It was my birthday on Friday, but I wasn’t in the mood to celebrate. Evan tried so hard to cheer me up. He’d obviously taken Ally shopping — she gave me a beautiful green cashmere cardigan — and he spoiled me with a new mountain bike. I made sure to exclaim over their gifts, forced down three pieces of the pizza they made, and laughed in all the right places at the movie we rented. But my head was filled with thoughts of Julia.
Growing up I often wondered on my birthday what my real mother was doing, if she even remembered the date. Now I wondered if all these years I’d been celebrating, Julia had been tortured with memories of me forcing my way out of her body, of John forcing his way in.
When I first held Ally in my arms after she was born, I couldn’t imagine ever letting her go. I’d been scared I wouldn’t be a good mother, would screw it up somehow, but as soon as her little fingers grabbed mine, I fell head over heels. I also became fiercely protective, watching carefully if anyone held her, taking her back if she fussed. It was hard being a single mom — money was tight and I had to carry Ally in a Snuggie on my back when I worked in my shop — but I loved that it was just her and me against the world. Before Ally, I never felt like I had roots, and in my darkest depressions I thought it wouldn’t matter if I died, no one would miss me. But when I had her I finally had someone who loved me unconditionally, who needed me.
She’s growing up so fast — gone are the days when she’d play imaginary fairy games with me like wiz-a-boo and pansy ears. I don’t want to miss one moment of her life. I don’t want to be distracted when she tells me stories about her teacher, Mrs. Holly, whom she idolizes because she has straight long blond hair and can tap-dance, or about a bug Moose just ate, or when she sings all the songs from Hannah Montana. I don’t want to rush her to bed at night or out of the house in the morning. But I’m so afraid John will call and hear her in the background.
We managed to stop the media spread because nothing was confirmed, and was in fact denied, but rumors are still floating around. Hopefully the gossip will fade before it gets to Ally or any of her friends. I’ve started casually asking how things are going at school. Nothing seems to have changed. But what if it comes up later, like when she’s a teen? And if the truth ever does get out, how would people treat Ally once they knew who her grandfather was? Would they be afraid of her?
I watch her play with other kids or roughhouse with Moose, and all the things that just seemed like part of her personality before frighten me now. The way she gets so angry sometimes that her face flushes and her hands ball. The way she kicks or slaps or bites when she’s frustrated or overtired. Is it just part of her spirit, a normal six-year-old learning to cope with her emotions, or something more serious?
I find myself looking in the mirror, studying my features, thinking about the man who shares them. Wondering what else we share. Then this morning I realized why I keep dreaming of women running away from me, why studying those serial killers freaks me out so much. When I read about them, I see my traits. Serial killers have grandiose fantasies — my whole life I’ve daydreamed and fantasized. They’re obsessive-compulsive — when I’m into something, the rest of the world disappears. They have tempers, mood swings, depressions — check, check, check. They also tend to be solitary, and I’ve always been a loner, preferring to focus on Ally and work. I’ve never wanted to kill anyone, and as far as I know murder isn’t hereditary, but sometimes when I get really angry, I’ve broken things, pushed or shoved people, thrown objects, had fantasies about driving my car straight into a wall, of hurting myself. What would it take to turn that rage outward?
Of course, it’s easy for me to zero in on my negatives and heap them all on John’s genetic doorstep. But like you just pointed out, how do I know those traits didn’t come from growing up adopted, or even from Julia? And I probably won’t know because she’ll never let me close enough to find out. Billy said she confirmed the earrings were hers. Knowing how much the sight of them messed me up, I can only imagine how she felt. I wish I could talk to her. I even picked up the phone once, but this time I dropped it.
Evan left Saturday morning. He was excited because he has a big fishing charter coming up from the States, but he was also concerned about leaving me like this. He told me to stop reading books about serial killers, but there’s no way I can just stop researching. I have to find something, some insight or clue, that might help stop John.
But lately I just feel tired. Not sleepy tired, wired-up and strung-out tired. Most evenings I just pace from window to window waiting for the phone to ring. That’s where I was when John finally called again on Monday: standing at my bedroom window upstairs, watching Moose and Ally chase each other in the yard below, thinking how happy they looked, remembering how happy I used to be.
My cell rang in my pocket. I didn’t recognize the number, but I knew it was him.
“Hi, Sara.” His voice was cheerful.
“John.” My mouth went dry and my chest tightened. The police had my cell tapped now, but I didn’t feel any safer.
We were both silent for a moment, then he said, “So…” He cleared his throat. “Your business, do you like making furniture?”
