Bone Deep

by Debra Webb

  Her throat parched at the idea. She hoped no one else had to die. She stole a glance at the driver. Especially not him. Paul Phillips had suffered enough already. She now saw the other side of all those ugly headlines she’d read about him. Understood the pain he’d endured. He deserved a better life. Jill had brought him here, dragged him into the middle of that same kind of agony. She didn’t want this to cost him anymore than it already had.

  Kate sat quietly in the back seat as they drove through town, eventually turning onto Washington Street. If any part of the passing landscape struck a chord with her, she didn’t make a sound.

  When they arrived at the house, Claire met them at the door. “What’s going on?” Her attention settled on Kate. “Katie, honey, it’s good to have you home.”

  Kate merely looked at her mother as if aware she was being spoken to but incapable of understanding why or forming a response.

  Claire took charge of Kate immediately, settling her on the sofa in the family room where she could watch television. The nurses had said that Kate preferred the television on, but the sound muted. Claire quickly attended to that detail. Then she moved back into the entry hall where Jill and Paul still argued about who was doing what.

  “Why wasn’t I consulted before you signed your sister out of the hospital? I wanted to speak with the doctor before making a final—”

  “There’s no time,” Jill cut her off. She wasn’t having this discussion with her mother. “Kelly Neil is dead.”

  Claire frowned, clearly confused. “What are you talking about? Her sister is—”

  “She called me this morning.” A dull ache pierced deeper into Jill’s heart. “Right after the chief left this morning, remember?”

  Claire’s confusion visibly deepened. “I remember a call.”

  Jill’s patience snapped. “It was her. She told us about the evidence against MedTech that Connie was hiding. The evidence that got her killed.”

  There was no missing the subtle shift in Claire’s posture, the way she averted her gaze. She was hiding something. And she was on the edge... on the verge of telling all. Jill’s pulse reacted to the bloom of hope in her chest.

  “But Arvel said—”

  “The chief lied.” If the local police could be trusted they wouldn’t be having this conversation. But no one could be trusted…no one but Paul. “Chief Dotson lied about everything, Mother. Everything.”

  Paul opted to keep his mouth shut. Worked for Jill. She had this.

  Claire shook her head. “That’s ridiculous. Why don’t you let this madness go? Let them close the case so we can get on with our lives!”

  Wasn’t she listening? “Your grandson is alive. He’s out there somewhere and I intend to find him. I also intend to know what MedTech and LifeCycle have been doing to the people in this town and in the surrounding communities.” Walking away was out of the question. “I won’t let them get away with this. I will find the evidence I need and then I’ll take it to the proper authorities.”

  “Jill, you must know how foolish this all sounds.” Her mother laughed nervously. “We’ve known Arvel Dotson our whole lives. He’s not a bad person.”

  “Isn’t he?” Jill countered, livid now. “Tell me the truth, Mother. You know at least some of what’s going on here. Why are you hiding it from me? It almost cost us our lives once. Connie and Kelly are dead because of it. How many more have to die before you tell the truth?”

  A deafening silence echoed for what felt like an eternity.

  Claire conceded first. “I... I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”

  Enough! Jill took her mother by the shoulders and forced her to meet her gaze. “I know about Benford Chemical. The births and deaths... the experiments and tampering with genetics. What I need to know now is who and why.”

  Claire moved her head side to side. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she insisted but all conviction had deserted her tone as well as her expression.

  “What’s it going to take?” Jill pushed harder, fury overriding any softer emotions that tried to intrude. “They’ll kill me if I don’t stop digging and I won’t stop until I have the answers. Are you willing to stand back and let that happen?” Jill threw her arms up in exasperation. “Why not just do it yourself?”

  She saw the change in her mother’s eyes. Watched the scale tip to in their favor. A helpless sound issued from Claire’s throat, then she broke. She sobbed hysterically. Jill hugged her mother close and cried with her.

