Healer (The Healer Series) (12 page)

“Ma
’am, please lay back down.” The same paramedic who insisted I go to the hospital when I saved the little girl in the parking lot—the day I met Thomas—looked down at me. She had lost some weight though.

“Ma
’am, I’m fine. Really,” I sighed, clearing my throat.

“Miss Lawson.” A deep voice said
my name from behind.

Hudson eyed me
, cautioning me.

“I’m Detective Ronald
Burlop. I’d like to ask you a few questions, if you’re up to it.” A round, pasty man with red cheeks and a receding hair line stepped into my line of sight. He wore brown slacks and a button up, short sleeve shirt that was tucked in, despite the major done-lap his stomach produced over his pants.

“Of course,
” I mustered through my tears and hoarse voice. Behind him two officers pushed a black body bag on a gurney, and then slid it into the back of the coroner’s van.

I broke into sobs again.

“I’m sorry ma’am.” He cleared his throat. “Miss Lawson, your brothers say that you left to go shopping while your aunt remained home.”

“Yes, sir,
” I sobbed, using the sleeve of Whit’s jacket he had covered me with to wipe my nose.

“Was your a
unt expecting company?”

“No.” I lied
to his face. He couldn’t know what she did or who came over.

“How long were you gone?”

“I don’t know, about six hours.”

“That’s a long time to be at the mall.”

“We went to a friend’s house afterwards. My brothers can give you our friend’s name and address.” I tried to calm myself. This man was just doing his job, but our lives had just been turned upside down. Being questioned was not helping.

“
Miss Lawson, we suspect foul play. We’ll need an autopsy to confirm it, but we think someone murdered your aunt and the culprit set the house on fire.”

Hudson and Whit’s
eyes grew wide.

“Did you fin
d another body inside?”

“No
, ma’am.”

I sobbed again.

“Do
you have any family nearby?” He eyed all three of us.

“No sir,
” Hudson replied, “but we’re all eighteen years old now so we can do for ourselves.”

“I see.”
The detective’s voice deepened.

“Well
, here is my card, and the coroner’s number is on the back. We’ll talk to your friend later today to verify your alibi.”

“Are we suspects?”

“No, ma’am, but we have to verify your alibi.”

“My a
unt wanted her body donated to science.” I stood up and nodded towards the van holding my beloved aunt’s body. Whit shot a look of disapproval my way, but I ignored it. How did he propose we would pay for a funeral?

“Did she have a will?
”

I shook my head.
“No. She didn’t have anything to will.”

“Well
, you will have to fill out the coroner’s paperwork so they can transfer the body.”

“Okay.
I’ll call tomorrow. Can we go?” I slid off of the gurney and fought the urge to collapse to the ground. My body felt like I had been hit by a train.

“Yes. You’ll need to contact me tomorrow
by two. Your brothers say you don’t have a cell phone?”

“No, my a
unt was raising three teens by herself. Cell phones weren’t in the budget.”

“She sounds like a fine lady. I’m sorry for your loss.”
Burlop nodded.

“
She was. Thank you. I’ll call tomorrow.” I embraced my brothers. We stood as we hugged each other, sobs escaping from our huddle. Neighbors still watched, but we didn’t care. When we finally got ourselves together, Hudson took Fred and put him in the back seat of our car, bringing the plastic Tupperware dish he had left water in for him earlier.

We sat in the car together
in silence for a while. I let the day’s events turn over in my head. Why did she make us leave? My emotions ranged from anger to sadness. With the loss of Lucy, came another pain. Why did she say Thomas was gone? I pondered if it was only my subconscious saying he was gone because I worried about it all day.

As we
drove off, heading North on the interstate, I explained to Hudson and Whit what little I knew.

“Where are we going?” Hudson asked.

“The park to find that tree. She said we would find instructions there.”

“I
can’t believe she’s gone,” Whit sighed. “I guess this means we have to leave.”

“What about Lil
a?” Hudson asked from the backseat.

“
I don’t know, Hudson. Let’s just see what Lucy left and go from there.” I kept thinking about Thomas. Where was he? I pulled into a gas station.

“What are we doing?” Whit asked.

“I have to call Thomas.”

“Yeah, he’ll know what to do.” Hudson sat up
, assuring me.

