Dorinda Writes

Starting Over

2009-06-25T11:15:00.000-07:00

I have decided that it is really time to get my butt in gear and begin really writing again. I don't know how often I'll post but I'm hoping to write about my journey from unpublished to well, hopefully published novelist!

Currently you can find me writing at:

Two Kids plus Trips!

Tightwads with Triplets

and as a contributor at Multiple Bliss on Blissfully Domestic

Here I plan just to write about writing :) Currently I am working through one of my favorite writing books: First Draft in 30 Days

I haven't gotten very far - right now I'm just working on the character portion but I hope by recording my progress and writing thoughts here that I will get myself in gear!

My main character is Ashley Parks a Forensic Psychologist who counseled abused and traumatized children. She preps child witnesses before they testify. In this series she interviews children who have witnessed murders and then through her expertise helps to solve the cases.

I think she is an interesting and fun character and I can't wait to see how the story develops.

Repay No Evil Chapter 2

2009-01-16T11:30:00.000-08:00

“Did anyone touch the body?” Detective Christopher Bailey set foot onto the front lawn of Sarah Markus’ home. The grass obviously needed trimming, the trees obviously needed pruning. Shingles on the front of the house were in desperate need of paint. Detective Bailey counted no less then twenty cracks in the sidewalk as he made his way carefully to the front door.
“The officers claim no one has touched the scene. The ME is on his way. We’re waiting for you.” Isabelle’s heels clicked along the same pavement Bailey walked. Her black hair was pulled back in a pony tail as it always was. Somehow it managed to shine in the sun. Bailey couldn’t figure that out. What did women do to their hair anyway?
“Do you believe them?”
“I do, Bailey. Why do you always ask that?”
“Because if I don’t then I won’t know for sure if it’s true. And you never know when they’ve pulled a rookie cop to rope off my crime scene.” Bailey waved his arm around the neighborhood. “You see that? We already have a crowd and my tape isn’t back far enough.”
Isabelle rolled her eyes. “The tape is never far enough back for you. If you had it your way you’d rope off the entire neighborhood.”
“Keep away the onlookers.” Bailey flashed his badge to the officer guarding the door of the Markus home. Guarding wasn’t the right word. The man was just standing there glancing at badges. Bailey would bet the Easter Bunny could walk by this man unnoticed. But it didn’t matter. There was a second officer standing outside the perimeter tape keeping a record of everyone who entered and exited the crime scene. This officer was just a second measure. Suspects were often known to return to the scene of their crimes and who’s to say that one of them didn’t try to slip in through the front door. Bailey was a man of complete order. That and covering his ample backside. No defense attorney was going to be able to question his police work. Especially not on this case. If there was any chance that Solomon had struck again Bailey wasn’t going to leave one stone unturned, one hair out of place, one shred of doubt in a jury’s mind that they had their man. And they would have their man.
But when was the question.
Bailey slipped on a pair of paper booties over his black dress shoes and stepped through the doorway of the home. The inside was more kept then the outside with maple wood floors and area rugs everywhere. Like many homes in Northern Virginia there was a living room on Bailey’s left and a dining room on his right, each room contained its own area rug as did the hallway he was standing in. A carpeted stairway led upward in front of him. A second hallway led away from the foyer on his left and a third hallway was on his right. Bailey assumed one led to the kitchen and the other to a home office or small bathroom. Architecture in this area didn’t vary by much.
“Where was she found?” Bailey asked a small, balding Asian man as he entered into the foyer of the home. The Asian man wore a black vest with yellow stripes. When he turned Bailey could read the yellow words on the back, “Crime Scene Investigation”.
“She was found upstairs in the master bedroom same as the others.”
“Were you at any of the other crime scenes, CSI…?” Bailey did not know the man’s name so he couldn’t have been at a previous crime scene. Bailey would not forget a thing like that.
“CSI Phong, sir and no, I was not at the other scenes. I was transferred here a month ago.” The man’s heavy accent laced his words but Phong spoke perfect English and Bailey had found no immediate reason not to trust him.
“After you then.” Bailey motioned for Phong to lead them up the stairs and Phong scurried to obey.
“No one has touched anything since the medical examiner has yet to arrive, sir. This is just as we found her.”
“Who found her?” Bailey said as his feet hit the plush carpet that defined the master bedroom. The homeowners must have upgraded from the standard hallway carpet to the more padded master bedroom.
“I don’t know.” Beads of sweat formed on Phong’s brow. Bailey looked down on the small man who nervously pushed his eyeglasses closer to his face.
“Then how did we know there was a body in here to be found?”
“We got an anonymous call saying we could find the body here.” It was not Phong speaking. Bailey looked across the bedroom until his eyes landed on Captain Jackson Scranton. “Officers responded to the call and receiving no answer they entered the home.”
“They entered the home? Without a warrant?”
“It was possible that the woman was still alive and in need of rescue.” Jackson stared down Bailey almost daring him to answer.
Bailey was not intimidated. “No, it wasn’t. He makes sure his victims are dead before he leaves. There is no room for doubt. He called it in. He wanted us to find her. If your men messed with anything Captain…” Detective Bailey looked at the young woman laying on the bed. Her body was contorted while her eyes stared at the ceiling. They were open. He would not have shut them. Her arm hung over the side of the bed, blood stained her forearm and her hand. A pool of blood stained the otherwise perfect carpet. Sarah Markus was fully clothed but Bailey knew she had been redressed. Her killer took everything from her. Physically, emotionally, sexually. He left nothing out.
“My officers didn’t know that at the time. They entered the premises and as they were clearing the premises they came upon this. They called it in immediately, they touched nothing. They called me, I called you.” Jackson turned his steel blue eyes from Bailey to the corpse. “You think it’s him?”
“I just got here. I haven’t examined the body…”
“But do you think it’s him?”
“Probably.” Bailey stepped closer to the body watching his step as he went. Every inch of this room was potential evidence and Bailey was not about to ruin it. Bailey pulled latex gloves out of his back pocket and pointed towards the girl’s neck. “Here. The incision is deep but not deep enough to kill. Same pool of blood next to the body. I’d bet she bled out just like the others.” Bailey leaned in closer. Something glinted in the light. Small traces on the girl’s lips reflected the sun coming in through the master bedroom window from the other side of the room. Some sort of film.
Bailey stood and looked at Isabelle, “There’s film on her lips, same as the others.”
“What does that mean?” Jackson couldn’t help but insert himself in the investigation. The man was here for one reason only, the media, the publicity. News reporters were already camped on the front lawn. Darn journalists and their police scanners. But Bailey was sure Jackson didn’t mind. If Jackson could be commended for solving this case he could easily be selected to run for public office.
“We’re not sure. We’ve found it on the last three girls. The techs have identified it as wax paper but we don’t know what it means. Clearly he isn’t suffocating them.” Isabelle answered Jackson’s question.
“What about DNA?” Jackson asked.
Bailey stood and looked at Jackson again. “This isn’t like TV, Jackson, there was no DNA on the wax paper left behind on two of the victims that did not belong to the victim herself. On the third there was so little that the only information we could gather was that our perp is male but guess what? We already knew that.”
“Fine, I get it. What else do you know?”
Bailey glanced at Isabelle. He didn’t have time to brief another officer, even if he was a Captain, on an ongoing investigation. At this rate his superiors were considering bringing in the FBI. Bailey was working hard to keep them out of it. This didn’t need to go federal.
“Sir, why don’t we step outside and I’ll fill you in. Let’s give Detective Bailey some space to work.” Isabelle motioned for the door silently requesting the Captain to follow. Jackson followed Isabelle into the hallway. Despite his need for attention, Bailey was certain Captain Scranton wanted these murders solved as much as anyone else. No one in law enforcement wanted a serial killer on their doorstep.
Bailey turned his attention back to Sarah’s body. He had just moments before the medical examiner arrived. A few moments with Sarah before she was poked, prodded, examined and then carted away to a cold hole in a wall. It wasn’t the place for a beautiful girl to end up.
“How many more are you going to take Solomon?” The answer scared Bailey to his core. An avid believer he knew the Old Testament he knew who Solomon was. He knew how many wives and concubines the Biblical Solomon had. At the rate this Solomon, or the Beltway Killer as the media had dubbed him, was going he may very well catch up.
Bailey could not touch the body but he could search the scenes before he called the technicians into process it. Bailey scanned the room, nothing caught his eye. It had never been in the same place twice but it was never in plain view. Bailey squatted down next to the bed to scan the floor.
“Did you find it yet?” Bailey recognized Isabelle’s voice.
“No. Maybe when the ME gets here and he moves the body.”
“He’s here, are you ready for him to examine the body?”
“I need some photos of the Sarah and then he can roll her. The note could be under the body.” Bailey stood and looked down at Sarah. Why her? After three other victims they had yet to come up with a connection between them. Each one looked different, lived differently, two were married, two were not, only one had kids. What did he see?
“I found it.”
Bailey followed Isabelle’s voice to the master bedroom window. With a finger she pulled the curtain back. A piece of paper stuck to the window. From where he stood Bailey couldn’t read it but there was no mistaking Solomon’s blood red signature on the bottom of his note. “What does it say?”
“It’s another verse. Says it’s from Proverbs 12:4. ‘An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones’….” Isabelle’s voice trailed off at the end of the verse.
“Anything else?”
“This time he added something…”
“Well, what is it?”
“He’s added, ‘This one’s for you Detective Bailey.’”

Repay No Evil Chapter 1

2009-01-07T20:36:00.000-08:00

****Author's note - I've decided to change some things in this novel so what was true in the first one may not be in this one. Partly because I want Ashley's character to be a deeper character. I haven't decided yet whether or not this would become the first novel in the series or whether the previous one would. If it is this one then Nate and Ashley's relationship would start completely over. Just warning so no one is confused. Take this one as though the other one hadn't been written :) If you haven't read that one this will be easy!****

Ashley’s feet hit the pavement. One foot in front of the other. One more time around the neighborhood. Her legs were burning, the air was beginning to sting her lungs but she pushed harder. There was no one running against her. No one chasing her, at least not now, but still she ran. Her ponytail swished against her neck while sweat dripped down the side of her face. She wiped it away with the back of her hand. Music drummed in her ears through her IPod.
As she turned the corner onto her street, her house came into view. She should stop. Ashley had lost track of how long she’d been running but it didn’t matter. It could never be long enough.
“Ashley!” Even through her ear pieces she could hear her name. She stopped short and looked around. “Ashley!” With one hand Ashley pulled the headphones out of her ear.
Turning in a circle, Ashley searched the street but saw no one. Was it her imagination? Ashley stood still and waited.
“Ashley, over here!” Ashley followed the voice to her own driveway where her eyes finally landed on Ella Kingsbrook, her new good friend.
“What is it?” Ashley concentrated on slowing her breathing as she approached the front gate of her house.
“There’s been another murder.” Ella’s blue eyes were puffy and red. Black tear tracks ran down her face. Strands of wavy blonde hair fell in her face and she made no attempt to push them away. Something definitely was wrong.
“What? Where?” Ashley maintained eye contact with Ella while leaning forward to place her hands on her knees and catch her breath.
“I just heard it on the news. They found another girl. Another girl, Ashley. He’s killed again, I know it’s him.”
Ashley opened her front gate and made her way up the sidewalk to her front porch. She stopped short when she noticed two small kids sitting on her stairs. “Hi Drew, Paige.”
“Hi Miss Ashley.” Paige smiled at Ashley but Drew looked away. After six months of friendship with Ella, Drew had yet to say a word to her.
“Are you babysitting again?” Ashley bit her lip to keep the irritation out of her voice. Ella was an interior designer not a babysitter.
“You know I want to. It’s for Amy.”
“What about Wes?”
“He’s a friend too.”
“He’s going off the deep end, Ell.”
“His wife was murdered not even a year ago, what would you have me do?”
Ashley turned back to Ella and held her hands up in surrender. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to fight you. I just want to know if Wes knows how good he has it.”
Ella forced a smile, “He’d have it better if his wife hadn’t been murdered by a crazed killer and I’m telling you Ashley he’s killed again. This is the fourth girl in not even a year. What are the police doing?”
“Come on in, Ell, let’s talk about it while the kids play a game or watch a video.”
“Yea, yea, you’re right, I’m not thinking straight.” Finally Ella pushed the hair out of her face and wiped the tears with her fingers. “Come on Drew, Paige, lets get inside, Miss Ashley will let you watch a video.”
“Oh yea!” Paige jumped to her feet and ran up the remaining three stairs to the front porch. Drew slowly pushed himself up and followed his sister to the front door. Each time Ashley saw Drew she became more convinced that he had seen something. Whether he had seen his mother’s murderer was unclear and Ashley was having a hard time getting him to open up despite her best efforts.
When Drew and Paige were sitting on the couch watching Dora, Ashley poured Ella some iced tea and then poured herself some Gatorade to rehydrate her body. It was early June in Virginia, technically still spring, yet the temperature was already above 90. Ella and Ashley sat at Ashley’s round kitchen table. Ella had suggested the table for the morning room and Ashley had since enjoyed drinking her energy shakes and coffee at it and looking at the open land behind her house.
“It’s him, Ashley, I know it is.”
“You’ve said that. What makes you so sure?”
“I just heard they’ve found another body. It was another female in a suburban home. Her husband found her when he got home from his business trip.”
“But Ella, a lot of women die like that. It could have been anything.” Ashley took a sip of her Gatorade. She didn’t really like the taste of it but it was better for her then water after such a hard run.
“No, the police said they suspected foul play. One of the reporters asked if this could be the work of a serial killer. They asked if could be Solomon and I knew it was.”
“Did the police say it was?”
“No, they didn’t say anything. Didn’t say if there was a note or not.”
“Then maybe you shouldn’t get too worked up over it. Maybe it’s unrelated. The press likes to make a story out of anything and they could have been blowing things out of proportion.”
Ella ran her hands over her hair to smooth it into place. Wavy strands still managed to escape despite her best efforts. Ella’s face was more red then usual and it made her freckles stand out all the more. Ella was a small girl, at least six inches shorter then Ashley but she was just as thin. She wore rings on most of her fingers except for her ring finger on her left hand. She was not married and did not want to give the wrong impression. Ella had been searching for Mr. Right for a long time. Ashley wanted to tell her not to bother. The pain of losing a loved one was greater then not having them to love in the first place. There were many days Ashley wished she had never fallen in love with Donnie.
“I know you think that makes sense but I just know. Amy’s killer has struck again. He’s not going to stop. Why won’t the police get the FBI involved?”
“The FBI has to be invited into a case. And all of these murders have happened in different jurisdictions. The police can be slow moving at times. If this had been a child the FBI would have been there from day one but these are grown women and they’ve had good suspects.”
Ella grunted, “Wes shouldn’t be a suspect.”
“But he makes sense, Ell. He’s close to the first victim and serial killers like to start close to home. And the police always question the spouse.” Ashley paused and waited for Ella to reply. Instead Ella just sat quietly avoiding eye contact. “What has you more worried that Amy’s killer has killed again or that Wes is the one behind them all?”
Ella looked up at Ashley, “I don’t know. I can’t imagine Wes doing anything like that. He’s such a sweet guy. He’s good with the kids.”
“But he gets frustrated. He works long hours; he isn’t always there for them. Just like he wasn’t there for Amy.”
“He’s coping the best way he knows how.” Ella once again looked away from Ashley. She looked like she was working up the nerve for something though Ashley had no idea what. They had been friends for six months. Ella was the first person to introduce herself to Ashley when Ashley moved into the neighborhood. Even though Ella didn’t actually live in the neighborhood she was around all the time to help Wes with the kids. After her best friend’s murder, Ella had been looking for some female companionship. Apparently she felt that Ashley fit the bill. Ashley had not been looking for friends of any sort yet Ella continued to make herself available. After a while Ashley stopped fighting the invitations and found herself enjoying her time with Ella. But today was different. Today there was a strain that she couldn’t put her finger on.
“What is it Ella?”
“What if you talked to Drew again? He didn’t open up before but maybe he will now.”
“If Wes asks me too I can. You’re not his legal guardian.”
“Can’t you just talk to him casual like. He’s here now, maybe he’ll say something.”
“Ell, you know I’d love to get him to talk to me but this isn’t the place. If the court appointed me to look into his case then I would. If his father asks me as a friend I would but I can’t just interrogate a six-year old boy. He’s been through something extremely traumatic. He was only five at the time of his mother’s murder. Even if he saw something he may not remember.”
“But you’re trained to talk to kids.”
“I am but it doesn’t work like that. I can’t make him talk if he doesn’t want to.” Ashley gripped her Gatorade tighter and hoped that Ella would drop the subject. She liked to keep her job as a Forensic Psychologist separate from her personal life. She had already talked to Drew about the murder shortly after meeting Wes and Ella but Drew had not opened up about anything and Ashley was not going to push the issue with him. The boy needed counseling and that wasn’t Ashley’s job. The bulk of her work was spent interviewing children who had been abused by their parents and children involved with custody cases after which she would inform the courts what the best course of action would be for the child’s well-being. Very occasionally she was called in to talk to a child witness in a major case. She had been cleared to work with the FBI but had yet to be called as a consultant.
Ella sipped her ice tea and nodded at Ashley. “I know you can’t make him. I just want him to talk so badly. I swear he saw the man that did it and it’s locked in his brain of his. I just wish it would come out.”
Ashley placed her hand over Ella’s wrist. It was the friendly thing to do after all even if the physical contact made her cringe. “If he did see something then in time it will come out. I can promise you that.”
Ella nodded. The strange look of hesitancy remained on her face. Ashley said nothing. If Ella wanted to ask something she would. Sometimes the best way to get information was to say nothing at all. Finally, Ella opened her mouth to speak, “Can I ask you one more thing?”
“Sure Ell, what is it?” Ashley swallowed another sip of Gatorade hoping her face didn’t show that she meant the opposite.
“Would you call Nate? Would you ask him to get involved?”
Ashley almost spit out her Gatorade. In a moment of weakness Ashley had shared about Nate Zimmerman. Now Ashley regretted that moment even more. But Ella was right. If Solomon had indeed struck again then the FBI would need to get involved. And then Nate would once again be involved in her life. Ashley was pretty sure that thought scared her more then a serial killer on the loose who liked to prey on women in their homes.

New Prologue

2009-01-05T19:34:00.001-08:00

Blood dripped off her fingers and splattered on the floor in a small pool. He smiled as the pool grew bigger.
Her throat gurgled and her eyes bore into him. He could read them, of course. He knew they wanted help, but he wasn’t going to give any.
She coughed and blood sprayed out of her neck. It would eventually kill her but it would take a while, the cut wasn’t deep enough to kill her instantly. He was here to wait.
“Soon, my love, you will be my wife.” He smiled at her but she did not smile back. Instead she coughed again until she seized and couldn’t breathe. The trickle of blood on her arm ran faster to the floor until she laid her head on the pillow and slowed her breathing. He watched from his perch at the end of the bed as her eyes searched the ceiling.
Whether she was looking towards heaven or for help he could not tell. He licked his lips and tingled with anticipation. It was almost here. Almost the end. This was his favorite part, watching them go. Watching them realize that there was no escape, there was no help. Sometimes they accepted it and went willingly. Other times they fought till the end. Those were his favorite.
But he couldn’t really have a favorite.
They were all his wives. All a part of him.
His hands shook. His fingers touched the wax paper. He wished it didn’t have to be this way. Wished he didn’t need the paper in between them but he couldn’t take any chances.
Some people wanted attention, they wanted to be caught. But not him. He loved these women. Loved seeing their beauty as they died. Loved having this last moment with them. A moment no one else could have. Without this where would he be?
No, there would be no evidence at all. No evidence of their union or of the final kiss. He fingered the wax paper again. He smiled. That would be his alone.
Finally she was still; her coughing and spurted stopped. Her chest still heaved slowly in and out. He stood from his chair, still fingering the wax paper. He walked beside her and looked down at her. Her eyes grew wide as she once again struggled for breath but this time she would find none.
He placed the wax paper over her nose and her mouth. He grabbed both wrists with one hand while holding the paper in place in the other. She made little attempts to struggle. He leaned in and kissed her. With his hand over her nose and his mouth over her mouth she would be unable to breath. Death would come quickly and he would taste it. He would breath in her last and she would be his forever.
She was weak. Her body thrashed only briefly and then lay still. Her chest no longer moved. Her eyes were now glassy and had nothing to search for. He stared at her for a long time. This moment was bittersweet. The end had come but it had been over too quickly. He fingered the wax paper again. This time it was red from her lipstick.
It was time to go.
He didn’t want to leave her but he knew she couldn’t come with him. He didn’t want the cumbersome task of disposing of her body. There was too much evidence that could be transferred, too many clues to leave behind. No, this way was better. They could find her and know that they would no longer have her. That was more enjoyable for him. If they were to have to search for her, they would have hope. He didn’t want them to have hope.
She was his wife now.

Writing Resolutions

2009-01-01T20:21:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's been months since I've posted any writing here! I apologize for that - it has been a very busy few months - 3 consignment sales in October, 4 birthdays in November and then, of course, Christmas.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a very blessed New Year!

Once again my writing resolutions begin with:

1. Write a complete novel in 2009 - I had success in 2008 so I plan to continue for 2009. Be prepared - things are going to be very different and some of what was in the last novel may be re-written in the new novel. Just forewarning :)

2. Attend another writing conference. I had great success when I went in August and I am really hoping to go again - this time in Colorado at the American Christian Fiction Writer's Conference - all fiction - right up my alley.

3. Get published. I've had 2 articles published but I'd really like to work on more. I'm not tying myself down to a proposal a week or anything but I do plan to make the effort to get it done.

Pray for me in all this and thanks for stopping back by - I'm sorry it's been a while but I should have the new prologue and first chapter up soon. Seriously...

Chapter 1 Repay No Evil

2008-09-09T20:28:00.000-07:00

I apologize for the delay - it has been a very busy week! I hope to have the second Chapter 1 in the next few days but forgive me if I don't :)

Ashley Parks’ feet hit the pavement. One foot in front of the other. Steadily moving forward. Her chestnut brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, the bottom of the tail swishing at her neck. She wiped the sweat off her forehead. It was a warm day for spring and it made Ashley long for the warmth of summer. It had been a mild winter for Virginia and for that Ashley had been grateful.
“Mama! Mama!” The screams came out of nowhere.
Ashley stopped mid-run and looked around. The neighborhood was quite. Large brick homes dotted the landscape to her left. To her right were trees waiting to be cut down and developed but no small children.
Breathing heavily, Ashley turned in circles to scan the area but came up empty. No screaming children anywhere. After a few more circles Ashley resumed her run. She ran by houses with brick fronts and houses with siding fronts. Some houses had porches and some did not. While the houses were not completely uniform Ashley knew they all came from the same builder therefore every third or fourth house was the same with a few minor exceptions.
Ashley had been in and around the neighborhood three times already. She felt most comfortable running close to home but needed the work out only five miles could give her. It was still growing on her. The idea that a suburb was now her home. The idea that she had moved from Maryland to Virginia and was living in a house, a real house. Currently it was by herself but she hoped that soon she would get to add a few more family members.
“Mama! Mama, help! Help Mama!”
Ashley stopped short.
The screams seemed so real but yet somehow they were only coming from her head. She scanned the area again. This time there were only houses, no trees but still no people. Where was everybody anyway? Ashley checked her watch. It was approaching mid-morning, the stay-at-home moms should have been out in their yards by now but yet there was no one.
Scanning the area and still finding nothing Ashley continued with her run. It had to be in her head. It had to be a reminder of the past. Though her son had not been old enough to talk when he died he still screamed for help in her dreams. Maybe her nightmares were haunting her during the day.
For once she was trying to find a way to move on with her life. Was it possible that she was wrong? Should she not try to leave Donnie and Aidan in the past? It has been twelve years since her husband and son were murdered on their front lawn. It had been six months since Ashley had decided to move on with her life and to move on with another man.
Nate Zimmerman was nothing like Donnie Parks. While they were almost equal in height at six feet the similarities ended there. Donnie had been an IT guy into computers and the internet and making money in business. He was low-key and mild-mannered. His blonde hair had begun receding at an early age but it hadn’t bothered Ashley. It had given Donnie a more mature look.
On the other hand, Nate looked more like a football player with broad shoulders, thick arms and muscular legs. His brown hair was thick and always well groomed. Ashley knew Nate kept it cut short because it would curl if it grew too long. His blue eyes were inviting but could also be cold when he was on a serious case. Nate was a Special Agent for the FBI and it had only been six months since she had seen how cold those eyes could be.
“Help Mama! Mama!”
No, she couldn’t be imaging things. She had heard something. And it didn’t sound like Aidan. No, this voice was older.
Breathless, Ashley paused her running again and leaned over with her hands on her knees. She took deep, slow breaths to force herself not to pant. In, out. In, out. With her breathing under control Ashley stood to look around again.
Expecting nothing she was surprised to see a small boy sitting across the street from where she stood. But he didn’t appear distressed. Instead he sat on the front porch of what Ashley assumed to be his home. He wore a red baseball cap with nothing written across the front. A matching red long-sleeved tee read “Cardinals” across the front. It looked like a baseball tee. His gray sweatpants were covered in mud mostly around the knees. His white socks were also covered in mud. He wore no shoes. Ashley couldn’t see his face.
“It’s all in my head,” Ashley whispered to herself. She was once again projecting her past on to real life situations. This boy was fine.
But when he looked up Ashley wasn’t so sure he was fine after all.
Tears streaked down his face forming tracks in the mud that was caked there. Had the boy bathed in mud?
Ashley considered continuing her jog home but thought better of it. Maybe this little boy was calling her. Seemed strange but stranger things had happened. Ashley walked across the street and approached the boy slowly. While most homes in the area had fences in the back almost none of them had any in the front. Ashley easily walked up the driveway to a large house similar to hers except this one had a brick front and the front porch extended from the garage, around the front and partway down the back. The boy sat on the top porch step.
“Hey, buddy, you okay?”
The boy looked up at Ashley and now she could see his very large brown eyes. They widened as he looked at her but he said nothing. He was a cute kid, probably around six or seven. He had a small nose and ears that were a little large for his head. Small, brown tufts stuck out from under his ball cap.
“I saw you sitting here and I thought I would come and say hi. I just moved into the neighborhood and I haven’t really made any friends.”
Still no response. The boy looked back down at the ground.
“Are you okay? You seem sad.” As Ashley knelt down to get at his eye level the front door opened. A woman not much shorter then Ashley stepped through the door. Her brown hair was cut in a bob to just below her chin. Blonde streaks were layered with red and Ashley knew it was a professional job. Her nails were also recently manicured. She wore a swing top and jeans and the outfit had a very slimming effect. Her blue eyes registered shock at the sight of Ashley on her front lawn.
“Can I help you?” The woman asked revealing perfectly white teeth though slightly crooked in the front.
“I’m sorry, I was jogging and came over to introduce myself,” Ashley said. The shocked look turned to disbelief and confusion. “I’m sorry; I’m new to the neighborhood. Just moved in around the corner. This little guy looked sad so I came over to check on him.” Ashley flashed her widest smile hoping to prove her sincerity.
The woman looked down at the boy. “Drew, why don’t you go inside and find your sister. I’ll be in shortly.” Drew glanced up at Ashley, then back at the ground before slowly standing and walking towards the house. The woman placed her hands on Drew’s shoulders and directed him inside. Ashley expected the woman to follow Drew inside but instead she shut the front door and stepped closer to Ashley.
“I don’t know who you are or why you are here but we have been through enough and we don’t need strangers snooping around.”
“I’m…I’m sorry, what?”
“I assume you are a reporter.”
“No. No, I’m actually a Forensic Psychologist…”
“And you’re here to get information out of Drew?” The woman’s voice as accusatory. Ashley took a slow, deep breath and prayed for guidance. Though she’d only been praying for a few months it was becoming more natural in all situations.
“No, I’m not here for information. I was running across the street and I thought I heard someone calling me. When I stopped I saw the boy, um Drew, and I came over to talk to him. In my practice I work with children so it seemed natural to come and talk with him. Is he okay?”
The woman sighed then looked Ashley up and down as if to determine whether or not she was telling the truth. Finally she must have believed Ashley because she said, “His mother was murdered here six months ago. I’m a friend of the family. I’ve been helping out when I can. We get reporters calling all the time. Some have tried to be friendly to get information.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know that. My name is Ashley Parks and really, I just moved in around the corner. Off of Lariet Lane.”
“I’m sorry to be rude. I’m Ellie Johnson.” Ellie extended her hand and Ashley reached out to shake it.
“It’s fine. I completely understand. Is Drew okay?”
“He and his sister Laney were here the night of the murder. We think one of them may have seen the murderer but so far they haven’t said anything. In fact, Drew hasn’t spoken a word since the night of the murder.”
“Would you let me talk with him?”
Ellie again looked at Ashley slowly. Not that Ashley could blame her. She would’ve become suspicious in her situation as well.
Ashley continued, “I’m a Forensic Psychologist which means I interview children for the courts…”
“Not serial killers?”
Ashley smiled. “I get that a lot. No, I work solely with children; child witnesses, abuse victims and in custody cases. I may be able to help.”
“Really? I have been praying for someone to help for months. A maniac is on the loose. Who knows when he may strike again?”
“Why would you say that?”
“The brutality of the murder. I just can’t believe that this is the only time this man has murdered.” Ellie shrugged and Ashley let the comment go but she would certainly be following up with Nate.
“Then maybe I’m the answer to your prayers.” Maybe it wasn’t Drew that called her. Maybe it was God getting her attention. And if that were the case then Ellie just might be right. Ashley could only pray she could be of help before any more women lost their lives.

Are You Ready For More?

2008-09-05T10:27:00.000-07:00

Since I have actually acheived my goal from the beginning of the year I figured I should keep write on going. BUT I have two novels in mind (I have more then that but I'm debating between a particular two right now) so the fun part is that you, the readers get to choose!

1. The second novel in the Ashley Parks series: Repay No Evil

or

2. A completely different and unrelated novel.

That's all the detail you're getting right now. I'm including the prologue for Repay No Evil right now (some of you may have read this one but read again - it's going to be completely re-written) and I will include the first chapter later - hopefully tomorrow.

Then I will post the first chapter of the second novel and everyone can choose. I can't promise how quickly I'll get stuff up because I do HAVE to work on the completed novel to actually make attempts at publication but with the big kids in school and the babies napping I have a little more time so I will do my best (with your encouragement and occasional kick in the pants!)

Prologue: Repay No Evil

He was on top of her. Suffocating her. She couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. Who was he? How did he get in? What did he want?
The children! No, she didn’t hear any noise.
He pulled the pillow away from her face long enough for her to catch her breath. She could feel a burning in her arm. His knife had nicked her. He moved himself to the edge of the bed next to her. She could only see the silhouette of him in the darkness. For a moment that seemed like eternity the man didn’t move. He just stood there as though he needed to gather himself.
Thoughts raced through her mind. She had to get away. She knew if she didn’t this man would kill her. He laid his knife on the nightstand next to her. If she could get to it she might have a chance. She inched towards the knife but immediately the man was back on top of her preventing her escape. His gloved hands wrapped around her neck and squeezed. The bulk of his body rested on her abdomen. No air was getting in. Stars danced in front of her eyes and she feared it would be over. She kicked her legs in an attempt to push him away but the man only clamped down tighter.
Oh, God, how could this be happening? Her thoughts screamed in her head. Two small children lay just down the hall. They needed their mom. She squirmed her right arm out from under the man’s legs and began to claw at his face. His hands let go of her neck to grab her free arm. She gasped for a small amount of air.
He held her arm fast with his left hand and kneeled over her. With his right hand he unzipped his pants; the sound of the zipper made her want to vomit. This couldn’t be happening. She strained against him. It felt like her insides were being ripped out. Maybe this was all he wanted. Maybe then he would leave.
But he didn’t leave. He stood next to her, looking at her. He retrieved the knife from the nightstand and waved it in front of him. The moonlight reflected off of the steel but still she couldn’t make out his face. Something was familiar about him but she couldn’t figure out what.
“My husband will find you,” she said softly, the words grating on her raw throat. “Leave me alone now and I’ll make sure he doesn’t kill you.”
The man scoffed and slapped her across the face. Blood seeped into her mouth. She moved her hand to wipe it away. As she lifted her arm he drove the knife deep into her abdomen. He ripped it out again. The nausea that had threatened to surface came out onto the bed. The taste of blood and vomit mingled in her mouth. Pain shot through her body.
He attacked again from behind, driving the knife into her back while holding her shoulder with his hand. She arched back and screamed. He drew the knife out and she felt the blood gushing. She turned to fight him but was too weak to hold herself up.
As quickly as the man came he was gone.
She was still alive though just barely. The phone. It was just next to her on the nightstand. She forced herself to roll over towards the nightstand but she was too close to the side of the bed and fell off with a thud.
She froze.
Had he heard her? Would he come back? Couldn’t think about that. She had to reach the phone. But could she move?
She reached up to the nightstand with her right hand, her left arm holding the wound in her abdomen to try and stop the flow of blood. Touching the phone with her fingertips she knocked it off the nightstand and onto the floor.
“9-1-1. What is your emergency?” A woman’s voice answered her call.
“A man…stabbed me…at home…children here.” Slowly the words came out. So few words; so much she wanted to say.
“Ma’am, where are you?” The woman’s tone now matched her urgency.
“2110…Lockhart…Street.”
“I’m dispatching paramedics and police now. Stay with me, ma’am. Help is on the way.”
“Love my kids…Love my husband.” The phone slipped from her hand and her head fell to the floor. She couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. “Oh, God…take me home. Save Wes…and the kids. I love them.”
They were Amy Donovan’s last words.

Final Chapter! (Chapter 51)

2008-09-01T09:13:00.000-07:00

Notice - this is the 2nd post for today please read Chapter 50 first!!

***** While this is the last chapter in this novel please check back later this week for some more stuff :) Not related to this novel but you will get a chance to vote on the next one! Thank you for sticking with me for the past 8 months while I completed the novel and for spurring me on to finish. Hopefully the next one will go faster *****

Two Weeks Later
“I think they’ll be okay,” Ashley said as Nate opened the door to his house.
“I hope so. Their aunt and uncle seemed a bit overwhelmed at the prospect of taking on nine-year old twins but I think they’ll do well,” Nate said.
“I wish I could keep them.” Ashley had had the chance to spend many hours with both Kyle and Kayla since their rescue two weeks previous. The two of them together were a joy to be around even after their traumatic events. It seems together they are unshakable. Julia had been sent to live with her grandmother who happily retained custody while her father worked with the police. It turned out that Julia’s father, Collin Lambert, had changed his mind about his part in the scheme and had been very happy to share what he knew in exchange for a lighter sentence.
Michael Fleming was being held without bond for his part in the human trafficking ring. Nate had shared that Daisy Brandt’s father wasn’t actually her father after all. Instead a man named Lawton Rawlings had decided to kidnap and sell young white girls in the sex market in Thailand. And that’s where Ashley would’ve been if she hadn’t gotten away from Geoffrey when she did.
Fortunately Geoffrey wasn’t permanently injured from Ashley’s actions but he was placed under arrest as soon as Nate and the SWAT team boarded the boat. Both Geoffrey and Todd were paid employees of Lawton Rawlings. Both would now be sharing time behind bars with him.
“What about Lizzie Andrews?” Ashley said as she stepped into Nate’s living room. She had spent the past two weeks at a hotel but most of her days she shared with Nate. Ashley was beginning to think that his feelings for her were going to be reciprocated. But it was too soon to think about love. She was still recovering from her three days locked up with so little food or water. Since then she’d eaten three salads a day and lots of grilled chicken. She’d even allowed herself a small amount of chocolate.
“She’s been returned to her mother and I think they’re doing well. Of everybody she certainly had it the easiest.”
Ashley nodded her agreement. Lizzie had not been put on the boat with Ashley and the other girls. Instead she had been delivered to her father who wanted to obtain custody of her instead of her mother. While Lizzie’s kidnapping was horrible, Beth Andrews was now a state witness against Geoffrey and Todd, the two who took Lizzie and brutalized Beth. Ashley prayed for healing for that entire family.
Ashley walked through Nate’s living room to the white-on-white kitchen for a drink of water. She stopped short when she noticed something on the counter. “Nate, what is that?”
“What is what?” Nate stepped up behind her.
“It’s a rose. Did you send me a rose?”
“No.”
“Nate, what’s today? What’s today?” Ashley tried to calm her shaking hands but they would not listen.
“It’s November 17th, why?”
“The 17th. Nate, it’s the 17th.” Ashley peeled her eyes away from the flower and towards Nate whose face was still blank. But then it changed and she could see the significance registering.
Nate quickly scooped up the rose and searched for something. “Does he send a card?”
“Usually but I don’t see one.” Ashley looked at the floor and noticed a small envelope sticking out between the refrigerator and the counter. “There. Nate you get it.”
Nate leaned down and pulled out the small envelope. It was addressed, “Ashley”. Nate slid his finger under the seal and pulled out the note inside.
“What does it say?” Not that she really wanted to know but maybe, just maybe it wasn’t from Jimmy.
“You don’t need to know.”
“Yes, I do. You have to tell me,” Ashley said.
“It says, ‘To my dearest, Ashley, I am sorry for your ordeal last month. I am glad to see that you have survived. I just wanted to stop by and share the good news; I have been released from prison. Isn’t that wonderful? It seems your friend Michael Fleming had a soft spot for me and put in a good word. Of course I haven’t forgotten you. I hope you enjoy your rose and you remember our special day. Remember, Ashley I am always watching. Love, Jimmy.’”
“No, this can’t be possible. He can’t be free. Nate, he murdered my husband and son. How could he be out? It’s only been eleven years! He was supposed to be in there for life.” Ashley shrank back into the cabinet as though the rose were a snake about to bite her. This couldn’t be happening. She had just survived something horrible. How could this be happening?
“I’ll look into it Ashley. Please don’t worry about it. He’s just trying to scare you.” Nate stepped towards her and wrapped his arms around her. She let herself rest on his shoulder taking in his strength. “Maybe it’s not him. The other notes weren’t.”
“No, today is the 17th. I know it’s him. Somehow he got in here and left this for me knowing I would find it today. Knowing I would be here.”
“I know, I know.” Nate rested his chin on Ashley’s head and stroked her hair. His comfort gave her strength. “You survived against all odds on that yacht, I know you can handle this but you don’t have to do it alone. I’m here for you. You know the Lord now and He will never leave you. And you have Kyle and Kayla. They love you. They want a relationship with you. It’s like the Lord is giving you your family back. Don’t let some mad man take it away.”
Ashley didn’t say anything. Instead she held tightly to Nate and allowed him to love her and protect her. He was right. The Lord had given her back everything she had lost so many years ago. So for today she would be grateful for what she had been given and worry about tomorrow another day.

Chapter 50

2008-09-01T09:11:00.000-07:00

Ashley reached the edge of the boat and peered over. They had made it undetected thus far. Ashley continued to pray as she led Kayla and Julia to the edge of the boat. The very back of the boat was level with the water which was their saving grace. Julia and Kayla could lower themselves into the water without fear of making a splash and alerting their captors.
Something moved in the water and Ashley jumped back. A head covered in scuba gear came up from the surface of the water. “Who are you?”
“Ma’am I’m Special Agent Chris Johnson and I’m here to bring you in.”
“Who are you working for?” Ashley said holding her hands out to keep Julia and Kayla from moving any closer to the water.
“Ma’am, I’m working with Special Agent Nate Zimmerman and SA Eric Walker.”
“Do you have ID?” Amazingly the scuba diver held up a badge for Ashley to see. Looking closely she recognized the badge, it was similar to Nate’s. “Fine. You can have the girls but I need to find Kyle.”
“No, ma’am we need to take you in as well.”
“You are not taking me in without Kyle.”
“I’m sorry, who?” Chris said.
“My brother!” Kayla yelled.
“Ssh, sshh sweetie, I will find him. You let me look and you go with this agent. He will take you to Mr. Nate. Remember how I told you Mr. Nate has been looking for you?”
Kayla nodded.
“Come on, Kayla, let me take you to shore.” Chris Johnson held out his arms for Kayla to move into. After a moment’s hesitation Kayla stepped into the water. Julia followed and both of them tread water next to Chris. Ashley made no move to follow them in. “Ma’am you need to come with us.”
“I can’t, I have to look for Kyle. I can’t leave without him. Take these girls to shore and come back. If I find him I’ll bring him to you.” Ashley turned away from the edge without another word.

