Beyond Suspicion (15 page)

Twenty-eight

They ate in silence at the table. Instead of being hungry, Shelby's stomach felt queasy. She had wanted to dash out the door and just run between the trailers as soon as they sat. But she had been forced to sit against the wall with Myra on the outside. Myra did the serving. Shelby's thoughts zigzagged back and forth, trying desperately to come up with a plan. Her fear, which soared as the meal progressed, made it hard to think.

She had already hidden a paring knife under the mat in Josh's playpen. It had been easy. First she had filled a bottle with juice and brought it to Myra, who had been playing on the bed with a giggling Josh. Before handing her the bottle, Shelby had told her to prop herself against the pillows with Josh in her arms. “I'll straighten out his bed so he'll be ready to sleep.” While Myra's attention was on Josh, Shelby had removed the paring knife from her cross-trainers and slid it under the mat.

The bitter gall of fury had risen in her throat at the sight of that awful woman holding Josh. It had been a struggle, but Shelby had managed to say in a nice, calm voice, “You're a natural.”

Myra hadn't taken her eyes off Josh as he sucked hungrily at the bottle. “Because he's my son, not hers.”

“Myra, tell me why you did this.”

“I'm the best woman for Roger, but he keeps picking losers. First, that blonde bimbo comes along and then your mother.” She had kissed Josh's forehead. “Then Roger's son was born. He should have been our son. So, I took him. Someday, I'll let Roger find us. He'll be happy that I've named our son after him. One day Roger will know we belong together as a family.” She had glared at Shelby. “He'll be happier without you or your mother.”

“But you shot him,” Shelby had said, instantly regretting it.

Myra had screamed, with hate and fury grotesquely etched in her features. “I know that!” Scared at the sudden shouting, Josh had begun to cry so Myra joggled him. “Roger will forgive me the minute he realizes how much I've done for him. But if he doesn't, I'll make him sorry for the rest of his miserable life.”

The look in Myra's eyes as she rubbed her cheek against Josh's head had chilled Shelby to the core. Josh's life was on the line.

A satisfied moan across the table brought Shelby back to the present. Harlan wiped his mouth and sat back. “That was good. I'm ready to pull out.”

“Me, too. We can't waste any more time.” Myra got up. “Shelby, put everything in the sink and the leftovers in the fridge. Harlan, go ahead and hook up the truck.”

Shelby started stacking dishes. Myra got the inside of the RV ready for traveling. Harlan backed up the truck and Shelby heard the sounds of the hitch being attached. When the table was cleared, she asked, “Anything else?”

“No.” Myra pulled out her gun.

The knot in Shelby's stomach turned to lead as Myra pointed the barrel at her. “You're going to have to ride inside to take care of Little Roger,” Myra said. “I'm going to chain you to the toilet.”

Shelby flinched at the thought. Myra waved the gun offhandedly. “Don't worry. You'll be able to move to the bedroom and back but not past the hall. Get everything in the bedroom you'll need for Roger.”

Shelby gathered an assortment of baby supplies. Myra had her spread them on the bed to check them. “Good, no knives or anything. Smart girl.” She handed her a duffle bag. “You can keep them in here.” Myra ordered her to sit down as soon as she heard Harlan in the hall.

“Did you find everything?”

“Got 'em right here,” said Harlan. “Hope it's long enough.” Harlan came into the bedroom carrying a long, heavy-duty chain, with two padlocks. “Which leg?”

Horror struck her at the thought of being chained and padlocked. They were making her decide. Myra's satisfied smirk slammed like a blow. She enjoyed scaring her.

Shelby's pride stiffened her backbone. “This one, I guess.” Shelby raised her left leg. She felt a small sense of triumph when disappointment flickered in Myra's cold eyes. She had expected Shelby to shrivel in fear.

Harlan wrapped the end of the chain tight two times around and attached the padlock between the two rows.

“Ow,” said Shelby.

“I guess that'll work.” He stood.

Myra put the gun in her waistband again. “Okay, wrap it around the toilet and let's get out of here.”

Harlan dragged the heavy chain down the short hall. As he worked in the bathroom, he pulled Shelby's leg. “Not too short,” Myra shouted. “She can't reach the bed.”

“It's not long enough. She'll just have to sleep on the floor.” He appeared briefly at the door, then went outside.

