by West, Shay
The end of the prayer signaled the beginning of the meal. The younger girls kept up an endless stream of chatter while the bowls and platters of food were passed around. It reminded Tani so much of home that he had to swallow hard several times against the tears that threatened to fall.
He kept his attention on his plate and simply listened. There was a tension in the air that the younger girls seemed oblivious to, but Tani could feel it growing as the food on his plate shrank. The time was drawing near when he and Keena would have to tell her family what they had done.
Keena’s father sent the younger girls into the kitchen to clean the dishes from the meal, while gesturing for Tani and Keena to follow him out the back door. When Tani noticed that it was only the three of them retreating to the backyard, his anxiety rose. He and Keena had left the monastery so quickly; they hadn’t really had a chance to discuss the repercussions of their actions or how their families would react to the news.
Keena’s father took a seat on a log that had been carved into a make-shift chair. There was no other place to sit, so Tani and Keena stood facing him. The man didn’t speak, simply moved his eyes between Tani and Keena. Each time their eyes met, Tani wanted to bolt like a frightened animal.
“I think it’s time you tell me what you are doing here.”
Tani glanced at Keena and swallowed hard. Now that he was standing here, he had no idea what to say or even where to start.
“Ummm, I—ahem—well, what I mean is we…that is to say—”
“Papa, we left the monastery,” Keena blurted out.
Keena had her head down in shame, unable to meet her father’s eyes.
“That much I figured out when the Enforcers came and threw us out of the manor. What I want to know is why.”
Tani wiped his sweaty palms on his pants, mind whirling to come up with an explanation that would satisfy the angry man.
“We just couldn’t do it anymore, Papa. You don’t know what it’s like, having to kill and butcher people…” Keena’s voice trailed off into a sob.
“Why now? You’ve been a Harvester for many moons.”
“They wanted us to kill a child! She was the same age as Nyna.”
“Would you have killed the girl if your sister had been the one in need of the precious organs?”
Keena opened and closed her mouth a few times, tears streaming down her face. “That’s not a fair question. It wasn’t Nyna in need—”
“But it was someone’s sister, someone’s daughter and you condemned them to death by your foolish actions.”
“I’m sure the monastery sent someone else—”
“Yes, and they are still living in a nice mansion with plenty of servants while we were thrown into the streets like common criminals. You should have seen your poor mother’s face when the Enforcers threw her dresses into the dirt…”
Tani simply stood while Keena’s father berated her. These were all things that had crossed Tani’s mind as they fled the monastery, but he held onto the belief that his and Keena’s families would understand why they couldn’t go on killing.
“The girl we would have killed had a family too. What of them? Do they mourn any less for their loved ones than we do?” Tani asked, anger burning in his chest.
“I do not care about the people from the other world. I only care about the ones from this one.” He glared and crossed his arms. “Perhaps if I talk to Master Kelhar, he will take you both back.”
Keena shook her head, blood draining from her face. “I can’t go back there, Papa. I can’t start killing again.”
“Don’t you see what our duties are doing to her?” Tani put his arm around her shoulders. “Have you ever taken a man’s life, ripped into his still-warm body, felt his blood running down your hands? I don’t want to ever feel that again.”
Keena’s father ignored Tani, glared at his daughter. “What of what your decision has cost this family? Your brothers are in danger each day they are at sea. Your mother’s hands are becoming worn and cracked again from having to scrub laundry and wash dishes. We’re all crammed into this tiny house with no servants. Did you ever think of us?”
“Of course I did! That’s the only reason why I agreed to become a Harvester in the first place. I did it so you and Mama could have fine things and never have to worry about anything. But taking the lives of the other-worlders feels wrong, Papa. I can’t believe our benevolent gods would sanction the killing of innocents, even to save another innocent’s life.”
Keena’s body shook. Tani squeezed her harder, more proud of her in that moment than he had ever been.
“You dare to put yourself on a level with our gods? How would you know what they wish? If the Masters at the monastery say the gods built the gateway for use in Harvesting, who are you to argue?”
Tani stepped back as Keena’s father stood up. The man’s face was red with anger and his hands were in fists at his sides.
Keena’s shoulders hunched under the onslaught. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks.
“I’m sorry, Papa. I can’t go back. I won’t.”
Her father’s face turned to stone.
“Then from this moment forward you are no longer my daughter.”
Keena wailed as her father walked past her. She ran after him, tugging on his arm, but he pulled roughly out of her grip and continued into the house. Keena’s knees buckled and she hit the ground, still calling out for her papa.
Tani ran to her and held her as she sobbed. His mind was numb. He had expected a little anger, maybe disappointment, but he never expected banishment. His eagerness to see his own family was soured in light of what had just occurred.
The sound of raised voices, then wailing and crying reached Tani’s ears through the open windows. The sound made Keena cry all the harder.
He sat with Keena for what felt like hours. Her tears finally stopped, but she refused to stand. She lay there on the ground, fingers moving through the grass, humming a tune Tani didn’t recognize.
