Killing Season

by Faye Kellerman

  “This thing is heavy.”

  “Only because you’ve been holding up your arms so long.” His body was close to hers. “Okay, aim for the chest. That’s a much bigger target than the head.”

  “I can hit the head.”

  “Give it a whirl, then.”

  She took a shot. The kickback brought her hands up and she didn’t even hit the target. She was pissed. “What the hell happened?”

  “Physics,” Ben told her. “Bullet goes forward, your hands go back. You’ve got to brace your entire body so that your hands remain steady. Try it again.”

  She emptied the chamber. All her shots were wide. “This sucks. I suck.” She handed JD the empty gun. “Put some more bullets inside. I want to try again.”

  JD smiled. “Sure thing, sugar.”

  “You should try my gun,” Ben told her. “It has a little less kickback. Might be easier.”

  “I can handle this one, thank you very much,” Ro barked. “I just need practice.”

  “We created a monster,” JD said.

  “Nonsense,” Ro said. “I still loathe guns. But I have my pride. I will quit as soon as I get a bullet on the target paper.”

  After another try, she managed to hit the paper but not on the target area. JD held out his hand for the gun.

  Ro balked. “Give me another round of bullets. Just let me get one on the body.”

  “Ammo ain’t cheap.”

  “Just give it to me.”

  Another round, and she hit the body—twice.

  By the time they left, she had peeled off a clean head shot and felt good about it.

  Ben thought, Good for her, good for JD, and good for me.

  Good for all of us good guys.

  A week later Ben was cleaning up three years of an obsession; it was liberating, to be sure, but just like a drug addict, he had twinges of longing. Just one more file; just one more fix. The shredder was going full force. When he was done, the family would have a hell of a compost pile.

  “You know, you never answered my question,” Ro said to him. She was wearing jeans and a T-shirt and heels. She looked good, as always.

  “What question?” As usual, he was listening with half an ear, rereading the file on Kevin Barnes, trying to figure out his next move. “I sure hope we have this right.” He looked at her. “Do you think we have it right?”

  “Probably, but now it’s Shanks’s problem.” She ripped the file out of his hand and placed it in the shredder. “Stop second-guessing yourself and answer my question.”

  “What question?”

  “On prom night, you disappeared.” She was couching her anger in a saccharine-sweet smile. “You were gone for quite a while.”

  “That’s not a question.”

  “Okay. How about this? Where were you?”

  “I was dealing with slashed tires, Ro. I wasn’t looking at my watch.”

  “I’m just saying that it took a long time to examine four flat pieces of rubber.”

  “What do you want me to say?”

  She walked over to him until they were nose to nose. Her eyes were smoldering. “You don’t have to say anything because I already know.” She pushed him hard. “You dumped me as a date after you promised to take me to the prom. And then you go ahead and screw that skank?”

  “I told you I didn’t screw her.”

  “To paraphrase someone we both know: You may not have screwed her, but you did something! Because her description of you was way too accurate to be chance!” She pushed him again. “Okay, bud.” She wagged a finger in his face. “Now we’re even!”

  “Not quite.”

  “You’re right. We’re not even. You didn’t take on a menial, thankless job and suffer through sleepless nights just to help me out. As of right now, you owe me one, Mr. Big.”

  Ben liked the moniker. It made him smile and that made her angrier. She threw something at him and it whizzed past his head. It crashed into the wall and fell with a thud.

  “Okay, okay,” Ben said. “We’re even.”

  “No . . . we . . . are . . . not!” This time she threw his calculator.

  Ben caught it with one hand. “Okay, now that’s expensive. Can you stop destroying my room?”

  “This is the deal. I want both you and JD to take me to grad night! And if you stand me up again, I will kill you.”

  “What about Lisa?”

  “The poor dear will just have to go stag.” She kissed him hard on the mouth. “Understood?”

  He was breathless from her kiss. Whenever he felt out of control, he obsessed about one thing. “Can we finish up with this? It’s making me anxious. Plus, the solstice is only a few days away.”

