Placing a hand over the mouthpiece of his phone, Smyth said, “We’ll need information on any exterior underground structures.”
Frowning in thought as they walked outside, Niles said, “Pretty sure there are no wells or bunkers.”
Spotting Detective Williams alongside the garages, Tom asked him, “You don’t think they may have left already? Shouldn’t we have helicopters and stuff?”
Williams replied in a soft, calm tone, “We have all available units searching the …” Lowering his head slightly, the detective finished, “The area of recent discoveries.”
Observing the fact all three men looked as if they might pass out, Williams hastily added, “We have every reason to believe Ms. Oaks is still on this property.”
Feeling a little air return to his lungs, James enquired, “Why do you believe that?”
“Our surveillance team, Sir.”
“The surveillance team!” Niles repeated with a nervous laugh. “They would have seen her leave.”
“Exactly, Sir,” Williams said before excusing himself to answer his beeping walkie talkie.
Flashlights in hands, Niles, Tom, and James, began searching the orchard area.
“I can’t get that little Polish lady out of my head,” James admitted. “Could there be secret hiding places on these grounds?”
“The only real structure,” Niles said, “is the old greenhouse. Our gardener uses it to store his tools.”
“Wait!” Tom exclaimed, “what about the old stable?”
Niles pulled a face. “Let’s check it out, but it’s just a tiny enclosure.” Walking past a rose garden, Niles explained, “Irena bought a miniature donkey for her grandchildren to ride.”
Tom forged ahead, taking the lead. “But there’s something else in there, Niles.”
“There is?” Niles asked quizzically.
“I keep cans of beer in there,” Tom supplied in answer.
“What are you talking …?”
Before Niles could finish, James interrupted with, “Carry on, Tom.”
Glancing over his shoulder at Niles, Tom said, “Niles is such a snob about his wine cellar. Nothing but wine can be stored in there. Unlike your fancy traders and brokers, no offense James, I work with tough guys who like to drink beer. Every party we have, I run out of room in our fridges. Then I came across this sort of pulley thing, kind of like our dumb waiter, in the old stable.”
“Is it a type of storage area?” James enquired.
Tom crinkled his nose. “I guess. It has a little shelf-like elevator.”
“So, it goes up and down?” James asked.
“I think so,” Tom replied with uncertainty. “I just stack my beer crates on it ’cos it’s off the ground and in a cool place. I’m sure there is a little crank thing, though whether it still works is doubtful.”
“Guys, hold your flashlights up higher,” Niles demanded coming to a standstill.
As they did so, a small wooden structure came into view.
“Watch your footing around here,” Tom volunteered. “The gardener doesn’t venture this way, and there’s a fair few tree roots.”
Upon reaching the stable door, Tom peered in, stating, “There’s my beer. It was all about the champagne tonight.”
Boards creaking beneath his dress shoes, James illuminated the unusual contraption.
“There’s the turn thingy!” Niles exclaimed excitedly, as James’ flashlight revealed a rusting, old-fashioned crank handle.
Handing his light to Niles, James removed two cases of beer before attempting to turn the handle.
“This should go down,” James said, viewing the shelf like box structure. “But the handle’s useless.”
Positioned on his haunches, James continued to examine the contraption, while the other two men did their best to follow his hands with light.
Suddenly, falling backward, James squinted up into the brightness. “Did you hear that?”
Lowering their lights, Tom and Niles confessed they’d heard nothing.
Pushing himself onto his knees, James leaned over the structure and shouted, “Scarlet!”
What came next had Tom intermittently thanking God and screaming with delight.
Niles, showing great composure, called Detective Smyth.
“Yes, it’s me,” James voiced down through a crack revealing nothing but darkness. “And Tom and Niles,” he added, grinning.
Tom knelt next to James. “Dearest girl. Are you okay?”
A very faint, “Yes,” traveled back up the shaft.
Turning to Niles, allowing him his turn to talk, Tom realized his friend was too choked with emotion for speech.
