Gabriel: A thriller (Standalone within the Divinus Pueri series)

by Tracie Podger

  “The side of the house, I heard a crunch, like footsteps. The bedroom window is open, I was too hot.”

  I kept my back to the wall as I gently walked down the stairs. I held the gun in my hand, down by my side. If there was an intruder, I didn’t want them to immediately see I was armed, people got shot that way simply through panic.

  I stopped at the bottom of the stairs to listen. I didn’t hear any sounds. When I looked back up, Lily was standing on the landing. I waved my arm, gesturing for her to return to the room. There was a fucking large window just behind her. If there was an intruder, they’d see her standing there. I crept through the house, checking each room until I ended up in the kitchen. I stood for a minute, waiting for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. I crouched down and made my way to the back door. As I passed, I grabbed my phone from the counter, annoyed with myself that I had left it there and not taken it to be bed with me.

  I reached the back door and angled myself so I could see out the window. I listened. I still couldn’t hear anything, and although dark, I didn’t see any movement or shadows in the yard. While I watched, I sent a text to Thomas, not expecting him to see it but hoping that he might.

  “Is there anyone there?” I heard; the voice startled me.

  “For fuck’s sake, Lily, you just scared the living shit out of me,” I replied.

  “I’m sorry, I’m too scared to stay upstairs on my own.”

  I shook my head and muttered under my breath. “Get down low,” I said.

  She scuttled across the floor until she was beside me, under the back door window.

  “If I tell you to stay put, I mean it, okay? I know you’re scared, but no one is going up those stairs without me knowing about it.”

  I watched her bite down on her lower lip. She was either a fucking amazing actress or genuinely scared. Tears formed in her eyes and her hands visibly shook.

  “Get behind me,” I said.

  I reached up to unlock the door. The sound of the lock disengaging seemed so much louder than perhaps it was. I waited a minute more before reaching for the handle and slowly opening the door. As it did, I stood and raised my gun.

  I wasn’t law enforcement, I wasn’t trained in how to apprehend an intruder, and I’d probably have gotten myself shot the way I stepped out through the door. But thankfully, there was no one there. Keeping my back to the wall, I followed it to the corner of the house and peered around. I looked down the side of the house that had the broken window and toward the front yard. It was empty.

  I walked around the house, being careful to keep to the sides of the pathway in case I disturbed footprints. I inspected all the windows: each was firmly shut. By the time I’d made my way back to the rear of the house, I saw the blue flashing lights of a police car.

  “Anything?” Thomas asked as he climbed from his car.

  “Nothing. Turn those fucking lights off, you’ll have the whole street awake.”

  “So glad I responded so quickly,” he said with a smirk.

  “I wasn’t expecting you to, thought you’d be asleep,” I replied.

  “I wasn’t asleep. Now let me get a flashlight so I can check. Where’s Lily?”

  “In the kitchen, wouldn’t stay in the fucking bedroom when I asked her to.”

  Thomas raised his eyebrows at me. “She’s sleeping in my room, I’m in Taylor’s,” I said.

  We circumnavigated the house a second time, slower. Thomas scanned his Maglite from left to right over the grassy area, until it came to rest on a shoeprint not far from the boarded up window. He crouched down to inspect it.

  “Whose is that?” I asked.

  “It’s too large for mine and right now, you’re barefooted. I can’t say it isn’t from the other day though. In the trunk of my car is a plastic box, like a tool box, can you grab it?”

  When I walked to his car, I noticed Lily at the front door. She stood there, still in just the shirt for the entire street to see.

  “Go inside, Lily. I told you before, I don’t want the neighbors to see, and a blue flashing police light draws them like a moth to a damn flame.”

  “I just wanted to check that you were okay,” she said.

  I walked to the front door, causing her to take some steps back.

  “There’s no one there. I texted Thomas before I went out the back, he’s just having a check himself.”

  “Okay, are you sure there’s no one out there?”

