“He is making this sound so much worse than it actually is. None of it was like that. You guys are blowing this so far out of proportion.”
“Okay.” Her mother sighed, her hands held up in surrender. “Okay. No one’s here to judge you, Jordyn. I trust you. We all just love you so much, and we worry about you. You know that. But if you tell me it’s nothing, I’ll believe you.”
“It’s nothing,” Jordyn said in exasperation. “Of course it’s nothing.”
“And if you ever start to feel like it is something?” she asked cautiously.
“You’ll be the first to know.” She nodded.
“Okay then.” Her mother pulled her into a hug. “Don’t be too hard on Connor, okay? He’s doing what he believes is the right thing, even if you don’t see that. New fathers are entitled to their fair share of worry too.”
Jordyn nodded, feeling tense in her mother’s arms. Her head was still filled with rage as she was released and immediately began busying herself with the dishes.
***
That night at dinner, Connor brought home take out. Everyone ate hungrily, while her father complained about how the food here was nothing like back home.
“Oh, hush, Dad,” Jordyn said playfully, “you’re still in the south. It’s all the same.”
“No, I agree.” Connor smiled. “It’s definitely different here. Takes a while to get used to it. Of course I don’t notice it now, but I do remember it being different. The water tastes different too. Don’t you think so, Jor?”
Jordyn looked away, her anger still hidden until she had time to speak to him alone.
Sensing the tension, her mother spoke up. “I hadn’t noticed yet, but I can imagine it is a bit different. This food is just fabulous though, Connor. I hope we can try them again before we leave.” She smiled, twirling her fork in her noodles.
“So what did you all do today?” Connor asked, looking at Jordyn.
She began to answer, but stopped. If she lied, would her mother say something? If she told the truth, it was sure to start an argument. She shoved a spoonful of her orange chicken into her mouth instead, not bothering to look his way.
Kate spoke up for the first time since they’d sat down. “We hung out here. Watched Ollie have a series of explosive diapers. You know, the usual.”
Jordyn looked up at her in surprise, but she only briefly smiled at her cleverly and then back toward Connor.
Seeming satisfied, he took another bite of his food.
“Ollie-gator, here’s another bite.” Jordyn held up a spoonful of carrots for him. He opened his mouth, moving his head side to side in excitement.
“Do you want me to feed him, babe? I don’t mind,” Connor offered. “You should eat. You look tired.”
“I’m fine,” Jordyn said, trying to keep the annoyance from her voice.
Connor stood up anyway. “No, seriously, I want to. I’ve missed him. Would you let me feed him, please?”
“You know what, Connor?” she said angrily, thrusting the jar of baby food at him. “I am tired. You go ahead and feed him. I’m going to bed.” She couldn’t stop the tears that hit her cheeks immediately upon seeing his shocked expression. “I’m sorry, Mom and Dad.” She pushed past Connor, tears flowing freely, and ran toward her bedroom feeling more like a child than ever. As she entered her bedroom, she slammed the door behind her, her head spinning. She collapsed onto the bed, breathing heavily and trying to calm herself down. She pressed her face into the pillow, her tears warm on her face, as if she were burning from the inside out.
She sobbed into her pillow, feeling scared and alone and completely unsure of what to do about it. She could picture them in there now, talking about how she worried them, about how crazy she’d become. Angry, betrayed thoughts swirled in her head. She cried quietly, gasping for breath, her whole body shivering with sadness.
After a few lonely hours, the sound of the bedroom door opening pulled Jordyn from a light slumber.
“Jordyn? Jor? You still awake?” he whispered softly. She could hear him tiptoeing across the room.
She lay still, trying to convince him she was still asleep. She heard him pull his clothes off and fumble into his pajamas. He slinked into bed, obviously trying not to wake her, and slipped his arms around her gently, pressing his lips into the back of her head.
She stifled another sob, reminded of why she was so upset.
“Jor,” he whispered, realizing she was awake. “Baby, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I just thought you could use a break from feeding him all day. That’s all.” He rubbed her shoulders carefully, turning her over to face him.
She remained silent, afraid that talking would bring her to tears again. He moved closer, rubbing his hand through her hair. She pulled away, unwilling to let him make her feel better. This was all his fault to begin with.
“My mom told me why they really came, Connor. How could you do that? You told my parents that I was crazy.”
He drew back for a second but began rubbing her back again. “How could I? I was worried about you, Jordyn. I am worried about you.” He traced his fingers over the side of her face. “Don’t I at least get that? For God’s sake, you went to a child’s funeral and asked a grieving mother if she knew that her daughter was going to die. I’m sorry, sweetie, God knows I love you more than anything in this world, but you’re scaring me. You’re scaring me so much. I didn’t know what else to do. I thought if she helped you out with Ollie, helped you around the house, maybe you’d get back to feeling like your old self.”
“I don’t understand why you couldn’t just talk to me first,” she whined.
He sighed. “I’ve tried. I’ve tried talking to you. You get defensive and angry or you start crying or you ask me to believe you. And I’ve tried that too. I went to the store with you and the police station, but there was nothing there.”
“But you saw the text message,” she insisted.
