“You’re avoiding this, something you’re really good at when you know I’m right. Besides, you should hire a housekeeper.”
“Nah, I like doing stuff for my family. Believe it or not, I like cleaning and cooking. I like taking care of my own house. I mean, look at this place. I used to live in a studio apartment with a tiny patio. Now I have my own land, enough to garden and build a greenhouse. Who says dreams don’t come true?”
“Talk to Josh.”
“I will.”
“Promise?”
“Yes, I promise.” She dragged herself back to the mudroom and sulked while she sorted piles of clothes into whites, lights, and darks. She felt chastised and rightly so. She wasn’t sure what had gotten into her. Doom and gloom had never been a part of her life, at least not since leaving her aunt and uncle, certainly not since meeting Josh. Why should she let a stupid dream sour everything now?
Travis was right about one thing. She needed to talk to Josh and let him know what was running through her head.
He was in the kitchen slicing an apple into bite size pieces for Sierra. “Where’ve you been?”
“Dad’s here. He’s around back delivering the wood and setting things up for the bonfire.”
Over the years, Josh had gotten good at developing a second sense when it came to Skye’s demeanor. Her body language usually told him her moods. Now was one of those times he knew something was wrong. “Okay, spit it out. What are you hiding from me?”
She slid onto a bar stool at the counter and began to feed the fruit to Sierra. “I shouldn’t talk about it in front of her.”
“No, you don’t. No more evading. Tell me what’s going on.”
“If I tell you I know exactly how you’ll handle it. You’ll tell me to stay behind with Sierra.”
Josh’s silver eyes glared at her. “So you’ve already had this imaginary conversation where you know what I’m going to say before I say it? Wow. And I’m the one with the special powers? You’ll become a head case if you try to think for everyone else.”
She let out an exasperated sigh. “That came out wrong. Look, you know I haven’t been sleeping since this case started. I’m afraid, mostly because I’ve had this premonition, one that means I’m…one that…one where…I’ve seen my own death, okay?”
“Why was that so hard to tell me?”
“Because your fix will be for me to stay right here. I don’t want to lose everything I have. You. Sierra. This beautiful home. You and Sierra are the only two things that really matter to me. But I can’t allow a bunch of scary dreams to drive me away from what I do, even if I do see how I die.”
“And how do you die?”
“I take a bullet. The dreams are a foreboding of what’s to come. Whatever it is will happen when we go after this guy. And then it will be over. For me. I’ve been so worried, Josh. For the past week, I’ve been letting this weigh me down. It’s no wonder I haven’t been able to close my eyes without seeing my own death.”
He wrapped his arms around her shoulders. “I knew something was wrong, I just wasn’t sure what it was or when you’d get around to telling me all of it. I didn’t think it was this serious though. With you, I should’ve known better.”
“Just when we’re so happy…we’ve barely become parents. There’s so much left to do, so much left to see, so much of Sierra to experience.”
“You’re right. The solution is simple. When it comes time to go get this guy, you’ll stay here with Sierra and I’ll go.”
“Yep, I knew it. But that’s not how this is supposed to work. I’m not staying behind. End of story. Taking out the bad guys was the reason I walked the streets at night. Getting these serial killers is what I…we do.”
“But if you’re having these kinds of warning signs, maybe you should think about staying here with Sierra. The Great Spirit is trying to tell you something.”
She shook her head. “It doesn’t come from the Great Spirit, but from the other side. And I refuse to use Sierra as an excuse every time there’s serious work to be done. That’s…weak, a lame reason not to face down my fears. What if I keep having these dreams? I have to face it full on sometime…eventually. There might not be any other way to make this leave me alone for good if I don’t face it head on.”
“But our child is the most reasonable excuse I know to stay behind. Don’t make this about you. Because if something happens to both of us, Sierra would be alone just like you were alone when your parents died in that car accident.”
