To my relief, Chuck said, “What about Lucinda Davenport? When last I heard, she was alive and well.”
Raymond waved dismissively. “My aunt’s nuttier than a fruit cake. She won’t care what I decide to do with the property.”
“How do you know?” I asked.
My uncle shrugged. “I’ll ask her tomorrow.”
Would Lucinda stand up to him? I felt my advantage slipping away. “But I don’t want you to build condos on the playing fields!”
My uncle shot me a puzzled look. “Why, Simon? As my heir, you’ll benefit from the new condos. It will bring new life and new money into the community.”
“But I want the kids to have a place to play ball.” I hated that I sounded like a whining kid.
Judge Potter shook his head. “Simon, I regret to have to be the one to tell you, but as a minor, you’ve no say in this decision.”
“I don’t?”
Chuck intervened. “May I see the deed? As Simon’s lawyer, I’d like to examine the document.”
“Of course,” Paul Garrison said. He slid one of the batches of stapled pages over to Chuck.
I watched Raymond converse with the judge in whispers. His face was the color of cherry soda. Though the air conditioning blasted away, he kept on mopping perspiration from his forehead with his handkerchief. I suddenly smelled rotting vegetables and wondered if my uncle was about to have a heart attack.
Regardless of his physical condition, seeing Raymond totally at ease in Judge Potter’s company made me uneasy. I turned to Chuck, who was frowning as he tossed the deed onto the table.
“I’m sorry, Simon. According to this deed, only Davenports over the age of majority can determine what becomes of the property, though you and every other Davenport will receive a percentage of the money from the sale or development of said property—an unusual set of conditions.”
“All legal and binding,” Paul Garrison pointed out unnecessarily. He smiled at me. “How I interpret it, you’ll receive one-third of the profits of the condominiums. A nice hefty sum of money to start you on your way.”
And so I’d lost. And what did I expect? I was only a kid. I had no way of bucking my uncle when it came to business. I doubted that Great-Aunt Lucinda could, either.
Judge Potter turned to me. “I think we’d better settle the matter of guardianship today.”
“Unless Simon would like to begin proceedings to declare himself an emancipated minor,” Chuck said.
The judge’s double chin dropped onto his chest. “That’s a very radical suggestion, Mr. Bayard. I suppose you’ve learned about it in law school and would like the chance to try it in court.” He pursed his lips. “But this is a real person before us, a boy who’s recently lost his entire family and has had the good fortune to be rescued by a blood relative he hardly knew. Adjustments take time.”
He turned to me. “Does your uncle Raymond beat you?’
I shook his head.
“Abuse you in any way?”
I paused, then shook my head again. I wasn’t about to fill the judge in on Raymond’s habit of killing young girls for their life force or tell him about the infusions. He’d think I was nuts and send me off for a battery of psychological tests.
Chuck bent toward me to whisper in my ear. “If your uncle’s mistreating you in any way I can have the court look into it. You’ll get a temporary court-appointed guardian.”
“Someone I know?” I asked.
“That would be best,” Chuck said.
Lucinda! I quickly scotched that idea. I didn’t want to think how Raymond would retaliate if he discovered she was helping me.
“Simon, I wish you’d reconsider and let me take care of you,” Uncle Raymond said.
Take care of me! That would be a laugh if it weren’t so horrible. I remembered Lucinda telling me I had to stay and battle my uncle. That I was strong enough to win. And if I kept my eyes and ears open, I was bound to learn more about my uncle’s powers as well as his weaknesses.
Judge Potter leaned toward me. In a kind voice, he said, “We try to keep minors with blood relatives whenever possible. Unless you tell us something specific that you object to regarding your uncle, any Family Court judge would move to have you live with your uncle Raymond and aunt Mary.”
I cleared my throat. “All right, but I don’t want to be adopted.” I forced myself to meet my uncle’s eyes. “If that’s okay with you, Uncle Raymond?”
My uncle smiled. Gloated, was more accurate. “I’d be delighted, Simon, and I’ll continue to hope that you’ll change your mind about the adoption. It would make your aunt Mary a very happy woman.”
