‘Is there anywhere else she might keep her movies? Maybe in her bedroom or upstairs?’ There wasn’t a chance in hell that I was letting Jessica Feeler snoop around my missing sister’s house.
‘No, there isn’t. I hate to admit this, but I’ve snooped through almost everything already, in the hopes of finding some sort of clue about where she went. I haven’t seen even one VHS tape. But I promise that I’ll call you if I do find it.’ Actually, I wasn’t lying. I hadn’t seen any tapes laying around. Who in the hell still owned VHS tapes anyway?
I started walking back toward the kitchen, hoping Jessica would take the hint. When she didn’t move, I said, ‘I’m sorry to rush you out, but I really need to get back to sleep. I have to go down to the sheriff’s office tomorrow. They want to ask me more questions, and they want me to take a look at the Jeep and confirm it belonged to Madi.’ This was a lie and it sort of surprised me how easily it rolled off my tongue. It’s okay to lie to a liar, especially when that liar is Jessica Feeler.
‘I understand. I’ll let you get some rest,’ Jessica said, reluctantly. Back at the front door, she perked up again, using her false charm to throw me off her game. ‘If you need anything, anything at all, please don’t hesitate to get a hold of me. I can come right over if you do. It was really good to see you, Emily…’
‘Sure thing. Although I don’t think I have your number.’
Jessica went out the door and was walking down the front porch steps.
‘Oh, no worries, I can write it down for you. Just let me grab a scrap of paper…’ she stopped, shuffling her purse open.
‘That’s okay. I’ll track you down on Facebook again if I need you.’ I slammed the front door, giggling as I pressed my forehead against it. I’m not sure why I said it – I think I just enjoyed knowing that comment would make her squirm. If she didn’t know that it was me on the other end of Madi’s messenger, she probably suspected it now.
Oh well. That bitch was hiding something. And unless she was just using the tape as an excuse to search for something else, I knew that I needed to find this mystery tape.
I peeked through the curtains, watching Jessica’s blue mini-van pull out of the driveway. I didn’t know what she was hiding, but the first thing I’d do in the morning was call and tell Paul.
I fell back onto the living room couch and that was when I noticed the box from Rhonda on the floor, still laying limply on its side. Did Jessica see the box just now? I’d completely forgotten about it and left it laying out…
I guess it didn’t matter if she did. What was Jessica Feeler going to do to me? If she wanted to kill me, she would have tried it just now. And if she was the person who tried to hurt my sister, then why was she nosing around, asking questions…?
I lay back on the couch, resting my head on the stiff armrest. I was too tired to get up and seek out a pillow. I needed to rest –tomorrow, I had a VHS tape to search for.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
My cell phone vibrated against my belly, stirring me awake. My eyes still glued with sleep, I answered it without checking to see who it was.
‘Hello,’ I whispered. My throat felt scratchy, like I’d been screaming in my sleep.
‘Emily, is that you? It’s Starla.’
I slowly pulled myself up from my sister’s couch, my abdominal muscles clenching from the strain. ‘What’s up?’ I managed, clearing my throat.
‘It’s Ben. Something happened at school. Can you come over?’ I was already up on my feet, yanking my pants up over my hips. I was still wearing my T-shirt from last night.
Out the door within seconds, I roared down the windy mountain for the second day in a row. My mind was racing as I drove to Starla’s – what had happened to Ben? Starla didn’t give me any details over the phone, but it didn’t sound good.
I pulled up and parked beside her Mercedes again. On the other side of her car was a big white truck. Was John here too?
I got my answer when the door to the apartment sprung open. John emerged, stopping in his tracks when he saw me. ‘I have to go back to work, but Ben’s upstairs. He really wants to see you.’ John didn’t look happy about it, but he held the door for me as I raced up the three sets of stairs, moving much faster than yesterday.
‘Ben?’ He was sitting on the couch next to Starla, his eyes red and raw from crying. ‘Oh, honey. What happened?’
I sat down on his other side and took his hand in mine. ‘What happened?’ I asked again.
