Kate glanced at David who seemed more interested in his last piece of bread than what his brother said. Maybe he’d heard it all before but she hadn’t. She wished she dare ask if she could take notes. But she didn’t want to stop his monologue. Her memory would have to suffice.
Brother Earl continued about how the culture ruined our children. Shaping the world in a way that perpetrated evil. His job was to stop it. No matter what it took.
“What do you mean by that? No matter what it takes?”
Deep lines traced Brother Earl’s jaw. “Just what I said. Whatever it takes.” He downed his glass of water.
David finally spoke. “You can see how passionate my brother gets. Me, on the other hand, find other things to get passionate about.” He gave Kate a side long glance. And winked.
When he stood to help Adriana pass dishes of vanilla ice cream around the table, Kate noted the way his dark hair curled at the back of his neck. He was no black sheep. Rather the swan in this family. She studied Brother Earl’s boxy build. She would never have guessed the two men came from the same family. David spoke in a gentler tone and acted as though what she said mattered. Brother Earl never asked her any further questions once qualifying her as a photographer. It appeared she was present only to listen to him ramble. Like poor Adriana.
Once Brother Earl finished slurping up his dessert, Adriana gathered the dirty dishes and vanished through the nearest door as though she had never been in attendance.
Kate watched her leave and sighed.
“Do you mind if I use your restroom, please?” She wanted a better look at the house. What better excuse?
“Of course. Take a left. Two doors down. I’m afraid you’ll find it quite outdated to what you are used to. I tried to keep the original character of the home. I do that in many aspects of my life.”
Rising, she took her purse with her. After shutting the door, she scanned the small bathroom. Earl hadn’t lied. The decor looked like something out of the forties. At least running water dripped from the faucets. She washed her hands and peered out the back window. It was close to dark but she could make out a small clearing and what looked like a dirt path leading into the woods. Was that a swing set behind that clump of trees? The green and yellow pattern sure looked like it. Where were the children? An early bedtime? As she was about to turn away, she noticed a slouched woman walking on the path toward the woods. Adriana? She held what looked to be buckets with ladles.
Kate grabbed a towel and dried her hands. Maybe Seth would know.
When she returned, she gave a quick good-bye to Brother Earl and thanked him for her meal. For the second time that entire evening, Brother Earl looked directly at her. “You come visit again.”
She nodded, wondering if that was a request she wanted to fill.
David offered to walk her to her car. “We’ve got some wild creatures in these parts. In case you hadn’t noticed, the woods behind the house are pretty dense. When I was a small boy, I got lost out there. Took my father two days to find me. Never did it again.”
David guided her through the same hallways to the front porch. Someone had turned a light on over the doorway. She glanced to her car in the settling darkness. His offer to accompany her made her breathe easier. “I can’t imagine going through that nightmare. I bet your parents were out of their minds with worry.”
David nodded. “My dad was. I got the whooping of my life when he found me. After that, I made it a point to study my surroundings.” His voice tightened. “You should too, Kate. The Bend isn’t the easiest place to live in.” He stood motionless next to her.
“I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing it a long time now.” She thought of her parents’ untimely death and how she hid from the press. Yes, she could take care of herself. David didn’t need to give his warnings.
“That’s good to know. I should have realized you had spunk. Anyone strong enough to sit through an entire meal listening to my brother’s rants knows how to take care of themselves.” He chuckled.
When they reached her car, a certain sense of relief filled her. She didn’t know if it was because of David’s kindness or because she was no longer inside that house. “Was it hard growing up here? In a funeral home?”
He shrugged. “When that’s all you know, it’s okay. My brother might come across as brash but he does a good job.”
“Do you think he’d meet with me again? I would love to write a feature story about him.”
David reached for her car door and opened it. “A word of advice, Kate. Earl does what Earl wants. He’ll contact you if he deems it in his best interests. But word of caution again—if you write a story, print the truth.” He stepped aside. “Now drive safely. You never know what you’re going to run into this time of night.”
He gave a half-bow and left her standing by her opened door. Kate watched him climb the porch steps and disappear into the darkened house. She scrambled into the driver’s seat as the porch light went out. Blackness surrounded her like a wool blanket.
She started her car and flipped on her headlights. Her gaze traveled back to the house one final time. A faint light flickered on in the second story. Kate rolled down her window for a better view. As she did, the light snapped off, thrusting the house into a final darkness.
CHAPTER 14
An unexpected shadow swooped over her desk.
Seth. He pulled the ever-present lollipop from his lips. “How was your dinner with Earl?”
Although she’d worked at the paper only a short time, Kate had come to the conclusion that she and Seth would never be best buds. More the contrary. It didn’t matter what time she came in or from where, he questioned her whereabouts.
He wasn’t her keeper and he should stop acting like he was.
She grabbed her coffee mug and headed toward the fresh pot. “Why? Writing a story?” As soon as the unkind words left her mouth, she regretted them. Just because Seth annoyed her didn’t justify her meanness. “Sorry. That was rude.” She returned to her desk. Seth was already typing at his computer. “I had an interesting evening. Want details?”
