Mirror Image

Thirty-Two

Lacey watched as Percy geared down. She hadn't been up this valley since way back when she could first remember. They took a road trip on Columbus Day in October. So many firsts that day. Her love of the turning leaves came out with little squeals of delight. She had to show Zee the images Mom had stored. They even printed a few of them. One of them was on the wall in the stairwell.

"Terry, do you remember? I haven't been up here since I was six."

"I do. It's one of my favorite things. We came up here and the leaves were so pretty." His hand crept across the center armrest and she laced her fingers through his.

"We found a pile of leaves where the wind made a drift. Have you ever jumped into a huge pile of raked up leaves?" Lacey asked, not really expecting an answer.

"You guys are so lucky. I wish I had memories like that," Zee said from the front.

"When was that first trip? How old were you?" Percy asked.

"I think I was six," Lace said.

"That would be about right. Grade one. You had the cutest pigtails. I used to make you mad by pulling on them whenever I could," Terry admitted.

"So, the riding school is up here?" Zee asked. Lacey sensed the wistfulness in her question.

"Over the next hill. That's where Terry and I really got to know each other back in middle school." Percy coasted into a small valley between ridges. Deciduous trees covered the entire spectrum from deep reddish brown through to brilliant yellow gold. Spears of green coniferous needles accenting the orange of the oaks and scarlet of the maples.

"Look, there's a turnout. We can stop and take some pictures." Zee pointed to the widened gravel shoulder at the top of the next hill. "We can see both valleys from here. The colors, I can't believe what I'm seeing. We don't have them in Colorado. Just aspens in with the fir trees. So, all we get is one shade of gold."

"We should make this a tradition," Percy said as he turned onto the rocky patch at the edge of the cliff. "We usually ride our bikes up here, and there's no time to enjoy the scenery. If we don't pay attention, it's easy to wipe out and this is a really steep cliff." He walked over to the railing at the edge of the small parking space to peer over the edge.

"Can we ride double on the bikes?" Zee asked and then shuddered when she looked down. "That's not a good place to go off the road."

"We could. And we'll have to do it really soon, because the first snow could come anytime now. We're really lucky this autumn has been pretty dry." Percy said. "If you're daring enough, you can go right up to the edge. There's a couple of burnt out wrecks at the bottom from a long time ago."

Zee took a step back and Lacey shook her head. "No way. I'll stay on this side of the railing. Why haven't we gone this way on the bike?" she asked Terry.

"Never thought of it. But it would be fun. This road joins the main road that runs by our place further up and that goes over to the town we were headed to before Mom packed us a picnic." His answer was thoughtful, like he might be thinking about another outing.

"We'll have to leave it for this year. I want to do it with all of us together," Percy said. "Zee's got to learn how to ride with me. There's some things you need to know about being a passenger on a bike."

"Something to look forward to." Zee had her phone out, snapping pictures of the brilliant panorama around them.

Lacey pulled her hood up. There was a chill in the air and Terry wrapped his arm around her, snuggling her in under his shoulder. She pulled her phone out and started shooting pictures, zooming in to capture the details of almost brown oak leaves contrasting with the deep red almost purple of the crown of the tree next to it. She needed to do some research. It would be nice to know what tree those leaves belonged to. Hitting the video button, she taped Percy and Zee as the stared out over the valley. She wanted to remember this trip.

Turning to look back along the road behind them, she noticed a beat up old truck stopping. She chuckled. It seemed like there was more people out admiring the autumn foliage.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

When is that damn brake line going to break? I didn't go crawling around under her car for nothing. Daddy dearest had such a good idea. Too bad he got caught. My method is better. Once the line breaks, the crimp I put on it will be unnoticeable. I'll be rid of them.

Why the fuck didn't he tell me there were two of them? Maybe I'll get her fucking father in the Jeep. Scared the shit out of them when I shot at them. And the thrill! Man watching them look for me when I was right there. Right there in Mario's.

She giggled. The Wrangler looked good in the police impound. The plastic covered the shattered window and protected it from the weather. The navy blue sedan next to it, gave her a shiver or two, but her mother was wearing gloves and a mask. A full head mask. There should be nothing for CSI to find. Besides, it always took forever to get to the evidence in a hick town like this. Especially since she hadn't done anything more than scare them.

She was gone for ten minutes. Not too long for a bathroom break. Having keys to the back door is so handy. No one even noticed She was gone. I'm brilliant. Just goes to prove, anything a man can do a Mom and I can do better. I'm following in your footsteps Daddy dearest. And my bitch of a mother isn't even my real mother. Nice of Daddy to tell me who I really am. The oldest girl. It should be mine. It will be mine.

I hope it goes with all four of them in there. I hope the damn thing burns. And I hope those bitches feel every God damned thing before they die. It would be a serious bonus.

She climbed back into the rusty old truck. She stowed the mini binoculars in the glove box and prepared to pull out. No point in following them any further. Better if she was home when the accident happened.

If this didn't work, then there was always the Halloween party. Watching the arborist pruning the tree was infuriating, but there was more than one way into the old mansion. It held secrets only a Pettigrew would know. And there were spots where she could climb the fence. Stupid old caretakers. Firing them was the first thing on her list after she moved in.