The rest of the family included a woman, presumably Mrs. Taggert, who was younger than her husband and a lot better-looking. There were three children, a boy and two girls, ranging in age from ten to fourteen.
The dog was a Welsh corgi, its puppyhood barely a memory. Once theyd seen Taggert and one of his children take it for an agonizingly slow walk around the block.
There were two cars housed in the Taggert garage, a brown Lexus SUV and a black Cadillac. When Mrs. Taggert left the house, with or without her children, she took the Lexus. Except for the single excursion with the dog, Taggert barely left the house and never ventured off the property, and the Cadillac stayed put in the garage.
Monday morning, Keller said. Until then I dont want either of us to go anywhere near Belle Mead Lane. Were not going to catch him alone over the weekend, and just in case he noticed our cars parked on the block or driving by, hell have a couple of days not to notice them. Then Monday morning well take him.
Later he asked Dot if she felt like a visit to the mall, but shed found something she liked on television. He went to a hardware store and picked up a few things, including a heavy steel pry bar with its end bent into a U, a roll of wire for hanging pictures, a roll of heavy-gauge duct tape, and a pair of wire-cutting pliers. He put his purchases in the trunk and drove around to the theater entrance. He watched a movie, and when it ended he stopped at the mens room, then bought popcorn before sneaking into one of the other theaters to watch another movie.
Just like old times, he thought. But at least he wouldnt have to spend the night in the car.
37
Taking them to school, Dot said. If shes coming back right away, well want to wait until later. But theres no way to know, is there?
There is if she turns this way, he said.
Huh?
Here she comes, Keller said, and as the car approached he opened his door and got out from behind the wheel. Hed brought the Gideon Bible from his motel room, but he left that in his car. He stepped out into the street in front of the oncoming SUV, raising a hand palm-out and waving it from side to side. The Lexus stopped, and Keller smiled the kind of benign smile youd expect from a studious balding man wearing glasses. He walked over to the side of the car, and when she rolled down the window he explained that he was having trouble finding Frontenac Drive.
Oh, it doesnt exist, she said. Its on maps, but they changed their minds and never cut it through.
That explains it, he said, and she drove away, and he got back in the car.
I knew it, he said. There is no Frontenac. The map lied.
Thats wonderful, Keller. Ill sleep better knowing that. But why on earth
Shes dressed to meet the world, he said, not just to dump the kids and come home. Lipstick, earrings, and a purse on the seat beside her.
And all three kids?
Two in the back and one in front. And not a sound, because two of them were listening to their iPods and the other, the boy, was playing something where you use your thumbs a lot.
Some video game?
I guess.
A nice little family group. Keller, youre having second thoughts about this, arent you?
He said, Shell be gone a couple of hours, would be my guess, but we dont have time to waste. Lets get it done.
Keller pulled into the driveway and they got out of the car. Dot, carrying her handbag, led the way up the flagstone path to the front door. Keller, with the Bible in one hand and the pry bar in the other, was a step or two behind her.
She rang the doorbell, and Keller heard it chime. Then nothing, and then footsteps. He flipped the Bible open and held it in his left hand as if he were reading it, so that it obscured the lower portion of his face. His right hand clutched the pry bar, holding it out of sight at his side.
The door opened, and Marlin Taggert, wearing a Hawaiian shirt and a pair of camo cargo pants, took a look at the two of them. Oh, Christ, he said.
The very subject I wanted to raise with you, Dot said. I hope youre having a divine day, Mr. Taggert.
I dont need this, he said. No disrespect, lady, but I got no use for you or the Jesus shit youre peddling, so if youll just take it somewhere else
But that was all he said, because by then Keller had driven the rounded end of the pry bar into the pit of his stomach.
The reaction was heartening. Taggert gasped, clutched at his middle, took an involuntary step backward, stumbled, caught his balance. Keller rushed in after him, with Dot right behind, drawing the door shut after her. Taggert retreated, picked up a glass ashtray,
hurled it at Keller. It sailed wide, and Keller went after him, and Taggert yanked a lamp off a table and flung it.
Son of a bitch , Taggert bellowed, and charged Keller, swinging a wild right hand. Keller ducked under the blow, swung the pry bar like a sickle, and heard the bone snap when he connected with Taggerts leg. The man let out a roar and crumpled to the floor, and Keller had the pry bar high overhead and just caught himself in time; he was that close to smashing the mans skull and rendering him forever silent.