Sheep's Clothing by Gary Lewis (free ebook reader for pc txt) 📕

reaches of the corners seemed to spread out toward them as it fed on their silence.

Chapter 9

The stained-glass church windows continued to flicker to the flaming candles within and the parking lot glowed with a similar shade of orange from the dying streetlights that were spread throughout the center of town where residents now locked their doors, hiding from the chill that spread in spite of the warm summer night. Inside the church, five friends contemplated the secrets that locked them together in a state of distrust that attempted to propel them apart.

#David#

"Alright, everyone. Here's what we'll do." Terry's words jarred David's attention from the others. "We each secretly write a name on one of these cards." Terry handed them off one by one as he walked around the group. "The name of the one you suspect." He turned to face everyone and adjusted his glasses. "Then shuffle them around in the box. Someone draws them and with each name we all take turns explaining how it could be that person."

It was actually a good idea, David thought. "I'll draw the names when we're ready," he said, eager to join in as he quickly jotted down the name of his suspect. He noticed everyone else taking their time with secreted glances at one another.

Everyone had written the one they most suspected when Terry began shaking the box. He turned to gently place it on a pew as they all gathered around. An eager sense of excitement pumped from David's chest into his hand as he felt around the sharp edges of crisp index cards within. He took a quick glance at all of their faces, each staring at him through the orange glaze of candlelight that swept through the shadows where they stood. The corner of one card felt just right and David quickly drew it out.

A block of disbelief plummeted from his chest. "It's me. It says David." He looked around the room, peering into the dimly lit faces and Terry began. "You're the only one who's actually claimed to have seen it."

"So? That should clear me, right?"

"If anyone could vouch for it," Sarah followed up. "When we went to the cliffs, you tried really hard to prove it was there. Even pointed out the remains of Brad's attack and pretended not to recognize his jacket just so you could make it seem like those tracks were from your night up there."

"You can't be serious," he said angrily. "First of all, that wasn't the reason I told you it might not be his." He paused as Sarah's eyes and mouth loosened a little wider. "Are you the one who wrote this shit?" He waved the card in the air. Sarah's forehead tensed as she glanced away silently.

"Is it my turn?" Janice asked. Her tone of amusement caught David off guard. Everyone looked in her direction. "You were the only one who survived after running into it. Why?"

"I don't know. Maybe because I got away in my car?" David held out his palms before turning back to Sarah. "And of course I had to prove it to you. You don't trust any damn body."

"My turn," Vance said with a smile. Everyone listened while he waited. The candlelight glared against his face as it took on a devilish glow. "You snuck off to the woods alone at the old rec. What were you burning out there?"

David's skin rushed hot with fury. "You were following me?"

Everyone remained quiet as Sarah and Janice stabbed him in the heart with the intensity of their stares.

"I don't have an answer. Sorry."

Janice continued to stare at David as if she wanted to pry the information from him herself. He couldn't take the suspense anymore.

"Okay," Terry said. "Who's next, David?"

"What do you mean?"

"The next name, David," Sarah said, rolling her eyes.

"Oh… yeah." David reached for the next card, now worried whose name could be next. What if it's mine again? David placed the next card firmly onto the table. "It says Vance," he said with satisfaction as he slid his hand from the card. "I'll start. It's him because he's an asshole."

Vance laughed as if it were a compliment.

Terry took his turn next. "You're mixed up with the fires."

Then it was Sarah's turn. "You're a hunter and well at home in the outdoors. You also had it out with Brad just before he was attacked."

"Had it coming," Vance said nonchalantly, still holding his cocky grin.

"It's impossible to get ahold of you at night," Janice said. "Any night. Ever."

David noticed Vance's smile finally drop along with his eyes.

Feeling a bit optimistic, David reached into the box to grab the next card. This time he didn't even hesitate as he slapped it onto the table, looking first at everyone else. Janice and Sarah both turned their faces and even Vance looked away. A dreadful suspense drove David's eyes to see. Scribbled onto the card was the name Tony.

"Is this some kind of sick joke?" David asked, darting his eyes from one person to the next. "Who was it?" He lifted his hand in the air, raising his voice to the silent group. "After everything he's done to help everyone, now he's the only one of us still missing out there."

Terry cleared his throat from the side as he stepped forward. "The whole point of this game is so that everyone can have the chance to offer their opinions anonymously and we can all put our heads together."

David continued studying everyone's reactions to no avail. He had no idea who would do such a thing. Must have been Vance. He continued studying each of their eyes. But if it was... then who wrote mine? 

After a pause, Terry again spoke up. "I'm assuming that David will be sitting this one out. It's understandable. What do you have, Sarah?"

"He was acting a little strange and then the note." Her words came out so quickly, as if she'd rehearsed each accusation. David began to wonder why he trusted her so much. Even on the