Halversham (12 page)

“You have to keep talking to her, Andy.”

“I will. I promise.”

“Pull!” Mort cried and Andy pulled the rope with all his strength. Earlier that morning, Mort had made a notch in the tree before sawing the remaining section. The trunk made a cracking sound and leaned as Andy pulled. When he was sure the tree would fall where Mort wanted it to, he left the rope and got out of the way. It finally hit the ground with a loud thud, stirring up dust and dried leaves. Mort wiped his brow and smiled, walking toward the fallen tree. “That was something, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah,” Andy said as he untied the rope.

They had brought both firs down and they lay five yards apart.

“Thanks, boy. You did good.”

“You’re welcome,” Andy said. They spent another hour cutting the trees into smaller pieces. “How are we going to dispose off these?” Andy asked while moving the leafy parts of the trees onto a tarp Mort had spread on the ground.

“Dispose? No,” Mort said, shaking his head vigorously. “Trees such as these have many uses.”

“Like what?”

“Well, the leaves you’re arranging on the tarp there can be used as mulch. The trunk is good as fire starters, and I can use the narrower parts of the trunk to edge pathways.”

“Not bad,” Andy said, marveling at Mort’s creativity. “I never would have guessed.”

“Yeah. Well, now that we’ve cut it up, let’s leave it to dry for a few days. Go on, boy. I don’t need you here anymore,” Mort said after looking at his pocket watch. “I have to go into town to get some supplies.”

Andy nodded and jogged into the kitchen through the back door. He opened the fridge and drank from a huge bottle of water before heading up to get ready for his appointment with Millie.

An hour later he was on the main street, turning left onto a dirt path after passing by a knife shop. He crossed a small creek, took another turn past grazing cattle, and headed straight as Chuck had directed. Soon, he was standing on Millie’s doorstep, knocking on her door.

The door cracked open and a pleasant woman in her mid-thirties appeared. Blond hair touched her shoulders stylishly. She wore a beige knit top and white pants, and was holding a mug of coffee.

“Hello, you must be Andy.”

“Yes, and you must be Millie.”

“Yes. Come in.” She opened the door wider and he entered into a sparse living room with two couches, a wooden chair, and a fireplace. There was nothing else in there to make it look homey or cozy. “I’m sorry, I know this must look bleak to you but please, have a seat,” she said, pointing at one of the couches. “Would you like a cup of coffee? I just made a fresh pot.”

“No, thank you.” Andy dropped his bag on the floor and took a seat. Millie sat in front him, crossing her legs.

“See, I don’t live here in Halversham. I come here about once or twice a year to visit my father and never for more than a week. I work and live in the city with my husband and two children.”

“I see.”

“I understand you’re interested in working for my father.”

“Yes.”

“Are you from here?”

“No, I’m just here for a short break. I live in the city with my dad.”

“Thought so. Guess I’ll have to find someone else when you leave.”

“Is that going to be a problem?” Andy’s eyebrows lifted.

“No, no,” she said hurriedly, smiling. “It’s… it’s difficult enough to get someone to work for my father as it is. Despite the amount I’m willing to pay. He has made quite a reputation for himself in this town. Maybe my luck will change after hiring you.” She smiled.

Andy didn’t know what to say, so he smiled back. Millie cupped her mug and watched him closely.

“Say, why do you want to work for my father, Andy?”

“Well, I don’t have much else to do here. I’m getting bored.”

“Can’t you go back to the city?”

“No, I want to be here.”

She nodded. “You know, my father can be… difficult to handle.”

“I understand that. I’ve heard enough about Mr. Milton to discourage me. But I don’t think he’s as bad as he seems. Maybe he’s not getting the kind of attention he needs. Maybe he’s just bored.”

Millie placed her mug on the table and said, “Well then, he should be kinder to people. No one’s going to pay any attention to him if he’s grumpy and angry all the time. But I see what you mean. Maybe you’re right. He had never stayed in one place for long, was always moving about. Now that age is catching up with him, he’s not as agile or sharp as before. He probably feels trapped living in that house.”

