In the Event of My Death (9 page)

The Lewis sisters shrieked. The child wailed, clinging to his mother’s coat. Laurel took a step backward, not daring to go near Zeke in order to help Mary.

He fastened his wild eyes on her. “Laurel Damron, you purveyor of sin, ’In the morning you shall say, “Oh, that it were evening!” And at evening you shall say, “Oh, that it were morning!” because of the fear that terrifies your heart, and because of the sight which your eyes see—’”

The front door burst open again and Kurt along with another deputy surged into the store. Kurt glanced at Mary, then grabbed Zeke. The old man fought wildly, roaring threats of what the Lord would do to Kurt. Even at six two, nearly two hundred pounds, Kurt was having trouble restraining him. Finally he wrestled him into position and the other deputy cuffed him.

Kurt looked at Laurel. “You okay?”

“Yes, but Mary…”

“Call an ambulance.” Zeke Howard continued thrashing, although Laurel could see his energy was flagging. “Now, Laurel!”

She suddenly came alive again as she watched Kurt drag Zeke out the door toward the patrol car. She was barely aware of the customers flying from the store as soon as the car pulled away from the curb.

Before she could reach the phone, Norma ran from the workroom. “I’ve already called for an ambulance. I phoned the police as soon as he came in here ranting. Maybe I should have called the city police, but I immediately thought of Kurt…”

“Norma, you did exactly the right thing,” Laurel assured her. “I don’t know what might have happened if you hadn’t called Kurt.”

She, Penny, and Norma gathered around Mary. Penny wanted to lay Mary flat on the floor, but Laurel said she should not be moved. Blood poured from the back of Mary’s head and oozed from a dozen small cuts on her face and arms. She was alive, but Laurel had no idea how badly she was hurt. Mary’s head rested at an angle that made Laurel fear she had a broken neck.

Ten minutes later he paramedics arrived and did a quick examination. Mary’s blood pressure and heart rate were low. She was cold, in shock, her pupils dilated. Laurel couldn’t concentrate on what they were saying about vital signs. All she saw were Mary’s deadly white face and her limp body. The paramedics stabilized Mary’s neck, placed her on a stretcher, and rolled her out to the ambulance.

Her heart racing, Laurel told Norma and Penny to close the store for her and ran to her car, following the ambulance to the hospital.

1

All the way to the hospital Laurel kept replaying the scene at the store, wondering what she could have done differently to prevent Zeke from injuring Mary. She couldn’t think of anything. Even Kurt had trouble physically subduing the old man, who’d come there in a firry, determined to tell her of God’s wrath that awaited her. No one, not even Mary, could calm him.

But what had so enraged him? She’d only seen Zeke Howard a handful of times in her life, and then mostly around town. Faith had never wanted any of her friends to come to her house. Laurel had been there only once. Faith’s father embarrassed her and Laurel knew how desperately she’d longed to be free of his tyrannical control. Perhaps that’s why she’d been wild, why she’d jumped at the opportunity of doing every imprudent thing Monica came up with for the Six of Hearts, including experimenting with witchcraft.

Witchcraft. The Six of Hearts. Mary said her father had been going through Faith’s things and Laurel worried that Faith might have left a diary detailing the members of the Six of Hearts and their activities. Is that what had triggered Zeke’s visit and his prediction of doom for Laurel? Was he the one who had hung the funeral wreath? But he couldn’t have sent the pictures of Angela. Her murderer had done that, and Zeke couldn’t have made the trip to New York, found Angie, and wangled his way into her house. He wasn’t stable enough to manage the planning and stealth Angie’s murder required. Or was he?

Laurel parked and was heading toward the front door of the hospital when she passed a man. Distracted, she paid no attention until he asked, “Laurel?”

She looked at him. “Neil!”

“Twice in one day after thirteen years.”

“Yes.” Laurel went blank for a moment, then spoke in a rush. “We had an accident at the store. Well, not an accident. Zeke Howard came in ranting and raving. Mary tried to quiet him and he shoved her into some glass shelves. The police took Zeke away and an ambulance came for Mary. She was unconscious.” Until now she’d thought she was in control, but suddenly to her surprise she burst into tears. “Neil, I’m afraid Mary’s neck is broken.”

“Good God,” he breathed. He took her arm. “I’ll go back in with you.”

“You don’t have to.” She fumbled in her purse for a packet of tissues.

“If I were a real gentleman I’d offer you my handkerchief, but I don’t carry one.”

“That’s all right,” she sniffled, locating the tissues. “Really, you don’t have to stay with me. You’ve probably been here all afternoon with your father.”

“I have, but I’d just be going home to his dark, empty house. Besides, I don’t want to leave until I hear how Mary is.”

When they reached the waiting room in the emergency area, Neil steered her to a section of empty chairs, then went to the desk, telling the nurse they were waiting for news about Mary Howard’s condition. Of course it was far too early for the doctors to know anything. Neil glanced back in at her. To her embarrassment, Laurel couldn’t stop crying. He disappeared, then came back with two cups of coffee.