‘What happened?’ Ben repeated. I rubbed his back as he rocked back and forth on the couch.
‘Some boys on the bus were making fun of him. He punched one of them square in the nose and now his parents are threatening to sue. The principal threatened expulsion if it happens again…’
Ben was becoming more and more agitated as she talked. I held up a hand for Starla to stop, and then gently, I pulled him onto my lap. He was so small for an eight-year-old, barely weighing more than Shelley.
‘It’s okay, Ben. I’m here. We’re here,’ I corrected, not sure how I felt about including Starla in this equation.
Ben’s head popped up, his piercing brown eyes focusing on me for the first time. ‘Where is my mother?’
I wouldn’t swear to it, but I thought I heard Starla gulp.
‘I don’t know, but I’m going to find her.’ I’d been saying that so much lately that it made me feel like a phony.
Ben didn’t look any less worried, but he did stop rocking back and forth.
‘Why was he riding the bus? Doesn’t Madeline usually drive him to school? He needs routine. His condition – well, he relies on it.’
Starla sighed. ‘John thought it would be a good idea for him. He said that the best way to overcome a fear was to face it head on.’
‘But what happens when that fear is realized? Now he’ll never want to ride the bus again.’ It came out sounding harsher than I wanted it to.
Starla shrugged, chewing on her thumbnail. ‘What happened with the kids, Ben?’ she asked him. ‘I haven’t been able to get him to calm down long enough to tell me,’ she explained.
‘Go on, Ben,’ I encouraged.
‘They were making fun of Five Nights at Freddy’s. I was drawing a picture of Chica in my notebook and one of them took it from me and tore it up.’ My heart lurched. The cruel chants on the playground rang through my head, and the fluttering of photo paper falling like snow on the playground flashed before my eyes … Sarah’s eyes as she silently pleaded with me to be her friend, her protector…
‘Oh, Ben. I’m so sorry.’
‘It’s okay. I can draw another one. It’s just … I got so mad. Sometimes I just can’t control it…’
‘I know, honey.’ I pulled him into another hug. ‘But no matter what, you can’t put your hands on someone else. Not unless they hurt you first.’
‘But they did hurt me. They hurt my feelings. And sometimes, that feels worse.’
He was so right. ‘I know, Ben, I know. But if you get mad and hit them, then you’re letting them win. Don’t let them turn you into the bad guy. Don’t be the bad guy, Ben…’
Ben’s eyes grew wide, understanding twinkling somewhere in there. ‘Okay, I won’t. If I sit there and act good, then I win?’
‘Yes. You win, baby.’
‘Can I go home with you?’ Ben asked, his face hopeful.
I wasn’t sure how to answer him, but thankfully, I didn’t have to. Starla said, ‘Your daddy wants you and your sister to stay here for a while. But maybe, if your dad says it’s okay, you can go over and visit with your Aunt Emily this weekend. Would that be okay?’ She directed the last question to me.
My chest filled with relief. ‘Absolutely. I would love that.’
I gave Ben another hug and then Starla walked me back downstairs. ‘You’re so good with him. With kids, in general. I’m surprised you don’t have any of your own.’
I’d never considered myself ‘good with kids’, especially because I’d hardly ever been around any. But even s
o, I hated it when people said this – that maybe I would change my mind, or my favorite line of all: ‘Just wait and see, you’ll have your own someday…’ I didn’t think I ever would. But one thing was clear, I loved my niece and nephew in a way I’d never loved anyone. I wanted to protect them, and I never wanted to be that distant aunt from South Carolina again.
‘Thanks for calling me, Starla. Please call me if you need help with anything else. And tell Shelley that I love and miss her too. I hope preschool is going well?’
‘It’s going great,’ Starla said, with a smile. I climbed back behind the wheel of the Civic. I wasn’t sure how my sister would feel about me fraternizing with the ‘enemy’ but I felt like I was doing the best I could under the circumstances. And honestly, Starla didn’t seem so bad.
