Sanctuary Buried WITSEC Town Series Book 2

by Lisa Phillips

  Brian was early twenties and had a roaring crush on Matthias’s sister, Sofia, the youngest of them. Sofia was twenty; Antonia—who was taller and slender where Sofia was plump—was twenty-three. There might’ve only been a few years between them, but it still made Matthias feel old—especially considering he’d been the father figure in their lives ever since their dad died.

  Brian didn’t nod back. He raised his hand to stall Matthias. “Uh...”

  Matthias pulled open the door and discovered what Brian had been trying to tell him. All he could hear was female screeching. Not something he was unfamiliar with, considering he had three sisters. They just didn’t do it often. And not for years.

  He strode between the aisles, stocked with plant food and pet paraphernalia. “What in God’s name is—”

  Too late Matthias realized what he’d said. Bolton was a good friend, but Matthias had also learned some not so good stuff from him. Including a few choice phrases that liked to slip out when he wasn’t thinking about what he was saying.

  He really needed to quit doing that.

  Matthias turned the corner at the end of the aisle to the space in front of the counter. Maria was on top of Antonia. The two of them were rolling around on the dusty floor tiles, pulling each other’s hair.

  Sofia was behind the counter, the phone in her hand. She replaced it in the base. “I was just about to call you.” Her full cheeks had lightened two shades and she looked like she was about to start crying.

  Matthias smiled, trying to reassure her, and turned to his other sisters. “Enough.”

  He hauled Maria up and held her back while he used his free hand to help Antonia up. She ignored his hand and stood, brushing off the seat of jeans that were way too tight for his liking. But it was an ancient argument between them.

  “What’s going on?”

  Both of them started yelling.

  “Quiet!” Matthias’s bellow filled the enclosed space. Sofia hiccoughed. They all turned to her. With tears streaking down her face, their youngest sister fled from behind the counter, down the aisle.

  Matthias pulled both of the girls to stand in front of him and folded his arms. “Do you see what you did?”

  Antonia shot him a look. “You’re the one who yelled and made her cry.”

  “Seriously?” He looked at Maria. “What’s going on?”

  His two sisters were direct opposites. Where Maria apparently couldn’t care less about her appearance, Antonia took complete pride in hers.

  “Someone explain this right now.”

  “Oh good grief, you sound like Dad.” Antonia rolled her eyes. “Maria’s crazy, so what else is new?”

  Still reeling from the second implication in as many days that he was at all like his father, it took him a minute to realize what she’d said about Maria. Matthias glanced at the accused. Maria either hadn’t noticed or didn’t care what Antonia thought. He wasn’t ever going to understand women.

  Maria turned her tear-filled eyes on him. “She’s sleeping with Tom.”

  “What?”

  “Our sister is having an affair with my husband!” Maria’s scream pierced his ears. “I just know she is.”

  Matthias looked at the other sister. “Antonia?”

  “I refuse to dignify this accusation with a response.”

  That wasn’t good. If Maria was lying, Antonia should be defending herself much more vehemently than this. He’d seen that enough times, although it was possible every single one of those occasions had been based on hormones. Was this normal, hormone-free Antonia, or was she simply refusing to deny it?

  “See!” Maria yelled. “She knows she’s guilty, that’s why she won’t admit it! She’s sleeping with Tom. She’s been having a sordid affair with him this whole time!”

  “Maria.” He softened his voice. “You need proof. Because whether this is true or not, just saying it is going to tear this family apart.”

  “Don’t placate me. I know what I know.”

  Which was a problem, considering Maria’s concept of reality was dubious at best.

  “Where are the boys?”

  Maria waved away his concern. “Tom didn’t have anything scheduled for this morning, so he took them hiking.”

  That was something at least. Matthias turned to Antonia. “Is it true, or is she mistaken?”

  There was a flicker of something he couldn’t discern in her eyes, and then Antonia said, “I’m not responding to any of it. She can’t just come in here and act like this. I’m all dirty now. I have soil in my hair for crying out loud.”

