A Catch in Time Read online

  “I think he is,” Laura said slowly. “Ever since I saw Shaitan in Samuel’s eyes and realized it could be hidden, I started seeing Lucas as Shaitan …” Her voice trailed away.

  “I know.” Keeping his full weight on his good leg, Josiah arranged the crutch under his arm. He stood close to Laura, his voice low. “We can’t do anything unless we’re certain. Even then,” his voice softened, “a piece of you wonders if he could be helped, if we could get rid of the Shaitan and keep the kid.”

  Her heart leaped. She’d barely acknowledged that thought herself. Did Josiah have some kind of hope? Eagerly, she looked at him. “Could we?”

  “You’re the kindest person I’ve ever met, Laura. But we’re not in a kind world. Never have been. If he’s Shaitan, he has to die.” He touched her cheek gently with one forefinger.

  Laura lowered her head. Her cheek tingled where his touch had trailed.

  As they entered the kitchen, sounds funneled down the hallway: Kate urging Donna, Donna’s muffled response, drawers opening and closing. Josiah seated himself at the table and Laura began preparing lunch. Donna hurried into the kitchen, Kate on her heels.

  “Don’t forget to sign out for a leave of absence,” instructed Kate, holding Donna’s coat. “And do it before your shift ends, not when you get there.”

  “What’s the difference?” Donna asked.

  “That way,” explained Kate, “there won’t be time for them to try to juggle schedules. They’ll just have to work with what you put down.”

  “But—”

  “Come straight home for our celebration,” Kate rattled on. “A nice big turkey with all the fixin’s.”

  Donna smiled. “Sounds good, Sister Kate.”

  Kate opened the refrigerator, snatched a bag out, and shoved it into Donna’s hands. “Lunch. Now hurry.” She hustled Donna out the door.

  Kate watched from the doorway as Donna trotted to the jeep and climbed in. She waved as the jeep rolled down the steep driveway, taillights flashing. Then Kate—chin down, head cocked—stood at the door for an entire minute.

  Laura noticed Kate’s stillness, and glanced at Josiah. He, too, was watching Kate, his eyes hooded. Seconds passed.

  Kate suddenly spun to face them.

  Laura jumped. “What?” she exclaimed involuntarily.

  Kate grinned. “We’re outta here.” In three steps, she was at the table, pulling papers from her back pocket and slapping them on its surface. “I got them. Her papers, the scouting permit. We’ll be eight hours gone by the time she gets back.”

  Laura was stunned. All these weeks, while she’d been resigning herself to the burden of Donna and Samuel, Kate had been planning on leaving them?

  She grabbed Kate’s arm. “We can’t leave her.”

  Kate’s expression turned to stone.

  “She’s depending on us,” Laura pleaded. “Kate, please. We can’t abandon her. She’s given us—”

  Kate wrenched her arm from Laura’s grip, refolded the precious papers, and shoved them into her back pocket. “How much do you think she’ll trust us, once she knows we’ve been lying? The whole shit-line I’ve been feeding her? She’d turn on us so fast it’d make your head spin.

  “We gotta get out of here alive, Laura, and stay alive once we’re out. I’m not going to risk taking her crazy ass and that Shaitan of hers.”

  “She’s not crazy—you said so yourself.”

  “Look.” Kate leaned into Laura’s face. “She can’t even see that her own kid’s dangerous. Every time he has a tantrum, it’s right there in his eyes. And she’s hard-line religion. Evil. Satan. Hellfire—it’s all real to her. She’s been going along with all those … sacrifices … that she’s sure are sending the unholy directly into heaven—and why? To save her mortal ass and her cave-Shaitan. How the fuck is she going to atone for that? I’m thinking that once she finds out we’re phonies, we might look like a good bargaining chip with God. I’ll be damned if I’ll let that happen.”

  Laura and Kate stared at each other. “You can’t know that’s what’s going to happen. We shouldn’t just walk out on her, it’s not right.”

  “Get over it,” Kate suggested gruffly. “We’re saving ourselves.”

  Their gazes locked. You should know about saving yourself, Kate, you abandoned your own sister, Laura thought. And Kate’s face abruptly became hard, as though she’d seen Laura’s thought. Laura lowered her eyes, unable to retract what hadn’t been spoken.