“I did. And it was terrifying. Who knows who sent it or why, Jordyn? It was probably some prank. If, in some strange way, you are right and the text was from someone who is willing to kill our son, it scares me that that isn’t enough to make you stop.”
“I’d never do anything to hurt our son,” she said, tears forming once again. “This is about so much more than Ollie.”
“Maybe so. Look, I just want to know that you’re okay. Maybe I went about this all the wrong way. I’m a husband. It’s what we do. I just want you to know that whatever I’ve done, it was all with good intentions. It honestly was. I never meant to hurt you.” He kissed her forehead.
Begrudgingly, she leaned into him. “I know you didn’t mean to, but it did. It did hurt me. You don’t have to worry about me, and I wish that you knew that.”
“I know I don’t have to worry about you,” he told her, “but I do anyway. I can’t help it. I love you more than anything, Jordyn.”
“I love you too.” She pulled his face toward hers and kissed him firmly on the lips. His response was instant, rolling over on top of her, his hands around her waist. He pressed his body into hers warmly, willing her to give in. Her lips parted quickly, allowing her to lose herself in her husband’s arms, forgetting for a moment all about the darkness in the world.
Chapter Eleven
It was just after ten. The house had fallen still half an hour before, and Jordyn lay awake. Beside her, Connor’s breathing was slow and steady, his quiet snores filling the room. She lifted the covers off of herself carefully, slipping out of bed. Her jeans and shirt were still in the floor from hours ago, and she slipped into them with ease. Slowly, she paced her way toward the door, cracking the door open just enough to squeeze through, before closing it in slow motion. She tiptoed down the hallway, toward the front door. Passing the room where her parents were sleeping, she heard her father’s loud snoring. The blue light from the TV lit up the floor beneath Kate’s door, flickering on and off.
Thinking quickly, she backtracked her steps. It was just a w
him, but maybe she could save herself some time. She pushed open the door gently, seeing her sister’s face lit up by the light from her phone.
“What the hell are you doing?” she asked, dropping her phone on the bed.
“Shhh!” Jordyn rushed into the room and shut the door behind her.
Kate sat up in bed. “You shhh! What the literal hell, Jordyn? What are you doing in here in the middle of the night?”
“I, um, I wanted to say thank you for saying what you said at supper tonight,” Jordyn said, sinking down into the foot of the bed.
“And you had to tell me this in the middle of the fucking night? Jesus, Jordyn! What is wrong with you? Go back to bed and thank me tomorrow.” She lay back down, bumping Jordyn with her feet and bundling the covers around her.
“How did you know to tell him that? I mean, why did you lie for me?” she asked. It was a question that had been bothering her all night.
Kate smirked. “You may be better than me at a lot of shit, but if there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s knowing when to lie.”
Jordyn frowned. “Well, thank you.”
“Why did you want to lie to him anyway? You cheating or something?”
“Of course not,” Jordyn said, taken aback by the suggestion. “No, I was honestly with Carrie all day, just like I told you and Mom earlier.”
“Okay.” Kate scooted back up, pulling her feet away from her sister to make more room. “And Connor couldn’t know that, why?”
“Because Connor thinks I’m going crazy,” she admitted plainly.
“Well are you?”
“No,” Jordyn said shortly.
“Okay, then what is going on?”
She glanced at her phone. It was just past eleven now. “I don’t have time to explain it all now, but I’m fine and I’ll explain it when I can. Right now, though, I have a favor to ask.”
“Ask away.” Kate held her hands out like she was presenting a prize.
“I, um, I need a cigarette.”
Kate furrowed her brow, looking like she may burst out laughing. Instead she said, “Since when do you smoke?”
“I don’t. It’s not for me,” she replied defensively.
“Relax, I’m not gonna tell on you,” she teased, climbing out of bed and grabbing her purse. She unzipped the top and pulled out a carton of Marlboro Reds. She slipped one out of the pack and handed it over. Jordyn held the small stick between her fingers awkwardly.
“Need a light too?” Kate asked, holding out a purple BIC.
Jordyn shook her head, though she really wasn’t sure if she’d need one or not. The text hadn’t specified.
“Go on,” her sister insisted. “Take it. I have plenty more.”
Gratefully, she accepted, taking the lighter from her baby sister. “Okay, thanks. I have to go, but I’ll be back soon. If, um, if anyone asks, I went to see Carrie again.”
Jordyn stood up, turning to leave.
“No worries, I’ll cover for you,” Kate promised.
“Thanks,” she called over her shoulder, making her way toward the door. “Oh, but hey? Let’s keep this,” she said as she held the cigarette up, “between us, okay?”
Kate nodded. “Geeze, okay. Is he your husband or your parent?”
Jordyn smiled at her sister without another word and shut the door, grabbing a jacket and slipping it on as she made her way through the house and out the front door. She made her way down the concrete walkway carefully, zipping her jacket as she went. She pulled the car out of the driveway with its lights off, worried that headlights would wake Connor up, and then she opened her GPS app and let it lead the way.
