Twirling around, she ran inside, MacDatho at her heels. She knew what she had to do. If she hurried, Reece wouldn't have more than an hour or so head start. And it didn't really matter because she knew what roads he would be taking off the mountain, past Dover's Mill and all the way into Newell.
She was not going to let Reece face this ordeal alone. She was going to be at his side, offering him all the support she could give him. And Sam, even if he didn't know it yet, was going to help them uncover the real murderer.
Within twenty minutes she had packed her suitcase, doused all the fires in the fireplaces, checked both greenhouses, sacked a grocery bag filled with MacDatho's food and pulled Sam's antique car out of the barn they used as a garage and parked it in front of the cabin.
She dialed Aunt Margaret's number, mentally preparing herself to lie about her plans. 'Aunt Margaret, I wanted to let you know that I've decided to go to Atlanta and spend some time with Sam.'
'Is that so?'
'It's been a couple of years since I've been any farther than Dover's Mill, and I think now's the time to test the waters, so to speak, to see if I still have the same problems dealing with the enormous influx of thoughts and emotions I usually get from being around huge crowds of people.' This is only a half lie, Elizabeth told herself. Maybe her aunt wouldn't see past the pretense.
'I suppose you'll be bringing that wolf of yours by here for me to take care of.'
'I thought O'Grady could take care of him. Mac and O'Grady are old friends.'
'Bring Mac by here on your way out of town and I'll see that O'Grady picks him up. And leave whatever instructions O'Grady will need to keep things running smoothly in the greenhouses until you return.'
Elizabeth sighed. 'Thanks, Aunt Margaret. I'm not sure how long I'll be gone.'
'I suppose you'll be gone until you're either arrested for aiding and abetting a criminal or until you've helped the man prove himself innocent.'
Why had she ever thought she could get away with lying to Aunt Margaret? The woman's psychic abilities were as keen as they'd ever been. No one kept secrets from Margaret McPhearson.
'He is innocent,' Elizabeth said. 'And he's out there all alone, with no one on his side.'
'Be careful, Elizabeth. I feel great danger for you and for your man.'
'Pray for us, Aunt Margaret. Please pray for us.'
'I've been doing that since the night he came to you,' Margaret told her niece.
'I love you.'
'I love you, too, child.'
After hanging up the phone, Elizabeth swallowed, wiped her eyes and said a brief prayer of her own. Aunt Margaret had understood. She wasn't so sure about Sam Dundee.
She dialed the Atlanta number and waited to be put through to Sam. Somehow she had to make him understand why she was going to follow Reece, and why it was imperative that he meet them in Newell.
'Elizabeth?' Sam's deep voice was brisk and a bit harsh. 'Has Landry left?'
'He left almost thirty minutes ago. I let him take my Jeep.'
'Thank God he's gone. You've done some crazy things in your life, but this has to be the craziest.'
'Sam, I want you to listen to everything I have to say before you start screaming at me. Promise?' Elizabeth hated it when Sam made her feel like a naughty child. She supposed that came from his having had the responsibility of her guardianship for so many years. He couldn't stop acting like a big-brother protector.
'I don't like it already. What are you up to?'
'I'm going to follow Reece to Newell, and I'm going to have to-'
'The hell you are! Now listen to me, young lady, you are not to leave Sequana Falls. Do you hear me? I don't care what all your special powers tell you about Reece Landry. The man is an escaped murderer, and whether he's guilty or innocent, the police aren't going to take that into consideration if he tries to resist arrest when they catch up with him.'
'I want you to meet me in Newell. Tomorrow. I'll call you in the morning and tell you where to meet us.'
'Elizabeth, don't do this!'
'My mind is made up. I've already packed my bags, told Aunt Margaret and made plans for Mac to stay with O'Grady.'
'If Landry took your Jeep, how do you plan on following him? You aren't taking that old delivery van you let O'Grady keep, are you?'
'O'Grady will need the van for deliveries and to make trips up the mountain to keep check on the greenhouses while I'm gone.' Elizabeth sucked in a deep breath, calling forth all her courage to tell Sam about her chosen mode of transportation. 'I'm taking your old Thunderbird.'
'You're what?'' Sam bellowed.
'You can pick it up tomorrow when you fly into Newell. I promise I'll take good care of your baby.'
'You are not going to take my '65 T-Bird down the mountain in weather like this. The roads will still be icy in spots. You could wreck the car and kill yourself.'
'I'll call you in the morning and let you know where to meet Reece and me. In the meantime, do whatever you can from Atlanta to get the ball rolling. We're going to discover who really killed B. K. Stanton, and we've got to do it as quickly as possible. Reece can't stay on the run forever.'
'Elizabeth, listen to me. Don't do this. It's crazy. You're asking for trouble. You're-'
Elizabeth laid down the phone, cutting Sam off mid-tirade. He'd rant and rave for a while, but he'd eventually calm down, and when she called him in the morning to tell him where he could meet Reece and her, he would come prepared to help them.
'Come on, Mac. You're going to visit Aunt Margaret and O'Grady. And I want you to be a good boy for them.'
Reece had followed Elizabeth's map and directions down to the last detail. He couldn't remember a time when he'd put so much trust in another human being, enough trust so that he literally put his life in her hands. She hadn't been kidding when she'd said she knew all the back roads off the mountain and through the surrounding towns. He hadn't run into one roadblock or seen anyone who even vaguely resembled a policeman, highway patrolman or sheriff's deputy. He'd pulled off the road halfway between Dover's Mill and Newell to relieve himself and enjoy one of the ham sandwiches Elizabeth had packed for him, along with coffee from a thermos she had prepared.
The sun eased lower and lower on the western horizon. Reece guessed the time was around three or three- thirty in the afternoon. With clouds building steadily in the sky, blocking part of the sun's last rays, night was sure to fall early today. He was less than fifteen miles from Newell. He couldn't risk going into town, taking a chance that someone might recognize him.
He knew where he'd spend the night. Flossie, the madam who'd once run the local brothel and had been his mother's friend, now owned a sleazy motel on the outskirts of Newell. Nobody would recognize the Jeep, and the type of clientele Flossie got at Sweet Rest Motel wasn't likely to call the police if they did recognize him. He'd be safe at Flossie's motel tonight, and he could make a few phone calls in the morning before he left. He needed to talk to his lawyer. Elkins was bound to be wondering where the hell he was, but he wouldn't risk telling Gary his exact location. Not yet. As much as he wanted to trust the man, he wasn't one hundred percent sure his lawyer wouldn't turn him in to the authorities.
He needed to call Chris. He didn't trust her entirely, either, but she was his half sister and she did profess to care about him and believe in him. She'd paid for his attorney, and would have posted bail if the judge had been willing to set bail.
And he would call Elizabeth. He'd call her tonight to let her know he'd made it home to Newell without a hitch. She'd be worried about him. It felt odd knowing someone actually cared about his well-being.
Maybe he'd give her another quick call in the morning before he went out to B.K.'s hunting lodge. It would be nice to hear the sound of her voice one last time.
Brushing aside the cotton-candy thoughts, Reece concentrated on the drive ahead. He turned off onto a dirt road that led through the woods and some unused farmland. It was the long way around to Sweet Rest Motel, but it was the safest. He'd be unlikely to run into any other vehicles.
He pulled the Jeep to a halt in front of the door marked Office in the parking area of the motel. The buildings were old, built of concrete blocks recently painted a rather nauseous shade of pink, the doors to each unit bright
