Resolutions - Part 2
Chapter 21
Running to the window, Amy took in the jagged remains of what was once Ty's truck and screamed in horror.
"TY; OH MY GOD NO; TY!"
Witnessing the truck explosion through his binoculars from his concealed position in the woods that partially bordered Heartland, Cullen, now Helen's most trusted hand since the death of Jonas, failed to notice Ty's escape from the truck only seconds before the blast. This failure was largely aided by the driver's side door facing the barn and away from Cullen's vantage point in the woods from which Ty exited.
He's dead, thought Cullen; no way he survived that; time to get back to Helen with the good news.
Cullen began to silently and carefully ease his way out of the woods away from Heartland where his horse was tethered in a grove of trees out of sight from any potential casual observers.
Ty lay stunned for only a moment before quickly gathering his wits and recognizing how close he had come to death.
Damn, that was close. Good thing I know this old truck so well and was lucky enough to guess what it might be.
Only partially recovered the initial shock and horror of Ty's apparent death, Amy rapidly made her way down the steps grasping at the flicker of hope within her that her newly restored husband hadn't been in the truck and taken from her forever. As she approached the barn door almost too afraid to look, Ty rose up from within the stall where he had hid, clamped his hand over Amy's mouth and dragged her forcibly on to the stall floor.
Her eyes opening wide in surprise and relief at the sight of Ty, a confused Amy struggled to speak through the hand that remained covering her mouth. Not comprehending Ty's actions, Amy wriggled to free herself from beneath him until she saw him gesturing with his other hand for silence by holding his forefinger perpendicular against his mouth.
"Shhhh," Ty breathed while carefully removing his hand from Amy's mouth.
"Ty, Amy cried through her tears, I thought you_"
Ty quickly returned his hand over Amy's mouth and said, "Wisper."
"I thought you were dead," Amy breathed.
"So did I but I was able to jump out of the truck in time."
Before Ty could explain further, a frantic appearing Lou rushed into the barn looking for answers to the explosion.
Quickly as he could, Ty repeated the physical hold he had just used on Amy.
"Lou, I'm going to remove my hand but don't say anything; do you understand?"
Shaking her head in acknowledgement, Lou attempted to relax so that Ty would further see she understood his intent.
"What just happened, a breathless Lou asked once Ty removed his hand?"
"Someone just tried to kill me by blowing up my truck with me in it, Ty responded. Lou, I need you to do exactly what I say without asking any more questions right now; can you do that?"
"Yes, but what_"
"Lou!"
"Ok, what do you want me to do?"
"I believe the Maxwell's are behind blowing up my truck trying to kill me. I want them to think they succeeded so I need you and Amy to act as though I'm dead. I want you to run back into the house and call the Police and Fire departments. We can discuss this more later but for now, please just do as I ask. I suspect Helen may have someone watching to report back to her that her plan worked and I'm dead."
"Alright; I get it. I'll go and make the calls. I'm going to have to tell Georgie though."
"That's fine; give it about 20 minutes before you come back to the barn. You should probably call Peter and Tim to give them a heads-up too about not saying anything about me being alive. As far as the family goes, I'm dead."
"But Ty_"
"Lou, go now!"
"Ok."
Without further reply, Lou turned and raced to the house to begin acting out on Ty's spontaneously formed plan.
Turning towards Amy, Ty immediately saw his wife was on the verge of losing it over her initial shock of believing him dead before turning to joy and astonishment of seeing her husband miraculously alive.
"Amy, it's ok, Ty said while tenderly reaching for her. I'm alright; let's go upstairs."
Not waiting for an answer, Ty half carried his trembling wife up the stairs to the loft and on to the couch.
"Ty…I; I…you're alive," Amy stammered and began to kiss him in relief as though his survival was really a cruel dream and he'd be gone forever when she awakened.
Equally drained as the adrenaline escaped his body, Ty returned her affection thankful he was still able to.
Gathering her resolve, the strength that had passed down to Amy Fleming through her mother quickly returned and she began to speak through her still flowing tears.
"Ty, what happened? What…how did you know to get out of the truck?"
"Call it luck; providence, I'm not really sure," Ty replied. After all these years though, I know my truck and how it sounds. And the odd noise it made when I turned the key to start it set off an alarm in my head and thinking the worse, I jumped out."
Kissing him again while holding his face between her hands, Amy replied, "I'm so glad you did. I thought I had lost you."
"You didn't and you won't. I have too much to live for," Ty commented while gazing intently at Amy before kissing her back.
"We both do," agreed Amy between kisses.
"Who…"
"Maxwell, Ty said, it had to be her. She's trying to eliminate all of us. She made a mistake though choosing my old truck to fit with a bomb. I know every sound that truck makes; and shouldn't, and that knowledge saved my life."
