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“What about Dylan?” she asked.
“He was there, on the ground, not far from the cave entrance. Crying and crying-”
“And then he stopped. Why, Alex?”
She fought to remember. “I don’t know. Something… Suddenly all but one was gone. They ran away.”
They ran away. Frightened. They were just boys, she realized. Teenagers. Like Clark.
She looked directly at Rachel. “I ran, too. But then stopped, and looked back. His hood had fallen away-”
Alex grabbed Rachel’s hands, squeezing them tightly. “It was Clark. The boy who raped you first was Clark.”
CHAPTER SEVENTY
Wednesday, March 17
10:10 P.M.
Moments passed; neither moved. Alex kept ahold of Rachel’s hands.
“Clark,” Rachel said, voice shaking. “That son of a bitch. I always wondered, but-”
“I’m sorry, Rachel.”
“I’m not. I’m thrilled.” Rachel freed her hands and stood. “I’m going to take care of this right now.”
Alex followed her to her feet. “What are you going to do?”
Rachel didn’t hesitate. “I’m going to kill him.”
Alex wanted to laugh. It started to form on her lips, uncomfortable and inappropriate. “You’re joking, right?”
“I’ve got a gun, Alex. I bought it specifically for this. And I’m going to use it.”
Alex’s heart lurched. “Don’t do this, Rachel. It’s not worth it. He’s not worth it.”
“You don’t think so? All my life I’ve lived with what they did to me. I hid it away, shoved it into the deepest, darkest corner of my mind. Because I didn’t know who. I do now. And he’s going to pay.”
She started off; Alex went after her. “Wait! What about Dylan?”
Rachel stopped but didn’t look back.
“After I saw Clark’s face, I ran. Back to my bed,” Alex said. “What happened to our brother?”
“He was gone.” Rachel turned. “When I could move, I dragged myself over to where he had been, but he wasn’t there. There was blood.”
The blood the police and FBI found.
“Why didn’t you get help? Why not go to your dad or-”
“And tell them what? That I was spying on them? Tell them what those boys did to me-I was ashamed! I was scared! I didn’t know what to do! I-”
She tipped her face to the ceiling, fighting tears. “I thought… I hoped, Dylan was back in his bed. Who would hurt him? He was such a sweet baby. So I crept back to the house and cleaned myself up. I didn’t even check his crib because… I couldn’t. I prayed he would be there in the morning. I promised myself he would be.”
But he wasn’t.
“I can’t change that, Alex. And I’ve lived with it for twenty-five years. Helpless to change anything. But I can change this. I’m not helpless anymore.”
She turned and started off. “Wait!” Alex called. “What about justice for Dylan? Let’s go to the police. Let’s-”
“This is justice for Dylan,” Rachel said without looking back. “Who do you think killed him? Who did you see standing there?”
“I can’t let you do this.”
“You can’t stop me.”
She turned. Alex caught her breath. She had a gun; she was pointing it at Alex.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m sorry, Alex. I have to do this.”
“You’re going to shoot me?”
“Only if I have to.”
“We’re stepsisters. Friends-”
“Clark and I are cousins. That didn’t stop him, did it?”
“You’re better than he is! Dammit, Rachel-”
“I’m going now. Don’t follow me.”
She meant it, Alex realized, watching as Rachel walked away. She had to stop her. Had to find a way.
“What about the vines?” she called after her, sounding as desperate as she felt. “What about your wines, your legacy?”
Rachel didn’t answer. The bobbling beam of the flashlight disappeared from sight. Alex counted to ten and started after her-same as she had all those years ago.
She moved as quickly and quietly as she could, forgoing the flashlight for stealth. Her heart pounded, but not with fear this time, with determination.
She wouldn’t let Rachel do this.
Up ahead, she heard Rachel at the cave entrance. Heard the creak of the gate closing and the clank of the chain and padlock.
Rachel was locking her inside the cave.
Alex snapped on the flashlight and ran. She was too late. Rachel had fastened the gate. She stood waiting for Alex, expression apologetic.
“They’ll find you in the morning,” she said. “Don’t be scared.”
“Please, think this through, Rachel. Please, don’t-”
“I’ve spent my whole life thinking this through.”
“Rachel-” Alex reached through the metal rails. “I don’t want to lose you.”
“Before I go, I have to tell you something. That baby brush, I have one just like it.”
“What? You-”
“Wayne Reed’s not your father.” Rachel caught her hand, brought it to her mouth, kissed it. “Goodbye, Alex.”
CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE
Wednesday, March 17
10:30 P.M.
They’d located Alex’s car. The Rohnert Park Walmart parking lot. A search of the store had produced no sign of her; they were in the process of getting the store’s security tapes.
Reed shown his flashlight inside the Prius. No sign of a struggle. No left behind articles that might suggest a criminal act. No shopping bags.
He didn’t like this. His earlier presumption that she’d bolted felt wrong. All along he’d seesawed between suspecting she was behind events and worrying she was in danger from them. The seesaw had just tipped-he feared for her safety.
Reed looked at the deputy who had called it in, working to keep his cool. “Report.”
“Doing a routine sweep. Recognized the car from the Alert, checked the plate number to confirm, then called it in. Performed the same check as you.”
Ta
Reed’s heart seemed to stop. He nodded and headed for the car; Joe stepped out as he reached it. His normally pressed and creased brother was a mess. “I don’t want to talk to them,” Joe said, motioning to Ta
“Can’t help you there, Big Brother. We’re a package deal.”
“Forget it then. I’m not talking.”
Reed snapped. “No problem. Because I’ll haul your ass in and book you for obstruction, which is a felony. And then you’ll talk, only it’ll be in a nine by twelve windowless room with a lock on the door. Don’t test me, Brother.”
Joe paled. He moved his gaze from Reed to the other detectives and back. He looked like he might puke. “It’s about that night. The night Dylan disappeared. We raped her. We raped… Rachel.”
Standing in the middle of a Walmart parking lot, Reed could have heard a pin drop. His brother dragged a hand through his thi
“Who?” Ta
“Clark and Tom. Spanky and Terry.
“I ran, but I didn’t do anything to stop them. I didn’t go for help. Nothing.”
He hung his head. Reed gazed at him, feeling nothing but contempt. “Where?”
“The Sommer place. Outside the wine cave.”
Reed and Ta
“Yes, he was there. Rachel had him. He was crying.”
Reed felt sick to his stomach. “What about Alex?”
“Didn’t see her.”
Ta
“Did you go to Dad, tell him any of this?”
He shook his head. “Never told anyone. Until now.” He started to cry. “All these years, I’ve hated myself… that I let them do that to her.” He lifted his gaze to Reed’s, expression pleading. “But she turned out okay. Right, Reed? She’s good.”