“You can’t stay here. It’s not safe—no matter who the monster is. Do you want to stay with me?”
That was exactly what she wanted to do. But it wasn’t the best place for her. She was too vulnerable. She didn’t trust herself to stay with him. It would only make her feelings grow stronger. And at this point there was no future for them. “How about Gracie’s?”
“Mmm. That’s a good choice. I think. There’s no real connection between the two of you. Other than she worked at your rehab center. The monster might look for you at your sister’s but no reason to look at Gracie. Do you want to call her?”
She shook her head. “No phone calls. If he can monitor my credit cards, he can probably tap my phone. I’ll just explain to her when I get there. Let me pack a few things.”
“And leave your phone here.”
“What about Amanda? She starts to panic when she can’t get hold of me.”
“I’ll take care of that later. Right now, let’s get you somewhere safe.”
42
“Why are we driving this way? It’s not the way to the Rehab Center.”
“Just making sure no one’s following us.”
She hadn’t thought of that. Her world suddenly became a lot scarier. What had she done to deserve all this? Was the monster right about her ruining the country by telling lies? She’d always thought she was a truth teller. But did she ruin other people’s lives?
“You’re awfully quiet?”
“Just thinking. Is anyone following us?”
“Not that I can tell. We’ll take a few more twists and turns, and then head to Gracie’s. Do you know which building she lives in?”
“Yes. I’ve been there a few times.”
When they arrived at the Rehab Center, she directed him to Gracie’s building. Once inside, they took an elevator to the third floor and then walked down the hall. She stopped walking in front of a door. “This is it. I hope she’s home.”
Hunter pressed the buzzer.
They waited.
“Maybe she’s not home.” He suggested.
“Or maybe it just takes her some time to get to the door.”
His face turned red. “Yeah, you’re right. I don’t even think about the fact she’s in a wheelchair.”
“I know—”
The door opened.
“Two of my favorite people. What a nice surprise.” Gracie stood in the doorway. “Come on in.”
“You may not think that after we tell you why we’re here,” Raven said.
Gracie hobbled back to a chair and then fell into it. “I’m sure that’s not true.”
“You don’t use your chair here?” Hunter asked.
“Not very often. The place has wheelchair accommodations, but I try to walk as much as possible. I believe the more you do, the more you can do, and the less you do the less you can do.”
“I couldn’t agree more with you. That’s exactly what I tell my students all the time.”
Gracie smiled at him. “Go ahead, you can ask me.”
“Ask you what?”
“Whatever question I see in your eyes.” She motioned for them to sit down. “If you’d like something to drink, the refrigerator’s out there. So, what’s the question?”
“It’s not really my business.”
“Friends share things with friends. Otherwise they’re just acquaintances.”
Her words brought on a fresh stab of guilt for Raven. Why was it so hard to tell people what was going on in her life? Had she always been secretive or was it her journalistic tendencies coming out?
Hunter glanced at her but smiled as if to say don’t worry about it. He turned back to Gracie. “OK. If you can walk, why do you use a wheelchair?”
“So many people aren’t brave enough to ask. You know I have Neurofibromatosis Type 2. It’s bad enough that it messed up my balance, but I also have several tumors on my spine that cause me pain. So between the pain and the balance issues, I wouldn’t be going much of anywhere on a regular basis without the chair. With the chair I can live life on my terms.”
“Got it. I hope I didn’t embarrass you by asking.”
“It takes a lot more than that to embarrass me, Hunter. So what’s up and why are you carrying a satchel, Raven?”
“I was hoping to spend a few days with you. If you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind at all but what’s going on?”
They’d decided to tell Gracie the only part of the story that could be verified. They didn’t want to impugn anyone’s name without more proof. I…uh…had a bad experience this morning. It’s a long story but the gist is that I had a flat tire on the highway and thought someone might…might have done it on purpose. It sort of freaked me out.”
“Oh my gosh, that’s awful. Are you OK?”
“I’m fine, but I was sure glad that Hunter’s been making me run as part of my training. As soon as my senses started tingling, I ran away from the car and the highway.”
Gracie looked at Hunter. “And you don’t want her staying at her house alone just to be on the safe side?”
He nodded. “At least for a few days.”
“Of course you can stay for as long as you want.”
“Thanks. It was scary.”
“Good. That’s settled.” Hunter stood. “I’m out of here. I’ll see both of you later.”
43
Raven drove past her house but didn’t pull into the drive. It would be ridiculous to think the monster was there, but she was afraid to go in. She’d forgotten her laptop in the rush to leave. She needed it to continue her research. For safety, she’d told Gracie where she was going and why. The trip had now turned into an ordeal. She couldn’t seem to make herself go into that dark house.
A soft glow of a lantern light showed that Lydia was still up.
Maybe she’d stop in there for a minute. Raven didn’t want her neighbor and future partner wondering why she wasn’t home for the next few days. She pulled into Lydia’s driveway on the opposite side of the house. Just stepping out into the dark creeped her out. She quickly made her way to Lydia’s side door and knocked.
The door opened.
