J.T. Ellison - Where All the Dead Lie

Rachael’s tone changed, became soft, cajoling.

“You’ve suffered a great trauma, Taylor. Seeing your friends hurt, it was too much for you. You’ve been in a fragile state. Everyone knows it. You’ve told enough people about the things you’ve seen, heard and done. We are all very concerned about you. We’re just trying to help you. Please, Taylor, you need to put down the gun. This won’t solve anything.”

“What the fuck are you talking about? This isn’t about me. This is about you. What you’ve done.”

A deep voice. “Taylor, listen to Maddee. She’s only trying to help.”

Memphis edged into the room.

Taylor didn’t dare take her eyes off Rachael. Memphis started to come toward her, right arm outstretched, like he was planning to take the gun. Taylor backed away a few paces.

“Don’t even think about it, Memphis.”

He stopped.

“Taylor. You’re okay. It’s all okay. Just put the gun away. No one needs to get hurt.”

She glanced at him, a fraction of a second’s look. He wasn’t smiling.

“I came as quick as I could, Maddee. I’m so glad you called. Looks like I got here in just the nick of time.”

Taylor met Rachael’s eye. “ You called him. That’s why he set off in the middle of the storm. What did you say, Rachael? What sort of lie did you sell him this time?”

“Who the hell is Rachael? Taylor, you’re acting insane. Please, give me the gun.”

“I’m sorry, Memphis. But I can’t. I don’t know that you’re not in on this with her.”

Rachael turned to him. “I told you, Memphis. She’s had a psychotic break. We need to get her sedated as quickly as possible. I have some injectable Haldol in my bag. I was trying to get to it to give her a shot, and she pulled a gun on me. I’m frightened, Memphis. She’s out of control.”

Memphis looked from Taylor to Rachael, completely confused.

“Oh, for God’s sake. Memphis, her real name is Rachael Mack. She had her whole family murdered when she was just sixteen. Spent seven years in an asylum in upstate New York. Her boyfriend, Robert Deaver, was executed for the killings. They used an ax to cut them to pieces, then burned the house down. Her mother, her father and her baby sister. All because they said she couldn’t date him. She’s the one who’s insane, not me.”

“She’s delusional, Memphis. You’ve known me for years. Does that sound right?”

“Ask Rachael about Evan, Memphis- ask her where Evan is. ”

That got his attention. His face creased with worry, but he was facing her, not Rachael. Taylor caught it out of the corner of her eye, and knew she needed to move quickly. He was choosing Rachael’s story over hers.

“Oh, Taylor. Honey. I’m so sorry. This has obviously gone further than we can all handle. Let me get you some real help. The storm is breaking. The snow had all but stopped when I arrived. I can have Baldwin brought here. We’ll get you straightened out. I’m so sorry. I should have never left you alone up here.”

Rachael went to Memphis’s side. “Listen to him, Taylor. We just want what’s best for you.”

Taylor was getting furious. How could Memphis not listen to her? Why wouldn’t he hear what she was saying? She took two steps toward Rachael, who muffled a scream behind her hand and clutched on to Memphis’s sleeve.

“Like you wanted what was best for Evan?” She looked at Memphis. “Seriously, Memphis. You have to listen to me. Evan isn’t dead. Rachael couldn’t stand the fact that she had you. She wanted you for herself. She started with a smear campaign on your name. She ‘leaked’ your ‘affair’ to the press. Hell, she even changed her last name to your given name, to feel closer to you. Didn’t you ever wonder why she picked James? Then she started drugging Evan, feeding her the same shit she’s been feeding me. Remember how sick Evan was, and the doctors had no explanation? She was losing weight in her third trimester. When that didn’t do the trick, she staged Evan’s death and stashed her away in an insane asylum. Lincoln is scouring hundreds of records, looking for your wife right now.”

He still didn’t believe her. She could see it. He thought she was crazy.

Memphis and Rachael kept up the soothing dialogue, like they were trying to calm a seriously pissed-off bee.

They’d take a step to the left, Taylor would respond with one to her left. She was getting closer and closer to the door. Maybe she could bolt for it. Lock herself in her room and wait them out. Memphis had said the storm was breaking. That meant Baldwin would be on his way.

Another step. Another. Memphis was using the tone he’d used on the bridge, that charming, you-know-you-love-me voice. Rachael was simply watching her, wary and distrustful. Taylor was the one with the gun, after all, though she’d truly prefer not having to use it.

A quick glance over her shoulder-the door was two feet away. She edged one step closer, took a quick peep at Rachael, then saw Memphis’s eyes slide over her shoulder.

Taylor whipped her head around in time to see Jacques lunge at her. He grabbed her in a bear hug, wrestled the gun from her grip, and everyone exploded into motion. Memphis bolted toward her to help Jacques. Rachael leapt for her bag.

She’d been flanked.

Taylor started to scream. “Don’t you let her do that, Memphis! She’s trying to kill me. She’s going to kill you too. Please, Memphis. Jacques, tell him! Tell him!”

Jacques just held her tightly. He had her in a half nelson. Normally she could get out of it, but he had a bad angle on her. She continued to struggle, but slowed a bit, as if she were giving up. She’d need the element of surprise if she were to get out of this.

Memphis reached down to grab her legs, and she booted him in the face. Her Wellies weren’t as solid as cowboy boots, but he hadn’t been expecting it, and his neck snapped back. Blood spurted from his nose.

She took advantage of the shock to slam her head back into Jacques’s nose. She felt the cartilage give way. He stumbled back against the doorjamb, only one hand on her now. She whirled fast to her right, all the way around and kicked him in the knee, hard enough to break the bone. His leg doubled in on itself and he went down.

Memphis came back at her again, yelling expletives. “For Christ’s sake, Taylor. You broke my nose. What the hell?”

“Just get her, Memphis,” Rachael yelled.

He dove back in. She felt horrible. She didn’t want to do this. She didn’t want to fight him.

He didn’t want to fight her, either. He came at her with his arms outstretched, like he could snare her. Rachael darted in from the left, trying to distract her.

Taylor let her. Jacques was trying to rise aided by the doorjamb, a ferocious scowl on his face. He hadn’t drawn his gun yet, that was a plus. He might still be on her side. Or he might shoot her in the back. She had to take the chance. She kicked at him, knocked him off balance. He crumpled to the floor again with a moan.

Memphis had one hand on her now. She let them come in, made like she was about to hit Memphis again. She feinted with her elbow, he ducked. She used her leg to sweep him off his feet. He landed on his back with a grunt, then started to scramble up. Taylor paused for a second as if she were winded, then as he rose, she punched him, hard, on the cheek. He went down again, and she turned, just in time to see Rachael a foot away, the hypodermic needle poised to jam into Taylor’s thigh.

She dodged to the left, too quick for Rachael to follow. She swept her left hand out and caught Rachael’s upturned hand, while chopping her arm with the right. Taylor had been trained, and was in the grip of a Valkyrie fury. Rachael only had the will to survive on her side, plus two very broken men.