Diane Greenwood Muir - Bellingwood 06 - A Season of Change

by Diane Greenwood Muir

  “The timing is perfect. That’s her,” Polly sighed. “Does she live in Bellingwood?”

  “Yeah. They’d have her address at the office. Do you want me to call?”

  “Let me call Mindy at the police station. They probably need to handle that.” Polly stepped out into the main office and made the call.

  “Hi Mindy, it’s Polly. Ken wanted me to call you if I uncovered anything. Sarah thinks that it might be Alexis Middlefield. She was obsessed with Henry and was in jail during the time when nothing was happening here. She worked at Bel-Co and Sarah says they’ll have her address.”

  Mindy quietly replied. “Thank you, Polly. I’ll make the calls and let Ken and the boys know.”

  “Have they found anything yet?”

  “Bert is with Bill Sturtz. They’re looking through the workshop, but haven’t found anything. I haven’t gotten an update from Ken yet. Call if you get anything more.”

  “Thanks, Mindy.” Polly hung up. Every once in a while, it still surprised her that she knew people in local law enforcement well enough to call them by their first names. That didn’t seem normal. The only thing she could think was that with all that had happened in the last year, she was glad to know them that well.

  “Okay,” she said, walking back into the office. “The police are on it.”

  “I hope they’ll see if she’s at work instead of rushing over to her house and breaking the door down,” Sarah said.

  “You can make that call,” Polly said and handed her cell phone over. “Call one of your friends and see if she’s there.”

  Sarah took the phone from Polly and pressed a few numbers, put it to her ear and waited, then said, “Mary? Hi, it’s Sarah. I’m doing okay. Say, is Lexi working today?” She paused and listened. “Okay, thanks. I’ll get hold of her another way.”

  “They fired her. She was starting to act out on the phones and whenever she spoke with a female customer, Lexi lost control and screamed that she was stealing her boyfriend.” Sarah handed the phone back to Polly. “I think someone should have committed her. It sounds like she seriously needs some medication.”

  Polly took the phone back and slumped down in a chair. “I feel so useless. I wish they’d tell me what’s going on.”

  Her phone rang and it was a call from Henry. “Hey! What’s happening? Did you find anything?”

  “Nothing yet. We went through every room in the hotel and covered the caretaker’s house from top to bottom. She’s not there. We’re going to the winery. I don’t think we’ll find her there. At least we know who we’re looking for and what her car looks like. That will help.”

  “Be careful.”

  “It isn’t me that they should be worried about. I’m perfectly safe.”

  “Not if she thinks you’ve betrayed her. So what kind of car does she drive?”

  “It’s a blue Malibu. Pretty beat up, they said.”

  “Okay. Take care. I’m going to change my clothes. Call if you find anything.”

  “I love you, Polly.”

  “I know,” she said.

  “Cheeky. Be careful.”

  “I will and I love you, too.”

  Polly paced back and forth from Jeff’s office to the outer office, then said, “I need to breathe. I’ll be back soon. Can I do anything for you, Sarah?”

  Sarah just shook her head. “I’m fine. I just need my baby to come home.”

  “They’ll find her,” Jeff said. “She’ll be okay.” He nodded to Polly, who left the office, then went up to her apartment. She ran into her room, changed into jeans and a sweatshirt and sat down on the bed to put socks and boots on.

  “Come on, Obiwan. I need some air and you’re my best excuse. Let’s go.”

  They went down the back steps and out the garage door. Polly took a deep breath and headed for the tree line bordering the creek. There had been very little moisture so far and the creek bed was still low, so she and Obiwan walked along its outer edge.

  “You’re good for me, Obiwan. When everything else is a mess, you’re my rock.” She looked up to the pasture on the other side of the creek. It was hard to believe that was her land now.

  “Even with all of this craziness, it’s still a pretty good life. You know we were going to get married this morning, don’t you Obiwan?” He looked up at her and wagged his tail, then trotted on ahead. When he got to the place where they could climb up onto Willow Street or continue down the creek, he stopped and turned around, as if asking which path to take.