I couldn’t bear to look at him a moment longer. “Mr. Garrison. Is there anything else that needs to be done?”
“No, I believe we’ve covered everything your uncle wanted to present to you.”
I turned to Chuck. “Can we leave?”
“Sure.” Chuck made a point of shaking hands with the three older men, but he was glum as the elevator descended to the ground floor.
“Sorry I wasn’t more help to you, Simon. I didn’t expect Judge Potter to be here. He’s one powerful man.”
I fought back tears. “My uncle knows everyone important and gets what he wants. What’s the point of fighting him?”
Chuck didn’t answer until we got into his car. “Your uncle’s determined to go ahead with the condos, regardless of how many people sign the petition. He thinks he can handle your great-aunt Lucinda. But if she’s for leaving the playing fields as is, we can fight it.”
I shrugged. “She’s against the project, but what does that matter? Uncle Raymond has everyone in his pocket.”
“If you dislike him that much, why didn’t you agree to go the minor emancipation route?” Chuck asked. “Judge Potter’s powerful, but the court is obligated to hear your side of the story. And I get the feeling there’s plenty you haven’t spilled.”
I turned away from his shrewd gaze. “It’s complicated.”
Chuck switched on the ignition. “I understand. He’s still a relative.”
A homicidal relative I have to keep under surveillance to know what he’s planning. “I guess.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
MY PHONE RANG as I was walking into the house.
“Simon, it’s me—Lucy.”
“Lucy!” I felt like tossing the phone in the air and shouting with joy until reality sank in. “You shouldn’t have called me. Aunt Grace will be furious if she finds out.”
“I don’t care! She went to the store so we can talk. I memorized your number from the last time you called.”
My pulse thumped against my temples. “She left you alone?”
“I stay alone lots of times. I know not to let anyone inside.”
I drew a breath. “Where are you?”
“Aunt Grace says you’re only a half hour’s drive from us, but she won’t take me to see you.”
“She’s right, Luce. It’s dangerous here.”
“Then you come and stay with us. I want to see you, Simon.” Lucy began to whimper. “I’m forgetting how you look.”
I forced a laugh. “I look the same. But I bet you’ve grown an inch.”
“Two inches. Aunt Grace bought airplane tickets to England. She said we have to move there.” Now Lucy was bawling. “I don’t want to go away. I want you to come get me, Simon. And take me to live with you.”
“I can’t do that, Luce.”
“Then come visit me. We’re in Parrish.”
“Parrish! That’s not far from here.”
“It’s our third move. Aunt Grace took a job in an office. She says we need the money.”
“And what do you do all day?”
“I go to day camp. Then I come home and stay in this hot, old apartment, and do nothing until Aunt Grace comes home from work. I hate it!”
“Lucy, please don’t cry.”
“I won’t stay here another minute! If you don’t come see me, I’ll run away. And you’ll
never find me again!”
I knew she was exaggerating, but the thought of losing Lucy now blew me away. “I’ll visit you, Lucy.”
“Great, Simon! Come tomorrow while Aunt Grace is at work. I’ll pretend I’m too sick to go to camp. She’ll let me stay home alone.”
A flash of terror ripped through me, chilling my bones. What was I thinking? Someone might follow me and see Lucy and me together. I had no idea how many spies Raymond had working for him.
“Lucy, we have to be careful.”
“I know. We’ve moved twice because Aunt Grace was sure someone saw us. Who’s after us, Simon? Aunt Grace won’t say.”
“I’m not sure,” I lied, “but I’ll make certain I’m not followed when I come to Parrish.”
“There’s a little park a few blocks from our apartment. We could meet there.”
“Do you know the address?”
“Of course,” she said, and rattled it off.
“I’ll check it out on Google, and look up the bus schedule.”
“Okay. Meet me in the park at twelve noon tomorrow.”
Tomorrow? It was so soon. But why not? I’d beg off going to camp after Raymond left for work, then make up some excuse to Aunt Mary. Even if they found out I’d left Buckley, I’d be back before they could figure out where I’d been. Tomorrow was the best possible day.
