by Cade Brogan
Rylee’s breath caught in her throat. “Bitch needs to be shot,” she muttered. “Needs to friggin’ be shot between her eyes.”
Rich nodded, his lips pressed firmly together. “Already starting to get matches all over the country,” he continued, “missing persons and cold cases. Her mom and stepdad live in upstate New York. Suppose it’d be too much to hope, that she’s back there, but the FBI’s gonna check it out.”
“How about her car?” Rylee asked. “Did you find it parked around the block?”
“No,” Rich answered, cocking his head. “But we know what she drives and have an APB out on it.” He furrowed his brow. “You saw it?”
“Yeah,” Rylee responded, “that night. Kenzie was supposed to tell you about it and about the chess piece that she had sent to me at my grandparents’ house.” She clenched her jaw. “Bitch tried to send me off on a wild goose chase so she could kill her. I should’ve shot her,” she said, “that’s what I should’ve done.”
“Yeah,” Rich responded, “well, like we already decided, you shouldn’t second guess yourself. And no, she didn’t say anything, but I wouldn’t be too hard on her.”
“I’m not gonna say anything to her,” Rylee said. “it doesn’t matter now.” When she glanced at the clock for the third time in ten minutes, Rich stepped toward the door.
“I’ll check on you tomorrow, pal,” he said as he moved his palm to rest on the knob. “They tell me if you keep improving at this rate, you might get to go home in the morning.”
“Can’t be soon enough for me,” Rylee responded. “Gonna be at Kenzie’s for a while. You think you could drop Buckshot off?” She shrugged her shoulders. “Or we can pick him up at your place tomorrow night.”
“Nonsense,” Rich said. “I’ll drop him by as soon as I know you’re home.”
“Thanks, pal,” Rylee said, cocking her head to see out the door as he went out.
***
“Hey there,” Kenzie said, stepping in, and coming toward her. A tall, lanky girl, slightly unkempt, followed shyly behind her. “I’ve got someone I want you to meet.” She smiled thinly at her daughter and then at Rylee. “This is Abby,” she said softly. “And Abby, this is Rye.”
“You look like a drummer,” Rylee said with a cock of her head. “And I hear you’re decent. You’ll have to show me what you’ve got some time.”
“That’d be cool,” Abby responded with a swallow. “Maybe you could play along.”
“Yeah,” Rylee said, nodding, “I’d like that.” They held one another’s gaze for an excruciatingly long moment.
“I like your haircut,” Abby blurted out, still looking as if she was sizing her up.
“Thanks,” Rylee responded. “It used to be longer, back when I first knew your mom.” She looked over to catch Kenzie’s eye, enjoying the sparkle. “Not as long as yours,” she added, “but longer.”
“Bet it didn’t look as good as it does now,” Abby commented, putting her hands in her pockets.
“I don’t know whether it did or not,” Rylee said. “All I know is I like it better the way it is now.”
“Wanted to get mine cut lots of times, but mom wouldn’t let me,” Abby responded, glancing back to meet her mother’s eye. “Maybe now she will.”
“Maybe, maybe not,” Rylee said, sporting an ornery smile with a lift of her eyebrow. “But when you turn eighteen,” she added, “you can do what I did, and do what you want.”
“Yeah,” Abby answered, her posture straightening as her lips curved into a smile.
Rylee looked over as Omar and Gladys came through the door. “You met Abby?” she asked.
“We did,” Gladys responded, smiling. “In fact, I think we’ve decided that she’s gonna spend the night with us tonight. That’ll give you and her mom a chance to be alone.”
“Thanks,” Rylee said, nodding. “She can sleep in my old room if she wants.”
“Cool,” Abby responded, her eyes widening. “Can I play your drums?”
“Yeah,” Rylee said, “you can play ‘em, as long as you leave ‘em like you found ‘em.”
“I will,” Abby said, “I promise.”
