[Alex Mercer 01.0] Girl in Trouble

by Stacy Claflin

  He hoped.

  Hungry

  Ariana’s stomach rumbled. The house had been quiet since Lloyd had left. She’d had more than enough time to search every little part of the room. He’d sealed it tight. There wasn’t even a piece of loose molding.

  She went back to the window and stared at the woods. It was dark outside, but she hadn’t turned on the light in the room. With no curtain or blind, she felt like someone could watch her from out there. There were so many places to hide out in those thick woods and she already felt so vulnerable.

  The moon cast a light glow on everything and the branches rustled. Normally, she’d have loved the spookiness of everything, especially so close to Halloween, but all she wanted was to go home. To be safe and secure, able to hug all of her loved ones.

  She couldn’t help wondering what they were doing right then.

  A noise startled her. It took Ariana a moment to realize it was the sounds of gravel crunching under tires.

  Was Lloyd finally back? She was so hungry by now that she was actually excited for his arrival. If his mood had improved, maybe she could even talk him into a trip to the backyard.

  Her stomach roared as she hoped for something to eat. He had been gone so long, maybe he was bringing takeout. She didn’t think she could handle waiting as a meal cooked.

  Maybe Jan had liked fast food. Lloyd really seemed to want to make her happy.

  The thought of a greasy burger and fries made Ari’s mouth water.

  Lloyd pulled the sedan up to the house, but didn’t get out right away. She strained to see what he was doing, but couldn’t see into the car from her angle.

  Didn’t he know how hungry she was?

  Ariana grew tired of waiting and went over to the bed. She stumbled over her own feet, feeling faint. Her stomach continued growling.

  It had been so hard staying in the ugly room all day, knowing food was just on the other side of the door. So close, but so far away. She’d tried pulling and twisting on the doorknob, hoping to loosen the lock somehow, but had given up. The thought of breaking down the door had crossed her mind, too, but there was nothing in the room hard enough—just stuffed animals, dolls, posters, and paperback books.

  She sighed and closed her eyes.

  A car door slammed outside. Ariana didn’t bother getting her hopes up. Not until Lloyd said the food was ready.

  The house remained quiet for a while—it felt like days—until she finally heard something outside the room. It sounded like he was rummaging through something in the kitchen.

  She moaned and then her stomach rumbled again.

  More noises sounded from the kitchen. Pots and pans banged around. Water ran. A fan sounded. Dishes clanged against each other. Silverware rattled.

  All familiar noises, but none of it brought any comfort.

  Tears blurred her vision of what little she could see in the room from the moonlight. She tried to blink them back, but they spilled out and rolled down her face, pooling in her ears. Ariana sniffled and sobbed silently.

  She thought about her parents—all of them—and her friends. Would she ever get to see them again? Or would Lloyd be the only person she saw anymore? What if he was the last person she ever saw?

  Ariana rolled over and muffled her sobs into the pillow. She couldn’t let that happen.

  The lock clicked.

  She sat up and wiped the tears from her face.

  The door opened. The smell of garlic bread and spaghetti sauce filled the air.

  “Are you sleeping?” Lloyd asked.

  The light came on, blinding Ariana for a moment. She covered her eyes. When she lowered her arms, she met his gaze.

  “You’ve been crying? What’s the matter?” He rushed over to her, putting an arm around her and and pulling her close.

  Ariana could hear his rapid heartbeat against his chest.

  “Talk to your brother. Are you upset because I was gone so long?” He ran his palm over her hair, over and over again.

  She needed to get into character. “Yeah. Where were you?”

  He cleared his throat. “I had some business to take care of, but I’m back now. Are you hungry?”

  “Starving.”

  “Let’s get you cleaned up and eat.”

  Her stomach growled.

  “Come on.” He helped her off the bed and led her down the hall, into the bathroom.

  Suddenly, she realized how badly she had to go. “Can I have some privacy?”

  “Do you have to pee?”

  Ariana glanced to the floor and nodded, silently pleading with him to let her go alone.

  “I’ll be right out here.” He closed the door. “Don’t lock it.”

  At least it was closed. “Okay.” She opened the lid and sat. As she went, she studied the bathroom again, hoping to see something she’d missed. There wasn’t even a vent. Only the door.

  She flushed and then turned on the water to wash her hands. The door opened and Lloyd came in. “You’ll feel better after we eat. I made spaghetti.”

  Ariana tried to force a smile, but her mouth wouldn’t cooperate.

  He opened a drawer and pulled out a hairbrush. While she washed her hands, he ran the brush through her hair.

  “You’re perfect, you know that?”

  She washed her hands harder.

  “Just like you always were.”

  What was she supposed to say to that?

  He put away the brush and handed her a towel. “Let’s eat. I think the meatballs are done sautéing.”

  Ariana followed him into the kitchen.

  He pointed to a salad bowl. “Mix that while I check the meatballs.”

  Without a word, she did as she was told. It had strange purple leaves mixed in with the dark green ones. It also had radishes, celery, and other things she’d never seen in a salad.

  He carried the hot food over to the table, so she brought over the salad.

  “Have a seat.”

