Loxley Belle Read online

  I was breathing so hard that I wondered how I would ever remain hidden. Shannon and Chuck’s footsteps were so loud on the porch—obviously, they weren’t worried about surprising me.

  “Come out, come out wherever you are, Crazy Belle,” I heard Shannon taunting me as she and her meathead boyfriend surveyed the ramshackle room. I didn’t answer, and I could hear Shannon let out an aggravated sigh. “She’s not here!” Her high heels tapped on the floor—she was right above me. I could hear the fabric of her expensive skirt and smell her aggressive perfume. With closed eyes and clenched fists, I held my breath and counted in my head. One Mississippi. Two Mississippi. Three Mississippi… I wondered how many Mississippis would pass before she left. Thirty? Because I could hold my breath for about that long. Calm down, Loxley Belle. This is like playing hide-and-seek with your sisters, that’s all. Although I never really played…more like I followed my sisters around and revealed their hiding places.

  What if the Ghost Boy reappeared? How long could I keep quiet then? I needed to breathe—I was never good at holding my breath, not like Jeopardy or Harper. But I could always beat Addison, who was lousy at any type of outdoor activity like swimming.

  My two tormentors were arguing loudly. Shannon didn’t want to keep searching for me, but Chuck was determined to recover his flask. “Give me your knife.”

  “Why? What are you going to do with it?” Shannon asked nervously as she stepped toward the desk where Chuck sat. I could hear the sound of them kissing, which made me sick to my stomach. I couldn’t hold my breath any longer. Releasing the air from my lungs as quietly as I could, I took another deep breath and held it.

  “Did you hear that?” Shannon asked.

  Chuck had been scratching with his knife; I could hear the blade digging into the wood. He paused his evil work but only for a few seconds. “I didn’t hear anything. Probably squirrels or rats.”

  Shannon wasn’t listening to him. She was walking back toward me again. I thought she would squat down and spot me, look me right in the eye, but she didn’t. Suddenly she turned on her heel and said, “I’m bored with this. Let’s go back to the dance. I’ve got a midnight curfew, remember?”

  “Just a second—we have plenty of time. It’s nowhere near midnight. I’m just leaving a little note for Crazy Belle.”

  “Ooh, let me see.” I heard her laughing softly, and then they were kissing again. “She’s never going to see that, Chuckie. Nobody comes out here; it looks like the place has been untouched since Crazy Belle’s father died.”

  “Okay, I’m done. But I left my jacket in the house, and I wouldn’t mind asking that punk about my flask again. I’m telling you, my old man is going to pitch a fit when he finds out I’ve lost it. He warned me, and now he’s going to make me pay for it. Do you know what that means, Shannon? My old man is going to kick my ass.” He mumbled something else, but I couldn’t hear what he said.

  Shannon walked to the door, her dainty heels echoing beneath the floors. “You’re going to kill him if you’re not careful. And look…you’ve got blood on your cuff.” Shannon didn’t really sound as if she cared one way or another, but I had to stop them. Poor Harmon! No more hiding. I had to save my friend!

  Before I could scream at them or move a muscle or do anything else, a small hand covered my mouth. With wide eyes, I turned my head ever so slightly to see Jeopardy beside me.

  She had her finger to her mouth, and her voice was in my head.

  Keep quiet, stupid.

  Tears rolled down my face as I waited for them to leave.

  Jeopardy? It really is you, isn’t it?

  Although the sight of her comforted me for the moment, I was heartsick. The sight of her gray, flickering image tore my soul in two. Jeopardy really was dead. She was dead and never coming home to us. Never. Ever.

  Jeopardy, you can’t be dead. Please, tell me you aren’t dead. Come home, Jeopardy!

  She must have heard my thoughts because she answered me the same way.

  Bring me home, Loxley. I want to come home.

  Jeopardy sighed and vanished, leaving me alone in the cold, dark space beneath the floor.