  “We should probably head back,” Polly said. “I don’t want to be gone too long, just in case something happens. Let’s go this way.”

  She grabbed a fallen tree and pulled herself up the short embankment and walked to where the street dead-ended. Just before she turned to head back to Sycamore House, she caught sight of a blue car.

  “You don’t think, do you?” Polly walked down the street and warily approached the vehicle. It was a beat up, old blue Malibu. There was no one in the vehicle, so she peered in the windows. Rebecca’s backpack was on the floor of the back seat.

  “You bitch,” Polly said. “That’s how you did this. You sat right here on the edge of my property, hidden by the trees.”

  But if she wasn’t in the car, where was she? There were only four houses on this dead end street and Polly knew everyone who lived here. They wouldn’t have anything to do with this. Then a thought occurred to her and she made one more phone call.

  “Anita?” she said when the young tech answered in Boone.

  “Hi Polly, what’s up?”

  “Can you log into my server from your office? I got two more emails today and I need to see if they’ve been coming from my server again.”

  “Sure I can. It’s the kidnapping, isn’t it?”

  “Yes. I think so. Anita, I think her car is parked back here on Willow. This is where she’s been getting to me.”

  “She’s not in the car? Be careful Polly.”

  “I know. I know.”

  Polly heard clicking as Anita tapped away, then the girl said, “Both of them were sent internally. She’s around there somewhere.”

  “Thanks. I need to make a call.”

  Polly hung up and called Ken.

  “Hi Polly. Did you get another email?”

  “No, I found the car. It’s behind Sycamore House on Willow Street. I called Anita down in Boone. The emails today were sent using my signal. She’s here somewhere.”

  “Where are you?” he asked.

  “I’m standing beside her car. Rebecca’s backpack is on the floor of the back seat.”

  “Polly, get out of there and head back to Sycamore House. Tell Sarah and Rachel and Jeff to go back to Sarah’s room. Get them out of harm’s way. Now! Move!”

  Polly heard the command in his voice and started running. “I’m moving. Get here fast,” she said and hung up. She called Obiwan and he trotted to keep up with her. When she got in the back door, she opened the door to her apartment and sent him up, then ran into the kitchen. “Rachel, come with me. Don’t ask questions.”

  Rachel was smart enough to simply get up and follow Polly. They went into the office. “I think she might be close,” Polly said very quietly. “I need all of you to go back to Sarah’s room and lock the door. Jeff, would you tell the guests to stay inside until they hear from you? I’ll go upstairs and do the same. Now go and stay quiet.”

  The three of them left and went to the addition and Polly ran up the steps again. She knocked on the first door and when there was no answer, knocked on the second. The young man who was staying there opened the door, his eyes bleary. Apparently he was a night owl.

  “I’m sorry to bother you,” Polly said, “but there is an incident happening downstairs. Please stay in your room and keep the door locked until I return.”

  “Something exciting?” he asked.

  “I’ll tell you all about it later,” she replied and pulled the door shut. The woman staying in the Walnut room answered right away a
nd assured Polly she would stay put. Polly returned to the front room and knocked again a little more loudly. She decided that she’d rather be safe than sorry and swiped the app to open the door. There was no one in the room, so she pulled it shut again and leaned on the door frame, breathing a sigh of relief.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  One of Ken’s officers left as soon as he pulled into the parking lot at Sycamore House and spoke with Ken. Polly assumed he was going over to Willow Street to begin a search. Another ran to the barn and Ken nodded to Henry, who walked inside to talk to her while Ken headed for the shed and Polly’s garage.

  “They’re going to find her,” Henry said. “Ken wants this over as much as you do.”

  “I don’t think that’s true, but I hope today is the last time I have to think about any of this.” She pulled the door shut and followed him into the foyer. They heard a small sound and Polly stopped, then pointed to the basement.

  “You don’t think,” Henry said softly.

  “I do.”

  “Should we wait for Ken?”

