by Ann Mullen
I was just making conversation since it was apparent that Geneva had very little to say. She’s a strange woman… unlike her sister Sarah, I thought to myself. If you didn’t know they were sisters, you’d never be able to tell by the way they act. They’re so different. I loved Sarah, and tolerated Geneva.
Billy walked over to the kitchen window and stood beside me. He looked out and then turned to Geneva and said, “Let me know when you’re ready for me to take you home.”
“I’m finished,” she said. “Just let me clean up my mess first.”
“I can take care of it,” I said as I walked over and picked up her plate.
I walked back to the sink, rinsed off the dish, and then opened the dishwasher door.
“It’s almost full,” I said as I tried to find a place to put the plate. “I’ll run it later.”
“Like you did with the garage? Oops, I’m sorry. That’s none of my business. It’s just that I’m the kind of person who does what I say I’m going to do.”
I tried to remain calm. I wasn’t going to let this woman get my goat. I guess she had finally found out that I wasn’t too happy about her sudden return to the Blackhawk clan and her claim of wanting to be a part of Maisy’s life.
If it was money she was after, which was my first thought, she was out of luck. Brian and Vicki’s will emphatically states that Maisy was to receive everything, and that whoever was her guardian was to oversee the terms of the will. Since Maisy was now our adopted daughter, we were in control of her life and her money.
Geneva came on the scene a little too late to dispute that, plus, Sarah would never have permitted it. Crying foul would’ve made Geneva look like a gold-digger and not a caring grandmother. Sarah would’ve fought her tooth and nail over that. Maisy was now her grandchild, too.
“Would you like to take a plate of food home for Eli?” I asked, trying to be polite.
“No, he has plenty to eat. There’re leftovers in the refrigerator, but thank you for asking.”
I walked with Geneva to the door and watched as Billy helped her with her coat.
Mom and Eddie walked in the living room and got their coats off the rack and prepared to leave.
“I guess it’s just me and the kids left,” I said, frowning. “I’ll have to manage all by myself, I guess.”
“I’ll stay, honey, if you want me to,” Mom offered.
“I was just kidding, Mom. I’ll be fine. Besides, Billy will be back in five minutes. Geneva only lives up the road.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, Mom. I was just teasing. I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”
Billy and Mom looked at each other and then Mom said, “We’ll wait until Billy gets back.”
“Don’t be silly,” I said. “I will be fine! Really. Just call me when you get home so I won’t worry.”
Billy opened the front door and then stepped back. “Wow! It’s really coming down out there… again! We’d better hurry.”
I looked at Mom and said, “Billy thinks this is the snowstorm the forecaster called for, so you’d better hurry if y’all are leaving.”
“Don’t worry about us,” she replied. “I have that new SUV. Nothing can stop me. And Eddie has a truck, so we’ll be okay if we get a little snow. Once the snow is over, I’ll be able to plow right through any accumulation. I won’t have a problem. That SUV practically drives itself.”
“I don’t think it’s going to be just a little,” Billy said. “It’s supposed to get real nasty.”
“Then we’d better hurry,” Geneva said.
I hugged Mom and then to his surprise, I hugged Eddie. “Take care of my mother.”
“We’ll be fine.”
The four of them walked out the front door and stood on the front porch. I stood by the door and watched. The snow was coming down so thick that it was hard to see off in the distance.
“I think you might be right, Billy,” Geneva said as she buttoned up her coat. “When this storm hits, a lot of weird things might happen. It usually does. People get crazy when they’re stuck inside for a long time.”
“Speak for yourself,” I said under my breath.
Geneva turned to face me. “Did you say something, my dear? It’s hard to hear out here with the wind blowing so hard.”
“Never mind. It wasn’t important.” I could see Billy giving me the eye as if to tell me to behave. He did that quite often.
They took off down the steps and out into the blinding snow. I got an eerie feeling just standing there watching them as they made their way to their vehicles.
I didn’t like the idea of Mom driving in this mess, but I knew she had Eddie to watch over her, and that made me feel a little better. Once they were down the driveway and out of sight, I closed the door behind me.
Then an unexplainable feeling came over me. I was alone in the house with two children to care for. Where were those silly dogs? I called out to them, and they came running.
“Good pups,” I said as I looked down at them and their wagging tails. “Sit by the door and protect us.”
Athena and Thor flopped down by the door and stared up at me. Neither one moved as if they were glued to the floor. I smiled at the thought that they would be there to protect me and the kids.
“Demon killers!” I said, loudly. “Yeah… right.”
I turned and headed to the back door in the den. I wanted to make sure that everything was locked up tighter than a drum. Nobody was getting into this house! I went to the utility room and checked that door, noticing that Billy’s jacket was still hanging on the rack, and then I headed upstairs to make sure the windows were locked. I kept thinking about his jacket. I guess he can’t bring himself to wear it so soon. Thank goodness, he has plenty of coats.
On my way down the stairs, I heard a loud thump on the porch as if someone had fallen trying to get to the door. Someone pushed on the door and jiggled the knob, but the door wouldn’t open. There was a moment of silence just before the dogs sprang into action.