  Chapter Eighteen—Loxley

  Jeopardy left me quite alone. One second, her hand covered my mouth; the next, she wasn’t there at all. There was no one there, and I knew for absolute certain that Jeopardy Belle was surely dead. And not only dead but lost. My two terrorists had left, and now my sister was gone too. They had barely left the shed when I was pushing up floorboards and climbing out of the dirt like a raving lunatic. Then again, only a lunatic—a Crazy Belle—would hide in the floor. I couldn’t catch my breath, but I had to get hold of myself. I had to, for Harmon’s sake. I shuffled to the window and peered outside. The woods surrounding the shed were dark; there wasn’t a trace of light, not even moonlight.

  But I couldn’t let that stop me. As I reached for the door, I heard a clunking sound. My toe struck something metal. I reached down to pick it up. I knew that symbol—it was the school’s monogram, something only seniors could own. It was silver and shiny. I clutched it in my hand.

  A keychain! These must be Chuck’s keys, and he’d figure out where he left them eventually. I had to hurry. If I could get to the car, I could get help from somewhere! The Richardsons lived just down the road.

  I stumbled coming down the steps. I was grateful that Aunt Dot had encouraged me to go with the lower heels tonight. This fall could have killed me. I was sweating beneath Harmon’s jacket. The flask in the jacket pocket felt heavy—like it weighed a hundred pounds. Like my own guilt, it weighed so heavily on my soul. Would my evil ways cost Harmon his life? I had known for a long time that Shannon Bohannan hated me, but I’d barely had a conversation with Chuck. Did everyone at school call me Crazy Belle behind my back?

  The race back to the driveway seemed longer than ever, and when I got there, I could hear Chuck swearing. He must have discovered that his keys were missing, and sooner than I expected. Shannon berated him as she leaned against the car with her arms crossed.

  “You’re such a lug nut, Chuck Welford. How could you do something so stupid?”

  As he pulled himself out of the car, he snapped back at her, “This was your idea, wasn’t it? Make yourself useful and help me find them. Are you thick or something? Do you want to spend the night here? Is that what you want?”

  I watched as she stomped her foot at him. “You better take me home right now, Chuck.”

  “Again, are you thick or something? Without the keys, we aren’t going anywhere. Start looking.”

  Shannon began scanning the ground, complaining the whole time. “This would be easier if we had a flashlight. When was the last time you had the keys? There’s an entire forest to search.”

  “If I knew where they were…what the hell? Did you see that?”

  “What?” Shannon asked fearfully as she hurried to the open driver’s side door. “What is it? A ghost or something? They say this place is haunted by Crazy Belle’s dad. I’ve always heard that.”

  “No, listen!”

  Harmon Gates staggered out the front door and practically fell on the ground. I could hear him crying, asking for help, begging, but there was nothing I could do.

  Except wait. And maybe somehow atone for the sin that put him in this position. I slipped my hand into the pocket of Harmon’s jacket and closed my fingers around the flask. Slowly and quietly, I pulled it out and set it gently in the overgrowth. I didn’t want Chuck to find it, but I couldn’t carry it with me. Not anymore.

  Chuck stumbled toward him with Shannon close behind. I suspected that the beating he’d given Harmon had taken something out of him. Harmon moaned and coughed as if he couldn’t breathe.

  “Hey, creep! Over here! You want some help? I’ll help you!”

  Shannon reached for Chuck’s shoulder, but he flung her hand off. He had one thing on his mind, beating the life out of Harmon. But why? Why did he hate him so? They were ten, then twenty feet away from me.
The car door was open, and I had the keys in my hand! Chuck was reaching for Harmon, who sagged beneath his reach like a rag doll.

  What now? I couldn’t take on both Chuck and Shannon, but I could steal that car! That might be the diversion we needed. I screamed for some ungodly reason as I ran and threw myself inside the vehicle.

  “Run, Harmon!”

  I fumbled with the keys but managed to get the key into the ignition, slamming the door shut at the same time. I’d only ever driven Aunt Dot’s convertible; Chuck’s car was a monster compared to her car. I slung the steering wheel and without thinking shifted to first gear instead of reverse. Slamming the gas, I screamed again as the bumper whacked Shannon. Her screams tore through the night air as I put the vehicle in reverse. The moonlight gave me enough light to see Harmon limping into the woods beside Summerleigh. And then he was gone, but Chuck was pulling on the door handle. I slapped the door lock, shifted into gear and hit the gas as the car took off down the sandy driveway.