Myra shrugged, grabbed the pillows off the bed, and shoved them at Shelby. “Make yourself comfortable.”

Shelby took them but didn't move.

Myra left. In the other room she yelled at Harlan. “Where are the other keys?”

“On the table.”

“There's only one here.” Myra said.

“One key works both.”

After hearing a variety of noises from the other room, Shelby heard the door slam shut. A few minutes later, the RV moved, making her stumble. She dropped on the floor and leaned against the bed. The RV bounced across the ruts in the yard, hit the pavement, and rolled smoothly on the asphalt. Josh slept through it all.

Shelby took off her cross-trainer and tried to slip the chain off. It hurt. The links were thick and the end of one of them was twisted and dug into her skin. She went to the bathroom, hating the sound of the chain rattling and dragging on the floor, and rolled up some toilet paper. She tried different thicknesses under the link until the pressure eased. She checked the chain at the base of the toilet. Harlan had secured it good and tight.

Back in the bedroom, she put her shoe on. The folded bedspread would make a good pallet, so she pulled it off the bed. With the pillows, it made a comfortable place to curl up next to the playpen. Helplessness overwhelmed her. If they kept her chained, there wouldn't be any way to escape.

The hum of wheels on the highway lulled her to sleep. When she woke, it took a minute to figure out where she was. Being careful not to wake Josh, she rose slowly, and made her way down the hall, stretching the chain as far out as she could. Myra was right, it barely made it past the hall. Someone had closed all the curtains before they left. How would she know how far they had come?

She used the bathroom, then went back to Josh. He slept soundly. She gently shook him; he didn't rouse. Shelby shook harder, his head rolled to the side and he breathed heavily. Anger flared. Myra must've given him another dose of whatever it was that had knocked him out before. Why would she do that if she knew Shelby was going to take care of him? Unless…

Shelby collapsed on the pillows. Myra wasn't planning on keeping her alive long enough to take care of him. It was going to happen tonight. They were actually going to kill her.

No. It wasn't going to happen. What was the saying? Forewarned is forearmed. Shelby retrieved the paring knife and slipped it into her right shoe. With a little manipulation, it stayed on the side and she could walk without limping.

About an hour later the RV pulled off the highway and into a gas station. Shelby could tell by the sounds of other cars, people talking, and highway sounds of trucks whizzing by. The door of the RV opened. Myra's steps came toward her.

“So, everything okay in here?” Myra asked from the doorway.

“Yes, Little Roger's been sleeping the whole time.” Shelby wanted to accuse her of doping Josh again, but that wouldn't be a smart move.

“I guess you take good care of him.” Myra walked to the playpen and leaned over it. She lightly rubbed Josh's head.

It was the perfect time to pull the knife, but there was no guarantee Myra had the key to the padlock. Shelby scooted out of the way. “Myra, is there any way you could chain me to the other room?” It didn't hurt to ask.

Myra stepped back. “So you can open a window and flag down help?”

Shelby deliberately made her face go slack. “Huh?”

Myra laughed. “Like you didn't think of that? Remember, girlie, I know you.”

Harlan honked. “We'll be at an RV park in about an hour,” Myra said, and left.

Shelby braced with her feet, shoving her back against the playpen as Harlan pulled onto the highway. When their speed had leveled off she picked up Josh and hugged his sleeping form. That's when an idea struck her, but it would only work if she could keep them from chaining her. She put Josh back in his playpen. He stirred a little. She went to the bathroom.

Myra had stocked up on supplies. Shelby searched the shelves, praying silently. And there they were—two boxes of allergy medicine. She placed them all on the counter and smashed them into a grainy powder. Then she spread out a few sheets of toilet paper, swept the powder into her hand, and placed it gently on the paper. She wrapped it carefully and slipped it into her pants' pocket. After wiping the counter, she shoved the packaging into the dirty diaper pail and washed her hands. All she had to do was convince them to let her fix dinner. The RV slowed and pulled into the RV park.

Twenty-nine

While Harlan hooked up the RV to the utilities, Myra came inside and flipped on the lamps. Her annoyance at seeing Shelby standing at the end of her chain seemed to upset her. “Why aren't you with Little Roger? Get back in there.”

“I'm hungry, how about you? I could fix leftovers,” Shelby said, wringing her hands until Myra seemed to take pleasure in that sign of worry. Shelby dropped them to her sides.

