Read The Circle of Blood Online
Authors: Alane Ferguson
The Circle of Blood (20 page)
“No.”
“They have a name for her now. It’s Esther Childs. Someone made an anonymous call from the Loaf ‘N Jug. That’s right by your house, isn’t it? The Loaf ‘N Jug. It was called in to Silverton.”
No answer.
“The woman tipped the police as to the victim’s true identity.” Cameryn slid a newspaper from the inside of her folder. The color had drained from Ruth’s face, and Cameryn noticed she was trembling. It was as if they’d each had a stick that sparked against the other and the fire was taking hold, burning. “Look,” Cameryn said, tapping her finger on the picture. “Do you see the girl? Have you ever seen her before?”
Esther’s death had made front-page news. The sketch of the girl showed eyes wide and clear, the hair plaited in the long braid. Cameryn positioned the paper so that the face was dead center on the table.
The baby made a gurgling sound and smacked her hand impatiently on her tray.
“I have a lot to do. I think I’m done with your survey,” Ruth said, standing up.
Desperate, Cameryn said, “Esther had on a ring that said ‘Keep Sweet.’ You know about ‘Keep Sweet.’ Don’t you, Ruth?”
“You’re not here for a psychology class.”
“I’m not,” Cameryn admitted. “I’m sorry, but there are things I’m trying to find out.”
As Ruth pulled her baby out of the high chair, she took a step back so that she was against a wall. Pure fear radiated from her eyes. “Who are you, then? Are you a Messenger?”
It took a moment for her to register what Ruth was saying. “Am I a what?”
Ruth began pacing, chastising herself. Adriel was perched on her hip. With every step, the baby’s head bounced like a doll on a spring. “How could I have been so stupid? They knew I wouldn’t open the door for a man, so they sent you. I see your long hair. You’re living the Principal. You’re checking up, seeing if I talked. You go back and tell the Prophet it
wasn’t me
! ” Ruth clutched her baby so hard Adriel cried out. “You need to leave. Now! Tell him!”
wasn’t me
! ” Ruth clutched her baby so hard Adriel cried out. “You need to leave. Now! Tell him!”
“Tell who what?” Cameryn’s mind was working and working and she couldn’t think this through. “Ruth, I’m not a Messenger.”
“I want you out of here! ” she demanded. She pointed to her front door. “Now!”
“I’m sorry,” Cameryn answered softly. “I can’t.”
She stayed planted in the wooden chair, the rungs pressing into her back. Looking at the blue plastic bowl and the dried cereal, she tried to make her mind put together the pieces. Something had frightened Ruth deeply, but fear wasn’t anything Cameryn could take to the sheriff. What she needed was proof. If she waited, Ruth could pull herself together and deny the conversation even happened. Cameryn opened her folder and set out a photograph she’d printed from her camera. It was a close-up of Esther’s face. The eyes stared, wide and blank.
“I work for the coroner’s office,” Cameryn said. She pulled another photograph of Esther and set it next to the first. This one showed the bullet hole in the side of her skull. “Somebody shot her. Shot Esther. In cold blood.”
Ruth raised her hand to her mouth, and Cameryn heard an angry, muffled groan. Her face had gone scarlet. “Put those away,” she cried. “I can’t look at them!”
“You have to look,” Cameryn told her, “because the authorities are trying to say my mother did this.” Cameryn pulled another picture from her folder. The boot print in the center of Esther’s back showed up in sharp relief. “Whoever did this cut off Esther’s hair. Fourteen years old and her life was taken. I think you made that call from the pay phone because you know this girl. That’s right, isn’t it?”
Ruth nodded. “She was my niece,” she said. Tears streamed down her face. “My sister’s child.”
Cameryn’s heart raced wildly as she formed her next question. “Do you know who killed her?”
Her mouth moved, but her words were only a whisper. “I do.”
Cameryn felt elation until she heard what came next: “I know exactly who killed her. But I will never, ever tell.”
Chapter Sixteen
THEY SAT STARING at each other. Cameryn counted the seconds as they ticked away on the kitchen clock. They baby began to wiggle in Ruth’s arms, but she held her tight. “Just so you understand,” Ruth said, “I’ll deny everything I just told you. I can’t help you, Cameryn. I wish I could but I can’t.” She set the baby down on a brightly quilted blanket that had been tucked inside a playpen. Then she gathered up the photographs of Esther and shoved them into the folder. “I want you to leave my house.”
“You know who killed this girl and you won’t tell?” Cameryn cried.
“I know who killed this girl and I
can’t
tell. Because they said they’d kill me. Me and my family.” The voice edged on panic.
can’t
tell. Because they said they’d kill me. Me and my family.” The voice edged on panic.
Cameryn rose to her feet. Her blood rocketed as she cried, “But they’re accusing my mother! ”
Ruth’s fingernails dug so hard against the edge of the table they looked bloodless. “I converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints years ago. I have a good life now. That nightmare is over for me.”
