The Sons of Man

by Laura Ellison

  Chapter Fourteen

  Timothy Union had no knowledge that The Church of Mankind had planned to open a church in Marine, Michigan. He had come here to locate Annie, knowing she would return to the hometown she always hated, to the alcoholic parents who neglected her.

  Archie had not confronted Timothy because he didn’t need to; the older man knew Archie was scared, but the boy would keep his mouth shut.

  Timothy sat in the backseat of the blue Chevy Monte Carlo, parked at the curb in front of The Church of Mankind building. Snow was still flying; the Chevy’s windshield, roof, and windows covered. This worked in Timothy’s favor because no one could see in. He checked his watch. He was early.

  He had read, in the Marine Press, about the prayer vigil and the arrival of Lance and Sophie Hawkins; the people who had stolen his inheritance, along with Frieda’s. Now, his sister was living in some apartment in Portland, her husband long gone. And he was sitting in the backseat of an old car in a frigid-cold snow storm.

  The rifle with scope rested across his lap. He wished he could have taken the Jeep, but the brakes were soft. He left the truck with Archie. Timothy owned the truck, but he had stolen the Monte Carlo in Marine Heights, the Jeep taken from one of his neighbors at Lakeshore Apartments, hiding the vehicles in wooded areas. He had taken the Jeep out to East Marine when he shot the biker, Waylon.

  He had read about the explosion at the funeral home days later, stunned because he had nothing to do with it. His mind had been on The Church and Annie since he left home.

  Crazy bikers and their vendettas, he thought. Like a bunch of gangsters. I wouldn’t be surprised if Lance shows up with a few of his bodyguards in their expensive suits.

  Matthew Hawkins had been his best friend, now pastor of this old church, the roof covered in a foot of snow, the paint peeling underneath the ice. Pastor Matt wouldn’t stay long. He’d find a flunky to replace him so he could go back to the West Coast, to enjoy the sunshine and celebrities seeking out their past lives.

  Timothy heard a car pull up to the curb, doors slam shut. He heard laughter. He rose from the front seat and turned around. Bent over, he pulled at the backseat, revealing the trunk. He crawled in, locating the hole next to the license plate. He looked out, using the scope, effective up to one hundred yards. He took in the group of five people approaching the steps. He pulled the scope away, not ready until he was sure the Hawkins family had arrived.

  Bobby felt the barrel of the pistol at his back. He saw Archie’s eyes widen.

  “You two! Move!”

  Archie raised his arms. “Where?”

  “Your room, dumbass!”

  They obeyed, stepping carefully through the snow and ice. They reached the door to Archie’s room.

  “The key is in my pocket,” Archie said.

  “Get it out! No ideas!”

  Bobby’s cold legs felt numb, his bladder tingling. He was afraid to look behind him. “What do you want? We don’t have any money.”

  “Shut up. Just go in.”

  The boys entered in front of Toon, who shut the door with his foot. A lamp was on, but the light was dim. The room was cold.

  “You two sit on the bed. And no bullshit, you tell me the truth!”

  Toon could see both boys were not exactly tough guys. The blond kid was wearing fuzzy hot-pink gloves and silver glittery boots. The other kid’s blue eyes were as big as saucers, his lips trembling. Toon kept his gun pointed at them. “You two little shits better tell me where the sniper is!”

  “I don’t know!” Archie cried.

  “You have some idea!” Toon stepped towards him, pulling Archie’s winter cap off, grabbing him by the hair. “Tell me, you little pussy.”

  Bobby slipped his gloved hand into his coat pocket and turned on his phone. He pulled it out to his side, finding Sonya’s number.

  “Please! I don’t know! He doesn’t tell me anything.”

  The raised voices drowned out the sound of the phone, which Bobby slipped under his butt.

  “Maybe he went to the church,” Bobby said.

  “What church?” Toon asked.

  Bobby realized he had seen this man before; Toon, tattoos and freckles on weathered skin.

  “The Church of Mankind downtown,” Bobby said. “His real name is Timothy Union. He’s probably going to shoot some people there tonight.”

  “Is that right?” Toon asked.

  He let go of Archie, stepping back. “You better not be lying, son.”

  “A bunch of people are getting together there,” Bobby said. “Timothy Union’s father used to be The Church leader. Timothy wants revenge.”

  Archie was surprised at Bobby’s calm demeanor, but he didn’t know that Bobby had grown up with a violent older brother, learning to deal with irrational people at a young age, often coming to his mother’s rescue and dealing with the bullying he took at school and at home with Rick.

  Toon kept stepping back, gun in hand, until he reached the door. When he let himself out, Bobby leaped off the bed, turning the lock.

  Sonya read Piper’s text:

  Bobby won’t text me. Plz check.

  Sonya knew he had gone off with Archie. Piper was used to Bobby hanging on every word, promptly responding to her messages; but Bobby not doing this was so out of character, Sonya couldn’t help but imagine the worst.

  The phone rang in her hand. She saw Bobby’s name, relieved. However, when she answered, he had already hung up. She left a message, but the worry started to nag at her.

  Sonya went downstairs, the aroma of chili and cornbread still in the air. Aron had washed dishes and was now watching TV with Bill.

  “Dad, I think something’s happened to Bobby.”

  “Call his mother.”

  “I don’t think she’s back from work. She works double sometimes.”

  Sonya sat on the couch next to her father. She explained about The Church and Bobby’s new friend Archie. Aron could feel his blood pressure rise when she mentioned that the sniper could be Archie’s guardian Colin, who could be Timothy Union. They were hiding out at The Dockside Motel.

  “Can you take me there, Dad?”

  “In this weather? Call the police.”

  “I just need to know if Bobby is okay.”

  “I can’t drive in this weather. The visibility.”

  “It’s stopped snowing.”

  “The roads are still bad. Besides, I can’t leave Bill.”

  “He’s already asleep.”

  “What if he wakes up and we’re gone? He can’t be alone. He’ll get confused.”

  “Please, Dad. We can leave him a note.”

  Bill was sleeping soundly in his chair, Helga dozing nearby.

  “Look,” Aron said, “it’s not that I don’t care about Bobby, but how can you be sure he’s at The Dockside?”

  “It’s all I’ve got. He could have gone somewhere else with Archie, but where?”

  “And if this Colin guy is the sniper, why is Archie with him? And why would he involve Bobby?”

  “I don’t know. But I wish Bobby would call me back. I mean, someone could have taken his phone or–“

  “All right, Sonya,” Aron sighed. “But if I take you all the way out to The Dockside, and that boy isn’t there, your cell phone is getting taken and the friend drama ends.”

  Sonya tried to hide her smile. “Thanks, Dad. I’ll pay you back. I’ll make dinner sometimes.”

  “That’s all right. If you cook anything like your mother did, God rest her soul, I’ll settle for a Big Mac. Hey, Bill! We’re going for a drive!”

  Bill stirred and opened his eyes. “In this shit?