Island of Lost Girls - Jennifer McMahon [78]
Like you said, hes probably off on a bender. Hiding out from people he owes money to, Justine said.
These arent the kinds of guys you mess around with, Rhonda heard her father say to her mother.
I just wish we could get in touch with him, Justine said.
Maybe its time to call the police. File a missing persons report or something. With Aggie in the hospital, someones gotta drag his ass out of hiding, Clem said.
RHONDA HAD Agood view of Peters tent through her bedroom window and spent most of the afternoon and evening staring at the green canvas door, hoping Peter would emerge, like a caterpillar from a cocoon, beautiful and changed. When he refused to come in for dinner, Justine brought him a plate.
Let me take it to him, Rhonda begged.
Not tonight, sweetie, Justine said.
At nine oclock that night, Rhonda was watching through her window when she saw Tock arrive, wearing her red hat and carrying her BB gun. Peter held back the front flap of his tent to invite her in. When Tock left the tent an hour later, the gun was not with her.
She gave him her gun, Rhonda said to Lizzy, who was lying in bed with her eyes closed, pretending to sleep. Rhonda could tell she was faking.
Can you believe it? She gave him her gun!
Lizzy just moaned and rolled over.
RHONDA WOKE UPin the night to find the mattress and bottom sheet soaked. She shook Lizzy awake.
Did you piss in the bed? Rhonda asked, dumbfounded. But there was no other explanation for the warm, stinking urine that soaked them both.
Lizzy said nothing. She didnt look ashamed or embarrassed. She wore a vacant look, like a sleepwalker.
I cant believe this, Rhonda muttered, flipping on the light.
Well, lets get it cleaned up.
Lizzy stood frozen in a corner and watched Rhonda strip the bed.
Take off your nightgown, she instructed. Lizzy didnt move.
What is wrong with you? Rhonda yelled. Take off the nightgown! She threw a clean one of her own at Lizzy, who stood, frozen.
Dont just stand there! Rhonda yelled. Do something! Say something! Just open your mouth and talk!
There was a knock on the bedroom door and Justine stuck her head in. Whats going on?
Lizzy pissed the bed and wont change!
Justine surveyed the mattress and wet sheets on the floor, then went to Lizzy and put an arm around her.
Come on, dear. Lets get you into a hot bath. She led Lizzy down the hall and into the bathroom. Rhonda heard the water running and the soft murmur of her mothers voice.
Justine returned, carrying Lizzys wet nightgown, and grabbed the sheets and Rhondas pajamas from the floor.
Whats the matter with Lizzy? Rhonda asked.
You need to be a little gentler with her, Ronnie.
Its one thing to not talk, but to just stand there like a freaking statue
Rhonda, Lizzy was the one who found Aggie today.
Oh. The word felt small and round coming from Rhondas lips.
Shes been through a lot, Justine said. A lot more than anyone knows, I think.
Rhonda bit her lip. Is she ever going to talk again?
Justine nodded. Im sure she will. When shes ready. Pestering her, making a fuss, that never helps anything. We just need to be patient.
JUNE 25, 2006
RHONDA, ITS PETER.She hadnt spoken to him since the night she sent the police to his door searching for Ernie. She didnt know how to begin to apologize. And she still had so many questionslike who was he with at the Inn and Out Motel and why had he lied about it?
Ive been meaning to call, she said. Im so sorry for everything, and I
Ronnie, he interrupted, last night the police found a body.
Rhonda closed her eyes. At last, it was over. The police had been searching the woods around Nickel Lake for Ernies body since Warren and Pat were taken into custody. Rhonda had studiously avoided the news stories about the botched kidnapping. She didnt want to hear the pile of charges being heaped against Pat and Warren. The one piece of news shed heard had haunted her. When the police searched Pats