“What will I be helping him with?”

“I don’t know if you know this, but he lives alone. And it’s a huge place, although it doesn’t look it from the outside. He bought the house from a businessman more than twenty years ago, but he didn’t live there until more recently. My father loves to travel and sample great wines from all over the world. When he injured his knee six years ago, he finally returned and settled down alone on that hill. Most of the rooms are locked so you won’t have to worry about those. But I need somebody to clean the rest of the house every day. Otherwise, the kitchen sink will be piled with dirty dishes. He cooks for himself so you probably won’t have to do anything in that department. He may need help with the laundry, he forgets that sometimes. He’s sixty-eight so things sometimes slip his mind. And you’ll need to mow the lawn, cut the low-hanging branches, and generally keep the place clean and safe. Think you’re up for it?”

“Sounds easy enough.”

Millie let out a small, breezy laugh. “Of course it’s not the work I’m afraid of. It’s the man. Andy, I’ll be honest and admit that my father is not at all an easy man to work with. If this will be too much for you, just let me know.”

“No, ma’am, I’m sure I can handle him.”

She nodded and uncrossed her legs. “If that’s the case, the job is yours.” She smiled. “Now, pick up your bag and we’ll go get lunch. On me. After that, I’ll take you to meet my father.” Andy was pleasantly surprised by the lunch offer, but meeting Mr. Milton? Today?

Millie noticed the frown on his face as she rose. “What’s the matter? You have something else to do?”

“No,” Andy said, shaking his head. “Nothing like that. It’s just… I didn’t expect to meet him so soon.”

“Yeah, well, I have to get you two acquainted as soon as possible, so that if there are any problems—and I’m sure there will be—I’ll still be around to take care of it. I leave for the city in three days.” Andy nodded, his forehead creased. “So, are you free to see him today?”

“Yes. Yes, absolutely.”

She smiled. “Great, let’s go.”

Millie picked up her handbag from one of the rooms and led Andy to her Volkswagen in the garage.

“I know a diner where we can talk more, and the food is great. You can tell me all the gossip about my father,” she said when they were on the dirt road. Andy looked down at his lap. “Oh, don’t worry, Andy. I know he’s no angel. You can tell me anything, and you can ask me anything. I’m sure you have lots of burning questions.”

Did he kidnap the Doyne girl?
Andy thought instantly, then shook his head at the absurdity of the question.

“No? No questions?” she asked when she saw him shaking his head.

“No—yes. I mean, I have some questions I’d like to ask.”

She smiled again. “Good. Keep them in mind until we’re at the diner.”

A moment later, Millie’s yellow Beetle pulled up at the parking lot of Halversham’s famous diner, Carson’s. It was quarter past noon when they slid into a quiet booth. The waitress hurried over, took their orders, and left just as quickly.

“It’s my father’s favorite diner. If he didn’t cook at home, he’d come here.” Andy nodded. “So, if you don’t mind me asking, how old are you?”

“I’ll be sixteen in less than two weeks.”

“I see. Where are your parents now?”

“Well… my mother died a few days ago.” Somehow it felt like eons ago.

Millie gasped. “I’m so sorry. What happened?”

“She had breast cancer. She fought it for two years.”

“Where’s your father?”

“My dad had to fly to San Francisco for urgent business. He’ll be away for a month, I think.”

“Wait a minute,” Millie said, her eyebrows coming together. “Are you Patricia’s son?”

“Yes.”

“Oh dear. I had no idea. I’m sorry.”

“Did you know her? I mean personally?”

“No. But I’ve heard a lot about her. Such a sweet soul. In fact, I think she’s the only one my father has ever spoken kindly to here in Halversham. And the only one he has a good word for. I think she used to feed the dogs down by the foothill, and somehow the two got into talking. I remember him saying something like that.”

