Dark Roads

by Chevy Stevens

  “People know me. I’ve lived here my entire life.”

  “That doesn’t mean anything. Children’s Aid won’t put you in a foster home either. Not when you’re already in a stable home.” He dropped my cell onto the counter, spun it with his hand, and watched as it slid toward the edge. “Should’ve cleared your search history.”

  I was breathing hard. Like he could do this, shrink my life down to nothing? I lunged toward my phone, but before I could take two steps, he was there, grabbing the front of my shirt in a handful, wrenching me toward him, almost lifting me off the floor.

  “You’ve just lost your bike privileges, and you aren’t going anywhere until you prove I can trust you. Not alone, or with any of your trashy friends.”

  He let go, and I stumbled back. “My friends aren’t trashy.” My phone was on the counter, finally within reach. I grabbed it and clutched it to my chest. “You can’t lock me up.”

  “You sure about that? Maybe I should go by your dad’s shop and have a look at your dirt bike. If I find Cooper’s missing carburetor, that would be a big problem.”

  “You’re threatening me?”

  “It’s called leverage. Stay out of trouble and you have nothing to worry about.”

  My chest was so choked up with rage I could barely get a breath out. I scrambled for a response. “You wouldn’t do that. You don’t want to upset Lana.”

  We held gazes for a few tense moments. I’d pushed him too far. Called his bluff. I waited for him to lose it, but his face stayed smooth and cool.

  “I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but you don’t want to play this game with me. You’ll never win.” He took his beer and walked down the hall. I thought he was going to the master bedroom for a shower, but a moment later I heard the back door shut.

  From my window I watched as he disappeared into his office outside.

  CHAPTER 5

  Cash skipped around the playground and climbed the slide, then headed over to the monkey bars. He grinned at me, his eyes bright and sparkling. He hadn’t stopped moving since we’d arrived. Occasionally he’d come over for noisy slurps from his water bottle, then he’d sprint off. I wondered what would happen to him with Vaughn for a stepfather. Would he grow up mean? Would he become a cop too? His real father was out of his life, so it wasn’t like he had any other role models. He’d already started collecting toy cop cars and staged high-speed chases, begged Vaughn to turn on the siren in his truck. I hated the idea of sweet Cash thinking that Vaughn was his hero.

  For the last few days, I’d been staying out of the house with Cash, walking to the water park or the playground. I’d taken a screenshot of Vaughn’s shift schedule, but he could stop by anytime to check on me. I’d find signs that he’d come home for lunch. Bread crumbs, a pot in the sink, dirty Tupperware containers. Lana knew Vaughn had locked up my bike because I’d gone to the lake—and lied to her. I apologized the next morning. “I’m sorry. We were going to go shopping, but it was so hot, and I didn’t think it would be such a big deal if we went to the lake.”

  “Two girls, alone at the lake? It’s not safe.” Her eyes shifted away, like she couldn’t meet my gaze. I wondered what else they’d talked about. Had he told her about the kiss?

  “I need my bike.”

  She shook her head, her lips a tense line. “I know this is a difficult time, but that’s no excuse for lying. Cash is at an impressionable age. He looks up to you.” She stood, began to tidy the kitchen, and didn’t offer me breakfast. The real punishment was clear. She’d offered mothering, and now she was taking it away. Fine by me. It would make the next part easier.

  Meeting Jonny at the park like this was a risk. My body was so tense it felt like I’d been riding for hours on a mountain trail, my stomach muscles washboard-tight. I had no doubt that Vaughn would make good on his threats if he caught me. I only phoned Jonny from the closet late at night, and I deleted my call history. We didn’t text—we sent messages through Facebook, but I deleted those too, and made sure to sign out. Thankfully he’d gotten the carburetor off my bike.

  So far Cash hadn’t noticed Jonny standing on the other side of the tree with a baseball cap pulled low, but I kept close watch of him while Jonny and I talked.

  “Vaughn’s skipped a few lodge meetings, or he arrives late,” Jonny said. “It’s been going on for a while. No one complains because it’s Vaughn.”

