Alan straightened up and turned. Just then the boar with the wound charged, followed by the other boar. Dan’s eyes were filled with dirt, sweat, and blood but he still managed to see the charge coming.
The two razorbacks crashed into Alan’s back with a thunderous thump. All the air went out of Alan as the razorbacks thrashed him around like a rag doll.
Dan felt around for the gun while the hogs were grunting and slobbering, with no inclination of deserting their prey.
Dan finally had the gun in hand. He used the billy club to push himself into a sitting position. Dan quickly took aim and fired off one round. It hit the one boar in the right eye. The boar went down with a high-pitched squeal. The other boar looked up. All Dan could focus on was the tusk as the boar looked him straight in the eye and then quickly charged. Dan fired off a shot but the bullet struck the razorback in its side. The boar did not even slow down, just lowering his head and came straight on at Dan.
Dan did not have time for another shot. He twisted to the side to avoid the charge and yelled out in pain as the boar sideswiped him. Dan screamed as he was tossed two feet into the air. Quickly he managed to sit up and grip the gun with both hands. The razorback turned. It stopped for a moment before lowering its head again, and charged. When the boar came within four feet, Dan let the last two rounds go. The razorback struck Dan in the chest and then there was only darkness.
* * *
Dan finally regained consciousness and heard Alan moaning in pain. He struggled to shove the razorback off his chest and then crawled over to Alan.
Alan was covered in blood. His breathing was ragged and shallow. Dan twisted himself into a sitting position and slid himself over to Alan.
“Alan, Alan, you there?”
Alan’s eyelids flickered a moment. “I’m not going any place,” he whispered.
“I’ll get you out of here.”
Alan tried to laugh as he looked up at the condition Dan was in.
“I wouldn’t try it if I were you. I think my back is broken.” He hesitated while catching his breath. “Among other things.” He struggled a moment and then coughed up blood. “I didn’t do all those things. I may have stood by and done nothing. But it wasn’t me,” Alan stopped and breathed a deep ragged breath.
“What do you know about Kay’s accident?”
“I can’t,” Alan coughed while shaking his head.
“If you know something you have to tell me.”
“You wouldn’t understand.”
“Why did you run?” Dan asked.
“I hate what I’ve become. And I’m not taking the fall.”
“It’s too late for that. Too late,” Dan said.
“Wasn’t me, honestly.”
Dan shook his head. “All this, and it wasn’t you? And now you’re telling me Kay was murdered too. Why?”
Alan tried to laugh. “I’m so sorry.” Alan coughed up more blood. “You were right about Jason. But it was his fault. Doing the things he did. Wasn’t right. He deserved what he got.”
“He didn’t deserve to die,” Dan snapped. “Kay didn’t deserve to die either.”
Alan started to cry. The pain was too much to endure. All these years he lived with the guilt and now it was all coming out into the open.
Dan turned to the razorback lying a few feet away and then glanced down at Alan.
“What bothers me is you did nothing all these years.”
“Like anyone would have believed me.”
“A jury will have a field day with you.”
“The way I feel, there won’t be a jury. I just wanted you to know.”
Dan glanced around for something to use as a cane. He slid over to the fallen tree and broke off a branch.
“I’ll get you out of here.”
Alan coughed again. “Too late. Time you get to town, too late.”
“Don’t tell me that, damn it.”
Alan did not answer as Dan struggled to get up and then, after getting his bearings he managed to hobble off.
CHAPTER 19
Dan limped out of the woods. In the distance, a caravan of cars raced toward the clearing. Dan collapsed to his knees. The cars came to a screeching halt near where Dan fell. Mac got out of the squad and ran up to Dan.
“You don’t look so good,” Mac said.
“Kelly, where’s Kelly?” Dan asked while trying to get up.
“She’s okay. On the way to the hospital by now, I expect.”
Dan looked up at Mac. “Alan’s in there,” Dan whispered as he turned to the tall pines and then everything went dark.
* * *
Dan was in and out of consciousness. He tried to wake a few times but then stopped trying and let the darkness consume him.
He saw Kay in happy times, laughing while playing with Kelly as an infant. He heard arguing but could not make out the words. Slowly the dreams fade and the hazy hue of the room appeared.
Martha Witherspoon was hovering over his bed like a vulture devouring its prey. She smelt like stale body odor. All Dan wanted was to be left alone.
“Nurse,” Martha screeched.
Dan looked up. “It’s cold,” he whispered.
“Do you want anything?” Martha asked, not hearing what Dan had said.
“What did he say?” The nurse asked turning to Dan.
“Cold. It’s cold in here,” he whispered.
“Get the doctor. He wants the doctor,” Martha yelled out orders.
The nurse turned to her and then Dan, but Dan just shut his eyes and went back into his self-imposed darkness.
* * *
Dan opened his eyes again. The blinds were closed. Nancy had his hand in hers. He felt the warmth it offered and managed a feeble grin. Nancy turned to Dan when she felt his fingers flex. She had a smile on her face as he shut his eyes again.
* * *
Dr. Owens walked into the hospital room. He strolled over to the window and opened the blinds, sending sunbeams streaking across the bed. Dan opened his eyes.
“Kelly?” Dan asked.
The doctor leaned over Dan. “Your daughter is fine. She has a slight concussion. She’ll be in to see you in a little while, if you’re up to it?”
“I’m up to it,” Dan whispered weakly.
Dan was not taking anyone’s word about Kelly. He had to see her for himself that his daughter was okay.
“You’re lucky to be alive,” the doctor added, and then hesitated. “But I wouldn’t give two nickels for what you’re about to face.”
“What?”
“You don’t know, do you?”
The doctor ran his hand over Dan’s heavily bandaged ribs. He pressed down. “Does that hurt?” he asked.
“No, not really.” Dan whispered.
“It will. Four ribs cracked, two of them pretty bad. But you’ll live,” he replied.
“What day is it?” Dan whispered.
“Monday. I’m Dr. Owens. If you need a nurse just push the button. But I’m sure one of your female admirers would be more than happy to get you anything you needed.”
The doctor turned abruptly and walked out. Kelly walked in. She stood looking down at her father. Her forehead was bandaged.
“I didn’t realize police work was so exciting.”
“Not always.”
Dan pressed the control to move the bed into a sitting position. “How’s Alan?” he finally managed to ask.
Kelly shook her head as sadness came over her face. “Took them a while to find him.”
“Figured as much.”
“He was dead when they got to him.”
“I expect there’s been a lot of talk around town.”
“That’s one way to put it. Senator Maxwell has been holding press conferences,” she said, and then paused. “He wants your head on a platter.”
“I’ll bet he does.”
“Why was Mr. Maxwell talking about Mom?”
“I think it had something to do with a story she was working on before the accident.”