“I’ve had gallons of this stuff in the last week,” he said. “It’s so awful it’s guaranteed to distract you from crying.”

“Thank you.” It was black and she used milk, but she said nothing. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m usually not the weepy type.”

He sat down beside her. “You had a bad shock and you’re terrified that Mary is severely injured. I’d say that’s reason enough to cry.”

That’s not all I’m crying about, Laurel thought. I’m crying for Faith and Angie and myself. I feel guilty and scared and lost. She took a sip of coffee and grimaced. “You weren’t kidding about this stuff.”

“As my father used to say, ‘It’ll put hair on your chest.’”

“Great. That’s all I need.”

Neil grinned. “At least you still have your sense of humor.”

“Barely.”

After a moment Neil asked, “Why did Zeke Howard come to the store?”

“I don’t know. He burst in quoting a lot of Bible verses.”

“Well, that’s par for the course. I don’t think the man’s ever been able to hold a real conversation. All he ever did was quote.” Neil shook his head. “My parents were part of his congregation, you know. Well, my father was the devoted one. My mother just went along to keep down trouble. But their membership is the only reason Zeke let Faith date me. He thought I was safe because I was one of his flock.”

But you
weren’t
safe, Laurel thought. You got Faith pregnant.

Laurel could feel color creeping into her cheeks at the thought and asked quickly, “Where are you living now?”

“Carmel, California. I did live in Virginia, just outside of D.C., but I moved after my wife and son…died.”

He almost choked over the last word and averted his eyes.

“I’m sorry,” Laurel said. “I know that sounds inane, but—”

“What else is there to say?” Neil looked up at her again. “I keep thinking I’ll adjust to their being gone, but I haven’t, not even after ten months and a new home clear across the country.”

“I can’t imagine a loss like that. You have to give yourself more time.”

“I’m afraid it’s not a matter of giving myself anything. I either go on or I die.” She looked at him sharply. “Oh, I’m not suicidal. I think I was at first. Ellen was killed instantly in the car wreck, but Robbie lingered for nearly a week. The car exploded. They thought he might make it at first in spite of his burns, but infection set in. They couldn’t control it; then there was renal failure.”

“Oh, Neil, how awful for you.”

“Yeah, it was bad.” He seemed to withdraw completely into himself for a few moments. Laurel had the feeling that neither she nor any of his surroundings were real to him. He was lost to the horror of watching his son die. Then, in a flash, he returned. “I expected you to be married with a couple of kids by now.”

“So did my mother.” His abrupt change of tone and facial expression startled Laurel but she tried to sound casual. “So far I’ve left the marriage and children to my sister Claudia.”

“I remember her. She won all those beauty pageants.”

“She’s expecting her third child in about a month. I don’t think she feels like the beauty pageant queen anymore, but my parents are thrilled. They moved to Florida two years ago to be near her.”

“Do you miss them?”

“Yes.” The answer was automatic. She paused and responded more truthfully. “Sometimes I miss them. Most of the time I’m relieved they’re no longer hovering, trying to marry me off to any single man under sixty. I think they’re pretty disappointed in me.”

“Join the club. Mom died five years ago, but Dad has always been horrified, no joke intended, by what I write.”

“I’d think he’d be proud of your success.”

“He would be if I were writing books about history or religion. That’s acceptable. Horror isn’t.”

“I think your novels are wonderful.”

He looked at her in surprise. “You’ve read them?”

“Every one. The plots scare me silly and I usually end up awake until morning. Your writing style is excellent—almost poetic in your descriptive passages—and your characters are so vivid I feel like I know them.” Laurel realized she was gushing and ended lamely, “I’ve also seen the movies made from the first two books.”

“There’s another movie deal in the works now. I should be excited, but with all that’s happened…Anyway, I’m flattered you like my work.” He rose abruptly. “I’m going to check on Mary again.”

While she sat finishing her abominable coffee, Kurt strode into the waiting room. “How’s she doing?”

“I don’t know yet. Neil has gone to check.”

Kurt raised his black eyebrows. “Neil?”

“I ran into him in the parking lot. He’s been keeping me company while I wait for word on Mary.”

“What’s this weirdo doing?” Kurt demanded. “Following you around?”

“Kurt,
please
,” Laurel said, but it was too late. Neil had come back in the waiting room and heard him. His smile disappeared and his face closed, his gaze growing distant. “The doctor wants to speak to you, Laurel.” He didn’t look at Kurt. “I’ll be going now. Don’t worry about Mary, Laurel. I think she’s going to be fine.”

He turned and left immediately. Laurel was furious. She desperately needed to get an impression of Neil Kamrath’s personality. Miraculously she’d had two chances today, and Kurt had interrupted both times. She might not get the opportunity again. “Notice how he always takes off as soon as he sees me?” Kurt asked.

“No wonder,” Laurel snapped. “You act like a territorial Rottweiler.”

