The Bend

by Terri Tiffany

  “I don’t think I can do this again. I hated tonight.”

  He hated tonight? What about doing what’s right? “It was one night. Please hang in there until we figure out if they are going to hurt hundreds of people.”

  Seth shoved his food aside. “How do you figure to do that? I didn’t learn a thing tonight and time is running out.”

  Of course he was right. But she couldn’t stop trying. Even if he did.

  CHAPTER 81

  Kate woke with a pounding headache. Thinking about her conversation last night with Seth sickened her. What craziness did Earl do to the Bend? Training women to be good wives. Setting up the men as gods. She slipped her feet to the floor. Facing Tim at work today would not be an easy task. Not after discovering his bigger part in the cult.

  She doubted she could work for him much longer either.

  At least Seth had agreed to not leave yet. At least until he broke the story. Then she was getting out of town as fast as she could right with him. Maybe she would head south. As far as Florida. She’d never been there before but with winter coming, it might be the place to go.

  She wobbled into her bathroom. Studied her tired expression for a moment. No, it would not be easy to smile and pretend much longer. She turned from the sink and started the shower. A half hour later, dressed, and nibbling on a bagel, Kate was startled by a loud knock on her front door. She checked her watch. Too early for mail.

  Kate crossed into the living room and peered out her front window. The delivery truck. Her heart slowed. She opened the door and immediately recognized the driver who had delivered her file cabinet weeks ago. “Morning. You’re out early. Lost?”

  She eyed a large box on a hand cart.

  “Delivery.” He held up his device for her signature.

  Kate opened her door. “I think you have the wrong address. I didn’t order anything.” A huge box. She read the label. Her name was printed on it. “Is there a return address?”

  He punched numbers into his device. “Michigan.”

  She let out her breath. Jackie sending something for her place. She opened the door. “Thanks. It looks heavy.”

  Her front door blew shut. The wind. Kicking up. Another storm.

  “It’s about to get a lot heavier,” he said, stepping closer.

  “What?” Instinct gripped her. She shifted backward. “You better leave. I have to get to work.”

  He didn’t leave. Instead, he reached into his back pocket. Brought out a syringe. “So do I.”

  A scream formed in her throat. It was soon cut off as his hand clamped down on her mouth. She kicked her foot into his shin and reached for her pocket knife.

  No! She rolled backward as he over powered her. She clawed at the air, shock surging through her veins. Then black dots until she hurtled into final darkness.

  ###

  When ten o’clock rolled around and neither Tim nor Kate had showed up for work, Seth strolled out to where Rhonda was checking her phone. “Did Kate call in? She was supposed to go with me to the first day of school ceremony. It’s late and I’ve got to run.”

  Rhonda had the decency to put down her phone. “She didn’t call, but I remember her talking about not feeling so well on Friday. Maybe a girl thing.”

  He didn’t want to hear about a girl thing. She could catch up with him when she came in. He grabbed his gear and left Rhonda to her nails. She had already set up her equipment by the time he brushed out the front door.

  With school back in session, the Bend’s streets looked more like a ghost town except for the flyers pasted on every storefront window. Earl had certainly covered the territory. Probably the entire town would show up for the rally. Who wouldn’t? Free snacks and face painting for the kids? A regular three ring circus.

  Seth turned toward the elementary school. He drove up the hill and parked next to a line of buses. A light breeze caught his hair as he hiked toward the brick building. Fall. He could not spend another winter here. Once he exposed Earl and his followers, he’d write his story, send it to the big papers and leave.

  Hopefully, he’d land a better job from the article. A good job. Maybe with the Times. He clamped his thoughts off as the principal met him at the door. A homely woman with a hook nose, dressed in the familiar garb of the Bend—a dark skirt that covered her knees, raised her palm to him. “We aren’t letting reporters in today for the assembly. Private matters only for the kids.”

  “Private? This is a public school. I’ve covered events here before.” Miss Quiver, or Quigley? He couldn’t remember. He remembered only that when he did run into her, she always wore a frown. Like she did now.

