Florida Heat

  “I mind,” Jo grumbled as Kate took her good arm and led her to a corner of the room.

  “I need a favor,” Kate said quietly.

  “Sure, as long as it doesn’t involve standing for any more pictures.”

  “No, ah, would you mind taking my car and going home alone?”

  Jo blinked in surprise. “Why, what’s up?”

  Kate smiled. “Tony has asked me out for dinner and I’m going.”

  “Okay,” Jo said looking over to where Tony stood talking with the Chief of Police. “That means I can leave when I want. I won’t need to stand around while you say hello to half the world.”

  Kate handed Jo the keys to her car. “Thanks, you’re a pal and, Jo,” she grinned, “I’m feeling lucky so don’t wait up.”

  Jo watched Kate make her way across the room stopping at least half a dozen times to shake a hand or share a word. That’s our Kate, she thought, Miss Social Butterfly. Then realizing she held the keys to her freedom, Jo quietly slipped from the room.

  In the parking, lot she smiled and accepted congratulations from two officers just coming onto shift as she made her way to Kate’s car. Don’t wait up. God, she chuckled, as if she would. She started to climb into the car when she noticed the black van pulling out of the lot. She tried to see the license plate, but the van was just too far away. I’m obsessed, she thought. I’m obsessed with black vans. And trying not to think about it, Jo drove home. But no matter how she tried, she just couldn’t get the image out of her mind.

  Once home, Jo shed her slacks and sweater for her cutoffs and a well-worn tee. Then sitting on the porch with a glass of iced tea she tossed the new balls for the dogs to fetch. Bella wore out first and after a sloppy drink from her bowl, joined Jo on the porch. When her arm started to tire before Blitz did, Jo had to call it quits.

  I wonder if I focused on another type of vehicle instead of a black van, I’d see them everywhere, too. And warming to that idea she went back in the house to look at her pictures again. It didn’t take long to realize that the theory didn’t work. The only constant was the black van. She paced with frustration then looked at the cat sitting on top of the piano. “I see black vans everywhere,” she said to Midnight, “but I can’t even tell if it’s the same van or not.” The cat just twitched her ears then began to lick her paw.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Jo was still working at the kitchen table when both dogs jumped up and raced to the front door moments before it opened. Surprised to see Kate, she glanced at the clock and saw the time was going on three in the morning.

  “Wow,” she said as Kate walked in. “You’re home early.”

  Kate dropped down on a chair and smiled. “Hmmm.”

  “I’m guessing from that that you had a nice time?”

  “Mmm hmm.” Kate continued to smile.

  “That must have been a huge dinner.”

  Kate finally looked over at Jo. “What?”

  “Well, since he was taking you to dinner and it’s now going on three in the morning, I guess you had a lot to eat.”

  “You know, Jo, sometimes I wonder about you.” Kate stood and got herself a glass of iced tea.

  “Only some of the time?” Jo grinned.

  “Yeah, the rest of the time, I know. If you want the details of my night, just ask.”

  “Ah, no thank you. I’ll just assume from the smile on your face that all went well.

  Are you going to see him again? I mean he is gorgeous.”

  Now Kate’s smile dimmed. “I don’t know. He’s flying back to Washington first thing tomorrow morning.”

  “Well that sucks.”

  Kate just shrugged. “What will be will be. What in the world are you doing?” She pulled Jo’s paper closer so she could read it.

  “I was just making a list of everyone I could remember who was at the ceremony and then putting down what model car they drove.”

  “And you’re doing this because.…’

  “I saw a black van pull out of the parking lot just as I was getting into your car. I just wondered who it belonged to.”

  Kate scanned down the list. “Jo, you have the Chief of Police on this list.”

  “Well, he was there, and you never know what a person’s hobbies might be.”

  Kate gave Jo a long hard stare. “And you think the Chief of Police might be smuggling birds for a hobby?”

  “No, of course not… I mean probably not…but you have to admit he was at the ceremony tonight.”

