Haunted (Michael Bennett 10)

She said, “Guess I’m a dead bitch.”

Chapter 61

Sandy and I made some quick plans as we headed back to my house. We couldn’t leave Sadie alone, and we couldn’t search the field at night. The solution was simple. Who would notice one more kid at my house?

It was late by the time we slipped in the house. My sleeping angel, Mary Catherine, sprawled on the foldout couch with Shawna and Chrissy snuggled up on either side of her. The TV was still on.

I led Sadie quietly up the stairs. Now I found out where her disability caused her problems. The stairs were difficult for her to navigate. She was fast when she was moving forward and from side to side, but going up and down was a challenge.

We finally made it to the second floor, and Jane stepped out of her bedroom to meet us.

I whispered, “Jane, this is Sadie. You think you could help her find some clothes and a bed to sleep in?”

Jane didn’t question anything about the odd situation. She smiled and sai

d, “Since both Eddie and Ricky are asleep in your bed, I know their beds are open.” She took Sadie by the hand and said, “We’ll have you fixed up in no time.”

I ended up sleeping on a cot in my own bedroom. Ricky’s persistent sinus problems made him snore. He sounded like someone trying to start a chain saw. I slept in fits all night. Two separate times I got off the cot and made a run through the house to make sure everyone was safely in bed.

Jane had taken the second bed in the room with Sadie. I couldn’t believe how compassionate and caring my children had become. And I couldn’t have been more proud.

When I finally fell asleep soundly, I managed to miss the boys waking up and the crowd gathering for breakfast in the kitchen. I was almost the last one to the party. Most of the older kids sat around the table, chatting with Sadie.

Sadie was wearing one of Jane’s sundresses and appeared to be right at home.

Mary Catherine was hustling around the stove, flipping pancakes and trying to be part of the conversation. As I stood at the door listening, I heard her say, “I have an aunt named Sadie. She’s not as pretty as you, but she’s one of my favorite aunts.”

That made our guest smile.

Mary Catherine caught sight of me and lifted her eyebrows. I knew the look. She was asking me what the hell was going on without saying a word. If she was upset in the least, she didn’t show it.

Chrissy was at the end of the table, nibbling on one of the first pancakes that had come off the stove. When there was a break in the conversation, she asked Sadie, “How did you hurt your leg?”

Sadie looked at the little girl and said, “It’s really my brain that’s hurt.”

“Then why do you walk funny?”

Everyone at the table was horrified for a moment until Sadie broke into a big smile and started to laugh. Then she said, “That’s a really good question, Chrissy. And as smart as I think I am, I’ve never asked anyone to explain it to me completely.”

Chrissy had a broad grin on her face and said, “Glad I could help.”

I guess everyone felt comfortable around this family.

Chapter 62

After breakfast, I met Sandy at the clearing Sadie had shown us the night before. Now it was a full-scale crime scene, with a photographer methodically working from one end to the other.

A K-9 handler, using a golden retriever as a cadaver dog, searched the area. I noticed two small flags marking the ripples on the ground I had noticed the night before.

Sandy walked over to me and said, “We have at least two older graves over there.” She pointed to markers a dozen feet away. “The investigator from the medical examiner’s office marked those when we were still pulling equipment out of our cars.”

There was something missing at the scene. It took me a few seconds to realize what it was.

I turned to Sandy and said, “There’s no media here. That wouldn’t happen in New York. They monitor our radios and have stringers hanging around a lot of the precincts. Back home, we’d have news trucks and photographers getting in our way.”

“One more advantage to Maine,” said Sandy as she instructed a young crime-scene tech to get ready to uncover the graves.

As I watched the scene unfold, I realized that someone would notice us up here working. I’d have to keep a close eye on Sadie. It was never a good idea to take a threat against a kid too lightly. She seemed happy with my family at the house right now. That worked for me, too.