17
Willy’s body had already been moved, but Nancy stood next to the spot where he had died. There was still blood on the grass, and it was sticky and wet. Every few minutes, she would catch the scent of the claret. It upset her stomach, and she eventually stepped away.
All Nancy had been able to think about since that altercation was how Jane Percy had reacted after she had put a bullet through Willie’s skull. It should have been Nancy or Mrs. Riker who had pulled the trigger. But they had missed their chance. And Jane Percy was somebody who never wasted an opportunity.
Nancy knew that this evening would decide the future of every living soul within the confines of the compound. And she still believed that the Riker family were the people to lead them. She understood that she might’ve had a prejudice against Jane Percy, but even if the woman hadn’t killed her mother, then she still would have been hesitant to see her rise to power.
Jane Percy cared about nothing except herself. And she would always only care about herself. And while Nancy respected the fact that Mrs. Riker wanted to keep this as civilized as possible, Nancy knew that Jane didn’t care about things like that. And it was up to Nancy to do whatever was necessary to keep Mrs. Riker on top.
Nancy marched through the compound, noting the quiet anxiety that rustled through the air. Everyone was on edge after the altercation with Willie and the impending vote. Most people were outside, talking amongst themselves, and it took her some time to find who she was looking for.
“Hey,” Nancy said, trying to sound as friendly as possible.
Gray Percy turned around and smiled brightly when he realized it was Nancy. “Hey!” He gave her a quick look up and down, and she could tell that he still wanted her, so she took the initiative to appease him.
“I am glad I was able to find you,” Nancy said. “Do you have a second to talk?”
Gray nodded enthusiastically. “Sure.”
Nancy grabbed him by the hand and led him away from the main mess hall. Once they were by the fence, out of earshot for anyone nearby, she lowered her voice. “Do you know what your mother is about to do?” Nancy asked.
Gray stared at her for a minute, silent. “Um, no?”
“She wants to lead this place,” Nancy answered.
“Oh, that,” Gray replied. “Yeah, I know.”
“That can’t happen, Gray,” Nancy said.
Gray remained timid. She knew he still cared about her. She could always tell when boys liked her. It was one of the skills from her old life that hadn’t vanished.
“I know she’s done some terrible things,” Gray said. “But there’s nothing I can do to stop her. She’s always done whatever she’s wanted.”
“You may not be able to stop her, but you can stand up to her,” Nancy said, and then she grabbed hold of Gray’s hands again, hoping the contact would bring him closer to her way of thinking. “She’s going to make a big speech tonight at the compound meeting. When she’s finished, you can stand up to her. If people see that her own son doesn’t want her to be in charge, then no one will vote for her.”
There was the slightest hesitation in Gray’s expression, and Nancy feared that she had crossed the line. Perhaps her charms weren’t as effective as she believed they would be.
“Nancy, I know you have a problem with my mother,” Gray said. “And believe me when I say that I am so angry at her for what she did, but…” He looked away, and Nancy feared she was losing him. “I don’t know if I can do something like that to her.”
Nancy released Gray’s hands. “She is a murderer, Gray. She has killed people, and she’s going to keep killing people if she’s in charge of this place. No one will be safe, and you know that.”
Gray rubbed his forehead, and Nancy could tell that he was distraught over the whole situation. “Nancy, I just don’t know if I can cross that line. That’s something I will never be able to take back.”
“And I will never get either of my parents back,” Nancy said, her tone sharp and biting. She could tell her words hurt him and that she was losing his confidence. She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him. “If I ever meant anything to you, then you will stand up to your mother tonight. Not just for me, but for yourself.”
Before Gray could reply, Nancy stood on her to be toes and kissed him. It was a soft peck on the lips, but when Nancy pulled away, and she saw that Gray’s eyes were still closed, she knew that she had him.
“Don’t let me down, Gray.” Nancy let him go and walked away.
She had played her trump card, and she felt dirty for it. But the future of everyone’s lives at this place depended on Mrs. Riker winning the vote tonight, and Nancy had done what she could to ensure the win.
Liz paced back and forth nervously in the portable. She was alone. Sarah had taken the boys over to Kurt and Susan’s place to watch the baby as well as the other children.
The nerves fluttering around in her stomach refused to calm, and Liz had to sit down to try to steady herself. She kept thinking she was about to throw up, but the feeling passed. All she had to do was tell the truth, be honest with everyone. She had to believe that was enough.
But Liz also considered what Nancy had told her. The girl might have had a vendetta against Jane Percy, but that didn’t make her wrong about the tactics to use against her to
