Little Lost Things
Page 19
With her back to Ryan, she said, “Have you heard from Wes or Scott?”
His silence was all the answer she needed.
“I was so sure the evidence from Waynesboro would point them at Mara. You were at their headquarters last night, Steph. What were they saying?”
“Not much, but they still had a pile of evidence to sift through. It will take more time. They’re working on an image of what Mara might look like with the new hair length and color. She’s quite the master of disguise, but the techs showed me some of the innovative new technology they have. It’s more than equal to Mara’s tricks. They’ll be ready when she slips up.”
“Good to know,” Grace whispered. She sighed and turned an empty Juliana’s box on the counter. “Where’s Alec? We’re supposed to get cannoli.”
“She said to ask you for a raincheck because of Jen. She went to get Adam and the kids,” Mark said. “Rosie is begging for you to sign her cast. Valerie’s wondering if she can bring our two over here. They miss you.”
“I’d love to see them. I need a good dose of their energy. There’s as much joy around here as a morgue.” When Ryan cringed, she said, “Sorry, terrible choice of words.”
Mark got up and headed for the living room. “I’ll call Val.”
Grace saw the mail piled in a basket on the counter next to the empty box. “When was the last time you read through the mail?” she asked Ryan.
“You mean after one of the agents has gone through it with a microscope? Not since Friday. It was mostly just bills and junk. We got a few Christmas cards. I wasn’t sure you’d want to see them.”
He was right. Reading about their friends and family’s perfect lives would be torture while they were living a nightmare. Not that she begrudged them their good fortune. She just needed one less reminder that theirs had been stolen from them.
Grace picked up the basket and carried it to the table. She rifled through it but didn’t find anything needing immediate attention. She glanced at the bank statement and said, “Where’s my laptop? I should check our accounts to make sure we haven’t run out of money.”
Ryan cocked his head toward the door. “Dining room.”
Grace took the bank statement into the other room with Steph close behind her.
“Tree’s pretty,” Steph said as she passed it.
Grace grunted and sat at the dining room table with her laptop. She logged into the bank site and checked their accounts. She considered skipping over Johnny’s account until she noticed that the balance was almost a hundred dollars less than it was last time she checked. She clicked the link and saw he’d made a cash withdrawal the day before.
“Come look at this,” she called to Ryan.
He rushed out of the kitchen, drying his hands on a towel. “What’s wrong? Did someone clean out our accounts? It wouldn’t surprise me the way our luck’s going this week.”
Grace turned the laptop to show him. “Steph, call Wes.”
* * *
It only took minutes for the techs to trace Johnny’s ATM withdrawal to a hotel on the west side of the city. Wes’ excitement escalated as he mobilized his team. After all the disappointments, moments like that validated his decision to join the Bureau. Capturing Mara and bringing Johnny home would make the sacrifice and struggle worth it.
The driver of Wes’ SWAT vehicle parked in the circular drive of the hotel and the two other vehicles pulled in behind them. Agents piled out with Wes on point.
“Prince, take your team and set up a perimeter to the west. Elliott, you go right,” Wes said. “Cameron, keep your eyes on the entrance from here. The rest, you’re with me.”
The desk clerk’s eyes widened at the sight of the geared-up CARD team descending on him en masse. Wes displayed his credentials and smiled to reassure him.
“Mr. Singh, we believe that the prime suspect in a kidnapping investigation is checked into your hotel.” He held up the picture of Mara with short blond hair and the rendering of how she’d look with auburn hair and extensions. “Do you recognize this woman?”
Mr. Singh’s gaze flitted over the face of each agent before he nodded. “I remember her. She didn’t want to use her credit card. Let me pull up her record.”
Wes shifted his feet while Mr. Singh tapped on the keyboard. He was anxious to get to Mara’s room before she had a chance to bolt. Mr. Singh printed Mara’s check-in record and handed it to Wes.
Wes studied the sheet of paper while Mr. Singh created a key to Mara’s room for him. They had some concrete vitals on Mara for the first time. Her full name was Mara May Brennen, or at least that was the name she was using. Wes doubted it was her birth name. It was such an ordinary name for such a notorious person. Her driver’s license listed a Portland, Oregon address. Whoever Mara was, she was a long way from home.
“This will open her room. Number 332,” Mr. Singh said and gave Wes the room key.
“Thank you.” Wes turned to the agents standing in a semicircle behind him. “Mendez, take your team up the north stairs. Malcolm, you’ve got the south stairwell.”
Wes led the remaining team members into the elevator.
“This is the slowest elevator ever created,” Wes said and paced the small space as it crawled to the third floor.
He sprang through the doors the instant they opened. Mendez and Malcolm were waiting for him with their teams when he reached room 332. He rolled his eyes and tapped his knuckles on the door.
“This is the FBI. We have permission to enter. Please open the door.” When there was no response, he swore under his breath. “I repeat, this is the FBI. You have five seconds to open the door before we enter.”
Silence answered, so Wes counted to five before swiping the keycard against the reader. The light turned green, so he motioned for his team to get ready and turned the handle. They barged in and began their search, but the room was empty. No personal items. No luggage. No Mara or Johnny.
