Marked in Flesh
Page 74
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In many ways, Sierra was a strong young woman, and she was smart. But Jimmy could twist her up so much she never stood a chance when she had to deal with him.
“No, he didn’t,” Sissy began. “Not really. He asked what we were doing, and I said Mama and I and the girls were going to Lakeside to visit with you for a bit. And he said a visit sounded like a fine idea, but if I didn’t have any money, how were we going to get there.”
Monty did not want to hear this. “Let me talk to Mama.”
“And he said how maybe he should come and visit you too, seeing as it’s been a while.”
More than a while. Jimmy liked booze and drugs, and he preferred having money without working for it. Having a cop for a brother didn’t make his friends feel easy.
“Did he suggest that he and his wife should come to Lakeside with you and leave Mama in Toland looking after four children?” When she didn’t answer, he felt the blood pounding in his head. “Either I talk to Mama now, or no one is coming to visit.”
A moment later, Twyla Montgomery was on the phone.
“Mama.”
“Don’t you use that tone with me, Crispin.”
She had taught him the value of courtesy. Her voice turned sharp only when she’d been pushed too hard. “I’m sorry, Mama. Some bad things happened today.” He took a moment to gather himself. “Mama . . .”
“You don’t need to be telling me,” Twyla said. “I already told Sierra that I’m coming to Lakeside to help you look after Lizzy. You were kind enough to provide the means for her and her children to come with me. And since she just lost her job too, there’s no reason to stay in Toland, but suddenly she’s dragging her feet and saying she can’t decide. So I said if she wants to stay that’s her choice, but I’m not giving her train fare to Cyrus to spend as he pleases. If he wants to come to Lakeside, he can do it on his own and make his own arrangements for a place to stay, since I got the impression that some folks wouldn’t be comfortable with the arrangements you made for us.”
“You’re going to be surrounded by cops and Wolves.”
“Huh.”
Monty had to smile. Twyla Montgomery wouldn’t be intimidated by either kind of enforcer.
“You’re set, then?”
“I’m packed. Have the important papers you said I should bring. I think that’s what spooked your sister. She felt obliged to tell your brother there’s trouble coming. Not that anyone but a fool can’t see that.” Twyla paused. “Maybe he’ll have sense enough to get his family out of the city.”
“Maybe.” If Jimmy’s wife didn’t grab onto his coat, he’d leave her and his children behind without a second thought. “Did Jimmy leave a number where you or Sierra could reach him?”
“The number changes every time he calls. Since Sierra couldn’t give him what he wanted, he didn’t leave even that much this time.” A pause. “Crispin? The trouble that’s coming. It will be bad?”
Need to know. “I can’t say.”
“Does it have anything to do with the news report today that the folks cleaning up all the dead fish found some pieces of arms and legs?”
Probably. “Come soon, Mama.”
“I heard the words the last time you called, Crispin, and I understand what you’re saying. But I want to give Sierra a little more time to see what’s best for herself and her girls. If she can’t see it, I’ll be coming alone.”
Monty waited until she hung up. Then he called his captain to find out if Burke had heard that news report—and if there was any possibility that some of the hands and feet found in the packages had been in salt water and had been shipped from Toland.
To: Simon Wolfgard
Four of the six bison released at the River Road Community have been killed. We found two carcasses well away from the houses. Scavengers were feasting when we arrived, but whatever attacked the bison must have been very big and very hungry to have consumed so much of the animals in such a short time.
The other two carcasses were left at the Talulah Falls’ town line. I know this because one of the terra indigene leaders called me to say the meat was appreciated. While talking to him, I had the feeling that the terra indigene who were sent to take control of the Falls are tired of dealing with humans and want to return home—or at least go to some other place that has minimal contact with humans. Another feeling from that conversation: if the humans who have the training necessary to run things like the hydroelectric plant and any other businesses that can’t be left unattended choose to stay, the terra indigene would allow the rest of the humans to leave town.
Like I said, this is just a feeling, but it’s the first time the Others have initiated contact with anyone in Ferryman’s Landing since the Falls was locked down a few months ago.
The Hawks and Crows are looking for the other two bison. We’ll let you know when we find them.
I’m pretty sure Ming Beargard knows what killed the bison, but I think he’s afraid to say. Is it safe for my people to be working at the River Road Community?
—Steve Ferryman
To: Steve Ferryman
Your people should be safe, but, for now, Ming or some other terra indigene should be with the Intuits if they need to go beyond the houses to look at the land we want to set aside for pasture and crops. The Others who live in the wild country are curious about what we’re doing at the River Road Community. They are observers.
