Malicious Intent (Soulscape #5)

CH 10

NOTE: I can't guarantee how often future chapters will be posted. The project that I thought would be finished by now has become a 2-book project. But I'm taking a short break before I begin BK 2 and trying to get a few more Soulscape chapters posted. But the posting will slow down again when I continue with my other project. I appreciate your patience and understanding. I wish I could just work on Soulscape, because it's the book I'm "feeling" right now, but I have to finish the other project in a timely manner. When I'm finished with it, I'll be back to continue Soulscape - hopefully to the end :)

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"Marlene?" Dennis knocked lightly on the bedroom door. He waited a moment, then slowly opened the door a few inches. "Sis?"

Marlene sat on the edge of the bed, hands lax in her lap, staring at the floor.

"Hey..." He walked over and sat beside her. "Can we talk?"

She lowered her head. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Dennis sighed and hung his head. "I don't know," he whispered. "Maybe... I didn't want you to know because of Randall's attitude. I knew it would be tougher on you, having to listen to his vicious homophobia rhetoric... if you knew I was..."

"Yeah." She left the bed and moved to the window, hugging herself as she stared out at the darkness.

"It wasn't that I didn't trust you... why I kept quiet," he said softly. "You're one of the few people I trust completely."

Marlene didn't turn around and hugged herself tighter. "Does... does anyone else know... besides..."

Besides Frank and Zeke.

"Marcy," he said. "But she kind of figured it out on her own. She just somehow knew."

Marlene fell silent and Dennis stood and approached her, tentatively touching her shoulders. "Sis," he murmured. "I'm sorry I wasn't open with you..." His words trailed off when she flinched at his touch and drew away a bit. He sighed and backed off. "I want us to talk about this," he whispered. "When you're ready." Dennis retreated to the door. "I'll talk to Benny about his father."

"I should do it." Marlene's voice shook.

"Let me," he said gently. "You've been through enough today." Dennis exited the room before she could object further and went in search of his nephew.

He found the boy in the living room, his toy dinosaurs set up on the coffee table, but he wasn't playing. Benny lay on the sofa, staring at the TV where an episode of some cartoon Dennis wasn't familiar with playing on the screen.

"Hey, kiddo," Dennis murmured and sat down on the sofa. "What're you watching?"

Benny shrugged and blinked. "What's wrong with momma?"

Leaning forward, Dennis rubbed his eyes. "She's had a tough day."

Sitting up, Benny looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"That's what I need to talk to you about." Dennis drew the boy closer and wrapped an arm around him. "It's about... your dad."

The anxious look that spread across the boy's face—rekindled the Sheriff's fury at his brother. "Do... do we have to go home?" Tears immediately filled his eyes. "Is daddy coming to get us?" Real fear filled his eyes and Dennis never hated Randall more than in that very moment.

"No, son." Dennis swallowed his tears and rage. "I meant it when I said you never had to go home." He hugged the boy closer and kissed the top of his head.