Cry Baby Hollow (20 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Aubrey got home
around two, grateful that she had been able to salvage at least a partial victory from the incident. She had citations for speeding and failing to update her license and registration in a timely manner, but she also had her car. She got Drake settled and went straight to her computer. Her inbox was fu
ll, but she ignored it, accessing the network and pulling up the security system. She looked at the little icons of manila file folders in disbelief. Everything from the day they found Noah’s body back was missing. She checked and double checked. She pulled up the external hard drive that held the files and checked it. It wasn’t even close to being full. She checked the security system logs and confirmed that it had only been breached once, the afternoon they found the body. That had been Joe, looking for a beer.

She called Matt and explained the situation. She meant to be as brief as possible but ended up having to tell him about the mailbox incident and how badly Celestine Wynn had wanted the pictures she’d threatened them with. That led to an explanation of who Celestine was and a great deal of speculation about why she wanted the footage. When she got to the part where the security system had only been triggered once and it was Joe, Matt’s voice went cold and professional. She assured him that it couldn’t have been Joe who erased the photos and hoped he would leave it at that, but of course he didn’t.

She pointed out that Joe had been with her when she saw the person on the dock and Matt countered that an alibi for that night was worthless, since they had no real idea when Noah had been killed. She told him that Joe lacked the technical expertise to go in and erase files and Matt pointed out that he was a college professor and probably had at least a cursory knowledge of computers. Was hers password protected?

Well, it sure as hell is now
, she thought with a grimace.

Joe had called over to Vina’s as soon as the alarm went off and she’d given him the code over the phone and gone right over. How long had he been in the cabin alone? Surely not long enough to figure out the system and erase the files. Matt said he would send over a technician to see if the perpetrator had left any trace behind and hung up. Probably to go run a background check on Joe, Aubrey thought with a sigh.

She caught up
on work and then went and got changed for a run. She’d promised not to run in the woods anymore, but did that promise hold if he’d rifled her computer files? She decided it probably did, at least until she had some proof. She clipped Drake to his leash and set out around the lake road.

Drake was as good as Joe had said. He ran right beside her, never tired, never straying from her side to chase a squirrel. Mosley looked up from his garage when she ran past but the sight of a hundred and thirty pound dog at her side must have dissuaded him, because he didn’t even stir from his couch. She ran past Vina’s and then made a point of stopping to chat with every single resident on the road who came out to greet her. She introduced them all as friends and made sure Drake understood. The last thing she needed was Rose stopping by for a cup of sugar and getting mauled.

When they arrived back, she took her phone out onto the dock and sat on the end, pulling off her shoes and letting her feet dangle in the deliciously cool water. Drake glanced from her to the water and back, a look of abject longing written plainly on his face.

“Sure,” she told him.

He looked at her harder, as if not believing it could be that easy.

“Go on,” she told him, reaching her hand in and splashing him playfully. “It’s hot and you’re wearing a fur coat.”

He needed no further encouragement. He dove off the dock, sending a deluge of icy water cascading over Aubrey. She sputtered, but took it in stride. She was hot enough herself and it would help to have a cool head for the call she was about to make.

She dialed Joe’s number, still unsure of what she was going to say to him.

“Hey!” He answered cheerfully. “How’s our boy?”

“He’s doing laps around the lake,” Aubrey told him.

“Awesome. I bet if we get some tennis balls, we can play a mean game of fetch with him between our docks. You doin’ anything this weekend?”

“I don’t have anything planned.”

“You okay? You sound a bit out a sorts,” he said, his voice suddenly serious and concerned.

“I went to look at the security pictures today…”

“Shit fire! I forgot all about those. You get anything?”

Aubrey hesitated. He sounded sincere enough, but she decided she had to know.

“They’re missing. They were all erased.”

“I thought you said that thing could hold a month’s worth. It hasn’t been anything like that long…”

“No, I mean someone erased them.”

“Aw, hell. Somebody hacked into your network?”

“I have to physically connect the security system to the network to access it, its wireless to the cameras but not my laptop. I think they had to have access to the house to do it.”

“Has your system gone off?”

“Only the once.”

He made a groaning noise. “My ears are still ringin’ from that. You could a warned me. Wait...” He paused. “You don’t mean you think that I…?”

“You’re the only other person who knows the code, Joe.”

“I wouldn’t know where to start, and why would I even if I did?”

“I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking you about it.”

Drake came up on the shore beside the dock and gave a mighty shake, sending water everywhere. He ran back up onto the dock and dove in again.

