Page 57 of Corrupting Ivy

“Who are you?” I interrupted, not giving a damn about how she tried to spin the incident at the diner.

“Patrick,” he placed his palm on his chest as if I didn’t speak English and needed visual cues. “I come and check on your mother every so often, make sure she’s taking her medication, and that she has everything she needs.”

I smirked. This was perfect. Someone she relied on.

“He’s been such a great help. Haven’t you, Patrick?”

He nodded. “Uh, yes, ma’am.”

She reached over and patted his arm, smiling.

“That’s great. So you really like him?” I asked.

“Oh, he’s fantastic. I never go without when he’s around.”

“Great. Would you give me a second, Patrick? I’d like to have a word with Ma here.” He nodded, and I walked into the kitchen with my mother on my heels. When I got to a place where Patrick couldn’t see, I reacted faster than a viper, snaking my arm around her throat, my hand across her mouth. “I’m going to make you squeal like those wild pigs outback if you don’t tell me where you put Doug's foot.”

She shook her head against me, and the evil that hovered at the surface spilled over. “Thank you. It’s been so long since I’ve gotten to do this.” I squeezed until she passed out, her body limp against mine. I laid her down on the ground, picked up the dirty cast-iron skillet left on the stove and met Patrick, sitting at the dining table now.

“Everything okay?”

I stalked towards him. “It will be.” I swung hard. The cast-iron skillet vibrated in my hand as it connected with his head. The impact sent out a gong-like noise throughout the room. I didn’t hit him so hard as to break his neck or crush his skull, but just the right amount of force to knock him out and bring satisfaction while I did it. Patrick’s chair tipped back, and he went toppling to the ground, out cold. I pulled my shirt over my head and folded it neatly on the coffee table, then fashioned some rope out of an extension cord, tying Patrick and Rhonda to their chairs.

Patrick’s bloody head flopped to his chest like a limp noodle while Rhonda groaned in her chair. I should have knocked her over the head, but I needed her mind to work, not fuzzy from concussion. Patrick, on the other hand... I didn’t need him to speak.

“What did you do?” Ma asked, her words slurring as she came too, staring at a bleeding Patrick.

“If you had told me where you put it, none of this would have happened.” I ruffled her dirty hair. “Now, sit tight.”

I stepped outside to the shed in the back and rummaged around, finding her old garden tools and more. I held up a pair of shears and pliers, watching the blades on the shears cross over each other.

Rounding the front of the home with my tools in hand, I nearly fell over when the sheriff’s car came into view.

My blood roared in my ears from the sight of the unexpected visitor. I swallowed down any doubts, took a deep breath, and met him before he could step up onto the porch.

“Sheriff, what can I do for you?”

He turned his head in my direction at the sound of his name, then made a B-Line for me, his thumbs tucked into the front of his utility belt.

“Hi, son, I was just coming to do a wellness check on your Ma. I heard what happened at the diner, and well, I had my hands full with these cases, otherwise, I would have made it out here sooner.”

I bobbed my head, then scratched at the rust on the shears. “I appreciate that.”

He pointed to the tools in my hands. “She got you doing projects around here.”

I chuckled. “Something like that. Listen—”

Ma’s sobs leaked through the thin walls. The sheriff’s attention perked up. I really didn’t want to have to kill him, but if it meant me in prison for the rest of my life or him alive… I’d bury him deep down where not even the worms could find him.

“What was that?”

I pointed towards the house with my shears in hand. “She’s watching those sappy Hallmark romance movies. She’s a blubbering mess.”

“Hmm.” She sobbed again, and it had me visualizing putting a gag so far down her throat her vocal cords couldn’t vibrate. “Maybe I should check on her.”

“I’ve got it handled, but you’re more than welcome to check on her. Just know once she sees you, you won’t be leaving for a while. She’ll talk your ear off and insist you have a glass of water.”

He grimaced. “Fair enough. If you say she’s okay, I believe you.” He spun around and made it to his car.

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