  Yes, because that was the most important thing happening right now. “Antonia—”

  “No. I won’t answer it.” She stepped away. “I’m not going to. Not when she’s acting like she always does. She just walked in here and attacked me like a banshee. She has to know she can’t do that.”

  Antonia strutted away.

  “Maria, why don’t we walk and talk.” He held his hand out to his older sister. “What do you say?”

  Maria glanced at Antonia’s back, shooting tiny missiles with her eyes. “She knows I’m right. It’s why she won’t deny it.” Her earnest eyes moved to him. “I know it’s true.”

  Antonia made a sound of frustration. “Talk some sense into her. She can’t just walk in to my place of business and do this.”

  Maria touched her face, sucking in a breath that could turn into crying at any moment. “I’m not the one who will tear this family apart.”

  As far as Matthias could tell, they were already torn apart. On the one hand, Antonia and Sofia and Diego were all trying to live their lives—albeit they were turning out to be disasters in some cases. Maria was stuck, unable to move on from what had happened. Their mom acted like their dad had never even existed, and Matthias was stuck somewhere in the middle—honestly sick of all of it.

  But was that just another avoidance tactic? The shrink had thought it was. He’d barely told her anything, and she’d nailed it. That was why he never went back.

  “Come on, I’ll walk you home.”

  Maria shrugged off his arm. “No, I’m going for a walk. Then I’m having lunch with Mama.”

  “You are?” When she nodded, he said, “That’s good, Maria.”

  She rolled her eyes and shoved at his shoulder. She might want to pass it off as no big deal, but nothing good came from Maria closeting herself at home. “I know what you did with the birthday presents. I’m sorry I forgot to get them something and you had to pretend your present was from me. Thank you.”

  Matthias touched her cheeks then. “Every time, Maria.”

  “I should have remembered.”

  “It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t make you a bad mom. You love Reuben and Simeon.”

  She nodded, a slight movement. “I think I do. But what if I hurt them really bad one day?”

  “You have to trust yourself. Don’t listen to the lies, see them for what they are.”

  She walked away, and Matthias glanced up at the mountains.

  He always turned his attention that way when he needed to be reminded there were things in his world bigger than him. He had to recognize again that there were greater things, which called him to be more than he was. Faith was something Matthias had always had a comprehension of, being dragged to mass almost every day of his life. But something Dan Walden, the town’s farmer, had said recently struck a chord in him.

  They’d been having a Bible study every week for a while now, and Matthias had mostly only gone because the sheriff attended. Matthias understood religion, but this was different. Even John’s excitement over his new “relationship” with God didn’t completely make sense to him.

  What Dan and John both spoke of was a deep connection to God that didn’t require the four walls of a church, or even the elements of communion. There wasn’t much that was sacred within Sanctuary, although Father Wilson performed the duties of a priest as best he could. Dan maintained they didn’t even need any of that. Like Matthias
could just talk to God as if they were friends, and tell God all of his problems.

  It felt awkward, but Matthias did it then. He looked up, because where else was he supposed to stare?

  He told God everything God probably already knew, but it felt better to lay it out. All he could think was that his life had been this way for years. Maybe it wasn’t ever going to change. God didn’t have to fix Maria, Tom, Antonia or anyone else in his life if He didn’t want to. Maybe the only person Matthias had control over was himself, which meant he had to discover what God wanted from him.

  If he didn’t have to worry about his family because God was going to take care of them, then Matthias was freed up to go after something he actually wanted for himself. Something he hadn’t thought was possible, given the colossal mess of his family.

  Frannie would be at work right now, up to her elbows in flour. Which was good since he was due at the bakery in ten minutes anyway for another meeting with Dan and Sheriff Mason.

  Matthias set off in that direction, still determined not to care that they’d smirked at him when he suggested the bakery. He didn’t care what his friends thought.

  Matthias knew what he wanted.

