Mind Games (31 page)

Macon got in behind Galen and held the knife to his throat. “Now, both of you, keep your mouths shut and nothing will happen.”

“What the hell’s going?” Galen looked in the rear view mirror and gasped. “Harley Macon. Whatever you do, don’t hurt my wife. I’ll do anything you want, but don’t hurt her.”

“Your daughter’s the one I’m interested in,” Macon said.

“You son of a bitch. Diana’s never done nothin’ to you. She’s an entertainer, for chrissakes. You almost killed her. What more do you want?”

Macon resisted an urge to swipe the blade across the cocky little twerp’s throat. “She put me in prison, ruined my life, and now she’s tormenting me with these fucking headaches.”

“They locked you away because of things
you
did. Time you took responsibility for messin’ up your own life. My daughter had nothing to do with it.”

“Hell she didn’t, but I’m not getting into a pissing match with you, little man. Here’s the deal: You go back to the boarding house and your old lady comes with us. When I get what I want, I’ll let her go.”

“No way,” Galen said. “No way.”

Blanche yanked Alice’s hand from her mouth. “Don’t let them take me, Galen.”

“Don’t you worry, dear.” He patted her hand, then turned to Macon. “I don’t know what you’re trying to prove, but leave her alone. If you have to take someone, take me instead.”

“How noble, but…nooo. If I leave her, she’ll blab. She’s a woman and women got big mouths. You won’t say a thing, ’cause you know what’ll happen to her if you do.”

“What d’ya want?”

“Simple. I want your daughter. To talk, that’s all. Get a few things straight. She’s gotta promise to stop fucking with my head. The game’s over, she wins. After we talk, she can walk away. Then I’ll need some getaway time. When Alice and I are safe, I’ll tell you where your wife is. I won’t hurt her. You have my word.”

“Humph, your word don’t mean too much.”

“Well, that’s all you’ve got, old man.”

Blanche grabbed onto Galen’s arm, pulling him toward her. “Galen, you can’t let them take me. He’ll kill me. He won’t let me go. He never lets anyone go.” She turned to Macon. “You would’ve killed Diana if the Lieutenant hadn’t found her first.”

“No,” Macon said. “I got a little rough, I admit, but I wouldn’t have killed her. Besides, you don’t have a choice. I could kill you both now and be no worse off. Doesn’t matter how many bodies I rack up, they can only stick that needle in me once. The cops can’t watch her forever. I’d get her sooner or later if I wanted to, but I don’t. I told you, all I want is to talk.

“And you, Mr. Racine, are going to help me.”

Chapter Forty-Two

The Empty Room

D
iana couldn’t relax. What had she set in motion? Just as her eyes grew heavy, she jerked upright. She didn’t remember a dream or hear a noise, but a picture of Harley Macon flashed in front of her eyes, and her heart stuttered in fear. Was he channeling her? Was he doing to her what she had done to him? An uneasy feeling crept over her; nothing she could put her finger on. She rested her head back against the pillow and called the cop guarding her door.

“Yes, Ms. Racine?”

“Can you get in touch with Lieutenant Lucier and ask him to call me, please.”

The call came through almost immediately. “What’s the matter, Diana?”

“Ernie, are you at the boarding house?”

“Yes, in fact, I was about to grab a bite to eat before going to see you.”

“Are my parents around?”

“No, your father came down half an hour ago, made two plates and took them up to their room. He said your mother wasn’t feeling well so they were eating in. He was going to the hospital to see you after eating. Why?”

“Because something’s wrong. Please, do me a favor and check on them.”

“What is it?”

“I don’t know. Make sure they’re all right.”

“I’ll call you back.”

Lucier went up the stairs and knocked on the Racines’ door. Galen answered, sticking his head through a slim opening. “Is everything all right, Mr. Racine?”

Galen stood on his tiptoes, trying to block the view into the room, but Lucier was almost a foot taller. “Sure, why wouldn’t it be? Why’re ya asking?”

“Diana asked me to check up on you. How’s your wife?”

“She ain’t feelin’ good. I’m gonna let her rest and go see Diana alone.”

“I’m going over too. Maybe we could ride tog―”

“No,” he interrupted. “No, thanks. I appreciate the offer, but I ain’t seen my daughter alone since this whole thing happened. You don’t mind, I’m sure.”

“Um, no, I don’t mind.” Lucier saw a full plate of food
sitting on the table. Blanche Racine was nowhere in sight. “Your wife didn’t eat much, did she?”

“I told you she’s feelin’ outta sorts. Not much of an appetite. She’s napping and I don’t want to wake her. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna finish my dinner and be on my way.” He closed the door, leaving Lucier standing in the hall.

He called Diana back. “You’re right. Something’s wrong. Your father’s on his way to see you. I suggested we go together, but he didn’t want company. Said he wanted to see you alone for a while.”

“Have you seen my mother since this afternoon?”

“No. What do you think happened?”

“I’m not sure, Ernie. When he leaves, see if you can get into their room. Check on my mother. Will you do that for me, please?”

“I’ll ask Mrs. Kirk to open the door.”

“After you check on Blanche, call me, but don’t come until I tell you. First, let me have some time alone with Galen, okay?”

Lucier sat down to a late lunch, and when Galen left the house, he asked Mrs. Kirk to check on her guest. She hesitated until he stressed that it might be police business.

Mrs. Kirk knocked, calling Mrs. Racine by name. When there was no response, she unlocked the door and they entered. A full plate of food sat in the empty room. Lucier thanked her and called Diana.

“The room’s empty and Galen left alone.”

“I knew it. Macon’s got my mother. I need Galen to tell me what he wants. Remember, don’t come until I call.”

* * * * *

D
iana knew her premonition was justified the minute her father entered into the room. “Where’s Blanche?”

