The Stepchild

by Joanne Fluke

  “Looks like fun, doesn’t it?” he asked, hoping that he was doing the right thing by talking to her. He figured he had blown his cover this morning anyway, when she had appeared to recognize him, but he couldn’t be sure. If she said something about it now, he’d have another man take his place.

  “Yes, fun!” Kathi answered, her voice as high and sweet as an excited child’s. For a moment the investigator was startled, but then he thought he understood. She’d popped some kind of pill she had got at the dorm. She had to be high on something or other. He’d seen her take something right here on the bench only a few minutes earlier.

  “Do you like to swing on the swings?” he asked cautiously, not quite knowing how to handle her. “Does it look like fun, Kathi?”

  Now he really had thrown caution to the winds. If she asked him how he knew her name, he’d have to think of some excuse, but it didn’t matter. She seemed so stoned that he doubted she’d even think about it.

  “My name’s not Kathi,” she said, giggling, her face splitting in a wide, guileless smile. “But I love to swing on the swings! We go to the park every Saturday, and we get to swing on the swings. The first time I went to the park, the swings were too high, and Uncle had to lift me up to sit on the board. Then he pushed me. He must have told the park men about the swings being too high, because now they’re lower. Now I can jump up all by myself!”

  “Did your uncle teach you how to do that?” the investigator asked, keeping his face carefully blank. Kathi Ellison had no uncle on either Doug’s or Vivian’s side. There were no relatives at all, according to her background file. Doug and Vivian were only children, as Doug’s first wife, Roma, had been.

  “Uncle didn’t teach me,” Kathi replied, still staring straight ahead, responding to his voice but not turning to look at him even once. She had to be on something, he decided, something like acid, probably. Harry would shit bricks when he got the report on this one!

  “I can tell you how I do it,” she continued. “I reach my hands up very high and grab the chains. The board bangs me sometimes, right under my arms. I jump really hard and pull with my hands and I can get up. It’s hard to do, but most times I make it. Auntie says I’m getting taller, so it will get easier.”

  So now she had an aunt too! This whole thing was getting so bizarre, that he hardly knew what to ask next. It was like talking to a four-year-old! But he was saved from thinking of another question when she went on without prompting, the words spilling from her lips like those of an excited child.

  “Baver can’t get up by himself yet. Baver’s just a baby. When he grows up, I can show him all the tricks the Tiger showed me.”

  Baver? Tiger? What the hell was she talking about?

  “Do you go to school?” he asked, hoping to get more information for Harry’s report. He could find out what age she thought she was by the question about school.

  “Oh no! I’m not big enough yet. I have to stay home and help Auntie and listen to the growed-ups talk. The growed-ups sit in the living room and talk about big things. Baver and I have little chairs to sit on, and we’re learning to be polite and listen.”

  “What do the grown-ups talk about?” he asked, feeling his palms grow slick with sweat. What the hell was he going to do if she really freaked out? Did he dare call a doctor? Harry would fry him in boiling oil if he made a wrong move and the press picked up on it. He’d have to be very careful.

  “Sometimes they talk about us, but we don’t know all the big words yet. I know when the important ladies come to visit, because Auntie gets a headache and cleans the house. They ask her lots of questions about the boy and the girl just like we’re not there. When I asked her, Auntie said they were just checking to see if they were taking good care of us. She said some of the ladies were nicer than the others, but she wouldn’t tell me who the bad ones were. I asked the Tiger after he kissed me good night, and he told me the trick about the bad ladies’ knees. He said that all the bad ladies have black hairs on their knees.”

  She giggled again, a small child delighted at sharing a secret.

  “I can see good from my little chair, so I’m watching for the bad ladies. The Tiger said that I should be really polite for the bad ladies, and look happy so they won’t take us away. He said that he was working on a way for Baver and me to go where Mommy and Daddy are, but I have to be a little bit bigger before it will work. Then it will have to be a secret like everything else.”

  “Where are your Mommy and Daddy?” he asked. He was glad that he’d switched on the little pocket recorder he carried with him everywhere. Harry would have to hear this to believe it.