  **

  Frannie slipped the letter opener into the envelope, her attention on what could almost be called her apartment. The living room had come a long way since she’d voiced her desire to Matthias to make it an actual, livable space. Since her mom had actually shown up today, Frannie was able to clear out all the junk, throw away a lot and pile the rest in the bedroom. The dust had been thick, but it felt good to sweep it away and reveal what was underneath. Personal space.

  She pulled the folded paper from the envelope and coughed. It smelled almost chemical, a weird odor she couldn’t associate with anything in particular though it was strong. This wasn’t a payment. The paper had handwriting on it, a sprawling spidery writing she didn’t recognize.

  Dearest Francine,

  Please accept my apology for any injury I caused you on Saturday night. That was not my intention.

  Saturday night?

  The night the man with Stella had pushed her into the shelf.

  Frannie’s stomach churned. What on earth?

  Her hand dove for the phone, and she dialed the sheriff’s office.

  “Hello, dear.” It was the sheriff’s secretary—the dispatcher.

  “Dotty. I need the sheriff to come to my office above the bakery immediately.”

  “He’s already at the bakery. I’ll radio him. He’ll be right upstairs.” Dotty kept talking, but Frannie’s attention was back on the letter. She hung up the phone.

  While I may have caused you harm, I do not regret my reason for being present in Stella Noel’s room that night.

  Yes, this is my confession.

  Boots pounded up the stairs. Frannie sucked in sharp breaths, still smelling the foul odor of the paper.

  As trite as it may seem, I am tired of the silence. The lies. Since my wrong to you has been great, it is my desire that you accept my explanation.

  It is true, I have killed many. But not for any pleasure I take in the action. I simply perform God’s work of mercy in the lives of the men and women of Sanctuary.

  The door flung open, hit the wall and swung back. The sheriff burst in, gun drawn, with Matthias directly behind him. Dan Walden, the farmer, brought up the rear of their group.

  Frannie jumped up. Her chair was shoved back and rolled on its wheels to hit the wall. She pointed to the letter, but no sound came out of her mouth.

  Sheriff Mason holstered his gun. “The letter?”

  She nodded—a jerky movement at best. Her eyes sought out Matthias, and he walked to her.

  “Tias.” She tried to breathe but could only sputter. Leaning forward, Frannie sucked in a breath and coughed it out. Matthias’s strong hand rubbed up and down her back. He crouched beside her, sweeping her hair from her face.

  The sheriff came around the desk. He used the lid end of a pen and the eraser of her pencil to fully open the paper where she’d dropped it on the desk. He held the letter open, reading it for himself.

  Beside her, Matthias made a noise. He stepped closer to the paper, which meant the warmth of his body came into contact with hers. The sheer heat of him was like nothing she’d ever felt before. She was always cold, and he was like a furnace conjuring images of a warm fire on a snowy night. Or s’mores at the bonfire they’d had the one time her father actually let her go to summer camp.

  John straightened. “I was right.” His attention was on Matthias. “He’s killed before. The attempt on Stella wasn’t his first time.”

  Frannie gasped, coughing again. “Not his... What?”

  Matthias lifted his hand to squeeze her shoulder. “Stella wasn’t the first. He’s killed others.”

  “He said it was God’s work.”

  Dan’s eyes hardened. “He might think that, but...” It was clear Dan’s opinion of this person—whoever it was—and their theological convictions, wasn’t ever going to be favorable.

  Frannie glanced between each of them, Matthias’s hand still on her shoulder. “Why did he send this? Why is he apologizing to me when he’s killed people?”

  “Maybe it’s exactly what he said.” John’s eyes were soft for her. “Maybe he wants someone to talk to.”

  “Well, I’m not available.” Frannie didn’t need this. Air refused to enter her lungs. She couldn’t even breathe.

  “Frannie,” Matthias’s voice was gentle. “Give yourself a minute. This is a shock. I get that. But you don’t have to accept this. We’re not asking you to be this monster’s confidante.”

