“I did?” She held a cool hand against her cheek.
“Yeah.” He looked at her steadily, with an expression of determination. His eyes flashed to her lips. Stupid gorgeous gypsy eyes. “If you can't remember, I could . . .”
Lila forgot about everything else for a moment. She wanted to believe Max. But then she remembered where trusting people had gotten her lately. She remembered Juniper and Erica, who might be watching right now, although she doubted he'd be so careless. They'd certainly looked like a happy family. What did Max want with her?
“I'm sorry,” Lila said coldly.
He jerked back. “What?” .
“I'm sorry I did that. I would never want to mess things up when you and Juniper could have your family back together.”
He froze. His lips formed a perfect O as he exhaled.
He seemed surprised she'd figured things out. Her chest suddenly filled with indignation. She'd had enough people mess with her over the past few months. Her voice was hard. “What is this? What are you doing? If you're using some kind of gypsy super-power to try to suck me in, it won't work.” Lila knew she was being irrational, but it was like something had snapped inside of her. “I'm not waiting around while you decide what your best option is.”
“You think—? You don't understand.” He started to explain, but Lila blocked him out. Something had caught her eye in the distance, at the gourd display, and all her focus was concentrated on the scene. When Max continued to sputter she smacked him and pointed.
She'd noticed Juniper looking at the scarecrows. Where there were three scarecrows, there were now four, one of them very large. When Juniper turned to leave, it had reached out and grabbed the knit hat off her head.
She watched as Juniper realized what had happened, and turned back, ready for a fight. By that time the scarecrow had run away, but he stood not far off, as if waiting for her to notice, which she promptly did.
“Who is that?” she asked.
“It's not unusual for people to come in costume. Probably just someone playing.”
From the tightness in his voice, she guessed he couldn't shake the feeling that it didn't look right either.
Max cupped his hands around his mouth. “Juniper!” But with all the commotion, his voice couldn't reach her.
“He's leading her toward that cornfield.” Lila kept her eyes pinned to the costumed figure. The floppy hat fell off, and her stomach sunk as she realized who it was.
“That's a corn maze,” Max said, the color drained from his face. “Not that it makes much difference. They'll be nearly impossible to find by the time we get to them.”
The panic was thick in Max's wide eyes and in his voice as he yelled for Eddie to stop the ride, but Eddie stood chatting with someone a few yards away from his post, his back turned.
Lila didn't wait. She squirmed out from under the bar. It was a tight squeeze, and she didn't think she would make it through. She felt bruises form on her hipbone as she forced her self out.
Max tried to follow suit, but there was no way he would fit through. “Lila, you're going to kill yourself. Eddie! Eddie!” He glanced back and forth helplessly between Lila and Juniper.
Lila looked down. Her stomach lurched. Her entire body buzzed with electricity. She swayed, and steadied herself as she waited for the ferris wheel to lower enough to take her chance. By then the commotion had spread, and Eddie turned around just in time to see Lila hit the ground. He rushed to her, bug-eyed, but she waved him away. “Go stop the ride. Get Max off.”
She stood up, and a shot of pain burst through her ankle. She ignored it, limping toward the corn maze, where Juniper and the scarecrow had already disappeared.
Chapter 26
Finding the Finder
“Juniper!” Lila's voice disappeared in the noise of the celebration and the rows of corn. “Can you hear me?” There was no answer.
Lila tromped through the maze, wincing at the pain in her ankle, but feeling very grateful for tennis shoes for once. The stalks rose up around her, making her feel isolated and trapped. Her breathing became quick and shallow, and it felt like her heart would explode. She tried to concentrate on taking slow deep breaths. Dry, dusty particles filled her lungs.
When she came to a T she took a guess and turned right. “Juniper, I'm here.” She knew it was pointless; that even if Juniper wasn't already gone, it would be nearly impossible for her to find Lila by following her voice, especially since Lila kept moving around. The path branched off three ways. She took one, quickly hit a dead end and turned back to choose another.
