CHAPTER 11
Deputy Harry Tyler checked his revolver to be sure it was loaded. There were five rounds in the cylinder arranged so that the hammer would rest on an empty chamber. Tyler looked at Deputy Andy Rivera behind the wheel of the squad car. Rivera had checked his weapon while Tyler was making the radio call to the Sheriff about their location and intention to search the area just west of the road. Now the young deputy sat clenching the steering wheel of the stopped car and staring at the wooded area to their right. He licked his lips.
“You think it might be a trap, Harry?” he asked quietly.
Tyler sighed.
“I don’t know. If it is going to be a trap, I wish I had a clue about who might be springing it on us. Police work usually isn’t like this, Andy. Generally you know who it is you’re chasing, who you’re trying to save, and what it’s all about.”
Rivera nodded, not taking his eyes from the trees. He was only twenty-four and had been on the force for a little more than a year. Tyler was almost ten years older, and had never seen a case quite like this. He didn’t blame the young man for being nervous.
“You ready?” asked Tyler.
Rivera licked his dry lips again and nodded. His eyes never strayed from the cottonwoods.
Tyler opened his door and stepped out. He held his pistol pointed skyward for safety. Rivera followed his lead. They headed for the trees.
Sky Ryder kept circling. He saw the two deputies make their way cautiously toward the trees and disappear into them. His eye was caught by something on the road far to the north. Peering into the distance, he could make out the flashing red light of a police car. It had to be Winchell and Barnes. He would feel much better with an old hand like Winch on the job.
When Sky looked below him again, he saw one of the deputies running at top speed from the trees toward the car. In an instant his radio barked at him.
“Hummingbird, this is Car Five. Do you read me? Over.”
It was the younger deputy, Rivera, Sky noted. He grabbed his microphone up.
“This is Hummingbird, Car Five. What have you found? Over.”
“It’s your niece, Mr. Ryder. She and Amy were in there. They’re all tied up and have hardly any clothes, but they’re all right.”
Sky let out a long breath of relief.
“Mr. Ryder, your niece says to go on ahead and look for the Wilberforce car. The Johnson girl and Marie Sanders are with Mrs. Wilberforce, her prisoners, and they need help. Over.”
“Okay, Rivera. Get Copper on the radio to fill me in as quickly as you can. Over.”
“Roger, Mr. Ryder. She’s putting on some clothes now. She’ll be with you in a couple minutes. Car Five out.”
Sky hung the mike on its hook and headed on south. He had to find that car.
Sherry and Marie stared in disbelief at the two nooses Dora had hung over a sturdy cottonwood limb twenty or thirty yards away. The banker’s wife burst into a bone-chilling laugh worthy of a mad scientist in a melodrama.
“Sixty or seventy years ago you’d be hanged for stealing cattle in these parts,” said Dora cheerfully. “And my husband’s on about the same level as cattle, so it’s a fitting punishment for your crimes.”
She stepped between the two women and with either hand took hold of the double strands of rope that she had strung through their pubic areas. She pulled, drawing gagged shrieks from both women.
“Your worst crime is being led around by these too much,” she said, tugging on the ropes again. “John can be a louse, but he wouldn’t go after a woman unless she egged him on.”
Both women shook their heads violently only to have Dora pull on the ropes again. She let them moan into their gags for a full minute before letting up.
“Well, enough sermonizing,” Dora announced. “Let’s get to it.”
She bent over and hoisted Sherry to her right shoulder. After making a military style about face, she began marching stiffly to the tree. Like a demented child she sang the Chopin Funeral March as she carried her helpless victim back to the nooses.
Sherry squirmed and struggled but it was useless. Tied as she was, she would have needed hours to get free, if she could even then. She mewed protests into her gag, but Dora was beyond listening. It was not until they reached the nooses that Sherry saw that the ropes hung less than three feet off the ground. Her hopes that Dora’s madness had affected her judgment were dashed when Dora began lowering her from her shoulder.
“On your knees, girl.”
Dora took a short piece of rope from her pocket and made another hogtie-style connection from Sherry’s ankle bonds to the line around her waist. She took hold of the noose.
