The Liar

She carted it over to the largest smear of blood.

“I need to use the bathroom.”

“Hold it,” he advised.

“I’ll do what you tell me to do. I just want to get through this, Richard, but I need to use the bathroom.”

He narrowed his eyes. She kept her gaze downcast, her shoulders slumped.

“Right there. Door stays open.”

“If you won’t give me privacy, at least don’t look at me.”

She walked to the tiny bathroom—razors maybe in the old medicine cabinet? A window too small for her to wiggle through if she had the chance.

She put the seat down on the toilet while he hovered in the doorway.

“Just don’t look at me!” She let out a choked sob. “The door’s open, you’re standing right there. I’m just asking you not to watch me. For God’s sake.”

He leaned against the jamb, cast his eyes up to the ceiling. “Awful dainty for someone one step up from an outhouse.”

She smothered her sensibilities, lifted her skirt, pulled down her panties. And shot her hand in her pocket.

Please God, if you’re listening, let this make sense. Let this go through.

When she was done, heat flushed her face.

“Jesus, look at you, sweaty, splotchy, your hair like something a rat wouldn’t nest in. I don’t know how I ever got it up with you.”

She dipped the mop in the bucket, wrung it out, began to wash up the blood.

“And what’s your pithy comeback? Hurt feelings.” He made crying noises. “God, you’re weak. You think that asshole you’re fucking now’s going to stick?”

“He loves me.” Saying it, knowing it, steadied her.

“Love? You’re a handy piece of ass. It’s all you ever were, all you’d ever be. A handy piece of ass who’ll splash around in some backwoods creek.”

She froze, and slowly lifted her gaze. “You spied on us, on me?”

“I could’ve taken you both out.” He lifted the gun, pointed it at her head. Said, “Pow, pow. But I wanted to lay it on Jimmy’s plate. A nice, tidy circle.”

“But you killed Jimmy.”

“Unavoidable alteration in plans. Don’t worry, I’ve got it covered. I always do. Put your back into it, Shelby.”

She went back to mopping, and began to make plans of her own.

•   •   •

GRIFF GOT HUNG UP talking construction with Derrick, lost track of some time. He had Shelby’s champagne, but he didn’t have Shelby. A glance around showed him Bitsy was back—a little damp-eyed as she danced with her future son-in-law.

Shelby was probably dealing with some other small crisis, he thought, but set out to look for her.

“Hey, Griff, hey!” Crystal came over, pointed at the glass of champagne. “Is that up for grabs?” She took it, drank deep. “I need it after drying Miz Bitsy up. She was watering like a leaky pipe.”

“Looks like you and Shelby got it done.”

“Oh, it was just me—that’s why I was looking for you, but I got waylaid a couple times. It’s a hell of a party! Shelby had to run home for a minute. Get Fifi for Callie. She should be back by now, I guess.”

“When did she go?”

“Oh, I don’t know exactly since I was dealing with the leaky pipe, then Miz Bitsy’s sister—they call her Sugar?—she came in so the two of them were leaking together. I guess it’s been about twenty minutes or so. She should be back or on her way.”

Maybe it was the dregs of all that had happened, but the dread just dropped over him like a shroud. He yanked out his phone, intended to call her, and it signaled an incoming text in his hand.

“It’s Shelby.”

“There you go.” Crystal patted his arm. “She’s just letting you know she’s on her way back, I expect. No call to look so worried, honey.”

But when he brought up the text the bottom dropped out of his world.

“Where’s Forrest?”

“Forrest? I just saw him over that-a-way flirting with a pretty blonde. I—”

But Griff was already moving, and fast. He cut across the dance floor, ignoring those who called out a greeting. He spotted Forrest, and what he felt must have showed on his face. After a casual glance in his direction, Forrest’s eyes went cold.

He turned away from the blonde without a word.

“What happened?”

“She’s in trouble.” Griff held out the phone.

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“Christ.”

“What’s BB Road?”

“Black Bear Road. Wait.” Forrest clamped a hand on Griff’s arm before his friend could take off. “You’re not going to find her driving hell-bent all over the hills.”

“I’m not going to find her standing here.”

“We’re not going to be. Nobby’s over by the bar there. Get him. I’m calling it in.”

“I’m going after her, Forrest.”

“Not saying different, but we’re going to go with the best chance of finding her. Get Nobby.”

They pulled Nobby outside, and Clay and Matt with them.

“We’re going to do this smart,” Forrest began. “Two men to a team. The sheriff’s putting more together right now. We’re going to blanket the area west of town. Odds are he’ll keep to the back roads. Clay, you look here.”