She didnât even want to think about them, but once sheâd summoned them up she couldnât get them out of her mind, which was why she picked up her pace as much as she could, not that that was saying a lot.
It had been a long day and she was exhausted. In addition, even though Libbyâs eyes had become accustomed to the dark, she still had to feel her way along as tree trunks and rocks jumped out at her and vines and twigs tried to ensnare her feet. She paused every tenth step or so to untangle one of her flip-flops from a small branch or low-lying bush or take out a small rock or pebble that had gotten lodged in there, because the last thing she needed was to get injured the way Bernie had.
Ten minutes later, even though it felt like at least an hour to Libby, she could see the outline of the motel haloed in the dim light of the streetlights through the trees. When she squinted, she could see that the Subaru was still sitting next to their van in the parking lot. She had beaten Ellen after all. She didnât know whether she was relieved or not.
âIâm right behind you,â Bernie said when Libby phoned to tell her the news.
âHow far behind me?â Libby asked, but it was too late. Bernie had already hung up.
It took Libby another couple of minutes before she reached the edge of the woods. If she had been looking up she might have seen the three men silently crouched behind Mathilda, or the two police cars parked a little way off in the distance, or Ellen standing next to the squad cars. But Libby wasnât looking up. She was looking at the ground because she was afraid she was going to trip and fall. Out of the corner of her eye, off to the left, she saw a flicker of light. When she turned her head and focused on it she saw what had made the flickerâa small, round metallic object at the base of a pine tree, about ten feet away.
As she got closer, she realized that what sheâd spotted was a watch lying facedown on the ground. Maybe it belonged to the dead guy , she thought. Maybe their luck was about to change. Maybe the watch had an inscription on the back. She was reaching down to get it when she heard someone yell, âThere she is.â
Libby froze and looked up. Then someone was shining a light in her eyes. It was so bright it blinded her and she put up her hands to shield her eyes from it.
âGot her,â Ellenâs husband yelled as he dug his fingers into Libbyâs shoulders.
Then Libby heard Ellen yelling, âLeave her alone, Bruce. I told you she doesnât have anything to do with this.â
Libby didnât say anything. She was too dazed.
Chapter 8
B ernie called her dad at eleven thirty that evening. Sean, in turn, called Marvin and told him they had a situation and he needed him pronto. Then he hung up before Marvin could ask him what was going on. It took Marvin twenty minutes to throw some clothes on and get down to the Simmonsâs place. When he arrived, he could see Sean sitting on the bench in front of the shop, impatiently jiggling his leg up and down. He was wearing a slightly wrinkled short-sleeved plaid shirt and a pair of frayed khakis and looked as if heâd dressed in a hurry.
âWhat happened?â Marvin called out to Sean as Sean levered himself up with the aid of his cane and started walking toward the Kia. âAre Libby and Bernie all right?â
âTheyâre fine,â Sean snapped. âJust dandy.â
Oh , oh . What have they gotten themselves into now? Marvin thought.
Sean pointed his cane at Marvinâs passenger. âWhatâs she doing here?â
âShe wanted to go for a ride.â
âHilda is a pig. Pigs donât ride in cars. They donât have âwants.â â
Marvin took his hands off the wheel and crossed them over his chest. âThatâs what my dad keeps saying.â
âFor once he and I are in agreement.â
Marvin sighed. âI
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