by Amber West
“You’re a very lucky woman,” Emma’s mother added.
“The Sheriff is pretty lucky, too, mama.”
I smiled at the compliment and looked up at the stage. If Mike’s ‘maybe’ could put an end to all the drama, particularly my need to lie all the time, then yes, we were both very lucky.
As the cheers ending the bake-off subsided, the crowd thinned a bit, some choosing to go home as the sun disappeared, others sticking around for the bonfire and barbecue.
I found my way to a quiet edge of the fire, sat on the ground and waited for Jack to return with our plates of food. I stared at the fire, the flames hypnotic after a long day.
“James.”
Father Mike squatted next to me, staring at the fire. His face looked paler than I remembered, color only in the apples of his cheeks.
“Are you alright?”
He nodded slowly, sucking his teeth.
“You think you can meet me at the rectory later. Half past midnight?”
“Seriously?”
He nodded, still staring into the fire.
“I guess. Are you sure you’re okay?”
He nodded as his eyes darted away from the fire and towards Jack in the distance, making his way back with food. Father Mike stood up, brushing off his dark jeans before looking down at me. “Half past. Don’t be late.”
I nodded. He looked off in the distance before adding, “Don’t eat the meat.”
Chapter 47
I leaned against the wall by the back door of the rectory, waiting for Mike to respond to my knocking. The queasy feeling I had earlier in the evening never fully subsided, likely amplified by stress and an extra helping of macaroni and cheese at the bonfire.
The door opened, a hand flying out and pulling me inside, my legs barely keeping me vertical as I stumbled through the doorway.
Father Mike shut the door behind me, quickly locking the door, phone to his ear.
“You weren’t followed, right?”
I shook my head. “Of course not.”
He held a finger up as he spoke into the phone. “Right…yes. One hundred percent. We’re good to go…Thanks, man.”
He hung up the phone and ran a hand through his hair before looking up.
“What’s going on? You’re freaking me out just a little bit here.”
“I talked to Doc Matthews. Man was drunk and scared out of his mind when I showed him the documents. Turns out he was paid to sign the death certificates, never actually examined any bodies. He didn’t ask questions after the first few. He knew some of the men – deadbeats, didn’t treat their wives or kids well – so he didn’t care to know where they were.”
“Bodies? The first few? That doesn’t sound good.”
“It’s not.”
I sat on one of the rusty stools, nodding for him to continue.
“He said as time passed, he was signing more and more death certificates. He was starting to worry. He’d have someone come in with an odd injury—“
“Like Andy’s?”
“Yeah, like that. But then months later he’d be asked to sign a death certificate for that same person. That’s when he started drinking.”
“To deal with the guilt.”
Mike nodded. “One would assume, and thank goodness for that. I don’t think he would have told me what he did if he hadn’t been three sheets to the wind already.”
I took a deep breath, my voice cracking, “Did he ever sign one for Andy?”
“I didn’t ask.”
My face fell. Mike quickly added, “I doubt Andy had a policy, James. I’m sure he’s okay.”
I nodded, wishing I felt so confident. “No wonder he’s drunk all the time. Horrible man. What did you find in the convent?”
Mike took a deep breath. “The room with the freezers that you’d been in, something about it didn’t set right with me. Surgical tools, the drain; I knew there had to be more there. As you know, I checked it out.”
He scratched his head with both hands before continuing.
“They were storing containers of hydrochloric acid in that room. You know what you can do with that?”
I shook my head, although I suspected I knew the answer.
“You can dissolve bones. My guess is they discovered burying remains was hard work, not to mention risky, so they moved on to a new disposal methods.”
I shook my head. I believed every word, but it didn’t make it any less awful.
“It gets worse. I checked the freezers and that meat? Let me assure you, there were no cows harmed in filling up those chests.”
“What?”
“I opened a couple of packages. I’m certain those were not cuts the butcher carries. At first, I thought they were storing body parts there, pacing out their disposal. Those chemicals are pretty caustic, so maybe they wanted to do a little at a time? But on a hunch I checked the kitchen. The only meat in every freezer and fridge in that convent is the same meat that’s in those freezers.”
I grimaced, swallowing the sting of bile threatening its way up my throat, repeating slowly. “Don’t eat the meat.”
He nodded. “I can’t know for certain, but I suspect this town has unwittingly been feeding on its own.”
I held my head down, taking slow breaths through the mouth.
“Are you gonna be sick?”
Mike jumped up and grabbed an empty trash can and held in front of me, pulling my hair away from my face. I waved the can away.
“I’m okay. I mean, I’m not even close to ‘okay’, I just don’t think I’m going to throw up.” He moved the can away and let go of my hair. I looked up at him and shook my hands in front of me, as if my hands were covered in the towns’ carcasses, moaning, “We ate people!”
“It looks that way. On the positive side, you didn’t eat anyone last night, did you?”
“Somehow, that’s not helping.”
“The important part is that it means evidence. Whatever sick reason they had for using the ‘meat’ rather than disposing of it, the chemicals, the documents, it’s all enough for a real investigation.”
