by Geri Krotow
He made it out of the sanctuary and headed straight for the exit doors. It took him into the snow-covered courtyard, and for a minute he was afraid he’d been caught. But the families were all worried about their little kids and the police were busy with them. The fire trucks would never get here on time.
His balls were on fire thanks to that bitch kneeing him, but it’d be worth it. No way was she getting out of there alive. Neither was that stupid Detective Bryce Campbell, her fiancé. If he was dumb enough to stay and try to save her, let him.
Ernie’s nose and entire face hurt like hell and he tried not to look at anyone. They’d think he’d been hit by a falling timber, but he didn’t want anyone thinking about him or remembering that they’d seen him here.
Snow had started to fall, and it stung in his one eye that wasn’t swollen shut. He lifted his hand to wipe at it and in his momentarily blindness he ran into a wall.
“Going somewhere, Ernie?” He squinted with his good eye into the face of SVPD officer Nina Velasquez. She wasn’t smiling.
Chapter 21
Zora saw Bryce standing in the lower pews and she wanted to weep. He couldn’t stay there. He couldn’t die trying to save her.
“Leave!” The choked plea turned into a harsh wheeze as smoke filled her lungs. Dizziness assaulted her and she was having trouble remembering what she wanted to do with Eli.
“Get down!” Bryce’s order reached her and she sank to her belly.
“Can you move?” She couldn’t carry Eli if they were both flat on the floor.
“Yes, go, go!” His rasp was weak, too, but audible.
Get low and go.
This scenario wasn’t new to her. As a midshipman she’d fought fires in closed trailers at the Philadelphia navy shipyard’s firefighting school, thinking it was awful and pointless and praying she’d never have to do it for real. On board ship, an aircraft carrier, she’d participated in countless fire drills and endless fire safety training.
“You can do this, Zora! Remember, stay low, nice and slow, keep moving.”
Bryce’s words were all she could concentrate on. Her hands fought for purchase on the edges of pews, on the railing. But the wood was so, so hot. The air grew thicker with each breath.
This wasn’t how she wanted to go. Not now, not when she’d finally found her purpose.
Bryce.
* * *
“Sir, get out. We have it.”
Bryce fought against the fireman, panic fighting with logic.
“I’m a detective with SVPD. I have to help. Let me help her.”
“This is our job now, Detective. We’ll get them.”
Ladders entered the sanctuary as Bryce was pulled and shoved out of the building, into the open safety of the courtyard where hundreds of church members and animals huddled for warmth. Foam was being sprayed over the burning blaze.
Never had he felt so completely helpless. Not since Karen had died in his parents’ arms over twenty years ago.
“They’ll get her out, Bryce.” Rio stood next to him, his hand on Bryce’s shoulder. Bryce looked at his friend.
“But I couldn’t.”
“You did, man. You called it in. You worked with her the entire way.”
They stood in silence as snow fell from the sky, staring at the doors that the firemen had hoses running in and out of. After what felt like an hour but Bryce knew must have been only minutes, two firemen came out, each carrying a body.
Bryce ran forward to take Zora in his arms.
The fireman handed her to him and she clung to Bryce’s neck, gasping and coughing in the clear air. He buried his face in her neck, her hair spilling over both of them.
“Where’s your wig?”
“I didn’t want it to melt into my scalp.”
He knew his practical, tough, fighting Zora was going to be okay.
* * *
Zora couldn’t remember the last time a shower felt so good. Once the fire department and EMTs had medically cleared her, she’d made sure everyone was accounted for from the church, including the farm animals. Then she’d phoned her parents, letting them know she was fine, that no one had died in the fire, and called it a night.
Bryce had insisted on staying with her, until she’d assured him she’d be fine. He had a lot of paperwork to catch up on and promised to call her in the morning, for which she was grateful. While she’d love nothing more than to lie in his arms tonight and greet Christmas morning together, they both needed to process what had happened.
She certainly needed to figure out what her feelings meant. It still felt like a dream, making love all last night with Bryce. Followed by the nightmare of tonight.
The lavender-and-rosemary soap she’d purchased at Central Pennsylvania’s Knitter’s Day Out in September made the shower stall smell like a spa. She’d taken a class in Estonian lace knitting from one of the international knitting community’s rock stars. As she showered, she thought about the cases she’d handled for the Trail Hikers this autumn. They’d been fairly simple ones, elementary compared to bringing down a serial killer.
Ernie Casio. A janitor. But it didn’t matter who he was or what kind of work he did. There’d been enough bitterness in the look he’d given her in the loft to take out an entire town.
But he hadn’t. She and Bryce had done their job as Trail Hikers, as had SVPD and the Silver Valley Fire Department. Thank God for Bryce. If she hadn’t heard his directives in the midst of the smoke and flames, she wouldn’t be here to enjoy the hot shower. Even with all her firefighting courses, when she was faced with the reality of the overpowering smoke and intense heat, she’d needed his help.
The relaxing shower couldn’t keep the tremors from shaking her body, though.
She’d survived, just like she had when she was twelve.
Like Jess.
