Island of Lost Girls - Jennifer McMahon [75]
When I stepped out the back door into the yard that night, I heard this strange popping sound inside my head, like a little explosion of bright white light cleaning everything out.
Rhonda nodded. It was a little like how she felt tearing down the stage; like everything she knew and understood was somehow over.
I knew right then that Peter was Daniels son. I think part of me knew it all along, even in the very beginning. But I pushed that part to the back of my brain. We believe what we want to believe, Ronnie; even when the truth is right there under our noses.
JUNE 18, 2006
SOMETIMES YOU MAKEup a lie and it becomes this safe little house you live inside, Warren said. But its not really safe. The foundation is bad, ready to crumble and the people you invite inside with you, theyre all in danger, too.
Rhonda bit her lip and took a step back, willing herself not to cry. She stood beside Crowley at one in the morning, listening to Warrens confession against the backdrop of beeping monitors and doctors being paged over the intercom. Warren had pulled the oxygen mask off his face and it lay hissing at his chin, a whispered warning that seemed, to Rhonda, to be saying,Dont listen. None of it is true.
Warren had declined the offer to remain silent or to have a lawyer present, eager to hurry up and tell his story at last. The beginning of his story was much like Pats story: after building a rapport with Ernie with herself in the suit, Pat offered Warren five hundred dollars to come up to Pikes Crossing, put on the suit, and take the girl one last time. She knew Trudy bought lottery tickets and cigarettes every Monday afternoon, after picking Ernie up at school, and that Trudy always left Ernie in the car during this stop. Warren was supposed to take the girl and drop her off in the woods off of Route 6. Pat had picked a spot. The idea was that shed wander around lost for a few hours, overnight at the worst, but Pat would find her and bring her home. The lost girl would be found. The story would have a happy ending, just like what happened down in Virginia.
But it didnt work out that way, Warren said, looking away from Rhonda and Crowley. Pat had showed me right where the drop-off should be, but once I was driving along dressed in a rabbit suit, in a stolen car, I got nervous, you know? So I decided to take the long way around the lake, took that dirt road that snakes through the state forest, it seemed less conspicuous. The map said it would connect with Route 6 just outside of town.
I was all pumped up, scared as hell, the road was going on forever, all twists and turns. And I couldnt see well through those fucking eyes. I was sweating like a pig. I mean, Ive never done anything like this before. And the little girl, she was telling me a story about her day Warren stopped, swallowed, wiped at his forehead, then continued. About how in school, it had been Letter F day: they made an F poster, ate fruit, had a contest to see which team could come up with the most words that started with letter F. He mopped at his brow with the back of his hand, and was quiet for a long moment.
So, we got to this hairpin turn and I didnt see it coming. I was going too fast, I guess. I slammed on the brakes and jerked the wheel to the left, and the little girl, she wasnt belted in He chewed his lip. Tears welled in his eyes. It happened so fast. She was knocked against the door and I guess it wasnt closed all the way or something, because all of a sudden, the door was open and she was gone. Just like that.