***
Rylee swallowed, overcoming the smell of antiseptic as the nurse peeled the tape from her arm and removed the needle. She was better, but not a hundred percent, not yet. And she wouldn’t be for a week or so, at least not according to the doctor. When she was, she’d be cleared to go back to work. “Thanks,” she said, meeting the pretty blonde’s eye with a smile. “I’m so ready to get out of here.”
“I’ll be in with your paperwork in a few minutes,” the nurse responded. “I can go ahead and call for your wheel chair now though.”
“I’m good without it,” Rylee said, “I can just walk down.”
“Hospital policy,” the nurse responded.
“Wheel chair it is then,” Rylee muttered.
When the nurse was gone, Kenzie moved closer to thread her fingers through Rylee’s. “I called Pastor Mark,” she said, smiling thinly. “He gave me the whole week off.”
“So you could be at your girlfriend’s beck and call?” Rylee asked with the raise of an eyebrow.
“Well, yeah, of course,” Kenzie answered, “but he doesn’t know that part.” She held her gaze. “When I tell him about us,” she added, “I’ll lose my job, I know I will.”
“There’s no hurry,” Rylee said softly. “You’ve been through enough. You tell him when you’re ready to tell him.” She took a breath, squeezing her hand. “And when you are ready to take that plunge, I want you to know that I’ll be there to support you, financially and otherwise.”
“I love you, Rye,” Kenzie whispered, leaning down to kiss her lips softly. “I love you so much.”
“Here’s your paperwork,” the nurse announced, coming through the door.
Kenzie popped up, blushing.
“Thanks,” Rylee said, signing her name on several dotted lines. As she signed the last one, acknowledging instructions for her medication, her wheel chair arrived.
“Oh, don’t forget these,” the nurse called out, having collected her bouquet of balloons from the department.
“Nope, don’t want to forget those,” Rylee responded, taking them, and handing them to Kenzie. She shook her head, reading the ones with inappropriate messages printed on them.
“Hot springs tonight?” Kenzie teased, lifting an eyebrow.
“If I’m lucky,” Rylee responded, grinning.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
“You’re kidding, right?” Abby screamed. “We just got home. No one’s going to Hell just because they skip a Sunday. Come on, Mom,” she whined, “can’t we just stay home? Just today?”
Her volume was loud enough to be heard down the block, but in this case, Rylee was only as far as the lean back chair in the living room. She poked her tongue gently into her cheek, turning up the volume on the television. The State of the Union was just coming on, and at ten, she’d watch Fareed Zakaria. She loved the CNN Sunday morning lineup, and having missed it for several consecutive weeks, she wanted to watch it. For a split-second, she remembered her promise to God, the one where if He let Kenzie come through, she’d make it up to Him. She intended to keep it, although she wasn’t sure exactly how. But not today. Today, she had plans to catch up on the news in the morning, take Kenzie and Abby for Chinese at noon, and then watch a ballgame. The Cubs were a game ahead, and she was cheering them on to make another World Series appearance, secretly optimistic that they might even win. She looked up at the sound of something fragile shattering above her. “Everything okay up there?” she called out, pressing the arrow on the remote to reduce the volume.
“Yeah, it’s fine,” Kenzie called back. “Abby just broke my grandmother’s vase.”
“I didn’t do it on purpose,” Abby screamed. “It’s your fault anyway,” she added. “You shouldn’t have set it there where somebody could bump into it so easily
.”
Rylee’s eyes narrowed as she stared at the screen.
“I’m not going,” Abby shrieked. “Not this morning. Not after I just spent two whole weeks with those people.”
Rylee’s facial muscles tightened.
“I want to stay home and play my drums for Rye,” Abby continued. “Mom, please.”
Rylee pinched her brow as the kid’s rotten attitude reverberated through her brain. She took a breath, convincing herself that Kenzie could handle the situation. When the yelling ceased, she imagined that that was what she was doing. She was speaking to her right now in a low tone of voice, setting her straight. Unfortunately, the period of silence didn’t last long enough for her to have accomplished anything.
“I don’t know why we have to keep going to that place anyway,” Abby roared. “I mean you’re gay now, right? You’re gay, so in their eyes, you’re an abomination.”