“We gotta talk, baby. Something’s happened.”

“He’s got her, hasn’t he?”

Galen broke down. Diana had never seen her father cry. Had never seen him anything but cocky and overconfident. “I knew it,” she said, punching the bed. “Okay, Galen, what does Macon want?”

Galen blew his nose. “How…How did you know?”

“I’m getting real good at this psychic stuff. Why didn’t you tell Lieutenant Lucier?”

“He said if I told anyone but you, he’d kill her. I couldn’t help it. That slut he’s with drove us off the road and they jumped in the car before I knew what was happening. Macon had a knife on me. Said he could kill us both and be no worse off than he is now. The cops can only kill you only once no matter how many bodies there are.”

“He’s right about that.” She patted her father’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. He won’t hurt Blanche. He wants me, and he can’t have me without letting her go.”

The phone rang. Diana heard Lucier’s voice. “Don’t come, Ernie. Macon has my mother and says he’ll kill her if the cops get involved.”

“Don’t be stupid. He’ll kill you the first chance he gets. Don’t you see he’s desperate and coming unglued? He can’t let someone live who can get into his head and destroy him.”

“I have to do things my way. The minute he thinks I’ve brought the police in on this my mother’s as good as dead. Please, I still think I can beat him.”

“Maybe with your mind, Diana, but he’s not interested in that. He knows you can beat him. All he wants now is for you to be dead, and he won’t play games on the way to accomplishing that. Let me help. He’ll never know I’m involved.”

“But you see he will, and I can’t take that chance. Don’t interfere.” She hung up.

“I can’t let you do this, baby. I don’t want him to have you
or
your mother.” Galen burst into tears. “What did I do? Oh, God, what did I do?”

“Get a grip, Galen. Tell me what he wants from me.”

Chapter Forty-Three

A Deal with the Devil

“S
he’s a whiny bitch. If she doesn’t shut up, I’m gonna whack her.”

Blanche Racine huddled blindfolded in the corner of the room, alternating between sniffling and sobbing.

“Easy, Harley. She’s a scared old woman. She hasn’t had this much excitement since her wedding night. I’ll calm her down. Kill her and you’ll never get her daughter. What time are you supposed to call?”

Macon looked at his watch. “Right about now. Gimme your cell phone.”

“I can’t see that little runt letting his daughter walk into a trap. What father would do that?” Alice squinted in thought. “Well, maybe mine would’ve, but that’s another story.”

“He thinks I only want to talk to her.”

“Come on, Harley, you know he didn’t believe that shit, don’t you? The man might be a shameless con artist, but he ain’t stupid. He’s between a rock and a hard place. You either kill his wife or his daughter. Ain’t much of a choice.”

At that, Blanche started bawling.

“Shut up, old lady,” Macon screamed. “You too, Alice. He’ll do what I say. Now, go settle that old hag in the other room before I lose my temper altogether.”

Between the headaches and the old lady, Macon’s patience had almost run out. He punched in the hospital number and extension Diana’s father and given him and waited. Four rings later, she answered. “Diana, good to hear from you,” he said without preamble, his silky voice oozing charm.

“It’s Racine,” Galen said.

“What do I want to talk to you for? Put your daughter on the line.” He waited. And waited.

“Yes,” she said.

“We have to meet one more time.”

“Let my mother go, otherwise, no deal.”

“You’re not in a position to bargain. We meet,
then
I let your mother go.”

“Not accepta
ble.”
Click
.

Huh?
“She hung up on me. The bitch hung up on me. I don’t fucking believe it. Alice,”―Diana Racine had him screaming like a banshee―“bring the old lady here. Now.”

* * * * *

G
alen paced the floor of the hospital room, flapping his arms in pani
c. “What did you do, Diana? He’ll kill her. How could you do that?”

When Diana made the call and Macon addressed her by name, she handed the phone to Galen. She couldn’t let her mother’s kidnapper get the upper hand right away. “Don’t worry, Galen. He knows where I am. He’ll call back. Wait and see.”

They waited. Five minutes. Ten. Had she read him wrong? She didn’t think so.

“I told you. He’s killed her. What did I tell you?”

“Be quiet, Galen.” The phone rang. “Now, listen to me and do what I say. No questions. Understand?”

Galen looked at the phone, then pleaded to Diana. “Answer the phone, please. It’s rung three times.”

“Let it ring a few more times.”

Galen wiped the sweat off his face with the sleeve of his shirt. “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.”

“Now pick up the receiver and answer, Galen.”

“He wants to speak to you.”

“Just do it!”

He answered and handed the phone to Diana. “For you.”

“Diana, don’t come. He’ll kill you. Let him take me instead, please, honey. I’m old, I’m—” Diana heard her mother gasp as the phone had been snatched from her hand. Macon laughed.

“Well, do you believe that? The old lady has guts after all. And here she was whining and crying like a newborn.”

“You won’t hurt her, Macon. It’s me you want.”

“Pretty confident about that, aren’t you? She’s okay right now but for how long depends on you. Don’t hang up on me again. If you do, I swear the next time you see your sweet old mama, you’ll be looking inside a coffin.”

“I told you, there’s nothing to talk about until you let her go. Trust me, Harley. If I say I’ll talk to you, I will. I’ll meet with you, but not as long as you have my mother. I want her dropped off at this hospital now. I promise the police won’t know a thing.”

“You think I believe you? We talk first, then I let her go.”

Click.

“You hung up on him again?” Galen ranted. “You’re signing her death warrant.” He fell into the chair next to the bed and cradled his head in his hands.

Diana’s heart pounded.
He’ll call back. Mad, but he’ll call.
She couldn’t let him win. If he did, both she and Blanche would die.