  “Sorry. Not today. We have important information to cover that doesn’t need to be spread all over the county.” With that spoken, she slammed the door. A burly-looking guard with a missing side tooth took her place. He crossed his arms.

  Message received.

  Seth turned on his heel and stalked back across the parking lot. Now they were brainwashing the kids. He cranked the Jeep’s engine and drove toward town and the office. Maybe Tim would be in and they could talk.

  Tim was in his office sorting files when Seth knocked.

  His boss looked as though he hadn’t slept in weeks. Too busy making plans for Earl? Seth schooled his expression as he sat across from the man.

  “Don’t I give you enough assignments, Seth? Shouldn’t you be at the school today?”

  So he didn’t know.

  “The principal wouldn’t let me in. Seems they are having a private first assembly this year.”

  Tim met his look then shifted his eyes to the side. He shoved his glasses to his forehead. “Times change. We’ll catch their mid-assembly.”

  “I didn’t see you last night.” Might as well wade in.

  Tim tipped his face toward his stack of papers on his desk. “Got busy. So. How did everything go?”

  “How come you didn’t tell me you were part of Earl’s group? I might have joined sooner.”

  “I doubt that.”

  Seth shifter closer. If he couldn’t get Tim to believe he’d gone over to the dark side, no one would. “I need a woman. It gets lonely living like I do.” He shrugged. “What better woman than one who can meet all my needs. Home cooked meals. Clean clothes. A man gets tired of doing for himself. Why not take what’s available?”

  Tim snorted. “That’s hard to believe. I thought you liked the single life.”

  Seth shrugged. “I mean it, Tim. I’m tired of being on the outside. Earl promises the kind of life every man wants.”

  Tim’s eyes narrowed. “What about our girl, Kate? She might be available. Too tough to crack?”

  Our girl? Seth flinched at the words coming from Tim’s mouth. His fist clenched below the desk. What right did he have calling Kate our girl? First Doc, now him.

  “She drives me nuts. Never on time. Always has her head in the clouds. You should never have hired her. She’s detrimental to the paper.”

  “Harsh words for someone who wants a wife.”

  “Yeah? Maybe, but she isn’t my type.”

  “That’s right. The movie lady. She was your type.”

  Seth swallowed hard. He looked away. At least that was the truth.

  Tim rose from his chair and crossed the room to stand near the ancient radiator. “Looks like a big storm on the horizon.” He rocked on his heels. Seth loathed his nerdy black shoes. Something his grandfather wore.

  “Kate didn’t come in today. Maybe she got tired of this place.”

  Tim turned around. Dug his hands into his pockets. “Should have asked her last night.”

  What was he talking about?

  “When you were at her house.”

  Seth jumped. “What are you doing? Spying on people now?” He growled with annoyance. “Last I heard, that’s against the law. Oh wait. You’re above that, aren’t you?” He couldn’t stop. Maybe it was his annoyance at the school but Earl and Tim had gone too far. “Tell me you aren’t following m
e.”

  The twerp strolled to stand in front of him. A sick grin grew on Tim’s lips. “It’s my job to know the news.”

  His job. To spy? To watch him like a criminal?

  “News flash. Something you missed. Congrats. You’re minus one less reporter. I quit. Put that on your front page.” Seth controlled his boiling urge to spit on those ugly shoes and instead marched to the outer office, gathered his belongings and slammed out the front door.

  CHAPTER 82

  It was too easy. Almost. When he saw her expression turn to fear, he almost changed his mind. The Trainer didn’t want Kate to be afraid of him. He wanted her to obey him. Follow him to their glorious end together. After she fell into his arms, he stuffed her limp body inside the box.

  Perfect. Anyone driving past would think he was taking a package for delivery.

  Exactly his plan.

  He wedged open the front door of her house with his foot.

  A heavy wind pushed against him as he wheeled the box back to the street, up into his waiting truck. He ran back to shut the door, stopping for a moment to look around.