A big commotion caught Nate’s attention by the shore. “What’s going on?” Nate asked Eric. Eric shook his head and shrugged. He was on the phone with the negotiator who had yet to show up. Supposedly she was caught in traffic.
Nate jogged over to the water’s edge to find out what the big deal was about. “We’ve got the girls.” It was Special Agent Chris Johnson.
“All of them?” Nate smiled and looked around. He saw two small girls wrapped in thick blankets, their hair soaking wet and clinging to their faces but he didn’t see Ashley. “Where’s Ashley Parks?”
“She refused to come with me,” Chris said.
“What do you mean refused?”
“She said she had to look for Kyle.”
“Kyle’s on the yacht?” Nate looked from Chris to the small girls shivering beside him. Nate recognized them as Julia and Kayla. While he was relieved to see these young girls healthy and well he couldn’t help but wonder about Ashley. Nate repeated his question.
“I…I think so,” Kayla said. “I heard the men talking about him and it sounded like he was on the boat.” The girl broke down in tears.
“It’s okay. We’ll find him.” Nate looked from Kayla to the yacht. From where he stood he could see Todd in the driver’s seat of the boat but he couldn’t see Geoffrey. Without two of their human shields Ashley was in even more danger. Nate hoped she knew what she was doing.

Ashley heard footsteps behind her. She ducked behind the curtain next to the sliding glass door in the sunroom of the yacht. The footsteps moved heavier on the hardwood floor.
Ashley held her breath.
“Ashley, I’m coming for you girl.”
Did he know she was there? Had he seen her step away from the back of the yacht? Oh God, please let me find Kyle before Geoffrey finds me.
The room was silent again. She let herself breathe but did she dare move? She waited for what felt like an eternity before moving the curtain away from her face to peer out into the room.
It was empty. Forcing herself to take slow breaths she stepped out into the room holding on to the leather bench. Hearing footsteps again she was forced back behind the curtain.
“Todd! Todd, where did you put the girls?” Geoffrey yelled as he flew up the stairs.
“What are you talking about?” Todd yelled back. “You put ‘em down there. Did you lose ‘em?”
Geoffrey let out a string of curses. “Where’s the boy?”
“He’s in the suite, I didn’t know where else to put ‘em.”
The suite. Ashley didn’t know where that was but she was certain she could find it. How many could there be even on a boat this size? Ashley heard Geoffrey run down the stairs again. Before she could step from behind the curtain Geoffrey was back. Kyle must have been where he was left. “Where is that woman?” Geoffrey cursed again and spit on the hardwood floor. Ashley clung to the curtain and prayed it didn’t move. Why had she chosen to hide behind cloth?
Expecting Geoffrey to fling open the curtain at any moment, Ashley forced herself to stand perfectly still. Why couldn’t this have been a cruise ship? At least then there would have been more places to hide.
Ashley waited until she heard the sliding doors close. She peered out from the curtains again. Seeing no one she stepped on to the hard wood floors. When her sneakers squeaked she froze expecting Geoffrey to step back in at any moment. But there was no one so she continued down the stairs. She passed the kitchen on her right and a sectional leather couch on her left. The same hallway she had come through earlier was ahead of her with doors on all sides. Which one was the suite?
“Kyle? Kyle?” Ashley whispered as loudly as she could. She wished she could just burst through each door but she didn’t want to get noticed. “Kyle?”
She heard a muffled noise and then some bumping. She followed it to a door at the end of the hallway. She tried the door handle but it was locked. “Kyle, can you open the door? It’s Miss Ashley.”
Ashley jiggled the doorknob again then searched above her for some kind of key but found nothing. She quickly made her way back to the kitchen careful to walk softly. There on the counter sat a set of keys. She grabbed them and made her way back to the room. After what felt like an eternity she found a key that fit the door and opened it.
Kyle was alive.
But he was tied up. His arms were held by ropes to the head of the bed and his mouth was covered in duct tape. Ashley set about untangling him. Once free he stood to follow her. They were back in the hallway when she heard footsteps again.
“I knew I’d find you down here.” It was Geoffrey and he still had his gun. “Trying to save someone else?”
“Maybe I am.” Ashley was too angry to be stopped. She did not just come all the way down here to be killed by this man. Ashley held her hand up and pushed Geoffrey as hard as she could. Not expecting such a resistance Geoffrey lost his footing and fell back. Ashley grabbed Kyle’s hand and pulled him up the stairs. She knew Geoffrey wasn’t out and would be on her heels soon.
They were in the sunroom before Geoffrey started up the first stairs. “Come on Kyle.” Ashley pulled him across the sunroom and to the sliding glass doors. They were locked. She jiggled the doors to no avail.
Turning around she saw Geoffrey reaching the top of the stairs. He smiled and licked his lips. “Going somewhere?”
Ashley placed Kyle behind her and turned to face Geoffrey. Maybe he would be content with just killing her. “You don’t want to do this.”
“I don’t? But I think I do. Maybe I could break you in before we sell you to some people in Thailand. How about that?”
Ashley looked around the room. She didn’t see anything she could use against her attacker until her eyes landed on the bar next to one of the leather couches. A large ice bucket sat there as well as a vase. If Ashley could maneuver herself there she might be able to gain a small advantage.
Geoffrey laid his gun down and pulled a knife from his pocket. He waved it in front of Ashley’s face. “I think its time for me and you to have some fun. I’m not big into little girls but I could certainly have fun with a grown woman. And a pretty one at that.”
Geoffrey moved towards her but Ashley dodged him to the right landing on the couch. Geoffrey took this as invitation and sat next to her. He waved the knife in front of her nose. He moved his face closer to hers and she could smell alcohol on his breath. She leaned away from him. He followed her every move.
She leaned further away, reaching her arm out for the vase. Geoffrey didn’t seem to notice. He was too busy admiring her chest. Her fingertips just touched. Just a little further.
There.
Her fingers wrapped around the vase. She lifted it off the bar and swung down on Geoffrey’s head as hard as she could. He dropped the knife.
Ashley jumped off the couch and grabbed the handgun off the bar. She held it towards Geoffrey. “You are not coming near us. Do you understand?”
Still holding his head where blood was beginning to trickle Geoffrey only smiled. “You don’t know how to use that thing.”
“Oh yea? Do you want to take that chance?” Ashley knew he was right. She had never held a gun in her life. But how hard could it be? She’d seen Nate use his a few times. She looked over the gun. It didn’t look like the safety was on. Geoffrey didn’t seem like the safe type anyway. She pulled back on the hammer.
Instead of aiming towards Geoffrey she pointed the gun towards the glass door and pulled the trigger. A loud bang filled the sunroom.
Geoffrey jumped at the noise. The glass began to splinter.
Ashley held the gun on Geoffrey again who this time didn’t argue. She moved the gun from Geoffrey and aimed at the door once again. Pulling the trigger one more time the glass shattered on impact. “Go Kyle, quickly. Into the water.”
Ashley knew Todd had to have heard the commotion and would be downstairs soon. Keeping the gun pointed at Geoffrey, Ashley followed Kyle out of the sunroom, to the edge of the yacht and into the water.
Being careful to hold the gun above the water Ashley and Kyle swam away from their captors, towards land and towards freedom.

Chapter 49

2008-08-31T20:02:00.000-07:00

“Let’s go! Get up!” The door opened to Ashley’s room and the same large man that had taken her before stepped in. Seems he was speaking the only words he knew. A large rifle hung from a strap over his shoulder. He held a handgun in his hand. Ashley knew nothing of guns and had no idea what kind either of them was.
Ashley didn’t move.
The man stepped into the room, grabbed her arm and yanked her out. He placed the gun to the back of her head and pushed him in front of her. “Move.”
But Ashley didn’t know where to go. She was drugged when she was placed in the room; she had no idea how to get out. She didn’t need to ask. The man pushed her forward past an elegant galley kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops towards a staircase at the end. Was she being held on a yacht? Who owned this boat? He shoved her back indicating for her to go up the stairs. At the top of the stairs she was in a room lined with leather benches on either side with a table sitting closer to the bench on her right then on the left. With his gun her captor pushed her through the room and out the sliding glass doors. Another table sat in front of her with bench seating surrounding it. Sunlight blinded her eyes as her captor pushed her down on to the outside bench seat. He continued to hold the gun on her but now he had placed the handgun behind his back in his belt and was aiming his larger gun at her chest. Ashley made no attempts at resistance. The boat was not moving.
“This is the FBI; we know you have illegal cargo on board. We are ordering you to stand down or be boarded by the Coast Guard.” The voice sounded familiar. Could it be Nate? Had he found her?
The man pushing Ashley ignored the threat. “Go!” She wasn’t sure if he was shouting at her or someone else.
When the response came back, “It isn’t time. He ain’t here.” Ashley knew it wasn’t her.
“I don’t care. We can’t lose these girls or we’re dead. I’m not ending up like Gardner.”
Jonathan Gardner? Had this man killed him? Ashley’s heart began to race and she looked back and forth on the bow of the yacht. The sun was shining now which meant another day had passed. How long had she been missing? Two days? Three? She had no recollection. From where she sat she could see very little. Behind her, she knew, was the dock at which the yacht was anchored but all she could see in front of her was water. Beyond that she could see the Tampa skyline but the distance was so overwhelming that there was little chance of escape by water.
“Move the boat, Purcell! Let’s get out of here.”
“Not without the boss. If we don’t have him we don’t go. They’ll kill us otherwise.”
Ashley’s captor took the gun off her and aimed it in the direction he had been yelling. “You don’t go and I’m gonna kill you!”
“Fine,” Purcell yelled back and immediately the silent boat roared to life.
“If you pull away from the dock we will open fire.” A voice came through a load speaker from somewhere on land and Ashley’s heart sunk. She could be dead if they opened fire.
Her captor quickly grabbed her up and put her in front of him as a shield. “You shoot and I’ll kill her.” He pushed Ashley forward to the front of the boat and stood on the bow for everyone to see. From where she now stood she could see black jacketed men with large shields and helmets lined up along the dock just feet away from the yacht. They were so close she could almost jump and land next to them but yet so far away because she knew if she moved she may lose her life or worse lose Julia and Kayla forever.
“Todd Purcell and Geoffrey Winterbrook you are ordered to release the prisoners that you have on board.”
Ashley guessed it was Geoffrey who had her as a shield now. Ashley prayed that Geoffrey listened to the order.
“Come here and make me,” Geoffrey yelled back. “But if you do you better know I’m going to put a bullet in her skull. You think I care about her?”
The line of jacketed men took a stop closer to the dock’s ledge. Any closer and Ashley feared they would fall into the water. Ashley could not think of a good way for this stand off to end. There was no way for the police to board the boat without the knowledge of Geoffrey or Todd.
“Let’s go. Back downstairs.” Geoffrey pushed Ashley off the front of the boat and back down into the belly of the yacht. Ashley tried to fight him but he yanked at her hair. “Don’t even think about it, woman. I will shoot you soon as look as you. You ain’t part of the purchase plan so no one will miss you.”
Geoffrey smiled as he threw Ashley back into the cell that had held her earlier. “Of course, keepin’ you alive for a bit means those men out there won’t dare board this boat. No way will they risk anything with you and those girls alive.” Geoffrey slammed the door and left.

“Stand down! Hold your fire.” Nate yelled to the men in front of him. The line of SWAT members slowed their advance. Not that they had much of one to make, they were on the edge of the dock as it was.
“Where are my divers?” Nate spoke into the radio he held. “I need you behind the yacht as quickly as possible. If we distract them you can get Ashley and hopefully the girls out.”
“We’re almost there,” came the reply.
Nate prayed for them to hurry then said, “Make sure you check the entire yacht. We have five missing and I’d rather not go home without a single one.”
“You got it.” Silence filled the air. Then, “We’re at the yacht. Give us the go and we’ll board.”
Nate picked up the megaphone that he had been using. “Geoffrey Winterbrook and Todd Purcell, this is your last warning. Give yourselves up.” Nate turned off the megaphone and turned to Eric who was in charge of running the rest of the operation while Nate attempted to make contact with the kidnappers. “Eric, when is the hostage negotiator arriving?”
“She’s on her way,” Eric said. “Keep them talking. If we can see both of them then our guys can board.”
“I agree but I don’t like them boarding when these guys appear so heavily armed.”
“Not to mention having at least three hostages but if these guys decide to turn that boat around and leave we have to alert the Coast Guard and then the whole arrest gets messy. You’ve been in the box too often, now it’s my turn,” Eric said. Nate knew he would have smiled at the rib but the situation was too serious. At this point Nate cared little about who made the arrest as long as Ashley and all the missing children were safe.

Ashley scooted back into the room till she reached the wall. Sunlight now streamed through the window but when she looked around it wasn’t the same room she had been in before. Instead this room had bunk beds each covered with a khaki comforter and surrounded by exquisite wood. There was a hole in the wood with wire sticking through it. Given the size Ashley assumed it was for a TV. This was obviously a very expensive and cared for yacht. This room must be for the guest quarters.
Ashley heard whimpering from above her followed by small sobs. She stood up to look around. She could see no one on the lower bunk. She placed her foot on the bottom bunk and pulled herself up to see the top bunk. Julia and Kayla were huddled together as far from the edge of the bed as they could get.
“Miss Ashley!” Julia said. “How did you get here?”
“I don’t know. I was in another room, and then one of the men came and got me and put me back here.” Ashley prayed silently. This could only be the Lord! While she had only half listened to all of her mom’s stories about the Lord she did remember most of them. Maybe Geoffrey had made a mistake and put her in the wrong room or maybe he found it easier to keep all three of them together. It didn’t matter. The fact that they were together meant Ashley could continue to care for these young girls.
Since this was a different room Ashley decided to try the doors, walls and windows to see if there was any way of escape. As she reached the doorknob, she prayed silently that the Lord would be with them. Somehow the idea of praying was getting easier. She twisted the doorknob and amazingly it turned in her hand and the door opened. Geoffrey had not locked the door!
“Come on girls, climb down.”
Julia quickly obeyed but Kayla refused to move. “Come on, girl, the door is open. We’re gonna go,” Julia said.
“What about Kyle?” Kayla asked quietly.
“What about him.”
“I think he’s here.”
Ashley’s heart sunk. She couldn’t leave Kyle behind but they couldn’t stay here either. “Can you girls swim?”
“Uh-huh,” both girls said.
“Then I will get you to the back of the boat and I will look for Kyle myself. I need you both to be safe. Do you understand?”
Julia nodded and Kayla climbed down from the top bunk using the ladder that was attached the wall. Both girls stood behind her. Ashley held up her finger for them to be quiet and then opened the door. Checking both ways she found no one. Ashley knew there was only one way to topside and if Geoffrey came back and saw them they would be in trouble. She said another prayer. God had been with them so far, she could only hope He still was.

Chapter 48

2008-08-30T19:00:00.000-07:00

After an hour of banging on the walls no one had answered Ashley’s cries for help. She had tried the door to no avail. The walls had been no better. Julia and Kayla were no longer with her. There had also been no sign of Lizzie or Kyle. But then again she didn’t even remember being moved into this room. Their captors had given them some water in the back of the van. Desperate for any hydration or food they had all drunk their water bottles down. Obviously something had been mixed in the water.
She stood on the bed again to look out her small window. Still she saw water. But now if she looked really hard to her right she could see the edge of land. And not just a beach, it looked like the port. Maybe they had yet to leave. She vaguely remembered one of her captors saying something about them not leaving until tomorrow but since she had been drugged she had no idea how long ago that was. She prayed silently that they had yet to leave the port and that maybe in the little time they had left Nate and the FBI would be able to find them.
“Lord, direct their steps. Help them find us. Keep us safe till then.” The words flowed out of her in surprisingly easy fashion. It had been years since she had talked to God. Years since she had even seen the need. Sure her parents had prayed for her. They told her that all the time. Every time they called her to see how she was they said they were praying for her. She had always responded by telling them they were wasting their time. She knew there wasn’t a God but if there was she had no use for Him. Her mother would just sigh and say “You never know Ashley, there may come a day when you find you do need God and when you do He will be there for you. Just wait and see.”
Ashley was pretty sure her mom did not have this in mind.

“You are going to tell me where they are and you are going to tell me now!” Nate repeated himself for the third time his level of agitation rising each moment he didn’t have an answer. Nate was once again in the olive concrete interrogation room. This time he was sitting across from Lawton Rawlings and his attorney, Roger Walsh. Roger was just as harsh looking as Lawton but much skinnier. In fact, Nate was worried if he blew too hard the man would blow away he was that thin. But what he lacked in weight he made up for in height standing a good four to five inches above Nate’s six foot frame. His graying hair was wound tight in curls all over his head. If he was losing his hair Nate couldn’t tell. Roger continuously cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses. At first Nate thought it was a nervous gesture but after just a few minutes of talking Nate realized it was a gesture he used to make Nate think he was nervous. It seemed that Roger Walsh counted on his opponents underestimating him and that would account for the smug look on Lawton Rawlings wide face.
“I don’t believe that Mr. Rawlings has anything to say to you,” Ralph said. His irritating gestures were accompanied by a nasally tone in his voice.
“I believe you are wrong, Mr. Walsh. Lawton Rawlings has a lot of things to tell me. What I want to know is where he is keeping three missing girls?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Lawton said but one look at the man across from him Nate knew he was lying.
Roger held up his hand to stop Lawton from speaking further. “My client has no information on your missing persons.”
“Your client impersonated one of my deceased girl’s fathers. Your client owns the false corporations that include a shipping company called Tate Shipping International. Tate Shipping owns a shipping container where we have uncovered evidence of three of our missing persons.”
“Well you obviously didn’t find anything or you wouldn’t be here,” Lawton said.
Roger’s hand went up again. “My client doesn’t have anything to say to these accusations.”
“How about this? We have live video of three of our missing persons in your container. They were able to tell us where to find them. Arriving at the shipping container they specified we found the mattresses that they lay on the corner they used for a toilet. There’s plenty of DNA in there and it will take me all of a week to match that DNA to my missing girls. You are the owner of that shipping container and I am holding you responsible for their disappearances. If they are not found alive I am holding you responsible for their deaths whether I have a body or not.” Nate paused and waited for a response. When none came Nate knew the man sitting across from him was guilty. Any innocent man would have defended himself. Instead this man sat quietly and let his attorney talk for him.
But Nate didn’t hear a word the attorney had to say because nothing he had to say would tell Nate anything. He was interested only in what Lawton Rawlings had to say. Before Nate could ask another a question a knock came on the door. Nate excused himself from the table and stepped out the door to see what Eric had for him. Normally Eric would be in an interview with Nate but tonight he was going through all the paperwork and pictures that the detectives had recovered from Lawton’s home. Nate assumed that’s what Eric finally had for him.
“We’ve found something,” Eric said.
“More photos? We’ve got two men on possession of child pornography but none of these pictures are of the missing girls. I hope you have something more.”
“If you’d let me finish I could tell you,” Eric said. Nate held up his hands in apology but said nothing more. “We’ve found Harvey Brandt.”
“What?”
“We found Harvey Brandt’s body. Detective Williams took a group of men to issue a search warrant on the Brandt’s property. They found Harvey’s body buried in the backyard.”
“Could they tell what the cause of death was?”
“Hard to know for sure, the body was badly decomposed. ME thinks there was a gun shot wound in the chest but she’ll have to do the autopsy…”
“Dr. Folek will do the autopsy.” Nate wouldn’t allow any of the bodies in this case to be touched by anyone else but Dr. Folek regardless of how many years experience Kelly had.
“Right. Either way I’m thinking Lawton stepped into their lives for a while until he found the right time to take Daisy Brandt and get rid of Jennifer Brandt.”
“I agree but it doesn’t explain the murder,” Nate said. “Why would he go through all that trouble and then just kill the girl?”
“I don’t know, we’re going through his financials now. He has a number of offshore accounts and we’re looking into those. Here are the photos we recovered from Lawton’s home. Maybe these will help him open up.” Eric handed Nate a manila folder that contained photos of naked children. Nate was disgusted by the sheer amount of child pornography that both Lawton and Michael had. “There are also some financial papers you’ll be interested in.”
“Let me know if you find anything else.” Nate thanked Eric for the information and headed back into the interrogation room. Lawton and Roger were sitting with their heads together. As soon as Nate opened the door they sat up straight and stared at Nate. “Thank you for your patience.”
Nate walked to the table and set the folder in front of him. “I think you know what I have in here.”
Lawton made no reply.
Nate pulled pictures out of the folder just as he had with Michael Fleming. Setting each picture in front of Lawton.
“These pictures mean nothing!” Roger said as he adjusted his glasses.
“I can hold your client on possession of child pornography.”
“You have the same thing on Michael Fleming. What does this mean to me?” Lawton said.
“How did you know about Michael?”
“Doesn’t everybody?” Lawton flashed Nate an enormous smile. Did this man think this was a game?
“No, not everybody does.” Nate glanced down at the financial papers that Eric had given him. On the first one three large amounts were circled. Adding them up Nate came up to more then a million dollars. Next to each amount was the name of each girl who had been found murdered. Eric had written “Human Trafficking” across the top of the page. On the bottom he had written, “This is what he was paid for the girls.”
“If this is all you have on my client then we’re done here. If he’s under arrest then process him so we can post bail.” Roger cleared his throat, pushed back from the table and stood. Lawton followed him.
“You may want to sit back down. I have just a little bit more information for you.” Nate pulled out the financial document and handed it to Lawton. “It seems we have some proof that you have been paid for three dead girls.”
For just a moment Nate thought he saw fear in Lawton’s brown eyes but it was quickly gone. “This means nothing. So, I got some big payments.”
“Mr. Rawlings, my partner is no idiot. If he wrote these things then he can prove them, in court beyond a shadow of a doubt and there’s absolutely nothing your attorney here can do about it.”
“Don’t listen to him Lawton, he’s playing you.”
“Trust me, Lawton I am not lying to you. I will pin all three of these girls’ murders on you. I will watch you die. You will rot in jail until they drag your sorry self to Starke to sit in the electric chair.” Nate paused for effect. “Do you know what its like to die by the electric chair? It’s a painful death. Your brain and organs fry from within…”
“Stop! I didn’t kill those girls,” Lawton said.
“But you know who did.” Now it was Nate’s turn to stand up and point his finger at Lawton’s chest.
“I didn’t kill them.” Lawton sunk into his chair. His attorney sat next to him.
“Lawton, you don’t need to talk to this man.” Roger sniffed and pushed his glasses further up his nose.
“Shut up, Roger. I didn’t kill those girls. I am not going down for that.”
“Tell me who did.” Nate attempted to appear as casual as possible but inside he was sitting on the edge of his seat waiting for this man to implicate himself in an attempt to clear himself.
“That idiot Gardner. He killed them. He wasn’t supposed to but he did.”
“How did he kill them?”
“I think he strangled them. Idiot told me he did it. Thought I’d be happy. Cost me more than a million dollars.”
“So you had him killed.”
“You don’t have to answer that,” Roger again.
Lawton ignored him. “I had him killed. I can’t have that. Do you know how much danger I was in? I had three dead girls.” Lawton was crumbling. The large man was no longer in control. He looked at Nate. “I want protection.”
“Protection from what?”
“I have to deliver these girls or they’re going to kill me.”
“Who?”
“The Thai. Do you know how much American white girls go for over there? Travelers will pay thousands of dollars for one night.”
“And you were hired to find the girls?” The pieces were finally beginning to fall into place. The reason the girls were taken. The reason the girls were killed.
“It was easy. I found fathers who needed money and who had some secret to hide. Most of them were into child pornography. Easy pickings.”
“What about Harvey Brandt?”
“He said no. I took care of him. No one said no again,” Lawton said. “I want protection.”
“I understand Mr. Rawlings but I can’t help you unless you get me all the information I need. Why are three girls dead?”
“I told you Gardner did it.”
“What about Jessica Rappaport?”
“What about her?”
“Jonathan Gardner didn’t kill her.” Lawton gave Nate a look Nate couldn’t read. And Nate knew he had guessed correctly.
“No, Gardner killed her,” Lawton said.
“Here’s the thing Lawton, I don’t believe you. I think Jonathan Gardner killed Daisy and Emma because they were resisting him and he got carried away. But Jessica was different. Jessica was pregnant, she was used goods and you didn’t like that. I think you killed her and then you led Ashley Parks to the body.”
“You don’t know what I’m capable of!” The Lawton who was afraid of his life was replaced by one who looked ready to kill Nate where he stood. As Nate had guessed when he had met the man named Harvey Brandt a week ago this man was very good at covering his emotions. He was very good at making people believe what he wanted them to believe.
“Did you threaten Ashley Parks?”
“Not me, but I had guys do it.”
“What about Jimmy Livingston?” Nate said.
“What about him?” Lawton said. Roger was fidgeting in his chair. It was clear he wanted to put an end to this interview but he was unsure when to insert himself. Maybe he was as nervous and scared as he looked.
“His name was signed on a note that was given to Ms. Parks. How did you know about him?”
“Michael told me. Told me she was afraid of him. Thought she would back off.”
“And did you kill Detective Cole Easton?” Might as well ask every question while the man was talking.
“No, but I had him killed. I hoped you would back off,” Lawton said and checked his watch. Was he waiting for something? Did he expect something to happen? It always made Nate nervous and suspicious when someone he was interviewing began to check their watch. It was never a good thing.
“What are you waiting for?”
Lawton feigned a blank look so Nate repeated his question.
“Nothing for you to worry about.”
“Tell me!”
Lawton shrugged as if he had no choice. “In three hours Ashley and your missing girls will be leaving the country and you will never see them again.”
Nate had had enough. He moved around the table and stood over Lawton. He grabbed Lawton by the shirt and threw him against the wall. “You are going to tell me because so help me if I don’t get those girls back you won’t live long enough to see Starke.”
The door opening interrupted Nate’s demands. It was Eric again. “Forget him, Nate; he’s in here for life. We’ve found the girls.”
“Where?” Nate asked.
“They’re on Lawton’s yacht. He’s guilty as sin, confession or not,” Eric said.
Nate walked to the door, looked back at Lawton who was leaning against the wall trying to catch his breath. “Mr. Rawlings I will find these girls and you will never see the light of day again. You’d just better pray that I find them alive.”

Chapter 47

2008-08-29T11:38:00.000-07:00

Nate left the port in disgust. This wasn’t how it was supposed to end. Nate was going to rush in to the shipping container and save the day. He was going to rescue Ashley and the missing girls at the same time. They knew where they were but then they weren’t there. How could that happen? How was that fair? Not that life was supposed to be fair but surely there had been enough grief and trial in these past two months to last a lifetime.
Nate thought about the girls as he pulled his cruiser out of the parking lot. All of but one of them had lost their mothers who loved them. Who would they go home to? The fathers that abandoned them? What would become of Kyle and Kayla when Michael was exposed for the creep that he was?
There was no time for answers now. Nate had work to do. He had to deliver his second warrant and since they were unable to find the missing girls at the port Lawson Rawlings had better have a lot of answers for them.
Nate eased the cruiser to a stop at a gate outside of Clearwater Estates gated community. With a flash of his badge the security guard opened the gate and let them through. The first few houses they passed were close together with little hard in between. It seems their owners spent all their money on their grand ranch houses. As Nate progressed to the back of the community the houses got larger and further apart.
Lawton Rawlings home was set back at least an acre from the road with a large circular driveway. The sides of the driveways were lined with palm trees leading Nate and Eric to the front door of what could only be called a mansion. The two-story home took up a good acre on its own. The front door was surrounded by four large pillars that extended from the porch to the roof. Two wings extended on either side of the entrance. On Nate’s right was a three-car garage, on his left rows of windows that were lit up by interior lights. Apparently Mr. Rawlings didn’t sleep much either.
Nate stepped on to the brick porch. Before ringing the doorbell he motioned for a team of detectives to move around to the back of the house on either side. Nate’s gun was not in view but it was ever ready. He would pull it out immediately if necessary.
Within minutes a young Hispanic woman opened the front door. Nate introduced himself and showed the woman his credentials but she did not step aside. “I sorry sir but Mr. Rawlings cannot talk to you now.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am but he doesn’t have a choice. I have a warrant to search these premises and I demand to speak with Mr. Rawlings right now.”
The Hispanic woman nodded, “Yes, sir.” She did not direct them inside. Instead she stepped away from the door leaving it open so that Nate, Eric and the detectives could enter. Nate paused to wipe his feet on the outdoor mat before stepping on to the marble floor. A large entryway invited them in, a table with a floral arrangement sat in the center of the entryway. A large chandelier hung over the table. Little shades topped every light. To Nate’s right was a large dining room with a cedar table that was long enough to seat at least twelve. Cedar chairs surrounded the table and another floral arrangement sat in the center reaching almost to the chandelier above it. That chandelier was a smaller version of the one hanging in the foyer.
To Nate’s left was some kind of sitting room. Plush chairs were placed in various places to face the grand piano that sat by the window overlooking the lawn outside. The ceilings of each room must have been more then ten feet tall and moldings surrounded each window and ceiling. Looking up Nate noticed both the dining room and sitting room ceilings were those tray ceilings that made the room appear even larger. If Nate ever won the lottery this is the kind of house he would want. Of course, that wasn’t happening any time soon since he didn’t even play the lottery. But Eric did from time to time so he’d have to rely on his partner’s generosity.
Before Nate could move any further into the house the Hispanic woman that had answered the door appeared with Lawton Rawlings at her side. The large man smiled and extended his hand. “What can I do for you detectives?”
“We’re agents for the FBI but then you already know that, Mr. Rawlings. Or should I say Mr. Brandt?”

The ground underneath Ashley was swaying. She was lying on a soft mattress, her head resting on a small pillow. Ashley made an attempt to stand but could not get her feet to function and slumped back down onto the bed. Her head felt groggy and she struggled to get her eyes to focus.
After a few minutes Ashley was able to sit herself upright and take in her surroundings. She was sitting in an extremely small room with blank white walls surrounding her except for one wall that had a round window that let a stream of moonlight provide her with the light she had to see by. A small desk sat on the opposite side of the room. There was no chair. And when Ashley tried to lift up on her bed it didn’t move. It had been bolted to the floor. She was in yet another prison albeit a nicer one then she had been in before.
Holding on to the wall Ashley slowly stood to her feet. The ground still moving beneath her. She looked out the small window above the head of the bed but could only see black sky dotted with stars and one large room. She was grateful that it appeared to be a full moon. She stepped onto the bed and leaned to her right while holding on the window’s edge. When she looked out the window she only saw inky black water.

“I’m sorry; I think you have the wrong man.” Lawton Rawlings, a.k.a. Harvey Brandt rocked back on his large heels and held up his hands.
“No, sir, we don’t. We’ve had a look at all your financials and we see that you own quite a number of false companies. One of them is Tate Shipping International. My men are searching the port now what do you supposed they will find?”
Lawton gave Nate a large smiled, her perfect teeth showing. Now instead of a grieving father Nate saw this man as a liar and a murderer. His frame was large enough to take up the hallway opening and block Nate from seeing anything beyond him. When Lawton had sat in front of Nate as Harvey Brandt he appeared broken up and weak his tears drawing Nate into his innocence. But now Nate could see a man large enough to crush a small girl if it meant getting what he wanted.
“Mr. Rawlings are you Daisy Brandt’s father?” Nate asked.
“Special Agent Zimmer, was it? I do not know what you’re talking about.”
Nate was not amused by his intentional misuse of his name. The same mistake Harvey Brandt had made while in his office. “Mr. Rawlings, you are not fooling me. I know that you are responsible for the deaths of three girls and that you have kidnapped my friend and three other girls. You are also guilty of attempted murder of a young boy.”
“Special Agent,” Lawton drew out the word “Special”, “you have no proof or you would be arresting me.”
It was true. Nate had little proof of Lawton’s guilt only a gut feeling but gut feelings didn’t win cases before grand juries or judges. Nate had only circumstantial evidence on Lawton. Nate knew that Lawton Rawlings had at the very least impersonated Harvey Brandt but Nate didn’t know if there was a real Harvey Brandt or if Daisy was actually Lawton’s daughter. Nate knew that Lawton Rawlings owned all the illegitimate companies that paid money to the father’s of the missing girls. The forensic accountants were still going through his financials but from what they could tell Lawton was involved in some sort of illegal activity but it was so well covered it would take weeks if not months to uncover it all. If Nate had to guess he was standing in a home financed by monies gained from the buying and selling of human beings. But Nate’s guess wasn’t enough. What little they had on Lawton would hardly be enough to hold him for twenty four hours. He would be out on bail within a matter of hours. Pretending to be someone else was not the crime of the century. The rest of the charges would be white-collar crimes and any lawyer could find someone else to blame or some loophole for him to get out of. No one cared about a lying paper pusher. What they did care about was punishing the murderer of three small girls.
“I take your silence as an agreement, Agent Zimmer.”
“We’ll see, Mr. Rawlings,” Nate said. “In the meantime why don’t we sit down in your sitting room and you can answer a few questions for me.”
Lawton didn’t move. “I won’t talk to you without a lawyer present.”
“Is that a sign of guilt?”
“Hardly, I don’t want my words to be twisted by you.” Lawton moved away from the hallway opening. “I will, however, invite you in for a drink.” Nate and Eric had no choice but to follow Lawton into the mansion’s kitchen. The same moldings covered all the walls in the open family room and kitchen. The kitchen was an expanse of cream cabinets and granite countertops. Appliances were certainly professional grade. Three large columns separated the two spaces. Why did the honest work not pay as well as the illegal stuff?
Before Nate could refuse an offer of alcohol, Detective Williams stepped into the kitchen behind Nate and Eric. “We’ve found something,” was all he said.
A shocked look covered Lawton’s face. Nate suppressed a smile. It seems his Hispanic housekeeper chose not to tell her boss about the search warrant. “What are these people doing in my house?” His voice carried through the entire first floor.
Nate feigned innocence, “You didn’t think Eric and I would come here alone now did you? Oh no, we brought some friends to your lovely abode and as we have been talking they have been searching your property.”
“You have no right!”
“Actually a thing called a search warrant signed by a judge gives me that right,” Nate said and for the first time Lawton Rawlings looked just a little bit afraid.

Chapter 46

2008-08-28T10:42:00.000-07:00

Today I am 32. Yikes, where did the time go? Two years ago I was just beginning bed rest with the triplets thinking I would write so much while on bed rest! Unfortunately that didn't happen. So, here I am two years later doing what I had hoped to do then - finishing a novel :) Yes, I am so close to being done - I have been writing furiously for weeks thus the chapter a day on the blog. So, Lord willing and you can all pray for this that this year, my 32nd year, would be the year I get a novel published or even just in the works - I would be thrilled with that. So enjoy another chapter - so close to there!

“Get up! Come on move!” A large man grabbed Ashley and pulled her to her feet. Pain shot through her bicep. She swung her arm to try and hit the man holding her but she didn’t connect. Instead the man grabbed her fist and pulled it tightly behind her. He leaned into her ear, “Try that again and you will never move your arm again.”
Ashley let herself go limp. She didn’t doubt he would do what he said. Only struggling again when she heard Kayla yelp. But it was no use. The grip around her arms only got tighter. And now there were more men. At least four of them. One man for each of them. And one man with a gun; a rather large gun.
“Let’s go,” the man holding Ashley said.
“Where do you want ‘em?” One of his partners said.
“Put ‘em in the van. We take ‘em to the boat like the boss said. We ship out tomorrow.”
What? Oh God no! This couldn’t be happening. What if Nate hadn’t seen the message Julia sent? What if he didn’t understand it? She had no way to know if anyone was even watching the footage any longer or if they had lost all feed. She certainly had no explanation as to why the camera was even there.
The man holding Ashley began to bind her wrists with what felt like plastic handcuffs. He then threw her onto the floor of the van and bound her legs in the same manner. No matter how hard she tried Ashley could not undo her restraints. Julia and Kayla were laid down next to her and for the first time she was able to get a look at their young faces. Both girls had the same shocked and confused look that Ashley was sure she wore. Kayla’s face was pale making her blue eyes stand out all the more. Her hair was matted with dirt. Streaks of dirt and dried blood marred her otherwise perfect face. She was wearing a t-shirt with a cat on the front, a short jean skirt with striped leggings underneath. She wore sneakers with no socks. Her clothes matched her face; marred with the filth and grime of being in a shipping container for a week.
Julia, on the other hand, looked cleaner. Her hair had been recently brushed and her face recently washed. Julia was wearing a clean pink polo top with white long-sleeved tee underneath, jean capris and flip-flops. Her clothes looked recently cleaned with no dirt or stains. Ashley vaguely remembered someone saying that Daisy had been cleaned and Ashley could see the same thing had probably happened to Julia. After a night of being brutalized her captors probably cleaned up all traces of them. It was why they had been unable to find any DNA in Daisy or Emma.
“It’s okay, girls. We’ll be okay. I’m going to be with you every step of the way.”
“Where are we going Miss Ashley?” Julia asked.
“I don’t know sweetheart.”
“Are we going on a boat?” Kayla asked.
“I don’t know…”
“We are. We’re going on a ship. They’re going to send us to another country. I heard them talking.” Tears began to slip down Kayla’s cheek. “I forgot to tell you that Miss Ashley. I should’ve spelled that to the police. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.” Julia continued to repeat her apology and cry into the van’s carpeting.
In any other situation this would seem like an overreaction but Ashley understood her distress. “It’s okay, sweetie, you told Nate what we knew and we just have to pray that he will find us.”
“But my prayers aren’t working. God isn’t listening.” Julia was almost howling now. Ashley glanced up at the men in the driver’s and passenger’s seat. If they heard her they paid her no mind.
“I know it feels like that but…” But what? What could Ashley say? It took her being kidnapped to even consider prayer again. She was no great Christian who had the right words for this young, hurting child. Who was she kidding? She didn’t even have the words for herself.
“We should keep trying, Julia. We’re still here. The police will find us. God will help them. I’m going to see Kyle again.” How did Kayla get so brave?
And that is what they did. On the floor of the van with their arms and legs bound on the way to some unknown horror the three of them prayed that God would hear them and that the police would find them or that they would find some chance of escape.

