Dawn's Light (16 page)

“Beth, wait up!”

She felt the tears falling down her face and quickly wiped them away. She pulled into an abandoned convenience store parking lot and balanced at the curb. Jimmy pulled to a halt beside her.

“I really didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I was just surprised. It looks cute, though. I like it.”

Those tears rushed faster and her face twisted. “No, you don't.”

“I do. Come on, what's wrong?”

She glanced back toward the park, hiccupping a sob. “I just … have a lot going on.”

“You want to talk about it?”

“No,” she said. “I can't. If I do, somebody could really get hurt.”

His face changed. “Wow.”

She sat there blubbering like an idiot, wondering why she had even said such a thing. It was the most she'd told anyone.

But she needed to talk to someone. Could she trust him? He was the former sheriff's son, after all. He'd seen and heard a lot, and he was no stranger to violence. His father was still recovering from a gunshot wound that had almost killed him.

Jimmy got off his bike and laid it on the ground. He came and took her hand. “Sit down and talk to me.”

She set the kickstand on her bike and let him lead her to the curb. They both sat down on the grass. She was still crying, so she hugged her knees and dropped her face into the circle of her arms.

He touched her back, patting her. “Beth, are you in some kind of trouble?”

She nodded. “I can't talk about it.”

“Tell me,” he said. “It can't be that bad. What did you do?”

The question threw her. “I didn't do anything.”

“Then why are you in trouble?”

“Somebody else did something.”

His eyebrows lifted. “Is it that guy who's at your house?”

Beth looked up at him. “Craig? How do you know about him?”

“Because I rode by your house a couple of days ago and saw his car. I saw Cher and asked her who it was. Has he hurt you?”

“No, not Craig. It's not him.”

Jimmy knelt next to her, his gaze boring into her. “Then who?”

She wanted to tell him. She needed to talk it out, but if she told him what had really happened, he was bound to tell his father. Then
his
father would tell
her
father, then Sheriff Wheaton, and before she knew it the killer would know.

She dropped her face against her knees, unable to stop her tears. “It's that … that lady back at the park.”

“What lady?”

“That lady whose husband disappeared. I saw his missing person sign on the message board. I feel so bad for her.”

He just stared at her. “That's it? You're upset about a woman whose husband left her?”

She knew it didn't make sense. “They have a little boy. He's like two years old.”

“Do you know them?”

“No. I just see them sometimes in their driveway. They live across from the park.”

“Oh. I see.”

But he didn't see. He didn't see at all. She drew in a deep breath, knowing she'd said too much already. “I have to go home. My parents are gonna be worried.”

He just sat there, watching her with a look of confusion. She imagined that he was thinking how weird and complicated girls were, that they would lose it over the pain of someone they didn't even know.

“I'm sorry about the lady,” he said.

She nodded. “Me too.” She got up and picked up her bike.

“Are you gonna be okay? You want me to ride home with you?”

“Yes,” she said quickly. She would feel safer if someone was with her. “Would you?”

“Sure. I finished my paper route, so I'm good to go.” He got on his bike and pulled out next to her. “So what do you think about the Pulses being over? I heard they were already trying to get the power back on.”

Beth just nodded as he gushed about the future. She feared she wouldn't be here to see it.

thirty-four

“Y
OU SAID YOU WERE OKAY WITH ME TAKING THAT JOB
.”

It was true, Mark thought. When Deni had come to him all wide-eyed about the job, he had swallowed his objections and tried not to shoot her down. What did his opinions matter, anyway? It was already a done deal.

He watched her quietly now as she rolled a page into her typewriter, hoping that burning feeling in his stomach didn't translate to his face.

“But you're not, are you? You're not okay with it.” She set her elbows on the desk and gave him her undivided attention. “Can we talk about this?”

“What's there to talk about? You did the right thing. I'd try to get hired myself if I wasn't already committed to the sheriff's department.”

“I don't want you to worry about Craig. He promised it would be strictly business.”

He let out a bitter laugh. “You know he lied.” He dropped into a chair across from her dad's desk and put his feet up on the ottoman. He hoped he looked relaxed, even if every muscle in his body was rigid.

