The Bend

by Terri Tiffany

  Thawed burger sat open on the counter. It looked as though Debbie had planned to cook a meatloaf. Why had she stopped? Kate scooped up the platter and thrust the meat into a nearby trash can.

  “Debbie? Are you home?” An intruder. That’s what she felt like.

  Her pulse quickened as her courage strengthened. She scanned the room again knowing she should leave but couldn’t.

  Her sight landed on the kitchen table. Debbie’s purse lay next to an open newspaper. What woman leaves her purse behind?

  “Debbie, are you in your room? Are you sick?” She turned the doorknob of a room leading off the kitchen and peeked inside. Debbie’s unmade double bed greeted her. The rest of the room appeared untouched.

  She returned to the kitchen with the decision to leave a note. Maybe Debbie would phone her later tonight and then she could apologize for the intrusion. She scribbled a few words on a napkin with a pen she found near the purse. As quickly as she could, she left the cottage for the fresh air outside, shutting the door behind her.

  Still, something didn’t feel right. Her grandmother often told her to follow her instincts. So with her curiosity still piqued, she peered around the side of the house.

  An older model Chevy was parked next to a rusted water tank. The driver’s side door was ajar.

  “Debbie?” Kate steeled herself for the worst. She dashed over to the car. Empty.

  Instead of finding Debbie on the driver’s seat, she found women’s sunglasses and a silver cross necklace. The same necklace Debbie had played with while Seth spoke with her. A size twelve pair of jeans had also been neatly folded and left on the passenger’s seat. Along with the broken picture of Buster.

  CHAPTER 23

  The Trainer never liked people who asked too many questions. Not even as a child. Nosing into his life. Wanting to know why he moved around so much. Why he changed jobs. Why he wasn’t married yet. Just today, he was almost forced to make a major change to his plans. But then it all worked out.

  It always did.

  He stepped outside his house into the back yard. Inhaled the fresh air.

  He had been doing this a long time. Finding women to train. He was quite good at it, actually. Some might say he was an expert. Everyone needed to be an expert at something. Otherwise what was the point in living? Everyone needed to find what they’re good at.

  God didn’t create people to waste their talents.

  The Trainer never wasted his.

  That’s why he selected his women carefully. The ones with the most potential. The ones who molded easily. Harlots who would turn to righteousness.

  The Trainer squatted—plucked a weed from the crack in the patio.

  He had his eye on another one who would fit perfectly. She might take a little work getting her to warm up but he wasn’t too worried. After all, he had this talent. They never knew what hit them. That was the joy in all of this. He reeled them in like a fighting bass. They flopped around a little and then snag, they were his. Hook, line, and sinker.

  He tossed the weed onto his garbage heap.

  Someday the world would follow his lead. They would finally see their errors and do exactly what he did to these women. Train them.

  A smile tugged his lips.

  Too bad he wouldn’t be around to see it.

  CHAPTER 24

  “Get over here right away. Something’s wrong.” Kate tried to sound calm but the rocketing feeling that Debbie was in trouble made it difficult. “Do you hear me, Seth?”

  “I’m a little busy right now.”

  She stopped her pacing. “Get unbusy and get over to Debbie’s right now. I need to show you something.” Her rising panic fueled her tone. Why she had chosen to call Seth? Maybe because he was the other last other person besides her to see Debbie. Maybe between the two of them they could figure out if they needed to call the police or not.

  A long sigh filled her ear. “Give me a half hour.”

  “I’ll be waiting.” She clicked off and stuffed her phone back into her pocket. The view from her car gave her little insight into why Debbie was missing. She could sit here all day and the woman might not return. Besides that, the memory of the aura scared her.

  Something had happened. She was sure of it. Like she was sure of it with all the other people over the years. If she called the police and tried to explain her hunch to them, she’d sound crazy. Of course there were a dozen other possibilities. Debbie could be out with a friend. Her car might not run and so she walked someplace.