Taking a moment to check my other missed calls and texts, I saw that Paul had left a message last night and this morning. Instead of listening to them, I went ahead and called him.
Paul didn’t say hello when he answered; he immediately launched into, ‘I was so worried about you. Why didn’t you call me back?’
‘Paul, I’m fine. And by the way, I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing it for a long time. Now what can you tell me about my sister?’
He sighed. ‘I’m just worried about you, Emily. You’re back and I can’t help wanting to protect you. Is that so bad?’
I squeezed my eyes shut, holding my breath.
Words fluttered into my memories. Let me protect you. Let me love you, Emily, I remembered the teenage-version of Paul, whispering those words in my ear while we made out. Promises he couldn’t keep, even then.
‘Emily, are you still there?’
‘I’m here,’ I breathed. ‘Please just tell me what you’ve found out about Madi.’
‘There’s been no more card activity, but I’m trying to get some footage from the security cameras at Sam’s. If we could see who was using that card, it would answer a lot of questions. Also, I confirmed what Starla told you about John. He sold his 9-millimeter handgun at the pawn shop last month.’
‘Well, that’s good news, I guess. I got something for you too … I got a late-night visit from Jessica Feeler last night. Apparently, she’s searching for a tape.’
‘As in VHS?’
‘Yep. She didn’t come right out and say it, but she showed up, pretending that she needed to look around my sister’s house for a wedding tape. I don’t buy it. And there’s something else. Rhonda Sheckles might be involved. Well, her last name is Gray now.’
‘Yeah, I see her around sometimes. She doesn’t live too far outside of town,’ Paul mulled.
I wanted to tell him that I already knew that, but I didn’t want him to know where I was headed next – I was going to go see Rhonda myself and ask some questions before Paul, or the other officers, spooked her.
Paul said he had to go but promised to follow up on Jessica Feeler today. ‘Maybe we can search for that tape together tonight,’ he suggested. Was he inviting himself over?
His words fluttered back again. Let me love you, Emily.
I tried. I really did. And he hurt me, badly.
‘I’ll bring pizza,’ he offered.
I don’t know why, but I said yes. Hanging up the phone, my stomach was doing somersaults. I’d almost forgotten how it felt – this rush of excitement, this hopefulness in my veins…
But I also couldn’t forget how it felt when the thrilling ride jerked to a halt and my heart got ripped from its chest. Again, I thought back to prom night – one of my lowest moments.
Paul Templeton would break my heart again if I let him. The question is: would I?
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
I plugged Rhonda’s address into the Civic’s GPS, then I rolled the windows down and turned the radio up. I wasn’t sure if Rhonda would be home, or what I would say to her if she was. But I had a feeling that she was the only one, besides Jessica, who might know where my sister had gone.
Did Rhonda know anything about this tape Jessica alluded to? She might think I was crazy for just showing up at her house.
Hell, she might not even remember me – those girls never paid any attention to me. To them, I would always be Madi’s annoying little sister, nothing more, nothing less.
The town of Bare Border passed by in a drowsy cloud of sunshine, and the busier streets of Merrimont emerged. I tried to remember everything I knew about Rhonda, but besides the art thing, I couldn’t think of much. She’d followed Jessica around with puppy dog eyes, always eager to please her. But that description could have fit Madi, too. Did I have that same puppy dog look in my eyes when I begged my sister to play with me?
A shudder ran through me. Please let my sister be okay. I recited those words again and again as I took a sharp turn on Linden Lane. Rhonda’s house was the last house on the left, and instantly, I felt a chill as I parked next to the curb in front of it.
Linden Lane was deserted but it was a weekday afternoon, after all. Most people were at work by now. At least those who were lucky enough to still have jobs. I pushed back embarrassing memories of my job at the paper.
I approached the fence, my keys gripped in my hand as I stared up at the odd A-frame that belonged to Rhonda Sheckles Gray.
A child’s tire swing shivered back and forth in the breeze as I lifted the latch on the metal gate and walked inside. The yard was tidy, but there was this grayness to it – something depressing. Something stale.