  I didn’t go far, only as far as the Richardsons’ house, but it might as well have been a million miles. I threw the car in park and didn’t bother turning it off. I wanted to get as far away from the thing as I could. Had I killed Shannon? Was that possible? Could I be a killer too?

  “Mrs. Richardson! Please open the door! It’s me, Loxley! Mrs. Richardson!”

  The old woman cracked the door and peeked outside, but when she saw me, she wasted no time ushering me in. I confessed everything in a rush of words and waited as she dialed the sheriff’s office. Mrs. Richardson thrust a glass of water in my hand, and we waited on the porch as a parade of emergency vehicles screamed down Hurlette Drive.

  I was still holding the sweaty glass of water when Aunt Dot arrived.

  All I could do was watch. Lights swirled, sirens screamed. Then there was a crowd of people in Mrs. Richardson’s yard. Some I recognized, some I did not. Their mouths moved. I knew they were talking to me, but I only heard a swirling, swooshing noise. It reminded me of the sound I heard when I put my ear to Jeopardy’s giant seashell, the one Daddy sent us Belles. I loved that shell but rarely got a chance to play with it. Jeopardy kept all his gifts in her castle room because Momma liked throwing them away. I could understand why Jeopardy hid them, but I also resented that she was the keeper of all Daddy’s precious gifts. No, she never shared Daddy, and now she was gone forever.

  Gone with Daddy.

  “Gone with Daddy. Gone with Daddy.”

  Suddenly, Harper’s face was in front of me. Her mouth moved too, but I couldn’t hear anything. Could she hear me? I began saying it over and over again. “Gone with Daddy! Gone with Daddy! She’s gone with Daddy!”

  That last sentence must have gotten through because Harper’s face crumpled.

  “No, Loxley. Take that back. She’s not gone. I’m going to bring her home.” Harper wasn’t kneeling in front of me anymore. She was on her feet, her face pale, her lips quivering. “I promised…”

  Fear crept up my spine, and the strange sluggishness vanished. I couldn’t daydream now. I had to be alive and in the moment for Harper. And Aunt Dot.

  I would have to face up to my crimes, my horrible sins. Now was the time.

  I put my arms around Harper as she continued to tremble like a frightened bird. She whispered, “I’m going to bring her home. I promised. Remember? She’s not gone.”

  “I know, I know, Harper.” The feeling of Harper’s trembling body worried me deeply. Would she have another seizure? Would it be because of me? Because of what I’d done? I couldn’t stand to see that. She might not make it through another one.

  Please, God. Don’t take Harper from me. Forgive me for adding one more sin to my list. After this, no more. I promise. No, I swear, God.

  “I didn’t see her. You can bring her home, Harper. We’ll bring her home together. You hear me? Together.” I took Harper by the arms and looked into her eyes.

  “Yes, we’ll bring her home, Loxley Grace. I promised her I would bring her home.”

  “We will, Harper. We will,” I said as I rubbed her arms gently. That was all I needed. Someone to believe me. And that’s what Harper needed too. She needed to believe that she could bring Jeopardy home. We needed to love each other, be there for one another. This feeling, this love, was stronger than any clumsy power I reached for. Stronger than stealing and getting over on the people who hurt me.

  Hours later, I was riding in Aunt Dot’s car, but we weren’t headed home. Not yet. I had to see Harmon, to thank him and tell him I was sorry. Aunt Dot didn’t object, and Harper was saying very little but held my hand tight the whole way.

  We turned into the pokey George County Hospital driveway, hurried inside and inquired at the hospitality desk. But there was no record of Harmon Gates. Shannon’s parents were here. I’d broken her leg with the bumper, but Aunt Dot didn’t tolerate their stares for long.

  “Let’s go home, girls. We’ll call the sheriff. We all need to rest. But we’ll visit Harmon in the morning, Loxley, I promise.”

  I was shocked that Harmon wasn’t here—he’d been beaten so badly. Surely he isn’t dead! No! Please don’t let that be true! I pulled his jacket tighter around me and cried a little on the way home. When we got there, I was exhausted. I crawled into my bed and fell asleep. When I woke up, Harper was sleeping beside me. I smiled at the sight. She must have come to check on me. She and I both knew we had to look out for one another.

