“The sheriff took anything with a blade and I couldn’t get to my keys in my tote, so,” Rachael shrugged. “I improvised. The sheriff doesn’t know his way around a kitchen and didn’t think to look past the silverware drawer and the butcher’s block.”
“It was smart and brave and I never want to see you do anything like that again.” Jake took her left hand and held it against the compress. “Hold this.” He went back into the bathroom and returned with a small first aid kit and a glass of water. He opened the kit and took out a packet of extra-strength ibuprofen. “I should have led with this, but I’m a dumbass sometimes.”
Rachael grinned. “You’re fine.”
He shook two tablets into her palm and handed her the water. Then he took out a pair of tweezers and went to work on the splinters so carefully Rachael felt no pain. After he removed them all, he massaged her hand and arm until she felt boneless and relaxed—at least physically.
“Ibuprofen kicked in yet?”
“Yeah, but I think the massage helped more.”
“Touch heals.”
Jake took off his shoes and socks then stood and unbuttoned his shirt. Rachael expected to see a wire now that she knew the truth, but nothing marred his perfectly-sculpted torso. Even now, she wanted to run her hands over his chest, meld her body to his, sink into his warmth and pretend everything was fine, that they had a future together. That she had a future at all.
“No wire?”
“No, Angel. Not for you. Not tonight.” He ran his hand through her hair and took the compress, then handed her his shirt. “Didn’t think to get you a nightgown. Will this work? I’ll leave while you—”
“Stay. Please.” The thought of Jake leaving the room, of him sleeping on the couch while she tossed and turned alone in the bed tore through Rachael’s heart like a knife. Even if their relationship wasn’t real, she wanted to pretend for just one more night.
While Jake pulled back the covers, she stood and pulled her shirt over her head then wiggled out of her jeans until she stood only in her bra and panties. Instead of putting his shirt on, she draped it over the chair. When he turned back to her, he drew in a sharp breath and his cheeks flushed red. “My shirt?”
“Not necessary. Like you said, touch heals.” Rachael’s heart pounded as she felt the pull between their bodies.
Jake gave in first. He picked Rachael up and laid her on the bed then wrapped his body around hers, spooning her. He pulled up the covers and reached across her to turn off the lamp. He kept the radio on because of course he did. The soft music drowned out the cicadas and soothed her, but before they fell asleep, she needed to tell him everything. It was time.
“First, I want to thank you. You gave me the strength to break away.”
Jake nuzzled in her hair. “No, I didn’t. You’ve had that strength all along. You proved that tonight. All I did was hold the cage door open. You were the one who flew. Don’t you ever forget that. You’re strong all on your own, and I admire it. Hell, I fucking love that about you.”
Love? Rachael took strength from his words. Even as she shook in his arms, she said, “Camden said you’re here to find out what happened to Agent Tom Smiley. I’ve never told anyone this. I know that my father killed a man when I was eight years old.”
Instead of pushing her away and storming out, Jake held her tighter.
Here I go. “I know, because I helped him bury the body.”
“There it is,” Jake whispered into her hair. “Your scariest blackbird, set free. And look, you’re still here, Angel. You’re stronger than your biggest secret.”
Rachael bit her lip as relief-filled tears slid down her cheek. Now that she’d said the worst, the words flowed easier.
“My mom saw him do it, I think. She picked me up from school early. She was upset but trying to hide it from me. I thought maybe if we went to our blackbird tree and had a picnic, she’d be happy again. Kid logic, right? So I suggested it and she got even more upset. She said, ‘No, sweetie, no more blackbird tree for us.’ I asked if she was afraid of blackbirds now and I told her I could scare them off for her. And she kind of laughed, but it was that hysterical sort of laughter and I got quiet. I think she knew then that Daddy had plans to hide the body somewhere on that land.
“We got home before Daddy and she told me to go up to my room and she’d be up in a little bit with a surprise. But she never made it. Daddy came home as soon as I got to my room and I could hear them arguing. I crawled into bed and put my pillow and blankets over my head even though it was the end of August and sweltering. I stayed there even after it got quiet, waiting. I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I remember, Daddy was shaking me awake and it was evening. He pulled me out of bed and I noticed my closet was open and half my clothes were gone.”
Rachael couldn’t help the sob that escaped her lips. “I think my mom had packed them earlier. I don’t know why we didn’t leave straight from school, why we went home first. Maybe she forgot something. Maybe she got scared and had second thoughts. But I know from that closet that she loved me. That she wanted to take me with her. Daddy chased her away, scared her so badly that she couldn’t come back.”
Jake stroked her cheek with the lightest touch. “Of course she loved you. You were the best thing in her life.”
Gratitude flowed through Rachael at his words. She kept going. “Daddy dragged me out of bed and carried me to his Cadillac. I asked him where Mom was. He said she was a lying whore and she was gone. I asked if we were going after her and he said no, that he wanted to make sure I never left him so we were doing something else.”
Rachael shuddered at the memory and Jake stroked her arm, then took her hand.
“We drove out past the blackbird tree and down a dirt road until it dead-ended and there was nothing but prairie and empty fields. Daddy kept the headlights on. He went around the car and opened my door. I didn’t want to get out. He dragged me to the trunk and opened it. I couldn’t see in, it was too dark, but he told me to feel for a rug. I thought it would be flat…I didn’t expect it to be…. I didn’t know what it was then, I swear.” Rachael’s breath hitched. “But the trunk smelled like the meatpacking plant. Sweat and blood.”
Jake kissed the top of her head, silently encouraging her to go on.
“I asked him what we were doing and he told me to be quiet. We were dumping a load of garbage, he said. I didn’t know what was really happening, Jake. I was so scared.” Rachael thought she might shake the bed apart.
