Dempster Road

Chapter 22

Adelaine stood looking at the front of the hotel, Barney's gun dangling at her side. She couldn't understand what happened, why she had fired the gun at the door, and why did her arm hurt so much? She puzzled over the bandage, then gazed about and saw the wagon with the back door open, and she wandered back to it, stopping to puzzle over the tarp covered object in the back.

When she lifted a corner and saw the Deputy's face locked in a rictus of horror, and the dark, clotted gash in the throat, she had a flash memory of seeing him drive away with a woman from this very lot. The newspaper woman! Bits and pieces were coming back.

They were going to the diner – the diner where she met the man and had dinner. Ted! They were investigating her.

She dropped the corner of the tarp and looked back at the hotel, musing aloud.

"Don't think I know what's happening do you? You're trying to keep me here while all the time you're doing your underhanded business at the diner. Well I'm smarter than that, you hear? I'm a lot smarter than that." She ran around to the driver's side, climbed in and tore off the lot in a cloud of dust and dirt.

Emily huddled by the kitchen window, one ear tilted toward the glass. "Did you hear that? She muttered something about the diner and being smarter."

"I couldn't make out much from here, but I did hear the word diner. You think she's going there? Why?"

"Isn't that where all this started? Where she met that first fella that was killed?" Emily reached for the phone and dialled Dempster police again.

****

Fred steered the truck right up to the main entrance and jumped out with his rifle at the ready. Tony climbed down from the other side and started to help Barney out when the old radio scratched to life.

"Sheriff Blackwell."

"Barney? I just got another call from the hotel in Hurston. They say that the Curtis woman might be heading for the diner north of there."

"We just got here, Stel, let me go in and talk to them then I'll call you back."

He shut off the radio and finished easing himself out of the truck. The sharp pain from his chest made him consider a broken rib or two, and the cuts and abrasions that he couldn't see under his clothes all came awake with a vengeance.

It took a minute or two to get Emily and Belinda to unlock the kitchen and come out, and when they did, Belinda ran and threw her arms around Barney, tears flooding her cheeks. "I thought she killed you! Oh, Barney I was so terrified. He suffered the pain of her embrace, and then eased her away, and gradually drew the full story from both women.

"Mrs. Rastonburgh do you have a number for that diner or a local phone book?"

"It's probably in the guest book I leave in the rooms; I'll get one and check." She started to leave and saw Barney sag and reach out to the wall for support. "I think you'd better find a seat somewhere Sheriff and let somebody have a look at those cuts."

He didn't argue, letting Tony assist him to a bench in the lobby. "I think it's my ribs," he whispered to Tony. "Trouble getting' a breath."

"I don't think you can carry on with this chase, Barney," Tony worried. "Isn't there anyone else to help?"

Barney raised his eyes to the younger man. "Both deputies are dead, Tony. Fred here is out of retirement only because I didn't want to leave Stella alone at the station. There ain't no one else."

"There's Aaron Bates, couldn't he do somethin'?"

"Aaron's guardin' Stella," Fred growled, glowering at the younger man. "I'm here and that's all we need."

Before either man could protest, Emily hurried back with a slip of paper and the diner's phone number. "I'll call right away," she said, doing just that.

****

Jill hung up the phone and leaned on the top of the cash register, her lower teeth dragging over her upper lip. The couple at the counter stopped talking and looked over at her.

"Something wrong, Miss?"

Jill stood up and wiped her hands together, her eyes were vacant and wet. The couple had been staying with her for several days now, and they had become chatting acquaintances.

"That was the owner of the Hurston Hotel. Apparently a woman that stayed here just before you folks is being chased by the police for murder and she's heading back this way."

The woman looked alarmed. "Shouldn't you be calling someone?"

Jill covered her mouth. "The Deputy I'd call was one of the victims." She gulped in a sobbing breath.

"One of the victims!" The woman took her companion's arm and suggested they perhaps should be thinking of checking out.

"Take it easy, Marg. Hurston isn't that far away and we wouldn't want to be charging around trying to get packed. Let's just sit a bit and think this through."

"This isn't one of your psychiatric sessions, Harry. You aren't in control of the environment here."

Harry placed a calming hand on her arm and turned to Jill. "What else did the woman in Hurston say? You were on there quite a while." He pointed at the phone. Jill gathered herself and related the entire conversation while Harry listened with growing interest, and Marg with matching horror.

****

Adelaine recognized the sign for the Wayfarer's Rest and guided the car onto the lot, slowing and cruising slowly past the rooms alongside the diner. There were no lights and only three cars, and she turned around at the end of the lot and drove back to the diner, parking and climbing out of the car.

She felt a sudden rush as she recalled Ted flinging money in her face and storming out, and her own pursuit shortly after. Through the window she could see a woman behind the counter and a couple sitting across from her. She shut the door and walked confidently inside.

The woman behind the counter looked vaguely familiar and Adelaine formed a smile as she approached.

"Hi, I was wondering if you had a gentleman staying here named Ted?" She widened her smile and blushed slightly. "I don't know his last name, but he bought me dinner here a few nights ago and I just wanted to catch up with him again."

Jill stared nervously at the bandage on the woman' arm, and as she listened, prayed the advice Harry gave her was good. "Ah, I think I remember you. Yes. I recall the gentleman too, we were full and you shared a table."

Adelaine paused. "Yes, we did."

"Gee, I'm sorry, he checked out. Gone. No idea where."

"Why would you?"

"Pardon? What? Why would I what?"

"Have any idea where he went? Do all your guests tell you their plans?" She turned and purposely stared at Harry and Marg, sensing a palpable fear from the woman.

"Well no but I just thought . . . well no they don't." Jill fiddled with her hands.

"What about you two, are you going to tell her where you're going next?"

Harry rested his hand on his wife's, and assumed a calming demeanour. "We've been chatting about places to see in this neck of the woods, so in answer to your question, probably yes." He smiled and changed position on the stool. Our hostess has been very helpful with local travel tips."

Adelaine blinked and looked back at Jill. "Do you know if you have his name, I'd like to find him and thank him? I never really had a chance to do it properly."