CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
I make my coffee and listen carefully for Shiloh’s signal, and when it doesn’t come; I go to the living room and sit on the sofa. Looking out onto the street, I see clouds starting to close in–a sign of the day to come. I prefer cloudy days, and I hope it rains after the heat we’ve had. I watch as a couple sits on their front lawn while their children run through sprinklers. An old man walks his dog on the curb, greeting everyone he passes. He must be lonely.
I get lost in thought for a moment until I realize that I haven’t been listening for Shiloh’s signal and it’s deathly quiet.
I decide to go check on her. I put the coffee mug in the dishwasher as I pass the kitchen, and then knock on Shiloh’s door. There’s no answer. I open it and her clothes are discarded on her bed, but there’s no sign of her. Feeling hopeful, I cross to Kerri’s room. Maybe I missed her signal when I was deep in thought. I should make sure she’s okay.
I open Kerri’s room, but there’s no sign of them there either. I check my office and they’re not there, so I proceed to the basement. Did Kerri follow her down there? Is my daughter in danger?
I descend the stairs silently, listening intently for any sound. I can hear talking and I stop just at the door to listen. It’s Shiloh talking.
“So, my mom has all these weapons, and she’s been telling me to kill you with them.”
“Shiloh, that’s ridiculous.”
“Look at all these weapons,” she insists. “And she had me practice by chopping into the wood. She said that in order for me to become a woman, I had to slit your throat and chop you up. She’s been on about it entire week.”
“Shiloh…”
I step into the doorway. “I would listen to her if I were you,” I say calmly.
Shiloh looks at me scaredly, and backs up against the wall. “We’ll talk later,” I say to her.
Kerri gives me a warning glance and picks up a knife from the table. I approach from the side, pulling the door shut behind me.
“What are you going to do with that, Kerri?”
“I’m going to defend us,” she says confidently. “I’m taking Shiloh and we’re going to the police station.”
“That can’t happen, I’m afraid,” I say. “Good thing I just changed the pin on the door so Shiloh can’t let you out.”
I look at my daughter, who is trembling in the far corner. Kerri holds the knife up. “I’m warning you, I will attack you.”
I slip my hand behind me and open a drawer, taking out a gun. Crude as it is, I only keep it for emergencies; after all it’ll serve its purpose now. I approach Kerri slowly. “Shiloh, I gave you a direct instruction, and you disobeyed me. Now you will have to be punished.”
“You’re not going to touch her!” Kerri yells, but she’s frightened. She can see I have something behind my back.
“Give me the knife.” I hold my hand out.
Kerri darts forward and stabs. I move at the last minute, but she manages to slice into my skin. Blood trickles down my arm. I pull the gun out and point it at her. “If you don’t want to die, I suggest you put the knife down.”
Kerri looks at me wide-eyed. “Believe me,” I say. “You would be dead before you reached me. My aim is deadly.”
“Please, Mommy, let Kerri go.”
“We can’t do that now because you spilled our little secret,” I spit viciously.
Kerri slowly drops the knife and holds her hands up, backing into the corner with Shiloh.
“Shiloh, get the cable ties and cuff Kerri’s hands behind her back.”
Trembling, Shiloh does as I ask, and I come forward. “Turn around, Kerri.”
She obeys, and I pull on the cable ties so they’re as tight as they can go. Kerri hisses in pain. “Get me another,” I say.
Shiloh gets one and comes back.
“Turn around,” I say.
“Mommy please…”
“Turn around,” I order her.
I cuff her hands together tightly and smile. “Why don’t you both sit down while I prepare us for what’s coming.”
“You’re going to kill me in front of your own daughter?”
“Perhaps,” I say. “I haven’t decided yet.”
Kerri squirms. “Kill me, but let her live. She’s just ten years old, dammit.”
“She shouldn’t have gotten attached to you,” I say. “That was her mistake. And mine.”
I retrieve a syringe full of liquid from the drawer and move over to them.
“What’s that?” Kerri screams. “Help us! We’re in the basement!”
“It’s soundproof, so yelling is pretty pointless,” I say as I jab the syringe into her leg and press the plunger. I do about half a dose, and then jab Shiloh. I don’t care much for sterility right now.
Once they both pass out, I put the gun away and lug them upstairs. It’s gotten dark outside since I came down to the basement. I leave them lying in the hallway and go to park my car in the garage. Once it’s shut, I drag them through the side door and load them into the boot of the car. They are squished, but they just about fit.
They’ve left me no choice.
Shiloh has left me no choice.
I get my coat and purse and back the car out, closing the garage behind me. They’re out cold the entire drive and when I get to La Douleur Folle , I carry them–Kerri with some difficulty–up to my room.
If anyone sees me, they don’t stop me.
I set them down, leaning against the chest of drawers, and look at the boy. “I’m a little earlier than I’d like, but I have a special surprise for you. We’re going to have witnesses tonight.”
“You said I could go,” he gasps out.
“I said if you survive, you can go. There’s one ultimate act that I need to do to complete this circle, and if you can survive that, then you can survive anything.”
I look at Kerri and Shiloh. “We’ll just wait for them to wake.”