“I refinish furniture, I don’t make it.” Sandy told me to be friendlier next time he called, but I was having a hard time even being polite. My body tensed as I heard Ally down in the kitchen.
Please, please, just stay there.
He said, “I bet you could make stuff if you wanted to.”
Ally was coming up the stairs, jabbering to Moose.
I moved toward my door. “I’m happy doing what I do.”
Ally was at the entrance to my room. “Mommy, Moose wants his dinner and—” I gestured for her to be quiet.
John said, “What’s your favorite part?”
“Can we do crafts now?” I gave Ally a firm look and pointed back down the stairs, mouthing, I’m on the phone.
“But you promised—” I closed the door and locked it. On the other side, she began to slam her hands against the wood while she yelled, “Mommy!”
I covered the phone’s speaker and sprinted to the farthest side of the room.
John said, “What’s that racket?”
Crap, crap, crap.
“I meant to turn the TV off and accidentally turned it up.”
Ally slapped the door again. I held my breath. Now they were both quiet.
Finally he said, “I asked what your favorite part is.”
“I don’t know. I just like working with my hands.” There were lots of things I loved about woodworking, but I wasn’t sharing any of them with him.
“I’m good with my hands too. Did you like building things when you were growing up?” No sounds from the hall. Where was Ally?
“I guess so. I used to steal my dad’s tools.”
Silence from both of them. I held my breath again, strained my ears. Finally a cupboard slammed in the kitchen. She was downstairs. I let out my breath and dropped my forehead onto my knees.
“I would have given you tools,” he said. “It’s not right that I didn’t know I had a kid.”
My anger flared. “I guess the circumstances of how I was conceived sort of took away that option.”
He was silent.
“Why do you do it? Why do you hurt those people?”
No answer.
My blood roared in my ears, warning me I was going too far, but I couldn’t stop.
“Are you angry? Do they remind you of someone, or—”
His voice was tight. “I have to do it.”
“Nobody has to kill—”
“I don’t like this.” He was breathing fast into the phone. Back off, back off NOW.
“Okay, I just—”
“I’ll call you tomorrow.” And he was gone.
I called Billy right away. While we talked, I threw together some dinner for Ally and dumped food in a bowl for Moose. This time John called from north of Williams Lake and it took the police forty minutes to get there. They patrolled the area again: stopping vehicles, talking to locals, showing John’s sketch at gas stations and stores, but so far no one has seen anything. I asked Billy how they were ever going to catch John if he keeps calling from rural locations and he said they have to just keep doing what they’re doing and hope they eventually get a lead. They did find the private investigator, though — on a Caribbean cruise with his wife.
When I finally hung up the phone I went to find my daughter, who was slumped in front of the TV. I felt so bad for ignoring her I told her she could sleep in my bed that night, a treat that usually brings squeals of delight. But she was quiet as I tucked her in and read Charlotte’s Web—Ally’s only interested in a book if it has an animal in it. When she whispered something into Moose’s ear, I stopped reading.
“What’s wrong, Ally Cat?”
She whispered something else to Moose. He flicked his bat ears and looked at me with round, moist eyes.
“Do I have to tickle it out of Moose?” I held my hands out and pretended to go for him.
“Don’t!” Her cat eyes glared.
“Then I guess you’ll have to tell me.”
I smiled and made a silly face, but she wouldn’t look at me.
“You closed the door.”
“You’re right, I did.” How was I going to explain this? “That wasn’t very nice of Mommy. But I have a new client and he’s very important. He’s probably going to be calling a lot and I have to give him all my attention, so you need to be really quiet, okay?” Her brow furrowed and her cheeks flushed. One of her feet began to kick under the blanket.
“You said we could do crafts.”
“I know, sweetie. I’m sorry.” I sighed, feeling bad for letting her down again and hating that John was the reason. “But it’s like when I’m working in the shop or Evan goes to the lodge. We still love you, more than anything, but we have to take care of grown-up things sometimes.” Now both feet were kicking. Moose stood up and walked to the end of the bed. Ally kicked at him under the blanket. A jolt of anger shot through me.
I held her leg in place with my hand. “Ally, stop it.”
She yelled in my face, “No!”
“That’s enough. You don’t speak to—”
She kicked again. Moose yelped and fell off the side of the bed, landing on the floor with a thump.
“Ally!” I leaped out of bed.
Moose grunted and wriggled over to me when I knelt on the floor. I stroked his ears and turned to Ally.