It was dark by the time Nate had his warrant and had made his way down to the Port of Tampa. One security guard sat at a gatehouse when Nate pulled up and flashed him a badge and a warrant. The guard quickly opened the gate and directed them to a small office where they were to wait for someone who had access to the computer systems so they could search for the exact location for the shipping container they were searching for.
Twenty minutes later an older man with salt and pepper hair stepped into the office. He snuffed out a cigarette in the ashtray next to what appeared to be the main computer. “Help you?”
“I’m Special Agent Nate Zimmerman. This is my partner Special Agent Eric Walker; we have a warrant to search the premises as well as to search your database for the exact location of a shipping container. We need you to access your computer system and tell us where the shipping container is located.”
“What container you need?” The older man did not appear to be in a hurry. Instead he paused to stick a cigarette in his mouth and light it. He took a deep puff, blew out the smoke in Nate’s face and smiled.
“This is what we have.” Nate laid a sheet of paper in front of the man with the few numbers they had written on it. “I need you to find what I’m looking for.”
The older man smiled revealing crooked teeth. The smile deepened the wrinkles around his mouth and eyes. There was no joy in his eyes. The smile was fake. “You need me to find one container with that?”
“What is your name, sir?”
“Why do you care?”
“What is your name?”
“Jesse Farrell.”
“Listen Mr. Farrell, we are looking for three missing girls, one missing boy and one missing woman. I suggest you not stand in my way or you will find yourself in my custody on charges of obstructing justice. I have a warrant. You have no choice.”
“Fine, ya don’t have to yell. It’s just that number is the beginning of probably half the containers out there.”
“Maybe I can narrow it down for you. This container says “Tate” on the outside but is owned by LRI.”
Something flashed across the man’s eyes but was quickly gone. If Nate had any reason to believe this man was involved he would arrest him immediately. He was tired and in desperate need of answers. Not a good combination to mess with. His patience was thin; there was no telling what he might do.
“I’ll get you the information.” Jesse sat down at the computer and after twenty minutes he pulled up a list of shipping containers with a list of areas. “Look, this is the best I can do. I have about thirty containers with those numbers on it. You’re gonna have to search for yourself.”
Jesse stood and handed Nate a piece of paper with the list of containers and locations in the shipyard. Nate glanced at the list and then back at Jesse. “If I don’t find what I’m looking for I’ll be back to talk to you.”
“Fine. But just so you know I gave you this under duress.” Nate left the office with Eric and a crew of detectives wondering what this man was afraid of.
With weapons drawn Nate and the detectives began their search of each and every shipping container on the list. Containers stacked more then two high were ruled out as impossible or at least improbable as getting girls in and out of a container that high would have been difficult. That left them with twenty-three to search. They began with the ground level containers which meant searching fifteen.
“Clear!” A detective called after the first shipping container was opened.
“Clear!” The second container was a dead end.
The phrase was repeated another eight times until finally Nate came upon a container that was giving off an unusual odor. The odor was that of human excrement. Nate covered his mouth with his arm. Then taking a deep breath he pried open the doors to the dark red container. With his gun in front of him in his right hand he held a flashlight in the other and shined it into the shipping container.
Nothing.
Blackness hovered around them. Nate could only see where his small beam shined. It landed on one mattress to his left and a second mattress to his right. This is where they were. This is where Ashley had told him they were just hours ago. Discarded McDonalds bags sat scattered around the container. Apparently no one bothered to clean up.
Eric ran up to the container behind Nate. “Anything?”
“No, nothing. They were here but they aren’t anymore.” Nate sighed and stepped out of the container.
“We’ll find her, man, I promise.” Eric placed his dark hand on Nate’s shoulder and squeezed. Nate tried to take comfort in the gesture.
“I know we’ll find her but the question is whether or not we find them dead or alive.”

Chapter 45

2008-08-27T07:57:00.000-07:00

Where was Nate? She had been in this hole for over twenty-four hours. In that time she had eaten a hamburger and a cheeseburger. Apparently their idea of variety was springing for the cheese. Not only did Ashley long for sleep but she longed for her own bed and her own clothes. And above all her own bathroom. The corner behind the door was the best they had and with no toilet paper or way to cover the odor there was no way to get away from their own excrements.
Julia groaned. She had been out all day and Ashley feared the worst as night closed in. Not that she could tell the time for sure but at their last “feeding” the day seemed to be almost gone. There had to be a way out of this place. But so far nothing Ashley had done had worked. She just wasn’t strong enough to fight her way out and they had given up on signing long ago. If anyone was out there they certainly weren’t watching. How could the FBI not have seen them? Of course “port” and “water” were pretty vague even if they were spelled correctly.
Maybe that was it. Maybe she just needed more information to share with Nate and the FBI. But how to get that? The only one who left the container was Julia and then she was blindfolded.
“Miss Ashley?” Julia asked into the darkness.
“Yes, sweetie, I’m here.”
Julia landed in her lap. Well, she probably didn’t land there exactly but without the benefit of her sight Ashley wasn’t able to see her moving towards her so she was started when Julia suddenly laid her head in Ashley’s laps and wrapped her arms around Ashley’s midsection. Ashley eagerly returned the affection.
“I’m scared, Miss Ashley. I don’t want to be here. I want to go home to my daddy.”
“I know, I want to go home too.” Ashley didn’t know what to say. For once the counselor had no words. She couldn’t promise it would be okay, she didn’t know if it actually would be. She could hope and she could pray but God had let lots of other people die so there was no way to know whether they would live or not.
“I can’t go back there. I fought so hard and still they…” Julia paused as though not sure of what to say.
“It’s okay Julia; you don’t have to say it. I already know.” Ashley sat quietly with Julia smoothing the girl’s hair away from her face. Her movements had a calming effect on Julia who quieted down to the point that Ashley was sure she had fallen back asleep.
“Julia, do you see anything when they take you?”
Ashley waited to see if she would answer and was surprised when she did, “No, they blindfold me. I don’t know where I’m going till I get there.”
“Do you go to the same place?”
“No and it’s, um, its different men. Gross men.”
This wasn’t the time or place for Ashley to work through those issues with Julia. If she survived she would need years of therapy and help and now wasn’t the time to start. “Julia, when do they blindfold you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Do they do it right when they take you out?”
“No, it’s in their car.”
“Then you can see outside of where we are?”
“Yea, but there’s nothing to see. It’s just ugly metal containers,” Julia said. “Ours is red. Some of the others are green or brown. Does that help?”
“Did you see any writing on our container?”
Julia was quiet before answering. “Yea, I remember big numbers on the outside but I don’t know what they mean.”
“Do you remember any of the numbers?”
“I remember a few it was like 792.1 something but I don’t know what that something is.”
“That’s good. What about words? Are there any words?” Ashley asked.
“I think it said Tate’s. Something like that. Does that mean something? Does that help?”
“It just might, sweetie. Do you think you could sign that for the camera?”
“I’m not very good at numbers,” Julia said.
Ashley couldn’t help but smile at her innocent reply. “Its okay sweetie, all you have to do is make them like you normally would, everyone will understand.” Julia sat up next to Ashley. Not being able to see her Ashley could only assume Julia was signing for the camera. Being unable to sign all Ashley could do was pray and hope that that would be enough.

Everything was pointing to Michael Fleming. Everything including the information they had received from David Rappaport. Yet something didn’t feel right. Somehow all the pieces didn’t fit. Why would Michael risk everything by kidnapping his daughter? Maybe he had already crossed the line with her and needed to cover his tracks. Maybe he didn’t want Gina to leave him. Though having her killed meant she was gone forever.
“Nate, you’re going to want to see this,” SSA Annabeth Porter stuck her head into the door of the conference room where Nate and Eric were staring at the white board once again. Nate sighed and turned away from the board. Hopefully Annabeth’s news would help them.
“What do you have Annabeth?”
“Look, Julia is signing again,” Annabeth said and pointed to Kayla in the video feed.
“What’s she saying?” Nate asked to anyone who had an answer.
“She’s saying ‘shipping container’,” a redhead sitting in front of the monitor said. Nate didn’t recognize her. She must have been the interpreter. “Then she says ‘Tate Shipping’ and the numbers 792.1. Does that mean anything to you?” The redhead turned around and looked at Nate. Her face was covered in freckles and she wore bright blue eye shadow.
Nate just smiled at the redhead and said nothing. Tate Shipping did mean something to him. He remembered it from one of the bank accounts. Nate had yet to determine whether that was a real company or not but if their name was painted on the side of a shipping container they were certainly trying to make someone think they were.
“Eric we need to trace Tate Shipping. Who owns it? Real or fake? Could just be a front for something else.”
“I’m on it,” Eric said. Nate followed him back to his desk and watched Eric work on the computer. Nate was going to have to be savvier when it came to technical things but he had yet to get beyond working his own computer. Some guys turned to computers and some guys turned to guns. Nate was certainly the latter. All his life he wanted to be a police officer. Went to college just for his parents but then it was on to the police academy. He would to have graduated the top of his class but he missed it by one. Eric Walker had graduated ahead of him.
Funny how life worked out. Eric was his partner when Nate walked the beat. They picked up drug dealers together. A few murderers. Lots of gang members. After three years together Eric moved on to the FBI while Nate went on to be a detective. After six years Eric talked Nate into applying for the FBI. Two years later they were assigned as partners once again. Nate was grateful. Good partners were like good spouses. They were very important.
“I may have found something,” Eric said after an hour of internet searching. Nate was on his second cup of coffee and he was almost through that.
“Please tell me its something good.” Nate threw his empty coffee cup in the trash below his desk. He rolled his desk chair over to sit next to Eric.
“Okay, Tate Shipping International is not exactly a real company.”
“No surprise there.”
“Well, it exists but it’s more a front to launder money through.” Eric pointed to his computer screen. Nate looked at where he was pointing but the words made no sense. “Okay, here is Tate Shipping International. Here is Gorrin International.” He pulled up another website that looked identical to the first.
“They’re the same.”
“Yes, and this is the same.” Eric pulled up a website for JK Associates.
“What does that mean?”
“Means none of these companies are real. They were probably just used to move money through to the fathers so that no one, like us, would put two and two together.”
“Okay, but how does that help us?”
“Here,” Eric flipped from site to site pointing at a telephone number on each one. They were all the same except for the very last digit which was probably the way the operator told them apart. “We call that number I bet we can find something out.”
Nate nodded and called the first number. A young woman answered, her voice sounding pleasant, “Tate Shipping International, how may help you?”
“Yea, hi, ma’am, I’d, uh, like Tate to ship some boxes for me.” Nate put on a thick southern accent.
“I’m sorry, sir, we don’t do that sort of thing. We ship large containers worldwide. Would you like to look into that?” Nate knew she was smiling as she talked on the other end. She also probably got out of bed with a hop, skip and a jump. Annoying.
“No, thank ya, sorry to bother ya. Ya’ll have a nice day now.” Nate hung up the phone only to pick it up and dial the same number again except for the last digit.
“Gorrin International, how may help you?”
Nate repeated his request this time with an English accent and got the same cheerful reply. The third time around when the woman identified herself as working for JK Associates Nate used his own voice. “Ma’am, I’ve now called three times. You’ve answered very time with a different place. May I ask who you really work for?”
“Oh, um, I’m sorry what is your request?” Nate was certain her smile was gone.
“Ma’am, this is Special Agent Nate Zimmerman with the FBI. I am asking you who you actually work for?”
“I don’t know if I should answer that. Will you hold please?” Nate imagined her perfectly manicured hand poised over the hold button.
“No, no, please don’t do that. All I’m asking is who you work for? You’re not in trouble.” But your boss might be.
“LRI.”
“What does that stand for?” Nate struggled to keep the irritation out of his mind.
“Lawson Rawlings International.”
“Thank you; you have been most helpful.” Nate tried to mirror the woman’s initial cheerfulness.
Nate repeated the information to Eric who quickly did a search on his computer. What came up shocked Nate more then he would have guessed. A large picture of the CEO flashed across the screen. Nate finally knew who he was looking for.

Chapter 44

2008-08-25T12:16:00.000-07:00

“Where’s the list of father’s?” Nate looked at the conference table and began searching through the papers. Eric began doing the same. The names should’ve been on the whiteboard behind Nate but most of them had been ruled out as suspects and they weren’t victims so there had been no reason. Now, however, there was.
“Here it is.” Eric pulled a white sheet of paper from the middle of the table. He picked up a dry erase marker and listed out the fathers: Harvey Brandt, Richard Sykes, David Rappaport, Michael Fleming, Collin Lambert and Steve Andrews.
“We know that at least four of these men were having marital troubles. We know that Michael Fleming had child pornography on his person at his arrest. We know that David Rappaport raped his stepdaughter and got her pregnant. I wonder how many other fathers had the same liking for young girls,” Nate said as he stared at the pictures of the young girls posted on the whiteboard. Each of them reminded him that they were real people in need of real help. Whether it to be to bring justice to a murderer or to save them from a deadly fate.
“I might have something,” Eric said. Nate turned to see Eric holding yet another white paper. “I didn’t think much of it but as I look at all their bank statements I see large deposits weekly in each account.”
“This didn’t raise red flags before?”
“No, because none of them are the same amount and they are listed from different places.” Eric pointed to a bank statement. Nate read the name Richard Sykes. He noticed two deposits in near identical amounts in the same month. They were from the University of South Florida. Nate double checked his notes and found out that Richard Sykes was employed at USF as a full-time dean of academics. The identical amounts had to be his paycheck.
What interested Nate more was the weekly deposits ranging from $1,000 to $6,000 beginning before Emma Sykes went missing and ending a week after she turned up dead. The deposits were from Tate’s Shipping International.
“Are any of the other deposits from Tate’s?” Nate said and pointed to the table.
Eric found what appeared to be other bank statements after a few minutes of searching. “No. Nothing that says Tate’s. This one says JK Harris Associates. This one says Gorrin International. Nothing’s the same.”
“So, whoever is behind all of this is a professional.” Nate stared at the whiteboard again. “Have we picked up David Rappaport yet?”
“We’re looking for him. Got a call from Detective Williams earlier.”
“Is he going to cooperate with us?”
“Not sure yet but I will be there when they question Rappaport.”
“I’d like to do it. I need to make him talk,” Nate said and turned back to Eric. Eric opened his mouth to speak but then seemed to think better of it. He lifted his hands and nodded.
For four more hours Nate and Eric sifted through the paperwork they had related to the fathers while they awaited word on David Rappaport’s arrest. Finally just as the clock struck 5 PM and most agents and support staff were leaving for the day Nate’s cell rang with the news that David Rappaport had been picked up. After twenty minutes of arguing jurisdiction Detective Williams agreed to bring Rappaport to the FBI field office as long as Nate allowed Williams to be in on the interrogation. Nate agreed but only if Williams kept quiet. Williams agreed but only if he would be credited with the arrest.
It was all about give and take. Lucky for Williams, Nate didn’t care about the arrest. Let the man have the media attention he so craved. What he wanted was to get this man to give him the information he needed. Nate knew he was closing in on Ashley and the girl’s location but he had to know who was behind the human trafficking ring. The good news was the camera had not been compromised. An agent was watching the feed around the clock and so far all three captives were still alive. How well they were was yet to be determined.
Just after dinnertime Nate was back in the interrogation room across from David Rappaport. Nate had grabbed a slice of pizza and a coffee before settling himself in front of David. David on the other hand had been waiting for an hour with no food, no water and no air.
Nate slipped out of his jacket and set it on the metal chair. He rolled up his dress shirt sleeves and sat down. He said nothing. David was covered in sweat. His white tank top clung to his body. David’s pupils were dilated and Nate wondered what he was on. The alcohol he could smell but Nate knew it was more then that. He wore a baseball hat backwards so that only a few strands of oily hair stuck through the front opening. He now had a full mustache and beard. He had probably been to high to shave.
“What do ya want?” David’s words slurred as he caught the spittle that dripped out of his mouth. He cleared his throat and sat back.
Nate said nothing.
“Well, you gonna tell me?” David looked back and forth between Nate and Williams. Both just stared at him as though they had nothing better to do and nowhere better to be. “Come on, man I ain’t done nothing.”
Nate opened the manila folder that he had placed in front of him and proceeded to pull out pictures of Jessica. He laid them out one by one in front of David. The first picture was a school photo of Jessica. She was smiling, her hair in two braids on either side of her head. She looked like every other innocent child. Her time ending before it had really begun.
David made no reaction until Nate laid out the picture of Jessica on the autopsy table. Her face turned upward to the ceiling, staples tattooing her chest.
“Don’t make me look at that,” David said.
“Look closely, David, this is what you did. All of this is your fault.”
“No way, man. I didn’t kill her,” David leaned into the table. “You gotta believe me, man, I didn’t kill her.”
“I believe you.”
“Then why am I here?” David snorted. “That officer planted those drugs. They ain’t mine. I swear I’m innocent.” He ended his statement with a curse and a half smile revealing his a yellow grin that was three teeth shy of a full set. Nate hadn’t noticed any missing teeth during their last meeting. Maybe that was recent.
“David, let me tell you what we know.” Nate paused until David was sitting up straight and prepared to listen. “We know that your daughter…”
“Adopted daughter.”
“Right. We know that Jessica was pregnant…”
“I didn’t know about that.”
“Let me finish.” Nate waited again then continued when David remained silent. “We know that Jessica was pregnant. We also know that you are the father.”
“Are you kidding me?” More curses. David half stood in his chair revealing his jeans hanging low enough to again reveal his boxers. Did the man not know how to cover himself up? “There is no way. You are lying to me!”
“No, I’m afraid we’re not. You fathered her child which means you are under arrest for raping a minor. Have you been read your rights?” Nate glanced from David to Williams already knowing the answer. He had been read his rights and had waived his right to an attorney. Williams had it in writing. Or so he said. Nate didn’t care to double check.
“Come on, man. You can’t arrest me for that. You’ve got to give me a deal or something.”
“A deal? Detective Williams do we give deals to child rapists?”
“No Special Agent Zimmerman, I don’t believe we do.”
“You’ve got to give me something,” David said.
“We don’t have to give you anything. You have to tell me what you know about the men that kidnapped and murdered your daughter.”
David’s pupils grew wider; his brown eyes full of terror. Nate was on to something. “No, no. I can’t tell you nothin’. If I tell you anything they’ll kill me.”
Nate smiled. “The thing is David, I’ve heard that story before and you know what? It doesn’t mean anything to me.” Nate directed his attention to Williams. “Jack, I think we have a special place in prison for Mr. Rappaport, do we not?”
“I believe we do.”
“Is there anything we can do about the other inmates finding out that Mr. Rappaport is a child rapist?”
“No, I don’t believe so,” Williams said.
“Okay, okay, man I’ll tell you what I know. I just can’t go to prison.”
“I don’t think I can make that arrangement. You will be going to prison. The question is whether or not you are going to death row.”
“For what?”
“For murder.”
“But I didn’t kill her. You said you believed me.”
“Here’s the thing, David. I may believe you but a jury won’t. If a jury doesn’t have anyone else to pin your daughter’s murder on then they’ll pin it on you. After all you’ve already raped her and fathered her child. Do you really think they’re going to believe you didn’t kill her?” As Nate watched David’s face he knew the man felt trapped. Good, Nate wanted him in a corner. Wanted him to have to fight his way out. Once he started fighting to save his own skin he would stop worrying about saving other people’s skin.
“Then you gotta keep me out of the general population. They’ll kill me.”
“Can we do that Detective Williams?”
“If he tells us what we need to know and that information leads to the arrest of his daughter’s murderer and the safe return of the other missing girls. Then I think we could find a place for him in solitary.”
“And no drug possession?”
“Don’t push it. Tell me what you know,” Nate said.
“Fine, they didn’t pay me what they owed anyway.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Look, man, I don’t know everything. All I knows is I was approached by some dude…”
“Does this dude have a name?” Nate said.
“Todd, I think.”
“Todd Purcell?”
“Yea, man, I think so.”
“And what did Todd Purcell say to you?”
“He said he could get rid of all my problems,” David said.
“What were your problems?”
“My wife and her kid. That woman was all over me about my girlfriend. She hated it. Threatened to leave me.”
“Why would you care if she left you?” Nate said.
“I gotta few dollars to my name and I knew she’d take it.”
“What about Jessica?”
“What about her?”
“Why was she a problem to you?”
“No real reason except she was always in the way. She was cute. I liked her but she always whined when I was around which made Lea mad and then me and the old lady would get in a fight. I was just tired of it.”
“And what did Todd say he could do for you?”
“He said he worked for someone who was looking for white girls.”
“What for?”
“I don’t know, I didn’t care. Maybe he wanted to adopt ‘em.”
Nate rolled his eyes knowing that was a lie. He didn’t dispute the fact that David was an idiot but he couldn’t be that dumb. “And what about your wife?”
“Guy said he would take care of her. And the best part was they would pay me.” David laughed. “Can you believe that? They were gonna off my wife and take her kid and I would get paid for it. I was all over it.”
Nate hid his disgust. This guy was scum. A lifetime in solitary wasn’t enough punishment for this man. Nate was glad he believed in a God who would judge the living and the dead. Either way this man would spend eternity in hell. That was worse then solitary and that would have to be enough.
“How much were you paid?” Nate said.
“The deal was I would get small amounts every week from some corporation. They would pay for a few weeks before they took her and then some after so as not to raise suspicion, you know? The total was going to be about thirty grand,” David said.
“And you got it all?”
“No man, I got barely half. They took her and I got money but then it just stopped.”
“Any idea why?”
“They said she was damaged goods. Said no one would pay to sleep with a pregnant girl. I swore to them I had no idea she was pregnant but they didn’t believe me. I got no more money. Next thing I know you’re at my door telling me Jessica was dead.”
“They told you people were going to pay to sleep with her?”
“Yea, I guess so.”
“Did it occur to you then that this man wasn’t adopting your daughter?”
“Adopted daughter,” David said. “Oh yea, I guess so. I didn’t think about it. I didn’t care, I just wanted my money.”
Nate rose to his feet. He wanted nothing more then to reach across the table and choke the life out of the man sitting across from him. Maybe send him to hell a little early. Williams made no attempt to stop him. David jumped out of his chair and leaned back against the wall, sweat dripping from his forehead.
“Tell me where I can find Todd Purcell.” Nate struggled to keep his voice even as he stepped every closer to David.
“I don’t know man.”
“So far you haven’t given me anything other then your head on a platter. You could’ve made this entire story up.”
“No, I swear.”
“Then tell me something useful.”
“The guy Todd worked for owns a shipping company that uses shipping containers at the Port of Tampa.”
“We know that.” Nate looked away from David as though the information was useless.
“What you probably don’t know is that the guy who owns the shipping company is also one of the father’s. When I asked Todd how I could trust this guy he said because he was going to do the same thing to his wife and kid.”

Chapter 43

2008-08-24T18:36:00.000-07:00

Ashley’s stomach growled, a nauseous feeling grabbing at her and not letting go. She hadn’t eaten for what felt like a day and possibly could have been. With no lights or windows, Ashley had no idea what time it was.
Either way Julia had yet to come back.
“Please God protect us,” Ashley sent up a prayer. If she remembered correctly from Sunday School God would hear their prayers no matter how long or short or even how good.
“I didn’t think you’d pray,” Kayla said.
“What honey?”
“I didn’t think you believed in God.” Kayla’s voice sounded raw as though she had no voice left. The poor girl had been in this whole for going on a week. She was probably suffering from dehydration and who knew what else.
“I don’t know what to feel about God right now. When my husband and son died I hated God. I was so angry I wouldn’t talk about them or God. I couldn’t understand why God would take them from me. And I still don’t understand everything. All I do know right now is that God may be the only one that can get us out of this situation.”
“He is.”
“Well, then I guess you and Julia are both smarter then me.” Ashley laughed despite herself.
“Julia’s smarter.”
“What makes you say that?”
“She’s protected me the whole time she’s been here. If they try to come for me she steps in and goes.”
“Have you gone where she’s gone?”
“No,” Kayla said. “They have never come for me. Once they tried but Julia went for me. She says I am too young. But I’m not. I am nine years old. I am almost ten. I can take it.”
Ashley remained quiet. What could she say? Ashley understood Kayla’s feelings. She felt bad for her friend but Kayla had no idea where Julia went. Ashley doubted Julia told her anything.
Ashley heard Kayla adjusting herself probably to a sitting position. Kayla cleared her throat then asked, “You said you came here to talk to Kyle. Have you talked to him?”
“Yes, all the time.”
“Is he okay?”
“Your brother is doing fine but he misses you so much.”
“He must be worried that I’m dead.”
“Actually, he knows you’re alive. He said he can feel it. He’s been so brave and helpful.”
“That’s Kyle, he is much braver then he thinks he is. He helps me out all the time.” Kayla sniffed. “I miss him so much.”
“You will see him again, I promise.” Ashley knew she wasn’t supposed to make promises she didn’t know for sure she could keep but this was different. This wasn’t the clinical office where she had a list of interviewing rules to follow. This wasn’t for a prosecutor or a defense attorney. This wasn’t even for a desperate parent eager to get their child out of a bad situation. No, this was real life and Ashley would keep her promise or die trying.
As Ashley finished speaking the metal door squeaked again. The scraping on the concrete making the hairs on her arms stand on end. Light from the outside streamed into the metal container and Ashley knew it was morning and she’d been in this prison for more then a day. Where was Nate?
With the light Ashley could see that she was in a metal shipping container. It was painted red. Large block numbers indicated where the container came from but Ashley didn’t understand what they meant. Two mattresses lined the back wall. One was where Kayla lay, her dark, black hair knotted and poufy from lack of care. She was sitting in the corner, knees to her chest. Ashley could almost trace the tracks of tears on her cheeks.
The same man that had taken Julia out of the container now came back in holding Julia in his arms her hands hanging down by her sides. Dried blood clung to her pants and her fingernails. She had obviously fought as hard as she could.
“What did you do to her?”
The man only smiled as he dropped Julia on her mattress. “Your friend here put up a good fight. We had to give her a few drugs to calm her down. She might be okay when she comes to.”
“You monster!” Ashley rushed the man knocking him off balance. He fell against the side of the container. Ashley kicked him repeatedly in the side. The man groaned, then fell silent.
“Come on girls we need to go.” Ashley reached out her hands to Kayla and Julia. Kayla only blinked at her. Julia did not move. What could she do? She couldn’t possibly carry both of them.
The door was open.
Ashley stepped outside and looked around. Metal shipping containers were everywhere, stacked two and three high. From where she was she could just make out the ocean to her left, the same water she had seen earlier but nothing else. If she made a wrong move she could be lost in the maze of containers. But how could she stay here.
“Help! Somebody help us!”
There was no answer. No one rushed to their rescue. Ashley wasn’t even sure that God heard them.
Wait someone had heard her. She heard footsteps coming closer but as the footsteps rounded the corner Ashley knew it wasn’t anyone that would be helpful.
“What are you doing outside? Get back in!” A much larger man then the first grabbed Ashley by the arm and threw her back inside her container. She landed on the same side she had the day before and the pain was intense enough to keep her from jumping up again. “This is your dinner.” The man threw a McDonald’s bag at Ashley’s feet. “I suggest you eat it. You wouldn’t want to die in here, now would you?”
The larger man left the three of them alone in the darkness slamming the door behind him. As the pain subsided, Ashley fumbled for the McDonald’s bag. She smacked the ground until her hand landed on the paper bag. Feeling inside of it she pulled out three sandwiches in wrappers. There was nothing else.
“Here Kayla you need to eat.” Ashley reached for Kayla, when she hit her knees she groped for her hands. Finding them she placed the sandwich in her hands.
Forcing herself to take her own advice she ate the small hamburger bite by bite willing it to take away the gnawing in her stomach. When the small sandwich was gone she leaned her head back against the metal container and forced herself not to dream of large salads with generous portions of vegetable, meat and nuts. What she wouldn’t give for fresh fruit. What she wouldn’t give for her freedom.

Chapter 42

2008-08-23T14:37:00.000-07:00

Since I was asked about writing more after this I will answer :) This is actually the third novel I've written but I am hoping for it to be the first book in my Ashley Park's series. This book is tentatively entitled Embrace No Evil - my second book will hopefully be Repay No Evil (this one I have written but need to re-write to include Ashley's character). I may continue this blog with that book after that since I will obviously finish this novel before the year is out.

I also wanted to note that my first article came out in the most recent issues of SUPERTWINS magazine :) Yea! It's in the middle on pages 34/35 for those of you who receive that magazine and my title is listed on the front cover which is pretty cool. It's not the article I thought they were using this time but it's still pretty cool!

Now for another chapter:

Wednesday morning dawned with an overcast and gloomy day. It had been steadily drizzling since the sun had come up. The air was more humid then usual but it was surprisingly cool for October dipping into the lower 80’s. Nate inhaled the fresh air deeply then sipped his coffee. He had slept for three hours in the office couch. It was a mutual couch so four agents had taken turns getting rest.
After his “interview” with Michael, Nate had made his way out to the area where Ashley’s car was recovered. The Toyota Camry was found with a large dent in its front bumper and the air bag had been deployed. There was no sign of Ashley or Kyle but the crime technicians had found blood in the back and front seats but not enough to know if Ashley or Kyle were badly hurt. The good news was that they hadn’t found any bodies and it was likely that both Ashley and Kyle were still alive. Nate could only pray that was still the case.
Nate leaned against the exterior wall of the FBI Field Office in Tampa and let the slight breeze from the rain and ocean blow through his hair. He would give anything to be on the beach today instead of at work tracking down a kidnapper and murderer. From the field office Nate could see only parking lots, buildings and flat land full of trees but he knew just beyond that was the Gulf of Mexico and its beautiful beaches. Nate stepped out into the parking lot and let the rain wake him up while he imagined himself on those beaches, swimming some morning laps in the ocean.
But it wasn’t long before his mind was right back to work. No matter how hard he tried he wouldn’t get away from it until his job was done.
The pieces of this case were not fitting together. Why would fathers sell their daughters? To who? How would that be initiated? How did Jimmy Livingston fit into the picture? The man had threatened Ashley multiple times. Was it him who kidnapped Ashley and Kyle? Nate doubted it. He was sure her disappearance had something to do with the case especially given the similar way she was taken.
An hour after Nate’s talk with Michael, Michael’s lawyer arrived. Mr. John T. Goldberg III made his presence known from the moment he walked into the field office. The man stood a few inches taller then Nate’s six feet with broader shoulders and a rounder belly. His head was devoid of most of his hair but what little was there was combed over to cover his balding forehead. He wore black glasses over his black eyes. Nate was sure it was to cover his black soul.
On advice from his lawyer Michael had spoken no more. The only additional question he would answer was to tell Nate that he had no idea who Jimmy Livingston was and no idea how he was connected.
And that’s when Nate knew Michael was lying.
Surely Ashley would have told him about Jimmy especially after all the threats. Did Michael not think that Nate and Ashley talked? Why would he lie? What would he gain? Did he think Nate would not notice his downcast eyes? His inability to make eye contact?
“Nate, we’ve got something.” Nate looked to the building’s door and saw Eric stepping through it, his dark complexion blending in with the day. His bald head having no sunlight to reflect.
“What is it?”
“You’re going to want to see this.”
Nate jogged out of the rain and into the building, the cold air conditioning blasting his face.
“I think we may have something,” Eric said as he pushed the elevator button. Eric and Nate stepped on when the doors opened and rode the elevator to the third floor. Making his way through other agents desks Nate reached a crowd that had gathered around Eric’s desk.
“What are they looking at?”
“You have to see this,” Eric said.
Nate found a place next to Annabeth and looked at Eric’s screen. Once again he was seeing Kayla in green vision but wait, there was something else. Someone else. As he looked closer he recognized Ashley.
“What is she doing?”
“She’s signing something. Not that I know what it is,” Eric said.
Nate repeated the waving motion. “Water. I think she’s talking about water. Maybe they’re being held near the water.”
“That’s not a lot. This is Tampa, everyone is near the water,” Annabeth said.
“Wait, who is that?” Eric pointed to the screen as another form crawled over next to Ashley.
“Looks like Julia.” Nate leaned closer in to the screen. While they could make the girls out on the screen the green color and the darkness did not make their features easy to see. “Yes, it is Julia.” Nate stood back up so those around him could also see three of their five missing persons sitting side-by-side.
“She’s signing too,” Eric said. “Any idea what she’s saying?”
“She’s spelling. I don’t know my sign language alphabet.”
“I do,” a female agent stepped forward and looked at the screen. Nate recognized Vivian Nash as an agent from White Collar Crimes. It wasn’t surprising to see agent’s out of their given fields in a case as large as this one.
“She’s spelling ‘port’,” Vivian paused. “That’s boat and water.”
“But which port?” Eric asked.
“We have to start with the Port of Tampa. They ship internationally and are big enough to hold cruise ships. There’s no reason that they would hold them anywhere else,” Nate said. “We’ll need warrants before we go.”
“But where do we start?” Eric asked. “I doubt Michael has any ties to the Tampa port. This is more organized then that. This isn’t one man. This has to be a group of traffickers moving the girls. We have no idea who would even be doing this.”
“I agree,” Annabeth said.
“Michael’s our first real lead. Did we get anything from his house?” Nate directed the question to the agents standing around. While the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department detectives would have served the warrant and searched the grounds, one of Nate’s agents was to be present.
“I was there while you were sleeping,” Eric flashed Nate a large, white smile. “Nothing yet. We’ve come up empty but we did take his computer. If he’s hiding anything we should find it there.”
“But how long will that take?” Nate said.
“We have a rush on it,” Eric said.
“We have a rush on everything. Hasn’t gotten us very far.”
“Don’t rush to judgment,” a female voice came from the elevator. Nate looked up to see Leslie Rawlings stepping out of the elevator holding up a manila folder. “I may have something you want.”
“The location of a shipping container where three missing people are being held?”
A questioning look crossed Leslie’s face. Nate waved his hand for her to ignore his question and get on with what she came there for. “I have the DNA results from Jessica Rappaport.”
“You know who the father of the baby is?” Nate asked.
“After we found out she was pregnant we took DNA from Jessica, the fetus as well as samples from all males in Jessica’s life prior to her abduction.”
“You found a match?”
“I have a match.”
“Well, spit it out,” Annabeth said from behind Nate.
“It’s the stepfather. Well, I guess the father now but only by adoption.”
Nate found his notes on his desk and flipped back to the interview. “David Rappaport?”
“That’s him.”
“I knew that guy was a creep when I met him. He didn’t care at all that his daughter was dead. Claimed she’d been sleeping around,” Nate said.
“More like he was raping her,” Leslie said. “No doubt he’s the father.”
“Maybe that was the secret,” Nate said.
“What was?” Leslie asked.
“Before Michael’s attorney came in Michael said that he was being blackmailed. That somebody had something on him that was enough for him to be willing to sell his daughter,” Nate said.
“And you think the same people knew that Jessica was pregnant by her father and blackmailed him with it?” Eric finished Nate’s thought.
“Possibly but that doesn’t explain why she ended up dead. We found her almost discarded with no sign of recent rape. Maybe they had something more on David Rappaport.”
“Or maybe he just wanted money and didn’t care who he hurt,” Leslie said.
“Now you’re thinking like an agent,” Nate smiled at Leslie and watched a pink color creep into her cheeks. Nate turned from Leslie to Eric and the other agents. “We need to look at all the father’s a little closer. What did they have to gain from losing their daughters? I know most of them had a rocky marital relationship but how rocky? I want forensic accountants going through their finances line by line. I will contact Detective Williams to pick up Mr. Rappaport. Maybe our interview with him will go better then with Michael. Come on people. These girls are still alive we have to find them.”
Six agents stepped away in six different directions each knowing what was required of them and setting out to do it. But all Nate could think about was Kyle Fleming and Lizzie Andrews. There had been no sign that either of them was still alive.

Chapter 41

2008-08-22T19:14:00.000-07:00

Ashley fumbled her way across the shipping container until she reached a mattress. This is something she remembered from her dream. If she remembered correctly it also meant that only Kayla’s mattress could be viewed easily through the camera. In the blackness Ashley could not see a camera and had no idea where it was mounted.
Crawling across the mattress she hit the opposite side of the container. Then crawled her hands up the wall feeling for a camera. She couldn’t reach the top even standing on her toes but still she ran her hands across the wall as high as she could feel. She moved slowly trying to avoid hitting Julia with her feet. She wasn’t successful.
“Ouch.”
“Sorry, I’m looking for something.”
“There’s no way out. We’ve already tried.”
“I’m not looking for a way out.” Ashley reached down and felt Julia’s shoulder. She used her to guide her way down to the mattress beside her. “Julia, can I get your help with something?”
“I don’t know.” The words were more grunted then said and Ashley just barely made them out.
Ashley sighed. All her years of training had not prepared her for this. All the children she had ever met with had been in her office at the time. They were in a safe place. They had people who cared for them. While the threat of danger wasn’t completely gone it wasn’t standing over them at that very moment waiting to eat them alive. And the truth was Ashley had no idea whether these girls would live. Three of their peers had already turned up dead. Although Ashley did not yet know what had occurred to Julia she knew that it wasn’t good.
“Have you noticed any kind of daily routine?” Ashley was sitting close enough to Julia to feel her shrug. “What I mean is do they come in to feed you at regular time?”
“They bring food sometimes,” Kayla said. Ashley only knew it was Kayla because the voice didn’t come from right next to her.
“Do you see who brings you food?”
The girl’s silence was the only answer she got. Ashley didn’t want to pressure them with questions but she also knew their knowledge might provide the opening she needed to get all of them out of this alive. Ashley sat quietly and waited. Waited for something to happen.
And waited.
The silence and darkness were already messing with her mind. She had no idea what time of day it was or how long she had been there. Neither girl spoke though from time to time she heard one or the other of them crying. The door never opened.
Wait.
Ashley had an idea. There was a chance that the video feed was still being broadcast over the internet and there was a small chance that Nate or someone else at the FBI would still be watching that feed. Maybe she could mouth something to them or sign something and they would understand.
“Kayla. Kayla, are you awake?” Ashley asked as she began her crawl to the opposite side of the shipping container.
“Yea,” came the small reply
“Listen, I’m coming your way and I don’t want to bump into you. Can you sit up with your back against the corner?”
“Yea.”
“Okay, before they took me I was working with an FBI agent. His name is Nate Zimmerman. He called me from Maryland to talk to Kyle. So I came to help him and while we were looking for you we found something.” Ashley paused to feel the ground beneath her. She had reached the end of Julia’s mattress, hit the metal bottom of the container and then found a second mattress that she assumed to be Kayla’s.
“What did you find?” The question came from behind her. Must have been Julia.
“We found a camera that was watching you girls.”
“What? No, no. They can see us?” Julia again.
“Yes.” Both girls began to cry. “Now I know it sounds like a bad thing but it’s not as bad as it sounds. And it may work to save us. If I sit next to Kayla I can try to talk to Nate through the camera.”
“What if someone else sees us?” It appeared that Julia was the only one in the shipping container who would talk. Kayla’s only noises were to whimper in the corner.
“I’ll say it was my idea and that you had nothing to do with it.”
“It was your idea.”
“Julia, you are one smart girl.” Ashley reached Kayla and stopped. She squeezed the girl’s arm, the only affection she would allow herself. While she hadn’t seen Kayla removed from the container it was still plausible that she was. Which meant it was possible that Kayla had already been raped and would not appreciate being touched by someone she didn’t know in a dark and putrid shipping container.
Ashley sat with her back against the metal wall and looked up to where she assumed the camera would be. How she wished she knew sign language. She made a large gesture with her thumb and pointed to her chest then she pointed to Kayla to indicate that she was being held prisoner with Kayla. Of course that much was obvious but it seemed like a good place to start. What else? Ashley made a waving motion with her hand to indicate water, hopefully. What was the sign for boat?
She had no idea.
This was not going as she had planned. “Do either of you know the sign for boat?”
No answer. Not that she had expected one. These girls were nine and eleven how could they know?
“I know the alphabet.”
“Julia, is that you?”
“Yea. My cousin is deaf and I learned it last summer before I went on a missions trip with her and my church.”
“Do you want to teach me?” Ashley said.
“No, but I can do it. Just tell me what to spell.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I hate these creeps. What can they do to me that they haven’t already done?”
Kill you. But Ashley didn’t say it out loud. This young girl had more courage then most people Ashley knew. Heck, she had more courage then Ashley. If Julia did survive this she might just be one of the lucky ones whose life isn’t destroyed because of it.
Ashley waited for Julia to reach her and sit beside her. “I don’t know where the camera is. I only know that it’s above us and it’s pointed at Kayla’s bed.” Ashley searched for Julia’s hand and when she found it she pointed it up in the air towards the direction she hoped the camera was. “Can you spell the word ‘port’?”
“Okay, what else?” Julia asked after she finished.
“Spell boat and water. Before they blindfolded me I got a glimpse of the water so I’m assuming we’re at a port. Plus this shipping container makes me think we’re somewhere waiting to be shipped out…” Ashley caught her train of thought. “Or just be held here.”
Neither Julia nor Kayla responded but Ashley could feel Julia making movements beside her and assumed she was spelling the words Ashley had asked for. “I’ve heard boat horns but every time they take me out they blindfold me so I don’t know where I am.”
“Where do they take you?” Ashley didn’t hold out high expectation for an answer but thought she would ask anyway.
“They take me to some apartment. I don’t see anything. The windows are dark so I don’t know what day it is.”
“Do you see anybody?” Ashley asked.
“I try not to look. It’s never the same person. They touch me, it’s weird.” Julia moved away from Ashley. They were no longer touching.
Silence engulfed them for a time before Julia said, “Miss Ashley, do you believe in God?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Because I believe in God but I don’t understand why I’m here. My dad left us but he was coming back and then my mom died. Why would God let that happen?”
“I don’t know Julia. Those are hard questions. A long time ago I was married and had a little boy but God took them from me. I still don’t know why.”
“Do you think He had a reason?” Julia said.
“If He did I don’t know what it was.”
“Maybe it was so you could be here with us.” Julia definitely had more courage then Ashley. But as Ashley sat there she thought about what Julia had said. Maybe Julia was right. Maybe God was there. Maybe He did care.
Before Ashley could ask Julia where she got her faith from the door squeaked open and a shadow fell across the floor. There was no daylight behind the shadow so Ashley assumed it was now night. A man that Ashley did not recognize entered their prison without a word. His large hands reached down next to Ashley and grabbed Julia.
“No! No! Don’t take me.” Julia’s screams. She tried kicking her abductor but he didn’t loosen his grip. When she bit his arm he simply switched sides and cursed at her.
“Don’t you touch her!” Ashley jumped up and ran towards the man holding Julia. “Put her down!”
“Get off me.” Julia’s abductor cursed again and pushed Ashley to the ground. She felt a sharp pain in her backside but pushed herself up again anyway.
“Let her go,” Ashley yelled. But she wasn’t quick enough and the metal door closed in her face. “Let her go!” Ashley pounded on the door as the tears began to fall down her cheek. “God, save her. Save us all.” Ashley slouched down to the ground and began to pray. What was that old saying? There were no atheists in foxholes? Ashley decided she had to agree and for the first time in eleven years Ashley cried out to the God she once knew. To the God who could hear beyond these metal walls and answer. She could only pray He would answer soon.