“We’re going to get you out of there, Scarlet,” James assured her.
“He cut the cords for the pulley,” came the echoed response.
“How did you get down?” Tom asked, hoping there was another entrance.
Straining to hear the reply, they learned there was another handle at the base of the underground enclosure. This allowed elevation to the surface, but Stewart had cut the cords, preventing Scarlet from getting up or anyone else, down.
“You’re definitely not hurt?” James, needing reassurance, asked.
“I’m fine,” Scarlet replied shakily.
Tom, attempting conversation, was thwarted by the sounds of sirens filling the air. Not wanting to be outdone, fireworks began exploding above the Golden Gate Bridge.
Finally finding his voice, Niles called down, “Happy New Year, Scar.”
Tom and James followed, to which Scarlet responded with a small sob, “Happy New Year, guys. I love you.”
Tom and Niles hastily professed their love for her, as James stayed silent, fighting back tears. He knew it was forbidden to say those words on a second date, however unusual that date may be.
Illuminated by a backdrop of multi-colored fountains and Catherine wheels, San Francisco firefighters ran towards the small stable.
Scrambling to get out of their way, James quickly shouted of their arrival to Scarlet, as he, Tom, and Niles exited the enclosure.
Using skill and precision, San Francisco’s finest cut away the tray-like top. Three muscular men then shouldered a heavy rope, allowing a fourth, limber man to shimmy down. Within the blink of an eye, the agile man was pulled back to the surface. A filthy, but smiling, Scarlet, holding on to him like a baby koala bear.
The cheering that followed almost drowned out the booming, whooshing, and whistling sounds from fireworks over the bay.
A casual observer would have seen three men fervently hugging each other. In reality, a petite dark haired woman stood tightly encased within their strong arms.
Releasing the firm squeeze he had around Scarlet, Niles turned towards the house, enquiring,
“What was that?”
Detective Williams, taking large, determined strides in their direction, informed them, “I believe it was your guests, celebrating the New Year, Mr. Remmy.”
Tom laughed, as Niles, with an exaggerated turned down mouth, exclaimed, “That’s right, we had a party.”
Niles, Tom, and James reluctantly allowed Scarlet to be whisked away for medical attention.
Motioning towards the house, Detective Williams said, “I took the liberty of returning your catering staff to their duties once the interview process was complete. No one has been allowed to leave the premises, so I felt more refreshments were in order.”
Thanking the officer for his intuitiveness, Tom and Niles joined James, rocking anxiously from toe to heel, a few yards from the ambulance.
Stepping up into the vehicle, Detective Smyth spoke a few words to the EMT, who, in turn, helped Scarlet sit up from her horizontal position on the gurney.
“There are a couple of people desperate to see you,” Detective Smyth informed Scarlet with a smile.
Turning her head to look out of the ambulance’s open doors, Scarlet saw her father, one arm around his mom, the other holding onto a small pig, walking towards her.
<
br /> Having patiently waited, Joe and Rose, pale and shaking, enveloped Scarlet between them while Prudence ran in circles squealing hysterically. No words were spoken, except an apology from Rose for soaking Scarlet’s hair with her tears.
Detective Smyth placed his hand on Joe’s upper arm. “Would you mind if I had just a few minutes with your daughter? I promise not to overdo it.”
Joe nodded, and Rose, kissing Scarlet said, “Your father and I stumbled across a lovely old bench just over there. That’s where we’ll be until you’re ready to go home.”
Joe, giving her one last squeeze, added, “How does a bubble bath and hot chocolate sound?”
“Like heaven,” Scarlet said, before giving her attention to Detective Smyth.
“Mr. Oaks,” James voiced tentatively.
Picking up Prudence, now pawing at his shoes, Joe handed the pig to Rose and watched as the two returned to a rustic, curved back bench.
James took a deep breath. “I am so very sorry.”
Able to look him clearly in the eye, due to all the lights from fire trucks and police cars, Joe responded,
“I don’t want to hear it.”
