Page 21 of Landon (In Safe Hands)
Justustosses the collection bag into the fire and adds a little gasoline before wehead inside the house. “All done?” Jed asks, pouring us each a tumbler ofbourbon.
“Pigsare fed. Do you mind if I crash on your couch for a few hours? I need to bleachdown the trough and chipper, plus make sure everything burned,” Justusexplains.
“Noproblem.” Jed is pushing sixty, but sharp as ever. We met him a few years ago,well, tracked him down, actually. It was all over the news that someone waskilling sex offenders, just making their way down the registry. He would’vebeen caught and spent the rest of his life locked up if we hadn’t found himfirst.
Hisgranddaughter had been abducted, raped and killed when she was ten years old.Though her murderer is spending his life behind bars, Jed realized there weremany who weren’t. And that the government kept a nice little hit list for him.Once he found out who we are and what we do, he was more than happy to help ina way that won’t cost him his freedom.
Wechat for a bit before Justus turns to me. “Better get going if you’re going tomake the drive back before your coach turns into a pumpkin.”
“You’refunny as a fuck in church.” I shake Jed’s hand and promise to stop by without abody in tow sometime, and head to my car.
I’mnervous on the drive home, even though there’s no visible blood on me. I’veseen enough crime shows to know there’s always transfer between a body and theperson toting it around. The sky is just beginning to lighten when I pull intomy garage.
Strippingoff all my clothes, I build a fire in the fireplace and toss them in beforetaking a long hot shower. I fall into bed and inhale the light scent of lemon.Zoe is using a new fabric softener and it smells wonderful. Almost as good asher. Fuck, what would she think if she knew how I’d spent my night? No wondernone of the guys from ISH can maintain a relationship.
Iwake with Zoe still on my mind. I’ve never even considered a relationshipbefore, but after knowing Zoe for only a month, the thought is a lot lessominous. I don’t know what it is about her that makes me want to tell herthings I don’t tell anyone. It’s probably a good thing she has a boyfriend,though I’ve never heard her mention him.
I’vebarely slept, the sun is still high in the sky, taunting me with everything Ican’t have. It’s on days like this, when I wake early and restlessly pace thehouse with nothing to do, that I really feel different. Finally, I decide tohead to the basement game room to shoot around on the pool table. It’s one ofthe few rooms I’ve kept relatively clean, since the guys sometimes come over toplay pool.
Itdoesn’t distract me from thoughts of Zoe. If I told her about me and what I do,would she understand? Would she run screaming at my limitations and the factthat I’m technically a criminal? Good idea or not, I know I’m getting closerand closer to saying fuck it, and telling her everything, including how much Iwant her, and not just in my bed.
ChapterFive
Zoe
Ethandives on my bed on Monday morning, nearly bouncing me out of it. “Wake up!”
“What?”I groan.
“Whydidn’t you tell me?” he asks, his voice filled with joy.
Ifight to focus my eyes on the paper he’s waving in front of me. “About what?”
“Driver’seducation! You paid the fee? I can really go?”
Smiling,I roll over. “Yep. Learn to be a careful driver and we’ll put you on myinsurance.”
“Ihave to start saving for my own car!” he cries, bounding out of the room.
“Noworking during the school year!” I call after him, but he’s already on hisphone, telling anyone who’ll listen that he’s getting his license. It’s good tosee him so happy. Things have been better for both of us since I’m making moremoney. It’s not enough to afford rent in a better area, but I don’t have to eatpeanut butter for a week to make sure Ethan has food. Always a plus.
I’vebeen able to get us both some badly needed clothes, buy Ethan a new pair ofglasses, and get our teeth cleaned. It’s amazing the things you have to neglectwhen it’s a choice between health and food. The future is looking better, so Ishould’ve expected the phone call that drags us right back to the past.
Mycaller ID shows the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and I’m sure it’s a wrongnumber until the man asks, “Is this Ms. Zoe Page?”
“Um…yes,I’m Zoe.”
“Ms.Page, I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but there’s been an accident.” Coldfear trickles down my spine. Ethan is in the next room. I can hear him. Whocould they be calling me about?
“Who?What happened?” I stammer, shutting my bedroom door.
“I’mafraid your parents were in an auto accident last night. The EMT’s and doctorsdid all they could, but their injuries were too grave.”
Myheart thumps against my ribs. “Are you telling me they’re dead?”
“Yes,Ms. Page. I’m so sorry for your loss.”
Thesheriff gives me the number to the county morgue. I barely hear what he’stelling me until he repeats himself. “We need someone to come down and ID thebodies, Ms. Page.”
