Page 110 of The Haunting of Paynes Hollow

She swings the gun barrel on him.

“Josie,” Smits says, struggling to gentle his voice. “You’re upset. I understand that. This is all very confusing—”

“I’m not a fucking child, Dad. Don’t talk to me like I’m five.”

“Then don’t act—” He bites that off. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to diminish your right to be angry with me—”

Her harsh laugh cuts him off. “Wow. You actually were awake during those family-therapy sessions Mom begged for. Could havesworn you nodded off. Or maybe you just pretended to, being a jerk like always.”

“Josie.” His tone firms. “I’ve already admitted that your mom and I had problems. She’s never been easy to live with and—”

“Mom?”Josie’s voice rises. “Mom is the single most easy person to live with. She’s a fucking saint who put up with your shit. Now where the hell is Ben?”

“I don’t—”

“Count of five, or I swear I will shoot you.”

Every muscle in me tenses. She’s shaking, and I want to get her attention, reassure her, get her to lower that gun. But she will not look my way, and I’m afraid that if I speak, it’ll only upset her. One more person telling her to calm down when she has every right to be furious.

“Five. Four.”

“Josie,” Smits says. “I can’t tell you what I don’t know. Do you want me to lie? Fine. I think he’s over there.” He waves an arm so dismissively that my anger turns on him.

“Stop patronizing her,” I snap. “You did something to Ben. You’ve already admitted to the rest so—”

“Why not admit to this? Good point. Obviously, if I knew where Ben was, I’d admit—”

“Three.”

“I didn’t hurt Ben, Josie. I didn’t hurt anyone. The only one threatening here is you, honey, and—”

“Two.”

He steps toward her. “You aren’t going to shoot me, Josie.”

Her hands adjust on the gun.

I lunge their way. “Stop. Sheriff, please just—”

“Stay out of this,” he snaps. “This is your fault. You already got your aunt killed.”

“Sam didn’t—” Josie begins.

“Of course she did. You believe this nonsense that she only just found out about the nekkers now? No. That’s why she came here. She enlisted Ben Vandergriff—”

“Dad! Stop!”

“I’m just telling you—”

“Stoplying.” Josie’s eyes fill. “Please. If you care about me at all, stop lying. Stop blaming everyone but yourself.”

“What did I do? I didn’t kill her aunt. Didn’t kill that little boy. I’m just the sucker her mother used—”

“Dad, stop!”

“Youstop, Josie. This is enough. Give me that damned gun.”

He lunges, grabbing for it. She swings the gun up. Smits grabs her arm, and she starts to topple backward. I run, screaming for them to stop, just stop. Smits is trying to wrestle the gun from her, and they’re in the shadows, and I can’t see—