“Now here’s your lesson in humility, Miss Johnson. I hope you can take it as well as I took mine.”
She put the noose around the girl’s neck and tightened it. There was still enough slack that a couple inches of the thick rope lay on her shoulder. Dora walked to the tree trunk where she had tied off the other end of the rope. She released the knot and pulled the slack out. With a muffled cry, Sherry straightened up as the rope tightened around her throat.
“Just keep your head up and you have nothing to worry about,” she said as she retied the rope. “For a while.”
Dora sidled back to Sherry, enjoying the view. She folded her arms across her breasts and stood in front of her captive. There were tears in Sherry’s eyes as the naked, helpless girl shook her head and made muffled pleas to Dora.
“Oh, how pretty!” said Dora mockingly. She reached down and took Sherry’s nipples in her hands and squeezed them. “Humility, my girl. You have to learn it. With that lovely face and body, it’s easy for a girl to get a big ego. I’ll bet that it was easy for you to get my John to fall for you. Well, soon there won’t be anyone falling for you ever again.”
She might have said or done more to torment her helpless victim, but her attention was drawn to Marie. Seeing what the woman had done to Sherry was too much for Marie. The bound, nude blonde began hopping in a desperate, hopeless attempt to get to the highway.
Dora laughed.
“Going somewhere, Marie?”
Toying with her prey, Dora started walking very slowly after her.
“Calling Hummingbird, calling Hummingbird, this is Copper in Car Five. Do you read me, Uncle Sky? Over.”
Sky Ryder quickly took up the handset.
“Is that you, Copper? Thank God you’re safe.”
Copper stood at the open door of Tyler’s patrol car. She had put on the blue jeans and light blue shirt she had given to Sherry the afternoon before. Deputy Cole was back in uniform, though, like Copper, she had no shoes. Tyler and Rivera stood close by, and Sheriff Winchell and Deputy Barnes were getting out of their car not many yards away.
“Yeah, I’m fine, Uncle Sky, and so’s Amy, I mean Deputy Cole. But you’ve got to help Sherry and Marie. Something’s happened to Mrs. Wilberforce. I think she went crazy. She’s got them and I think she’s going to hang them.”
“Hang them?” cried Sky. “That’s not possible.”
“Oh, it’s possible all right,” the girl retorted. “When she captured me I saw that she had a couple really thick ropes. She didn’t use that rope to tie us. And she was just ranting and raving about them as she tied me up. We’ve got to help them.”
Sheriff Winchell took the microphone from the girl.
“You think there’s anything to this, Sky? Over”
“If Copper saw the ropes, we can’t afford not to take it seriously,” the flyer said gravely. “I’ll go on ahead and see if I can spot her. Come as fast as you can. Over.”
“Roger, Sky. Winchell out.”
He looked at the circle of faces around him.
“Let’s get started. Amy, you come with us. Harry, you and Andy take Copper with you. Keep your eyes open and your ear to the radio.”
They piled into the two cars. The Sheriff took the lead.
Marie did not even consider that hers was a hopeless race. She hopped as fast as she was able, knowing that if she fell her infinitesimally small chance of escape or finding help would disappear completely. She could hear Dora’s laughter behind her and turned a couple of times to see how close her pursuer was. Dora was just strolling, but she gained so quickly on Marie that there was obviously only one outcome of the mismatch. Every few seconds Dora would call out ‘I’m gaining’ or ‘Better go faster’ or some other mocking comment. Finally, as Dora came within five yards or so, Marie lost her balance and fell with an agonizing cry into her gag.
Dora stooped over and pulled Marie to a sitting position.
“No broken bones, eh?” Dora asked. “Well, even if there were, there wouldn’t have been time for them to heal. Come on. Let’s join your friend for the party.”
She tried to hoist Marie on her shoulder as she had Sherry, but the panic-stricken blonde fought her with everything she had, kicking out with her bound legs and twisting and turning her body as Dora tried to get a grip on her. She was like a fish out of water trying to avoid the hands of the fisherman, and for a minute or two she was successful. Dora was able to reach the crotchrope and give a firm pull. Marie stopped, as much from exhaustion as from the shock of the rope against her private parts.