  “I’m sure, now wait in the kitchen.”

  She turned to walk away. I swallowed hard and closed my eyes at the sight of her. A knot formed in my stomach when I realized she was wearing Sierra’s shirt. I’d address that issue once Thomas had left. I closed the front door and made my way back to the car.

  I retrieved the box from the trunk of his car and joined him. He was inspecting the boarding over the broken window.

  “Anything?” I asked.

  “Doesn’t look like it, but I need to come back in the daylight. Hand me that box.”

  He laid it on the ground and took out a tape measure. He measured the footprint and took some photographs.

  “Don’t you need to make a mold or something?” I asked.

  “You watch too many crime movies,” he muttered as he did his thing.

  “I don’t watch any TV, let alone crime movies. I’ve had enough of that in real life,” I said.

  He paused. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think. And no, I can’t take a cast of this. It’s not deep enough and it’s on grass.”

  Eventually, he stood and packed up his box of tricks. He measured, photographed, and sketched. He’d taken photographs of the boarded up window, although it didn’t look like it had been disturbed.

  “I need to be back here in the morning, Gabe. We’ll talk some more to Lily, and we need to get that window sorted.”

  I said goodbye and watched him leave. A curtain in the house opposite twitched as I stood on the front step. I made a note to call on the occupants and see if they’d seen anything.

  “Anything?” Lily asked when I walked back into the kitchen.

  “No, nothing. Maybe it was an animal,” I lied.

  “I’m sorry if I’ve caused a fuss. I swear I heard something, well, I think I did anyway.”

  “It’s okay. Thomas will be back in the morning and take a second look, perhaps you’ll be up for another chat.”

  She stood from her chair and gently nodded.

  “Lily, is that my wife’s shirt?” I asked, quietly.

  “I’m not sure. It was in the closet. I don’t have any clean clothes to sleep in. Have I done wrong?”

  “I’ll show you where the laundry room is in the morning,” I said, not answering her question.

  I didn’t head straight back to bed; I sat at the kitchen table and drank a cup of coffee. I prepared the coffee maker for later that morning. Eventually I climbed the stairs. As I passed my bedroom door, I heard a noise. It was more of a muffled sound. I paused and listened. It sounded like a cry that had been stifled. I tapped gently.

  “Lily, are you okay?”

  At first she didn’t answer, and I wondered if the noise she had made had been in her sleep. I was about to walk away when she answered.

  “No,” came her reply.

  I opened the door. She was sitting on the bed; her legs were brought to her chest. She had her arms wrapped around them and her chin resting on her knees.

  “I know this isn’t right but…can you stay with me?” One tear leaked from her left eye and rolled down her cheek.

  I hesitated. The only furniture in that room was a bed, a chest of drawers, a couple of wardrobes and two bedside tables.

  “Get under the cover,” I said, as I walked into the room, closing the door behind me.

  She stretched out her legs and pulled the sheet over her. I sat on the other side of the bed, on top of the covers with my back resting against the headboard.

  “I’m scared, Gabriel. I know they are coming for me, and I have no way of stoppi
ng it, of telling them that I don’t know anything.”

  “Shush, it’s okay. Try to get some sleep now.”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever felt so alone,” she whispered.

  I didn’t answer; I knew that feeling only too well.

  I woke to sunlight filtering in through the muslin drapes. I hadn’t intended to fall asleep. I must have slipped down the bed as I was lying on my back, and Lily had her arm across my chest. I tensed at her touch. She was asleep but had kicked the sheet off during the night. The shirt she wore was skewed and a button had come undone. One pert tit was exposed, the nipple slightly puckered as if she was aroused. She stirred slightly and her hand clawed on my chest. Her nails scraped against my skin and sent a shiver over me. The sight of her, the feel of her, caused my cock to harden against the confines of my jeans. I didn’t want that, my body was betraying me with feelings that weren’t welcome.