Milton knew his mother and the dogs. Andy was shocked by this revelation but he didn’t let on.

“I’ve found the right person to help my father after all,” Millie said happily. “But why are you here in Halversham so soon after your mother’s passing?”

“My father had to leave right away and I didn’t want to be home alone.” He was still processing Millie’s earlier statement.

“Of course.”

“So I came here. I wanted to see the places my mom used to visit.”

“I understand.” She placed an assuring hand on his atop the table. “You don’t have any siblings?”

“No, I don’t.” Millie nodded. “Does Mr. Milton have any other children?”

“I had a brother once, but he died in a boating accident. And my mother died six years before that.”

“I’m sorry.”

“That’s okay. Death is part of life.” She adjusted her hands on the table and said, “So, what have the good people of Halversham been saying about my father? Let’s hear it.” She smiled, and Andy wet his lips. The question popped into his mind again. There was no way he was going to discuss Jared’s theory of Mr. Milton hiding Emily in his basement. When he remained silent, Millie said, “Oh, don’t worry. I already know it’s not good stuff. So tell me.” She waited.

“Well, is his house haunted?” Andy asked the next thing that came to mind.

Millie broke into laughter, hands clutching her chest in genuine mirth as her eyes teared. Finally, when she was more composed, she said, “It could be. But I’m certain the ghost would be no other than my own father. It’s so typical, isn’t it? For a small town like Halversham to label that one lonely, eerie house as haunted?” She wiped away tears of laughter and Andy smiled.

“Okay. They also suspect that Mr. Milton might have killed some people’s pets and abused some of the kids.”

“Oh.” This time, she had a somber look on her face.

“Is it true? Is he capable of something that wicked?”

Millie sighed with a thoughtful look on her face. “No Andy, he’s not. Although he’s very different from the cheerful, exciting man I grew up with, he’s not evil. You probably heard about the Doyne girl, but my father had nothing to do with it. He was cleared.”

Both were quiet, each contemplating Millie’s words.

“Why don’t you stay with him?”

“He’s a loner. I know it sounds crazy, but he doesn’t like having people in his house. Including me.” She shrugged.

The waitress came back with their orders and Andy waited for her to leave before asking something that had begun to bother him.

“Does your father really want someone to work for him?”

Millie smiled. “You’re smart. He doesn’t, but it’s not up to him. Don’t worry about it, Andy. I’ll talk to him. Besides, you just gave me a great leverage by being Patricia’s son.” She winked and picked up the utensils.

“Do you think my life will be in danger if I work for him, Millie?”

“Of course not.” Her face was serious, and she put the fork and knife down again. “Look, I know there are rumors about him, but he’s not that bad. You’ll soon see that. He’s grumpy and whiny, but he’s not evil as people would have you believe. If it makes you feel better, I’ll give you my number and you can call me anytime you feel threatened, or if you want to leave.” Andy nodded and with that, they dug into their lunch.

An hour and a half later, they were back in the car, driving up the hill. Incidentally, the stairway carved into the hill was not the only way up to Mr. Milton’s. The view from the road was spectacular, with pine trees and green shrubs along the way. The river where Andy’s mother used to walk snaked through green meadows down the ridge. He smiled.

“Love the view?”

“Yeah. I’ve never been up here before.”

The road wound through pine forests dotted with little wooden cabins before finally coming to an abrupt halt in front of a towering wrought iron gate. Millie lowered her window and spoke through the intercom. A second later, the gate opened in a slow, mechanical way, and Andy’s heartbeat rose rapidly. His palms turned moist despite the cool blast of air conditioning as the car crept up a short driveway surrounded by tall green grass and wildflowers. There were no trees within the estate except for two aspens just before the terrace. The grass surrounding the estate had grown so tall that the place looked abandoned. Clearly, no attempts had been made at procuring professional landscaping or gardening services.