Hidden in Shadow Pines (14 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Wednesday, August 14, 2013, 9 p.m.
(day 9 in Shadow Pines—in a storm shelter)

My eyes opened wide. I was lying on a cot, covered with a grey wool blanket. The moment I tried to get up, my head spun.

A kerosene lantern sat on a small table next to the cot. Looking around the room, I saw gallon jugs of water, four more kerosene lanterns, and two shelves stacked with canned goods. I figured I must be in a storm shelter of the kind that Jaime had talked about.
But where?
A collapsible rope ladder hung near the corner.

I debated whether to stay or try to leave. I had no idea who had brought me here or why. Was it Hudson? Maybe Devlin? Or someone else? Was I here to keep me safe or because someone wanted to hurt me? I thought about Jack Deveraux—what would he do?

My watch read five after nine. I’d been out for about three hours. I shivered. My sweater wasn’t keeping me warm enough in the cool shelter. I was about to wrap myself in the wool blanket when I spotted a camouflage hunting coat hanging across the room.

I stood, but had to wait for the room to stop spinning before I took a few small steps forward. I lifted the coat off a large nail and put it on. It was too large for me, meant for a man, but it would keep me warm.

I grabbed my purse and swung it around my neck and over my shoulder. Reflexively, I felt for my necklace. Luckily, it still hung from my neck, holding the key and ring.

I went to the rope ladder, climbed six rungs, and pushed on the round metal door. It was heavy, and my strength wasn’t at full capacity. I climbed two more rungs and pushed with my shoulder. Peeking out, all I could see was darkness. I gave another push and the door opened with a thud. I had to wait a minute for my eyes to adjust before I climbed out and could tell I was in a one-room log cabin. Leaves and sticks were scattered across the floor. No furnishings, and more importantly, no one else in the room.

I closed the metal door. Someone had gone to great lengths to make the top of the door match the wood floor. A tattered curtain on the only window blew inside. I could hear it raining outside.

I pulled the curtain away to see if anything looked familiar. Trees. Many trees. I could be anywhere. If the compass on my watch was correct, I was facing north. I knew I’d eventually find a house or the stone wall once I started walking.

After walking only ten feet from the cabin, I heard a car coming down a gravel road. I looked for a place to hide. Up ahead I spotted wooden rungs on the side of a tree. I climbed fast and took cover in a hunting stand.

I peeked out for a brief moment to see a white van pulling up to the log cabin.

Be brave, be calm,
I told myself.

I peeked again. Two figures dressed in black entered the cabin. In only a minute or two they’d realize I was gone. The wind howled as the rain come down harder, making listening difficult.

“I told you this was a bad idea.”

“Shut up. Let me think.”

The voices belonged to Devlin and Lincoln. They were shouting at each other.

“Maybe that’s the problem. You don’t listen.”

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

A shot echoed through the trees. I curled up in a ball, clenching my eyes shut and covering my ears with my hands. I’m not sure how long I sat motionless before I finally eased my hands away. A car door slammed shut, then the van drove off.

I pulled my purse closer, opening the zippered side pouch. My gun was gone. Someone had gone through my purse. I was relieved at still being alive and safe for the moment, but scared that I had no idea what I was going to do next.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Thursday, August 15, 2013, 6 a.m.
(day 10 in Shadow Pines—up another tree)

The sun broke through the trees. I’d spent the night huddled in the hunting blind. Somehow, I’d managed a couple hours of sound sleep. As I stretched my legs, my stomach rumbled. I hadn’t eaten since lunch yesterday. Scrounging through my purse, I found two mints. They were better than nothing. Somehow, I needed to find Hudson and Ed to learn what the plan was to get me out of Shadow Pines. But first, I had to figure out where I was.

I walked back to the cabin, stopping when I saw a pool of blood just inside the cabin door. Based on the amount of blood, and the fact the van driver hadn’t driven off in a hurry, the second person had died. I wondered if the dead man was Lincoln or Devlin.

I continued on my path of last night, heading due north. Fifteen minutes later, I saw a clearing up ahead. I picked up my pace until I came upon a barbed-wire fence. Up the hill, I could see a log cabin I recognized as Hudson’s home. Several men stood on the back patio. I was too far away to make out their faces, but I counted eleven men. My heart skipped a beat. I had a feeling this wasn’t a good sign.

