“I’ll meet you right outside the bank,” Sherwood said. “Sounds like you’re in a good mood.”
“It’s been a good day,” Traynor said. “I’ve just heard this afternoon from my nemesis, Jeb Wiggins. He’s caved in. He’ll back the parking garage after all. We should have the approval of the Selectmen by the end of the month.”
Sherwood smiled. This was good news indeed. “Should I put together the bond issue?” he asked.
“Absolutely,” Traynor said. “We’ve got to move on this thing. I have a call in to the contractor right now to see if there’s any chance of pouring concrete before winter sets in.”
Sharon came into Sherwood’s office and handed him the agenda for the meeting.
“There’s more good news,” Traynor said. “Beaton called me this morning to tell me the hospital balance sheet looks a lot better than we thought it would. October wasn’t nearly as bad as predicted.”
“Nothing but good news this month,” Sherwood said.
“Well, I wouldn’t go that far,” Traynor said. “Beaton also called me a little while ago to tell me that Van Slyke never showed up.”
“He didn’t phone?” Sherwood questioned.
“No,” Traynor said. “Of course, he doesn’t have a phone so that’s not too surprising. I suppose I’ll have to ride over there after the executive meeting. Trouble is, I hate to go in that house. It depresses me.”
Just as unexpectedly as the overhead light had gone out, it went on again. In the distance David could hear Van Slyke’s footfalls coming back down the cellar stairs accompanied by the intermittent clank of metal hitting metal. After that, David heard the clatter of things being dropped onto the dirt floor.
After another trip up and down David heard Van Slyke drop something particularly heavy. After a third trip there was the same dull thud that David could feel as much as hear. It sounded almost like a body hitting the hard-packed dirt, and David felt himself shudder.
Taking advantage of the light, David explored the root cellar for another way out, but as he suspected, there was none.
Suddenly David heard the lock on the root cellar door open and the hasp pull away from the staple. He braced himself as the door was yanked open.
David sucked in a breath of air at the sight of Van Slyke. He appeared even more agitated than he had earlier. His dark, unruly hair was no longer lying flat against his skull; it now stood straight out from his head as if he’d been jolted with a bolt of electricity. His pupils were still maximally dilated, and his face was now covered with perspiration. He’d removed his green work shirt and was now clad in a dirty tee shirt which he hadn’t tucked into his trousers.
David immediately noticed how powerfully built Van Slyke was, and he quickly ruled out the possibility of trying to overpower the man. David also noticed that Van Slyke had a tattoo of an American flag held by a bald eagle on his right forearm. A thin scar about five inches long marred the design. David realized then that Van Slyke was probably Hodges’ murderer.
“Out!” Van Slyke yelled along with a string of expletives. He waved his gun recklessly, sending a chill down David’s spine. David was terrified Van Slyke would again start randomly firing.
David complied with Van Slyke’s command and quickly stepped out of the root cellar. He edged sideways, keeping Van Slyke in his line of vision at all times. Van Slyke angrily motioned for him to continue on toward the furnace.
“Stop,” Van Slyke commanded after David had moved some twenty feet. He pointed down toward the ground.
David looked down. Next to his feet were a pick and shovel. Nearby was the new slab of concrete.
“I want you to dig,” Van Slyke yelled. “Right where you are standing.”
Afraid of hesitating for a second, David bent down and lifted the pick. David considered using it as a weapon, but as if reading his mind, Van Slyke stepped back out of reach. He kept the gun raised, and although it was shaking, it was still pointing in David’s direction. David didn’t dare risk charging toward him.