Chapter 63: Chapter 63 - Talk With Elmer
When Iyisha and Mary couldn’t find him in the office, they made their way to the north end of the compound, where the houses grew bigger, cleaner, and quieter.
Elmer’s house stood at the far corner like it belonged to another world entirely. Metal-reinforced walls, curtained windows glowing with steady light — all rare luxuries in a place where most people went to sleep cold and hungry.
"Nice setup," Iyisha muttered. "Guess being in charge has its rewards."
Mary said nothing and knocked. A few seconds later, the door opened.
Therese stood there — silk robe, hair neatly pinned, eyes lined just enough to look like she’d slept well. She took them both in with one long, slow glance, but her focus landed squarely on Mary. Her lips twitched in a sarcastic smile.
"Well, if it isn’t Mary," she said. "Didn’t expect to see you here. What’s the occasion?"
"We’re looking for Elmer," Mary said, voice calm.
Therese tilted her head, feigning innocence.
"Oh, really? Are you finally here to make him scratch your itch?" Her tone dripped with venom, the words stretched just enough to sting. "I suppose some habits never die."
Iyisha’s stomach twisted. She looked at Mary, whose jaw had gone tight.
Mary met Therese’s eyes evenly. "If you think I’d ever touch your husband, you don’t know me at all."
Therese gave a dry little laugh. "Oh, I know enough. You already fucked everyone here, didn’t you? Why should he be any different?"
Iyisha stepped forward before Mary could speak, her tone firm.
"We just need to talk to Elmer."
Therese’s eyes flicked to her, narrowing. Then she turned slightly toward the hall. "Elmer," she called, voice loud and lazy. "Some girls are here to see you."
When she looked back, her smile had sharpened again. "Try not to tire him out too much. We still plan for a long night."
Mary didn’t answer, though the muscle in her jaw worked. She walked past without a word, and Iyisha followed, the warmth inside the house doing nothing to ease the cold crawling down her spine.
Elmer’s voice came from deeper inside the house before either of them could answer.
"Let them in, Therese."
He appeared a moment later from behind a half-open door, buttoning the cuffs of a clean shirt. His hair was slicked back, his beard trimmed close — far too neat for a man living through an apocalypse. The faint scent of soap and tobacco followed him as he moved.
He smiled when he saw them, that same practiced grin that could pass for warmth if you didn’t look too closely.
"Well, look at this. Mary and Iyisha, right?"
Iyisha nodded at him.
His gaze lingered on Mary just a second too long. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Mary’s shoulders tensed, but her face stayed neutral. "We came to talk about something important."
"Important?" His eyes didn’t leave Mary, his tone playful. "You always did know how to make a man curious. Can’t say I’m not flattered you came all the way here to see me."
Therese crossed her arms near the doorway.
Mary gave a thin smile. "Don’t flatter yourself, Elmer. This isn’t a social call."
He chuckled, low and smooth, and gestured toward the small sitting area by the fire.
"Still, it’s good to see you. Both of you. Sit down. You look frozen." His hand brushed Mary’s shoulder as he passed her, casual but deliberate. "You especially. You’ve been keeping yourself scarce lately."
Iyisha wanted to pull her away from him, to wipe that smug touch off his hand.
But Mary moved first and brushed his hand off, her tone clipped. "I’ve been busy keeping people alive."
Elmer smirked, settling into his chair like a man completely at ease in his power. "That’s what I like about you, Mary. Always working. Always fiery." He leaned back slightly, eyes glinting. "So, what brings you to my doorstep today? Trouble?"
Iyisha stepped forward before Mary could answer, her voice steady. "It’s about Clara."
The name seemed to hang in the air, and for a fraction of a second, something flickered in Elmer’s expression — interest, maybe even amusement.
Mary crossed her arms. "She’s new, Elmer. She shouldn’t be carrying a gun."
Elmer leaned back in his chair, a smirk tugging at his mouth. "Funny. I don’t remember you saying the same when I let Malcolm and Iyisha keep theirs."
Iyisha opened her mouth, then closed it, uneasy under his gaze.
