Little Girl Lost

by Laurèn Lee

“Why do you think that? What happened? Why would he do that?” She spat all her questions out at once.

  Jayson brought his handcuffed hands to his face and buried his hands into them. He sighed heavily and hung his head.

  “I saw him, Penny. I saw him take her that night,” he said.

  “Wait, what? You saw who?”

  Her mind raced with the information presented to her. She pinched her leg discreetly, hoping to wake herself up from this awful nightmare. Peter wouldn’t hurt a fly. He was practically a father to her. She would’ve known if he was capable of such a thing. She would have seen it coming!

  Jayson craned his neck and saw the guards weren’t paying them any attention at all.

  “That night, when I went out for food before layout. I wanted to eat in my car before coming back to the office. I parked near the playground and saw Harper on her bike. She fell. Peter walked up to her. He talked to her for a few minutes, then carried her into his truck. They drove away together. I thought at first he was just giving her a ride home because it was so late. I picked up her sneakers to bring them to her later. Her parents helped us with our will, so I know where they live. But then the story broke about her disappearance.”

  Penny couldn’t believe her ears. This couldn’t be true. It couldn’t be happening. She pinched herself again only to find she was firmly rooted in reality, not a dream world.

  “Why didn’t you go to the police right then and there?” she hissed.

  “I had no proof. And I was scared,” Jayson said, staring at his shackled feet.

  “Well, now you have nothing to lose! Why don’t you tell the police?”

  Jayson looked up as a single teardrop plopped onto the table. “You know how it would go down, Penelope. It’s an old boys’ club. Peter is friends with almost all of the law enforcement. They’d never believe me. And now, with the shoes being found in my desk,” he trailed off.

  Tears sprang from Penny’s eyes as she looked back at Jayson. “Why would he do it? Why would he hurt those girls? He was so kind to me growing up. You know how close we are. Why didn’t he ever hurt me, if this is true?”

  “I honestly don’t know. You’ll have to ask him,” Jayson replied bitterly. “I would, but you know, I’m locked up for a crime I didn’t commit.”

  “I saw you both arguing during the vigil. Behind the dumpsters,” Penny said.

  “You saw that?”

  Just then, the wind ripped a weak branch off a tree outside the jail. It whipped and wound around in the air until it slammed against the glass window of the temporary visiting center. Penny and Jayson jumped in their seats. Penny squeaked and moved back in her chair. She took a few moments to gather herself.

  “Yes, I did. What was that about?”

  The lights flickered overhead, but Jayson continued. “I told him I saw him take her. And that I was going to expose him if he didn’t take her home.”

  “What did he say?” Penny asked, on the edge of her seat.

  “He denied it, of course. Said I must be projecting and that I was the one who really took her. He said if I didn’t back off, he’d call the cops on me! Can you believe the prick?”

  Penny nibbled on her cheek. “You think he planted the sneakers in your drawer?”

  “I know he did. I had them in my trunk, and after our argument, they disappeared. He took them to plant them at my work station. Pretty fucking brilliant, if you ask me.”

  The lights flickered again and then went out completely. A siren sounded in the jail, and Penny covered her ears. “What is going on?”

  The guards rushed over and grabbed Jayson under his arms and carried him away. The chubby guard from before burst into the visiting room and frantically ran toward Penny. “You’ve got to go, miss. The power’s out. We have to secure the jail.”

  Penny didn’t need to be told twice. She watched Jayson disappear behind another door. She jogged out of the jail and sprinted toward her car. More branches twirled in the air as if they were caught in a tornado. October thirteenth was coming. There was no avoiding it. You couldn’t run, and you couldn’t hide from the town’s curse. She should go home and check on her mother. But there was someplace she needed to go first: Peter’s house. Penny needed to find out the truth. Was Jayson playing her? Or was Peter truly the evil man of the legends of Crimson Falls, the monster who took little girls during October?

