Durable Goods Page 5

  Inside the cafeteria, I placed a square of lasagna on my plate and limped to the table where Sarah sat alone with her head bent. She was an odd duck. Loyal in words, yet she’d deceived him and slept with a migrant.

  “What are you going to do now?” she asked when I sat down.

  “I need to get into the house and see if my friend is there. I’m not sure how to make that happen.”

  “It will happen on its own. Be patient.”

  “I don’t have time to be patient.”

  She looked at me and raised her eyebrows. “You have somewhere to be?”

  Afraid I’d said too much, I shook my head. “Just not a patient person.”

  “This place will teach you.”

  “Terrific,” I said and forked a piece of lasagna into my mouth. After lunch I deposited my plate into the plastic tub by the door and took a breath. I felt anxious as hell. According to the job postings for the afternoon, I was on wreath detail after another half hour of mandatory Bible reading.

  Before I reached the door Isaac appeared in front of me blocking my path. I took a step backward, my shoulder blades digging into the plaster wall behind me. Women walked past, their heads bowed. Isaac placed one hand on the wall above my head and leaned into me. He placed one finger close to my nose then ran it whisper soft down over my lips.

  “We follow the rules here, one of which is silence when we work and eat. A gaggle of women twittering about nothing of importance is distracting. If you do as I ask you’ll reap my reward.”

  “Your reward or God’s?” I tipped my head to the side and offered the hint of a smile hoping to look flirtatious. Not my strong suit, but I needed to stand out one way or another if I was going to get chosen for the house.

  Isaac leaned in closer. “I work for Him. You go through me first and I have my own rewards for the women who do what I ask.” He dropped his eyes to my breasts, inhaled deeply then looked up and blew his breath softly onto my face, moving my hair just enough to tickle. I squirmed and he smiled. Lowering his hand he slipped it inside my jacket, his knuckles grazing my nipple, his eyes never leaving mine. “It could be nice for you here. I think we’d both be very satisfied.” He raised his eyebrows and grinned looking playful and boyish. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

  I smiled back, holding his eyes. “I’ll do my best,” I whispered.

  He stepped back to let me pass. “I’ll be watching.”

  I blinked back tears as I walked toward the dormitory and swallowed hard against the lasagna backpedaling in my throat. I’d sworn to Griff that I could do this. What the hell was I thinking?

  When I reached the door of the dormitory, Ruth was waiting. I walked past her but she grabbed me at the elbow stopping me short. She turned my palm over and shoved three white pills into my hand. “How’s the foot?”

  “These help,” I said tossing them into my mouth.

  “What did Isaac want?”

  “He told me if I play my cards right I’ll gain his reward. Lucky me,” I said trying to make light of it.

  She looked me dead in the eye. “Not everything’s a game.”

  “Are you okay?” Sarah asked as I passed her bed.

  I nodded, hesitating beside her. Three things I knew for sure. Isaac Bennett was a lot more than a conduit to God. Oracles of the Kingdom was a lot more than a working farm and refuge, and getting out would be a lot harder than getting in.

  “What are you two doing?” Ruth stepped up beside us.

  “Nothing,” Sarah said. “She’s not familiar with the Bible. I was just suggesting she read Matthew, Isaac’s favorite.”

  Nice save, I thought and again considered the inconsistencies of the two women. The Eddie Haskells of the group. Meek to Isaac’s face, but deviant when it served them, and I was sure that either one of them would let me take the fall if they were caught covering for me. As much as Sarah and I had a connection, her ultimate loyalty was to Isaac. I didn’t fault her for it. In this place, you had to protect yourself.

  “Well get on your bunks and start reading,” Ruth said then disappeared into her room only to reappear ringing those piece of shit chimes a half hour later.

  Isaac was astride Job outside the barn when I approached for my afternoon of wreath making. The horse snorted and shook his head pawing the ground as I passed. Before going through the doorway, I glanced back at Isaac. He was staring at me, a smile played at the corner of his mouth. I nodded, acknowledging his attention and stepped inside.