  “Ah, yes, he was, and so were about a hundred other people.”

  Jo brightened, “Can you remember more names that I don’t have on my list?” She pulled the notepad back and picked up her pen. “And you wouldn’t happen to know what kind of car the Mayor drives would you?”

  “The mayor has a black limo, the Chief of Police uses a dark green van, and you are definitely obsessed.” She pulled the pad away from Jo and flipped it over. “Go to bed. Stop worrying about this. The guy who shot you is safely tucked away in jail. He can’t get to you any more.”

  “You’re making me sound crazy,” Jo pouted.

  “You are crazy, but it’s probably a side effect of the concussion. You should check with the doctor next time you’re in for your arm.” Kate stood up. “I’m going to bed even if you’re not. One of us has to go to work in the morning,” she started out of the kitchen.

  “Yeah, well, I’d go if they would let me,” Jo called. “Besides,” she muttered, “there is someone called the Birdman and he’s not in jail,”

  * * *

  Rhys sat with Zeke in the van and watched the traffic. “I see what you mean,” he said, as he counted the cars that went by. “There is traffic, but we should be able to get it positioned on the road and then get out of sight before the next car comes.” He glanced down the road. “What’s down that way?”

  “There’s a nursing home or something like that further down, but beyond that I really don’t know.”

  Rhys shook his head. “I just wish we could have done this closer to the school.”

  “No way we could get closer. Between the streetlights and the traffic, we’d never be able to get things set up without attracting a crowd. Look, here we’ve got thick trees on each side so there’s cover for our cars. It’s only two lanes wide so the drawing will fit perfectly on the north bound lane, and there’s no shoulder to speak of before the runoff gully. We should be able to get our pictures and get away before any cops show up. I think this location is a wicked brilliant pick.”

  “You’re right,” Rhys said. “Are the girls in position?”

  Zeke sent a text then nodded when his phone chirped back. “Nicole is far enough down that rutted access road that no one could see her car and Willow and her crew are further up ahead. They’ve parked back in the woods and will get the shots from the front. I think we have everything covered.”

  They waited in silence as two more cars drove down the road. “Let’s do it,” Zeke said, and jumping out of the van, he helped Rhys grab the folded vinyl from the back. Walking as quickly as they dared through the woods without the headlights to illuminate their way was trickier than they had anticipated. Twice they froze as cars zoomed by. When they finally reached the edge of the woods, they climbed awkwardly up the slight incline, quickly unfolded the vinyl and stretched it across the lane making sure to have it facing the oncoming cars as Willow had instructed.

  Laughing like idiots, they dove back into the shelter of the trees. Struggling to stay as quiet as possible, Zeke finally said, “Wait, no one can hear us out here. Why are we worried? We don’t want anyone to see us after they slam on the brakes, but until then…, The Quills are here!” he shouted. “Motorists beware!”

  “Be quiet, you fool,” Rhys laughed as he swatted a mosquito.

  “Quills forever!” a female voice echoed back through the inky darkness.

  They didn’t have to wait long. Within minutes an ambulance with lights flashing came speeding down the road.
As predicted, the minute the ambulance’s headlights hit the drawing of the deep crack in the road, the driver slammed on the brakes and made a hard cut to the right. Tires screamed and laid rubber but the speed and the sudden swerve were the ambulance’s undoing. It careened off the road tipping over to land on its side with an ominous crash.

  “Oh man,” Zeke laughed quietly. “Do you think they have a body in there? ‘Cause if they do it just landed on the floor.”

  “Be quiet,” Rhys snapped. He cautiously moved closer through the trees with his phone busily recording. “This is better than we expected,” he whispered.

  Moments later they watched a uniformed man try to climb out through the driver’s window. He struggled and twice slipped back inside, and then he successfully made his escape. Sitting with his feet still in the opened window, they watched him struggle to pull his companion from the wreck. In the distance, sirens sounded.