  All the scenarios sounded plausible but not possible. Not after seeing that death sentence around her head.

  The rising heat in the car forced her to return to the attached porch. Two patio chairs sat next to the railing. Kate chose the one closest to the sidewalk and waited. What was taking Seth so long?

  She heard his Jeep before she actually saw it. Seth rounded the corner and blasted into a space behind her car. She let out her breath when he leaped out and wheeled toward her. He was puffing by the time he reached her.

  “This better be good.” He wiped a stream of sweat from his face with the back of his hand.

  “It is. Follow me. The door was open when I arrived.”

  “Good to know I’m not associating with a burglar.” He followed her into Debbie’s living room where a lingering odor from the hamburger still clung to the air. “What is that?” He made a gagging sound.

  “Thank me later. I found rotting meat on the counter.” She nodded toward Debbie’s vacant chair. Then led him into the kitchen. She pointed to the purse. “No woman leaves her purse when she goes out.”

  Seth frowned. Obviously unimpressed with her discoveries.

  She waved him toward the bedroom. “What woman leaves without taking her medication?” She showed him a prescription for pain she’d noticed when she was in her room earlier. “She could be ill and need these.”

  “She might have another purse and another bottle of meds. You’re overreacting. You brought me out here for nothing.” He turned and headed for the door. “When you develop better reporting skills, call me. In the meantime, let me write the stories. You take the pictures.”

  She gripped the medication tighter. Arrogant man. “You haven’t seen everything yet.” She brushed past him into the living room. “Follow me.” She opened the sliders, not waiting for his answer. Instead she headed directly to the partially-opened car. Seth followed but at a slower pace. Why had she called him? He was no good to her at all.

  She pointed to the open door.

  “Look inside,” she ordered.

  He made a face but did as she asked.

  “Do you see that necklace? It’s the one she wore yesterday. She fondled it the entire time we spoke to her. And that’s the picture of her dog. It’s busted. It wasn’t yesterday.”

  Seth withdrew his head from the car’s interior. He rested his elbow on the top of the door frame. “I don’t know what it means. She’s mad and took off?” His eyebrows waggled.

  Kate fumed. “You’re no help. I thought someone like you had a nose for news. Anyone can see that she’s not here and she left in a hurry. Probably not on her own terms.”

  Seth gave a slow whistle. “Someone has read one too many mysteries. What did you do in your prior life?”

  So now he was going to make fun of her. “Forget it. When we hear on the news that she’s been found dead in a creek somewhere, then you can mock my skills.” She left him standing by the car. She couldn’t tell him her greatest concern, that she’d seen the death curse in Debbie’s picture. He’d lock her up if she did. She’d have to hope that Debbie was all right and let it go.

  “Are you coming or not?” She turned back to find him scanning the backyard. He bent down in the dirt. Fingered something. “What are you doing?” Her curiosity surged. “I asked you a question.”

  “Come back here and look at this.”

  Kate joined him near the front tires. “What? I don’t see anything.” He pointed downward but all she
saw was mud.

  “Don’t you see? Someone has been here who wears shoes both our feet could fit into.”

  ###

  They met back at Kate’s house. Seth suggested using the office but she didn’t want to alert anyone nearby that they were working on a Saturday. She didn’t want to go to his place so that left hers. She scooped up a pile of clothing from the kitchen chair and motioned for him to sit.

  “Water or water?” she asked.

  “That’s it? Water or water?” He shook his head. “Water it is then.”

  Kate poured each of them a glass from the pitcher she kept in the refrigerator. She joined him at the table. “So what should we do? Report her missing?”

  “And tell the sheriff we were snooping around her place uninvited? That’s a good way to lose our jobs.”

  The Bend didn’t have a regular police department. A sheriff who worked part time took the calls.

  “What then? Wait for her to return—if—she returns?”

