AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Loretta,” John said softly, “put down the gun.”
“Loretta, put the gun down,” Violet added when she ignored John. “I’m not going to ask you again, and I don’t want to shoot you.” But she would. “Mother isn’t going to hurt anyone else. Neither is Wanda.”
“Oh, I know. Wanda’s dead. I went over there after I dropped off Lula at Betty Jane’s. But she wouldn’t listen. Said Mother was right. And I knew it was never going to be over.”
Mother gasped.
Violet’s stomach sank.
“You saw firsthand what happens to those who leave me and my protection.” Mother took a step toward her granddaughter. “We do what we do to survive, to keep control and order. Put that gun down. We’ll deal with what’s happened to Wanda,” she said through a stern voice.
Maybe that was why her own mother had turned her out. It would have been during the Depression in an already poor part of the country. But now. Now things were different.
Loretta shook her head. “You’re done.”
Violet dove on top of Loretta, but the gun fired. She could only hope it missed Mother.
It didn’t.
A pool of blood bloomed near her upper right shoulder.
John bolted for Mother, applying pressure.
Loretta dropped the gun and stared at Violet. “They’re okay now. Find Ruby.” She collapsed on the ground.
Violet retrieved Loretta’s gun and pocketed it, then called 911. Loretta didn’t move; she lay motionless.
Mother’s breath was haggard.
Violet knelt beside her. “Tell me who Adam is. Where is he? For once in your life, do the right thing. Tell me.” Mother’s blood covered Violet’s hands. An ambulance siren whirred.
“Loretta, where is Adam?”
Loretta’s eyes were hollow, vacant. She murmured, “...close...”
“I did the right...thing...” Mother said. She closed her eyes, but she had a pulse.
Violet had more time.
Chapter Twenty-One
Monday, October 23
8:35 p.m.
John’s mind reeled as locals and deputies littered Imogene Boyd’s yard. News traveled fast.
Sheriff Modine approached him and waved to Violet, who now stood by the porch. Local deputies had taken Loretta Boyd into custody for killing her mom and attempting to murder Mother. He prayed a judge and jury would go easy on her. She’d been through nothing but pain her entire life at the hands of her mother and grandmother. Mason had been taken to the same neighbor’s house as Lula. Poor kids had been jostled around and confused. He had no idea if social services would be called in or not. Things worked differently up here.
“Quite a situation we got here,” Sheriff Modine said.
“If you call two missing women, a shot old lady, another one dead and four other dead women a ‘situation.’ Then yeah, I guess so.” Lives had been destroyed. “Did you know about Mother? The prostitutes?”
The sheriff sniffed. “What I know doesn’t matter. I’m one man. But I believe the Good Lord is doing what’s necessary to cleanse this place.”
John narrowed his eyes. “You a religious man?”
“I’m a God-fearing man. I don’t believe no whores belong in the holler. But sometimes the law...well, it ain’t enough. Not when lawlessness abounds. I figure she’s gettin’ what’s comin’ to her. Feel pretty bad for Loretta. Seems a waste she’s goin’ away.”
