‘I’m so thirsty I’m spitting sand,’ Vivian said.
‘Why don’t you two go on ahead?’ Cora suggested. ‘Bring back a water bottle. I’ll be okay in a while.’
‘It’s not a good idea to split up,’ Vivian said.
‘We can keep an eye on you till you get to the lodge. It’s an open field. Nothing’s gonna happen. Just go right around to the car and hurry back.’
‘What about you guys?’ Finley asked.
‘We’ve got the shotgun.’
‘I’ve got Batty’s knife,’ Abilene added. She straightened up and patted its handle. ‘Go on. We’ll be all right. And get me some shoes. And a blouse or something.’
‘Anything else while we’re there?’ Vivian asked.
‘How about flashlights?’ Finley suggested.
‘Get going,’ Cora muttered. ‘And keep your eyes open.’
‘You too,’ Vivian said. ‘Be careful.’
She and Finley started across the field, walking side by side. Abilene watched them. The sunlight out there looked very bright, very hot.
‘Glad it’s them and not us,’ she said.
‘Our turn’ll come. I’m just glad to have Finley out of my hair. What a pain.’
Abilene smiled. ‘I’d really start worrying if she stopped being one. Did you see how she acted after Batty grabbed her boob?’
‘Yeah. She didn’t make a crack for all of ten minutes.’
‘I think it made her a little crazy.’
‘That’s for sure. Christ. When she’s not being a wiseass, she’s dangerous.’
‘Viv’s taking everything pretty well,’ Abilene said.
‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen her lose her head, you know that? Even when stuff hits her hard. She could be tom to pieces inside, but she always keeps her cool. She’ll complain about shit. She’ll cry her eyes out sometimes. But she always gets on with business. Never flips out. Smart, gorgeous, and she’s got balls of brass. I could kill her.’
Abilene laughed.
Vivian and Finley were halfway across the field now. Walking slowly as if the sun were pressing down on their shoulders.
Finley looked around.
Abilene raised a hand.
Finley nodded, turned to Vivian and said something. Vivian elbowed her.
Abilene swept her eyes across the rear of the lodge, then up and down both sides of the field. Satisfied that no one was approaching them, she turned to Cora.
‘Are we gonna need those flashlights?’
‘I’ll be ready when they get back. I think. Get a load of this,’ she said, and raised her right arm. The skin of her armpit was red, abraded raw by the stock of the shotgun.
‘God,’ Abilene muttered.
‘My leg might last long enough to get me to the lodge. I hope so.’
‘We’ll get you there, one way or another.’
‘I’m not gonna be hiking to town, that’s for sure.’
‘Maybe we can find the car keys.’
‘Sure.’
Abilene sat on the ground beside her. She was tempted to lie down, but knew she wouldn’t like the feel of the weeds and twigs and leaves against her bare back. She crossed her legs, then folded her hands behind her hpad and stretched, straining her arms backward and arching her spine. It felt so good that she moaned.
‘How would you like to stay with me?’ Cora asked, looking her in the eyes.
‘Huh?’ Abilene lowered her arms.
‘Somebody’ll have to go for help. I figure Finley’d be good for that, but she can’t go alone. I don’t want anyone going anywhere alone. I thought maybe Vivian could go with Fin and you could stay with me. It’s up to you. If you don’t want to, that’s fine. It’d mean spending the night around here someplace. God knows what might happen.’
‘There’s gotta be another way.’
‘If you can think of one, I’d be glad to hear it.’
‘We should all at least try to get off the grounds of the lodge. Down as far as the road, maybe.’
‘I don’t know about making it down that driveway.’
‘You could roll.’
Cora grimaced at her. ‘You’re almost as bad as Finley.’
‘What was your plan?’
‘Hide somewhere in the woods, I guess. Like last night.’
‘Are you sure you’d rather have me than Vivian?’
‘I think so. If something goes wrong, I think I’d rather have you with me.’
‘Really? How come?’
Cora shrugged. ‘You’re quick to use your head. You usually seem to know right away what needs to be done, and you go ahead and do it.’
‘Well. Thanks.’
Looking out across the field, she watched Vivian and Finley vanish beyond the corner of the lodge.
‘So you’ll do it? Stay with me?’
‘Sure. Hell, it’d beat walking all night.’
‘Scoot over a little closer, would you?’
The request perplexed Abilene, but she did as asked. Cora put an arm around her back, gently caressed her bare side.
Her heart started thumping.
What’s going on?
She can’t be… gay. She’s married, for Godsake! Got married only three months after the New York trip. (What does that prove?) She can’t be.
‘Just relax,’ Cora whispered, her breath tickling Abilene’s ear. ‘Just act like everything’s normal.’
‘Cora…’
‘There’s somebody in the bushes right behind you.’
The words slammed through her chest. ‘Who is it?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Batty?’
‘No.’
‘Oh God.’
‘It’s okay, it’s okay. Act normal. We’re gonna nail him.’ Cora patted her side. ‘Let’s get going,’ she said in a louder voice. ‘I’m tired of sitting here.’
Fighting her urge to look back, Abilene got to her feet. Someone watching us.
Helen’s killer?
She glanced toward the lodge. No sign of Vivian and Finley. A great time for us to be split up.
She bent over and clutched Cora’s left arm.
She saw her blouse knotted around Cora’s ankle. Not that she needed reminding that she was half naked.
I don’t believe this. Shit!
As she pulled, Cora pushed herself up with the shotgun.
‘Let me see if I can walk on my own. Stand back.’
She let go and took a couple of steps away. She watched Cora, keeping her eyes from the bushes where the stranger supposedly lurked.
Cora stayed up. ‘See? I can get along without you.’
Pivoting on her left leg, she shouldered the shotgun and swung its barrels toward the dense foliage beside the trail. ‘Come out of there or I’ll blow your fucking head off! ’
Abilene heard a gasp, but couldn’t see anyone through the green tangle.
‘Come out!’
‘Don’t shoot! Don’t.’
The head of a teenaged boy rose into view. Abilene recognized his long dark hair, the almost pretty features of his smooth face. He was the kid they’d seen yesterday in the pool, the kid who’d fled into the woods.
Helen’s killer?
Abilene pictured her friend sprawled dead in the showerroom.
She pulled Batty’s knife from the sheath at her hip.
The kid’s terrified eyes stayed on Cora as he came out from behind the bushes.
He was shirtless and skinny, wearing cut-off blue jeans low on his hips. The jeans, too big for him, were held up by a couple of ropes that came down from his shoulders like suspenders.
His stomach was smudged with bruises. Had Helen done that to him? Punched him as she struggled for her life?
Halting in front of Cora, he shook his head. ‘I didn’t do nothin’,’ he said. ‘Ya ain’t gonna shoot me, are ya?’
‘More than likely,’ Cora said.
‘No, please! It weren’t me. I didn’t touch her!’
‘Oh you bastard,’ Abilene muttered. The kid’s head jerked sideways. He looked at her. She saw his eyes lower to her breasts but she didn’t care. ‘You killed her. You butchered Helen, you filthy maggot.’
‘No! It weren’t me! ’ He shook his head wildly from side to side. ‘My brother done it! He’s crazy, my brother. I didn’t do nothin’ but try ’n scare ya off!’
‘Bullshit,’ Abilene said.
‘I swear it! I swear it!’ Facing Cora, he blurted, ‘Don’t shoot… hey.’ His mouth fell open. He ducked his head close to the muzzles and squinted. ‘Them barrels is all plugged up,’ he said.