Here and Gone(84)

Outside, Constance growled.

Tandy turned in his seat to look out the window.

Constance’s growl turned to a steady bark.

‘Sounds like Sheriff McCall finally decided to show hisself,’ Tandy said.

He got up from the table, went to the door, and opened it. Sean heard the engine now, rumbling as it climbed the track up to the clearing. He went to Tandy’s side to see it approach. The white cruiser emerged from the shadows of the trees.

‘Wait now,’ Tandy said. ‘That ain’t McCall.’

Sean’s stomach went cold. The cruiser slowed to a halt, the engine running. Sean peered at the windshield, but he couldn’t make out the driver. Tandy didn’t look away from the car as he spoke.

‘Son, reach over there and fetch me that rifle, there’s a good boy.’

Sean went to the corner, lifted the gun, felt the weight of it. An assault rifle, he thought, like the kind he’d seen in movies. He brought it back. Tandy took it from him and held it loose by his side. Sean slipped behind him, peeked around to see the cruiser.

‘Step on out of the car,’ Tandy called. ‘Let me get a look at you.’

A few moments passed before the driver’s door opened. Constance sprang forward, hysterical barks ripping from deep inside her.

‘Constance, wait,’ Tandy said.

The dog froze, growling.

Sheriff Whiteside climbed out, and Sean’s bladder suddenly cried for release.

‘No,’ he said.

Tandy glanced back and asked, ‘What’s wrong?’

‘Not him,’ Sean said. ‘Don’t let him take us.’

Tandy raised the rifle, aimed it at Whiteside’s chest.

‘Just hold it there, friend,’ he said. ‘I radioed Sheriff McCall, and you ain’t him. State your business.’

‘I’m Sheriff Ronald Whiteside from Silver Water, Elder County. You may have seen it on the news. Those children have been missing for four days now, and I’m here to take them back to their mother. Maybe you could do me a favor and call off your dog.’

‘I ain’t got no television set, so I don’t much keep up with the news. Either way, the boy here tells me he doesn’t want to go with you. So I guess you wasted a trip. Best just turn around now and head back where you came from.’

Whiteside kept the car door between him and Tandy. ‘Afraid I can’t do that. These children belong with their mother, and I promised her I would bring them back safe and sound. Now, let’s not have any trouble.’

Tandy smiled and said, ‘Well, friend, trouble’s what you’ve got. Seeing as you ain’t shaved in a couple days, and you got blood on your shirt, I’d say you’re up to no good. Now, you got about ten seconds to get back in your vehicle and drive away before I tell Constance to go for your throat.’

The old man glanced back at Sean and spoke in a low voice. ‘Take your sister down into the cellar, bolt the door behind you.’

Sean looked at the trapdoor. ‘No,’ he said.

‘Do it right now, boy. Go!’

Sean ran to the couch, where Louise had stirred. She rubbed her eyes and asked, ‘What’s happening?’

‘We have to hide,’ he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her from the couch. He dragged her over to the trapdoor, let go of her hand, and took hold of the handle. The door hardly budged, no matter how hard he pulled. ‘Help me,’ he said.

Louise wrapped her hands around his, and they both hauled at the door. Now it lifted, and Sean held it long enough to see the ladder inside.

‘Get down there,’ he said.

‘No,’ Louise said.

‘Just do it.’

She mounted the top rung of the ladder and descended, her arms and legs shaking. Once she’d cleared the bottom rung, he lowered himself in, struggling to hold the door open with his shoulder while he descended. He heard Tandy say something, some final warning, before the door sealed shut. Sean felt around in the dark for the bolt, found it, slid it home.

He dropped down the last few feet as the first shots rang out overhead.





53


WHITESIDE DREW HIS service pistol, a Glock 19. He held it behind the door, out of the old man’s sight. He didn’t doubt that Tandy would plug him with the AR-15 before he could aim, let alone fire.

‘Tell you what,’ Whiteside said. ‘Why don’t you lower the rifle and go radio Sheriff McCall. He’ll tell you he called me and told me to come up here.’

‘I don’t think I will,’ Tandy said. ‘I don’t know if you’re keeping count, but those ten seconds are up, and then some. I’ll give you just one more chance to be on your way. You going to take it?’

Whiteside readied himself. ‘I guess not,’ he said.

‘Well, then.’ Tandy nodded and spat on his porch. ‘Constance, go get him.’

The dog launched forward as if its hind legs were coiled springs. Whiteside ducked inside the car, pulled the door over, but his left foot trailed behind. The dog seized the heel of his boot, mostly grabbing the rubber sole, but a few of its teeth pierced the leather. Whiteside howled as he tried to pull his foot away, but the dog growled and shook its head from side to side, refusing to give up its prize.

Whiteside swung the door fully open, leveled the pistol at the dog’s back, fired two rounds that pierced the animal between the shoulders. Through the ringing in his ears, he heard it whine, but it held on, even as its legs gave way. He kicked at its snout with his right foot, and as the dog’s eyes dimmed, it finally released him.