Lucy's Chance

by Jackie D

  “Kern, we have four dead women and another one is missing.” She did her best to bite down on her rage, but she knew it wasn’t all that convincing; her words had an edge and he clearly felt it.

  His face flushed red. “You don’t think I know that, Chance? Those women have haunted me every day of my life. That’s why I came to you in the first place, remember?”

  She didn’t want to hear any more, or rather, couldn’t hear any more. “You had enough for a warrant. You could’ve searched that house.”

  “We did search the house. We didn’t find anything,” he said, not making eye contact.

  “Did you talk to Angelica’s parents? Maybe she kept a journal.”

  “Yes, we asked. She didn’t keep one. It wasn’t like it is today, where every teenage girl writes every thought and feeling on social media.”

  “Did you ask them about Frank Wilds? Did she ever mention him?”

  He rubbed his temples because he was either tired or felt guilty. She unfairly hoped it was guilt. “They never mentioned him. And I personally talked to the parents on several occasions.”

  She crossed her arms, staring down at him in his chair. “Is there anything else that could help get me a warrant? Anything at all?”

  “If there was, I would tell you. I agree he’s a damn good suspect, just like he was back then. It’s no coincidence he’s back and there are more dead women. We couldn’t nail the bastard back then. Maybe you can this time.”

  She headed back upstairs without responding. Diego and Lucy were there waiting when she returned. She slid the journal over to the two of them and picked up the phone. “Take a look. I’m going to see if I can get a warrant for Frank Wilds’s property.”

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Lucy watched as Erica read the journal entries to a judge over the phone. A few moments later, she ended the call and threw her phone down. “God dammit.”

  “Did he tell you that you need more current evidence to search the home?”

  Erica shot her a cold look. “I forgot you were such an expert. It was worth a try. I know that piece of shit did it. I know he has her. Like Kern said, it’s no coincidence.”

  “Let’s go get more evidence then,” Diego said, standing up. “It damn well doesn’t hurt to check the place out and see if he’s there.”

  Erica’s eyes lit up and she headed out the door, ready to go.

  Lucy touched her brother’s arm. “I’m going to sit this one out.”

  He looked at her, confused. “You sure?”

  “Yeah, I have a few other places I want to dig around.”

  He shrugged and was gone without giving her a second glance.

  Lucy walked out of the police station and started down the familiar streets. Some shops had come and gone, but their façades remained the same. The theater which offered two-dollar movies on Tuesday nights still had its old town charm, its sign looking like the last remnant from the nineteen fifties. Bakeries, hair salons, and a few new places bustled with midmorning patrons.

  After a few blocks, she reached the Starbucks she had been seeking. She went inside and pretended to study the menu, even though she could recite her typical order without hesitation. She took a look around at the employees and was caught off guard to see Sheila at the barista bar. She ordered her drink and waited patiently, scanning the community board and making every effort not to make eye contact with Sheila.

  Lucy grabbed her cup when her name was called and headed outside to the small green tables. A few moments later, Sheila approached her.

  She smelled the coffee on her clothes and thought maybe if this reporting thing didn’t work out, she wouldn’t mind smelling like Starbucks.

  “Lucy?”

  “Sheila, hi.”

  “Mind if I sit?”

  Lucy motioned to the empty seat in front of her. If we can form some type of relationship, I might be able to get her to do an interview later. “Please, be my guest.” Be professional. Don’t focus on the fact that she’s Chance’s girlfriend. Focus on the story.

  “It’s my first day back, but I’m having a difficult time concentrating. I thought it would be good for me to work, but now I’m not so sure.”

  “Have you worked here long?” She was fine with small talk and hoped she could keep it on track.

  “Um, yeah. Since I was about eighteen, I guess. I became a manager about ten years ago.”

  “Cool!” Cool? Maybe small talk isn’t your thing.

  She managed a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I just wanted to clear the air.”

  “About what?”

