Gone to Ground by Brandilyn Collins

Author:Brandilyn Collins
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Christian Suspense
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
Published: 2012-03-29T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Tully

I couldn't wait for the weekend to be over.

Mike and I weren't talking much. Oh, I made him supper and washed his clothes. Other than that I tiptoed around him, scared to death. I tried to cling to hope. Steven Ruckland had been arrested for Erika's murder. Cherrie Mae said Mayor B killed her.

So why couldn't I believe one of them was guilty?

Sunday afternoon I sat propped against pillows on the couch, my feet up. At the Methodist Church Erika's funeral had started. Mike hadn't even mentioned it. My eyes were fixed on a TV rerun, not seeing a thing. Mike was outside, cleaning his ratty boat. Said he wanted to go fishing when he was done. Again. Well, good. Better than him being here.

I kept thinking about Cherrie Mae, telling me to go back to my parents'. Like a puppy with her tail tucked between her legs. I couldn't imagine it. How does a grown daughter—a pregnant daughter—go back to live with her parents like a marriage never happened? Plus, Mike would never stand for it. He'd break their door down to get to me. Get himself thrown in jail.

Maybe that wouldn't be so bad.

When the baby came things would be different. At least I'd have another person to think about. A cushion between me and my husband.

The front door slammed. Mike strode into the living room, scowling. The front of his shirt was wet.

I tensed. Muted the TV. "What's wrong?"

"You, that's what."

I couldn't answer.

He pointed toward the street. "I been out there, thinkin the whole time how you ain't hardly said two words to me since Friday night. Then Jeff comes over."

Jeff Gridley from across the street. A day worker at the factory, about five years older than Mike. I never liked the man.

"And guess what he tells me." Mike stuck both hands on his hips.

The tingle started at the back of my neck—the feeling that warns me I'm in trouble.

"We're talkin about Stevie Ruckland's arrest and the town meetin, and Jeff mentions he saw you there."

"I told you I was there. I wanted to hear what was happening."

"You didn't tell me you sat next to Stevie's sister. Or that you followed her out to the parkin lot afterward."

The tingle grew stronger.

"What could you possibly have to say to Deena Ruckland?"

I cringed. "Nothing. Just that I felt sorry for her."

"That all?" Mike's head tilted. He looked at me from the corner of his eye, daring me to lie to him. "Jeff said you looked like you were in a deep conversation. And some black woman was with you too. Jeff didn't see who it was."

"We were both just trying to comfort Deena."

"Who was the black woman?"

"I don't remember her name."

"That so."

I forced myself to look at Mike. My heart rattled against my ribs. He moved closer, his jaw jutting out.

"Funny you don't remember her name, seein as how you got in a car with her and Deena and drove away."

Heat rocketed down my spine.

"You told me you came straight home from the meetin, Tully.

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