Greene County Killer

by Ann Mullen

  Chapter 3

  The drive up to my front porch seemed to take forever. The falling snow made visibility almost impossible, and the road was becoming treacherous. Our driveway was frozen and slick. I could just imagine what it was going to be like out on the main roads. Even an SUV can’t stand up to icy roads. I knew something bad was going to come out of all of this. I could feel it. I especially had that eerie feeling the minute I stepped into the house.

  Instead of barking wildly and acting like a bunch of loony animals, Athena and Thor met me with sad faces. They both sat together shivering as if they were cold, and the only sound they made was an occasional whimper.

  I knew they weren’t cold, and that they only acted like this when they sensed impending doom. We’ve been there before and they have never let me down. Dogs have a way of telling when things go awry… at least, mine did.

  The butterflies in my stomach started flapping their wings faster.

  “What are you doing home so soon?” Mom asked. “Did you find out anything? Where’s Billy?”

  “She didn’t get past the cops,” Geneva said, almost sarcastically.

  I ignored her remark.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t call, but it was hectic over there,” I replied. “Geneva’s right. The cops wouldn’t let me pass.”

  “I’m shocked,” Mom said. “You didn’t force your way in?”

  “You didn’t cry?” Sarah asked. “Crying always works for you. You said so yourself.”

  “Not this time. I could’ve raised a stink, or snuck through the woods, but I didn’t. Instead, I backed out of the driveway and pulled off to the side of the road.”

  I walked to the kitchen and ran myself a glass of water from the tap. I stood by the sink and contemplated on how I was going to tell them about Billy and Daniel. From the feeling I got from Chief Sam, things were not good. I didn’t bother to take off my coat.

  “Let me fix you a cup of coffee,” Sarah said, and went about doing so.

  “Stop, Sarah. We don’t have time for that. We need to get to the hospital. Billy and Daniel were overcome by smoke.”

  Mom immediately went into overdrive.

  “I’ll pack up a diaper bag.” She walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of formula for Ethan and then went to the cabinet for another can of the ready made mixture. “I knew something was wrong when you didn’t take off your coat.”

  “Leave the kids with me,” Geneva said as she walked over toward me. “I’ll take care of them while the three of you go to the hospital.”

  Not on your life, lady. I was getting used to Geneva, but I still didn’t trust her. Who would stay away from their grandchild just because the child’s mother didn’t like you? Not me. I didn’t like that situation right from the get-go. I knew there was something else going on, but who was I to question? I kept my mouth shut when she showed up at our house a few months ago wanting to see Maisy, but I always kept it in the back of my mind that something smelled funny. I would give her time. After a while, everyone shows their true colors. So far, she hadn’t done anything to make me believe that she had anything other than good intentions, but being the skeptic that I am…

  Mom looked at me and saw that all too familiar look in my eyes. She obviously didn’t trust the woman anymore than I did. That’s my mother. She never says a bad word about anyone, but she’ll think it. She has an uncanny way of seeing right through people. Most can’t fool her. I know. I’ve tried many times, but she can always tell when I’m fibbing. I don’t lie—I just stretch the truth.

  “That’s okay, Geneva. I’ll stay,” Mom said. “Jesse worries about me. She doesn’t want me out in the snow or rain, or anytime the weather is bad. I know she’s going to tell me to stay home, so instead of arguing at a time like this, I’m going to go ahead and do what she wants me to do. Am I right, Jesse?”

  Mom was good at making up excuses that didn’t hurt.

  “You know me well. I surely don’t want to drag the kids out on a night like this, and I’d feel better having someone who can spend the night. I don’t know how long this is going to take. And the weather is pretty rough out there. The snow is really coming down.”

  “If you don’t want me to watch your kids, why don’t you just say so?” Geneva didn’t sound ugly; she just wanted a truthful answer.

  “Okay,” I turned and said. “I know you’re Sarah’s sister, but I barely know you. Why would I trust my children with someone I don’t know?”

  “You have a point,” she replied. “It takes time.”

  Guilt trip.

  I rebounded.

  “If you’d like to stay here with Mom, I’m sure she could use the company.”

  “Yes, I’d like that,” Mom replied, backing me up. “We can watch television while we wait.” Mom glanced over at Geneva and then back to me. “You will call the minute you hear something, won’t you? You know I can’t sleep when I’m worried.”

  “Yes, Mom. I’ll call as soon as I find out how they are.”

  “Let me get my coat,” Sarah said.

  She walked over to the door, retrieved her coat, and then slipped into it. She pulled a scarf from one of the pockets and wrapped it around her neck. She reached over to the table by the door and grabbed her handbag. She stood waiting for me.

  I put the glass in the sink and turned to leave. I hesitated for a second, and then spoke to Geneva.

  “I don’t mean to sound hateful, but I have a lot on my mind.”

  Geneva put her hand on my back and said, “It’s all right, Jesse. After a while you’ll come to see that I mean you no harm. I have no intentions of snatching Maisy and fleeing the state.”

  Stunned, I looked at her in disbelief.

