you call Eden and call it a day, all right?"

"All right. We'll get a good night's sleep and come up with a plan tomorrow."

She looked out the window, her deadpan voice sounding foreign to her. "After all, tomorrow is another day."

Stephan gave a small snort. When she turned to him, his eyes twinkled. In those deep blue orbs, she found comfort, a feeling of serenity. She couldn't go down that road, didn't want to. She'd sworn off men after Jared. The wounds were still deep, raw and heartbreaking. Yet, here she sat, wondering what it would be like to kiss that sensual mouth, snuggle into the strong arms that promised safe harbor.

Don't go there, Rooney. You're vulnerable right now, scared and floundering in a world that has suddenly become frightening and dangerous. You don't know anything about this man, his past or plans he might have for his future. Stuart said surely, he was messed up, yet he hadn't shown one teensy part of that revelation in the short time she'd spent with him. Her mind reeling with convoluted thoughts, she flinched when he spoke, and then she smiled.

"Now, don't make me start calling you Scarlett."