I was grateful to find th
is local station had a pay phone. There aren’t many left these days. I got out and pulled three quarters from my purse. My hands shook as I inserted each coin. The black receiver was greasy, and I held it away from my face as I dialed Thomas’s number.

After one ring
, an automated voice said, “We’re sorry, this number has been disconnected. Please check your number and dial again.”

I h
ung up and my heart sank to the very lowest part of my stomach. I picked up the receiver and dialed Thomas’s number once more, but the same automated voice answered. I fell to the ground sobbing and dry heaving. Whit jumped out of the car and looked around.

“Aldo
, get up. We have to go,” he warned.

I couldn’t move
. It was as if my hands and knees were cemented to the sidewalk. I wanted to melt into the ground and hope I was evaporated. Whit quickly picked me up and carried me to the car, where Hudson had already opened the passenger door. They both got back in quickly, and Whit drove us towards the park.

“His phone is
disconnected,” I sobbed. “He’s gone, too.”

I cried all the way to the park. When we pulled into the parking
lot, we sat in the car until I could compose myself, and then we walked to the lake, waiting for a young couple sitting under the tree reading books, to leave.

“Great, we’ll be here forever.” Hudson rolled his eyes.

The lake was still, interrupted by occasional little flicks in the water’s surface when a fish came up to capture an unsuspecting insect. We sat by the lake, quiet for some time. I’m sure they were mulling over the events of the day just as I was. Fred ran along the shore and barked, trying to get one of us to join him, but we just sat and stared out over the water. We were all realizing that with Lucy’s death, Fred and the clothes on our back were all we had. Oh, and the yellow beast.

Finally
, after about three hours, the couple left. We walked to the tree and the three of us circled it, looking up and down as we tried to see anything out of place or some sort of sign. A small pile of stones sat at the base of the tree facing away from the lake. The stones had writing on them.
Really, Lucy?

“Pick these up.” I pointed.

“Why?”

“Those stones have our message.”

Whit held his shirt out as Hudson and I filled it with the stones. We walked back to the car, opened the trunk, and laid them out. We spent an hour, deciphering each stone. Some stones had writing in English and some were in Greek. The Greek stones had words like, energia, on them; the Greek word for energy. Some of the stones had words like family or stay together. The last stone I picked up had
Blue Cavalier, left corner of parking lot.
We all glanced to the left of the parking lot, and sure enough, there was a blue Chevy Cavalier.

The car was an older model, but clean. Lucy would never buy a new vehicle.

“Keys.” Hudson held up a set of keys. “They were in the gas tank.”

“Open it,
” Whit ordered him.

We all climbed in. Hudson into the driver’s seat, Whit the passenger seat, and I
climbed into the backseat, along with Fred.

“Go look in the trunk
, Whit,” I ordered.

He did so, without
hesitation. He came back, his face pale, with a small wooden box. He handed it to me with shaky hands, and I sat it in my lap, staring at it. Lucy arranged all of this. She must have known she was going to die. The box had an envelope taped to it which I removed and handed the box back to Whit. I leaned forward to watch him open the box, anticipation gnawing at me. What did she leave us?

He opened it slowly.
“Holy shit!” His jaw dropped, and he gazed down into the box full of cash.

I was speechless. Where did Lucy get so much money?

“Where did she get all of that money?” Hudson spoke what I was thinking. He looked at me with his big brown eyes.

I quickly tore
open the envelope, desperate for Lucy’s words. What were we supposed to do now? I unfolded a typed letter. That was odd. Lucy didn’t know how to use a computer. Maybe someone typed it for her. I read her letter out loud.

My darlings,

I know yo
u are scared. I’m so sorry this has happened, but know I’m in a better place. Do not fear death, my loves. The afterlife is beautiful. Your lives are precious, more so than others. You are God’s miracles. Remember that. You’ve been blessed with a gift that saves lives. Cherish that. Don’t resent it, abuse it, or hide from it. It is who you are. I know it has limited your lives in ways, but it has strengthened it, as well. I’m so proud of all of you. Really. You made my life complete. Stay together. Protect each other. There is one hundred and fifty thousand dollars in this box. It is enough for you to travel safely, buy clothes, food, toiletries, etc. It won’t last forever. You will have to heal for money eventually, but it’s enough to allow you to take some time off. Remember what I’ve taught you. Be cautious. Never stay in one place long. Make a point list and memorize it. Leave now. Your new identities are in the glove box. I love you all, and I am always with you.

