The Haunting of Beverly Holden by Marie Wilkens

Author:Marie Wilkens [Wilkens, Marie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-08-17T16:00:00+00:00

56

Dinner was a quiet affair. The Holloways’ table was probably the only one in Ghost Town’s cafeteria that was silent. The laughter from other families invaded their stoic meal like a slap in the face. The only one that attempted any sort of conversation was Maisie.

“Mom, do you think we can go for another horseback ride tomorrow?” Maisie asked.

Amy smiled. “We’ll see.” But she knew that Terry wouldn’t let her and the girls out of his sight, let alone go for a horseback ride.

The waitress returned with the check, and as Terry reached for his wallet, his phone buzzed.

“Maybe you can come too, Dad,” Maisie said. “You’ll have so much fun. There are so many cute horses, and, oh! Maybe we can see the sunset—”

“Probably not, sweetie,” Terry replied, staring at his phone, then glancing quickly around the restaurant.

“Everything all right?” Amy asked, noticing her husband’s behavior.

Terry placed his card on the table and then quickly pocketed his phone. “Yeah, um, I’m fine.” He pushed away from the table and stood. “I just need to step out for a minute. Work.”

Amy watched him weave through the tables and then head outside into the street and out of view.

“Mom?” Liz asked.

“Hmm?”

“Are we going to be heading back soon?” Liz kept the screen of her phone pressed against her chest. She had been on it all dinner, but Amy hadn’t wanted to make the mood even worse by making a fuss about her daughter’s mobile addiction.

“Yeah,” Amy answered. “As soon as we pay the check.” She smiled, but then glanced toward the door where Terry had left.

The waitress came back for the card and then returned it before Terry came back and Amy signed the receipt. Still no Terry.

The way he had gotten up so hastily was worrisome, and it didn’t fit with work. Something else was bothering him. “Stay here for a second, girls, I’m going to check on your father.” She stood and headed toward the door, stepping out onto the dimly lit street.

Amy glanced left and right, but she found no sign of her husband. She crossed her arms, the desert chilly at night, and walked toward where they had parked. A few cars passed by, but when the noise of their engines faded, she heard heated whispers coming from an alleyway up ahead.

Amy slowed and slid up against the side of the building, inching toward the alley’s entrance. She paused at the building’s end and slowly craned her neck around the side, peering down the alleyway.

Terry had his back turned, blocking whoever he was speaking with. Their voices were low, but they were speaking fast, and judging from the sporadic hand gestures, whatever they were speaking about, they didn’t agree upon.

“Terry?” Amy asked, stepping into the alley.

He spun around, and Amy caught a glimpse of the person he was arguing with. It was a woman.

“Amy, I—”

“Is everything okay?” Amy headed into the alley, but the woman turned and walked away in the opposite direction. Amy stared at the back of the woman’s head as Terry intercepted her.

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