Chapter 72 Chapter 7 – Book 2
FBI Agent David Whitmore was receiving information he never thought he would. Everyone came to him, though, in a sneaky manner, as if they were afraid to be seen with him. When he started to get the information, he understood why.
So, Mr. Sheriff was a drug dealer and an enforcer. He probably also had a few more hobbies, such as being either responsible for the missing people or knowing who was. He was thinking it would be both. The problem was he was going to have to find solid proof for all the word-of-mouth he had been listening to.
Though that woman, Maggi, piqued his interest in more ways than one. He hoped that no one would find out what Maggi knew, otherwise she might end up the next missing person on the list. David decided that he would keep an eye on her, just to make sure she was safe. He was pretty certain, though, that she could handle herself if a situation turned up. She did say that she kept a loaded shotgun in her house. She also mentioned that it was loaded with rock salt. He had only one thought about that: OUCH. The gun may not necessarily be lethal, but anyone who got some of that in their ass would surely know it and would not be coming back for more. Still, he would keep an eye on her just the same.
Now, it was time to go and see if the Sheriff was in. He hoped that he wasn’t too busy dealing to have a word with him. He knew he wasn’t, though; David watched him turn down a dirt road about ten minutes ago. The Sheriff had been following him all day. David eluded him several times. You would think the guy would take a hint and learn to be more subtle in his stakeouts.
For the first time in Sheriff Avery’s life, he was getting paranoid. Fear was creeping in on him. Why was the FBI agent here? Why was he asking questions in the surrounding towns? He even knew that Avery was tailing him. He caught Avery every time he was either parked or moved to follow him. It made his anxiety worse. He didn’t look like the bribing kind either. Was he here to investigate the missing people cases, or was he here to investigate him? Avery wasn’t sure anymore. It wasn’t like you could just have the FBI agent go missing either. That would bring all kinds of hell down he didn’t need. So, the only other thing he could think of was to go and start making sure people stopped talking. If they didn’t, then they would be among the missing as well.
Jack finally got her to calm down enough so she would talk. She sat as far away from him as she could get without him starting to chase her again.
“Perhaps we should start over. My name is Jack Dawson, what is your name?”
She looked at him cautiously, unsure if she should tell him. Then she shrugged her shoulders.
“My name is Nova.”
Jack knew that that wasn’t her real name, or at least not all of it; perhaps it was a nickname.
“Well, then Nova, why are you out here in the middle of the forest alone? Are you running from someone?”
“Perhaps before I answer your question, why don’t you tell me why you’re out here with only jogging pants on? You’re not one of those weirdos who run around hugging trees and eating grass? 'Cause if that is the case, then I think it’s best if we part ways here.”
Jack just stared at her for a little bit; he liked Nova’s spunk. He had to be careful, though; looking at all those wonderful curves and watching her swim naked yesterday was having an undesired effect on parts of his anatomy.
“Well, I am out here on a sort of a camping expedition, getting away from all the craziness out there in the world for a little while. I am not one of those people. I have no intention to hug a tree and eat grass.”
“Then I guess I could answer your question. Yes, I am running away from some people, one in particular. My stepfather is a serial killer. My mother is a drunk, but I think she knows what he does, and I think the local Sheriff knows too."
“I don’t have any other family; I worked and saved up some money. The day before I wanted to leave, I discovered my stepfather’s shed. No one was allowed to go in, but I went in anyway. I was careful, so he wouldn’t know I was there. What I saw in there is causing me to have nightmares.”
“I am hiking alone to get to the town on the other side of the mountains where the sheriff doesn’t have jurisdiction. I need to get to the police there and tell them what is going on."
“I have to stay away from there; he means to do the same thing or worse to me as he has done to the others.”
She pulled out a necklace she was wearing to show him.
“Do you see this necklace? It is the only thing my mother ever gave me. Now I know that it probably belonged to one of my stepfather’s victims. I am wearing it because I made a vow to the dead that I would take this and get the dead justice.”
For some reason beyond Nova’s control, she wanted to trust Jack. Yeah, he was hot. There was more to it, though. She felt a connection to him. It was as if she had known him for a long time. Still, she just met him less than an hour ago. Maybe she was the crazy pants here. She decided that she would at least hear him out.
James sat in his shed trying to decide on gold or silver. He wasn’t sure what was the proper gift for a first-time rape. Yup, he said rape; he knew the way he liked it and wasn’t afraid to say it. If they were willing, they got boring. That was one of the reasons that he stopped fucking Kathy a couple of years back. She bored the pants back on him. He had his hobbies to keep him busy, so he didn’t mind waiting for Nova. He took a look outside and realized that night had fallen.
Where was Nova? She was always home by dark. Now it’s dark, and she isn’t home. Time to go have a lookie about the house to see what he could find. She better not be out with some boy; she was supposed to stay pure for him. Damn that stupid bitch Kathy. Drunk all the time. Too bad she hadn’t drank herself to death yet. Why did he promise not to kill that bitch he will never know. Promises are meant to be broken…
Maggi went home after talking with the FBI agent; she had to admit he was a handsome man. She put that thought aside, though; she was getting too old for all that drama hooey. She went outside and locked down her storage shed, then went inside her house and began making security checks and boarding up some of the windows. She even had triple locks on the doors. None of that wimpy crap; these were solid and sturdy.
She wasn’t in the least bit stupid; she knew what was lurking out there. She had no intention of being its next kill. Investigating disappearance my ass; they were not missing as in the sense that they will be coming home after a mysterious vacation. No, these were murders.
She also knew that there was a black bear that had been sniffing around her property. She looked over by the front door where her 12-gauge shotgun sat. There was another at the back door, one in her bedroom, and a .45 in her dresser drawer by her bed, as well as a 9mm Ruger in her purse. Yeah, her whole family was into guns and weapons when she was growing up. If all else fails, she has a crossbow on her living room wall that is all ready to go.
She had one other shotgun that was in the tool shed out back; it was loaded with rock salt for those times when instead of trying to kill, you want to teach a lesson or just want to bring the pain. She even had a Remington 30-caliber rifle hanging on the wall in the hallway upstairs; that one was also ready to go. She knew how to clean them and repair them, as well as use them. She was a really good shot. She learned a long time ago that those who don’t live with guns can still be killed with them.
Normally, she wasn’t too concerned about a bear hanging around; she did live out in the middle of the woods. Something about this bear, however, didn’t sit well with her. This one is a bad bear.
She also didn’t trust that creepy pervert at Nova’s house either; that guy was five ways short of a full route. He was bad news, not that Kathy was much better. At least with her, all you have to do is leave booze of any kind out, and she is comatose.
She has seen that creep riding around with the Sheriff many times; they were up to no good. She managed to stay out of their sight. It is only a matter of time, though, before she has an encounter with one or both of them. That is why she made sure all her weapons were well up and running smoothly. That way, she can properly greet her guests. Don’t want to come off as rude. Her mother always taught her to greet her guests with the proper enthusiasm.