“No, he didn’t,” Sissy began. “Not really. He asked what we were doing, and I said Mama and I and the girls were going to Lakeside to visit with you for a bit. And he said a visit sounded like a fine idea, but if I didn’t have any money, how were we going to get there.”
Monty did not want to hear this. “Let me talk to Mama.”
“And he said how maybe he should come and visit you too, seeing as it’s been a while.”
More than a while. Jimmy liked booze and drugs, and he preferred having money without working for it. Having a cop for a brother didn’t make his friends feel easy.
“Did he suggest that he and his wife should come to Lakeside with you and leave Mama in Toland looking after four children?” When she didn’t answer, he felt the blood pounding in his head. “Either I talk to Mama now, or no one is coming to visit.”
A moment later, Twyla Montgomery was on the phone.
“Mama.”
“Don’t you use that tone with me, Crispin.”
She had taught him the value of courtesy. Her voice turned sharp only when she’d been pushed too hard. “I’m sorry, Mama. Some bad things happened today.” He took a moment to gather himself. “Mama . . .”
“You don’t need to be telling me,” Twyla said. “I already told Sierra that I’m coming to Lakeside to help you look after Lizzy. You were kind enough to provide the means for her and her children to come with me. And since she just lost her job too, there’s no reason to stay in Toland, but suddenly she’s dragging her feet and saying she can’t decide. So I said if she wants to stay that’s her choice, but I’m not giving her train fare to Cyrus to spend as he pleases. If he wants to come to Lakeside, he can do it on his own and make his own arrangements for a place to stay, since I got the impression that some folks wouldn’t be comfortable with the arrangements you made for us.”
“You’re going to be surrounded by cops and Wolves.”
“Huh.”
Monty had to smile. Twyla Montgomery wouldn’t be intimidated by either kind of enforcer.
“You’re set, then?”
“I’m packed. Have the important papers you said I should bring. I think that’s what spooked your sister. She felt obliged to tell your brother there’s trouble coming. Not that anyone but a fool can’t see that.” Twyla paused. “Maybe he’ll have sense enough to get his family out of the city.”
“Maybe.” If Jimmy’s wife didn’t grab onto his coat, he’d leave her and his children behind without a second thought. “Did Jimmy leave a number where you or Sierra could reach him?”
“The number changes every time he calls. Since Sierra couldn’t give him what he wanted, he didn’t leave even that much this time.” A pause. “Crispin? The trouble that’s coming. It will be bad?”
Need to know. “I can’t say.”
“Does it have anything to do with the news report today that the folks cleaning up all the dead fish found some pieces of arms and legs?”
Probably. “Come soon, Mama.”
“I heard the words the last time you called, Crispin, and I understand what you’re saying. But I want to give Sierra a little more time to see what’s best for herself and her girls. If she can’t see it, I’ll be coming alone.”
Monty waited until she hung up. Then he called his captain to find out if Burke had heard that news report—and if there was any possibility that some of the hands and feet found in the packages had been in salt water and had been shipped from Toland.
To: Simon Wolfgard
Four of the six bison released at the River Road Community have been killed. We found two carcasses well away from the houses. Scavengers were feasting when we arrived, but whatever attacked the bison must have been very big and very hungry to have consumed so much of the animals in such a short time.
The other two carcasses were left at the Talulah Falls’ town line. I know this because one of the terra indigene leaders called me to say the meat was appreciated. While talking to him, I had the feeling that the terra indigene who were sent to take control of the Falls are tired of dealing with humans and want to return home—or at least go to some other place that has minimal contact with humans. Another feeling from that conversation: if the humans who have the training necessary to run things like the hydroelectric plant and any other businesses that can’t be left unattended choose to stay, the terra indigene would allow the rest of the humans to leave town.
Like I said, this is just a feeling, but it’s the first time the Others have initiated contact with anyone in Ferryman’s Landing since the Falls was locked down a few months ago.
The Hawks and Crows are looking for the other two bison. We’ll let you know when we find them.
I’m pretty sure Ming Beargard knows what killed the bison, but I think he’s afraid to say. Is it safe for my people to be working at the River Road Community?
—Steve Ferryman
To: Steve Ferryman
Your people should be safe, but, for now, Ming or some other terra indigene should be with the Intuits if they need to go beyond the houses to look at the land we want to set aside for pasture and crops. The Others who live in the wild country are curious about what we’re doing at the River Road Community. They are observers.
