Slumbered to Death

by Vanessa Gray Bartal

  Chapter 16

  An APB was issued for Vic Hutchens, but that didn’t make Sadie feel any better. The man had killed two people, and he was out there somewhere—waiting, watching.

  “We’ll find him,” Detective Jenks informed her. “Sooner or later, the bad guys always mess up.”

  “I hope you find him before he breaks into Sadie’s home again,” Ben commented.

  “Yeah, do you have someone you can stay with for a while until we catch him?” Jenks asked. Was it Sadie’s imagination, or was he legitimately concerned over her welfare?

  “She can stay with me,” Ben said. “I have plenty of room, and I can protect her.”

  “I couldn’t leave my roommates,” Sadie said.

  “They can come,” Ben added, albeit with some reluctance.

  “Ben, that’s sweet, but we’ll be fine.”

  “I have to get back to the other scene,” Jenks said. Sadie felt sorry for him. She remembered all the times Gideon had worked himself sick on a case. Of course her dad might have enjoyed the time away from home. Was Jenks avoiding a wife? She didn’t know. He hadn’t been wearing a ring, but Gideon had never worn a ring, either. Criminals take rings as a weakness and start picking on your family, he had once explained. That hadn’t made sense to Sadie when she was a kid, but now it did. There were those who preyed on any vulnerability, always looking for cracks. Wearing one’s wedding ring was a definite crack in the armor, at least for a cop.

  “You need some tea,” Ben said. He put his hand on the small of her back to usher her toward the car, which was odd since it was her vehicle. She half expected him to demand she hand over the keys, but he didn’t. He opened her door, waited until she was inside, and closed it again.

  What Sadie actually wanted was to go home. Now that the identity of her stalker had been confirmed, she felt the need to circle the wagons, to make sure Abby, Luke, Gideon and even Hal were okay. If the crazy man targeted her, surely he would target her family and friends, too. She would have a cup of tea with Ben and go.

  As she drove in silence, her mind drifted. She had been so intent on tracking down her intruder that she temporarily forgot about Ben and his problems. How did Vic connect to Ben? What had started off as a hunt for missing persons had ended with two murders, but how did that link to Ben and his nightmares? She was missing something. “Ben, what happened in the army? Why did Vic do these things? Why do you have nightmares and insomnia? There must be a reason. I feel like there’s more you’re not telling me.”

  He sighed so deeply his shoulders slumped. “You’re too astute, Sadie. There is more, much more, but it’s hard for me to talk about. Can we have tea first? Tea soothes me.”

  The corner of her mouth turned up in a smile. He was quirky. “Tea it is,” she agreed.

  They arrived at his house a few minutes later. He stationed her at his kitchen table while he fussed with the tea. “Fussed” was an accurate description because it was quite a process when he made it. No bags for him. He precisely measured the leaves, pre-warmed the pot, set a timer to steep, and poured from such a great height that Sadie was sure it was for some sort of purpose.

  “I’ve found that the extra time the water takes to reach the cup provides the perfect temperature for the tea leaves,” he explained when he caught her watching him. He arranged everything on a tray and served it to her in a delicate china cup along with real sugar cubes and a porcelain pitcher of cream. “Lemon?” he asked.

  “I take mine black,” she said. “Thank you.”

  “A real woman,” he said. “I take mine with cream and sugar, so that discounts me from being a real man.”

  I think the whole tea prep routine lost that for you, Sadie thought, but she didn’t say it. His devotion to tea was quaint and odd, but so was he, and she didn’t mind. Besides, the tea was the best she’d ever had. Maybe there was something to be said for doing things the old fashioned way. They sipped their tea in silence that was somewhere between cozy and awkward. Ben seemed relaxed and comfortable, and not like someone who was about to spill deep, dark army secrets. Sadie didn’t want to push him and dispel the quiet, but then the tea was finished and he still didn’t speak.

  “Ben, it’s time to talk,” she prompted. She was tired, and she wanted to go home.

  He took a breath and stared bleakly into his empty cup. “I don’t know where to begin.”

  “Begin at the beginning.”

  “Where is that? I don’t know.” He took another breath and looked up. “Do you promise to still be my friend when you hear the truth? No matter what, do you promise?”

  When did we revert to third grade? “I…okay.”

  Her reassurance soothed him. He smiled. “Well, I joined the army when I was eighteen. It was a poor decision, the kind children are wont to make.”

  He spoke so slowly Sadie felt like she was pulling the words from him with a rope and a winch. He paused as if waiting on her comment. She wanted to scream. “Go on,” she urged instead.

  “I didn’t make friends easily.”

  Shocker. “Mm, hmm.”

  “I never have. I was always that kid who stood on the outside looking in.”

  “Kids can be cruel.”

  “Not you, though. You were never cruel to kids like me, were you, Sadie?”

  “I probably was a kid like you,” Sadie said. “I was my own sort of outcast. Except for Luke, I didn’t have any friends. I was too bossy, too spirited, too willing to do my own thing. Following the herd was never my specialty.”

