The Sinner

75

"Rafe?"

My voice echoes around the house. The front door was left open, which never happens. He had no idea I was coming over, but I was bored and decided to stop by regardless. It was around dinner time, and I had just returned from the main land with Maggie to pick up her dress.

I slam the door shut after me to let anyone within the house know I'd entered. Heavy footsteps could be heard coming from upstairs; it wasn't like Rafe to cause such a commotion. Unless he was drunk. Which could very well be the case. 

"Rafe?" I call out again. There wasn't an answer for a while, however the footsteps continued. It was like they were running, or maybe a group of people were here. "Rafe are you home?" 

"Up here!" He shouts back.

I take my time walking up the wooden stairs. I wasn't sure who he was with. He's not friends with Topper really anymore, so it's not like they'd be here. My thoughts turned to Barry; he was the one who got him in trouble with the cops before, so I wonder if he was the one who brought people over.

I walk in the opposite direction of his room, following the sound of voices. The more I went down the hallway, the closer the voices got. I realize that they were in a large room that was similar to a dinning room, the one they never used. 

"This has to be it," It was a woman's voice. I didn't recognize it. "You see? It's right there. He painted it, he wanted us to know." 

"I don't understand," it was Rafe this time. "What significance does this cross have?" 

"The cross, according to Denmark Tanney's diary, holds the garment of savior," The woman speaks again. "It's said to heal anyone that's sick. And as you can see I obviously need that." 

"Our deal stays in tact if I help you, right?" Rafe asks.

"Yes," The woman says. "You helped us with the island room, you'll get a cut-" 

"Carla-" 

"No, Renfield. A deal is a deal."  Who are these people? And what the hell are they talking about? 

I decide to turn the corner and walk in. A woman with blonde hair and crutches was standing in front of Rafe. Next to her was a scary looking man dressed in a leather jacket and jeans. Everyone turns to face me when I enter the room.

"Who's this?" The woman asks.

"None of your business," Rafe tells her. He walks over to me, a hand in the pocket of his khaki pants. "What are you doing here?" 

"I didn't think it was going to be a problem if I stopped by," I say, my eyes staring at the two strangers. "What's going on?" He stands in front of them, blocking my view. 

"I'll fill you in later," He tells me. "Go home." 

"What?" I say, my eyebrows pull together. "Just tell me what's going on Rafe." 

"I said, I will later," He says. "Now go." 

"I heard what you guys were talking about," I say quickly. "So if you're trying to hide anything-" 

"I'm not," He interrupts. "I promise, I will fill you in." 

"She heard?" The woman asks, her crutches click against the hardwood as she makes her way over. She was taller than I was, and you could tell she had some work done. "You were eavesdropping on our conversation?" 

"I was just walking down the hall," I lie. "And you weren't exactly quiet about the conversation either." 

"Because I didn't think anyone else was home," The woman says, looking at Rafe.