  At an open place along the side of the farmer’s table I gripped the scarred wood until my legs stopped shaking. A dozen women circled the workspace, their breath sending puffs of smoke into the crisp air. The thought of a Honey Berry cigar made my mouth water. I would kill for one right now. I watched the women’s fingers nimbly twisting fir around wire, creating wreaths from a pile of greens in the center of the table. Sarah took the place beside me.

  “Did he speak to you?” She asked.

  I shook my head and took a deep breath. “Where do you think he was going last night?”

  “I told you, I have no idea,” she said.

  “There were women in the back, the women who live in the house.”

  She stayed quiet for a long time. I was tying a red velvet ribbon around one of the last wreathes when she stopped working. Her hands lay still on the table. The gauze covering the injured one was brown and sticky with sap.

  “Something you want to say?” I asked.

  “You don’t know that.”

  “I do in my gut.”

  She reached over and straightened my bow with her good hand. “What if he did have women in the truck? Where could he possibly be taking them?”

  “That’s why I need to get into the house. You said he was going to come for me. What’s taking so long?”

  “He has to be sure.”

  “Sure of what?”

  “That he wants you.”

  “No test drive?”

  She shook her head. “They never come back.”

  “Why do you think he hasn’t taken you?”

  “A couple of times I thought he was getting close, but now…” She stopped and looked down at the wreath in her hand.

  “The migrant?”

  “Now it will never happen.”

  “So what if he makes a bad choice?”

  “If he changes his mind about someone I don’t know what happens to them. Like I said, they never come back.”

  “I guess I’ll find out. Sooner than later he’ll realize he made a mistake with me.” I stacked my wreath on top of the pile in the center of the table and reached for more pine branches. “When I get into the house, it’s not going to be anything good. I think you know that.” I looked at Sarah for a response, but she lowered her eyes. “If I find my friend I’m going to take her and get out. And if I find any wrongdoing, I’ll expose Isaac. Then you and every woman will be leaving this place. You better start thinking about where you’ll go.”

  “Why are you here? Who are you, really?”

  Her questions were so earnest and sincere that I almost told her, but I couldn’t risk it. “I told you. I’m here to find a friend.”

  Isaac had been standing outside of the dining hall when I’d gone in for dinner. His gaze followed me through the cafeteria line, never leaving my face as he offered up thanks for all our blessings. I still wasn’t sure if his obvious interest was based in flirtation or intimidation, but whatever the reason, his soulless gaze was unnerving.

  In my bunk after lights out, I willed myself to stay awake, listening for the truck. I had to find a way to get close to it, see who was in it, how many, and was one of them Kira? But staying awake was no easy feat after a day spent doing manual labor. I was exhausted. My hands were blistered, my foot purple. Hauling trees and wiring wreathes is not work for wimps.

  I waited until shifting bodies had stilled and the light beneath Ruth’s door had gone out then I slipped from under my wool blanket and slid down the side of my
bed until my socks hit the floor. I slipped my feet into my work boots, laced the left one but kept the right one loose. The tough part would be getting past Ruth’s door. She had ears like a German shepherd and the determination to match. But I’d done my homework. I knew it was the third floorboard from the threshold that sounded the alarm. It creaked like a mother…

  As I crept past Sarah’s bed she raised her head. I placed one finger in front of my lips. She flashed me a fearful look and shook her head. I stepped over the third floorboard and when I reached the door wrapped one hand around the chimes. With the other, I lifted them from their nail and kneeling, laid them onto the wooden floor. The deadbolt slid back smoothly and as slowly as my rush of adrenaline would allow, I turned the knob.