“That’s better, dear,” said Dora with unnatural calm. “You’ll mess my hair.”
She smoothed the sides of her coif and took Marie on her shoulder. Repeating her vocal performance of the funeral march, she almost goose-stepped her prisoner to the execution tree and put her on her knees next to Sherry. A hogtie connection was made to Marie’s bonds as well. The blonde was sobbing.
“Don’t worry, dear. This shouldn’t take too long.” She placed the noose around Marie’s neck. “I’m sorry we don’t have a chaplain here, but you two know all too well what your sins are, don’t you?”
The noose was tightened and Dora took the slack out as she had with Sherry. Marie struggled to stay upright. Dora tied off the rope and walked in front of the two again. Sherry was already tiring of keeping herself up so straight. Dora took a nipple of each girl in her hand and squeezed. She seemed not to hear their gagged pleas and cries.
“You do understand that this isn’t vengeance but justice, don’t you? You’ve ruined a man’s life and mine too, so you must be made to pay.”
The bound women both looked across the road. Dora looked too.
“Ah, yes, a beautiful bird. Or is it the angel of death come to take you? Well, you’ll soon find out. Would you care for blindfolds?”
Stretched out as they were it was difficult to tell if either woman nodded.
“Since I don’t care to watch your faces, you shall have them.”
She returned to the car and brought back a cheap white dishtowel. She tore two long strips from it and bound both girls’ eyes.
“Now we’re ready,” she pronounced.
Dora took a step to the tree and reached for the knots. A voice rang out.
“Dora Wilberforce! Give it up!”
It was the voice of Sky Ryder. He was within fifty yards of the tree, pistol ready in his hand.
She looked back at him, uncomprehending, then turned back to reach for the rope. A shot rang out. Bark flew from the tree a foot or so from her hand. She looked at him again, puzzled, and reached again. Sky fired again, hitting the tree even closer to the knot she had reached for. She looked at him a third time.
“Don’t you want me to do this, John?” she asked.
The two Sheriff’s cars pulled up at the edge of the road and their occupants were quickly out and heading for them.
“No, Dora, don’t.” Sky realized at once that he was dealing with a person who had lost her senses. “Please don’t, Dora. It’s not right.”
Dora sighed deeply then smiled rather shyly at him.
“Can we go home now, John?”
“Yes. Let’s do that.”
She took a step toward him, but was distracted by Winchell, and Tyler who were removing the nooses from Sherry’s and Marie’s necks. Amy Cole and Copper started to untie the women. Dora looked curiously at the activity. The crazed expression in her eyes faded momentarily.
“Oh, my God!” she screamed, and began to cry.
As Dora collapsed in a sobbing heap, Amy Cole and Deputy Barnes went to her assistance. Deputy Rivera replaced Cole working on Marie’s bonds. Winchell stared sadly at the hysterical woman as he joined Sky.
“A simple little open and shut case, wasn’t it, Sky?”
Sky Ryder chuckled grimly.
“All this over money!” He shook his head. “What a waste!”
A handcuffed Dora Wilberforce was asleep in the back of the Sheriff’s car watched by Deputy Barnes. Marie, dressed in some old clothes Sky kept in his plane for emergencies, was also handcuffed sitting on the edge of the back seat of Tyler’s car guarded by him. Deputy Rivera was on the radio, calling for ambulances. Sky, Copper, Winchell, Deputy Cole, and Sherry, wearing one of the Sheriff’s spare uniforms, stood between the cars. Sherry was apologizing to Winchell and Amy.
“I really don’t know what came over me in that courtroom,” she said. “I’ve never done anything like that before and I certainly never will again, Sheriff.”
She turned to Amy.
“I especially owe you an apology, Deputy. You were very good to me all the time I had you to watch me, and I betrayed you. I need to apologize to the nurse, too.”
“And to Jeanne Hall,” added Amy, “for tying her up and stealing her car.”
Sherry nodded. “It seems I’ve got quite a lot to answer for. So you’d better take me in.”
She turned her back to Deputy Cole and put her hands behind her back.
