“That’s Tom,” Tyrone said.
“He doesn’t sound too far away.”
They listened, and the sound made Cindy want to claw her ears off. She didn’t like Tom, especially after he acted all crazy with the gun. But he didn’t deserve whatever horror was happening to him.
“You think they’re cooking him?” Her tone was hushed. “Like Meadow?”
“Dunno.”
“What should we do?”
“Wait here for Sara.”
Tom was begging now, screaming, “No!” and “Stop!”
What could they be doing to that poor kid? Something even worse than burning?
Then, after a very long minute, the screaming stopped.
Now what?
They waited. Cindy’s imagination went into overdrive. Was he dead? Were they eating him? Or did they gag him, like Sara had said they’d gagged Martin?
Cindy stood perfectly still, staring into the woods, waiting, hoping, to hear Tom scream again.
Then something flashed. Bright and quick, temporarily blinding her.
Cindy took a step back.
“Tyrone…”
“I saw it too.”
“What was it?”
“Maybe Sara comin’ back. She got a light.”
Another flash, lasting only a few milliseconds. From the thicket to their right. Cindy realized with a shock what it was.
“It’s a camera. Someone is taking our picture.”
Tyrone stepped in front of Cindy. “Who’s there? Answer me.”
Another flash. Cindy doubted the cannibals had a camera. So who could it be? And why didn’t they say anything? This was seriously freaking her out. Where was Sara?
“Maybe we should go,” Tyrone said.
“What about Sara? We have to wait for her.”
The bushes shook. Whoever had the camera was coming toward them. Cindy decided that Tyrone was right. The smartest thing to do was get the hell out of here, fast.
Tyrone apparently wasn’t waiting for her to approve, because he had his left arm around her waist and was already pulling her away. The pair had only taken three steps when they heard:
“You’re Martin’s kids.”
The voice was soft, almost effeminate, but definitely male. Whoever it was, he knew Martin. Cindy stopped and swung around to face him.
The man was ridiculously tall and thin. He wore blue denim farmer’s overalls, and even in the low light Cindy could see a smiley face button pinned to one of the straps.
Tyrone had also turned to look. “Who the hell are you?”
“Lester.”
Lester raised his camera and took another picture, causing Cindy to blink. She was still scared, and this guy totally qualified as creepy, but he seemed extremely relaxed. So far, his appearance was more menacing than actually threatening.
“Do you know Martin, Lester?”
“Martin is Lester’s friend.”
Cindy didn’t know if she bought that. But Martin was a psychologist, and he did work with all types of people.
“How do you know Martin, Lester?” she asked.
“Martin is Lester’s friend.” He paused, cocking his head to the side. “Would the boy and the girl like Lester to take them to Martin?”
God, did she ever. Martin was smart, and strong, and Cindy trusted him even more than she trusted Sara. But that didn’t mean she trusted Lester.
“Do you know where Martin is, Lester?”
“Lester knows. The boy and the girl should come with Lester.”
Lester smiled. Cindy was shocked to see fangs in the big man’s mouth.
Tyrone shook his head. “I don’t think so.” He backed up a step, pulling Cindy with him.
“Lester won’t hurt the boy and the girl. That would make Martin angry. They should come with Lester.”
“Where’s Martin?” Cindy asked.
Lester took another picture.
“Stop taking pictures and tell me where Martin is!”
The strength in her voice surprised her. It must have surprised Lester too, because his smile became a deep frown.
“The girl yelled at Lester. Lester doesn’t like that.”
Tyrone pulled her closer. “You know where Martin is, man? Then tell us.”
It hit Cindy all at once, like a physical blow. Lester. Lester Paks. This was the serial killer Sarah had told them about, the one that crazy doctor had experimented on.
Lester moved toward them, spreading out his arms. His reach was so wide he looked like he could hug a truck. “Lester will take the boy and girl to Martin. They will come with Lester. Martin will be so happy.”
When Lester got within five yards he’d officially gone from menacing, to threatening, to terrifying. She and Tyrone continued to back up, but Lester’s strides were so big he’d be on them in only a few seconds.
“The boy and the girl shouldn’t try to run. Lester gets angry when they run.”
That’s when someone grabbed Cindy from behind.
Sara couldn’t find the kids.
After hearing Tom’s screams, she quickly stuck her head back through the window and into the cabin to grab something she saw inside. By the time she had it, the screaming had stopped.
Her first intention was to go after Tom, to protect him, to save him, and without considering anything else she’d impulsively headed in the direction of his cries.
But Sara wasn’t sure where he was, or even how far away, without the sound cues. Even worse, once she lost sight of the boat she became lost, unable to find her way back. That meant she’d abandoned Cindy and Tyrone.
She spent a good minute studying the compass, panicking to the point of hysteria, and then decided to follow a south-west direction, keeping as quiet as possible, listening for their voices.
Luckily, she found them, coming up from behind and placing a hand on Cindy’s shoulder so she didn’t get trampled by their quick pace.
Unluckily, they weren’t alone.
The man chasing them was so grotesquely tall it was almost funny. But unlike the cannibals, he had short hair and was clean shaven, and his clothes, though odd, looked relatively new.
Sara raised the weapon in her hand, pointing it at the tall man.
“Stop,” she said, Not loud enough to attract undesired attention, but hard enough to show it wasn’t a request, but rather an order.
The tall man stood still, his arms still outstretched. “The woman has a flare gun.”
Sara had hoped it would be mistaken for the real thing, but she rolled with it. “And if you come any closer, I’m going to shoot it at you. It doesn’t shoot bullets, but I’m pretty sure it can set you on fire.”
He lowered his arms and titled his head at an angle, like a confused dog.
“Is the woman Martin’s wife?”
She wasn’t prepared for the question, but she answered. “Yes. I’m Sara.”
“Lester will take the Sara woman to Martin.”
“Where is Martin?”
“Martin is at the prison. With Tom boy, and Georgia girl, and Doctor.”
“Doctor Plincer.” Sara felt the lump in her throat. “And you’re Lester Paks.”
“Lester is Lester Paks. Doctor Plincer is Lester’s friend. Martin is Lester’s friend. The Sara woman should come with Lester.”
Sara’s hand was shaking now. She wanted this man to get the hell away from her and the kids. But first…
“Is Joseph there? Joe? Joe Randhurst?”
Lester smiled, baring teeth that looked like they belonged to an alligator. “Yes. Joe is there.”
Sara limped in front of Cindy and Tyrone, putting herself between them and the serial killer. Her gun hand was shaking, but she made sure her words were strong.
“Thank you for talking with us, Lester. But we aren’t going to go with you right now.” She tried to swallow, but her mouth was dry. “We’d like you to go away.”