September Wind (45 page)

              Rose stepped in front of him and looked him squarely in the face. “What’s wrong, Father?”

             
He leaned back against the car, folded his arms, looking miserable. “So, Emily. Remember our discussion about the custody being turned over from Doctor Barnes to the police?”

“Yes, I remember.”

              “
Well, it’s in effect at six tonight. I just put a call in to Donna and she said that someone has already arrived at her place.”

Rose took Emily’s hand. “I tried to talk Mother into letting me go, but she doesn’t want me to miss school. You know, college and all.”

              “And don’t forget Emily,” he added, “Adah will be there in the morning to ride along with you to the airport.” He pulled himself from the car, adjusting the rear view mirror. “As soon as I drop you off, I’m afraid I’m going to have to head to the boat.”

Rose slipped an arm around Emily. “I’ll call every night.”

              “
You guys. Stop this,” Emily said. “I’ve accepted what’s about to happen. I’m ready to go. Really, I am.” Though she was far from ready, she couldn’t stand to see them fumbling around trying to make her feel better.

* * * *

At five-thirty the next morning, Emily woke to a loud banging. She slipped from her bed and went to the front door. Donna came from the kitchen, and when she saw who it was, she headed back in.

“Surprise,” Rose said. “I’m going with you.”

“Now don’t tease me.”

Rose picked up her suitcase and set it inside. “What do ya think this is?”

Emily looked around Rose out to the street. “Where’s Adah?”

“She’s already gone. You’re stuck with me.” She wrapped an arm around her shoulders and they headed for the bedroom.

              Rose made the bed while Emily dressed and then finished packing. Then Rose lay back across the top covers.

             
“
What changed your mother’s mind?”

             
“
About me going? Well… Right after you left yesterday, her and Grandmother got into a heated discussion. Thank God, Grandmother won. Like I was telling you at the picnic, Mother’s always concerned about my college plans. Already decided I’m going to Wilberforce. That’s the college Aunt Bernice graduated from. Father thought of going too, but then… Guess he had another calling.”

             
“
Fishing.”

             
“
Yeah, I think it pulled him back. That was after he… well, after he met your mother.”

             
“
He told me how they met, but not how he ended up in Illinois.”

             
“
Let me see, I think… yeah he was nineteen at the time. He was still thinking about his future when he got word of a farmer in Illinois who was looking for help. I think he was looking for some excitement when he hitchhiked across country. He got there too late though and that’s when he ended up on your grandfather’s farm.”

“And met my mother. So, did he ever make it?”

              “
You mean to college? Nah. After he left Illinois he got the job working on his uncle’s fishing boat, and he’s done that ever since. He loves the sea.”

             
“
I guess that’s the important thing. Have you decided what you’re going to study?”

“
I’m leaning toward lawyer, maybe even politics, I’m not sure yet. Oh, that reminds me, last night your lawyer called and told Father there’s a couple that’s going to let us stay in an apartment above their garage. There’s a kitchenette. And they’re even going to bring up a television. Hey. We can whip up a tuna casserole, maybe a chocolate cake for dessert, and then watch
Wagon Train
.”

Emily picked up a handful of socks from the bed and gently placed them into a suitcase. “You make it sound like a vacation.” She smiled at Rose. “But then again, it does sound like fun.”

              “
That’s the spirit, Sis. Say, speaking of food, I think I smell bacon.”

             
“Go on and eat. I’ll be right in.”

             
Five minutes later, Emily walked from her bedroom with the same bag she’d carried on her journey from Illinois, along with a small suitcase her father bought her.               When she placed the luggage next to Rose’s, she noticed there wasn’t a sound from the kitchen. It was too quiet, and it was nerve-racking. Her grandmother use to say that you could always tell when a storm was brewing by the uncanny calm in the air.

             
“Better come eat some breakfast!” Donna called.