  Ariana sat in the one she had at breakfast. Lloyd dished them both food and poured her some milk. She ate so quickly, she could barely taste the food and she burned the roof of her mouth, but she didn’t care. There was no telling when she would eat next and she was already so hungry.

  She ate two full plates of food.

  “Sorry about skipping lunch.” Lloyd frowned. “Something came up, but I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen tomorrow.” The look on his face seemed like he really was sorry.

  “It’s okay.” Ariana hoped that was what Jan would’ve said. That’s what Ari would have said to a loved one who felt bad about something.

  He studied her. “You’re upset about what I told you, aren’t you? About Mom and Dad.”

  Ariana nodded. Jan would have been, and also she herself was really upset over not being able to see her own parents.

  His expression darkened. “I shouldn’t have said anything. Stupid!” He pounded his fist on the table.

  “You’re not stupid.”

  Lloyd smiled. “Thanks, Jan. I can always count on you to cheer me up. Can I make it up to you?”

  Her breath caught. This was her chance to ask about going outside. Ari’s heart felt like it would explode out of her chest. “Can we play in the backyard?”

  Fenced

  Lloyd stared at Ariana, unblinking and with his eyebrow twitching.

  Maybe it had been too soon to ask about going outside.

  She tried to think of something to say to make everything better. What would he want to hear?

  “Well, we still have your favorite coat,” he said. “I don’t see how going out back for just a little bit will hurt anything. You’re probably itching to run around, aren’t you?”

  Ariana’s eyes lit up. “Yeah. I’m getting sore.”

  “That’s my fault, too. We can’t have you wasting away. Put the dishes away, and I’ll find your jacket.”

  She jumped out of her seat and carried her plate to the sink. When she turned around, Lloyd had left the room. Her puls
e drummed in her ears. As tempting as it was to run, she didn’t know the setup of the rest of the house. It was too big of a risk. He’d agreed to take her outside, anyway. She only needed to wait a few more minutes.

  There had to be a way out in the backyard. A loose fence board or maybe some way to get underneath. He hadn’t been planning to take her out there, so maybe he didn’t have it sealed tight.

  Her mind raced as she put everything away. This nightmare could be close to over. Even if the yard was sealed as well as everything else, she could find a way to start digging a little at a time.

  Noises sounded in the hallway, just outside of the kitchen. It sounded like things bumping into each other. Finally, Lloyd appeared, holding up an ugly brown and white striped jacket. At least it looked warm, and with the colors, it might help her hide as she searched for a way out.

  “Remember this one?” he asked.

  Jan probably did. Ariana nodded. “I can’t believe you saved it.”

  He beamed. “Try it on. See if it still fits.”

  She set the bowl in her hands onto the counter, walked over, and slid into it. It was slightly snug, but would be fine. She sneezed.

  “Sorry, it’s been in the closet so long.”

  “It’s okay. Can we go outside now?”

  “Yeah. I’ll finish the dishes later. Still love hide and seek?”

  “Perfect.” Things were really starting to go her way.

  “Let’s go out the back way.” He opened a little door next to the kitchen that Ariana had thought went into a cabinet, instead it was a little staircase. Lloyd took her hand and led her down the tight, winding staircase. “The house has undergone some remodeling over the years, but this was never touched. I made sure some things would remain exactly the same for your return.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Just like the backyard. Some have called the old play set creepy, but it’s not.”

  “I bet it’s just like it was.”

  “It is. I’ve kept it all up just for you.”

  The stairs ended at a little entryway. The floor was tiled with white and gold flowered tiles. Pet dishes sat in a corner.

  “Is there a dog?”

  Lloyd squeezed her hand.

  “Do you want me to get another one for you? I’m sure you’re crushed about Barky.”

  Ari nodded. She’d begged for a puppy for years and years, but this wasn’t how she wanted to get one.

  “We’ll think about it.” Lloyd released her hand, opened a panel, and typed in a code next to a red, blinking light. He pressed enter and it turned off. Then he unlocked a chain and two deadbolts.

  She swallowed. They were really locked in tight.

  He opened the door and chilly, fresh night air blew in along with a few soggy leaves. One stuck to her sock.

  “I don’t have any shoes.”

  “Did you forget?”

  She stared at him. “What?”

  He gestured behind her.

  Ari spun around. A shoe rack sat against the wall, holding a dozen pair of shoes. She grabbed a pair of sneakers that matched the coat.

  “How do they fit?”

  “Fine.” They were slightly loose, so she tightened the laces.

  “Everything’s going to be just like it was.” His face lit up, but then soured. “Well, mostly. It’s just the two of us now, but I kind of think that’s for the better, don’t you?”

  “It’s nice.” Please let me outside.

  “Let’s get out back before the rain starts again.”

  “Okay. You wanna be ‘it’?” That would give her time to look around the yard.

  “Don’t you want to see the yard first? It’s been so long.”

  “Sure. Then we’ll play.”

  He threw his head back and laughed. “You really haven’t changed a bit, Jan. Maybe this time we’ll get it right.”

  “Huh?”

  Lloyd shook his head. “Never mind. Forget I said anything.”

