by E A Lake
Wilson looked behind at the stragglers. “We’ll check it out real good and then lock every door and window. That way we know we’re alone. Just like we do every night.” He picked up the pace as they ascended a second hill. For a moment, he was convinced he spotted movement in the brush to his left, but didn’t want to alarm the group. Probably another deer, he thought.
Chapter Nine
Wilson carefully slipped in through the screen porch on the rear of the home they’d found, hidden deep in the woods. Slowly, he pushed the handle of the patio door down, letting out a breath as he heard the familiar click and the door slide open. The front door and garage doors were all locked. They didn’t want to have to break any windows to gain entry into this castle. That way they would be safer at night and hopefully left alone.
He quickly trotted to the front entry door and let his three friends inside. They stood silently, taking in the beauty of the magnificent living room that took up most of the front side of the house. This was a mansion.
Judy stared at the wall, holding a flat screen TV the likes she had most likely never seen. “That has to be four feet wide. Maybe bigger. Makes me wish we had power just to see the picture.” Slowly she entered the room, along with Sharon, taking in the plentiful possessions sitting all around.
Wilson and Tiny stood quietly in the front hall. Tiny looked down at his friend and gave his shoulder a small nudge. A grin crossed Wilson’s dirty, bearded face.
“I told you,” Wilson started. “I told you that guy knew what he was talking about. This place is the biggest we’ve seen yet. And with the locked doors and the furniture all in place – ain’t no one else been here. Virgin territory, Tiny. This is a good one.” Finally, he crept forward into the kitchen. Tiny followed the girls into a massive library off the main living room.
Wilson stared at the large stainless steel refrigerator. It took a lot of money to be able to afford stuff like this, he thought. A lot of cash. And where there was cash, there was usually other goodies to boot. He left the refrigerator closed. One too many times he had made the mistake of opening these appliances, only to be run off by the foul stench trapped inside.
Searching for the rest of his group, Wilson followed voices to the large, oak-shelved library. There he found Sharon and Judy reading while Tiny played on a swivel chair.
“Okay, we need to secure this place,” he stated. All eyes focused on him. “But it’s big. So everyone needs to take a hunk by themselves.” He pointed around the room. “Sharon, take the one side of the upstairs while Judy does the other side. Tiny, you take this level. Check every closet and every hiding spot. Don’t skip anywhere someone could hide. I’ll start with the garage and then hit the basement.” He stepped forward and stared out the large window on the far side of the room. “This place is massive. We need to take our time and find as much as we can. Might take two days, but it’ll be worth it.” He turned and left for the garage. He heard the others get up and head for their assigned tasks.
Alone in the garage, Wilson clicked on his flashlight. He left it strapped to his backpack every day so it could recharge from all available solar rays. He’d found it at a shop in Jackson, Minnesota. Made a good trade for it, a great trade in his mind. Four gold rings, worthless to him, for something that could last years.
In the three-car area he found one car, sitting lonely next to a large speedboat. Something you could ski behind, he supposed. The boat had a “2” and a “1” on the side. He supposed that meant it was 21 feet long. The engine on the rear showed a “3”, a “5” and a “0”. That probably meant something, too. Just what, Wilson wasn’t sure, but he knew it had to cost someone a lot of money at one point in time.
He shined his light above in the rafters. Some boxes, a garden hose and a plastic Santa sat quietly, not bothering anyone. Wilson shook his head; no one hiding up there. Next he checked the car carefully, including the trunk. If he were going to surprise someone, he’d hide in the trunk of a dead car. Empty; everything and everywhere was empty. He grinned, satisfied.
With a last quick scan of the equally massive garage, his light struck some jars on a shelf, maybe 10 feet above the garage floor. Wilson grabbed the aluminum stepladder from the far side and opened it to ascend the rungs. He quickly counted but lost track after 10. More than enough. Jumping down the last two steps, he shut his light off and went back inside to check on Tiny’s progress before heading to the basement.
Inside, he found his large friend, kneeling and rummaging through cupboards in the large kitchen. Wilson smirked. “Looking for midgets?”