“Not me personally, Abigail,” Kenzie choked. “They just have a problem with certain behaviors.”
“Same difference if you ask me,” Abby screeched.
Rylee sucked in a breath, lowering her footrest. She adjusted her holster, having made the decision to either wear it or have it nearby until Joanna was apprehended. She paused at the top of the stairs, breathing deeply, determined to retain her breakfast. Once her bout of nausea had passed, she made her way into the master bedroom.
Kenzie looked over, smiling thinly, meeting her gaze. “You didn’t have to come up,” she said, sniffling, “I’m okay.”
“I wanted to see that for myself if you don’t mind,” Rylee answered tenderly. She climbed over and in, via the foot of the bed, wrapping her arm around her tightly.
“Just a typical Sunday morning,” Kenzie said, placing her hand on top of Rylee’s, and squeezing gently. “I’m sorry,” she added.
“You don’t have to be,” Rylee whispered, planting a kiss in the center of her back. “It’s hard being a single parent.” She kissed her shoulder. “I want to help if I can.” She swallowed, asking, “Okay by you if I have a chat with Abby?”
“Of course it’s okay,” Kenzie said, rolling over to fold into her arms. “I think she respects you already.”
***
With her ear buds in, Abby didn’t hear Rylee step into her bedroom. She startled when she moved into her personal space.
“Do you think that was appropriate?” Rylee asked, her tone low and deliberate.
Abby’s eyes widened, tilting her head.
“I asked you if you thought that was appropriate?” Rylee continued, taking a step in her direction, “to speak to your mother the way I just heard you speak to her?”
Abby’s face lost color as her eyes darted from here to there.
Rylee moved closer, backing her toward the wall. “Answer me,” she demanded loudly, clenching her jaw.
“No,” Abby squeaked, her voice tiny and shrill.
Rylee’s eyes narrowed, moving closer. “Good,” she said, “because neither do I.” She shook her head, curling her upper lip. “In fact, I’ve seen hoodlums on the street treat their moms better than I just heard you treat yours.” Her eyes widened, showing the whites. “So, here’s what you’re gonna do,” she continued quietly, “you’re gonna get your ass in there and apologize to your mother. You’re gonna apologize to her so that she knows that you know what you did was inappropriate.” She stepped closer, locking gazes. “And if I ever hear you say something to her again, with the sole purpose of hurting her…” She shook her head, pressing her lips together, and cracking her knuckles. “Well, you don’t even want to know how badly we’re gonna tangle.” She took a breath, holding it. “You understand what I’m saying to you?”
Abby wiped a tear, nodding.
“I didn’t hear you,” Rylee said, pinching her brow.
“Yes,” Abby responded, taking a breath as she met her eye.
“Good,” Rylee answered, nodding. “So, you go on now,” she added, “and then you get back in here and get ready for church.”
“I’m not wearing a dress,” Abby mumbled, looking down.
Rylee nodded, saying, “Neither am I.”
***
Joanna pulled back the curtains, not much, just a little, just enough for her to see out. She squinted, blocking out the glare of the sun as it reflected off the glass. Her eyes had become accustomed to the darkness of her grandmother’s bedroom where she’d been hunkered down, blinds shut and shades drawn, for almost two weeks. “Did you get the second camera mounted at the end of the driveway?” she asked.
“Sure did,” Wilber answered, stepping beside her, and rubbing her back in a circular motion. “Just like you said.”
“Good,” Joanna responded, increasing the distance between them. “Might want to put one on the back road too,” she added, looking over. “You know, back by the creek?”
“Yeah, sure, honey,” Wilber said, nodding. “I’ll do it this evening.”
“Good,” Joanna said, looking over as her mom entered the room. “I’ve decided to go out today,” she announced. “I need to breathe fresh air and touch green leaves.”
“Are you sure that’s wise?” Martha asked, shaking her head. “Just because they left without making any trouble the last time doesn’t mean they won’t come back to look for you again.”