“There you are, Raven. I was beginning to worry about you. Have you been sick and at your sister’s house?”
“Can I come in?” She felt vulnerable standing out on the porch.
“Of course. Of course. Where are my manners?” Lydia opened the door wider. “So, have you been sick?”
“No. I need to go away for a few days, so I thought I’d better stop in to tell you. So you wouldn’t worry. I didn’t want you to think I’ve abandoned you or the bakery.”
“Not at all. I know you have other things to do. I understand completely. Do you have another job? Is that what keeps you so busy?”
“I don’t actually have a job right now. I used to be a reporter, and I’ve been doing research for an article I might write. For a newspaper.”
“Oh, how exciting.”
“I’m not sure if I’ll actually write the article. I have to wait and see how the research turns out.”
“Would you like a piece of pie?”
Raven smiled. Lydia loved to feed her. “No. I just stopped in to let you know what was going on with me. I probably won’t be around for the next few days. But if anyone comes to the house looking for me, please don’t tell them anything.”
“Of course not. Your business is yours alone. Let me get some pie before you go. Sit. Sit. It won’t take but a minute.”
Raven sat.
Lydia walked back in with a huge piece chocolate cream pie.
“That looks amazing.”
“It’s a sin to brag, but yes, it does taste pretty good.”
Raven took a bite. “Wow. It’s even better than it looks. You’ll have to teach me how to make it.”
“I can do that.” Lydia smiled. “So if you’re staying somewhere else, why are you here?”
“I forgot my laptop.”
“That is your compu
ter?”
She nodded since her mouth was full of the rich chocolate concoction.
“But you certainly must need that for your work.”
She swallowed. “I do. But you know how I’m afraid of the dark. I don’t want to go in my house. I’ll come back to get it tomorrow. When it’s light.”
“Nonsense. You eat the pie, and I’ll get it. I’m not afraid of the dark. We Amish spend a lot of time in the dark.” She walked over with an outstretched hand. “Keys.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Of course I don’t have to. I want to.” She held out her hand.
Raven handed her the keys.
“I’ll be right back.”
“It’s on the kitchen table. You have to unplug it and bring the cord, too.”
“OK.”
Raven stuffed the last of the pie in her mouth, feeling ashamed. She was a grown woman. She should have got the laptop herself. But Hunter and Gracie both said it wasn’t wrong to ask for help. She felt ridiculous sitting here while Lydia went into her own house for her. Really, if it was dangerous for me, wasn’t it just as dangerous for Lydia? The thought made her heart thump. Of course it was. She stood up.
A scream split the quiet neighborhood.
And then a gunshot.
Raven ran out the door and down Lydia’s porch.
A shadow was running up her steps. The shadow turned. “Go back in the house.” Hunter’s voice was rough.
“Lydia’s in there.”
“I know. I’ll check on her.” He moved toward the door.
She hesitated and then ran toward her house.
Lydia was on the floor in a pool of blood.
“Call 911.” Hunter yelled. “She’s been shot.”
44
“This is all my fault.” Raven’s tears had dried, but her heart was still wobbly with guilt.
They were sitting in the waiting room of the emergency room.
The ambulance and the police cars had left the ER entrance, leaving two officers to guard the OR while Lydia was in surgery. Later, they’d accompany her to her hospital room. Between the sheriff, Hunter, and the deputies, they’d decided to treat Lydia as a witness until the case was over.
Hunter held her hand. “It’s nobody’s fault except the man who shot her, Raven.”
“How can you say it’s not my fault? She went in there for me. Because I forgot my laptop and I was too afraid to go in myself. It’s all my fault.” She stopped talking and looked at him. “Why were you even at my house?”
“I was doing a stakeout. Waiting to see if you had any uninvited visitors. I saw you pull into Lydia’s and then go in her house.”
“I didn’t see you.”
“That’s the idea. Watch the person or place without them knowing about it.”
“So you didn’t see anyone go in my house?”
“Nope. I guess I should have had someone watching the back of the house. But it wasn’t official. I was doing it on my own.”
“Do you think it was him?” She lowered her voice. “Charles Whitman.”
“I don’t know who it was but I’m sure it had something to do with your monster—whoever he is. It might not have been him personally in your house. A man like that can pay for goons to do his dirty work.”
The doctor walked out. His green scrubs were covered with blood.
The world started turning wavy. Please, God. Give me your peace. Raven focused on the doctor. The world came back into view.
“Are you here for Lydia?” At Hunter’s nod, he continued, “She’ll be fine. She got shot in the shoulder. But she hit her head when she fell. That’s where most of the blood was from. We’ll keep her in the hospital for a few days because of the concussion, but there’s no reason to think that she won’t have a full recovery.”
Raven breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank God, she’s going to be all right.”
“She’s in recovery now. You won’t be able to talk with her for a few more hours.” He held up a small baggie. “Here’s the bullet. I know all about chain of custody. I signed and dated it. And now it’s your responsibility.” He handed the bag to Hunter and walked back through the swinging doors.
