Killer Mountain by Peter Pinkham

Author:Peter Pinkham
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: MFDC Press
Published: 2011-09-27T01:35:20.588000+00:00

Chapter 24

They drove by the house on North Garrison in their rented Buick. It was close to dark, yet no lights burned in the one-story ranch.

“Here it is.” Cilla studied the house from the driver’s window.

“Yes. Looks like they’re out.”

“Perhaps they were never here. Maybe she didn’t use her own house to hide Loni. For fear it could be traced.”

“That’s giving them too much credit. Three thousand miles. Who’d find them here?”

“We did.”

“We had somebody to follow.”

Cilla stopped the car at the end of the street, still in sight of the house, and turned to Carver. “That possibility must have occurred to them.”

The old man looked back down the street. They were parked over a block away, facing the gray ranch but behind two other cars. “I’d have someone in a nearby house to keep watch for strangers.”

“So we can’t arouse suspicion from anyone in the neighborhood.” Cilla bit a knuckle. “Do I sell girl scout cookies?”

“No one to sell to. We wait.”

An hour passed. And then two. Cilla ran the engine every fifteen minutes for warmth. She’d never minded cold herself, and the temperature couldn’t be lower than forty-five compared to the twenties they’d left back in New Hampshire. Wally had his arms tightly wound around his chest, but she knew he wouldn’t show weakness if he froze to death. There was no conversation. The only thing they had in common, thought Cilla, was Hudson, and Wally would deny they now had that. She bent her toes toward her shin to exercise the muscles. Wally had levered the passenger seat back and appeared to be asleep, though she knew he wasn’t. She’d learned patience at the ashram, but if Hudson was in that house just a hundred yards away...She focused her thoughts on Wally.

“Time we made a move.” Carver brought the seat upright. “I’m not going to spend the whole night in this damn car. It’s dark enough. We’ll leave the car here.” He climbed out, slapping his hands together. “And leave your bag here; I’ll take the keys.”

Cilla considered telling him to lock the car. No, they might need it quickly. There was nothing in it to take anyway.

They approached on the same side of the street as the house. There were still no lights. A fence ran along the side nearest them, and they crept between it and the house, peeking in windows. They’d almost made a complete circuit of the ranch when Cilla took Wally’s arm and pulled him into some bushes.

“What...?

“Someone’s coming,” she whispered.

A shape appeared at the end of the driveway, and, as they watched, went directly to the front door, opened it and entered. With Wally by the arm, Cilla retraced her steps to a window. Whoever it was turned on no lights, so they could see nothing. Suddenly there was a glimmer of light, not a lamp...“The front door! He’s leaving!” It was Wally’s turn to grab Cilla’s arm. Together they raced around the house. The headlights from a passing car caught the figure of a woman crossing the street.

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