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fearful. Sitting with her mouth ajar, Jess realized it was open
and snapped it shut. She perched on the edge of her seat too.
Next to him, Jarreth sent Usher a quizzical look.
Doc Evirgrew sighed and then said, The sheriff and a
couple of deputies are on their way into town. It won t take long
for them to find out where you are, so maybe you should
scram.
If I run it ll look like I m guilty.
A cry of dismay burst from Hanna.
Usher, what s Jarreth began, but Usher shot him a
sharp look.
Movement caught Usher s attention. In the doorway, Una
stood looking around the living room, her eyes glassy, her face
contorted with fear. Who are you people? she hollered.
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Lunging up from the loveseat, Jarreth approached his
mother.
Well, Doc continued, it won t be long before the sheriff
finds you. I thought I should warn you.
I ll just have to deal with it. Besides, said Usher, his
heart thrumming so hard he saw spots, Hanna knows I didn t
kill Denver. She was there when it happened.
The authorities think she s covering for you, Doc
answered.
This is fucking ridiculous! Usher snapped.
Now see here, young man, Una groused, shaking a finger
at him, I won t have that kind of language under my roof!
Mom, Jarreth said, you should go back to your room.
No! She pulled away from her son. I keep telling you I
see blood and fangs, but you won t believe me. I see them,
Jarreth, I do!
Mom, there isn t any blood and fangs here.
I want these people out of my house now! she screamed,
her face darkening with anger.
Doc, Una is having an episode. Usher stood. So I need to
hang up, but thanks for warning me.
Call me when you find out what s going on, Doc said,
and hung up.
A thump sounded on the front door. The sound boomed in
the foyer, startling Jess and Hanna who clutched one another.
The dogs leapt to their feet and began barking. Una let out a
shriek of pure terror. Usher jumped and dropped his cell on the
floor.
It s here! Una shrieked even louder. I told you, Jarreth,
but you didn t believe me!
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That s the wind, Mom, he replied. We re due to get more
nasty weather tonight.
In her pink slippers, she shuffled over to the curio
cabinets.
Mom? Jarreth followed her.
There s blood on my chapel! his mother shrieked as she
pointed at the wedding anniversary gift.
Jarreth put both his hands on her shoulders and looked
over her tousled head. No, Mom. There s nothing on the
chapel, really.
Yes, there is! she insisted.
A feeling of doom slipped over Usher as he watched the
exchange. Something s different about this fit she s having. He
shivered, his gaze zipping from the bay window to Una and
then to the hall.
Darn it, Jarreth, can t you see the blood on the steeple?
she asked, and stomped one foot. It s right there! She tapped
on the glass next to the statue of the church.
Mom, Jarreth soothed, there isn t any blood on the
chapel Dad gave you.
At the word Dad, she seemed to sober. She turned slightly
and looked up at her son, her eyes more lucid. I m sorry,
honey, what were we talking about?
You were just telling everyone about your pretty chapel.
A quiver resided in Jarreth s voice.
The sound of it sent a piercing pain into Usher s heart.
God, help them both. I don t know how the man can stand it.
Oh? Una realized there were guests in her living room
and brightened. My husband had that chapel made for my
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tenth anniversary present. We d lost all our memorabilia in a
house fire, including everything from our wedding.
It s beautiful, said Jess.
Just lovely, Hanna added.
Una crossed the room and then glanced at the bay
window. Jarreth, there s blood everywhere, and I saw fangs in
the window again.
Hurrying to her, Jarreth drew his mother to his side.
There s no blood or fangs, Mom. I keep telling you that.
Shaking from head to toe, Usher started to say something
to help calm the woman, but decided he should keep his mouth
shut when Una looked up at Jarreth with hope.
Really? she asked.
Jarreth nodded adamantly. Yes, Mom. The only thing
happening this evening is bad weather. Stone Trail is supposed
to get more snow and lots of wind.
I heard a loud thump a little while ago.
That was probably just someone s trashcan hitting the
side of the house, or maybe a tree limb on the roof.
Well& okay. Jarreth s mother ambled into the hall, her
slippers making soft whispery noises on the carpet. I want to
finish my movie, honey.
I ll be right back, Jarreth said over his shoulder, and he
escorted his mom to her room.
Jess and Hanna looked at one another with tears in their
eyes.
How sad, Hanna stated.
The small dogs kept barking. The more agitated they
became, the more Usher s nerves shredded. I ll put Tip and
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Tap in the basement, he called to the women as he hurried out
of the room.
Footsteps behind him forced Usher to turn around in the
hall. Hanna followed him into the kitchen where she strode
straight to the freezer and removed the ice trays to freshen her
drink.
I m so damn rattled, she said, that I feel like I m going to
burst into pieces.
Tip! Tap! he said loudly. Come on, boys.
The Schnauzers raced into the corridor, over to where he
stood at the door, and padded quickly down the wooden
staircase. He watched as they curled up together in their big
dog bed as if they were glad to be out of sight and out of mind.
Usher shut the door to follow Hanna back into the living room.
Okay, Jarreth announced. Mom s back in bed watching
a movie. She keeps babbling about blood and fangs. He
flopped on the sofa and let out a frustrated groan. I don t know
if her meds are causing the hallucination or if it s the dementia.
For a moment there, she was totally lucid, then just as quickly,
she slipped back into her dream world again.
Sympathy for Jarreth filled Usher. He wished he could
banish his friend s stress.
What was the earlier phone call about? Jess asked as
she peered across the end of the sofa at Usher.
Quickly, he told them what Doc Evirgrew had said.
You ve got to be kidding, Hanna exclaimed. Her brows
knitted, and the corners of her mouth drew back into severe
apostrophes. I was there when Denver was killed, so how the
hell can they think you might have something to do with it?
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I don t know. Usher let his head loll on the back of the
couch. Uncertainty jabbed its claws into his heart, forcing it
into a faster gallop. I have a bad feeling about this and
Another, louder thump, hit the front door.
Jarreth jerked and sloshed his drink on his jeans.
What the hell was that? said Usher as anxiety sluiced
through him.
Jess and Hanna squealed and scooted closer to one
another, their eyes wild and glassy with fear.
Calm down, said Jarreth. I don t want Mom coming out
of her room again. If she freaks out, it takes a long time to get
her calmed down again.
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