“That is not okay. We don’t hurt animals in this house.”
Ally glared at me, her mouth mean and small.
I stood up. “Back to your bed—right now.” I pointed to her room. She grabbed her book and held it up as though she were going to throw it at Moose.
“Don’t you dare, Ally!”
A look I’d never seen before crossed her face — hatred.
“Ally, if you throw that book, you’re going to be in big trouble.”
We held gazes. Moose whined. She looked at him, then back at me. Her face was red and her eyes almost slits.
“I’m serious, Ally, if you—”
She threw the book as hard as she could. Moose dodged and the book slammed into the wall.
My blood surged with rage as I grabbed her wrist and hauled her out of bed. My hands gripping her shoulders, I yelled into her face.
“You never, ever, ever hurt an animal! Do you hear me?”
She stared at me, bottom lip out, defiant.
Still gripping her wrist, I dragged her to the door and down the hall to her room. I let go and pointed to her bed.
“I don’t want to hear another thing out of you unless it’s an apology.”
She stomped into her room, slammed the door behind her.
I wanted to go in, wanted to explain, wanted to make it all better, wanted to give her holy hell and then some, but I didn’t know what to say. It was the first time I’d been afraid of my daughter. It was the first time I’d been afraid of how angry I was at her.
Moose stayed in bed with me. I couldn’t believe Ally had lashed out at him like that. He’d always been able to calm her quicker than I could. When I got him I was living on my own and wanted company while Ally was at preschool. He brought laughter to my day and protection at night, but best of all, the little meatball had a stabilizing effect on Ally. If she was scared to try something new, I’d tell her Moose liked it. When I needed her to focus on something or listen to me, I could use Moose as a threat or a bribe, and when she was really sick or upset, simply for comfort. But that night I was the one who needed comfort. I pulled Moose under the covers and tucked his big head into my neck.
The next morning Ally was singing into her cereal and blowing bubbles in her juice like nothing had happened. She even drew me a picture of some flowers with her crayons and gave me a hug, saying, “I love you, Mommy.” Usually I go over things with her when we’ve had a conflict. After growing up in a house where one parent yelled while the other stayed in the bedroom, I swore I was going to talk things out with my children. But this time I was just happy the bad night had passed.
After I dropped her off at school, I came home to stain the headboard I was still struggling to finish, but I kept waiting for my cell to go off at any minute. Finally I gave up and took a coffee break. I was just pouring a cup when I heard a knock.
Moose rushed barking and snorting to the front door. My stomach jumped into my throat. I walked down the hallway, my body hugging the wall. I grabbed the baseball bat Evan had left behind the door and peeked through the blinds at the side window, but I couldn’t see a vehicle.
I yelled, “Who is it?”
“Damn, woman, you trying out for the Marines?” Billy.
I opened the door and Moose was out like a rocket, a compact mass of wiggling snorts and snuffles. Billy laughed and picked him up.
“Hey, squirt.”
“What’s going on, Billy? Why are you here? Did he kill someone?”
“Not unless you know something we don’t. I was just coming over to see how you were doing after that last call.”
“Come on in. Where’s Sandy?”
“Coordinating with some of the other departments involved in the investigation.”
“And you’re in charge of me?”
He grinned. “Something like that.” He followed me to the kitchen, sniffing the air. “Is that coffee?”
“Can I pour you one?”
“Sit, I’ll get it.”
I collapsed at the kitchen table. Billy tossed his suit jacket over the back of a chair, then made himself at home in my kitchen, getting a mug out of the cupboard, opening the fridge for milk. He stopped and stared.
“What?”
“Your fridge is as bad as mine. Don’t you have anything to eat?”
“Are you raiding my refrigerator?”
“Trying to, but I think I just saw a tumbleweed go by. You need to go shopping ASAP.”
“I’ve had a few things on my mind.”
Billy closed the fridge and started making peanut butter sandwiches. He glanced over his shoulder. “Want one?”
I shook my head, but he took out two more slices of bread.
I said, “What do you mean, as bad as yours? Aren’t you married?”
“No sirree, Bob. I’m divorced. My ex is still back in Halifax.” That explained the East Coast accent I caught in his voice.
He let Moose outside, then sat at the table. He handed me a sandwich as he took a huge bite of his. His eyes rolled back.
“Man, that hits the spot.” He took a swill of his coffee and watched me as I nibbled my sandwich. “You look like hell.”
“Thanks a lot.”
He grinned, then his face turned serious.
“How you holding up? This is some heavy stuff you’ve got going on here.”