Chapter 40

2008-08-21T13:30:00.000-07:00

It seems the writer's conference has spurred my creativity and drive to get this novel done! What does that mean for you? I am writing chapters faster then usual so I'm adding another one today :)

Nate stared through the glass in front of him. Michael sat in a metal chair at a metal table both of which were bolted to the floor to avoid their use as a weapon. The walls were made entirely of concrete blocks painted an olive green color. From where Michael was sitting he could see himself in the mirror in front of him while Nate could sit behind the glass and watch whatever Michael did.
As Nate watched him he could not make a determination as to his guilt or innocence. Michael didn’t appear nervous. He wrapped his hands around the Styrofoam coffee cup he’d been given and took sips as though he were waiting for a friend to meet him for lunch. All outward appearances pointed towards a man with no worries yet when Nate looked closer he could see the shaky hands and bouncing knee.
In his hand, Nate held one sheet of background information on Michael Carter Fleming born July 15th, 1969. Graduated from the University of South Florida with honors in June of 1991. Graduated from Stetson Law School with honors in June of 1993. Began work as a prosecutor in 1994 after an internship with a judge straight out of law school. Passed the bar on the first try. He had moved from misdemeanors to felonies and then had been elected as District Attorney for Pinellas County. He had no criminal record. Not even a parking ticket. The man was completely clean. Why then had he been found with pictures of naked children?
Nate opened the door to the concrete room and stepped inside. Although it would appear that he and Michael were alone. The truth was that two detectives and Nate’s partner, Eric would be watching them from the other side of the glass. Nate was quite certain Michael would be aware of this.
“You do realize that you are under arrest for possession of child pornography and you have the right to have an attorney present at this time?” Nate asked as he entered the room.
“Yes,” Michael said.
“Would you like to have an attorney present before I question you?” Nate leaned against the table and stared down at Michael.
Michael did not look up. “I can handle myself.”
Nate threw a file folder on the table. Pictures of children slid out on to the table. Michael winced and looked away. Nate picked the pictures up and placed them back in the folder. It was enough that Michael knew they were there. Nate sat down in the metal chair opposite Michael’s. Unlike Michael’s chair Nate’s was not bolted to the floor. It was a symbol of freedom that Michael did not have.
“I’m not sure you can handle yourself Michael. I have pictures of children in compromising positions in this folder. Pictures that you had on your person when the police were detaining you…”
Michael laughed but his laugh held no emotion. “Detained me? More like set me up. You knew darn well I didn’t have a gun.”
“We have a witness that said you did.”
“Your witness is lying.”
“That’s not for me to decide.” Nate was pretty sure that his witness was lying but without concrete proof he had to believe her statement. He would question her again later.
“I did not have a gun on me. I did not have anything that looked like a gun.” Now Michael looked up to meet Nate’s gaze. “Your witness ‘accidentally’ walked in on me while I was removing items from my safe deposit box. I am sure that your detective put her up to that just like he is putting her up to this.” Michael poked the table with his finger to make his point.
“Either way we have reasonable cause to arrest you now…”
“The judge will throw it out,” Michael said.
“Don’t bet on it. I am searching for three missing girls, one missing woman and the murderer of another three girls. Do you really think a judge will care how I came across this information? I doubt it. No jury will care if your rights are violated. They will want you dead or at the least rotting behind bars. Is there anything you want to share with me before I throw you in prison myself?”
Michael held up his hands the handcuffs jingling between them. “I swear I did not know what was in the safe deposit box. I found the key and I had no idea what it went to. I assumed it was Gina’s. I checked some of her papers and saw that she had a bill for a safe deposit box. I just went to check it out. I had no idea what was in it.”
“And when you saw child pornography in the box what did you plan to do with it?” Michael shrugged and leaned back in his chair obviously refusing to answer Nate’s question. “I don’t think you understand your situation Mr. Fleming. I have you on possession of child pornography. You may be the District Attorney but you are not above the law.”
“You do not know who you are messing with.” Michael kept his voice even and low so that Nate had to lean in to hear.
“No, you don’t know who you’re messing with. I am going to find those girls even if I have to step on your toes to get there. If there’s something you know and you’re not telling me I swear to you, you will pay.” Nate stood, grabbed the file with the photos and headed for the room’s exit.
“Wait,” Michael said. “Please just wait.”
Nate stopped but did not turn to face Michael. He was not playing games. He did not care who this man was. If he stood in Nate’s way then he would pay. There was too much at stake.
“They will kill me if I talk to you.”
Nate turned, walked to Michael’s side, leaned into his ear and whispered, “I will kill you if you don’t.”
Michael did not flinch. He folded his hands in front of him and looked straight ahead. Nate knew the man was caught. No judge would overlook possession of child pornography on a person let alone when the person having possession was the District Attorney. Nate almost felt sorry for him. Almost.
“I want immunity,” Michael said.
“That all depends on what you give me.” Not a chance.
“They made me do it.”
“Who made you do what?”
“I was contacted by someone I don’t know. They offered money…” Michael cleared his throat. “They offered me money for my daughter.”
“You sold your daughter! You sold your daughter to monsters?” The words came out so quickly and harshly that spittle flew on to Michael’s face. Michael could not reach his neck to wipe it off. Nate made no attempt to help him. “You want immunity for selling your daughter?”
“No, it’s not like that. I swear it’s not.”
“Then tell me Michael Fleming what is it like? Your wife is dead, your daughter is missing, your son has been shot so how is it not like that?” Nate moved in front of Michael and looked down at him daring him to defy Nate’s accusations.
“They knew things about me.” Michael’s voice was one of defeat. There was no sign of the high-powered attorney. Instead of clamping his mouth shut, refusing to speak and requesting a lawyer as Nate would have expected Michael was actually talking.
“What kinds of things?”
“I will not tell you without an attorney present.”
“Are you requesting an attorney?”
“Not yet but I will and I will discuss with him the implications. All you need to know is that they had something on me.” Michael looked down. Nate wasn’t sure if it was out of shame or the feeling that he had said too much.
“Where is Kayla?”
“I don’t know.”
“How can you not know?”
“I didn’t know any details.”
“And Gina’s murder?”
“I want a lawyer,” Michael said.
“If you bring an attorney in here Michael I can’t help you. And if I find out one of those girls dies while you were sitting here so help me I will not rest until you are in the electric chair in Starke.” Nate hit the table in frustration. This man was wasting his time.
“Fine, I will tell you what I know. You cannot put me in prison. They will eat me alive. I’ve put men away in there…”
“Michael, what do you know? You are wasting my time and I don’t have time to waste. I need to find those girls. I need to find Ashley.” A confused look crossed Michael’s face. Apparently Michael had not connected the dots when Nate mentioned a missing woman earlier. Maybe he wasn’t as involved as Nate had suspected. “Oh, did you not know? Yes, they’ve taken Ashley and probably Kyle. We haven’t been able to locate either of them.”
“What? How?” Michael rested his head in his hands. “This can’t be… This can’t be happening.”
“It is and I need your cooperation if I’m going to get any of the remaining girls back alive because believe me if I don’t I will hold you responsible for all six girls, all six mothers, your son and Ashley. You will never again see the light of day. Is that what you want?”
“Okay. I will tell you everything when my lawyer arrives. For now you need to know that the girls are going to be shipped to Russia to be sold into the sex trade. The market is big for Caucasian girls…”
“How much time do I have?”
“For what?”
“Before they are going to move the girls?”
“You have two days.”

Chapter 39

2008-08-20T12:28:00.000-07:00

Note - the blog is now private but if you have someone who asks about reading it please just send them my address. I am happy to add readers :)

As a special treat I'm adding 2 chapters today! So please notice that you have to read Chapter 38 before Chapter 39. Thanks for your support!

Nate heard the news over the police scanner on his way to the bank. Had he heard right? Michael was packing a gun? Nate was surprised to hear it but maybe he had a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Taking in to the bank would be a bad idea. Surely he would know that.
Nate needed no directions to the bank. He could hear the sirens from three blocks away. Nate followed the noise to the SunTrust bank. At least twenty marked cars were parked in front of the bank. Their owners standing beside their vehicles, doors open for shields and guns drawn. All of them were pointed towards the front door of the bank but no one made a move to go inside.
Flashing his badge allowed him access under the tape. Microphones and news cameras followed him to the tape. How did the media already know? Nate had purposely ignored TV for weeks. He did not need their spin on his case.
He searched the faces of the men anxiously awaiting the man with a gun to find the one man he was looking for. Finding Commander Brett Herndon Nate made his way over to discuss the situation they had before them.
“What’s the FBI doing here already?” Herndon spat on the ground next to him. Nate was unsure if the gesture was directed towards him or just to relieve himself of the extra saliva that must have accumulated in his mouth on his twenty minute stake out.
“This is my case. That’s my guy in there.”
“How do you even know what guy where here for?” Once an ally Nate suspected that Herndon now saw a way to get glory for himself and attention for the Sheriff’s Department.
“Don’t mess with me, man, I was on my way here to pick up Michael Fleming before I go the call. Now all of a sudden my guy has a gun? Does your department have something to do with that?”
“Are you calling my detective a liar?”
“If the shoe fits.”
Herndon let out a curse. “Agent, don’t get in my way today. I have a shot at this guy and I want to take him down.”
“You don’t even know why you’re here to take him in. I’m talking to this guy. The FBI has jurisdiction in this missing person’s case. He is a person of interest in the disappearance of three girls. You will not stand in my way.”
“It’s our arrest Agent. This is my jurisdiction.”
“You may take him in but I will question him. After I talk to him then we can decide if he’s yours or mine.”
Herndon grunted and spit again. Nate took that as an affirmative. He had no time to wait for an actual answer because when he looked up he saw Michael exiting the bank building.
“That’s him. He has the gun.” The words came over Herndon’s radio. Herndon drew his weapon and pointed it at Michael.
“Drop your weapon.”
The confused look on Michael’s face confirmed Nate’s fears that this was somehow a made-up charge. Michael froze where he was.
Herndon yelled again, “I said drop your weapon.”
Michael held his hands straight into the air as a sign of surrender. He was immediately rushed by three sheriff’s deputies and tackled to the ground. He was handcuffed before he could protest. Nate approached cautiously.
“What are you doing? What are you talking about?” Michael’s words cut through Nate. If this arrest wasn’t clean then anything coming from it would be fruit of the poisonous tree.
“Is this him?” Commander Herndon asked a detective exiting the building. Nate recognized him as Detective Jack Williams, Cole Easton’s partner. The same Cole Easton they would be burying in less then a week. Next to Jack stood a small woman with a boyish blond haircut and dark glasses. Large hoop earrings almost reached her neck, a very large necklace covering her body.
Nate jogged over to Detective Williams. “What is this? I came here to talk to this guy and you’re arresting him. For what?”
Jack turned to the girl. “You saw the gun didn’t you Jennifer?”
Jennifer’s eyes grew round and wide. She looked from Nate to Jack and back again. Nate stared at her willing her to tell the truth. Whether Michael was guilty or innocent Nate did not know but he didn’t want his arrest to be based on a lie. Finally the woman spoke, “Yes…yes, I saw a gun. At least I thought I did.”
“If you talked her into this he’ll get off.” Nate pointed his finger at Jack’s chest.
“Pat him down. You won’t be disappointed.” Jack smiled at Nate. He didn’t miss Jennifer’s grimace from beside Jack. She must not like his smile either.
“Got something Commander!” A female deputy who had been standing next to Michael held something high in her hand. Nate left Jack standing with his smirk and strode over to Michael and the officer’s surrounding him.
“What is it?” Herndon asked.
“Looks like some pictures. Pictures of some naked kids.” The female replied. And at that moment Nate decided he did not care of Michael’s arrest was clean or not.

Ashley hit the side of the SUV and felt the blood trickle down her face once again. From where she lay she could not see out the windows and did not know where she was headed. Kyle lay beside her. From all appearances his wounds had stopped bleeding. Ashley tried to roll over and get a sense of where she was but the ache in her back wouldn’t let her move.
What she did know was that she was still alive and for that she was grateful. At least she thought she was. When they finally came to a stop Ashley prepared herself for a fight. She had not been bound or gagged. She was hurting but she would try. Her life may depend on it.
But it didn’t matter. She could not defend herself against two large men who reached in and grabbed her by her ankles and dragged her to a standing position. One large set of hands wrapped a dark cloth around Ashley’s eyes but not before she saw water in the distance.
Her heart began to pound. Where they going to throw her in the water? Was she going to die here? Once again she found herself crying out to a God she had given up so many years ago. Once again she wondered if Nate might have been right about the God he served. If he was and she died in that water where would she go? The question continued to plague her. She tried to think back to Sunday school lessons she had heard so many years ago but her mind could not form coherent thoughts.
“Don’t touch me!” Kyle’s voice came from behind Ashley but she could not see him or anything else for that matter.
“It’s okay bud. We’re going to be okay. Can you be strong for me?” Ashley prayed her lie would hold true. She heard no answer from Kyle. She squeezed her eyes shut to keep the flow of tears at bay. One tear slipped down her cheek from underneath her blindfold. She had no hands to wipe it off her chin so there it sat irritating her skin.
“This way.” A male voice jerked her to her right. She heard metal squealing and then some whimpers that did not belong to Kyle or her. Where was she? The blindfold was removed as a large hand shoved her forward. The same metal sounded behind her followed by a loud thud. There was no light to see by but there was the distinctive smell of urine and there was the sound of crying.
“Where am I?” Ashley said feeling the walls around her. There was metal all around her. Odd bumps in the wall made her think of shipping containers. The kind that would be at a port. The water. That was it. She was being held in a shipping container. Who was here with her?
“Kayla? Kayla are you in here?”
The whimpering grew louder. Then it was on both sides of her.
“Who else is in here?”
“It’s Julia.”
“Julia Lambert?” Not that there could’ve been another.
“Yes. Who are you?”
“My name is Ashley Parks. Do you girls know where you are?”
“No,” the two girls said in unison.
“Do you know that everybody is so busy looking for you?” No answer. “Have you girls seen Lizzie?”
“Who?” Ashley had no idea which girl was speaking.
“Lizzie Andrews. Has there been anyone else in here with you?”
“One girl but she hasn’t come back. Otherwise it’s just been me and Kayla.” Ashley said nothing about the one girl they spoke of. These girls were already scared enough. They did not need to know how many girls had already died.
“Kayla, can you hear me?”
“Mmm-hmmm.” They weren’t exactly words but at least Ashley knew that Kayla was in there and that she was alive enough to talk.
“Kayla, I want you to know that your brother is okay. Your brother, Kyle and I have become really good friends. He’s okay and he’s been helping me…” Sobs interrupted her words. Heavy sobs filled the metal container from what Ashley could only assume to be the back of the shipping container. And then a second set of tears wracked their prison. And Ashley let a second tear fall. But only one because she would not be confined by these walls and neither would these girls. God had put her here but maybe, just maybe, He had put her here for a reason. To save the lives of the two girls sharing her horror.

Chapter 38

2008-08-20T12:26:00.000-07:00

We have to go!” Nate made his voice heard over all the noise on the Major Crimes division of the Tampa Bay Field Office. “What is her location?”
“We’re getting a fix on her cell phone. It’s still on. We’ll have her location in a minute,” Jose said.
“I need SWAT. If there’s any chance they’re still in the area I need to get her back.” This couldn’t be happening. Ashley was under protective custody. How did someone get to her? How did anyone even know where she was? It was her fault that she had skipped out on Jane but there’s no way anyone should have known where she was to begin with to follow her. And if Nate admitted the truth Ashley’s giving Jane the slip probably saved her life. If Jane had been there she wouldn’t have lived.
Of course Nate was just assuming Ashley was still alive. He hadn’t heard a gunshot after the accident but he had heard the screams. If they planned to kill her they probably wouldn’t have taken her alive. Nate hoped.
“Have we located Michael?” Nate asked to no one in particular.
“We’re at the bank but he hasn’t shown up yet,” Eric said with a cell phone to his ear.
“Anything on Ashley’s car?”
“We have uniforms on their way to the scene. I’ll let you know when they get there.” This from another agent.
“Pick it up! We’ve already lost one of our own; I don’t want to lose Ashley too.” Nate met Eric’s gaze asking silently where he should go.
“Head to the bank, Nate. There’s nothing you can do at the traffic accident. If you find Michael and he is involved then maybe he’ll know something,” Eric said.
Nate nodded. He would defer to Eric for instructions from now on knowing he was too close to the case already. Not that every other agent didn’t want to see the creep who took these girls suffer and die but now without Ashley. Well, Nate knew he wouldn’t be thinking straight. Taking the stairs two at a time, Nate descended three floors to the parking lot.
Exiting through the gate Nate waved at the guard and pulled onto the street to make his way to SunTrust Financial Centre near Tampa’s City Hall. Please God, we need all the help we can get.

Jennifer Peters was tired of her job. Tired of cashing checks and depositing money. She had worked for SunTrust bank for nearly seven years and she was doing the same thing. She stayed because the hours were good and made it convenient for her to pick her son up from school. But nothing exciting had happened at SunTrust Financial Centre for as long as she had been there. Not that she wanted to be robbed. No, she didn’t want that but then again maybe it would be a more interesting day if someone actually tested the bullet-proof glass she spent her days behind.
“Next in line,” Jennifer said for at least the thirtieth time of the morning. A man in a dark black suit with crisp white shirt and sunglasses stepped forward to Jennifer’s line. He slid something under the glass to her side. She lifted her hand to take it expecting a check or license. Instead her hand rested on a picture of a well-groomed man with dark black hair and clear blue eyes. His smile was bright and his teeth were perfect.
“Have you seen this man?” The suit standing before her asked.
I wish. “Who is he?”
“Answer the question, please, ma’am.”
Jennifer looked up at the suit in front of her. His hair was not nearly as dark as the man in the picture and his face was older and more jagged then the picture she now held. Not the same man. Pity. “Why do you want to know?”
The suit slipped his hand in his pocket and pulled out something else that he slid under the glass to Jennifer. Now she was grateful for the glass in between. She needn’t have worried. The suit passed her a badge of some sort. She read it: Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department. “You’re police?”
“I’m Detective Jack Williams and I need to know if you have seen this man.”
Jennifer considered a snide remark but from the frown on the detective’s face thought better of it and simply said, “No, I haven’t seen him.”
“Can you tell me if he’s a customer here?”
“I’m sorry, sir, I cannot share that information with you.”
“I could get a warrant.”
“Then you’re going to have to do so.” No way was she risking her job over some random detective even if he was who he said he was.
The detective leaned in closer and gave Jennifer a crooked smile. “Are you sure you haven’t seen him? It’s very important. Maybe he’s not a customer. It’s possible he’s just visited the bank before.”
“I’m sorry, no.” Jennifer slid the picture and the detective’s credentials back through the slot under the bullet-proof glass. “Maybe you would like to speak with my manager.”
Detective Williams rested his hand on his fist. “Maybe I would, Jennifer.” Give the man a medal, he could read her nametag. The smile again. Was he attempting to use his charms on her? Yuck, he was old enough to be her father.
“Let me get her for you.” But before Jennifer could step away from her someone walking through the door caught her eye. Strange, it looked just like the man in the picture. Detective Williams followed her gaze and it landed on the man as well.
The detective turned away from her and spoke into the radio he had removed from his belt. “He’s here. I’ve got eyes on him in the bank.”
“Let him get what he came there to get then we need to detain him.” Came a reply.
“I have no cause to stop him, Agent,” Williams said drawing out the word Agent. Jennifer got the distinct feeling that Jack Williams did not care much for the man he was talking to.
“I suggest you find one,” the radio said.
Jennifer served three more customers but her eyes remained fixed on the dark-haired man and the detective stalking him. Jennifer’s manager, Mildred Gillespie, was serving the man Detective Williams wanted. He had shown her a key and then taken him back to where the safe deposit boxes were kept. Jennifer had no idea what this man had done but her curiosity was peaked.
She motioned to Andrew who was covering the window next to her and told him she was going on a break. In her spare time, in other words, the few hours that her son was asleep and she wasn’t working, Jennifer spent reading mystery novels. She had never been a part of something exciting. Maybe this was her chance.
Jennifer moved from behind the teller desk to the lobby area where the customers gathered. Her interest peaked she snuck back into the safe deposit box area. She had the clearance to go anywhere she wanted in the bank. She’d been offered three promotions but had turned them all down. She liked working with the customers and she liked her hours. But it didn’t mean she hadn’t taken on any other responsibilities from time to time for extra money. One of those was helping customers who had recently opened a safe deposit box. She had seen lots of things go into the boxes but none of them had been exciting enough to warrant a detective looking into it.
A hand grabbed her arm and pulled her back. Her heart pounded as pain shot through her shoulder. “What are you doing?”
It was the detective. What did he think he was doing? She jerked her arm out of his grasp. “I have clearance to be back here. What do you want from me?”
“I asked for your help. Can you do that?”
“Fine, what do you want?”
“Do you think you can see what it is he’s getting out of his box?”
“That’s a violation of his privacy,” Jennifer said.
“I need this man for questioning. Anything you do to help I won’t forget.” That dorky smile again. Did he really think he was attractive?
“Fine, follow me but if I lose my job…”
“I’ll vouch for you.” Jennifer was 90% sure the detective was lying but she nodded anyway. Her life was normally boring maybe today she would make the news.
“Follow my lead.” Jennifer walked through the curtains that separated the private viewing area from the rest of the bank. She saw two legs sticking out from under one of the individual curtains. Taking a deep breath she said, “Mr. Williams, you can view the contents of your box in here.” She drew back the curtains of the occupied stall.
“What the…?” The man behind the curtain cursed. He turned to face her. “Are you stupid? This area is occupied.” He reached over her head to draw back the curtain but not before she noticed a stack of pictures sitting on the table in front of him. Was that what she thought it was?
“I’m sorry, sir, I didn’t see you there.” She fumbled over her words sure that the man would demand to see her manager but instead he turned back to what he was doing. She smoothed her A-line skirt and made her way back to Detective Williams.
“Did you see anything?” he said through gritted teeth.
“He had some pictures,” Jennifer said.
“What kind of pictures?”
“I…I’m not sure.” Jennifer wrung her hands together to try and calm the shakiness. It wasn’t working.
“What do you mean you’re not sure? Did you see something or not?”
“I think I did but I hope I didn’t see what I thought I saw.” Jennifer stepped past Detective Williams and back into the lobby area. Her stomach was revolting. She wanted to find a bathroom to relieve herself of her breakfast.
“Jennifer, please, this is important.”
She stumbled to one of the chairs in the lobby ignoring the looks her co-workers were throwing her way. If she wasn’t careful Andrew would come around to the lobby and make a scene with the detective. They weren’t dating but Andrew still managed to treat Jennifer in a protective and more brotherly way. She held up her hand to show everyone she was fine. She wasn’t sure if she wanted them to believe the lie or not.
“I’m running out of time. What did you see?”
“I think I saw pictures of little kids naked. Did I see that? Is that what I saw?”
The detective let out a string of curses. Had she done something wrong? “Did you see a gun?”
“Wait, what?”
“A gun? You saw a gun?”
“No…”
But it was too late. Detective Williams was speaking into his radio. “Dispatch, I’m in the SunTrust bank on East Jackson Street. I have a report of a gun here in the bank. I need some unis down here. We may be under fire.”

Chapter 37

2008-08-18T11:52:00.000-07:00

Please note - this will be the last entry before I close the blog to the public!! For copyright reasons I need to know who is reading the ending :) We're getting close (only 16,000 words or so left) so for that reason and because I do plan to submit this to publishers I will make this a private blog.

To avoid missing out on the ending please e-mail me: dorindanelson@comcast.net to be included in the invitation to see the rest! You don't have to know me personally to keep reading and you are welcome to pass it along to anyone I just need to know who they are.

Thanks!!

Now for Chapter 37

Ashley gripped the steering wheel of Michael’s Toyota Camry as she weaved in and out of traffic. She glanced back at Kyle who was gripping the door with his good arm. “Sorry bud, I’m doing the best I can.”
“It’s okay Miss Ashley.” But his pale white face and gritted teeth said otherwise.
She slapped the steering wheel repeatedly with her open palm. “Come on, come on, get out of my way.” Then to Kyle, “Are you sure this is the way?”
“Uh-huh.” Kyle gripped the door tighter as Ashley swerved around a slow-moving Lexus. She scanned the sidewalks and the streets as she drove. She was heading south on 19 towards Clearwater Beach; rows and rows of strip malls and stores on either side of her. So far no SunTrust banks.
Wait.
There was one. Ashley glanced behind her and seeing no one sped across two lanes of traffic and into the parking lot. Though it was certainly impossible Kyle’s face was paler then before. Ashley forced a smile on her face. “Is this it? Is this your bank?”
Kyle slowly loosened his grip on the door handle and sat up straighter so he could see out his window. “I don’t know. I don’t think so.”
“Can you sit there for a second while I run in and ask?” Ashley attempted to make her smile even bigger. “I promise I’ll be right back. I just need to ask a question.”
Kyle nodded in large up and down motions his blue eyes wide with pain or terror she couldn’t tell. Ashley patted Kyle’s leg and smiled again. Kyle wasn’t buying it. Ashley climbed out of the car grateful that for once she had thrown on her Puma sneakers and Lucky jeans instead of her normal stilettos and skirt.
Twenty minutes later Ashley was back in the car. This wasn’t the right bank. This branch didn’t even have safety deposit boxes. The teller indicated a larger branch that did and gave Ashley directions. She hoped that would be the right one. Michael had been gone a while. If he beat her there she would lose the evidence and Nate might never get a chance to close the case.
Ashley couldn’t let that happen.
She put Michael’s car in reverse grateful that this family had enough money for three cars. The car Gina had been in was still at police impound. Hopefully Michael wouldn’t mind that Ashley had borrowed their back-up car.
Ashley pulled back into 19 traffic and continued her trek south. She would need to cross the Tampa Bay Bridge and head into Tampa to find the correct SunTrust branch. At a red light Ashley eased to a stop. She grabbed her purse and began digging in it to find her cell phone. Finding it at the bottom she flipped it open and dialed Nate’s cell.
“Special Agent Zimmerman.”
Ashley suppressed a smile at his title. “Zimmie, it’s me.”
A sigh. “Ashley?”
“Yes.”
“What are you doing?”
“I’m on my way to SunTrust bank.”
“You’re what? Ashley what are you doing? How did you leave the house? What car are you in? Where’s Kyle?”
“Relax, Kyle’s with me. I borrowed Michael’s third car…” She bit her bottom lip. Nate wasn’t going to be happy about her slipping her protective custody.
“And where’s Jane?”
Ashley didn’t respond. Nate knew he was referring to Officer Jane Brumagim who she’d left sitting out front watching the house while Ashley had driven out from behind the house.
“Darn it, Ashley, that’s not safe. She’s there for your protection.”
“I know that Nate, but she wouldn’t understand. It’s my fault that Michael got a hold of that key and I intend to find him and get it back.”
“You can’t do that. We have it under control. We have him under surveillance.”
“Do you know where he is?”
“Not yet but we will.” The light turned green and Ashley pushed on the gas to propel them forward through the intersection.
“Nate, I can find him.”
“Where are you?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“No, it does matter. Where are you?”
“I’m on my way to Michael’s bank in Tampa. I’m positive this key goes to a safety deposit box and I plan to get it back.”
“We know what it belongs to but I don’t have a judge to give me a warrant to go in there and open it up. We don’t have enough probable cause,” Nate said.
“Then I’ll get it for you.” Ashley sped up through an orange light determined not to allow Nate to stop her. A black SUV pulled in front of Ashley. “Get out of my way.”
“Ashley, I’m not in your way.”
“Not you, there’s an SUV in my way.” She swerved to the lane to her right but with no success. The van followed her. “Come on, buddy, what are you doing?” She swerved back to the left but again the SUV followed her over. How did it know where she was going?
“Ashley, I need you to come back. Forget Michael and the key, leave it to me.”
“I’m sorry, Nate I can’t do that. As soon as this van gets out of my way I’m going to the Tampa branch and finding Michael. I will talk him into getting what you want I promise.”
“Ashley, don’t do it.”
The way he kept repeating her name was grating on her nerves. She wasn’t a child. She was a grown woman. A woman he had called to come into this case and now she was a part of it whether he liked it or not. It was her fault he didn’t have the key and she was going to get it back.
“What is up?” Ashley said louder then she had intended.
“What’s the matter?”
“This SUV just will not get out of my way…”
“Ashley, stop.”
Too late.
The SUV stopped short in front of her and Ashley could not swerve around it. She collided into the back. A loud crunch filled the car.
“Ashley! Ashley!” She vaguely heard Nate’s voice coming through the phone she had dropped onto the floor in front of her. Her nose throbbed with her heartbeat as liquid dripped down onto her chin. Tasting iron she knew it was her blood.
“Kyle, are you okay?” Ashley attempted to sit up and look back at Kyle but her neck sent a sharp pain down her spine. “Kyle?”
The boy’s silence made Ashley’s heart beat faster. Had she killed him? She vaguely heard Nate’s voice through the phone still yelling her name. She didn’t care about him. She had to get to Kyle.
Slowly she pushed open the driver’s side door, cars moving slowly around her. Had no one stopped for help? Sunlight blinded her and she cupped her hand over her eyes to be able to see in front of her.
“Miss Ashley!” The scream caught her by surprise and she turned sharply to see Kyle scooting to the driver’s side in the back seat. He didn’t seem to notice his arm which was surprising since fresh blood had begun pooling out of her wound. Why had she brought him? She should’ve left him home with Jane.
Something hit the back of her head. The pain adding to her disorientation. She grabbed the car’s roof to keep from falling over. She looked away from Kyle and saw a black figure coming towards her.
“No! No!” Ashley screamed and tried to walk away but the black figure wrapped large arms around her and lifted her off the pavement. “Put me down. Put me down. Kyle!” As he lifted her off the ground she attempted to kick him in the legs and mid-section but he was too big for any of her blows to hurt.
Another black figure moved around in front of Ashley and reached into the back seat. It was certainly a large man but she could make out no distinguishing features. He wore a black ski mask, black turtleneck, black jeans and black gloves. Even his shoes were black.
This was it. She was going to die.
She had read the stories in the paper. She had seen the pictures. Nate had told her. All the women were murdered after their cars were in an accident. She had seen Marie Lambert’s body. Then she thought she was the lucky one. The lucky one not to live to be without her daughter. But now she wasn’t sure. Is this how it ends? She wasn’t ready to die. She didn’t even know where she’d go if she did.
And Kyle. She couldn’t lose him too. She had lost Aidan, she didn’t want to lose Kyle. But instead of a bullet in the skull the strong arms opened the back door to the SUV and threw her onto the floor of the vehicle. She hit the carpet with a thud, pain shooting through her arm, blood from her nose dripping onto the carpet.
The second black figure was more gentle with Kyle and set him beside Ashley. His small face covered in tears and snot. Please God not this!
“We warned you not to mess with us,” the black figure said and slammed the doors at the back of the SUV.

Chapter 36

2008-08-15T14:03:00.000-07:00

Ashley paced the living room while Kyle rested. Michael had left the house to run errands and had yet to return. Ashley wondered if it had something to do with the key she was sure he’d taken. Not that she had solid proof but she didn’t know who else could be responsible.
She had to find him. Not that she had any idea where to look but she had to do something other then sit around and wait. The problem was Kyle. She couldn’t leave him alone and she couldn’t take him with her.
But she could take him on a drive.
Checking on Kyle she found him sitting in up in bed reading. “Hey bud, how are you doing?”
“Fine. I slept a little but not a lot. I was thinking about mom and Kayla. I miss them a lot.”
“I know, buddy. It’s really hard.”
“Did you look at what I gave you?” Kyle used his good hand to finger the sling on his bad arm.
“I did.”
“Did you give it to Mr. Nate?”
“Some of it.” Ashley took a deep breath and looked at Kyle carefully. “Kyle, I can’t find the key you gave me. You didn’t pick it up did you?”
“No, I didn’t look at it Miss Ashley. Mom gave me the envelope and I kept it safe. Did I do a good job?”
“Yea, bud, you did a good job. But Miss Ashley didn’t. I can’t find it. It was there and then it wasn’t.”
“Maybe my dad stole it.” Kyle’s eyes looked down at his bandaged arm as his fingers continued to pick at a string he’d pulled off of his sling. His small legs were criss-crossed on the bed. Ashley could just see the tips of his toes sticking out from underneath his legs. She grabbed a chair and stood on it so she was almost eye level with Kyle.
“What makes you say that?” Ashley tickled Kyle’s knee to illicit a smile out of the boy. It worked. He giggled and moved his leg out of Ashley’s reach.
“I know him. He’s mean sometimes…”
“When is he mean?”
“He hit mom sometimes.” Kyle wrapped the string around his finger. And unwrapped it. “She didn’t protect herself. She was worried about me and Kayla but dad would never hit Kayla, he really loves her best. She’s special.”
“Kyle, does your daddy ever have special time with Kayla?”
“Sometimes.”
“Did Kayla ever tell you what they did?”
“She would only tell me that they looked at pictures.”
“Was she sad after she looked at the pictures?”
Kyle nodded his head. For such a young boy he had a great understanding of human behavior. Ashley didn’t want to consider what this little boy had been through. Even though it may not have happened to him he was by no means immune. Why did this happen? Why does God allow such evil things?
“Kyle, do you know what the key was for?”
“I think it goes to a box at a bank. My mom got the box but my dad doesn’t know about it.”
“How do you know about it?”
“Kayla knew. She gave mom the pictures to put in it.”
Then Gina knew what Michael was doing. Gina knew her daughter was in danger and didn’t do anything? “Kyle, this is important. It could have something to do with Kayla. Does your dad know what Kayla gave your mom?”
“No. My mom just found out a few weeks ago. Kayla told her some things.”
“Why didn’t she leave?”
“She couldn’t. We couldn’t. Dad would find us. He would hurt mom. He would hurt Kayla.”
“What about you?”
“He doesn’t care about me.”
Ashley squeezed Kyle’s good arm and held it until Kyle looked her in the eye. “That’s not true. He loves you.”
“No, he doesn’t care. I’m too scared of things. I’m not like him. He doesn’t like me.”
Ashley wanted to contradict his statements. To tell him that it couldn’t possibly be true. What father wouldn’t want Kyle for a son? There was no way that Michael couldn’t love Kyle. But something in his face. Something in his eyes and she knew he wasn’t exaggerating. She knew he was telling her the truth. Her heart ached for Kyle. She wanted to scoop him up and steal him away. If it weren’t for Kayla she would have. Would have taken him where Michael could never find him.
“Kyle, do you know what bank your mom uses?” Ashley tried to keep her tone light. It was one thing to discuss such matters with Kyle. It was another to have him dwell on them.
“Suntrust I think. It’s got a blue sign with a yellow design. They give lollipops. Kayla and I like that.”
“Would you come with me if I went to visit your bank?”
“Okay.” Kyle moved slowly to the end of the bed and twisted himself carefully on to the ladder. Ashley resisted the urge to pick him up and lift him off. She stopped short only because she knew Kyle needed to do it for himself not only for his physical recovery but for his mental recovery. She watched him wince and carry his arm close as he climbed down.
The doctor had said the bullet had missed his heart by mere centimeters. The second bullet went through left arm. Either could have bled out. Neither did. Either could have kept him in the hospital for weeks and yet here he was, at home, climbing down the ladder that led to his bed. Despite his circumstances Ashley couldn’t help but wonder if maybe God was looking out for him. And as she watched him put his toes on the carpet and smile at his accomplishment she wondered if maybe, just maybe, God was looking out for her too.