“Be quiet,” I said to them as I walked to the front door. “It’s probably just Billy. Geneva must’ve forgotten something.”
The dogs refused to hush up. Their barking grew louder. Athena growled like she did that time she slowly crept down the stairs and then attacked an intruder that held Claire, Billy’s mother, and me hostage. Her actions saved our lives by giving me the distraction I needed to get a shot off. Memories of that night came flooding back. Then fear struck me. When Athena and Thor behaved like this, something bad usually happened. I had to do something. Had I locked the front door? I saw the doorknob turn, but the door didn’t open. Good! It must’ve been in the locked position when I closed it.
“Shh,” I whispered, trying to calm the dogs.
But they wouldn’t be silent. Athena jumped up on the door and let out a howl that sent my nerves over the edge. Cries coming from the nursery startled me.
The first thing I thought of was my gun. I ran to the bedroom and pulled out the .38 special from my dresser drawer and then headed back to the living room, trying to not let the children’s cries distract me. In case there was something amiss, I wanted my wits intact.
I was afraid to look out the window; afraid of what I might see. Instead, I asked, “Who is it? Who’s there?”
There was no answer.
The children’s cries got louder, and I grew more frantic. I didn’t know what to do. I hesitated for a moment and then all of a sudden, I heard a scuffle on the porch as if there was a fight going on.
“It’s me, Jesse,” Billy said. “Open the door.”
I opened the door and there stood Billy, holding a boy by the scruff of the neck.
“Call the police,” he commanded. “Before I kill this kid.”
Chapter 14
Billy dragged the boy over to a chair in the kitchen, shoved him down in it, and then looked over at me. “Is this the kid?” He looked back at the boy. “What’s your name? Are you Wayne Avery?”
> Billy took off his coat and threw it in a chair.
“Yes, I am,” the boy replied. “I just wanted to talk to her.” He pointed to me, his hand shaking. “She’s the only one who believes me. She knows the truth.”
“The truth is your actions caused my brother’s death. I should kill you right now.”
“It was an accident. I didn’t mean to.”
“I don’t want to hear your lies.” Billy looked at me and said, “Jesse, call the police.”
I didn’t move. I had been frightened beyond description and still hadn’t calmed down. I shook all over. I was still holding the gun in my hand.
“Jesse, call the cops!” Billy demanded.
The dogs were howling, the children were crying, and I was glued to the floor as my heart pounded in my chest. I took a deep breath and tried to snap out of it. After a few more deep breaths, I said, “Just a minute, Billy. I’m going to go check on my children before I do anything. He isn’t a threat to us.” I laid the gun down on the kitchen counter and stared at him and Wayne, and then I looked in the direction of the dogs and said, sternly, “Quiet!”
The dogs stopped barking immediately and promptly left the room.
“All right,” Billy said without arguing. “Go check on the children. He’s not going anywhere. I’ll see to that.” The look on Billy’s face was a testament to his words.
I turned and walked briskly down the hall. When I reached the nursery, Maisy was standing up in her crib holding onto the railing with tears rolling down her cheeks. Ethan cried as he lay in his bed. I reached over, stuck his pacifier in his mouth, and then gave him a pat. I pulled his blanket over him, and watched as he closed his eyes. I picked up Maisy and held her long enough to calm her down and then I lay her back in the crib.
She drifted off within a few seconds.
Satisfied that my children were okay, I turned and walked out of the room only to be met by the dogs sitting in the hallway. I gave them both a quick rub to let them know everything was all right.
They both wagged their tails, and then took their places on each side of the nursery door. When I got back to the kitchen, Billy was standing over Wayne, waiting for my return.
“Are the kids all right?”
“They’re fine. They both went right back to sleep.”
“Good. Now call the cops!”
“Okay,” I said as I walked over to the wall phone and picked up the receiver. I waited momentarily and contemplated the situation. Then I hung up the phone.
“Let’s think this over for a second,” I said as I turned to look at Billy. “Let’s find out exactly what this kid has been up to. How about it, Wayne? What’s your story?”
“I know what he’s been up to. I don’t need to ask him anything. He’s a liar. You know that. He’s a danger and needs to be locked up.”
Stunned, I asked, “Don’t you want a chance to interrogate the kid… find out why he did this?”
“I’m not a kid!” Wayne yelled. “I’m eighteen!”
“Shut up before you wake up my children,” I commanded. “You need to calm down right now.”
“Jesse, just call the cops. Let them question him. I have all the answers I need. He’s nothing but a scumbag killer. Sure, he might have had a hard life, but that doesn’t give him a reason to do the horrible things he’s done. That’s all I need to know.”
“Something’s going on here, now what is it? Do you know this kid, Billy?”
Billy hesitated.
“Ah, ha!” Wayne butted in. “She doesn’t know everything, does she, Billy Blackhawk?”
“Shut up, kid. You’re a criminal and you’re going to jail.”
“You’re the one who told my dad that my mother was having the affair! Why would you do that? Do you have any idea what you did? You ruined our lives!”
“What’s he talking about, Billy?” I looked at the kid and then back to Billy. “Is he telling the truth? How do you know this kid?”
