Chapter Twenty

Lucas was getting high and feeling good. Now was the time to get Nattie. He’d been forced to choose a different spot to watch the Brady house since his earlier one had been compromised. He hadn’t been able to find a place that was quite as good, but it was okay. Even though it was now dark, he could see what was going on in the farmyard because of a bright yard light. He could not quite see the door to the house. His hope was that Nattie and the Brady girl would go back to the barn to finish whatever it was they’d been doing when they’d left earlier. He had every intention of grabbing Nattie when that happened and leaving the other girl tied up so that she couldn’t immediately tell her grandpa what he’d done.

Once again, however, his plan was foiled. Two other young ladies drove up and went into the house. A short while later, the two headed to the barn, and they both carried guns and flashlights. Those who stayed in the house probably had guns too. He tromped about for a few minutes as he tried to decide what to do. He didn’t want to stick around the Carbon County area too much longer. He’d already had one really close call. But he had to grab Nattie and take her with him.

Perhaps, he finally decided, he would need to make an assault on the house. He didn’t want to kill anyone, but if he had to, he would. He figured he was smart enough to find a way into the house and then pull his gun on Ron and the two girls. From there, he would simply take Nattie and leave, making sure Ron and his granddaughter couldn’t call for help. He would have to accomplish all this before the two girls at the barn went back inside. It was either that or he would have to wait until the middle of the night, and he was getting antsy. He wanted to get this over with and have the night to make good on his exit from Carbon County.

This was a desperate move he was considering, but in the altered mood he was in from the drugs, he was no longer thinking too clearly. At any rate, he felt compelled to proceed. He worked his way closer to the house.

Then he was confronted by a dog!

He had learned one thing by watching Emil break into Joe’s house; he’d seen Emil spray something in Joe’s dog’s face that took the fight right out of him. The only thing he’d been able to figure out was that Emil had used Mace, so Lucas had bought some for an occasion such as this. He dug in his pocket for it but not before the little beast bit him in the calf. He sprayed before he got bit again, and he sprayed a lot. The dog, a mostly black-and-white one, went yipping toward the barn. Lucas smiled to himself. Now he could proceed.

Lucas crept closer to the house, becoming angrier by the minute that Nattie was making him do this. He recognized that the heroin was fueling his anger, but it didn’t deter him; it only made him more determined.

The house was an older two-story model. He crept around it, looking at the windows as he went. It seemed to him that it would be best not to try to get through any of the windows to the living room or kitchen. A bedroom window, he thought, would be best. He noticed some vines growing up a trellis at the back of the house, leading right past one of the upper floor windows. That was the way he would go.

There was an enclosed porch right beside the vines. He stepped next to it and tested the strength of the lattice. It was very strong, so he began to climb. He was almost to the window when a dog started barking inside that porch. He remembered seeing them take Joe’s dog, which seemed to have been injured, into the house. They must have put him in the porch. What should he do?

For a moment, Lucas froze in place. His leg was hurting where the dog had bitten him, but he couldn’t imagine that it could be too serious. He chose to ignore it. He was so close to the window that he hated to go back down.

The dog inside the porch continued to bark, but it couldn’t hurt him. In fact, it might help distract Ron Brady. He climbed the last couple of feet until he was able to touch the window.

Lucas held tightly to the vines with one hand and reached for the window with the other one.

“Something has upset Herc,” Melia said, sitting upright on the couch. “I’d better go check on him.”

“No, let me do that. You two stay right here. It’s probably just Ace outside the porch that has gotten him all excited,” Ron said calmly.

Melia looked at Nattie where she was sitting in the second recliner. Her eyes were wide with fright. “It might be someone trying to get in the house,” Nattie reasoned, her voice trembling.

Ron had just reached the door to the porch when his cell phone rang. Herc quit barking. Ron grabbed the phone from his pocket and looked at it. Melia watched him closely. Could it be Bo saying they had caught Lucas or found Joe or had some other good news?

“What is it, Rosina?” Ron said. Ah, so not Bo. Ron listened for a moment, not yet opening the door to the back porch. After a moment he said, “Are you sure?”

Melia stood and approached Ron but backtracked when he signaled for her to return to the couch. Then into the phone, he said, “Listen to me, Rosina. You and Karmen go into the saddle room like I said earlier. Take Ace with you if he will go. Wait there until you hear from me.”

“Is someone out there by the barn, Grandpa?” Melia asked, her voice trembling. Before he answered, she looked at Nattie, whose face was white.

“It kind of looks that way,” Ron answered, his voice much calmer than Melia thought the circumstances called for. “Rosina is pretty sure that something has been sprayed in Ace’s eyes.”

“It’s Lucas,” Nattie said weakly. “He had some Mace the other day. I saw it when he emptied his pockets so I could wash his jeans. He’s out there. What are we going to do? Maybe I should go out there and go with him before he hurts one of you guys.”

“We’ve already been over this. You are staying right here,” Ron said firmly but kindly.

Melia was already on the phone dialing Bo’s number.

Bo answered and asked, “Is there a problem out there?”

“Someone Maced our dog, and Herc is all upset out on the back porch where we put him,” she said.