Tiny flopped on his back and looked up at Wilson. “Just being thorough. Some of these cupboards are big enough to hide a body,” he replied breezily.
Wilson stared into the entryway and pointed. “You need to lock the front door. That way no one can sneak in while we’re all spread out.” Tiny rose and headed for the entryway. “Check that front closet while you’re up there. I’m heading downstairs,” Wilson called out as he left the kitchen.
The fading sunlight outside made the basement look dim, like twilight. Wilson flipped on his flashlight again and scanned the mostly empty area. In one corner, he found a workbench with tools littered about. He sorted through the items, making a mental note to bring a box down here tomorrow. There was some good trade bait lying in plain sight. In the opposite corner, he found a matching white washer and dryer. Junk, he thought to himself, pounding on the lid of the washer.
Quickly, he turned and scanned the basement with the thin beam of light. He could have sworn he heard another sound when he pounded on the appliance. A high-pitched squeak a mouse might make. Or maybe even the squeal of a hiding person.
He moved meticulously from corner to corner, searching carefully for any hidden forms. He allowed his head to rotate, squinting into the beam of light; inch by inch, he scanned the entire area a third time. Spying a door to some sort of built-out closet, he cautiously approached and gently pulled on the exposed handle. Locked. His eyes followed the beam, examining every inch of the door opening. He pulled the handle again, rattling the chipped wood door against its pine frame. It didn’t budge.
Wilson stepped back, pondering what might be locked inside such a closet. Small in size, maybe four feet by four feet, its sides reached from floor to ceiling. He studied each side again. There were no apparent cracks to be found. Perhaps it was a cedar closet; something he remembered seeing at his aunt’s house when he was a child. Those were usually sealed up tight as a drum, he supposed. That made sense.
He flipped off his light and ascended the wooden stairs. There was a crowbar he’d spied in the garage earlier. Tomorrow sometime, he and Tiny could bust the door open and explore whatever was hidden in the closet. Nothing was going anywhere tonight.
Wilson slowly closed the door behind him as he began checking doors to be sure Tiny had done his job. “Sharon!” he screamed. “You guys done up there yet?”
He stood impatiently, wrapping his knuckles on the hardwood banister at the bottom of the stairs. “Tiny and me are hungry. Like to eat soon if we could.” He looked into the living room at Tiny, lying on the lush, green, fabric couch. Wilson shrugged. “I’m not going up there. We’ll just have to wait.”
Tiny moaned from his position on the couch. “I’m hungry, Jimmy. Why can’t we eat without them? We’re done with our part,” he whined.
Wilson shot him a disgusted glare. “We always eat lunch and dinner together. Period. Sharon says so. And I agree. That way we all get the same opportunity for food and no one sneaks more.” His stare intensified. “Especially big, tall babies like you.” Wilson laughed loudly as he finished and looked up the stairs one last time, seeing Sharon and Judy descending the steps.
“Tiny can wait five minutes,” Sharon began, “he’s got plenty of reserves to fall back on.” Sharon looked past Wilson towards Tiny on the couch. He moaned again for effect, causing Sharon to smile and Judy to giggle.
“Anything up there?” Wilson ask
ed the pair.
Sharon looked at him sideways. “There’s lots of stuff, lots of good stuff. This is a good place, Wilson. But no bodies, living or dead.” Sharon and Judy headed for the kitchen, with Wilson following closely. Tiny slowly rose from the couch and chased after the group like a hungry puppy – a mastiff puppy.
Judy prayed for herself, Sharon and Tiny. Wilson dug immediately into his portion. Sharon glared at him when the prayer ended. He shrugged and continued eating.
Sharon stared at Wilson as she shoved a handful of dried beef into her mouth. After chewing several times, she swallowed, speaking whatever was on her mind. “There’s a couple nice jewelry boxes up there, in the master suite. Not much left in them though. Mostly costume junk. Think they took the good stuff with them?”
Wilson considered her words. “They might’ve taken some, but not all of it. I’m sure they stashed some stuff.” He nodded towards the formal dining room. “I bet there’s some silver in that hutch. Maybe some gold even, gold-plated at least. We’ll do a good, hard search starting tomorrow morning. Good night’s sleep and we’ll be ready to roll first thing.” Judy nodded, as did Sharon. Tiny focused on his food.