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Saturday, October 12, 2019

  Penny pulled onto Peter’s property and instantly remembered when she saw the second-floor bathroom illuminated. Had Harper been in there the whole time? Did she have the chance to save her that night?

  The sky turned the darkest shade of gray it possibly could. She sprinted toward the front door, all the while the rain pelted and soaked her to her bones. Unbeknownst to her, Penny stepped over another gum wrapper.

  She knocked on the door and waited for Peter to answer. Several seconds passed, but she didn’t hear anyone inside.

  “Peter! Open up!” She pounded against the door again.

  Tears streamed down her cheeks and mixed with the rain on her face. Melting together, forging rivers of despair down to her chin.

  Finally, Peter opened the door a sliver, and his eyes bulged out of his head. “Penny! What are you doing here?”

  The distinct scent of bleach emptied from the house and stung Penny’s nostrils. Peter’s eye twitched. He looked past Penny as though to see who else may be on the porch steps.

  “Let me in,” Penny said. “We need to talk.”

  Peter craned his neck behind him. “Now’s not a good time.”

  “Let me in, Peter! Come on; it’s storming out here,” Penny pleaded.

  “I’m sorry. Not today.” Peter moved to close the door, but Penny put her foot in between the door and its frame. Peter stared at her in disbelief. “What’s gotten into you, Penelope?”

  “It’s about Jayson,” she replied.

  Peter nodded as a shadow crossed his face. His entire demeanor changed; he relaxed. Peter opened the door and beckoned her inside. Then, he closed the door behind her and not only locked it with the deadbolt but pulled the golden chain across it, too. Penny looked around the house she’d been in hundreds of times. Nothing looked different and yet, something felt off. The wooden floors sparkled and Penny noticed a mop, bucket, and empty bottles of Pine-sol and bleach lay near the kitchen.

  “So, what about Jayson?” Peter questioned.

  Penny ambled toward the red suede couch and plopped down. She pulled her knees to her chest and rubbed her eyes, smearing yesterday’s mascara. Penny opened her mouth and closed it. Her jittery legs convulsed against her body no matter how tightly she hugged them.

  Peter stood by the front door with his arms crossed and tapped his foot. “Go on,” he quipped.

  Penny cleared her throat. “Well, it’s just that he told me he saw something last week.”

  Peter narrowed his eyes. “You visited him in Arbordale.” It wasn’t a question, more of a statement.

  “Yes,” Penny confirmed, licking her lips.

  “And?”

  Memories of Peter throughout her life flashed before her eyes. His visit to her class where he marveled and explained the art of journalism and how one article could change a person’s life. The day he offered her a position at the Chronicle. The meeting where he promoted her to Senior Reporter. All the visits to her house to check up on her mother. The Christmas cards. The birthday cards. The lunches on Main Street. The simple smiles in the morning. They all added up to an image in her mind, an image that prevented her from believing he could lay a finger on poor Harper. And yet, the tiniest atom of doubt lingered in her mind. Besides losing his daughter and suffering a divorce, she really didn’t know that much about the man outside of work. They mostly talked about her, her mother, and her career. He never opened up about his past. Could he be hiding something?

  “He said he saw you take Harper last weekend.” Penny’s heart sank. She’d finally
said it out loud. She tasted the bile rising in her throat.

  Peter nodded and smiled. “He said that, huh? What was his excuse for having Harper’s sneakers, then?”

  Penny sighed, pulled herself up from the couch, and paced the living room. She ran her fingers through her hair and twisted her tangles up into a messy bun. “He said you put them in there. To frame him.”

  Peter burst into hearty laughter and doubled over. “He actually said that? Oh, Penny! That’s too much.”

  Penny turned around to stare at her boss. Something in his eyes chilled her to her bones.

  “You don’t honestly believe him, do you?” Peter asked with one last chuckle.

  She bit the inside of her cheek. “I’m not sure what to believe,” she admitted.