“Junie! Lila!” Max's voice sounded close, but she couldn't waste valuable time looking for him. Suddenly Lila knew where Asher might take Juniper, and why.
“Max, if you don't find her meet me at my grandpa's house.” Lila checked her pocket for her phone, but realized it was still on the ferris wheel in her purse. She could only hope he heard her.
Lila stared at the shriveled up corn stalks blocking her path. Another dead end. Panic seized her chest. There wasn't time for this. She had to get to Juniper quickly, and she was done running through this maze like a rat.
Leaving the path, she ran straight through the paths between the rows of corn, hoping she'd chosen the direction of the festival. As the seconds dragged, she feared she was running in the wrong direction, and it might take forever to find her way out. The brittle stalks crackled and poked at her as she forced her way between them. A blue twilight had fallen. She squinted, trying to see between the stalks.
The sound of the Old Hodger's Bluegrass Band grew louder, giving her hope. Then lights twinkled through the spaces, and she was certain she'd made it back to the festival. She breathed deeply as she left the cornfield behind her, then glanced wildly around her, but found no familiar faces. It was just as well. While Sheriff Larson's might be a welcome face, Ada didn't need to be involved in this. She didn't want to know what Asher would do if an old woman, or even five, came at him with purses and pumps.
Still limping, she hurried through the crowd. With her sights set on the dirt parking lot, she focused on getting to the truck. Just as she passed the refreshment table, someone caught her arm.
Gladys stared at her, her brows creased with worry. “Lila, dear. Where are you going in such a hurry? I saw you jump out of the ferris wheel, and then you ran off, and Max too. What happened? It looks like you're hurt.”
Lila tried to sound calm, even though she knew Gladys was perceptive enough to see through her efforts. “I'm okay. Max is looking for Juniper in the corn maze. If you see him tell him I'm at Isaac's house. I think she might be there.” It was the best she could do. As much as she wanted the women to stay out of this, she knew she couldn't do it all on her own. At least if Max couldn't find Juniper here, he'd know where Lila was looking. She had a feeling she would need back up if she was right. And it wouldn't hurt to have people searching for Juniper here as well.
The key was in the ignition. The Beast rumbled to life, and Lila put it into gear. “Just one time,” she said, patting the dash and releasing a puff of dust, “can we get along?”
Her foot pressed down on the gas without reservation as soon as she cleared the pedestrians wandering the parking lot. She crunched the pedal harder. The old truck probably hadn't seen such speeds since its glory days.
Lila reached Main Street. The shops and houses blurred past her, and she imagined The Beast flying apart a piece at a time. Luckily most of the town was at the festival, so she didn't risk killing anyone as she roared through the streets. Within a few short minutes the house was in view, which was fortunate, seeing as how she didn't remember breathing the whole way.
“You're not so bad,” she told The Beast, pleased that she'd nearly arrived, and in one piece. “You just needed a little excitement.”
As Lila neared the house, she tried to shove the gear into neutral, but it stuck. She turned into the drive, pushing on the lever with all her strength as she sped toward the house, but it didn't giv
e. She gave up on it, and slammed her foot down. Rather than slowing down, the truck jerked forward, and Lila realized she'd hit the wrong pedal. Her foot flew to the brake and slowed the truck, but not enough to keep it from careening into the porch and throwing Lila's chest into the steering wheel.
The Beast sputtered as the last of its life drained away. A breathy groan escaped from Lila, like air hissing from a popped tire. Slowly she pulled up her head, wrapping her hands behind her aching neck. She scowled at the hole in the porch, and the beautifully shaped wooden pieces that lay splintered on the hood. She coughed, and it hurt her chest.
“That's it.” Her voice was raspy and weak. “We're done. Lou Wilson can have you. If he still wants you.”
Lila stumbled from the car and picked up a broken piece of railing. Carefully, she turned toward the street. Something she had seen while she was concentrating on getting here alive registered in her brain. There it was, parked in the street: the black Lexus. Asher was here, and she'd made her arrival loud and clear.
