The Deadliest Stunt Chapter 7

The Deadliest Stunt

Chapter 7

Nice plane, eh? A voice behind me said a second later. I turned to face a familiar—yet curiously unfamiliar face. Leland? I asked with a furrowed brow. I hardly recognized him. He had on a pink golf shirt and tan chinos and sneakers. His hair had been cut short and he had shaved off his moustache. He looked ten years younger.

Yeah, it’s me, he grunted. Took Xander’s advise and updated my style a little. There may have been a grain of truth to what he said about my image. I am his manager after all. I should at least look the part.

I turned back to see the woman moving away from the plane and heading back to the main fairground building.

Who’s that woman? I asked Leland pointing to the rapidly departing figure.

He looked in the direction I was pointing. I—ah—don’t know her, he said quickly. Was she just in the plane?

Yes, I blurted, heading off in the direction she was going. Leland followed.

She headed past the bombed out section of bleachers towards the main entrance to the grounds. Suddenly she darted in between two of the bleacher stands and started to move faster. She must have noticed us following her.

Hey! I called out but the woman disappeared behind the bleachers, ignoring us.

Leland and I reached the section between the bleachers about 20 seconds later and I hurried up the narrow section between the two stands, Leland right on my heels. We came out the back and searched up and down but the woman was gone!

Where did she go? Leland grunted.

A chain link fence covered in tarp ran along the back of the bleachers, so we couldn’t see the other side of the fence. If  my memory served it was the back of the booths where some of the midway rides were when the fair was in full swing. The booths would of course be empty  now, but we couldn’t see them for the tarp.

You check that way, I exclaimed pointing to the left. Look for breaks in the fence. She may have gotten out that way.

Leland nodded and I headed to the right. About 50 meters along I found a cut in the tarp and a slit in the chain link fence. I pulled it apart to reveal the back of a small ticket booth. I went through the cut, my t-shirt snagging on a piece of fence and ripping it slightly.

Nuts! I muttered. This was one of my favourite shirts. I went through all the way and came out right behind the booth, then hurried around the front and checked in all directions. I couldn’t see the woman anywhere. She was gone!

I headed towards the main entrance to the fair grounds and saw Xander talking to Denny, the young maintenance guy from his crew. I headed towards them.

Did you see a woman pass by a few minutes ago? I asked.

No, Justin, what’s going on? Xander asked

Tell you after I find her. She came through the fence over there behind the ticket booth about a minute ago. We need to find her.

Is this the woman Rhys was talking to yesterday? Xander said with a frown.

Yeah, I muttered. Leland’s looking for her too. She might know where Rhys is—and she was just inside the stunt plane. I saw her coming out of it a few minutes ago.

What?! Xander blurted. Come on Denny, let’s check it out. You try to find the woman, he said to me.

I nodded and continued on towards the main entrance and continued on to the parking lot just beyond. No one suspicious was lurking in the parking lot—no one was in the parking lot at all, just my SUV and a few other cars. The buses were parked off on the west side of the lot.

I scanned around but didn’t see anyone. I turned back into the grounds and headed back to the field where the plane was.

I met Leland half way there. Did you see her? I asked and he shook his head. I reported about finding the cut in the fence and about telling Xander what we had seen. He’s checking over the stunt plane, I said as we came up to it. It was like a large cargo plane or one for carrying troops in the army. It was long and was dark grey with large wings. Leland pulled open the door to the cargo hold and I followed him inside. Xander was there with Denny and Raina. In the middle of the cargo hold was a large motorcycle with some added features. A large box was at the back end that would house I assumed was the large parachute. When Xander would ride this out of the plane he would freefall then activate the parachute near the ground, then once on the ground would ride the motorcycle to a predesignated spot—namely the centre of this very field. The landing point was about half a kilometer away along the highway leading into town.

Parachute’s been sabotaged, Xander said with a sigh. Good catch, Justin. Did you find the woman?

No, I muttered. She either got away from the grounds—maybe with some help or she’s still around—hiding.

Xander nodded. I would have done another check on the parachute anyways before the jump, but whoever did this wasn’t counting on that. If I had driven out of this plane without a working parachute—well let’s just say it wouldn’t have been a pretty sight.

We all stood there for a moment letting it sink in.

But why would someone sabotage the equipment. Raina asked. It doesn’t make sense. You cancelled the show. We’re all leaving in a few days—what was the point? The other sabotage they did—you already gave into them, she added with a scowl.

I don’t know, Raina, Xander said, glancing at me. And I didn’t give in—I was forced by the local authorities to cancel the show. Do you think I want to give up on the charity. A children’s hospital for heavens’ sake.

Raina was silent for a moment then muttered, I’m sorry, Mr. Wyatt. I didn’t mean anything by my remark. I’m just as upset as you are about this. I just don’t know why someone would do this—now.

I don’t know either, Raina.

