Page 135 of A Foster Fling
“Deceitful.” I correct.
Although it’s less ominous than the old silo paired farmhouse, the cottage in front of us is almost too perfect. Flowers line the walkway of the two story structure and bright blue paint covers the trim of the white walls. It looks like a dollhouse nestled in the pines with an ice blue lake behind it. I want to scream, it’s so beautiful. So alluring.
These poor children probably come here expecting a happily ever after. All they get is torture and neglect. I can’t imagine how much worse any treatment has gotten after all these years.
“I think I see a trail of breadcrumbs over there.” Cae says dryly and then shakes his head as if shaking off a memory.
“Well Toni doesn’t look anything like a rickety old witch so that leaves the doctor as the villain. But we knew that already.” Waif adds and gets out of the car.
He didn’t park down the road or even attempt to hide. He pulled up in a cloud of dust and fury like a battalion of rogues come to dismantle the cottage piece by piece.
The pastel pink door opens and who I assume is Toni stands before us as we approach.
“I’d almost given up on you coming back.” Her words freeze us in place.
“I’m sorry?” What else do you say to that?
“I’ll bet you are.” She raises a brow and drags her eyes down me. “I knew you were watching. I just didn’t understand why you didn’t come sooner. So, you’re here to kill him then?”
“What?” I feel the color drain from my face.
“You called the police?” Waif asks, towering over her.
“Of course I did. Years ago when I got here. You know who he is. What he’s capable of, his reach. No one listened. Had I not made the call anonymously and covered my tracks…I might be dead too.”
“So he’s-there have been-“ I can’t choke out the words.
“One that I can confirm.” She nods. “Found her while planting flowers with the children. His prior nurse. I’ve kept digging over the years, haven’t found anyone else.”
“I don’t understand, you found a body. Surly he couldn’t get away with that.” Cae asks suspiciously.
“You haven’t told them about his condition have you?” She looks to Waif.
“They may not have come.”
She just nods and moves aside to let us in.
“The doctor has been bed ridden for a long time. The fire took any function in his legs and a serious infection revealed something long term that was hidden in his veins. He was in no condition to have killed that nurse or buried her.”
“Then how did she get there?” I ask following everyone slowly, trying not to run back the other way.
“I think one of the older boys that was here at the time. The doctor was under the impression she just left one day and didn’t come back. He assaulted one of the other children and I demanded his removal from the home. I can’t control much here but I have kept these kids safe. As as safe as I can. They come here, not damaged, but tainted. I’m trying to gives them a chance at betterment. And not the doctors kind.”
“Why should we believe you?” Cae doesn’t let up.
The cottage smells like a savory feast and my stomach growls with hunger I hadn’t noticed. Once we pass the entryway, there on a small couch, are the children. The baby on the floor in front of them. They’re clean, whole, and the little girl who can’t be older than six smiles at us.
It’s almost dreamy. I can’t believe what I’m seeing. They aren’t crying, there’s no screams from the other room. No orderly hovering over us waiting for the opportunity to inflict pain on us. They really do seem safe.
“Hey, what’re your names?” Cae asks softly.
“Roman.” The boy answers.
The little girl peeks around us and giggles at Waif. A look over my shoulder shows he’s making funny faces at her. The sight is surreal.
“Don’t be rude.” Roman elbows her lightly and she rolls her eyes.
“I’m Petra. This is my baby sister Bowie.” She leans down to tickle the babies feet, making her giggle. “I like to hold her but I can’t do it when Toni’s not here because she’s fat and I might drop her.”