  Sparse furnishings. Nothing to show the world who she was.

  He closed the door.

  Like him. Waiting to finish what the world started.

  His chest tingled with anticipation. When she awoke, he would be ready.

  Then he would ready her.

  ###

  Seth couldn’t quite believe he’d quit his job. He spun out of the parking lot like a man bent on a mission. What had he done? Blown everything he told Kate he would do. He’d never be invited into the group now. No, old Tim would see to that. Seth slapped his steering wheel with his palm. Why couldn’t he control himself? Was he that fed up with the Bend?

  He drove through the downtown. Few people littered the streets. A mother hauled a screaming kid into the grocery store. Another woman dressed in prairie skirts rushed by the burned-out theater with her head down.

  He turned down Pine Street. Cruised past the bigger houses. Watched workers touch up gingerbread trim and helpers rake fallen leaves. A part of him would miss the Bend. Small town living had appealed to him when he first arrived. Now? Too small a town. Buried with its crazy followers of a man who was nothing more than crazy himself.

  He continued out of town until he came upon the church. The one in the photo. The one where the rally was to be held in two days. He pulled across the road. Unrolled his window. Two cars were parked beside the building. Pastor? Secretary? He debated going in and telling them what he knew but he also understood that this church had fallen under Earl’s spell too. Rumor led him to believe that the pastor had sent his wife to the camp for the finishing touches.

  He thought of what Kate told him.

  Maybe her aura nonsense was that. Nonsense. Who saw stuff like that on pictures? How could he believe that everyone in that church might die in two days? Maybe he was going as crazy as Earl and his zombies.

  He shifted into reverse. He’d talk with Kate. Get her to tell him the truth. That her gift was all a lie. Something she made up for attention. He flicked his turn signal and tore over the bridge. He’d lost his job because of her. The least she could do was be honest with him.

  ###

  Kate weighed less than his other candidates yet his breath came in spurts as he carried her inside his work room. He laid her gently on the quilt inside her own personal coffin. Not that she would ever get to use it. There wouldn’t be that much of her left.

  A groan escaped her lips. Soft lips. Kissable lips. Lips he had dreamed about as a boy of twelve. Now they belonged to him. He bent over her still body, stroked her cheek with one finger. “My dear Kate. Finally we are together. Soon we’ll be together into eternity.”

  When he finished tying her wrists to the sides of the box, an enormous hunger overtook him. He hadn’t felt this alive in years. Not since his father died. Is this what his final plan would feel like? Euphoric? The Trainer brushed his hands down his pants. He must take care of himself before the day arrived. Nothing must get in the way. He paced the room, scratched his head. Grabbed a pad and pen that waited on a wooden chair in the corner.

  It must go as planned.

  No one must stop him.

  Next he checked his knives. Felt the blade sting his palm. Looked over his shoulder toward Kate.

  Soon.

  When she woke. He wouldn’t rush it.

  Only then would he begin the training.

  CHAPTER 83

  Kate’s lips throbbed. She tasted them with her tongue. Parched. And why did her wrists hurt? She pried her eyes open. Remembering. A hand. Then blackness.

  Still blackness. She raised her fists but they pulled tight. Where was she? Her pulse surged into her throat as she yanked again. Cords dug into her wrists. Why couldn’t she see anything? Her heart sped up. Her legs. Kate raised one as far as she could—her toe bumping into something solid. She raised her other foot, smashing into that same wall. Why couldn’t she move? She squeezed her knees together and kicked both feet upward. Bang! What was she in?

  With nothing left to try, she opened her mouth and screamed. “Help me! Please! Help me!” Her voice sounded muffled. Locked in the prison with her. Tears flooded her eyes as she willed herself to breathe. She must not pass out. Whoever did this to her would return. The delivery man? Why would he do this to her? Again she screamed. Screamed until she gagged on her spit.

  A bright light flooded her eyes. She blinked—focusing about her.

  The delivery man. Peering down. Smiling.