“Even if he did lie, it won't matter.”

“You sure? He's pretty important. Power can be seductive.”

“You have more power over me than he does. Mark, you have to trust me.”

He did trust her. He trusted Craig too—to do everything in his power to win her back. Part of him wanted to tell her not to take the job. She might even listen and stay at the newspaper. But then what?

He couldn't hold her back. This was a great career opportunity, and why shouldn't she have it? If Craig weren't the boss, Mark would be rooting for her to take it. No, Mark never wanted to be the one who stood in the way of Deni's dreams. He just wished Craig weren't the one making them come true.

They heard hurried footsteps on the hardwood floor in the hallway, and Chris appeared in the doorway. “Oh, there you are.” She was out of breath. “Deni, you've got to help me. The party starts in three hours and I can't get it all together!”

Deni got up. “But I have three stories to write, and I was hoping to wash up and change clothes.”

“Please, Deni. You can't let me embarrass myself this way. You too, Mark. I need you both!”

Mark loved seeing Chris in a tizzy. It was quite amusing. “I can't help right now, Chris. I just came by here on a break. I have to get back to work.”

She wadded the roots of her hair. “You're not going to ditch the party, are you, Mark? What if nobody comes? What if I'm left with a ton of apple hors d'oeuvres and candles galore, and I'm sitting there all by myself?”

“Don't worry, I'm coming,” Mark said. “I'm working till seven.”

“But it
starts
at seven!”

“I'll be there,” he said.

Deni laughed and put her arm around her friend. “It's going to be fine. Everybody's talking about it.”

Chris looked at her. “Really?”

“Yes, really. And I'll come over and help now, then I can come home to change after you've gotten a grip. I'll just stay up all night writing those stories, but don't worry about it.”

“Thank you!” She grabbed Deni's hand and pulled her to the door.

Mark got up and followed them out. “Deni, I'll pick you up at seven.”

She shook her head. “Don't worry about picking me up. I'll go a little early and meet you there.” Pulling away from Chris, she stood on her toes and kissed him. “See you then. Be careful.”

He couldn't help laughing at the two of them as he went back to his car.

thirty-five

B
ETH'S BEST FRIEND
C
HER WAS WAITING IN THE
B
RANNINGS'
garage when she got home from delivering her papers. Beth's stomach tightened as she pulled in. She didn't want to talk, or something might slip out. She'd told Jimmy way too much already.

Cher sat cross-legged on the concrete, playing with a kitten that looked only a few weeks old. “Isn't she cute? I named her Freckles. She was from the litter that the Allens' cat had. My mom said I could keep her.”

Beth got off her bike and sat down next to Cher. She picked up the gray tabby and looked her in the face, but the cat whined and scratched her, trying to get down. She thrust her back at Cher.

“You could get one if you wanted. They have three that haven't been taken.”

“We have enough animals,” she said.

“Rabbits and chickens don't count. They're for food.”

“I don't know what we'd feed a cat. Anyway, I don't want one.”

Cher let the kitten go and watched it romp across the garage. “Guess who I saw yesterday?”

Beth wasn't interested. She wanted to go in and lie down. “Who?”

“Jimmy. He rides by your house almost every day, like he's trying to get a glimpse. Does he ever stop?”

Beth shrugged. “Not really. But I did see him today.”

“He really likes you. Aren't you excited?”

“He's okay.” A man on a bike rode by and Beth's eyes followed him. It was just Jack Pratt's dad.

“Okay? Beth, what is
wrong
with you?”

She wanted to close the garage, to keep anyone riding by from seeing her. What if the killer came by and she was sitting here? “I have to go in,” she said.

Cher got up and chased down her kitten. “You don't want to hang out?”

“Not really. I don't feel good.”

“Are you sick?”

Irritated, Beth started for the door. “Maybe. I don't know. See you later, okay?”

Cher looked hurt again. She picked up her kitten and held it against her chest. “All right, I'll go. Come by if you want to hang out.”

“I will.” Beth opened the door and stepped inside.

“Oh, one more thing.”

Beth turned back. “What?”