Elmer’s eyes flicked toward her, his tone smooth and sarcastic. "So tell me, Iyisha, what makes Clara different? Because she’s not part of your little circle? Or because you don’t like the way she looks at your people?"
"That’s not it," Iyisha said, her voice tightening. "She was acting suspicious, that’s all."
Elmer chuckled quietly, his fingers drumming on the armrest. "Suspicious." He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, the warmth in his voice now edged with something mocking. "You’re all seeing shadows these days. Must be the cold getting to your heads."
Mary’s jaw set. "You don’t believe us."
"I believe you saw something," Elmer said, his gaze sliding back to her. "But I also know you’ve never liked competition."
Mary’s eyes snapped to him. "Competition?"
He smiled, low and knowing. "Clara’s young, soft-spoken, easy on the eyes. Maybe she reminds you of the kind of woman I used to chase." His smirk widened. "And that bothers you, doesn’t it, Mary?"
Mary’s face hardened, but her voice stayed calm. "You can think whatever you want. But if she’s trouble, don’t say no one warned you."
Elmer’s tone turned silken again. "If she’s trouble, I’ll handle it." His eyes lingered on Mary just a little too long. "You always worry too much."
Mary turned sharply toward the door. "We’re done here."
Iyisha followed, her chest tight, the heat of Elmer’s stare prickling between her shoulder blades as they walked out.
Behind them, his voice carried lazily through the hall. "Always a pleasure, ladies."
They were barely past the last row of houses when Mary exploded.
"God, that chauvinist pig!" she shouted, her breath steaming in the cold air. "Sitting there smirking like he’s some gift to women. If I ever have to look at that face again—" She broke off, muttering curses under her breath. "Arrogant bastard."
Iyisha sighed, keeping her tone even. "We told him what we needed to. We’ve done our job."
Mary threw her hands up. "Our job? He didn’t even listen, Iyisha! He sat there flirting like a drunk in a bar. The man’s disgusting."
Iyisha slowed her pace. "Why was he saying things like that to you? It sounded... personal."
Mary scoffed. "Because it is. He tried to move on me once. Long time ago. Thought I’d be another one of his little comforts." Her voice dripped with bitterness. "I told him no, and he’s never forgiven me for it. He likes women who say yes to his power. He hates the ones who don’t."
Iyisha frowned, quietly processing. "So that’s why he said those things. To get under your skin."
Mary kicked at the snow, her voice sharp. "To remind me he still could if he wanted. That’s his kind of control. And now Clara? I’d bet my life she’s letting him have exactly what he wants."
Iyisha glanced at her. "You think she’s sleeping with him?"
Mary gave a harsh laugh. "You saw how he acted. The way he defended her, the way he looked at me. Of course she is. That’s why he doesn’t care what she’s doing outside those walls. He’s blinded by what’s between her legs."
Iyisha grimaced but didn’t argue. "If that’s true, then she’s smarter than we thought."
"Or more dangerous," Mary said quietly, her anger cooling into something darker. "And if he’s protecting her for the wrong reasons, we’re all in trouble."
They had almost reached the row of houses when Mary’s mouth curled into a slow, dangerous smile.
"If he’s not going to do anything," she said, "then I’ll make sure he’ll listen."
Iyisha glanced at her, caught off guard by the certainty in her tone. "How are you going to do that?"
Mary’s eyes flicked toward the north end of the compound. "There are others here Elmer still answers to—men whose words weigh heavier than his pride. I’ll talk to Mario tonight."
The name made Iyisha pause. "Mario?"
Iyisha remembered him now — the old man when they found them. He had looked ordinary enough, wrapped in a worn coat and watching them with calm, steady eyes. But she also remembered how everything had changed when he spoke.
"You think he’ll side with us?" she asked.
Mary’s smirk deepened. "Elmer runs this place on paper, but the real power still sits with the elders. Age still means something here. Mario’s voice could make him sweat."
"And he’ll listen to you?"
Mary’s smirk faded into something more thoughtful.
"I don’t know," she admitted. "But I know he won’t ignore this. Mario’s not the kind of man who stays quiet when something threatens the community."
"If there’s even a chance Clara’s trouble, Mario will want to know and when he speaks, even Elmer listens."