Nate was struggling. He had a lead, he didn’t have a lead. He knew something and then he didn’t. Nothing was falling into place. Nothing was easy.
And now his evidence was missing. Evidence he hadn’t even been able to see yet. How could Ashley be so stupid? No, it wasn’t her fault. But how could she have hid it where she did? Who couldn’t have found it?
Nate was snapping his fingers as he walked by other agents and technicians. He needed things and he needed them now. Nate snapped at Jose Martinez, “I need a background check on Michael Fleming.”
“The DA?” Jose looked at Nate with wide brown eyes.
“Yes, the DA. I have a reason. I need everything. Bank, credit, everything and I don’t want him to know about it.”
“Won’t be easy.”
“But you can get it done.” Nate walked away without another word leaving Jose to mumble something to himself in Spanish.
Nate knocked on the door to Annabeth Porter’s office. She looked up from her desk, phone to her ear and waved him in with her free hand. Nate shut the door behind him and waited.
“I need those DNA results and I need them now.” Annabeth slammed the phone down and looked up at Nate and indicated with her hand to take a seat in the leather chair opposite her desk. Nate sat. Annabeth came across the desk and sat on the edge of her mahogany desk. Her gray pantsuit had lavender stripes through out and she wore a matching lavender silk shirt. Her scuffed black heels rested beside her desk on the floor. She crossed her stockinged feet in front of her and looked down at Nate with a sigh. “Do they not know what kind of case this is? I’ve requested a rush at the lab on the DNA from under Daisy’s fingernails that Dr. Folek found and I’m getting nothing. No help at all.”
“I need those results,” Nate said.
“Believe me, I know.” Annabeth sighed again. Nate knew Annabeth deserved her title as Supervisory Special Agent putting her in charge of Nate and the other Special Agents in the Field Office. However, there was quite a bit of opposition to a woman being promoted to the position a year ago and Annabeth has felt the brunt of the prejudice ever since. Due to the high profile aspect of this case Nate could only hope that the lab and the other agents would put their prejudice aside and find the missing girls.
“What do you need?” Annabeth said.
“Why do you always think I need something when I come into your office?”
“Because you’ve never come into my office just to chat. And I know that look on your face. That look says ‘I have to ask you something and you’re not going to like it.’”
Nate chuckled. “And I guess that’s the reason why you’re the boss.”
Annabeth swung her legs and then hit the desk with her palm. “So, what do you need?”
Nate held his breath and then let it out slowly. “I need to put surveillance on Michael Fleming.”
Annabeth jumped off her desk to her feet. “Oh no, no, no! You can’t seriously be telling me you want to put surveillance on Pinellas County’s District Attorney especially when that attorney also happens to be the father of one of the missing children?”
Nate held up his hands in a gesture of surrender. “I can’t help it. This is where the evidence is taking us. Michael’s son, Kyle, gave Ashley Parks some information which she hid in her room.” He paused when a quizzical look crossed Annabeth’s face. “Ashley’s been staying at his house for the past two days to help with Kyle and keep her out of sight…”
“Unless he’s actually involved, then she might be right in harm’s way.”
Nate hadn’t thought of that.
“Finish your story.”
“This morning Ashley called to say that the key Kyle gave her is missing.”
“Key to what?”
“We’re not sure yet. If I had to guess probably a bank box or safe of some kind. I have Martinez doing a background check. I’m hoping we can come up with some banking information. Give us an idea where to start.”
“All of this I understand. What I don’t know is why this means you need to keep tabs on Michael?” Annabeth said.
“Ashley believes Michael is the one that stole the key.” Nate cleared his throat and swallowed. There was a possibility that Ashley was wrong. Nate knew he was putting a lot of trust in Ashley’s instincts.
“Ashley? We’re trusting this woman who can’t even get information out of the witness we brought her in to talk to? She hardly even knows Michael. What makes her think he’s guilty?”
“There was no one else in the house.”
“That’s not enough Nate and you know it. Anyone could have snuck into Michael’s house and stolen the key.”
“How would they have known it was there?”
“How did you know it was there?”
“She told me,” Nate said.
“How do you know she didn’t tell anyone else?”
Nate started to reply but thought better of it. Truth was he was afraid to commit to Ashley’s claims but with no evidence to contradict it what choice did he have? As he watched Annabeth pace he knew she was thinking the same thing. Her dark hair, usually back in a ponytail hung in a bob at her shoulders. Nate knew Annabeth was much closer to sixty then she appeared. She had aged well but this case was beginning to wear on her. Wrinkles were forming around her forehead and dark circles clung to the bottoms of her eyelids. Her eyes were actually a dark purple. Whether it was her real color or contacts Nate didn’t know but he assumed if they were real it would explain her lavender wardrobe.
After what felt like an hour Annabeth looked hard at Nate. Her purple eyes zeroing in on Nate’s face. “I’ll grant your request to have agents tail Fleming but you’d better not be wrong. I do not want to regret this.”

Chapter 35

2008-08-11T20:58:00.001-07:00

Author's Note - for great news on my writing please check out my other blog: Two Kids Plus Trips!! Rather then repeat myself I'll just have you link back there :) Although the bottom line is that my writing is good but I have to do more of it. Good news for you - hopefully the chapters will come quicker now.

For the next chapter:

Michael Fleming had a problem.
Make that two problems. One was Ashley Parks. The other was not being able to get to his daughter. This wasn’t part of the plan. None of this was. And Ashley Parks was making it worse. While the woman intrigued him with her beauty and child-likeness she infuriated him with her inability to keep to herself.
The fact that she was here with Kyle wasn’t a good sign. It meant that she believed Kyle knew more then he was telling and that was a bad thing. Michael had no way to know how much junk Gina had filled Kyle’s mind with. That woman was worse then Ashley with all her talk of God and love. How he had stayed married to her for more then ten years he had yet to figure out.
But appearances are everything and Michael was all about those. No one knew his secret and if Michael did what he was told no one would ever find it out. Michael took a sip from his glass the set it down on the counter. He was running out of time and ideas.
Giggling tickled at his ears. Looking out the kitchen window he saw Kyle resting on a swing and Ashley gently pushing him. She watched his arm as she pushed and he was going back and forth so slowly but Kyle didn’t seem to mind. No, he was smiling. More than that, he was laughing.
Michael took another drink; the hard liquid burning his lip. What is going on with this woman? His attempts at wooing her had not been successful. Not that she was his type. But she could’ve been. Despite her age she looked much younger. Time had not aged her.
One thing Michael knew, Ashley was hiding something. This morning she had passed him in the hall without looking him in the eye. Last night she cringed at his touch.
There was one way to find out.
This was his house and he had every right to search every room in it. Something had happened after she talked with Kyle, but what?
Michael opened the door to Ashley’s room and looked around. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The bed was neatly made with the floral comforter Gina had chosen. Ashley had one bag sitting beside her bed. Michael opened it and rummaged through.
Finding nothing he stood and scanned the room again.
The closet. Nothing.
He couldn’t see the backyard from where he was. Ashley could come in at any time.
He opened the nightstand and again came up empty.
“Think, Michael, think.” He cursed under his breath. How could nothing be going his way?
Wait. Last night when he was talking to Ashley her eyes had wandered towards her pillow. It had meant nothing to him then but now it meant everything. He felt the sheets and found nothing. But when he moved the pillow he found what he was looking for. A small envelope. Picking it up he recognized Gina’s writing on a small slip of paper. A website.
Michael cursed again. How did Gina find this? How did Ashley get it?
It wasn’t enough to convict him of anything but if they searched the site he knew it wouldn’t look good.
A glint caught his eye and he looked further into the envelope. A small gold key was stuck in the bottom corner. It wasn’t something Michael recognized nor did he know what it went in.
He slipped the key in his pocket, turned on his heel and headed back to the kitchen. He smiled as Ashley came through the patio door. This is why Michael hated women. They all lied. As soon as he could he would find out what else Gina had hid from him and if Kyle knew anything… Well, he would deal with that later.

It had been six hours since Eric found the video feed of Kayla. From all they could tell the girl with her was Julia and there had been no sign of Lizzie. The door had opened thirteen times but no one ever stepped into the line of view of the camera which meant they probably knew they were being filmed.
At one point Julia had been removed from the room kicking and screaming. With no sound Nate could only watch her tiny face contorting in pain. When Julia slipped out of her abductor’s grasp he grabbed her around the waist and lifted her off the floor. She didn’t stop fighting. The young girl began kicking with her free legs connecting at least once with the man’s leg.
Not once did Julia’s abductor look up at the camera. Instead Nate could only sit at his desk, staring at the back of the man’s head watching him drag a young girl out of a room to do only God knows what with her.
“Anything?” Eric handed Nate a Styrofoam cup of coffee and rolled his chair up beside Nate’s. He also began staring at the green screen.
“Their abductor has dark brown hair. From the color of the back of his neck I’m guessing he’s Hispanic but it could be Asian. The green tint doesn’t help. Not a single one looks at the camera. They must know it’s there. What I can’t understand is why this feed is live.”
“Maybe other people are paying to watch.”
“Paying to watch what? All we see is two girls sitting on mattresses rocking. Who would want to see this?” Nate took a sip of coffee and leaned back in his chair. “I completely understand wanting to watch them, make sure they don’t go anywhere but why are they broadcasting?”
“Sicker things have happened. Maybe they’re hoping the girls will perform for them.”
“With no provocation I doubt it.” Eric leaned into the monitor and stared more closely at the screen. “Wait, look.” He pointed at Kayla.
“What do you see?”
“Who would you say the camera is focused on?” Eric said.
“Kayla. We hardly even see Julia’s face at all except when she was removed from the room. What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking someone is watching Kayla. Has anyone moved Kayla all day?”
“No, she hasn’t left the mattress except for a few times and I’m assuming that was to relieve herself in a corner off camera. She may have eaten there too, I can’t tell,” Nate said then took another sip of coffee. He set the empty cup on his desk and leaned closer to the monitor.
“What about Julia?”
“She’s been moved at least three times. Every time someone has thrown her back in. I haven’t seen anyone’s face.”
“And did Kayla react?”
“Some. She stops rocking and sits up every time Julia comes back. She reaches out to Julia but Julia will not move towards her. With no sound I can’t tell if they’re talking,” Nate said.
“Someone has to be watching them. The feed was hidden but not well enough for someone to be an expert hacker to find it. It’s almost like someone is paying to watch just this.” Eric pointed to the green screen and to Kayla who had once again retreated to her corner. But now she was lying on her side facing the wall. Nate assumed she was probably trying to sleep. With no sun light in the room neither girl could know it wasn’t even lunch time.
“Eric, how do we find out where these girls are? How do we track down the men responsible and stop this. It’s killing me to watch these guys take these girls and there’s nothing I can do about it.”
“Internet crimes is on it. They’ll find something Nate. We have to think positively.”
“But how long will that take? It could take them years to crack this. You and I both know that the porn industry has the toughest internet security.” Nate shook his head. “We have to know where this feed is coming from!” Nate smacked his hand on the table. Eric remained silent beside his partner knowing how personally Nate was taking this case. In all his years he had only been on a missing child case once before and it wasn’t this high profile. That case had turned out to be a parental kidnapping and custody case. This was nothing like that.
“Something’s gotta give, Nate. No one can take this many girls and not be tracked down. There are too many people involved in this for them to be in hiding for too long. We will get these guys.”
Nate closed his eyes and said a quiet prayer to God. He knew the day ahead would hold many challenges. They had few leads and it could come down to an interview of someone yet unknown that could open the doors on the investigation. He knew it was out of his control so he prayed to the God he trusted to point him in the right direction.
Before he could finish his prayer her heard his cell phone ringing.
“Zimmerman.” Nate spoke into his phone.
“Nate, it’s not here. It’s not here.”
“Wait, what? Ashley?”
“Yes, it’s me. It was here a few hours ago and now it’s gone. I can’t find it. I don’t know where it is.”
“Where what is Ashley?”
“The key.”
Something wasn’t registering. “What key?”
“The key Kyle gave me, it’s gone.”
“Where was it?”
“I had it in the envelope Kyle gave me and it was under my pillow with my cell phone. I know it was there when I got up this morning. It was there before I went outside with Kyle but when I came back in it wasn’t.”
“Who else is in the house with you?”
“It’s just me, Michael and Kyle. No one else.”
Michael? “Ashley, did you tell Michael about the key?”
“No, I swear. Kyle asked me not to say anything and I didn’t. Especially not to Michael.” Ashley paused and all Nate could hear was her breathing. Nate felt like she wanted to tell him something but didn’t know how.
“What is it Ashley?”
“I don’t know how to say it Nate but I feel like something is off with Michael. I heard him talking to someone last night. He was yelling about paying someone and not touching someone. And then he came in to my room…”
“I heard that. I heard him talking to you. I didn’t listen to the whole thing; I assumed you wanted your privacy.” In truth Nate had been angry that Michael was in a room alone with Ashley. He had repeated to himself over and over that they weren’t alone. That Kyle was with them, that Ashley knew better but as he hung up the phone he hadn’t been so sure.
“It wasn’t like that, Nate. It’s not like that between us. I admit I had felt something for him but that was because of Kyle. Now, now, I don’t know what to think about him. Kyle is scared of this man. You know I counsel children but I also talk to their parents. If I had to make a determination as to where Kyle should’ve been placed if this were a custody case I would recommend to the judge that Kyle not be placed with his father.”
Nate attempted to process the information. Michael Fleming was a district attorney. He was planning to run for public office. He was a man who had sworn to uphold the law. Was it possible that he could have something to do with his daughter’s disappearance and his wife’s murder?
“Ashley, do you think Michael could’ve taken the key?”
“Nate, I don’t know who else could’ve done it,” Ashley said. “I hate to think he’s involved but truly I have no idea how anyone else could’ve gotten the key or known where it was or even have known that I had it.”
“I agree, Ashley. I promise I’ll look into it.” As Nate hung up the phone he said another prayer. This time a prayer of thanks that Ashley Parks may have just given them the lead and direction they needed to find these girls and close this case.

Chapter 34

2008-08-04T15:31:00.000-07:00

Ashley held the phone to her ear as she wiped the sweat off her forehead. Her hair clung to the back of the neck. Her once flat ironed hair now hung in wet tendrils. At least part of it, the other part was a wavy mess which is why she showered and flat ironed every day.
She listened to Nate’s conversation with Eric discussing what Ashley already knew. Kayla was sitting in a hole waiting. What Ashley couldn’t understand was what she was waiting for and why the other girls weren’t also waiting. Instead she could feel their pain as much greater then Kayla’s.
The dream had been so vivid. Even the smell of sweat and urine overwhelmed her. As she looked around the room she saw just two mattresses lying next to opposite walls, a girl sat on either mattress but she could only make out Kayla. She didn’t know who the other girl was. She did know to avoid the corner to the left of the door. That was where the strongest smell was coming from. Had these girls not even been given a toilet? A strange green color covered the whole room. No other light or color was visible.
When a faceless man dropped food off on a tray neither girl made a movement towards the door. Both girls just sat still in their places except for the constant rocking. Neither girl spoke. Instead they just stared at the door awaiting whatever horrors lie beyond it.
Ashley had woken then.
Just like in the movies, she had sat straight up in her bed, her body covered in her own sweat, the smell no different then in her dream. She had called Nate then. Sure she expected him to call her crazy. She expected him not to believe her and he had done those things. What did surprise her is that she found exactly what she was talking about just moments later.
“Ashley, how did you know?” Nate’s voice cut through her thoughts.
“What do you see?” Ashley avoided his question.
“I think I see what you saw.”
“Why is it green?” Ashley was not letting Nate get off without answering her questions.
“We think it’s a night vision camera. This is probably real time and with no light in the room the camera is seeing in the dark. We’ll have to wait until the sun comes up to see if any light gets into the room.”
“Have the girls moved?”
“They’re alive, Ash…”
“But have they moved? All I could see was their rocking and they seemed terrified. Have they moved from the corner?”
Nate’s voice changed. It was now full of concern for the girls as well as for her, “No, Ash, they haven’t moved yet.”
“Has anyone come for them? Has the door opened?”
“No. No one has entered the room.”
“Someone will,” Ashley said but before Nate could say anything she asked, “Who is the second girl?”
“What do you mean?”
“I know Kayla is in there but which other girl is in there? I couldn’t tell.”
“I believe its Julia. No sign of Lizzie but we aren’t sure if her case is actually related to the other two. It could be a completely separate case.”
“Do you believe…” Ashley’s voice trailed off as she heard footsteps down the hallway.
“Ash? Ashley are you there?”
“Shh,” Ashley kept her voice as low as possible and tiptoed across the bedroom’s hardwood floor. Donnie’s shirt and shorts clung to her as she moved. She pulled the clothes tighter around her as though a shield from whatever may lie ahead of her. Had someone found her? Was it just Michael checking on Kyle?
“Don’t touch her!” Michael’s voice drifted through the door.
Silence. He was obviously talking to someone on the phone and waiting for some kind of reply.
“Don’t you dare lay a hand on her. I paid you and you will do as I say.” Loud footsteps walked past Ashley’s room and then returned. Was Michael looking for something? Was it something in Kayla’s room?
“I told you I would take care of everything and I will. I have everything under control. Ashley won’t be a problem. Neither will the FBI. Just trust me.” The words and footsteps ended abruptly. The light footfall outside her door.
As quickly and quietly as she could she made her way back to her bed and jumped under the covers. Realizing that Nate had not cut their connection she slid the phone underneath her pillow. If anything happened to her Nate could at least know what was going on.
A soft knock came from the door.
Ashley didn’t answer. Instead she lay as though she were sleeping because she should be. She shouldn’t be haunted by dreams. Well, she’d always been haunted by dreams but those dreams contained visions of Donnie and Aidan. Of the three of them as a family still living together in sunny Florida. Aidan was bigger now and looking so much like his father.
Instead she lay there in Donnie’s clothes wishing the man knocking on the door beyond was Donnie and not Michael. But reality meant it was Michael knocking and when she watched his form step through her door she knew it wasn’t Donnie. Donnie had always been shorter and stockier then most men. But while he complained of his frame, Ashley loved it. Loved that his bulk came from working hard to care for her and she never minded the few pounds he put on while she was pregnant with Aidan. Sympathy pains. She liked that.
“Ashley?” Michael called softly as he walked across the wood floor. A squeak let Ashley know he was just inches from the bed. “I thought I heard you up in here. Are you okay?”
Ashley rolled over and feigned sleep. She rubbed her eyes and stretched her arms. “I’m sorry, what?”
“I thought I heard you up.”
“Oh, I went to the bathroom a while ago but I must have fallen back asleep.” Ashley pushed herself up to a reclined position careful to not crush her cell phone under her pillow. “Did you need something?”
“I just got a frustrating call.”
Ashley glanced at the clock, it read 6 AM. “At this time of the morning.”
“Yea, but as they say, crime never sleeps so neither can I.”
“What’s on your agenda today then?” Ashley pulled the covers up to her chin aware of her ratty clothes. When Donnie had first died the smell of him was still in his clothes but since then washing and wearing had taken even the faintest hint of him of away. And now large holes were forming in the worn fabric. Twelve years had taken its toll. On her and the clothes. As she looked at Michael she wondered if she could ever find it in herself to love another man. To wear another’s man’s shirt.
“I have three cases on my docket. I’m hoping they all plead out. If so then I can work on getting my daughter back.” Michael sat on the edge of Ashley’s bed. He laid his arm on her leg through the blanket. She fought the urge to pull her leg away.
“Any word on that?” Ashley asked as innocently as she could. She hoped Michael didn’t notice the quiver in her voice or her beating heart. If he knew she had overheard him what would he do?
“No. But you would know better then I wouldn’t you?” He raised his dark eyebrow and looked at her. Did he know?
“What do you mean?” Control the shaking, girl.
“Don’t you talk to Nate on a regular basis?”
There was no hiding that. “Yes, I guess I do.”
“And has our great FBI agent discovered anything that might save my daughter?” His hand squeezed her leg. How much to tell?
“It’s possible but you’d have to talk to him. He doesn’t tell me much.”
“Aahh, yes, he seems to keep us all out of the loop.” Michael looked at her for what seemed like an eternity then he glanced at the door. “What about Kyle? I know Nate brought you here to talk to him. Has he given you anything useful?”
“You already know Kyle has been a great help. But he’s been through so much I don’t know how much he remembers or feels comfortable sharing.” Ashley made a point of avoiding any of her conversation with Kyle from earlier.
“Aren’t you like a child-talker or something? No child-whisperer? I thought you could get anything out of any kid.” Michael’s smirk made her skin crawl.
“You’ve been talking too much to Nate. I do talk to and counsel children but they don’t always just open up and spill every secret in a week’s time. Quite often I have a number of sessions in my office before I can make a determination on the child’s placement.” Ashley sat up straighter. At least she was in familiar testimony. “Normally I don’t interview child witnesses. At least not those who have witnessed crimes. I talk to children who have been in abusive situations or those involved in custody cases. After I talk with them I make recommendations to the court as to which parent is a better suited custodian.”
“But the courts generally listen to you?” Michael seemed truly interested in her career.
“Yes. Even young children have a good idea of what is going on around them and which parent they would be more comfortable with.”
“What about when you know something is going on with a child but they don’t tell you. What do you do then?”
Now it was Ashley’s turn to raise her eyebrow at Michael. Was he getting at something? Was he worried about losing Kyle or was he thinking about Kayla testifying in the future? “My opinion isn’t the only one the court takes into account. If it’s clear a child has been abused even if they haven’t shared that information with me the courts will still remove the child from their home. It’s a very complicated process. I’m only a small part.”
“And why did Nate bring you into this case?” Michael asked.
“We’re old college friends. We went to school together for years. I’ve consulted with the FBI on only a few other cases and nothing as high profile as this so I can’t honestly say why Nate brought me in. If he’s looking for a miracle it isn’t me.”
“I think you’re doing a great job. Kyle likes you a lot and that’s saying something. He’s a pretty shy kid.” Michael moved his hand from Ashley’s leg to her hand and no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t keep the heat out of her face. “I bet Kayla will like you too…” Michael paused, sighed and added, “When she comes home.”
Ashley only nodded her reply. Did he know Kayla was still alive or was he just a loving father hoping against hope that the worst wouldn’t happen? Either way Ashley was determined to find out and find the girls that were haunting her dreams.

Chapter 33

2008-07-31T20:58:00.000-07:00

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.”

Chapter 32

2008-07-21T20:55:00.001-07:00

“What are you guys up to in here?” Michael’s voice was much closer indicating he must be just beyond the door of Kyle’s room. Kyle’s eyes were big as saucers and his face was pale. Ashley was more convinced now then ever that Michael had removed him from the hospital much too soon.
“Hold that thought.” Ashley smiled at Kyle and looked towards the door as Michael stepped into the room holding a tray of food.
“Hey buddy, how are you feeling?”
“Okay.”
“I brought you your favorite, peanut butter and banana. I also brought you a coke. I know you love those.” Michael held up the tray and smiled broadly. Looking at Michael it was hard to imagine that this man could frighten anyone much less his own son.
“Thanks dad.” Kyle smiled back at his dad but Ashley could tell there was little heart in it. Michael didn’t seem to notice as he reached up over Kyle’s bed rails and placed the tray on his lap. Kyle ate like he had been starved for weeks. Ashley was at least glad to see that he had an appetite. He had to be on the mend after all.
“Hey bud, do you think you’d be up to playing a game of Clue? I bet Ashley would play with us.”
“Sure, dad. That sounds good,” Kyle said through bites of sandwich.
“Come on, I’ll help you get down.” Michael reached over the bars and carefully lifted Kyle over them and out of bed. “We’ll play in the living room. You can lie down on the couch and Ashley and I will sit on the floor. Try and move your arm some, okay?”
Kyle nodded and leaned close in to his father as Michael carried his son into the living room and laid him on the couch. Ashley followed trying to keep her heart steady as she wondered what Kyle meant and what she should do about it.
The three of them played Clue and Ashley laughed as Kyle continually made wild guesses about who could have done it. Michael, ever the prosecutor, made much more educated guesses and ended up winning most of the games. Ashley failed miserably at her attempts but she didn’t mind. She had been blessed with the gift of counsel not detective work.
As the hour got later, Kyle’s eyes began to droop and Ashley feared he would fall asleep where he was.
“I think that’s enough excitement for one night buddy, let’s get you to bed,” Michael said and carried Kyle back to his room. Ashley desperately wanted time alone with him but with Michael around it felt impossible. Kyle has something to tell her and she needed to find out what it was. The wait was killing her.
“Ashley will you come tuck me in?” Kyle’s sleepy words were a bit muffled by Michael’s shirt but she didn’t miss them.
“Absolutely buddy.” Ashley used the same endearing nickname as Michael in the hopes of not drawing any attention to her desire to be alone with Kyle.
“Don’t worry, Ashley, I can do it. His bed is so high in the air it’s hard to get to him anyway.”
“I know, but I could pray with him.” The words came out of Ashley’s mouth before she could examine what she’d said. Pray with him? Ashley hadn’t prayed in years though she might just start by asking God to give her time alone with Kyle so she could learn what information he had. As quickly as the “prayer” entered her head Michael agreed to let Ashley pray with Kyle but only after he tucked Kyle in alone.
“I haven’t had this little guy at home for a while and I’d like a few minutes with him.” Michael gave Ashley his smile again. That smile certainly could steal any spotlight. Could this man have truly done anything wrong? Maybe Kyle had an over-active imagination. No, she had seen the fear in his eyes. The plea for her not to leave him. Ashley could only hope Michael couldn’t do any further damage in the short time they would be alone.
As Ashley pondered whether it was good for the two of them to be alone and waited for her turn, her cell phone rang. She quickly pulled it out of her purse so as not to draw Michael’s attention to it. She answered before she saw it was Nate calling her.
“Where are you?” Nate asked.
“I’m at Michael’s.”
“What are you doing there?” Ashley couldn’t tell if it was anger or jealousy in Nate’s voice.
“Look, I went to see Kyle but Michael had already checked him out and brought him home. I feel like he needs me here with him.” It was more than a feeling but she wasn’t sure if she should say anything just yet. Knowing Nate he would be at Michael’s house interrogating Kyle before Ashley got a word in edge wise. And even without the information Kyle had she knew he didn’t need Nate down his throat right now.
“We have another missing girl.” Now Ashley only heard exhaustion and frustration in Nate’s voice and it wasn’t directed at her.
“What? What happened?”
“They broke in to a girl’s home and took her. Mom was here and tried to stop them. She was shot but I think she’s going to survive. The good news is that we may have another witness. We might not need Kyle’s testimony. Maybe you can even go home.”
Home. Did she want to go back to Maryland? For some reason she had no desire to leave yet. She’d been gone a week, she could at least hang around another. Kyle needed that. “Kyle knows something,” Ashley blurted out.
“What do you mean?” Nate asked.
“He asked me not to leave him alone with Michael. Nate, something’s up.”
“I’m coming over…”
“No. You’ll only make it worse. You’re busy there. Let me talk to him here and then I’ll get back to you.”
“Fine,” Nate sighed. “Fine. Talk to him and then get back to me. If he knows anything. If Michael knows anything, please let me know right away.”
“Okay, I will, I promise.” Ashley went to close her phone when she had a thought. “Nate?”
“Yea?”
“What’s the home life of the latest victim?”
“I’m not sure but it does look like the father isn’t in the picture. I don’t know where he is.”
“There’s a pattern, Nate. I can feel it. I don’t profile serial killers or even killers but all the girls seem to come from broken homes. Maybe the murderer targets girls in rough homes,” Ashley said.
“Maybe but why?”
“Maybe they have a heart of some kind and don’t want the father’s to suffer…”
“Harvey Brandt is suffering. He and his wife weren’t having any marital troubles and he was distraught over his wife’s and Daisy’s death. I’m not sure you’re theory holds up.”
“Okay, maybe not one hundred percent or maybe there were difficulties that you haven’t uncovered yet. Not everyone is upfront about their troubles.” A noise from behind Ashley made her jump.
“You okay?” Both Nate and Michael asked at the same time.
“I’m sorry, Michael, you scared me.” Ashley put the phone behind her back and turned to see Michael behind her.
“Ashley, are you okay?” It was Nate now. She knew if she didn’t say anything he would rush over and try to save her. But if Michael suspected that she was talking to Nate would he be angry?
Ashley put the phone back up to her ear. “Mom, I’ll have to call you back. I’m going to talk to Kyle now and say good night,” she paused for effect, “No, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me at all. Goodnight.” She closed the phone before Nate could say a word and prayed that he wouldn’t think of rushing over to “save” her from Michael. At this point she didn’t know if she needed saving or not.
“Kyle’s asking for you. Be brief though, I can tell he’s exhausted.”
“I noticed. I’ll be quick.”
Michael grabbed Ashley’s arm as she walked past and her heart began to pound. She tried hard to control her breathing. “Do be quick. I’d like to spend some more time with you alone.” The smile again. He probably used that on all the girls.
“Sure, that would be great.” Ashley hoped Michael didn’t notice the shakiness in her voice. Ashley once again passed Kayla’s room and sent up a quick prayer that she was okay. She wasn’t sure where that prayer came from either but in her situation she’d take all the help she could get. If God didn’t listen to her maybe He would listen on behalf of Kayla. Hadn’t enough children already died?
Ashley knocked on Kyle’s door and waited for a muffled “Come in” before entering the room.
“You still awake or did your dad put you to sleep?”
“Nah, he tries but I’m way past stories putting me to sleep.” Kyle leaned up on his good arm and looked down at Ashley. She could just make out his face in the nightlight. “Did you mean what you said?”
“What?”
“That you would pray with me?”
“Uh, sure.” Ashley pulled out the chair again and set it next to Kyle’s bed. Standing on it she was now tall enough to be even with Kyle. “Did your mom pray with you?”
“Yea, she talked about God a lot to me and Kayla. She tried to talk to dad about it but he would never listen. He went with us to church a few times but Kayla thought it was just to make him look good before an election. Otherwise he didn’t care.”
“Was there anything else different about your dad?” Ashley asked softly.
Kyle lay back on his bed and stared at his ceiling, his hands crossed across his chest. For a while she didn’t think he would say anything at all. Then he sat up again. “Will you pray with me, Miss Ashley?”
“I haven’t prayed in a long time, Kyle. Not since God took my Aidan. It’s too hard.”
“But what if He’s there and He’s listening?”
“If He was listening why would He take Aidan?”
“I don’t know but mom would say that sometimes bad things happened to people but God is always in control. We get good things and we don’t complain. We should be willing to accept the bad.”
Who was counseling who? “Those are big words for a young boy.”
“My mom was very smart. I asked her lots of questions. She said that when sin entered the world it caused bad things and bad people. We still have to trust God.”
“I’m trying, Kyle, but it’s hard.”
“I know. I miss my mom. I miss Kayla but still I want to pray. If I stop talking to God who do I have left?”
“You have me,” Ashley said.
“Okay,” Kyle said. And that was the end of the discussion on God. That was one thing Ashley loved about kids. They could move on so quickly.
“Kyle, was there something you wanted to tell me earlier?” Ashley knew she was running short on time. If Michael walked in again her chances of talking to Kyle alone would be gone.
“Yea, I wanted to give you this.” Kyle carefully contorted his body to reach underneath his mattress. He pulled out a small white envelope and handed it to Ashley.
“What is this?”
“I don’t know. My mom told me to keep it and hide it from dad.”
“Did you look at it?” Ashley asked as she took the envelope from him.
“No, I don’t want to know. Miss Ashley, he’s my dad and I love him. He does things sometimes that makes me afraid so I want you to stay with me but I don’t want to know all the bad things.”
“You’re a very smart kid. You are going to make a wonderful husband and father someday.” Ashley smiled and roughed up Kyle’s hair and then before she could think she leaned down and gave him a kiss on the top of his head. “Okay, I think it’s time for you to get some sleep. I’ll be here to see you tomorrow.”
“Are you going to stay here tonight?”
“I don’t know. That’s up to Mr. Nate and your dad.”
“I hope you do. My dad likes you. I think you’d make a good mom.” His eyes fluttered closed and Ashley bit back tears. She wanted to be a mom. She had been and she wished she still was. Holding the envelope tightly she stepped off the chair and quietly made her way out of the room.
She shut the door and then stepped into the kids bathroom to rip open the envelope she held in her hand. It was a small slip of paper with a web address on it and a tiny key. Nothing else. No explanation but Ashley knew enough to know that what she held in her hand just might break the case wide open and save the lives of two, make that three girls.

Chapter 31

2008-07-14T13:32:00.000-07:00

Author's Note: Please feel free to bug me - that's the idea! I need the motiviation - seriously. As for publishing - my first article should be out in the next issue of SUPERTWINS (from MOST or Mothers of SuperTwins). For fiction - I guess we'll see after the conference!

“Lizzie, you are not spending the night at Stephanie’s tonight. It’s a school night. You know the rules.” Beth Andrews sighed as she looked down at her daughter. Why was everything such a fight? She wasn’t even a teenager yet.
“Mom, that’s not fair!” Lizzie said as she slammed the door in her mother’s face.
“Lizzie, you know the rules,” Beth called through the closed door. When all she heard was loud music in return, Beth sighed and walked away. If her father hadn’t run off with some bimbo he’d be here taking care of Lizzie; helping to raise their youngest daughter. Instead he found some younger redhead and left. Their oldest son, now twenty-two, hadn’t taken it well and had been in and out of jail over the past two years. Strangely their second son had begun taking college courses at just sixteen and was now excelling in school. Seems his father’s escapades had scared him straight.
Beth left Lizzie to her music and headed back into the kitchen to finish what few dishes were in the sink. So many years ago she had it all. Three beautiful children running around their huge house on the water. Watching the children splash in the beach. The beach that was right behind their house. How many people had that? Beth had felt so blessed.
And in an instant it was gone.
But Beth knew it was over when she had found sexy underwear in the laundry. Beth had switched to the granny kind years ago. It helped to hide the stretch marks. Even after losing all her pregnancy weight and then some but the stretch marks were always there. And she knew Steve saw them. He mentioned them a number of times of the past five years. So she wasn’t surprised to find those underwear. But still she hated that she did. Before that she could live happily in denial.
She used the word happily loosely enough. It meant that when she met the girls for tea at the country club and anyone asked how she was. She could smile and say they were fine. Because they were. Even if the feeling deep down in her gut told her they weren’t.
Beth picked up Lizzie’s dinner dish that sat beside the sink. At least tonight it was by the sink and not left on the table. But again tonight most of it was still on her plate. What did that girl eat anyway?
Beth scraped off the food into the sink all the while biting back tears. How did it come to this?
The plate slipped out of her hand and landed in the sink. The loud bang made her jump. She threw the sponge down in the sink and let the tears flow while the water ran. An even louder noise out the front door made her stop in her tracks.
“Lizzie? Lizzie is that you?” Beth walked away from the sink. “Lizzie if you are sneaking out of your room you are grounded for a year! Make that two years.” Beth threw open the door to Lizzie’s room and finding her bed empty shouted, “Make that until you’re eighteen!”
“What are you yelling at mom? Good grief. I just went to the bathroom.” Lizzie glared at her mom from underneath her overly long bangs. Beth pushed the hair out of Lizzie’s face and smiled down at her twelve-year-old. She held her close and kissed her forehead. This little girl was all she had left. At least it felt like it.
“Okay, mom, gross.” Lizzie pushed her mom away but not before Beth noticed the small smile on her face and felt Lizzie’s hand on the small of her back. At least she knew her daughter loved her deep down.
Another sound outside made even Lizzie jump. “What was that mom?”
“I don’t know sweetheart. Go sit on your bed and I’ll look outside.” Beth gently let go of Lizzie and walked quietly to the door. The front room seemed strangely dark but Beth remembered turning the light on outside before locking the house up for the night.
She walked across the large living room floor grateful for the plush carpet and peered out the curtains that hung behind her suede sectional couch. Just as she suspected the light outside was dark. Did she risk things and flip it on?
No, she decided against anything including movement. Instead she sat still on the couch and waited. For what she didn’t know. It was probably a stupid cat that ran into her garbage can. After a few minutes of silence she decided that’s what it was and went back to Lizzie’s room to tell her everything was fine.
“Lizzie? I think its okay…” Her words were cut off by a muffled cry.
“Mom! Mom, help me!”
Beth threw open her daughter’s bedroom door for the second time that evening. Two men were standing over her daughter and pulling her out of the bed.
“Get back woman!” One of the men looked up at her, his blue eyes looking more like ice. It was the eyes, it was all she could see over the bandana and under the hat but she didn’t miss them.
“Leave my daughter alone.” Beth lunged forward.
“I said get back!” The same man pulled a gun from his belt and pointed it at Beth. She ignored it and continued to advance towards her daughter. They were taking her daughter only if she were dead.
And when the first bullet hit her abdomen she thought, “I just might be dead.” She stumbled back, her hand on her stomach feeling the warmth of the blood that was surely leaking out. A second bullet hit her chest.
“Mom! Mom!” Lizzie was screaming.
“Get back here, Warren. She’s as good as dead. We have to get this one back to the others.”
Others? What others? Beth lay still, certain that she would be shot again if she so much as moved. How she was still conscious she had no idea. The men stepped around her as though she was not there carrying her daughter. Lizzie’s screams echoed in her ears. She wanted to get up and help her but knew she couldn’t. Knew she couldn’t help Lizzie if she were dead.
The front door slammed and Beth’s heart lurched. She had to get to her daughter. She had to get help. Slowly she moved her body. Every part of her ached. She covered both wounds with her hands and began turning slowly to find a phone. Using the wall as support she pulled herself to a standing position.
“Please God just let me make it to the phone.”
Beth forced herself to stay conscious as she shuffled for the phone in Lizzie’s room. They had fought at length as to whether or not it was needed but right now she was grateful it was there. Using the bed for support, Beth made it to the phone on the nightstand. As she dialed 9-1-1 her thoughts were on the blood that was spilling all over Lizzie’s comforter.
“9-1-1 dispatcher. Please state your emergency,” a dull-sounding woman answered the phone.
“Please help me, I’ve been shot and my daughter’s been taken.”
“Where are you ma’am?” She could hear the woman snapping and tapping, all the dullness gone from her voice.
“I’m at 1874 Broad Street in Spring Hill. Please help her. They’ve taken her. You have to get her back.”
“Who’s taken her ma’am?”
“Two men, some people…” Beth paused as pain shot through her abdomen. She couldn’t cover both wounds and talk on the phone at the same time. She had chosen to cover her abdomen figuring that she would be dead already had the chest wound been in her heart. But with the little medical knowledge she possessed she knew that the wound through her stomach could have struck any number of organs all of which could be failing at any moment.
“Ma’am, stay with me. Are you okay?”
“No, I’m not okay, I’ve been shot!” Frantic thoughts ran through Beth’s head. Her own life, Lizzie’s life, where her stupid almost ex-husband was and whether or not he’d even care. Thoughts of the other missing girls also crossed her mind. Those mothers had been shot. She had just been shot. Most of the girl’s missing were her daughters age.
“Ma’am, are you still there? The police and ambulance are on their way.”
“Send the FBI.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“Send the FBI. I think it’s related to all those other girls.”
“Are you in a car, ma’am?” The woman’s voice was unsure of Beth’s accusations.
“Please trust me, send the FBI.” Beth groaned and dropped the phone. She fell sideways onto Lizzie’s bed. Darkness engulfed her.
Beth was as surprised as the paramedics around her when she woke up on the stretcher. She hadn’t even left her house. She couldn’t have been out long. An oxygen mask covered her mouth and nose and she eagerly sucked in the life giving elements.
“FBI?” Both paramedics stopped what they were doing and looked at her. “FBI?” She said again praying they would understand.
“She’s talking,” the male paramedic on her right shouted.
“She’s awake?” another male voice asked.
“Looks that way. If you want to talk to her, do it now and do it fast. She’s lost a lot of blood and we need to get her to the hospital and into surgery.” The paramedic moved away and another man took his place. This man looked extremely serious and tired. His blond hair lay haphazardly across his face. Beth knew he was the agent in charge.
“My name is Special Agent Nate Zimmerman. You can call me Nate. Can you talk?” In sharp contrast to the man who took her daughter, Nate’s blue eyes were soft and caring. She had the feeling that he wasn’t just looking for information but he was truly concerned for all involved.
“Yes.” Beth choked on the word, the oxygen making her throat dry. She carefully lifted her hand to remove the mask from her face. “They took my daughter.”
“Ms. Andrews, I’m sure you’ve heard of the girls who have gone missing. Why do you believe that what happened tonight is related?”
“The man said…” She swallowed hard, squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again. Nate was waiting patiently. “The man who took Lizzie said he wanted to get her back with the others.”
“Did he look like this?” Nate held up a head shot of a skinny man with cropped red hair. She looked at his eyes. They were brown. Couldn’t be him.
Beth shook her head. “Said the name Warren.”
“Warren?”
“Yes, one guy called the other Warren.” Beth began to cough. She felt blood in her mouth. How did that get there?
“Finish up Agent. We need to get her to the hospital now.”
“One more question. Ms. Andrews, did you see him? Would you recognize him if you saw him again?” Nate placed his arm on her shoulder.
Beth shook her head. “Only saw his eyes. They were ice blue.” Beth grabbed Nate’s arm and looked at his eyes. “Find my daughter. Find her and save her. That man was evil. You must help her.”

Chapter 30

2008-07-12T13:35:00.000-07:00

Author's Note: I apologize for the delay. I'll work harder to get chapters up more quickly next time - I know it's been a while! I'd certainly appreciate your prayers as I head to a writer's conference next month. I'm bringing the novel along so we'll see how that goes!! More details later.

