A smile curled his lips. “Thank you, Gemma. You’re right. Most likely they will want to help out.”
She’d helped him. That felt good. Dan never liked when he disappeared into his own head, and she hated seeing it. Blank-faced Dan was scary, especially considering what he’d done the last time. It was mercy that he didn’t remember.
Gemma folded her arms to trace the scar on her bicep with a finger and walked to the other end of the tiny cell. Something needed to change, otherwise Dan was going to disappear into himself at the wrong moment. Someone could get seriously hurt, and not just her.
Or he could do it during a sermon and wind up saying something that made him sound crazy. She didn’t want him to lose his position. Being a pastor meant so much to him. He hadn’t asked for it; he’d just filled a need when it was evident that there was one.
Gemma glanced back at him. Hands on the bars, he hung his head. What was he asking God for? Dan’s “Papa” helped him. She’d seen the evidence enough to know that when he was done he’d be more peaceful. Happier, even. Gemma would still be jittery.
Did she want that peace?
**
Dan lifted his head. Mei didn’t bother to hide the fact she was watching him. Gemma moved behind him, and the bed creaked. But he didn’t turn.
“You have to admit, finding you both standing over a dead body was pretty suspicious.”
Dan figured that might be the closest thing to an apology Mei Ling would ever give anyone. At least without killing them afterwards. Maybe he was on the wrong track, but occasionally there was that look in her eyes, and he wondered who was underneath.
Mei said, “Your mom disappeared, didn’t she?”
Dan nodded. That was the public story, while the truth of what had gone on was far different.
She motioned to her computer screen with one finger. “The sheriff’s report from back then says he asked around, but no one had seen her leave. She was never seen again. Clothes gone. A suitcase she’d brought with her.”
Gemma said, “I never heard about the suitcase. I was nine at the time, and my mom used to work at the farm back then. Dan’s mom went missing one night, and everyone was really freaked out. I wasn’t allowed to play over there after that day.”
“No one looked for her, and after a couple of months the sheriff closed the case.” Mei paused. “Which makes me wonder where her body is. No point in searching for a dead woman.”
Dan flinched. “I actually don’t know the answer to that.”
“But you do know what happened.”
Gemma slammed the bars beside him. “John told you not to ask him anything! Can’t you see it’s been enough? He was eleven years old. Do you know many eleven-year-olds that have buried bodies?”
“Gemma.” Dan took her hand and led her away from the bars.
“I don’t like that woman. I don’t want her insinuating anything about you.”
“I’m good, Gemma.” So long as he didn’t let go of her, he figured he could keep his head.
“Are you sure?”
He nodded. Part of him wanted to tell her he was strong, or that he didn’t need her to defend him, but that would be a lie.
He wanted to be strong. He wanted to be a man who didn’t need anyone to defend him. But God had given him so much to take on that it forced Dan to admit he needed help. And why would that ever be bad? God was the one who held him up, who held him together. Had he not endured life with his father, Dan would never have known what it was like to be nothing… and to be given everything. He’d never have known the extent of God’s sufficiency in his life.
“I just want you to be good.”
“I know.” Dan touched her cheek. They were past the point where he needed to hide how he felt with her. Mei was watching, but Dan figured it would be out sooner or later that they’d been together tonight. Nothing was set between them, but they had time.
“So,” Mei said. “You guys are sleeping together.”
Gemma whirled around. “I told you we weren’t. That hasn’t changed, not that it’s any business of yours.”
When she turned back, Dan mouthed, Sleeping together? Gemma’s eyes widened, and he laughed. “Not that it wouldn’t be pleasant, I’m sure.”
Gemma chuckled. “Yeah, I’m not that type of girl. But thanks for offering.”
“I know you aren’t that type of girl.” He grinned. “Good thing I’m not that kind of pastor.”
“Yeah,” she grinned. “Good thing.” Then mouthed, Awkward. Dan smiled, and she couldn’t help but chuckle.
Mei said, “I’m confused. What are you two talking about?”
