The Blood Barn (Book #2 in trilogy)

Chapter 26: The Stage Is Set

Ignoring the sound of opening car doors, I set the shovel down and got down on my knees. I made it look like I was praying, adding in a hand gesture to symbolize the marking of a cross.

Do you think this is going to work? I asked my inner voice.

Who knows, Sam. If you try hard enough, maybe even I'll believe that Marta is dead.

Funny.

I stood up as an officer approached with Detective Barnhart. George began to smile, but then sensed something was wrong.

"What's wrong, Sam?" He asked. "Where's Marta?"

My jaw quivered uncontrollably as I tried to maintain eye contact with him, but my body suddenly had a mind of its own. I sniffled as I refused to answer his question.

"No... don't tell me that, Sam."

I hadn't said a word, but clearly my actions and emotions were painting a pretty solid picture for him. My lie was working much better than I anticipated, and I was just getting started.

Pinching my nose with my right hand, I made a fist with my left as I moved it subtly upward and downward as if wishing to smash my fist through something. I exhaled as I took my hand away from my face and then looked over at both men.

"You said not to tell you," I began through trembling lips. "But that's what happened."

As I looked away from the shocked face of Detective Barnhart, I knew I had him hook, line and sinker. The officer on the other hand was still a work in progress, but as long as I had the most important person on my side, I was going to get away with murder – and quite literally.

"I'm sorry, Sam," consoled George. "I should have known they would track you down after the incident with the driver. It's my fault for not sending a security detail while you were at work. I could have even come myself if I had known this would happen."

Looking at him in my peripheral I asked, "And how were you supposed to know this would happen?" I continued to sniffle, trying to clear my running nose.

"I wasn't to know," he admitted. "But as a detective of over twenty years I should have listened to my gut, Sam. I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault," I assured him with all sincerity as I gradually made eye contact. "They found us. They found the driver. Then they found her..." My voice trailed off at the end as I pretended to lose all hope of having a life after losing my wife.

I looked back down at the grave with my mouth hanging open, pretending I could no longer breathe through my nose. Even though Marta's heart was still beating below the surface, I made it seem as though I had become empty and cold without it.

George stood there next to the officer for a minute or so before taking a few steps forward to stand next to me.

"I can only imagine how you are feeling right, Sam." His words were soothing, yet unnecessary unbeknownst to him.

Detective Barnhart was a good man. I felt bad lying to him and manipulating him in such a horrible manner, but I felt it was in Marta's best interest for her to vanish for a while.

Keep telling yourself that, Sam, encouraged my inner voice. The more you believe it, the easier this lie will be to live permanently.

Bringing my hand to my eyes, I faked checking for tears. I didn't feel any, which meant the ones I cried beforehand were all dried up. My eyes were still puffy and the pressure in my forehead meant I was really pushing myself to feel actual pain.

"I'm sure you will need some time to grieve Sam, but I will need a statement of how you found her and approximately what time." George at least said he would need my statement and not the officer, which meant I didn't have to lie to a cop.