Gone to Ground by Brandilyn Collins Read Free Book Online

stick right beside me."
    "You can bring your billy stick with you."
    "Lucelia, I cain't be sleepin at your house ever night. Besides, I'm safer now than I'll be in six months or so. That's his pattern."
    "Patterns can be broken."
    She was right, so I just grunted.
    "Why're you so stubborn, Cherrie Mae?"
    "I been stubborn since we was in first grade together. You just now figurin that out?"
    "Now it really matters."
    I arched my feet. They were beginnin to feel a little better.
    Lucelia heaved a sigh. "You see the article in The Jackson Bugle today?"
    A jolt went through me. "Didn't have time to read it this mornin." The paper still sat on my kitchen table. "Trent got an article in there?"
    "Yup."
    I was already pushin down my footrest.
    "He got down here yesterday afternoon," Lucelia said. "I seen him carry his suitcase in next door, then he was right back out. Gatherin information, no doubt."
    One thing bout Lucelia, she did know what her neighbors were doin. Ever time Trent came into town to cover the latest murder, he'd stay next door to her, with his sister and brother-in-law. "I'm gon read the article now. Call you later. Thanks again for checkin on me."
    In the kitchen I sat down hard at the table and pulled the newspaper close. Shuffled to Section C—Local News. There sat the article.
    Killer Strikes Again in Amaryllis
    On Tuesday night, Erika Hollinger, 20, became the sixth murder victim in three years in Amaryllis, one and a half hours southeast of Jackson. Police are attributing the crime to the so-called "Closet Killer," who has stabbed all six victims in their own homes and left their bodies in a closet . . .
    I read the rest a the article, lookin for some piece a news I didn't already know. Trent had talked to Erika's neighbors, none of em hearin a thing. The po lice didn't give him any more information than was rumored round town. No mention a the missin ring. Apparently Trent didn't even know I'd been at Erika's house that night. Thank goodness. I didn't want my name in the paper.
    I heaved back in the chair, fear tumblin in my head. I should tell the po lice what I seen.
    "No way, Ben, cain't do it." I looked toward the chair where my husband used to sit. "The chief won't believe me. He's too close to Mayor B. He'll tell the mayor lickety-split—and there goes my biggest housecleanin customer. And everbody else, too, when word gets round town I done snooped in the Mayor's desk. Meanwhile Mayor B will get rid a the evidence. Then guess who'll be his next victim."
    But could I really just do nothin?
    Maybe I should get Pastor Ray's advice. But once I tol him, that would put him in the same position as me.
    If only I'd never looked in that drawer. This responsibility was too big.
    "Shame on you, Cherrie Mae Devine," said a voice in my head. "You been prayin for this killer to be caught. Now the Lord done sent you help—and you don't want nothin to do with it."
    I crossed my arms. My conscience could just hush.
    Trouble was, it spoke the truth. Like Lord Byron said, "Man's conscience is the oracle a God." Sittin on this information would be like tellin the Lord no thank You for answerin my prayers.
    Out a nowhere a stunnin realization hit. I done left my fingerprints all over Erika's ring.
    Air whooshed out my mouth.
    What if I tol the po lice I seen that ring—and Mayor B claimed I planted it in his file? And me bein the last known person to see Erika Hollinger alive. They could say I killed her.
    "Oh, Ben. What am I gon do?"
    Long minutes passed. My stomach growled but I paid it no mind. I pictured ever one a those murdered women. Martha. Sara. Sonya. Alma. Carla. And now Erika. I could see each a their smiles, hear their voices. None a them deserved what happened. Their blood cried out from the Amaryllis cemetery. And the remainin women in this town deserved to sleep in peace.
    Did I really think I could turn my back on this? Imagine if another woman lost her life in such a terrible way cause I