Dan said, “How about that coffee John mentioned?”
The door flung open. Olympia rushed in, and the bell above the door swung so hard it clanged and got stuck. “Is it true?” Her face was red, flushed. Sweat beaded down from her temples. She breathed hard, as though she’d run all the way from B Street. “Is it true my Antonia is dead?”
Gemma stepped away from him like he had a bad cold. All the amusement of the moment before evaporated like smoke. “Olympia.” Dan didn’t know what to say. A woman was dead. “I’m so sorry, but she’s gone.”
“The caller said it was you, but I didn’t believe them. Not Pastor Dan. He would never have killed my child.”
Gemma said, “We found her; that’s what happened.” She paused. “I’m sorry, too, Olympia. She was a beautiful girl who had so much to give the world.” She looked guilty almost, as though ashamed they’d shared that humor a moment ago.
The matron blinked. “Thank you, Gemma.”
Mei rounded her desk and waved toward the waiting area. “Let’s sit.” She looked as though she didn’t know what to say, either.
“Let me out.” Dan wanted to sit with Olympia. To pray with her.
Mei shot him a suspicious look.
“Just do it, Mei. He’s not going anywhere.” Gemma did the stand-off thing again, and it worked. Mei strode over and unlocked the cell door.
She pointed at Gemma. “You stay with him so I can watch both of you. No funny business.”
Gemma held up both hands. “Got it.”
Dan passed both of them and sat beside Olympia. “What about the others, do they know?”
She nodded, a tissue balled up in her hand. “I called them. They’re on their way.”
“That’s good.”
The door opened, and more people poured in. Six. Seven. Eight. Asking for the sheriff, and demanding to know what had happened. The room filled fast. Mei got on a chair and yelled for quiet, but no one listened.
Maria pushed through the crowd. “Mama, Antonia is dead?”
Dan nodded so Olympia wouldn’t have to answer.
“What happened?” She glanced between them as people crowded around to hear the answer. “How did she die?”
Dan swallowed. “It was by the lake. We” —he shook his head— “Gemma and I found her by the lake, but it was too late. She was already gone.”
“Gone?” Olympia’s eyes darkened.
“She’d been shot.”
Maria gasped. “She was murdered?”
Matthias and Frannie pushed through the crowd. People moved so close they touched his knees. Dan had to stand. It was getting hard to breathe. He needed air so he could reassure them, answer questions, and try to point them to the peace of God. That passes understanding, thank You, Papa. I need that right now. He tried to breathe and managed to get some air in.
“Dan.” Olympia tugged on his sleeve.
“I’m sorry.” He looked around for Gemma. Where was she?
“People—” Mei’s yelling was drowned out by the talking. Shouting. Questions. Those who thought they knew what had happened, or who had done it.
Dan stood on his chair. Better air, and a vantage point. But he didn’t see her anywhere. “Gemma?”
Mei glanced around. “Where is she?”
He shook his head. “I don’t see her.”
Maria yelled
across the crowd. “Maybe she’s been murdered, too!”
Chapter 9
Terrence pushed her farther down the alley and shoved her against the wall. “Finally. I never thought I’d get the opportunity to get you away from all of them.”
Brick bit into Gemma’s shoulders above her dress. “Terrence—”
“No, shh. You don’t have to thank me, Gemma. I’m glad I could get you away from that crazy pastor.”
“Dan?” Gemma had been hauled out of the back door of the sheriff’s office and dragged halfway through town in the middle of the night because Terrence thought he needed to rescue her from Dan?
She hadn’t even seen him until he grabbed her. All those people in the sheriff’s office, Antonia’s mom and sisters crying, and Mei yelling at them all to calm down. It was chaos, and she’d only wanted to escape. But not like this. The escape she’d wanted was into Dan’s arms for a hug. He’d hide her from the world when she needed to retreat. They’d given that favor to each other so many times over the years. But now he had someone else to help, as their pastor. Their friend.