He typed another moment then spun around to face her. “Tim is out of town on business for a few days. That puts me in charge. If you’ve got a story, give it to me. If not, find one. In the meantime, I’m going to need your services at one. I’ve got an interview scheduled with the owner of the First Time Daycare on the edge of town. Seems like Brother Earl put his finger on her too.”
The hours ticked by until she joined Seth in his Jeep. He spoke barely two sentences to her until they pulled in front of a yellow with white trim cottage. A pink sign in the lawn announced the day care’s name and phone number. Except for an assortment of swings and a turtle sandbox in the side yard, the grounds looked empty.
“Where is everyone?” Kate searched for signs of children as she shut the Jeep’s door. Seth came to stand next to her. “It looks deserted.”
He waved his hand in front of him. “Compliments of Brother Earl.”
###
Their interview with Debbie took place inside a living room filled with empty playpens and discarded toys. Debbie picked at a cross necklace around her neck and a ring on her finger while a frazzled look rode in her deep blue eyes. Her slacks were stained and her top was beyond wrinkled. Kate smelled stale milk and noticed a few loose animal crackers tucked into the couch cushions. Maybe Brother Earl had done the Bend a service. She wouldn’t bring a dog here for the day.
“Thanks for meeting with us. Do you mind sharing your story so others can be made aware of Earl’s methods?” Seth pulled out a small tape recorder and clicked it on. Kate readied her camera and as quietly as she could, snapped a few photos of Debbie speaking with him.
By the third question, tears fell from Debbie’s eyes. “He’s a mean one, he is. He told me no mother in her right mind should ever take her child out of her home to stay in a place like this. What’s he think I am? A child molester? I’ve watched kids since I was a kid myse
lf. My mother watched kids in our home when I was growing up. What gives him the right to threaten me if I don’t close up shop?”
“How did he threaten you? Did he give specifics?”
Debbie reached for a nearby tissue, dirty, by the way it was already scrunched. Kate glanced away.
“No specifics. He wouldn’t do that. Just general threats. Next day I found my Buster dead as a doorknob down by the pond.”
“Buster?” Seth leaned forward. Kate gave him credit. He had perfected his interviewing skills.
“Who is Buster?” he asked, concern oozing from his voice.
“What is Buster, more like,” Kate said, as she passed Seth the photo of Buster she found on the mantle. Someone had taken a pen and written his name, and rest-in-peace below his body.
“That’s him.” Debbie reached for the picture and cradled it in her arms. “Best dog in the county. Wasn’t more than fifteen years old if that.” She sniffed and wiped her sleeve across the dusty frame.
Kate snapped another picture.
“Can you be sure Earl hurt him? I mean, the dog was kind of old, wasn’t he?”
Debbie stiffened. “I took good care of my pets like I did my kiddos. It was Earl that did it and I’d swear it in court. That is if I could ever get the judge to listen. All they do is tell me to go home and forget about it. How can I forget about it when I have no business left? I swear Earl has got that judge in his pocket too. What am I going to do? All the mothers who used to bring their kids here have stopped. They’re afraid of that man, that’s what I’m telling you. Afraid.”
“Did he give you a reason why he felt the children shouldn’t be leaving their homes?” Seth laid his hand on Debbie’s arm. Nice touch. What he wanted was the lead—the headline that would sell the story. She aimed her camera and crouched closer.
Click.
Debbie glanced out the front window. She clasped her hands in her lap on top of the photo of Buster. “He said women belonged at home taking care of their children. That’s the role God made for women. To nurture. To take care of their offspring. That’s the word he used. Offspring. Like kids came from a litter. But what got me worse was he said women are meant to serve man. Period. Not only was their place in the home but at the man’s feet. He said the faster I learned that, the better a life I would lead.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “So that’s why I called you. I can’t survive without no man taking care of me if I don’t have my business. I’ll lose this here house too.” Her eyes grew wider. Kate looked down at Debbie’s hands. They were shaking.
When they said their goodbyes, Debbie clung to Seth’s arm. “Don’t wait too long. Write your story so someone will stop that man. And for me as I’m running out of time.”
Seth gently pried her loose while promising to do his best. Kate gave the poor woman a quick hug and whispered she would check on her in a few days. She didn’t know why she promised but something about the look in Debbie’s eyes worried her.
Seth took a short detour on the way back to the office. “One more stop. That’s all. I’ll get you back to the office soon.”
She had no place to be except work. That’s the kind of life she led. Alone until she made new friends. Friends who didn’t ask questions. As far as she was concerned, she had all day to ride around the county chasing another story.
He slowed on approach to a wooden bridge that crossed a narrow creek. The Jeep crept along in second gear, until Kate thought something was wrong with the engine. Finally, Seth turned right onto a dirt road. About fifty yards in, deep inside heavy brush, they came upon a rusty wrought iron fence. It surrounded tombstones.