             
“
I’m not really hungry,” Emily said as she walked in. The two women sat at the table. Donna had pulled some magazines and diagrams for the backyard makeover, and Rose was eating and looking them over. The officer leaned against the counter, drinking coffee.

“Let me dish you up a little something, anyway,” Donna said, moving to get up.

“No, that’s all right. I’ve got it.”

             
Donna settled back, and Emily filled her cup then stood against the counter, kitty corner from the officer. She glanced at him several times, hoping for a smile or something to ease the tension. They
were
going to be together for the next six or seven hours so, why not? She noticed his nametag read
Douglas
.

He glanced at his watch, pulled a card from a pocket, flipped it over, and then stuck it back in. He sipped his coffee, looked at his watch again, but never at her.

Finally, he set his coffee down, stepped from the counter, and looked at Emily without really looking at her. “Time to go.”

             
Donna got up, and cleared a few things off the table, touching Emily’s shoulder as she passed. Rose jumped up and went to her, put an arm around her as they walked to the front door and picked up their suitcases.

             
“
You’ll do just fine,” Donna said, as they headed up the sidewalk. “Just remember all the people that believe in you.”

             
Emily looked back as she got in the car. She always laughed to herself at how tough Donna came across; but it was obvious her heart was made of gold. “Thanks, I’ll remember that.”

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

They walked into the terminal at the San Francisco airport where they would catch a flight to the Midway airport in Chicago. When their flight departure was announced, Officer Douglas escorted the girls outside, ordering them to stay back until all the other passengers were onboard.

Emily stood on the tarmac staring at the plane, with an arm wrapped around her bag. She felt the notebook through the cloth and thought of the bird on the cover with its beautiful white wings like soft pillows waiting, always waiting, to carry her from her troubles.

             
As the last passenger headed up the steps, Emily felt beside her. “Let’s go,” he said. “We don’t have all day.”

Rose took her hand, and Emily felt the tension and the sweat in her palm. It warmed her and yet made her feel sad to see how hard her sister was trying to help keep her spirits up.

             
“
You know, Rose,” she said, looking up at the white plane with its red and blue strips. “I’ve always wondered what it would be like to ride on one of those.” Her throat was so dry it didn’t come out as cheerful as she intended.

             
Rose looked over, raising her brows. “Oh, me too, me too.” She gave Emily’s hand a squeeze, and they smiled at one another, stretching their lips out as far as they would go.

The officer motioned Rose to go first, and then followed Emily up the steps. Inside, the plane was like a tunnel, not exactly cozy, leaning toward cramped, everyone already seated, staring at the trio as they passed. The tension was overwhelming, and Emily figured Rose must have felt it too because all of a sudden she whipped around and grabbed her by the elbow.

              “
This won’t be so bad,” she whispered happily. “I hear there’s a snack once we’re up in the air.”

“That’ll be nice,” Emily said, trying to sound even more excited. “And it’s free... well for me anyway.” Another big smile.

              “
The important thing is that we’re sharing the experience together, don’t you think?” Rose bent to get a better look out the window. “And on such a beautiful day.”

Emily cringed to think how she would be reacting if Rose hadn’t come along. She cracked another smile when she realized how much they were alike, trying to make the best of things, and joking around, pretending they didn’t want to cry.

“All right you two, all the way to the back,” the officer said.

They exchanged a
what-a-grouch
look and kept walking.

When they reached the last row, Rose offered Emily the window seat, and Officer Douglas sat across the aisle.

As a stewardess laid out safety procedures, the engines rumbled to a start. The cabin was silent except for the whine of motors and the purr of fans as they taxied from the building. They slowed, turned into position, and then stopped
.

Emily leaned toward the window as they began to move again, quickly picking up speed, the world passing in streaks and flickers. Then the plane lifted, moving swiftly, further from the earth until they leveled and the roar of the engines faded to a hum.

The stewardesses began to move carts up the aisle.

             
“
Emily?” Rose nudged her. “You okay?”