  “Let’s move,” Kate said harshly. She brushed past Laura.

  Josiah patted Laura’s shoulder. “It’s not a kind world, Laura.” He went after Kate.

  The Suburban was packed. The backseat had been flipped forward and its backrest was poised to be lowered so that it would be flush with the rear compartment. Once it was down, the shallow space beneath it would be barely large enough for Laura and Lucas to lie hidden, squeezed together.

  They would travel on I-80 east to Winnemucca, through flat desert, past a border manned by the Brotherhood. At Winnemucca, they would take Highway 227 northwest into the southeastern tip of Oregon, then cut back down into California. It was a long detour, but the road to Carson City was heavily patrolled and the route west, over Donner Pass, was where Donna worked.

  Standing by the SUV, Laura dreaded being confined beneath the seat. What was taking Kate so long? Luring Samuel to his room with a box of cookies should have been easy.

  Josiah came out into the brightness, holding his unused crutch in one hand. Under one arm he had his sleeping bag and, under the other, a bag of food. Laura noted improvement in the way he moved with his prosthetic.

  “What’s Kate doing?” she asked.

  “Filling some extra water jugs,” replied Josiah. “It’s going to be stuffy under that seat. You going to be all right?”

  “Do I have a choice?”

  “Guess not.” He stepped closer to her. “Laura,” he said, and she heard the gentle lowering of his voice she’d often noticed when he spoke to her. Her heartbeat quickened. Because of their one night together? Or did he think her more fragile than the others? Kind, he’d said. Was that all she meant to him?

  “I know how badly you feel about leaving Donna,” Josiah continued, “but Kate’s right; there’s too much risk. And Donna’s plan of splitting us up is no good. This way’s better.”

  Laura guiltily looked away. For all her championing of Donna, she did feel relief. She hadn’t wanted the burden of Donna and Samuel.

  Kate hurried from the house with plastic jugs that she placed in the rear of the Suburban. She banged back doors shut. “Let’s roll,” she said, then yelled, “Lucas. Let’s go!” They all looked at the corner of the house, around which Lucas should appear.

  “Lucas!” Kate called again sharply. Muttering a curse, she trotted toward the backyard. They heard her shout his name once more. Moments later she reappeared, white with fury.

  “The little asshole,” she cursed.

  “What—” Laura began.

  “Gone,” Kate spat. “Hiding—whatever. Fuck! Come on, let’s go.”

  Josiah hit the roof of the Suburban with the side of his fist.

  “We’ve got to find him!” Laura protested.

  “No time,” Kate said. “I haven’t seen him since we started packing. He could be anywhere.”

  The knoll atop which they stood overlooked the scattered neighborhood below.

  “We won’t find him,” Josiah said grimly. “He could be in any of those houses, or in the woods. Cars. Garages.” He clenched his jaw.

  “No,” Laura blurted.

  Kate’s hands clenched. “I swear to God, Laura, if you start your shit, I’m gonna fucking—”

  “No,” Laura said. “Don’t you get it? We’ve been worried that he’d betray us. This is it. If we don’t find him, he’ll give us up to the first person he sees.”

  “Exactly.” Kate cried. “Our only chance is now. We’ve got to go. We’ve got to be across the border before he finds so
meone to tell.”

  “Get in, Laura.” Josiah held the door open.

  Laura glanced at the empty neighborhood. With Lucas left behind, Donna would know they’d abandoned her.

  “I’ll be right back,” said Laura. She ran toward the house. In the kitchen, she found pen and paper, and scrawled: Donna, we’re so sorry, then put the note on the refrigerator, under a Jesus-shaped magnet.

  Without Lucas, lying under the seat wasn’t bad. She had more room, and Josiah had used a two-foot section of broomstick to prop the back of the seat at a slight angle. She was ready to yank the length of broomstick aside at the slightest warning from Kate or Josiah.

  They rode in silence. Miles later, it dawned on Laura that Donna would know they’d betrayed her, even without Lucas; Kate had stolen her papers and permit.

  Lucas watched the Suburban leave, then rose from behind a broken window. The house he’d chosen, bordering the main street two curved blocks from Donna’s place, smelled of rodents and mildew. A trail down the hill behind Donna’s led to the house.

