Booktree.ng_Forgotten-Witness

CHAPTER 22
Amelia slipped into Emily’s room, closing the door quietly
behind her even though there was no one in the house who
could possibly be disturbed. Amelia nodded to Josie but
looked at Emily as she crossed the room. The older woman
was ready for bed dressed in a pink nightgown, her short hair
brushed to the side, her pale skin pearly in the shadows.
Silently she gazed at nothing, thought of nothing, and felt
nothing as far as Josie and Amelia could tell.
In the distance there was a flash of lightning. Josie counted
the seconds until she heard thunder, a crash and then a roll
under the onslaught of rain. She thought of Stephen Kyle, snug
in his house with the girls and his special scotch to keep him
warm. She thought of Archer in his motel cabin in Oregon.
She thought of Faye cuddled up with Max. Josie had tried to
call them all but the phone wasn’t working and neither were
the lights. They flickered, went out, and popped back on again
as Amelia slid onto the cot she had set up for Josie. They sat
side-by-side across from Emily.
“He’s still over at Johnson’s place. I don’t know what to do.
We should have permission for you to stay.”
“I doubt he’d throw me out in this weather,” Josie said.
“Don’t worry about it.”
“What if I get fired?”
“You don’t want to stay here, do you?” Josie asked.
“No, but I want to leave on my own terms,” Amelia
answered.
“Let’s not worry about something that hasn’t happened.
Reynolds won’t even know I’m here.”
“True. I stayed lots of times when I couldn’t get dad home. I
don’t think Mr. Reynolds even knew about it. If he did, he
didn’t care.”
“The weather will be better in the morning, I’ll be out of
here before he even gets up,” Josie assured her.