From the corner of her eye she saw Brandon run around Pauls side and stare up at the man, his eyes narrowed into tight slits. Did you make my mother cry?
No, I didnt. Thankfully, Paul shielded Elise from her sons view.
Did you hurt her? the boy demanded, his voice rising.
No, sir.
Elise gulped back more tears and tried to collect herself enough to face her oldest son.
Brandon crossed his arms over his little chest. Let my mother go.
Its okay, Brandon. Pauls a nice guy, Elise said into Pauls damp shirt, her sobs drying and turning into hiccups.
Let her go. Brandon stuck his hands between them and attempted to split them apart.
Paul glanced to Melissa for help.
Let her go! Brandons rage turned to tears when all the pushing he did resulted in nothing. He balled his fists and beat against the backs of Pauls legs.
Elise pushed away from the warmth of Pauls arms and squatted next to Brandon, gathering him close. Luke edged in on the hug, his little face creased in a frown to match his brothers.
Melissa lifted him into her arms. Come here, little man.
Elises lack of control over her emotions made her sons uneasy. Both boys needed reassurance as much as she did, if not more. She was the adult. Adults must be strong. Then why the hell did she feel like she was falling apart? Its okay, Brandon. Pauls not hurting me. She scrubbed at the tears on her cheeks and pushed her hair back from her forehead. Im okay. I was crying because I was so happy to see Paul and Melissa. Do you remember them?
In the circle of his mothers arms, Brandon glared from Paul to Melissa, his gaze returning to Paul as if he expected Paul to make another move on his mother.
Elise had never told Brandon why his father had died in a fire or that he was a bad man. She had told him that he was now the man of the house and it was up to him to help her. Hed taken his responsibilities seriously over the past two years, sometimes forgetting it was okay to be an eight-year-old boy.
Kendall Laughlin pulled up beside the picket fence on her bicycle and braked to a halt. Hi, Ms. Johnson. Hi, Luke. Yo, Brandon.
Luke squirmed in Melissas arms. Kenny! Melissa set the child on his feet and he was off like a shot and through the gate. I have a bike now. You wanna see? He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the gate.
Kendall laughed and smiled down at the six-year-old. Let me get off mine first. She shot a curious look at Elise. Is everything okay?
Elise stood, her hand lingering on Brandons shoulder. Yes, Kendall, everythings okay. My world is catching up to me and my killer husband might be alive, but everythings just fine and dandy. She attempted a smile that turned into a grimace. Kendall, could you do me a big favor?
Sure. She climbed off her bike and rolled it into the yard.
Could you watch the boys for a few minutes while I talk tomy old friends, Paul and Melissa? And please dont ask too many questions. Her students couldnt know about her past. Her principal couldnt know or her peaceful life would be shattered. Who wanted the wife of a serial killer teaching children in their school? Elise had never hurt another human in her life. But her husband had killed five people that she knew of.
Id love to. Luke and I are old friends already. Arent we, buddy? She ruffled the boys hair.
Luke jumped up and down. Come see my new bike.
Brandon stuck by Elises side, his hand creeping into hers. I dont want to play.
Go with Kendall. I promise, everythings okay. She stared down into her sons eyes. As the man of the house, you need to help me keep an eye on your brother.
His face scrunched into a fierce pout and he glared again at Paul. Kendall can watch him.
She doesnt know all his hiding places. She let go of his hand. You do. So its up to you to keep your brother safe and in the yard. Neither one of you is to leave the yard, understand?
Brandon nodded.
She patted his shoulder instead of bending down to hug him close. He wouldnt appreciate being treated like a child in front of the other adults. I need a few minutes to talk to Mr. Fletcher and Ms. Bradley, alone.
Come on, Brandon, Luke called out. You can show Kenny your new bike, too. With Kendalls hand clutched in his, Elises youngest son tugged the teen across the yard, grabbed his brothers hand and headed for the back.
Brandon pulled loose of Lukes grip and gave his mother one last look as if to say, Are you sure?
Elise nodded, a reassuring smile plastered to her face. Go on, honey. Well be in the house.
Dragging his feet, Brandon followed Luke and Kendall around the side of the house to the shed where the bicycles were stored.
Pauls gaze followed the boys. When they were out of sight, he turned to Elise. Want to show me the note?
The mention of the note set her heart racing again. If she could shed have burned it and scattered the ashes to the winds, as if by doing so, her troubles would blow away. Its in the house.
She led the way into the living room, taking no pleasure in all the warm and colorful furnishings that were so different from the Spartan look Stan had preferred. The note had turned her happy and sunny home sinister, a place where evil lurked, waiting to pounce. She crossed to the kitchen and glanced out the window.
Brandon and Luke had their bicycles out of the shed. Kendall smiled and laughed with the boys, admiring their new wheels.
Elise pulled the letter out of her purse and held it out for Paul to see. I dont know what to make of it, but Ill tell youit has me scared.
Paul pulled a rubber glove from his hip pocket and stretched it over his large, capable hand before he took the note from her. He turned it over, inspecting the outside of the envelope. Where did you find it?
It was in my mailbox cubby at school today. Elise spun away and paced across the ceramic kitchen tiles. This was her home, a place where she could make new friends and her boys could grow up unencumbered by their fathers crimes. Fear turned to anger and she marched back across the tile to face the two agents. Tell me, guys. What really happened to Stan? Did he, or did he not die in that fire?
Elises blue eyes blazed, the anger a welcome change from the defeated and frightened young woman of a moment ago. Paul remembered the shock and disbelief in her face after shed learned what her husband had done two years ago.
Shed suffered through the stares and whispers of the people shed sat beside in church for years. Theyd shunned her as if shed been the one to kill those innocent women. They couldnt understand how her husband could have committed all those crimes with her unaware. Didnt she live in the same house?
Paul had heard the whispers, the catty remarks and the name-calling. When the reporters descended on her, hed been there to get her out and relocate her to a private room where she, the boys and her mother remained out of the spotlight. All the while, shed put up a strong front for Brandon and Luke, shielding them from the ugliness as best she could. They had been too young to understand and hopefully too young to remember.
He stared down at the letter, like so many others hed seen on the case in Riverton, North Dakota. Had Stan Klaus lived through the fire and flood? Theyd never found his body. Well have the letter examined by our lab.