by Laura Greene
“To dress in all white and climb up the roof. Then, I was to fall to my death.” Tears like a river, run down Janet’s eyes profusely. She speaks as though she has been silenced for years and she has finally been given permission to speak. “I… I thought about it. I really did. He almost made me believe I was all those lies he accused me of, but I wasn’t. I was a faithful wife, but that cult made him believe I wasn’t. And when I refused to kill myself, he banished me; he took away our son and brainwashed him with his lies. He told me we were never married and if I followed them he would kill me and kill my Charlie. Detective, I miss my son so badly. I had to sit back and watch that man take him away from me, but I couldn’t afford to put my little boy’s life in danger. I just couldn’t forgive myself if I did.”
Tina may not know the pain of losing a child, but she is seeing how heart-wrenching it is on Janet’s face. The agony she witnesses is more than she is able to put into words. My world shattered the day I watched Charlie walk out of my life. I have never been the same since then.”
She now understands why Janet moved to Baggs. She did not choose to live in Baggs, but her life experiences took her to the lonely sanctuary that she could find and that was Baggs. Tina, better understanding Janet and realizing she has made a mistake, pulls out of her jacket the document she took from the drawer, “Is this why you keep your marriage annulment certificate? To remind yourself to not go after Charlie or his father might kill you both?”
Janet’s eyes open wide again. “How did you find this?” She snatches the document out of Tina’s hand, appalled that she went through her personal belongings. Tina knows that she was wrong for taking the document without permission. It is a sure way to break the trust between her and Janet, but it’s a risk she felt she had to take if it meant saving someone’s life.
“Your key. I saw it in your picture frame.” Tina hands her back her key. “I’m sorry, I really needed to know what happened so I can save my friend, the chaplain, in time.”
“His father is dead.” Janet says under her breath. “He re-married, a woman who is just as evil as he is and if I go find Charlie Junior, she will finish what Clark started.” Tina can tell that this is what’s hurting Janet the most. She is finally free from Clark, now that he is dead, yet, he is still controlling her and deciding whether or not she can see her son. “Please detective, help my son Charlie if you think he’s in danger.”
After hearing Janet’s story, Tina is not so sure who Charlie is anymore: if he is in danger or if he is the danger. Speaking of threats, Tina turns and glances out of the window. “Would Charlie… Is Charlie capable of following in his father’s footsteps?”
“I don’t even know, but if his father was able to brainwash him, it’s possible.” Tina looks out of the window again, but this time Janet catches her. “What are you looking for, Detective?”
“I’m… just checking the perimeter. I know it’s strange, but I just have this strong sense that someone bad followed me or knows I’m here.” Tina has been watching her back since she was in Boston, she doesn’t think she can ever be too careful with powerful men after her.
Janet laughs, then says, “Detective there are only two kinds of people that visit here: you and Uncle Sam.”
“The IRS?”
“Yes, that’s why we triple bolt our doors here.” They both laugh. It’s a relief they have both been needing. Tina sees that Janet is comfortable with her again. And for a time, Tina forgets the imminent danger that plagued her mind a moment ago.
As Janet walks Tina to the door and says her goodbyes, she asks her, “Did you say your chaplain friend was missing?”
“Yes,” Not knowing where Nick is has added stress to Tina. She has no idea where he is and yet, she being in Wyoming, just makes her long all the more to get back to Newport to save Nick. More than anything, she is hoping with the new information she learned today, she can find him.
Janet purses her lips and sighs as she says, “I don’t want to scare you, Detective, but if Charlie is anything like his father and he has anything to do with it, you need to hurry and find him. Your friend’s life is in grave danger.”
Want more? Click here to start reading my new series Hunt The Judge (Book 5) on Amazon now!
Also by Laura Greene
Wild Cove Mystery Series
Murder At Wild Cove Book 1
Susan Dern is Missing Book 2
The Demise of Tom Hendry Book 3
The Past Life of Jane Scott Book 4
The Hooded Figure Book 5
Behind The Crime Series
The Secret Room Book 1
The Houston Party Book 2
The Unclaimed Dead Book 3
Frozen In Time Book 4
Harlan’s Secret Book 5
A Boarding Case Mystery Series
The Deadly School Book 1
Buried in the Dark Book 2
Close To Her Killer Book 3
Hunt the Judge Book 5
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About the Author
Laura Greene is an international bestselling Crime and Murder Mystery author. She loves the outdoors. Hiking, exploring new adventures in nature and spending time with her family make for some of her favorite moments in life. When she’s not writing a new Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, she loves to connect with her readers whom she considers her friends. Join Laura Greene on Facebook.