  She broke away and plopped down on the papers that were covering his bed. “Ben, it’s over. Shanks is monitoring the situation. You should be writing your speech for graduation, not playing detective when we have a real detective. And stop trying to wriggle out of grad night. You’re going.”

  He changed the subject. “What kind of speech should I be writing?”

  She was incredulous. “Aren’t you valedictorian?”

  “Salutatorian.”

  “Salut . . .” She frowned. “How’d that happen? You’re the smartest person in the school.”

  “JD’s done way more for the school than I have. I’m fine with it.”

  She was quiet. “That doesn’t seem fair.”

  “Ro, I don’t give a rat’s ass. I am so over high school. I don’t even know why I’m going to graduation. It’s meaningless. And so is grad night. Just go with JD. I’ll stay home. I’m tired of tailing after you two lovebirds.”

  “We’re not lovebirds. We’re dates of convenience, and as soon as we graduate, it’s so, so over. How can I ever be serious with someone who cheated on me?” She realized what she said and put her hand to her mouth. “Strike that.”

  Ben laughed.

  She walked over to him and played with his curls. “I hate to admit this, but you’re right. It’s stupid for me to have two dates for grad night. Or any date at all, for that matter. Let’s all go together as a group: you, me, JD, Lisa, Shannon, Chelsea, Mark, and Weekly. It’s fun that way.”

  “Great.” Ben winced. “It’ll be one big happy orgy because, apparently, there has been lots of swapping that, in my perpetual haze, I’ve not been aware of.”

  She slapped his shoulder. “Stop it.” Then her eyes misted up. She blinked back tears. “I’ll miss you, Vicks, even with all your quirks and craziness. I’ve never met anyone like you.”

  “I’ll miss you too, Dorothy.” He meant it with every fiber of his being. “But right now, I’m still here and I’m still obnoxious. I’ve got three years of a fixation here. Help me clean it up.”

  She said, “You’re still speaking at graduation, right?”

  “Yeah, I think I welcome everyone.”

  “What are you going to say?”

  “It’s like a couple of sentences. I’ll wing it.”

  “You can’t wing it, Vicks. You’ll have to say the same thing at rehearsal and at graduation.”

  “We have a rehearsal?”

  “Yes, we have a rehearsal.” She mocked his voice.

  He put down a stack of papers. “When?”

  “In three days, Mr. Space Cadet, the day before graduation.”

  “That’s June twenty-first. It’s the day of the solstice. I can’t be there. I’ll be watching Haley and Lilly.”

  “You have to make it or the school won’t graduate you.”

  “Then I won’t graduate—”

  “Vicks, stop it!” She put her hands on his shoulders. Her voice was soft. “Griff and Ezra will watch the girls. We’ll keep them locked up in the house until we come back. They’ll be fine.”

  “No way—”

  “Shanks is on it. Albuquerque is on it. You’re done with this.” She stared at him. “I’ll be really upset if you don’t come to graduation.” She paused. “And if you’re with the girls . . . who’ll be wa
tching me?”

  He hadn’t thought about that. “Have JD drive you to rehearsal. Tell him to take a gun.”

  She pushed him away. “Anytime you don’t want to deal with me, you palm me off on JD.” She picked up her purse. “I’m leaving.”

  “Wait, wait, wait.” Of course, what she said was true. He said, “Okay. I’ll come to rehearsal. I’ll work it out with the girls.”

  “Your parents will be home, right?”

  “Maybe, but I kinda didn’t want them dealing with this.”

  “So let the girls go to my house. My mom should be home. And we’ll emphasize to the boys that they have to be with them at home with the door locked the entire time.”

  “Let them stay at my house. It’s closer to the school.”

  “I’m down with that.”

  “Does Griff know how to shoot?”

  “The guy is not going to come knocking at your door, Ben. That’s just stupid.”

  “Why am I not reassured?”

  “I know you’re worried, but it’ll only be a couple of hours.” She put her purse down and kissed him like she did way back when. “Please come to rehearsal. I really want us to go through graduation together.”

  Ben was quiet.