Wes grabbed two of his agents and took the stairs at a fast click to burn off frustration. As he made his way to the lobby, he tried to figure out what tipped Mara off that they were on their way. She must have bolted after Johnny used the ATM. Wes hoped the blood in the bathroom wasn’t a reaction to Johnny defying her.
Wes radioed the agents outside the hotel to be on alert for Mara and ordered agents in the room to search every corner. When Wes thought no one was looking, he kicked the bathroom door with his boot. It swung back and slammed into the wall.
Malcolm poked his head out of the bathroom. “Everything all right, buddy?” he asked as he came out and checked where the doorknob had struck. “Accounting won’t be happy if they have to repair a hole in the wall.”
“Glad it was only you who saw that, old friend. I need to get a grip.” Wes propped the room door open and motioned for Malcolm to follow him into the hallway. “How did Mara know? How did she know we were coming?” Wes rubbed his forehead. “Get forensics up here. I want proof Mara and Johnny were here.”
“Hey, boss, we’ve got what looks like blood on the bathroom tile,” Mendez called from inside the room.
“I hope it’s Mara’s,” Wes whispered only loud enough for Malcolm's ears. “Look for bloodstains in other parts of the room while you wait for forensics,” he told the rest of the agents. “I’m going down to talk to the desk clerk.”
He showed the clerk a picture of Johnny when he got to the lobby. “Was this boy with Mara Brennen?”
Mr. Singh studied the photo carefully. “Yes, I think I saw him, but his hair is black and short. The face is the same though. The boy I saw was on crutches. He bought some items from the market.”
Wes walked around the corner of the counter to the small market looking for cameras. “Does the security camera cover this area?”
“Yes, sir,” Mr. Singh said.
Wes walked back to the registration desk. “We’ll need all of your security recordings from the time Mara Brennen checked in.”
“Let me call the manager.”
Mr. Singh pressed his palms together and gave a slight bow. “It is my honor to help. I hope the boy will soon be returned to his grieving mother and this villain will get the punishment she deserves.”
Wes nodded. “As do I.”
* * *
Mara jumped out of her chair next to Johnny’s ER bed when the doctor came into the room.
Without looking up from the stack of papers in his hand, the doctor said, “I have the results of Kyle’s tests. The x-rays show no skull fractures, so that’s excellent news. Kyle’s CBC and chemical levels are all within normal range.” He turned to Johnny. “Do you usually have seizures when your levels are normal, Kyle?”
Johnny squinted at the doctor. “Why do you keep calling me Kyle?”
The doctor flipped through the papers. “Isn’t that your name?”
Mara stepped between Johnny and the doctor. “He goes by a nickname. Long story. To answer your question, he does have the occasional seizure when his levels are good. The stress of traveling probably caused it. Can I take him home?”
The doctor looked skeptical at Mara’s explanation, but he said, “Oh no. I’m admitting him. He didn’t have any fractures, but he has a serious concussion. We need to keep him one night at least for observation. They’re getting a room ready for him now. The nurse will be in shortly with the forms.”
Johnny groaned. “I have to stay? I want to go home.”
“I’m sorry, son. I can’t release you. You might be able to go home tomorrow.” The doctor started to leave but turned before he reached the door. “What do you want us to call you?”
“He goes by Scout,” Mara said before Johnny could answer. “It’s what his father always called him.”
The doctor wrote the name on the top paper. “I’ll pass that long.”
As soon as the doctor was out of the room, Mara grabbed Johnny’s clothes and threw back his blankets. “Get dressed. We’re getting out of here.”
Johnny raised his eyebrows. “But the doctor said I can’t leave. My head is killing me, and the nurse said the doctor would give me something for pain.”
“I have pain meds in the car. I’m a nurse. I know how to take care of you. Get dressed before the nurse comes. Do you think you can walk now?”
Johnny stared at her for a second before saying, “I think so.”
“If not, I’ll get a wheelchair.”
She pulled the curtain around the bed and turned her back while Johnny dressed. She wasn’t as confident about taking care of him as she’d acted, but there was no question of letting them admit him. All it would take was one person recognizing either one of them for all her plans to be shot.
“I’m ready,” Johnny whispered.
Mara lowered the bed rails and handed him his crutches. She helped him slowly raise off the bed. He swayed slightly before steadying himself. She kept a hand on his back until she was sure he wouldn’t fall.
“Take a few steps before we leave the room to make sure you can handle it. We’ll have to move fast once we get in the hallway.”
Johnny walked to the back wall and came back toward Mara without trouble even though he was going slower than she liked.
“Why did you tell the doctor to call me Scout?”
Mara stopped gathering their belongings and stared at him. “That’s what Rick always called you. I don’t remember why.”
“Weird name. I need to pee.”
“No time for that. You’ll have to hold it.”
Mara checked to see if the hallway was clear. There was lots of activity, but no one was near Johnny’s room. She motioned for him to go and walked beside him.
