Termination Dust Read online

  Meg came home a little before five, carrying at least half a dozen fabric shopping bags, which she dumped on the counter before racing upstairs. “I’m so late. I’ve got to get ready for that thing with Dwayne tonight. Follow me upstairs, and we can talk while I get ready.” She rattled off the things she bought, and Kimmie was amazed that her sister could turn a seven-item list into a several-hundred-dollar shopping spree.

  “Oh, and I know I said you could wear my clothes, but I saw this cardigan sweater and figured it’d look really good with some black slacks for your date tonight. You’ll have to let me know if it fits.” Meg tossed it to her and scurried into her bathroom, where she immediately began emptying her drawers haphazardly. “You excited about spending time with that cute trooper? Have you noticed how sexy he sounds when he laughs? You better tell me everything that happens tonight, or I’ll totally die of jealousy. By the way, how’d things go while I was gone? Were you bored? Did you figure out how to use the TV remote? Is Pip feeling any better?”

  Kimmie glanced at Meg’s bed, where Pip had been fingering the raised patterns of her quilt, but he wasn’t there anymore. “Pip?”

  Kimmie retraced their steps downstairs, her heart high in her throat. Finally, she found Pip pulling a bag with dozens of matchbox cars out of one of Meg’s shopping bags.

  “Are these cars all for him?” she called up the stairs.

  Meg appeared at the top of the landing. “Yeah. I remember Mom mentioned that he liked them.”

  Kimmie was touched by the gesture and glad that now Pip would have something to do to occupy his time besides wandering from room to room, feeling up the different blankets and pillows and upholsteries. She had to pull the butcher knife back out of the drawer to cut the box open, which reminded her of how scared she’d been when she’d heard her brother-in-law upstairs. She needed to call Taylor too and let him know she was all right. The afternoon had whizzed past.

  She carried the new toys upstairs where Pip could play with them in Meg’s room, hoping her sister wouldn’t mind the mess.

  Meg was in front of her mirror, running a flat iron through her hair. “I can’t believe it took me that long just to get everything. I hope I’m not late. Dwayne throws a fit about that.”

  Kimmie still hadn’t decided what, if anything, she’d tell her sister about seeing Dwayne at the house. It wasn’t her business for one thing, and it would make things awkward for the rest of her stay if she and her brother-in-law started this visit on bad terms. On the other hand, Kimmie was sick of secrets, sick of having to pretend. She had no idea what Dwayne was doing this afternoon at home, and even though she had her suspicions, she doubted Meg would listen even if Kimmie did decide to share.

  She’d have time to think through things later. She’d met Dwayne for all of two minutes. She shouldn’t jump to conclusions.

  Meg brushed her hair into place, pouting until she got it just right. She glanced at Kimmie’s reflection in the mirror and asked, “So what time’s Officer Cutie coming to dinner?”

  “Around six,” Kimmie answered. “I still need to call and give him your address.”

  “Use my cell.” Meg pointed to her handbag on the bed. “I already put his name in there.”

  Kimmie was impressed that she managed to get the phone turned on, but after that she was lost.

  “Here, give it to me,” Meg ordered, then taking the phone said, “Siri, call Taylor’s cell.” She shoved the phone back to Kimmie when it started ringing.

  “Kimmie?” His voice sounded panicked. “I’ve been really worried about you. I kept trying to dial the number you used to call me earlier, but it went straight to voicemail.”

  Meg leaned over and called out, “That must have been the landline. I’ve got the ringer turned off.”

  Kimmie blushed, realizing she was on speaker, and walked down the hallway where she hoped she could find a little privacy. For all she knew, Dwayne was home again and about to pop out of the room at the far end of the hall.

  “Are you all right?” Taylor asked. “I was worried. I almost called the local police to check on you.”

  “I’m sorry.” She should have called him right back, but she was so embarrassed to have let her brother-in-law freak her out that she’d conveniently forgotten. “Did you get your friend to the airport all right?”