“Put on the cuffs, Deputy. I deserve it.”
Amy hesitated, looking at Winchell.
“Well, I don’t know if we have to do that.”
Sherry looked back over her shoulder, keeping her hands presented to Amy.
“I insist,” she urged. “Yesterday I thought that being handcuffed and taken to jail was the worst thing that could happen to me. But just a little while ago, I wished I could have gone back to jail.”
Amy looked at Winchell again.
“Sheriff?”
“Well, we will have to take her in. Technically, she’s still a fugitive until that verdict is vacated.”
Amy reached to her belt only to find her handcuff case empty. Winchell gave her his cuffs. She secured Sherry’s wrists behind her back. The girl laughed.
“There. Now I know I’m safe.”
“What’ll happen to Mrs. Wilberforce, Sheriff?” asked Copper.
“I don’t know, Copper,” Winchell replied. “It’s a pretty sad case. The doctors will have to examine her to determine her sanity.”
“I guess the shock of having a husband abandon her and ruin their lives was just too much for her,” Copper said sadly.
“We’re all sorry for her, Copper,” put in Sky. “But she came fairly close to committing murder. Sherry certainly learned something about taking the law into her own hands and so will Dora Wilberforce.”
Sherry looked at all of them.
“I just want to say thanks to all of you for what you’ve done for me the last two days,” she said earnestly. “And especially to Copper and Sky for always believing that I was innocent.”
Copper hugged her handcuffed friend.
“You can always count on your real friends,” she said with a smile.
On the following Monday they were all in court again. Sherry’s conviction was thrown out in light of the new evidence obtained and the confessions of Marie Sanders and John Wilberforce. Though Sherry had a new list of offenses against her, none of the women involved decided to press charges against her, Ruth Leeson and Jeanne Hall even speaking in her behalf. Sherry Johnson walked out of the courtroom a free woman.
Sky, Copper, and Winchell paused on the courthouse steps watching as Sherry spoke briefly with a couple reporters then walked away arm in arm with her attorney. Other reporters and small crowds of spectators were clustered around Ruth Leeson, Patty Brennan, Rita Everett, and Liz Martin. Jeanne Hall managed to avoid the prying of the press with the help of a big, good-looking young fellow from her office.
The three strolled across the street to Jeb’s Café. Inside Sky noticed George, the night bank guard, sitting by Jeb’s radio listening to the start of the World Series game. George looked miserable.
“What’s wrong George?” asked Sky. “You upset about Wilberforce being under arrest?”
“Oh, no,” said George hastily. “He deserved it. It’s just…”
“What?”
“Well, I made a bet with him on the Series. I took the Yanks for ten bucks and now all the Dodgers have to do is win today and the Series is over. Even if he’s in jail, I’ve got to pay him.”
“You have to have faith in your team, George,” Copper said cheerfully.
George shook his head glumly.
“They’ve got Maglie going today and the Yankees are starting that bum Larsen. I don’t think that—“
He stopped to hear Red Barber call Larsen’s first pitch to Gilliam. It was outside for a ball.
“This is going to be something,” muttered George.
Sky, Copper, and the Sheriff seated themselves at a table.
“Everything’s ended very well,” pronounced Copper with satisfaction. “There’s only one more thing I need to make it perfect.”
“What’s that?” asked her uncle.
Copper smiled knowingly at Sky.
“What was the name you suggested to my mother and father that was so bad they decided on Coppelia instead?”
“Yeah, Sky,” put in Winchell. “I’d like to know too.”
Sky looked flustered.
“I think it’s a beautiful name,” he said unconvincingly. “It’s just a little unusual, that’s all.”
Copper folded her arms over her chest and cocked her head to one side.
“What was it?” she insisted.
Sky hesitated, his expression hinting that he’d rather be somewhere else. He picked up a menu and fussed with it
“It was…”
They looked at him expectantly.
“Gwendoline,” he mumbled.
Winchell laughed. Copper groaned.
“That’s terrible, Uncle Sky.”
She started to laugh along with Winchell.
Sky pretended to be absorbed in the menu.
“Let’s just order, shall we?”
They just kept laughing.
THE END