Chapter 33

Nate paced back and forth in the hospital. Part of him was worried about Beth Andrews who was still in surgery and part of him was worried about Ashley alone with Michael. Nate wasn’t sure he had anything to do with the girl’s disappearances but he was sure that he didn’t want Ashley alone with him.
Twenty minutes later Nate got word that Beth Andrews was going to make it but would not be awake for questioning for some time. Nate decided his time would be better served finding out what Ashley had to tell him. Flipping open his cell phone, he dialed Ashley’s phone. She answered on the first ring, her voice a quiet whisper.
“Ashley?”
“Yes, it’s me. I have something for you.” Nate could just make out the words.
“From Kyle?” Nate asked.
“Yes, he gave me this envelope. It has a website and a key probably to a locker.”
“I need to get that from you.” Nate’s heart began to race. What Ashley held might actually be a lead. It might actually get them somewhere which was better then where they were now.
Which was nowhere.
“I can’t get it to you right now. I’m at Michael’s. I can’t leave Kyle. I can’t look this up. I have no idea where the key goes.” The words were spilling out of her now and Nate tried hard to keep up. “He’s a scared kid, Nate, I can’t leave him….”
“I’m not asking you to, Ash, but I could use that website now. It will give me a start. I’ll get the key from you in the morning. In the meantime don’t let anyone else know about it. If Michael is involved in any way I don’t want him to know anything.”
“Fine, fine. I can take care of myself. I’m exhausted. You look up the site, I’m going to sleep.”
“I’m ready, give it to me.” Ashley read off the website and Nate wrote it down. As Nate read what Ashley had given him he was sickened. “Ashley, where did Kyle get this?”
“He said his mom gave it to him. Told him to keep it.”
“That’s it? How does a kid end up with a site like this?”
“That’s what he said Nate. I believe him.”
“Fine. I’ll see you in the morning, and Ashley, don’t go out without protection.”
“I know. Goodnight, Nate.”
Nate heard silence and knew Ashley had closed her phone. “Goodnight Ashley, I love you.” Nate closed his phone too and held it to his chin. When was he going to tell her in person? For real?
Nate looked down at the small piece of newspaper he held in his hand. On it he had written the website Ashley had read to him over the phone. It could be nothing, it could be everything.
After requesting that the doctor call him with any updates on Beth’s condition and after assigning an officer to guard Beth at all times. Nate headed back to his office and booted up his computer. He typed in the address Ashley gave him and almost threw up at what he saw. “Children Fore Play” was a site fully devoted to small children in positions that small children shouldn’t be in. Flashing words invited Nate to click on them to view more kids, boys and girls alike.
Unfortunately for Nate it was something he couldn’t just ignore. On face value, it appeared to have nothing to do with the case but there had to be a reason that Kyle had this particular website. And worse, Nate had no choice but to view the entire website.
He couldn’t do this alone. He picked up the phone and called Eric.
“Walker.”
“Eric, its Nate. I need you back at the office.”
“Nate, its late Sunday night.” Nate heard fumbling. “Wait, now its Monday. Can’t this wait a few hours?”
“Eric, I swear to you, it cannot wait a few hours. I have some information and I need your expertise.”
Silence.
“Eric, now. I just spent hours at the hospital with Beth Andrews and you’ve had a chance to sleep. I need you here.”
“If you call three hours sleep then fine, I’ve slept.” More fumbling. What was the man doing? “I’m on my way.”
Nate paced, stared at the horrible images on his computer, paced again. He was sure he would have technicians on it first thing in the morning but right now he needed Eric’s eyes. Eric could find what Nate was missing, he was sure of it.
It took Eric almost two hours to show up at the office and when he did he looked like he had fallen back asleep, crawled out of bed and gotten in. Fortunately for Eric his dark bald head needed no care and all the women seemed to love his look. For the rest of him, Nate was sure Eric could get a change of clothes somewhere.
“What took you so long?” Nate asked.
“Come on man, it’s the middle of the night. What do you want from me? Besides, you look like you got some sleep yourself.”
It was true, Nate had sacked out in his chair for maybe forty-five minutes. Now he felt alert and ready to go.
“What do you need from me?” Eric asked.
“Ashley got a website, I need you to look into it.”
“Don’t know how to put it in the computer? Simple, www…”
“Yea, I got that but when I pull it up I come up with child porn.”
“Ouch. What do you want me to do about it?”