Myra pulled out a key from her shirt pocket. “Hold your foot out.” Myra squatted and rested Shelby's left foot on her knee as she unlocked the padlock.

Shelby balanced with her hands on the hall walls, thinking that she could use the chain as a weapon if she could catch her off guard. When Myra had the padlock off, she dropped Shelby's foot. “You take the chain off.” Myra backed out of the chain's reach. Shelby wondered if Myra could read her mind.

Shelby crouched to the floor. When the chain was off, she gathered it into a pile outside the bathroom door.

“Heat the meatloaf, use a canned vegetable, and make some decaf coffee,” Myra told her.

“Okay.” Shelby hurried to the refrigerator.

“Don't try to run away. Remember I can still see you.” She went into the bathroom without closing the door. “And you'll notice,” she called out. “I've removed all the knives and hidden them except for a couple. I expect to see those on the counter at all times.”

There were a couple of paring knives next to the sink. “No problem, Myra.” At least she'd managed to hide one.

Shelby put the meatloaf in the oven to warm. She had already decided that Harlan was her best chance of getting out of this alive. So when he came in she greeted him with a warm tone and even warmer smile. “I'll have everything ready in about an hour. Is there a special vegetable you like?”

Harlan's slack jaw registered surprise. “Corn?”

“You got it,” Shelby answered with as bright a tone as she could manage.

Myra came out of the bathroom scowling at her. “Lock the door, Harlan.”

Harlan did.

While he was cleaning up, Myra sidled up to Shelby. “Don't think I haven't figured out what you're doing. Harlan listens to only me, so stop it. Got that?”

“I'm sorry?”

The door of the bathroom opened.

“Stop it or else,” Myra hissed as Harlan came out. She turned to Harlan. “We can relax in front of the TV while Shelby gets dinner on.”

They settled in front of the TV in the two recliners. When the coffee was finished she poured them each a mug. She found sugar packets and a can of powdered creamer.

“Coffee is ready. Sugar and creamer are coming.” She handed them each a mug and spoon.

Neither of them said anything to her but they shared an expression she couldn't read. One that sent chills down her spine. As Shelby hurried back to the kitchen she felt shaken. If this didn't work and she managed to get Harlan on her side, would he be strong enough to stop Myra from killing her? Or was Myra right about having control over him? The canned corn was difficult to open with shaking hands.

They both dumped a couple of packets of sugar in their mugs. Only Myra added creamer. Shelby started breathing again. They didn't sip the black coffee first. That was good. It shouldn't take too long to figure out if she had used enough to knock them out.

The television kept their attention, but it was just noise to Shelby. It screwed with her nerves to the point where she wanted to scream. When the meatloaf was warmed, she made each of them a plate and carried it to them with forks.

“Thought you might like to eat in front of the TV. More coffee, Harlan? Myra?”

Harlan took his plate and grunted. His eyes seemed tired and not just from the drive, she hoped.

“Get us both some.” Myra took the plate. She didn't seem tired at all.

Shelby refilled their mugs and added the sugar for them. Then she added creamer in Myra's. “Hope I fixed it right.” She picked up the packets from the table.

Myra took a sip. “Perfect.”

“One more sugar,” Harlan said, without trying it. “I like it sweet.”

Shelby tore another packet, poured it in his cup and stirred it. Their eyes met. Loathing filled her but she did her best not to show it before hurrying to the kitchen. She had to hope Harlan wouldn't let Myra kill someone he liked.

She fixed a plate and sat at the table. When they finished their food she hopped up and took the dishes. Then she sat back down. She only ate if someone looked over to check on her. Harlan kicked back in his chair. Good sign. Myra was closest to Shelby; all she could see was the back of her head. Harlan soon snored. Myra stood up once, yawned, and stretched. “Hurry up 'n eat, Shelby, 'most time for bed.”

Slurring words was a good sign. “Okay.” Shelby shoved a forkful in her mouth. It shouldn't be long now.

Myra walked to the kitchen and got a glass out of the cabinet. She filled it with water and drank it all down. Then she went back to her chair and lifted the leg rest. Shelby took her plate to the sink.

In minutes, both Myra and Harlan were snoring.

