Rogue Angel - Footprints Part 61

"You got more friends back there?"

"Yeah, this is Jenny."

Tom smiled. "Hi."

Jenny smiled back. "Hi." She turned to Annja. "What's going on?"

Annja thumbed toward the door. "Sheila and David are in the dining room, huddling like lovers." She blanched and looked at Tom. "Sorry."

He shrugged. "No matter. I know it as much as anyone in town. It just took longer to admit it to myself."

Jenny looked sad. "Poor thing, to have a wife do that to you."

"They're here for lunch," Tom said. "Want some of that nouveau cuisine I was telling you about. She says if it's not good, Dave will shoot me."

"He can't threaten to do that," Jenny said.

Tom shrugged. "Why not? Everyone in town knows that something's going on. They don't like messing with him at all. Nice guy on the exterior, but if you cross him he's a dangerous snake."

"You don't say." Annja shook her head. "Looks like your sheriff might just need to be replaced."

Tom sighed. "No one around here has the guts to run against him. Last guy who did went missing and that was about the last brave hurrah we ever had. Now most folks have either moved away or stay up in their homes unless there's no choice but to come down for supplies or something."

"This is crazy," Annja said. "We've got to do something."

Joey snuck over to the door. "Wow, that's quite a kiss."

Annja groaned. "Joey."

Tom caught his breath. "Oh, h.e.l.l, I have to face facts. And I know that kissing's about the least of it, anyway, so no harm done. At least not by young Joey there." He bowed his head. "Nice to see you again, Joe."

"You, too, Tom. Sorry we had to sneak in like this."

Tom shrugged. "No matter. I'm glad for the company. But what brings you in this way, anyhow?"

"Dave tried to kill us last night," Joey said.

Tom leaned against the grill. "All of you? How so?"

"Shot us with tranquilizer darts and then stowed us in the underground cavern up by the river."

Tom's face grew stern. "They flushed the dam earlier today."

Joey nodded. "We found out."

"Rather abruptly," said Annja.

Tom shook his head. "Killing an adult is one thing. But a kid's another. Don't that guy have any kind of morals?"

"Pretty sure he doesn't," Joey said. "But he's got to be working with somebody. Someone else pulled the trigger last night, not him."

Annja moved closer to Tom. "Does Sheila know how to shoot?"

"Most women in these parts do. It's always good to know how to use a shotgun in case a bear gets too nosy."

"And Sheila?"

"Better than most, I'd say," Tom said. "She grew up in the Southwest before coming north with her mom a long time back. She told me her daddy used to teach her how to handle a gun when she was a kid."

Annja glanced at Jenny. "I think we just found our triggerman."

"Agreed. But what's she helping him with? What's the goal in David's whole enterprise?"

Annja looked back at Tom. "You said she's been gone a lot lately?"

"Been gone a lot ever since the two of them started carrying on together. I don't know whether she's at his house or just out somewhere else with him. She doesn't exactly come home and regale me with tales of their relations.h.i.+p, if you get my meaning."

"Probably better that way," Annja said.

"I'd say so," Tom said. "Bad enough that my wife is shacking up with some other man. I don't need updates about it."

"I wonder what they're up to," Jenny said. "It's got to be something that has the potential for a lot of money."

"We could just stroll out there and ask them," Annja said. "After all, they're sitting right there."

"And risk Dave shooting us on sight?" Joey said. "No, thanks. I'm not really looking to see my life ended before I even get to date a girl."

"You could stay here," Annja said. "That way, in case we get into trouble, you come in with the cavalry."

Joey frowned. "Great choice of words."

Annja blanched. "Sorry."

"Forget it. But if that's how you two want to play this, be my guest. Tom and I will stay here and watch from a distance."

Annja glanced at Jenny. "What do you think?"

Jenny took a deep breath. "At this point, I'm honestly so confused about everything, I don't really care what we do provided we have a fair chance of going home safe and sound when this is all done."

Annja looked at Joey and Tom. "I don't think that will be a problem now."

"Then let's do it."

Annja pushed through the swinging doors and headed straight for the table. Sheila and David turned at almost the same time, the shock of seeing her clearly registering on both their faces.

Sheila started to sputter something.

David reached for his gun.