Deceit

I’d been at my post for the past hour, just in case Melissa returned early. Before that I’d driven through Burger King and eaten my fill of a Whopper Junior and fries. Food I don’t typically eat. But this was no typical day.

I finished off my nutritious meal with the last half of my bag of Jelly Bellies.

Forty minutes ago the rain had stopped. The overcast sky at dusk looked frayed and weary. Like I felt.

My eyes constantly flicked up the street and in the rearview mirror. I saw no one following me. I was afraid a cop would drive up, ask what I was doing. But the street remained clear.

Worry about Dineen plagued me. I wanted to check on her but didn’t know how much to say. She’d be sure to ask questions. When I could stand it no longer I pulled out my cell phone and called her. “How’s everything there?”

“Fine. Jimmy’s sleeping. How are you?”

I bit my cheek. “I found her.”

“You’re kidding! What did she say?”

“Haven’t gotten that far yet.”

“Oh. Will she talk to you?”

“She’s been quiet for six years, Dineen; no doubt she’ll be thrilled to see me.”

Thick silence.

My mouth twisted. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t fair. No need to take this out on you.”

“It’s okay. Just…Will you call me after you see her?”

A woman came out of the house next to Melissa’s, dressed in an exercise outfit. She turned down the sidewalk and started jogging toward me. I listed far over to my right, pretending to pick something off the passenger floor. A small grunt escaped me.

“Are you there, Joanne? What are you doing?”

Footsteps pounded past. I hung there a second longer before raising my head. The woman jogged on.

I straightened. Such a little thing, but it had shaken me. If someone noticed me sitting in my car so long, they might become suspicious, call the police. Please, Melissa, come soon.

“Better go, Dineen. I’ll call you when I can. Don’t call me, okay? I may be in the middle of talking to her.”

“Okay.” My sister sounded reluctant. “Just don’t forget me.”

“Never.”

I punched off and checked the time on my phone. Almost 5:30.

“Don’t go home until you’ve found her.” Hooded Man’s words.

Worst case scenarios ran through my head. What if Melissa didn’t show? I couldn’t stay here all night. And I couldn’t go home, and I couldn’t go to Dineen’s. A lot of choices that left me. Some hotel. How long could I keep that up?

What if Melissa did appear, and I blew the surprise confrontation?

What if, amazingly, she agreed to break her silence? Who would I take her to? Surely not Chief Eddington.

Reporters, that’s who. Get the media involved. Then the public would be watching. The Vonita police wouldn’t be able to sustain a cover-up.

Baxter would still try to lie his way out of it. He couldn’t be allowed to pin blame on Melissa. She would need an attorney’s advice before leading authorities to Linda’s grave. Maybe she’d need some kind of immunity in exchange for her information? I didn’t know.

But that whole process could take days. Meanwhile Melissa and I could still be in danger.

Fresh anger at Hooded Man rose within me. If I only knew his identity. Had he acted alone—or did a circle of justice-seekers silently urge me on? Would they come out of the woodwork if Melissa went to reporters? Would anyone come forward with corroborating evidence? Would they help keep us safe?

Six o’clock arrived. The sky was darkening.

Six-twenty. The streetlights had come on. Fortunately, I’d parked some distance from the closest one.

My muscles were tight, every nerve on edge. Helplessness filtered through me, untamed and fiery. I had to do something other than just sit there.

On impulse I pulled my regular cell phone from my purse and dialed 411 for the number to Perry’s convenience store. He answered on the second ring.

“Hi, it’s Joanne Weeks.” My eyes remained on my target house.

“Hey, Joanne.” He sounded pleased. I never called his store.

“Anybody else around at the moment?”

“Just yours truly.”

Now that I had him on the line, how to pose my question? I wanted to trust him. I wanted…I wasn’t sure what. But I didn’t know whose side he was on.

If he was on any side.

“I need to ask you something, Perry. This morning as I left your store you said, ‘Do what you have to do.’ What did you mean by that?”

Hesitation prickled the distance between us. I pictured Perry’s kind eyes, his detective novel on the counter. I pictured him in his house, alone. “Just that I admire you for speaking out about what you believe.”

“That’s it?”

“Yeah.” He paused again, as if awaiting an explanation. “Should there be more?”

“I don’t know; you tell me.”

A red car passed, headed up toward Melissa’s house. My eyes flicked to the driver. A man. My muscles relaxed.

“Joanne, I’m not sure what you’re trying to say.”

I gripped the phone, Hooded Man’s white and bloodied cheek flashing in my brain. I could see those shadowed eyes, hear the roughened voice.

“Do you know what I’m doing right now?” I asked.

“Is this a trick question?”

“No.”

“You’re talking to me on the phone.”

My chin sank.

He made a sound in his throat. “Are you okay, Joanne? Can I help you with something?”

Fear and frustration welled up my throat. Yes, I needed help. But I still hadn’t the slightest notion whom I could trust. I just wanted to go home and wake up on a new day. Discover this was all a horrible nightmare.

“No, Perry. I’m…fine.”

“You don’t sound fine.”

Headlights appeared up the street. I sat up straight, watching with hawk eyes. Was it slowing down?

“Joanne, you there?”

The car was slowing. And it was approaching Melissa’s house.

The garage door at house number 264 began rolling up. The car turned into the driveway.

“Gotta go, Perry.” I threw the cell into my purse.

The car drove into the garage. The door rolled down.

God help me; this was it. I’d promised myself I wouldn’t hesitate, lest fear paralyze me.

Purse in hand, I hefted out of the SUV and locked it. On trembling legs I walked swiftly up the street to confront Melissa.

THIRTY-ONE

As I hit the porch of 264 South Anniston, an overhead light flicked on. Footsteps muffled through the door.

Melissa—coming out to check on the package.