  As the sound of the Chevy faded, he congratulated himself on finding the shortcut, getting away. Being smarter than all of them.

  Drawn from the yard by commotion, he had heard enough to know they were leaving—without Donna. He’d witnessed them packing the truck and realized the time for freedom had come.

  He only regretted he couldn’t somehow hurt Kate before leaving, for all the things she’d said, all the times she’d threatened—for not being fooled by him the way the others were. He hated that about her—hated that, no matter how good he was, she didn’t buy it.

  A time would come when Kate would be at his mercy, he vowed. Someday Kate would meet the real Lucas.

  He left the smelly house and climbed back up the hill, every cell of his body singing with freedom. Of all the scenarios he’d imagined, this hadn’t been one. Free and alone. He could do anything, go anywhere.

  It felt strange not to have to be on guard, he thought, munching cookies at the kitchen table. Even times back home when he was by himself, he was guarded; John Thomas or Lily or one of the grown-ups was always near. Alertness was part of his life; self-control had gone hand-in-hand with the persona of an enthusiastic, well-behaved child.

  Keeping an innocent expression on his face had become such a habit that he now frowned deliberately and let his face become real. Then he heard a muffled thump, and froze.

  In the split second of registering the noise, he realized the sound was Samuel. He’d forgotten about Samuel. Lucas’s heart slowed. With predatory stillness, he thought about Samuel, with no one around to protect him. He slipped down the hallway and put his ear to Samuel’s locked door.

  Images flooded him: Samuel on the floor, terrified, bloody, writhing. Lucas pictured knives, skewers, the hammer that lay in the kitchen drawer. He looked at the key beneath the doorknob. Silently, he retreated. Nothing could be done without a plan.

  He scanned the kitchen, the knives on the wall behind the stove. Samuel was strong. And quick, really quick, even though he looked weird and clumsy. It would have to be a surprise. He couldn’t simply open the door and confront him. The sound of the turning key would be enough to alert Samuel. On the other hand, Samuel wouldn’t be expecting violence. The sound of the key would mean release.

  Scowling, Lucas tried to predict Samuel’s reaction. Samuel was different.

  The more Lucas thought, the angrier he became at Samuel. He clenched his fists, outraged that his long-awaited freedom to do anything he wanted was being challenged by confusion.

  His need to prey upon Samuel became hot, single-minded. His hand plunged to his crotch, kneading the heat.

  His blood raced, spurred by the massage. Fire burned through him, searing a path of anticipation. He could almost smell the blood, hear the screams, the groans, the … car?

  Car! He jumped up, erection shriveling, mind racing. They couldn’t be back. It wasn’t fair. He pressed against the wall near the window and inched aside the curtain.

  It wasn’t them.

  A red sports car purred up the driveway and parked in front of the garage. Poised to flee, Lucas waited to see who would emerge.

  The car’s door was still closed. He had time to unlock a back window and climb out before the stranger got to the house.

  The car’s door swung open. Brother Em! What was he doing here? There was no time to lose. He’d seen the way Brother Em looked at him in church that morning. If Brother Em found him here, he’d be trapped! Again.

  He dashed toward the room he’d shared with Kate and Donna. Passing Samuel’s room, he glanced at the lock, then stopped so suddenly he had to steady himself.

  The front doorbell rang. Lucas stared at the key in Samuel’s door.

  He grinned, his panic gone. Why not let Samuel answer the front door, Samuel greet Brother Em? In fact, why not hide somewhere and watch Brother Em meet Samuel? The worst that could happen was the man would take Samuel away. At least he would still be free; even if Brother Em spotted him, he’d have his hands full with Samuel.

  In fact, Brother Em might sacrifice Samuel right on the spot.

  The doorbell rang again as Lucas unlocked Samuel’s door. This was going to be really good.

  Lucas pointed Samuel toward the front door and Samuel ran and opened it. Then Lucas watched, hidden behind the kitchen door, a show beyond his wildest imaginings. Brother Em did things to Samuel that took Lucas’s breath away with voyeuristic envy. And when Samuel’s last tortured groan had gurgled into silence, his twisted, mangled body still, Brother Em found Lucas in his hiding place as if by radar.

