Sonya’s cell phone started to ring. She retrieved it from the back pack on her bed. “Hello?”
“Are you watching the news?” Bobby asked.
“No. I’m upstairs.”
“Remember that guy from Ashley’s apartment. No nose, with a scar?”
“Yeah?”
“He’s dead. The cops found his body in the Heights. Seems like open season on old Diamonds.”
“I wonder who’s next.”
Sonya explained Garcia’s visit and Trey’s arrest. “Did you know that Piper’s mom is his lawyer?”
“Oh, I can imagine Robin getting all ready for a big trial. She’s always been ambitious.”
“Garcia isn’t so sure Trey is the Ravisher. If he can prove it, there won’t be a trial.”
“How can he?” Bobby asked.
“By focusing on someone else, someone closer to my house.”
“Who could that be?”
“Someone who likes to hunt and has the same work schedule as Trey’s, who also worked for Mr. Lister—”
“The handsome Kyle.”
“Why do I feel sick?”
“You could be wrong, Sonya.”
“His dad was a Diamond.”
“So?”
“Your own brother said that the Diamonds know who the Ravisher is, and they know because he is a Diamond or a friend of the Diamonds.”
“Maybe not.”
“I also think that Ernie and Jimmy Hepler are dead because they knew something.”
“Now you’re being paranoid.”
“I don’t think so. Is it possible that all of these things–the girls found in the water, Angela Kent being kidnapped and raped, and the murders of Ernie and Jimmy–are connected somehow?”
“That’s a wide area,” Bobby said.
“But the Diamonds were involved in all of it.”
“Ernie was Jimmy’s supplier, so they probably knew each other from way back. They were both Diamonds and lived in Marine when the girls started disappearing, still around when Justine’s mom was raped. But even if they were involved, who would want them dead now? Why? You said Ernie was almost crippled and Jimmy sold dime bags of weed when he wasn’t hanging around the club-house. He was living with Ashley because he had no where else to go.”
“Someone wanted to keep something buried, but it floated to the surface, Bobby.”
“Now you sound like Justine.” Sonya heard Bobby chewing something crunchy. “Princess said she was going to call you. She visited Justine at Haven Rest last night. She wouldn’t tell me more until she told you.”
“I’ll call her.”
“Okay. I’ve got plenty of homework. The doctor decided I need to keep the splints on my fingers for a few more weeks.”
“Were you excused from gym class?”
“The only good thing. I suck at softball, anyway. Then it’s volleyball. I hate volleyball.”
“I guess Kelly has a mind of her own. She’s trying out for girl’s basketball without Piper.”
“Wow. Send that news to the Blue and White. By the way, Sexy Rexy’s girlfriend miscarried.”
“Fortunate for the both of them.”
“SkolClik’s been laying off the freshmen, but he’s just waiting to get news on the Ravisher.”
“Any messages left by ghost94?” Sonya asked.
“Not lately, but there hasn’t been a new victim.” Bobby ate another potato chip, crunching for a few moments. “Hey, remember when you and Piper left Jess’s house and Piper thought you both were being watched?”
“Yeah?”
“Maybe that same person was watching your house. He seemed to know when to attack Jess. Same with Kristen and Emily. He’s a planner, right? If Trey Winstead isn’t the Ravisher, then the Ravisher is going to bide his time, because he’s enjoying watching the police screw up. And if the Diamonds decide to take care of him, then the police will never know, because the Ravisher, whoever he is, will just disappear. Like the girls in the lake.”
*****
Sonya dialed Piper’s cell number.
“Bobby told me you might call,” Sonya said.
“I wanted to wait until I was alone,” Piper said. “I almost stayed home from school today. I couldn’t sleep last night.”
“You were quiet all day.”
“I couldn’t even tell Bobby, I’m so embarrassed. I’m not speaking to Justine ever again.”
“What happened?”
