“You need to stop making them then.”
“Point taken. Did you bring a shotgun?”
I blow him a raspberry. “I lost it, remember. Someone took it from me. We really should find it. Mr. McClusker will want it back.”
“I don’t think I’ll be looking for it until the searchers leave the mountain.”
It’s dusk soon, and he’s right. Up there, on the shadowed slopes, pinpoints of light are showing. They’re still searching for those two men. I sure hope they find nothing that makes them think we…I was to blame.
Do they even know Kail exists? He says no. But this other institute must be imaginary.
We step up and go beneath the entry area’s pretty arch.Greenery dangles from it, shielding the doorway. We wipe our feet and enter the Laramie house.
We follow Ron’s wheelchair along a wide hallway to a living room that out-does the one in my father’s house by two or three, in size and grandeur. Though dusty, several sculptures grace the bookshelves, and the cornices and style of the shelving speaks of money and taste.
The Weirdos have arranged armchairs and a sofa in a cozy spot around a low square white table. They nod or raise their hands, acknowledging me. I almost feel like a member.
A pile of magazines with curled pages are stacked at one corner of the table. Our beers are in the ice box. Salty snacks lie among the other offerings of cheese, dips, and cookies.
I park my opened beer on the table and seat myself as Ron introduces Esau, Rasmus, and Melody to Kail. He mumbles a greeting in return, then treads a quiet path, beer in hand, to that chair in a far corner between a bookshelf and a window cloaked by blue curtains. I have an armchair to myself. Dust rises from the arm when I pat it, curious about the film on the blue material. Molly and Ron are opposite me this time, on a leather sofa, while Esau and Melody flank me. Esau’s in black jeans, ponytail, and brown shirt, Rasmus is on a sofa beside him with his red hair well mussed as if he rushed through a shower. We’re informed that Lulu isn’t coming, again, and I gather she has probably chosen to resign from this book club.
Maybe she expected more books and fewer supernatural mysteries.
“Emergency meeting of the Weirdos in session,” Ronannounces with a smile. “Drink, eat, be merry, and I think Hailey is going to speak this time?”
“Yes.” I suck in a huge breath, try to remember what Kail and I thought was appropriate, then spill everything except those murders. It’s not that different to what I said to Ron and Molly. Father’s notes. The role of the institute. That the Large Hadron Collider has not been shown to be involved. Kail said that to me, didn’t he? Clay’s confession about Father’s murder, such that it was. His threat, which was blatant. The attack on me. I spill it all.
They listen without interrupting, though the murder and the revelation about the creation of frankenstructs, of men made into what most would call monsters, those are met with grumblings and frowns, and excited gasps. “Please don’t ask me for more info about the attack on me. I won’t say more.”
Not can’t, won’t. I’m sure they note the choice of word.
I end with, “The reason I am telling you all of this is that we need help. The institute seems to be in control of the law in Revenant, and they have deep pockets. I, we, want to take them down, especially Clay. I want justice”—I ball my fist—“and revenge for what was done to my father. I should stress this could be dangerous. It may require some actions the law would frown upon.”
Kail stirs, takes a swig of beer. I do the same then place the cold bottle on the table. Then I wait, both hoping and dreading what they might say.
“So.” Melody sits forward. “Are we to understand this has nothing to do with the LHC, and it may mean we could be charged with criminal offenses? Because I can’t do this. The club was never meant to go where you plan to go. If your father was murdered, Hailey…and I am so disturbed by that…I’m sorry.” She looks to me, through her frothy blond bangs, withcreases forming on her forehead. “This should be a case for the law. There must be a way to get this looked at, legally.”
Molly butts in, taps the table. “The sheriff won’t do nothing, and to go higher we need some proof. So far, it’s hearsay and Hailey’s word against Clay’s.”
“True.” Melody shakes her head. “I will pledge some help, as long as nothing illegal is asked of me. As I said, this case, the murder and the creation of monsters, it’s worrying in the extreme.”
“Do we not have proof of these monsters?” Esau asks. “Nothing but the notes of your father? Where are they aiming to get these parts of bodies from?”
“We have proof,” I murmur and glance at Kail. I’m relieved when he stands.
He approaches and places his beer on the table between Molly and Ron, then he slips off his hoodie, pulls it off over his head, and he waits. He wears no shirt beneath the hoodie. The scars, the half-removed, tattered sutures, and the remaining staples are obvious. The dark red tracks roam over his bared arms, neck, and chest, dividing him up like a steer marked for cutting by a butcher.
The room descends into silence.
“I am one of them. A frankenstruct.”
28
DESSERT AND IT
Another text comes in while I’m relaxing, pretending to watch some inane Webflix show with Rebecca.
“Keep watching. I don’t care if I miss something.” I stroll toward the hallway, aiming for my study where I can sit and read then reply without interruption.