  When Claire had collected the scattered pieces of her composure, she seemed to stiffen her spine. “We should sit down. This is going to take a while.”

  Gathered around the family room, Kate’s attention still glued to the television screen, Claire Ellington began her story. “When we discovered what Charles Benford had done and that nearly everyone had been affected, rendered sterile...” She shook her head, dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “We were devastated.”

  After a moment, she continued, “Your father was the DA back then. He was the first to find out and he wanted to pursue criminal charges against Benford. Austin Hammersly was the chief of police and he agreed. Arvel was the ranking deputy. He was ready to do whatever everyone else wanted. Ken Wade was in the middle of a senatorial race. He couldn’t be of much help, but offered to do what he could monetarily. The next thing I knew Benford was dead. Murdered.”

  “Do you know who murdered him?” Paul asked the first hard question. The answer to which could carry criminal charges.

  Jill sat on the edge of her seat, scarcely able to breathe.

  Claire nodded, her hands twisted together. “You have to understand, the federal authorities had decided to cut Benford a deal if he spilled the beans on some of his more high powered associates who were doing even dirtier business.”

  “That’s the feds,” Paul noted, “always looking for the angle that makes their job easier.”

  “Your father and the others were justifiably upset. We all were.” She dabbed at the tears in her eyes again, then took a big breath. “So, before the federal authorities could whisk Benford away, Austin Hammersly, Arvel Dotson and some of your father’s other friends tried him in a mock trial. Your father attempted to stop them but they wouldn’t listen. They found Benford guilty and after getting drunk enough they executed him. Your father wasn’t involved but he kept their secret by looking the other way. He and the others insisted the old chemical plant was to remain standing as a reminder of how much carelessness and indifference could cost.”

  Too stunned to speak, Jill kept quiet.

  Claire searched her eyes, a plea in her own. “Your father was a good man, Jillian, this was his one and only transgression in a lifetime of goodness.”

  Jill moistened her lips and blinked back tears. “Please,” she said softly, “go on. I need to hear it all.”

  Claire cleared her throat. “About two months later, your father and Hammersly were approached by executives from MedTech and LifeCycle. I’ll never forget that night. They were all here.” She frowned, looked around the room as if remembering. “Except for Ken. He’d been traveling about in his pursuit for the senate. He was the only one who wasn’t in on the final deal.”

  She folded her hands in her lap, visibly struggled to keep them still. “Anyway, the three men, uppity-ups from MedTech and LifeCycle, came to dinner. They outlined a beautiful plan for restoring everyone’s ability to produce offspring. They wanted to build their first major facilities here and their primary goal during the first ten years would be to ensure the fertility of those affected.” She fell silent for a moment. “It sounded so good at the time. Like a second chance—a gift—straight from God. They would offer twice as many jobs as Benford Chemical. The town would prosper in more ways than one. We didn’t know it was all about money... all about a ruthless science and technology race.”

  “But we look so much alike.” Jill shook her head. This made no sense. “How can you have been sterile?”

  “
Your father was sterile. I simply stopped ovulating,” Claire explained. “But I had still had viable eggs.”

  Jill fought another onslaught of emotions at hearing that news. Thank God.

  “It was all just perfect for more than twenty years.” Claire shook her head in long overdue defeat. “Paradise thrived, becoming a landmark of both beauty and tranquility.” Her gaze settled back on Jill. “Seven years ago your father found out about those awful experiments they’d been doing. He also found a link between our new saviors and old Charles Benford. A link that led him to believe we’d been setup to be more receptive to MedTech and LifeCycle. That none of what transpired was by chance.”

  Jill’s heart sank. Dear God. It was true. She and Paul had discussed this very scenario. At the time it felt too surreal…something out of a bad science fiction movie.