  A waft of cold air hit me in the face as I stepped into the darkness. After securing the door, I hesitated waiting to hear Ruth’s angry bark, but the only sound was an owl perched in the branches overhead. I walked down the dirt road staying close to the tree line and the shadows it provided. When I was close to the main road I crouched in a clump of bushes off to the side. From there I would be able to see the truck coming and do a head count when it slowed in front of me before easing out onto the main road.

  At least an hour had passed. My feet and hands were numb and I was just beginning to think this had been a stupid idea when I saw headlights bouncing toward me. My heart picked up speed and I crouched lower, burying myself among the bushes so the beams wouldn’t give me away. The truck rolled closer and so did my opportunity to get a look inside the bed. The taillights brightened as the driver braked at the edge of the road before pulling out. Hats and winter coats made it hard to see any details, but these were no migrant men. They were too small. Five women huddled together, their arms around one another for support or warmth or both. I couldn’t make out faces just hair straggling out from beneath wool hats, blond, brown, mostly nondescript in the darkness.

  As they pulled onto the main road one of the figures stiffened, her head turned toward me. She was wearing a white ski parka. Dark hair tumbled over its fur collar and fell almost to her waist. I couldn’t see her eyes, but I knew she was looking right at me. Her body language said she’d seen me. We watched each other until the distance between us rendered us both out of sight. I turned and started back toward the dormitory hoping to slip in as easily as I’d slipped out.

  There was no light beneath the door as I approached and I took that as a sign that Ruth was still in her room sleeping unaware. Opening the door with one slow, continuous turn of the knob, I stepped inside and closed it soundlessly behind me.

  A hand wrapped around my neck pinning me tight against the door.

  “Where the fuck were you?”

  “I, I…outside. I needed air.”

  “There’s air in here.”

  “Move your hand, Ruth. I can’t breathe.”

  She dropped her hand and stared at me, waiting.

  “I just went outside for a minute. I was sweating.”

  “Sweating? It’s November not July. What do you mean you were sweating?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t feel good. I wanted cold air.”

  “You’re a liar. Why are these on the floor?” She kicked the chimes with the toe of her slipper. They sang across the floorboards.

  I just wanted some fresh air and I didn’t want to wake everybody so I took them down. Where the hell do you think I’m gonna go? We’re in the middle of nowhere.”

  “Do you know what he’ll do to you if he finds you out walking around at night?”

  “Stick my hand in the fire?”

  “Don’t be a wise-ass. You better hope you never find out. Now get the fuck in your bed.”

  “Does that mean you’re not going to tell on me?”

  “I told you before you’re mouth’s gonna get you in trouble. Stop asking questions.”

  She shoved me away from the door and into the aisle.

  I landed on my bad foot. My leg buckled and I hit the floor. A few heads rose from their pillows.

  “Go to sleep,” Ruth said. “All of you.” She picked up the chimes and returned them to the nail above the door then walked to her bedroom without giving me a second glance.

  I wrapped the wool blanket around me and snuggled into my bunk. I was freezing and thanks to Ruth, my foot was throbbing. At least I’d confirmed my suspicion that Isaac was transporting the girls. Where to was my next question? I didn’t think Ruth would tell him about my little escapade. It would reflect on her as much as on me and I was beginning to wonder if Ruth was really the good little soldier Isaac thought she was.

  GRIFF

  John was standing behind his desk when Griff half-knocked his way into the room.

  “Kira was there,” he said.

  John let go of the paper he was holding, letting it float feather-like to the worn, wooden desktop. His eyes stayed on Griff. “Was?”

  “Britt said she was there, but doesn’t know if she still is. From what she’s said so far, which isn’t much, it sounds like most women work on the farm, but some get taken into his house. She’s trying to find a way to get inside.”

  “She safe?”

  “Doesn’t sound safe to me, but she won’t say that, wants to be a hero. She’s got something to prove.”

  “To you?”

  Griff shook his head. “To herself, to her mother, to her sister… old wounds run deep.”