They only made it twenty feet when someone behind them said, “Ma’am, where are you going? The doctor is admitting your son.” The nurse ran up behind them waving the forms. Mara ignored her and kept walking, but the nurse caught up to them and blocked their path. “Did you not understand that the doctor wants Kyle to stay? He has a concussion that needs to be monitored.”
“I understood,” Mara said. “I’m a nurse and can look after him. I’m taking care of my sick mother, too. I can’t leave her alone. We need to go.”
Mara pushed the nurse out of the way and squeezed Johnny’s elbow to get him moving.
The nurse didn’t follow but called out to them. “You’ll need to sign forms saying that you’re checking him out against medical advice.”
“Keep moving,” Mara hissed at Johnny.
They went as fast as Johnny could manage but didn’t make it through the door before the doctor came running after them and blocked their exit. He was a large man. Mara wouldn’t be able to shove him out of the way as she had done with the nurse.
“Where are you taking your son? He needs a hospital.”
Mara crossed her arms and stood as tall as she could manage. “I’m a nurse and can take care of my son. You can’t force us to stay. Please get out of our way.”
The doctor shifted his gaze to Johnny and searched his face. “Do you want to leave?”
“Yes. She’ll take care of me. I want my own bed.”
The doctor turned back to Mara. “Can you at least give us a local address we so have it on record? Did you leave a contact number so we can call and check on Scout?”
Mara hesitated before nodding. The doctor handed her Johnny’s forms. She scribbled the address for the rental house and her old cell number on the back. She knew he wanted the info to send social services. She’d done it enough times with patients herself to know the drill. He wasn’t buying her story. Fortunately, the info she gave him was bogus.
She handed him the paper, and he stepped aside to let them pass. She straightened her shoulders and did her best to hide her shaking hands as she got Johnny moving toward the door. She hardly breathed until she was driving out of the parking lot. She glanced at Johnny, but his eyes were closed, and he didn’t seem to care about what had just happened. She’d have answers ready when he had the strength to ask.
* * *
From the way Johnny’s head pounded, he could guess what it felt like to get struck by lightning.
“Open your eyes,” a voice that was muffled and distant said. Was he underwater? His shoulder shook which sent another lightning bolt through his brain. “Johnny, wake up. We’re here,” the voice said. It was louder and clearer.
He opened his eyes for a second before slamming them shut. He was facing directly into the sun. The pain went from a lightning bolt to an electrical storm. Why was this person torturing him? He rotated his head to face her and concentrated hard to focus on her face. His heart sank when he realized it was Mara.
Before she woke him, he’d been dreaming that he was hanging out at Darnell’s and had a headache from too many hours staring at video games. He lowered his eyelids hoping to slip back into his dream-world, but Mara unhooked his seatbelt and leaned his seat forward.
“You have to stay awake. I need you to get out of the car. I’ll walk you to the door and let you lie down once we’re in the house.”
Johnny squinted at her. “House?”
She glanced away and said, “Well, sort of.”
Johnny craned his neck to look beyond her. They were in a place he didn’t recognize. “Is this a trailer park? Where are we?”
“It’s our new temporary home. I had to find it online in a hurry. No one will ask questions here.”
She put Johnny’s crutches in his hand and lifted his elbow to get him moving. He moaned and took three attempts to get on his feet. Mara kept her hands on his waist and steered him toward the house. The trailer-home was the ugliest one Johnny had ever seen.
He stopped before they reached the three rickety wooden steps leading to the door. “You expect me to live here? This thing looks like it will tip over any second.”
“I came here and checked it o
ut while they were running tests on you. It’s more stable than it looks. The inside isn’t too bad and it’s clean.” She swiveled her head to see if anyone was watching. “Come on, you’re almost there.”
Johnny was shocked that he made it up the steps without keeling over. He noticed the padlock on the outside of the door as he passed. Why would anyone have a lock on the outside? he wondered.
When his eyes adjusted to the darkness inside, he almost turned and went back to the car. “You and I have very different ideas of what ‘not too bad’ means.” He dropped onto a worn and dusty couch with sunken cushions. He felt the springs poking through the seat of his jeans.
“Quit complaining. This was the best I could do with short notice. If you’d obeyed me and not gone to the hotel lobby, you could still be there in your comfy bed.” She handed him two pills and bottled water. “Take these.”
Johnny eagerly swallowed the pills, anxious for the sweet relief from his pain. “Where’s my room? I do have a bed, don’t I?”
Mara pointed to the far end of the trailer. “Over there. After I rented this place, I bought clean bedding and towels while you were knocked out at the hospital. Go lie down while I get our stuff out of the car.”
“You left me alone at the hospital? What kind of mother are you?”
“The kind that wants to get you out of this city as soon as she can. A week’s rent here is cheaper than one night at that hotel. You left me no choice.”
“Sure, blame it on me,” he mumbled. “Are you running out of money?”
“It’s getting low, but we’ll survive. I’d paid for two more nights at the hotel, so that money’s down the toilet, not to mention the rest of the month’s rent at my house. I’ve been thinking of sneaking my mail out of the box at the rental house. The feds must know I’m not going back there by now. They might not be watching the place. If I can get my last paycheck, we’ll leave for Portland as soon as you’re well.”