***
Jordyn pulled over on the empty road, her headlights shinning into the darkness. The night around her was still. There was an old farmhouse a few miles ahead, but nothing else in sight. She turned her radio down, trying to stay calm. She glanced around at the empty fields, wondering if someone was going to jump out. She realized she had no weapons to protect herself and had told no one where she was going, should this turn out badly. Poor planning on her part, she admitted.
Half tempted to go back, she stared at her phone, watching the minutes pass. Fifty-eight. Fifty-nine. There was no one around. From what she could tell, 167 Old Mill Road didn’t exist, may have never existed. She realized this may have all been some cruel prank.
Suddenly, her phone vibrated in her hand, causing her to jump. She glanced down at the screen in pure terror. It was a text message.
Get out of the car. Go to the middle of the street. Light your cigarette and wait.
Chapter Twelve
HIM
Standing in the middle of the field, he watched her pull onto the road. Her car came to a stop just a bit farther up than he’d hoped for, but still it would work. When she put the car into park, the interior lights came on for just a second but she switched them off. It was enough for him to see that she was alone, just like he’d told her to be. He watched her check her phone, the bright light illuminating her face.
She was braver than he’d thought. He had to give her credit. Bravery was a fool’s trait, though, he’d learned long ago, something that would only endanger you. She’d learn her lesson soon enough though. He was going to make sure of it. If there was one thing he’d promised himself, it was that no one was going to come into his town and wreck his plan, not ever. No one could hurt him. Not this time.
Anger grew in him as he watched her sitting there patiently. He was still awaiting his other guest, but he wasn’t honestly sure how much longer she’d sit there. She was a nosey one, and he feared she may venture out of the car without permission. He pulled the phone out of his pocket, typing out his message quickly. He read it over once. Send. He pressed the phone back into his pocket, watching her as she received it.
Even after all of these years, it still brought him so much pleasure to watch his plans unfold, to know how much work he’d put into each one.
He remained still as she opened her car door, climbing out slowly. Her eyes danced around the fields, looking right past him. He wondered if she knew he was there, knew he was watching. He was always watching, after all. He couldn’t see the cigarette just yet, but he knew it had to be there. He studied her movements, watched how she shook as she shut the door. He watched the girl walk toward the front of her car. The large jacket she was wearing seemed to swallow her up in the dark of the night. Finally, she pulled the cigarette out of her jacket pocket, flipping open a lighter. He knew right away this must’ve felt so foreign to her. She tried, and failed, three times to light the cigarette. Each time the wind gusted and extinguished the flame. She turned her back toward the wind, shielding herself with her hood. A few moments later, he caught a whiff of the smoke, his lungs immediately craving the nicotine he’d once loved. He didn’t allow himself to think of how long it had been since he’d let himself enjoy such an indulgence. She kneeled over, coughing as the nicotine filled her lungs. Maybe she’d die right here, he reasoned, make it easier on him.
He looked into the distance, just for a second, checking once again to see if someone might be coming. Someone in particular. If he’d timed it right, and of course he had, his next guest should be arriving in about two minutes.
He smiled. Two minutes left for her to squirm. He pulled the phone out once again, preparing his next message. In truth, he hated that it had come to this. Jordyn Atwood hadn’t been in his plan at all, far from it, in fact, but she’d forced his hand. He was a man of action, and if she didn’t learn her lesson now he feared she may never. It was time to break her, to end her. There were too many questions being asked, and he wouldn’t have it.
He read over the message in his head, grinning from ear to ear. It was time to play.
Chapter Thirteen
Michael Simpson
Michael Simpson lay in bed tossing and turning. He’d made it past his eighteenth birthday four years ago and had foolishly thought this mess was over for him. After he graduated, his father’
s friend had offered him a job down at the auto shop he owned. Mike knew that the job was originally meant for the owner’s son, Mike’s friend, Kyle, who had passed away two years before.
He’d accepted the offer without hesitation. It had meant good money and hard work—two things he enjoyed. Besides, Kyle’s dad was really fun to be around, and he had taught him a lot of cool things about cars. Mike hoped eventually Sherry and Doug would leave the shop to him, and that he could keep running it for them.
After today though, he wasn’t sure if that’s what he wanted. He wasn’t sure how he would ever face the place again. In the middle of their busiest day in a very long time, Mike and Doug had finished five repairs and were on a roll. At around two, Doug had noticed the time and offered to head out and pick them both up some lunch while Mike was finishing up.
When his phone had chimed in his pocket, he’d assumed it was Doug asking what he wanted on his burger or something like that. Instead, seeing the message caused him to drop the wrench he’d been using on his forehead. He cursed loudly, rubbing his head. Sitting up with blurry vision and an unbelievable headache, he read the message again through watering eyes:
Drill a hole in that old Ford gas tank. Or your baby dies.
Mike rubbed his eyes, thinking it had to be a joke. He didn’t have a baby. He couldn’t be having a baby. Erin had been on the pill ever since they had started getting serious. She’d had the flu a while back, sure, but they’d been careful for the next few weeks. Just in case. She was so adamant about not having kids. There was no way she wouldn’t have told him.
He slipped out from under the truck and dialed her number.
“Hello?” she answered. Her voice made him smile instinctively.
The List (The Carolina Killer Files Book 2) Page 10