Darkness at the Edge of Town (Iris Ballard #2)(105)

“Iris?” Luke called a minute later. “We have to go. Your grandparents need you.”

“No. No…” I said desperately.



He grabbed my shoulders. “Iris, they need you.” He looked me square in the eye. “They need you. You have to be strong, okay? They need you to be strong.”

“I can’t. I can’t,” I wept.

“Of course you can,” he said with certainty again. “You can and you will.”

Even now he had faith in me. I could believe because he believed. It was enough for my tears to subside. I gave a little nod and wiped the tears from my cheek. “Okay. Okay.”

He gave me a quick peck on the lips and stood to get back in his seat. I spun in my seat and straightened up. I could be strong. I had to be strong. We started driving back to Grey Mills in relative silence. I did my best to wall away my emotions again. They needed me. I couldn’t let them down. Not again. “What did they say?” I asked a mile down the road.

“They asked questions. They…Your grandmother was crying. They do need you, Iris. And you need them.”

“They don’t hate me?” I whispered.

“Of course not,” he said desperately. “Iris, this is not your fault. It’s not. I am going to say that a million times until you believe me. This is not your fault.”

I hung my head again. “I-I knew he was capable of this, but…how could he? I-I-I should have stressed how important surveillance was. I—”

“You did. You told them not to question Helen. Not to go in guns blazing. You tried to get the man away from them. You exposed him for what he was. There is nothing more you could have done, Iris. We can’t force people to do the right thing. The obvious thing. Wives return to abusive husbands. People do drugs after they’ve OD’d. All we can do, all anyone can do, is open people’s eyes and be there when they’re finally ready to own their mistakes. Support them as they rebuild. But they have to want the change. To take the risk. And if they’re not willing to do that, they lose out on this beautiful world. And that—all of this tonight—is just a waste. A tragedy. Especially when it doesn’t have to be.”



He wasn’t just talking about the people at The Apex, though he may not have known it himself. The words were on the tip of my tongue, but I just couldn’t say them. Any bravery and strength I had left me with Joyce’s phone call. What little remained I needed for my family. I didn’t matter. We drove in silence the rest of the way to town. It was so quiet in the car that when my cellphone rang, I practically jumped out of my skin. I didn’t even know it was there. Luke must have grabbed my purse before he left the house. I bent down to get it. I had ten missed calls, most from the station and my grandparents. One was from a ghost, the same ghost calling me right then. I had to blink a few times to clear my eyes, but the display never changed. I accepted the call. “H-Hello?”

“Iris?” Billy whispered.

I let out a choking gasp at the sound of his voice. Luke glanced over at me. “What?”

“B-Billy?” I could barely get out.

“Iris, I can’t talk long. I—” he whispered.

“Billy? Are you okay?” I cried. “Are you okay?”



“Put it on speaker,” Luke said. I did.

“I’m fine. I’m in the bathroom. They’ve been watching me like a hawk.”

“Where are you? Are you okay?” I asked.

“Yeah. No. Iris, I had no idea what they were planning until we got here. He put a gun to my head and made me. I-I don’t know what to do. I—”

“Billy, stop. Stop. Who are you with? Where are you?” Luke asked.

“I’m at Grey Manor. It’s Ken and Mathias. And Betsy. Just before dinner B-Betsy wanted us to go for a drive. W-We went down an old access road to get away from everyone. We were talking, then…kissing, wh-when we heard an explosion. She was driving us back when we found Ken and Mathias literally running toward us. Th-They jumped in the car, but she turned back the way we came. I-I-I started begging her to go to the house, I-I was screaming, and Ken pistol-whipped me. Then Betsy was screaming at him, and I was nauseous and…I-I still am. They think I’m throwing up now. Ke-Ken’s right outside the door.”

“And you’re at Grey Manor?” I asked.

“Th-They have our father…E-Elliot. I-I think Betsy’s watching Judith and the maid. They made me use the call box. I told Elliot what they told me to, that I had to see him. Th-That I knew about the tax fraud. He opened the gate when we got to the door, and they forced us inside. They have guns. Even Betsy.”

“How many?” Luke asked.

“Uh, one each.”

“Where’s Betsy? The others?” I asked.



“Betsy’s downstairs in the study, I think. Ke-Ken’s outside the door, and Mathias is with Elliot in his office. He-He’s making him transfer two million into some account. I don’t—”

There was a pounding over the phone, and I almost leapt out of my seat. “Hurry the fuck up!” Ken shouted.

Billy made a vomiting noise. “Just a sec!” he called back. “Iris?” he whispered.

“Leave the phone on and hide it again. I’ll be able to hear you. We’re calling the police. We’re on our way, Billy. Stay calm. I’m coming. I’m coming and I am right here with you, sweetie,” I said, my voice trembling along with the rest of me. “I’m not leaving you.”