Page 701 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

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“A TIME TO WEEP …” —ECCLESIASTES 3:4

Kendall and Sydney sped down the highway toward town. She had the feeling that none of this was real, like she’d been thrown into the climax of a horror movie. A part of her was still clinging to the hope that Kendall was an innocent bystander in this whole ordeal. She couldn’t question him, though, because if he were involved, he would know that she was onto Walter. She had to make small talk. This wasn’t really her, and it couldn’t be Kendall, tearing like a madman down the highway. She glanced at his face. It was set in stone.

“I hope no one was seriously injured.”

Silence.

“Sean said a chain broke on one of the saws.”

“Better get your story straight. A few minutes ago you didn’t know what kind of accident it was, and now it’s a broken chain.” He shook his head. “Give it a rest, Sydney. You know as well as I do that there was no accident at the mill. Who called you?”

“I told you. It was Sean. There was an accident and?—”

Sydney’s voice stopped mid-sentence when Kendall raced past the road that led into town. Panic filled her throat. So much for Kendall’s innocence. “What are you doing? Where are you taking me? Why are you doing this?”

Kendall remained silent. “Answer me!” she shouted.

“Just sit back and shut up. You don’t have a clue do you?”

She could feel her body shaking like a sewing machine, and she fought to get control. “No, I don’t understand. Not completely.” Kendall had been a teenager when Walter killed Avery. How could he be linked to that? “Kendall, you don’t have to do this. You don’t have to do what Walter tells you to. I know you. You’re a good man.”

Sydney could almost see the wall that Kendall was building between them. He gripped the steering wheel harder, causing his knuckles to grow white. His jaw was so tight that the veins on his neck protruded like roots of a tree. Who was this person? How could she make him listen to reason?

“You don’t owe Walter anything,” she pleaded.

Kendall looked wild-eyed at her. His face was flushed. “You’d better shut your mouth because you don’t know what you’re talking about. Walter’s been like a father to me. When Dad died, the insurance company refused to pay Mom the money they owed her.” He spat out the words. “They said they didn’t pay for suicides. Dad was weak. He would’ve left us penniless if Walter hadn’t stepped in. I don’t know what would have become of us if it hadn’t been for him.”

Sydney’s heart was hammering in her chest, and her breath was keeping time.He was not rational. How could she have missed all the clues about Kendall and Walter? It was right there in front of her the whole time. Why could she not see it? Sydney looked out the window. Her heart lurched when she realized that Kendall was headed to the river. It was the same route he’d taken on his bike. She had to get away from him, but how? She gripped the door handle.

Kendall clucked his tongue. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. We’re going too fast. You’ll never survive the fall.”

She let go of the handle. She had to get through to him. Keep him talking. Make him change his mind. “How long have you known about me?”

“Known who you were?”

She nodded.

“Since that first night we went to Walter’s together. I wanted to introduce my new girl to Walter, and surprise, surprise—he already knew you.”

Kendall’s voice was returning to normal, and he’d loosened his grip on the wheel. She tried to keep her voice conversational. “I remember that night. You were showing Walter some plays for the game. I fell asleep in the study. When I woke up, I heard you and Walter arguing over football.”

“Not hardly. It was over you. I was stunned when Walter told me who you were.” He glanced at her. “I mean you’re so much prettier than you used to be. I convinced Walter to let me have you.” There was no apology in his voice, only a plain statement of fact, as if it were completely normal that he was referring to her as an object. “Walter gave you to me under the condition that I keep you under control. Plus, you kept me up to date on the events at the mill. It was like having another set of eyes.”

“What does any of this have to do with the mill?”

There was a hint of amusement in his voice. “Don’t you know?”

She strung it all together, trying to make a connection. The random accidents, the men taking drugs, the trucks leaving at odd hours. Then, as swift as a bolt of lightning, it all became clear. “You don’t have allergies, do you?”

“What?”

“I said you don’t have allergies.”

“No, I don’t. What does that have to do with anything?” Kendall turned onto a dirt road. Sydney’s heart skipped a beat.She recognized this road. It led to the abandoned coal warehouse by the river.

She needed to keep him talking. That was her only chance. “That time you took me to your cabin and I went in the laundry room. I thought you were angry because I saw Jessica’s picture. That wasn’t it at all, was it? It was because I saw the allergy medicine and bottles of iodine you were using to make meth. You’ve been using the sawmill to transport the drugs. The drugs that killed Reggie! Oh, Kendall. How could you?”

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