Devil's Pawn

by Levinson, Marilyn

  “Simon, come in here. We need to talk.”

  I went into my room. Raymond could scream all he wanted, but I wouldn’t oblige him—not any longer.

  “Please, Simon! Come into my bedroom.”

  Why? To get a lecture? By now he had to know I’d prevented Craig from kidnapping that little girl.

  From deep within me, a voice of reason called me to task. Do nothing rash. Find out what he wants, then decide what to do. Good advice. Regardless of how much I despised Raymond, I needed to know what he was thinking in order to stop the killings. If I was going to defeat him, I had to anticipate his next move. And that meant hearing him out.

  The drawn shades kept the room in near darkness. The smell of rotting vegetables was back. I shivered. My uncle noticed and gave a snort of laughter.

  “You can see I’m dying.”

  “Maybe that’s a good thing.”

  “Not for me, it isn’t!”

  “It’s good for other people. With you gone, Craig won’t go around kidnapping victims. Killing children.”

  Another snort of a laugh. “He hasn’t been very successful with you around.”

  I didn’t answer.

  “You’re a smart boy, Simon. You managed to learn about life force transference from the only person who could have told you: Lucinda.”

  “Hurt her again, and you’ll die!” I stepped closer to the bed. My hands itched to press a pillow over my uncle’s face. Raymond must have known what I was thinking because he shook his head.

  “You won’t do it. You’re for life! Which is why I value you so much.” Raymond laughed, genuinely this time, only it turned into a cough. “Besides, you can’t stop the killing. It goes on, you know. Through the ages. For all time.”

  “You’re evil,” I said.

  “Maybe so, but even I know when enough is enough.”

  I blinked, wondering if I’d heard correctly. “You’re going to stop your henchman from killing more children?”

  “That’s right.”

  He’s lying. A monster like Raymond doesn’t give up this easily. “I don’t believe you. You said yourself you don’t want to die.”

  Raymond made a face. “The life force of other creatures can be transferred, though not as satisfactorily as a human’s.”

  “Killing animals? That’s cruel.”

  “That’s life. Consider this: our animal shelters are overcrowded. They often euthanize some dogs and cats in order to take care of the others.”

  Would the killing never end? A dark gloom pressed down on me, blocking out sunlight and what was good in the world. I ran from the room, slamming the door behind me. It was like trying to quarantine someone with an awful disease, knowing the contagion would seep out anyway.

  “I thought you’d be glad no one else is going to die,” Raymond shouted.

  Glad? I stormed into my room. Like I’m happy he’ll be slaughtering innocent animals!

  The cell phone was where I’d left it, in the deepest corner beneath my bed. I fished it out to see if anyone had tampered with it. Not that I could tell. I pulled clean clothes from my drawers and tossed them onto my bed. Then I took a fast shower. I had to move quickly if I was going to make the bus.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  MY CELL PHONE RANG as the bus turned onto the camp road. I pulled it from my pocket, hoping it wasn’t Lucy after I’d instructed her not to call until Saturday.

  “Hello, Simon? It’s Chuck.”

  “Oh, hi.” Flustered, I realized he was probably calling about his fee. “I know I should have paid you the other day. But you never told me how much—“

  “There’s no charge. Consider it my good deed for the week.” Chuck’s excitement came through. “You’ve more than earned it by helping our cause.”

  “What cause?”

  “You know, defeating the condos. I called your aunt Lucinda and told her what the deed said about the Davenport property: it can’t be sold unless seventy per cent of all family members who have reached their majority approve of the sale. Ms. Davenport’s dead set against it!”

  Lucinda? Lucinda’s in the hospital. “When did you talk to her?”

  “The other evening, after I drove you home. Why do you ask?”

  I breathed a sigh of relief. “Just curious. Does my vote count?”

  “That’s what I’ve been looking into. Like most laws, it’s complicated. Sixteen was the age of majority when the papers regarding the property were drawn up. Even if the court honors that age instead of eighteen, you don’t turn sixteen until November. And we both know how keen your uncle is to convert the playing fields into Condo Land. We’d have to petition the court regarding the matter, given that you are in favor of keeping the land for its present use, and that you’ll be sixteen in a matter of months. All of which might take some time.” Chuck laughed meaningfully.