She limped up the stairs and found the door partly open. She pushed it and walked inside, then stood quietly, listening for voices. All she could hear was her heart pumping, and her own breath. She closed her eyes, willing herself to calm down and think. The possibility of surprising Asher was out, so she decided on the direct approach.
She slammed the door behind her. “I know you're here, Asher.” The force of her voice surprised her as it echoed through the house.
Something shuffled across the floor above her.
“Ouch! You little—” Asher.
The flight of stairs took longer than ever to ascend. When Lila reached the top, she peered around the doorway of the first bedroom, gripping the piece of wood in her hand. She turned the light on. It was clear. The closet door was open. There was nothing inside.
Next she flipped the bathroom light on. Empty. She eyed the bathtub, which was enclosed in a shower curtain. She'd probably be able to see two people hiding in the tub, but the curtain encircling it was heavy and dark blue, so she couldn't be sure. Not that Asher would be lurking in a bathtub, as if he was afraid of her. All he had to do was wait until she was close enough that she couldn't get away. He had Juniper anyway. She wouldn't try. Her heart beat hard. Quick, like a band-aid, she told herself, whisking the curtain aside. She sighed in relief, even though she knew she was just delaying the inevitable. Sooner or later, she'd have to face him.
She continued down the hallway, all too aware that she had nothing to defend herself with but a chunk of wood. Asher had surprise on his side, not to mention size and strength, and who knows what weapons. She had no idea how she would rescue Juniper. She could only pray for a clear head and good instincts.
The second bedroom was clear too. This time she didn't have a good view of the closet, so she crept in and checked it just to be sure. It would be easy for Asher to avoid confrontation by slipping down the hall while she was still in the room. The fact that he didn't, showed how little he considered her a threat, and even more concerning, he was waiting for her.
There was one bedroom left to check. Her chest tightened. Every muscle tensed, fingers and toes tingling as if she were at the top of the ferris wheel again. She walked carefully and slowly, but each step fell heavy and loud in her ears. She couldn't shake the feeling that at any second, Asher would jump out at her.
The door of the last bedroom, her old bedroom, was ajar. She pushed it open and sighed deeply. Juniper was safe; she sat quiet and still on the edge of the bare mattress, a silhouette against the moonlight shining through the window. Lila poked her head in and peered around the room, then rushed to Juniper. When she was close enough to see her eyes, she saw the fear in her eyes. Juniper looked over Lila's shoulder, shaking her head.
“Watch out,” she shouted.
Lila swung around to see Asher emerge from behind the door. She should have known he was hiding behind it. She'd been so eager to get to Juniper.
Asher stalked toward her, tall and confident, regardless of the overalls that hung comically over his muscular physique. His smile was menacing, but one eye squinted.
Lila glared at him, a hint of a smile on her lips. “What happened to you?”
Juniper snickered. “I gouged his eye,” she whispered.
“Shut up, you little rat!” His harsh voice echoed around the room.
Lila held Juniper close. Anger pushed the fear aside. “If you were trying to lure me here, you got me. Let her go.”
Asher's laugh sent a chill through her. “You had your chance. It sounded nice, you and I settling down in this old house together. There would have been plenty of time to find what I came for, and no one had to get hurt.” He came closer, and traced her jawline with his finger. Alcohol had strengthened his breath as well as his southern accent. “But you're stubborn, aren't you? Nothing I did was good enough.” He scowled, and his voice was acid. “You forced me to do what I did.” He looked down at the piece of wood in her hand and smiled mockingly. Lila clutched it tight, realizing she had to use it now or loose her chance, but he snatched it from her before she could swing, as if it took no effort at all, and sent it clattering to the floor.
Lila glared and thrust out her jaw. “The drugs were a last resort, then? What about the birds in the upstairs bedroom? I nearly fell down the stairs that day too. And what about the pond?”
He looked confused a moment, then understanding brightened his face. “That wasn't me, darlin'. I'll take responsibility for the birds; just tryin' to spook you a little. And the drugs were just a nudge to get your imagination going. But you can thank all the idiots in this town for the pond. A simple mind will take a tale and turn it into a bloated, deformed monster with a life of its own. If you nearly drowned, it only means you're as simple as all the rest. Now if you'll kindly be quiet, I've invited a guest here, and I'd like to talk to her.”