She didn’t have the full story from Bryce yet, but Jess had been found and returned to Rebecca. The little she’d gleaned indicated that Jess was okay. SVPD hadn’t been able to arrest anyone at this point, but they had the go-ahead to monitor the trailer park. Bill Brown and his girlfriend were free but they’d received a stern warning to stay away from Leonard Wise’s activities, if he came to town. The other crony of Wise’s hadn’t done anything criminal, either.
No one had been hurt.
It was all she could ask for tonight. To keep the True Believers where they belonged—in the past.
All was well.
Butternut’s bark broke into her spa experience and she cracked open her shower door.
“Butternut, come.”
Nothing.
Usually the dog came when called, unless she sensed someone unfamiliar. Zora reluctantly shut off the shower and stepped out to dry off. The doorbell, followed by Butternut’s barks, echoed through the house.
“Not now, Bryce. We said we’d take a night to rest.” She spoke to the steamy bathroom. Although she couldn’t deny the excitement that rushed through her.
She quickly wrapped her wet hair in a towel and threw on her most comfortable sweats. There was no time or need to dress any more formally. Bryce had already seen her in every kind of clothing. Of course he’d argue that her best look was in bed, naked.
Which they’d both be in short order, regardless of their agreement to give each other a breather from everything they’d been through.
Knocks sounded on the front door as she reached it and she laughed.
“I thought we’d agreed...”
She froze at the sight of the woman at her front door.
“Edith.”
As soon as Edith walked into the front hallway, Zora knew she was insane in the most textbook sense of the word.
“Can I get you something hot to drink? How about that tea you like?” She didn’t have any of the crappy tea Edith drank, but anything would do to keep her distracted until Zora could get help.
Bryce. She had to call Bryce.
“Tea? No, I don’t need tea. This is a large place you have he
re. Much bigger than it looks like from the outside. I’ve been here before, you know.”
Ignoring the fear that tried to paralyze her, Zora headed for the kitchen as casually as she could.
“I’ll put a pot of water on to boil.”
Before Edith could react she darted into the kitchen and grabbed her phone.
“I don’t want tea.” Edith shuffled into the kitchen and Zora lost her chance to text Bryce.
“But I do. It’s so cold out.”
“Fine, make yourself some tea. We all need sustenance, even at the end.”
“The end?”
Edith clammed up, her expression mutinous.
Zora managed to set the teakettle to boil while she was watching Edith. She followed the rule about never turning your back on the enemy. Escaping to the kitchen had been her attempt to reach Bryce.
And it had failed.
Her phone vibrated in her hoodie pocket and she pulled it out.
“Don’t answer that, Daisy!”
“Hi.” She ignored Edith’s shrill demand and kept her responses to Bryce short as Edith watched and listened.
“Okay. Bye.” She pretended to disconnect the call and slipped the phone back into her pocket, leaving it on as Bryce had instructed.
* * *
Bryce went over the last of the reports that needed to be written up and filed tonight. He’d loathed saying goodbye to Zora but they’d needed time apart. She to heal and rest from the shock of her ordeal, and he to wrap up work as much as possible.
Because when the sun rose, it would be Christmas morning. And he was going to celebrate in style. With Zora. He hoped she’d agree to his festivities, which included chocolate-covered strawberries, champagne and Santa hats.
The papers from his patrol with Rio to find Jess were all he had left to review and enter into the report database. A sticky note was on the file.
Detective,
Compare this with the findings from forensics. Report on top.
Rio
His eyes ached from exhaustion and smoke but he’d be happy he’d done it, come morning. He smiled thinking of how many ways he planned to kiss Zora.
The relaxed atmosphere in the station with the few remaining officers around dissipated when he read over the findings Rio had highlighted. Not only were the footprints next to Zora’s gas meter not Ernie Casio’s, the lab was certain they belonged to a woman, due to their size and the make of the boots.
Bryce sat back. In the initial interrogation at the hospital tonight, Ernie had insisted he’d had nothing to do with the gas meter. He’d denied ever shooting “Colleen Hammermill,” as well.
The hospital staff had asked SVPD to wait until Ernie was more patched up to continue their interrogation. Bryce and Rio had what they needed, however.
Maybe Ernie had been telling the truth about the meter.
And maybe his suspicions were correct. Zora’s biological mother wasn’t here to make amends with the daughter she’d forsaken long ago.
During the wiretap session, Edith had repeatedly told Zora that she’d make sure her daughter was never harmed by Leonard Wise or the cult.
His stomach took a sickening drop.
He picked up his phone and hit speed dial for Zora.
“Hi.” Her voice was balm to his worry. Until he heard the other person’s voice. Dread threatened his focus.
“You’re not alone, are you?”
“No.”
“Is it Edith?”
“Yes.”
“Has she threatened you?”
“Yes.”
“Stay tight. Keep talking and keep the line open. I’m going to transfer this call to our emergency dispatcher.”
“Okay. Bye.”
Bryce shot up from his desk chair and shouted to the rookie at her desk across the work area as he grabbed his vest, weapon and jacket.
“I’m going to need backup at Zora Krasny’s on Cherry Creek and Skyline Drive. Rio, come with me.”
