“What the hell are you doing?”
Even expecting his voice, Katie still jumped. “Jack? What are you doing here?”
“I could ask you the same question. I’ve been calling you!”
“Sorry.” She rummaged in her tote and pulled out her phone. “I turned it off. Library. Gotta be quiet,” she whispered and winked, praying he’d buy her innocent act.
“Why are you here?”
“Hanging out. I had nothing else going today.” Conscious of her precious research sitting on the printer, Katie selected a slim autobiography off the shelf, slipping her phone in the empty space. No problems here. No sir. Katie’s just looking at books.
“You’ve got an e-reader. You can download books all day long.”
“It’s not the same as being able to look at the covers and turn pages.” She thumbed open the book in her hand, letting the pages ripple. “They’re like magic, and –"
Jack cut off her sentence, “I’ve told you to leave your phone on no matter what.” Looking at his watch, he sighed. “I took off for lunch. We may as well grab a sandwich. The Ghost Café is close.” He took hold of her elbow and steered her toward the door.
With no choice, Katie followed him, hoping her phone would go undetected among the autobiographies. As Jack started toward his car, Katie held back. “We need to drive separately, Jack.”
At his look of disapproval, Katie explained, “You’ve got to go back to work, right?”
He nodded his head. “And you’ll be headed home?” His eyebrows rose, waiting for confirmation.
“I’ve still got to go to the post office for stamps, but then, yeah, home.”
She trotted toward her car, irritated to see he waited inside his own vehicle with the engine running. When Jack saw her pull out of her parking spot, he edged into traffic. He waved her forward in his rearview mirror, indicating she should follow directly behind him.
Katie chewed a fingernail off as she worried about her research still at the library. She made herself smile, though, since Jack kept checking his mirrors.
As they were finishing lunch, Katie played her ace in the hole. Dropping the remainder of her sandwich on the table, Katie dug in her tote, opening one section after another. “Oh, my God. I left my phone at the library.”
Jack took the tote out of her hands and checked the cavernous inside pocket to assure himself the phone was indeed gone. Whipping out his own phone, Jack clicked his GPS app. He zoomed in on the dot, assigned to Katie’s phone. “Yep. It’s still at the library.”
“Oh, man. I’m sorry. I’d better go.” She kissed his cheek before he could protest.
Once inside the library, Katie bee-lined to the bookshelf where she’d hidden her phone. Please be there. Finding it, Katie let out soft, “Thank you, Jesus!” She ran to the printers, but there were no print outs in any of the trays. Panicked, she dug through a nearby trashcan.
“Miss?” A librarian approached. At least Katie thought he was a librarian--tousled hair, glasses, and an air of authority. “Miss, is there something I can help you find?”
“My papers. I printed them and then got busy. They’re not here!” Katie moved through the area at top speed, looking under the printers, on chairs.
“Today? You printed them today?” The man asked.
Katie nodded and continued her search.
“We can’t leave papers in the printer long due to privacy issues.” He smiled and pushed his glasses up on his nose.
“Are you serious?”
He pulled out five manila folders with numbers printed in wide black marker. “Which computer were you using?”
Katie swiveled her head toward the computer bank. “Four. I was on number four.”
Mr. Save-the-Day Librarian handed over her printed materials.
Katie scanned them quickly, assuring herself they were all there. “Oh, thank God!”
“Glad to help, but you owe two-dollars and thirty cents. Ten cents per page.” He blushed. “Sorry.”
Katie dug in the bottom of her tote and carefully counted out the amount. Her phone vibrated. Jack had called, and then immediately texted. Did you find ur phone?
Stuffing the research down inside her tote, Katie hurried toward the exit. Once outside, Katie called Jack back, “I found my phone. I must have dropped it on our way out the door.”
“You’re headed to the post office, then home?”
“Yep.” She gritted her teeth over having to reconfirm what she’d already said.
The rain had allowed her to carry her umbrella where Jack’s bank information had been hiding.
Stopping at the post office, Katie read through her research one more time, memorizing the data, and imagining what her new life could look like. Katie mailed the printed pages and Jack’s nefarious bank statements to her PO box. And bought the damn stamps.