  “Long enough so that if they honor sixteen as the age of majority, I’ll be able to vote against the condos.”

  “Right. Unless your uncle pulls strings and gets a hearing on the calendar in September or October.”

  “When’s the next town meeting scheduled?”

  “September first, which is next Thursday night. The organizers figure everyone will be back from summer vacation by then. The more people in attendance, the more we can pressure Raymond Davenport to leave the playing fields as they are.”

  “Good luck with that. I have to go now,” I said as the bus pulled to a stop and campers rushed past me to spill out the door.

  To my surprise, it felt good being back in camp, giving kids swimming instructions and making sure they didn’t clown around too much in the pool. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop on a private conversation between a male and a female counselor who were obviously in the early stages of their dating relationship, until the guy remarked that Craig wasn’t at camp today. Hooray! One less complication to concern myself about for the time being.

  At lunch, I exchanged friendly banter with Andy and Pol. I was punchy from lack of sleep and yesterday’s events. My nerves were as taut as the strings on a tennis racket. But instead of feeling irritable, everything the twins said struck me as funny. I laughed at the stupidest comment. I was leaving Buckley, once and for all. I had nothing to take care of until Lucy called. No more murders to worry about.

  “Want to come over tonight?” Andy asked. “I got a new game that’s terrific and some new songs on my iPod.”

  I was about to say I would, then had another idea. “Maybe. For a while.” I cleared my throat. “Actually, I’m thinking of going to Carlie’s around nine-thirty, ten.”

  “Carlie’s?” Pol shot me a questioning glance. “That’s where the jocks and cheerleaders hang out.”

  My face heated up. “Tasha said to come by some time. I told her I probably would.”

  Andy set down his hamburger to gape at me. “Are you talking about Tasha Wells? The cheerleader with the curvaceous bod?”

  “What other Tasha do you know?” Pol asked. “And wherever did her parents find that ridiculous name?”

  I squirmed, wigged out by the twins’ reactions. Unflappable Andy was star struck like Tasha was some kind of local Britney Spears and Pol was seriously annoyed. “Hey, you don’t have to come with me.”

  “I want to go,” Andy said. “How about you, Pol?’

  “Wouldn’t miss it,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

  I pointed at the blob of ketchup on Andy’s shirt. “All right, but clean up your act and behave yourself.”

  Pol nodded. “That’s right, Andy. You don’t want to shame Simon in front of his new girlfriend.”

  “She’s not my girl—” I began, but Pol had jumped out of her seat and was running toward the kitchen like she’d forgotten something important. She returned as I was tossing my sandwich wrapper into the trash. “I’ll come by your house around seven thirty tonight,” I said.

  “See you then,” Andy said.

  Pol glared at me.

  “Don’t mind her,�
�� Andy said in a stage whisper. “Pol’s in one of her snits.”

  “Really?” I had the feeling Pol was angry at me. “Why?”

  Andy burst out laughing. “She doesn’t need a reason. Just ignore her.”

  I found a quiet spot behind the building and silently repeated the necessary numbers to contact Lucinda. She responded after the third calling.

  Hello, Simon. Are you at camp?

  Uh-huh. How are you feeling?

  Better, though my head aches something dreadful.

  How long do you have to stay in the hospital?

  I’m not sure. They want to do more tests, but I can’t get any sleep here. I may leave earlier than they planned.

  Don’t! Let them take the tests, Lucinda.

  Two male counselors walked by. They stopped talking to stare at me, probably wondering why I looked upset while I stared off into space. Philip, the taller one, put a hand on my shoulder.

  “Hey, buddy, you okay?”

  “Fine. I’m just working something out in my head.”

  Ron, the shorter counselor, blinked as he studied my face. “Dude, from your expression, it must be real heavy.”

  What’s that? Lucinda wanted to know.

  I couldn’t respond, not with the two guys scrutinizing me like they were waiting for me to do something bizarre.