No one argued with him. When any of their detectives needed help, that was what they got.
He prayed he’d be in time for Zora.
* * *
Butternut stayed at Zora’s side, watching Edith with feigned nonchalance, but Zora knew her dog. Butternut’s muscles were taut, her senses alert.
Edith took a step closer to Zora and Butternut growled.
“Butternut, no.”
“Shut that dog up now.”
“She’s just shy around strangers, that’s all.” Actually, she’d never been shy, but one thing Butternut always did was assess a stranger by instinct. Butternut didn’t like Edith.
Edith reached into her large coat’s side pocket and withdrew a pistol, which she immediately aimed at Butternut.
Son of a puppy.
“Put that dog away in a room now, Daisy.”
Funny how being called by her childhood name annoyed her more than the weapon that wavered between her and Butternut. She’d take a bullet for her dog. But not before she brought Edith down.
“Is that pistol really necessary, Edith?” She winced when the name slipped from her. She couldn’t call this woman Mother, even in pretense, but using her given name would only rub salt in Edith’s wounds. Still, by speaking loudly and describing the situation, she’d let the first responders know they had an armed woman to deal with. “Get that thing away from me.”
Edith shuddered and squared her shoulders.
“Butternut’s fine. She won’t bother you.”
Edith’s hands shook, but not so much that she had any problem leveling her pistol on Butternut and pulling the safety.
“Do it or I’ll put that mutt down myself.”
Butternut never fought orders from Zora but she did now, shoving against Zora’s legs and doing everything she could to keep from being dragged into the mudroom.
“It’s okay, sweetness. Go like a good girl and you can help me out later.” When she’d need the comfort only her loyal dog could give her. She kept her murmurs low and for Butternut’s ears only.
Butternut finally complied, but once the door was shut she lay down against it with a loud growl.
“Make sure the door is locked and come back in here.”
Zora turned to Edith. “I put my dog where you asked. Why don’t we sit down and talk this out?” She was grateful to draw on her counseling skills. The earlier events of the evening had left her physically exhausted and even with the adrenaline hitting her bloodstream again, she wasn’t sure how much strength she had to spare. Normally she could disarm a woman like Edith with no second thoughts.
“It’s too late to talk, Daisy.”
“It’s never too late to talk.” The teakettle whistled. “What kind of tea can I make you?”
Edith’s glazed eyes shifted as she looked at the stove and steaming kettle. “None. Pour yours.”
It was impossible to make herself a cup of tea without turning her back on Edith and her weapon. Reaching to her side, she clicked off the burner’s knob.
“I can have tea later. Why don’t we go into the living room? The dog won’t bother us as much.” Butternut’s growls and scratches were escalating, making it hard to hear in the small kitchen.
“You first.”
As out of touch with reality as Edith appeared to be, she still had the presence of mind to keep the pistol aimed at Zora and maintain control of the situation.
Zora needed time to figure out the best way to take Edith down. The loaded weapon on her wasn’t helping Zora’s mental state.
And it wasn’t the situation it would have been only a month ago, when she didn’t have as much to lose.
“I never understood how you could betray an entire community of people who loved you, Daisy. How you could betray me, the mother who worked so hard to give you a good life. That’s all I ever meant to do, you know. I wanted to give you a good life.”
Zora watched Edith’s warped thoughts play out through her erratic motions as she paced around the living room, wavi
ng the pistol every which way. The room was cold. Zora couldn’t bear the thought of lighting a fire when she’d first returned this evening, not after the sanctuary fire. Her skin still felt hot, but her insides were frigid with exhaustion and now fear.
Her heart had been frozen, too, thanks to this woman who had birthed her and lost her mind long ago. Her feelings for Bryce, rediscovered and new, were what had finally managed to thaw it.
“You owe me no explanations...Mother. It was hard to live through all that, no matter whether you were an adult or child.”
She’d saved herself and countless other girls all those years ago. But she hadn’t been able to save her mother. Edith’s mind was still lost.
“After you left, they all wanted to come after me, you know. That’s why I had to leave. I couldn’t even visit Leonard in prison. It was too risky. One of the other women might see me and then I’d never have any peace. That’s all I want, Daisy. Some peace.”
Peace. Zora could use a little herself. Between playing the part of Colleen Hammermill for the past couple of weeks and now being addressed by her childhood name, her own mind was reeling from the stress.
But not so much that she didn’t see the signs of an imminent mental breakdown in Edith.
Her phone was in her pocket, still on. How much could Bryce or the Emergency Management Service hear?
“Why did you come to Silver Valley, Edith? How did you find my house?”
“Your address was on the books at the hospital. I’m here for the same reason I’ve been coming since I found out where you live. Since you left the navy.”
“What’s that?”
“I want to save you from any harm Leonard might do. I know he’s free again, and he’ll want you, want his revenge. While that’s his right, and you deserve it for betraying us, I can’t let him hurt you. Not in that way.” Even now, Edith couldn’t break her denial enough to say the words that described what Leonard Wise did to the young women in his compound. Under his sick control. And in her sick, twisted mind, she believed she was capable of operating separately from the cult leader.