  Claire shrugged, a weary gesture. “Your father didn’t say how he discovered the information, but it was just awful.” She shuddered. “He couldn’t believe we’d been fooled so badly by those awful people. Hammersly and Dotson didn’t want to rock the boat. Life had been too good. But your father was having none of it. He was the judge by then and could make big trouble.” She frowned. “The senator wasn’t in on that part either, I don’t think.” She dismissed him with the wave of a hand. “He was gone so much with his political career I doubt he’s aware even now just how bad things got.”

  “What did Father do?” Jill asked, her voice small and fragile. She could hardly bear the idea of what she knew in the deepest recesses of her soul was coming next.

  “Why the same thing you’ve been doing, he butted heads with them. Tried to make them see that he wouldn’t stand for what they were doing to his town. The Judge, as you know, thought of Paradise as his town.”

  “What happened?” Jill demanded. She had to hear it all.

  Claire’s shoulders sagged and she closed her eyes to the painful memories. “He didn’t get to do anything. They killed him.”

  Jill grabbed the arm of the sofa and steadied herself. Before she could gather her wits, Paul was at her side, sliding in close, draping a strong arm around her shoulders, giving her the strength to continue listening to the unthinkable. No matter that she had suspected that was the case, she hadn’t been adequately prepared.

  “They claimed it was a heart attack,” Claire said bitterly, “but I knew better. They killed him, just like they killed anyone else who ever got in their way. I don’t know exactly how because I didn’t dare order an autopsy. But I know they did it.”

  “You’re sure about all this?” Jill needed to know everything. To discover her father had known and was possibly murdered had fury and outrage lashing through her.

  “Why do you think I’ve spent the last seven years locked up in this house?” She pressed her fingers over her mouth for a long moment before going on. “I was scared to death I would say or do something wrong and then I’d be killed too. I hoped if I stayed in the house, didn’t go anywhere and didn’t talk to anyone, I’d be safe. That way I’d be here to make sure you and your sister were safe from what we’d done.” She looked longingly at Jill now. “That’s why I did all within my power to discourage your visits. I was afraid for you. Afraid you’d figure out something was wrong. I didn’t even want to call you back here for this, but I knew you’d come anyway as soon as you heard.”

  Jill felt numb. “All this time you’ve feared them?”

  Claire nodded. “For you and Kate.” She gestured to poor Kate. “She was married to one of them. He could easily have killed her just to get back at me.” She turned back to Jill. “Or you. I couldn’t risk invoking their fury or their suspicions. I learned to keep it all inside and never to make waves.”

  It was all just too incredible.

  “Mrs. Ellington,” Paul said, “can you tell us who they are?”

  That was the question no one seemed able to answer. The guardians of the secrets were obvious. The mayor, the chief…Jill’s own father and mother. But who were these monsters?

  “I can’t tell you their names because I never knew them. The visitors we had that night were introduced by first name only. But thirty-two years ago three men approached us. I think one of them was a relative of Karl’s. A grandfather or uncle. He had an accent, German or Austrian, and looked very much like Karl. You know, handsome, distinguished. Nordic.” She wrung her hands. “With Karl gone, I have no idea who’s running things now.”

  “And Cody?” Jill urged. “Do you know where he is?”

  Claire’s gaze rested on Kate. “Two months ago she was in Lynchburg and she saw a boy who looks exactly like Cody.”

  Jill bit her lips together to hold back the questions. She had to let her mother talk.

  “She confronted Karl. They had a terrible argument. She tried to call you.” Claire made a sound, almost a moan of agony. “I begged her not to drag you into this. Pleaded with her to just be calm and not to make a fuss.” Her lips trembled. “But she was a lot more like you than you realize, Jill. She made a plan. Told me that someone at work was going to help her stop them. It must have been Connie. Kate was going to hide Cody and then she was calling in the FBI.” Claire drew in a big breath. “That’s all I know. The hope that Cody is safe is all that kept me sane through this.” Her eyes begged Jill to understand. “But I had to protect you. So I played the part. I couldn’t let them suspect what I knew. My single goal since the day you arrived was to get you out of here alive.”