Chapter 25
As spring turned to summer, Katie continually replayed her escape, mentally mapping out what she would do day one, day two and three. She’d literally have the clothes on her back and whatever she could hide in her tote. With that in mind, Katie began to make subtle additions to her bag.
Knowing money would be tight for her, she replaced old makeup in her tote with newer, fuller bottles. She even switched the compact but kept the old pad with her post office key safely tucked inside.
Coming home from Gertie’s, Katie made a big show of rubbing her eyes and taking out her contacts. “The entire house was covered in dust today.” Katie’s contact case and a bottle of rinse went into the tote, “Just in case,” Katie explained to Jack.
She complained about the cleaning agents at Amanda’s. “The woman sprays Lysol all the time. It makes my eyes burn.” Katie slipped her glasses into the bag.
“Mr. Parker keeps the house at eighty degrees. He’s always cold, but I sweat my ass off when I’m there.” A hair clip and hair bands were added to the purse a week later
Jack pawed through the extra items shaking his head at the jumbled mess.
Katie used her next free day to calm her mind, planting showy pansies along the front walk. Summer had turned green and gold, and Katie hummed as she dug. Lifting the plants out of their plastic containers, she eased them into the soil and watered each one. She was struck by the symbolism; that she, too, hoped, to remove herself from her contained life in Savannah, and be replanted in Florida.
Their next-door neighbor stopped along the low, ornamental fence, forgetting the dog she was supposed to be walking. “Hi, Katie! You’re not usually home during the day.” Mrs. Donohue was widowed and lonely. She walked the dog three times a day in hopes of running into a neighbor and having a conversation.
Katie unfolded her legs and rose to meet her at the fence. “I’m in between assignments today. Lucky me.” She lifted her face to the sun. “You and Buster out making your rounds?” Katie scratched the happy dog behind the ears.
“Oh, my goodness! What did you do to yourself?” Mrs. Donohue pointed at several yellow bruises under Katie’s bicep. “Working in the yard?”
Katie nodded, thankful the old woman had supplied an easy excuse. Had she looked closer, she would have seen they were shaped like fingerprints—Jack’s, to be exact. Pinching was a common punishment, and under the arms was the usual choice since the area wasn’t easily visible.
Oblivious, Mrs. Donahue shared the local gossip, asked Katie if she had news worth repeatin’, and ambled away.
Katie went back to weeding and thinking. A week earlier, she’d gone to a pawn shop near a discount store she shopped in occasionally. She’d gladly traded in all the apology jewelry Jack had given her over the years for look-a-like pieces, praying Jack wouldn’t notice the difference. Between the groceries returned for cash and the pawned jewelry, she had a little over fifty-two-hundred dollars in her savings account.
She didn’t know if she had enough money, how she would get a vehicle, or if she’d make it out of Savannah. Too many things could go wrong. And then what? There is no plan B.
> A slamming car door startled her back to reality. Jack was home early, and Katie winced. She’d been having fun playing in the flower beds and hadn’t had a chance to shower. Jack hated her working in the mulch and dirt.
Mrs. Donohue watched from her porch.
“Assholes!” Jack flung his suit jacket over his shoulder, already zeroed in on Katie’s location.
She scrambled to her feet. “You’re home early. Is everything all right?” She brushed at her hands and knees before Jack noticed.
“They’re cutting the budget, maybe some layoffs.”
“Is your job in jeopardy?” Katie smoothed his shirt.
Jack knocked her hand aside. “They wouldn’t dare.”
Mrs. Donohue frowned but called out a greeting, “Hello, Jack! Any chance you can help me get my patio furniture from the shed?”
“Sure.” Jack smiled. “I’ll do it this weekend.” He turned back to Katie. “Nosy bitch,” he muttered.
Katie turned toward Jack. “What?”
“She’s always watching.” He stomped into the kitchen and yanked a beer out of the fridge. Twisting the top, he drank deep and tossed the cap in the sink.