“We can’t stay here. As angry as your father is, he may call the Enforcers and make us to return to the monastery,” Tani said gently.
Keena met his eyes and his heart hurt at the naked agony he saw there. After some coaxing, he finally got her to stand. He kept himself between Keena and the house, as though his presence would somehow shield her from further emotional pain.
The pair walked back through town. Tani wasn’t sure what to do now. He was terrified of going to see his family, certain they wouldn’t want to see him. They probably hate me too.
“We still need to find your family,” Keena said, as though reading his mind.
“I’m not so sure I want to.”
Tani sighed loudly, knowing he had no choice. He led the way through Maris, taking short-cuts and back alleys toward the mansion his family had acquired after he had become a Harvester.
It was clear the manor was deserted even before he got close enough to see through the windows. There were no lamps lit to ward off the growing shadows as the sun went down. He spotted an Enforcer sitting in the shadows in an alley.
“There’s an Enforcer watching the house,” Tani whispered.
“Do you want to get a closer look?”
Tani shook his head. “This Enforcer isn’t on the move. I don’t want to risk being caught.”
“What if they left a message like mine did?”
“I think I already know where they are,” Tani said.
***
Tani’s eyes filled with tears as he walked down the dirt path that led to his old family home, the one on the bluff overlooking the sea. He could see smoke rising from the chimney and his Mama was taking clothing off the line. There didn’t appear to be any Enforcers in sight, so he moved forward cautiously. His heart sank when he realized he would probably meet with the same kind of anger and bitterness Keena’s father had shown.
His mother turned and put her hands to her face. She dropped the shirt she held and ran toward Tani. Just as his mothe
r flung herself at him, he noticed the door open. His father came out, all smiles, and shouting into the house to bring the rest of the family.
Keena’s father was all smiles at first, too.
His father grabbed Tani in a bear hug while his mother stood nearby, wringing her hands and mussing with her apron, all while staring at Tani like she hadn’t seen anything so amazing in her whole life. His two older brothers mussed his hair and punched him in the arm, making him wince after about the tenth blow. His two sisters gave him shy hugs, the kind reserved for a relative you only see every few years. Isn’t that what you are to them? Tani wished he hadn’t been chosen to be a Harvester, that he could have stayed on this plot of land overlooking the sea and been part of their lives.
Little Meevo stood off to the side, patiently waiting his turn. Tani bent down and let the tears fall when Meevo wrapped his arms around him and squeezed. Tani moved back and stared at Meevo, relieved to see the boy had some color to his skin and his eyes looked bright.
“Have you been taking it easy?” he asked.
Meevo rolled his eyes. “I’m not a baby. The apothecary says the herbs are working and that I can do more now, as long as I stop when I’m tired.”
Tani smiled as the lad ran off to help with the evening chores. It wasn’t that many years ago that Meevo would have been bundled up in a quilt and sitting off to the side. Tani used to get frustrated at watching his brother sit while he helped clean fish, chop wood, mend nets, and the hundred other chores that needed doing. Now he’d give anything to see Meevo taking it easy rather than hauling in arm-loads of firewood.
He met his father’s eyes. “Papa, we have something thing to tell you—”
His father waved him off. “There’s plenty of time for that. Have you eaten? Mama can re-heat the stew we had for supper.”
“We ate already. It’s important, Papa. Something’s happened.”
“Come on inside and we’ll talk.”
Tani followed his father into the house, all while trying to answer the incessant questions of his brothers and sisters and keep an eye on Keena. He spotted her with his mother, who had taken the distraught girl under her arm. Tani couldn’t hear what they were saying, but whatever it was brought a slight smile to Keena’s face, and for that, Tani was grateful.
The family home was just as he remembered it: cozy furniture with just enough wear so that you didn’t feel uncomfortable sitting on it, and yet not so fancy that you dared not let your full weight press into the cushions, a cheerful blaze in the hearth, vases of fresh flowers scattered around.
“You two sit and I’ll bring us some tea.”
Tani smiled gratefully at his mother, hoping their good mood would remain after learning that their son had left the monastery. His father shooed the two younger children out of the room, allowing Tani’s older sister and two brothers to remain. His mother returned with tea and a lemon crumble cake. She poured tea and dished out the cake, giving Tani a few more moments to collect his thoughts.
“Whatever you have to say, son, it’s okay. Obviously something terrible must have happened to force you to leave the monastery,” his father said, after everyone had enjoyed a few sips of tea and eaten some cake.
Tani put his empty plate on a side table and cradled his cup of tea. “Keena and I refused to do our duties as Harvesters and ran away.”
Keena sat still as a statue, eyes on the plate in her lap.
Tani took a deep breath. “Master Kelhar wanted us to take the life of a child.”
His father shook his head and his mother raised her eyes to heaven.
“I was under the impression that the Harvesting was for adults only,” Tani’s father said.
“So did we. But even killing the adults got harder and harder.” Tani met his parents’ eyes. “I’m sorry I let you down. But we just couldn’t do it anymore.”