You want me to check out the rest of the equipment, Mr. Wyatt?, Denny asked, brushing his long hair out of his face.

Yes, please, Denny. Let me know if you find out any more sabotage.

Denny nodded then went off to get his tool box. Xander followed Leland and me back outside.

So whoever is behind this—we didn’t fool them again. They’re still trying to wreck the show. Only the three of us know that we meant to carry on with the show.

And your sons, Leland pointed out, absently scratching his newly shaved upper lip.

Right, Xander said, turning to look at me. Do you think one of them had something to do with this?

I do. I said. I’m sorry but I think Rhys is involved. His suspicious behaviour last night and seeing the young woman today that I had seen him talk to yesterday. It all fits.

Xander nodded sadly. I can’t believe that Rhys would do something like this. He is my son after all. What do you think, Leland?

Sounds plausible, he remarked. I don’t like it either. But we don’t know where he is to ask him. Reed is gone too. Seems awfully suspicious, if you ask me—which you did by the way.

Xander was lost in thought. This will just kill Ruth. She’s already weak from travelling from L.A. if I say anything to her—I don’t know what will happen.

Don’t tell her right away, I suggested. Tell her, though that I’m looking for Rhys and Reed and that I have a lead on their whereabouts—if she asks. That will hold her off for a while. I will find them, I added. Just need time. I’ll get my friends to help me.

Thanks, Justin, Xander said with a grin. You’re a life saver. I hope when my sons are found OK, that they become good friends with you. You seem the decent type and they need friends like that.

I nodded embarrassed. I’d like that too, sir—I mean, Xander.

But if Rhys is guilty of this sabotage—then—.

We’ll worry about that when the time comes. Our top priority now is to locate that woman and locate my sons.

Leland just nodded.

Xander turned to leave but turned back. You look good, Leland. Nice shirt by the way. Oh, and I’m glad you got rid of that moustache. It didn’t suit you. Made you look old.

I am old, Leland muttered, then turned to walk away.

Oh, and did you think about getting your ears pierced after all? Xander asked with a smirk on his face.

Never in my lifetime, he grunted then continued on his way with a scowl on his face.

What do you think? I asked as Leland moved out of earshot.

I don’t think earrings would look good on him at all, Xander said, watching him walk away.

No, not that. Do you trust Leland? He knew about us not really cancelling the stunt show. He could be involved. He could have helped that woman escape just now.

I don’t know, Xander said with a sigh. I’ve been with him for years. I can’t believe he would do something like that. He’s like a father figure to me. I lost my own father when I was young—Reed and Rhys’s age.

I understand, just covering all the bases, I remarked. Look, I’m going to check around to see if I can see the woman then I’m going to head home. I want to do some research and also see if I can get a lead on your sons. They have to be around somewhere. I know it looks bad for Rhys, but I’d like to prove him innocent—if he is.

Xander nodded, then moved off.

It was almost noon, so I went back to my SUV and headed into town to a fast food joint—not Billy Burger. A guy can only have so many hamburgers in a week—wait—what was I saying??

I opted for a chicken sandwich and side salad and a bottled water. I turned from the counter with my tray, and was surprised to see one of my friends sitting at a table in the corner.

Evan McIntyre was a few years older than me, but we had become good friends after I helped him and his father with a case a while back.

Evan was a paraplegic and got around town in a state of the art wheelchair. He had been in a  serious car accident a few years ago. He had been driving and his girlfriend at the time was a passenger and had been killed.

He had no memory of his life before the accident and his father had said he had been extremely arrogant and was not a nice person at all. The accident changed all that—he was still very blunt and liked to joke around, but he was a lot nicer person now.

Macdonald! He blurted out when he saw me. Get your butt over here, he motioned to the empty chair at his table.

My face brightened at the invitation. I sat down across from him and took a sip of my water.

How’ve you been? He asked, scrunching up the wrapper of his now eaten burger.

Good, and you? He was about my height with blond hair and blue eyes. He wore a yellow t-shirt and had a cap on his head. Both ears sported black studs.

Never better. Got a girlfriend.

You? I said in mock surprise. You’re kidding, right?

Flip off, Macdonald, he grunted, then smiled. No, I’m not kidding. She’s from Port Salser Collegiate. Her name’s Marissa.  She’s blonde and is really smart.

So what’s she doing with you, then?

Ha, ha, he said. No, seriously. You gotta meet her.

Do I know her?

Nah, you probably don’t. She hangs around with the cool crowd at school. You wouldn’t know anything about that. Say, you still hang around that Gilman guy?

Yeah, I said popping a fry into my mouth. You know I do. He’s my best friend.

I thought I was, he retorted.

In your dreams, I muttered taking another sip of water. Suddenly I stopped sipping my water as I had glanced out the side window of the restaurant. A late model sedan was waiting in line for the drive-thru. In the driver’s seat was the young woman from the fairgrounds!