  Jill blinked back the tears standing in her eyes, steely determination rising to replace all other emotions. “Some place safe,” she said knowingly. “He’s been there all along.” She closed her eyes. “Thank God.”

  “If we can get those files,” Paul said in the silence that followed, “with what your mother has told us, we might have enough evidence to ignite a full-fledged federal investigation.”

  “They’ll kill us,” Claire said resignedly. “They’ll figure out what you’re doing. There are no secrets in this town.” She looked away a moment, then confessed yet another sin. “They made me drug you the other night.”

  Jill stiffened. “What?” The memory of the nearly forgotten spider bite zoomed to the forefront of her thoughts. She couldn’t say why it came to mind, but she’d found it the morning she’d awakened so groggy. After... the warm milk. She turned to Paul. “I thought I’d been bitten by a spider.” She reached around, tried to touch the spot. “It’s right there between my shoulder blades.”

  The lethal look in Paul’s eyes stole her breath. “How the hell did they come into your room with me right down the hall?”

  “They said they needed a control specimen from you or Kate would die. That’s what Arvel told me.” Claire started to weep once more. “I didn’t want to do it, but they said she’d die and that they’d kill you if that happened.”

  Jill moved to her mother’s side and tried to comfort her. “It’s okay. They didn’t hurt me.” She glanced at Paul. “Why would they need a spinal fluid specimen?”

  Paul shook his head. “I should’ve stayed with you that night.”

  Jill had wanted him to but he’d resisted. “You couldn’t have known.”

  “You don’t understand how ruthless these people are.” Claire looked from Jill to Paul and back. “They won’t stop... not for anything. Coming into this house undetected is nothing.” She turned to Jill then. “You don’t know how your father and I longed for children. How badly we wanted you. We knew when you came that you and your sister were very special gifts. It didn’t matter how we’d come to have you. We loved you more than life. That’s why I’ve protected them all this time... to protect you. It was the only way.”

  “All right.” Paul stood, agitation showing in his posture. “We’ve wasted enough time. I’m taking the three of you to safety.”

  Jill got up, sent a warning look in Paul’s direction. She would not argue with him further. “Mother, throw a few things for you and Kate into a suitcase.”

  Claire pushed to h
er feet, looking weary and confused. “Where are we going?”

  Jill moved to the other side of the room. She retrieved the photograph she’d brought from Kate’s house and showed it to her mother. “This is where Cody is, I think. We’re going there.”

  “A safe place?” Claire read, realization dawning. “That’s what she said...”

  Jill nodded.

  “We’ll be safe there,” another feminine voice said.

  Jill and her mother spun toward the sound of Kate’s voice. She was standing up now. Hope sang through Jill’s veins.

  “Cody’s there,” Kate said, pointing to the photograph. “Safe.”

  ~*~

  The sun was melting into the western horizon at their backs by the time they reached their destination.

  “We used to come to the mountains when we were kids,” Jill said, wonder in her voice. “Mother would bring us. We’d go exploring. Kate would photograph everything from bugs to the sky. I spent all my time daydreaming.”

  He smiled. “I won’t ask about what.”

  “It’s best you don’t.” She surveyed the beautiful mountains. “No wonder Kate brought Cody here. I’d forgotten how beautiful it is here.”

  “And remote.” Paul suspected that was Kate’s intent. To get her son to a place where no one would look.

  “You see there?” Jill pointed to a distant ridge where the bald spot in the forest stood out like a scab on the mountainside.

  “I see it.”

  “It’s the one in the photograph. We need to start moving northward, toward it. There should be a left turn coming up soon.”

  Kate hadn’t spoken another word since announcing that her son was there... safe. Paul still wrestled with the idea that they had gotten to Jill right under his nose. It wouldn’t happen again. He had taken great pains to ensure they weren’t followed out of Paradise. He’d been watching his mirrors the entire two-hour trip. So far they were in the clear.