Always,

Lucy

Tears rolled down my face as I tried to control my sobs. Hudson and Whit stared blankly at each other.

“What was next on the point list?” Whit looked at me.

Lucy was a paranoid soul. I understand why now. Growing up, she made us memorize a point list. This was a list of locations that we would move to. She made all of us memorize it so that in the unlikely event we were ever separated, we knew where to go. She constantly quizzed us to make sure we knew the list like the back of our hands. Next on the list was Virginia, but college was no longer in the cards for us. After that came…

“Florida,
” Hudson mumbled.

“Do we just go?”
Whit asked.

“That’s what s
he said.” I slid the letter back into the envelope. Fred barked and I pet him, mindlessly.

“I have to say good
bye to Lila, Al.” Hudson gave me the saddest look.

“Hudson
, they may be after us. It’s too dangerous,” I whispered.

“Fuck!” Hudson hit
the steering wheel.

“Whit
, go get all of our belongings out of the beast, please,” I asked politely, through tears.

Whit hopped out and trotted
to the car, while Hudson remained slouched over the steering wheel.

“I’m sorry
, Hudson.” I patted his shoulder. I knew how he felt.

“What about Thomas?”

“I don’t know.” I winced at the added pain the thought of Thomas brought.

“Do you think he had anything to do with it?”

“No!” I yelled. “How could you even think that?”

“
Geesh. Sorry.” He held his hands up like I was about to attack him. “It’s just, where is he?”

Wasn’t that the million dollar question?
I thought about that for a minute. Where was Thomas? My emotions flared and the worst of all scenarios played out in my head. He arranged the healing and now Lucy is dead. Did he have a hand in it? I shook my head at the thought. He couldn’t have. “I don’t know,” I replied calmly.

Whit opened the trunk and chucked our newly bought
desk lamp in along with some CDs, and a gym bag.

“What do we do with the yellow beast
?” Hudson asked.

“Leave it
,” I sighed.

“So we’re really just going?”

I rubbed my eyes, now dry from crying. “Yes. We’re going.”

.

ten

Present

“Ma’am, you’re here,” the cab driver says.

My head
snaps up, I hadn’t realized I’d fallen asleep. “Oh, sorry.” I clear my throat, digging into my jacket pocket for cash.

“Forty-five.”

“Keep the change.” I
hand him a fifty then get out of the cab and stretch, my mind still foggy with the image of small, fragile Ella. I walk into my building after casing the place, but nothing seems at odds. Everything is quiet, and I feel relieved. I just want to take a hot shower.

It’
s about seven-thirty in the morning when I get home. I immediately lock my doors and feel relief knowing I’m alone. The one good thing about having nothing is there isn’t any place for a potential attacker to hide. I walk in to my bathroom and strip down, grabbing my tooth brush and brushing my teeth quickly. I turn on my shower to let the water warm up and water spatters on my skin because I have no shower curtain.

As I slip under the water
, exhaustion washes over me. The warm water seems to wash my troubles away. I stay in the shower about thirty minutes, until it starts to get cold, before shutting it off and stepping out. After quickly drying off, I decide to go lay down, opting not to put on pajamas. I lie down on my mattress on the floor, and wrap my thin sheet around me. I quickly fade into sleep.

Past

Before we left for Florida that day, we drove to Thomas’s house once more. After we knocked on the door and no one answered, we sat in the car and waited to see if anyone would show up. After about an hour, I slid out of the car.

“What are you doing?” Hudson asked, sitting up abruptly.

“I’m going to look in the windows.”

“I’ll do it,
” Whit volunteered and hopped out from the driver’s side.

We cased the house, peeking through windows, but most of the blinds were closed.
Whit followed me to the back of the house, and I tested the back door to see if it was open.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m trying to get in,” I snapped, annoyed that the door was locked.

“You can’t just walk into his house
, Aldo,” Whit scolded.

“Obviously not; t
he doors are locked.” I walked to the kitchen window and stared up at it a moment.

“Hoist me up,
” I ordered Whit.

“Uh, what?”
He stammered.

“Hoist.
Me. Up.” I stated slowly.

He stared at me, eyes wide. “I’m not helping you break into Thomas’s house.”