  “About Erica.”

  Jesus, was she such a horrible person that she made this poor woman feel obligated to come have a ridiculous conversation in the midst of a family crisis? Some real self-reflection was going to be required after this. “About Chance? Sheila, you don’t have to. I can’t imagine what you’re going through. Chance and I were a long time ago. There’s no need to say anything.”

  “All the same, I’d like to anyway.”

  “Okay.”

  But now that she had the opportunity, Sheila seemed like she wasn’t sure she wanted to say anything at all. She looked down at her hands. “She’s very special.”

  “Yes, she is.”

  “No, I mean…yes, she is special, but I didn’t mean it like that. I know Erica’s rules. Four months is her limit and that’s where we are. I know how she feels about me.”

  “Yes, it seems like you’re very important to her.” The words burned like acid leaving her lips.

  “Thank you, but that’s not what I meant. Erica’s never going to love me. We have no future together, and I have no misconceptions about that. I’ve known that since the day we started dating. Hell, everyone kind of knows that.”

  “Sheila, maybe this is a conversation you should be having with Erica.” She was curious as to where this was heading, but she also didn’t want to get involved in Erica’s relationships.

  “No, you’re the only person I can have it with. Erica is never going to love me or anyone else, because Erica will always love you.”

  The words hurt because she knew they weren’t true. Maybe at one time, but not anymore. “No, trust me, that ship has sailed.”

  “Has it for you?” The look on her face indicated she knew she was being forward, but she didn’t seem to care. “Look, maybe it isn’t my place, but when your family goes missing, you tend to reevaluate. That, and I’m pretty sure you get a pass on social couth.”

  Lucy was caught off guard by her questions, but she could appreciate how an event in someone’s life would impact their outlook. She didn’t owe her an answer, but she wanted to give her the truth. It was the least she could do for her. “Honestly, I’m not sure.”

  The answer made Sheila smile. “Well, don’t stop trying. She’s worth it.”

  “I know she is.”

  Sheila got up to leave. “Sorry to bother you.”

  “It was no bother.” She paused for a moment. “You’re worth it too, you know.”

  That made her smile, too. “Yeah, I do.”

  Sheila was almost back inside when Lucy looked around the patio and noticed the cameras aimed at the door. “Sheila?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Were you working the night Claudia Ramos went missing?”

  Sheila rubbed her arms, probably to push away the question that hit a little too close to home. “No, I wasn’t. But Erica and Diego already checked the cameras and no one followed her out of the store.”

  “What about before she came in?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Do you mind?” Lucy pointed to the store. It was unlikely she’d see anything they’d missed, but double-checking never hurt. They hadn’t known who they were looking for before. Now they knew Frank Wilds was a likely suspect.

  “Of course not. Come on back.”

  Sheila sat at the computer station in the small office and pulled up files with different dates. She found
the one they were searching for and opened it.

  “We should look at the two hours prior to Claudia coming in.” Lucy hovered behind Sheila’s chair. Her body hummed with the possibility of finding Frank Wilds lurking around the coffee shop.

  “Do you know who you’re looking for?”

  Lucy suddenly had a pang of conscience. She shouldn’t be looking at this with Sheila. They assumed the same man who took her cousin had also killed Claudia. She thought for a moment about walking out and saying she needed to get Erica.

  Sheila must have sensed her hesitation because she turned and made eye contact. “We don’t have any time to waste. If you know who we’re looking for, I’d prefer we find him sooner rather than later.”

  “If you could just play the tape, I’ll know him when I see him.” She would never forget what he looked like, and it wasn’t just because they had watched him walk out of Junior’s or because she saw him on his porch. She would never forget the scruffy face, the pointy chin, and the shadowed eyes because it had shaken something in her. Frank Wilds exuded evil, even from a distance. His aura exploded with tamped down rage and secrecy. It would never be something she could explain; it was just a presence he gave off.

