The Witch Box

  Chapter Twenty

  Max swallowed two aspirin dry. Joshua noticed that his father’s face remained flushed. “Are you okay?”

  “I better not be coming down with the damn flu.”

  “Dad, I need you—“

  “You listen to me. No more bullshit. You do what you’re told until the baby is born.”

  “Why can’t you tell me why I should be afraid?”

  “Because I don’t know it all myself.”

  “You even took my crystal and the tapes. Why?”

  “I’m sorry, Josh. You’ll get your stuff back when we get home. But stay away from Anna.”

  “Why did she quit?” Joshua asked.

  “She didn’t explain, okay? But I don’t know where she’s going to find another full-time job in Fruit Ridge.”

  “Dad, I need you to take me to the old church.”

  Joshua told his father about Ruth; her body in the church, her hand in the woods. His dream. The photo. Max wiped a sheen of sweat from his forehead.

  “It’s all gone too far, Dad. I couldn’t make up my mind about telling anyone but Anna, but the police should know.”

  “All right. I’ll take you out there. But you drive.”

  “I don’t have a license.”

  “You can drive. Just be careful.”