  “Yeah. You still free for dinner?”

  Kimmie thought of all the reasons why Taylor shouldn’t come over. She hardly knew him, for one thing, and she didn’t like the thought that he was paying her attention just because he was sorry for her. It felt strange and somewhat rude hosting someone at her sister’s house, especially with Meg out for the evening. Besides, she had Pip to worry about. What if his fever spiked?

  “I hope you like Chinese.” Taylor’s voice was playful, and Kimmie’s arguments died on her lips.

  “That sounds delicious.”

  “Where should I meet you?”

  Kimmie stepped back into the bedroom where Meg shouted him her address through her closed closet door while she dressed.

  “Did you catch that?” Kimmie asked with a laugh. She nearly tripped over one of Pip’s cars as she stepped back out of the room.

  “I got it,” Taylor answered. “I’ll see you pretty soon. And Kimmie?”

  “Yeah?” She waited, her heart a fluttering bird in her chest.

  “I’m really looking forward to spending some time together.”

  CHAPTER 45

  Aside from Pip’s throwing a minor tantrum when Kimmie moved his car collection back downstairs to the living room, the evening went smoothly enough. Meg was a bundle of nerves and motion until she swept out at quarter to six, complaining about how late she’d be, wishing Kimmie good luck on her big date as if it were a final exam at school.

  The door slammed shut behind her with an echo, and then the house fell silent. Kimmie had showered and changed into a pair of her sister’s black slacks and a black shirt. It was darker than what she’d normally wear, but the burgundy cardigan and a turquoise necklace from her sister gave a cheerful splash of color. She’d lost track of how many times she’d opened and shut the kitchen cabinets just so she could remember where everything was when Taylor arrived with the food.

  Pip adored his new dinosaur pajamas from Meg and was already dressed for bed. Kimmie was glad he was happy playing with those cars. Her sister might never know what a genius purchase that was. Kimmie wandered from room to room, wondering what she could do to make anything look more attractive. The house was spotless, and the decorations were sparse but tasteful. She hoped it wasn’t too opulent for Taylor. She didn’t want to make him uncomfortable, didn’t want him to think she came from the kind of family that had nothing better to do than flaunt all their wealth to make others jealous.

  She tried to imagine how the night would go. She’d never been on a date before. Even though she and a boy in high school had crushes on each other for a while, she’d never been allowed to see him outside of school. She wondered if Meg was this nervous before her first date with Dwayne.

  Kimmie glanced once more at the mirror, hardly recognizing herself. From one angle, she looked tired and old, like you’d expect from someone who’d just lost their mother. But when the light caught her face a certain way and when she gave a faint smile, she glowed with maturity. She hoped Taylor wouldn’t think she’d spent too much time getting ready. Meg insisted on putting some makeup on her even though Kimmie had never worn anything besides chapstick and blush before. The foundation did wonders at hiding the smudges beneath Kimmie’s eyes, but when she met with Taylor she still wanted to look and feel like herself.

  Meg had fixed the house phone, and Taylor had called a few minutes earlier to let her know he was running late. Apparently dozens of other hungry Anchorage residents were also in the mood for Chinese, and the wait for takeout would be longer than he’d expected. Kimmie paced the downstairs hallway, trying to calm her nerves, trying to keep from fee
ling guilty. What kind of daughter goes on a date the week her mother dies?

  She hummed one of her mom’s Bible tunes. Surely I am with you always, even to the end of the ages.

  How much longer was Taylor going to take? She’d forgotten to ask Meg how to let him through the iron gate up the driveway. She checked the window every few seconds to see if he was on his way, ready to meet him.

  From the living room, Pip let out a squeal. When she got to him, she saw him struggling to separate two cars whose bumpers had gotten stuck together.

  “Let me help,” she urged, but her brother refused to let either of them go.

  “If you give them to me, I can fix it.” She felt bad for sounding irritated. It wasn’t Pip’s fault he got frustrated so easily.