  “I’m nobody’s fool. I know you don’t trust me, but you will in time. You’ll see that I only have Maisy’s interest at heart. I love the child, and I know you do, too. All I want is for us to be a family, but I know that takes time. So far, I think I have plenty of that, but you never…”

  I gave her a little hug just to let her know that I appreciated what she said, but then I turned and fled. I left her standing there still talking as I opened the door and walked outside. Knowing my mother as I do, she’d stand there and listen until Geneva got it all out, then she’d figure out a distraction.

  Sarah and I jumped in my 4Runner and buckled up.

  “This is going to be a rough ride,” I said as I started the car.

  “Not as rough as the one you just wiggled out of, I think.”

  I looked over at Sarah and said, “I’m sorry. I know she’s your sister, but…”

  “You don’t trust her.”

  “That’s right, I don’t. But I’m willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. I’ve tried not to make snap judgments, but it’s hard.”

  “And I think you’ve done well.”

  “You do?”

  “Yes, I do.” She reached over and patted me on the shoulder. “I know what it’s like to have to earn trust. Remember, when I married the chief, I was the only white woman in the bunch. It took a long time before the rest of the family accepted me.”

  “I thought they all loved you. That’s what the chief told me.”

  “He has a way of stretching the truth. The truth is, his mother, Noreen, used to make grunting noises the whole time she was around me. It’s only now that she gives me the respect that I deserve.”

  “What made her change her mind about you?”

  “I told her that she could think what she wanted to about me, but if she didn’t show me respect in front of my family, she would die a lonely old lady without her son and grandchildren around for comfort, and that I’d tell anyone who would listen about how rude she was to me. She and I both knew her husband would have a fit if I told folks about her behavior.”

  “I guess it worked. She comes to all the family functions.”

  “It doesn’t hurt that Joseph makes her behave.”

  “He’s a nice man. He reminds m
e so much of Chief Sam.”

  “They are a lot alike.”

  “I’ll try to be more tolerant, but I find it hard to believe she didn’t insist upon seeing her only grandchild—the only one she has. I would’ve never let Vicki stand in my way. If that was really what the problem was. I don’t know. I wasn’t there.”

  “I was, and I can tell you that Vicki hated my sister from the moment they met. It was obvious. At the wedding, Geneva made a simple comment about losing her only son, like some mothers might do, and Vicki hit the roof. She accused Geneva of smothering Brian, and then said a few other harsh things. I’m so glad that Brian was in another room and didn’t hear the ugliness. Vicki was a controlling woman. Don’t get me wrong; I liked her, but she had a meanness about her that she saved just for my sister. I don’t know where it came from, but to me it was apparent that she either got her way, or made life miserable for everyone around if she didn’t. I tried to stay out of it. I held my tongue.”

  “You have never been one to raise your voice or be hateful to anyone. You and my mother are so much alike. I’m glad I have you for a mother-in-law. Actually, I don’t even think of you as that. I consider you to be my second mom.”

  “I thought your Aunt Edie was your second mom.”

  “Oh, yeah. That’s right.” I smiled. “You can never have too many moms.” I thought about Aunt Edie for a second. “I sure do miss her.”

  “You should give her a call.”

  “I already did. I invited her for Christmas, but Uncle Bill is too ill to travel.”

  “Is it his blood pressure again?”

  “Actually, it has never stopped being about his blood pressure, but now he has other problems. She said they would try to make it for New Year’s Eve. I told her about the fireworks display that you and the chief put on. She’s looking forward to it.”

  “I will pray for your uncle.”

  “Please do. I worry about him. He doesn’t let much slow him down, except when it comes to his health. He doesn’t have much control over that. I pray for him all the time.”

  “Your mother’s right about you. You have such a kind heart. I recognized that in you when we first met.”

  “Oh, you mean the time Billy dragged me to your vet clinic to have buckshot dug out of my shoulder. Boy, now that was a real trip. Here, I had just met him and already I allowed him to get me into all kinds of stuff.”

  “We took care of you.”

  “You sure did. I took a liking to both of you instantly.”

  “Do you mean me and the chief, or me and Billy?”

  “All of the above.”

  “I thought so. I was hoping so, anyway. I saw something special in you. I knew there was chemistry there between you and Billy that you didn’t recognize. I told the chief. He said he saw it, too. He said you would make a fine squaw for his son.”

  “Tsk… Tsk. So many secrets.”

  “We have a tendency to keep our feelings and thoughts to ourselves.”

  “I’ve noticed.”

  “Unlike you—a woman who wears her heart on her sleeve.”

  “Is that what you think?”

  “Oh, yes. But that’s the lovely thing about you. You’re not a fake, and you speak your mind. I’m sure your mother wishes you wouldn’t at times, but on the other hand, I know she gets a kick out of your fearless zest for life, and how you jump in with both feet. She’s proud of you. She says that you’re just like your dad. Every time she looks at you, she sees Mack.”

  “She told you that?”

  “Yes.”

  “My dad was a wonderful man. I miss him so.” My throat closed up and a tear spilled down my cheek. “I wish he was still here with us. He would’ve loved to see me so happy… married with children… and all.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

  “It’s not you,” I said, fishing for a tissue in the console glove box.