Piper explained her visit to Haven Rest and Ariel’s true gender. “Ariel–or Brandon–was a patient at Haven Rest, and Justine put her up to meeting me. Like some kind of joke. She just wanted to mess with my head, I should have known better.”
“I’m sorry, Piper.”
“She knows the Ravisher.”
“Did she give you any hints?”
“She said he washed her clean after he told her who raped her mother.”
“How would he have known?”
“And who says he was telling her the truth?”
“You told me that Justine spends most of her time drugged and in her room. When would she be able to spend time with the other patients?” Sonya asked.
“She used to take art classes. Maybe she met Trey that way, although male and female patients are supervised when they‘re in the same areas.”
“Was Ariel considered male or female at Haven Rest?”
“Female, I think, but the staff would have known the truth when she was admitted.”
“She could have become closer to Justine that way. Who else does Justine talk to?”
“Lauren, the nurse. Maybe other people on the staff. I’m sure she has them all convinced.”
“You don’t think she’s schizophrenic?”
“Not any more. Just evil.”
Sonya explained about Emily’s earlobe being sent to Cal and the October tenth date, along with her suspicions about Kyle.
“Do you think Garcia will try to keep Trey Winstead in jail until October tenth?” Piper asked.
“Maybe. But if the Ravisher is still out there, he might choose to stay home.”
“You should tell Garcia about Kyle. I know you don’t like it, but you could be right.”
“I don’t want to be right. Are you going to tell him about Ariel?”
“No. My mom doesn’t know a thing so far, and I don’t want to get pulled into any of this.”
“Have you spoken to Ariel?” Sonya asked.
“I shouldn’t. Are you going to tell your dad anything?”
“He has other things to worry about.”
“He should know.”
“Your mom should know.”
“Quit it.”
Sonya smiled. “Stay home at night until this is all over. That’s what I’m doing.”
“Mrs. Howard gave me enough History homework for two weeks.”
“The Trojan War.”
“Bobby says he’s going to rent 300 and Troy again.”
“You know why. And 300 takes place during the Persian War.”
“Tell Bobby that.”
“I’m supposed to babysit at Barb’s house Friday night.”
“Tell her you’re sick.”
“If Kyle has to work, he won’t stick around. The last time I was there, his door was locked.”
“He has four little brothers. Maybe he likes his privacy.”
“Right. It’s probably nothing.”
“Is that why you don’t want to tell your dad?” Piper asked.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s what I would do. And you’re the snoop.”
“Thanks.”
“Just be careful. If those boys catch you snooping, they might tell their mother or Kyle.”
“And they never go to bed on Fridays until after midnight.”
“What do you want to look for?”
“The house only has one bathroom, and Barb still washes his laundry. If he hides anything, it would
be in his room.”
*****
Aron did not disagree about Sonya babysitting at Barb’s house Friday night. He was going to work that evening at Harper’s, but would be home by eleven to pick her up.
Sonya made the walk alone to Barb’s house. She had spent days nervous, distracted at school, her suspicions about Kyle making her depressed, and she knew she would not feel better until she could eliminate Kyle from her mind as a suspect. Garcia was wrong in his doubts, she was convinced. Trey Winstead must be the Ravisher.
The October tenth date appeared in the Marine Press yesterday, with no information about Trey’s arrest. The Marine students on FriendsRing and the Blue and White were already making plans. Bobby was staying the night at Piper’s house, and they had invited Sonya, but she declined, almost convinced nothing was going to happen that day.
Aron told her about Bill recalling that Kyle had found him in the woods when he became lost. Sonya did not know Kyle was a hunter, but was unsurprised. Men were mostly hunters in Marine.
She walked up the steps to Barb’s back door and knocked. Barb appeared, wearing a white blouse and jeans, less makeup. “Come on in, Sonya. Thanks for coming over.”
“Kyle told me that your friend is very sick.”
“Donut’s getting bad. I’m going up to the hospital, then I might stop by his house. I won’t be out late.” Barb grabbed her purse from the kitchen table. “The boys already had dinner and are doing their homework. Kyle had to go into work early.”
