You Can't Hide Theresa Sneed (top 10 non fiction books of all time .TXT) 📖

up to the prison. Dozens of people lined the outside of the building, holding signs up—demanding Merrick’s life not be taken.

“Sorry you had to see that, ma’am,” one of the agents said.

Reporters caught sight of them, and rushed toward the car. Nancy covered her face, until they passed into the prison yard, and then into a garage. The FBI agents waited until the garage door came all the way down, before they escorted Nancy out of the car.

“They’ll be waiting for you when this is over. We may have to remove you in another way.”

Her eyebrows rose. She remembered how sick she got when they drugged her for her own funeral. “No, no,” she waved them down. “I’ll put a towel over my head, or something, but no drugs, please.”

“I was thinking more of a helicopter, ma’am.”

She grinned. A helicopter ride would be just fine, though she did wonder how she would hook up with Eddie later. She thought long and hard about that, as they moved her through the facility. Anything to take her mind off seeing Merrick again. Anything.

“There it is,” Elle said, breathlessly. “There’s the farm.” A gentle breeze blew through the trees, now baring tiny, tightly furled, light green leaves. It was one of Elle’s most favorite times of the year. The sun was shining, cows were grazing on short stubs of grass, not quite up yet, and a lazy crow cawed from a tree overhead.

They sat at the end of the driveway. It was obvious that none of them were quite sure how to do it—reunite with their family.

The Motorola crackled. “Do you have a copy, Sam?”

“Copy that.”

“How do you want to do this? I can go in and prepare them for the shock, or—”

“No, we’ve got this . . . uh, except, if you could have them find a place to sit, and tell them that no matter what, stay calm.”

“Sure thing, Mr. Hadlock, er, Hancock.”

Sam pushed the button and turned the radio off. He glanced at Elle and then back at Sally. He pulled down the driveway, turned the car off, and stared at the house. “Are you ready?” His voice broke. He got out of the car and went around to the passenger’s side to get Elle and Sally.

Elle leaned against him for a moment, drawing in her surroundings. Trembling, she took Sam’s hand and beckoned for Sally to take the other.

“Mom, you’re shaking.”

Sam put his arm around them both. “Hang in there, Elle, it’s almost over.”

“Anyhow,” chirped Sally, “this is the really cool part.”

A face appeared at the window. She seemed confused as to who else had arrived, but then her mouth dropped open. In seconds, the front door swung open, banging against the outside trim, and Sam’s mother, Louise, stood there.

She squinted and her hand went to her chest. “It can’t be,” she whispered, her eyes wide with shock.

“So much for the FBI keeping everyone calm,” Elle said. She gave Louise a slight wave.

“Sam!” She turned her head and yelled back into the house for Sam’s father. “Sam, come quick!” But she didn’t wait for him to join her and nearly toppled down the porch steps.

Sam broke away from Elle and Sally and dashed toward her. “Mom!”

She held her hand up to stop him, her countenance wavering, her expression showing confusion and doubt.

Sam Sr. appeared at the door with a few of their guests squeezing alongside him. “What is it, Louie?” His eyes caught his son’s, but his reaction was different from Louise’s. “I knew it. Never could believe you were dead.” With that, he whizzed past Louise and nearly bowled Sam over, pressing him into a tight hug. “Yes! Yes.” His voice gurgled, and he wept. “Unbelievable, unbelievable,” he cried, between tears. “Louie,” he gestured furiously toward his wife. “It’s Sam!”

She stared at her husband and then at Sam. “But, we buried him,” she whispered.

“Mom,” Sam said, sternly. “Do I look dead? Look, we didn’t want to leave you, but it might be why we’re still alive today.”

Sam Sr. patted his son’s arm. “She’s just in shock, son.” He turned to his wife. “Louie.” She looked at him, as if she couldn’t fathom what was happening. “He’s alive, Louie, our son is alive.”

“I put flowers there,” she pointed toward the family graveyard on the hill, “just yesterday.”

Elle had had enough. It hadn’t escaped her attention that none of her family had come outside yet, and it perturbed her. They had wanted everyone to see them at the same time. “Excuse me, but this is ridiculous. Long story short—Merrick’s henchman tried to murder us—we were in that fire at that cabin in Tennessee. We contacted the FBI, and they relocated us. Now that that monster is about to be executed, maybe we can have our family back?” She tilted her head and grimaced.

A wave of realization washed over Louise. She blinked. And then the loudest, most enthusiastic scream erupted from her throat. “Sam!’ She turned toward the house. “You guys, get out here! You’re never going to believe this!” She turned back to Sam. Her hands flew to her face, followed by a frenzy of tears. She hurried toward him, as the rest of the family appeared on the porch.

Amidst a flood of cries and gasps, the surprised family tripped down the steps in a rush to get to Sam.

Louise let go of her son and turned to Elle. “Elle!” She pulled her near and held on for a long time. She pulled away. “Where’s little Sally?”

Elle pushed her finger toward Sally standing by the car. “She’s right there.”

Louise wiped her eyes. “Sally?” It came out like a whisper.

Suddenly, everyone milled around Sally. She seemed to enjoy the attention, though she probably only remembered bits and pieces about them.

Elle glanced around. She tapped Louise on the shoulder. “Where’s my mother?”

“Oh, dear me, I forgot.” She pointed to a path meandering into the woods. “They didn’t want to watch the execution, but they did want to