  Suddenly, Kathi’s eyes closed, and then she jerked, sitting upright on the edge of the bench. When she opened her eyes again, the blank glassy look was gone. “Oh!” she gasped, her face turning pink. “I-I’m terribly sorry. . . I . . . I guess I must have been daydreaming. What did you say?”

  For a moment, he had no reply. The tone of her voice had deepened, and now her eyes were alert, watching him intensely, taking in every detail of his appearance. It was as if the drug she took had worn off completely, he thought in confusion.

  “Oh . . . I just asked you if one of those kids out there was yours,” he fielded quickly.

  “No,” she said, giving a little nervous laugh. “I used to work here last semester, and I just stopped to watch them for a while. How about you? Do you have a child out there?”

  “No, not me,” he replied. “I just came out for a bit of air. I work in the library, and I’m on my lunch break.”

  “That’s where I’ve seen you before,” Kathi said, smiling as if she’d solved a puzzle. “The library. Of course!”

  “It’s only part-time,” the man added hastily. “Well—” He glanced openly at his watch in case she should ask more questions. “Lunch break’s over,” he said, standing briskly. “See you around campus, Miss . . .”

  “Ellison, Kathi Ellison,” she responded quickly.

  He walked away so quickly that she didn’t have time to ask his name, but she supposed she’d see him at the library again sometime. He seemed like a nice man, very friendly. But she really didn’t have time to think about her short conversation with him. She had to get back to the apartment right away. She felt as if she’d been sitting there for a lifetime, but the aspirins had worked, thank God! Her headache was completely gone, and she felt so much better now, that she was sure she’d enjoy the fair with David. At least she hadn’t made a fool of herself by blanking out in front of Bev or that nice man. She had been wrong this time. Sheri Walker wasn’t going to contact her today after all.

  CHAPTER 13

  The weather in northern California, always unpredictable, had reversed itself. Today it was hot—actually stifling—as Kathi and David drove to the fairgrounds. The heat never bothered Kathi. She loved it and, incredibly, she felt her spirits lift with the heat of the day, until she felt so relieved that she almost broke into song. Sheri Walker wasn’t coming today! Kathi was nearly sure she had been trying to come this morning at the playground, but something had happened to stop her. Kathi had been spared for this afternoon, free to enjoy the fair with David and lose her fear in the crowd.

  “Hey, I think coming here was a good idea.” David grinned as he maneuvered his compact car into a space that looked much too small to Kathi. David always did the difficult things so easily, and Kathi was envious. It would have taken her long minutes of arm-wrenching wrestling with the wheel to have parked the car in this space. Things were so easy for David. He could handle anything at all—or almost anything. There were some things that no one could be expected to take in stride.

  “Yep, I’m proud of myself for thinking about the fair,” David said, not catching the fear that crossed Kathi’s face. She quickly pushed aside her slight uneasiness and stilled it with the force of her will. She was going to be happy today—happy, happy, happy.

  “You’re having a good time already, aren’t you, baby?” David asked, cutting
the ignition and glancing at her now smiling face.

  “Yes!” Kathi laughed, shaking her head as she slid across the hump between the bucket seats to snuggle up against his arm. “I’m happy today, David. It’s going to be a super day!”

  Thank God, David didn’t question her forced gaiety. Kathi felt a pang of guilt as his face broke into a grin. He’d been worried about her, and it was all her fault. In the past few days he’d been tense and so very careful not to say anything that would disturb her. She’d done that to him—made him afraid to talk to her—and it was going to stop right now! She had no right to foist her fears on David. And really, the fears weren’t as bad now. The warm noon sun had burned them away into just a hint of doubt lingering at the edge of her consciousness. She would be totally herself today, the way she used to be, and then David would be happy too. She was getting her control back at last!

