. . .
Tonight, as she drove home from the spirit circle, she knew time was running out. The others were suspicious. They’d be watching her, keeping a close eye. She needed to go back and get the treasure soon—tonight! She’d do it tonight. She’d go home, change into old clothes for digging, pick up Dustin’s canvas duffel bag, and go get the treasure. Then she’d bring it home, hide it. She’d show Dustin, of course, and together, they’d figure out what their next move should be.
Heart pounding, shaky with adrenaline, she turned off the headlights as she pulled into her driveway and up to the dark house. She opened the front door slowly, crept into the hall.
The kitchen light came on.
Dustin was waiting for her.
“Where have you been?” he asked. His eyes were rimmed with red. From the smell of him and the empty bottle of Jim Beam on the kitchen table, he’d be in no shape to go in to work in the morning. And no shape to start an argument with.
She would tell him now. Tell him everything. “I—”
“And where have you been every damn night? Last night you didn’t get in until two in the morning. Now look at you—creeping in just before midnight, all dressed up, fancy shoes on.”
“Dustin, there’s something I need to tell you,” she said.
“Who is he?” Dustin demanded.
“What? There is no he,” she said.
“Half the town knows it,” he said. “How do you think it feels to go in to work, have the guys whispering about what a dumbass I am because my wife is sleeping around and I don’t even have a fucking clue?”
“Dustin, I’ve never been unfaithful, how could you even—”
“I’m not going to be the dumbass anymore,” he snarled. He stood up from the kitchen table, stumbling a bit. “You know what I keep thinking about? How back when I asked you to marry me, you took your time answering—you weren’t sure—and me, I needed you to say yes. I needed you to say yes because I didn’t want to live without you. I loved you that much.”
“I loved you, too, Dustin. I love you still.”
“Get out.”
“But, Dustin, I—”
“Get the fuck out of my house! Go on! Before your daughter wakes up and finds out the truth about her slut of a mother!”
Then he slapped her across the face so hard she staggered backward, fell over.
Dustin stood over her, face red, fist raised.
In that moment, she didn’t know him at all.
CHAPTER 46
Helen
SEPTEMBER 13, 2015
Olive was Hattie’s great-great-granddaughter. Helen could hardly believe it.
Helen called Riley, but the call went to voice mail. “I found Gloria Gray. You’re not going to believe who it is. Call me as soon as you get this!”
“Helen, maybe we should wait,” Nate said. “Or go to the police first.”
Helen laughed. “The police? You mean Officer Friendly, who couldn’t give a shit when someone tried to gas us to death? And what are we going to tell them? That a ghost told me to find Lori Kissner? They already have me flagged in the system as a crazy person, I’m sure.”
“I don’t know…I—”
“I’m going to Olive’s right now to talk to Olive. And to Dustin. Are you coming or not?”