  “The herd. I like that description of humanity.”

  “I was referring to kids in school, and not necessarily all of mankind. You were telling me about your early days in the army.”

  “Yes, the army. Talk about your herd mentality.”

  Please don’t.

  “The army doesn’t like people who don’t mindlessly follow orders.”

  Sort of a given when you join up. “Mm, hmm.”

  “I remember one time during basic training…”

  Are we still on basic training? Help me, Ronda. “Ben, I’m sorry to interrupt, but I get the feeling you are prevaricating. As difficult as it may be, I think we should skip to the part that’s most relevant to our current situation.”

  “But it’s all relevant, Sadie. Don’t you see? My entire time in the army is important to the story.”

  Sadie bit back a growl of frustration. Somewhere out there a psychotic killer was waiting for her. Who knew what he might do to her friends and family? She needed to go. She needed to check on them and make sure they were safe. “Can I interrupt for just a moment? I promised Luke I would update him, and I forgot. Let me send him a text so he won’t worry.”

  “Go ahead,” Ben said.

  His tone was filled with reluctance as if he were actually granting permission. She ignored him and pulled out her phone. “Mueller is dead. Hutchins is bad guy. At Ben’s house listening to his life story for more info. Hope you are safe. Be home soon.” I miss you, I wish I were there, I’m hungry and tired. She left all those things out for the sake of expediency, but she felt them. “Done.” She tucked her phone back in her pocket and tried not to let her reluctance show as she gave Ben her full attention.

  “As I was saying about the army,” Ben started. “The basic tenants of the army are flawed, and here’s why.”

  Her phone buzzed, alerting her to a text, and she interrupted again. “I’m sorry, but I think this is Luke. You can understand why I’m worried about him and Abby. Excuse me while I check this.” She pulled out her phone and read the message. “Abby and I are fine. Feels empty without you. Come home.”

  She smiled. Home. The word finally had meaning. Abby’s house felt like a safe haven again, and it was her home. She suddenly missed it and her friends with a blinding sort of passion. She needed to go, now. She would come back tomorrow for the rest of Ben’s story. She looked up and her smile faded. Ben was looking at her with disapproval or anger or maybe a combination of
both.

  “Did you ever wonder if technology is the downfall of modern society?” his said.

  “No. I find you get as much from it as you put in. For me, technology adds convenience, but I don’t allow it to consume me.”

  That mollified him some. “You’re wise beyond your years, Sadie.”

  “I don’t know about that, but…” But I want to go. “Ben, I think…”

  This time her words were cut off by a sound from the living room. Ben’s attention turned sharply in that direction. “Did you hear that?” he whispered.

  “Yes,” she whispered. “Do you have a cat?”

  “No, I think I have an intruder.” He stood and pointed a finger in front of her face. “Stay here, Sadie, I mean it. I can handle this, and I don’t want you hurt.”

  Sadie stayed, not because she wanted to obey him, but because she was stunned by the swift change in him. Suddenly she understood how a mild-mannered teetotaler had been an army ranger. His face had been filled with a murderous sort of intensity as he issued his directive and headed toward the living room. The seconds ticked as Sadie’s thoughts crystallized. Why was she sitting helplessly by? Move, idiot!

  She darted to the living room where sounds of a struggle were already in progress. On closer inspection, it wasn’t much of a struggle. Ben was beating him soundly. Sadie entered the scene as he landed a final knockout blow to the head. Victor Hutchens landed unconscious and bleeding on the floor.

  Ben caught sight of Sadie and frowned his disapproval. “Watch him while I retrieve a ziptie from the other room.” He left. She stared at Vic Hutchens. He looked worse for wear, but he wasn’t dead. Even from a few feet away she could see the steady rise and fall of his chest. His breathing was loud and whistled slightly. The man might recover but his septum would henceforth be deviated. Sapped from energy as if she had been the one in the fight, she leaned against the nearest curio cabinet.

  It was a large, wooden cabinet, intricately detailed and filled with all manner of Victorian knick-knacks. She recognized tea cups that matched the one she had used just a short while ago. And there were broaches, dozens of them. As she peered closer, she realized they were hair broaches, and she grimaced. What was the Victorian’s odd fascination with saving their loved one’s hair? Sadie found it gross. Some things were better out of fashion. Why did Ben collect these things? Odd. One of the broaches was empty. Where a braided lock of hair should have been, there were words, some type of inscription. She picked it up for a closer look. Had the hair fallen out? If so, she would not be the one to put it back in. She had no desire to touch dead people’s hair, even if it was no longer attached to their person. The inscription was familiar, she had read it a million times before, and yet she couldn’t make the words comprehend. They were out of context. There was some mistake. Maybe she had read it wrong.

  She held the locket to the light and refocused. This time she would read the words out loud. “Sadie Cooper,” she read, and then Ben’s heavy step sounded behind her.