  Kathi’s optimism grew as they wandered through the crowded fairgrounds, stopping to buy cotton candy and hot dogs. It was impossible to feel depressed now, the wispy sugar of the cotton candy melting in her mouth, staining her lips cherry pink. For the first time in weeks, Kathi was hungry, ravenously hungry, and she made David stop at every booth to sample the food, until she was so full she couldn’t eat any more.

  “Oh, David!” she cried, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him. “This was such a marvelous idea! I feel wonderful!”

  With the calliope music ringing like chimes in her ears, they rode the horses, around and around until they felt positively dizzy. By the time they dismounted, Kathi was staggering, but delighted, letting her tension evaporate and her eyes sparkle with the fun. There were no shades of ghosts and spirits here. It was almost as if the whole thing was only a bad dream. She was feeling marvelously content, walking hand in hand with David, stopping to examine the sideshow pictures, and trying to decide whether they should see the man who looked like a dog or the bearded lady.

  “Oh! Look, honey!” Kathi giggled, pointing out a small tent removed from the others by a wide, grassy space. “There’s the same fortune-teller that Bev talked about. The one she and Roger went to see last year.”

  “You don’t really believe in that stuff, do you?” David asked, grinning down at her.

  “No, if course not,” Kathi responded quickly. “I . . . I don’t want my fortune told anyway.”

  “I’ll bet you do,” David teased, ruffling her long blond hair with the back of his hand. “We should go in. Then you could tell Bev what Madame Xanda says about you.”

  “No, it’s really a waste of money,” Kathi hedged, feeling the small beginnings of fear knot the muscles in her stomach. “Madam Xanda probably says the same thing to everyone. I bet she’d tell me the same thing she told Bev last year.”

  “There’s only one way to find out.” David grinned, winking at her. “We’ll just have to try it and see.”

  “No!” Kathi felt the cold spread through her body. “She’s just a fake! You know that, David!”

  David turned to glance at Kathi sharply. She sounded almost afraid! There was no reason in the world for her to be afraid of a sideshow fortune-teller, but he wasn’t about to spoil their fun by insisting. Her face had that pinched look again, and her eyes were deep and dark with fright. If the afternoon was going to be a success, he’d better get her away from Madame Xanda’s tent immediately.

  “Come on, honey,” David urged, grabbing her hand. “Let’s go on the merry-go-round again. And then we’ll try the house of mirrors.”

  “I’m with you!” Kathi gave a grateful smile that almost erased the fear in her eyes. “And there’s the Octopus too. We haven’t gone on the Octopus yet.”

  As David bought tickets for the merry-go-round, Kathi noticed two children tugging at their mother’s hand.

  “Just one more, Mommy, pleeeease?” the little girl begged, staring hopefully up into her tired-looking mother’s face.

  “Yes, Mommy! Yes!” her little brother added to the plea.

  “I’m going to be glad when they’re old enough to go on by themselves.” The mother sighed, giving Kathi an exhausted smile. “You wouldn’t believe these kids! They were up at six this morning, and they’ve been running me ragged ever since we got here. If I have to go on that merry-go-round one more time, I think I’ll be ready for the undertaker!”

  Kathi smiled back. The woman really did look tired, and it was obvious that the children weren’t ready to stop riding yet.

  “Why don’t you let us take them on this time?” Kathi suggested helpfully. “My boyfriend’s in line buying tickets right now. That way you could sit down on that bench over there and rest.”

  “Oh, would you?” The woman smiled thankfully. “I’d really appreciate it. My husband had to work today, and he usually takes them on all the rides. My feet are killing me.”

  “You just go sit down, and we’ll take care of them,” Kathi promised, taking the two excited children by the hands. “We’ll bring them over to you just as soon as the ride’s finished.”

  David came up to hear the last of the conversation, and he smiled at Kathi. This was the Kathi he knew and loved—the helpful, pleasant Kathi, always concerned about everyone and everything.

  “What’s your name, honey?” he asked, bending down so his head was level with the little girl’s. “Anna? Well, come on, Anna. I’m David, and that’s Kathi. We’ll see you get another ride.”