  Ariana had a feeling she really wanted to get out of there before she found out what he meant by getting it right.

  He opened the door wider and she went outside. The sweet autumn air had never smelled better. She glanced around the dark yard, not able to make much out.

  Several lights overhead on the house came on and Lloyd stepped outside. “What do you think?”

  It reminded her of a scary movie she and Emily had watched once when they were supposed to be sleeping. “Looks just the same.”

  “Oh, good. I’ve even been painting the swing set to keep it from rusting. You wouldn’t believe how hard that is. Want to try it?”

  “Then we’ll play hide and seek?”

  “Sure thing.”

  Ariana headed for the swings, forcing herself to put a bounce into her step. She had to stay in character.

  The chains holding up the swings seemed iffy at best. She picked the lowest one just in case it didn’t hold her weight and climbed on, clinging to the cold metal. Lloyd went behind her, grabbed the chain below her hands, and gave a hefty push. The chain pinched her palms.

  “How’s that?” he asked.

  “Good.”

  “You’re barely moving.” He pushed again, harder this time.

  Ariana clutched the chain, afraid the swing would give out at any moment.

  “Pump your legs!”

  She did, but wished she could just explore the yard. Her feet pumped, he pushed, and she kept going higher, higher, higher. Hair flew into her face and then off again. She almost felt free, but knew better. There was no way she could forget spending the entire day locked in that room.

  Ariana wouldn’t be free until she was home and in the arms of all four of her parents. She tried looking around the yard for a place to escape, but she was moving too fast to be able to concentrate.

  Finally, he stopped pushing. The swing slowed and Ariana dragged her toes along the grass to bring herself to a full stop. Pulse racing, she asked, “You going to count?”

  “What number do you want this time?”

  “A hundred.” She may as well aim high. The worst he could do was to say no.

  “Why doesn’t that surprise me?” He turned toward the fence. “I’m going to count fast, though.”

  “Okay.”

  He put his hands against a post and leaned his face against an arm. “One. Two…”

  She spun around and studied the yard. Nothing was against the fence for her to climb and there were no boards for her to step on. On this side of the yard, the fence only had vertical slats.

  Lloyd was already counting in the twenties. She ran near the house and walked along the fence line. There was no space underneath, either—not that she could see. She bent down and felt the ground, pushing on the bottom of the fencing. No space anywhere. Not even enough for a fingernail.

  “Fifty-three. Fifty-four…”

  She got up and jogged along the perimeter, studying the boards and the dirt underneath.

  “Eighty-nine. Ninety.”

  Ariana had only made it about halfway around the yard, but she needed to find a place to hide so she appeared to be playing the game.

  Conference

  Zoey stared at the busy scene in front of her. The waiting room in the building behind the police station was filled with activity. Conversation out in the foyer grew louder by the moment as reporters waited, hoping they would get to sit in the theater for the press conference.

  Kellen sat at the other end of the room, still upset with her. Macy and her parents sat, talking with Zoey’s parents. Even Ariana’s teacher and coach were there to speak.

  Of course, Alex wasn’t there. He, more than anyone should have been since he’d been the person who’d put everyone in this position to begin with. What a coward.

  Captain Fleshman came over and sat next to her. “You know what you’re going to say?”

  “I’m going to tell everyone how much I miss her and how much she needs to be home with her family.”

  “You’re g
oing to tell the abductor those things.”

  “Right.”

  He held her gaze. “No, this is important. You’re speaking to the kidnapper. We need to convince him to let her go.”

  “You really think that’s going to happen?”

  “He’s human. We have to play on his emotions. Otherwise, what’s the point of all this?”

  “I thought it was to get the word out about her disappearance.”

  “Practically everyone in the country knows about this case. People like this tend to be full of themselves. The abductor is going to want to hear what everyone is saying about what he did. If you post something on social media, he probably won’t see it. But if you speak to him here, I can almost guarantee he’ll hear you.”

  “Okay. I’ll plead my case to the lowlife.”

  “Just make it about how much she needs her family. Not the other way around.”

  “Got it.”

  “Sure?”

  “Yes,” she snapped.

  He rose. “If you have any questions, just let me know. I’ll start everything since I’m the head of the case. Then the teachers will share, Macy will speak, followed by you, and then finally, your parents.”

  She rubbed her temples. “Understood.”

  Fleshman went over and spoke with Macy.

  Zoey glanced over at Kellen. He was speaking with another cop.

  Why did they have to be fighting, now of all times? She needed his support. He was the one who always told her things were going to be okay when she was stressed out. He was still mad about being interrogated, but it wasn’t like they’d taken him into custody.

  She took a deep breath and glanced at her notes. She wouldn’t use them when it was her turn to speak, but they had helped her get her jumbled thoughts organized. With any luck, she would remember most of what she’d written down.

  Someone clapped in the middle of the room. It was Fleshman. “Are you all ready?”

  A solemn chorus of yeses went around the room. Zoey tried to make eye contact with Kellen, but he didn’t look her way. They all lined up and followed the captain and a couple other officers down a narrow, dark hallway that led to the backstage of the theater.