“Yes, you are.”

“Why?”

“What if he was taken? I have to know what’s inside this house. I promise we’ll go after this.”

Whit looked around, checking no one could see us before
heaving a heavy sigh. “Make it fast.” He leaned down and laced his fingers together.

I
placed one foot in his hands, and he hoisted me up. “I will.”

“Wearing a dress was not your best decision today.” He clenched his eyes shut.

“Shut up,” I moaned.

“Hey, what did you do today?” Whit asked in a deep voice.
“Oh, nothing. Just a little B and E,” he replied in casual tone.

“Stop moving!” I hissed, holding his shoulders for balance.

He lifted me with a grunt and pressed me against the house. “Hurry up!”

“I’m trying!” I
stepped on his shoulder, and he made a groan, but managed to hold me steady. After I struggled to get the window screen up, and then the window, I finally wiggled my way in over the kitchen sink. The kitchen was bare, with the exception of some empty pizza boxes and Chinese take-out containers scattered on the red counters. I walked slowly into the living room and froze. It was also bare. The couches and coffee table were gone. I quickly walked down the hall and pushed doors open, finding each room empty as the others. When I reached Thomas’s room, my heart dropped. Perhaps I should have known it, too, would be bare, but for some reason I wasn’t prepared. I fell to my knees and sobs imploded.

Tiny rays
of light leaked through the space between the blind and the window, beaming down on something on the floor. I eyed it as I crawled to it. It was a balled up piece of paper.

With trembling hands, I picked
it up and pulled it open. It was the letter I had written Thomas apologizing, the day he sent me away from his house. I stared at it numbly, my heart in my throat. What happened to Thomas? I wanted to stay and search for him or at least clues to what happened, but I knew better. We had to leave town immediately. I tore out of the front door, pain and anger fueling my movement.

“What’
s inside?” Whit watched me pass him and slide in the car.

“It’s empty,
” I answered before I shut the car door.

Whit slid in the driver’s seat and sighed before he started the engine.
No one spoke. We were all filled with the same questions, fears, and pain. Lucy was gone. Thomas was gone. What the hell do we do now?

I sat
in the back seat the entire way while Whit and Hudson drove. I never called the detective or coroner. Lucy said to leave, so we did. Hudson was devastated not to be able to say good-bye to Lila. Whit didn’t express any emotion, hiding his feelings behind a stone face, most likely because Hudson and I were falling apart at the seams.

The ride seemed like eternity
, as I licked my wounded heart. Of course, I was so lost in my own sadness that I forgot Hudson was also in despair. We seemed to make an unspoken agreement not to talk about it. They didn’t know about my love for Thomas or what had transpired between us in the last twenty-four hours, so bringing it up was pointless. I could still feel Thomas’s kiss on my lips. I had finally won, just to have him taken away. I dozed off several times, and not once did Thomas come into my dreams. Surely if he were alive he would tell me where to find him. Or would he? I tormented myself with these thoughts for weeks.

When we arrived in
Miami, we found a furnished apartment on the strip, with a landlord who appreciated privacy. It was a two bedroom apartment and my brothers allowed me a room to myself. They were used to sharing anyway. For the first few weeks, we stayed cooped up, afraid and not sure what to do. We made a few trips out for clothing and food, but that was it. Lucy had always been in charge, so we were like young birds just thrown out of the nest, trying to make our wings flap while we plummeted to the earth.

I prayed Thomas would find me in my dreams. I needed him.
We
needed him. Losing Lucy was so tragic and Thomas missing on top of everything left me spiraling. I couldn’t eat and when I tried to I vomited. I was weak and Hudson constantly pushed energy into me, worried for me.

We had been in Miami about a month and
a half when my brothers came into my room. I woke up to find them staring down at me and back to each other awkwardly.

“W
hat?” I asked with a hoarse voice.

“Aldo, we—
um,” Whit started.

“What?” I repeated,
annoyed they had woken me.

They both sat on either side of me.
“So you’ve been super depressed, which is understandable,” Hudson started.

“Yeah, but you’ve
been getting sick, and you’re weak,” Whit added.

“I’m just sad.” I sat up
, pushing my greasy hair behind my ears. “I’m sorry.” I patted their arms to show them I was sincere.

“Well
, the thing is Aldo.” Whit stopped again and looked to Hudson. They both wore matching facial expressions of awkward.