  Kathi followed with Anna’s little brother, his short stubby legs pumping hard to keep up. Perhaps her baby would look just like this little boy, freckled and blond, trundling along manfully after his big sister, Kathi mused.

  “Up you go, honey!” Kathi grinned, lifting the little boy in her arms and placing him on the horse’s back. “Now hang on tight, and I’ll climb right up behind you and hold you so you won’t fall off.”

  The excited squeal he gave as the carousel started to move made Kathi grin. His warm body was so tiny, and she held him protectively as he chuckled when the merry-go-round picked up speed. She’d be very pleased to have a little son just like him, a dear little boy to care for and protect. The thought prompted her to pat her stomach in speculation.

  As the carousel whirled around, Kathi had the feeling of having been here before, holding a little boy on a carved and painted horse. The music was loud and squawky, making her ears buzz and her heart beat faster. Yes, she had done this before, but something awful had happened to the boy . . . something she could have prevented if only she’d known . . .

  “Don’t worry, Baver. . . . I’ll take care of you. You don’t have to cry. I can take care of you all by myself!”

  Her arms tightened around his chubby body. There was danger here. Some bad people were coming to take him away, and she had to hide him so they couldn’t find him. She had to get off the merry-go-round right away and hide her baby brother to keep him safe.

  “Come on, Baver! Come with me!” she gasped, jumping down suddenly from the horse and lifting him in her arms. “I’ll take care of you! You’ll see!”

  Kathi didn’t see the expression of astonishment on David’s face as she hopped off the merry-go-round and raced toward the house of mirrors. They’d be safe there. Baver would like the house of mirrors. He loved mirrors, except when they had pictures of trains on them, like the one Auntie had made for him.

  The boy looked up at her curiously, but that didn’t matter. “We’re going in here, Baver,” she gasped. “We’ll hide in here!”

  “Hide!” He clapped his hands and laughed again. It was all right to let him think this was a game. Then he wouldn’t be frightened. It was up to her to keep her little brother safe and happy. She was a big girl now with lots of responsibilities.

  “Hey, lady! You need a ticket to get in here!”

  The angry barker’s voice didn’t even register in her brain as she ran with the child in her arms. Straight through the entrance they rushed, and then she heard his gleeful chuckle as they saw themselves reflected over and over again in the wav
y, distorted mirrors.

  “Look, Baver! See all the faces? That’s me, and that’s you!” Her voice was high and shrill, and for a moment she thought he would cry, but then he laughed again, watching the mirrors. She was really a big girl now . . . almost a giant compared to her little brother. The mirrors were strange, making her look much bigger than she really was. She looked almost like Auntie, nearly as big, and that was way too big for a four-year-old girl.

  She stared, not recognizing her own face. She looked so different now, but Baver looked just the same. How could that be? The mirror had made her grow up, but Baver was still a baby. That was wrong. These mirrors weren’t funny. They were scary!

  “Mama?” he said, his blue eyes peering intently into hers. “Want Mommy!”

  “Mommy’s all gone,” she answered, hugging him tighter. “Mommy and Daddy went away . . .”

  Her voice trailed off, and for a moment her mind was blank. She blinked once, and then once again. Mommy? He wanted his Mommy, and his mother was . . .

  With a puzzled frown, Kathi turned to look around her. Where was she? And who was this little boy? The mirrors were confusing her, making her see double and triple, whirling her head in circles. He wanted his mother, of course. And his mother was . . .

  “On the bench by the merry-go-round!” she cried, all her thoughts converging in a blinding flash. “Oh, no! Your mommy’s waiting for us at the merry-go-round! We have to hurry right back before she worries!”

  She scooped up the boy in her arms and ran faster than she could ever remember running before. She had to get back to the merry-go-round before the ride was over. She didn’t know what had got into her, taking this little boy and going into the house of mirrors without telling his mother. If only the ride hadn’t ended, she could get him back before they were missed. What had she done . . . and why?

  She was out of breath by the time they got back to the carousel. It was just stopping, and David hopped off, holding the little girl in his arms. “Where were you?” he called out. “Is there something wrong, Kathi?”