“Are Rosina and Karmen outside finishing the feeding?” he asked.

“Yes. Grandpa told them to get in the saddle room in the barn with Ace and to stay there. They have guns,” she said, her voice wavering. “Nattie says Lucas bought some Mace recently.”

“Okay, so it could be him. We are on our way,” Bo said. “You guys stay put but be alert.”

“I should go,” Nattie said again, getting to her feet.

“Nattie wants to go,” Melia said as her voice began to crack. “She thinks that if she goes with Lucas it’ll be safer for the rest of us.”

“We don’t know if it’s Lucas,” Bo said. “Hand your phone to Nattie. Let me talk to her.”

Nattie was on her feet now. Ron hurried over and grabbed her by the arm. “Don’t go anywhere,” he commanded, his voice that of the Army Ranger he used to be, not the loving farmer he was now.

“Bo wants to talk to you, Nattie,” Melia said, holding her phone out to her.

Nattie shook her head. Tears were streaming down her face, but she held out her hand and took the phone.

“That was Melia,” Bo said to Jim. “Someone’s there at the farm. Ron Brady’s dog has been sprayed with something. Sounds like it could be Mace. Call for some more officers. This may be a dangerous situation. I’m going to talk to Nattie now. She thinks that if she leaves, Lucas will take her and leave the others alone.”

“Hello,” he heard Nattie’s voice say on the phone.

“Nattie, think about your baby as well as yourself. You can’t go outside. We don’t even know if it’s Lucas or if it’s someone else,” he reasoned.

“It’s Lucas. I just know it,” she said, sobbing so hard it was difficult for him to understand her.

“Calm down, please. If it is Lucas, he may have Joe somewhere. If you go to Lucas, and he takes you with him, we may never find Joe. I am coming right now, and my partner is with me. Wait there with Ron and Melia. Ron’s a smart man. Do whatever he says to do.”

“I don’t want anyone hurt because of me,” she said, her voice becoming stronger. That worried Bo. “I’m going out. I have to.”

“Nattie, don’t do that!” he shouted into the phone. There was no response for a moment.

Then Melia’s voice came across the line. “It’s Melia. Nattie ran outside. She doesn’t even have a coat on.”

“Oh my!” Bo exclaimed. “Let me talk to Ron.”

Lucas was listening at the top of the stairs and heard Nattie say she was going out. But he’d just reached the inside of the house. He had to get back out there . . . but he was torn. He could shoot his way past Ron Brady. A quick peek revealed that Ron had taken hold of Melia and pulled her to the edge of the room while still holding his phone. Lucas ducked back out of sight before they spotted him.

“Okay,” he heard Ron say. “We’ll stay right here.”

Lucas turned back and headed for the window. The heroin was fueling his anger. He’d find Nattie outside, and they would get away in the dark. That was the safest bet. He didn’t want Ron Brady to shoot him, and the old man might just be upset enough to do that. Lucas was certainly upset enough that if the old man tried, Lucas would shoot him back. In his drug-frenzied mind, his judgment was becoming increasingly impaired.

Ron thought he heard steps upstairs. That alarmed him. He motioned for Melia to sit beside his chair, and he watched the top of the stairs very carefully. He had a shotgun on his lap, loaded and ready to fire if the intruder appeared. He listened but didn’t hear any more steps, but he was fearful that the intruder was up there.

“What is it, Grandpa?” Melia asked in a frightened whisper. “Is someone up there?” She nodded toward the head of the stairs.

“I don’t know, but we have to assume that could be the case.”

Bo stopped his sheriff vehicle just beyond the area lit by the Brady’s yard light. He’d approached the last mile with his headlights off, no siren, and no flashing red-and-blue lights but driving at breakneck speed.

“The intruder may have left already, but we need to treat this situation as if he hasn’t. Ask dispatch to instruct any other responding officers to approach silently and without lights. There’s enough moonlight to drive okay. They should only use their headlights if they see other traffic. We don’t need to cause a wreck. Make sure everyone knows that the girl is out there now. I don’t want anyone taking any stupid shots.”

Jim did as instructed as Bo got his dog out and put a leash on him.

Then Bo spoke softly into his cell phone. “Ron, we’re out here. We made a silent approach. I have my dog on a leash. We’ll circle the house first.”

“Herc is on the enclosed back porch,” Ron responded. “There are some vines that grow up beside the porch that go clear to the roof. They are strong enough for a man to climb. And there is a bedroom window right beside the trellis. I’m pretty sure I heard footsteps up there. He may be inside already.”

That made Bo worry even more. “Keep Melia safe. I’m coming. I assume you have your guns.”

“I’ve got them. I don’t hear anyone up there now, but he’s probably just standing still. I’m sure he came in,” Ron responded in a whisper. “I’m watching the top of the stairs. If I see someone, I will probably shoot.”

“I’m almost to your house. Can you unlock the door for me and then hide?” Bo asked. “Make sure Melia stays out of sight while you do.” Without waiting for a response from Ron, he spoke to his partner, who was jogging alongside him. “Jim, you make a dash to the barn and make sure the girls are okay there. Ron thinks the guy is inside the house, but we have to make sure he isn’t in the barn. When you get there, keep your eyes peeled and listen carefully. Whoever sprayed the dog could be anywhere.”

