The Bend

by Terri Tiffany

  It wouldn’t take long.

  A peek. That’s all he needed.

  His breathing escalated as he raised his binoculars to his eyes. She had left her kitchen light on. Good. He could see her clearly. Her long red hair curling around her shoulders. The way she limped across the room. Much differently than when she walked around others. Her leg must be causing her more pain today.

  But of course it would. That blast she survived would always follow her. Like her fears that no one would find out. What would she say when he told her he knew? That he understood her fears.

  As he took another deep breath, an owl hooted. The Trainer glanced upward, cursing the bird. He glanced toward the house. His candidate had opened the package. Ran a finger over its softness. An agonizing shiver shot through his gut. Soon. Soon she would belong to him. After one more longing glance, he lowered his binoculars. Time enough to judge her reaction to his gift tomorrow. Besides, he hated to ruin his surprise by watching. No bridegroom would watch his future wife in such an intimate situation.

  With his breathing under control, he slipped out of the trees and trailed back to his truck that he parked down the road. Besides, he had more pressing work at home. His current candidate was being uncooperative. And that meant more work for him.

  CHAPTER 59

  Daisy craved more than her usual attention tonight from Seth. He refilled her dish twice and patted her on his lap after his call to Kate. But still she meowed. Finally, he opened his back door and tossed her outside. Let her cry out there. He had more to think about than a miserable feline.

  Like a woman named Kate.

  He poured a second glass of soda and sank down in front of the darkened TV screen. He should be in bed but couldn’t sleep. Especially after the plans he made for tomorrow night. Who did he think he was? Superman? The two of them might well make it over that mountain but then what? Snoop around undetected for how long? And what if Kate was wrong about Debbie or Shelly? What if neither were in the compound and Earl decided he had enough of him? Jail time? Lost job?

  Tim hadn’t been too helpful either about the whole missing person article. He had balked about suggesting foul play. Said kids her age always took off but finally agreed to run the story. Lately, it seemed like his editor's brain was elsewhere. Not in the Bend on news where it should be. And then all those days he left town. What was he up to? He was single, no kids. Said he lived in the Bend his entire life and knew everyone—that’s why he was good at his job. Of course, whenever he said that, he stared down his nose through his glasses as though Seth wasn’t doing his.

  Seth needed this job. There was a story in the Bend. A big story.

  He thought of Kate again. Now there were two big stories.

  The possibility of exposing her cover and connection to the bomber and Miracle Girl skidded through his brain. Everyone who was any kind of reporter wanted the story. Seth clenched his fingers together. And he had it. Plus he knew about her power. If she was telling the truth. His story would blow all the others out of the water.

  He was sitting on his future. A bomb of his own. Expose Kate and pull out of this horse and pony town forever. He trembled at the mere idea. His dream. Surely there was a way he could do it without hurting her. He hoisted himself off the couch and paced the narrow room. A rush of euphoria overtook him as a plan emerged.

  He reached for his cell phone to call her. Then changed his mind. It could wait another day.

  CHAPTER 60

  Kate lifted the loose flap and raised the opposite side.

  A smaller box rested in a pool of confetti. She reached in and pulled the blue velvety box from its container.

  Her mouth formed an O. Who would send her jewelry? She dropped into the chair, the jeweler’s box resting in the palm of her hand. She raised the lid.

  Her heart coiled inside her chest as she slammed the case onto her kitchen table. She lurched from her chair, her hand splayed against her stomach. How could it be? Kate sucked for air as she wheeled into her bedroom and scrambled for her cell phone.

  “Please answer, please answer . . .” she begged, as she waited for Seth to pick up.

  She peered over her shoulder, fear slewing all reasonable thought.

  “I’m headed to bed.”

  “Come over here. Now.” Her voice came out in a gargled whisper. She gripped her phone tighter. Eyed her bedroom door.

