The Woman Next Door Page 9

  “Because you don’t think I’m capable of judging a person and knowing the difference between a kid needing help and a hired killer.” That did earn her a smack on her sore butt.

  “Be serious, Elizabeth. You don’t want me to start this punishment all over, do you?”

  “I didn’t want you to begin in the first place! I’m not some ninny, Craig! Yes, I disobeyed you… Because I could tell that Randy was almost in shock he was so scared. I’m a nurse; I can read people. I didn’t like McMaken when I met him, and see? I was right. I was right about Randy, too. I don’t intend to disobey you for the sake of disobedience. But, credit me with some sense. Please!” She took a deep breath and continued, “I know I scared you. I know I was wrong to run away and attempt to go home. I am sorry, and I won’t do that again, and I won’t open this door to anyone unless I am positive it is safe to do so. I have learned my lesson, but it is unfair of you to punish me simply because you were scared for me!”

  “Are you finished talking?” he asked.

  “At the moment.”

  “Good. I expect you to obey me. The fewer people who know you are here, the better. I don’t want anyone to lure you out into the open. You are safe inside this cabin, but out there, anyone can take a shot at you. Do you hear me?” he demanded, giving her hot seat another firm spank.

  “Ouch! Yes, darling. I do hear you. I understand.”

  “Good, now you can march back to that stool and we’ll take care of that little temper tantrum you had when you slapped my hand with that spoon.”

  “Oh, Craig! Please don’t! I’m so sorry!”

  “I know you are. This spanking is going to remind you to think before you act. Now move it and bend over. The longer you take to get into position, and the more you argue with me, it all increases the spanking you’re going to get.” He almost laughed at the horrified expression on her pretty face. It was so obvious that her parents didn’t use corporal punishment when she was little.

  Elizabeth was nearly in tears again! Yes, she was forever saying ‘sorry’ for things she did or said while she was angry, but she didn’t want another spanking with that horrid spoon! She was shaking as she bent over and turned up her bottom for more punishment.

  “It is good to see you can obey when it behooves you to do so,” Craig said. “How many spanks do you think you deserve for smacking me with this spoon?” he asked her.

  “One! I only hit you once!”

  “I don’t think that is realistic, Lizzy.”

  “Two?” she whispered.

  “Get serious.”

  “What number are you thinking? You should just tell me because nothing I say is going to please you!”

  “I think you need several spanks for the actual strike, a few more for letting your temper have free rein, several for disrespect. I would think that something between thirty and fifty would be appropriate. Since this has happened before, we’ll go with fifty.”

  “No! I can’t handle another fifty!” she insisted. “I just can’t!”

  “Count them, Elizabeth. I want you to be aware of what the temper tantrum with the spoon has cost your fanny.” He raised the spoon and said, “You start, and when you say the number, I will give you the spank.”

  “What if I can’t do it?”

  “Then the spanks won’t count until you do, and you will get very, very sore in no time.” He waited, and when she didn’t say ‘one’, he tapped her with the spoon. “Start counting.”

  Elizabeth closed her eyes. “One.” The spank that followed hurt like crazy! Craig was ready, and acted immediately. “Two.” Again, he spanked her. “Three!” She sobbed when he gave her the third spank. “I can’t do this, Craig. Please don’t ask me. I’m afraid of pain!”

  “Keep counting, Elizabeth. The counting acts as part of your punishment; if you don’t do it, the spanking doubles, and I’ll spank that much harder.”

  She could tell by the firmness in his tone that he was serious. “Four.” It went on until she was slumped over the stool and crying so hard she couldn’t continue.

  “I’ll help you with the rest,” Craig said, and the remainder of the spanking passed quickly. He knew that Elizabeth was going to hurt for a while, but he wasn’t going to let her take a pill that would numb her to the spanking. She earned the consequences, and she was going to accept them, and live with them until they faded away naturally. Her butt was a deep red, but there wouldn’t be any bruises. He didn’t spank hard; he didn’t need to. Emotionally, Lizzy felt she’d been put through the ringer! He helped her up, and then he held her close, assuring her that she was loved and that he was proud of her for accepting the spanking as well as she did.