  “I hope whatever’s bothering you works out all right in the end,” Philip said.

  “Me, too,” I answered, relieved when they continued on their way.

  Simon, what’s going on there?

  Nothing, Lucinda. Some counselors came by and thought I looked upset and strange.

  Like you were daydreaming, I suppose. Lucinda chuckled. They’d think it even stranger if they knew we were communicating without speaking.

  I turned to face the building. After I left the hospital last night, I stopped Craig from killing another girl.

  Oh, Simon! You’re too young to have to fight your uncle and his ghouls!

  Someone has to. Besides, Raymond says he’ll stick to animals for now.

  Did he indeed? She paused, then said softly, I should have finished him off years ago when I had the chance.

  I thought of my own lost opportunity and blinked it away before Lucinda could pick up on it. Raymond’s sick, Lucinda. Maybe he’ll die.

  She sighed. That would be a blessing. She yawned. I’m dreadfully tired. I think I’ll take a nap.

  Rest and get better. I need to talk to you about something. In private.

  Maybe I will stay here till Sunday like they want. We can talk Sunday afternoon when I’m home. Can it hold till then?

  I guess. I stifled the urgency to tell her about Lucy now.

  Good. Meanwhile, go and enjoy yourself. A boy your age should have nothing on his mind but having a good time.

  ***

  I whistled as I combed my hair, staring into the small mirror above my bureau. After showering, I’d put on a forest green rugby shirt with a white collar and clean chinos. I tied the laces of my sneakers, made sure my wallet and phone were in my pants pockets, then headed downstairs. I peered inside the den where my aunt and uncle were watching TV. It sounded like the local news.

  “Good-night. I won’t be back too late—around eleven-thirty, twelve.”

  “Have fun, dear,” Aunt Mary said.

  “Thanks, I will.”

  I was striding toward the front door when my uncle called out, “Where are you going and with whom?”

  His tone seriously annoyed me. I considered not responding, but decided not to make waves. “I’m going over to the twins’ house for a while, then we’re going to Carlie’s.”

  “Carlie’s, eh?” Raymond asked, sounding pleased. “That’s where the kids with status hang out. I wouldn’t think the Coltrane kids traveled in those circles. Though I wouldn’t be surprised if they brought you into the fold.”

  “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” I said.

  “You’re darn tootin’.”

  My uncle’s maniacal laughter echoed in my head all the way to the twins’ house. I scowled as I followed his obvious train of thought to its logical conclusion. Raymond still counted on transforming himself into my body and, as me, being a member of the elite high school set. How pathetic! He had no idea I’d always been part of the so-called A Level group. I’d been one of my school’s top track stars, a respectable left guard, and a damn good first baseman—all positions I didn’t give one hoot about now.

  I wondered what atrocities Craig had performed that improved my uncle’s health so he was able to watch TV downstairs. Had he slaughtered a few cats and dogs? I shuddered, hating to think of their deaths. At least no little girls were being murdered.

  As soon as I was out of here and living in England with Lucy and Aunt Grace, I’d write down everything my uncle had done. I’d send one copy to Sergeant Baker and another to Chuck Bayard, and hope they had enough to start an investigation into Raymond Davenport that would put an end to his evil once and for all.

  Andy let me inside, then flew back up the stairs expecting me to follow. I was glad to see he’d taken pains with his appearance, though his shirt was tight around the tube of fat circling his belly.

  I’m becoming as big a snob as Raymond, worrying what Tasha will make of Andy’s appearance if she shows up tonight.

  Andy’s new game was challenging. It had a New Age type of musical soundtrack I liked. Andy and I vied neck and neck to kill the most villains and reach the treasure of jewels. Engrossing as it was, I kept an eye on the clock.At ten to ten we’d each won a game apiece. We lounged back in our chairs, grinning at each other.

  “Great game, isn’t it?” Andy said. “Want to go another round?”

  “I’d like to leave soon.”