  “Do you know what time it is? It’s—”

  “I don’t care what time it is. Something happened. I need you here to verify I’ve not gone crazy. Please Seth. Now.”

  “All right. All right. Give me time to pull on my clothes. Leave the light on. I’ll be there in ten.”

  “The light doesn’t work,” she said, but Seth had already hung up.

  Kate curled onto her bed. She would not return to the kitchen until Seth arrived.

  ###

  When Seth pulled into Kate’s driveway, he noticed her kitchen light shone through the open blinds. He gritted his teeth. Hadn’t he told her to shut all her windows and that included the curtains? Anyone could stand outside the house under the cover of those trees and watch whatever she did. He got out of his car and looked around. The silence shrouded him with menace. He shrugged his nagging fears away and hiked toward her front door. When he rapped, the door moved beneath his knuckles. Great. She left her door unlocked as well. He stepped inside. “Kate?”

  Kate rushed out to him from a room to his left. She looked like she wanted to cry but forced a smile. “I know it’s late but you have to see this.” She tipped her chin toward her kitchen where he saw the overhead light.

  He wanted to grumble. Instead he followed her into the next room. A jeweler’s box lay in the middle of the table. “You called me all the way over here for this?” He pointed to the box. “David?” He raked his fingers through his hair. He tried not to yawn or drop down on her floor and sleep.

  “Look inside.” Her voice shook.

  Why would a box freak her out so much? He reached for the container.

  “Prepare yourself,” she said, as she stepped back. “I almost threw up.”

  He raised his brows. “You have a nasty habit.”

  “Just look at it.” She pointed then stepped back.

  He eyed the box. Pried it open with his thumb.

  A smaller version of the hawk ring stared up at him. He raised his gaze to Kate’s. “And you’re worried because?”

  “It’s the ring! Don’t you get it? Someone sent me the same kind of ring the men in the Bend wear. A match. Made for a female. You know what that means, don’t you?” Her eyes widened.

  Was she going to stroke out on him? “Mary wears one.”

  She stepped closer. “So did Debbie.”

  CHAPTER 61

  Kate stumbled into work the next morning. She made coffee, dropped into her chair, and turned on her computer. Seth hadn’t arrived yet. By the time he left her house last night, both were dead-tired. However were they going to hike down the mountain tonight? But they had no choice. From what she learned from Rhonda, the sheriff still hadn’t found Shelly.

  She clicked through her pictures.

  She let her breath out. The photo had not changed at all.

  Meaning they still might have time to find her. Maybe Shelly lay injured someplace. Maybe in one of those cabins.

  “Headed out to the sewing circle today? I want full color photos of those quilts.” Tim shuffled up to her desk. He smelled smoky. Funny. He didn’t smoke. It was too hot for a wood-burner.

  “I will. I need to finish up the last article.” She smiled up at him. So far they got along fine. Hopefully, he liked her work enough to keep her.

  “Who’s that a picture of?” He pointed to the one she had opened of Shelly.

  Her cheeks burned. “The missing girl. Her friend gave it to me. It’s supposed to run with the story.” Tim should have seen it by now. The paper came out tomorrow.

  “She looks awfully young. Too pretty.” He shook his head.
“Too bad about outsiders. Coming here and stirring up trouble.”

  “Stirring up trouble? She was visiting her friend.”

  “Doesn’t matter. Look at that outfit. Nothing but trouble.” With a final shake of his head, he left her side and closed himself in his office.

  Every molecule in her blood screamed. She grabbed her mug and marched up to the coffee counter. Slammed her cup down. Nothing but trouble? Before his comment, she had believed her editor to be open-minded. Now she wasn’t so sure.

  “Made enough for me?” Seth stood beside her. She’d been so angry she hadn’t heard him come in.

  “Help yourself.” She brushed by him.

  “Looks like I’m not the only one who couldn’t sleep.”