I went back a few feet into the trees so I wouldn’t be spotted. Walking to the west, I wanted to see if I could get a closer look. With more of my attention focused on what was happening at Hudson’s than where I was walking, I tripped over a fallen tree, landing hard on my knees and palms. I quickly turned over on my back, grabbing my left knee, grimacing in intense pain.

I had enough problems right now without clumsily hurting myself. I slowly straightened my leg. My knee was sore, but nothing appeared broken. My left palm throbbed and some skin was torn. I slowed my breathing, then stood, trying to balance on my right leg. Looking around, I found a stick to use as a cane. I could walk, but unsteadily. This time I carefully watched where I was walking. A few minutes later, I could see the street in front of Hudson’s house. I needed to get closer, but first I had to tackle the barbed wire fence.

I took off the camouflage coat and draped it over the bottom line of fence. With my right hand placed gingerly between the barbs, I lifted the top wire and swung my right leg over the bottom wire. I lifted my left leg, but not far enough, so I tore my pants. For once, luck was on my side, though, and I missed breaking the skin.

I pulled the coat off the wire, tearing the lining of the jacket. My luck had lasted a total of two seconds. After carefully walking up the hill, I hid behind a truck. I needed to get out of sight, but remain able to watch Hudson’s house. I took the chance that no one would be home at the house across the street. I limped across the street as fast as I could, then went inside and closed the door.

“Hello!” I yelled. “Hello! Anyone here?”

Silence.

Standing with my back against the wall, I looked around the living room. A beige couch, two brown-and-cream plaid chairs, a glass coffee table, and a brown lamp with a cream shade on a clear end table filled the room. Off to the right, the kitchen contained shiny stainless steel appliances. A small cream table and four matching cream chairs stood in the corner in front of the double window, providing the perfect view of Hudson’s front door. I hobbled over and turned the wand so the blinds were only half open. I didn’t want anyone to see me through the window.

Starving, I looked in the fridge. Nothing—not even a bottle of ketchup. I opened a cabinet, then another. Empty. No one was living here. I was safe.

I looked down the hall past the refrigerator and saw three doors. I suspected one led to a basement, one to the garage, and the third to a half-bath. Looking back toward the front door, I realized I’d tracked dirt on the floor. The neat-freak in me wanted to clean it, but I needed to focus on Hudson’s house first.

I sat on the linoleum floor, stretching my neck to look out the window. It would have been easier to kneel, but my left knee hurt too much to bend it. The kitchen chair would have been much more comfortable, but I didn’t want to stain the cream-colored, cushioned chair.

Twenty minutes later, I spotted Doctor Carson walking down the front steps. A few seconds later, four more men left the house, none of whom I recognized. A minute or two later, two more men followed. They looked somewhat familiar. Perhaps I’d seen them at the Hi-Ho Café. After this group of men drove away, only two cars and a white van remained parked on the street.

I sat impatiently. Should I stay here? Should I go over and knock on Hudson’s door? Coming from the left was a woman with a yorkie on a leash. The yorkie started to bark. Did the dog know I was in the house?

“Sophie, stop,” the woman commanded. The dog obeyed and then they continued around the corner and were soon out of sight.

I’d turned my focus on the dog instead of watching across the street. Halfway down the driveway, four men walked toward the white van. I knew all four. Zachary, Oliver, Hudson, and Ed—my grandfather. Ed walked with his hands behind his back. It wasn’t until he stood behind the van that I could see handcuffs on his wrists. I watched as Hudson helped Ed into the van through the back door and followed him inside. Oliver closed the back door, then climbed in the driver’s side and drove off.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Thursday, August 15, 2013, 9 a.m.
(day 10 in Shadow Pines—in a house)

Something had gone terribly wrong. I couldn’t breathe. I thought I’d be sitting in my own kitchen this morning, having tea with Ed. Instead, I was in a strange kitchen, sitting motionless. What was I going to do now? Was Hudson the bad guy I always felt he was, or was he the helpful friend the way he’d acted during our last meeting and was actually trying to save Ed?

I was tired, hungry, and dirty. Part of me didn’t care much about anything. But the other part told me to keep going. I had to save Ed. I was pretty sure they would take Ed to the church for questioning. Right now, I needed water and food. I remembered Jaime telling me every house in Shadow Pines had a basement with a storm shelter. I knew I’d find food and water in the shelter.

I walked down the hall, opening the first closed door. I caught sight of myself in the mirror in the half-bath. I paused, studying how disheveled I looked. Tiny scratches covered my left cheek and my hair was a tangled mess. I automatically brushed at my hair with my fingers.