  Zeke shoved his own phone back in his pocket and hit Rhys’s arm. “Let’s get going,” he hissed. “We want to be long gone before the cops get here.” In the distance they heard a car motor rev up and knew some of their companions were having the same thoughts. Carefully they edged back to Zeke’s car. But when they opened the doors the car’s interior light flashed on.

  “Hey,” someone called from the direction of the road. “Is someone out there? We need help here!”

  “Let’s get out of here,” Rhys urged. But before Zeke could start his car, another car came down the road and again when the driver’s headlights illuminated the deep opening in the pavement, he too swerved and ended up crashing into the back end of the ambulance.

  “Oh, my god,” Rhys cheered. “We got two for the price of one. Now let’s get out of here.”

  Needing no further encouragement, Zeke started the car and carefully made his way through the woods keeping his lights off until they were far enough away from the scene not to attract attention. They had only gone a short distance down the road when they were passed by a police car with lights flashing as it raced to the accident.

  “Slow down,” Rhys said quickly, opening his window. “I want to listen to see if I hear another crash.” But the air was filled only with the siren of another police car and a second ambulance as they, too, headed for the accident.

  Being careful to stick to the speed limit, Zeke drove back to the coffee shop where they had agreed to meet. He and Rhys were the last to arrive.

  “Did you see it?” Nicole danced in the parking lot. “It was amazing! I got the entire thing on my phone. This is priceless! We’re going to get a million hits on YouTube.”

  Willow bounded out of her car. “Oh, my gosh, did you see the guy try to climb out the door? Or maybe it was the window…it was just so frigging funny I nearly peed myself.”

  “Good grief, Willow,” Nicole tried to scold, but laughed instead. “Don’t be so crude.”

  “It was freaking amazing and it worked, that’s the best part,” Rhys said. “It actually worked.”

  “Did you ever doubt my talent?” Willow mimed a pout.

  “Not for a moment,” Zeke said slinging an arm around her shoulder. “You are one talented bitch.”

  “Ah, excuse me,” Nicole said haughtily. “She’s the artist, I’m the bitch. And don’t you forget it.” And with that they all collapsed into laughter.

  They spent the better part of the next two hours comparing and admiring their various recordings of the ambulance’s demise. Nicole had even gotten the second car as it hit the brakes and swerved to avoid the hole in the road. They argued as to which recording would best serve their purpose and finally decided to post more than one.

  “The Quills are the bomb,” Nicole laughed, holding her coffee cup in the air. And the rest of their happy group cheered with satisfaction.

  * * *

  Kate stood next to Mitch and stared down at the 3D illusion of a hole that filled the lane. “What the heck?” She walked closer and bent down to get a better look. “Son of a bitch this is a damn drawing,” she said lifting a corner of the vinyl. “It’s a high school kid’s art project.”

  Disgusted, Mitch looked over at the ambulance lying on its side in the trees. “But it’s so realistic. I mean I know it’s fake, but even as I stand here I find myself wanting to reach down and touch it. That possum looks so freaking real. Who would do something like this?”

  “I’ve seen this before,” Kate said rising and walking around the picture. “Not this exact drawing but something very similar.” She looked over at Mitch. “When I was at the high school looking for information about Sherry Reed. I saw this type of 3D work in one of the art rooms.”

  “That’s just sick. Imagine having this much talent, yet doing something like this with it.” Mitch gave a disgusted grunt. “Just sick.”

  “How are the two ambulance drivers?” Kate asked.

  “Bumps and bruises. They’re going in for some x-rays just to be sure but the second EMTs think they’re going to be okay.”

  “Well, that’s something positive. Do we know where it was headed?”

  “The Shady Oaks Nursing Home is down this road,” Mitch said referring back to his notes. “They were responding to a call from there.”

  “Did dispatch send another ambulance?” Kate questioned as she made her own notes.

  “Yeah, but the delay was pretty significant because of this accident and the second ambulance stopping here as well.”

  “Okay, ask Sullivan to go over there and do a follow-up before he returns to the station.” Kate watched the tow truck pull the ambulance back onto its own four wheels before securing the winch to load it onto the flatbed. “I wonder how much damage was done to the equipment inside.”