  “I might take a snooze under one of the quilts I have to go photograph.” She checked her watch. “I’m late. I’ll touch base with you later.” She grabbed her purse and camera, hurried out to her car. The last thing she wanted to attend was the quilt raffle. She drove through town, eying the closed signs in the windows. The Bend had looked pretty pathetic when she arrived a few months back—now it resembled a ghost town. Earl had been busy.

  She braked in front of the library.

  Several women in their drab prairie dresses mingled at the front door. Each carried large packages under their arms. Quilts, no doubt. The last time Kate slept under a quilt was at her grandmother’s house before she graduated. Grandma insisted she take one with her to college, but Kate thought it would label her as outdated. She refused the blue and white one offered.

  Foolish youth.

  As she got out, she recognized Adriana near the doorway. Earl’s young wife nodded then turned away. Could she be angry at Kate still for her behavior at the funeral? Not every guest sneaked into private property. Unless they were named Seth or Kate.

  She thought of what they planned for tonight.

  Kate moved faster to catch up. When she reached the door, Adriana held it open for her. “Thanks. Are you donating a quilt or here to bid on one?” A little friendly banter couldn’t hurt.

  “We need new ones. Winter is coming.” Her voice sounded flat. Emotionless as usual.

  Adriana left Kate by the entrance and hustled to the front area where the ladies were draping the colorful quilts.

  Okay. So Adriana didn’t want to talk with her. Maybe afterward. Maybe she could catch her before she left. She wanted to ask her a few more questions about the compound. Maybe it would save her and Seth a lot of aggravation if Adriana would tell her that Shelly and Debbie were fine. That they had gone to the Club of their own free will.

  Or maybe she would share something more to Kate. Earl’s supposed wife carried a look of fear in her eyes. Was that normal? She doubted it. Unless the poor woman felt trapped—afraid to leave the man. Afraid she would end up in one of those cabins. Maybe she needed someone like Kate, a friend, to share her concerns with.

  Her thoughts were cut short when another woman charged into the room and took over. Within minutes, the organizer had ordered the women how to lay out the quilts. Kate snapped photos as the room filled with townspeople who were looking and buying. The bidding soon started and within an hour, they had sold everything.

  Kate packed away her camera, keeping her eye on Adriana. When she noticed her head to the door, Kate lurched after her. “Adriana. May I buy you a cup of coffee at the diner?”

  Adriana froze. A deer at the end of a barrel.

  “I don’t have any friends here. Also I want to apologize for my rude behavior the other day. Just a cup. I promise not to keep you long.”

  The woman’s cheeks colored a pretty pink. “I don’t drink coffee. But thank you for the invitation.” She looked over her shoulder. Returned her gaze to Kate. “Please leave me alone. Leave the Bend alone. You don’t know what you are getting into.”

  Kate grabbed her by the arm and gently guided her into a private corner. “What are you saying? What’s happening to the women in this town? Do you know some have gone missing? Are you aware that one woman was found dead and I believe another is dying?”

  Adriana’s eyes widened. She shook her head viciously. “Earl is a good man. He is our Messiah. He would not hurt anyone.”

  “He’s not a Messiah. He's just a man. That’s all. Not God. Please.” She glanced at the women coming their way. “Please let me talk with you.”

  “You’re wrong. You will see. He is building a New Jerusalem. Please stay out of the way.” She pushed past Kate and lunged out the door.

  CHAPTER 62

  The Trainer watched Kate leave the library. She seemed angry. Frustrated. He studied the way she packed her camera into her car. Slammed the trunk.

  She might take more training than he thought.

  He viewed her hands as they waggled her keys. The ring. She hadn’t worn it. Was something wrong with it? Didn’t it fit?

  His hands fisted at his sides. He had gone to extra lengths to get it for her—convinced the old doctor to order one for him once he learned the meaning. A symbol. A symbol of her upcoming Utopia.

  With him.

  “Excuse me.” An old man hobbled past him into the barber shop. The Trainer stepped aside, annoyed by the intrusion. He didn’t appreciate interruptions. He climbed back into his truck.