  “That’s what this is about?” John sat in his desk chair and ran a hand over his grey, military cut. “Redemption?”

  “She wants to help you, but I know there’s more to it than being a Samaritan. It’s a two birds with one stone kind of thing. The more I think about it, the less I like it. I’m this close to going in after her.”

  “You gave her four days.” John said. He walked to the window and looked out onto a muddy parking lot bordered with black crusty snow that the plow had left behind.

  “I know what I said, but I might have been wrong.”

  “Stop second guessing yourself. This is the first time I’ve gotten close. We can’t pull Britt out yet. Especially now that she knows Kira was there.”

  “So we risk the safety of one for the safety of the other?”

  The two men stared at each other without speaking.

  Griff broke away first. “I want to find Kira too, but not at Britt’s expense.”

  “Britt’s a capable PI. She’ll get out if she needs to.”

  “She’s young and insecure and she thinks finding Kira will change all that.”

  “Won’t it?”

  “Jesus, John.”

  “What if it was Allie? Would you send her in then?”

  “That’s not fair.”

  “Why? C’mon Griff. This is what we do. This is the nature of the game and Britt isn’t stupid. She knew what she was getting into.”

  “I don’t think she did. I’m willing to bet she’s in over her head.”

  “Then she’ll get out.”

  “Not if she drowns first,” Griff said walking out and slamming the door behind him.

  OK

  WEDNESDAY

  We’d been cutting trees all morning and when the lunchtime whistle went off I was more than ready for a break. I’m not a wimp, but I like to get my exercise inside a heated gym or better yet, under Griff’s blankets. I’d barely slept last night thinking about the truck and the women in it.

  Ruth was standing outside the dormitory as I approached. I hesitated, giving her a questioning look, asking if she’d told Isaac about last night.

  He’d been in the field watching us cut all morning. Each time I wrestled a fir onto the flatbed he’d let out a little “mmm, mmm” of approval. I’d waited for my punishment to come assuming Ruth had told him, but his expression was one of seduction not anger whenever I’d stolen a glance.

  Ruth looked at me now and shook her head once. “No,” she said. “I didn’t.”

  I walked down the aisle of the dormitory and lay on my bunk, relieved t
hat she hadn’t told, scared of what was coming and angry at feeling so powerless. This place was right out of Twilight Zone, all around me passive submission to a lunatic, me included. The anticipation was making me as crazy as the others. Come and get me, Isaac, I whispered. I’m ready for you. Looking back now, I’d say be careful what you wish for.

  Exhausted from my lack of sleep last night or from my building unease, I closed my eyes. Within seconds I was in my office, Griff perched on the corner of my desk. I was just starting to tell him about the dream I’d been having when Ruth clanged her chimes and jolted me back to reality. It was time for lunch. Twenty-eight pairs of feet hit the floor.

  I stepped inside the cafeteria and slid my tray down the line of offerings. My anxiety made it hard to focus, and the decision between hot dogs or grilled cheese became a real dilemma.

  “Move it along.”

  I turned to the voice and found Isaac standing behind me, too close. His breath brushed my neck, making me shiver. It was coming. I could feel it.

  I stepped past him and crossed the room setting my tray down on one of the long cafeteria tables and taking a seat across from Sarah. “Truce?” I asked and held up my right hand as if swearing to the promise. “No more shop talk.”

  She smiled. “Thank you.”

  “What’s on the agenda for the afternoon?”

  “Wreaths.”

  “Huh?”

  “Wreaths.”

  “Wreaths?”

  “You asked what we’re doing this afternoon.”

  “Oh, yeah,” I said looking back at Isaac, his black eyes bearing down. “Right.” I turned to Sarah and took a breath. “I’m not very good at making wreaths. I think I got shortchanged on the gene for creativity.”

  She laughed.

  My sandwich was stuck in my throat as I took my place among the eight women in various stages of assembling wreaths. The others were in the field cutting and gathering trees.