  Elizabeth could feel herself shaking, but Craig’s strong arms held her and offered comfort. He told her that she was loved… and safe… and that he would protect her. His hand gently caressed her back, soothing her. Eventually, she calmed down.

  “I’m embarrassed. I acted like a big baby,” she whispered.

  “I don’t like to be so firm with you, but it was long past time for a lesson, sweetheart. And, as it is, I wasn’t as firm as I should have been… I didn’t say one word about your fighting with Mrs. Huffy again.”

  “She started it, Craig, and I’m afraid she sets off my temper like no one else in the whole world. I promise I will work on that, too. Forgive me?”

  “You are forgiven, and unless it happens again, we are finished discussing it. Now, let it go. You’ve been punished, and forgiven, and we move forward.”

  “My butt is still sore,” she announced.

  “As it should be,” Craig said firmly. He led her over to the sofa where he sat down, and then pulled her down to sit beside him.

  “Ow!” she cried out as her bottom made contact with the sofa cushion.

  “Sitting is a prolonged consequence. Curl up against me and rest. You’ll soon get numb to the pain,” he promised, keeping her right beside him.

  “What sort of plan did you and the captain come up with?” she asked.

  * * *

  “Hello!” Catherine Huffy called to the two men standing in front of Elizabeth Matthews’ front door. “She isn’t home right now.”

  “Hello, ma’am. Could you tell us where we might find Miss Matthews?”

  Catherine suddenly decided she didn’t like the man. His eyes were black and they looked right through a person. The other man had an arrogant expression on his face. They just weren’t the type of men Elizabeth would know. “No, I can’t.”

  “Can’t or won’t?” the second man asked, stepping closer to Catherine.

  “Listen you, Elizabeth Matthews is a good girl, and you’d best stop harassing her!”

  “Why, we aren’t harassing her, ma’am. We have an urgent matter to discuss with her.” He purposely lowered his voice to say, “She has inherited a large sum of money from one of her former patients, and his attorney hired us to find her and tell her the news. We are to either take her to his office, or give her his card so she can call and set up an appointment at her convenience.”

  “Do I look stupid to you?” Catherine demanded, hands on her hips. “An attorney is going to send a letter; he wouldn’t send two men to frighten the girl!”

  “Okay, ma’am, I’ve tried to be nice. Unless you want me to start slapping you around, you’re going to tell me where to find Elizabeth Matthews.”

  “You just try putting your paws on me and I’ll scream the neighborhood down!” she told him. “Now get out of here and don’t come back.”

  “Lady, are you crazy?” the second man asked. He took out a knife and flicked it open.

  Catherine shocked him when she raised her loppers and snapped them at him. “Go, now!”

  The police car pulled up at that moment and the officers trained their guns on the two men. “Drop your weapons,” the youngest officer said firmly. “Ma’am, go inside your house and I’ll interview you in a few moments.”

  “Yes, of course,” Catherine said, doing as
he said. “See?” she called over her shoulder to the two men. “I knew you were up to no good!”

  “Ma’am, now!” the second officer said more forcefully, and Catherine moved.

  Another police car arrived and soon the two men were taken into custody.

  * * *

  “Catherine, what is going on?” Hubert asked.

  “Two men just threatened me, Hubert Eugene, but I gave it right back!” she announced. “The officers will be coming over here soon.”

  “What officers?” he asked.

  “The ones arresting those men! Oh… They’re coming already. The second car must be transporting those two men.” The doorbell rang, and she opened the door and invited the officers inside. “I’m Catherine Huffy and this is my husband, Hubert Eugene.”

  “Mrs. Huffy, “I’m Officer Dunson, and this is Officer Anders. Could you tell us what transpired next door?”

  “Of course I can tell you. I was planning to call you and report those two because I felt they meant harm to Elizabeth Matthews. She might be a pain to have for a neighbor, but I certainly wouldn’t permit anyone to hurt her!”