  “I know we can’t go backward,” Ro said. “After graduation, we’ll all be scattered across the four corners of the globe. And I’m looking forward to the future. Within a few months at college, I’ll be pledged with the top sorority and I’ll be dating the best-looking guy on campus. But . . .” She blew out air. “You can only have one first love . . . and you’ll always be my first love.”

  He kissed her back and there was instant electricity. Dear Lord, protect him from being seventeen. “And you’ll always be my first love.”

  “So, my first love . . . you’ll come to rehearsal with me?”

  It was against his better judgment. “I’ll go for a couple of hours, okay. That’s the best I can do.”

  “Fair enough.” A sad smile. “When I’m gone, think of me from time to time.”

  “Ro, it’s the not thinking about you that’ll be difficult.” He suddenly felt very blue. “How the hell do I move on when you’ve set the bar so high?”

  “I hate it when you say things like that.” She was choked up. “It makes me think about what I’m losing.”

  “You’ll always have me here.” He pointed to her chest. “And I’ll always have you here.” He pointed to his own heart.

  She wiped her wet eyes. “Now it’s my turn to say let’s get back to work.” She threw another pile into the shredder. It made a god-awful sound that had Ben cringing.

  But his mind was still on the conversation.

  She was his first love, no doubt about that.

  And she cheated on him, no doubt about that either.

  There was first love.

  And then there was true love.

  Chapter 10

  Back in New Mexico, he broke into a sweat and it wasn’t because of the warm weather. He shouldn’t have come back. After his stunt with the tires they were onto him, and he’d have better luck elsewhere.

  But compulsion was compulsion and he knew that nothing was going to satisfy him except a hit in this territory. So why did he take a chance on doing something that he’d ultimately find hollow?

  It didn’t have to be a certain person. Any female that fit the categories would do. But it would be extra-special sweet to do it right under their proverbial noses, prove that lightning could strike twice, and just maybe it would give him the same thrill that she gave him three years ago.

  She had fought like a tiger, scratching and clawing and screaming, but she didn’t have a chance. Eventually he had subdued her by sheer force. It was because of her spirit that he decided to start using chemicals to get from point A to point B to point C . . . well, they were dead by point C—limp and lifeless, unable to respond in any way.

  Some guys got off on the fight. He got off on the helplessness. He was ashamed to admit it, even to himself, but he sometimes liked it better when they were dead than when they were alive. He could take his time, whisper things to the girls that he really wanted to say, let them know that he did care about them. That it wasn’t personal . . . just . . . it was who he was.

  He had passed the Four Corners on the rez, passed Shiprock, and was going into Farmington. He’d be in Albuquerque by evening, ready to set up shop. He knew better than to check in at the Jackson Santa Fe—pretty little Dorothy wasn’t there by chance—so he’d hit the Jackson down south, where he still had business at Sandia NL. That way the government would be paying for his room and meals and he could go in and out of Santa Fe without being noticed.

  That was if all went as planned. And when things didn’t go as planned, well, that was okay too.

  Creativity spawned excitement. And that’s all he wanted in his dull, dull life. A little fun now and then.

  Ro was chipper while Ben was pissed off and anxiety-ridden. She zipped across the threshold with Griffen following her like the tail to her comet. She had on a bright pink polo shirt that screamed summer. All it did was remind Ben of the significance of the day.

  “I don’t like this plan.” Ben closed the door. “I should be here.”

  “Stop worrying.” She sighed heavily. “We’ve been over this a thousand times.”

  Ben looked around. “Where’s Ezra?”

  “Sick,” Griffen said.

  “So there’s just the three of you?” He shook his head. “Uh-uh, I’m staying home.”

  “Vicks, Griff is here, the girls are together, and Shanks said he’ll make at least three drive-bys.”

  “I’m not going unless they wait at the police station.”

  “And I told you I’m not waiting at a police station,” Haley said.

