Chapter 56
CHAPTER 56
" T ell me you don't want that kind of send-off," Rose said as we stared out at the lake while the last of the smoke marked Oz's final resting place.
"It was impressive," I said, but being the sophisticated student of the English language and emotional nuance that I am, I suspected the way she phrased it dictated I respond in an expected way. "But, no. Regular cremation. I understand Melissa Merriweather is good at that."
"Where do you want your ashes spread?" Rose asked.
I hadn't thought that far ahead, let alone where I'd be at that time in my life, or rather, my death. "No idea. Your bed?"
"Uh, no." Rose nodded at the lake. "You could have them sent back here from wherever you are, and I could scatter them out there. You and Ozzie could keep company."
"Only if you're coming, too," I said, and when she looked up, I added, "I don't want eternity alone with Oz."
"Okay, me, too," Rose said. "And probably Pike and Coral when the time comes. And Lian. And Darius's dad, Luke."
"Is the lake that big? "
"It's ashes," Rose said. "We'd just be more lake bottom. Ashes to mud."
"Right. Well, I'm glad we got that settled."
That's when I looked around for Poppy and Darius and realized they weren't around. Marley and Reggie and Mei were still there, but?—
Rose's cellphone starting playing "Child of the Wild Blue Yonder."
"Poppy." Rose smiled and pulled her phone out.
I was about to step away to give her some privacy when I saw the look of horror on her face.
After a moment, she said, "I'll be there," and I knew she wasn't talking to Poppy. "Yes I'll be alone, no I won't say anything to anyone, but?—"
She stopped and stared at the phone for a moment; I assumed the other side had hung up. Then she looked at me and when she spoke, she was breathless. "Serena has Poppy. She wants me to come to Oddities. Alone. Without telling anyone."
I nodded, feeling that icy calm I always got when the wheels came off. "Let's go."
"Alone," Rose said.
"They won't see me. Trust me."
"Okay. Okay, that's good." She nodded a couple of times, and I knew she was trying not to panic.
"Come on." I led the way to the path, which had chem lights hanging from branches, marking the way back to where everyone had parked. Maggs hustled along with us, ears perked, sensing trouble.
I rejected telling Pike right away. He'd make a ruckus and have the whole town storming Oddities like Frankenstein's castle and that would not be advantageous for Poppy's health, which was the priority right now.
"You drive," I said to Rose. I opened the back door and Maggs leapt in.
"Okay."
I got in the back seat with Maggs. I was impressed how smoothly Rose drove away, until we were out of sight and then she floored it, skidding the big tires on the dirt road. I braced myself as best I could and bit back any warning because, well, Serena had Poppy.
Once we were moving, I texted the Ferrells:
Drone up. Oddities.
We barreled down the forest road. I watched from the back, flinching as she took some turns a bit too fast, but she managed to stay on the dirt and gravel.
"Whoa," I warned as the headlights spotlighted Norman standing in the middle of the road on the far side of the one-lane bridge, his van behind him. Darius's Jeep was off to one side, no sign of Poppy. Norman had his hand up, shielding his eyes from the Pathfinder's headlights. He had a pistol in the other hand.
Rose slammed on the brakes and we skidded onto the bridge. I knew Norman couldn't see inside the Pathfinder; hell, between his cataracts, the headlights, and the surrounding darkness, he couldn't see much at all.
Rose said, " Norman ," with loathing.
"Distract him," I told her as I crawled over the back seat into the cargo area.
"I'll run over him," Rose said, and I think she was serious.
"Give me a minute and I'll take care of him. Keep him engaged. Get out and walk forward to him. Don't startle him."
She nodded, took a deep breath, opened her door, and got out.
I took the opportunity as the dome light went on to push open the tailgate and slither out, Maggs with me.
"You alone?" Norman yelled out.
"What does it look like, you scum," Rose yelled back. "Where's Poppy? As God is my witness, Norman, if you've hurt her, I will kill you . I will gut you like the animal you are."
"Get in my van, Rose," Norman said, not impressed. "I'll take you to Poppy."
" Fuck no ."
"Fuck yes, Rose." He pointed to the side, and I saw Darius crumpled in the grass there. "See Darius? You don't get in the van, I shoot him."
"Ozzie always said you never think ahead," Rose said. "After you shoot Darius, what are you going to do next? Shoot me? You're an idiot, Norman. Where's my daughter? If she's unhurt, I might let you live. Let me get Darius?—"
"Shut up and get in the van, Rose," Norman said.
As I crawled in the dark to the near side of the creek, I spotted a figure lying on the ground next to the Jeep, hands and feet trussed. Definitely Darius, unconscious, I hoped. If he was dead . . .
I didn't see how Norman ever thought he could walk away from this. God knew, Luke would track him to hell and back. Serena must have her hooks into him very deep for him to be this stupid. Or she'd promised him something that would prevent retaliation. Well, they were parents of the same spawn, but I don't think that mattered much to either of them.
I really didn't give a shit as I slid down the bank, into the water. I waded across, out of sight of Norman by the far bank. Maggs moved next to me. The only reason I knew she was there was that she was a darker object than the night itself, quietly dog-paddling. I barely noticed how cold the water was.
Rose walked forward across the bridge, still arguing with Norman, doing a very nice job of distracting him.
I reached the far bank and crawled up to the top, Maggs close to my side. I took a second to look at her. Her eyes glittered in the starlight and the headlights which Rose had smartly left on.
My cellphone vibrated in its waterproof case, which I assumed was a text from the Ferrells confirming the drone was up and probably a belated warning that there was trouble in town, but now wasn't the time to be checking that. I also knew Pike had just gotten the same text, so the clock on the shit hitting the fan had just begun, little did Norman realize it.
Norman was kneeling next to Darius now and propping him up as protection, which is what a dog like him would do. Use a kid as a shield. I drew my pistol. Rose halted about five feet from him .
"Let Darius go," she ordered.
Norman threw a pair of handcuffs to Rose and then put the muzzle of his gun against Darius's temple. "Cuff yourself. Tight."
Rose held them up, glittering in the headlights. "Norman. You have one chance to survive this night. You know Max will come after you, and Luke will have no mercy. And then there's Pike and Coral. Put the gun down. Let Darius go. Call off Serena so she'll set Poppy free. Walk away."
I thought that was pretty reasonable. I looked at Maggs and pointed with my free hand. I really had no idea if she understood what I meant, but I was trusting she was as smart as me at the moment, which might have been underestimating her.
She stared at me for a moment, then slunk over the bank and looped around toward Rose and Norman and Darius. A black shadow in the darkness.
"The cuffs, Rose," Norman said, sounding pretty satisfied with himself. "Or I kill the kid and then shoot you in the knee. You're coming with me to Oddities one way or another." He looked her up and down. "You still have a couple of good years left in you. And I know how we're going to spend them."
I saw Rose tense and I knew things were going to hell. I whistled and Maggs raced forward, a black blur, leaping past Rose onto the bad guy holding the gun, and Norman tumbled backward. Rose ran to Darius as I climbed up out of the creek bed, my focus on Norman.
He was thrashing with Maggs, and when I saw him turn the gun toward her, I fired.
Twice.