  Peter’s smile vanished. “Penny—”

  “Listen,” Penny said, interrupting him. “I don’t want to be in the middle of this. But something inside me needs answers. You taught me that, remember? Always trust your gut.”

  “I remember well,” he spat. “I was there all throughout your life. I was there for you when your father died. When you and Jayson broke up. When your mother fell sick. Or did you forget about that?”

  Penny’s jaw dropped, she’d never seen or heard this side of Peter. “Of course, I remember! You’re like a father to me!”

  “Then why are you here, Penelope? Do you truly believe I could hurt a little girl?”

  Penny walked all around the living room and then peered outside the front window. Rain poured down the windows and blurred the view of the yard. A shiver ran down her spine, and she turned around. “Where were you last Sunday?”

  Peter rolled his eyes. “I was here.”

  “Alone?”

  “Yes, alone,” Peter sneered.

  “Can anyone corroborate that?” Penny cracked each of her knuckles.

  Peter shook his head. “You’re spending too much time investigating. I think it’s all getting to you. And I think you need to leave.”

  “You’re not making it easy for me to believe you right now,” Penny said, exasperated.

  Peter strode toward Penny. She jumped and felt the wall against her back. Peter smiled faintly and reached for her hands. She accepted his touch, despite the palms of her hands sweating profusely.

  He pulled her toward the couch, and they sat down, side by side. Peter looked directly into her eyes. “Listen, Penelope. I know about you and Jayson, okay? I know everything.”

  Penny opened her mouth but closed it.

  “His wife was on to him. He was cracking. I could see it. I know you could see it, too. His entire world was about to come crashing down.”

  “What does that have to do with anything?” Penny’s cheeks reddened, and she looked away.

  “Don’t you see, sweetheart? He wanted to draw attention away from his affair. He needed his wife and the entire town to look away. To ignore him and his indiscretions.”

  Penny rocked back and forth on the couch, contemplating Peter’s explanation. It wasn’t that extraordinary or unbelievable. Jayson had been acting strangely all week. Could it be because he actually took Harper and then wanted to manipulate her to believe him instead of Peter?

  “I don’t know who to believe,” she said and stared at the floor.

  “Believe me, Penny. You know me. I’ve always been there for you. I wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

  Penny looked up into Peter’s eyes. He looked so genuine. All hostility toward her disappeared. He was Peter, her Peter. He couldn’t have done it. He just couldn’t have. She couldn’t imagine Jayson necessarily taking Harper either, but between the two, he was the more probable.

  “You believe me, right?” Peter asked.

  Penny smiled and took a deep breath. “Yes, I do.”

  Peter exhaled and leaned back on the couch. “Phew. That’s great. Let’s get dinner this week and catch up on everything, okay? And, I’m thrilled to read your story about Harper’s vigil.”

  “You know about that story?” Penny blushed. Clearly, she wasn’t as stealthy as she thought.

  “I know everything, little Penny,” he said with a smirk.

  Penny stood and smoothed her jeans. She could physically feel her anxiety sliding off her shoulders. She couldn’t believe she’d thought Peter could be capable of something like that. It was unthinkable!

  She stalked toward the door with her keys in hand. “Well, I should probably head home. I can finish up my story there. I’ll see you at layout tomorrow?”

  “Sounds good. And think about where you want to go to dinner this week, okay? Or, we could always do lunch at the Crimson Café.”

  “Sounds good! I’ll see you tomorrow.” Penny turned around to see Peter clutching his arm, as though he were wounded. A speckle of blood seeped through his shirt. She shrugged it off, though, and opened the front door.

  A gust of wind swirled around the door frame. Dozens of crunchy leaves blew inside. Penny chuckled and looked down at the foliage covering her feet. However, the longer she looked at the crunchy stalks from outside, she realized that wasn’t all that blew into the house. Penny bent down and picked up a Bubblicious gum wrapper. She twirled it in her fingers, her stomach sinking. She turned around and opened her mouth to ask Peter about the wrapper.