Katie followed him inside, snatching off her shoes.
Jack never broke stride in the conversation. “And, to make matters worse, there’s an audit scheduled. Got to get more efficient, and account for every last fucking dime. How the hell am I supposed to get any work done with less help and stupid auditors added to the mix?”
Katie nodded her head. Ah. Here’s the real problem. Jack needs to cover his tracks. She wondered if the audit might work to her advantage. Could I make an anonymous tip? Tell them about the Kane Brothers? Jack goes to prison, and I receive a free get-out-of-jail card. Without meaning to, Katie smiled ever so slightly.
Jack pointed the beer bottle at her face. “You think this is funny?”
“God, no.” She backed away. “You’ve got nothing to worry about, because you’re so good at what you do.” She opened and shut cabinet doors to keep busy and avoid eye contact.
Jack took long swallows of his beer and watched her make dinner. He switched to two fingers of whiskey, and Katie went on high alert. When he graduated to a full tumbler of whiskey, she slid biscuits in the oven, hoping the carbs would soak up the alcohol.
He kept pouring drinks all evening. By nine, he was slurring and talking loudly, “Stupid people. Can’t they see cutting jobs and wasting time on an audit makes us work slower?” He gestured wildly, and the last liquid in his glass threatened to spill.
“Watch it!” Katie called out, unwittingly drawing his attention back to her.
He corrected the glass and sauntered over. “Maybe you can
make me feel better.” He ran his hands over her chest, raising his eyebrows. “Take my mind off work?” He pulled her close, rubbing his thighs against hers.
Already worried about his mood and the amount of alcohol he’d consumed, Katie followed him up the stairs. Unfortunately, the five or six drinks proved stronger than Katie’s less than enthusiastic approach to sex.
“Jesus, you could at least try a little harder, Katie,” he sneered. He continued ramming himself at her until she’d had enough and rolled aside.
“This isn’t working.” She sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing her legs.
“And, whose fault is that?” He rolled out of bed, his face puffed and blotchy.
“Mine. It’s my fault.” Katie stared at the floor.
He grabbed her chin, “Is that sarcasm I hear?”
“No. I said it’s my fault, and it is.”
“Damn straight it is. Look at you.” He landed a kick below her knee. “Dirt under your fingernails. Old nasty clothes. No wonder I can’t stay excited.” He shoved his arms into a shirt. “I need another drink.”
Katie didn’t dare rub her leg and sat ramrod straight on the edge of the bed until he left the room.
When Jack slammed their door, she shook her head back and forth. Jack was a snake, shedding his skin, growing larger, and deadlier each year. Katie could feel hate filling her up inside. Starting at her toes, it worked its way up her spine and into her throat.
I’m not going to make it to September. Sorry, Cassie, but I’ve got to get out of here now. Katie stood, intent on getting dressed and making a fast get-a-way. Jack’s inebriated state was an advantage. All I have to do is get down the stairs, out the front door and go. She grabbed her tote and pulled out the keys. As she pulled a shirt over her head, her rational mind began listing reasons she should stay. Jack can track the car. The bank isn’t open.
“Shit.” Katie sat back down on the bed. She rubbed her hands up her face, scrubbing at her forehead to push away the headache and frustration. She pulled in a long breath, releasing it slowly and willing the emotion away. I have to survive until September.
The next morning, Katie pretended nothing was wrong. She’d do anything to reach her goal. “Fourth of July is coming up soon,” she said casually. “We should have a party. Invite your co-workers. Show them you're not worried about restructuring or an audit. They’ll look to you as the leader.”
She stroked his ego, well aware it took the pressure off of her. It’s a dangerous game you play, Katie. She pictured herself as a marionette responding to the strings Jack pulled.
Unaware of her philosophical thoughts, Jack grunted and agreed with her suggestion, “Maybe a party would be a good idea.”
Katie nodded her head. “Let’s do a cookout.”
Chapter 26
Katie caught herself brooding about Jack and her tender knee. She picked up her phone instead.
“Katie-girl!” Aunt Susan’s voice rose with excitement--a balm to Katie’s frayed emotions.
