52

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Lisa shook her head as she sat on one of the couches in the large living room. “Trish will never talk. She loves John, despite everything.”

“Stockholm syndrome?” Sheriff Clay suggested.

“What’s dat?” Barb asked.

“It’s where an abuser manages ta make dere victim fall in love – despite da abuse.”

Lisa nodded. “That’s what Trish has. John has fathered all her children – though he will never admit it.”

“A paternity test should take care of dat,” the sheriff commented. “Anyteen else?”

She nodded, rocking back and forth like a child needing comfort. “They will kill me…,” she murmured anxiously.

“Who?”

“All of them. John, Garth, Keith, Andy… They will find me and kill me… and Barb… and Zenna too now that she knows. You’re all in danger now!” Lisa shouted, the tears rolling down her cheeks. “Forgive me… I couldn’t keep all of this secret any longer!”

“Who said dat?” the sheriff asked patiently.

“Garth told us the other day.”

Barb nodded.

“John reminded me when I asked him if Trish knew about Missy.”

“I knew ‘bout Missy,” the sheriff said. “She’s not da brightest spark, but she’s purdy as anyteen, eh.”

“John told me that it didn’t matter because she needed to be careful with her anti-depressants. Sheriff, he’s going to kill her! He’s going to make it look like an accident, but she’s going to die!” Lisa shook uncontrollably. Steve sat next to her and held her.

“There’s more,” Lisa continued. “I had forgotten… Trish accidentally reminded me that I was there that day too… the day of the robbery. She was supposed to come and see me in town, but had forgotten and taken the bus home anyway. Her brothers brought her in making her drink some weird drink as they drove – then saw Matt’s car waiting to be worked on and took it… She was forced to go along with. They stopped and picked up John. He put a balaclava on and drove… Keith and Garth went into the bank with balaclavas and guns. They left Trish in the car with John… but she jumped out just as they came out again. They sped off, leaving her sitting on the sidewalk, only half conscious.”

“How do you know all this?”

“Because Trish wrote to me when she was in group home. She needed to share,” Lisa replied.

“Do ya have da ledder still?” the sheriff asked.

“I think so… In my apartment. Should I go and get it?”

“When we’re done, I’ll accompany ya myself, eh.”

“Den ya come back fer supper still, eh,” Steve insisted.

“So, what do ya have?, Miss Williams?” Sheriff Clay asked.

“We’ve been looking at these letters – the ones Debbie Cowan wrote to Jessica Baxter.”

“Debbie Maxwell Cowan,” Lisa corrected.

“Sorry,” Zenna replied instantly. “It’s clear from reading the letters that Debbie was afraid of Andy. But what’s really telling is what he said about Patty.”

“Paddy?” Sheriff Clay asked, her face paling.

“Paddy Hill,” Steve interjected. “Even at da time, Debbie mentioned dat Andy had an unhealthy interest in da girl… Tinkin’ ‘bout it, I tink Andy was at da same pardy Debbie was… Her broder, David, was a senior wid us, d’ya remember, Sid? So she came… an’ left wid Andy…”

“I don’t remember much from den,” the sheriff replied.

“Oh yah… I’m sorry ta have ta make ya remember, eh.” Steve shifted uncomfortably.

Zenna could feel a surprising amount of pain in the sheriff’s expression, which was cleared off her face a moment later. She wanted to know about what had happened to cause the pain.

“What did da ledders say?” the sheriff asked, looking back at Zenna.

“Debbie said that Patty was buried on the Cowan property somewhere… under a rose bush that he’d planted for their anniversary.”

Lisa was nodding vigorously.

The sheriff looked at her.

“There’s often been talk about their rose garden,” Lisa said. “I have to wonder if there’s a body buried beneath every one of their roses!”

The sheriff’s face paled. “You’re talkin’ about serial killers an’ rapists here,” she said.

“They are..,” Lisa replied. “No one has talked because they are afraid of being buried with the others.”

“Can I take da ledders?” the sheriff asked.

“I could photocopy dem fer ya, eh,” Steve offered, getting up and disappearing around the corner into the other room.

“Dat would work,” she called, following him to the doorway. “I’m gonna call fer backup, I tink. Dis is way beyond what I normally deal wid – especially since I’m gonna have ta give John a leave of absence, eh.”

“Careful!” Lisa begged. “If he knows what you’re up to, he will find a way to hurt you! Or me…”

“Keep him on until you’ve got yer backup?” Barb suggested. “But don’ give him anyteen important...”

Sheriff Clay nodded. “Dat might work.”

Steve came back in and handed the sheriff a pile of papers.

“Tank ya, Steve. So, we’ve got a reason ta ask fer a warrant ta search da Cowan property, eh. We also have enough to subpoena Trish Cowan and git arrest warrants fer da rest of da Cowan family as well as John McNally. Dat will take a day or two, so be careful.”

“Can we git Matt home fer Tanksgiving?” Steve asked.

“If he will agree ta house arrest an’ an ankle monitor until da trial,” the sheriff suggested. “It might work.”

“There’s still my letter from Trish,” Lisa added.

“Yes, I will take ya.”

“I’ll do dat, Sid,” Steve said. “We’ll git what ya need ta stay fer awhile. Den hand off da evidence on da way back.”

“Dat will give me time ta arrange fer some witness protection as well,” the sheriff agreed.

“Take care,” Zenna begged, fully understanding the dangerous people involved. Then she thought about her mother – who should know she was safely out of the woods. “Should I call my mother?”

“Jerry’s Garage!” Steve suddenly exclaimed. “Yah, dey need ta come back – NOW!”

“What?” the sheriff asked, looking at him.

“Matt had left his car wid Jerry fer repair! But it disappeared before Jerry even realized it was der… Sid, when did ya become sheriff?”

“After de previous one decided suddenly ta retire – leavin’ us wid dis unresolved case.”

“Ya were in Ironwood before den, right?”

“Yah.”

“Where did Sheriff Newton retire ta?”

“I don’ know...”

“I tink it’s time ta find out,” Steve suggested. “Look it up tonight, Sid. I’m worried dat he’s anoder victim of da Cowans.”

Zenna watched Steve and Lisa leave with the sheriff. She looked over at Barb. “I guess I’d better call my mother.”

♥♥♥