“And my mother’s in a jail cell in Silverton! She’s
in
a nightmare!” Cameryn practically screamed the words, her hands gesticulating wildly. Suddenly, Ruth grabbed Cameryn’s left wrist in her hand. Her grip was like iron as she turned Cameryn’s palm up. “What’s that?” she shrilled, pointing to the digits written on her skin. “That’s the Childses’ number. Did you call them?” Her eyes narrowed. “Did you ask them about me?”
in
a nightmare!” Cameryn practically screamed the words, her hands gesticulating wildly. Suddenly, Ruth grabbed Cameryn’s left wrist in her hand. Her grip was like iron as she turned Cameryn’s palm up. “What’s that?” she shrilled, pointing to the digits written on her skin. “That’s the Childses’ number. Did you call them?” Her eyes narrowed. “Did you ask them about me?”
“Yes—I—”
“Did you mention me by name?
Did you mention me by name?
”
Did you mention me by name?
”
“I might have. I . . . I was trying to figure things out. I said I was with the sheriff’s office and—”
“When! How long ago?” Ruth jerked Cameryn so hard her feet almost left the floor. She was solid, tall, and deceptively strong. Her nostrils flared as she cried, “When did you make that call?”
“An hour ago. Maybe an hour and a half . . .”
“You don’t know what you’ve done!” Ruth released her and Cameryn staggered back. “I have to get out of here!” she cried, her face contorted, her expression frantic, wild. “The drive is only three hours from Placement. I still have time.”
“If you’re worried, then call the police!” Cameryn told her.
“No!”
Ruth’s pale eyes flashed. “You have no idea who these people are.” She rushed to the refrigerator, yanking out item after item—milk, cheese, fruit, a bag of salad, a jug of orange juice—and shoving them all helter-skelter into a garbage bag. “I can’t do anything until my kids are safe.”
Ruth’s pale eyes flashed. “You have no idea who these people are.” She rushed to the refrigerator, yanking out item after item—milk, cheese, fruit, a bag of salad, a jug of orange juice—and shoving them all helter-skelter into a garbage bag. “I can’t do anything until my kids are safe.”
“Safe. Safe from what?”
“They warned me once. I helped smuggle girls out of polygamy, and they warned me. When Esther came here, I sent her away. They found her and they killed her and cut off her braid. It’s what they do, the way they take a girl’s beauty, the way they leave their mark. So the blood is on my head. The circle of blood has come back to me.”
Leaving the bag of food on the counter, Ruth grabbed two more garbage bags and raced upstairs. Cameryn followed, not knowing what else to do. “Leave,” Ruth cried, turning on her.
“I want you out of my house!”
“I want you out of my house!”
“If you’re scared, there are safe houses!”
Ruth laughed harshly. “You don’t understand. These people find you no matter where you hide. Why do you think I sleep with a gun?”
“But—”
“Just
go
!” Ruth stormed into a room and Cameryn trailed behind, arguing, begging, but Ruth refused to listen. The room was pink and white with a rosebud paper border, like a wedding cake. Stuffed animals were strewn everywhere. The beds, though, cheerful beneath matching quilts, had been neatly made. Helpless, she watched the woman rake through drawers and shove things into a plastic bag before rushing past Cameryn to the next room, this one painted blue. Once again, Ruth stuffed clothes and shoes into a bag until it bulged.
go
!” Ruth stormed into a room and Cameryn trailed behind, arguing, begging, but Ruth refused to listen. The room was pink and white with a rosebud paper border, like a wedding cake. Stuffed animals were strewn everywhere. The beds, though, cheerful beneath matching quilts, had been neatly made. Helpless, she watched the woman rake through drawers and shove things into a plastic bag before rushing past Cameryn to the next room, this one painted blue. Once again, Ruth stuffed clothes and shoes into a bag until it bulged.
“I know of a place that’s far away,” Ruth huffed. “Far enough, I pray God, that they’ll never find us.” She hoisted the bags, one in each hand. Her body bent beneath the weight as she hurried down the hall toward the steps.
“But what about my
mom
! ”
mom
! ”
Ruth paused. “I’ll do this: once we’re safe, I’ll call your sheriff in Silverton. We have to be safe first.”
“How do I know you won’t just disappear?” Cameryn demanded.
“You can’t know,” she answered. “That’s just the thing, isn’t it? You didn’t know when you made that call that I’d have to go into hiding. You’re trying to protect your mom, I’m trying to protect my kids, and we all go round and round. You opened a Pandora’s box. These people are—”
Ruth didn’t finish her thought because at that moment Adriel screamed a loud, high-pitched wail. Cameryn watched Ruth go white. “Oh, no . . .” The bags made a thud as she dropped them. “Stay here,” she hissed. She stumbled down the stairs, taking them two at a time, rounding the corner out of sight. Cameryn’s mind, which had been spinning frenetically, froze as she tried to comprehend.
“Put her down!” Ruth screamed.