  Kate opened her mouth again to scream. But nothing came out.

  ###

  Seth pounded on Kate’s door. Harder this time. He checked his watch. Strode off the front porch to the side driveway. Her car was parked next to the house.

  He peered inside. Nothing out of place. Her silly briefcase and an empty soda can.

  He scanned the house again. Something wasn’t right. Maybe she’d fallen in the shower and hit her head. It wasn’t like her not to answer her door if she was home. The back door was hidden behind a few large bushes. Seth made his way to it and tried the screen door. It opened with ease. The storm door didn’t. He eyed the kitchen table. Kate’s purse. Open. He remembered her words about Debbie. No woman goes off without her purse.

  He jiggled the knob then made his decision.

  He took off his coat, wrapped it around his arm, and smashed the window. Glass poured into the house and scattered at his feet as well. So he would fix it later. Right now, he wanted to be certain she was okay. Seth pulled open the door and stepped over the shattered pieces into the kitchen. The lights were turned off. Her dirty breakfast dishes sat in the sink. He ran his finger over a coffee cup. Cold.

  From there, he made a pass through the bedroom and bathroom before ending up in the front living room.

  He wasn’t a detective but something felt off. He dropped onto the ugly couch, probed the room again. Chunks of fresh mud coming from the front door led to the center of the room. He’d never seen Kate wear boots. He crossed the room and knelt to inspect the tracks in the mud. Wheels? His gaze caught on a piece of cardboard. Almost invisible but at this level, he made out a torn box corner.

  Had she been packing? Was she leaving town like him?

  She was as frustrated as him but was also passionate about the upcoming rally. Hundreds might die, she’d said. He rocked back on his heels. No, she would not leave with that hanging over her head. She had more conscience than he did.

  A buzzing sound caught his attention. Seth lunged for the purse, opened it and found her phone lit up. A caller from Michigan. He punched accept.

  “Kate?”

  “This is Seth. I work with her. Are you a friend?”

  “Where’s Kate and why are you answering her phone?”

  A feisty friend.

  “Listen, when’s the last time you spoke with Kate?”

  “Is something wrong? Put her on now.”

  That answered that. H
e hung up. Her good friend didn’t have a clue about Kate’s whereabouts either.

  ###

  His pupils filled his eye sockets. Kate stared at her abductor. Waited.

  “I see you’re awake. Good. We can begin the training.” He disappeared from her line of vision but returned moments later with a large knife. Kate clamped her teeth together. Was this the man who had taken the other missing women in the Bend? Was it her turn?

  “Let me go. Now.” She tugged her arms, glanced down and noticed the binding around her wrists.

  She was helpless. Like a rat in a cat’s mouth. A wave of panic washed through her as she envisioned her own death. Not like this. No, Lord, not like this.

  “I’ve waited a long time for this moment, dear Kate.”

  “A long time? Please, let me up. Let me talk with you.” She’d reason with him. Find a way to convince him to let her go free.

  He waved the knife over her beating heart. Kate clamped down on her bladder. She would not die a victim. The Bend was full of them. Not her. Please not her.

  He moved the knife to her wrists as she tried not to squirm. Snap. He cut her wrist free and then did the same to the other. Kate struggled to sit up. When she did, she discovered she’d been trapped in a long box made of wood.

  Her captor stepped back. Still that sick smile covered his face. He crossed his arms, the knife blade pressed between his elbows. “Feeling better?”

  Kate scanned the dark room. A small overhead bulb cast a shadow of light. A barn? A shed? Nothing else in the room except a chair, her box, and a bucket. A chain attached to the wall with an ankle shackle on the loose end lay next to the bucket. The horror of what he intended for her crashed into her mind. “Let me go, please. I won’t tell anyone.”

  “Funny you should say that. I did that once. She lied. I don’t do that anymore. Besides, I need you. I’ve been waiting for you a long time.”

  “What are you talking about? Why do you need me? I don’t know you. You’re my delivery man, that’s all.”