  “Catherine, the officer wants to know what happened, not how you feel about Miss Matthews,” Hubert interrupted her to say.

  “Oh, of course. Well, like I said, I was minding my own business, trimming things in our yard, and wondering if I could trim down that fire bush of hers when I spotted those two men knocking on her door. I called out to tell them she wasn’t home, and they asked me where she was. Well, let me tell you, I took one good look at their faces and I knew they were up to no good! I told them no, and then the first one… the man with the black eyes… told me an outrageous lie about Miss Matthews inheriting a bunch of money, and they were hired to find her and bring her to the attorney handling the case. I told them I am not stupid, and I refused. Then they threatened me. The one said he was going to start slapping me and knocking me around; the other one took out his knife and threatened me, so I clicked my loppers at him. You arrived then, or I would have chopped his fingers off one by one!” she insisted.

  “Who were those two men, Officers?” Hubert asked, positive he was going to give his wife another sound spanking!

  “Stan Dann and Mercury Morre; they work for the McMaken family. Ma’am, I must insist you stay away from next door. Right now it’s not safe for you to be outside, even in your own yard, and if someone comes to your door that you don’t know, don’t answer the door.”

  “Do you think Catherine is in danger now?” Hubert demanded with a worried frown.

  “If she was my wife, I’d pack her up and get her out of town,” Officer Dunson said solemnly. “The McMaken family is after Miss Matthews, and you don’t want to get caught in the middle.”

  “Go and start packing one suitcase, Catherine. Be quick about it. Officers, thank you for the warning.”

  “You’re welcome, sir.”

  “Catherine,” he called once he made sure the doors were locked. “We are leaving in five minutes. Be quick about it. If you forget something, we’ll replace it.”

  “Where are we going, Hubert Eugene?”

  “Amish Country. You’ve been wanting a new quilt for our bedroom; this is the perfect opportunity to go shopping.” He was finished packing before she was, and he loaded their bags in the car while she threw away the perishables in their refrigerator. Hubert took out the trash, and then they locked up and left.

  “I can’t believe we are being so spontaneous, Hubert Eugene!” Catherine said excitedly.

  “I can’t believe my wife threatened two members of the mob with her loppers!” he growled.

  “Well, I don’t let anyone threaten me, Hubert Eugene. But, if we get to take a vacation, it was worth it.”

  “You won’t think so when we stop for the night, Mrs. Huffy. I’m going to spank you for risking your life like that!”

  “Oh, I wasn’t a bit afraid!”

  “You should have been!” He kept looking in his rear view mirror, and seemed pleased that he didn’t spot anyone following them. To his surprise, his Catherine used the mirror on her visor to look behind them, too!

  “There’s no one following us, Hubert Eugene.”

  “That’s because we left so quickly they didn’t have a chance to put a tail on us.”

  “Well, this is one time I won’t fuss with you for being so particular and making sure the gas doesn’t get below three-fourths of a tank. You had the car all gassed up, serviced, and ready to go. Very smart of you, Hubert Eugene.”

  “I was taught that a person should be ready for any sort of emergency, and we were out of the house and on the road very quickly. That may have saved our lives, wife.”

  “But, it was me they were mad at, honey!” she reminded him.

  “Do you think I would stand by and let them harm you, sweetie? I’d die protecting you,” he told her, and she reached for his hand and held it in hers.

  “That is so sweet, Hubert Eugene.”

  * * *

  “Stan and Mercury blew it, Boss. They’re in jail for threatening the neighbor woman.”

  “Those fools! Can’t they do anything right? We have to find that Matthews broad. Our whole operation is going to go down in flames if we don’t deal with Gregory and make an example of him.”

  “Boss, maybe she don’t know nothing? You said yourself that she was writing stuff and typing stuff on your chart. She didn’t pay no attention to you.”

  “I can’t take that chance, Joey. Find her.”

  Chapter Eight

  “I tell you, Boss, she knows where that Matthews woman is hiding.”