I heaved a sigh. The news should have eased my nausea, but knowing I may have ingested someone’s Uncle Bob was still having its effects.
“I guess it’s all good news, big picture-wise.” I hopped off the stool, shaking my head. “I should get back. I’m not going to be able to sleep tonight. Or eat, ever.”
Father Mike grimaced. “Let me walk you.”
I rolled my eyes. “I got here with no problem, didn’t I?”
“I know, I just, I don’t know. I’d feel better if I see you through the woods at least.” The corner of his mouth turned up slightly. “I don’t want to end up finding you on someone’s plate.”
“Fine. Get a coat. It’s freezing out there.”
He obeyed, grabbing a coat and following me out the door. We both took a quick look around. It was silent outside, the night sky perfectly clear, the moon nearly full. We made a quick dash for the cover of the woods, staying quiet as we made our way through the shortcut. When we got close to the opening leading to my place, I turned to Father Mike.
“I’m good from here. You should go.”
I jumped at the sound of a twig snapping and leaves crunching. Father Mike grabbed my hand and pulled me next to him.
The crunching stopped, followed by a heart-stopping click.
“Hello, Father. James.”
I looked at Mike as he let go of my hand and slowly raised his over his head before turning towards the sound. I did the same.
Chapter 48
Jack paced in front of us, gripping his rifle, as we kneeled on the floor of the church. When he found Mike and me, he forced us back through the woods, ordering silence the whole way.
I looked at Mike, kneeling beside me, his hands behind his head like mine. He was watching Jack walk back and forth, then looked over at me when Jack’s back was to us. He mouthed the words ‘stay calm’ before returning his gaze to Jack’s pacing.<
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“I don’t understand why you would do this, James. I thought you cared about me. I thought you would be the one.”
“I do care about you Jack.” Or at least I did. This crazy display of what I could only assume was unnecessary jealousy was killing the perfect boyfriend image. “This is all just a big misunderstanding.”
Jack shook his head. “You could have stayed out of it. You should have done what you were told.”
My forehead wrinkled, disbelieving. “Stayed out of what? Told by whom, Jack?”
“Who do you think? They warned you to stay out of their business. That’s all you had to do. I told them you’d do it for me.” He paused before adding, “I really believed you would.”
“You knew?” I held my breath, knowing the answer couldn’t be good.
“Of course I knew. Do you think I’m an idiot?”
Now I really felt sick. This wasn’t about jealousy. This was something far worse.
“Everything I did, every lie I told was to protect you, Jack. How could you…how could you be part of something so disgusting?”
“It isn’t that bad.”
“How can you say that? All those people, their families—”
A voice came from behind Mike and me. “They are better off without them.”
The bitter tone was unmistakably Sister Marjorie’s.
“That doesn’t make it okay,” I replied, as she stepped in front of me.
Jack held his ground. “Sometimes you have to bend the rules for the greater good.”
“‘Bend the rules’?” I shook my head. “What are you talking about?”
“What do you think I’m talking about? The insurance scam. That money took care of the good people in this town. A few didn’t go quietly, so we had to take action, but only on the worst ones.”
I spoke quietly. “You really don’t know.”
Sister Marjorie took a step closer to Jack. “Don’t listen to her.”
“What don’t I know?” Jack raised the rifle and pointed it at Mike.
“Your very angry boyfriend has a question, James,” Mike mumbled.
“Shut up.” Jack and I snapped simultaneously.
“The Sisters have been killing people, not just running them out of town or even torturing them. We’re sitting steps away from freezers full of people.”
Jack blinked, his eyes glassy. “No. It’s not true.”
“It is. I’m sorry, but it really is.”
“Jack,” Sister Marjorie was standing next to him now, laying a hand on his shoulder, “she doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”
I stood up, taking a step towards him cautiously. He didn’t flinch. His gaze was fixed on Sister Marjorie. Stopping a few feet in front of them, I looked at Sister Marjorie. “How could you do that to all those men?”
“They weren’t men, they were animals!” Sister Marjorie snapped, letting go of Jack and stepping between him and me. “I’ve suffered at the hands of beasts. I’ve seen women and families destroyed by creatures who were never forced to pay for their crimes. We made this a safe place.”
“But you can’t honestly believe that every man deserved what you did to them?”
“They would have needed to be punished sooner or later. There are the rare few who can change, but only if you catch them young. Like Jack.”
I thought back to Jack standing up for Sister Marjorie when I first met her. Explaining how she ran a school for troubled children. That’s why he supported her. That’s how he could be even a little involved. He was one of her troubled kids, her success stories.
I stepped past Marjorie and looked Jack in the eye. “This isn’t right. I know you know that.”
Jack shook his head and took a step towards Father Mike, pointing the rifle inches from his face. Father Mike stayed perfectly still, no expression on his face. Jack’s face reddened as he pressed the end of the rifle against Mike’s forehead. “This is your fault. We could have been happy if you minded your business and left like the others. None of the others stayed. What kind of man stays where he isn’t welcome?””
“Jack, this isn’t his fault. I’m the one who stuck my nose in. It was all me. He tried to stop me.”
Jack adjusted his trigger finger, his cheek twitching. “No.”