“What?”

“I would bet my life you’re pregnant,” Whit finished, meeting my eyes.

“What?” I laugh
ed.

“It’s your energy
, Aldo. We’ve been listening. I hear two different sets of pitches and vibrations. One is definitely not yours. Add that to your fatigue and nausea, and it seems a logical explanation.” Hudson shrugged.

“It’s impossible.” I shook my head
, smiling for the first time in weeks at the ridiculousness of their conclusion.

“Is it?”
Whit quirked an eyebrow.

“
Yes,” I affirmed irritated, embarrassed to be having such a conversation with my brothers.

“What abou
t prom night with Wyatt?” Hudson ran a hand through his hair.

“
Ew! No, Hudson! Nothing happened. I mean he kissed me, but that was it.”

“Thomas?” Whit asked in a way that the idea that T
homas and I could have ever, well had sex, just occurred to him for the first time. He stared at the wall for a moment, before he looked back at me.

“No, I’m a virgin.” And as I said the words
, my heart did a back- flip into my stomach.

“What?” Hudson asked
, noting my expression.

“Nothing, I
…” I stopped. It was impossible. Thomas and I made love in my dreams. I couldn’t get pregnant.
Shit.
It couldn’t be. Sure, I had been feeling ill and exhausted, but I thought that was because I lost the love of my life and Lucy all in one day.

“Here’s a test.” Whit handed me a rectangular box. I eyed it in his hand
, as panic washed over me. My heart felt like it stopped beating for a moment.

“I can’t believe y
ou bought me a pregnancy test?”

“We knew you would deny it or say it couldn’t be
, so we just got the test to settle it once and for all.” Hudson rolled his eyes as he stood.

“Okay, this is awkward.” I shifted
slightly.

“
Especially, since you’re a virgin,” Whit said sarcastically and stood.

“I am,
” I snapped.

“Come on
, Aldo.” Hudson looked down on me with soft eyes. “Let’s get this over with. We need to know.” Hudson watched me and waited for me to follow.

“I’m telling you it’s not possible.”

“Humor us,” Whit snapped.

“Fine.”
I rolled off of the bed and snatched the test from Whit’s hand and marched out of the room. They followed me into the living room where the only bathroom in the apartment was.

I whirled around and waved the pregnancy test in their faces.
“I mean, can I at least pee on the stick in privacy?” I sneered.

“Oh
, yeah.” They both backed up embarrassed with red faces.

“It says you can pee in a cup and then hold the tip of the stick in it
for five seconds,” Hudson informed me.

“Dude, you read the directions?” Whit asked.

“I didn’t know which test to get
, so this lady in the store helped me pick one. I told her it was for my wife.” Hudson smiled as if proud of himself. Whit stared at him, like he just told us he smoked crack.

“Okay. So you
need a cup?” Whit turned to me.

“
No. I’m good. Be back in a few.” I waved as I shut the door, leaving them right outside. I opened the box, and carefully read the directions, not trusting Hudson’s expertise, as my body threatened to collapse beneath me from nerves. My inner self sat on her knees, hands clasped together, and face to the sky, repeating in prayer;
please don’t be pregnant, please don’t be pregnant
. I pulled my panties down, sat on the white porcelain toilet, and tried to place the white fabric tip in the line I thought my urine might travel. I started to pee, but the warm stream hit my hand.
Damn
! I quickly adjusted so the tip was in way of the stream. When done, I placed the cap back on the tip and laid it on the sink. I washed my hands and opened the door.

“What did it say?” Hudson asked nervously
, his face pale.

“It takes three minutes.
You bought the test that literally says pregnant or not pregnant.” I rolled my eyes. “Shouldn’t be too hard to figure out.”

“
No room for error,” Whit snipped.

I sat
on the brown living room sofa, and crossed my arms, terrified of what might happen at the end of the next three minutes.

Fred laid his head in my lap and I pet him softly as
I tried to keep my emotions controlled. We all sat in silence while my mind reeled, and I turned over the idea of having a baby. It is common with our kind that women die in child birth. Not always, but often. My mother passed away giving birth to us. I winced at the thought of her.

“You think it’s been three minutes?” Whit asked.

I nodded.

“Are you going to g
o look?” Hudson asked.

“You do it,
” I whispered.