  “Follow her when she leaves her house, and then get the truth out of her.”

  “It’ll be a pleasure. The bitch threatened me with those lawn things she was using.”

  “Just get the truth, and don’t let anyone see you.”

  Mercury left and drove to the neighborhood where the crazy woman lived. There were no lights on in her house, and when it got really dark, he slipped out of his car and looked in the garage window. She was gone! Mercury cursed and drove back to the Boss’s place. Lon wasn’t known for his patience, and his best chance to find that wretched nurse took off before he got to her!

  “What did you learn, Mercury?” Lon asked, taking a bite of his lobster.

  “They’re gone, Lon. They skipped town.”

  “You let the woman next door outsmart you?” Lon McMaken glared at the man in disbelief, holding his fork in the air and dripping butter all over the tablecloth.

  “The cops prob’ly warned her to get lost. Maybe someone the Matthews broad works with will know?”

  “I already thought of that and sent someone to check. They don’t know a thing. Our only hope is to find that bitch before she tips off the cops about Gregory.”

  * * *

  “What’s wrong, Lizzy?” Craig asked the too silent woman as he cuddled on the sofa with her.

  “I’m really worried about the people I know. What if McMaken starts bothering my friends?”

  “He already tried that; we were there keeping an eye out to make sure no one was in any danger. They just let the woman know that you were on vacation due to an accident you had, and no one knows where, because it all happened so fast they didn’t get to talk to you first.”

  “What if they attack David or—?”

  “We are watching him carefully, and his wife, too.”

  “What about Wally? Is he being watched, too?” She was worried about him. “I know he was a good police officer, but he is older now…”

  “Don’t let him hear you say that, Lizzy!” Craig said with a laugh. “Wally can still handle himself, and he knows how McMaken operates. If they send anyone around, he’ll feed them a line of bull a mile long. Our only weak link is if Randy talks, or tells his folks, and they talk. Even cretins like McMaken have relatives, and it’s possible word could leak. We need to stay alert, but at the same time, I’m confident that we are as safe as possible righ
t now.”

  “Then you spanked me for no reason at all!” she accused, pouting.

  “I spanked you because you put yourself at risk. I know you think you can judge people, Lizzy, but the mob hires all sorts of ‘nice’ people. The woman who asked about you is a nurse who works at the hospital. She is married to a lawyer who works for McMaken’s legal department.”

  Elizabeth was stunned. “I know who that is. She says her husband is a corporate attorney, but she’s never told us where he works. She is a mother, for goodness sake!”

  “They probably didn’t tell her why they wanted to know about you,” Craig said. “David and those closest to you were told what to answer if asked and they did well.”

  “I don’t want anyone hurt because of me.”

  “I know, sweetheart.”

  * * *

  “You lied, Hubert Eugene!” Catherine whispered in shocked disbelief as they parked in back of the hotel.

  “I did.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I feel that McMaken is looking for you. It’s my duty to protect you, and if lying will do the trick, then I’ll do it.”

  “I’ve never ever heard you lie! It’s very sexy,” she whispered, giving him a look he knew well after forty-some years of marriage.

  “You won’t be in that mood after I paddle your bare fanny, Catherine,” he growled at her, taking their suitcases out of the car and carrying them inside the hotel and down the hallway to their room with Catherine using the card key to let them inside the backdoor and then into their room.

  “I don’t think I deserve a paddling, Hubert Eugene!” she told him with an angry pout. They’d argued about this for hours while they drove. And, considering the fact that she didn’t often initiate making love, you would think he would be flattered!

  “I think you do. You threatened a mobster with your loppers, Catherine! What were you thinking?”

  “I was thinking that my knife was bigger than his!” she answered, throwing her purse on the bed.

  “Catherine, there were two of them!”

  “So? Did you expect me to turn and run from them? I have every right to defend myself, Hubert Eugene. If I gave them my back, they would have grabbed me. So, I stood my ground. It worked out just fine, too.”