Chapter 22

Ashley hung up the phone. She had meant what she said. She was afraid. Afraid for herself as well as for Kyle. He may have “dodged a bullet” last night but it didn’t mean that whoever was after her wasn’t going to kill him anyway. Two dead girls proved that they weren’t afraid of killing children.
“You okay?” Michael asked after Ashley laid her cell phone on the table. His gaze was intent on hers.
“Yea. I’m just a little nervous about Kyle.” Ashley attempted a small smile.
“He’ll be okay.”
“How do you know?”
“He has protection. Double protection in fact…”
“But how do you know? If something happened to him because of me I could never forgive myself.” Ashley fingered the gauze bandage that was still on her neck. The bleeding had stopped and Ashley could tell it was actually a small cut that probably wouldn’t leave a scar.
“Trust me, he’ll be fine,” Michael said and ran his fingers over her arm.
“But if someone could just show up in his room, anything is possible. Aren’t you worried about your own son?”
“I’m choosing to trust Nate.”
Ashley wanted to press him. How did he really know? And if he did really know, how did he know? It didn’t add up. She didn’t buy the line about trusting Nate. From what she had seen Michael didn’t even like Nate.
She watched Michael eat his breakfast and finished her yogurt and water. The TV behind her cut through the silence.
“In other news, the body of Jonathan Gardner was discovered by joggers yesterday. You may recall that Mr. Gardner was a suspect in the disappearance of five girls over the past few months and was wanted for questioning.”
The shot cut from the reporter behind the desk to a clip of Michael’s plea for information at his news conference.
“If anyone knows anything about these missing girls now is the time to come forward. We are looking for a man named Jonathan Gardner,” Michael paused and held up a mug shot of Jonathan. “He is the man that rented the house behind me…” Michael’s words trailed off and the station returned to the female reporter in a black suit jacket. A purple top peeked out from underneath.
“Emily Sykes’ body was found in the house there and Daisy Brandt’s body had been found the day before. Police are still searching for information in this case as well as the whereabouts of the other three missing girls including Julia Lambert who was taken just two days ago…”
The TV went black and instead of seeing the news Ashley now saw the leather couch that sat in front of it. Michael had moved from his seat at the breakfast table in the kitchen to the adjacent family room. He held the remote in his hand.
“Are you okay?” Ashley asked quietly.
“What if she doesn’t come back? What if she’s gone forever? What will I do?” Michael sat down on the couch and put his head in his hands. Ashley left her seat and joined him on the couch.
“You can’t think like that. We will find him. We will find whoever is responsible.”
“But how do you know? You have no idea. For all you know her body could lying in a ditch somewhere,” Michael’s words were short and accusatory.
“They found Jimmy. That’s how I know.” Ashley bit her lip to hold back her tears. Michael’s anger wasn’t directed at her but his words still bothered her.
“But this is different. It’s bigger.”
Again Ashley bit back the tears. How could this be bigger then her husband and son being gunned down in the driveway of her own home? Just because more girls were involved? Was their pain greater then her own?
“I don’t know exactly how Michael but I trust Nate. You said before that you trusted him. Then you have to let him do his job…”
“I trust him with Kyle but we know where Kyle is. We have no idea what happened to Kayla. None of us do. What would I do without her?” Michael stood from the couch and went down the hallway towards his bedroom. He didn’t turn around to speak to Ashley again.
Ashley stared at the walls around her and the blank TV. She wanted to help Michael. She wanted to help Kyle and yet she was failing miserably. It was like her talent had been left in Maryland and here in Florida she was useless.
Feeling the need to do something Ashley changed into her running clothes and pulled on her sneakers. She had not been jogging since she had gotten to Florida and the need to exercise and stretch her muscles was becoming overwhelming. She certainly wouldn’t heal well if she was weak. Leaving a quick note for Michael she headed out the front door.
A marked police car sat out front. Ashley leaned into the window to let the balding officer know where she was headed. Leaning the driver’s seat up, he turned the car on waiting for her to run ahead of him. He was not to let her out of his sight.
At first the pumping bothered her neck and she could feel it throbbing but after a few blocks the pain went away or she became accustomed enough to ignore it. Her head still throbbed from where she had hit it but the Advil she had taken was beginning to work its magic.
After a mile, Ashley looked behind her to find the police cruiser crawling behind her. The officer behind the wheel looked bored as though no one’s life was in danger. Considering he probably saw very little action why would he think otherwise? Ashley turned a corner and found herself out of Michael’s neighborhood and on to a major road. The officer had to turn on his flashers and he didn’t seem happy about it. She decided to pick up the pace and turn in to the next neighborhood she came to.
A chiming sound broke her rhythm. It was coming from the pack she wore around her waist. It may not look great but it certainly held the few things she needed. God forbid she get stranded somewhere without a phone. She slowed to a walk and grabbed the phone out of her pocket.
She didn’t recognize the number calling, “Hello?”
“Is this Ashley Parks?” The male was certainly male. Or was it?