Below, Cameryn heard a loud thud and a crunching sound, a muffled cry and a soft groan. Heavy footsteps preceded a man’s voice, deep and low. It rumbled like a train through a tunnel. Cameryn shrank back against the wall as she heard him proclaim, “God’s wrath is visited upon you and your children. You had your chance, Ruth Gilbert. You were warned. But you tossed aside our mercy. We’ve extended you charity time and again, and yet you spit in our face.”
“No,” Ruth cried, “I didn’t—”
“You betrayed us,” claimed a second voice. “Nephi told you our laws were not their laws. You’ve aided our women when they scorned the Principal. You, who have left the truth for a lie. You’ve brought the eye of the Gentiles to our community, and now they will descend upon us. What did you tell the sheriff in Silverton? ”
"Nothing!”
“You
lie
!” Cameryn heard what sounded like skin hitting skin. “She said your name. What did you tell them? ”
lie
!” Cameryn heard what sounded like skin hitting skin. “She said your name. What did you tell them? ”
“I—I only told them who Esther was. So my sister could have her daughter. But nothing more! I swear!”
“
Liar!
You have brought this upon yourself.”
Liar!
You have brought this upon yourself.”
Cameryn’s heart pumped against her ribs. Quickly, quietly, she made her way down the hall to where she assumed the master bedroom would be. The guess was correct. A picture of a shining building hung over the large bed, with lights illuminating granite like strobes. The floor creaked beneath her feet as she punched 911 into her phone, and she prayed they wouldn’t hear.
“This is 911. What is your emergency?” a female voice asked.
“I’m at 404 Sixth Street at the home of Ruth Gilbert,” Cameryn whispered into her BlackBerry. “There’s been a break-in. She’s being attacked! Send help—
please
! I think the men are armed.”
please
! I think the men are armed.”
Cameryn heard a loud crunch and a scream.
“You say there are intruders—”
Ruth screamed again and Cameryn felt her blood run cold. “Hurry,” she pleaded. “I have to go.” As the operator began to argue, Cameryn hung up her phone and turned it off. Up here, she was hidden and safe. But she knew it took on average five minutes for the police to come to a crime scene. Horrible things could happen in that amount of time. She heard a slap against skin and the wail of the baby’s cry.
The rough voice rang out again, “I got a call on my cell from the sheriff’s office askin’ about a Ruth Gilbert. That means you talked. Lucky for us we was already on our way here to pick up Esther’s body.” A riddled mass of nerves ran tight beneath Cameryn’s skin.
She’d
made this happen to Ruth!
She’d
made this happen to Ruth!
“It wasn’t me!” Ruth wailed. Her voice sounded thick. The denial was followed by another horrible thud.
“Who, then!” the voice demanded.
“No, Nephi—! ”
Another thump. “Who?”
“I don’t know! ”
A bang, this one like a blow from a hammer. “Give me a name if it wasn’t you.”
A choking sound, and then, “No one.”
“Liar. You was packin’ to leave. Do you think we’re stupid? Is that what you think? Your soul will be consigned to outer darkness. You are an agent of Satan.” This voice belonged to the second man. It was higher, thin and cold.
Cameryn heard whimpering and another horrible crash.
She almost jumped out of her skin when the phone rang, over and over, and she thought,
The police.
What if the dispatcher was calling back to make sure the case was real? What if, when there was no answer, they decided it was a hoax?
The police.
What if the dispatcher was calling back to make sure the case was real? What if, when there was no answer, they decided it was a hoax?
They were beating Ruth to death while Cameryn stood like stone. There was no time to wait. She would have to act.
“I’m begging you,” Ruth gasped.
“You Jezebel! You harlot! ” Nephi raged. A sound of flesh on skin, another pain-filled cry as Ruth began to weep.
“My—children! ”
“Are as filthy rags. You have left the life of truth. Now you will surely pay.”
No time left. Cameryn knew she had to move.
“Why do you think I sleep with a gun?”
Ruth had asked. Running her hands beneath the covers, she found nothing there. The floor squeaked again beneath her feet as she turned toward the nightstand. Ruth had left a reading lamp on, and in that light she gently, quietly, pulled open the drawer. Inside was a blue box marked COV-BAR .357 MAGNUM AMMO. And behind it was—the gun. When she raised it up, it felt as big as her arm, long and unwieldy. She laid it on the bed and then pulled out the box of bullets. Her hands were shaking so hard it was almost impossible to open it.
“Why do you think I sleep with a gun?”
Ruth had asked. Running her hands beneath the covers, she found nothing there. The floor squeaked again beneath her feet as she turned toward the nightstand. Ruth had left a reading lamp on, and in that light she gently, quietly, pulled open the drawer. Inside was a blue box marked COV-BAR .357 MAGNUM AMMO. And behind it was—the gun. When she raised it up, it felt as big as her arm, long and unwieldy. She laid it on the bed and then pulled out the box of bullets. Her hands were shaking so hard it was almost impossible to open it.
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