  He nodded. “We can take turns driving out there to check on her. Give it a week. She might be with relatives. In the meantime, I think we ought to find out if Brother Earl knows anything about this. She did say he threatened her. And there were those prints.”

  “Are you suggesting that Brother Earl could be responsible? He asked her to stop running a daycare. He didn’t say he’d kill her. Now who needs to get a grip.” She grabbed his glass and took it to the sink. “You can go that route but not me. I actually enjoyed myself at dinner there the other night. He can be quite social in his own environment.”

  Seth leaned forward. “Maybe you’re right. I doubt it. I’d like to see him like that myself. Why don’t you invite me to go with you the next time? I could see what his real plans are. Maybe he’d change my mind.” He gave her a thin smile.

  “I don’t know when I’ll be going back. He didn’t invite me.” It rattled her that he had abruptly said goodnight to her that evening but she wasn’t going to tell Seth that part of the story. “I’m having dinner with his brother tomorrow. Maybe I can ask him.”

  Seth’s jaw tightened. “David? You’re going out with that guy?” He snorted, crossing his arms over his chest. “Now that’s a story.”

  She gritted her teeth. Maybe she shouldn’t have revealed her plans for tomorrow. “He seemed nice and I thought it would be a way to learn more about the Bend. Like you said, his brother practically runs the town. If there is something more sinister going on as you like to suggest, I’ll find out. Besides, you haven’t told me you’ve done anymore digging besides dragging me to that cemetery.”

  His sneer left his face.

  “I’ve got to go. It’s been a long day.” He pushed back from the table and stood, prompting her to join him. “If your reporter skills do pick up on anything, let me know on Monday. I’ll take my turn and check on Debbie tomorrow.” He narrowed his eyes. “Does that work for you?”

  What choice did she have? “That works. I’ll see you Monday.”

  He steered past her out the back door. Seconds later, she heard his Jeep roar out of her driveway. Kate wasted no time pulling up her pictures of Debbie again.

  The aura had grown brighter.

  CHAPTER 25

  Whenever Seth’s frustrations kicked in, he had to force back the urge to buy an entire pizza and devour it in one night. Tonight he grabbed a large pepperoni and sausage, ate it alone in his house, washing it down with a bottle of soda he’d saved for this occasion.

  What was Kate thinking by agreeing to go out with Earl’s brother? Was she crazy or plain stupid? He wished he’d asked where they were going and almost called her but didn’t. Yeah, that would have been nice and creepy. Checking up on the new photographer like he owned her or something. Sounded like something Earl might do.

  Instead, he sat on his back deck nursing a gut ache. Something was strange about Earl and his clan but he couldn’t figure it out. Those cabins behind his home. The way the women dressed who attended his functions. He was certain they weren’t all his wives. Girlfriends? Maybe David owned a few of them. And then those kids. Sure, they were polite but... he couldn’t put his finger on it.

  Then there was the theater. It hadn’t been open in weeks. Last he heard, it was closing. For personal reasons the sign said on the door. Personal reasons or Earl reasons?

  He fisted his hand. How was he to get the story of the century if he couldn’t get on Earl’s property and look around?

  Daisy purred next to him and then leaped onto his lap. He stroked her neck a few times before returning to his troubling thoughts. Tomorrow was Sunday. Maybe he’d take a little trip. Get a little sermonizing in him. He’d heard Brother Earl packed a crowd on the Sundays the pastor let him preach. Kind of like those rallies.

  With his plans set, he shoved the cat to the floor and grabbed his keys. Another trip to Debbie’s house wouldn’t hurt. By now she would have returned. He could get a few more questions answered. If not, he could find answers himself.

  A bad plan was better than no plan.

  He grabbed a flashlight in the laundry room thinking it might come in handy at Debbie’s. He’d parked his Jeep twenty feet from his back door. Ten feet out, he heard movement behind him. He froze. Cocked his head. A bear? The landlord had warned him. Had he covered his trash? He listened again.

  Nothing but katydids.