  Chapter 17

  Luke’s bad feeling hadn’t budged all day. Concentration had been difficult during class, and chemistry wasn’t the sort of thing one could pay half a mind to. But no matter how hard he tried to push it away, the feeling that Sadie was in danger wouldn’t leave. He could almost hear her voice telling him he was worrying too much, but even her imaginary teasing didn’t make a difference.

  “I bet she’s bored,” Abby commented. They sat at the table together, Abby with the newspaper and Luke with his ever-ready supply of books. “I would be if I had to listen to someone’s life story.”

  “I’m sure Sadie will find a way to make it interesting,” Luke said. He never worried about Sadie and boredom. As the saying went, she could make a root canal fun.

  “What’s our Hal up to tonight?”

  “Coming over, I think. He wanted to be here to hear Sadie’s play by play of the case.”

  “Hal’s a nice boy,” Abby said.

  “Mm,” Luke said.

  “He should find a nice girl.”

  Luke glanced up. “I thought you didn’t believe in pairing people off.”

  “Who said that? I love a good romance. Who doesn’t? All I ever said on the matter was that finding a mate doesn’t complete anyone. Some people seem to think that marriage is the end-all. Marriage is what you make of it, like anything else in life. I’ve never been married, and yet I’m content and fulfilled.”

  “Yes, but not for lack of takers, hmm, Abby?”

  She assumed a demure expression and folded her hands over the paper. “Tut, tut, one should never kiss and tell. Let’s say I had a sufficient string of beaux and leave it at that.”

  “Heartbreaker,” Luke accused.

  She rapped his knuckles with a spoon. “You shouldn’t tease old people. It warms the blood and makes us cranky.”

  He returned to his studies with a smile. They read in silence a few minutes. “When does your girlfriend return from the USSR?”

  “It’s just called Russian now.”

  “I know, Lucas. That was my attempt at a pop culture Beatles reference. Apparently I can’t pull those off.”

  “She was supposed to come home next week, but I had an email from her today and she’s delayed her return. There are family issues, and things are up in the air.”

  “What if she never comes back?” Abby asked.

  “I guess we’ll break up.”

  “Sounds like true love.” She returned to her paper. The easy silence stretched. Luke was making strides in his work. Abby stood to refill her tea. He yawned and stretched.

  “That man, Edmond Hankins, his obituary is in the paper today,” Abby said. “Of course it mentions nothing about him welching on his wife and children, the weasel. People are always presented more kindly in death.”

  Luke’s eyes fell on the paper. He scanned the obituary upside down and froze mid-stretch. He grabbed the paper and turned it upright.

  “What is it?” Abby asked.

  “Edmond Hankins was Canadian.”

  “Well, that’s unfortunate, but not everyone can be an American.”

  “No, I mean if he was Canadian, how was he a US army ranger?”

  Abby blinked at him, her mouth a round “O” of surprise. Luke pulled out his phone and texted Sadie. Too impatient to wait for a response, he called her instead. There was no answer.

  “Something’s wrong.” He closed the phone and dashed to his feet.

  “I’ll come with you,” Abby said.

  “No,” Luke said. There was no way he would let Abby come and risk her safety, too. “Stay here in case she calls or comes home.”

  “Should I call the police?”

  “Ask Gideon,” he said. He was sure Gideon would know what to do. At the very least, he would take care of Abby. Luke grabbed his keys and sprinted from the house. He ran into Hal, literally. They made an “oof” sound as they collided.

  “Is this your manly way of saying you need a hug?” Hal asked. “I prefer it when you use your words.”

  “I think Sadie’s in danger. You coming?”

  “I’m in,” Hal said. He jumped in the car. Luke took off without buckling his seatbelt, a first. “Where are we going?” Hal asked.

  “Ben White’s house. Something is wrong. I don’t think Edmond Hankins was in the army, and Sadie won’t answer her phone.”

  “If I drove to a woman’s rescue every time she refused to answer my calls, I would spend a lot more time in the car,” Hal said.

  Luke ignored him. Hal’s go-to defense mechanism was humor. People who didn’t understand that might find him callous, but Luke knew it was cover for a big heart.

  “Can’t you drive any faster?” Hal asked.

  “Yes,” Luke said. He forced his foot down on the pedal. Speeding felt wrong and unnatural, but Sadie’s life might depend on it.

  “Whoa,” Hal said as they rounded the bend and Ben’s mansion came into view.

  “Pretentious,” Luk
e muttered.

  “I was thinking swanky, but pretentious works, too. What’s our plan?”

  “We have no plan,” Luke said. “The plan was to show up. I thought I would think of something on the way over. Didn’t happen.”

  “Do we know for sure something is wrong?” Hal asked.

  “No, it’s this feeling I have. That and the obituary.”

  “I say we play it dumb. We were out for a drive, and thought we would say hi to Sadie.”

  “You and I were driving together and stopped by a complete stranger’s house to say hi to Sadie,” Luke clarified.