CHAPTER 15
The Trainer enjoyed taking his meals at local cafes. His favorite booth in the back corner of this one allowed him to observe the patrons. And the waitresses.
He liked to watch people. Study their reactions to situations. His father once told him he needed to read people as much as his books. That’s how one gained control. Made it that much easier to train them.
“Don’t waste your life like I did mine,” his father told him after they carried his mother’s dead body to the freezer in the garage. “Make it count.”
He’d taken his father’s advice. All his advice.
Today he spent most of his time between bites of a tuna sandwich reading the expressions of one particular woman. He called her over twice to refill his coffee. Both times she tittered like he was asking her out to her senior prom. Wouldn’t that have been nice if that’s all he wanted?
She had good bones, too. Carried a tray full of platters without any effort. Her hips swayed as she sashayed between the tables.
He smiled. Another one.
But he was running out of time. He needed to move on to the one he most wanted. To complete his final purpose.
“Miss, do you mind bringing me a slice of that blueberry pie?”
“Sure thing. Is there anything else I can get you? Coffee? Soda?” She hung over his table, her ample chest heaving in his face.
He’d take care of her.
“No thanks. Maybe later.” He tossed her a flicker of a grin. She grabbed onto it like a child to a rattle.
He drank from his cup, deep and long. This part of his plan was actually his favorite part. Well, maybe not. He did derive a certain pleasure from seeing their expressions when he told them what he expected from them.
CHAPTER 16
Seth parked as close to the gate as he could get. “This will take only a minute.” He got out of his Jeep and stepped into knee-deep weeds. Apparently no one maintained this cemetery from the looks of the fence and the ground. It would be harder to find what he was looking for.
Kate got out and stood by his side.
“What are we doing here?” she whispered.
“You don’t have to whisper. Everyone is dead, in case you hadn’t noticed.” She clamped her jaw shut while he pushed through a couple of low-hanging branches. He wasn’t one for traipsing around in the woods. Never liked Boy Scouts although his mother made him join. Never liked camping or hiking.
He slapped a bug off his arm. Or insects.
Last night, he’d done his research. Now he dug into his jean’s pocket and pulled out a sketchy map. Kate stayed close on his heels despite her noticeable limp as he pushed forward past crumbling tombstones. Tall weeds whisked his legs. He tripped over a dead branch before he could catch himself.
Kate giggled behind him.
“I didn’t see it. Be careful or you might fall as well.” He raked his hands through his hair. So she was a smarty as well.
“I’d worn my hiking boots if I’d known we were doing this.”
“Just be quiet, okay? I’m concentrating.”
One by one, he scanned the almost unreadable names.
It was here, somewhere.
“What are we looking for? I don’t think anyone has been buried in here in years.” Kate pointed to the date on a nearby cross.
“Has anyone ever told you patience is not your best virtue?” He gave her a hard look and turned forward again. He should have come alone.
Overhead, a lone crow hawked, fluttered near them. Kate ducked and stifled a scream. He grabbed her hand to catch her and then steered them toward an area along a back fence.
He stopped. Let her hand fall. What was he thinking?
“Someone mowed it.” Kate’s voice cut into his senses as he took in the scene.
A patch of lawn about 600 square feet had been perfectly sheared. In the center of the cleared area sat an enormous tombstone sculpted in white marble.
The name engraved on the smooth finish spelled Foreman.
He’d found Brother Earl’s family plot.
CHAPTER 17
The Trainer called good-bye to the pretty waitress and crossed the street, neatly avoiding a passing school bus. He’d wait outside for her shift to end. An hour. She said she finished at five.
Nice of her to be so talkative.
But then most of the women he ch
ose were that way. Like her. Friendly. Made his part in the plan so much easier. He relaxed by his truck. Watched the sky darken. Few people spoke to him since he easily blended in to the Bend. Most skirted past him on a mission to get home.
Where they should be.
He checked the restaurant doors. From where he stood, he could see the clean-up start. The blinds lowered. The lights shutting down. His newest candidate descended the front steps, calling back to someone as she did. She glanced down the street. Looking for him? He stepped into the shadows not ready to spoil his surprise. Not yet.
The waitress tapped her foot, slung her purse over her shoulder. Did she know he’d be here? A shiver of anticipation raced through his limbs. His legs grew weak. He moved forward then stopped. Patience. That’s what he needed.
She waved. Stepped onto the sidewalk.
So easy. So very easy.
Now was the time. He left the shadows. Put on his suitor’s smile.
A dark sedan pulled in between them, blocking his view of her. The Trainer clenched his fists and stepped back under cover.
She called out to the driver and sprinted to the car. Smiling. Like she was supposed to with him.
She joined the young man behind the wheel. Kissed his waiting cheek.
No! The Trainer jammed his fist against his leg. She was his. She would be his.
He backed up, his plans fading fast along with his adrenaline.
He breathed deeply. Yes, he’d be patient. That’s what he would do. He would be patient like his father had been with his mother. Catch her unawares. Catch her when she trusted him the most.
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