  Sheila turned back around and started scrolling through different time stamps. She found the marker they were looking for and pushed play.

  “Can you play this at an increased speed?” She hoped she didn’t sound as impatient as she felt.

  “Sure.”

  People started rapidly moving in and out of the store. There was nothing unusual, people feeding their coffee cravings, having discussions, using computers, reading, just another day at a coffee shop. The only thing that was glaringly missing from the tape was Frank Wilds.

  “Dammit.”

  Sheila slumped, visibly disappointed that Lucy’s idea didn’t pan out into anything usable. “I thought we would find something.”

  “Me too.” She touched Sheila’s shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

  “Thank you for helping. It’s easier, you know, knowing people really are looking for her.” She wiped away a few tears and stood. “Guess I’d better get back to work.”

  They walked back out to the front of the store, and one of the baristas held out an envelope. “Someone left this for you.”

  “Have a good day.” Lucy turned to leave but stopped short when the barista moved toward her.

  “No,” the barista said. “It’s for you. You’re Lucy, right?”

  Lucy was utterly confused but she took the envelope. “Who gave this to you?”

  The barista shrugged. “Some kid brought it in.”

  A kid? She started out the door, opening the envelope. The message was typed and concise.

  Lovely piece in the paper this morning, Lucy. I didn’t realize you were such a fan. I’ll reach out later, so please, stay close.

  The blood pumping through her veins went ice cold. Her first instinct was to look around, to see if she could catch a glimpse of Frank Wilds. But she fought the impulse, certain she wouldn’t see him, though he was probably watching her. She also didn’t want him to know the effect his words were having on her. No, she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. She walked over to the patio table she and Sheila had been at not long before and texted Diego to come and get her. She could’ve walked back to the police station to get her car, but she needed to be with her brother and Erica right now. She made sure not to let the fear she was feeling show on her face.

  She sipped her now cold coffee, willing her hands not to shake. She mentally tried to picture the farthest place in town Erica and Diego could be and how long it would take to get to her. Regardless of where they were, it shouldn’t be more than five to six minutes. While she waited, she pretended to play on her phone, attempting to be as carefree and unfazed as possible. When the car finally did pull up, she walked over and got into the backseat.

  “What’s with the 911 text?” Diego asked from the driver’s seat.

  Lucy handed Erica the letter, unable to keep her hands from shaking any longer.

  Erica opened it and read it quickly before handing it to Diego. “What the fuck?”

  “Yeah, my sentiments exactly.” Being in the police cruiser with her brother and Erica was the only place she wanted to be at the moment. She had always prided herself on being brave. She thought after her time in the Middle East there was nothing that could shake her to her core. That is, until the day she was handed a letter from a serial killer.

  Chapter Twenty-five

  “You aren’t going on another stakeout.” Erica heard herself say aloud, even though she could tell by the look on Lucy’s face that her statement fell on deaf ears.

  “I agree with Chance. It’s not safe.” Thankfully, Diego backed her up, and Lucy might listen to her brother, if not to Erica.

  “Not safe? I’ll be sitting next to an armed police officer and you’ll be ten feet away with another armed police officer. How much safer would you like it to be?”

  Erica hated that she had a point, and after reading the little message, she didn’t want Lucy out of her sight. Sitting right next to her was actually exactly where she wanted her. “Fine.”

  Lucy looked confused. “Fine?”

  “Yeah, fine. You can come with us tonight. But no more stories. You got his attention, and now we know he’s watching, and local. That’s what we needed.”

  “I’m going to write another piece. It worked. We’re drawing him out, and he’ll make a mistake. Then we’ll be able to find Jessica and catch him.” She crossed her arms to make her point.

  “You aren’t a cop. You aren’t trained for this,” Erica said, exasperated.

  “I don’t plan on putting the cuffs on him myself. But if I can write a piece insinuating we’re onto him, that we’re watching, we’ll force his hand.”