Asher took Juniper's tiny hand and Lila's grip on her tightened. “I'm afraid we got off to a bad start.”
He used the smooth lawyer voice, combined with the wide smile that had once made Lila's heart leap. Now made her sick to her stomach.
He squatted down to look Juniper in the eye.
“I'd like to tell you a story. Once there was a little boy, who lived with his mother in a tiny shack. His daddy lived far away, with an evil witch who kept him prisoner. Sometimes his daddy got away and came to visit, but the witch always got him back. He wanted to come home and live with the boy, but first he had to steal the witch's treasure. Then they would hide away together in a house of their own and live happily ever after.”
Juniper glared at him, but her curiosity was transparent. “And did he steal the treasure?”
Asher's face darkened. “No.” The syllable was quiet and heavy with emotion. “One day his daddy went away and never returned. The boy knew his father was dead. So he vowed that when he grew up he would find the witch and avenge his father by stealing the treasure himself. He would make the witch sorry she had kept his daddy from him.”
Lila's eyes widened as she listened. Was he talking about Ada and David?
“You understand what it's like to lose a parent, right, Juniper?” he continued.
Lila's hand flashed towards Asher as she tried to make contact with any vulnerable part of him. He grabbed her fist hard, squeezing the bones, and pain coursed through her hand. “Please don't interrupt.”
He returned his attention to Juniper. “I hear you're very good at finding things. You found Lila a couple of times behind the house, and you found Clint's body.”
Lila stared at him, incredulous. “After you k—” She stopped herself, glancing at Juniper. “You're crazier than I thought. You can't possibly think she—”
“I told you not to interrupt,” he yelled sharply. He lifted his hand as if to strike her, then looked at Juniper and lowered it. “I didn't hurt Clint. He was my friend. Now, I want you to help me find the treasure. We can share it. You'll be a princess.”
Juniper's glare w
as poison.
Asher laughed, holding his hands out as if in surrender. “Okay, no princess. You can be a pirate. Whatever you like.”
Juniper spat in his face. “I'll never help you.” She turned to Lila. “I saw that in a movie.”
Asher's face clouded again. It contorted as if his anger was overpowering him until there was no possible outcome but an explosion. His lips twitched and he grabbed Juniper's arm. “Where is the legacy that is rightfully mine?” He shouted. “They got everything, including him. I was left with nothing. He would have wanted me to have it.”
He stood tall, clamping his hand over his mouth, and shook. The seconds ticked in slow motion. When he pulled his hand away and spoke, his voice was soft and broken. “I was his boy.” He paused, and cleared his throat. “I won't yell any more. I'm sorry. I'm not like him. He couldn't help it, but I can.”
He stroked Lila's knee with his finger, and she shuddered as a crawling sensation traveled up her spine.
“You see, Juniper, I know you're a brave girl. You're right. You're no princess. You're a superhero. And superheroes never let bad things happen to their friends.”
He looked at Lila, the blackness in his expression seeped into her, settling in her stomach. He smiled, then his hand flashed out and grabbed her wrist. He pushed Juniper aside and tried to jerk Lila to her feet.
Lila's eye focused on a piece of railing hovering behind Asher's right shoulder. A second later it had made impact with his head, and Asher howled.
Chapter 27
Like him
“Daddy!” Juniper squealed.
Asher stumbled sideways, both hands holding his head.
“Run!” Max pushed Juniper and Lila toward the door.
Lila hesitated at the doorway, not willing to leave Max. She shielded Juniper behind her as Asher recovered and lunged at Max. Max was wiry and strong, and had the advantage of being sober. But Asher was larger, with muscles that bulged under his shirt. He was like an angry bull as he charged at Max, knocking his glasses off his face. Lila cringed at the crunching and grinding of glass under Asher's heavy shoe.
The Obituary Society Page 18