“No. She’d be with Travis or…your parents…there’s no mean, crazy, whacked-out aunt and uncle in her world who would treat her like dirt. It’d be different. We’ve already discussed this.”
“With one major similarity…Sierra wouldn’t have her parents around either. They’d both be gone. That’s a powerful weight to put on a baby Sierra’s age.”
“That’s a low blow and you know it.”
“Maybe. But I’ll keep trying to get through to you until we leave, whenever that is. If that means bringing out low blows until you decide to stay put, then so be it.”
“You were supposed to understand and figure out a way to help me.”
“Oh, I understand. You’re a real hard ass going after the bad guys. But you’re also the mother of my child. I’ve already lost one wife to a nutcase. I refuse to sit by and do nothing while my second wife puts herself in harm’s way. I stood by you when you wanted to continue patrolling the streets, even during those first few months you found out you were pregnant. It drove me crazy, but I did it. I’m done encouraging you to keep pushing the envelope.”
She opened her mouth to yell something equally as profound and found she couldn’t. Instead, she got to her feet and snatched Sierra out of her high chair. “I’ll put Sierra down for her nap.”
“Fine. I don’t think it’s too much to ask to have at least one parent around for the long haul. But you’re so pigheaded you can’t see reason.” Done arguing, he pushed off the counter. “Now, if you’re finished telling me how I’m not helping you, I’m going back to work. I’ll be in my office if you change your mind. After that, I’ll help you get ready for the party, whatever you need me to do, I’ll do it. But don’t expect me to support your foolhardy decision on this one.”
With her fists balled at her sides, she watched him storm out of the room. Instead of lashing out at him, she took several deep breaths to calm down and tightened her hold on the baby. “How about we go upstairs and grab a few books to read? Your choice.”
“Story!” Sierra called out. “Story!”
Cuddling her daughter, she decided it always seemed to fall to the women to make the world a better place. Men were the ones who screwed it up and yet women were the ones who had to come along and fix things. It wasn’t fair that she should have to make a decision like this to stay behind, especially when that decision was based on a stupid dream and her deep-seated fear she wouldn’t be coming back.
She’d never been this afraid before or as confused. There were other mothers out there who were police officers, firefighters, even soldiers. They didn’t let fear rule them.
For the rest of the day, she went through her chores on automatic while mulling over that very thing. Could she let Josh go without her? That was the question. What was really at the core of doing that? Fear of dying? Fear of facing the bad guy? Fear of what the snake dream meant? Was she truly in any danger at all?
As the party loomed closer, she felt rather silly making a big deal out of it now. After getting the kitchen set up, she headed outside to make sure that the cooking area had everything it needed. Travis had brought enough firewood for next winter and then some. Josh had moved the picnic tables together to make one long dining spot that would seat twenty people.
She lifted her head toward the west and was hit in the face by a blast of icy wind. It knocked her back a step. The gust whirled around her feet. At first it held her in place but then the gale began to grow in strength, wrapping her up so she c
ouldn’t move.
Engulfing her like a black shroud, thick and dark, it slapped and shoved into her. Her throat closed as she gasped for air and had trouble breathing. She felt trapped with no way out. Then she heard a voice, a calm clear voice slam into her from the Great Spirit.
Do not be afraid of the other side. You must take this journey to get stronger. It is the only way. You must not shirk your duties now because you fear losing your life. Your tribe is your world. You must not let them down. Master your fear or you will forever be shamed. The hunter does not give up just because the prey is dangerous and hard to find. You must persevere just like you did when you were younger.
You are the nurturer and for that reason you must be fearless. The prey you seek will always be dangerous. You must be twice as fierce. You must tamp down your fear now or forever be in its grip. You know what you must do. Staying behind is not an option.
Her center warmed from the core outward. She felt serene, at peace, more so than she had in days. A strength of will built in her veins. A clearness of vision moved through her. She felt she could tackle any problem or deal with anyone.
And she would deal with Josh when the time came to hunt.