“What’s going on with my favorite niece?”
“I’m your only niece.”
“Well then, that makes you my favorite,” Aunt Susan cackled on her end.
The women brought each other up to speed since their last call. Aunt Susan mostly expounded on recent doctor visits. “I swear that’s all us old people do—make appointments, give blood, and pee in cups. Tell me what you’re up to. I need a burst of youth.”
“We’re thinking about having a Fourth of July party. I wish you could be here.”
“I’d never survive the trip, or Jack, dear. But your party reminds me of something. Did you hear the joke about the Liberty Bell?”
Katie rolled her eyes. “No.”
“It’s a great joke. It cracked me up!”
Katie groaned but could feel the hate from the night before banking its fire. Glancing at the clock, Katie began her good-bye. “I best be letting you go. Love you!”
“Love you more!”
Katie’s mood was lighter, and she started creating the Fourth of July invitations. Imagine Dragons was singing “Believer” as she toggled through internet pictures, pasting stars, and fireworks into her word document. Katie sang along to the song and thought of Cassie.
She sent the invitations along with Jack the next morning. He called at noon, “Almost everyone is planning on coming to the party.” She heard the pride in his voice.
Katie suspected his co-workers were coming out of a desire to see their century home versus spending time with Jack, but she congratulated him instead, “That’s wonderful!”
July 4th started off perfectly. An occasional cloud drifted across the sky, and a welcome breeze kept the sun’s intensity and ever-present humidity low. A constant loop of bees buzzed the stone patio as they dipped in to sip the wine condensation from the sangria pitchers. Katie watched them fly drunkenly toward the hydrangea bushes planted along the back fence.
Appetizers were warming in the oven, and big metal tubs were full of ice and packed with beers. Katie had wrapped white lights around the base of each of the two old oak trees, standing sentinel in the small, square backyard. Card tables were adorned with bright red tablecloths, and pots full of miniature carnations.
Jack was in a great mood. He wh
istled as he cleaned the grill. “Everything looks great, babe. Inside and out—very festive.”
Katie beamed. They’d had two good weeks, and he’d helped her with the cleaning and getting the yard ready. They’d asked one another’s opinion and planned the event as a team. She walked toward Jack. “I can’t believe every single person is coming.”
“Well, you were right. They need an excuse to get together, and the atmosphere at work is better ever since you invited them to our party.”
Jack giving Katie credit was unusual. Mixed with his earlier compliments, she was thrown for a loop. “Did you just compliment me?”
Jack looked confused. “Yeah, why wouldn’t I?”
“It’s kinda unusual.”
“No, it’s not. I say nice things all the time. For instance, I couldn’t live without you.”
At her shocked expression, Jack grinned and pulled her in for a quick kiss. He released her with a playful push, “Now back to work, Mrs. Werner.” He turned back toward the grill.
Katie watched him out of the corner of her eye. If this is how things were all the time, I’d stay. I love this old house. I love my job. I could even love this Jack. Cassie’s voice interrupted Katie’s thoughts, and she heard her friend warn, “Tigers don’t change their stripes.”
Noting the time, Katie headed inside to take a shower. Jack was naturally right behind her. He yelled from the closet, “Hurry! “They’ll be here soon. I need to clean up, too.”
He laid out a mini-skirt, tight top, and black heels on the bed. As she dried off, Katie noticed the display and balked. “Come on, Jack. That’ll be uncomfortable. I’ll be yanking on the skirt and trying to keep my balance on those heels.”
He made a puppy dog face. “But you look so beautiful. You’ll be the best-looking lady here tonight. What’s wrong with me showing off my wife? Wear them for me?”
She shook her head. “Those heels? On our patio? I’ll be tripping over myself all night.”
“Please?” he begged, tipping her face up towards his for a kiss.
She’d failed this argument more times than she could remember. If she didn’t wear the suggested outfit, his mood would plummet and ruin the evening. Sighing, she agreed and hurried to finish her hair and makeup.
There Was a Crooked Man: A Psychological Thriller Page 12