“I’m doing all right. But I’m putting in some serious couch time with my psychiatrist. Can I send the RCMP my receipts?” I smiled.
“There are resources you can apply for through the Victims of Crime Act. I’ll get you the forms. But I’m glad you’re talking to someone, Sara. This is a lot to deal with.”
“I just feel like it’s all on me, you know? I want to help, but most of all I just want this all to go away — I want my life back.”
“The sooner we catch him, the sooner that will happen. You did great last night.”
“I don’t know, Billy, I thought maybe I pushed too hard.”
“You backed off at the right time. ‘To a surrounded enemy, you must leave an escape.’”
“Huh?”
“It’s from The Art of War by Sun Tzu.”
I started to laugh. “Isn’t that from that movie with Michael Douglas?”
He shook his head. “Wall Street. I know, I know, I’m a cop cliché.” He smiled. “Sandy gives me a hard time about it too. In my defense, it’s the most successful book on military strategy ever written.”
“I’m not in the military!”
He laughed. “You don’t have to be. It’s just about strategy and applies to lots of things in life. I don’t go anywhere without a copy. You should check it out. It’ll help you deal with John.”
“It’s just so weird.”
“What’s weird?”
“Talking to him. In that one conversation he asked me more about my work than my real dad ever has.” I caught myself. “I guess he’s my real dad — I meant my adopted dad.”
Billy set his sandwich down and leaned forward, his eyes intense.
“Most killers don’t seem like killers, Sara. That’s what makes them so dangerous. You have to be careful not to—”
A tap on the sliding glass door sent our bodies jerking back in their seats. I spun around. Melanie was standing at the door with Moose in her arms. She must’ve come through the side gate. Billy was on his feet, his hand hovering near his sidearm.
“It’s my sister.”
His hand dropped. Melanie slid open the door and strolled in.
“Did I catch you at a bad time?” Her smirk said it all. I knew my face was red, but I shot her an as-if look.
“Melanie, this is Billy. He’s…”
Billy jumped in. “Sara’s going to restore some furniture for me.”
“I see.” She leaned against the counter and reached for the jar of peanut butter. She stuck her finger into the jar and brought it to her mouth. As she licked the peanut butter off, she said, “What’s with the gun, Billy?”
Billy just grinned. “I’m an RCMP officer, so you better be nice to me.”
Melanie’s face said she’d love to be very nice to him.
I said, “We were just wrapping up. I’ll walk you out, Billy. Melanie, grab a cup of coffee.” She nodded, but her eyes were on Billy.
Outside, I said, “Sorry about that, my sister…” I shook my head. “We don’t get along — like at all.”
He grinned and shrugged. “No biggie. Just stick with the cover and it should be fine.” His face turned serious. “When John calls again, remember he doesn’t really care about you, Sara. This is a man who takes what he wants, and he thinks you belong to him.”
Melanie was waiting by the front door. “Evan know you’re hanging out with hot cops?”
“He knows about all my clients. What are you doing here, Melanie?”
“I’m not allowed to come visit my big sister?”
She sauntered into the living room and sprawled on the couch. Moose hurled himself on top of her and licked her face as she scratched his head. Traitor.
“I have to get back to work. What’s up?” I remembered my cell was on the kitchen table. Please don’t let John call.
“Dad wants us to talk before Brandon’s birthday party on Saturday. He said we have to get along. Mom’s not feeling well.” Her chin jutted out at an angry slant. With everything happening I forgot Lauren was having a party for Brandon, and I hated to hear Mom was sick again, but I wasn’t about to share either fact.
I waited her out.
She said, “I never told that Web site your real father’s a serial killer, you know.”
“I didn’t really think you did — I was just upset.”
“Yeah, right.”
I sighed. “I didn’t, Melanie.” Her face was stony and I knew there was no way I could ask if she’d told her boyfriend — she’d take my head off. “Just tell Dad we worked everything out.”
“Sure. If that’s how you want to play it.”
“I’m not playing.” I wanted her out of the house fast. “I believe you. I do, okay? I’m sorry I overreacted.”
Her eyes narrowed.
I said, “So how’s Kyle?”
She was watching me. I forced myself to keep an interested look on my face.
“He just got a regular gig at the pub.”
“That’s good.”
“Yeah.”
We stared at each other.
I said, “So … listen, I haven’t had a chance to talk to Evan about Kyle playing at the wedding, but I will when he gets home.”
Melanie sat straight up on the couch. “What’s going on?”
“I’m just trying to get along with you, okay?”