“There’s three bedrooms upstairs,” Sharon said. “All pretty girly, but the beds look comfortable enough. You don’t mind a pink room tonight, Jim, do you?” Sharon smiled, finishing her question.
Wilson grinned. “I’d sleep in pink and purple sheets if the bed was soft enough. Don’t matter one way or the other to me. Bed’s big enough for the giant over here?” Wilson said, jerking his thumb at Tiny. Judy nodded as Sharon finished another mouthful of carrots.
“You and Judy take the master room then,” Wilson stated. “I’ll take one room and Tiny can have the other.” Tiny let out a huge burp as Wilson stared at his large friend. “Well, I think the beast is full now. Probably fall asleep at the table.” Both women smiled as Tiny grinned at the comment.
Wilson sat in a soft, comfortable brown recliner in the corner of the candle-lit master suite; Judy and Sharon sat on the king-sized bed, cross-legged. With great luck, they’d found several brushes in the master bath. So Sharon went at one side of Judy’s long hair while Judy worked on the other. Wilson watched, mesmerized at the transformation happening before his eyes. With each stroke, Judy’s matted, tangled locks became smoother and shinier.
Sharon cast a glance his way. “Tiny didn’t want to sit up and chat?” Wilson shrugged. Tiny slept more than any human he’d ever known. “What are you thinking about?” Sharon asked, not recognizing the look on his face.
Wilson smirked. “Just wondering when my turn is, that’s all. When you gonna do my hair?” He popped the feet up on the recliner and laid back, staring at the ceiling.
Judy stopped brushing and looked his way. “Jim, why didn’t you get your hair cut back in Menomonie like Tiny did?” she asked shyly.
Wilson wiggled his toes, trying to think of a clever response. Finally, he spoke. “Didn’t want to waste the trade. I knew they were gonna screw us. I just thought we could use the food more.” He tipped his head forward and gazed at the women. “You all got baths, Tiny got his hair all cut off. That’s good enough for now. I can get mine cut later.” He leaned back in the chair again.
Judy dared to press further, seeming to sense he was more relaxed tonight. “Do you think your parents are still on the farm back in McCook, Jim? And your brothers, maybe even Julie?” she asked sweetly.
Wilson smiled. “Mom yes, Dad probably. Tim and Leon? Who knows. They’d be about the same age now as me when I left. I hope they hung around; hope they didn’t leave to go on the road like me. That would suck.” He stared at his hands before he continued softly. “I hope Julie met some nice guy and he’s got her hidden away somewhere safe. She begged to come with me and Tiny.” Both women nodded. “I know, I’ve told you that a thousand times. But she was only 11. Too young to come along.” Wilson gazed into thin air, thinking of his younger sister. Slowly, he continued.
“You know, Tiny and me went south at first. I told you that before, I know. We thought warm weather would be better. What a joke that was. Road scum everywhere, around every corner and in every ditch. Julie would’ve been an anchor. Not sure she could have made it those first few years. Not at her age, at least.” He noticed Judy staring at him sympathetically. His eyes narrowed as he recalled events. “I guess she’s 21 now. Probably has a baby or two. Maybe not, if she’s smart. Who in their right mind would want to bring some innocent, defenseless child into this world?” He spoke softly and met Judy’s gaze. Sharon had laid back and was already drifting off to sleep.
Judy looked puzzled. “I always thought I wanted to settle down eventually. Find a nice man, maybe a minister. I’d like to have a child. Perhaps two,” she said quietly. A single tear escaped her eye and slowly slid down her cheek. “I’m not sure that’s possible any more. Is it, Jim?” Another solitary tear snuck out.
Smiling softly, he nodded at her. “That could still happen, Judy. You’re still young enough. Maybe when we all get to Ashland, you’ll find such a fellow. Probably a nice fellow, and religious to boot. You’ll be happy then. I’m sure of it.” Their eyes remained locked as Judy wiped away a few extra tears.
