The Hidden

“Considering it seems pretty clear that the killer intentionally imitated the Kendalls’ murders, it’s certainly possible,” Meg said. “Understanding the human mind is really the last frontier, and when it comes to killers, you’re talking some of the most twisted logic you can think of. At the moment, this seems like a relevant avenue to explore. Amazing to think that this man was actually your ancestor.”


Scarlet laughed softly. “It didn’t really mean much to me when Ben first told me. I knew I was basically an all-American mutt but until I came out here, my ancestors were just people who lived, worked, had families and died. But now I realize they were all individuals and they seem so much more real to me. You’re reading Nathan’s journal of the war years, right?” Scarlet asked her.

“Yes, and it’s so sad. I’m at the part where his friend Jeff Bay—one of the guys he wound up riding with during his outlaw days—found out that his wife died in childbirth.”

“I’ve read it,” Scarlet told her. “Heartbreaking.”

Meg nodded. “Listen to this. ‘I watched my friend crumple. He fell to the ground at first, no sound coming from him. Then he let out a wail louder than the most plaintive call of a thousand wolves. Had the enemy been within reach, they would have heard and known where to find us. The day after, we began the terrible fight at Gettysburg, and at first I did not believe that Jeff would make it through, he walked so boldly into the fray. We pulled him from certain death time and time again. But the second day of battle was even more horrible. My friend became an unstoppable killer, as if he was mindless of all else. I am amazed that he alone did not win us that battle, for he was responsible for a field of graves that day.’”

“Hang on,” Scarlet murmured, looking over at Meg. “This is after he bought this property.”

“Anything?”

“I don’t know, but it’s lovely,” Scarlet said, and started reading aloud. “‘Today is the start of a new life for us. Of course, thank the Lord above, it is possible only because I have never been prosecuted for the terrible things I did. Billie didn’t understand how I felt when I told him that I had to leave the company. He said that a good Yankee was a dead Yankee, and all the better dead now, since we’d missed killing him during the war. But I never did cotton to killing. I saw the eyes of those Northern boys, and I knew that they were just as scared of dying as I was. But I’d have to shoot anyway—just as they had to shoot—and somehow, by the grace of God, I came out of the war alive and whole. And now here I stand, about as close to Heaven as a man can get. I still cannot believe my good fortune that old Rollo sold this land to me for what I can afford to pay. But he wants to work some property a little south of here, hoping to find gold at last, and he needed the money for supplies. Rollo wants to get rich from gold. I just want to stay here forever and see the mountains, valleys and streams, every morning when I wake up. Those are the riches I want to live for now.’”

Meg shook her head. “I’m glad he found peace, at least for a little while, before he was killed. Listen to this,” she said. “‘Sharpsburg today by Antietam Creek. The dead were falling on the dead, the injured were buried beneath blown-off limbs and bloody bodies. All those men dying, and somehow the screams of the horses sounded loudest in my head. Fighting next to Billie, there came a point when he rallied me. A fellow from our company fell next to me. I watched his eyes roll back, watched him die, and I froze where I stood. Billie kicked me to get me moving again. A Yank in front of me went down. Billie stood over him and put a bullet into his heart. He told me it was a mercy that he killed the fellow instead of leaving him there to die slow. But I saw the hatred in Billie’s eyes. He wants them all dead. Said even his father and brothers should die for joining the Yankee cause and turning against their own.’”

“Billie sounds like one hateful man,” Scarlet said.

“But honest about his hate,” Meg said. “Not the kind to hide in the shadows.”

“In other words, you think that if Billie had killed Nathan, he would just have shot him straight out, he wouldn’t have tortured him first,” Scarlet said.