  But Lucas, ever resourceful, had something to offer in exchange for his freedom.

  Lucas knew Brother Em—Mack, Laura had called him—was Lily’s father. He’d known right away that he’d overheard something huge. Now he congratulated himself on having recognizing its importance; Mack showed obvious glee at the information.

  Mack needed him to lead him to Laura. And Lily.

  As Lucas and Mack left, they passed through the kitchen and Lucas saw the note Laura had left on the refrigerator: Donna, we’re so sorry. Chuckling, he plucked it off, trotted back to the living room, and stood over Samuel’s mutilated body. He would have liked to have put the note on Samuel’s breast, but blood would have soaked it. Instead, he lodged it in Samuel’s coarse black hair, and, with regret at not being able to see Donna’s reaction, he ran out and jumped into the car next to Mack.

  CHAPTER 35

  “THERE IT IS,” KATE SAID TERSELY.

  Laura knocked the propping stick to one side and was instantly aware of every square inch of her tiny space, of the odors and dust rising from the old carpet beneath her face.

  “How far?” she asked.

  “A couple of miles,” Josiah said. “How are you holding up?”

  “I’m okay,” she said.

  Minutes of tense silence passed, then Laura felt the car slowing. As motion ceased, the sound of the idling engine echoed through Laura’s cramped space. She strained to hear Kate’s exchange with the border guards.

  Familiar greetings. Kate chatting with the guards. Their voices friendly. The rustle of stolen papers she handed over. Grains of dirt on the carpet inches from her eyes. This was it, the high-risk instant; if either of the guards knew Donna personally, they were doomed.

  More conversation, still friendly. And then they were moving. She drew a shuddering breath. They’d done it.

  Hours later, in the very northwesternmost tip of Nevada, they camped in a hidden hollow not far from the road. The area had never been more than sparsely settled, thousands of scrub-covered acres and countless ranges separating one ranch from the next. Stars shone brilliantly in the moonless sky. The lonely immensity was breathtaking.

  Sitting around a small campfire, they ate chicken sandwiches and drank filtered water. Their enormous relief mingled with anticipation of their return home. When they doused the fire and crawled into their sleeping bags, conversat
ion fell to whispers in the star-filled utter stillness.

  Laura wriggled into a comfortable position in her bag on the ground. Her head cushioned by a jacket, she studied the stars and remembered the images in which she’d been immersed during the blackout. The moment was intensely private, despite her friends’ closeness.

  Over time, the emotional impact of the epiphany—of being engulfed by near-infinite comprehension—had faded to memories of memories. I remember the euphoria but I can’t feel it anymore. How would it be for everyone to move through every moment of their days in such bliss? Our souls would shine like stars in our eyes.

  She wove her thoughts into the drifting pattern of stars. Our souls would shine like stars. A half-formed connection drifted past her consciousness, but she couldn’t focus. Stars burn out, it whispered, and faded. Her eyelids fluttered, and she slept.

  And woke in time to see the last of the stars fade into the morning light.

  She lay quietly, watching the day materialize. Knowing the night sky was still out there, just beyond the dawn, was not the same as seeing it. Just like my epiphany. Knowing it’s real isn’t the same as feeling it. She recalled having a similar thought before she’d fallen asleep and tried to remember it. What leaped to mind, instead, was a new connection made while she slept. She bolted upright. The blackout had been an error.

  “Oh, my God.”

  Laura started noisily breaking camp, impatient for Kate and Josiah to wake.

  Kate stirred, tousled curls framing a sleepy face. “Quiet, already!”

  Laura continued packing.

  “I want my mattress,” Kate muttered, sitting up. She shoved Josiah’s shoulder. “Get up, Peg Leg. The ship’s a-sailin’.”

  Josiah groaned, stretched his arms. “Thanks for hiring the handicapped, but I quit.”

  “Can’t quit,” Kate said, crawling out of her bag. “Against the rules.”

  Josiah gave Kate a pitying look. “Rules don’t apply to quitters. That’s the whole point of quitting.”

  Kate shoved her feet into her boots. “It’s too early for this.” She stomped off to relieve herself behind nearby boulders.