"That BITCH, Amy screeched. She tried to kill my husband. First it was Grandpa and Lisa and now she almost got you! Ty, we can't let her get away with this. We've got to figure out a way to not only stop her but have her put away for good; or killed. And after this, I prefer killed."
"You're right Amy. And now, we have a chance to use this to our advantage."
"What do you mean Ty?"
"Think about it."
Pondering what Ty meant, Amy began smiling and nodding her head in understanding, "Yes, yes; you're right Ty. She thinks you're dead now. We need to use that to somehow trip her up."
"Correct; now all we have to do is figure out what and how."
Reaching the main trail without being seen, Cullen casually rode his horse back to where he had left his truck and horse trailer making no attempt at concealment. He had ridden along this route many times in recent weeks and frequently saw other riders so today would appear as any other day.
He and Helen had carefully planned this out weeks ago in the event this course of action of killing Borden would be necessary. Essentially, he had an alibi and his actions would be difficult if not impossible to trace to what he had done. Cullen calmly loaded his horse before climbing into the truck, exiting the parking area and heading for the Maxwell ranch.
Heartland
Peering cautiously through the window of Amy's old room in the main house to avoid being seen, Ty watched as the Police spoke to Lou and Amy about the truck blast and the Firefighters as they examined the cooked remains of Ty's old GMC truck.
Pulling out his phone and a business card from his jeans pocket, Ty dialed the number on the card.
"Detective Coates, this is Ty Borden."
"Mr. Borden; nice to hear from you. I was just informed of a car explosion at Heartland that occurred only a short time ago. Was anyone hurt? What can you tell me about it?"
"Well Detective, the bomb was in my truck and I'm convinced I was the intended victim but fortunately, I was able to jump out of the truck just in time."
"How did you know to get out of the truck?"
"Detective, I'd be happy to tell you everything I know, but would prefer to do it in person."
"That's fine; can you come down to the station?"
"Would you be able to come to Heartland instead? The only ones that know I wasn't killed in the blast are my wife and immediate family…and I'd like to keep it that way for now."
Detective Coates was silent on his end for a few seconds before resuming the conversation.
"I think understand your desire to be presumed dead. I'll leave now and should arrive at Heartland within 30 minutes."
"That would be great Detective; please come to the door of the main house."
"Understood; see you shortly."
The Maxwell Ranch
"I'm sure of it Ms. Maxwell, he's dead. I saw him get in the truck; begin to pull away from the barn, and then the explosion. It's not possible Borden could have survived."
"Excellent, Cullen; and you're positive no one saw you plant the bomb?"
"Positive. It was the middle of the night; no moon; I was dressed in black and gloves; and was under the truck. No one saw me."
"Cullen, you've done excellent work. I've already wired the funds I promised to your mother's account."
"Thank you Ms. Maxwell. What do you want me to do now?"
"Nothing out of the ordinary. Continue with your daily duties including your afternoon rides. I want you to be seen over the next few days on the trail. Make it a point when you can to be noticed."
"I understand; anything else you need from me today?"
"No, I don't think so. Take the rest of the day off though and enjoy yourself."
"Thank you Ms. Maxwell, I will."
Stepping back into the house, Helen was immediately question by an anxious and edgy Davis Maxwell.
"Well, what did he say? Is Borden dead?"
"Davis, how many times have I told you to be careful what and how you say things? All of our plans are falling into place but we have to remain careful. Don't ever use a phrase like that. Speak in generalities without specifics like I've taught you. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, I'm sorry Helen. It's perfectly clear."
"The matter Cullen was tasked for has been completed. We have no more need for concern on that front."
"Good; now maybe Amy will come to her senses and see her affections towards me are real."
About to reply at her brother's continued folly towards Amy Fleming, Helen decided to remain silent.
What an idiot; is he ever going to grasp the feelings she had for him were a result of her illness and nothing more? I may have to consider doing something about him before long.
Heartland
As Lou and Peter stayed outside with the Police, Ty and Amy accompanied by Detective Coates made their way up the stairs to Georgie's room. Ty thought it less likely that anyone would see him there as his desire to remain hidden remained.
"Alright Mr. Borden, tell me what happened."
"I went out to my truck about 8:30 this morning to go the clinic to gather some things to bring back here. With all that's been going on lately with the Maxwell's, I wanted to be here at home with my family. When I started my truck, I heard a strange sound; one I've never heard before. I don't know how or why it came into my head, but bomb, flashed through my mind. Without further consideration, I dove out of the truck and into the barn just as the bomb went off."
"That's quite a reaction you had Mr. Borden; what made you think it might be a bomb?"