  John said, “He’s right. I don’t want you reading this, or any more if you get them. As soon as you know what they are, just turn them over to me.”

  “Okay.” She could do that. This crazy murderer could write whatever he wanted. It didn’t mean she had to read it.

  “I’ll get you some water.” Dan wandered out into the kitchen area.

  “The faucet doesn’t work,” Matthias called after him. “You’ll have to get it from downstairs.”

  Frannie caught his hand in hers and squeezed it gently, grateful she hadn’t had to say all that. Matthias didn’t let her hand go, he glanced at her and held her eyes without saying anything.

  John said, “Do you want to read the rest before I put it in evidence and take it back to the sheriff’s office?”

  Matthias shifted. “Frannie—”

  Maybe she should. Maybe she needed to hear, just once, what this person had to say. “I want to. I want an explanation.”

  “Just make sure you don’t touch the paper or the envelope any more than you have to. I’ll be back in a minute with an evidence bag.” He looked at Tias. “Matthias?”

  He nodded. “I got it.”

  Frannie scanned the page until she found the place she left off.

  To those who no longer wish to reside in Sanctuary, I offer a way out. To the tired, the sick and despairing, I provide eternal rest.

  “Wow, he’s really full of himself. He thinks he’s providing a service, killing people?” She couldn’t even begin to comprehend what kind of a person thought that way.

  I end life only after making an offer. If that offer is accepted, then I carry out that which is my duty.

  “No.”

  Matthias gently squeezed her hand. “What is it?”

  “Stella wouldn’t have accepted any offer.”

  “She is very sick.” Matthias paused. “Maybe she—”

  “No. She wouldn’t have done that. She wouldn’t just give up and leave me.” Frannie’s voice hitched. She covered her mouth with her hand and tried to cry quietly. Why had she said that? There was nearly always somebody else around, even at home. It wasn’t like she was lonely. Matthias was going to think she didn’t have any friends. But there was something about the relationship she had with Stella that she didn’t have with anyone else—and she was going to lose it.

  “I
won’t let him take her away from me. I won’t. I don’t care if she did accept his offer. I’ll talk to her, get her to change her mind.”

  Matthias sighed.

  “I will. I know you don’t think I can, but Stella and I...”

  “I know you’re close. Everyone knows. It’s obvious from the way Stella is with you that she sees you as the daughter she never had.”

  Frannie said, “She has a son. He didn’t want to come with Stella and her husband to Sanctuary. But you’re right. We are family.” It was unspoken, but he knew the reality of her life with Mimi and Izzy, and why she would jump at the chance to be close to a woman she considered a second mother.

  John rapped on the door frame. Matthias backed up an inch, but still held her hand.

  “I’m going to enter the letter as evidence. Are you finished with it?”

  “Yes.” Frannie braced against the shudder. “Can I go? I think I need a walk.”

  John nodded. Without letting go of Matthias’s hand, Frannie walked to the stairs and down. She twisted the handle and gulped clean, fresh air. She just walked, without setting a destination.

  Halfway down the road that ran behind Main Street, Matthias pulled her to a stop. Frannie spun back to him, mortified at the tears falling down her cheeks.

  He drew her close and swiped the wetness away with his thumbs. “We’ll go see Stella. We’ll talk to her together. Maybe we can convince her to fight more. To hang on.”

  “She’s in so much pain—” Frannie’s voice broke. “Why am I so selfish?”

  “You love her. You want her with you, not in pain. Just because you love her.”

  “I don’t want her to die.”

  “I know.” He drew her closer so that she rested her forehead on his chest. Frannie folded her arms around him and soaked up the warmth of his comfort.

  It was like falling.

  The strength of what she received from Matthias right then was unlike anything anyone had ever given her before. Even in Stella’s friendship. Frannie realized she could live right here. In the place where she needed, and he simply gave. How did he do that when precious few people in her life had done anything but take from her?