Page 74 of Home Is Where the Bodies Are

“Do you need paramedics,” she asks. Her fingers tap against a keyboard.

“No, they’re already dead.”

“And you said the address is W9164 Hustis Street, Allen’s Grove, Wisconsin?” she confirms.

“Yes,” I say.

The house comes into view just as I crest the hill of Highway X that leads right through the Grove. Our property is on the right, the house sitting at the highest point.

“You said you found three bodies?” the dispatcher asks, but the question doesn’t register. “Ms. Thomas, are you still there?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve dispatched police, and they’re on their way. Is the address where you found the bodies a commercial building or a house? Does it belong to you?”

“It’s home,” I say.

FORTY-FOUR

BETH

Before he can break through the wall of overgrown weeds, I’m already slipping through it. Startled, he jumps and looks me up and down, taking in my disheveled appearance. I keep my distance, putting six feet between us. The rain still falls but lightly now.

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

Lucas glances down at his boots and then back at me. “I came to find you.”

“Why?” I take the smallest step back, putting another foot between us.

A rock lays by my shoe, large enough to do some damage, but light enough for me to pick up. My gaze goes to Lucas again. I study his face. Did he know already? Is that why he seemed to be snooping around the house, looking for something? Is that why he stormed off? Was I close to figuring it out, and he needed to break me?

“What’s going on? Is something wrong?”

I’m not sure what to say because I don’t know if I can trust him, so I just stare back.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost, Beth,” he says, taking a small step toward me. I nearly flinch.

I glance at the tangled web of overgrowth behind me. The truth is in there, the entire mess of twenty-plus years, reduced to three holes in the mud. I can prove I wasn’t lying to him, even if it means tarnishing my own parents. I can give him closure, answers...

Don’t trust...

Maybe he already has the answers. Maybe he already has closure, and he’s here now to ensure that closure stays buried.

“Lucas... how did you know I was down here?”

“I took the trash out, and then I was standing at the top of your driveway, deciding whether or not to come talk to you. I felt bad about the way we left things. I heard you scream, and I came running.”

I just stare. There are too many emotions and questions swirling around my brain to think clearly. I don’t remember screaming. But maybe I did. I can’t even remember digging up the graves anymore.

“Beth? Are you hurt?” Lucas asks, taking another step toward me.

I shake my head and take an equal step back.

“Then why were you screaming?”

“Was I?”

He gives me a peculiar look. “Yeah, but why?”