“I can get someone from my department to call you and swear I can’t even check my email without one of the grad student’s help. I think you should have a professional look at your system,” Joe told her. “Surely there’s a way they can tell it wasn’t me.”

“There’s someone coming tomorrow.”

“Well, there you go then,” he said, sounding relieved. They chatted for a while about trivialities and then Aubrey said she needed to get Drake dry and hung up, feeling like she had betrayed him by asking about it and yet still suspicious.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

The day was
creeping toward evening and Aubrey realized she hadn’t eaten since breakfast at Joe’s and was starving. There was nothing in her fridge and she knew that if she drove to the Food Lion or Sonic she was likely to get another slew of tickets. She decided mooching a sandwich off Vina would be less stressful. She called Drake in and took a shower.

Gathering up her stun gun, maglight, and cell phone, she put on Drake’s leash and
headed out. It was a beautiful evening. Even though the sky was still light, a crescent moon hung low above the hills and the stars had already begun to come out. Wayne ignored her as she passed his place and she could hear an announcer for some sporting event booming out a blustery commentary. She listened while she was in range and decided it must be wrestling or one of those cage fighting things that men seemed to enjoy so much.

She arrived at Vina’s, rang the doorbell, and pulled Drake to the side so he wouldn’t get smacked. Vina opened the door and looked down at the dog.

“He looks wet,” she told Aubrey.

“He had a swim but he’s mostly dry now.”

“Mostly isn’t the same as dry on account of it means still a little wet. Take him around back and I’ll bring you a drink.” She slammed the door.

Aubrey walked around the house and climbed up onto the back porch.

“Wait here,” she told Drake, dropping his leash. She went in the back door and joined Vina in the kitchen.

“Can I make myself a sandwich?” Aubrey asked. “I don’t have any food at my place and I was afraid to drive to town.”

“Help yourself,” Vina told her, pouring out two drinks. “I’ll pick you up around ten and take you to the DMV in Morristown. Mo says you don’t have to pay the fine on the license and registration if you get it fixed within thirty days.”

“Thanks,” Aubrey smiled as she slapped together a tuna on toast. Vina might not be the most affectionate person on the planet, but she certainly took care of her own.

“How’s Joe?” Vina asked cagily.

“He’s great,” Aubrey told her, hoping it was true. “Did you know he teaches at the university?”

“Of course I know. You think I’d fix you up with a guy who cuts grass for a living just because he’s got a nice butt?” she scoffed. “I haven’t cut my own grass in forty years and every one of the men who’s done it for me has been hot, hot, hot. I ever encourage you to sleep with any a them?”

“No,” Aubrey admitted.

“Well, there you go,” Vina told her, taking the drinks out onto the porch. Aubrey followed with her sandwich and a bowl of water for Drake. As soon as she’d eaten, Vina pulled a deck of cards from some hidden pocket of her pink flowered housedress and dealt.

“Gin?” Vina asked belatedly.

“Sure,” Aubrey agreed.

“I’d call Germaine to come over but she’s taken Paloma to night school to learn English on account of those migrant workers we went to see in Bybee don’t even speak Mexican. Who’d a figured on that? Apparently they’re from Texas and have been here forever. I told ‘em my people came here before the first European’s and we still speak the old language. You gotta remember your heritage.”

“You speak Melungeon?” Aubrey asked in disbelief, arranging her cards into groups.

“Mulungeon ain’t the old language. Mulungeons just pidgin.” Vina told her. “
Bainugela non da?
That’s the old language.”

“What did you say?” Aubrey asked, certain that she’d just made the phrase up on the spot.

“I asked where the bathroom was,” Vina told her. “At my age that’s the most important question in any language. Now we gonna chat or we gonna play cards?”

She beat Aubrey for five straight hands and then let Aubrey win one, making sure she knew it. That was Vina’s way of making someone feel better.

“You want a ride home?” Vina asked, looking out at the darkness.

“I’ve got Drake and my stun-gun,” Aubrey told her. “I’ll be fine.”

“Suit yourself,” Vina told her. “But if you get your head ripped off, don’t come crying to me.”

“I won’t,” Aubrey promised.

She picked up Drake’s leash and pulled out her flashlight.

“Ten o’clock,” Vina reminded her. “I’ll pick you up.”

Aubrey waved and set out. The evening was clear and peaceful and the sound of the frogs and crickets was soothing. Drake pranced beside her and tugged on his leash. At first Aubrey thought he wanted her to go faster, but he hadn’t behaved like this on the walk over. She realized what his problem was and reached down to unhook his leash. He trotted eagerly over to the roadside, sniffed at the weeds there, and lifted a leg.