She changed Josh, dressed him, and carried him to the door. Harlan and Myra were out cold. For a second she thought about taking the time to tie them up somehow and just getting out of there. But it would be taking too much of a chance to wait any longer.

She unlatched the door and stepped out, closing the door softly. It was pitch black outside with only a few streetlights. Harlan had chosen a lot well away from other campers. She took a fast walk toward the few RVs that were gathered closer together in the lighted area. Only one had lights on inside, but it was beat-up and filthy with grime. Instinct told her no good could come from knocking on that door.

Shelby spotted the office and ran. The lights were on but the door was locked. She pounded on it.

“Don't make me shoot you.”

Shelby froze in horror before turning around. Myra had the gun leveled at her. Shelby grasped Josh tighter to her. He fussed and squirmed to be let down. Feelings of defeat overwhelmed her. She should have used a double dose of antihistamine.

“That was a cute trick. Now, back to the trailer or I shoot you right here and we disappear with Little Roger.”

Footsteps sounded. Harlan appeared. “Give me that gun.” He grabbed it from Myra, taking her by surprise. Then he backhanded her with the gun so hard her forehead split open. Myra dropped like a rag. Blood poured from the wound, spreading out in a circle. Myra didn't move. Despite the horror of touching a possible dead body, Shelby grasped Josh with one arm and crouched over Myra blocking Harlan's view. “I-I want to feel her heart.” She shoved her fingers in Myra's shirt pocket and palmed the key to the padlock.

Harlan grabbed Shelby's arm and pulled. “She's dead. Let's go.”

Shelby, too shocked to do anything else, stumbled after him.

“Shut that kid up!”

“Let go so I can!” When he did, she slipped the key down the back of Josh's diaper then held Josh's face against her neck under her chin. “Shhh,” she crooned. Josh's cries softened.

Harlan got behind her and shoved. “Get moving.”

Shelby barely took two steps when he shoved her again. She began running and he kept on her heels. “Over there.” He pointed, shoving her to the right. They cut through brush to get to the RV. The outdoor bulb from the RV now cast a yellow glow over the ground; moths and other night insects swarmed around it. Harlan moved ahead, opened the door, and pushed her inside. Moths swarmed inside with them. The onslaught against her face, made her trip. She batted them away. Josh slipped but she caught him in time. He wailed.

“Get down the hall.” He slammed the door.

Shelby ran to the bedroom and put Josh in the playpen. Chains rattled and she swung around to face Harlan who had the chain in one hand and the padlock in another.

“NO, please don't chain me,” Shelby begged. “I won't try that again.”

Harlan dropped the chain, grabbed her left leg and pulled it out from under her. Shelby fell on her side on the bedspread and pillows on the floor. Pain shot through her hipbone, so much that it took her breath away. Harlan wrapped her ankle with the chain. When he pinched the padlock in place, Shelby bit her lip to cut off her cry of pain.

Harlan remained in a crouched position. Sweat beads formed over his upper lip and one single bead of perspiration left a trail from his scalp as it dripped on his shirt. He stared at her for a full minute before wiping his mouth with his hand.

“I'm keeping you. You and that baby are going to make me a bunch of money. Down the road a piece, we'll call your folks and let them know just how much it's going to cost them. If you try to run away again, I'll toss the brat out of the RV and drive off. Do you understand?”

Intense fear gripped her insides as she stared at his oily, thinning hair and his sallow, gray skin. Harlan was a desperate man. He'd killed his sister so murder must come easy.

“My grandfather has some money,” she said.

Harlan grunted as he stood. “We're not stopping until morning. Get some rest.” After he left, Shelby didn't move until he locked the RV door. Within a few minutes he had detached the utilities and they were on the highway again.

She got to her feet in pain. Her leg and hip were sore but nothing had broken. Josh stared off into space. Shelby knelt and ran her fingers over his head. “Somehow you know, don't you? We're in trouble, Joshie, big trouble. I don't think he'll let us go even if he gets the money.” She removed Josh's diaper and pocketed the key but didn't remove the chain. She wanted to wait to make sure Harlan wasn't going to need something inside. She needed time to prepare their escape.

The things she gathered for Josh hours ago were still at hand. She changed his diaper and mixed some cereal with bottled water. It was room temperature but he ate it. Then she gave him a bottle of juice and put him in a clean shirt. She hung over the playpen murmuring to him until he fell asleep.