There wasn’t anything Gemma could add that would make Olympia or Maria feel better. Antonia was gone. All that blood made her want to gag and lose the wedding cake on the ground.
Terrence stood close but not touching her. “I heard he killed Antonia. You’re probably going to be next.” He sniffed. The man didn’t stand still for more than half a second. He was constantly in motion, even now that they’d stopped. “I had to get you out of there.”
“And you did.” She kept her voice as soft as she could. He’d grab her if she tried to run, just like he’d done in the library. “Now I’m safe, thanks to you, Terrence.”
“Right.” His head jerked in a nod, but she could hardly see his face in the dark. Was it midnight yet, or had that hour come and long-gone already? “Thanks to me, getting you out of there.”
She was going to have to talk if she wanted out of this. Appeal to the hero-persona he seemed to think he had. “Maybe you could walk me home?”
His body jerked like she’d slapped him. He turned his head to her, his chest still facing the end of the alley. “No. We should wait where it’s safe for a while.”
Terrence pulled a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from his pocket, shook one out, and lit it. He touched her bare shoulder with his free hand and blew smoke to the side. “I’m so glad I could help you get away from that psycho. He’s just as bad as the last ‘father’ Sanctuary had, thinking he’s so righteous and then murdering people while no one in town suspects. Antonia was probably just one in a string of people.”
Gemma blinked. No one else was missing, so who else exactly did he think Dan had killed? She didn’t even know for sure if Terrence wasn’t the one who’d killed Antonia. He very well might have, as she’d seen her hanging around the mayor before, the way Terrence did sometimes. She’d thought the mayor brushed off his attempts to be with the “in” crowd. If he’d killed Antonia it could have been to win their favor.
“Then there’s Bolton,” Terrence went on. “Forget the wheelchair, that guy has it in for me. Every time I see him he gives me this look, like he’d like nothing more than to stick it to me.”
Seriously? That was all Terrence’s fault. He’d been hitting on Nadia Marie—back in his “Andy” phase—like a crazed stalker. “You hit him over the back with a chair, Terrence. Now he’s almost paralyzed.”
“Like I was supposed to know he had this pre-existing condition!”
Right. Because Bolton hadn’t bought insurance from Terrence over the phone. The company didn’t cold call people in the town, only people in other states. Not a very interesting job, or so she’d heard from a couple of her book club ladies.
Terrence waved his hand holding the cigarette around so frantically she flinched, then held still as he decided it was time to touch her. The lit end glowed yellow in the dark as he took another drag. Was he turning his “crazed stalker” toward her now? That was the last thing Gemma wanted from him. Top of the list being that he’d leave her alone.
“Maybe you could back up a little, Terrence. Give me some space.” She waved a hand between them. “I can’t really breathe.”
“It’s okay, Gemma.” He moved closer. “There’s no reason to be scared when I’m keeping you safe.”
“I do need to get home, though. It’s really late. You could walk me if you want.”
“I’m not done talking with you.” The tone of his voice deepened with frustration. “You’re not leaving me, Gemma.”
“What are we waiting here for?”
Cripes, how did she get into these situations? And where was Dan? He needed to walk up, all peaceful and pastorish, and tell Terrence to back off like he had in the library. Okay, God. You could tell him where I am. Maybe it didn’t work like that, but she knew they talked to each other. I could use some help before this gets more out of hand than it already is.
“Gemma.” His fingers ran down her face, her neck, her shoulder.
Ice flooded her veins, and she couldn’t move. Dan retreated into his head when he couldn’t cope with what was happening around him, and she knew why because she’d done the same thing. But only once. And she absolutely did not want to think about that. It wasn’t going to help her right now.
He grabbed her hand, twisted it, and pinned it against the wall.
“Terr—” He touched the lit end of the cigarette to the inside of her arm. Gemma cried out.
Terrence shifted, and the soft flesh of his other arm pressed against her mouth. Her eyes met his, so she shut them. Shut him out.