“All right, Lucy. We’ll meet tomorrow in the park near your apartment.”
“In front of the statue of the three children. Oh, I almost forgot. My name’s Emma now. Even Aunt Grace calls me Emma. Maybe you should, too.”
***
After dinner, I waited until my uncle left the house before going online to check the bus schedule to Parrish. One left Buckley at ten thirty. There was a return bus at three thirty. Perfect. I’d get to spend a few hours with Lucy and be back in Buckley by the end of my camp day. I went downstairs to set my plan in motion.
Aunt Mary sat knitting on the den sofa. Actually, not knitting, I noticed as I entered the darkened room. Her hands remained still on whatever she’d been knitting and her eyes were cast down. A silly sitcom was playing softly on the huge TV.
“Aunt Mary?” I stepped closer.
She looked up. Her eyes were red. She’d been crying.
“Are you all right?”
She tried to smile, but it turned into an awful grimace. “Don’t worry about me, Simon.”
I put my hand on her arm. It felt soft and saggy, like an old cushion. “Can I do anything for you, Aunt Mary?”
She looked into my eyes. Her sadness felt as deep as a bottomless lake. I had to close my mind or her unhappiness would swallow me up. “You’re a kind boy, Simon. I wish I’d been a better aunt to you. And now it’s too late.”
Panic gripped me in a stranglehold. “What do you mean? Are you sick?”
“Sick of myself.” She gave a little laugh. “I’ve made a terrible mess of my life.”
She was referring to her life with Raymond, but there was nothing I could say. I remembered why I’d come to talk to her. Time to move ahead with my plan.
“Actually, I’m not feeling that great,” I said. “I think I’ll read a bit and get to sleep early.”
“Can I get you anything?” she asked. “Make you a cup of tea?”
“No thanks. I took a few aspirin. I think I’m just exhausted.”
“A good night’s sleep with do you wonders.” She patted my hand. “It’s been wonderful having you with us, Simon. You’re the closest I’ve had to a son.”
I bent to kiss her cheek and realized I’d grown fond of Aunt Mary. And she was fond of me. I walked slowly up the stairs, going over our conversation in my mind. It left me hopeful that she’d come over to my side.
I told myself not to get too excited. Even if Aunt Mary no longer approved of my uncle’s activities, she’d obeyed him for many years. For all her good intentions, she was still under his control. I couldn’t count on her help.
Craig wasn’t home when I called, so I left a message on his voice mail saying tomorrow I wouldn’t be coming to camp. I stretched out on my bed and made a mental list of what I had to do the following morning before getting on the bus: withdraw money from the bank and buy Lucy a small gift. I practiced the exercises Lucinda had taught me, then allowed myself to think about meeting Lucy. I placed my desk chair under the door handle and went to sleep early.
I awoke at six, my latest dream vivid in my mind. My parents, Lucy, and I were on vacation in the mountains. We were carefree and happy. I brushed aside my tears and leaped out of bed. I had to look ahead, to the time when Lucy and I could be together, far away from Raymond’s evil influence.
***
At nine o’clock, I went into the laundry room where Aunt Mary was folding clothes and told her I was feeling better. “I think I’ll go to camp after all.”
Aunt Mary smiled. Her sadness had lifted and she was in better spirits. “Why don’t you stay home today? I bet you could use a day off.” She winked, surprising me. “It will be our little secret.”
“Well,” I began, suddenly feeling guilty about lying to her.
“Go on,” Aunt Mary urged. “Spend the day in town, if you like. Or at the movies. I won’t mention a word to Raymond.”
This would be easier than pretending I was going to camp. “All right, Aunt Mary. In that case, I’ll take off now. I should be home my usual time.”
I grabbed my knapsack and kissed her cheek as if I’d been doing it since the day I moved to Buckley.
At the bank, I set up a PIN and withdrew one hundred dollars. Then I went to the general store–pharmacy to buy Lucy a present. I couldn’t decide between a book and a pair of pretty barrettes, so I bought both. I left the store and checked my watch. It was ten to ten. I had just enough time to walk to the bus stop half a mile away and buy my round-trip ticket.