  I gently lifted her hand from my chest and placed it on the pillow beside her head, then slid from the bed. I should never have agreed to stay in the room with her. In fact, I needed her out of my house.

  I was dressed and downstairs when I heard the shower run. Her footsteps across the bedroom caused the floorboards to creak, and although not directly above my head, I could hear her move around the room. I listened as the door opened and she made her way downstairs.

  “Hi,” she said as she padded barefoot, in jeans and a tank that seemed familiar, into the kitchen.

  “Coffee’s brewed if you want one,” I replied.

  She poured a cup and brought over the pot to refresh mine. “Another coffee?”

  “Sure.”

  For someone who had been up half the night, terrified, she sure seemed bright and breezy. I wouldn’t crawl out of my grump until at least my second cup of highly charged caffeine. But then, she had the luxury of an afternoon nap, I guessed.

  “Thank you for staying with me last night, I really appreciate that,” she said.

  I ran my hand over my face before answering.

  “That’s okay. You were scared.”

  “You look exhausted.”

  “I’m fine. I just need a couple of cups of this stuff to get me going in the mornings.”

  My cell alerted me to the fact I had a text message. I picked it up and looked. Jake had sent a message. He’d opened up the garage and wanted to know if I was going to be in. I replied, letting him know he was on his own for the next couple of days. I trusted Jake; he’d often been left alone and was more than capable. I felt a little guilty keeping him in the dark and told him that I’d catch up with him as soon as I could.

  “There are pastries on the counter if you’re hungry,” I said. “Or I can fry some bacon.”

  “Pastries are good, thank you.” She helped herself before sitting beside me.

  I wanted to ask if she was always so polite. I didn’t think I’d ever heard so many ‘thank yous’ and ‘I’m sorrys’ before.

  “Thomas will be over shortly, don’t forget. Are you up to talking again?” I asked.

  She didn’t speak but gently nodded her head. “I appreciate your kindness, Gabriel. But I kind of feel like I’m going stir crazy here.”

  “I can understand that, but what’s the alternative?”

  “I’ve done okay up to now.”

  “And last night? You can take your chances on your own, I won’t stop you from leaving, but be sure that’s what you want to do,” I said.

  I didn’t want her in my house; but I didn’t want her to leave. Not because I wanted her company, but she was a key player in what had happened to Sierra, I was sure of it. I still believed she knew more than she was letting on.

  “Can we at least sit outside? It’s too nice to be cooped up indoors.”

  I stood from my chair, picking up my coffee as I did. “Sure, let’s sit outside.”

  My pack of cigarettes was sitting on the metal table and I shook it. I’d need to head to the store to replenish them at some point. Or I could ask Thomas of course. I sent him a text.

  While we sat, I called my parents and spoke to Taylor. She was missing me but excited that she was getting a riding lesson that morning. I was thankful that she had the prospect of owning her own pony to keep her occupied. I spoke to Dad but was unable to say too much in front of Lily. I think he got that I wasn’t able to speak freely when he’d told me to call him back when I was alone.

  “You have a great relationship with your parents, I feel a little jealous that Sierra got that experience. Is that so terribly wrong?” Lily said.

  I shrugged my shoulders. “I’m not sure how to answer that. They are great parents.”

  “What about your brother, do you see him often?”

  I was about to answer when something pulled me up short. I couldn’t recall speaking to her about my brother. I played it safe.

  “He’s a busy man, we don’t get to see him as often as we’d like.”

  “He’s a priest, isn’t he?”

  “I think he’s a little further up the chain than that. As I said, I’m not religious, I have no understanding of the hierarchy.”

  “You shouldn’t trust anyone in the Catholic religion,” she said.

  “Why, Lily? Why do you say, ‘anyone’?”

  “Because they cover it all up, they protect their own, close ranks. How many priests have been accused of abuse lately? Tons. How many have faced charges? Not many.” There was a bitter tone to her voice and I couldn’t blame her for that.

  “I wouldn’t know to be honest. I don’t follow the news.”