  Andy laughed. “I almost forgot. You want to go to Carlie’s tonight.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “You sure you want Pol and me tagging along? If you and Tasha have a date—”

  “We don’t have a date! And, yes, I’d like you guys to come with me. We’ll have fun.”

  Andy shrugged. “All right with me. I hear they have a new coffee–ice cream drink that’s dee-licious.”

  “Where’s Pol?” I asked. Pol hadn’t come in to talk to us once. In fact, I hadn’t seen Pol all evening.

  “In her room. Doing Pol things, I guess.”

  I suddenly felt uneasy. “Isn’t she coming with us tonight?”

  “She said she was,” Andy said. “I’ll check.”

  “Thanks, ‘cause I’d like to leave soon as she’s ready.”

  When Andy returned, he had a strange expression on his face. “Pol’s almost ready to leave. She’ll meet us downstairs.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. Come on. We’ll wait for her in the den.”

  A few minutes later, Pol poked her head inside the den. “All right. Let’s go.”

  Andy continued what he was saying without looking at his sister. I stared at Pol. She wore jeans and a polo, but she looked different. It was her hair. She’d pulled it back and piled it on top of her head. For once she wore lipstick and eye makeup. She looked…glamorous.

  “Wow!” I said. “You look great.”

  “Thanks,” Pol answered. “I don’t want to embarrass you at Carlie’s.”

  “You’d never embarrass—” I began, but she was halfway to the front door.

  “Are you guys coming or what?”

  ***

  Carlie’s was mobbed with wall-to-wall teenagers. I doubted anyone inside was over twenty. I hovered in the doorway, suddenly unsure of my next move.

  “Let’s find a table,” Andy said. “Then I’m going to get the biggest coffee–ice cream drink they sell.”

  “If we find a place to sit,” Pol muttered as she looked around. “Maybe coming here wasn’t such a great idea.”

  Her face was flushed and I picked up on her discomfort. Is Tasha here? Was dragging Andy and Pol to Carlie’s one big, fat mistake?

 
; “There are a few empty tables in the back,” Andy said, pushing his way through the crowd.

  Polly and I followed. I’d crossed half the room when someone touched my shoulder.

  “You came after all.”

  Startled, I gazed down into Tasha’s smiling face.

  “I’m here with my friends, Andy and Pol Coltrane. Andy’s gone to find us a table. This is Pol.” I turned, wishing Pol wasn’t scowling.

  “Hi, Pol,” Tasha said airily.

  Pol gave her a half smile.

  “We know each other from French class,” Tasha said. “Come sit with us. We’ve plenty of room at our table.”

  “I’ll go get Andy,” Pol said, and took off.

  I felt self-conscious as I sat in the one available seat at Tasha’s table. She introduced me to Jess, Tori, Ken, and Brian. When Pol and Andy appeared, Tasha told Brian to pull over two chairs. He did, but they didn’t quite fit around the table.

  The kids at the next table got up in one fell swoop, and Andy scraped back his chair to claim the table. “Pol, let’s sit here.”

  I felt torn, wanting to sit with Tasha and her friends, but feeling I should be with the twins. I should have come alone. I’d only brought them along because I felt weird walking into Carlie’s alone, wondering what I’d do if Tasha wasn’t there or didn’t want my company. But clearly she did because she was switching seats with her tall friend Jess, whom I remembered from the library, so she could sit next to me.

  “What are you drinking?” she asked. Even with my keen sense of hearing, I had difficulty making out her words over the din.

  “What’s good?”

  Tasha described a drink of a latte with vanilla fudge ice cream.

  “Okay,” I said. “I’ll try it and buy you one.”

  When I passed Pol, she was sitting by herself. “Where’s Andy?”

  “He’s getting our drinks.”

  “Great!” I said enthusiastically.

  “Having fun?” Pol asked.

  I turned, pretending I hadn’t heard her over the noise. Pol was acting weird. I had every right to be annoyed with her. After all, she didn’t have to come to Carlie’s tonight. She could have stayed home. But somehow I felt it was my fault she was acting like this. And I should be sitting at the table with her and Andy. Only I’d come here tonight because of Tasha.