The Deadliest Stunt Chapter 11

The Deadliest Stunt

Chapter 11

Matt! I cried out as Matt came all the way up the walk. But his hands were empty.

Who fired the gun? He exclaimed kneeling to see if Leland were still alive. He was—but he was bleeding profusely. I don’t know, I said as I pulled my cell phone and dialed 911 and soon an ambulance was on the way. And the police.

They soon arrived. I had scanned the neighbourhood but could see no one. Who had fired the gun? Were they still around?

Denton arrived a few minutes later. It was a trick, the phone call made from the mall, I explained after relating what had happened. Someone is still out there—with a gun! I exclaimed. Soon Denton had the street cordoned off but an hour later no one could be found.

Leland had been taken in an ambulance to the hospital where he would be on police guard. Suzanne was still out there. Had she fired the gun?

An APB had been put out on Suzanne Martinson. All roads out of the city were checked but she was nowhere to be found.

A call to the hospital revealed that Reed Wyatt had indeed been lured away from his mother’s hospital room and was now missing. He had been seen leaving with a blonde woman.

Now Suzanne apparently had Xander, Reed and Rhys. I had no idea where but I had a hunch about Leland and why his daughter was sabotaging the stunt show. I revealed my theory to Denton and Matt who had tagged along to Police headquarters to give a statement. Denton agreed that it was a plausible explanation. Matt agreed and we set about to find her. I had a pretty good idea where she was.

Whoever shot Leland could easily have shot either you or me, I said ruefully as Matt and I left the station and headed to my SUV.

Matt nodded soberly. I know, he said, getting in the passenger side. Maybe I should rethink my career in private investigation. It’s a little too dangerous.

I wasn’t sure if Matt were kidding—about leaving that is. It was dangerous, that wasn’t up for debate.

It was now after 3 pm and Mom would be home soon. I was utterly exhausted having had no sleep. My mind was racing. Suzanne was still out there as were the Wyatt’s. I pulled in the driveway. The house was quiet. Yellow police tape covered our front entrance. I was going to have to explain this to Mom—obviously. But I needed sleep—if our plan to catch Suzanne Martinson was going to work.

I left Matt who headed to his own apartment, and went up to my room. I flopped on the bed without even removing my shoes. I didn’t care. I had to sleep. I set my alarm for 8 pm—when we were going check out my theory. That gave me 4 hours of sleep. Not the best but it was better than nothing.

At 8 pm my alarm buzzed. I jumped from bed and splashed cold water on my face again. As per the plan, I changed into all black clothing. Matt was waiting downstairs. He had changed into all black clothing as well. He had also explained to Mom what had happened and she was understandably shocked. She had decided to take Kimmy and go to Aunt Maureen’s for the night. You be careful she said, giving me a hug. You should leave this to the police but I know I’m talking to a brick wall.

I have to help find Reed, Rhys and Xander, I said. They’re missing and in danger. If Suzanne and Leroy aren’t caught—and soon, the Wyatt’s will be in even more danger.

She nodded, then left. Matt gave me a look as if to say ‘are you OK?’ I nodded. Let’s get this done. But first, I’m starving.

I grabbed a bagel with ham and water bottle and gobbled down the sandwich and swigged down the water.

We then headed to my SUV and got in. I headed to the fairgrounds. They were all in darkness when we arrived. I pulled in and doused the headlights right away. I parked over near the buses and shut off the engine.

We sat in silence for a moment then got out and closed the SUV doors quickly and as quietly as we could. We waited a moment to see if there was any movement, but apparently we had gotten in undetected. Hugging the fence, we crept towards the entrance. We had worn all black to keep as inconspicuous as possible. I was sure Suzanne was here at the fairgrounds and that the Wyatt’s weren’t too far away.

The entrance was locked but Denton had supplied me with the key. Something the Martinsons’ wouldn’t be counting on.

Once inside, I locked the gate again. Matt gave me the thumbs up and we proceeded to the main field that was surrounded by bleachers.  The bombed out section was still cordoned off. I headed towards that section then veered off to go between the bleachers. The day before I had gone left and Leland had gone right. I now went right and soon came to another break in the fencing. That led right to a small booth. On the other side the booth was boarded up and was not used. A perfect hiding spot. I put my finger to my lips to make the “shh” motion and Matt nodded.

We could hear voices from behind the wall. They were muffled. But I could make out a female voice. At the bottom of the booth was a small air vent. I knelt down on my knees and put my ear to the vent.

...my father is in critical condition because of you, the female voice spat. Suzanne.

I had to do it, Sue, a male voice spoke up. He was interfering. He was going to spill his guts to that Macdonald kid.

He was going to shoot him, you idiot, Suzanne grunted. He knows too much about our operation.

You don’t know that, the male voice spoke up. Was this Leroy, Suzanne’s husband?

We had it all under control, Suzanne said evenly. Tonight when we leave town, Xander Wyatt’s career will be over. Once the bomb goes off he’ll be history.

A bomb! I whispered looking at Matt. The Wyatt’s were definitely in trouble.

