Hatfield and McCoy by Heather Graham Read Free Book Online Page B

out.”
    â€œWe have to do whatever he says!” Julie whispered softly. “She’s running out of air. Tracy is running out of air.”
    He hesitated, gritting his teeth. Then he spoke loudly. “Petty, I’m getting rid of the wiring. He’s on to us. And Julie says I don’t dare take any more time.”
    Somewhere, Julie knew, Petty was cursing away. He didn’t like the idea of putting her or Robert McCoy at risk.
    But he liked the idea of what could happen to Tracy Nicholson even less.
    â€œCome on,” McCoy told Julie.
    â€œWhere now?”
    â€œVirginia,” he said curtly.
    They drove to another phone booth, both hoping that the task force might still be around them. “How the hell does he know so damned much?” McCoy exploded. Then he mused softly. “Unless he’s bluffing. Maybe he doesn’t know. Maybe he’s just guessing, and making darned good guesses.”
    â€œHe’s not bluffing about Tracy,” Julie said.
    They came to the next phone booth. The kidnapper had planned well. The phone booth was off the beaten track, away from any convenience stores or gas stations.
    No one could have easily followed them to it.
    And once again, just as McCoy stopped the car, it was ringing.
    When he hung up that time, he came back to the car for the briefcase. “I’m walking it up the mountain,” he told her.
    â€œI’m coming with you.”
    â€œYou’re staying here—”
    â€œOh, no, I’m not! Don’t you ever watch movies? The man always thinks he’s being the hero by walking off alone into the night. And while he’s gone, the monster comes back and gets the woman. I am not staying here alone.”
    He smiled. It was that same crooked smile that had so captivated Holly.
    â€œYou think there are monsters in these here hills, Miss Hatfield?”
    â€œYes, and more than just McCoys!” she answered sweetly. “Please! We’re almost out of time.”
    He didn’t argue with her any longer, but keeping up with him proved to be a trial for Julie.
    She was mountain born and bred, and she could scamper up heights and over rocks with a fair amount of agility and ease.
    But he had such long, long legs.
    And it was apparent that he was mountain born and bred, too. He climbed without his breathing even deepening, and he seemed to have the agility of a mountain goat. He only turned back once or twice, however, reaching to drag Julie along with him.
    Then they came to a plateau with a sparse clearing. “This is it,” McCoy said.
    â€œIt’s what?”
    â€œIt’s where I’m supposed to leave the case.”
    Julie nodded. McCoy set the case down.
    â€œNow what?” Julie asked.
    He swore softly. “Now we go back to the phone.”
    â€œNo!” Julie exclaimed suddenly.
    â€œNo? What do you mean, no?”
    She shook her head fervently. “Tracy isn’t here. She’s—” Julie paused. “She’s near the river. She can’t hear the water rushing now because he’s buried her. She couldn’t even hear it once he had dragged her up. But she could see it. She could see it from the rock. And he thought it was funny. Really funny when he buried her. He kept laughing. He was careful, he didn’t talk. But he laughed. There was something funny about it. Something really funny. He was so proud of himself. For being so bold. And he has no intention of letting her out.”
    â€œWhere is she?” McCoy demanded harshly. He dropped the briefcase at his feet and grabbed Julie’s shoulders. Roughly, he swung her around, studying her intensely. “Damn you, where is she? And if you’re wrong, Julie Hatfield, I’ll wring you out and hang you up to dry myself!”
    â€œI’m not wrong!” she gasped. “I’m not wrong!” Julie shook her head. “She’s not here, not here, not here …”
    She