Emily stared out the window a moment longer then leaned back in her seat. “I’m going to jail.”

“No, you’re not.”

             
“
I don’t know, Rose. On the way up, I realized they must really want me bad.” She looked over at Officer Douglas. “Him, and then this plane ride almost all the way across the entire country. Would they go to all this trouble if they didn’t want me there?”

             
“Oh, come now, you can’t think that way. Listen, let’s talk about something nice. I know. Why don’t you tell me about the guy you met on the train?”

They began to talk then, and laugh a little too, until Emily almost forgot what was waiting for her at the other end
.

As they neared their destination, they succumbed to lack of sleep and dozed.

              When the plane took a sudden descent, Emily opened her eyes and leaned to the window as they careened over the landscape, closer and closer to the ground until the wheels hit the runway. The earth passed in a blur, and gravity set her up in her seat. The engines groaned as they slowed. They made a turn and began to taxi toward the buildings.

             
Officer Douglas stood and motioned for Emily to stay seated.

When the engines died, an eerie calm filled the cabin as everyone stood, quietly gathering their belongings.

Emily closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Rose? There’s a storm coming. I can feel it in my bones.”

             
Rose patted her knee. “It’ll be all right.” But Emily heard the uneasiness in her voice.

             
They had barely entered the terminal when two police officers approached. One of them stood next to Emily and the other stepped in front of Officer Douglas.               “We’re here to pick up Emily Rezell?” he said.

             
Officer Douglas handed over a folder. “She’s all yours.” He gave the girls a stern nod and then strolled off.

             
Before Emily knew what was happening, one of the officers grabbed her bags. The other one swung her arms around to the front, and handcuffed her.

             
Rose tried to work her way in, but one of the officers pushed her out of the way. “Stand back, Ma’am.”

“Well, you don’t need to cuff her.”

              They were moving toward the door now, and Rose followed them to the exit. “What do you think she’s gonna to do, run off after coming this far?”

             
Emily looked back, attempting a smile as they hauled her across the street to a waiting police car.

Rose stood, holding the door open. “You don’t have to treat her like a criminal… you… you, imbeciles!” She let the door close then pushed it back open. “Don’t worry, Emily, I’ll call your lawyer!”

* * * *

             
Emily sat in the back seat of the police car as they headed south out of Chicago. She was too shocked to cry, or maybe it was the anger at the way the men had handcuffed her and taken her from the building as if she were less than human. Once in the car they had gone through her bag while she watched frustrated and feeling helpless and personally violated. She wondered if they actually thought they’d find a knife or something.

             
She looked up at the two in the front seat, chatting as if they were on their way to a party. And then it struck her that they were acting on what they were told, most likely that she had murdered a poor innocent man with a pitchfork as he was going about his morning chores. Just doing their job
.

As they neared Watseka, the misery settled in her belly and knotted up like a ball of steel. She wished she could poke her head out the window and let the breeze whip across her face.

She leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes, imagining a long drink of brandy sizzling against the roof of her mouth and around her tongue, sliding down her throat like a cool hand that would loosen the tether on the way down, spreading its joy to every cell and pore of her being.

When they came to the corner that would have taken them to the grocery store, they took a left and sped to the other side of town, onto Walnut, past the courthouse, and then into a parking lot.

              One of the officers left with her folder, and the other rushed her inside a building into a cold, dingy room with only a table, a couple of stools, and several chairs. He removed her handcuffs, and then left her alone. She sat at the table, so nervous her stomach was turning somersaults.

             
Finally, the door flew open and a man around thirty or so burst in, wiping his forehead with a hanky, out of breath and puffing like a steam engine as he scrambled over. His coat sleeves hung to his knuckles, and his shirt buttons were in danger of popping over his slightly ample mid-section. His tie was in disarray, and his sandy hair was tousled and in need of a trim.