  “God, he’s such a dick. He has to be cheating on her. I’m going to break into his office and find proof.” Leverage. That’s what he called it. I swished the word around in my mouth.

  “How the hell are you going to do that?”

  “I still have my dad’s lock-pick set.” Dad was always losing his keys. I’d taught myself to use the picks too. “I’ll do it today. Vaughn’s at a safety presentation.”

  “You sure he doesn’t have an alarm?”

  “I didn’t see any wiring.” There were no motion cameras on the corner of the shed or the house. The house didn’t even have an alarm. Vaughn didn’t think anyone would mess with him, and he definitely didn’t have to worry about Lana disobeying his orders. He was her sun, moon, every damn thing. I swear she would stop breathing if he told her to. She was always dressing up for him and getting her hair done—spritzing perfume on before he got home. When she served him dinner, she barely touched hers until he took a bite first. The only time she seemed relaxed was when he made her his “special” martinis on certain nights, acting like it was romantic when he was really just getting her sloshed so she’d go to bed early. Then he’d go out to his office.

  One night I walked into the living room, looking for my iPad, and he was standing there, scrolling through it. He handed it to me without saying anything, but I knew he’d read the messages between me and Amber. We’d been texting every night, and we added each other as Facebook friends. Amber Chevalier. Even her name was beautiful. I looked through all her photos, found some of her sister, Beth, who was pretty too, but in a more serious way. Blond hair, usually in a high ponytail, wisps around her face, light makeup, a thoughtful expression. Only a few photos with her smiling. She had a crooked incisor like Amber. Beth wanted to be a lawyer, and Amber said she was super-smart. Maybe I would meet her one day. The three of us would go for lunch at the diner, laughing, happy. Amber would hold my hand at the table.

  She asked if we could hang out again, and I told her that Vaughn had grounded me—I’d felt stupid admitting that. Dad never grounded me. I told her I’d come up with a plan. I was too scared to sneak around. My only chance was if I could beat Vaughn at his own game.

  “He’ll notice anything out of place,” Jonny said.

  “I’m not planning on screwing up. I’ll phone you later.”

  After he was gone, I called Cash back to me and stopped to pick up a tub of ice cream on the way home, cherry vanilla to hide the taste of Benadryl.

  Once Cash had finished a full bowl and was asleep on the floor in front of the TV, I sneaked out to the backyard. It took me a couple of minutes to pick the lock, forcing my hands to be steady and listening hard, before the shed lock released. With a quick glance over my shoulder to confirm that Cash wasn’t coming, I opened the door and stepped into the office.

  It was small, with a portable air conditioner humming in the corner, and laminate floors. Shelves lined both walls and a reading chair was tucked into a corner with a lamp. I’d never seen Vaughn pick up a book in the house. Nothing personal on his desk. No photos of him and Lana or Cash. No papers or notepads. Two file cabinets were on one side, but they had combination locks. If I tried to mess with those, I might scratch the metal.

  I sat in his chair and flipped open his laptop, rubbed my sweaty palms on my legs. The Mac screen appeared, desert dunes, and a white rectangle. Password-protected. Of course.

  Lana’s name didn’t work. Neither did their phone number. I didn’t know their anniversary or birth dates. I stared at the white space, then closed the laptop. Before I left, I put the chair back
the same way and checked that none of my hair had fallen onto the desk. Last thing I needed was bright copper strands advertising, Hailey was here!

  When I sneaked back into the house, Cash was still asleep in the living room. Lana would be home soon, but I had a little time. Jonny picked up on the first ring.

  “His laptop is password-protected,” I hissed into the phone as I loitered in the hallway, close enough to see Cash but hopefully not wake him. “I can’t get into his file cabinets either.”

  “Shit.” Jonny was quiet, thinking it through. “Okay, you have to shoulder-surf. Like how people steal passwords at gas stations or bank machines, you know?”

  “Dude. I can’t spy through his window—it’s tinted.”

  “Set up a motion-sensor camera and aim it at his desk. Watch him type in his passwords.”

