Dead by Midnight - Beverly Barton [100]
She wanted to scream, “For goodness sakes, just tell us already.” But she waited patiently, allowing him to garner whatever satisfaction he could derive from prolonging the moment.
“I believe that it’s possible my father is the Midnight Killer.”
Chapter 20
Lorie had almost forgotten the sound of her mother’s voice. It had been nearly five months since they had spoken. Several times a year, usually on her birthday, at Thanksgiving, and at Christmas, her mother would call her and they would talk for five or ten minutes. Each conversation was precious to Lorie. She knew that her father had no idea that her mother kept in touch with her. Since her return to Dunmore nearly nine years ago, Lorie had visited her parents’ home once. Immediately after she came back to Alabama, she had gone straight home, hoping and praying for her parents’ love and support.
But within minutes of her arrival, her father had made it abundantly clear how he felt.
“I want you to leave,” he had told her. “I don’t ever want to see you or hear from you again. I don’t have a daughter. As far as I’m concerned, my daughter is dead.”
Glenn Hammonds had been a good provider, a faithful husband, and a spare-the-rod-and-spoil-the-child father. Known as a God-fearing Christian, he prided himself on being the head of his household. His family had been expected to accept that his word was law and never question his authority over them. No doubt her father had chosen her mother as his partner not only because she was beautiful and he dearly loved her, but because she possessed a calm, sweet, easily manipulated nature. Sharon Hammonds had seldom disagreed with her husband and even when they had a difference of opinion, she always gave over to him in the end.
Although Lorie had accidentally run into them a few times and had seen them at a distance on a number of occasions, she was not a part of their lives, nor were they a part of hers. A couple of years ago when she had learned her father had suffered a heart attack, she had gone to the hospital. But her mother had stopped her outside of his room.
“I’m sorry, Lorie, but your father doesn’t want to see you.”
She had never forgotten the look of sadness and regret in her mother’s eyes that day.
So was it any wonder that the sound of her mother’s voice over the phone seemed almost unfamiliar to her?
“Lorie, are you there?” her mother asked.
“Yes, Mom, I’m here.”
“We’ve heard about what’s happening, about your being on that terrible Midnight Killer’s list of people he intends to murder. You seem to be the main topic of conversation wherever we go lately.”
“Yes, I suppose I am. I know how Daddy must hate that.”
“He saw one of those flyers.” Her mother lowered her voice to a whisper. “You know, one of the pictures you posed for a long time ago.”
“I’m sorry that Daddy and you have to go through this again,” Lorie said. “I’m sorry that you have to be ashamed that I’m your daughter.”
“Oh, Lorie…I—I didn’t call about that. I called because I’m worried about you.”
Emotion lodged in Lorie’s throat and for several seconds, she couldn’t speak. “I’m okay. Thank you for calling…for caring.”
“Of course I care. No matter what you’ve done, you’re still my daughter and I love you.”
“Do you, Mom?” Tears flooded Lorie’s eyes, blinding her with a watery haze. “Do you…really?”
“It breaks my heart that you think otherwise, but I know you have good reason. Please, Lorie, don’t hate me.”
“Oh, Mom…” She held the phone away from her and took a deep breath. When she realized she couldn’t stop crying, she held the phone to her chest.
By the time she managed to control her tears and lifted the receiver back to her ear, she heard only a dial tone.
“You think your father could be the Midnight Killer?” Maleah asked, slightly stunned by Tyler Owens’s accusation.
Derek followed up immediately with another question. “What makes you think that your father is the killer?”
“My father is unstable