  We were interrupted from further conversation by the arrival of Thomas. He walked around the side of the house to join us in the yard. Although he didn’t say anything, I suspect that was so he could inspect the footprint and window again.

  “Good morning, all. Can I smell coffee?” he said, planting a large smile on his face.

  “Let me get that for you,” Lily replied before I’d even had a chance to.

  She left her chair and made her way into the kitchen.

  “You look tired,” Thomas said.

  “I am.”

  “She sure made herself at home.”

  “Mmm, and that top, I think it’s Sierra’s. She was wearing her shirt last night, said she didn’t have anything clean to sleep in.”

  “Really? That’s not good.”

  “I know. There are times when I think she’s genuine and then others… I don’t know, Tom. I feel like I’m falling apart right now.”

  “You need some sleep. Why not take a nap?”

  “Because I don’t want to leave her alone in my house,” I said.

  Our whispered conversation was halted when Lily came back, carrying fresh mugs and the pot of coffee.

  “I’m sorry that you got called out last night, Thomas. I guess I heard an animal and overreacted. It was nice to have Gabe sleep with me though,” she said as she poured.

  “I’d prefer if you didn’t quite say it that way, Lily,” I said, irritated at what she’d said.

  “Oh, I’m sure Tom knows what I mean,” she said with a smile.

  There again was the shortening of our names, as if she was integrating herself into our friendship, becoming overfamiliar.

  Thomas laid his pad and pencil on the table while he sipped on his coffee. He glanced over the rim of his mug at me.

  “I’ve got some questions, are you up to answering them?” he said.

  Lily nodded.

  “When you first saw Gabriel, you told him you knew he was looking for you. How did you know?”

  “Sister Anna had said she’d given him the envelope, so I guess I kind of assumed.”

  Thomas glanced at me, that twitch had returned. I kept quiet. Lily wasn’t mentioned in those diary entries. There was no way Sister Anna giving me them could have led her to believe I was looking for her.

  “You said you’d visited Sierra at the school, obviously that was after she’d made contact. Was there a time when you, Sierra, and Sister
Anna were together?”

  Thomas’ comment reminded me to send a message to the principal; she didn’t need to check her log.

  “Yes. I didn’t remember Sister Anna; it was Sierra who told me who she was. I was thankful that she’d gotten me out of the convent.”

  “What did you talk about?”

  “How to expose the church, mainly. Sierra wanted to go to the press; Sister Anna wanted to take it up the chain first. We persuaded her not to. As I said before, they would close ranks, deny, and protect. They’d place the blame elsewhere. Maybe a rogue priest.”

  “Is there such a thing?”

  She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know, I just know that going to the church would have been a bad thing. Sierra said so.”

  “Did you believe everything Sierra told you? Was there anything that you felt might be remotely exaggerated or untrue?”

  “No! She was my sister, why would I not believe her?”

  “So, she told you she was gathering evidence then going to the press. Where I’m a little confused is when did Sister Anna make an appearance? Who contacted who first? Can you help me with that?”

  “As far as I know, Sister Anna approached Sierra. She told her that she’d kept track of everyone from the home, all those that had been fostered or adopted. She kept records, addresses, and name changes, that type of thing. I guess that’s how Sierra knew where I was.”

  “And I imagine that information would be very useful to whoever is chasing you. But what confuses me is this, how did Sister Anna know where Sierra was?”

  “I don’t know, she didn’t say. I’m not sure I know where you’re going with this,” Lily said.

  “What if Sister Anna isn’t who she says she is? What if Sister Anna was the one who killed those people and is the one after you?”

  “No way. She couldn’t have.”

  “Why? You didn’t know her. None of us know her.”

  Lily didn’t answer. Maybe she didn’t have an answer or was stuck in where to take the conversation.

  “Why do you say, ‘she couldn’t have’?” I asked gently.

  “I just don’t believe it, she’s a nun. I have to believe someone was good in that fucking place.”