Chapter Seventeen
The police weren’t going to do anything. I still couldn’t believe that they weren’t going to look into it, or at least question Ethan’s father. I lay on the grass, my legs stretched out behind me and my arms tucked under my head. Wind was blowing the clouds, big pillow-like clouds, away from the sun, letting its rays shine on my face, penetrating my skin. Tears trickled down my cheeks, getting sucked into the soil under me.
“Are you going to lay here all day?” Rebecca asked as she sat down next to me. Her stomach protruded ever so slightly under her t-shirt as she pulled her knees up to her chest.
“Why not?” I asked. “There’s nothing else I can do.” Pulling myself up, I stared at my sister. “The police aren’t even the slightest bit concerned.”
“But you talked to Dad, didn’t you?” she asked. “You emailed him the pages and he said he would talk to the police back there. That’s something, isn’t it?” I shrugged. It was something, sure, but what were the cops in New York going to do about the mayor in Virginia? By the time they do anything it’s going to be too late. It’s probably too late anyway.
“Come on, you’re here for another week. Let’s do something fun. The next time I’m going to see you, I’m going to look like I swallowed a basketball. No fun then.”
“Maybe later,” I murmured. “I’m not in the mood right now. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Using my arm as an anchor, Rebecca lifted herself up. “I’m going to go back into the diner. Want something to eat?”
“If you’re cooking, sure,” I said and, only because I felt I had to, I added. “Want some help?”
“Jacob is here to help,” she said. “I’ll be fine.” I watched my sister skip back into the house, humming a nursery rhyme. Pulling myself up to a sitting position, I dug my hand into my pocket and pulled out the skeleton keys. The keys I stole from Ethan’s room.
They key that fits into the doll house. My heart pounded as I ran my fingers over the warm metal. The doll house that Ethan wants to me to stay far, far away from. There was something in that doll house…and I was going to find out what. Jumping up, I ran inside the house, taking the steps two at a time and barging through the door.
Rebecca was standing over the counter, chopping up tomatoes and Jacob was standing behind her, his hands on her hips, his face nuzzling her neck. He whispered something in her ear and she giggled, the apples of her cheeks turning red. I hung back in the shadows, not wanting to interrupt the private moment. Rebecca looked up and jumped, finally noticing that I was standing there.
“Hey, is everything okay? You snuck up on us.”
“I didn’t mean to,” I told her. “I wanted to tell you that I’m not going to be having dinner right now. I have a few things to take care of. Is that okay?”
“Where are you going?” she asked immediately.
“Going to visit Ethan.” Rebecca nodded as Jacob kissed her hair. “I have my phone on me. I shouldn’t be long.”
“Be careful,” she said. “It’s getting dark and I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Sounding like a mother already,” I teased. “I’ll be fine. I’ll be home tonight.”
“See you later,” she said.
“Call me if you want a ride,” Jacob added. I glanced at my sister one last time, gnawing on my bottom lip, and then slipped through the door.
* * *
The old, scuffed up wooden floorboards squeaked under my weight as I stepped through the threshold and into the hallway. Immediately I shivered against the frigid air. The aroma of roses and dish washing soap assaulted my nostrils almost immediately. There was an underlying smell, too, but I couldn't figure out what the smell was or where it was coming from.
I took a tentative step, and then another, down the hall. My ears stayed pricked for any sounds from the outside. I had to get in and out before anyone came home which was hard since I had no idea when that would be.
Sunlight flooded into the hall from the left and I turned, only to realize that I was looking into the living room...the living room which was filled with female bodies. Mannequins. My mouth dropped as I took in the scene in. Well this is...odd. From where I stood, the women looked so life like with the clothes draped on their bodies and the make-up expertly applied onto their faces. I was almost expecting one of them to start talking to me.
This is why Ethan and his father didn't want me to come in here? What are they doing, hiding Mr. Hunter’s fetishes from me or something? I moved further down the hall, glancing into the other rooms as I passed them. Each and every room held three or four other mannequins, none of them looking even remotely the same. Yet the faces looked vaguely familiar, I just couldn't put my finger on it.
Somebody