  “Here, let me get it. You need to watch the road. We don’t want to end up in an ambulance being rushed to the hospital.”

  As soon as the words were out of her mouth, the two of us started crying. She handed me a tissue.

  “Okay, no crying,” I said as I dried my eyes. “I won’t be able to see how to drive.”

  All of a sudden, Sarah let out a howl that startled me. She was wild and shaking terribly as she ranted. She shook her head and then put her hands to her ears.

  Quickly, I found a driveway to pull into.

  “What…”

  She clinched her fist and beat on the dashboard. “I’m so tired of having one of my boys get hurt. I’m sick of running to the hospital and watching the doctors pull one of them back from the jaws of death. I’m sick of it, I tell you. Just sick of it!”

  Sarah was having a major meltdown. I’d just got finished telling her how controlled she was and now she was anything but. I had to help her get though this if we were to proceed.

  She cried for a few minutes and when the spell passed, she looked at me through sad eyes and said, “I have a bad feeling and it’s tearing me apart.”

  “I have the same feeling, but I’m trying not to think bad thoughts. I don’t know what to do about it, so I’m just going to tell myself that Billy and Daniel are going to be all right. They’re Blackhawk boys, for Pete’s sake! They can handle anything.”

  “You’re absolutely right. What was I thinking?” She dried her tears and then stuffed the sodden tissue in her purse. “I’m ready to go.”

  I waited for the cars to pass and then pulled back out onto the road. We rode in silence for a few miles before our fears surfaced again.

  “Did you get to see anything while you were at Jonathan’s?”

  “No, I never made it any further than the first bend. All I could see was the smoke in the background. The cops weren’t going to let me pass, so I backed down the driveway and pulled off to the side of the road.”

  Sarah let out a little laugh. “I can just see you now. I bet you were fit to be tied.”

  “I was frustrated… and fit to be tied. I only left because I wanted to get out of their sight. I knew I could come up with an idea if I had a chance to think it over. But I never got the time. A minute later, I looked in my rearview mirror and saw the ambulance… and then another. I couldn’t reach Billy on his cell phone, and when I didn’t see his truck behind the ambulances with Jonathan’s Humvee and Robert’s pickup, I knew something was wrong. I called Jonathan’s cell phone and talked with the chief.”

  “What did he say?”

  “He was quiet.” I glanced over at Sarah for a second.

  She looked up at me and said, “That’s not good.”

  “My thoughts exactly. I couldn’t get much out of him, except that Daniel and Billy were being taken to the hospital because of smoke inhalation. Daniel took a fall.”

  “That’s really, really not good.”

  “I know. It reminded me of the time Jonathan got shot.”

  “Oh, yeah! He was hot as a firecracker, but his silence was more worrisome than his anger. I was afraid that he was going to have a stroke… seriously.”

  “He said they were going to be fine, but you know me. I’m a worrier.”

  “Me, too.”

  After another fifteen minutes of white-knuckle driving, I finally pulled into the parking garage across from the University of Virginia Hospital. At least, the pavement in the garage wasn’t covered with snow, but getting across the crosswalk would be a different story. I had on a pair of tennis shoes, and when I got out of the SUV, I looked down at Sarah’s feet and laughed.

  “What is it?”

  “I have on tennis shoes and you have on a pair of slip-on loafers. We’ll be lucky to make it across the street without falling on our butts.”

  “I thought about my shoes when I got in the car. I wore these inside my boots, but I was in such a hurry, I forgot the boots. Fortunately, these shoes are made out of leather. I guess we’ll just have to do the best we can.”

 
; “I guess so. Here, take my hand.”

  “I thought young folks didn’t let your mama hold your hand.”

  “Not me, sugar. I ain’t proud. Come on. Hold onto me. If one of us goes down—we both go down.”

  “Then we’d better hold onto each other, because at my age, if I fall, I can promise you that something’s going to get broken.”

  The two of us shared a laugh as we held hands and crossed the street in the blowing snow. It’s good that we did, because it would be the last laugh we’d share for some time.

  We shook off the flakes as we walked into the emergency room. The entrance was slippery, but once we got inside it wasn’t quite as bad. We stood and looked around for the chief or Jonathan, but didn’t see anyone. All I wanted was to see Billy coming around the corner with a big grin on his face, but that didn’t happen either.

  We walked up to the admitting desk and inquired about Billy and Daniel Blackhawk. The lady behind the desk looked at her computer, punched in a few keys, and then asked us to have a seat. She said someone would be with us shortly.

  “Can’t you tell us anything? You must know something by now.”

  “I want to see my sons,” Sarah said loudly.

  I looked at the woman’s nametag and said, “Heidi, isn’t there anything you can tell us? Billy’s my husband, and both men are her sons. We’re frantic.”

  “I’m sorry,” she replied. “I wish I could, but I don’t have that information, yet. I’ll let the doctor know you’re here. That’s the best I can do for now. Please have a seat and someone will be with you soon.”

  “Okay, we’ll sit over here,” I said, pointing to the center of the room. “Please call us as soon as we can see Billy and Daniel.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I will.”

  “Let’s go sit down.” I grabbed Sarah’s hand and led her to a chair.