Aubrey waited patiently, her eyes politely averted, until she heard his low, rumbling growl. She turned and saw him standing perfectly still, tail down, hackles raised, looking into the woods.

“Drake, come,” she hissed, pulling her stun-gun out and pointing her flashlight at the trees.

He backed slowly toward her, never dropping his gaze. Then Aubrey heard it too. There was crashing in the woods, like something large coming toward them.

“Drake,” she urged. “Come!”

He froze and bared his teeth, growling again. Aubrey lunged forward and snapped his leash on, terrified that if he decided to go after something in the woods, she’d never find him.

Something crashed through the last of the underbrush and came out onto the road a dozen feet ahead of them. Drake ignored it, continuing to stare at the roadside, but Aubrey brought her light around and froze.

Caught in the beam of light, wide-eyed and covered in scratches and mud, was a young girl. She was naked, Aubrey realized, and couldn’t be more than thirteen. He breasts were mere buds and she was painfully thin. Her hair was a wild tangle matted with twigs and leaves.

“Oh my god,” Aubrey breathed. She took a step toward the girl and held out her hand. “Are you alright?”

The girl looked at her for a moment and then seemed to see Aubrey for the first time. Aubrey thought she looked drugged.

“Are you alright?” The girl parroted in a mocking singsong voice. Her face broke into a horrible grin. Her teeth were dark with scum and terribly crooked.

Drake barked and Aubrey pulled her eyes away from the girl and pointed her flashlight at the woods he was watching. Standing amid the trees, she saw at least three more girls. They were all naked, all grinning like mad women. Unlike their young friend, they all had painfully white teeth that shone out like beacons from their dirt smeared faces. Aubrey judged the oldest to be sixteen.

“What’s going on?” She demanded.

“What’s going on?” The girl on the road repeated in that same eerie voice. Aubrey swung the light back to where she had been, but the girl was gone. Drake strained at the leash and growled again. Aubrey looked back to the girls in the trees but they too had vanished, melting away into the darkness. She heard a coyote howl in the distance and shivered.

“Good boy,” she patted Drake’s flank and rubbed his ears. “Such a good boy.” They ran all the way home.

As soon as
she got in the door, Aubrey set the security system and called Vina.

“There are naked girls running around in the woods!”

“Is it August already?” Vina asked.

“Not for a few more days,” Aubrey told her. “Why? Is August naked girl in the woods month?”

“Yup,” Vina told her. “They must just be practicing.”

“Practicing what?!?”

“Witchcraft.”

“There are witches in the hills?”

“They aren’t real,” Vina told her brusquely, as if the idea of teenage girls running around naked playing at
fake
black magic were okay. “It’s just a bunch of kids who checked out a library book and think it’s cool to be evil.”

“At least one of them was really young, probably not even a teenager. Shouldn’t we try to find out who she is and tell her parents?”

“If her parents gave a damn about her they wouldn’t let her out unsupervised this time of night,” Vina pointed out. “I called ‘em in for trespassing the first few years they started this crap, but they’re all minors. The cops don’t give a shit. Their parent’s don’t give a shit. So what’s it to me if they wanna cavort with Satan? It’s freedom of religion. Of course, you ask me that shouldn’t apply if your religion is stupid, but try telling that to your congressman.”

“So August is cavort with Satan month?”

“It’s just because of the Lammas.”

“Ok, I went along with the woods containing psychopaths, endangered wolves, dead bodies, and even fake witches, but llamas? Tell me you’re joking.”

“Not the animal you idiot. It’s l-a-m-m-a-s. It’s some kind of festival in August. They dance around and paint each other with mud or something.”

Aubrey sighed.

“Is there anything else I should know? Is September pretend-you’re-a-zombie month?”

“That’s October. You gonna help me decorate for the party? What are you going as anyway?”

“I haven’t decided yet.” Vina’s Halloween parties were the stuff of legend. People started sending her gifts months ahead of time hoping for an invitation. Aubrey had never actually been in town for one, but she’d seen the pictures and heard the stories her whole life.

“You gotta get on the ball. I’ve already been working on mine for months.”

“I’ll think about it and get back with you.”

“I got a spare severed head from last year if you need it, though I guess maybe you’ve had your fill of those for this year.”

“Yeah,” Aubrey said with a grimace.

“You should get with Joe. You guys could do one of those cutesy couple’s costumes and then go home and role-play.”

On that happy note, Aubrey hung up and got ready for bed. She cranked open one of the little windows in the loft so she could listen to the crickets and the frogs in hopes that they would drown out the rising note of hysteria in her thoughts. Witches? What was next? Bigfoot?