A car honked. I froze. One of my uncle’s spies was tailing me! The car honked again. I walked over to the curb where it was idling and peered through the window. Tasha Wells, the girl who had loaned me a pen at the library, sat in the driver’s seat.
“Morning, Simon.” She flashed me a smile as perfect as any smile in a toothpaste ad. “Where are you off to?”
“The bus station,” I said, “and I’m running late.”
“Hop in. I’ll drive you there.”
“You will?” As soon as the words left my mouth, I wished I could take them back. She’d just said she would drive me. “Gee, thanks.”
She started down the block before I’d closed the door. “Hey! I’m not in that big of a rush.”
Tasha laughed merrily. “Sorry. I’m hyper. Always two steps ahead of everyone else.”
She drove fast, handling the car like a racing driver. “Where are you off to?”
What should I say? “I’m going to visit my sister,” I answered, as though visiting my sister were an everyday occurrence.
“Ah,” was Tasha’s response. “Is she in camp?”
“Uh-huh.”
At a red light, she turned to look at me. “I’m on my way to work.” She giggled. “I’m fifteen minutes late, but the boss won’t mind too much. He’s my dad.”
My dad. I’d have given anything to be able to say those words, when seeing my father every day was something I took for granted.
Minutes later Tasha braked in front of the bus station. “We’ve arrived at your destination.”
I thanked her and climbed out of the car.
“Stop by Carlie’s when you feel like hanging out. I’m there most evenings after nine.”
I grinned, pleased by her invitation. The cheerleaders and jocks hung out in the ice cream shop. “Sure, I’ll stop by.”
“Do that.” She took off.
My heart was racing when I entered the bus office to buy a round-trip ticket. Tasha Wells had invited me to hang out with her! The woman behind the counter gave me my change and said my bus was boarding. I dashed off, all thoughts of Tasha Wells leaving my mind.
I ar
rived in Parrish twenty minutes before noon. I was tempted to look for the apartment house where Lucy lived with Aunt Grace, but decided not to, in case someone had followed me.
Like Tasha? Maybe Raymond sent Tasha Wells to spy on me. I laughed at my paranoid thoughts.
Lucy was waiting for me in the park by the statue of the three children. We ran toward each other. I swung her around in my arms. She was much heavier than I remembered. After I set her on the ground, we grabbed each other in a fierce hug.
“Oh, Simon,” was all Lucy could say. She sobbed noisily into the crook of my neck.
I pretended to be annoyed. “Hey, you’re soaking my shirt.”
“Sorry,” she croaked.
We sat down on a bench and I studied her. “You’ve grown some.”
“Of course I grew. I’m older, aren’t I?”
The words cut me. We’d been apart for months, time I’d never get back. “And your hair’s so short! It’s darker, too.”
“Aunt Grace colored it a few times,” Lucy explained. “So maybe people won’t recognize me.” She searched my face. “What people, Simon? Who are we running from? Aunt Grace won’t tell me.”
I took a deep breath. “Our uncle Raymond’s a bad man, Lucy. Aunt Grace is protecting you from him.”
Lucy wriggled her shoulders, something she did when she couldn’t see the logic of her elders’ explanations. “If he’s so bad, why do you live with him?”
“I have to, for the time being. I’ve no choice.”
Lucy studied me solemnly. Besides growing taller, I noticed, she’d shed a few pounds of baby fat.
“Does he beat you?”
“No.”
Her face scrunched up in dismay.
“Does he force you to do things that are weird?”
I smiled at her concern. “Don’t worry, Luce, he doesn’t do anything bad to me,” I lied. “But he does bad things to other children.” I winced as I remembered Melissa Gordon. “To young girls your age.” At her look of horror, I added, “Not what you’re thinking, but bad.”
I was relieved when Lucy didn’t press me for details. But she had to understand the danger we were in and not do anything foolish. “I’m afraid he’d hurt you if he found out where you lived.”
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