“Who is this?” Ashley asked. She made sure the officer was in her line of site as she talked into the phone while putting a finger in her free ear. She made an effort to slow her breathing. She needed clear head.
“It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that I have information for you.”
“What kind of information.”
“You have to meet me…”
“Are you kidding me? I’m not meeting you anywhere.”
“Yes you will!” The voice was a male she didn’t recognize. Ashley kept quiet. She had no intentions of going anywhere or meeting anyone she didn’t know but she also didn’t want to argue with this man and make him any angrier then he already seemed to be.
“Do you hear me?” The man asked.
“Yes but I’m not meeting you anywhere,” Ashley repeated more firmly.
“You will do as I say or more people will die.” Silence as if he was waiting for a response but what could Ashley say to that? “Do you understand me?”
“I understand.” Ashley tried to catch the eye of the officer who was still sitting in his cruiser on the side of the road. He had pulled over when Ashley had stopped but had made no motion to get out and see if she was okay. He seemed more interested in his coffee. Even waving his hands frantically did nothing to attract his attention.
“Stop that now.” The voice said.
“Stop what?” But Ashley knew what. What she didn’t know was how. She searched the tree line across the street and saw nothing. She spun around to look behind her but it was just fence line and she couldn’t see anything beyond it.
“Do not make any more attempts to get the officer’s attention. He cannot help you. If you get his attention and he makes any movement out of the car I will kill him. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes…” Ashley stammered. Her heart pounded in her chest. Even without drawing attention to herself if the officer actually took his eyes off of his coffee he would see her heart beating out of her chest, wouldn’t he?
“While the officer isn’t looking I want you to walk forward quickly to the next street and take a right. If he follows you he dies. You must come alone.”
“And if I refuse?” Ashley asked.
“You will not refuse me! I will kill him, do not test me!”
“Who are you?” Ashley didn’t move from where she was. Maybe if she kept him talking he would forget about his request and leave her alone.
“You may call me Jimmy.”
Jimmy? Oh, God! No, it couldn’t be.
“Do you remember me Ashley?”
“But you’re in prison. I know you’re there…” Ashley’s legs were giving way and she collapsed on to the pavement. For the first time the officer looked up from his coffee. Seeing her on the ground he opened the door.
“He gets back in his car or I kill him.”
Ashley made no move to get up until she heard the unmistakable sound of a rifle being cocked. She jumped to her feet ignoring her fear and her pain.
“Are you okay?” The officer asked. For the first time Ashley was able to read his name on his uniform “Easton”.
“I’m fine. Sorry, I just got a cramp.”
“We need to get back. You almost done with your run?” Easton asked.
“Yea, sorry, I’m just on the phone for a second and I’ll be moving again shortly. Thanks.”
“You sure?” He must have seen her heart coming out of her chest because he began searching the surroundings.
“Get him back in the car,” Jimmy said in her ear.
“Yes, yes, I’m fine. Can I have some privacy please?” Ashley pointed to the phone and motioned him back to his cruiser. Easton looked around again but then nodded and returned to his vehicle.
“You just saved his life. How does that feel?” Jimmy asked.
“I…I don’t know.”
“Too bad it didn’t work for Donnie and Aidan.”
“You son of a…” She cut her words off knowing she didn’t want to anger him. Officer Easton’s life depended on it. Maybe her own as well.
“Do as I say!” Ashley pulled the phone away from her ear. “Walk. Now.”
Obediently Ashley glanced at Officer Easton who despite his earlier concern had returned to his coffee or maybe it was a Sudoku puzzle. He seemed entirely too interested in it. She began walking quickly to the next street which was also the end of the fence line. Glancing back to make sure she wasn’t followed she turned the corner.
“What am I looking for?” Ashley asked.
“Just be patient,” Jimmy said. “I want you to jog to the end of the street.” When she hesitated he added, “Now! I’m done repeating myself.”
Ashley didn’t argue this time. Instead she jogged down to the end of the street. The street ended into a cul-de-sac and she was staring at houses all around her. She looked around having no idea where to go.
“There is a white house right in front of you. Go to the right of this house through the yard and behind it.”
Fine, you creep, Ashley thought but did not voice her thoughts.
“Behind the house is a patch of woods and a small pond. Look at the edge of it. You will find what you’re looking for.”
“How will I know?” Ashley asked.
Silence on the other end.
“Hello? Are you there?”
Nothing. Ashley closed the phone and stuffed it back in her pack. She made her way through the small patch of woods all the while arguing with herself over the stupidity of going forward. What if this was all a joke? She knew better. This wasn’t a joke.
At the edge of the pond she saw something covered in moss. Creeping closer Ashley knelt down to see what it was. And then she saw it. A tiny hand protruded from underneath the growth of moss.
“No God please! Not this. Not this.” Ashley pushed back the moss scared of what she would find. And there it was. The face she didn’t want to see. The third girl that had gone missing was now the third girl dead.
Gun shots from behind her. Two if she counted correctly. Ashley ducked behind a tree. Jessica Rappaport was not coming home alive and if Ashley wasn’t careful, neither was she.