Hunter pulled out his cell phone and updated the sheriff about Lydia’s condition. When he hung up, he looked at her. “The sheriff needs to question both of us.”
“What should I say to him?”
“Tell him the truth. About what happened tonight and last night as well. Not about our theories. Since we don’t have any proof, I don’t think it will help to share those right now.”
“Makes sense.” She nodded. “I can’t believe this. It’s like a nightmare only I’m awake.”
“We’ll let the sheriff’s investigation go wherever it goes. If it leads to your monster, so much the better. If it doesn’t, then it doesn’t. We’ll have to wait to see what happens.”
She nodded. “Do you think it’s safe for me to go back to Gracie’s?”
“I think so. But again, we need to take some precautions to make sure you’re not being followed before you go back to her apartment.”
45
“I don’t see how I can stay at Gracie’s without telling her the truth. All of it. I can’t put anyone else in danger. I probably shouldn’t even come back here in the first place.”
Hunter and Raven walked down the hall toward Gracie’s apartment hand in hand.
“I agree, but I don’t believe either of you are in danger as long as you stay here, and nobody knows where you are. If I thought that I wouldn’t have brought you here.”
Raven hit the buzzer but slid the key card in. As she opened the door, she called, “It’s just me, Gracie.”
Grace sat in a chair with a book in her hand. “Good thing, I’ve been worried. You’ve been gone for hours. I thought you’d be gone thirty or forty minutes.” She noticed Hunter. “So that’s what’s been keeping you busy.”
“It’s not like that, Gracie.” Hunter walked in. “We need to talk to you and it’s serious.”
Gracie nodded. “I can see that by the blood on both of you. What happened? Were you in an accident?”
“Not exactly. My neighbor, Lydia got shot.”
“Your neighbor got shot? And you were there?”
“Actually she got shot in my house. I was in her house at the time. And Hunter was watching my house so when we heard the shot, we both ran in and found Lydia.”
Gracie looked at Raven then at Hunter and then back at Raven. “Sit down. I’ll make us some coffee. Seems like we might have a lot to discuss.”
“You’re right, but you sit. I’ll make the coffee.” Hunter spoke up. “And we’ll tell you all about it. I don’t want you to think we were hiding things from you before.”
“Except that you were.” Gracie smiled to take the edge off her words.
Raven sat down. “That’s true, but after you hear the whole story, I think you’ll understand why we felt like it was better not to tell everything. And really, I promise you I would never have come here if I thought it would endanger you.”
“So, does that mean because you’re here you don’t think I’m in danger?”
“To be truthful, I’m not sure, Gracie. I’ll let you be the judge of that after you hear everything. And if you want me to leave, I won’t be upset. In fact, I really didn’t want to come back. Hunter’s the one who convinced me it would be safe.”
“Let’s hear it.”
Hunter made coffee while Raven talked to Gracie. She started at the beginning. Her memories. Her book. Her trips to Marietta and Charleston. Their theories about Sydney’s death. Raven finally ended with how Lydia got shot.
Gracie didn’t say anything as she sipped coffee. She broke the silence with a question. “OK. So you’ve told me but you haven’t told me who you think the man is. Do you have a name?”
“Charles Whitman, III.”
Gracie closed her eyes for a moment then nodded. “But we discussed this, and you agr
eed it couldn’t be him. That is was your memories playing tricks on you.”
Hunter picked up the thread, telling her what made them think it was indeed Charles Whitman. “But we’re also keeping an open mind. If our research leads us to a different person—so be it.”
“I can’t believe this. And I’m the one who convinced you it wasn’t Whitman but that it was your mind filling in the blank spaces.”
“And you may still be right about that. It’s such an outlandish accusation, I’m not one hundred percent convinced.”
“So how will you find out who it is?”
“That’s why I went back to get my laptop. I wanted to listen to some of his interviews. See if his voice matched the voice I remember from the barn.”
“That makes sense. And I just happen to have a smart TV. I’m sure he’ll have some interviews on social media and video sites.” She picked up the remote. “Anything in particular you’d like to hear him say?”
“Yes. If you can find a clip where he uses the word patriot that might be helpful.”
“Coming right up.”
A few moments later Charles Whitman’s face filled the TV screen.
“OK, Raven.” Gracie appeared worried. “I want you to close your eyes as you listen to the tape. Try to stay relaxed. I know that’s easier said than done but do your best.”
Raven sat back against the sofa and took several deep breaths.
Hunter covered her hand with his.
Gracie hit the start button.
Charles Whitman’s voice filled the quiet room. “I want to be President of this great country for one reason and one reason only. I’m a patriot. It’s that simple. I love this country and I want it be great once again.”
Raven gasped and her hand flew to her mouth. “That’s…that’s what he said that night I was watching the debate. It triggered my memories.”
“I’ll play it again. Keep an open mind and just listen.”
Raven listened once more and then opened his eyes.
Gracie and Hunter were staring at her.
“It’s him. That’s the voice in the barn.”
“Are you absolutely sure?”
“It wasn’t just his voice. He actually said those exact words to me. About being a patriot and that I was just a liar reporter trying to ruin the country.”
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