  But just in case, he dug for his keys. Turned toward the area where he stored his garbage cans.

  More rustling—closer.

  Seth froze. Was he supposed to yell or play dead? His brain screamed to remember. Better to make a run for it to his vehicle.

  He turned to his right when something hard slammed into him.

  Seth collapsed to the ground. His shoulder seared from the brutal impact. What happened? He scrambled to his feet and lurched toward the side of his Jeep, swerving to remain standing. He must get inside but his feet wouldn’t cooperate.

  Another sound from the right. Louder.

  Seth steeled himself for impact.

  CHAPTER 26

  The hard knock on her front door later that evening ripped through Kate’s chest. She dropped her spoon into her soup and reached for the nearby can of Mace. The only person who knew where she lived was her landlord and Seth. Hadn’t she and Seth seen enough of each other today?

  She left her chair and crossed into the living room. Since she’d yet to hang curtains, she could see her visitor. Her heart slowed as she set the Mace aside.

  Kate opened the door with a smile. “Doc. What brings you here?”

  Her new neighbor held a covered dish in his two hands. He, too, was smiling and cocked his head to the side. “When I told my wife about you she jumped right in and baked a treat. Once you taste it, you’ll understand why I’ve stayed married to her for forty years.”

  “That is so nice. Come in, please.” She opened the door wider as Doc crossed the threshold into the room. He smelled like apples.

  Doc passed her the dish and then patted his belly. “You can also see what her good cooking has done to me. But I don’t think it will hurt someone as tiny as you.”

  Kate raised the pan to her nose and inhaled. “Apple pie?” She sure hoped it was. Her grandmother had made the best in the town. She won a blue ribbon every year at the county fair.

  “Have a piece.” He waved her toward her kitchen.

  Kate took the pie to her kitchen table. She lifted the lid to find a still-warm golden crusted apple pie. She inhaled the sugary aroma. “I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.”

  “Go ahead. I promised Mary I wouldn’t leave until I was sure you liked it.”

  Kate grabbed two plates and two forks and motioned for him to sit. After a little back and forth banter, she convinced her new friend that he should partake as well. It didn’t take that much convincing before the doctor was shoveling a forkful into his mouth. When she’d eaten half of the delicious dessert, she set her fork down.

  “I couldn’t help but notice that you don’
t think much of Brother Earl. Am I right?”

  “Now why would you think that? He and I have known each other since we were kids. Went to the same school, dated some of the same girls. I fell for Mary hard though by tenth grade, and Earl played the field a little longer.”

  “So you knew his wife?” Maybe she’d get more information for her story. Someone like Doc Brown would know everything in the Bend.

  “Knew his wife is right. She left him a few years ago. Up and disappeared. Earl said she high-tailed it back to California where her parents lived. Probably a good thing. He was getting a little more radical then. Guess she didn’t want to put up with it.” He rubbed his chin with his palm. “Seems to me she left right around the time his parents died. No, maybe a few years later. Hard to remember anymore. So much goes on.”

  An image of the family plot rose to her mind. She must remember to tell Seth. “Can you explain to me what you mean by radical? I attended one of his rallies. Seems he has good plans for the town.”

  Doc coughed and glanced away for a moment. “If that’s what you want to call them. He and his brother seem to think they know what’s best for the rest of us.”

  “David? How well do you know him?” She fingered her fork, wishing she could gulp down the rest of the pie but didn’t want to appear rude.

  “He’s a bit younger than the rest of us. Went off to college to become an accountant. Moved around a lot. He works with Earl doing his books. I also heard he’s quite the lady’s man. You aren’t falling under his spell too, are you?” His eyes twinkled. “He hasn’t ever married and I don’t know if he ever plans to. He implied as much one time when I treated him for a bad bruise on his arm awhile back. I think he’s more interested in having a good time. Just a friendly warning.”

  “Thank you, I’ll keep that in mind. Can I get you water or make coffee to wash down the pie?”