  “Where can I get a camera? How much will it cost?” Vaughn banked all the babysitting money I earned, and Lana only gave me twenty-five dollars a week for anything personal.

  “I’ll get it. Hang on for a couple of days.”

  “Okay.” I erased my call history and tucked my phone into my pocket.

  * * *

  Vaughn missed dinner. I could tell Lana was scared, though she didn’t say anything. She paced, nudged the silverware she’d set out for him, glanced out the window. Finally, she picked up his plate and covered it with foil, placed it on the counter. I was on the couch, scrolling through my phone, and pretended not to notice. But when our eyes met, she gave me a half-hearted smile.

  We both heard the crunch of his tires outside at the same time. She flew to the front door, and I bolted down the hall. I hadn’t made it into my bedroom when I heard the door open.

  “Vaughn, I was getting worried!”

  “Sorry, babe. Long call. Meant to text you, but…”

  “It’s okay. Hungry? I made pork chops.”

  “Sounds great. Let me grab a quick shower first.”

  “I’ve left it on the counter. I have to run to the store for milk.”

  “Cash asleep?”

  “Yeah. Hailey must have gone to bed too. She was here a minute ago.”

  “Drive carefully. Lots of deer on the road.” A long pause during which I guessed they were embracing. I slipped into my room and quietly closed the door behind me.

  The garage door opened, and her car drove off. The TV went on in the living room. Sounded like sports. Maybe hockey. Something with loud cheering. I stared at my doorknob.

  Footsteps came down the hall. I tensed, but they didn’t slow. The back door creaked. I went to the window, lifted the edge of the curtain, and peeked out. Vaughn was unlocking the shed door. A light flicked on in the shed, a soft glow, probably the desk lamp. I watched until the light went off a few minutes later, then I dropped the curtain, hurried over to the bed, and listened as the back door opened. Footsteps going to the master bedroom, water running. Finally.

  I leaned back against my pillow with the iPad balanced on my rib cage. Good. He had no idea I had been inside his office. I sent a message to Jonny through Facebook, then tapped the albums. I’d saved some photos of Amber there—in case Vaughn ever took away my devices.

  Wait. Footsteps. Coming closer. I sat up. A sharp knock on my door, and then it opened. Vaughn stood there. I pulled my legs against my chest, turned the iPad screen away. His face was a blank mask as he leaned against the doorframe, thumb loosely hooked in his pocket.

  “How about you come out and watch a movie with me and Lana?”

  “Um, no, thanks … I’m watching videos.”

  “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah. I’m just tired.”

  He came into the room, glancing around in a way that made my stomach clench. He sat on the bed by my feet, the mattress sagging under his weight. “You sure? Anything you want to get off your mind?” He was holding my gaze. I couldn’t tell if he was serious or if it was his creepy way of telling me that he knew I’d been in his office.

  “I’m fine.” I shrugged. “Still dealing with everything, I guess.”

  “Well, if you want to go fishing one day, I can take some time off.”

  “No, thanks. It wouldn’t be the same without my dad. He was the best.” It was a blow, but Vaughn didn’t take the bait, and only narrowed his eyes slightly.

  “We appreciate everything you’ve been doing with Cash. He says you’ve been taking him to the water park every day. I’m sure it’s boring for you.”

  Was he getting suspicious? He was being so nice all of a sudden. It felt like he was leading up to something, but I didn’t know what.

  “I like watching him having fun.”

  He noticed me fiddling with my iPad. “What have you got there?”

  “I was going through some photos.”

  “Yeah?” He grabbed it out of my hands before I could stop him and began scrolling through my Facebook album. “You have a good eye.”

  “Give it back.”

  He just held it high, out of my reach. My cheeks burned. Amber had sent me selfies—in bed, her hair draped over a pillow, eyes sleepy. I’d sent one back, standing in the bathroom mirror, bikini, dim lighting, my back arched. She’d replied with a row of hearts and flames.

  He shook me free of his arm. “This is dangerous, you know. Someone could hack in, next thing you know your photos are all over the internet. Doesn’t matter if you take them down. There’ll be a thousand screenshots.”