Twenty-Two
Friday night
Bainbridge Island
Even though guests started arriving around the five o’clock hour, there was still lingering tension between Skye and Josh. They’d barely spoken twenty words to each other since their argument earlier.
Harry and Elizabeth were two of the first to show up. The former detective slapped down a brown envelope on the counter. “Bennington was able to get some of those crime scene photos you wanted from Henderson PD. What is it you’re looking for?”
Skye continued adding ingredients into a huge bowl of potato salad. “That’s right, you don’t know about the Monopoly pieces.” She wiped her hands on a dish towel so she could open the envelope. She shook out the photographs and began looking for any sign of that little token left behind at the other crime scenes.
“Here, look. See that little miniature wheelbarrow sitting out on the nightstand. I know it’s hard to see, but if you use a magnifying glass you’d be able to pick it up better. It’s a Monopoly piece. It’s the same kind of thing left from Georgia to California that ties these murders all together. This proves the Henderson murders belong to our killer. Which means Dr. Ebert is just like all the other missing people. The doctor’s dead and not on the run.”
Elizabeth scrunched up her face. “You can see all that definitively by looking at that little token?”
Josh peered over Skye’s shoulder. “I was skeptical at first, too. But one of those little suckers is present somewhere at every crime scene, usually in the master bedroom. We have the pictures to prove it. This makes one more the Cross-country Killer can claim.”
“Amazing,” Elizabeth said. “I’m beginning to see why Harry wants you guys to do this full-time. You know he’s already asked his old captain to refer any cold cases back to him, especially the ones the department doesn’t have the funds to investigate.”
Josh looked at Skye. “That’s okay by us. Every murder that goes unsolved needs a resolution.”
The kitchen started filling up when Lena and Zoe walked in, arms full of more groceries.
“I’ve never dug for clams before,” Zoe stated as she searched “how to” videos on her cell phone. She made a face. “It looks messy and dirty.”
Skye smiled at the teen’s description. “That makes two of us. Since it should be fairly simple I don’t think we’ll need to watch a YouTube video to get the hang of it.”
“You guys are novices,” Josh declared, unpacking the fresh halibut for the deep fryer. “I’ve been clam digging since I was eight. During summer visits with my grandma, it was a common occurrence. Nothing to it.”
“You got that right,” Harry bragged. He grabbed his wife’s hand. “Come on, Lizzie, we’ll show these kids how it’s done.”
Elizabeth let out an exaggerated gasp. “And get my brand-new sandals dirty? No way. I found these on sale at Nordstrom and I’m not about to go near a muddy beach and ruin them. You and Josh show them how it’s done and leave me parked right here in the kitchen. I don’t even like clams.”
Skye stepped in to play referee. “No one has to dig clams if they don’t want to. Elizabeth is fine staying put. But the rest of you, do you even know what it is you’ll be digging for? Butter clams or razor?”
Josh rubbed his hands together in a show of readiness. “You mean to tell me we’ve lived here two years and you don’t know we have an abundance of butter clams down on the beach? That’s just pathetic.”
Skye slapped him on the arm. “Since when have I had time to dig up clams? Just for that, you get to do the steaming.”
Josh thumbed a hand toward his father-in-law. “Not me. Travis volunteered.”
“Is that what the bonfire’s for?” Zoe asked. “Travis brought this huge steel pot that hangs on a metal rod. It looks like a witch’s cauldron.”
“Witch’s cauldron?” Skye bumped Zoe’s shoulder. “I’ll be sure to give him a hard time about that. That must make Dad a Nez Perce warlock.”
“I’ll show you warlock,” Travis began as he circled the kitchen island, holding up what looked like a spear, but was really an oversized BBQ fork. “Warrior hunts, spears plenty of fish for dinner, lots more than White man.”
Zoe giggled her way behind him, beginning to get in the party mood. “You’re on. I bet I’ll find more clams than you do.”
