Circle of Blood (Forensic Mystery)

safe.”
    “Safe. Safe from what?”
    “They warned me once. I helped smuggle girls out of polygamy, and they warned me. When Esther came here, I sent her away. They found her and they killed her and cut off her braid. It’s what they do, the way they take a girl’s beauty, the way they leave their mark. So the blood is on my head. The circle of blood has come back to me.”
    Leaving the bag of food on the counter, Ruth grabbed two more garbage bags and raced upstairs. Cameryn followed, not knowing what else to do. “Leave,” Ruth cried, turning on her. “I want you out of my house!”
    “If you’re scared, there are safe houses!”
    Ruth laughed harshly. “You don’t understand. These people find you no matter where you hide. Why do you think I sleep with a gun?”
    “But—”
    “Just go !” Ruth stormed into a room and Cameryn trailed behind, arguing, begging, but Ruth refused to listen. The room was pink and white with a rosebud paper border, like a wedding cake. Stuffed animals were strewn everywhere. The beds, though, cheerful beneath matching quilts, had been neatly made. Helpless, she watched the woman rake through drawers and shove things into a plastic bag before rushing past Cameryn to the next room, this one painted blue. Once again, Ruth stuffed clothes and shoes into a bag until it bulged.
    “I know of a place that’s far away,” Ruth huffed. “Far enough, I pray God, that they’ll never find us.” She hoisted the bags, one in each hand. Her body bent beneath the weight as she hurried down the hall toward the steps.
    “But what about my mom ! ”
    Ruth paused. “I’ll do this: once we’re safe, I’ll call your sheriff in Silverton. We have to be safe first.”
    “How do I know you won’t just disappear?” Cameryn demanded.
    “You can’t know,” she answered. “That’s just the thing, isn’t it? You didn’t know when you made that call that I’d have to go into hiding. You’re trying to protect your mom, I’m trying to protect my kids, and we all go round and round. You opened a Pandora’s box. These people are—”
    Ruth didn’t finish her thought because at that moment Adriel screamed a loud, high-pitched wail. Cameryn watched Ruth go white. “Oh, no . . .” The bags made a thud as she dropped them. “Stay here,” she hissed. She stumbled down the stairs, taking them two at a time, rounding the corner out of sight. Cameryn’s mind, which had been spinning frenetically, froze as she tried to comprehend.
    “Put her down!” Ruth screamed.
    Below, Cameryn heard a loud thud and a crunching sound, a muffled cry and a soft groan. Heavy footsteps preceded a man’s voice, deep and low. It rumbled like a train through a tunnel. Cameryn shrank back against the wall as she heard him proclaim, “God’s wrath is visited upon you and your children. You had your chance, Ruth Gilbert. You were warned. But you tossed aside our mercy. We’ve extended you charity time and again, and yet you spit in our face.”
    “No,” Ruth cried, “I didn’t—”
    “You betrayed us,” claimed a second voice. “Nephi told you our laws were not their laws. You’ve aided our women when they scorned the Principal. You, who have left the truth for a lie. You’ve brought the eye of the Gentiles to our community, and now they will descend upon us. What did you tell the sheriff in Silverton? ”
    "Nothing!”
    “You lie !” Cameryn heard what sounded like skin hitting skin. “She said your name. What did you tell them? ”
    “I—I only told them who Esther was. So my sister could have her daughter. But nothing more! I swear!”
    “ Liar! You have brought this upon yourself.”
    Cameryn’s heart pumped against her ribs. Quickly, quietly, she made her way down the hall to where she assumed the master bedroom would be. The guess was correct. A picture of a shining building hung over the large bed, with lights illuminating granite like strobes. The floor creaked beneath her feet as she punched 911 into her phone, and she prayed they wouldn’t hear.
    “This is 911. What is your emergency?” a female voice asked.
    “I’m at 404 Sixth Street at the home of Ruth Gilbert,” Cameryn whispered into her BlackBerry. “There’s been a break-in. She’s being attacked! Send help— please ! I think the men are armed.”
    Cameryn heard a loud crunch and a scream.
    “You say there are intruders—”
    Ruth screamed again and Cameryn felt her blood run cold. “Hurry,” she pleaded.