Life Sentences (21 page)

Lorrie listened without interrupting. One moment her face expressed joy, the next pain. She raised her hand to Pilar’s cheek and wiped away a tear. “You should’velistened to me. It’s not too late. Just get in the car and drive out of all their lives. Chad’s included.”

Lorrie could be right. She sounded more calm than Pilar had remembered during those many nights at the training academy. But, Pilar was in too deep now. She couldn’t let go of the only man she truly ever cared about. “Let’s get together soon, Lorrie,” Pilar said.

“Sure. Great.”

Pilar turned away from Lorrie and walked to her meeting with Maryann Wilbanks. She would never attempt to see Lorrie again.

The Wilbanks’ house was similar to every house on the street. Most were three-bedroom, beige or light pink brick ranches with two-car attached garages and well-kept yards. Fresh budding maple trees planted when the subdivision was first developed were now mature and edged the curbs. The serenity of this all-American thoroughfare apparently had hidden many family truths.

Pilar ambled up the sidewalk to the Wilbanks’ front door. The concrete path was like all the others, lined with newly blooming tulips and daffodils. Maryann Wilbanks pushed the screen door wide, banging it against the porch railing. “Come on in.” She held the door to allow Pilar through. Had she been waiting in that spot since Pilar called earlier? Had she seen her run-in with Lorrie?

“Thank you.” Pilar handed her the bouquet. “I bought them for you from Chad. He asked me to since he can’t doit himself.”

“What a doll he is.” Maryann nuzzled her nose in the flowers. “It’s just like him. I’ll get a vase.” She headed to the kitchen. “Make yourself at home,” she called from the kitchen.

Maryann seemed younger than Pilar had expected and though she had had a hard life as a single mother, there were few telltale aging signs. She reminded Pilar of the ads with the Ivory soap girl. Both had dark, curly hair surrounding a creamy, flawless complexion accented by rosy cheeks. Maryann’s athletic physique gave her the appearance of spending her life on the tennis courts rather than as a lady of the night.

Family pictures lined the pale yellow walls of the small living room. Chad and a girl Pilar assumed was his sister, Amy, smiled out from most of them. They looked exactly like each other and Maryann. None of the photographs showed a man, except his Uncle Joe in a state trooper’s uniform. There was no hint of Chad’s father. And apparently, Joe had been forgiven for Chad’s arrest.

“Well, now.” Maryann entered the room carrying a tray of iced tea and coconut cake. She nodded at the cake and said, “My daughter, Amy, baked it for Mother’s Day.”

“Is Amy here?” Pilar smiled politely. “I’d love to meet her.”

“No. Y’all just missed her. Her and her boyfriend went to his mother’s.” Maryann must have noted the skepticismin Pilar’s expression about Amy’s sudden disappearance. She was quick to explain. “Amy’s expecting a baby and plans to marry the guy real soon. They went shoppin’ for baby things just yesterday.”

“Oh. You’ll be the youngest grandmother I’ve ever seen.” Pilar was taken aback by the news.

Maryann giggled. “I try to stay fit.” She poured the tea and handed Pilar a piece of cake.

Pilar almost dropped the dish. Taking a deep breath, she admitted, “I’m quite nervous being here.”

“No need.” Maryann’s smile filled her face just like Chad’s. It eased the moment. “We’re just simple folk, hon.” She waved an arm around.

They both surveyed the surroundings.

“I’ve wanted to meet you for so long,” Pilar spoke faster than normal. “Chad talks about you a lot. I feel as though I already know you.”

Maryann’s face brightened. “We’re very close. In fact,” she pointed to a Victorian-style card on the mantle, “he sent that beautiful card.” Then, she quickly changed the subject. “I’m surprised I never met you when I visited Chad.”

Pilar detected a slight southern accent. That was another mystery to solve. Hadn’t Chad said his family was from Michigan?

Pilar set the plate down. “That would have been difficult. Marquette is a small city. Our meeting could have made others more suspicious of my personal life than theyalready are.”

“Hope this won’t be the last I see you now that we’ve met.” She hesitated. “ ‘Specially since you’re workin’ on gettin’ Chad out.”

“I didn’t know Chad told you.” Pilar bit her lower lip.

“Oh, honey, he tells me everythin’. Even about that little good-bye present you gave him.” She giggled again.

Pilar perspired like a woman having a hot flash. Which present was she talking about, the key or the blow-job? “Oh yes,” Pilar sounded agitated. “I keep forgetting how close you two are.”

Pilar picked up the fork and took a small bite of the cake. She had no appetite.

Maryann studied her. “You’re quite good lookin’, ya know. Even more so than Chad said.”

Did Pilar sense a slight note of jealousy in her compliment? “Thank you. ” Pilar was uncomfortable with Maryann’s unabashed ease.

“Ya know, hon,” Maryann continued, “you look like …” She didn’t finish the statement.

“Like?” Pilar let out a nervous laugh as she remembered pictures of the murdered students. Was Maryann recalling them as well?

Maryann was silent. Yet, she didn’t hide her examination of Pilar, which made the moment even more awkward. “It’s unreal” she whispered as though forgetting Pilar was still there.

“What?” Pilar asked.

“Nothin’. Just, oh nothin’.” She waved her hand back and forth in front of her face like a fan.

“Maybe you miss Chad so much you want me to look like him?” As unrealistic as it was, Pilar fished for a reason her appearance had temporarily overwhelmed Maryann. Or, did she also recognize the resemblance between her and Chad’s alleged victims? Even Pilar’s friend Susan was always mistaken for her sister.

“Could be,” she said without certainty.