Jim took off, running and dodging swiftly. Bo prayed that he hadn’t just sent him on an errand that could get him shot. He kept moving even as he listened to Jim’s retreating footsteps. A quick glance to his right a moment later was all that was needed to assure himself that Jim had reached the barn. Bo needed to get in the house now.

To his surprise, Ron and Melia were waiting for him on the front porch. “We heard him again upstairs, so we came out,” Ron explained, his breathing sounding labored.

“Where in the house?” Bo asked.

“It sounded like he was in the room that has the window by the vines,” Ron explained, still keeping his voice very soft. “I need to sit down.”

Melia helped him to a deck chair, which he sank into with a groan. Melia squatted down beside him. Bo turned back and ran around the house. He spotted the vines, and sure enough, a figure dressed all in black was partway out of the window, one hand already gripping the vines.

Bo drew his gun and aimed it at the black figure. He almost shouted for the man to stop, but then he hesitated. Once he was on the vines, Bo could then order him to stop. The guy would be more or less helpless.

Melia suddenly screamed for help. Her scream sent the burglar scurrying back inside.

Bo had to go to her. He ran back around the house and onto the porch just as another patrol car slipped from the darkness into the illumination of the yard light.

“Bo, hurry!” Melia said. “Grandpa just passed out.”

At that same moment, Jim ran toward them. “He’s in the house,” he shouted.

“I know,” Bo responded. “Get these other officers to surround the house and call for a SWAT team. I’m calling 911. Ron needs an ambulance. Have you seen Nattie?” Bo leaped onto the porch and handed the phone to Melia. “I’ve dialed 911. Have them send an ambulance. I’ll check your grandpa out.”

Ron didn’t look good, nor was he safe here on the front porch with a dangerous man inside. He had to move him away from the house. Bo picked Ron up and kept his eyes and ears alert for any sound inside the house as he heard Melia quietly give instructions to the 911 dispatcher. She had calmed down now, and she was talking in a reasonable manner.

Two more patrol cars arrived. Officers scrambled from the cars as Bo carried Ron from the porch to the garage, the nearest unattached building. Melia stayed right beside them. An officer shouted to him for directions and Jim moved forward to organize the officers. Bo laid Ron on the floor of the garage beside his pickup and began to check his vital signs. His breathing was shallow, his heartbeat irregular. Melia followed him in and knelt beside her grandpa.

“Is he dying?” she asked, once again emotional after so calmly calling for the ambulance.

“He’s not in good shape, but if that ambulance gets here in time, they can save his life. You did good shouting for me,” he said. “I hated to move him, but with someone in the house, I felt I needed to get him here where we would be safer.”

“I’m sorry. This is my fault,” a voice said from just outside the garage.

Melia sprang to her feet and rushed out, grabbing Nattie and pulling her into the garage and then hugging her tightly. “None of it is your fault.”

“Lucas is in the house. I saw him as he was climbing out the window, but he went back inside again. He was dressed in black, but I know it was him. I hope it’s not too late to save Joe.”

“They’ll find Joe,” Melia said, fearing that she had just told a lie but not knowing what else to say.

The two young women held each other as Bo attempted to give care to Ron and officers surrounded the house. The sheriff himself arrived as SWAT members assembled. Sheriff Hermock knelt beside Bo. “An ambulance will be here soon. After they take Mr. Brady, you can explain to me what exactly has occurred so far and then help me decide what action we need to take next.”

“Okay,” Bo said.

Once the ambulance had arrived and Ron had been stabilized, they loaded him in.

“May I go with him?” Melia asked. “I’m his granddaughter.”

It was allowed. She climbed in, and the ambulance roared out of the yard. Bo prayed for Ron as he turned his attention to the sheriff. “Okay, Sheriff,” he said. “Here’s what’s happening.”

Bo glanced at Nattie standing a few feet away. She looked so forlorn that it broke his heart. “Just a second, Sheriff,” he said. “I need to make sure this girl is taken care of.” He dialed Rosina’s phone, and as soon as she answered, he asked, “Where are you and Karmen?”

“We’re still in the barn like you asked.”

“Okay. I’m going to escort Nattie over there, and you guys will need to keep an eye on her. She’s pretty shook up,” he said. He looked at the sheriff then. “Sheriff, walk with us while I fill you in.”

They were halfway to the barn when Nattie stopped walking. She looked up at Bo and said, “Lucas is in the house. I will go with him if you will let him go. This is all about me. I can’t let any of you get hurt because of me.”

“You know we can’t do that,” Bo said.

“He’s right,” the sheriff added. “If he knows where Joe is, we need him to tell us. I’m afraid that if you go with him that will never happen.”

“Maybe he will tell me after we get away, and then I can call and tell you,” she said in a soft, emotional voice.

The sheriff shook his head. “We can’t take that chance,” he said. “I cannot allow you to go into a dangerous situation.”

For a moment, Bo thought she was going to beg, but instead she said, “Okay, if you guys say so.” A minute later, she was with Rosina and Karmen in the barn.