Andrew grabbed for the wheel with both hands as the car went into a skid, and the truck roared off in the distance. Francie, who was huddled in the corner of the seat, having tried to escape Andrew’s grasp, let out a scream as the car began to spin slowly around until it was no longer facing ahead. Andrew pitched forward and smacked his chin on the wheel as the car slid out across the highway.
It was as if it were happening in slow motion. Francie saw the car start to turn, and she flung herself down on the seat. This is it, she thought. Oh, no, oh, shit. The image of her mother at the wheel, that awful night on the highway sprang to her mind. The horrible splintering sounds would be next, she knew. She could see her mother’s horror-struck face so clearly in her mind. Now she was going to die. She wondered if she would see her mother in death. I’m too young, she thought. This can’t be all.
The car bounced, and Francie covered her head just in time as she felt herself hit the dashboard and then fall back against the seat. Twice more the car seemed to leap into the air, and then, with a scrape and a thud, it stopped.
Francie sat up in the seat and blinked. She checked her glasses to see if they were broken. She put them back on and looked around, amazed to be alive. She looked over at Andrew. He was groaning and holding his chin, but he was not bleeding. The car was resting on an angle in a gully beside the highway. For a second Francie felt like laughing for the joy of being alive and unhurt. Then she looked back at Andrew, and her heart froze with a newfound fear of him.
“That son of a bitch,” said Andrew. “Look what he did to us.”
Francie stared at him. / have got to get away from him, she thought. He was jamming the key into the ignition and turning it, but there was only a grinding noise in the engine.
“I’ll get this thing started,” he cried. “It’s slow to get started. That’s the only problem. I’ll have it going in a minute.”
“It’s stuck here,” said Francie. “We’d better go call a garage.”
Andrew turned on her in a fury. “What do you know about cars? Nothing.”
“We were almost killed,” said Francie in a trembling voice. “I know that.”
“Shut up,” said Andrew. “I can’t think with you talking.”
Francie saw her chance. She hesitated for a moment, and then she moved. Reaching out quickly, she unlocked her door. “I’ll go for help,” she said. In one swift motion she forced the door open and jumped out of the car. She landed on her ankle in the gully, turning it sideways, but she did not even feel it. She scrambled up the bank toward the road, just as she heard the car door slam on Andrew’s side.
“Get back here,” he shouted, starting after her.
“Help,” she cried as she reached the highway and began to run along the icy road. Behind her she could hear him gaining on her. A
car was coming in the distance. She waved her arms wildly as she ran. The fog lights of the oncoming car were getting brighter. “Please,” she cried out. Then she felt his arm reach out and grab her from behind.
Chapter 27
DESPITE THE SPEED with which she made it back to town, there was no one at the cemetery when she arrived. Beth got back into the car and drove to the parsonage. Uncle James’s car was in the driveway. Beth exhaled with a slight sense of relief. They were back.
Beth parked the car and ran up to the front door through the icy rain. She knocked on the door as she opened it. “Anybody home?” she called out.
Uncle James met her in the hallway. He reached for her wet jacket, which she shrugged off. “You’d better catch your breath,” he advised. “What’s the hurry?”
“That funeral didn’t take long,” said Beth. “I was just up at the cemetery.”
“Oh, my, no,” he said, shaking his head and leading her into the living room. “It was a sorry sight, Beth. I’ll tell you that. Four or five people there, one little flower arrangement. That dentist she worked for all those years didn’t even come. And the weather was so miserable, we had to keep it short.”
Beth shivered at the mention of Dr. Ridberg. She decided not to bring up the murder. “It’s wet all right.” She looked over his shoulder through to the empty dining room.
“So you girls all packed up to leave us?”
“Just about,” said Beth.
Aunt May emerged from the kitchen and greeted Beth. “I’ve got some hot tea if you want it.”
“Where’s Francie?” Beth asked.
“I left her with young Andrew,” said Uncle James. “They seemed to want to talk to each other.”
“With Andrew?” Beth cried. “Why didn’t you bring her back?”
“He had a car,” said James. “He promised to bring her back.”
“I can’t believe you let him drive off with her,” Beth said in a shrill voice.
“I told him that when he got back,” said Aunt May. “She has no business driving around with that Andrew Vincent.”
“They are friends,” said Uncle James, a wounded expression in his round blue eyes. “She wanted to talk to him. To console him, I’m sure. It’s only natural at a time like this.”
“She wanted to,” said Beth curtly.
“They were talking together, and I’m sure now that she’s going away, they just wanted a little time to share this grief, say their goodbyes and so forth. I didn’t see any harm in that.”
“So she took off with him,” said Beth. “Goddammit.”
“I’m sorry, Beth,” said Uncle James. “I didn’t realize you felt so strongly about this.”
“She promised me she would come back with you.”
“These young ones have minds of their own,” said James.
“May I use your phone?” Beth asked.
Aunt May pointed to the kitchen.
Beth went in and dialed her father’s house. The phone rang and rang. She hung up and went back into her aunt and uncle’s living room. “She’s not home,” she said angrily.