She needed Dan. Why wasn’t he here? For once she wished it was her that he was helping. She needed him right now. Papa. The first image her brain conjured was not the way she wanted to think about him.
Someone was crying.
Gemma lowered the book and reached out for the lantern switch. If someone knew where her secret camping spot was she’d need to find a new one. Tomorrow, anyway. She was just getting to the good part of this book.
There it was again, crying. The sound hitched, like the person was running.
Gemma snapped off the lantern, bathing the inside of her tent in darkness. She knew where everything was. Her sleeping bag, pillow, and bear. The secret stash of candy bars she’d hidden from her mom.
Terrence pressed the cigarette against her skin again. Gemma’s body tightened, and a tear rolled down her face. “He said when this is over, I can have you.”
A thump. The person cried out again, like they’d fallen. Who would be out in the woods in the middle of the night on Halloween besides her?
And besides her guardian angel. Gemma didn’t know who put the supplies in her tent sometimes, or who had tied up the canopy that protected it from snow.
She crawled to the door and raised the zipper. Every snick of the teeth echoed through the woods like a tree falling.
In front of the door was a wide fern tree. Gemma peered under the lowest branches and then crawled on her belly to the edge, where she could see the path. The crying was almost right on top of her. The edge of a white sneaker flashed in the moonlight. She knew those shoes.
“Dan.”
He cried out, tripped, and fell. Gemma ran out, still in a crouch and tumbled onto the dirt path beside him.
“Dan.”
He didn’t stop crying. His eyes were swollen, his face wet. Gemma touched his cheek. Had his dad hurt him again? She hated when his old man did that. She didn’t even have a dad, just a mom, but she knew fathers weren’t supposed to hurt their kids.
When she’d asked her mom about Dan’s dad, Janice told her to hush about it and never ask questions about that man again. Gemma wasn’t supposed to let Dan’s dad even know she existed. She didn’t understand that part, since Janice worked on the farm, but she’d told her mom “okay” anyway. Janice had seemed so desperate.
“Dan?”
His hands were a dark color, his shirt wet with something. What was
that? It was sticky. “You’re bleeding.”
He shook his head, frantic. “Not me.”
“Get back here, boy!” His father’s voice boomed through the trees.
Dan cried.
“Shhh.” She pressed her hand over his mouth. She could taste his skin, cutting off all the sound she made. No one could hear her. The old man would find them if he made too much noise. Sometimes he scared her until she thought she might pee a little. Of course he was going to know who she was. What was her mom thinking?
He yelled again. “Daniel!”
Still on the ground, Dan flinched. Gemma tugged on his arm. “Come with me and hide.”
Terrence did it again. The sting was like being stuck with a knife. Gemma’s cries were muffled against his doughy arm. She pushed against him, wrestled while the pain coursed from her arm to her fingers and up to her shoulder. She could hardly breathe.
“It’s coming,” he whispered in her ear. “No one can stop it.”
Dan shook his head, the whites of his eyes huge in the moonlight.
“Come on,” she said in as loud a whisper as she could. “Now!” She pulled, and he crawled. He’d just turned eleven, so he was too heavy for her or she’d have dragged him in there. When they entered the tent, he gasped. Crawled toward where her pillow was.
“Shh.” She put her finger to her lips even though he couldn’t see her. “I’ll turn on the lamp in a minute.” Gemma rummaged and found the tissues she had left over from after she read Call of the Wild. She found his arm in the dark, then his hand and pressed it in there.
“Daniel, you get back here boy!”
Gemma reached out again. She found his hand and squeezed. Didn’t let go. “We’re safe in here.”
They sat together in the still and the dark well past when his father’s footsteps moved away and the yelling stopped.
Gemma found the switch and turned the lantern on. The stain on the front of his shirt was dark red, on his hands. His fingers. “What happened?”
Dan looked up at her, his face half-swollen. His eyes so puffy he could probably barely see. “I killed her.”
Sanctuary Forever WITSEC Town Series Book 5 Page 10