“I know,” Joanna said, “but I can’t stay inside any longer. If I stay trapped in here, I may as well be in prison.” She took a breath. “Besides, I need to see my berries.” She smiled thinly. “They should be ripening any day.”
“They’re already ripe,” Wilber commented, his eyes widening. “Almost picked a couple for you while I was out there.”
“Don’t,” Joanna snapped, whipping her head to look at him. “Don’t you ever touch my berries without me telling you to.” She took a quiet breath, adding, “You know how much I enjoy harvesting them.” She released a sigh, biting her lower lip. “And I don’t have much joy in my life these days, just reading the scriptures, looking at my collection, and tending those berries.” She was thankful that she’d thought to save a tiny snip of each fingernail, hiding them in a small bottle underneath her mattress. There hadn’t been one night since she’d arrived that she hadn’t opened the cap to look at the contents.
“I know, baby,” Wilber said, touching her shoulder. “It’ll get better though, you’ll see.”
“I know it will,” Joanna responded. “God always sees to my needs.”
“Read in the paper where they found your car in that Illinois river,” Martha said. “The article talked about how they’re still searching the water for your body.”
“Excellent,” Joanna responded, smiling widely, “When they don’t find it, they’ll assume I was pulled under by a current and carried away. They’ll search for a while and then forget me.”
Wilber patted her shoulder. “And you should get your new ID in the mail any day,” he chimed in. “Then you’ll really be all set, won’t ya, baby?”
“Yes, I will,” Joanna responded, smiling thinly. “Ready to complete my unfinished business and then move on to a new community.” She kissed her grandmother’s forehead. “I’ll be back in a little while,” she said softly. “I’m going to put on my gardening gloves and spend the afternoon communing with nature.” She smiled, leaning down to kiss her again. “You and I,” she added, “we’re the plant lovers, aren’t we?” She looked at her step-dad with a firm gaze. “I want you inside the whole time I’m out there,” she directed. “I want your eyes glued to that screen. I’ll carry a radio so that you can call me if anyone turns on our lane.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
“Mmm,” Rylee moaned, pressing against Kenzie from behind as she inhaled the aroma of what she was cooking. “God, I love that stuff.”
“People are gonna think spaghetti’s all I can make,” Kenzie responded, continuing to stir as she arched back into her. “We just had it the other night when Rich and Lois were over, and
now we’re having it again.” She shook her head. “I’m just glad Abby likes it as much as you do.”
“Me too,” Rylee whispered, nibbling her ear lobe. “And who cares what other people think?”
“Rye…” Kenzie said, meeting her gaze as she bit her lower lip.
“What?” Rylee murmured, suckling her neck gently.
“Abby’s gonna walk in,” Kenzie responded, “and your grandparents will be here at any minute.”
“They’re not due until six,” Rylee countered, “and I just sent Abby in to take a shower.” She nudged Kenzie to turn around. When she did, she kissed her like she’d never get enough of kissing her. “I love you,” she breathed. “I love you so much.”
Kenzie fingered through the back of her hair at the collar. “I love you too,” she responded. At the sound of Abby’s footsteps on the stairs, she resumed stirring.
“I’ll be on my drums,” Abby announced, moving through the room. “Call when dinner’s ready.”
Rylee cocked her head, looking at her.
Abby paused before exiting. “Unless you need me to do something,” she added. “In which case, I’m at your service.”
“No, honey. You go on and play,” Kenzie said, smiling with her eyes, “but thank you for offering.”
“I’m trying to get the hang of ghost notes on my snare,” Abby added. “Hoping some extra practice will help.” She shook her head. “I don’t know though. They’re pretty tricky.”
“Practice, that’s what you need,” Rylee commented. “You could also try playing the notes off center, like a couple of inches off the rim.” She held her gaze. “Just try to work the sticks, so there’s a big volume difference between your hits.”
“Show me?” Abby asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah, sure,” Rylee responded, kissing the back of Kenzie’s neck. They played until the doorbell rang. “Carry on,” Rylee said, getting up to answer.