The police officer who brought her in stepped into the room and took a stool against the wall. “Well... Mr. Dillard, nice you could make it.”

              The young lawyer nodded, stuffed the hanky into his coat pocket, and then pulled out a chair. “Hello, Emily,” he said, struggling to catch a good breath. “I’m Ryan Dillard.” He shook her hand then took a seat. “I’m sorry I couldn’t make it sooner, but I just now managed to escape from the courthouse.”

“I’m just glad that you’re here.”

“
Yeah, well, me too.” He moved closer, resting his elbows on the table. “As you know, I’ve been hired by your father to represent you. So the first thing I’ll need is to get some information. We’ll talk later,” he nodded toward the officer, “after this gentleman is finished with you. Also, I want to remind you not to say a word about the case to anyone but me. You do understand that, don’t you?”

             
“
Yes, yes, I do.”

             
“Okay, good.” He leaned closer, lowering his voice “I’m going to use everything in my power to have you out of here in a couple hours.” He stood, tapping the table. “I’ll be seeing you very soon.”

             
After Ryan Dillard left, the officer finished admitting Emily, then turned her over to a female officer.

“Step over here,” she barked, motioning to her bag.

Emily’s knees trembled as she walked over. “Th-they already searched it.”

             
“
Come on. Let’s have it.”

Emily stepped forward, handing over her bag.

Then she was taken to an even smaller room where she was put through a needless search.

             
She barely noticed the hand on her elbow as she was steered to her cell. The door closed behind her and she stood gaping at the bleak surroundings. The walls were green and the cot was cold iron with only a gray wool blanket tucked so tight she figured she would have to wrestle it free to crawl in. She walked over and spread herself across the cot, closed her eyes, and waited.

For the next hour, she didn’t let herself think for fear she would burst into tears and never stop. There was no way to stop the sounds of footsteps, murmurs, and clanging doors.

Then she heard her cell door open. Her eyes popped open and she stood, ready to leave. When she saw the look on Ryan’s face, she sank back to the cot.

             
She already guessed what he was going to say. “I’m sorry, Emily. I’m really sorry, but… you’re going to have to stay here until after court tomorrow.” He pulled out a handkerchief, wiping his forehead. “This is so difficult.”               He took a breath and stepped toward her. “You see, the judge is concerned because you’ve been a fugitive for so long. You know, for most people, running is a sign of guilt.”

             
Emily clutched her hands in her lap, trying to steady her voice. “I... I thought of going to the police. But I didn’t think they’d believe me.”

“Your father told me Claude raped you. Is that what was happening when you killed him?”

“
Well, not at the moment. But he did... before. And then after that, he just expected it.”

“Did he threaten you that day?”

Emily wrapped her arms across her chest, shivering. “See... I-I was trying to run away that morning, and... Well… when he tried to stop me. I...” She knew if she told how she had beckoned Claude to turn around, making him think that they would…
No, it just didn’t sound right. How could she make anyone understand?

“Did you put the pitchfork into his chest?”

              Emily looked up, shocked.

             
“
I’m sorry, but I’m just trying to prepare you.”

             
She nodded. “I-I was trying to scare him off, and he charged at me. All of a sudden... i-i-it just happened.”

             
Ryan looked down at his notes. “I see you turned eighteen just prior to the incident. In the court of law, that makes you an adult.” His voice was low and thoughtful. “So it seems odd that you would be
running
away.”

“It’s probably hard for you to understand, but Grandfather thought it was my duty to take care of him and my uncles for the rest of their lives.”

              “
And then there was Claude too, right? From what I’ve heard, he was a distant cousin of your grandfather’s?”

             
“
Well, yes, him too. I never really understood the relationship between my grandfather and him. They didn’t speak of it. All I know is that sometimes he was called Cousin Claude.”

             
Ryan set his notebook on the cot and took a seat, leaning so that he looked down at the floor. “Tell me, Emily, what it was like living on the farm.”