The look on Billy’s face was a dead giveaway. He knew more about this case than he had told me.
“I was hired by his father to find out what his mother was up to. His dad suspected she was having an affair.”
“What? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t tell you about the case I was working on at the time because you were just about ready to have our baby, and I didn’t want you getting involved. You were eight and a half months pregnant and you weren’t in any condition to be running around town, or sitting out in a car in the wee hours of the morning. And you were busy getting the nursery ready. Jesse, it was a simple case that only took about two days. It wasn’t important.”
“It was important to me!” Wayne yelled. “Why did you tell my dad? You didn’t have to. You could’ve lied! Why couldn’t you just leave us alone?”
“Oh, my God!” I said, realizing for the first time that our lives could’ve been in danger. The scenario played out in my head as I spoke.
“Wayne Avery is knee-deep in the death of three people and he burned down two houses. Jonathan most likely had been targeted for death, but because he wasn’t at home at the time, his life was spared. Then this kid comes here to do what? Kill us? Burn down our house?” I was furious. “We were probably next on his list. You should’ve told me, Billy.”
“I didn’t know. I’m just now putting it all together myself, Jesse. I had no idea that this kid was related to the case I worked on a couple of months back. The name didn’t ring a bell.”
“I bet it’s ringing one now!”
“I didn’t put it together until I was taking Geneva home. She asked me if Jonathan and I had worked on cases together, and I told her that we had… many times. She asked if you and I and the kids might also be in danger. Then I started thinking about that couple in Ruckersville. The man’s name sounded familiar. I played it all out in my head and then I realized what was going on. I rushed back here and found him trying to break in.”
“What would’ve happened if you had gotten here ten minutes later? He could’ve killed one of us... or all of us.”
I looked over at Wayne Avery.
“Or... I could’ve killed him!”
“I swear, Jesse. I would’ve never put my family in harm’s way if I had any idea that this was all related and that we could be in danger. Please believe me.”
I had to believe Billy. He’s my husband and he’d never let anything happen to us. I guess he must’ve had a lot on his mind and that’s why he didn’t put it together until now. His brother was dead. I’m sure that’s consumed much of his thoughts.
“I believe you,” I said as I walked over and hugged him. “You’re not one to keep secrets.”
“I can keep a secret when I have to, but not when my family’s involved, especially if they could be in danger… never.”
“It’s time to call the police. You’re right, Billy. This kid belongs in jail. It’s probably the only safe place for him.”
I looked at Wayne and asked, “How could you kill two people and then burn down their house? The man was the one who had the affair with your mother. His poor wife had nothing to do with it, but you killed her anyway. You disgust me! I can’t believe that I almost felt sorry for you.”
“You don’t know the whole story,” Wayne said with a hurt look on his face. “I can’t lie anymore. I’m not the one who did all those terrible things. I’m not guilty. That’s what I came here to tell you, but when I saw his face, I knew you’d never believe me. He’s the one who belongs in jail—him, his bounty hunter brother, and all the rest of them.”
“The rest of who?” I asked.
“It’s whom,” Wayne said, correcting me. “The rest of whom.”
“BFD! So, you know English. Who cares? You don’t actually think I’m going to believe you’re innocent, do you? How many times are you going to change your story? Now you say you’re not the one who committed these crimes. Next thing you’re going to tell me is that you weren’t even there.”
&n
bsp; “I wasn’t.”
I looked at him and couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
Billy stood there and didn’t say anything. He was waiting for me to get it out of my system. He did that. If he thought that I was going to go on a tirade, he’d let me have the floor until I had exhausted myself.
“Are you now saying that you didn’t do all those terrible things, that you didn’t murder those two people or burn Jonathan’s house down?”
“It wasn’t me.”
“Then who was it?”
“I can’t tell you,” Wayne replied. “He’ll kill me if I do. I just want you to know that I’m innocent. I would never hurt anyone, let alone kill someone. I wouldn’t do that. You have to believe me! I need your help. Nobody else is going to be on my side… and he’s going to get away with it. Nobody can catch him.”
I didn’t know what to think, so I paced the floor contemplating his story. Was he innocent? Did he know who committed these crimes and was being forced to cover up for that person—or was he a lying killer? I just didn’t want to believe that someone so young would be capable of such acts.
I looked down the hall and thought about my own children, and how they would be when they grew up. They have good parents, but does that mean anything? Could they grow up to be killers? No way! I had to get that idea out of my mind. My children would never be like that.
My thoughts were consumed with images of Wayne Avery as he laughingly doused Jonathan’s house with gasoline, and then later shot two people to death. I closed my eyes for a second.
Billy grunted. He was fed up with the kid. He was ready for the police to throw him in jail and free us of this problem. He was convinced that Wayne Avery was a killer and a danger to society.
“I’m finished here. I’m calling the police,” Billy said as he turned his back and walked over to the phone.
The minute he started punching in the numbers, Wayne jumped up from the chair and within a split-second, bolted out the front door.
He had caught us both off guard. He was out the door and into the snow-covered woods before we knew what hit us.