“We’d better get to bed,” he continued. “Got a lot of work to do tomorrow. There’s a lot of good stuff around here. We’ll need to be real organized when we leave. He rose from his seat and walked past the bed. “Good night, Judy,” he said softly.
She sat motionless, tears streaking her pale face, as he left. Finally, when he was in the hall, he heard her whisper, “Good night, Jim.”
Chapter Ten
“Tiny,” Wilson whispered. “Tiny, wakey uppy, you beast.” He pushed on Tiny’s back. “Come on, Sasquatch. Time to get your hairy butt up.” Tiny refused to acknowledge his friend. Wilson left the room with a smile on his face.
Sharon met him in the hall with a long yawn. She pulled a thick sweatshirt over her short hair, spiked here and there. She was a morning person like Wilson. Judy had her moments and could rise to the occasion when necessary, but she preferred to sleep in when she could. Tiny was nothing but lazy, in Wilson’s mind. He could sleep 48 hours straight if someone let him. He’d always been like that, Wilson recalled.
“Judy awake yet?” Wilson shot at Sharon as they descended the stairs together.
Sharon grinned. “Well, good morning to you too, Jim,” she quipped. “And how did you sleep?” She shot him a motherly look, one that would attempt to chastise him, he knew. But he decided not to bite on the attempted sarcasm.
“I wanna eat something quick and get at tearing this place apart. I ain’t got time to sit around and wait for those two lazy dogs to wake up,” he replied, turning to Sharon as they entered the kitchen. “If we let Rip VanGiant up there have his way, we’ll still be here come winter. I wanna get moving.” He finished by reaching for his water.
Sharon shook her head at the already crabby comrade. “We,” she said with force. He shot her a puzzled peer. “We, Jim. We’re all in this together. Remember?” He flipped his right hand at her stare, reaching for the bag of carrots sitting on the counter. “You know that makes me mad? We all pull our own weight. We all do the work, we all walk every step, together,” she tapped her index finger on the counter to emphasize the point.
Wilson shook her off. “Yeah, whatever. Well, we need to get at it this morning. And some of we are still sleeping. How come it’s always you and me ready to go first? Why can’t Judy or Tiny ever be the first ones up? But nooo,” he said, turning away, “always us, never them.” He rubbed his beard as he stared intently at the center island of the kitchen. Sitting on the black granite were three containers of water and a single bag of apples. Wilson’s eyes narrowed.
“I thought when we went up last, there were six bottles of water on the counter. Two of mine and two of Tiny’s, along with one of each yours,” he said, puzzled. “And a bag of carrots, a bag of apples.” He pondered his words, spinning toward
s Sharon. “And wasn’t there a bag of meat still out?”
Sharon peeked around him at the island and shrugged. She obviously couldn’t recall. Only he had the right mind to worry about things like water bottles.
She went to dismiss his question when a thought struck her hard. “There was a bag of meat there last night. I remember; three bags.” She gazed at his puzzled expression. “Like three little pigs, three bears, three kings. I don’t know why, but I’m sure there were three bags when Judy and I went upstairs.” She apparently shared Wilson’s wonder now.
Lowering his head, Wilson shook his dirty hair from side to side. “Well, I wonder just what oversized, under-brained, still-sleeping piece-of-crap took the stuff?” he asked, casting a sideways glance at Sharon.
She turned and reached for the carrots. “It’s his, too. If he wants to eat his share before everyone else, so be it. He can, as far as I’m concerned,” she stated. “He’s a big guy, Wilson. We need to remember he needs more calories than the rest of us.” She threw another handful of orange nutrition into her mouth.
Wilson rolled his eyes and walked into the formal dining room. “What do you say you and I get a start in here, Sharon?” he asked, casting a glance over his shoulder. “Bound to be something worth something, right? I mean, rich people like to show off their wealth.” He pulled open a drawer on the hutch.
Sharon followed him and stood beside to him, staring at an empty, black wicker silverware tray. She noticed Wilson’s head slowly bobbing up and down.
“What are you thinking?” she asked. Wilson’s lips twitched. “Took the silver with them?” She noticed his head shake, ever so slightly.