Nate handed Eric the paper he wrote down the web address on and Eric typed it into his computer. “I need you to get in without us paying for it. And I need you to figure out what the big deal is. I didn’t recognize any of the girls on this site. I want to know how this relates to our case.”
“Where did Ashley get this?”
“Kyle.”
“Our Kyle?”
“Yes.”
“District Attorney Michael Fleming’s son?”
“Yes.”
“This isn’t good Nate. Do you think Michael could be involved?”
“I’ve always thought Kyle knew more then he was saying. It would make sense that he kept quiet if he feared his dad. His mom must have known something too. She’s the one that gave Kyle the information. Maybe that’s why she was killed.”
“What about the other women?” Eric said.
“I don’t know but let’s make an attempt to find out.” Nate resumed his pacing while Eric tapped away at the computer. Nate only glanced at the computer a few times. These were images he didn’t need to see. Somehow Eric had gotten into the site without paying. Nate didn’t ask questions. It’s not a skill he wanted to add to his resume.
Nate stopped mid-pace when he heard his cell phone ring. His heart rate sped up. It was close to dawn but still too early for anyone to be calling. He checked his phone and saw Ashley’s name. This couldn’t be good. Had Michael found out already?
“Are you okay?” Nate asked before Ashley could say anything.
“Hello to you too Nate. I’m fine. I can’t sleep. I have a bad feeling.”
“We’re working on it. I promise we’ll catch whoever is behind this and make him pay.”
“No, you don’t understand. Kayla’s in trouble. Something’s wrong I can feel it,” Ashley paused as though she wanted to say more but didn’t.
“She’s being held against her will. Of course something’s wrong.” Nate was too tired to play games, even with Ashley. If she knew something she needed to tell him.
“I saw her,” Ashley whispered.
“What do you mean you saw her?”
“She was in a room. It was dark. There were two mattresses in the room. I think one of the other girls was there with her. The room had a strange greenish glow. She was huddled in the corner, her knees to her chest. I could tell she was scared but she wasn’t in as much pain as the girl with her. I don’t know if it was Julia or the other girl you mentioned, Lizzie, I think.”
“Ashley, what are you talking about? Where did you see them?”
A long pause and Nate waited, hearing only the computer keys clicking and the hum of the computers around him. They would all come to life in just over an hour but for now the place was still quiet. Then Ashley’s voice broke the silence once again, “I saw them in my dream.”
“You’re dream Ashley? Is this like your visions?”
“Kind of.”
“Ashley, you’ve been right before but what do I do with this?”
“I don’t know but we have to save her. Somehow we have to find her and get her back. She’s scared and I’m afraid she’s running out of time.”
“I know all this but where did these visions come from?” Nate didn’t make any attempt to hide the anger and frustration in his voice.
“Nate, twelve years ago I experienced pain that no mother should endure. No one should outlive her child but I did. I was there when Aidan died. I held him but it was like it wasn’t me. It was like I was standing outside myself, looking down, watching this person that was me and yet wasn’t me experience pain. Ever since I’ve been tuned in to other people’s pain and I can sense it. I can feel it. This is why I’m so good with kids. I can feel their pain and I can almost see where they’ve been, where they are now.”
“What about adults? Can you sense the pain in adults? Can you tell me about Michael? Can you tell me who killed these girls?”
Silence indicated Ashley hadn’t missed his sarcasm. Finally she spoke, “I’m not a psychic, Nate. I don’t predict the future or claim to have visions from God or otherwise. I have a connection with kids. I don’t know why. Maybe because they’re more open then adults. Maybe because they’re more vulnerable and need more protection or maybe God just gave me a gift. You’re the one who said you believe in God. You tell me.”
Nate didn’t miss her sarcasm either.
“You’re right, Ashley, I’m sorry. I just don’t know what your dream or vision or whatever can tell me. I don’t know what I can do with it. I know Kayla is scared…”
“But at least you know she’s alive.”
She had him there.
Nate held the phone to his forehead and took a deep breath. He cared for Ashley. Loved her even if he wouldn’t admit it to anyone but himself but sometimes she said and did things he couldn’t understand.
As Nate put the phone back to his ear, Eric said, “Nate, I’ve got something. Check this out.”
“Hang on a second Ashley.” Nate took two steps to stand next to Eric and what he saw blew him away more then anything he had seen before. He put the phone back to his ear. “Ashley, you’re not going to believe this. I’m looking at your green room right now and you were right, Kayla is alive and very, very scared.”