The two women seemed to run out of things to say. The clinking of the fork against the plate when Pilar took another bite of cake was exaggerated by the silence. While her hair tightened into humidity-induced curls, Maryann appeared collected. She waited patiently for Pilar to talk.

“Wanna see Chad’s childhood pictures?” Maryann broke the quiet. “I’ve kept an album, including some of his grade school drawings.”

Maryann fetched the scrapbook before Pilar responded. As they browsed through the pages, Pilar discovered the normal little boy she had imagined. Chad’s smiling face and bright, eager eyes peered out from each frame. That shared experience with Maryann temporarily lessened the tension of the meeting for Pilar.

When Chad reached his teen years, Pilar sensed both a moodiness and a smugness. The two women chuckled as Maryann interpreted each photo in detail. Especiallyendearing were those of Chad pouting – so typical of a teenager. Not so engaging were the many pictures of Chad hanging onto Maryann, no matter his age.

The final pages shocked Pilar. Before her lay the entire history of the student murders. Beside every victim’s photograph or newspaper account was a handwritten notation explaining away any evidence pointing to Chad’s guilt. Next to Susan’s picture inked in red were the words, “Chad admits.”

Maryann sat very still. She observed Pilar as though waiting for her to refute what was written there. Or, was Maryann confirming the resemblance between Pilar and the victims? Pilar flashed backed to Lorrie and her collection of victim’s pictures.

Pilar wanted to run from the room. She wanted to hide from that likeness. She didn’t want to admit that their similar physical aspects were one reason Chad had been attracted to her.

Maryann disrupted the momentary spell. “Y’all know Chad’s innocent.”

“Yes,” Pilar whispered. “Yes, I do.”

Maryann took the album from Pilar. “Some day y’all might like to have this, or a copy for you and Chad to keep as a memento.”

Pilar looked at her watch as a way of ignoring the strange offer. She had visited with Maryann for more than two hours. “I must go. It’s a long drive and I have earlyappointments at the prison tomorrow.” Pilar stood and headed for the door. “Thanks for seeing me. And for the cake, too.” She pointed to a half-eaten portion.

“It’s nothin’.” Maryann opened the door. “Don’t be a stranger.” She sounded like Celeste. “First meetings are always tough.” She hugged Pilar and pecked her cheek. “Plan to stay longer next time.”

“Thank you.”

“After all,” Maryann affirmed, “you’re goin’ to be my daughter-in-law. But, be careful who y’all deal with.”

Dripping in sweat now, Pilar wanted to get out of there. Maryann knew too much already.

“I know about Tommy’s offer to help Chad,” she exclaimed, almost like an afterthought.

Pilar’s shoulders stiffened. “I’ve had no contact with Tommy, except at Hawk Haven.” Her voice revealed her anxiety. “I only know he’s one of the few people Chad trusts.”

“Just be careful,” she warned again. Her voice blended with Lorrie’s.

“I will.” And then added, “Happy Mother’s Day.”

When Pilar was seated inside her car, she looked back at the Wilbanks’ home. Maryann had already disappeared inside and closed the door. Pilar quickly checked for Lorrie, half expecting her to be hidden behind a bush like an animal ready to attack. There was no sign of her. The street was engulfed in eerie silence.

When Pilar pulled into her parking spot, she wasstartled she had driven all the way home and didn’t remember one mile. That whole day had been filled with astounding revelations. Celeste’s delightful change, for one, and her courageous decision to divorce Marcus after all those years. Yet, Celeste’s prodding troubled Pilar. What did she really know?

Maryann Wilbanks was also a concern. Pilar was unhappy that she knew so much about Chad and her. Could Maryann jeopardize her future with Chad? A fresh idea occurred to him — could Maryann be the stalker?

Chad probably didn’t know about Amy’s pregnancy and marriage plans. She doubted he’d take the news well.

What had Chad really told Maryann? How much did she know?

If Pilar told Chad about seeing Lorrie he’d freak out, particularly if he knew that she had confided in Lorrie. Celeste was right that Pilar needed a close friend to share with. All women needed someone to talk to.

The handwritten letter rather than the usual typed one was more intimate. That, coupled with the money, should guarantee Chad’s trust in Pilar. He couldn’t doubt her love after that.

Pilar fetched the
Sunday Free Press
from the table and settled into her favorite arm chair, ready for a quiet evening of reading. She immediately focused on pictures of Jane and Tommy. They stared from the front page as thoughaccusing Pilar for their plight.

The article stated that the police had traced them to Florida where Tommy’s father lived. And then perhaps to Colorado, where a male backpacker was killed in the Weminuche Wilderness. The article revealed that after the story ran with the murdered man’s picture in the
Denver Post
and the
Durango Herald
, a witness came forward. He reported he saw the victim at a gas station. The witness said he had overheard him asking for a ride from a white man traveling with an African-American woman in an out-of-state car. The witness further reported that the victim was carrying hiking gear while the other two were not. The police believe an abandoned car found near the trail head in the area where the body was discovered had been rented by Tommy Johnson. No other details were given as to why the police linked Tommy to the murder.

Pilar placed the newspaper in her lap. “Now what?” None of her research or the contacts that Chad gave her had produced an attorney willing to take his case on. Instead, she had been left with no alternative but to give into Jane’s offer to help Chad get out of prison she had made the week Pilar left Marquette. Pilar looked out the window into the dark. “Will this ever be over?”

There was still Plan B. She had been smart to have the infirmary window key duplicated for Chad. Pilar’s devious behavior surprised even her. She and Chad had to plan a strategy without the authorities discovering what they wereup to. That was tricky, but possible. They would need an escape route into the Canadian wilderness, new identifications, passports, and tickets to somewhere in Africa.