  She couldn’t see him.

  But soon she would. Up close. Like old times.

  He fondled the quilt on the seat next to him. A blue and white one. Like the one she used to lie beneath when he watched her through her bedroom window.

  He would line her box with it.

  His breathing increased. So many years of tracking her. So many years of moving around the country or paying people to watch her. When she took this final job, he hadn’t felt so much joy since the day his mother died. Because the Bend was perfect for what he planned to do.

  Kate and he would finally finish what should have ended that day.

  CHAPTER 63

  Seth stuffed two flashlights into his backpack. He’d already filled it with water and other essentials someone who was breaking into private property might need. He dropped it by the back door. Then he turned back into his kitchen for a final bite of his roast beef sandwich. Kate wanted to drive so now all he had to do was wait.

  2 a.m. He could barely keep his eyes open. The nap after work had helped, but not much. He glanced out his kitchen window, watching for car lights. She said she wouldn’t be late. What if she overslept? He could call. Should call. He reached for his phone. No. She’d think he didn’t trust her.

  Should she trust him? He flinched at the direction his thoughts took him. A while ago, he had considered selling her story. It was his best chance to finally make it out of this town into a bigger paper. But now. . . what a slime that would make him. He’d done some low things in life, but that would be the lowest.

  Headlights flashed against the garage.

  He switched off the light, grabbed his backpack. When he stepped outside, he heard only crickets and the low rumbling of her car. Mist clung to his shoulders as he hurried to the passenger side.

  “Ready?” he asked her, as he buckled in.

  “Of course not. Are you?” She yanked on the zipper of the hooded sweatshirt she wore with jeans.

  “Got a better plan?” He stuffed his backpack at his feet. She barely missed hitting a tree in his driveway as she pulled out onto the foggy road. Great. They would be lucky to arrive alive. Let alone worry about the hike.

  “No. But I wish I did. We still don’t know what to do if we get there and find Shelly or Debbie. Drag them out with us? Back up the mountain or through the front gates?” She bit her nail. “Are we crazy, Seth? Is this entire town crazy? I should have looked for a job on the west coast.”

  He better calm her down or she’d blow what little chance they had to succeed tonight. “Listen to me. We are all they have. Sorry you had to get mixed up in this mess but for whatever reason, you are. The local authorities have turned their eyes away from the truth of what Earl is
doing. He’s dangerous. He’s taking over the town, one person at a time. If he has resorted to something worse, then someone must stop him.”

  “What about calling in the state police? The FBI? Someone who will listen.”

  He snorted. “Right. What are they going to listen to? The sheriff will cover everything up and the way Earl is so sneaky about his tactics, no one will listen.”

  She turned to him. Her cheeks glowed from the dash light. “So what makes you think anyone will listen to us?”

  Her question was the same one he had asked himself a dozen times since discovering what the Bend meant. “Because we are going to show the world people who have been brainwashed. It takes only one. We find that one.”

  “Debbie?”

  He nodded. “Or Shelly. We only need one.”

  ###

  She parked the car where Seth told her to park it. He promised that the owner of the cabin knew nothing about the compound or their plans. Already the night air had crept inside her sweatshirt making her shiver. How would she get through the rest of the night? She tugged her backpack from behind the rear seat. Her hand touched something soft.

  Another jacket. The one she threw in a week ago on that cooler morning. She grabbed that too and stuffed it into her bag. Better to be prepared.

  The light from Seth’s flashlight bit into the dark space around the car. He aimed it to his left. “That’s where the path is. I brought my compass in case but doubt we’ll need it. It’s a straight shot right down over that bank. Parking up here helps. I climbed above last time before I found this other road. What time do you have?”

  She held up her wrist. Almost three. The deer in the road had slowed them down, and she drove slower at night.

  “Let’s go. Now or never.” He started ahead of her.

  She shivered again. “Never sounds good to me.” She turned on her own flashlight.