Following the crooked stone path up to her door, I tried to figure out what to say. I hadn’t seen Rhonda in more than a decade…
But before I could even plan it out, I was wrenching open Rhonda’s screen and knocking on her black front door. There was a window next to the door and as soon as I knocked, the curtains rustled. I leaned over, trying to see if Rhonda was peering out, when a big black dog mashed its snout against the glass and started barking crazily.
The dog ran back and forth in the window, its face appearing and then reappearing between the curtains. Well, if she didn’t know someone was here before, she did now. I knocked again, tentatively.
But no one came. Finally, I turned to go, but then the barks grew louder. They almost sounded desperate, like the animal was in pain.
The dog raced back and forth in front of the window again.
If Rhonda wasn’t home, it wouldn’t hurt to snoop around a little bit, would it?
I glanced over my left and right shoulders to make sure no one was watching, and then I tiptoed across her flower garden, until I was standing right beneath the window.
I tapped on the glass again, and the dog’s movements became even more frantic. He was howling now, like some sort of wild, strangled plea that set my teeth on edge.
The curtains were knocked off-center by his movements, and there was a gap on the far-left side that might be enough for me to see inside…
Looking around again, to make sure no one was watching, I then pressed my face up to the gap in the curtains. The dog pressed its wet snotty nose right to mine.
‘Hey, you. Where’s Rhonda?’ I purred. The dog jumped around wildly again, and this time, I saw someone standing behind him in a living room area.
What the hell? I squinted through the vitreous glass and what I saw confused me. There were legs and bare feet, but they seemed to be dangling in mid-air.
‘Oh, no.’ The glare on the window shifted, and suddenly I could see who the legs belonged to. A mess of curly red hair on a cold white face. A thick knotty rope twisted like a necklace around Rhonda’s throat…
‘No!’ I screamed, banging my hands on the glass as though it weren’t already too late to save her.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
My mind whirring with possibilities, I yanked on the front door first and then ran around to the back of the house. Shockingly, the knob twisted easily in my hand; it was unlocked. The back door opened into a rundown laundry room. There were shoe skid marks on the walls and a mess of paint cans on the floor, next to a washer and drye
r. I stepped around them, cautiously.
I was inside Rhonda’s house. Suddenly I realized that the dog was no longer barking. Who knew if the dog was even nice?! He might bite … but I needed to save Rhonda.
Crossing through a kitchen and dining room, I made my way toward what I knew was the front of the house. The house was dark and sunless, even though it was the middle of the afternoon.
All the shades were drawn. And with good reason, I realized, as I stepped into Rhonda’s living room.
Rhonda Sheckles Gray was beyond saving. She looked even deader from here than she did from behind the glass. She was hanging so high I could barely touch her feet if I’d wanted to, but from here, I could see that her skin was a dull bluish-gray.
The dog, who had been so frantic only minutes ago, now lay sullenly on the floor beneath her. Its head drooped to the floor, its expression sullen. He understood that his owner was dead. He’s mourning her, I realized.
‘I’m so sorry, buddy.’ I knelt beside the dog, which looked like a Gordon Setter, and began scratching behind his ears and around his silver collar. I wasn’t a coroner, but I ventured a guess that Rhonda had been dead for at least a few days. The poor dog probably hadn’t eaten.
‘What happened, buddy?’
I had to call the police immediately. But, suddenly, I realized that I had an opportunity here – I needed to search quickly before I called them. If Rhonda had this tape Jessica was looking for, or something that seemed suspicious … I had a limited amount of time to find it.
I glanced up at Rhonda one last time, and for some unknown reason, I reached out and touched her foot. It was as stiff as a rock, but not as cold as I expected. My touch must have triggered the rope, because she swayed a bit. I jumped back, almost afraid the rope would snap, and Rhonda’s lifeless body would come barreling down on me…
I cringed at the creaking sound of the rope straining against rafters. My stomach was doing somersaults as I waited for the rope to still.
The dog was staring up at her, an almost hopeful look on his face.
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