  She finally managed to yank the cars out of his hands, ignoring the angry shrieks that died down the moment he realized his toys were free. She wondered what Taylor would think if she tried to wrestle her brother’s medicine into him after dinner. It would probably be best to wait until he was gone.

  The doorbell rang, and Kimmie sprinted ahead, reaching it in just a few strides. Suddenly feeling foolish, she waited until she caught her breath so Taylor wouldn’t think she’d been running, then flung the door open.

  The smile froze on her lips.

  It wasn’t Taylor at the door.

  CHAPTER 46

  “Hello, Kimmie. You’re looking grown-up tonight.” Chuck leered at her and shoved his way into the entrance, locking the door behind him.

  “What are you doing?” Kimmie could barely stammer the question.

  “Just checking up on my favorite stepdaughter.” He let out a grating chuckle as he glanced around the foyer. “Too bad you’re the ugly one of the sisters. You could never get a rich man to marry you and set you up in a home like this. Not with a face like that.”

  Kimmie was bombarded with a dozen thoughts at once, which all finally managed to clear their way through the chaos into the single realization: I have to protect Pip.

  She figured the longer she could keep Chuck here in the foyer with her, the more chance her brother would have of staying safe. Maybe he’d recognize his father’s voice and hide. Kimmie wished there was a clock somewhere. If she stalled long enough, Taylor would show up. He’d know what to do.

  Deciding that the best way to protect herself and her brother was to keep Chuck as calm as possible, she led him to the kitchen, taking the long route so he wouldn’t pass the living room.

  “Where’s Pip?” Chuck asked, glancing around as if his son might be hiding in one of the kitchen cabinets.

  “He’s not feeling well. He’s got strep throat.”

  Kimmie eyed the drawer where the meat knife was kept, trying to edge her way closer to it.

  “Is that a phone behind you?” he asked with a snarl.

  She nodded.

  “Unplug it and slide it over to me.”

  She didn’t argue. The movement allowed her to sidle up to the knife drawer, which is where she hoped to stay for the remainder of this conversation.

  Chuck slammed the phone against the counter, chuckling as the batteries flew out, then he did the same with the base. “There now.” His eyes glinted in the sunlight streaming in from the windows in the vaulted ceiling. “Any other phones I need to know about?”

  Kimmie shook her head.

  “I suppose you know why I’m here.”

  Kimmie blinked at him. Why was he here? To kill her? To kidnap Pip? Whatever it was he wanted, he wouldn’t succeed. She inched her hand behind her toward the handle of the knife drawer.

  “Your sister’s got something that belongs to me.”

  Kimmie didn’t know what he was talking about, and she flinched when Chuck snarled, “Where is it?”

  “I think it’s in her room,” she lied, hoping he might turn around, distracted enough to let her get at the knife.

  Chuck took a step toward her and grabbed her arm, pinching until she sucked in her breath from the sharp pain. “Take me there.”

  She took the long way again, praying that God would send his angels to protect Pip. As long as her brother stayed safe, it didn’t matter what happened to her.

  Halfway up the staircase, she paused and glanced behind.

  “Hurry up,” Chuck snarled.

  She led him into her sister’s room.

  “Where is it?” he demanded.

  “In one of her dressers. She didn’t say which.”

  Chuck started ripping out the drawers of Meg’s bureaus, flinging undergarments and shirts and gym clothes across the floor. Kimmie bit her lip. She didn’t know what he was looking for, but as long as he stayed busy, nobody would get hurt. She glanced around her sister’s room, wondering if there might be another phone in here.

  “I don’t see it,” Chuck growled, flinging the last drawer against the bedpost.

  “She said it was in here, I swear it.” Kimmie had to keep him distracted. He glowered at her, and she realized the sickening truth. He was sober. This wasn’t some kind of drunken rage. This was methodical, premeditated.

  Pip, I hope you’re hiding somewhere …

  “Stop lying to me and tell me where that brat put it.” Chuck stepped toward her, and Kimmie automatically inched her way toward the wall.