"As I said Detective Coates, I honestly don't know. Maybe it was due to the fact we've all been pretty keyed up and on our guards lately since…since Amy's Grandfather was shot and later killed with his wife Lisa in the explosion at Fairfield. I do know my truck. I've had it for over ten years; done all the work on it myself and know every noise it makes. What I heard this morning was not one of them so I reacted and got out of the truck."
Realizing again how close she had come to losing Ty forever, Amy squeezed his hand for comfort and assurance and received returned pressure from her husband.
"Detective, it had to be the Maxwell's; it had to be!"
"Ms. Fleming, though we don't have determinant proof, I'm inclined to agree with you. We have five deaths and your husband was nearly the sixth. I don't believe these are all coincidental."
A steely determination washed over Detective Coates face before he continued. "I won't have this; not in my town. It's going to stop!"
"What are you going to do, asked Ty?"
"The first thing I'm going to do is arrest Davis Maxwell for attempted murder. I was going to contact you today Mr. Borden with the news. Based on the statements you and Ms. Fleming gave yesterday, we have enough to arrest him. Second and there's a qualifier to this, I will agree to go along with your plan to be dead." Doing that may afford us the best chance of trapping Helen Maxwell."
"What's the qualifier, questioned Amy?"
"I want to be up front with you both; there is some inherent risk in following this course of action. If someone saw you and it somehow got back to the Maxwell's you're alive, they will know they're being setup and under suspicion. And that may cause them to be desperate; and desperate people do desperate things. You both could end up being in more danger."
Ty and Amy turned to toward each other and the mutual look they gave was clear; they were committed.
"We're all in Detective. We can't continue to live our lives waiting for Helen Maxwell's next move. We need to make something happen!"
Before he could respond further, Coates' phone went off.
"Coates."
….
"Yes; what do you have for me?"
…..
"At his sisters?"
…..
"Alright, meet me outside the main gates of her ranch in thirty minutes. Do NOT enter the property. Wait until I arrive and we'll go in together."
…..
"Just keep eyes on the house in case he was to leave before I arrive."
…..
"Alright, see you in thirty minutes."
Turning back to Amy and Ty, Detective Coates began to explain.
"We've been monitoring Davis Maxwell's movements since last night. A while ago, he left for his sister's ranch where he remains. I'm going to meet my men there and am going to arrest him. I just may have a few words with Helen Maxwell too. Among others, I'm going to pass on news of your tragic and horrific death."
Smiling at Detective Coates words, Ty and Amy felt the first hint of relief they'd experienced in days.
"Ty, what do we do now," inquired Amy.
"We wait to hear back from the Detective to see how Helen reacts to her brother's arrest. After that, I'm not sure. I know I need to continue to remain out of sight. In a few minutes, I think you should go back outside to see how things are progressing. Then go to the loft. After it gets dark, I'll join you."
"And Amy."
"Yes?"
"When you get up to the loft, I want you to get out one of the hand guns and keep it with you."
Looking at Ty, Amy's eyes widened a bit at her husband's wish before nodding her head in agreement.
"I'm going to take the other one when I join you tonight."
The Maxwell Ranch
Exiting his car outside the Maxwell ranch, Detective Coates addressed the waiting officers.
"Guys, I want to do this clean and by the book. Davis Maxwell is not the one I'm concerned about. I believe he'll come meekly. His sister is another story. If I'm right, she's a cold-blooded killer responsible for the deaths of at least six people. Don't say anything to her; nothing. I'll do the talking."
"Any questions?"
Seeing there were none, Coates continued. "Alright, let's go."
The three vehicles rode in tandem to the front of the Maxwell ranch house. Stepping away from his vehicle, Coates and the three Police officers approached the front door.
But before he could knock, the front door opened and out walked a small woman who appeared completely at ease and calm.
"Officers, is there something I can do for you?"
"Helen Maxwell, asked Detective Coates?"
"Yes."
"I'm Detective Coates of the Hudson Police Department. We're her looking for your brother, Davis Maxwell; I believe he's here?"
"And why would you believe that?"
"Why I do is irrelevant. Please answer the question. Is Davis Maxwell here?"
Studying the Detective a moment before responding, Helen spoke.
"Yes, he's here. What business do you have with him?"
"That's for me to discuss with Mr. Maxwell. Could you go get him please?"
Helen examined Coates a few more seconds before replying again. "Of course Detective; please wait here while I go and speak to my brother."
After about 30 seconds, Davis Maxwell emerged from the house followed by Helen.
"Davis Maxwell?"
"Yes, I'm Davis Maxwell; what's this all about?"
"I'm Detective Coates with the Hudson Police Department. I'm here to inform you that you're under arrest for the attempted murder of Ty Borden."