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

the other room. "Doofus forgot to sign out yesterday." She smiled with a slight roll of her eyes before letting out a long sigh. “Of all the people…” Her words resounded through the mist that steamed her bathroom mirror, hiding the expression she held from the world.

After setting her phone down on the bathroom sink top and throwing off her shirt, she adjusted the temperature of the now scalding hot water. Old scars striped across her legs. They were a reminder that there would never be anyone she could fully trust, that savior from pain always led to new ways to suffer. There was only one way anyone could ever escape it all.

After her shower, the sound of her phone buzzing on the table caught her attention. She hurried to check it. Terry. She lowered the phone along with her eyes. "What's everyone doing today? I'd like to go over the stake out area while it's cool out," the message read in group chat. Janice is the only other one who’s seen it and she sure as hell isn’t going to do anything proactive. "Meet me at the Sunset in an hour," Sarah typed before she gave her hair a quick brush and strode out the door.

###

Despite the morning traffic, it didn't take her long to reach the Sunset Diner. Though she narrowly avoided breakfast rush, the restaurant was still busy as she took a seat. "Coffee, no cream or sugar, two eggs over easy with toast and a waffle," she said as she waved away the menu dismissively. The red-haired waitress nodded before robotically pacing back to the counter. "Bet if I lit a cigarette in here, she'd remember me," Sarah said.

The crackling chatter of radio noise caught her attention as she looked up to see a police uniform. Officer Benning stood in front of the table. His arms crossed as he stared down at where she sat.

"I don't remember ordering bacon," she said before sipping at her coffee.

He placed his hand on the table and leaned over to speak quietly. "I've got my eye on y'all," he said with an unbroken stare in her face. "First the cattle, then the lumber yard, and those missing kids. I'm going to nail you little shits to the wall for all this. Only a matter of time."

Sarah's heart beat faster as she struggled to maintain her composure.

Officer Benning rose up and tipped his hat. "Enjoy your breakfast, miss," he said loudly before pacing over to the bar to greet the regulars and order.

Sarah scarfed down her food, left the cash for the tab on the table and rushed to the parking lot. As she shoved through the door, she ran straight into Terry, colliding with him in the doorway.

"What's wrong, Sarah?" he asked as he held the door.

"I'll tell you on the way. Let's go," she said quickly, tugging at Terry’s arm. As she pulled back at him, they stumbled into the blind beggar. Sarah gasped as she was startled back a couple feet.

Terry extended his palm to the old man, who stunk of mildew and rotten food. “I’m sosorry, sir,” he said with wide eyes. “We didn’t see you.”

The blind beggar’s white eyes stared into the space where Terry stood, pulling out his wallet. “You...” His hoarse voice eerily moaned as he pointed his filthy fingernail at Terry. “You’ll be asking for forgiveness soon.” He spoke with a sinister glee through rotten teeth as Terry handed him a five-dollar bill.

“Come on, Terry,” Sarah said, impatiently waving him over to her parked car. “Let’s go.”

As she climbed into the car, Terry rushed over and sat in the passenger seat. “What is it, Sarah?” he asked with wide eyes of concern as he buckled his seat belt.

"It was Benning," she said as she forcefully backed out of the parking spot.

"Being his usual self, is he?" Terry asked. His eyes darted as she swung a hard left around the building. "Careful."

Sarah abruptly turned a right onto Central Avenue. "He's sure we're involved in the killings and I wouldn't put anything past him to close a big case and get his name out there," she said, continuing north on Central Avenue.

"Sure. Whatever you say." Terry held out his palms. "Let's just stay on the road, please."

She looked over to see him gripping the door handle with one hand and the center console with the other.

"I know what the hell I'm doing," she said, turning a hard left in the direction of Bluff Mountain and Moss Lake.

"You already know where it is?" Terry asked.

"Of course. It's in the woods, right?" she asked. "Just head down the path past the woodcutter to Grandma's cabin?" She noticed that his eyes were still lost. "It was a joke, Terry.”

With wide eyebrows, he slowly nodded his head up and down at her.

“I just assumed it was out here somewhere, because..." She flipped her hand up with an eye roll. "What the hell hasn't been, lately?"

"Oh. I get it," Terry said, still slowly nodding his head. He squeezed a smile across his chubby face before propping his arm against the window and resting his head back. At least he's not hanging on for dear life anymore. 

Sarah glanced over at him. "Are we going to drive around playing hot or cold or you going to tell me where it's at?"

"Oh yeah." Terry pointed ahead. "Just head to the Big Rock Trail and park there. It's where David and Vance were the other day."

"Psht. David." Sarah rolled her eyes more slowly this time as she took a right before Moss Lake. "Shortcut."

"Speaking of David,” he said. “I thought he might be here with you."

"Why the hell did you think that?" Sarah snapped back.

"Nevermind,” he said, rubbing slowly at his curly haired head before turning it to look outside the passenger window. “I guess I shouldn't ask."

When they arrived, the trailhead was deserted. Sarah hopped out, immediately marching to the trail. "Not feeling very manly today?" she shouted behind her where Terry was still hanging back.

"It's just that..."