“He’s working a double shift?”
“Yes. He has to make up for Trey on the assembly line, but maybe his boss will call in a temp. Kyle doesn’t like working there as it is, and Trey being gone might make him want to quit. He’ll have to go back to mopping floors.”
“I thought he had worked in construction,” Sonya said.
Barb pushed her arms through the sleeves of her old leather jacket. “Before that, he worked at Subway, then Work Staffing sent him to Haven Rest to clean. Janitorial. He worked there the summer after graduation. He didn’t like it. Creepy old place.”
Sonya sat at a kitchen chair, keeping her voice calm. “Did Detective Garcia ever talk to Kyle?”
“Not yet. I won’t be surprised to see him come around. After what happened to poor Ernie, everyone’s cleaning house around here.”
Sonya, her stomach starting to churn, was still sitting at the table when Barb went out the door.
One more piece, she thought. Kyle worked at Haven Rest while Justine, Ariel, and Trey were patients there.
Her mind wandered to Rick, when he told Bobby that the Blue Diamonds knew the identity of the Ravisher. Donut sent Toon from Florida. Toon and Jimmy Hepler were living with Ashley. Ernie was murdered, then Jimmy. Wayne Stone had lived and died a Blue Diamond. The girls’ bodies found floating in the lake, not seen since the mid-1990s. Wayne died in 2001. That same year, Justine and her mother would be abducted, taken to the cabin in Lamont.
Sonya tried to work out a timeline in her head. The girls started to disappear around 1991, the same year Lily died. The Four Js were born in 1997. Wayne was dead four years later. By then, no more dead girls in the water.
She now understood why Garcia had his doubts about Trey. He was in no way connected to the Blue Diamonds, although Trey had once stayed at Haven Rest. Rick spent a week there. Kyle had no use for the Diamonds’ lifestyle; he sold his father’s remaining Harley, but he could have been at Haven Rest long enough to get acquainted with Justine. He was a temporary employee, not a patient, so Garcia would not have found him in the patients’ records.
The Four Js were distracted by their homework, so Sonya knew it was the right time. She left the kitchen for the back hallway, walking through the living room.
She was surprised to see the door to Kyle’s room unlocked and wide open.
She entered the small, neat bedroom. The bed was made, covered with a quilt. Red curtains and a white blind covered the window. A braided rug was laid on the creaking wooden floor. The walls were painted beige, posters of 1970s muscle cars on the walls, along with a blown-up photo of a buck, the impressive twelve-point rack on its head resembling gnarled tree twigs, its big brown eyes staring into the camera. She found the hunting rifle, a Winchester, that he bought from Bill, supported by pegs in the wall. A box of buckshot was on his dresser, along with a small glass bottle of doe urine and a small tube of green face paint. She stepped away, shaking her head.
None of this proves anything, she thought. Kyle is a nice guy. He never hurt a girl before. Just because he worked at Haven Rest means nothing.
She walked away, turning off the overhead light. As she pulled her fingers away from the wall switch, she thought of the knife being placed in Bill’s closet. She had been here, talking to Barb in the kitchen, when Kyle had appeared, shirtless in jeans. Barb said he did not get out of bed until two-thirty in the afternoon. Sonya could not recall the time of Helga’s appointment, only that Bill and Aron were gone with Helga by the time she returned to the house, finding the doors unlocked.
Sonya walked out, looking around the small living room, the washer and dryer against the wall, leading to the kitchen. She gazed at the locked front door in the living room. The Four Js would have been at school, and Barb worked days, but she was home before the boys and when Kyle got out of bed.
If he left the house, Sonya thought, Barb would have seen or heard him walk out.
The only other way was through a window. She returned to Kyle’s room, but did not turn on the light. She pulled up the blind, and found no screen on the other side, the latch unlocked.