His breath halting somewhere between heart and mouth, James managed, “I understand …”
Joe cut him off, “I don’t want to hear an apology from the man, who by all accounts and purposes took exceptional care of my daughter this evening.”
Not knowing him well, James could have believed Joe was being facetious. But the look of warmth on the man’s face assured James this was not the case.
“I promised you I wouldn’t take my eyes off her,” James volunteered, the words catching in his dry throat.
Joe placed his hand on the younger man’s shoulder. “Surveillance teams and police detectives have been continually outsmarted by this guy. Detective Smyth, all but told us, if Scarlet wasn’t at home or work, he could not guarantee her safety. From everything I’ve heard, you were incredibly diligent tonight, and I’m indebted to you.”
Smiling with relief and fighting back persistently threatening tears, James said, “Thank you, Mr. Oaks. It’s only our second date but I …”
Smiling kindly as James struggled for words, Joe acknowledged, “Some second date, hey.”
James shook his head, and Joe said, “How about you drive Scarlet home, as planned? The car following closely behind will be her Gran and me.”
Thanking him again, James watched as Joe joined Rose and Prudence.
Hearing commotion by the stable, James joined Tom and Niles who, excitedly, informed him a backpack had been retrieved from the place of captivity.
Still not wanting to have Scarlet out of his sight, James glanced back towards the ambulance to see her talking, as Detective Smyth, simultaneously nodded and wrote.
“Do we know what’s in it?” James enquired.
“Not yet,” Niles said. “Here comes Detective Williams now.”
Without hesitation, the Detective answered their question. “Just some broken flower stems.”
Niles, experiencing a sudden and terrifying realization, said, “Steele is still on our property.”
Looking around, as if Niles had said something he’d rather others didn’t hear, Detective Williams admitted, “That is probable.”
“More than probable,” Tom argued. “You just told us no one could leave without being spotted by your surveillance guys.”
Detective Williams ran a hand roughly across his mouth. “Typically, a perpetrator will want to get away from the crime scene as soon as possible. From the timeline we’ve put together, it’s feasible Steele could have done that before Miss Oaks’ disappearance was reported.”
“Presuming,” Niles began, while shooting dagger eyes in Williams’ direction, “your surveillance was notified the second I called the police, I don’t see how he’d have had enough time.”
His neck reddening, Williams replied, “When you’re panicked and distraught, time can stretch out to distorted proportions. Steele, on the other hand, had a seemingly clear and organized plan. As I said, the timeline put together with intelligence from Ms. Oaks and the distance they traveled, suggest it’s possible he left before we arrived.”
“What did surveillance say?” Tom almost screamed. “Did they observe a guy wearing a banquet uniform leaving our property or not?”
Suddenly fascinated by his shiny black shoes, Detective Williams replied, “They did not.”
Seeing Scarlet return her blanket to the paramedics, the three men, muttering and cursing under their breath, left Detective Williams standing alone and still staring at his shoes.
James, hastily removing his jacket, placed it over Scarlet’s shoulders.
Smyth thanked Scarlet for her valuable information, leaving her to be, once again, affectionately squished between Niles and Tom.
Joe and Rose joined James, who stood close by, smiling.
Rose said, “I’m going to be the bossy grandma and insist Scarlet get some sleep now.”
Tom, Niles, and James offered no argument. Joe, who had been talking softly in his daughter’s ear, nodded towards Rose, who then continued, “How about a late brunch tomorrow, I mean today, at my place?”
The invite was eagerly accepted before Tom and Niles said their goodbyes and returned to their all-but-forgotten guests.
Five minutes later, Scarlet and James sat in his idling car, waiting for Joe and Rose to pull up behind them.
“It was much bigger than your Mom not caring for tattoos, wasn’t it?” Scarlet enquired softly.
Looking from his rearview mirror to the beautiful woman next to him, James marveled, “You’ve just had a near death experience, and you want to discuss my first childhood memory?”