  “I’m tired of this bitch controlling me.”

  “You always get yourself in trouble when you do things like this.”

  “I’m not leaving Rebecca in her hands any longer. Do you have the ring?”

  Henry followed her to the basement door and pulled the ring out of his pocket. “This is why you frustrate the hell out of Aaron.”

  “Look, she wants you. I’m sending you in first. We’ll leave the door open for Ken. He’ll find us.”

  Henry shook his head. “I can’t believe I’m letting you talk me into this.”

  “Just go. Rebecca needs us.”

  He opened the door and turned the light on in the basement, then took a deep breath and stepped onto the landing. Carefully and quietly, he walked down the steps. “Rebecca?” he called. “Are you down here?”

  Polly paced his steps with her hand on his shoulder, trying to make as little noise as possible.

  “Rebecca?” he called again.

  A little girl’s squeak was heard, followed by the sound of a hand clapping over her mouth. Henry nodded toward Polly when they reached the bottom step. He peered around the corner and motioned for Polly to stay back. She didn’t pay any attention to him and stayed close while he moved forward.

  The first room was the bedroom they had fixed up for Eliseo. Henry walked in and turned the light on. Nothing.

  He spoke into Polly’s ear again. “Do you suppose they’re in that root cellar?”

  “Damn, if you have to go through the crawlway, that really exposes you. What if she has a weapon?”

  “Alexis,” Henry said out loud. “If you are down here with Rebecca, you have to come out now. I am sorry that I misunderstood what it was you needed from me and I’m ready to make amends. Will you forgive me?”

  They waited a moment and when there was no movement, he looked at Polly helplessly.

  “Try Lexi,” she said into his ear. “That’s what Sarah called her.”

  “Lexi, can you hear me? I want to make this up to you. I feel awful that I might have screwed something up between us. I’m begging for your forgiveness. Please tell me that you will forgive me.”

  “No,” came a woman’s voice.

  “You won’t forgive me? Lexi, I’m sorry. What more can I say? I screwed up. I should have known better.”

  “Yes, you should have. But we’re in her house. You’ll say anything to make me come out. I don’t trust you.”

  Henry turned around and shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “You don’t know her?” Polly asked. “Think. When could you have encountered her that caused this obsession? Think fast. You have to make a connection.”

  Henry put his hands over his face. “What was her last name?”

  “Middlefield.”

  “Oh no,” he said. “I know who she is.”

  “Who?”

  “She lives in the apartments over on East Ash, just off the highway. I did renovation there last summer. She flirted with me, used to bring lemonade and cookies out for all of us. I was in her apartment a couple of times, but never alone. We just didn’t do that. Then I saw her once at the Diner. I was sitting at the counter and she sat with me. I didn’t think anything of it.”

  “When did that happen?” Polly asked.

  He bowed his head and shut his eyes in thought. “Last fall. Probably right before the paint thing. Yeah. It was the week before I went to Michigan. I remember telling Lucy it was too bad you couldn’t go with me.”

  He took her hand. “I’m sorry, Polly. It didn’t even occur to me.”

  “Don’t do that. Not right now. We have to get Rebecca out of here.” Polly heard boots hit the top landing. “I’ve got this,” she whispered and tiptoed back to the stairway. She pointed to the basement and Ken crept down the stairs.

  “Lexi,” Henry called out. “Do you still live in the same apartment where I met you last year?”

  “Yes,” the woman said tentatively.

  “Do you remember making lemonade and cookies for me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Those were some of the best cookies I’ve ever eaten. Is your kitchen still painted that pretty robin’s egg blue?”

  “You remember,” she said.

  “I do remember. You have a lovely apartment and I’d like to see it again. Will you please accept my apology?”

  “Maybe. Did you really like my cookies?”

  Ken was trying to get a bead on where she might be located in the basement, but sound was echoing around the concrete walls. He motioned for Henry to continue the conversation.

  “What other things do you like to bake?” Henry asked. “Tell me what you like to do in the kitchen.”