Anyway, here's what you're waiting for:

Twelve hours. Ashley had been sitting around for twelve hours with nothing to do. No word on Nate or his arrest. No word on Kyle or any of the girls that were still missing. Ashley had talked to her mom twice and Trish once for an hour. They had gone over everything that Ashley missed and made sure everything was covered for an extended leave. Ashley had no idea how long it would take to resolve the case but she had no intention of leaving the case, Nate or Kyle before it was all over.
Ashley began pacing the small living room. Then she moved into the kitchen. After pacing for a few short minutes, she looked through the blinds that hung in front of the sliding back doors. Finding a patio she stepped out and was a bit surprised to find a pool beyond the patio. It looked just long enough to swim laps and just deep enough for the diving board on the end. Rocks on the side of the pool gave the whole outdoors the feeling of the pool being more like a river. Ashley was a tad disappointed that Nate hadn’t mentioned the pool. She shouldn’t have been surprised, the one way to survive the Florida heat was a pool but still if she had known she could’ve brought a bathing suit.
She sat on a chaise lounge beside the pool and put her feet up in an attempt to relax. Unfortunately her brain did not follow her body’s movements and despite the soothing water sounds she could not block out the day’s and week’s events from her mind. Something wasn’t connecting.
Kyle.
His named popped into her head and no matter what she tried she couldn’t shake it. Kyle needed her. Of this she was sure. If it were Aidan she would’ve spent every second at the hospital, she wouldn’t have left him alone. Kyle shouldn’t be alone either.
Slipping on red sandal heels to offset her blue top and dark denim pants, Ashley grabbed her bag and headed outside. She wasn’t sure if Officer Jack Williams would let her leave the house. She was sure Nate had given him strict orders not to let her go anywhere. But this was important and Jack was just going to have to understand that.
As it turned out, she need not have worried. Jack Williams was bored and quite tired of sitting in the heat in front of her house and he would be more than happy to take her to see Kyle in the hospital. Especially after Ashley logically explained how important Kyle’s well being was to the case at hand.
Settling herself in the back of the marked cruiser Ashley attempted to ignore the smell that seemed to cling to the seat as though it had moved in and no one had even attempted to kick it out. It was a strange mixture of alcohol, sweat, urine and cigarette smoke. She assumed that at many times all of those had been mixed together along with some other excrements she didn’t care to think about.
Jack attempted to make small talk on the ride to the hospital but Ashley tuned him out. She needed to focus on Kyle. She had been flopping around for more than a week with no direction. Even though she had come to talk to Kyle and had found some common ground with him it wasn’t enough. He needed her and she needed him.
“I have to accompany you to the room. Nate’s not going to be happy that you’ve left the house but he would have my head if I let you out of my sight,” Jack said as he pulled into an empty spot in the hospital parking lot.
“Fine,” Ashley said and waited for Jack to let her out of the back seat. Jack held out his hand to help her out of the car but she ignored him and headed towards the hospital. Jack struggled to keep up. Ignoring the feelings of dread and fear that threatened to smother her when she entered the elevator she punched in Kyle’s floor. In minutes she was on Kyle’s floor and headed for his room.
Ashley stopped.
“Where’s the officer that’s supposed to be outside Kyle’s door?” Ashley asked.
“I don’t know. I’ll look into it. You check on Kyle.” Jack stepped towards the nurses station and away from Ashley but she knew he still had his eye on her. Ashley stepped into the room expecting to find Kyle in great distress but instead she found nothing.
Both beds were empty and made up. Ashley checked the bathroom but found that also empty. Kyle was not in the room.
“Jack!” Ashley yelled. “Jack, he’s not here! They got him. Someone got him. Why didn’t they tell me?”
Jack and two nurses ran into the empty room. Jack caught her before she fell onto the bed and helped her stand up again.
“No, he isn’t missing, ma’am. He was discharged this morning,” One of the nurses said. But her voice sounded hollow in Ashley’s brain. Why wasn’t she told?
“Was he okay? I mean, was he well enough to be discharged?” Ashley asked.
“The doctor seemed to think so.” This from the other nurse.
“Who took him home?”
“His father. They left this morning. He has some rehabilitation ahead of him but he’s going to make a full recovery.” The first nurse again, her tag read Amy.
“Shouldn’t he do some of that in the hospital?”
“Normally, yes, but his father wanted to take care of it himself,” Amy said.
“Is he going to be okay?” Ashley demanded.
“He’ll be fine as long as his father takes him to see a therapist on a regular basis.” Ashley couldn’t tell if Amy’s disdain was for her question or the fact that Michael had removed Kyle from the hospital.
“Thank you.” Ashley ended the conversation and exited to the hallway. Jack was on her heels. Ashley marched back to the elevator, her heels clicking softly on the linoleum floors.
“Where are you going?” Jack asked when the elevator doors closed.
Ashley barely glanced at him, “We’re going to Michael’s house.”
“No, we’re not. Nate would not allow you there.”
Now Ashley turned and faced Jack head on. She felt like she was in a fight for her life but not only her life, for Kyle’s. She couldn’t put her finger on it but she knew Kyle needed it. She had let Aidan down she was not about to do the same for Kyle. “I don’t care what Nate said. This is my life and I want to see Kyle. You will take me there or I will walk myself.”
“Fine,” Jack mumbled. Neither said a word as they left the hospital and got back into Jack’s cruiser. This time Ashley chose not to ride in the back or more importantly didn’t allow Jack to put her in the back. With a sigh, Jack opened the front door and let her into the front passenger’s seat.
“I need to at least let Nate know where I’m taking you,” Jack said and flipped open his cell phone. Ashley thought about protesting but knew she was already walking on thin ice. She tuned out the conversation as Jack rode on to Michael’s house. She knew Nate wouldn’t be happy but she didn’t have time to care. Someday he would understand. Someday when he was a parent and had a child, he would understand the need to be there. She wasn’t deluding herself into thinking that Kyle was her son but he was a boy without a mother and she a mother without a son. There was a connection there and she wasn’t going to just leave him.
Jack pulled into Michael’s driveway and looked over at Ashley, “You can visit but you can’t stay. I need to get you back home. Actually, I’m switching off with another officer in an hour so he will get you back home. He may not be as nice as I about taking you places.”
“Just let Nate know I may be here a while,” Ashley said as she opened her car door.
“You do remember what happened last time you were here don’t you?” Jack raised his eyebrow at Ashley and she understood his fear. Cole had been killed here even if it wasn’t this exact location.
“I remember Jack and I’m sorry about Cole but Kyle needs me and I can’t just leave him.”
“He has his father to do that.”
“But he doesn’t have his mother.” Ashley climbed out and closed the door behind her. She didn’t expect anyone to understand but that didn’t matter. She was concerned only with Kyle.
Ashley knocked on Michael’s front door and waited for him to answer. When he opened the door her breath caught in her throat. His black hair was slightly messed up giving him a more boyish appearance. He wore a button up short-sleeved top over a blue tee. The shirt hung open and she could see how the tee underneath hugged the curves of his abdominal muscles. His dark jeans were this years shade and fit him snugly. His feet were bare. He smiled at her and small wrinkles formed around his blue eyes giving him a distinguished and casual look all at the same time.
“Ashley, I didn’t expect to see you here.” Michael stepped aside and motioned for Ashley to step in.
“I went to the hospital to visit Kyle but he wasn’t there. The nurses said that you had checked him out. I wanted to see if he was okay.”
Michael walked into the kitchen and Ashley followed. The smell of cinnamon filled the air. Michael opened the stove and peeked inside. “Almost done. I’m making cookies for Kyle. Cinnamon snicker doodles are his favorite.”
“You haven’t answered my questions. How is Kyle?”
“He’s fine, Ashley. Really he was off all the machines and recovering quite well. With all that’s gone on I’d rather he be here at home.”
“But he has no protection.”
“He has me.” Michael’s dark look kept Ashley from asking any further questions about the situation.
“May I see him?”
“He’s in his room down the hall. You are free to talk to him but please don’t upset him especially with questions about the case.”
Ashley wasn’t sure if she could consent to that so she said nothing. Instead she made her way through the family room and to the back hallway that led to all the rooms. A chill crept through her as she remembered the last time she was there.
She found Kyle in a large blue room at the very end of the hallway. The large pink room she had passed had not escaped her attention. Ashley cautiously entered Kyle’s room and scanned for him. “Kyle?”
“Up here,” a small voice said.
Ashley looked up and noticed some movement on the loft bed. He was in his bed but how did he get up there? Obviously there was a ladder but he shouldn’t be climbing in his condition.
“It’s Ashley, I wanted to see how you were doing.”
Kyle sat up and looked at her. His head came close to touching the ceiling but not quite. Glowing stars weren’t glowing in the day but she knew they would light up his room as soon as the sun went down. The remainder of the room was covered in planets painted on the wall. A telescope stood waiting in front of Kyle’s only window.
“I’m okay,” Kyle said.
“Are you sure? I thought you’d be in the hospital a few more days.”
“My dad thought it better if I came home.”
Ashley scanned the room and found a chair that she could stand on so that she could see Kyle face to face. “How do you feel about being home?”
“I don’t know. I miss Kayla a lot. Have you heard anything?”
“Not yet but when I do you’ll be the first to know.”
“Kyle, buddy, are you ready for some cookies? I made your favorite!” Michael’s voice echoed down the long hallway.
Kyle’s hands clamped down on Ashley’s arm. “Don’t leave me Ashley. No matter what my dad says please don’t leave me here alone.”

Chapter 29

2008-06-30T20:13:00.000-07:00

“I don’t know nothin’. I swear.” Geoffrey held his hands up and then slumped back in his chair. His legs were spread apart but his arms were crossed and he wouldn’t look Nate in the face. He was certainly lying about something.
“You raped a little girl!” Nate wanted to place his hands around the man’s small throat and squeeze but that was not the regulation way of gathering information. And Nate didn’t want this man’s confession or words to be thrown out in court. So far he hadn’t asked for a lawyer.
“I told you man, I didn’t rape her. This guy told me she was eighteen.”
Nate had to laugh at the man’s stupidity. He was a terrible liar. “How could you possibly mistake a ten year old girl for an adult?”
“It was dark. I couldn’t see her real well and she, um, felt older. Told me she shaved.”
Yea right. “I don’t believe you for a second, Winterbrook. I think you paid someone $8,000 to sleep with a ten year old girl and now all you’re doing is lying about it. No judge or jury is going to believe your story for a second.”
“I want a lawyer.”
And just like that, Nate’s interview was over. If he asked another thing everything could get thrown out. It would have to be enough that Geoffrey admitted to having sex with a minor. It was a felony but wouldn’t get him as much time as murder which is what Nate wanted to nail him with.
Nate tapped the table and smiled at Geoffrey as though his asking for a lawyer wasn’t a big deal. Sure, sure, ask for a lawyer but I’m still gonna nail your backside. It was all there in Nate’s smile if Geoffrey knew how to look for it.
He stepped out of the interrogation room and the smile was gone. He opened the door adjacent to the interrogation room that allowed the other agents to view the interrogation by monitor and stepped inside. Eric and Annabeth were watching the monitors closely.
“He lawyered up,” Nate said as if they didn’t already know.
“We still got him on rape. The DNA evidence is solid,” Annabeth said. “I want you two to check out his place. I already have a subpoena, judge granted it in a heartbeat. See what you can find out. See if there’s any trace of the other girls there. Do it fast.”
Nate needed no more encouragement, he and Eric were out of the office and on their way. The sooner they searched the place the better. If Geoffrey had an accomplice or even a very loyal wife, vital information could be lost or deleted. Deleted files could still be recovered, of course but not if the computer landed at the bottom of a river. Forensics could work minor miracles, the major ones were left up to God.
Nate prayed for a major one on the way to the house.
“What do you think we’ll find?” Eric asked.
“I don’t buy his story completely. I know he’s hiding something I just can’t place what. I don’t believe he thought the girl was an adult. He knew she was a minor and he paid to sleep with her. The question is who he paid and why.”
“Why? He’s a pervert. Does he need a reason?” Eric only said what was on everyone’s mind.
“No, I mean, if he stole the girl then why would he have to pay to sleep with her? Unless he paid to have Jonathan Gardner killed. We don’t really know where the money is going.”
“$8,000 isn’t enough to pay someone to kill,” Eric commented. “Not for me at least. I’d need somewhere around $100,000.”
Nate smiled, “Good to know.”
“Seriously, it isn’t much.”
“For the right person it could be. For someone you already own, or who works for you or who partners with you, it would be plenty. Like a bonus,” Nate said.
“It’s possible but I think he just paid to rape a little girl. He strikes me as an idiot, not a mastermind.”
“I agree. You did your research on him?” Nate glanced over at Eric, his bald head reflecting the sun.
Eric smiled, his white teeth a sharp contrast to his dark face. “What you know is that he was arrested twice for money laundering. What you don’t know is that he was also suspected of laundering something else. Wanna guess what?”
“Why don’t you tell me,” Nate said.
“People.”
“He was suspected of laundering people?”
“Yes. From Russia mostly but also Thailand and China. Never got caught on that though.”
“The reason?”
“I think he knew the right people and had the money to make that count,” Eric said. Nate nodded as he digested the information. Geoffrey could be a very dangerous man but was he dangerous enough to have committed murder?
Nate slowed the car as he entered the parking garage attached to Geoffrey’s condominium building. From the address Nate knew Geoffrey lived on the top floor which could only mean the penthouse suite. A flash of his badge kept the guard at bay and Nate eased into the garage as the gate opened. After searching for a full twelve minutes Nate found an empty visitor’s spot and pulled into it.
Nate and Eric exited the vehicle and moved quickly to the elevators. The elevator required that they enter the lobby before they could actually enter the building. What Nate would have given for street parking. With a second flash of the badge at the lobby’s security guard Nate and Eric obtained Geoffrey’s key card and were once again on the elevator. This time they were on until the eighteenth floor give or take a floor to let someone on or off.
As the door opened Nate saw a hallway in front of him with traditional hotel carpet, flat and maroon except this carpet had a large swirling white crest with a large W. Behind the W was an ornate cherry door. Double door actually. Using the key card, Nate swiped his way into Geoffrey Winterbrook’s penthouse.
Expecting to find ornate furnishings and lush carpet, Nate was not disappointed to find cream marble floors in the entryway. The hallway led to a very open living room with ceilings that had to have been fourteen feet high. Skylights let light into the room but were unfortunately lost on the scuffed floor. One small couch sat in the middle of the living room and faced a large screen TV, the only thing that Nate could see where Geoffrey spent any money.
Sliding glass doors behind the living room opened to a balcony beyond. Blue sky greeted Nate as he stepped out on to the balcony. Looking down he could the sand and the waters lapping at the land. What Nate wouldn’t give for a view like this. This was what he loved about Florida. The heat, he hated but the beaches he couldn’t get enough of. With no furniture or any other items on the balcony of interest Nate stepped back inside.
To his right was the kitchen. To his left was a closed door that Nate assumed was the master bedroom. Nate went to the right. The kitchen was more of what Nate would expect with exquisite dark cherry cabinets that mirrored the front door. Granite countertops mirrored the cabinets. But the table that sat in the middle of expansive kitchen and on top of the hardwood floors was a small, round wooden table that appeared to be falling apart.
“It’s weird,” Nate said as Eric opened the door Nate had noticed earlier off of the living room. “It seems that everything that comes with the penthouse is ornate but everything that Geoffrey brought in is basic, almost trashy.”
“So either he wanted to hoard all his money and doesn’t care what his house looks like or he’s had to get rid of everything to keep his head above water,” Eric called back.
“I’m guessing the latter. He looked horrible when I arrested him though his clothes were certainly brand name. Could’ve been old though.”
“I have another theory,” Eric called from the room he was in.
Nate crossed the living room and entered the master bedroom as Nate had guessed correctly. The bedroom was almost as large and open as the living room. A fireplace connected the room to the bathroom beyond. While the carpet was plush under Nate’s feet the bed that took up a small part of the room was only a mattress on top of a box spring. On top of the bed was a cream quilt but on top of that is what interested Nate the most. An open suitcase lay on the bed overflowing with men’s clothes.
“He was heading out of here,” Eric said.
“But why was he at the country club?”
“He’s probably an alcoholic and needed a drink before he left.”
Nate smiled at the thought. “No, something spooked him. He was on his way out but something stopped him. But what?”
Nate backed out of the room and searched the living room for an answering machine or phone. Finding none he moved on to the kitchen. He finally found an answering machine on the counter next to a corded phone hanging on the wall. Who had a corded phone these days? Zero messages were on the machine and after pressing every button Nate could only get the outgoing message with Geoffrey’s voice. The phone did not have caller ID.
“Find anything?” Eric asked.
“Nothing. If he got a call he didn’t keep a record of it.”
“Makes sense. He got orders and he’s following them.”
“But why would my arresting him be helpful to anyone?”
“I don’t know. Keep looking.”
Nate nodded even though Eric couldn’t see his non-verbal sign. Nate went through the kitchen and to the stairs beyond leading to the second floor. At the top of the stairs was the same plush carpet as in the master bedroom. An open hallway led past the living room giving it a loft feeling. At the end of the hallway and above the master bedroom and dining room where two rooms, one to Nate’s left and one to his right. A bathroom connected the two.
Glancing to the left, Nate found nothing but an empty room. To the right, Nate found an office. A large mahogany desk sat in the middle of the room with a large leather chair behind it. A flat screened monitor sat on the desk. Nate was grateful to at least find something in the house though the monitor didn’t mean much without the computer to go with it.
Sitting in the chair, Nate was relieved to find the computer sitting underneath the desk and the keyboard on the desk in front of him waiting his command. Touching the mouse slightly the monitor sprang to life. A basic blue screen with icons greeted him.
Not being a computer guy, Nate had no idea where to go so he clicked on the icon that opened Internet Explorer. The “Yahoo” front page waited for him to make a search or click on a news link. Instead Nate looked up at the address bar and pulled down a list of websites that Geoffrey had recently been to.
Nate clicked on the first link that popped up. When the page opened he almost threw up. Although not fully displayed, small children covered the page in provocative positions. A girl no older then ten smiled at Nate. A banner strategically placed over her private parts urged him to click on her for some fun.
Nate closed quickly went to the second address on the drop down menu but came up with the same type of site. He found ten of the similar sites on a drop down menu that held fifteen. The other five included Geoffrey’s bank and what appeared to be his mortgage company. He also had an internet link to Geoffrey’s e-mail. Nate clicked on that but wasn’t surprised to find it password protected.
“Find anything?” Nate jumped at the sound of Eric’s question.
“Too much actually. Take a look at this.” Eric rounded the desk and Nate pointed out the websites he had found.
“Click on one of them,” Eric said.
“Are you nuts? It’s child pornography.”
“I know that but it’s possible that Geoffrey subscribed to these sites so that he would have full access. There may be something in there we can use.”
“Like what?” Nate asked wishing he could do what Eric requested without having to actually use his eyes.
“I don’t know, call it a hunch.”
“Fine…”
“Look, let me do it and I’ll let you know if I find anything.”
Clearly glad to oblige, Nate stood from the seat and held it out for Eric to take over. Eric sat down quickly and began tapping away at the computer. Nate did not look over his shoulder as he worked. And after seeing Eric grimace at least twelve times, Nate was glad he hadn’t.
“There. There, look at this.” Eric’s excitement made Nate curious but still he was reluctant to look back at the computer.
“What?”
“Do you see it?” Eric pointed to a small girl’s face. She couldn’t be more then twelve. Her face wasn’t clearly visible; instead she was looking away from the camera and at the girl lying next to her on the bed. Both of them were naked. How sick were these people?
“See what?” Nate asked.
“Look, this is our girl. I know it is.”
“Which one? I can hardly make out her face.”
“I know and if we were in a TV show I could enhance it for you but this is reality and that’s the best shot you’re going to get but I swear it’s her. Same blond hair and everything. This has got to be Jessica Lambert.”
Nate looked closer and though maybe if he squinted hard enough that Eric was right. And if Eric was right it meant that Jessica Lambert was still alive or at least was at the taking of this picture. The bad news was that this little girl was already being made to do horrible things and if they did find her alive it would be a long time before anything was right in her world.

Chapter 28

2008-06-23T12:16:00.000-07:00

Nate shut the door behind him and was almost surprised to see Ashley standing in front of him. Her normally perfect demeanor was replaced by a normal looking girl with wet hair. She must have recently showered.
She flipped her cell phone closed and stared at him. He could sense he was worried about her just by a glance.
“Nate, what’s up? Are you okay?”
“Hey Ashley. I’m sorry, I don’t meant to disturb you. You can go back to your phone call. “I’m just stopping by to get a change of clothes and head out to work.” Nate walked past Ashley and down the hall to the house’s master bedroom. He opened the double doors at the end of the hall and stepped into his sanctuary. A large king-sized bed took up most of the wall opposite the door. A black headboard kept the bed from looking like it was floating in the middle of the room. A cream pillow still sat against the headboard where he had left it. The walls were a soft blue which Nate found to be a calming color for the room. Other then the bed Nate had not paid attention much to detail. Both sides of the bed had a nightstand with an alarm clock and a plasma screen TV covered the wall opposite the bed. What more did a guy need?
Nate crossed the room in three quick strides and swung open his closet door. He began to unbutton his top shirt when he heard Ashley clear her throat from behind him. He hadn’t noticed that she had followed him into the bedroom.
“What’s the hurry? I thought you were at church.” Ashley said.
Nate turned around to face her. “I was. But just as the opening hymn began I got a text from Dr. Folek.”
“What about?”
Nate looked at Ashley’s face. She wasn’t prying, she was truly concerned. “He autopsied Jessica early this morning. She was definitely pregnant. Four months along which obviously is before she was kidnapped. Dr. Folek found no sign of sexual trauma or any semen in her vaginal cannel. She was taken like the other girls but not killed like them. Jessica was strangled by a rope but not in a frenzied manner like the others. She was deposed of carefully. Like someone was trying to hide the body. The other girls were killed in a hurried and sloppy manner. One off of the highway and one in the house and then hidden but still messy. Not meticulous like this one. How is that possible?”
“Maybe you have more then one killer,” Ashley said.
Nate had almost forgotten she was there. He was just talking the information out loud trying to determine how they were connected. “That makes the most sense. That’s what I believe too but what I can’t understand is why.”
“Maybe they lost two girls so they’re going to kill all the rest as well.”
“But Jessica was dead before the other two. Dr. Folek estimates her time of death as almost three weeks ago which was just one week after she was taken. So, it means they’re not being killed in order which is what we would expect from a serial killer even one that works with a partner.”
“Nate, I think she was damaged goods,” Ashley’s look had turned from interest to sorrow. Her eyes looked more sunken. She sighed as she leaned against the wall. Nate waited for her to continue. “I think there’s a connection with these girls coming from broken homes and their being taken. Whatever your killer wants it has something to do with that. Maybe he thinks he’s helping by taking them out of a bad situation. But with Jessica it was too late. She was already pregnant and if I was a betting woman, which I’m not, I would bet you’ll find the stepfather to be the babies father. This made your killer angry and he killed Jessica.”
“What about Daisy and Emma?”
“I think you’re assumptions are right. They were killed in a hurry. Probably to avoid detection of some kind. Of what kind I don’t know. But I think that’s your job.” Ashley pointed at Nate’s nose, smiled and walked back to the kitchen. Nate followed and watched her pour a cup of coffee into the mug she was holding. Must’ve been her second cup.
“By the way, how’s Kyle doing?” Ashley asked.
“He’s doing much better today. There’s a possibility he may even come home in the next day or so.”
“Have you seen him?”
“Not this morning. I was going to take you over there later. But right now I have to change and be back at the station. We have a hit on DNA extracted from Daisy Brandt. I have to bring this guy in. He may have information we want.”
“I’m going with you.”
“No, Ashley, this isn’t a child. You may have information and help for us but it’s going to have to wait. You are not going with me to pick up a suspect.”
Ashley looked ready to argue but Nate held up his finger. He knew if he didn’t cut her off right away she would talk her way into going and he would let her. Then she would be in harm’s way again and Nate just couldn’t live with that. No, it was better she stuck with talking to Kyle and not to random suspects.
If there was one thing Nate knew about the FBI is there was always a choice. But once made that choice could not be undone. Eight years ago Nate had made the choice to join the FBI. He had chosen to chase killers, serial or otherwise and he had chosen to lock them up. In his eight years he had seen things no human should have to see. Mutilated children, rotting body parts, countless dead bodies and the suspects that made them that way. Pure evil. That’s what it was. Nate had seen the worst of humanity and lived to tell about it.
What he did know is that some people didn’t.
Ashley had chosen to help children. She had become a Forensic Psychologist but not to chase murderers or profile serial killers. She had gone into it to save children from abusive parents or those bent on using their children in custody cases. The term “forensic” for her was an after thought. She was a Psychologist and a darn good one at that. She would help Kyle in her own time and way.
But this, this she didn’t have to see or hear or know. Listing details and information was one thing. Actually seeing the reality was another one all together. Yes, she’d seen her fair share. Three dead bodies now and children’s bodies to boot. But she didn’t have to see the evil that made them that way. She didn’t need to look into the eyes of a man who raped a young girl. She didn’t need to lie awake every night wondering why things had to happen as they did.
That was his job. That was his oath. He had taken it knowing the consequences and he would live with that choice forever. Ashley had enough to keep her awake at night. She did not need to add this.
So without another word or backwards glance, Nate left the house. Feeling the gun at his belt to make sure it was there he got into the driver’s seat of his car. Of course he saw Ashley watching him leave through his front window but he didn’t look at her. Didn’t acknowledge that she had seen him. She already knew too much. The fear and pain that he was sure was in his eyes is something she didn’t need to see.
Nate rolled his window down as he backed out of the driveway. Officer Williams was at his door immediately. “Sir?”
“Don’t let her leave the house. She may try to follow me but she is not to leave. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
Nate rolled his window up and pulled on to the street. Ashley may feel like a prisoner where she was but if Jimmy or anyone else associated with him had their way Ashley would be in a permanent jail and that would most likely not be air conditioned. Heck, there may not be any air at all. And Nate couldn’t live with that. Truth was, Nate couldn’t live without her.
Two hours later Nate picked up his suspect, Geoffrey Winterbrook. They had found Geoffrey in a country club bar. The man already looked drunk and it wasn’t even two in the afternoon. Geoffrey had been sitting alone, three empty shot glasses in front of him. He had been motioning to the bar tender for more.
Nate motioned for the bar tender to back away as Nate withdrew his gun and approached Geoffrey. “Geoffrey Winterbrook, you’re under arrest for the rape and murder of Daisy Brandt.”
Geoffrey looked at him now. His blue eyes were dull, his face was drawn. His brown hair was out of place and hanging in his face almost covering his eyes. It was a wonder Nate could see them at all. The back of Geoffrey’s hair was almost long enough for a ponytail but he let it hang there un-brushed. Geoffrey had a sweater hanging around his shoulders over his polo shirt. Nate couldn’t help but wonder how long ago that style had gone out of style but yet there it was right in front of him.
Geoffrey gave him half a smile, “Get in line, buddy.” He tapped his shot glass on the bar. “Come on, where’s service in this place! Another shot bartender!” He followed his declaration with curses.
“Geoffrey Winterbrook, put your hands on your head and face the bar,” Nate moved close enough to put the barrel of the gun to Geoffrey’s neck. Geoffrey just shrugged it off and stood. Nate moved quickly and pushed Geoffrey down onto the bar with his left hand, his right hand never leaving the gun’s trigger. “Spread your arms.”
For once Geoffrey complied and spread his arms on either side of him. Only when Nate was sure he had him securely and his arms were empty did he re-holster his gun and handcuff the man.
Eric, who had maintained his position by the exit and had watched the whole exchange spoke into his wrist, “We’ve got him.” Nate knew ten officers outside were relieved to have arrested the man without incident.
Not without incident yet, Nate thought as he scanned the parking lot through the bar’s small windows. “Cover him,” Nate said to Eric and instantly Eric was in front of Geoffrey as a human shield. While Nate didn’t doubt this man’s guilt in the rape of Daisy he wasn’t fully convinced that this man had anything to do with her murder. And they knew there were at least two men involved. It was yet to be proven that Jonathan Gardner had only one partner. Nate was taking no chances. He wanted this man to question and he wanted him alive.
By the grace of God alone, Nate knew, they arrived back at the station with Geoffrey Winterbook intact. Two officer escorted Geoffrey to an interrogation room and there Nate left him for an hour while reviewing his file. Geoffrey had been arrested twice for money laundering, had been convicted once but somehow he still sat on a boat load of money that no one could figure out where it came from. An $8,000 withdrawal for cash peaked Nate’s interest. Could this man have paid to have these girls killed? Probably not enough money for three girls but might be enough to have paid someone to kill Jonathan Gardner. Maybe Geoffrey was their man.

Chapter 27

2008-06-16T13:38:00.000-07:00

Ashley sat up on the side of the bed. It had been a day exactly since she had found a little girl’s body. She knew because she had been watching the clock ever since. Watching the minutes tick by. She was now “stuck” at Nate’s house under constant surveillance. No going back to Michael’s. This was fine with Ashley. At Michael’s house she couldn’t get her head on straight or her feelings in order. At Nate’s her feelings weren’t any more under control but there were enough distractions to keep her from having to dwell on them.
Except for now.
Now the house was completely quiet. Nate was at church. The one day he took off was Sunday. He said the office could have him the rest of the week at any time but Sunday he needed. It was a day of worship, he said.
This Ashley couldn’t understand. To her Sunday was just another day. At one point she had gone to church. Back when she almost believed in God.
Donnie had believed in God. He had believed in a sovereign God who had a plan for his life. What kind of God planned to have a man gunned down in his driveway with his little boy?
Plodding across the bed room in her bare feet Ashley stopped at the mirror in the adjoining bathroom to look at herself. Her blondish, brownish hair was flat against her face. Her blue eyes looked dull and gray. If it was possible her face looked skinnier then it used to. While she hadn’t been on a scale in weeks Ashley guessed she had lost weight since arriving in Florida. Too bad it wasn’t bikini season.
Ashley looked down at her abdomen. She could see her ribs pressing against her shirt. When she was pregnant with Aidan she had been so sick the first trimester that she had actually lost weight. She had gained it all back plus twenty pounds in the second trimester. By the third she had felt like a whale even though Donnie would never admit to that. Fortunately, she had been young enough and fit enough that she had gotten her shape back quickly.
Ashley slipped out of her pajamas and stepped into the shower letting the water drip over her, washing away bed head hair. Unfortunately, it didn’t wash away her fear and pain. Yes, she was under deep guard and Nate had promised that no one would find her but still there was a nagging feeling. A feeling that Jimmy Livingston could still find her.
She could still remember the first time she had heard his voice. It had been just two months after the trial that the first call came.
“Ashley, do you know who this is?” The voice had been deep and unrecognizable.
“I’m sorry, who are you?” Ashley shoved the tears away. She was sick to death of the tears. Sick to death of crying over Donnie and Aidan. It had been just two months and she knew in her heart that she wouldn’t get over them any time soon. Maybe never but still the tears were getting old. Her face was hurting. Her eyes had been hurting for a month. And her face was getting a permanent red tint.
It took heavy breathing for Ashley to realize that there had been no answer, “Who is this?” Ashley asked again.
“This is Jimmy. Remember me?” A soft laugh followed his words.
“Jimmy?” Ashley’s heart began to race. This couldn’t be possible. “But you’re in…”
“Jail? Yes, I am. But the thing is Ashley people owe me. People owe me favors and I’m cashing in. I may be in jail now but you will never, ever be rid of me.”
“You took my family, you… you…” The words wouldn’t come out. Mostly because the words were bad ones. Ones she wasn’t supposed to say even her deepest, darkest moments.
“Ah ah now, don’t be nasty. I’m just letting you know it isn’t over.”
And it wasn’t over. Twelve years had passed but it felt like no more then just a day. Every month she received one rose on the ninth. Every year on June 9th she received a dozen. Jimmy Livingston had not left her alone for even a month in twelve years. Moves hadn’t mattered. Even when she moved to Maryland to go back to school Jimmy had found her without missing a beat.
For six years her numbers had been unlisted. She had told as few people as possible where she lived and what she did but it hadn’t mattered.
He still found her.
After seven years she considered changing her name but decided it didn’t matter. Jimmy had a way of finding her. Instead of trying to run she just stayed put and began to live her life. Or at least pretend to. After finishing her Masters with honors, she threw herself into work.
Seventy hour work weeks turned into ninety turned into never being home. Not that there really was a home. Her apartment had been barely furnished for five years. A square bed took up her bedroom with a memory foam mattress. It was comfortable but it was very plain. Not exactly inviting.
Kind of like her life.
Ashley rinsed the conditioner out of her hair, turned off the water and stepped out to find her towel. Wrapping it around her she made it back to the bedroom and found the change of clothes that Nate had picked up for her. Or sent an officer for. She had not been able to go back to Michael’s house for her things.
After dressing in jeans and a striped button-up top over a cami she stepped out of her room for some coffee. The scent of a fresh pot burned her nose as she made her way to the kitchen.
Nate had a nice home. It was certainly well maintained. Much more homey and comfortable then her own place. The kitchen was full of white cabinets. The floor was black and white tile but not in a checkerboard pattern. Instead the white tile was dotted with a few small black tiles turned to look like diamonds instead of squares. Black appliances and black granite countertops echoed the black tiles.
Ashley liked it. It suited Nate. His world, after all, had always been black and white.
Ashley poured herself a cup of coffee, added cream and sugar and took a sip. Stale but palatable. She added more flavored cream. It wasn’t until she took her second sip and leaned against the counter that she noticed a uniformed officer laying down on the couch in the living room. She stepped closer to him and cleared her throat to alert him of her presence.
The officer sat up and stared at her. “Are you okay?” He asked.
“Yea, I’m fine. Just wanted you to know I was up.”
“I’m Jack Williams. Nate’s at church. He said he’d be back soon.” Jack stood up and looked down at Ashley. His blond hair was cut short. So short that if it had been any shorter it wouldn’t have been there. His brown eyes were dark with concern and sadness. It had only been a day since they had found Cole’s body. Ashley had no idea how close the men were but judging by the deep set eyes, the circles underneath him and the redness of his face they had to have known each other.
“Have you heard anything?”
“Nothing yet.” Jack made his way into the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee. He took a sip of it without adding anything. “Not too bad. I made it a few hours ago.” He smiled at himself as he lifted his cup.
That would account for the stale taste.
“Any word about Cole?”
“The coroner took his body with Jessica’s. The ME will do the autopsy today to retrieve any bullets or bullet fragments left behind. Maybe we can match it to a gun. Possibly find a suspect.”
“Did Nate find anything out yesterday?”
“Not a lot. Jessica was the step daughter. Nate said her step father didn’t much care about her whereabouts.” Jack shook his head. “How can a girl wash up like that and no one care about her? It doesn’t make sense.”
“Unfortunately that’s life. Happens all the time.”
“This I know but I wish it wasn’t. We’re missing two girls still. We have five women dead. And we have no idea who is responsible. Now we can add a dead officer to that. If we don’t find answers soon, I’m afraid of what else could go wrong.” Jack downed the rest of his coffee and set the mug in the sink. “Now that you’re up I’m going to sit out front and wait for Nate to come home.” He glanced at the clock on the microwave. “Should be soon now.”
“Thanks.”
After Jack closed the door behind him Ashley sat on the couch and flipped on the TV. Despite the few hundred channels that Nate seemed to have there wasn’t much on. At least two channels were covering the missing girls both locally and nationally but they didn’t have any new information to offer. One station was covering Lea Rappaport’s funeral but so far news of Jessica’s death hadn’t hit the airways. Ashley wondered how Nate managed to keep that out of the news.
Two hours of nothing was making Ashley tired. Her eyelids were slipping closed when her cell phone rang. The faint sound beckoned her from the bedroom and she made her way to find it. Grabbing it out of her purse she recognized her parent’s number. She groaned and flipped her cell phone open.
“Hello.”
“Ashley, oh my goodness, we haven’t heard from you in over a week.” It was her mother. Ashley imagined her mother patting her mound of black curls as she talked. She had a habit of constantly making sure they were perfect. And they always were. Ashley couldn’t recall a time when there had been a curl out of place.
“Hi Mom. I’ve been busy.”
“Where are you dear? Are you working?”
“Yes, mom I am. But I’m in Florida right now. With Nate.”
“Nathaniel Zimmerman? You’re with Nathaniel?” Her mother always called him that. She hated nick names.
“Yes, I’m with Nate.”
“But why?”
“We’re working on a case together. Have you heard of the missing girls here in Florida? I’m helping Nate with that case. He called me in to talk to a witness.” It was enough of the truth that her mother would believe her and hopefully not press for more but not every detail. No need for her mother to worry. Betty Voigt loved to worry.
“What about your patients in Maryland?”
“Trish is taking care of everything. I’ve talked to her a few times. Dr. Borin is covering for me while I’m here. He’s pretty good.”
“Not as good as you. I’ve seen him on the stand.”
Ashley smiled. Her parents could sometimes be difficult but they never, ever failed to support her. She loved and missed them a great deal but it was hard for them to travel from Colorado and Ashley didn’t get out to visit them as much as she would like. “Thanks mom.”
The sound of the front door opening and closing interrupted Ashley’s conversation. She kept the phone to her ear and walked back out to the living room. It was Nate. “Hey mom, I’m going to have to call you back. Nate’s here and I think something's wrong."