“It’s very important. Plus,” Scarlet added with a tilt of her head, “It was a great distraction while I was down that shaft. I formed a mental list of the questions I was going to ask you.”
Smiling warmly at Scarlet, James caught sight of flashing headlights behind him. Waving a hand of recognition in his rear-view mirror, he pulled out of Niles and Tom’s drive, Joe and Rose close behind.
“Dad was such a dreamer,” James began. “I was too young to remember the specifics, but my sisters have given me a faithful account. Apparently, a friend would give him a couple hundred cans of paint at a great price. Your father is now the proud owner of a house painting business; he’d inform us over dinner. A month later, as the paint sat unopened on the garage shelves, Dad would announce, No one wants to clean their own gutters anymore. Your old Dad’s decided to hire a couple of young lads to do the job and make us rich.”
Relaxing into the leather headrest, Scarlet turned her neck towards James. “How did you survive financially?”
Sadness crept into James’ voice. “Mom took a second job. She worked as a school secretary during the day, and a hotel housekeeping supervisor at night.”
Scarlet stayed silent, leaving James to state brightly, “I believe a warm bed awaits you.”
Smiling, as she took in her Gran’s steep driveway, Scarlet declared, “We’ll finish this conversation later.”
Shaking his head, James said, “If you insist.”
Concerned, Scarlet asked, “As long as it doesn’t cause you pain?”
“Not at all. I’m very flattered by your interest,” James replied honestly.
“I’ll see you for brunch at noon then,” Scarlet confirmed cheerily.
Opening the passenger side door, James said, “I’m looking forward to it.”
Instinctively, they wrapped arms tightly around one another. Breathing in the scent of him and hearing the pounding of his heart, Scarlet felt a new, and at present, undeterminable emotion flood her exhausted body.
Faintly aware of the existence of something other than this embrace, Scarlet slowly lifted her head.
Smiling, James stood back, allowing Joe, with Prudence, tucked under one arm, to escort his daughter towards the large Victorian home.
As Rose unlocked th
e solid cherry front door, Scarlet turned to see James standing by his car.
Smiling at each other, neither one appeared willing to break the gaze. Only when Prudence started squirming and squealing her desire to be released from Joe’s arms, did the enchantment fracture.
Joe and Rose, amid furtive glances, declared their desire to run Scarlet a bath.
Accepting the proposal with gratitude, Scarlet, in somewhat of a haze, followed Prudence as she excitedly reconnected with her current home.
Finally, leading Scarlet to her bedroom, Prudence collapsed on a pink princess cushion, apparently worn out by the evening’s endeavors. Walking into the adjoining bathroom, Scarlet found Rose filling the light blue pedestal tub.
“Gran, I can do this,” she protested. “You and Dad must be exhausted too.”
Nodding as she turned the faucet off and straightened her back, Rose said, “Tired, but so happy and so grateful.”
“Me too,” Scarlet said. Then pushing a hand into the pocket of her baggy black pants, proclaimed, “I almost forgot!”
Holding up the exquisite three-string diamond necklace, she elaborated, “Stewart asked me, quite politely, if I’d take it off. He said it looked a little rich for a banquet server.”
Rose asked, “He didn’t want to take it?”
Before Scarlet could answer, Rose continued, “No, don’t tell me. Your father and I agreed, no talking until you’ve had a good long rest.”
Rose took the shining gems from Scarlet’s outstretched hand. “There would have been no tears if the necklace hadn’t made it back.”
“I know you well enough, to believe that,” Scarlet responded.
“Knock, knock,” came a voice from outside the open bathroom door.
Turning to face Joe, both women invited him in.
“Hot chocolate for my brave girl,” Joe declared, placing a large mug on the blue and yellow tile table.
“We’ll leave you to relax now,” Rose said, linking an arm through her son’s.
“Whenever you wake is the right time,” Joe said determinedly. “Your Gran and I are perfectly capable of entertaining your friends until you’re good and ready to join us.”
Scarlet Oaks and the Serial Caller Page 24