  She seemed as pissed off as he was. It was the time of the year when she and Ben became orphans. Their mother was barely functioning, managing just to work and sleep. Their dad, on the other hand, was all work. Both of them were as absent as they were absent-minded. Ben and Haley were left to fend for themselves, and since Ben drove, Haley was dependent on him. He became bossy. She became defiant. Nothing worked for either of them.

  Haley said, “I’ve got a ton of work to do for my final papers. And Mom said something about leaving early from work.”

  Ben said, “She has a doctor’s appointment.”

  “Oh . . .” Haley’s complexion darkened. “I thought maybe she actually wanted to spend some time with me.”

  “She does, Haley.” Ben exhaled “She just can’t function right now.” Silence. “You haven’t said anything to her about today, right?”

  “God, don’t you trust me at all?”

  “I’m sorry if it comes across like that.”

  Haley was somewhat mollified. “Honestly, it’s stupid that she doesn’t know.”

  “I wanted here her, Haley. Dad overruled me.”

  “You haven’t told your mom about what’s going on?” Ro was genuinely surprised.

  “The official anniversary of my sister’s death is in spitting distance. She’s been in a dark place for days. My dad told me that he doesn’t want to unnecessarily worry her.”

  Ro made a face. “But she knows about the slashed tires. She knows that Shanks was grilling us about Barnes. You need to tell her what’s going on. She won’t wilt, you know.”

  “You’ve never been with her at this time of year.” Ben looked at his sister. “Should I tell her?”

  “Call Dad and ask him again.”

  He phoned his father. The conversation was very short. “Don’t tell Mom, but he’ll be here in an hour or so to oversee, okay?”

  “Oh please,” Haley shot back. “Call him back and tell him we’re fine.”

  “None of this would be necessary if you guys would wait at the police station.”

  “And what would Mom think about that?” Haley looked at him with hard eyes. “Ben, we’re fine. I mean, like how long are you going to be gone? Like two ho
urs? I mean, like, c’mon!”

  “Here, here,” Ro said.

  To Lilly, Ben said, “You okay with this?”

  “I can study anywhere.” She gave a weak smile. “If you have to go to rehearsal to go to graduation, then go to rehearsal. We’ll be fine.”

  “Can we go already?” Ro was tugging on Ben’s T-shirt.

  “I’m halfway done with college. Why do I need to graduate high school?” To Ro, he said, “Go on without me.”

  “I don’t believe this!” She was angry.

  Lilly stepped in. “Ben, the graduation ceremony isn’t for you. It’s for your parents. You owe it to them.”

  Ben knew she was right and that stank.

  He wasn’t meant to be the oldest child, to be the first one to go to prom, the first one to wear a cap and gown or go to college or get married or have kids or experience any of those milestones. He was born second in line. He should have been second in line. Totally wrong but what could he do?

  Ben turned to Griff. “You don’t answer the door for anyone, right? Even if he says he’s Shanks. Even if it is Shanks . . . well, if it is Shanks, you call me first. No one goes through that door unless I say so!”

  “Dude, I hear you.”

  “Don’t dude me right now,” Ben said. “It doesn’t inspire confidence.”

  Griff turned serious. “It’s a little embarrassing that you don’t trust me.”

  Ben took his arm and spoke in a low voice. “Griff, he killed four people.”

  “I’m on it, Ben. Besides, the guy would have to be a moron to come to the house.”

  Sometimes you’ve just got to let go. Ben said, “Did you preprogram your cell phones with the numbers?”

  “We all did: yours, Shanks’s, your dad’s, my dad’s, and nine-one-one.”

  “And you’ll keep the lines free at all times, right?”

  “I got the memo.” Griff was staring with his big blue eyes. “I can handle it.”

  Ben finally saw what he wanted: genuine concern in Griff’s eyes. The past year the boy had not only grown taller, he had filled out. He had broader shoulders and muscle in his arms. If he kept going this way, he’d make varsity football. In an arm wrestling match, Ben wouldn’t be surprised if Griff could take him down. But in a life-and-death struggle, Ben had an advantage over any of them. He had the passion because he knew what he was fighting for. “I’m counting on you. Don’t let me down.”