Chapter 26

2008-05-30T21:20:00.000-07:00

Nate wound his way through a small subdivision to find the one house that belonged to Jessica Rappaport’s father, David. Nate had not been the one to break the news to David about his wife Lea. For that he was grateful. Maybe the fresh face wouldn’t bring back so many bad memories.
After circling the neighborhood for what seemed like hours Nate came upon a small stucco house that looked like the small stucco house next to it except this one was painted a light brown while the other was painted a light mauvish color. Nate couldn’t be sure. Both homes had Spanish tiles on the roof, brown painted garages and no less then three palm trees in the front yard.
The yard was neatly trimmed but on the brownish side. This didn’t surprise Nate since they hadn’t had much rain lately. The sun was still up but hanging on by a thread. It was Fall, October to be exact and the sun was going down earlier and earlier but still there was a twinge of light at 7 in the evening and Nate was grateful for it.
The neighborhood was strangely quiet for so early on a Saturday evening. No children on bikes or playing in driveways. No elderly men and women sitting on their chairs on their porches watching the world go by. Instead there was nothing. He didn’t think his car was too obviously a police vehicle nor did he think this neighborhood would have been that concerned. Maybe there was something he didn’t know.
Nate lifted his hand to knock but before any sound came the door opened. A woman with a bikini top and very short shorts stepped out. Her blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail and her skin was a leathery tan like she had been outside too much. She pulled sunglasses over her eyes as she stepped into the sun. She didn’t look Nate’s way.
“Get back here woman!” A man’s voice came from inside the house.
“I ain’t comin’ back. Besides, you got visitors.” The woman replied as she climbed into the Ford Mustang Nate had been sure not to park behind.
“What the…?” The man’s words were cut short when he saw Nate on his front doorstep. “Who the heck are you?” Only he didn’t say “heck” and his question was followed by more curse words. Nate waited without saying a word. Then, “Well, what do you want?”
“Mr. Rappaport?”
“That’s me. Are you some kind of reporter? Cause I’m sick of talking to reporters and I don’t got nothing else to say.” David Rappaport wore no shirt and his shorts were far enough down that Nate could see his underwear underneath. The distinct smell of cigarettes and alcohol had assaulted Nate the moment the door had opened. The smell was stronger when David was in front of him. David’s hair was what anyone would call “dirty blond” with a mixture of blond and brown. Unfortunately for David his appeared to also be truly dirty. It also lacked any style and was sticking up and laying down in no particular order on his head.
“No, sir, I’m with the FBI and I need to talk to you for a moment.”
“The FBI?” David’s brown eyes bore into Nate full of suspicion and wariness. This seemed odd to Nate since he had checked the man’s record and he’d had none. What was there to fear from the FBI or the police?
“Yes, sir. I’m here to talk to you about your daughter.”
A quizzical look crossed David’s face. “My daughter?”
“Jessica. You are David Rappaport, are you not?”
“Call me Dave.” A string of curse words followed his statements. Then he added, “Come in.” Dave stepped aside and Nate stepped through the door next to him. The smell became stronger like a stale bar that hadn’t been aired out in months. A non-smoker Nate was almost overwhelmed by the stench. There was almost no furniture in the small house. A torn up sofa sat across from an older but quite large TV. A TV stand table sat next to the couch. Empty beer bottles took up most of the tabletop.
The living room connected to the dining room which was empty except for a hanging chandelier indicating where a table should go and a desk to write on sitting against the wall. An opening above the desk gave Nate a peek into the kitchen beyond.
“Did you find her body then?” Dave asked with no emotion in his voice. Immediately Nate got suspicious. Why would he ask such a thing? Apparently sensing his uneasiness Dave added, “I seen the news. I ain’t no idiot. If you’re here that has to be why.”
“Unfortunately, Mr. Rappaport that is why I’m here. We found Jessica’s body this morning beside a lake in Sarasota. Do you know anything about this?”
“Look, Jessica was Lea’s kid. I adopted her when she was six to make Lea happy. I’m not really into kids so I didn’t much care for her but I liked Lea enough.”
“Mr. Rappaport, I have to tell you that I have come here to inform you about Jessica’s death. I must also tell you that Jessica was murdered so for me to hear a response like that from you does not make me think well of you. Do you understand what I’m saying?” The last sentence came out slowly and carefully to ensure that David Rappaport did not miss Nate’s meaning.
Dave quickly back peddled making clear to Nate that he understood. Dave threw his hands up in the air, “Look man, I didn’t have nothin’ to do with Lea’s or Jessica’s death.”
“Looks like you’ve moved on pretty quickly.”
“Her?” Dave indicated outside the window with his thumb. Nate nodded. “She’s just a friend.”
“Do you have a lot of ‘friends’?” Nate held up his fingers to indicate quotes.
“I have a few.” Nate looked at Dave again. His hands went up again. “It’s not like me and the old lady was getting on well. We had a few fights, no big deal. I’ve made a few new friends since we got married and Lea ain’t happy about it. But she was getting over it. She had to if she wanted to keep me.” Dave paused then added, “And she did.”
“Because you’re such a wonderful guy?”
Dave shrugged.
“Mr. Rappaport, did you have any idea that Jessica was pregnant?”
“What the…?” Dave proceeded to curse again. More than once. Saying things about Jessica that Nate had never wanted to hear. He was talking about a twelve year old girl. His words should not be coming out of a grown man’s mouth.
Nate cut him off, “Do you have any idea who the father is?”
“How should I know? That girl ran around with anybody.”
“Mr. Rappaport, she was twelve. I haven’t met any twelve year olds who run around with people.” Nate moved closer, “If you did anything to her, I swear that you will not get away with it. I will personally see to that.”
“Check me out, man, I’m clean.” The hands were in the air again.
Nate nodded. “I need to check out Jessica’s room.”
“Sure, fine.” Something flashed across his eyes. Then it was gone. “This way.” Nate followed Dave down a small hallway that ended abruptly in a bright pink room. The room was painted a bright pink on all four walls. Underneath the lone window opposite the door was a twin sized bed. It was covered in a black and white animal print comforter. The matching pillows and shams had a pink trim. A black-painted dresser was on the bed’s left. A matching desk was on the bed’s right. Animal print and pink trim were everywhere. Nate smiled. This girl had taste.
The room was perfectly neat and tidy. Not a thing was out of place. The bed was made and all the toys were put away. Pictures hung straight on the wall and sat straight on the desk. A pink laptop lay closed on the desk. Perfectly placed. Nate threw open the closet doors and found small clothes lined up in a row. The top of the closet was empty, the bottom was lined with shoes. Also perfectly straight. Three white boxes the size of shoe boxes were stacked in the closet corner. Flipping them open he found some papers inside each one.
Nate didn’t know that many kids but he had yet to meet one that kept their room this perfect without a reason. That reason was either a parent made them keep it this way or a parent did keep it this way. As Nate looked over the room Nate was betting on a little bit of both.
For all its cleanliness the room looked searched. When Nate opened up the desk drawers they had definitely been rummaged through. There were no papers in any of the drawers. There were plenty of pens and markers and crayons but no paper. The girl had to write on something.
Next Nate moved to the dresser and opened each drawer. Instead of being neat like the rest of the room the drawers were a mess and overflowing. Shorts were mixed with tops were mixed with pants. The entire room had the feel of being gone through and then straightened out afterwards in an attempt to make it look like no one had been there.
Someone had been looking for something.
Nate looked under the bed. Nothing.
Walking slowly across the floor Nate listened for a squeak or a crack. The floor beneath the carpet felt solid. Even at the corners and molding.
Assuming the obvious places had already been searched Nate checked out the less obvious ones and carefully began cutting open the mattress. Without a warrant he had to do his work discreetly. He had been given permission to search the room but if it appeared that he was tearing the place apart Dave could quickly ask him to leave. Then, if Dave had been the one to search the room he would search again and possibly find what he had been looking for and hide it. This was assuming he hadn’t already found it.
Nate couldn’t think about that.
Whatever might be hidden was not in the mattress. Or the pillows. Or under the bed.
Feeling between the mattress and box spring Nate felt something strange. A lump that shouldn’t be there but could easily be missed if one was just glancing. The question was how to get at it without attracting the attention of Dave who had left Nate alone to get a beer.
Nate knew he had left for a beer because he had offered Nate one. Twice. The man was into this alcohol. No surprise to Nate.
Quickly Nate unmade the bed and flipped the mattress. He ran his hand over the mattress again and found the same discrepancy. He cut into the mattress with a pocket knife. If Nate had been honest he would have hoped for a diary. The kind that spilled her guts. Said everything that needed to be said. Told him who got her pregnant and why she was kidnapped.
Instead he found a piece of paper with one word: zebra98
Nate made it for a password of some kind. Glancing at Jessica’s laptop Nate had a thought. But first he had to remake the bed as carefully as he had found it.
“Find anything?” Dave was standing in the doorway with his beer. Nate took a deep breath and hoped that Dave didn’t see him jump.
“Nothing yet.” Nate made a show of smoothing out the bed’s comforter and passing over the rest of the room with his eyes. His eyes landed on the laptop. “Can I take the computer? Maybe she stored something in there?”
“I don’t know, maybe. I checked around the room a bit, didn’t find anything.” He made a swirling motion with his beer to indicate the entire room.
That would explain the lousy search job.
“I understand. I’m going to take the computer and a few boxes from the closet. Maybe something in there will give us an indication as to who the father of her baby might be. DNA takes time.”
“DNA? What can they test?” Dave asked.
“Technicians will take DNA from the baby. When we have something to compare it to we’ll be able to tell who the father of the baby is.”
“And how long does that take?”
“Right now we have nothing to compare it to. Once we do it depends on how quickly the lab can get us the results. Sometimes a week, sometimes as much as six weeks.”
“Hmm, yea, I hope you find something.” Dave stepped out of the doorway and towards the front door of the house. Nate took that as his cue to leave, grabbed Jessica’s computer and a few boxes, then followed Dave to the front door.
With a wave and a nod the two parted ways and Nate made his way back to his cruiser. He left Dave staring after him on the front doorstep. Not for a second did Nate buy Dave’s innocent and helpful act. Nate could only hope Dave’s secret was contained in the laptop and three boxes he had taken from the house. And that that secret would lead to a break in his case and not a bigger set of complications.

Chapter 25

2008-05-28T13:03:00.000-07:00

**** Author's note: I apologize for the delay in getting up another chapter - it's been a busy week with the end of school and traveling to Florida - now that I'm here I will try to update and write more frequently - thanks for bugging me! ******

Nate cut the interview with Annabeth short. Ashley had been through enough. She didn’t need the third degree on something Nate was sure she didn’t do nor had anything to do with. With a gentle hand, Nate steered Ashley past Annabeth and to Nate’s car. Nate opened the passenger side door and waited for Ashley to seat herself comfortably before closing it behind her. He walked around the front of the vehicle keeping his eyes on Ashley the entire time in case she decided to get out of the car and run.
“You need a break,” Ashley said when he made it to the driver’s seat. Always like her to think of others first.
“I’m fine. You’re the one I’d worry about,” Nate said. “You’re not leaving my sight again until we catch the monster responsible for this.”
“I’ll be okay, Nate, really…”
“You say that and yet you’re not,” Nate said. Nate looked out the front window at the chaos in front of him. Part of him wanted to jump out of the car and get back to work but the rest of him knew he needed to be right where he was. In the quiet with Ashley.
“Ashley, I just… It’s been twelve years…”
“Nothing’s changed.”
“Why not?”
“Nate, they were shot down in cold blood. You don’t just get over that.”
“Have you thought about forgiving and letting go?” Nate chose his words carefully. To him it had been twelve years, to Ashley it was yesterday.
“How can I forgive the man that murdered my only son? Who murdered my husband? While I was twenty feet away!” Ashley looked out her own window leaving Nate to stare at the back of her head. It was a nice head, with her brown hair pulled back into a playful ponytail. Or it would have been playful if the head it was on wasn’t so angry.
“Ashley, the man who murdered them is in jail. You have to let it go…”
“I can’t!” The ponytail swished as she turned back to him, her face now red and flushed. “This man took my family away. The life I had. Everything I loved. What am I left with? What does it matter?”
“But you’re still here. And that isn’t an accident…”
“I’m here so Jimmy can taunt me. So he can flaunt what he did in front of me for twelve years. I wish he would’ve killed me that day. I wish I had died there with Donnie and Aidan.”
“But you didn’t.” Nate couldn’t help but push a stray strand of Ashley’s hair back behind her ear. She blinked back the tears that were threatening to fall and looked away once more. “Have you ever thought there could be a reason?”
“Of course,” Ashley looked Nate in the eye. “I’m here to help find the scum of the earth who hurt children. I’m here to save the children even when I couldn’t save my own. I instruct the courts when to take children out of their homes to keep them safe and yet, I couldn’t keep my own son safe…” Her voice trailed off as she bit her lip.
“Ashley, that sounds like a rehearsed speech. Have you thought deeper then that? Like there’s a chance that someone higher then you is keeping you here for another reason?”
“Like a higher power?” Her sarcasm was not lost on him.
“Yes, like a higher power. Like God, the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. That kind of higher power…”
“Not your God speech again. You can’t seriously be throwing this in my face.”
“Ashley, I’m not throwing it in your face. I’m worried about you. I have been for a long time,” Nate paused and ran his hand down Ashley’s cheek. “Sometimes, Ashley, the forgiveness isn’t for the person who has done the wrong but the person who has been wronged. The anger that you’ve been holding in has been affecting you. Jimmy’s rotting in prison and he doesn’t care if you hate him or not. In fact, he may want you to. Maybe it’s time for you to do something for you and not for him.”
“But I don’t know how.” The tears were spilling out now. With his eyes, Nate traced them down her cheek and onto the collar of her shirt. Nate wasn’t sure what to say so he said nothing. The truth was he didn’t have the answers. He had never experienced such a painful loss as what Ashley had been through. What he did know is that after twelve years she hadn’t been able to move on and she truly needed to.
“The truth is, Nate that I want to move on. But every time I try I see Aidan’s face and I feel like I’m being unfaithful. Like I’m not a good mother…”
“But you were the best mother. Aidan knew that as tiny as he was. He loved you and so did Donnie and I know that both of them would want you to be happy. They wouldn’t want you sitting around miserable,” Nate said.
“I know all that. I’ve tried. I went back to school. I got my Master’s and I got a job. I started helping kids. I did go on with my life but yet, it doesn’t feel like it at all.”
“When was the last time you dated someone?”
Ashley looked down at her perfectly manicured hands. Painted a light pink they sparkled when the sunlight hit them making the tan on her arms appear even darker. “It’s been a while.”
“And how did that end?”
“Look, I have a mad man following me. You know about the flowers but what you don’t know is every time I start seeing someone strange things happen. One guy went missing. One guy got hit by a car.”
“That might not have been related…”
“After each incident I got a note from Jimmy taking credit for whatever went wrong.”
“It doesn’t make sense. He’s in prison. How can he be contacting you?” Nate rubbed his chin in thought. “Stranger still, if he truly was a deranged husband why would he still care about you?”
“I don’t know. I’ve gone over it again and again. All I can come up with is that his actions caused him to lose his girlfriend permanently and he still blames me.” Ashley sighed and Nate wished there was some way he could take away her pain.
“Seems like it was his own fault.”
“I know that and you know that but delusional people don’t necessarily understand. When he was tried and convicted he said his reasons for killing Donnie and Aidan was because he was angry with me for counseling his girlfriend to leave him and he wanted me to know the same pain he felt.”
“And you have. The only way to move on now is to be better then him. To not continue to feel the pain. Maybe even to date someone else.”
“Nate, I’ve already told you what happens when I date someone…”
“I’m willing to take my chances.” The words came out before Nate had a chance to stop them. The smile Ashley tried to hide after he did said them made him glad he had.
“Thanks Nate, I appreciate all you’re trying to do for me. I have to work through this. I know that. I’ve spent so many years hiding and crying that I feel like I’ve lost myself.” Ashley wiped away the tears that still remained on her cheek and forced a smile. Nate understood from her demeanor that the conversation was over. “You’ve got work to do and so do I. Thing may not be right in my life but these families need my help and that’s something I can do.”
“I agree. I need to finish up a few things here and then head back to the office. I don’t want you out of my sight so please stay put.” Nate drilled into Ashley with his eyes but she did not respond or nod. “Am I clear?” Finally an almost imperceptible nod. The real question was whether or not she would actually listen.
Nate climbed out of the driver’s seat and headed back to the scene. As he gathered information from Eric and Annabeth he found that not much had changed. The medical examiner had Jessica’s remains on the way back to the morgue and the crime scene technicians were processing the scene. So far they had gathered very little. It appeared that the girl had not been killed here, instead her body had either washed up on the shore of the “lake” or it had been dumped next to it. Because of Ashley’s phone call Nate was going with dumped next to it.
The homeowner’s of the house directly in front of the lake had been contacted and checked out. They had been out of town for over a week. While it appeared Jessica had been dead for a few weeks the technicians had not yet found any indication that the body had been in its final resting place for more than a few days.
“See the soil impressions here?” One of the technicians asked pointing to the area that once held Jessica’s body.
Nate had nodded as though he understood.
“If the body had been here for a longer period of time we wouldn’t see as much leaf breakage,” the technician pointed to the branches around the indentation. “The trees would have had time to re-grow but as you can see they haven’t. These branches have been recently broken. I’d say this is where they left her body.”
Nate nodded again. He didn’t care about the science behind what the technicians found just that they did their job and that their reports made sense both to him and to a jury. Juries these days wanted hard evidence including DNA to tell them who did it and why. Science had never been Nate’s thing but he knew how important it was and why he needed it to put criminals behind bars. And so, he always politely nodded when the techs gave him information and never rushed them.
“Thanks for your work.” Nate left the technicians and other agents to do their job. Now he was left with the dreaded task of informing another father about the loss of his child. While his talk with Ashley had made him feel better nothing could take away the pain and dread he felt when notifying a family of a deceased loved one. Especially when that one was a child. Nate prayed for at least the thousandth time that this would be the last one. Because if it wasn’t he didn’t know what he would do or how much more he could handle.

Chapter 24

2008-05-14T19:48:00.000-07:00

Todd Purcell zipped up his pants as he exited the room. With a grunt and a shrug he made his way to the kitchen to get a beer. Always good after a little pleasure.
He stopped short when he sensed him. He hadn’t seen him yet but Todd could always tell when he was there. His heart beat faster and his palms started to sweat. Todd called him the Man. Truth was he didn’t know his name but he knew he answered to him.
“How was she?” He asked from darkness of the living room.
“Louder then the others. That ones a screamer but we’ll break her. We always do.” Todd tried to keep his voice light, to keep the tremor out of it but it was impossible when he was around. This was the one man that Todd both feared and admired.
“What about the others?” It was more of an accusation then a question. Todd knew he would have to answer for his actions but had hoped that killing Jonathan would have been enough. Now he wasn’t so sure.
“That was Jonathan’s mess. I took care of him.”
“I know. It’s all over the news. Your incompetence is not encouraging.” The Man was close enough to see now. The faint light of the kitchen was absorbed by his black eyes. Did this Man even have a soul?
“It wasn’t me. Jonathan…” He held up his hand and Todd stopped his words.
“I know who it was but I paid you for five girls. Now you only have two. I expect you to make up the difference. And you only have one week to do it. I am not leaving the country without all the girls I need.”
“Two? What about Jessica?” Todd’s palms were sweaty again. This wasn’t part of his deal. Where would he find three more girls on such short notice?
“Let’s just say that she didn’t work for me and her family will pay the price.” He moved back his jacket and Todd didn’t miss the gun in his belt. “The price was for five girls and I will have them or you will meet Jonathan’s fate.”
“What about the other girl?” Todd asked.
“Which one?”
“Kayla. When do I get to break her?” Todd licked his lips. Of all the girls she was the youngest and most beautiful. He yearned to feel her soft skin.
“She is mine and she is off-limits. Take the other one but do not touch her.”
Todd held up his hands, “Fine, fine! I get the idea.” Todd shrugged and grabbed his beer out of the refrigerator. He took a swig and looked back at The Man. Why was he still here? He only showed up when he wanted something and yet he hadn’t said anything. Todd eyed the Man’s gun again and his heart began to pound. Was he here to kill him?
The Man grinned, “Don’t worry Todd, I’m not here to kill you. I, do, however need you to do something for me.”
He handed Todd a list of names. These would be the other three girls they needed. The Man gave explicit instructions that these girls were not to be taken in the same way as the others. They already had enough trouble with the FBI especially Agent Zimmerman.
“You will get this done or you will meet the same fate as your friend Jonathan,” The Man patted his gun and left Todd alone in the apartment. Making appointments for Julia’s suitors would have to wait. He had a lot more work to do and not a lot of time to do it in if he valued his own life.

Ashley held on to Nate’s hand and let him bring her to her feet. She leaned against the tree and looked around her. The woods, the lake. Something just wasn’t right. Something had been wrong with Jessica.
“Something’s wrong,” Ashley said.
“What do you mean?” Nate asked.
“I don’t know. I have a bad feeling about Jessica. Something isn’t right.” Ashley began walking towards the lake and towards Jessica. “I need to see the body.”
“The medical examiner isn’t here yet and you need to clear the scene. I can’t let you…”
“Nate, you called me here to help. My gift may be to talk with children but I am a trained Forensic Psychologist and you need my opinion. I wasn’t wrong about the other things, I’m not wrong now.”
Nate sighed but allowed Ashley to come with him to examine the body when Dr. Brekken showed up. Ashley said little as they waited. She kept her eyes averted from the tiny form that still lay covered by the lake. She could tell by the gray color of Jessica’s hands that she had been there for a while.
Ashley looked the girl up and down. Despite her grayish tone Ashley could see old bruising. Her wrists and ankles appeared to have rope marks around them. She had been bound. Some of her wounds looked fresh but some looked old. Ashley crouched down to get a better look. Tree limbs covered most of the body. Her tank top was covered in mud but Ashley thought it used to be yellow. A bright color for a beautiful child. Child, who did this to you? Ashley raised her hand to lift away a branch from across Jessica’s legs.
“Don’t touch the body,” An officer chided from behind her.
Ashley held up her hand in acknowledgement. She hadn’t been around long but she knew enough not to touch things. Without the branch it was obvious that Jessica’s pants were torn and hanging on by a thread. Blood pooled around her groin area, soaking into the dirt. “She didn’t wash up here, she was placed there.”
“It’s a bad body dump if I ever saw one,” Nate said.
“I don’t think anyone was trying to hide her. Remember, someone sent me here. It had to be for a reason.” Ashley pointed to marks on Jessica’s shoulders and legs, “Do you see these marks, Nate? These are old wounds. This is a deep scar underneath her arm that doesn’t look like it healed properly.”
“How can you tell?” Nate asked.
“See how wide the scar is? It looks like there was gaping skin open in this area. If it had received proper treatment it would have been healed in a straight line, or at least a jagged one. This looks untouched…”
“Good observation Ms. Parks,” a female voice came from behind Ashley. She stood to see the medical examiner, Dr. Brekken walking towards them. Her short brown hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail and she wore dark rimmed eyeglasses that made her look like a TV nerd. But the freckles on her face gave her such a girlish look that one would know the glasses were only there to accentuate her intelligence.
Ashley stepped out of the doctor’s way and let her get to work. Crime scene technicians took photographs of every move that was made. This tiny girl was being reduced to a sum of photographs and whatever her family remembered of her. At least what was left of her family which as far as Ashley knew only included her father. Twelve years reduced to a nightmare ending. Maybe it was better that Aidan’s life ended so young. Better to avoid the real pain of this horrible life.
“She was pregnant,” Dr. Brekken’s words cut through Ashley’s tirade against life.
“What?” At least four voices around Ashley asked the same question.
“Tell-tale bump right here,” Kelly pointed to Jessica’s abdomen. How Ashley had missed it she wasn’t sure given the clinginess of the girl’s clothes.
“She’s only been missing for four weeks…” Nate said.
“Then this was from before the kidnapping. I’d say she’s between three and four months along.”
“She was only twelve,” Ashley bit back the tears that threatened to overflow. How could it be worse? Nate grabbed Ashley’s shoulders and attempted to turn her away from the scene but Ashley dug her rubber soled heels into the ground. She wished she’d had her stilettos, those would stick better. When Ashley didn’t move, Nate let her go but his eyes relayed the message that they would discuss the topic later.
“What was the cause of death?” Nate asked turning his attention back to Kelly.
“Strangulation. Looks like with a belt around the neck. If I had to guess I’d say a man’s belt but we’ll know more once I get her back to autopsy.”
“Same COD as the other victims,” Eric said.
“True,” Kelly replied, “But if I remember correctly, Dr. Folek told me those girls were strangled by hand, this girl was strangled by a belt. More forethought, less anger. I believe you have more then one killer.”
“Was she raped?” It was Nate again asking the question that everyone wanted to know the answer too but didn’t want to ask.
“I can’t tell that here, I need to get her back. Dr. Folek and I will perform the autopsy and I’ll get you results as quickly as I can.”
One of Kelly’s assistants had rolled the black gurney down between the houses and the trees and back to the pseudo lake. After Jessica was loaded onto the gurney and zipped into the black bag that covered her face, Ashley finally felt free to leave the area. Nate followed without a word, making no attempt to hide his protective stance. If someone was going to get to her, he would have to go through him.
Despite her desire to be self-sufficient, Ashley didn’t mind Nate next to her. She didn’t mind his protective nature.
The kiss.
Ashley had just discovered a dead body after a voice on the phone told her where to go and all Ashley could think about was Nate’s kiss. She hadn’t really noticed him before… No, that was a lie. She’d always noticed Nate but she never thought that he wanted anything to do with her. Sure they’d flirted in college but when Donnie came along Nate never said a word. He was in their wedding. He called and visited when Aidan was born. He never said a word. Had she missed it or just chosen to ignore it?
Ashley walked with Nate through the backyard and into the front. Unlike the other girls Ashley felt no evil here. No terror. No fear. Jessica hadn’t been killed here, only dumped.
The once quiet cul-de-sac now bustled with police cars, ambulances and fire trucks. Officers were working everywhere, canvassing the neighborhood and taping off the scene. Horrible yellow tape already covered the yard Ashley had exited. With nothing better to do two paramedics rushed Ashley and walked her to their bus leaving Nate standing alone in the driveway.
“I’m fine, really.” Ashley pushed the paramedics back.
“Are you injured ma’am?” One of them asked.
“No, seriously I’m fine. I need to help Agent Zimmerman, please let me go.” Ashley pushed to stand. Her world swam around her but she stood still lest the paramedics decide she needed to go to the hospital for some reason.
“Wait there Ms. Parks. I have some questions for you.” Ashley recognized Nate’s Lieutenant, Annabeth Porter and sighed.
“Yes, Ms. Porter?”
“How did you find Jessica’s body?” Annabeth’s black hair was slicked back into a bun and away from her dark face. Her brown eyes had a tint of purple around them and her large lips were colored soft lavender. Ashley thought it looked nice on her.
“I was jogging when my phone rang. I answered it…”
“Do you know who called you?”
“No, I didn’t recognize the voice or the number.”
“And yet you did what he said,” Annabeth’s tone was no less then demeaning.
“He told me that if I didn’t listen he would kill Officer Easton.”
“And yet Officer Easton is dead. How do I know you didn’t shoot him and then find this little girl?”
“I didn’t kill anybody.”
“But maybe you’re working for someone who did…” Ashley knew Annabeth had to ask these questions but they were still painful to hear.
“I have no idea…”
“Then why are we always coming back to you? What’s your connection?” If only Annabeth knew how much Ashley wanted to know the same thing.

Chapter 23

2008-05-07T10:02:00.000-07:00

“Anything yet?” Eric leaned over Nate’s desk looking at the spread of paperwork covering it. Pictures of the missing and known deceased girls were all over it. Even though the entire group had a working white board covered with pictures and marked with timelines Nate liked to have things right in front of him. It allowed him to move things around and rearrange them in his own mind whenever he needed to.
“I just got back the financial analysis from all five families…”
“You got access to the Fleming’s financials?”
“Michael allowed it. Claims he has nothing to hide.”
“And does he?” Eric asked.
“Not that I can tell so far. We have accountants digging deeper. This is just their preliminary report. Everything seems pretty normal. Three out of the five couples filed for divorce.”
“Which ones?”
“Sykes, Rappaports and Lamberts.”
“Do you think it’s significant?”
“Could be. It’s easier to target a single mother but when I talked to Collin Lambert he said they were reconciling and not going through with a divorce,” Nate said.
“But maybe whoever was stalking them didn’t know that.”
“Then they weren’t very good on their surveillance were they?”
“Not all bad guys are smart, Nate!”
“We could only hope they were all dumb.”
Nate laughed at Eric’s comment as Eric returned to his desk. It would certainly work in their favor if all criminals laid it out for them and made it easy to find and arrest them. Unfortunately for Nate this wasn’t the case for their current situation.
As Nate continued to sift through his paperwork he heard his cell phone ring. Digging through the stuff on his desk he found his phone and saw that it was Ashley’s number. Odd, he thought, didn’t I just talk to her?
“Zimmerman.”
“Nate, its Ashley,” her voice was a low whisper. Nate sat up on high alert.
“Ashley, what’s wrong?”
“I’m in trouble, Nate. Something is wrong. Hold on…” He could hear crunching noises coming through the phone followed by an “ouch” and then she was back. “Nate, I found Jessica.”
“Where is she? Is she alive?”
“No, I found her body. It’s not far from Michael’s house.”
“Where are you right now?”
“I’m not sure. It’s a long story.”
“Where is Officer Easton? He was supposed to cover you.”
“He’s not very good at his job. But Nate he might be dead…”
“What?” Nate stood up from his seat and began motioning for Eric. When Eric didn’t look up at him he began snapping. That got his attention and he was by Nate’s side once again.
“I heard shots fired. At least two. I was talking to this guy on the phone. He told me where to go. He said if anyone came or if Officer Easton followed me he would kill him. I did as he said but then I heard shooting. I don’t know if it’s at me or him. Nate, I’m scared.”
“Ashley, tell me where you are and I will be there in minutes.”
“I’m around the corner from Michael’s. Maybe a mile or two away. I don’t know the street. I was jogging. I’d gone like a mile when my phone rang…”
“Ashley, what happened?”
No response. More crunching, then heavy breathing, then “Oh God, no, no, no!”
Nate lost the connection.
“Eric, we have to go. Ashley’s in trouble. I need them to put a tracker on Ashley’s cell phone. I’m not getting a connection but I don’t think she turned it off. We should be able to find her.”
“Got it.”
“I’m leaving now. She said she’s not far from Michael’s. I’m heading there now. Call me when you have the exact spot.”
Nate didn’t wait for an answer or response. Instead he grabbed his keys and ran to his cruiser. With lights blazing and his foot on the gas he was near Michael’s house in just under thirty minutes. He had yet to hear from Eric as to Ashley’s exact location so he went to Michael’s and began to bang on his front door.
“What is wrong with you?” Michael asked as he opened the door. “Didn’t Ashley just talk to you?”
“Where is she?”
“She went for a run.”
“How long ago?”
“I don’t know an hour, maybe two.”
“Two hours. You don’t find that odd?”
“I have no idea how long she normally runs for.”
“Michael, she’s in trouble. She just called me. We have to find her. Do you know which way she went?”
Michael’s face changed and in place of his anger was concern. He stepped out onto his front lawn and pointed down the street. “I have no idea but I would guess she ran down the street this way and out of the neighborhood. It’s where I would go.”
Nate didn’t wait for a second guess and took off running in the way he thought she would go. He picked up the pace when he spotted Easton’s cruiser a few blocks ahead of him. He was out of breath by the time he made it to Easton’s driver side window. How did Ashley run this much?
He didn’t have to look to know something was wrong. Easton should have, would have seen him coming and yet he wasn’t moving. Wasn’t turning to look. Red streaked the window around the two small holes that punctured it. Cole Easton was slumped over his steering wheel. From what Nate could tell the holes through the window continued into Cole’s head. Blood streaked the driver’s seat and down Cole’s back.
Ashley.
Nate pulled out his cell phone. Searching through the numbers received he found Ashley’s number and dialed it. “Please, please, Ashley pick up the phone.”
“Nate?”
“Ashley, are you okay?”
“I’m okay. I don’t think he was shooting at me.”
“No, he wasn’t.”
“Is it Cole?”
“I’m afraid it is. I’m standing by him now. Where are you?”
“I’m just past the fence, turn right and go down the street. I haven’t heard anything in a while. I thought he was here, Nate. I thought he’d found me…” She cut off her words with sobs.
“Stay on the phone with me till I find you. I’ll be right there.” Nate walked around the car and to the end of the fence. Houses dotted the landscape in front of him. These homes were much closer together then the houses in Michael’s neighborhood. The houses were much smaller too but there was no doubt in Nate’s mind that the owners of these houses had money or at least enough credit card debt to keep their homes looking perfect. Twelve manicured lawns later Nate came to a dead end.
“Ashley, were are you?”
“I’m… I’m in the wo..” Ashley’s voice was muffled and distorted but Nate think he caught “woods”. Woods? Where were they? Nate turned in a circle but all he saw were houses. One of them must have led to woods but which one?
“Dispatch this is Agent Zimmerman, I need backup at 1141 Sequoia Court Port Richey.”
“Copy that Agent.”
“Ashley?” Nate spoke into the phone. When he got no answer, he yelled into the air, “Ashley!”
“I’m behind the house in front of you. There’s a stream or a large puddle but you have to go through the yard.” Ashley’s voice came through Nate’s phone more clearly now. Nate looked in front of him and saw trees behind the house at the end of the cul-de-sac. He carefully picked his way through the yard.
“This is not good. I need a warrant. I’m in a yard that I shouldn’t be. Ashley, are you in danger?”
“I don’t think so. Not right now. Nate, I thought he came back…” Her voice was coming through louder now. She had to be close.
Movement caught his eye behind a tree. Straight hair behind a tree. Ashley.
Nate tiptoed over to her not missing the small grayish hand that protruded from the water that was attempting to pass for a lake in the backyard. “Ashley, are you okay?”
“I’m in one piece,” Ashley said and smiled at Nate. It was a sad attempt but Nate was grateful for it. “That’s Jessica.” Ashley pointed to the hand.
“I know.” Nate took Ashley’s hand and knelt in front of her. “Ashley, are you okay?”
“I’m okay.”
“No, Ashley, you’re not. You haven’t been okay since you lost Donnie and Aidan. Please stop lying…”
“Nate, you’ve always wanted to take care of me. Always. Even before Donnie and Aidan. You don’t have to do it…”
“But what if I want to? What if I care enough about you to care for you?” Ashley wouldn’t meet his gaze. Just like her to avoid confrontation, to avoid her feelings, to avoid feeling at all.
“Nate, it’s not your job.” Ashley pulled her hands out of Nate’s.
“It’s not about a job, Ashley. I’m here because I care for you, I care about you. Sometimes maybe too much.” Nate clamped his lips together. Maybe he was sharing too much. No, for the first time he was finally saying what he needed to. “Ashley…”
Sirens stopped Nate short. His back-up had arrived. He had to work. He had to rope off the scene. He had to take pictures. He had to question Ashley about the phone call and the dead body. Make that two dead bodies. But first, first, he had to try just one thing.
Nate leaned in to Ashley and gave her a small kiss. More of a peck at first but when she returned his gesture he kissed her more. Did she know what he felt for her? What he had always felt?
“Agent Zimmerman, we need you to clear the scene. The Lieutenant is here to question you both.”
Nate nodded his response and stood. He held out his hand to Ashley. When she placed her hand in his Nate knew that it was his time to fight for what he wanted. But would Ashley truly return his feelings? After fourteen years of rejection Nate wasn't so sure.

Chapter 22

2008-05-05T14:47:00.000-07:00

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.

Chapter 21

2008-04-28T20:13:00.001-07:00

Saturday. Where Friday went Nate had no idea. What he did know is that he had two suspects in the kidnapping of five girls and the murder of two. One suspect was dead, his body being autopsied today. The other suspect was at large but at least he had a name. Todd Purcell. Kyle had positively identified the man. The man’s rap sheet was a mile long. Okay, not literally a mile but at least half. He had done time for armed robbery and attempted murder. He had gotten out on good behavior which basically meant the prisons were overcrowded and he hadn’t killed anybody in a while.
Nate flipped over the files in front of him. Five missing girls. Five dead mothers. The girls ranged in age from nine to thirteen. They were all young, Caucasian girls but nothing about them was similar. Different hair color, different heights, varying weights though not greatly but some of the girls were more mature and entering puberty, the others weren’t. Sexual predators usually had a preference especially about puberty. Some liked it, some didn’t.
And sexual predators were more cunning then this. They didn’t kill people and steal girls. This was unlike anything Nate had come across before. This was too professional. More then two men had to be involved. But who? Who would be willing to kill women in broad daylight and steal their daughters?
Only someone who knew he could get away with it.
The thought hit Nate like a ton of bricks. Who could get away with this? Organized crime came to mind. Professional drug runners. Hit men. Human traffickers. The girls could be used as drug mules. Or they could be used for their bodies. Selling their bodies would be more profitable but the publicity seemed so risky. What would be the payoff? What would be the reason?
Nothing was making any sense. Nate was more frustrated now then ever. So many lives were at stake. Any of the three missing girls still presumed alive could turn up dead at any moment. They could also take another girl. Who was to say they were done?
Nate looked at the list of people interviewed and noticed that Julia Lambert’s father hadn’t been interviewed. They had talked with all the families to see if there could be any connection. So far they had come up with nothing. The girls went to different schools. Lived in different cities. Their lives didn’t connect in any tangible ways. Forensic specialist had even dug into their accounting, their vacations, their pasts, their presents. No connections. But still, the interviews needed to be done. Maybe the fathers had noticed someone hanging around. Strange phone calls, strange e-mails, strange mail. Nothing was insignificant.
After printing out directions, Nate grabbed his jacket and headed to Clearwater to interview Collin Lambert, Julia’s father.
The drive was peaceful. There wasn’t a lot of traffic on 75 and Nate cruised north to the beach. The directions led him across the Tampa Bay Bridge and into Clearwater. While he didn’t care for the heat he loved the water and the beaches and Clearwater was one place where the sun hit the water just right and it looked like diamonds sparkling in the distance.
It brought back memories of times he had spent on the beach with Ashley in college. She was even more beautiful back then. Her hair was longer and blonder but just as straight. Nate wasn’t exactly sure what women did to get their hair that straight but he liked it. Now her hair was a bit more auburn and shoulder length but still straight and silky.
Ashley had retained her stick-thin figure despite her pregnancy. Not that Nate minded a woman’s curves. A woman looking like a woman was nice but Ashley had more of a model figure. Nate wasn’t sure if she ate. Except maybe salad and water. That was about all he could recall her eating.
Her eyes were large and round, unusually so or maybe it was that her nose and mouth were small. Her skin was porcelain. Almost perfect.
Nate smiled. Probably not. Nate just liked to think of her that way. The way she was before the frown. Before the wrinkled brown and down cast eyes. He liked the large smile. She had seen that smile when Ashley was with Michael. Was Nate in danger of losing her again?
Pulling off the highway Nate wound his way to a new home community and eventually to the Lambert’s home. A minivan sat in the driveway and children’s toys scattered the lawn. It was a larger two-story home and Nate could see a pool cage in the backyard. The Lambert’s appeared to have it all until some madman took it away.
Nate rang the doorbell, rocked on his heels and waited. He hadn’t called ahead so he had no idea if Collin would actually be home. When he heard the door unlatch he was grateful he hadn’t made a wrong choice.
A man with red eyes and disheveled brown hair answered the door. Nate could hear small children playing in the background. “Be quiet!” The man yelled and the noise ceased. Footsteps scrambled across the floor and up to the next one.
“Mr. Lambert?” Nate asked.
“Yea, what do you want?”
Nate withdrew his badge from his pocket and flipped open his credentials.
“I’ve already talked to the cops,” Collin said with a slight slur.
“Mr. Lambert, my name is Special Agent Nate Zimmerman. I’m with the FBI and I’d like to ask you a few questions about your wife. This is standard procedure; I just haven’t had a chance to get around to interviewing you because of some things that have happened this week. I apologize for the delay. Do you have a moment?”
“Yea, I guess, come on in.” Collin pulled back the door and allowed Nate to step inside. The smell hit him first. Like someone hadn’t taken out the trash in a while. It seemed odd since Julia had only been missing three days. Could a man have gone down hill so quickly? Newspapers and papers cluttered the floor and the floral print couch into the living room on Nate’s left. A small hallway led back to a breakfast table and beyond that Nate assumed was the kitchen. To his right should have been a dining room table but instead was a room full of baby toys. Nate didn’t remember that they had a small child.
“Thank you. It won’t take long.”
Collin nodded and pointed to the sofa. Nate moved the papers off the couch and on to the floor since there was no coffee table in sight. Collin didn’t sit, instead he began pacing the room.
“Mr. Lambert, was there anything unusual about your wife’s behavior in the last few weeks?”
“No, we were getting back together. We had been fighting and we were separated but we were getting back together. I still can’t believe this has happened…” Collin stopped and leaned his head against a wall. Nate waited as his shoulders shook with grief.
“Can I ask what you separated over?” Nate asked after a few minutes of silence.
“Julia. Julia’s our youngest. We have one other child together but Marie had two children from a previous marriage. One of them is twenty-four and she’s had two children. Both with different boyfriends. She left them with us all the time. I was tired of playing babysitter but Marie, Marie wouldn’t tell her no.”
This is what people separated over these days? Nate thought then said, “Mr. Lambert, do you know anyone who would want to hurt your wife?”
“No, I don’t. I told the other officers already. Marie worked for me as my secretary. I own my own cement company. Marie worked with our clients but these aren’t individuals, we do work for corporations. New office buildings, some new homes, things like that. Nothing criminal, nothing dangerous. No one hates us.”
“But you were working on getting back together?” Nate asked.
“That’s right.”
“When did this happen?”
“Only about a week ago. I loved her too much. I couldn’t let her go. I called her and told her I didn’t care about Nora’s kids. They could stay here if she wanted if Marie would come home. Marie said she’d talk to Nora and not keep the kids as much. It was working until well, you know, I got a call saying that Marie was dead and Julia was missing.”
“Mr. Lambert, does Julia know Daisy Brandt?”
“No.”
Nate listed the other missing girls and Collin confirmed that Julia didn’t know any of the other girls that were missing or their mothers.
“You have to find my baby. You have to find her alive, Agent Zimmerman. She can’t end up like those other girls. She just can’t.”
“I will do my best, Mr. Lambert. I am determined to find whoever did this and bring him in.” And Nate meant it too.
“Grandpa!” Little voices beckoned from up the stairs. “Can we come down now?”
“Yes, baby, you can come play here.” The control Collin displayed was surprising. Gone were the tears. Instead Collin scooped up the two little girls that were now in front of them and kissed their hair. Apparently Collin wasn’t lying about accepting Marie’s grandchildren.
Collin turned towards Nate, “Is that all? I have to take care of Marie’s grandkids on my own now.” He shook his head, the tears threatening to return, “At one time this was a hardship, now it’s all I have left of her.”
“I understand. If I need anything else I’ll let you know. Thank you for your time.” Nate left the way he had come and returned to his vehicle. He was getting nowhere. There was no way these victims were chosen at random. There was too much detail. Whoever kidnapped these girls had to know where they were. With the exception of Kyle, all of the victims were alone with their mothers. The murders took place on side streets when no one was around but yet they occurred during the day. This took planning. Given Todd Purcell’s rap sheet he didn’t strike Nate as the kind of guy who could pull something like this off.
The return drive was just as beautiful as the trip to the Lambert’s house except now the sun was a little higher in the sky and the air just that much more humid. Nate didn’t mind, he could open his window and let the breeze blow him in the face but he didn’t. Instead he flipped open his cell phone and dialed Michael’s home number.
Nate cringed when Michael answered the phone. Fortunately, Michael was quick to turn the phone over to Ashley.
“How are you doing?” Nate asked.
“I’m okay. I slept in the guest bedroom. It was better then the hotel.” Ashley seemed like she was searching for words. Like Nate had caught her in the middle of something. Nate only hoped he hadn’t.
“Anything new? Any threats?”
“No, I’m fine. It does look like Kyle will be able to come home early next week. I’m more worried about him then me.”
“Seems like if someone wanted to kill him he’d already be dead,” Nate didn’t want to sound harsh but it was true. When the man, probably Todd Purcell, entered Kyle’s room yesterday he had every opportunity to kill him and he didn’t.
“I understand that Nate but now he did tell you what he’d been threatened not to. I’m afraid he’s not safe here. I’m afraid none of us are.”