“Why?”
“Because we’re sisters.”
“You’re never this nice. Are you worried I’m going to tell Evan about the cop?”
I stared at her. My hands itched to smack the smirk off her face.
Don’t take the bait, don’t take the bait.
I said, “I really should get back out to the shop.”
She stood up. “Don’t worry, I’m going. So when are we supposed to do this bridesmaid-dress-shopping thing?” Lauren and Melanie are my bridesmaids and Evan’s two younger brothers are his best men. Lauren and I have been talking about a shopping trip for a while, but I put it off because of John and because I dread having to deal with Melanie’s attitude. Every fiber of my being wants to tell her she isn’t in the wedding party anymore, but I know that’s exactly what she wants.
“I’m not sure yet,” I said. “I’ll let you know as soon as possible.”
“Whatever.”
I stood up and followed her out of the living room but stopped near the door to the garage. She was almost through the kitchen and at the sliding glass door where she’d left her shoes when the cell rang on the table. She paused and turned around.
I lunged toward the phone, almost knocking a chair over.
A number I didn’t recognize. It had to be John.
Melanie was staring at me, one eyebrow raised.
“I’m waiting for a call from a client, but it’s just one of those stupid 800 numbers.” I shrugged.
She gave me a funny look. “Okay…”
I forced my face into a neutral expression.
She was slowly sliding the door open. The phone was still ringing. My heart fluttered in my chest. Melanie glanced over her shoulder. I smiled and gave a little wave. She was still looking at me. Walk away, walk away. Finally she turned around.
When she was past the window, I answered the phone in a breathless rush. “Hello?”
“What took you so long?” His voice was annoyed.
“I was in the bathroom.”
“I told you I need you to keep the phone with you at all times.”
“I’m doing my best, John.”
He sighed. “Sorry, I’ve had a hard day.”
“That’s too bad.” It almost killed me to keep the sarcasm out of my voice, but I still ended up sounding abrupt. I walked to the front window and watched Melanie drive off. For a moment I wondered what she would do in my situation. Probably just tell John to screw off.
“Some people I work with, they think they’re better than me.”
“Where do you work?”
“I can’t tell you that.”
“Can you tell me what you do?”
He paused. “Not yet. So what kind of things do you like to do for fun?”
My body tensed. “Why?”
“I’m just trying to get to know you better.” His tone picked up. “I like being outdoors.”
“Yeah? Like camping and stuff?” I couldn’t bring myself to ask if he liked to hunt. I thought he’d pick up on my lack of genuine interest, but his voice was cheerful when he answered.
“I camp all over — spots most people are scared to go. There’s not too much of BC I haven’t seen. You could drop me at the top of a mountain and I’d still find my way out. But I stick to land.”
I racked my brain for something to say. “Why’s that?”
“I can’t swim.” He laughed. “Do you like camping?”
“Sometimes.”
John’s tone flattened. “Do you go with your boyfriend?”
I hesitated for a moment. Was it better he knew about Evan? He’d think I have protection living with me. “He’s my fiancé.”
“What is his name?”
I hesitated again. I hated the idea of him having Evan’s name, but what if he already knew? “Evan.”
“When are you getting married?” A hint of something in his voice.
Time stretched out as I tried to think how to answer.
“Um, we’re not sure yet, still trying to work all that out.…”
“I have to go.” He hung up.
I called Billy right away. This time John was somewhere between Prince George and Quesnel, which is even farther north of Williams Lake. As soon as he was done talking to me, he turned the phone off and essentially vanished. He could be standing right behind a cop and still they wouldn’t be able to get his exact location, only a general area. Billy assured me John was going to slip up soon, but when he said it again I wondered who he was trying to convince.
It doesn’t help that we don’t know what kind of truck he’s driving—everyone has a truck in the Interior — or whether he’s changed his appearance. I asked about roadblocks, but Billy said it’s a waste of resources unless they can pinpoint his exact location. Their best bet is to keep showing his photo around and talking to the locals. At least everyone usually knows everyone in rural locations. The police are also working with conservation officers, so they can stop hunters or anyone driving on the Forest Service roads. Hopefully they get a lead soon, because I’m not sure how much more of this I can take.
I wonder what he does after our talks. Does he go home and make himself a nice dinner, then sit in front of the TV and laugh at sitcoms while he cleans his guns? Maybe he stops at the pub and orders a hamburger and beer, bragging to the waitress about his daughter like a typical father. Does he go over and over our phone call like I do, or forget all about it like I wish I could?