Part 6 (1/2)

She might be able to finagle an invitation through Red Harris. He seemed friendly.

Before she could make a coded note to follow up, Mack returned. Ms. Culpeppers not here. Sometimes my mother and father take her up to the house with them. He flipped open his phone.

Youre not going to check in person?

Only if they need me. He called but got no answer. Slowly, he put away his cell.

Itll be okay, she said. Its not as if youre bringing me home to meet the parents. She batted her eyes in mock flirtation.

He didnt answer. Instead, he drove up another long dirt road that ab.u.t.ted the Culpepper property. Freshly planted rows of something Chloe couldnt easily identify lined one side of the drive while hundreds of gnarled apple trees rose on the other, their blossoms blowing off in the wind. The horizon had turned an ominous pea-green.

What were those seedlings? she asked, getting out her notepad.

Why do you ask?

Because she didnt like the looks of that sky. And whenever she was nervousor frightened, or overwhelmedshe retreated to her security blanket, the gathering of facts.

Do your parents have a storm shelter? she asked, ignoring his question. She didnt want to be caught in a storm unprotected. To risk revealing a soft underbelly of fear to the deputy.

Mack sped up as a farmhouse in the middle of four huge oaks came into view. A woman stood at the open front door, waving frantically.

The hail began before Mack had a chance to turn off the engine. Large icy chunks clattered on the roof of the cruiser and bounced on the ground around them. The downpour quickly became so dense it almost obscured the woman in the doorway.

IIm staying right here, Chloe breathed.

No, youre not, Mack snapped over the increasing noise. Its too dangerous. Open the door and run toward my mother.

When Chloe stepped outside the cruiser, the hail hit her like buckshot. She froze, then felt a jacket thrown over her head. Mack hauled her toward the house.

My backpack! she cried.

Leave it! He nearly threw her up the steps and into the farmhouse. Inside, the wet jacket fell on the floor. The hail on the farmhouse tin roof sounded like a Broadway audition for Stomp.

Hurry! His mother pulled her through the house before she even had a moment to wipe the hair from her eyes. Funnel clouds have been spotted outside Brevard.

Mack urged Chloe down a flight of stairs. Somewhere a window broke. With a bang, he pulled the bas.e.m.e.nt door shut behind them. Is Miss Sarah with you? he asked.

Im here. Sarah Culpeppers worried voice could barely be heard over the storm. Though I dont know where Buster is.

When Chloe was able to catch her breath, she took in a dimly lit and rough-hewn room with shelf upon shelf of home-canned fruits and vegetables lining one of the walls. Sarah, wrapped in an old quilt, sat on one of two plank benches in a far corner of the room away from all that gla.s.s. A couple more quilts, a radio and several flashlights were on the bench by her side.

Wheres Pop? Mack asked.

In Asheville. Getting a part for the Cover yourself up, Mack cut her off as he grabbed a quilt and handed it to her. He handed Chloe the remaining one. And turn your faces to the wall. In case.

Chloe didnt need to be told that in case meant flying debris. Praying it wouldnt come to that, she draped the quilt over her head and around her shoulders.

Ms. Whittaker, she said before she turned her face to the wall, how did you know we were coming?

Im a mother, dear, the woman replied from her quilt coc.o.o.n.

Above them, they heard a tremendous thunderclap, then a crack and a hiss. Seconds later, the lights went out.

Move over, Mack ordered, sliding onto the bench next to Chloe.

Do you have a quilt? She reached out to pat him.

None left.

Here, share mine. She fumbled in the dark to throw a corner of hers over his bulk as the whole house seemed to vibrate and a couple hundred canning jars knocked against one another on the shelves.

Cover your d.a.m.ned head, he growled, pulling her roughly to his side and s.h.i.+elding her against his chest.

Mind your language, Sarah snapped as gla.s.s shattered nearby on the bas.e.m.e.nt floor.

I do hope thats not the rhubarb sauce I just put up, Macks mother fretted.

Chloe was glad for Macks steady heartbeat against her ear. It helped to regulate the wild fluctuations of her own. With his strong arms wrapped around her, she couldnt help but think everything would turn out okay. Even if she did end up with the mark of his badge permanently imprinted on her cheek.

As the minutesit seemed like hourswore on, the pitch-dark and the close, earthy smell of the bas.e.m.e.nt began to get to her. But every time she tried to surface for air, Mack wrapped her more tightly in the quilt.

Icantbreathe! she protested. She struggled under the suffocating covering, but when she couldnt find an opening and her air supply seemed to have dwindled to nothing, she sank her teeth into the first bit of flesh her mouth encountered.

CHAPTER SIX.

A RE YOU CRAZY , WOMAN ? Mack glowered at Atherton, whose pupils were dilated in the glare of the flashlight his mother trained on them. More to the point, have you had your rabies shots?

Teeth marks circled the pad at the base of his thumb. Fortunately she hadnt broken the skin, or he would have driven her straight to the vet. What were you thinking?

You were suffocating me with your big ol arms around me!

Get a motel room, Miss Sarah cackled, switching on a second flashlight.

The creaking of timbers distracted him. The house was settling after its battle with the storm, which, as quickly as it had begun, had ended. Only going above would determine what kind of a storm it had beenhail only, wind shear or tornadoand the aftermath.

Glaring at his injured hand, he stood up.

His mother cleared her throat. He knew what was coming. Now that the danger had pa.s.sed, Southern manners would take over. Mack, honey, I dont believe you introduced your friend.

She was not his friend.

You dont know this is the reporter from the Sun? Miss Sarah cut in. I met her day before yesterday. She took pictures of Buster. I thought surely Mack would have brought her up to your place for supper by now.

That wasnt going to happen.

Im Lily Whittaker, his mother said to Atherton as she put down her flashlight to fold the quilts. I sure gave you a fine welcome to my home.