Read Online Dead Voices by Rick Hautala - Free Book Online Page A

staying the whole week, but on Thursday afternoon, Doug started in, complaining that he needed some books that were back home for some lesson plans he was working on and that he wanted to leave for home — the sooner the better. I strongly suspected this was a ploy of his to get away from my parents’ house, because I’d always known my parents — especially my father — didn’t really like Doug.”
    “You say you knew ,” Graydon interrupted. “Had the two of you spoken about it?”
    Elizabeth shook her head. “No — I just knew. There was always tension whenever we visited my folks. It kinda put me in a bind because I knew Doug didn’t like to visit, but I wanted my parents to see as much of Caroline as they could, you know?”
    Graydon nodded.
    “Anyway. against my and Caroline’s protests, after supper we packed our suitcases into the Subaru, intending to head back. But as evening fell, the blizzard the weathermen had been predicting all day finally hit. Within an hour, the roads were slick with a fresh coating of wet snow.
    “I kept asking Doug if he didn’t think we should at least wait till morning, till the roads were clear, but he insisted we start out then so he could have all day the next day to work on his lesson plan. Caroline, who always loved to visit Grammy and Grampy, tried to add her weight to the decision, but Doug held firm.
    “We started out — I guess sometime just before ten o’clock. Caroline should have been asleep in bed by then, so she snuggled up in the backseat while Doug drove. I was sulking in the passenger’s seat. I wanted to let him know how angry I was, but I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to disturb Caroline. I guess I was afraid of what I might say once I got started.
    “As usual, we headed up Route 22 toward Route 202, but a mile or so out of town, on Old County Road, Doug lost control of the car on a sharp corner in South Buxton. Maybe you know where I mean. There’s a little church right there on the left.” Graydon shook his head and by his silence encouraged her to continue.
    “Well, I always figured Doug’s foot slipped off the brake and hit the gas, because I remember the engine started whining real loud. The car did a complete three hundred sixty turnaround as it slid off the road as smoothly as if the road had been greased. If it hadn’t been for the head-high plow ridge, we would have gone careening down into a deep tree-lined gully.
    “I remember I kept repeating ‘Good move ... real good move!’ as I leaned into the back seat to comfort Caroline. She had woken up crying because she was confused by the sudden lurching motion of the car. I remember thinking at the time that it was a good thing she’d been wearing her seat belt. Once the car was buried in the snow bank, I asked Doug one last time if he would consider heading back to my folks — at least until the storm was over — but he remained adamant.
    “Swearing and swatting his hands at the storm, Doug pulled on his gloves and got out of the car to inspect the situation. The front of the car was jammed deep into the plow ridge. The light from the headlights was diffused from underneath the snow, and when I got out of the car to join him, I clearly remember hearing the sizzle of snow, melting as it landed on the car hood, hot from the running engine. And then ... then —”
    Elizabeth fell silent as the full force of the terror of that night came roaring back at her like a train out of the darkness ...
     
    4.
    “ Goddammit!” Doug shouted, slamming his gloved hand against the fender hard enough to dent the metal. “Look at where the fucking car is!” He sucked in a short breath and then hammered his fist against the car again. “No sweat, though. I think if you can steer, 1 can push us out of here. “
    “ Don’t be ridiculous!” Elizabeth said, “I think it’d be a bit smarter to wait for a cop or a tow truck or something.”
    “ How soon do you think that will be