“We’re doing just fine back in our old home,” his mother said.
Tani could see disappointment in her eyes, but he was grateful for her words. He had loved seeing his mother in fancy dresses and having her every need attended to. Guilt gnawed at his belly as she walked outside to finish her work of removing the clean clothing from the line. Keena followed to lend a hand.
She used to have servants to do this for her.
“I know where your thoughts take you, but do not fret. It’s true that we miss some of the things from life at the manor, but it is also nice to come back to a simpler existence. It is a lot of work to maintain proper airs when dealing with rich folk. Everyone knew we were only afforded our station in life because of you; they always kept us at arm’s distance, since we didn’t come from old money.”
Tani nodded at his father. “I just wish things had gone differently.”
“Taking a life is never easy, son.”
“So you’re not mad at me for leaving and getting you thrown out of the manor?”
His father laughed. “I admit I wasn’t happy at getting tossed into the streets, but I figured there had to be a good reason. To tell you the truth, I never did like the idea of you killing folks just so others here could live.”
Tani stared open-mouthed at his father. “Keena’s father disowned her for leaving. I prepared myself for the same thing.”
“For some folks, losing money and prestige matters more than doing what’s right. I’m glad you’re not one of those.” His father winked.
“Me too, Papa.” Tani sighed. “What about Meevo’s care?”
“You don’t worry about that. Your Mama and I were not careless with the gold you sent. We saved most of it and have more than enough to keep Meevo healthy.” His father leaned in close with his eyebrows raised suggestively. “Now tell me about Keena.”
CHAPTER 11
ELI STARED at the white board that contained the evidence compiled from all of the cases involving the removal of organs. His heart sank when he realized he and Ava would need another white board if any more victims surfaced. Thirty-five so far. How many more will die before we can catch the perps?
He could no longer deny that there were multiple perpetrators. Unless Sherry and her fellow medical examiners who had worked on the other cases had suddenly—collectively—lost the ability to tell time of death, too many of the crimes had occurred on opposite ends of the country, simultaneously. The thought of a group of people working together to butcher innocent people sent shivers down his spine. It was difficult enough for one person to hide their involvement in a crime; it was impossible for multiple people to keep quiet. Someone always talked or bragged.
Until now.
Eli stared at the lines drawn from the photographs of the victims leading to their age, occupation, marital status, blood type, what car they drove, where they shopped, anything and everything, so he and Ava could try to find something that connected them to one another.
Because if these killers are seeking people at random, we may not ever catch them.
Admitting that to himself was enough to make him want to grab a bottle of whiskey and swig the entire thing. He had never failed to catch the bad guys. I’m damn sure not going to start now.
“You know, staring at that thing all day won’t make anything new magically appear.”
Eli gave his ever-optimistic partner a sour look. “You never know.”
“How many times have you gone to the fridge for something to eat, found nothing, checked the cupboards, found nothing, and yet still returned to the fridge and looked again, just hoping something delicious was waiting for you?” She leaned back with a smug look on her face.
“I never have anything in my fridge, so I never bother looking in there.”
She rolled her eyes. “Whatever. My point is still valid. There’s nothing here we haven’t gone over a hundred times. It’s time to get out of here.”
“Maybe you’re right.”
“Want to stop by O’Doules? My treat.”
Eli met her smirk with a grin of his own. “I’m never one for turning down a free drin
k.”
***
What was supposed to be a drink turned into several. Eli didn’t care. For the first time in a long time, he was actually enjoying himself. And for the first time in a long time, I’m not drinking alone.
The bartender gave Eli a thumbs up when he brought the fourth round. Eli wanted to refuse, but Ava egged him on.
“Tomorrow is Saturday, you don’t have to be up early,” she said as she downed her glass in one gulp.
“I didn’t peg you for a drinker,” Eli answered after he finished his own shot.
“I only drink like this when the bodies pile up.”
“I thought we agreed not to talk about work.”
“That’s all I know about you.”
“That’s not true. You found out that I never keep food in my refrigerator.”
“That’s true for most bachelors.” Ava leaned forward and leaned her cheek on her hand. “Tell me something personal.”
“I don’t do personal,” he said, as he flagged down the bartender for another drink.
“Oh, don’t be such a spoil sport. I’ll start if that makes you feel better.” She stared off into space for a minute, and then met his eyes. “I hate watching girly movies.”
Eli laughed. “Okay, that’s not exactly personal.”
“I figured if I did anything more than that you’d bolt out the door.”
“Fair enough. I’m not surprised by this information. You don’t peg me as the sniffly, crying movie type.”
“I also love country music.”
“Now that I didn’t expect. I pictured you listening to Lady Gaga or something.”
Ava leaned back and laughed the throaty laugh that made Eli go weak in the knees. “I can’t even name a song she sings.”
“Me neither. Her name just popped into my head.”
Ava took a long, slow sip from the drink the bartender sat down in front of her. “What about you?”