  “I make a wonderful German chocolate cake. Just like my grandmother taught me. I make it from scratch and everything. Do you like German chocolate cake, Henry?”

  Henry had started to move as well. “I like that very much. What else do you like?”

  “Those are my two favorite things. I don’t have family to eat them, so I don’t bake very often. I liked to take things to work with me, but they fired me. Henry, will you take care of me?”

  “Lexi, I would love to take care of you. You could bake all day long for me. Have you forgiven me yet?”

  “How could I stay angry at you, Henry? Will you promise to never see Pretty Girl again?”

  “I promise, Lexi. It will just be you and me.”

  “Will you give me a nickname like Pretty Girl?” The young woman came out from behind some boxes and Polly backed into the shadows so she wouldn’t be seen.

  Alexis Middlefield was pulling Rebecca by her upper arm. The child had been crying and her hair was a mess. She didn’t move, except to respond to Alexis’ command and suddenly Polly understood why. The woman’s other hand was holding a large knife.

  “I’ll be glad to give you a nickname, Lexi. But your name is already so pretty. Maybe we can just use that for now.” Polly knew Henry well enough to hear the terror in his voice. He was outwardly calm, but this was a lot of stress. She didn’t know how to help him, but stayed where she was so as to not upset the crazy woman with the knife.

  “Did you bring the ring?” Now Alexis’ voice was demanding. She saw her prize and wanted it.

  “I have it right here.” Henry put the ring in the palm of his hand. “Please let Rebecca go so that I can give it to you.”

  Polly didn’t know where Ken had ended up and she didn’t know what was going to happen next. Rebecca’s eyes were flitting wildly around the room until they landed on Polly. She knew the little girl had seen her and she shook her head and put her finger to her lips. Rebecca seemed to understand and calmed herself.

  “No,” Alexis said.

  Henry took a deep breath and held out the ring. “I don’t want anything between us, Lexi. Let the girl go.”

  “No, I think I’ll keep her close.”

  “Lexi, I can’t put the ring on your
finger if you have one hand on Rebecca and the other hand on the knife. One of those things has to go.”

  Alexis looked back and forth from the girl to the knife, then she glanced at the ring in Henry’s hand. She pushed Rebecca forward, making her fall to the ground. Henry rushed toward the little girl and helped her stand up, then whispered something in her ear. She nodded and ran for the stairway, never looking back. Polly breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Now that she’s gone, you can put the cleaver down, Lexi. You don’t need it any longer.”

  The young woman’s confusion was growing. “But, I got rid of the girl,” she protested.

  “Yes you did, and since she’s gone, you don’t need the knife to keep her quiet,” he said. “Put it down on the floor and then I’ll give you the ring.”

  Polly watched her try to make sense of his request. She looked at the cleaver and at him, then looked around the room as if for help. That was the moment she saw Polly in the shadows.

  “What is she doing here?” Alexis demanded and strode toward Polly with the knife held high. Polly had nowhere to go. She’d backed herself into a corner.

  “Lexi!” Henry cried and rushed toward her.

  She spun on him. “You lied to me! Why would you lie to me?” She turned back toward Polly. “Why do you have to have everything? I hate you. You ruined my life.”

  Fury engulfed her features and she began to run toward Polly again, brandishing the cleaver. All of a sudden, Ken stepped out, grabbed the woman’s arm and held it high.

  “No!” she screamed, thrashing.

  Henry reached up and grabbed her wrist with one hand, pressing to weaken her grip. With the other, he wrested control of the knife and backed away, allowing Ken to manage the struggling woman. He stepped back several paces and set the knife on a stack of boxes and then bent over, with his hands on his knees, breathing heavily. Bert had returned from the barn with Eliseo and the two of them came down the steps. Ken zip-tied the woman’s hands behind her back even while she kicked at him, screaming and sobbing.

  Polly waited until the two policemen took her up the steps before going to Henry. She put her hand on his shoulder. “You are amazing,” she said.