“I’m sure they’ll be back soon,” said Uncle James. “Here. Sit down and visit with us for a while. Once we drop you at the airport tomorrow, who knows how long it will be before we see you again?”
Beth sank down into a chair and stared blankly ahead of her.
Uncle James and Aunt May exchanged a glance. Then James said, “I feel terrible about this, Beth. I had no idea you wanted me to bring her back.”
Beth shook her head. “No, never mind. It’s not your fault.”
“I’ll get you some tea,” said Aunt May. “James, why don’t you help me?”
Beth stared into the unlit fireplace as the old people headed for the kitchen. She had gone off with Andrew. Beth could hardly believe it. After that whole conversation this morning about how she was just going to put in an appearance so she wouldn’t feel guilty. She had deliberately lied about it. No, that wasn’t fair, Beth rebuked herself. It was probably just a romantic impulse of the moment. To go off with that lunatic. It was unbelievable.
“Beth, you’re a million miles away,” said Aunt May, handing her a teacup.
“I’m sorry. What is it?”
“I sent James out to get those boxes out of your car.”
“Good,” said Beth absently.
“You’re worried about Francie,” said her aunt.
“I’ll tell you, I’m more mad than worried. You should have seen the way he was acting yesterday. And she takes off with him anyway.”
“Thank goodness you’ll be getting her away from him. That’s all I can say.”
“Mmmm,” said Beth. / should call home again, she thought. Oh, the hell with her. If she wants to stay out all night with him, let her. But her aunt’s tea did little to soothe the angry, anxious knot that had formed in her stomach.
“Maybe I’d better just head home,” said Beth, putting down the cup on the table. “I’ve still got things to do.”
“I wish you’d stay,” said Aunt May.
Beth thanked her. “If Francie should show up here,” she said, “tell her I left—”
<
br /> At that minute the phone rang. Beth jumped at the sound. Aunt May answered it and rushed back into the living room.
“It was for you,” she said to Beth. “It was Francie. She’s down at the police station. She wants you to pick her up.”
Beth’s heart leaped to her mouth. “What happened?”
“I don’t know. She hung up.”
Beth ran for the door, grabbing her coat in the hallway.
“I’m coming,” said Aunt May, following her into the hall.
“No, no, you stay here. I’ll call you. I promise.”
“Call me right away,” said May as Beth raced out the door. Uncle James, who was outside in his black brimmed hat, locking up the shed where he kept the church donations, waved as Beth jumped in the car.
She imagined every kind of disaster on the ride to the station house. Drugs, robberies, car wrecks, and rapes jumbled together in her mind in a breathtaking array of possibilities. At least it’s not the worst, she reminded herself. She’s alive. The news report about the dentist and his wife sprang again to mind, but she pushed the thought away. There was no point in thinking about that.
Noah’s tow truck was pulling into the parking lot at the police station at the same time that Beth arrived, the beam of its rooftop light flashing ghostly in the fog. Beth saw the stout ponytailed figure
get out and go into the station as she was parking her car. She got out hurriedly and followed him into the station house.
The first person she saw when she came through the door was Francie, huddled in the corner of a wooden, pewlike bench beside the main desk. She looked around and saw Noah and Andrew conferring across the room. The police officer at the main desk was opening the wrapper on a packet of peanut butter crackers. He looked up at Beth.
“Could you close that door?” he asked. “It’s a little chilly for air conditioning today.”
“Sorry,” said Beth. She went back and shut the door. At the policeman’s words Francie looked up and saw Beth.
“Hi,” she said, getting up from the bench. “Thanks for coming.”
“What the hell is going on here?” Beth asked coldly.
Francie glanced nervously over at Andrew and Noah. “Andrew ran his car off the road. Luckily this policeman saw us and stopped.”
At that moment Andrew spotted Beth and elbowed Noah aside. “What’s she doing here?” he demanded, striding across the cracked linoleum to where Beth stood.
“Get away from me,” said Beth.
The cop came out from behind the desk. “Are you the sister?” he asked.
Beth nodded as Andrew turned on Francie. “How did she know you were here?” he demanded.
“I called her,” said Francie wearily.
“What’s the matter with you?” Andrew demanded loudly. “You know she’s against us.”
“Hold it, hold it,” said the officer. He turned to Noah. “Are you the guy from the garage?”
Noah nodded. “We’re gonna go get my buddy’s car. I’ve got my tow truck right outside.”
“All right. Well, why don’t you just get going and do that?” the cop suggested, giving both Andrew and Noah a little shove toward the door.
Andrew turned back on Francie. “You know she’ll do anything to stop us. What does it take to get through to you?” he growled.
Francie turned her face away from his, covering her eyes as if to shield them from too harsh a light.
“If I were you,” said Beth, “I’d get out of here before that big mouth of yours gets you into more trouble than you bargained for.”
“You shut up,” Andrew snarled at her.
“All right now, that’s enough,” said the cop. “Get out of here. Go on. I don’t want any more out of any of you.”
Noah grabbed Andrew by the arm and started to drag him toward the door. Andrew stared back at the two sisters, his eyes bright with rage.