Chapter 20

2008-04-25T14:45:00.001-07:00

“That’s it, you’re going into protective custody,” Nate said and placed his hand on Ashley’s shoulder. Ashley shrugged him off.
“Kyle needs me, I’m staying here.” Ashley hadn’t missed Nate’s protective stance since the moment she walked in the room. She wasn’t angry about it but still, she wasn’t a child. She also hadn’t missed the look of jealousy that crossed his face when he found out she had been with Michael all afternoon. Not like she had a choice.
“Ashley, you’ve been threatened and attacked. Kyle’s been threatened. I have to make sure you’re safe.”
“She can stay with me.” Michael’s voice came out of nowhere. Ashley had forgotten he was even there.
“What?” Nate practically yelled. Only Ashley could detect the control he was using. “That’s not acceptable. I want her under 24 hour protection.”
“She can get that at my place. No one will look for her there.”
“Someone is warning her to stay away from Kyle. You’re one step removed from that. I can’t allow it.”
The testosterone level in Kyle’s room was becoming oppressive. Michael and Nate wanted to win the argument and seemed out for blood to do so. “Settle down, both of you,” Ashley interjected. “I’m sure you both have my best interest at heart but this isn’t for either of you to decide. Nate, can you give me protection at Michael’s house?” She looked at Nate and waited for him to nod. “Then I will be at his house for the weekend.”
Ashley wasn’t exactly sure why she chose Michael’s house except that it seemed a better option then whatever random hotel Nate might have for her. That and she had already been to Michael’s house. Even that little bit made her more comfortable.
“And after that?” Nate asked. Ashley’s shoulders slumped. She couldn’t even get past today mentally and he wanted her to look to Monday?
“Maybe then I’ll go home.” Surely Trish needed her.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Nate said.
“I agree,” Michael said.
“And why not? If I’m not here I can’t talk to Kyle and no one will try to hurt me.” And I could get away from both of you. Ashley didn’t say that out loud but deep down she knew that was the only reason she wanted to go home. The rest of her wanted to stay and find the girl’s killer. To be there to help their fathers. It had helped Ashley slightly to know that the man who had killed Donnie and Aidan was in prison. Surely these men would agree. Michael included.
“I need you here. I need you to talk to Kyle.”
“I will but hopefully after this weekend Kyle won’t need me anymore.” Ashley smiled at Kyle who had been quietly listening to the conversation. She had expected him to say something one way or another but he kept quiet. “Because, Kyle’s going to look at Mr. Nate’s picture and he’s going to help us catch the other man that’s out there. Aren’t you Kyle?”
“I don’t want to,” Kyle’s voice was low but no one missed what he said.
“Honey, I will be okay. No one will hurt me. Your daddy and Mr. Nate will protect me. Do you remember the man that came in your room earlier?”
Kyle nodded.
“Did he say anything else to you?”
“He said he would hurt Kayla if I told anyone about him.”
Great this man had threatened Ashley and Kayla. Now Ashley wasn’t sure if Kyle would talk. Ashley was in front of him encouraging him that she would be okay. But Kayla. No one could assure him about Kayla.
“But if we don’t know who he is then we can’t find Kayla. If Mr. Nate can protect me I know that he’ll protect Kayla as well. Can you trust me?”
Kyle nodded again and Ashley looked to Nate silently indicating him to pull out the picture he had of the other “bad guy”. Seeming to understand her message Nate pulled out another picture and held it up to Kyle. Ashley didn’t recognize the man who appeared clean cut and respectable despite the fact that Nate held a mug shot. The man was actually smiling at the camera and Ashley could see the top of his tie over the black board he held. The words “Todd Purcell” were written out in magnets. Todd’s brown hair was cut short and nicely styled and his green eyes didn’t display the evil that Ashley might have expected.
“Do you recognize this man?” Nate asked Kyle.
“Yes,” Kyle answered slowly. “That’s him. He shot my mom.” Tears streamed down Kyle’s face. Michael was quick to hug his son and wipe them away.
“Thank you Kyle, you’ve been a big help. I promise the officer at the door won’t let anyone in tonight. In fact, I’m going to ask two officers to stand there just so no one gets in again. Okay?” Nate smiled at Kyle and Ashley knew he meant what he said.
“Okay,” Kyle paused then asked, “And you’ll take care of Kayla? You won’t tell the bad man that I told you?”
“No, Kyle, we won’t. We’re going to find her and bring her home. You’ve been a big help.” Nate patted Kyle’s leg and then stepped into the hall. On his way out Ashley noticed him flipping open his cell phone. He was probably calling the lead in. Whoever this Todd Purcell was Nate wanted him found. Ashley could only pray that this was the right guy and there weren’t more of them out there.

“Get in there you little brat!” The man’s voice was loud as he threw Julia towards a bed. Well, not a bed but a mattress. There was nothing else in the room. No posters from American Idol. No pink telephones or stuffed animals. Just one gross mattress and blackness.
Julia landed with a hard thud. Not on the gross mattress but the hard floor. Her should immediately screamed in pain.
“Let me out of here! I want my mom! What did you do with her?” Julia screamed at the man before he could shut the door.
The door flew open and the man stomped back in. His boots making loud noises on the floor. “Shut up kid. Keep it up and I’ll kill you sooner rather then later.” The back of his hand connected with the side of her head and she landed back on the floor. This time on her bottom. That didn’t feel any better then her shoulder she decided.
Mean Man as Julia had dubbed him left the room and shut the door behind him. Julia had wanted to say other things. Like “why did you kill Ugly Man?” and “what are you going to do with me?” but she decided not to. He would only hit her again and that wouldn’t help anything.
“It’s better to do what he says.” A small voice came from the corner. The room was completely dark so Julia had no idea there was somebody else there.
“Who’s there?” Julia asked.
“I’m Kayla,” came the reply. “Who are you?”
“Julia. You’ve been on the news. You’ve been gone a week, right?”
“Is that all?” Kayla asked.
Julia began to shake. This couldn’t be true. This couldn’t be happening to her. “What about Jessica?”
“Who?”
“She’s the other girl who has gone missing. The other two have been found.” Even before the words were out of her mouth Julia knew she shouldn’t have said them. If she remembered from the news Kayla was just nine. Julia was almost twelve. Much older and better able to take bad news. At least until now.
“Are they okay?” Julia didn’t miss the spark of hope in Kayla’s voice.
“No. The police found their bodies.”
Sobs erupted from the corner. “No, no, no.” They quickly stopped followed by sniffing and the sounds of someone wiping their nose. “What about Kyle?”
“Who?”
“My brother. He was with me in the car but I don’t think the bad men took him.”
“I don’t know. The news said he was shot but they haven’t said how he is. I think he might be alive though.” It was a lie. Julia had no idea but it seemed to make Kayla feel better. Julia changed the subject. “What about Jessica? Have you seen her?”
“I don’t know, maybe. I’ve been a few other girls but you’re the first one to be in here with me.”
“Where is here?” Julia didn’t even let her parents tell her what to do let alone some crazed man or men. She was going to get out of here if it killed her.
“I don’t know that either. Every night someone comes in and takes me. In the morning they put me back in here.”
Dread filled Julia and she didn’t want to ask but she did anyway, “What happens at night? How do you know its night? I can’t see anything?”
“You can tell,” was all Kayla said.
“But what happens?” Julia asked again.
“Bad men do bad things. You don’t want to know.”
But she did want to know. Now she would sit here for who knows how long waiting for some crazy man to take her somewhere and do God knows what with her. Was Kayla beaten? Did she not do what the bad men wanted? Maybe that was why they hurt her.
“What grade are you in?” Julia asked Kayla. Anything to talk about was better then sitting in the blackness waiting for evil. This was way worse then any horror movie Julia had ever watched at Angela Blackbury’s house.
“I’m in fourth.”
“I’m in sixth.” Julia was out of things to talk about. The only thing that ran through her mind was her mother screaming, the blood everywhere, the trunk ride, a dead man next to her. She was sure psychologists would say these were bad images for any eleven-year old to see.
“Did they kill your mom too?” Now it was Kayla’s turn to ask a question.
“I think so. There was a lot of blood. She was lying on the ground…” Julia bit back the tears. Kayla couldn’t see her break under pressure.
“My mom too. I miss her so much. She was the best mom.”
“What about your dad?”
“He was okay. He could be mean sometimes. I think my mom was mad at him.” The shakiness and tears were gone from Kayla’s voice.
“My parents fought sometimes too. I think they were getting along okay and were going to get back together. I was praying about that.”
“Do you pray?” Kayla asked.
“Sometimes. I go to this church youth group. It’s pretty cool. Angela says it’s not cool but I prayed real hard for my parents to get back together and they were working on it so I think God heard me then.”
“I pray in here all the time. My mom taught me how. We prayed every night for daddy and Kyle.”
“Then maybe we’ll do it together. Maybe that is how we’ll get out of this, Kayla. God has to hear us right?”

Chapter 19

2008-04-23T20:03:00.000-07:00

Nate flipped his phone shut and stared down at Kyle. He was sleeping peacefully now but something had caused him great fear. Nate had come to the hospital hoping to find Ashley as well as ask Kyle some questions. When she wasn’t there Nate was immediately concerned. This is where she was supposed to be. Where she’d been all day. Granted it was late, almost midnight at this point but Ashley hadn’t said anything about leaving.
Nate didn’t like the idea of talking to Kyle without Ashley. He knew he wanted and needed answers but he didn’t want to traumatize the boy. He’d been through so much. Ashley had an amazing way with kids. It was a gift. Why God would choose to take her only son from her was still a mystery to which Nate had always wanted answers. Nate believed that God had a plan in everything. That His hand was always there. That nothing was outside of God’s plan. But this, could the death of a father and son have been in God’s plan?
Kyle stirred and Nate pulled the covers up to his chin. The lights on Kyle’s side of the room were off but where the second bed should be light filtered in from the wall. Nate reached up and turned the other light off. Now it was dark in the room with just the moonlight streaming in through the slats in the window blinds. Nate sat down in the green hospital chair at the end of Kyle’s bed.
“Where is Kayla, God? Where is she hidden? Please care for her tonight. Comfort her. Protect her. Keep her from the evil that is surrounding her.” The prayer ran through Nate’s head again and again. He had no idea what kind of evil they were really facing. Jonathan’s body had held a lot of clues. The trunk of his car certainly held traces of Julia Lambert. But where were the other girls?
When Nate had shown Kyle a picture of Jonathan the boy had wet the bed. His heart had begun to race so fast that three nurses had rushed the room, two of them giving Nate dirty looks, the other scolding him for disturbing their patient. Nate had apologized and stepped out to let them care for Kyle. Jonathan was definitely involved but with him dead it left more questions then answers. If Jonathan was the only one Kyle saw then he would get nowhere.
Nate did have a mug shot of Todd Purcell, Jonathan’s known associate, but he was afraid to show it Kyle. What if it scared him more? That was why Nate needed Ashley. That and the fact that something had happened to Kyle today. Not that the boy had said anything but Nate could just feel it. And then to have Ashley missing. Things weren’t adding up.
For what seemed like an eternity Nate waited for Ashley to return. She hadn’t told him where she was or Nate would have offered to go and pick her up. Instead she seemed to indicate that she already had transportation and would be there shortly. Maybe she had rented a vehicle.
Feelings for Ashley still surfaced every now and then. Nate had thought about her plenty over the last ten years. Had wanted to call her numerous times but just hadn’t found the courage. He didn’t know what to say to her. Didn’t know how to help her grieve. On top of that he didn’t want to appear to be taking advantage of her with her husband gone. Surely she knew how Nate felt about her. How much he cared and possibly loved her. With no husband, she was single again. But would she accept him? Maybe he was too scared of being rejected a second time.
Commotion from outside Kyle’s hospital room caught Nate’s attention. Two voices were talking two the security guard, a male and female. Nate recognized the woman’s voice as Ashley’s. Jumping out of his chair, he opened the door, nodded to the security guard and allowed Ashley to step inside. To Nate’s surprise Michael followed close behind her.
“What’s going on? What’s wrong with my son?” Michael’s voice filled the room absorbing all quiet.
Nate held up his hands. “Keep your voice down. Kyle is fine. At least right now.”
Michael pushed past Nate and threw back the curtain surrounding Kyle. When he saw Kyle slowly breathing he pulled the curtain back and turned back to Nate. “What’s the deal? You told Ashley that something was wrong.”
“How did you know?” Nate looked back and forth from Michael to Ashley. What was in their eyes? He couldn’t tell.
“We were together. Now, tell us what’s so important,” Ashley said and for the first time since walking in the room Ashley took her hands off her neck revealing a gauze bandage underneath. The bandage, once white, now had a reddish tint to it.
“What happened to you?” Nate moved towards Ashley, stopping in front of her he pushed her hair back behind her shoulder and looked down at her neck.
“I got a cut. What’s the matter?” Ashley tried to keep her voice low but she was having trouble controlling her emotions. Nate wondered what had happened to her today.
“We found Jonathan Gardner’s body today. He was shot. We believe Julia Lambert was with him and now she’s gone.” Nate directed his words towards Michael. He didn’t say “I told you so” out loud but he wanted to.
“You found another body?” Ashley asked.
“Yes, Jonathan’s.”
“I mean, other then that?”
“No, we believe that whoever shot Jonathan took the girl with him.”
“It’s more than one man,” Ashley said. “That would rule out a pedophile. They would never choose to share.”
“Even two men? Maybe they fought and one wanted the girls to himself?” This is why Nate needed Ashley. Even though she specialized in talking with children she was still a Forensic Psychologist. Her insights would be invaluable.
“Highly unlikely. Pedophiles may discuss things on line but no one is going to admit to stealing and killing girls. A partner is a possibility but considering that you found Jonathan’s body in plain sight with a gun shot wound it doesn’t sound like they had an argument. On top of that if they still have three girls alive there would be enough to go around.” At Michael’s gagging motion, Ashley added, “I’m sorry; I don’t mean to put it like that…”
“What does any of this have to do with Kyle?” Michael cut in on Ashley’s apology.
“I came here today to show Kyle a picture of Jonathan and see if he recognized him as the man that took Kayla. I also have another picture I want him to look at but I don’t want to show it to him without Ashley around.”
“This is why you call us down here?” Nate didn’t miss the irritation in Michael’s voice.
“I didn’t call you, Michael. I called Ashley because I need her help talking with Kyle.”
“I’m with Michael, Nate, you said something was wrong. Were you trying to scare me to get me here quicker?”
“No. It seems that the guard was distracted at some point today. Something happened in the elevator and the guard left his post. When he returned he found numerous nurses in Kyle’s room. It seems that Kyle had some kind of an episode.”
“Why didn’t they call me?” Michael demanded.
“The nurses got his heart rate under control. That wasn’t the problem. It seems that someone stopped in Kyle’s room. Whoever it was scared Kyle so badly he hasn’t spoken since. That’s why it’s so important that you’re here, Ashley. I was hoping you could talk to him.”
“Who came in here?” Michael demanded.
“I don’t know, that’s why I’m here,” Nate said.
“I think I do,” Ashley’s voice was barely above a whisper. Her hands went to her throat as she spoke as her eyes wouldn’t look above the wheels on the empty hospital bed.
“What do you mean?” Nate asked.
“Someone attacked me in the elevator today, Nate. Michael and I were leaving and someone stopped the elevator. He threatened me with a knife. Gave me a small cut and I hit my head as he left.”
“What? Why didn’t you call me?” Words built up in Nate’s mind but he coudn’t let them out. He looked from Ashley to Michael. Was he missing something between them?
“I’m sorry, I was out of it. I don’t remember what happened…” Now Ashley’s wandered over to Michael. Nate was missing something between them. How did Nate always get the wrong end of the stick? What was him that Ashley was always attracted to someone else around him? Ten years with no real boyfriend or husband, she comes to Florida and falls for someone else? How is that possible?
“Michael, do you remember anything?” Nate fought hard to keep emotion out of his voice, mostly anger.
“I didn’t see him, he had a ball cap over his face and he hid behind Ashley. When he dropped her I was more concerned with Ashley then about the person who did it.”
“You didn’t chase him?” The anger was harder to control then he thought. “Did you call the police? Notify hospital security?”
“I’m sorry I was more concerned with Ashley at the time.”
“But you didn’t think to have her checked out by a doctor? You were in a hospital and you didn’t call for help? What were you thinking?”
“I’m sorry, I wasn’t. I took her home and she seemed okay. If something had gone wrong I would’ve called someone.”
“More wrong then being stabbed in the throat?” What was wrong with this man? Nate glanced at Ashley. She had slumped down on to the hospital bed and wouldn’t look at either man. Instead her gaze fell on the curtain that separated them from Kyle who was still sleeping on the other side despite the loud talk. Nate wasn’t surprised given the medication the boy had required to calm him down. He could only hope that he would wake up in time to identify another suspect. Despite the late hour on a Friday Nate was not done with work for the week, not by a long shot.
“I’m sorry; I thought I could take care of her. What if the man came back and tried to hurt her again? At least at my house I could protect her.”
“But what about your son? Didn’t you think of him?”
“I’m sorry; I didn’t think this was related at all. The man threatened Ashley to stay away from Kyle; I had no idea why he would have any reason to show up in Kyle’s room. It doesn’t make sense.” Michael appeared as agitated as he sounded. He was pacing in the tiny space and running his hands through his hair as though trying to convince himself he had made the right decision. Nate knew he had made the wrong decision. What was this man thinking?
“If the two cases are related he would have every reason to show up and see Kyle. At nine years old, Kyle doesn’t need to be threatened by a knife. Just an unfriendly face showing up in his room would be enough to keep him quiet.”
“But how would it be related?” Ashley’s voice had still not gone above a whisper.
“I have no answer for that right now. It seems highly unlikely but I can’t ignore any possibility. Maybe Jimmy has a connection. Maybe someone is just trying to mess with your mind. I have no answer for that.”
Stirring from the other side of the curtain caught Nate’s attention.
“Daddy?” The room went quiet at the sound of Kyle’s voice.
“Daddy’s here buddy, what’s up?” Michael pushed back the curtain and smiled down at Kyle. Kyle looked pale and there was no look of life in him. What had this boy been through?
“A bad man was here today…” Kyle wasn’t talking to his father, he was looking at Ashley. In response, Ashley slid off the empty bed and sat on Kyle’s. She held his hand and ran her fingers through his hair. Kyle’s color came back almost immediately and even gave Ashley a small smile. Ashley returned the gesture. Nate couldn’t help but think there was something between them.
The three of them would make a nice, happy family. The thought crossed Nate’s mind unbidden and he shoved it aside. The truth was if Donnie and Aidan were still alive Ashley’s family would look just like this with Nate on the outside. Maybe that was how it was always meant to be.
“Hey, Kyle, can you tell me who was in here today?” Ashley asked.
“A bad man.”
“Was it Jonathan?”
“No, that was one bad man.”
“There was more than one?”
Kyle looked out the window and then back at Ashley. “Two men took Ashley. The other man came in my room today.”
“What did he say?” Ashley asked as she stroked Kyle’s arm.
“He said if I talked to you again he would kill you.”

Chapter 18

2008-04-19T20:34:00.001-07:00

Ashley’s head throbbed. Her neck ached. She reached up to touch her neck and found herself feeling gauze instead of an open wound. Ashley felt her head and tried to sit up. The world began swimming and she laid back. She tried to focus her eyes and found herself staring at a white ceiling with a ceiling fan and odd light fixture. Where was she?
She tried to remember what had happened but had trouble. Did she get admitted to the hospital? Feeling underneath her, she realized she wasn’t in a hospital bed. Instead she was lying on a couch. A leather couch at that.
“Oh hey, you’re awake.” A male voice floated into her ears from behind her.
Ashley tried to sit up but everything began to spin again. The voice now had an arm and that arm was on her shoulder pushing her back. Her immediate urge was to resist but realizing she was too exhausted to fight, she lay back on the couch.
“Don’t try to sit up. You hit your head when you fell in the elevator.” Now she recognized the voice as belonging to Michael. It helped that his face had finally come in to view. His blue eyes held clear concern and his dark, black hair was smoothed back from his face as though plastered back with water or sweat. Had it been like that before? She didn’t remember it.
“What happened?” Ashley asked as she carefully pushed herself to a sitting position. By moving up very slowly she had been able to avoid another vertigo experience.
“Do you remember anything?” Michael asked.
“I remember a man in the elevator. He had a knife. He cut me.” Ashley grabbed at her neck again and pain shot through her. She had certainly touched a sore spot.
“He hurt you pretty bad…”
“Did you take me to the ER?”
“No, I figured I could take care of you here.” Michael flashed a large white smile which she was sure was supposed to make her feel better. Somehow it wasn’t working.
“Where is here?” Ashley’s heart began to pound even though she couldn’t explain why.
“This is my house. The cut didn’t look too deep and you were only out for a bit so I brought you home to fix you up.”
A bit? Then why didn’t she remember anything until now?
“Did you call the police?”
“No, I think you just need some rest. Maybe you can talk to Nate later,” Michael said and without waiting for a reply he disappeared back to wherever he had come from. Ashley’s head swirled again and she laid flat on the couch. Slowly, she turned on to her side and faced the coffee table. It was a large upholstered ottoman similar in style to the couch she was on but instead of chocolate brown like the couch it was a cream color. On top of the ottoman sat a tray with handles and vases. Flowers were arranged neatly in the vase. Ashley figured this was how Gina had left the house.
Michael reappeared in front of Ashley and this time he had a cup of tea in his hand. Gently he helped her sit up and then handed her the tea. She cupped her hand around the mug and breathed in the warmth and smell of cinnamon. Michael nudged back the tray on the ottoman and sat down across from Ashley. He looked at her intently and Ashley could feel the concern. He laid his hands on her knees and she felt shudders run up her legs and into her spine. The warmth on her knees was rivaling what came out of the mug.
“I’m concerned about you,” Michael said.
“I have no idea why.” Ashley sighed. She knew why but didn’t want to vocalize it or face it. Ten years ago Jimmy Livingston was put in prison for the murder of Donnie and Aidan. Ashley had hoped that that would be the end of him. But she knew that it wasn’t. Deep down she knew that there was more to it then an angry lover. Why wouldn’t he have just killed Ashley? Why take it out on Aidan?
“You know why.” Michael massaged her knee while Ashley started into her tea. Michael nudged Ashley’s chin up to meet his eyes. Reluctantly she looked up into Michael’s deep blue eyes. What she saw there gave her hope to cling to. Hope that she may possibly get out of this mess alive. But then a small turn of her neck brought more pain and she wasn’t so sure.
“I shouldn’t have come. I shouldn’t be here. I need to get back to Maryland.” Ashley frantically patted around her with her one free hand for her purse. She couldn’t turn her head for fear of pain but she had the need to flee. Michael was getting too close.
Michael grabbed her wandering arm and held it while removing the mug from her other hand. He brought her arms together in front of her. She tried to resist but he held firm, stroking her forearms as he did. “Ashley, you need to be here. What you’re doing is helping. Kyle seems to like you. I kind of like you.”
Ashley felt herself blush and averted her eyes. If Michael could see his eyes he would’ve seen that she liked him too. But what was she thinking? The man’s wife had just been murdered.
As if reading her mind, Michael added, “Look, you probably think this is odd and forward since I just lost Gina. But the truth is we weren’t much of a couple for a long time.”
“Because of the affair?”
A strange look crossed Michael’s face and then was gone. He nodded. “Right, I told you earlier. Yes, partly because of that but, well, Gina was getting into this religious stuff and I didn’t want to go along. She would get angry at me. We would fight about it.” Michael squeezed her hands again and then let go. “I’m not trying to be forward. This is a strange time but I like having you here. You get along with Kyle. When we find Kayla you’ll get along with her too…”
“We may not find Kayla alive…”
“No! We will find her. There is no other option. They promised…” Michael clamped his mouth shut but Ashley didn’t miss the slip.
“They promised what?”
“The police promised they would bring her back alive. They have to.”
His answer sounded plausible but something about his actions made Ashley wonder if that’s what he really meant.
“At least stay for dinner. You’re too weak to go back to the hospital and talk with Kyle and after your attack I’d hate for you to be alone.”
“Don’t you need to be somewhere else?” Ashley asked. Surely the district attorney had something better to do, somewhere better to be. Like asking for warrants to suspects homes. Suspects who attack women in elevators.
“For tonight, I’ll make time for you. And if you need a place to stay, please stay here tonight. Tomorrow is Saturday. You shouldn’t have to work but if you want to talk to Kyle then I’ll take you over to him.” Michael smiled and flashed his perfect teeth. “You stay here on the couch for a few minutes, I’ll get dinner on the table and then help you get there.”
Ashley only nodded her response. She didn’t trust herself to speak. Wasn’t sure how she felt. Michael took that as an affirmative and left Ashley on the couch once again to return to the kitchen which Ashley assumed to be behind her since in front of her was a beige wall which she could see continued down a hallway into what looked like a bed room.
Ashley maneuvered herself closer to the ottoman and picked up her mug of tea again. She sipped the now warm liquid and let it slide down her throat soothing away her fears. A strange sound filled the air. It took a moment before it registered to Ashley that it was her cell phone.
“Michael, where did you put my purse?” Ashley called. No answer. The phone kept ringing. Ashley sighed. “Michael?”
When no reply came Ashley knew she would have to get the phone herself. She took another swallow of her tea as though she were drinking in her strength. She pushed herself to stand and only fell back once from dizziness. The ringing had stopped but Ashley knew she needed to find the phone. It could be Nate with information. Or Trish wondering when she was coming back.
Ashley looked around the couch but found no purse. The sound hadn’t been that far away. Where would Michael leave her purse? Ashley looked behind her and found the kitchen as she expected. It was a large kitchen with light maple cabinets and an expansive island. All the appliances appeared to be new and professional grade. Gina Fleming must have been a good cook. A lighter beige covered the kitchen walls which appeared to be a similar color to the granite countertops. All the decorating looked professional. Why not? Michael probably had the money.
She made her way to the kitchen and searched the countertops. Where was Michael? She thought he said he was going to be making dinner. The faint sound of the phone ringing hit her ears again. The sound came from further down the hall then the kitchen. She made her way down the darker beige hallway; Ashley was sensing a theme. Opening doors as she went she found the laundry room and then the garage. Obviously she was heading the wrong way. But where was the phone?
Groping the wall she made her way back to the kitchen. Her throat hurt and her head hurt. Things were swimming and she felt very alone. What had happened to Michael? Her heart began to pound. Had he come back for her? Had she been followed to Michael’s home? Did something happen to Michael?
“Michael?” Ashley knew she sounded desperate but it didn’t matter. Surely something had happened to him. He was making dinner. Then he was gone. Where was the phone?
The ringing had stopped again. Maybe the call wasn’t that important.
Ashley passed the kitchen and found herself back in the family room. She stopped at the leather couch to catch her breath. Was that movement behind her?
She stood still. Not daring to move. Not daring to breathe. He had found her. She was sure of it. Whoever “he” was. Did he have a knife again? Did he bring a gun this time? Where was Michael? Where was Nate? Didn’t he know she needed him? They’d had a connection once. Could they have one again?
A hand touched her back.
Ashley screamed.
“Are you okay?” It was Michael’s voice. She turned to face him and without thinking threw her arms around him and held on. “Are you okay?” He repeated his question as he patted her back.
“My phone. My phone was ringing and you weren’t here. I called you but you didn’t answer. I couldn’t find the phone. I thought something happened to you.” The words all ran together and were probably being muffled by Michael’s shirt. She looked up at him, ignoring the pain in her neck, to see if he caught any of it.
“Your phone? Oh, in your purse. I’m sorry; I set your purse in the guest bedroom. Sit back down and I’ll get it for you.”
Ashley did as Michael suggested and waited for him to return. This time he wasn’t gone long and reappeared with her red handbag in tow. Unzipping it she found her phone on top next to her car keys. Flipping open her phone she saw she had one missed call. She hit the send button and her phone automatically dialed the number.
“Zimmerman.”
“Nate, is that you?”
“Ashley! Where have you been? I tried calling you and got no answer. I was worried.”
“I’m sorry, something came up. What’s up?”
“I’m here with Kyle. You need to get back here right away.”
“Is everything okay?”
“No, Ashley, nothing is okay.”

Chapter 17

2008-04-14T20:25:00.000-07:00

Nate stared at the clock. Was the whole day almost over? What had he even accomplished? Nothing. His search for Jonathan Gardner had turned up nothing. The press conference had gone as planned. Nate had been unable to stop it and Michael Fleming had not changed his mind no matter the strength of Nate’s arguments. A fact that was getting under Nate’s skin. That man had been in the legal field for at least ten years. He knew what it took to track down a suspect.
They had been unable to find Jonathan at his prior location and had been informed that the owners at the address they had had lived there for eleven years and they did not know a Jonathan Gardner and no, he had never lived with them. Nate wasn’t surprised that Jonathan would list a false address. What surprised him was the fact that he had used his real name to rent the house where they found Emma. Did he fail to cover his tracks that poorly? Was someone setting them all up and Jonathan wasn’t involved at all?
But Kyle had said the name Jonathan and it couldn’t be a coincidence.
“Any luck?” Eric asked Nate as Eric sat down at his desk. He had been in the restroom for a long time. Nate checked the clock. No, it had only been a few minutes, it just felt like a long time. How is it that some days feel like they fly by in a second and others drag on forever?
“Nothing. Where could this guy have gone?”
“Did you check Goodyear again?”
“Yes, they still haven’t heard from him. Short of searching the place myself with a search warrant I don’t think we stand a chance of finding anything about him there. No one seems to care one way or another,” Nate said.
“Five girls missing and no one there cares to help? How did we get so callous?”
“I don’t know but we have a conference in two minutes and we have nothing to share. We’re no closer to finding these girls alive then we were at the last meeting four days ago.”
Eric nodded and they headed to the conference room preparing to be eaten alive by Commander Walter Herndon. As Nate and Eric entered the conference room they noted that Herndon was already there along with their lieutenant, Annabeth Porter and two other officers Nate knew, Cole Easton and Jack Williams. Cole was a young officer, directly out of the police academy. He was a few inches higher than Nate’s six foot frame and his body looked as though he worked out three times a day. The girls would be all over him in dispatch. Jack Williams was much older in comparison which is why the two were paired as partners. Jack had a wife and at least three children that Nate knew of but if he remembered correctly they were trying for more. Jack and his family attended Nate’s church.
Randy Greenwood and Jin Yu-na entered a few minutes later and Commander Herndon drew everyone’s attention to the situation board that had been set up in the corner of the room. Nate looked at the board and was saddened to see so many pictures of such young girls taped up. Below Daisy and Emma were crime scene photos. Below the other three girls was the word “missing” and pictures of their immediate family. While it did appear that they had a serial kidnapper or killer on the loose no person could be ruled out as knowing something. It was Nate’s job to rule each of them out.
“Do we have anything new?” Commander Herndon’s eyes bore into Nate’s skull. Nate already felt the weight of the case and this wasn’t making it any better.
“We have an APB out on Jonathan Gardner but so far no one has seen or heard from him in days. He’s like a ghost since we found Emma’s body at his house. It’s possible he’s dumping these girls on his way out of town but it doesn’t explain why he would take another girl. I truly believe there are more people involved…”
“Do you have evidence of this?” Lieutenant Porter interrupted. Her cropped black hair swished as she wagged her finger at Nate. Her glasses slid further down her nose. Nate knew the Lieutenant’s detective skills were second to none but her fashion sense left much to be desired.
“Not yet…”
“We might,” now it was Randy Greenwood speaking. Last Nate had seen him was at Jonathan Gardner’s house the day before. They hadn’t spoken since.
“Let’s hear it,” Marybeth said.
“Jin and I did a background check on Jonathan and came up with some known associates. With a little legwork today we came up with another name, Todd Purcell. Todd was in prison with Jonathan for a few months and they got to know each other. Jonathan was released before Todd because Jonathan’s conviction was minor but the two kept in touch. Even visited Todd a few times. Todd was released about three months ago which is just before all of this started happening.” A smug look crossed Randy’s dark face. Where had that information come from? Nate shot a look to Eric that read, “how come you didn’t come up with that?” Eric just shrugged his response. Mr. Researcher comes up dry. Nate found that hard to believe. Randy probably paid off an informant for that piece of information. No way had Eric missed that in his computer search.
“Do we know anything about this Todd Purcell?” Marybeth again.
“He’s been in more trouble than Jonathan. Most recently he was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. A young woman claimed he was trying to kill her for her money. He claims it was a misunderstanding but the police arrested him and found a 9mm on him. The jury saw it the woman’s way and he spent eight years in lock-up. Now he’s out on parole and I think he’s back to his old ways. This time he’s bringing Jonathan in on it,” Randy said.
“Is there any record in either of their pasts about child abuse or child pornography or any crime related to children?” Nate asked. While Jonathan and Todd together seemed like more likely suspects than Jonathan alone, Nate still wasn’t convinced this was all of it. He was missing something. He felt like the answer was right in front of him but he couldn’t see it. It was Ashley’s feeling that Kyle knew more than what he was saying.
“Todd has an older record of peeping in girl’s windows and harassing young girls,” Jin inserted himself into the conversation.
“How young?” Nate asked.
“Mostly teenagers but these girls aren’t far from that and they’d be easier to transport and manipulate,” Jin replied.
“I can see that,” Nate scratched his chin and tapped his foot. Energy to get to work was surging through him despite the late hour. “But it’s a huge stretch from peeping tom to murdering women and stealing their daughters.”
“Maybe not as big as you think. It’s also possible there are things in both their histories we don’t know enough about,” Randy said. His eyes once again bore into Nate as if challenging him to continue with the disagreement.
“I agree with Randy,” Marybeth said. “Let’s dig deeper into Todd and Jonathan’s background. Let’s find them both and when we do I have a lot of questions for them. This case is a very big deal. I have higher-ups breathing down my neck constantly.” She pointed to Commander Herndon who was sitting to her left at the table. “I want this case solved. I don’t want any more girls missing or any more dead bodies turning up on my watch, young or otherwise.”
With that the subject was closed and Marybeth turned her attention to Jack and Cole who were working on every other case the department had so that the rest of the agents could focus exclusively on the missing girls. While Nate knew the enormity of his case he would rather focus on just the one then take care of all the other departments’ daily work.
The meeting ended and Nate had no idea where to begin. They had scoured two crime scenes to come up with very little forensic evidence. All Nate knew for sure was that the same vehicle was involved in both crimes. There was a possibility of getting some DNA from Daisy’s body but that was still a few weeks away. Even with a rush DNA took time. And time was something they didn’t have.
How can a house have no fingerprints? No usable ones anyway. Everything they found matched either Jonathan Gardner or Emma Sykes. No prints of Daisy’s anywhere. Had she been in the house? Was she killed before she got there?
Nate sat down in his chair in front of his desk and rested his forehead on his palms. This case was now almost eight weeks old. No sign of the girls in weeks and now two bodies this week and two other girls missing. What was going on? Nate had heard of guys accelerating but this didn’t make sense. Why hold a girl for a while then kill her?
A prayer ran through Nate’s mind. He’d neglected to seek God in any of the previous weeks. He hadn’t been to church in at least two Sundays. Sure he had been busy but that was just his excuse. Truth was he wanted to solve this case himself. He wanted to impress Ashley. Now he had nothing left so he began to pray. “Just anything, Lord. We need something. These girls need to be found.”
As if in immediate answer to his prayer, Nate’s phone rang and he picked it up without looking, “Zimmerman.”
“Nate, you’re not going to believe this but we have another body,” Nate’s heart sunk as he listened to Jane Brumagim words on the other end of the line. Another girl?
“Who?” Nate groaned.
“It’s not what you think. It’s not a girl. Some joggers found a male with one gun shot wound to the head. We think it might be Jonathan Gardner.”
“How?”
“Matches his description. We also found some things in his trunk. Looks like our killer may have taken a little girl from him though. We found some hairs and scratches in the trunk. Whoever she was, she’s still alive.”
“What color are the hairs?” Nate made a mental run through of the girls. Kayla had dark brown hair like her brother and her father. Jessica had light brown hair and Julia had blond hair. Nate was thankful for the difference.
“They are blonde. We think its Julia.”
“Could mean she’s still alive.”
“There’s a very good possibility that Jonathan was transferring her to somebody. Must’ve been a misunderstanding or something,” Jane said.
“Or his name was too much all over the news,” Nate said. Anger shot through him. He knew Michael’s press conference was a bad idea. Now whatever lead Nate had could be gone. “Anything else?”
“We do have footprints. We’ll have the techs take a mold.”
“Sounds like you’ve got a great start. Eric and I will be there shortly.” Nate stood and grabbed his suit jacket which always hung at the ready on Nate’s chair. Despite the heat it was standard issue for detectives to wear sports jackets or a suit. Always look professional. Nate tried.
Nate relayed the information to Eric and the two of them headed for Nate’s cruiser. Nate couldn’t help but smile all the way to the scene. Even though they had found Jonathan Gardner in the least ideal way, Nate felt like they had made a breath through in the case. And for that he thanked God. Should’ve prayed sooner.