  He was already standing there, though, a glint of evil flickering in his eyes. Penny’s eyes expanded above her hollow cheeks. She opened her mouth to scream, but Peter took the hammer in his hand and slammed it down onto Penny’s skull. She dropped to the floor as blood oozed from her wound and pooled around her.

  Peter bent down beside the woman he’d watched grow up and pushed his fingers against the carotid artery in her neck.

  She had no pulse.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Sunday, October 13, 2019

  Something happens when time no longer matters. When time no longer measures and dictates your life, that’s when you are truly free. You’ll never grow old. You’ll never miss a moment. You’ll never live in the past because the past doesn’t exist. The future doesn’t exist, either. You’re just there. You exist, and yet you don’t. Nothing else matters anymore.

  I’m no longer in pain, and I have no more sadness. It’s faded away. Now, I’m just me. I’ll never see my family again, but I’m not lonely. Not anymore.

  Penny is here with me. And, I’ve finally met Heather. They’re both so nice. There are lots of other little girls with us, too. It’s like I have a whole new family. We keep each other company. We’re never lonely.

  Heather told me not to hate her daddy for what he did to me. She said he was so sad after she was hit by a car, that he wanted a new daughter to love. But he wasn’t a bad man. Just a sad man. The other little girls told me not to be sad. That nothing else could hurt us now. The little girls told me almost no one survives Peter. The only one to get away was little Stacy. She got lucky. But we were lucky to have each other now.

  When I saw Penny, she hugged me and held me in her arms. She told me how sorry she was that she couldn’t save me. I told her it was okay, that no one could have saved me. She told me how much my mommy and daddy loved me. And, knowing that? Knowing that is enough for me.

  For so many hours, I was the little lost girl. But now, I’ve been found, and I’m not alone. We’re all here. Every single one of us. It’s safe here. We’re happy. Things will never be the same, but that’s Crimson Falls for you. The place’ll chew you up and spit you back out. You can’t leave, and you’ll never survive it. It’s a cursed town, but it’s home.

  The Crimson Falls Novella Series

  Original Sin by Greta Cribbs

  The Last Dupont by Rachel Renee

  All the Dark Corners by Emerald O'Brien

  Flawed Plan by Amabel Daniels

  Returned Home by Julie Strier

  Sight in the Dark by AM Ialacci

  The Stranger in the Woods by Kiersten Modglin

  Little Girl Lost by Laurèn Lee

  Join the Crimson Falls Read
er Group on Facebook for more behind the scenes details, exclusive information, and a community to discuss all the novellas in: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CrimsonFallsReaderGroup/

  Also by Laurèn Lee

  Charlotte’s Pact (Demons in New York Book 1)

  Liam Rising (Demons in New York Book 2)

  Adriel’s Reckoning (Demons in New York Book 3)

  When Houses Burn

  Cranberry Lane

  Running in Circles

  We’ll Begin Again

  The Scanner

  A Tainted Life (Post-Apocalyptic Fiction Series)

  About the Author

  Laurèn Lee was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. She loves hockey, chicken wings and spending time with family, friends and her boyfriend.

  Reading and writing are her life’s passions and becoming an author is her ultimate dream.

  As a child, Laurèn became enamored with the Harry Potter series. As an adult, she loves psychological thrillers and mysteries with a twist.

  Make sure to sign up for my Email Newsletter to be the first to know about new releases, sales, and giveaways!

  For more information…

  www.laurenleeauthor.com

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you, reader, for taking the time to read Little Girl Lost!

  I’d like to thank my beta readers, Emerald, Sal, Greta, and Rachel. Couldn’t have done it without you :)

  Thank you, Amabel, for editing my book. Loved working with you!

  Thank you again, Emerald, for all of your hard work you put into managing this project. You’re a rockstar and an angel xoxo.

  And, last but not least, thank you to the whole Crimson Falls crew. This was such a fun project, I loved working with everyone!