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

"Terry says they found Vance's truck crashed into the chicken houses near his place. Also, that some of the football team told him where Vance set the traps for the thing." Sarah waited while David paused. "You remember? The traps?" 

"Yes," she scowled. “I didn't forget, dumbass." Sarah rolled her eyes as she turned toward him with her steaming hot plate of food in hand. "I just thought you were... I don't know... leading to a point?"

"Oh," he said with a glance at the floor. "Terry thinks they probably haven't found it all and that we should go check it out."

"Sounds like a plan," Sarah said, blowing on her steaming plate she carried in front of her as she walked around to the living room. "You going to bring your girlfriend this time?"

"Sure." David leaned to the side giving her a big half grin. "I'm bringing you."

As Sarah got specific directions from Terry, they climbed in David's car. He took the wheel and the two of them set off.

#Janice#

Janice strode down the deserted gravel forestry road toward her destination. It was about a half mile from where she left her mom's minivan parked. "I need the exercise anyway," she said as the hidden gap in the foliage became visible just ahead. She opened the group chat on her phone and read the last message Terry sent. "Vance set the traps in the woods behind the chicken houses. We should check it out. I know exactly where it's at so call me for directions."

She strolled gracefully to the right through the narrow, hidden path into the woods where many days old tire tracks overlapped one another. Trees surrounded her as she stepped downhill toward the wooded clearing. The smell of pine and honey suckle brought back memories while she passed the old stone well. She caught sight of several bent metal bars that haphazardly littered the clearing surrounded by chips of busted bark. They were the remnants of a recent war that had been long lost since before it began.

Distant voices raised louder in argument as footsteps approached from the gravel forestry road. "I'm just saying that you have this damn problem where you get blinded by the people you like. Tony fits. Nobody has found his body, have they?"

"Look, how the hell do you expect me to find this place when you keep pissing me off anyway?"

"Terry said the fourth curve past the two cedar trees and an opening on the right, okay? How was I supposed to know it would be so complicated?"

Their bright clothes became visible through the gaps in the brush as they got close. "Hell, I didn't even know this road led behind the chicken houses. I would have never found it." David's arms could be seen swinging as he spoke.

Janice sat down on a giant stump, crossing one leg over the other as she propped her chin on her fist, waiting patiently as she listened.

"Have you heard anything from Janice this entire time?" Sarah asked.

"No. But can you blame her? I mean would you want to talk to me if it was your dad?"

"Sure. I wouldn't mind," Sarah said with a light chuckle that sent fire up Janice's arms. "David. Just tell her. I don't care anymore." Janice listened intently to Sarah's words. "I'm the one who killed the guy."

"Hey, here it is," David said so casually, as if they’d just got done talking about what they ate the night before. Their footsteps beat louder as they jogged down the hill into the woods and came into view. "Something definitely happened he-" She saw David freeze solid as he caught sight of her.

"What?" Sarah asked as she stepped around past him, jumping with a startle when she looked across the small wooded clearing at Janice.

She watched Sarah and David look wide eyed at each other and then back at her without a word. Finally, Sarah spoke up. "Why are you... here?"

Her words kindled a blaze in Janice's chest. She swiftly swung her phone above her head. "What?'We should check it out,' doesn't include me?"

"Are you okay, Jan?" David asked softly as he slowly reached out his hand from his place about twenty feet away.

"Don't call me that," she snapped back at him.

"You just don't sound like yourself," David said with his exaggerated look of concern as Sarah slowly reached over to lower his arm as if to protect him.

"Sure...?" Janice paused, attempting to hold her composure before continuing. "I wouldn't mind," she said.

David and Sarah both looked at the ground. "Listen, I'll do it," Sarah said quietly to David.

Janice folded her arms with a sardonic laugh. "Do what exactly?" She watched Sarah's mouth fall open as David sat in a slump on an old log and rested his face in his hands.

"Kill me? Go ahead," Janice said as her eyes began to take on water. "This whole curse around here is my fault anyway."

"Janice," Sarah said slowly with round eyes. She leaned down as she clasped her hands together. "I'm so sorry."

"Sure sounded that way a minute ago," Janice said.

"I don't expect you to be able to forgive me. But it was my fault. Not David's." Sarah kneeled on the ground in front of Janice as she remained stationed on her stump, focusing the fire in her eyes on Sarah only to take a brief look at David.

"You even used my camera to take pictures of it?"

"Listen," David said as he plopped his hands into his lap. "I was jealous that you were with Vance and we'd both been drinking. We thought it would be funny to... well, use your boat."

"My dad's boat," she said, sternly correcting David.

"Janice," Sarah's pleading voice returned slowly. "I think that was my idea too."

Janice raised her voice louder. "Oh. It's no big deal. Water under the bridge. You're the one 'who killed the guy.' David was just along for the ride."

David sat up and looked at her. "Please, Janice. I know I fucked up. It's haunted me all year and probably will for the rest