The next door led to the basement. I flipped on the light switch, taking one step at a time, hanging onto the railing for balance. Across the empty room I opened a door. Light from the basement filtered into this space, and I saw a cot, rows of canned goods, and gallon jugs of water.

I turned quickly. For a moment, I’d felt as if someone was watching me. However, no one was standing in the empty space. Turning back, I spotted a first-aid kit on the floor. I picked it up, along with two bottles of water, two cans of Vienna sausages, and a can of pork and beans. I was ready to leave the storage area when I spotted the emergency backpack. I swung it over my shoulder thinking it would come in handy and headed upstairs.

I stopped in the kitchen and looked out the window. The same two cars remained parked in front of Hudson’s house. I sat on the floor eating out of the cans with a plastic spoon I found in the first-aid kit.

While I ate, I cleaned the area around the torn skin on my hand, applied some ointment, and wrapped my hand with gauze. I threw a couple extra rolls of gauze along with the rest of the ointment and three alcohol wipe packets in my purse, just in case. After eating, I lay on my back and stretched my knee for a moment. I had to think what I should do next.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Thursday, August 15, 2013, 5:47 p.m.
(day 10 in Shadow Pines—early evening)

I needed a moment to realize where I was. The sun was lower in the sky. My watch read five forty-seven. I couldn’t believe I’d slept all afternoon. How could I have been so careless as to fall asleep?

I needed to decide quickly what my course of action would be. What would Jack Deveraux do? It was Thursday, which meant a town council meeting. Hudson, Oliver, and Zachary would definitely be there, and I assumed Ed would be there too.

Upon trying to stand, I felt a sharp pain radiating in my stiffened knee. Feeling the need to limber up before I tried to stand again, I laid back down and did a few bicycle exercises. When I finally stood, I knew walking through town to get to the town council meeting wasn’t an option. The pain increased with each step I took. No way could I walk to the church in an hour.

The entire town attended the town council meetings. From what I remembered, everything was discussed at this meeting. They would talk about Ed, maybe even me.

My wild imagination took over and for a moment I envisioned the townspeople carrying wanted posters with my picture on it.
Apprehend if you spot Isabella. Consider her a threat.

Shaking my head to clear away my dreadful thoughts, I peered out the blinds. The two cars from this morning were still parked in front of Hudson’s house. I took that as a good sign. I looked as far as I could up and down the street and encountered no movement—not even a yappy yorkie.

I pondered how I was going to get to the other side of town to the church. Or even if I should go. The last sixteen years repeated in my mind. All the things that Ed had done for me. Gotten my groceries. Paid my bills. Celebrated the holidays with me. Been my cheerleader in my writing career. He wasn’t just Ed anymore. He was my grandfather. I had to try to rescue him. It’s what he would do if the tables were turned.

My palms were sweaty. I couldn’t believe what I was about to do. I took the map out of my purse, spreading it out on the kitchen table. I needed to decide what path I’d take. I couldn’t go straight down Third Street to the church. If people were looking for me, they’d think that would be the logical street I’d follow. I had to take the side streets, streets I wasn’t familiar with.

I looked out the window one last time. I kept saying to saying myself,
You can do it. You can do it.

If I was going to reach the church, I’d have to drive a car.
You can do it. You can do it.
I grabbed the map, emergency backpack, and my purse, throwing the extra bottle of water in it, then opened the front door and hobbled across the street.

I picked the Cadillac over the Honda Civic. If I crashed, this would give me better protection. I threw the purse and backpack in the passenger seat and spread the map out in my lap. I was glad they had Rule 3—no stealing. In addition to no one locking their doors, they also kept their keys in the ignition.

Breathe. Just keep breathing.
I put the car in drive and started to pull away from the curb. Honk, honk, honk. I slammed on the breaks. A car had come around the corner. I hadn’t noticed, but then I’m not sure I even looked behind me to see if a car was coming. I felt as though I were back in drivers’ training class, Mr. Hutchins sitting in the passenger seat telling me all the things I was doing wrong. This time I turned and looked in both directions—twice—then pulled into the street.
Drive.

The tighter my grip became on the steering wheel, the closer my body hunched forward. I must have looked like one of those old ladies on a Sunday drive that I always made fun of, going so slow that a kid on a bike with training wheels could whiz past.

Relax, breathe.
I fanned my fingers to release the tight grip I had on the steering wheel. But within a minute, my tight grip had returned.

I hadn’t been in this part of town before. Right, left, right, left, another left, straight, left, right. The clock on the dashboard read six-forty-seven. The meeting would start in thirteen minutes.