  Diego put both hands flat down on the desk and leaned forward. “And what if you force his hand and he kills Jessica?”

  Lucy flinched but acknowledged the point. “I don’t think that’s what’s going to happen. He thinks he’s smarter than us; he likes the game. He gave me the letter to taunt me because I’ve piqued his interest.”

  “Great,” Diego said sarcastically. “I don’t like this. I’m not using my sister as bait.”

  “Well, big brother, I don’t need your permission.”

  “You’re so damn stubborn.” He rubbed the back of his neck.

  “You are stubborn.” Erica shrugged.

  “Yeah well, you’re tall,” Lucy said.

  “What?” Erica asked, feeling flustered.

  “You’re tall. I thought we were playing a game where we pointed out the obvious.”

  “This isn’t a game, Lucy. All we’re doing tonight is picking up a glass, or whatever else he leaves in plain sight, to get a print. If it’s left in plain sight, in public, we aren’t breaking any laws. Then we hope and pray we can match it to the partial we lifted off Teresa’s car. The idea of all of us being there is to make him uncomfortable so he’ll leave us a breadcrumb. It has to be something we see him touch and get to before anyone else does so it isn’t contaminated. He doesn’t know we know who he is yet, so we’ve got a chance of grabbing something if he’s cocky. We just have to hope us being there doesn’t spook him into thinking we do think it’s him. Then we could lose him.”

  “Yeah, Chance, I heard the plan the first three times we went over it. It doesn’t change the fact that I’m going with you.” Lucy crossed her arms, her chin lifted defiantly.

  “Well, I’m reminding you because you seem to be focused on the story, and we’re trying to lock him up. We’re not worried about what goes in your newspaper.”

  Erica had leaned closer to her to make her point. Lucy, in her usual style, didn’t back down. “I got it, boss.” She looked down at her phone and turned it around to show Erica. “Mom is here to pick me up.”

  “I’ll pick you up at six,” Erica said to Lucy’s retreating figure. “Don’t go anywhere on your own.�
��

  “It’s a date.”

  “It’s not a—” Erica tried to say, but Lucy was already gone.

  “She’s a pistol,” Diego said, chuckling.

  “She’s impossible.”

  “The good ones usually are.”

  A few hours later, Erica pulled up in front of the Rodriguez house to pick up Lucy. As she jogged down the front porch of her parents’ house, Erica was momentarily transported back to several years before. This habit of picking up Lucy for a night out was a practiced and familiar routine. That’s what she told herself anyway, when she felt the excitement of seeing Lucy descend the steps warm her stomach. It was nothing more than old memories tugging at her subconscious. Now isn’t the time to fall down the rabbit hole.

  “Hi,” she said as she climbed in.

  “I can’t believe you’re actually on time,” Erica joked as Lucy shut the passenger door.

  “I managed to break a few bad habits over the years.” She adjusted the seat, sliding it back and forth.

  “I’m glad. Your lack of punctuality always drove me crazy.”

  “I know. But what you didn’t realize was that I loved driving you crazy.” She found the position she had been searching for and clicked her seat belt.

  “I know.”

  She had always appreciated Lucy’s ability to leave minor disagreements in the past. She never had any desire to rehash every point on which they didn’t agree. And it appeared that luckily, she hadn’t given up this attribute along with her punctuality issues. Their earlier conversation had been set aside, and although Erica was still confused and a little pissed off, she knew it was better to leave it alone and move on. She could feel Lucy’s eyes on her. It felt good to be on the receiving end of Lucy’s stare. She had spent so long trying to erase that particular feeling from her memory and now it seemed to reemerge, making her body tingle. She wondered if this was how it would always be, if Lucy would always be able to affect her with something as simple as a look. Was that the power your first love would always have over you? Someone should probably put a pamphlet together, warning teenagers about the lasting effects. She laughed at herself for being silly enough to think anyone would be brave enough to read that pamphlet before it really mattered.