  “I’m careful.”

  He held the iPad up, showed me the selfie of Amber and me at the lake. “This one is nice.” How could he make something sound so terrifying without showing anything on his face? Amber had posted that photo on her Facebook page, with the caption “My Lady of the Lake.” I’d been nervous but excited too. She’d made us public. She wasn’t ashamed like Vaughn was making me feel. I scrambled forward, yanking at his arm again, and stretching toward the iPad.

  The sound of tires on the gravel driveway, the garage door scraping up. Lana was home.

  Vaughn gave me back my iPad and stood up. “Make sure you keep that in a safe place. If I’ve learned one thing, it’s that you can’t let down your guard. Even with your closest friends. You never know what they’re really up to.” He smiled. “Have a good night.”

  CHAPTER 6

  Vaughn was on shift; Lana had taken Cash to his swimming lesson. The second her car disappeared around the corner, I went outside to pick the lock on the office shed. It had taken three days for Jonny to find a small enough security camera, then we practiced at the park—taking videos of each other, his truck—until we knew the best distance for a clear shot.

  I used Vaughn’s chair as a stool, balancing carefully, while I placed the camera on the shelf beside his desk. I tucked it into a dark corner, perched on top of a book. Using the app on my iPhone, I tested the camera and made sure the lens was pointed at his keyboard from the side.

  If all went according to plan, the camera would be triggered by Vaughn walking into the office, and I’d be able to watch over his shoulder. Then I’d have his laptop password.

  After dinner, I complained about stomach cramps. Lana brought me Advil and a cup of tea, offered me a hot water bottle for my stomach, which I accepted with a fake-tired voice.

  “It’s probably just stress,” I told her when she felt my forehead with a worried expression. It wasn’t a complete lie. I’d barely been able to eat any of the pot roast she’d made. Vaughn, though, had had seconds, praising Lana for the tenderness of the meat. Don’t even need a knife to cut through this, babe, and she glowed with happiness.

  I lay in the dark and waited until everyone went to sleep. I’d almost given up, my eyes drifting closed. Vaughn wasn’t going out to the shed tonight.

  Then I heard it—or felt it. The sense that someone was moving in the house. Was that a door clicking open? I frowned, trying to figure out if it was a bathroom or the back door. When I didn’t hear anything else, I crawled to my window.

  I stared into the dark, waiting, an
d was rewarded when a soft light flicked on in his office. He might be calling the other woman or emailing her. Something I could get in a screenshot. I couldn’t wait to get inside his laptop. Ten minutes later the office went dark. I hurried into my bed.

  The back door opened, and his footsteps went down the hall to the bedroom he shared with Lana. I stared up at the ceiling. Tomorrow I’d find out what he’d been doing in his office.

  * * *

  My phone vibrated under my hand, waking me. Facebook Messenger. Amber. I blinked in the dim light and glanced at the clock. Six. She’d be going to the diner soon. I rolled onto my side, head on the pillow, and opened her message. Good morning, beautiful. How’s prison life?

  Oh, you know. Bars on the window, stale bread under the door.

  Don’t eat gluten. Can you FaceTime?

  Vaughn hasn’t left yet.

  Mason asked about you. I told him that you can’t go anywhere.

  What did he say?

  He just shook his head, but swear to God, I think he burnt Vaughn’s burger on purpose. I better get ready for work. FaceTime later?

  OK. Later! XO

  The water was running in the master bathroom. Vaughn showering. Lana was in the kitchen, opening and closing the fridge. Making coffee. Her slippers whispered down the hall. She was bringing him a cup. Like she did every single morning. Then she’d pour one into a stainless-steel thermos for him to take in his truck. The shower turned off. The murmur of voices. Vaughn’s deep timber, hers light, laughing about something. The closet sliding. The jingle of a belt. Normal daily sounds. Nothing that would hint at his secret nighttime activities.

  When they went silent for a moment and Lana softly giggled, I realized they were kissing and pressed the pillow over my head.