Read The Beginning (Whispering Pines Book 1) Page 50

  Chapter 23

  Two vehicles pulled into the mill yard. Max glanced out the window and said. “It’s Anderson and Rusty with Sheriff Brooks.”

  Max stepped around Edie and opened the door. Moving out on the porch, he waited until Anderson walked up and braced one foot on the lower step. “He came along quiet.”

  Max moved down the steps, trying to be out of Edie’s earshot then whispered, “Take all of them down to the chipper and kill them.”

  Anderson smiled, nodded, and turned to leave but Max grabbed his shoulder and added, “Take the Sheriff too. The FBI will be here soon and we can’t afford to have him turning against us to save his own hide.”

  Anderson raised an eyebrow in surprise. Pary simply nodded. “Do it Anderson. Our necks depend on it.”

  Edie gasped from behind. She had overheard. “The Sheriff too, Max? You can’t do that. For God’s sake, you can’t do that.”

  He pointed at Anderson. “Do it and make it clean and quick.”

  Anderson said, “They dug up some of the merchandise and they found the body of Ackerman. We need to clean that up tonight too. You want me to send somebody back over there now?”

  “Finish up here first, and then do it.”

  Anderson walked away and Edie grabbed Max by the arm. “Please Max. Don’t do this. They’ll know. The FBI will know and you’ll never get away with it.”

  “Edie, shut up now. There’s no other way. I’ve got to.”

  Edie said earnestly, “Then you better kill me too because I’m going to tell the FBI everything. I could never live with all of this on my mind”

  “If you don’t co‑operate, Edie, I’ve already made plans for you at the mental institution in Savannah.”

  “Do what?” She cried. “Me insane? Maybe you’d better have a look in the mirror, dear brother.”

  “You appear emotionally unstable at the moment. I will have you committed for all these distorted, grand illusions about all that has happened recently. I’m sure the judge will sign the papers to have you institutionalized.”

  He walked away, back into the office and sat down behind the desk. The lights in the room suddenly dimmed and from the far end of the mill, Edie heard the squeal of engine belts and the angry hum of electric motors struggling to start and turn the rotor drum and blades in the wood chipper.

  A cold shiver raced up her backbone. She had to do something, but what? Stepping back into the office, she focused her eyes on a gun lying on the desk before Max. Walking over slowly and reaching, she said, “Then I guess you leave me no choice.”

  Without looking up, Max said, “That’s better, Edie. This is the only way.”