  “There’s another room. Her husband’s. I might have made a mistake. It might be in there.”

  With as many rooms as Meg had in her home, hopefully Chuck’s search would keep him busy enough until Taylor arrived or Kimmie found some way to call for help.

  She pointed to the door Dwayne had popped out of earlier today, and she marveled that someone like her brother-in-law could have ever frightened her. After what Chuck had already put her through during the past ten years, she should be immune to silly fears.

  Her legs were steady as he pulled her behind him, striding toward Dwayne’s door.

  “If you don’t find me what I’m looking for, I swear I’ll kill you.” His voice was low and menacing, and Kimmie had no problem believing every word.

  Dwayne’s room was different than his wife’s. His king-sized bed took up most of the floor space, and the only other furniture was one small end table. Chuck yanked out the drawers, spilling their contents onto the bed. Just a few sports magazines, a bar of deodorant, and a plastic wrapper.

  “Where are those blasted letters?” Chuck was bellowing in her face, and Kimmie felt herself shrink as she tried to inch farther and farther away from his fury.

  “You think you can get away with hiding them from me like that?” he yelled. “I told you I’d kill you if you didn’t hand them over.”

  He grabbed her hair and yanked down. “You think you’re so clever? I’ll show you who the smart one is around here.”

  She shut her eyes as he kneed her in the gut and then the face. Blood spilled from her nose. She tried to swing her arm to push him away, but he grabbed it and kept it pinned behind her back. One small jerk and he could snap her shoulder out of place.

  He let his fist fall on her back. She let out a pained gasp as the wind rushed out of her lungs, and Chuck mocked her in his grating falsetto. “Is baby girl hurting? Did precious little princess get a boo-boo?”

  Kimmie tried to not to make any noise. Chuck had threatened to kill her in the past, but tonight he clearly possessed the physical stamina and clarity of mind to carry out his plan.

  “Tell me where those letters are.” His fist found its way to her gut, driving her to her tiptoes with its force.

  She collapsed onto the ground, and he straddled her in an instant. Stupid, stupid, stupid. What had she been thinking? That she could outwit him? That there was any way to get the upper hand? There was no way to escape this. Chuck wrapped his beefy hands around her throat. He was too strong. She couldn’t protect herself. But maybe it was better this way. If Chuck killed her, at least she could join her mom in heaven.

  The thought sent a wave of peace spreading
through her broken body. As long as she didn’t give way again to fear, it was going to be all right.

  Warmth flooded her spirit. A peace far more poignant than anything she’d ever known overcame her senses. Her body flailed beneath Chuck’s weight, but her physical survival instinct was something separate, something distinct. It wasn’t her at all. She watched it as if from above. So this was what it felt like to die. She thought about how many times in the past she had struggled in vain against Chuck and his violent outbursts, striving with a purely animalistic instinct for her own survival. If she’d known death was anything like this, she would have never been so afraid.

  I’m going to see my mother again. The realization flooded her with joy, a sense of lasting happiness and contentment unlike anything she’d experienced in the past ten years.

  I’m going to be with Jesus soon. No, not even soon. God was here. Right here. Right now. She knew it just as clearly as she knew that once Chuck killed her, she would be in the presence of a Majesty more holy and powerful and personal than any mortal could dare imagine. That glory was hers. It was waiting for her. She could almost hear the sound of her heavenly Father’s voice ready to welcome her into paradise.

  Somewhere in the distance, Chuck was roaring at her, cursing her as he drained the life out of her with his meaty hands.

  Her body seized. Her brain jostled awake. Wait. What was she thinking? She couldn’t die. She had to help her brother.

  She struggled. Strained even though she knew the battle was already lost.

  God, help me. I need to save him.

  Chuck’s sweat beaded onto his forehead and dripped down on her. She had to get away from him, but it was impossible.

  I’m sorry, Pip.

  A few more seconds, and it would all be over. Maybe it already was. Through her blurred and blotchy vision, she saw Chuck stand up. He was done?