“It was. I dragged him into this. If you’re upset, then you should be pointing that gun at me.” Standing next to Jack, I reached a hand out, the tips of my finger barely touching his arm. “Jack, please.”
He shifted his weight, his eyes watering. “We were helping people.”
I squeezed his arm, trying to make my words convincing. “I know, Jack. You were protecting the town because you care about them.”
He nodded, the grip on the rifle loosening a bit more. “Sister Marjorie looked out for me when no one else would. She always did what was best for everyone. She made me a good man.”
“I’m sure she did. She protected you. Just like you tried to protect me.”
“Jack...” Sister Marjorie’s voice was a warning, but Jack wasn’t listening.
“I did,” his voice wavered. Raising a hand to rub his eyes, he added, “I just wanted to keep you safe. I wanted us to be together.”
Jack held the rifle by his side now. He turned towards me, holding my face in his hand, his eyes wet. “We can fix this. We can still make this work.”
I fought the urge to pull away, ignoring the sour taste in my mouth as I spoke. “Maybe we can.”
I caught Mike in the corner of my eye, his position slightly altered. One hand set in front of him, the tips of his shoes making contact with the floor. He was readying himself.
“Don’t listen to her.” Sister Marjorie grabbed my arm, jerking me away from Jack. “She’s lying to you now, as she’s lied the whole time she’s been here. We’ll get rid of these two and I’ll find another girl for you, one who knows how to listen and obey.” She sneered before adding, “One who isn’t so plain.”
I snatched my arm away from the nun, and swung the other arm around, landing my fist against her chest. She stumbled back, catching her breath.
Mike seized the opportunity and leaped from his crouched position on the floor, grabbing the rifle and pushing it against Jack’s neck. The two men struggled as Sister Marjorie charged towards me, knocking me backwards, my head smacking a pew. Standing over me, she pulled a knife from her habit. “You think you’re so clever, don’t you?”
I threw my arm to my side and smiled as it came in contact with a tall, brass music stand. Rolling to my side, I grabbed the bottom of the stand with both hands and swung towards Sister Marjorie, sweeping her legs out from under her.
She stumbled backwards, her head making a loud crack as it hit the stone floor, the knife clattering as it skipped away from her. She lay motionless.
I looked over at the two men struggling on the floor, the rifle between them. I pulled myself up, doubling over at the sound of the rifle going off. My head swam with the sound, the smell of metal and rotten egg in my nose. I lifted my head to see what happened, afraid.
Jack laid on the floor, Father Mike making quick movements over him before standing up and cradling his own hand. He pulled a phone out of his pocket and spoke for a minute. My ears were still ringing, the room spinning, making it impossible for me to make out his conversation.
I pulled myself up again, grabbing the pew to keep steady, staring at Sister Marjorie’s motionless body.
Father Mike picked the rifle up off the floor and rushed over to my side, pushing his phone in his pocket before throwing his arm around my waist. “Come on.”
We rushed out of the church and across the street to the rectory, Father Mike checking over his shoulder the whole way. Once inside, I collapsed on the sagging couch, surprised to be in so much pain from the fall.
Mike disappeared into a closet, then returned to the window by the front door, peeking through the curtain.
I stared at Mike, my eyes stinging. “Is Jack dead?”
He
looked at me, his forehead wrinkling. He walked over and kneeled in front of the couch. “No. He’s not going to be too happy when he comes to, and I made sure he won’t be able to follow us, but he’s alive.”
I nodded, leaning my head back on the couch, taking a deep breath.
“James, are you okay?”
I frowned. “I hit my head pretty hard.”
He leaned forward, running his hand along the back of my head. “You’ve got quite a bump. But you should be alright. I promise I’ll get you taken care of soon, okay?”
He patted my leg and gave it a squeeze, making me wince. He glanced down, then quickly looked up at my face.
“What’s wrong, Mike?”
“Nothing, James. Everything’s going to be fine.”
“You haven’t said anything inappropriately creepy in a while,” I said, managing a weak smile.
He responded with a tight-lipped grin. “Not entirely true. My hand’s been on your thigh for quite some time here. I’m practically groping you.”
I smiled, then frowned again as I looked down at his hand, covered in blood.
“I thought you said you were okay.”
He eased onto the couch next to me, keeping his hand on my leg. “I am.”
I leaned my head against him, closing my eyes. “I want to sleep, but somehow that doesn’t seem like a good idea right now. If I have a concussion, you need to keep me awake.”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Do you think the nuns are going to come here? Is that why you were checking the window?”
“It’s possible. They could have heard the gunshot. But don’t worry about that. I’m pretty sure we took out their muscle.”
I frowned.
“Aw, sorry, James. I know you cared about the Sheriff.”
I shrugged. “I’ll be alright. I don’t have the greatest track record with guys, so I should have guessed the relationship was doomed from the start. This is the first one that ended because the guy wanted to shoot me in the face, mind you, but, you know, po-tay-to, po-tah-to.”
I felt his chest rise and fall as he let out a little chuckle. “So, you didn’t tell me that you were crazy?”
“What are you talking about?”
