Chapter 8 - Guilty conscience

Cindy’s parents passed out fliers around town, hoping someone would let them know the last time they may have seen her or talked to her. Some people didn’t want to get involved, and others were rude and mean because they blamed her for the breakup between Jack and Jill. Those who knew Cindy said that she was last seen with Jack the same night he was attacked. And some people assumed there was a fight between her and Jill. Her parents didn’t know what to think, it was not like her to disappear. And she had never had any troubles since they had moved to Thornsberry. But Jack’s friend Chuck was there at the pub with him also that night. They were having a couple of beers, and he said everything was going well.

Although he never saw Cindy at the bar, Chuck didn’t even know Jack had any other plans after leaving the pub. After finishing their drinks, he and Jack left to go home because it was getting late. Chuck didn’t know about the attack on Jack and Jill until he saw the news. He wondered if Jack went to meet up with Jill to make things right and got caught by Cindy. Cindy’s parents were feeling distressed, because they knew there was something wrong when Cindy didn’t call or answer her phone. They tried to stay positive, but they knew their daughter was in some kind of trouble, but they continued to be strong. Cindy’s dad wasn’t giving up on searching for his daughter and he continued to ask around town. Some of the people volunteered to help them find Cindy. Her parents were very grateful for everyone’s help. They searched the woods, in abandoned houses, even in alleys and dark places, they wouldn’t dare to go. They were determined to find Cindy, but no one checked inside the well. It was old and crumbling, covered with spider webs and branches, and not a place they even considered.

Several days had passed, and there was still no sign of Cindy Von, but some people think she may have left town. There were some people in Thornsberry still blaming Cindy for the entire situation. Although no one saw her do anything, she was the last one seen with Jack. But because of her disappearance, no one even thought that maybe she was harmed also. Although nothing was confirmed by the police department, Cindy was considered a suspect and wanted for questioning about the incident. But no one suspected Jill, because she was innocent in their eyes and she was injured. Most people blamed Cindy for the relationship falling apart between Jack and Jill. Especially the day he broke up with Jill after she returned home to be with him.

Although no one knew the whereabouts of Cindy Von, private investigators were assigned to the case. There were no leads, or witnesses, and no evidence of what happened on the hill. Just a lot of assumptions, and rumors, but some people did witness the arguments between Jill and Cindy in the restaurant’s parking lot. The kids made up rhymes, and some people took sides, while others made jokes about the situation. Jack was still recuperating and slowly regaining consciousness. He had no memory of that night of the attack, and he didn’t even remember being with Chuck. Jill was living her life, not even concerned about what she did to Cindy or Jack. But when she was thinking about what she did, she remembered the blood on the crowbar, she forgot to wipe it off.

Jill planned a visit to go see her parents, hoping no one would be coming by the house. She didn’t want anyone to know that she was coming back into town or to make herself look suspicious. Instead of driving her car, she planned to take a cab straight to her parents' home, non-stop. She waited to leave until late afternoon, so it would be dark when she got to Thornberry. Her parents were surprised to see her, but they didn’t let anyone know she was there. Jill told them she wanted to have her car repaired before she drove back to Summerville. Her dad told her that he could have his mechanic take a look at it. And if it was something minor, he would pay the charges for Jill.

As soon as her parents went to bed, Jill quietly grabbed her car keys and then tip-toed into the garage to open the trunk of the car. There was a horrible smell inside, it was like the smell of rotten fish. Immediately, she opened the garage door for fresh air, while gagging from the smell, as she filled a pail with soapy water to clean the blood off the crowbar. After she sprayed the inside of the car with a disinfectant, and inside the garage. Jill coughed inside her sleeve, to muffle the sound, so she wouldn’t wake her parents. Hoping they were not going to hear the garage door opening and closing. She thoroughly checked the car for blood stains. She found an old rag, which is where the horrible smell was coming from. Holding her breath, so she wouldn't smell the stench of it, Jill put the old smelly rag inside several small plastic bags and sat it outside of the garage.

Jill tied the bag up tight, then left it outside during the night. She sprayed more of the air freshener inside the car trunk and in the garage. Leaving the garage door open for a few more minutes to get rid of the bad fish smell, while she finishes cleaning the interior of the car. Jill was thinking about Cindy Von being in the well and how she left her there without food or water. Jill never intended to suffer Cindy for long, she thought someone would have found her already. She decides to do something unusual, but she had to make sure no one was lurking nearby. Jill knew it was going to be risky, but she didn’t know what else she could do. Maybe she can make an anonymous call to the police department, letting them know where Cindy was located.

Jill thought about a plan to take food and water to Cindy, hoping she doesn’t get caught. After the garage aired out, Jill closed the door, and then removed her shoes and clothes. She put her things inside two plastic bags, took a shower and went to bed. Jill was exhausted and she wanted to get a good night’s sleep before she had to drive back to Summerville. The next morning Jill got up feeling rested, but thinking about how she was going to get the food to Cindy without leaving a trace or fingerprints. Her consciousness was getting to her, but she knew it wasn’t time to let her parents know the truth. Jill was wondering if Cindy saw her face, the night she and Jack were attacked. What if she caught a glimpse of a woman’s face from the glare of the moonlight?

Jill’s thoughts were racing, but she still wanted to do something to help Cindy. She patiently waited until the repairs on her car were done. Her dad paid the repair charges, then he took the car for a test drive around the block. Jill noticed what time it was, and she was getting anxious again because she knew everything had to go just right. And the level of darkness was important. She didn’t want her parents to know anything about what she was planning to do, so they wouldn’t have to lie for her if she got caught. Jill packed a few sandwiches for herself and Cindy, with some fruit and water bottles, wearing plastic gloves. She got the bags with her clothes and shoes, along with the trash bags, then put it all together in a bigger plastic bag. On her way back to Summerville, she was going to throw it in a large dumpster.

When her dad returned with her car, Jill put the food in the front seat and the trash bag in the back seat. She had dinner with her parents and said her goodbyes as she prepared to leave to go home. Her parents offered to trail her because they knew Jill didn’t like driving at night. She declined their offer and assured them she would be alright, but promised to call them when she got home. Jill kissed her parents goodbye, then hurried on her way to the well.

The closer she got to the hill, the more nervous she became, but she knew it was the only time she could do it without being seen or noticed. Her mom made Jill a plate of food to take with her, not realizing what she already had. She knew if her parents found out, they would be disappointed and sad.

Jill left her parents' home and drove straight to the well, checking the mirror to make sure no one was trailing her. Feeling more anxiety as she vividly remembered Jack falling down the hill after she hit him on the back of his head. She put on plastic gloves and took hand wipes to clean the water bottles off, grab the food, then she looked around before getting out of the car, making sure no one was watching her. Turning off the car lights, Jill got out and walked towards the shadow of the big tree.