The Ravisher attacked Jess early in the morning, Kristen around ten at night, and Emily on a Saturday morning. Kristen was attacked on a Friday night. Kyle could have had that night off, but the attacks on Jess and Emily would have been easier to accomplish; Kyle would be off the clock at Metal Concepts, although his only vehicle was his Camaro or Barb’s car. The Camaro’s brakes were not repaired until after Jess and Kristen were attacked.
Jess lives close by, Sonya thought. He could have ran home after the attack—
She stopped herself for moment, putting the blind back in place, arranging the curtains. She left and walked to the living room couch, her arms wrapped around her chest.
Sonya could not ignore her suspicions, and she was almost convinced.
Garcia must know, she thought. I have to tell him, get Cal to help me.
She had tried swallowing back the lump in her throat as she thought about Kyle talking to her the other day, so shy and patient. He liked her, and Sonya had found so much to admire in him, making her summer-long crush seem like more. She tried to stop the tears, warm on her cheeks, but soon gave in to the sobs, trying to keep her heartbreak quiet.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Barb returned home by ten o’clock, the boys already asleep. She was sober and alone, paying Sonya twelve dollars for the night.
Sonya called Aron twice, but he did not answer. Assuming that he must be working late at Harper’s, Sonya decided to walk home.
Her mind was still on Kyle, although she had calmed down. In the morning, she would talk to Cal. She was happy to let the adults deal with the problem, she never wanted to get involved with another crime again.
The walk back to Bill’s house was short, the porch light on. Sonya had forgotten to take her key, but the side door opened.
She thought that Bill would be asleep, but Helga did not greet her. She entered the kitchen, finding a yellow note on the counter:
“Sonya–
Went to find B. and H. When you get home, lock the door.”
Bill had wandered off again, and he would be on foot with Helga.
Sonya tried Aron’s cell again, but he had turned off his phone. Bill used to carry a phone, but it started to seem pointless to buy him another one he could lose.
If he’s walking, Sonya thought, he hasn’t gone far
. Maybe up Farm Road. But Helga’s afraid of traffic, she’ll keep him away from harm.
Sonya locked the door and went upstairs to her room.
*****
Aron had returned from Harper’s only to find Bill and Helga gone, the house unlocked.
He had reminded Bill several times that he would not be home until ten. He wrote it down on paper, putting the yellow note next to Bill’s phone by his chair.
Aron was already berating himself. Bill could no longer be alone for hours at a time; their father had the same problem, and Britt had to lock him up in the house at night, hiding the keys.
Aron got back in the truck. He had turned off his cell phone while at work, forgetting to turn it on until he was far from the house, cruising slowly up Farm Road, which was well-lit at night. His eyes searched each side of the road, hoping for a glimpse of Bill and Helga.
*****
Piper stared at the e-mail on the screen, after having read the message several times:
“Piper–
I’m sure Justine hasn’t told you everything. I’m willing to tell you more, if you will see me.
Ariel.”
Piper debated responding to her. Ariel had lied from the beginning; she wasn’t female, but male, a patient at Haven Rest, communicating with Justine.
Piper had thought about going to her mother and explaining everything. However, Robin had been very busy. Trey had confessed, but the media attention would come from all over the state, getting Robin more exposure as a lawyer than she had ever known.
Piper thought she could meet with Ariel in a public place. She could take a cab, and be home before her mother.
Piper sent an e-mail reply:
“I’ll meet with you.”
She picked up her phone and called Bobby.
He yawned before saying hello.
“Are you in bed?” Piper asked.
“I fell asleep on the couch.”
“Ariel e-mailed me. She wants to tell me something Justine didn’t—”
“Stay away from her, Princess. Even Sonya’s getting nervous.”
“I could tell, something was bothering her. But I don’t think Ariel would harm me.”
“Yes, trannies are known for being harmless.”
“Don’t be sarcastic. Wait! She’s messaging me.”
Piper clicked on the IM screen, Ariel greeting her.
“Ariel wants to see me tonight,” Piper said.
“Tell her no.”
“What if Justine has Ariel wrapped around her finger, just like she did to me?”