“He’s insane,” said Beth flatly.
“I know,” said Francie.
“And you took off with him, so what does that make you?” Beth demanded.
Francie’s mouth dropped open, and she shook her head.
“Okay, okay. Everybody go home now and get a good night’s sleep.”
“Let’s go,” said Beth irritably.
“Thank you,” Francie said politely to the officer.
“Between you and me,” said the cop, “I think your sister’s right. He is bad news.”
Francie nodded and followed Beth out into the parking lot. She hurried to catch up with her sister. “Look, Beth,” said Francie as they reached the car, “I didn’t go with him on purpose. He made me go with him.”
Beth folded her arms across her chest. “I see,” said Beth shortly. “How did he do that?”
Francie shook her head and threw open her hands. “I was just talking to him after the funeral. He got this new car, and he insisted on giving me a ride home in it. I wanted to make him feel better, so I went. Then he drove right by our house, and when I told him to stop, he said we were leaving town. He had his bag all packed and everything. It was just lucky for me that we had this accident and I was able to get away. I was running down the highway and this cop came by and he picked us up.”
“So you’re saying he kidnapped you,” Beth said sarcastically.
“Really, yes, he did.”
“Well, that’s a crime, you know. Why didn’t you tell the police that when they picked you up? Wouldn’t that have been the obvious thing to do?” Beth’s voice trembled with barely controlled anger.
Francie’s eyes narrowed behind her glasses, and she stuck her chin out. “Yeah, I should have. And I’m sure they would have acted just like you. I mean, he didn’t use a weapon, and he’s a friend of mine, and I got in his car of my own choice. I’m sure they would have been very understanding. Just like you.”
Beth felt her face redden. She looked down and did not reply.
Francie jammed her hands in her pockets and shook her head. “I
don’t know why I called you. That was stupid. I thought you would take my side.” She gave a short, harsh laugh, and then she spoke again, her voice quivering with anger. “You know, I’m beginning to wonder about this whole thing of going with you. Why should I have to try to convince you that I’m telling the truth? He could have hurt me out there. I didn’t know what was going to happen—”
Beth put up a hand. “Wait,” she said. “Wait a minute. Okay. You’re right.” She took a deep breath. “I thought—I don’t know what I thought. I thought you were running off with him or something.”
“I told you why I had to go to the funeral.”
“I know you did.”
“You didn’t trust me,” said Francie.
“I was…worried. Goddammit, I was really worried.”
Francie nodded. They stood in silence for a moment. “No reason you should have trusted me, I guess,” said Francie.
“It was him I didn’t trust,” said Beth. She shivered in the cold, damp air. “Let’s get out of here,” she said.
Francie nodded and got into the car. They drove home in silence, but the atmosphere between them was not tense. The sleeting rain had stopped, but the roads were still foggy, and Beth peered intently ahead as she drove, although her thoughts were not really on the road.
They reached the house, went inside, and turned on the lights. For the first time since they left the police station parking lot, Beth spoke. “Francie, I’m sorry about that misunderstanding. I mean it.”
“That’s all right,” said Francie. “I can see why you thought that.”
“I’ve been thinking about something else.”
“What?” Francie pushed her glasses up on her nose and looked curiously at her sister.
“Andrew.”
“What about him?”
“He’s dangerous, Francie. I’m convinced of it. Especially after this incident today.” She thought of mentioning the dentist and his wife and decided against it. There was no point in making an a
ccusation like that. It was pure speculation, and it might just make the girl feel she had to defend him. “He’s obsessed with this idea of getting you back. I don’t think it’s safe to be around him.”
“He was bad this afternoon,” Francie admitted.
“I was thinking about it on the way home. All day really. I don’t think it would be wise to spend another night in this house.”
“Do you think he’d try to get in?”
“I don’t know what he’d try to do. I wouldn’t put anything past him at this point.”
“I don’t think he’s that bad,” said Francie.
“I don’t want to find out,” said Beth. “Anyway, I think we should leave tonight.”
“Tonight?” Francie mulled it over for a moment. “Well, we can’t. Our plane’s not until tomorrow, right?”
“What I’m thinking is that if we leave tonight, we can drive down. You’ve got a lot of stuff to bring, and I think Dad’s car can make the trip. It’ll save Aunt May’s having to mail all your stuff and dispose of the car. If we get tired, we can stop on the way and spend the night in a motel. What do you say?”
Francie’s shoulders slumped as she looked around. “It’s so sudden.”
“It won’t be any easier to leave tomorrow,” Beth said.
Francie nodded. “There’s a lot I still wanted to do.”
Beth walked over to the window and looked out into the charcoal gray sky. “Every time I glance outside I think I’m going to see him there, circling us. Maybe I’m just imagining things. I hope I am. But why should we take a chance? For the difference of one night. The sooner I get out of here, the better I’m going to feel.”
Francie sighed and looked sadly around the room. “You’re right. It won’t be any easier to leave tomorrow.”
“It really won’t.”
“I guess it would be fun to stay in a motel.”
“There you go,” said Beth. “We’ll make a good time out of it.”
Little Sister Page 26