  “I’m sure the insurance company will have somebody out first thing in the morning. Did you get the statements from the first guys on the scene?” Mitch asked.

  “About seeing a car back in the woods? Yeah, I’m sure that’s exactly what they saw. I’m going to bet the farm that the kids who pulled this stunt were stupid enough to stand around and actually record it.”

  Mitch nodded. “Like the ones who slashed Jo’s tire? Jeez, Kate, who does something like that and takes pictures of themselves doing it?”

  “The witless youth of today who have too much time on their hands and no sense of social responsibility.”

  Mitch continued to stare at the picture on the ground. “You know, if whoever drew this had sold it, then donated the money to a food bank or homeless shelter they could have gotten all the notoriety they wanted.”

  “Let’s get this off the ground,” Kate said bending down and lifting one corner. “I think we can roll it up. Let’s see what the owner says when I return it tomorrow.”

  “You going to the school?”

  “Oh yeah, I’m going to the school. But right now I just want this out of here so we can open this road to traffic again.”

  * * *

  Sitting in history class, Willow texted Nicole, I’m still flying from last night.

  Me too came the reply. When do you think we can post it online?

  In a few days - let the reporters have fun with their speculation first.

  Shame that the police picked it up before the news camera got there.

  Probably for the best, that will just make our video that much cooler!

  The public address system squawked a warning. “Would Willow Hartman please report to the office immediately. Willow Hartman to the office immediately.”

  Willow looked over at Nicole and shrugged an “I don’t have a clue” look before scooping up her books and leaving the class. She sauntered down the hall then made a stop in the girl’s room to refresh her lipstick. Deciding it was probably Mrs. Webster calling to give her the news about the artist scholarship, Willow took another minute to fix her hair. But as she left the lavatory and rounded the corner to the office, she was stunned to see several uniformed police standing in the foyer in front of the office with Principal Bradshaw. She recognized Detect
ive Snow and her heart jumped to her throat.

  “Willow Hartman?” Kate said, stepping forward. She watched the girl’s look go from smug to panic before she gave a slight nod. “You’re under arrest for being directly responsible for the accident on County Road 27.” Principal Bradshaw stepped forward and took the books from Willow’s arms then Kate spun her around and clamped her wrists with the plastic restraints.

  “You can’t do this to me,” Willow tried for indignant but it came out squeaky.

  “Watch me,” Kate said flatly, taking the girl by the arm and leading her from the school.

  “I want to call my parents,” Willow started to cry. “You can’t do this without me calling my parents.”

  “After you’re booked,” Kate said, “I’ll be happy to let you make that phone call, but for now, move.”

  Within minutes the news was all over the school. Willow Hartman had been taken away by the police. Nicole met Zeke and Rhys after class.

  “Do you think she’ll be able to stick to the plan,” Rhys asked.

  “She’ll stick,” Nicole said with confidence, “and part two of the scheme is now in progress.”

  * * *

  Kate let Willow sit in the interview room and watched the teen through the two way glass window.

  “How long you going to make her wait?” Mitch asked.

  “I’m just giving her enough time to get really nervous,” Kate smiled. “I want to see the look on her face when you walk in with that piece of vinyl.”

  “When do you want me to bring it in?”

  “Give me five minutes with her.”

  “You got it.”

  Kate opened the door and sat at the table across from Willow. “You, my dear, are in quite a bit of trouble.”

  “I don’t understand,” Willow said quietly. “I’m sure there has been some terrible mistake. I’m a straight A student.”

  “And a very talented one at that,” Kate said pleasantly. “It's not often one finds someone with your talent in high school. You are truly gifted.”

  Willow cocked her head to the side. “I’m not sure what you’re referring to.”

  “Oh, come on,” Kate cajoled. “We both know how gifted you are when it comes to your art work.” She watched the girl try to hide a smile. “Your teacher, Mrs. Webster, tells me she’s never had a student with your level of talent.”