Killer Mountain

compliments of her genes.

Several minutes went by. Harv should be coming. He had to be out of that house when Cilla and Mr. Carver got to it. She stood up. Cilla said Harv was probably watching. She reached behind her back and undid her bra. Very slowly she slipped one arm out of it, then the other, holding it to her breasts. Then she threw it to one side and raised her arms over her head, stretching. That ought to do it, she thought, lying back down on the blanket.

Another minute passed. Then a door closed. He was coming. She tried to control her shaking body and pretend she was enjoying the sunshine. The sounds of heavy boots climbing up rocky soil. She closed her eyes, trying to keep from stiffening. And then he was there. She could feel him. He was standing looking at her. She held her breath. Maybe he’d just look for a while, long enough for...A shadow across her eyes. She kept them tightly closed, pretending sleep.

“Quite a performance.”

Loni’s eyes flew open. It was Dora. “What?”

“Don’t try to fool me, hot pants. You didn’t come up here for a tan. That strip you did in full view of the house. I agreed to protect you from the people that killed your father, not let you make out with my husband.”

“I wasn’t...your husband? You and the doctor are married?” Loni suddenly felt as naked as she was and put her arms across her breasts. Damn. Harv was the one she needed to get out of the house. Cilla and Mr. Carver were probably already there.

“You and the doctor are married?’” Dora mimicked. “As innocent as a lamb, aren’t you?”

“Honestly, I didn’t know. Believe me I have no interest in attracting Frank.”

“But you do have an interest in Harv?”

“He has got...muscles.” Could she get Dora to send Harv up?

“And you thought you’d lure him up here to play Jack and Jill.”

“Is that so bad? I’ve been shut up in that house. Why do you care?”

The venomous look that came into Dora’s eyes told Loni she’d made a mistake.

“Because Harv is my husband, as if you didn’t know.”

“Oh Dora, I swear I didn’t! Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It’s not completely your fault. The man’s after anything in panties. It’s just the way he is, too much testerone or something. I can handle it most of the time, keep him drained. But you. You’re something else, that face and that body. I can’t compete on even terms, so I’m going to have to level the field.”

“What...what does that mean?”

“It takes two to tango, baby, even for Harv. I’m just going to make sure you’re not one of the dancers.”

“I won’t be! I promise! Really, Harv doesn’t attract me at all!”

“He won’t, that’s for sure.”

In panic, Loni started to get up. Dora took her right hand from behind her back. It held a revolver, with a tube that could only be a silencer on its front. “I think some lead in one of those long legs will turn you off a bit.”

“Dora, I didn’t know Harv was yours! What are you doing?”

“Stand up so I don’t get a ricochet.”

“Dora, you’re supposed to protect me!”

“If you keep jiggling around I may hit a knee, and you’ll never walk let alone dance.”

“Dora, please! This is all a mistake! I don’t want Harv! I...”

The gun fired. Loni felt something sharp hit her leg and screamed.

Cilla’s first emotion was shock. Then shame for allowing Loni to substitute for herself. She hunted for a rock, found one the right size and drew back her hand to throw it at one of the front windows. Wally had come up behind her and grabbed her arm.

“Let go!”

“What will that accomplish?”

“The sound of breaking glass will stop whatever in hell he’s doing.”

“And then her sacrifice will have been in vain. And Hudson will die.” Another scream from the hill behind the house.

Carver could almost feel a physical blow as Cilla’s cold gray eyes swung to his. “I hate you Wallace Carver!”

“So do I sometimes. More importantly, where’s the ambulance?”

Cilla turned quickly. “It was right here. Oh, no!” She ran to the front door. Carver flattened against the front of the building, as she went in. She ran quietly down the entrance hall. In a room off to the right a large man was looking out a window toward the hill. Harv! Then what...? He heard her and turned.

“Loni! But you’re...” He half turned back to the window.

“Where’s the ambulance, Harv?”

He blinked, still unable to adjust.

“The ambulance. I went out for a walk and it’s not there any longer.”

A sly look came into little piggish eyes. “Your friend came around. Frank took him for a drive.”

“Where did they go?”

“Into town I think.”

“No. I came in that way and didn’t see them.”

“How could you come...?” A puzzled look up the hill.

“Harv, you tell me where they’ve gone or...”

“Or what?” He leered. “You going to break my arm?”

“If necessary. Where? Tell me!”

Harv’s eyes glittered. “Little bitch!” He reached out, putting his beefy hand on her chest. She clamped her hands on top of his and bent the fingers back. He dropped suddenly to his knees. She got hold of his thumb.

“Ow! That hurts!”

“It’ll hurt more. Where did Frank take Hudson?”

Perspiration appeared on his forehead. “I don’t know! They didn’t tell me.”

“They?”

“Dora and Frank. Shit! Let go, will you! It’s FBI stuff, you know that! Dora’s the agent, not me!”

“She’s not FBI. You’re all in some kind of a plot; you’ve tried to kill us before.” She squeezed harder. “Is that where Frank’s gone? To kill Hudson?”

“Ow! Ow! Ow! Christ, stop!”

“Tell me and I’ll stop.”

“Yes! Yes! He’s taking him out in the desert! Please...agh!” With a sharp pull, Cilla dislocated his thumb. He rolled on the floor grabbing at it, screaming with pain.

“They must have gone south,” Carver had come into the room. “Is he under control? I’ll get the car.”

“Loni. We can’t leave her.”

“Every minute lessens Hudson’s chances.”

“Damn you, Wally! Don’t you think I know that?”

She moved to a side table and grabbed a heavy bronze candlestick. Harv was moaning, holding his hand, oblivious to everything. She started out of the room. Dora appeared in the doorway holding the pistol.

“What’s going...Loni?...How...Harv!” She ran to the big man. “What’s happened? No, hold it right there!” This to Cilla who started to move toward her.

“My thumb! She’s broken my thumb!”

“Poor baby!” She knelt, peering at his hand. “We’ll put some ice on it.” She waved the pistol. “We’re going to the kitchen.”

She got Harv, still moaning, to his feet, and then stopped still, staring hard at Cilla. “You can’t be Loni. I left you on top of the hill.”

“Did you leave me dead?”

Dora cocked her head, bewildered. “Of course not. I fired at your feet, just to scare you off...What the hell am I saying? You’re not...” She peered closer. “My God, those are your clothes! How did you get down before me?” She swung to look at Carver. “You! You’re the sick old fart that came to the door. What the Christ is going on?”