False Pretenses - Kathy Herman [89]
“Are you saying Shapiro—I mean Cowen—killed Remy?” Zoe said.
“Looks that way. At the very least he’s an accessory. Can you receive photos on your disposable cell?”
“No,” Pierce said. “Why?”
“I’ve got Cowen’s mug shot in front of me, but it’s a few years old. He probably looks different now. Didn’t you tell me the man you know as Shapiro was around forty, tall and thin, has a mustache and medium brown hair down to his collar?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“And sinister eyes,” Zoe added.
Jude made some notes, aware that the clouds were getting darker.
Finally Pierce said, “This isn’t good news for us or for Vanessa, is it?”
Jude sighed. “It’s hard to say. I want you two to stay put. Keep the doors locked. We’ve got an APB out on Cowen. He’s probably listening to our radio communications and knows we’re on to him.”
“What if he forced Vanessa to tell him where we are?”
“We don’t know that he’s even talked to Vanessa. Her being unreachable might be totally unrelated. I still think you should stay where you are. As soon as I can spare them, I’m going to send a couple deputies out there to stay with you—at least until we know more.”
CHAPTER 28
Vanessa stood in a jungle of sugarcane stalks that were considerably taller than she, swatting at the pesky bees and flies that tormented her. She was soaked with perspiration, including her hair. All of her exposed skin had been whipped and slashed by the sharp leaves of the sugarcane plants. How badly had the bullet grazed her? She tried to examine it, but the blood had started to dry, causing her sleeve to stick to the wound.
The heat was stifling, and the heavy air seemed hardly breathable. A clap of thunder startled her, and the ground seemed to shake. Would rain help or hamper her ability to get away from Shapiro? How close was he? If she moved, would he hear her? Was he angry enough to kill her with his bare hands?
Lord, You brought me this far. Help me find a way out. Help me get to safety!
Vanessa thought of Ethan and Carter and felt her determination strengthened. Without her car or cell phone, wasn’t her only means of escape to cross the field and get to the Langley property? If she could lock herself in the manor house with Zoe and Pierce, she could use their cell phone to call for help.
She took a few more steps, pushing aside the unforgiving leaves of the sugarcane plants, wondering if she had ever been thirstier—or more afraid. She heard a swishing sound behind her and froze, intently listening. There it was again. Something shot out of the green maze, evoking a squeal from her. A dark bird, a glint of red and yellow visible in its wings, landed a few feet in front of her, then clawed through a tangle of leaves and disappeared.
She slapped her hand over her mouth, her heart hammering. Had Shapiro heard her?
Savannah poured coffee refills for Hebert, Father Sam, and Tex and placed lunch menus on the table.
“Mes amis, are you going to have lunch, or do you just want to hang out?” She glanced out the window. “Looks like we’re about to get rained on.”
“We’d like to hang out here, if that’s okay,” Father Sam said. “We’re hoping to hear any minute that the sheriff has found this Reagan Cowen they think was involved in Remy’s murder. It would be some consolation to us all if it happened before Remy’s funeral tomorrow.”
Savannah nodded. “Sure would.”
“I wonder what makes the sheriff think the guy is still in the area,” Tex said.
Hebert shrugged. “If he changed his looks, how dey going to find him?”
“He can’t change his height,” Savannah said. “They said he’s six-two and slender.”
“I imagine there’s some tall fellas around town gettin’ double takes.” Tex patted his round belly. “I’m not one of ’em. No one’s accused me of bein’ slim in a long time. Guess I can chalk it