Chapter 28
Ian wasgrateful for the in charge comment because he was about to present a plan to them that had long odds for success. But there was no other option. Their cars were out front. Even if they were far enough away from the flames to be accessible, Ian knew they'd never get out of the driveway without one or more of them being shot or worse. On foot, they could be easily tracked.
"We're going to fly out of here." He told the others.
"But….the plane hasn't been off the ground in years." Matt protested. "We could crashed and be killed or seriously injured. And a crop duster only has one seat. Do you plan for us to hang off the landing gear?"
"I'm asking you to trust me, Mr. MacKenzie. I can fly anything and I will get all of us out of here."
A shot rang out and Matt MacKenzie clapped his hand to his shoulder. Blood oozed between his fingers and Piper screamed. Ham growled and Ian grabbed the dog's collar before he could run down the shooter.
He got his shoulder under Matt's arm and shouted. "He knows where we are. We have to go now. There's no other choice."
Piper led the way along the path. Away from the killer. They moved as fast as possible. Ian looked over his shoulder every few steps but couldn't spot anyone. Why was the killer not shooting? Was he playing with them?
Whatever the reason, he blessed the opportunity that let them get to the barn and squeeze in through a small single door at the back. He eased Matt down on a stack of boxes and Piper took her daddy's shirt off to try and assess the wound. She gave Ian a scared look and ripped the shirt in half and used it to dress the wound as best she could.
"Here's what we're going to do." Ian told them. "The two of you, and Ham, are going to get into the hopper." At Piper's puzzled look, he said. "Where the chemicals go to dust the crops. Don't worry. It's clean in there. It'll be a bit of a squeeze, but y'all should be able to fit."
The back door they'd come in slammed open and Jason stood there, gun in hand. "You stupid, stupid old man." He said.
"Jason? You're the killer?" Matt asked in confusion. "But you're my nephew."
Jason spit at them. "Yes. I'm your nephew. And you've done nothing for me."
Piper stepped forward and Ian caught her harm. "You ungrateful asshole." She shouted. "Daddy welcomed you as family. He wanted you to live in the house with us, but you refused. He would have given you anything."
"Not the land. I got a call from the State today. Your precious daddy told them in no uncertain terms that he didn't want to give up any mineral rights."
"Mineral rights?" Ian asked. "I thought that letter was about some clay. Nothing worth killing a man over."
"You shut up." Jason sneered. "Mr. Navy hero. Mr. Protector. You make me sick." Jason waved the gun. "You know nothing. Nothing! The clay has rare minerals in it that can be mined for a lot of money. And intend to have it."
"So, there's no hit man after daddy?" Piper asked in a puzzled voice. "It's been you all along?"
"Oh. The hit man." Jason laughed. "It's been quite an entertaining evening. I've been here spying on all of you. And when I saw my chance, I knocked him out while he was waiting on the three of you to run out of the house. He's going to take the blame for all the murders. And, as the only surviving relative, I'll inherit everything."
"You're going to kill all of us?" Piper asked.
"Of course. How else can I inherit? That hit man would only take out Matt, but then you, sweet Piper, would still be in my way. So I'm going to kill all of you and get away with it."
Matt fell to the ground with a moan and Piper knelt next to him. "He's passed out." She cried. "We have to get him to a hospital."
Ham rushed at Jason, leapt upward and closed his jaws on the hand holding the gun. One shot sounded in the barn as Ian dove at Jason and tackled him to the ground.
"Piper. Get me some rope. Quick."
He trussed Jason and put him in a corner, out of the way. Then went to Matt. He knelt on the ground next to the older man and checked his pulse. Rapid. He pulled the eyelids up, pupils dilated. Matt MacKenzie needed a hospital.