“There was this man looking for you.”

Beth's lungs seemed to close, trapping her air. She stepped back into the garage. “What man?”

“Some man who had your necklace. You know, the cross one?”

Beth's hand came up to her throat. It was
him
. The chain had broken. Her chest hurt. She thought she might faint. “Did you tell him where I live?”

“I didn't see him,” Cher said. “My dad and brother were at the well Sunday when he stopped and asked. My dad said he'd give it to you, but the man didn't trust him.”

Beth sucked in air, unable to let it out. Panicked, she ran to close the garage.

“What are you doing? I was about to leave.”

Beth slid the metal door to the ground with a crash. “Go through the house.” Darkness was thick between them. Beth opened the door and stepped into the kitchen. “What did they tell him?”

“Who?”

“
The man
!” Beth began to cry. “What did your dad tell the man?”

“I'm not sure. He didn't give him your address, I know that. Beth, what's wrong?”

“I don't like people talking about me.” She couldn't breathe out and began to get dizzy.

“Are you hyperactivating or something?”

Beth grabbed the counter, fearing she would fall.

Cher ran around it and grabbed a paper sack full of nails. She dumped it out and handed it to Beth. “Here, breathe into this.”

Beth took the bag and breathed, blowing it up, sucking it back in … out … in …

She could breathe better now. Sweating, she pulled the bag down. “Did they give him … my last name?”

“Maybe,” Cher said. “He can probably look it up in the phone book and find the address. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll get your necklace back.”

She heard her mother coming in the back door. “Cher! It's good to see you, honey.”

Cher turned to her with concern. “I'm glad you're here. Beth was having trouble breathing.”

Her mother gasped, “Beth, are you okay?”

She was still breathing hard.

“I gave her that bag to breathe into.”

“She was hyperventilating?”

Now her mother was all concerned, and Beth didn't want anyone hovering over her right now. She needed to lie down.

“Honey, what caused this?”

“Nothing.” Cher was going to tell her mother about the man who was looking for her. Her mom would tell her father who would tell the sheriff, and then what? Her mind raced for a story. “I just … realized I lost my necklace. The cross.”

“Honey, that's okay. It's no big deal.”

Cher opened her mouth to speak. Beth grabbed Cher's hand, almost making her drop the kitten. “Cher has to go, don't you, Cher?”

Cher gaped at her, baffled. Still, she played along. “Uh, yeah. I told my mom I'd come right home.”

Beth led her to the door, opened it, and waited for her to leave.

“You're acting crazy,” Cher whispered harshly. “What is wrong with you?”

“I told you, I'm sick.” As Cher stepped out onto the porch, Beth closed the door. She waved at Cher through the glass and watched her huff away.

Her mother came up behind her.

“Beth, honey, tell me what's going on.”

“I just got hot,” she said. “I need to lie down.” With that, she ran up the stairs.

thirty-six

W
HEN SHE WAS SURE THAT
C
HRIS HAD EVERYTHING UNDER
control, Deni hurried back home to get ready for her friend's party. It had been warm today, and since she'd ridden all over town on her bike, she needed a bath. What she wouldn't give for hot running water.

Maybe her work with Craig would make that happen faster.

She did her best to clean up with cold well water.

She put her hair in a towel, then went to her room to finish cleaning up. She wanted to look nice tonight, and she hoped her hair would dry fast enough.

She dressed in a blouse she hadn't worn much in the past year, so it still looked fresh and clean. And she pulled on a pair of Beth's old jeans. They were too big for her thirteen-year-old sister now, but they fit Deni rather nicely. They were too short, but she folded them up, making them into capris. A girl did what a girl had to do.

Finally, a pair of pants that didn't have to be belted or safety-pinned to keep them from falling down. She stood in front of the mirror, feeling emaciated. She'd never imagined she'd think that of herself. But the winter had been tough, and she'd come out of it with an angular, anorexic body. In her early college years, she had worked hard for a skeletal body. Now food rationing had done the job that starving herself had failed to do. How stupid was that? Striving to look like you were starving to death? Why would anyone with plenty of food deny their hunger pangs?