But first, we need to take care of my father, Suzanne spoke up. When he regains consciousness and realizes one of us shot him to shut him up, then he will spill his guts to the authorities. You need to take care of him—now!

There was silence and a moment later a man came out of the booth. The boarded up door was fake. The door worked fine. The man was short and slightly overweight. He was wearing a white t-shirt and jeans. He had a mop of dark hair and was unshaven with a dark moustache. It was Leroy Martinson. I had seen a photo of him earlier. He had looked much slimmer in the photo.

He didn’t notice Matt and I hiding. I was glad I had worn black. Any light colours would have been picked up by the moonlight, which was in full brightness tonight. Leroy shuffled off and soon was gone.

Denton had a hidden police guard on Leland and on Ruth Wyatt so Leroy’s attempts to harm either Leland or Ruth would be futile.

Now to take care of Suzanne. I figured she wouldn’t come back here until the night time when Denton and his crew said they were finishing their investigation. That was why I waited until now to make sure she would be here at the fairgrounds. I boldly went up to the door and knocked. Matt was still hiding.

What is it, you forget your keys, Suzanne grumbled. She opened the door and was shocked to see me.

You! She roared. What are you—?

I burst through the door and into the small room. What have you done with the Wyatt’s? The police are on their way so there’s no point in trying to get away.

You’re lying, she spat trying to take a swing at me, but though she was strong, I was stronger. I deflected the blow. Matt came in a moment later and we soon had Suzanne subdued. I called Denton on my cell and he said he would be there shortly.

Why are you doing this? I asked but she just glared and looked ahead. Is it because of your father?

She glanced at me then turned away again but remained silent. There are police waiting for your husband at the hospital. He won’t get to your father.

What—? She blurted out looking at me again.

There’s a guard around your father and around Ruth Wyatt. Why did you strike her? She was already weak from being ill.

Only way to get her family to cooperate, she said finally. Get Xander to stop the show once and for all.

Rhys Wyatt wasn’t in league with you—he was trying to find out who were, that day I saw him talking to you. He realized who you were but you threatened him and his father. You threatened him that if he didn’t keep me away from his brother then you would harm him. All these threats to stop Xander from doing the show.

How did you—?

I know more than you think, I muttered. The clues were there. You threatened Rhys to keep me away then you kidnapped Reed to show you were serious about making him cancel the stunt show.  

To show my father I was serious, she muttered.

But your father tried to protect you. That day you sabotaged the stunt plane and I chased you. He helped you escape, didn’t he?

Suzanne just nodded.

But why? Why sabotage the stunt show and try to ruin Xander Wyatt?

My father is being used by the Wyatt’s. He didn’t see it, but I did. I pleaded with him to drop Xander and back Leroy. He was family after all. But dad refused. So I tried to ruin Wyatt myself. If he cancelled this stunt show, his reputation would be ruined and Dad could drop him then and represent Leroy. My husband is a better stuntman than Xander Wyatt anyway. He should have gotten the job on the Masked Avenger.

He had it but lost it, I remarked. He was lazy. And the accident was his own fault. Not Xander’s, not anyone else’s.

He wasn’t lazy. Wyatt stole it from him. Even more reason to ruin him.

There must be another reason to make him cancel the stunt show, I said. Would the contract with United Pictures have anything to do with it?

Suzanne glared at me and I knew I was right. If Xander was successful he would net a very lucrative contract with a major studio that would set him for life. Representatives of the company would be at the show. Xander had hinted at this when we first met. I had done some research and discovered why the stunt show was so important. If there was no show, then no contract. So the stunt show was a very big deal to Xander and his family. An extremely big deal. Suzanne and Leroy found out about it and vowed that Xander wouldn’t get the contract at any cost.

A noise outside the small booth caught my attention suddenly. I got a bad feeling. Was it Leroy returning or someone else? I had an idea who it was. The person who knew the stunt show hadn’t really been cancelled. Someone besides Leland, Xander and the twins. And someone who knew about pyrotechnics and bombs.

I exchanged a glance with Matt and nodded outside. He nodded back and moved to the door. He quickly grabbed the door and pushed it open. A grunt behind the door as someone who had been listening was knocked back. The door flew open to reveal Raina. She was holding her nose, and blood was pouring out. Matt grabbed her and pinned her arms behind her. Then we called Denton.

He arrived with a detachment a few moments later to take Suzanne and Raina into custody.

You’ll never find them, Suzanne screeched as they was led away. Soon they’ll all be blown to bits. And then this will be over!

I thought the Wyatt’s would be here, I said. She said there was a bomb going to go off and that would be the end of them! I was counting on them being here with her, I said dejectedly running a hand through my hair in frustration. They’ll be here in the fairgrounds, I said. We need to find them.

We fanned out, Denton and his men going in one direction, Matt and I in another. We searched the booths and then the field and stands. But there was no sign of them.

Wait, I said. Reed Wyatt was put in the cargo hold of the equipment bus. We searched the buses earlier, but if Suzanne brought them back here tonight—!

Matt and I raced to the parking lot and headed to the buses. They still sat in the same spot they were earlier.

We headed towards them again and as we got closer suddenly Xander’s bus erupted in a fireball followed by a powerful explosion!