Sheep's Clothing by Gary Lewis (dark books to read TXT) 📗

David thought for a moment as Vance peered around the ground. "We're probably pretty safe right now," David said with a sigh of relief. "It's broad daylight."

"Nope.” Vance lifted his blood smeared fingers from the dirt and rubbed them together close to his face. "This was recent."

"How recent?" David asked.

"Maybe a couple hours. Maybe a few minutes. Definitely not long, in this heat."

A click caught their attention, followed by a loud snap. "It came from over there," Vance nodded back in the direction of the creek. "Let's head to the highway. It's not far if we cut straight through here."  Vance motioned to their side. "Can you run if you have to?" Vance looked back as David sought an answer from his tired brain. "Just if we need to?"

"Yeah. I think so."

His expression grew grave. "Okay. Let's hope it doesn't come down to that," Vance paused. "Because all I have to do is outrun you," he finished with a smile.

"Go to hell, Vance."

David stayed side by side with Vance, running as quietly as possible toward the sound of traffic, now getting louder as glints of bright reflection flashed through the woods ahead. After what seemed like forever, they emerged onto the open highway and things looked a lot more familiar to David.

"I'm parked up this way," David pointed to the right.

"Hell no,” Vance said as he burst across the street. “We're walking on this side."

The day once again became hot and David lost track of time as they walked back to the trailhead where he parked his car that morning. Eventually, they made it back to the cool blast of David’s air conditioner and after giving Vance a quick lift to his pickup, David had a lot to think about on the long drive home.

Chapter 11

#Janice#

The clear, dark blue sky took on a pale glow behind her as Janice setup her tripod. It wasn't uncommon for someone to capture the glow of the sunrise, but her intention was to get some good shots of Bluff Mountain as the early morning sun shined upon the deep green treetops along its rolling hills. Occasionally, the sound of a passing car reminded her of the rest of the world, but it wasn't too distracting. In this moment, all that existed was her camera lens and the scene that awaited before her.

"Thought I might find you here," David's voice came from behind to bounce her back into reality. He smelled of expensive cologne and his usually disheveled, feathered hair was now combed to the side. His deep blue eyes met hers and they matched one another's smiles.

"So, you're psychic now?" Janice asked as she squeezed her lips together to contain the happiness she could feel glowing in her cheeks.

David rubbed the back of his head and glanced to the side. "Well, it's the only place within walking distance where you can get good photographs and you weren't home."

Suddenly, she remembered why she was there in the first place. Janice's face shot back to the mountain. "Hurry! Look!" She waved David over. He squatted beside her at the camera as they watched. Each individual peak of the rolling forested hills began to glow vibrant orange. It slowly lowered its way down to contrast against the dark gorges and gullies. Each ravine still shaded in darkness, casting the shadows of ridges across the mountain like a topographical painting. Janice snapped one photo after another, attempting to capture the perfect moment. After everything that had happened, this was the perfect moment.

"I wish I had your help setting up mine," David said. "Yesterday, we mounted my digital camera to the telescope on a timer to catch anything heading toward the mountain from the Perkins' fields in the late evening and early morning."

Janice wanted to avoid the entire topic, but her curiosity wouldn't let her. "We?" she asked.

"Vance showed up.” He tilted his head slightly to the side. “It was weird, but turned out alright." David's answer was brief and he quickly changed the subject. "How about breakfast at the Sunset?"

A glow of joy fueled her response. "I thought you'd never ask."

She reached to detach the camera from the tripod, having already taken several great shots, but the perfect one was still missing as she turned it in her hand to face the lens.

"Here, let me get that." David rushed over and began folding up the tripod.

"Wait. One more," she said. She leaned against his side with a smile and aimed the camera toward them.

They posed to the snap of the shutter before David carried his smile back to his car with her.

###

By the time they arrived at the diner, a line of middle-aged customers stretched to the door. Breakfast rush was in full swing.

"I forgot the lumber yard was reopening today," David said with a smack to his forehead.

"Perfect timing." Janice giggled with a nod of her head.

David looked to the floor. "I'm sure they'll clear out soon. They have to clock in eventually."

Janice placed her hand on his forearm and smiled at him. "It's okay. I'm not in a hurry."

The line moved, one person at a time, until they could finally immerse themselves into the noisy chatter of the lobby, but it wasn't enough to distract from the smell of overcooked bacon, eggs and burned hash browns.

"I'm so hungry I could eat a cow," Janice laughed as David gave a comical look of fright. But her attempts to lighten the mood with humor didn't seem to have an impact on David's fidgeting while he leaned side to side and darted looks around the restaurant.

"How about we get it to go?" Janice asked.

David's head tilted with a half-smile. "I guess."

"It's okay," Janice said with a smile. "I know the perfect spot."

David's shoulders seemed to relax a bit and the line moved forward once again. Janice wondered what was on David's mind. Something had him uptight and she hated not knowing what was wrong. Then it occurred to her. "Oh! Are you sure you're okay with being here so soon?"