“I told you I don’t like the guy.”

“That’s your problem, not mine.
I
don’t have to be rude to someone just because
you
don’t like them.” Laurel stalked ahead of Kurt, who looked at her with bewildered dark eyes.

The doctor told her Mary had suffered a concussion but no skull fracture. She had several contusions and lacerations, the worst being a cut on the scalp that required ten stitches. At this point they’d found no injury to the neck. She had just regained consciousness. When Kurt asked if he could question her, the doctor said he would have to wait a couple of hours until they ran a few more tests and got her settled into a room.

“How long will she have to stay in the hospital?” Laurel asked.

“Unless there are complications, she’ll be going home tomorrow,” the doctor told her.

When he left, Laurel turned back to Kurt. “Where’s Zeke?”

“In jail on a disorderly conduct charge. Don’t worry—Mary’s safe from him tonight.” He smiled tentatively. “You want to get an early dinner while we wait until we can see Mary?”

“I’m sorry, Kurt, I can’t. I have to get back to the store. I left Penny and Norma there and I’m not sure they’ll lock up properly,” she lied. She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “I’ll talk with you later.”

2

Laurel
would
talk to Kurt later, but right now she needed to speak with Monica. She thought about stopping at home and asking Monica to come there, but this time she did fear Kurt might come by unexpectedly and she needed privacy.

She drove to the Wilson Lodge. Her last trip away from the lodge had been harrowing so she intended to leave before darkness fell. She parked and went to Monica’s room. Monica opened the door almost instantly. “Laurel! I was just going out.”

“Where?”

“A walk. I’m going stir crazy in this room.”

“I have to talk to you.” Laurel started in but Monica put a hand on her shoulder. “Let’s go to the dining room. I cannot bear sitting in this room another minute.”

“The dining room is too public.”

“Not at this hour. Come on.”

As Laurel trailed after her, she marveled at Monica’s ability to command. She was thirty years old and still doing what Monica told her with barely an argument. No wonder the other Six of Hearts had always done what she wanted.

The lodge was beautifully decorated for Christmas, but Laurel found the dining room particularly exquisite. Actually there were two rooms, the first containing sofas, wing chairs, a large stone fireplace, and a dazzling Christmas tree. The hostess led them down three levels to a table in front of a huge window overlooking rolling snow-covered knolls and Schenk Lake. A buffet was being served. Laurel, too upset to eat, took very little on her plate. She couldn’t help noticing that Monica heaped her own as if this were going to be her last meal. She must have fantastic metabolism to eat that way and stay so slim, Laurel thought.

Once they were seated, Monica looked at her expectantly. “What’s happened?”

“Several things.” Laurel glanced around to make certain no one was within earshot. “It started as soon as I left here last night.”

While she told Monica about being chased down the hill and her car rammed, Monica continued to eat steadily. When she reached the funeral wreath on her door, Monica’s pace slowed. By the time she’d finished with Neil Kamrath coming to the store and Zeke Howard slamming his daughter into the shelves, Monica had laid down her fork and stared.

“Laurel, my God, all of this is incredible! I’ve just been sitting around here taking calls from the office and watching television, and you’ve been through hell. You should have called me.”

“So you could do what? Subdue Zeke? Anyway, I survived. What I want to know is what you think of all this.”

“I think what happened last night with the car and the wreath means you’ve been singled out as the next victim.”

“Don’t sugar-coat it, Monica.”

“Are you going to tell me you don’t think the same thing?”

“No. I believe you’re right,” Laurel said flatly. She looked out the window. A layer of snow covered the knolls. A breeze rustled the few remaining dead leaves clinging to the trees. Ducks and swans floated serenely on the gray, cold lake. The scene suddenly struck her as unbearably lonely.

“Tell me about Neil Kamrath.”

Laurel pulled her gaze back to Monica. “He looks different than he did in high school. He’s taller and he must wear contacts. Those awful Coke-bottle glasses of his are gone. He’s very polished but sad, self-contained. I ran into him at the hospital. He was leaving after visiting his father when I arrived. He sat with me in the waiting room. He talked a bit about his wife’s and son’s deaths. Robbie, the child, lived a few days although he was badly burned. After they died, Neil moved to Carmel.”

“Sounds like he really opened up to you.”

“To a point. He’s very guarded. As soon as he says something revealing, he looks like he regrets it.”

“What’s your impression of his stability?”

“I’m not sure. His wife and son were in a wreck. The car exploded. The wife died instantly, but the child lingered, horribly burned. I keep thinking about that—fire. It may have triggered something about Faith. He seems calm, like he’s trying very hard to deal with it all, but he’s clearly a deeply troubled soul.”

“Zeke Howard is, too,” Monica said.

“Zeke is crazy. And
strong
. And he came to the store to recite the Bible verses about destruction to
me
.”

“Are you sure he wasn’t just predicting damnation for everyone? He was always doing that, the damned loon. Remember how embarrassed Faith was by him?”