Reggie and Judy appeared in the kitchen doorway. Reggie held a six-pack of beer while Judy carried a lemon yogurt cake she’d baked.
“Beer goes in one of the coolers,” Skye said, sniffing the cake. She set it on the kitchen island with the chips and dips. “Yum. Thanks to Judy, we have dessert. I forgot to tell Josh to pick up anything sweet. I made a bucket of potato salad and we’ll have plenty of corn on the cob, but totally forgot about taking care of anyone’s sweet tooth.”
“It’s my mother’s recipe,” Judy said, beaming. “I haven’t made it in ages.”
“I wanted to make Rice Krispy treats,” Zoe announced. “But we had zero time. Lena insisted we rush over here right after school. Now I’m glad because the cake looks so much better.”
Winston and Leo had carpooled together and both men came in carrying bags with more food.
“There’s always s’mores,” Winston said, holding up a grocery sack. “Brought graham crackers, marshmallows, and the main ingredient…dark chocolate.”
“We stopped at the store to pick up beer and shrimp,” Leo added. “And got carried away.”
“I’ll try a beer,” Zoe piped up.
“Not in my lifetime,” Lena fired back. “At least not until the day you turn twenty-one. In case anyone is counting, that’s five years from now.”
“Winston isn’t twenty-one and he drinks.”
Winston ruffled the kid’s hair. “Hey, I will be in two months. I’ve been waiting to turn legal since I was seventeen.”
Skye draped an arm on Zoe’s shoulder in mock sympathy. “Don’t try to grow up so fast. Be grateful you already get to drive.”
“Speaking of that,” Zoe began. “What are you doing with your old Subaru? I’ve saved my babysitting money and I plan to get a job this summer. You take the minivan wherever you go. Why not let me buy your old car?”
“You want my Subaru?” Skye couldn’t imagine getting rid of her cherished set of wheels. “I don’t know, Zoe. I’m attached to that car like it’s an extra limb. We’ll talk about it later. Right now, everyone who wants to eat clams for supper, grab a bucket off the patio and put on a pair of waders. You also might want to take one of the rakes. You should start digging before dark.”
She scooped Sierra up, bundling the toddler up against the chilly afternoon wind. With the baby on her hip she led the troop out the back door and down to the beach.
Zoe followed, still advocating to buy the car. “Yours
is about as reliable as any other I could find. They say it’s better to know the used car in and out so you won’t waste your money and get ripped off. I know everything about your Subaru.”
“Zoe, there are hundreds of good used cars in the Seattle area. I’ll help you find one. I shouldn’t have to remind you that my car’s an old granny car. Wouldn’t you prefer something more…sporty, trendy, something suitable for a teenage girl to drive? What about a bug? Those are cute. And they come in all these wonderful colors these days.”
“What colors?”
“What’s your favorite color?”
“Purple.”
“Uh, well, I don’t know about a purple VW. How about red?”
“You really don’t want to sell me your car?” Zoe asked. “I thought you’d want to get rid of it.”
“I’ve been through a lot in that car,” Skye tried to explain. But even that began to sound weak. She decided it was better to change the subject. “You want to find clams? Look for the dimple in the sand and dig there,” Skye instructed, hoping to get the kid’s mind off cars.
But the persistent teen stayed after Skye in that mode until the girl finally rooted out her first clam. Then, it was all about how many she could scoop out before anyone else. “Look at this, I nabbed another one. Cool.”
Zoe held up what Josh termed was a good-sized three-pointer. “Drop it in the bucket until we combine our catch.”
Soon the clams started piling up in all the various containers.
When they’d reached their limit, Josh and Harry dumped everything into a huge wash tub and carried it over to where Travis stood at the big kettle he used for steaming.
Bathed in waning light, the rest of the guests dragged chairs down from the boathouse and gathered them in a circle around the bonfire.
As darkness descended, Skye went around lighting the lanterns—colorful bright orbs she’d already strung up using a line of poles around the perimeter.
Truth in the Bones Page 21