Finally, a landmark I recognized—the library. And luckily, the parking lot was empty. I picked the farthest parking spot from the road. I slowly loosened my grip, put the car in park and turned off the ignition. I stretched my fingers, playing an imaginary piano. Only then did I realize my left leg was bouncing—my nervous twitch. Had it been bouncing the entire drive?

The drive
. It’d been sixteen years since the last time I’d driven a car. I’d done it without incident—without anyone dying. Now wasn’t the time to reminisce on the past or rejoice in overcoming my fear. I needed to focus. Focus on finding Ed and getting out of Shadow Pines. I needed to get inside the church without being seen. I needed to know if anything would be said about Ed or me.

Looking at the map, I decided the most likely route to remain hidden was to walk through the grove of trees by the cemetery and enter the church through the side door. I grabbed the backpack and purse from the passenger seat and headed off toward the trees. My watch ticked the minutes. I’d wait until five after seven when the town council meeting would be in full swing, then quietly enter.

At what I guessed was the right time, I took the short dash to the church, where I opened the back entrance and slipped inside, quietly closing the door. I knew the hall straight ahead led to the church proper. I couldn’t go that way. I had to take a chance with the door to my left. I opened it far enough to see what was on the other side—a long hallway, but empty.

I tiptoed down the hallway. I could hear a faint voice, but couldn’t make out what was being said. I stopped at a black door plate that read
robe closet
. I quietly opened the door and found about twenty black robes hanging on a rod. I listened for a moment. The voice was clear in here. This was the spot I could hide and listen to the meeting. I put down the backpack and purse on the closet floor, closed the door behind me, and sat. I figured I was right behind the lectern. Zachary was saying a prayer.

“…whoever says ‘I know him,’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. Amen”

The meeting started the way it had last week with a few mundane reports. Oliver and Hudson both spoke. They sounded calm. Then Zachary spoke again.

“Edison Luster is alive and in quarantine.” I heard several gasps from the congregation. “The extended council was notified this morning, and we’ve yet to come to a unified voice as to how to deal with the rule infractions. No member of this community is in immediate danger. We do, however, want everyone on high alert for any strange activity and to report it immediately. Until the council has agreed unanimously, we will make no further mention of this subject.”

Hudson spoke next, “Would Isabella Luster please stand.”

I froze at the mention of my name.

“Isabella?”

I envisioned the members looking around the church trying to find me.

“Jaime Clark, will you please stand.”

I waited.

“I see. Two women of the same household have decided not to grace us with their presence this evening. An extended council member will be sent to the home to make sure the women are okay. As a reminder to everyone in attendance, missing a meeting does not involve immediate sanctions. The reasoning for missing a meeting will be taken into consideration.”

I felt shocked. Jaime wasn’t at the meeting either. She was a stickler for the rules. Where was she? My first thought was horrifying. She’d been killed because she hadn’t kept a close eye on me. I couldn’t bear the thought that another person had died just because of me. But I had to shake off the negative thoughts and concentrate on the meeting.

“The meeting will end early tonight,” Oliver said. “Let’s finish with a prayer. Grant me the strength to also forgive others, to excuse their transgressions against me. So I may truly reflect this spiritual fruit, obliterate any persistent feelings of malice. You are a most forgiving Lord. Amen.”

Just then, I heard footsteps. They were getting closer. Then whispers. I wrapped my arms around my legs and buried my head in my arms, trying not to breathe heavily.

“What do you think they know?”

“They don’t know about the bodies. That’s for sure.”

The voices were those of Devlin and Claudia. I couldn’t mistake the smell of her coconut oil lotion, which had invaded the closet I was in.

“Any idea where Isabella is? She’s smart. She’s going to figure it out, unless she has already.”

“If she had it figured out, we’d be in with the council right now. In the morning, I’ll be the one to discover Lincoln and Paige’s bodies, then implicate Isabella. You’ve got to go now. Your mom’s probably looking for you. It won’t be long before you’ll be cured and can give up limping.”

“Then, you’ll marry me?”

“Of course. Now go before anyone sees us.”

I was horrified. They’d killed Paige. Why? Were they getting rid of anyone who’d had contact with me during the past week? That also meant that Devlin had killed Lincoln at the log cabin. I knew so many things that I could use for leverage if I got caught, not that I’d have wished it this way, or that anyone would probably believe me.

Now I had to come up with a plan as to how I could get Ed out of quarantine.