  We Belles were a dying breed.

  I slid out of bed quietly and reached for my robe. As I walked to the kitchen, I could hear Aunt Dot on the phone. “Are you sure? Where could he have gone? Have you checked the Mobile hospitals? Or the one in Greene County?” After a pause, she said quietly, “Okay, I’ll tell her. Yes, we will come see you later. Just a few hours. Thank you, Sheriff.”

  I leaned against the doorframe as she glanced up. I knew right away what was going on. Harmon Gates was gone. He was gone and I’d never see him again.

  Chapter Nineteen—Jerica

  With the bracelet safely tucked in my blue jeans pocket and the flask in my back pocket, I dug deeper into the flowerbed. I’d recognized Chuck’s stolen property right away when Jesse brought it in the house. He’d been working in the overgrown patch of bushes to the right of the long driveway, so it wasn’t a stretch to figure out that was how it came to be there. Loxley must have dropped it while she was watching Chuck and Shannon. I’d cleaned it and polished it up, and thankfully Jesse hadn’t asked me about it again. He would eventually, but I had already made up my mind that I wasn’t going to tell him anything about what I knew. Loxley didn’t need anything from me except to keep her secret. Some secrets shouldn’t be shared with the world.

  I couldn’t be sure this was the exact location I retrieved the recipe box from, but it was as close as I was going to get. The flask was barely going to fit inside it, but if I unscrewed the top, I could make it work. I glanced up at my husband, and thankfully he wasn’t paying me any attention. He was too busy loading up his bookshelves and arranging his tchotchkes on his desk. This was something I needed to do alone. Yeah, this one was all on me. I had to do it for Loxley.

  I pulled the recipe box out of the tote bag and opened it up. I hadn’t kept any of Loxley’s treasures. Your secret is safe with me, Loxley Grace. I am your friend. I dug the bracelet out of my pocket and placed it inside the recipe box along with the flask. I closed the lid and stroked the metal one last time. I swear I’ll never tell. I put the box in the open hole and cast dirt over it with my shovel, then leaned back and breathed a sigh of relief. I felt lighter, my spirit confirming that this had been the right thing to do all along. Not all secrets needed to be revealed. The Belles had suffered enough. Maybe, somehow, this would give Loxley the peace she needed. The peace she deserved. And maybe she’d find Harmon.

  “Hey! What are you doing out there? Come see!” Jesse’s handsome head poked out the window, and I shoved the hand shovel in the dirt.

  “Just piddling aro
und, adding a few flowers. On my way,” I called back cheerfully. I deposited the bag in the truck and dusted off my legs and went inside. I didn’t like lying to Jesse, and I certainly didn’t want to be lied to, but this wasn’t about us. This was for Loxley.

  “Should I close my eyes?” I asked jokingly as I hung in the doorway.

  “It’s not that big of a surprise. But if you want to close your eyes, I’ll do my best to surprise you,” he murmured as he took my hand.

  “Uh, maybe later,” I said with a laugh as he led me to the freshly painted desk. He didn’t have to tell me what he’d done. The horrible scratch marks were gone, the threat was gone. The desk had been sanded, and despite our earlier misgivings about covering the wood, it had a nice coat of light blue paint on it and looked beautiful. Jesse and I were wood purists—if we didn’t have to paint it, we wouldn’t—but this seemed to work. Jesse had gone with a nautical theme for his writer’s shack. I liked it. I seriously doubted that I would spend a lot of time here, but as long as he was happy, that’s what mattered.

  “Jesse, this is perfect. I love it.” I rubbed my fingers across the wood where the horrible threat had been. “It’s like it never even happened. Did you find out anything about the arrests? Was Chuck ever charged with beating Harmon? What about Shannon?”

  He kissed my cheek and handed me an envelope. “This is what I found. I have to admit it’s strange to me that you were called on to help the Belles again, but I guess you and Harper will always be connected. I just hoped that it would all come to an end after we found Jeopardy and after we knew the truth about Mariana.”