Free The Vulture by Frederick Ramsay Page A

blast.”
    â€œJesus, I hadn’t thought of that. You think?”
    â€œIf we’re right, they could be after her. We let her go off to the A-frame to have some time alone. If they’re keeping tabs on us, they know that. There’s nobody up there to protect her. Billy, grab a couple of deputies and get your butt up there. If she bitches, tell her what we figured out and bring her back here ASAP.”
    â€œWhat if she won’t come?”
    â€œCuff her and drag her back.”
    ***
    Ike put down his book. His attention span had run its course after two hours. Now he was having an inner debate whether he should disobey Ruth’s declaration to leave her body to the sun alone when he heard the blast. Ruth sat up and looked at him, then reached for her blouse.
    â€œThat came from up there, toward the A-frame.”
    Ike leapt to his feet. “Get dressed and follow me.” He grabbed the remnants of their picnic and blankets and tossed them into the Jeep. “Hurry.”
    Ruth pulled on her clothes and scurried to the Jeep. Ike attempted to fluff the grass crushed by her blanket and restore the site to some semblance of naturalness. He released the Jeep’s brake and pushed it toward a slope away from the area. He let it drift ten yards and into a thicket. Ruth had to duck to avoid being plucked out of her seat by a tree branch. Ike quickly arranged some scattered limbs around the rear of the Jeep. He put his finger to his lips and motioned to her to follow him. He led her deeper into the thicket and motioned her to squat down.
    â€œIke, what just happened?” She whispered.
    â€œShhh…someone is coming.”
    Two men wearing pricey Pierre Cardin shirts and slacks worked their way down the path toward them. One had a rifle in the crook of his arm, the second a large nickel-plated automatic in his hand.
    â€œHunters?” Ruth whispered.
    â€œIn those clothes and wearing three hundred-dollar loafers? I don’t think so. Scrunch down, wait, and see.”
    â€œWho then?”
    â€œShhhh…”
    The man in front, tallish, pale blond hair and carrying the rifle, paused, bent over and studied the ground at his feet.
    â€œThese tracks look fresh.”
    â€œAccording to the map, the state has an easement down through here. Besides, her car was still in the driveway.”
    â€œWhere is she then?”
    The second man was short and heavy, the near opposite of his companion. Mutt and Jeff. “Probably out shopping with a friend or taking a walk. We can wait for her at the front of the driveway.”
    â€œWhy not at what’s left of the house?”
    â€œDon’t be stupid, Hugo. She takes one look at that mess and she’s off to the cops in a New York minute. We’ll catch her on the way out or the way in. We got her either way.”
    The men glared at the bushes and, satisfied no one was nearby, started back up the path. When they were well out of earshot, Ike sat back and turned to Ruth.
    â€œYou get that?”
    â€œThey were looking for me, and you don’t think they were here to help me because of something that happened at the A-frame?”
    â€œHang on.” Ike grabbed the burn phone from the Jeep and dialed 9-1-1. “There’s been an explosion, maybe a gas leak.” He gave the address of the A-frame and hung up. “That ought to get some people here and make those guys think twice about hanging around.”
    â€œYou’re saying they were not Good Samaritans?”
    â€œThe guns and the reference to the cops pretty much blew that theory, don’t you think?”
    â€œOkay, I’ll buy that. Who wants me dead?”
    â€œNo idea. Maybe not dead, maybe just bad hurt. So, it’s not just me they are after, whoever they are. It’s us. Who hates us that much? Me, I understand. As a cop and former field agent for Spook Central, I made a lot of people unhappy. But you…? You didn’t kick