It seemed like hours before she finally reached the narrow fissure in the rock. It had taken her a while to remember where it was. She had seen no sign of the little girl on the way up, no torn paper, no banana peel, nothing to indicate that Harrie had come this way.
Yet when she pushed her face up to the opening and called out Harrie’s name, somehow Claire knew she had found her.
At first, although she called three times, no answer came back from the dark space beyond. On the fourth try, Claire tried a different tack.
“Your daddy is very frightened, Harrie,” she called out. “He doesn’t know what has happened to you. He doesn’t know why you are doing this. He is hurting real bad.”
After a long moment, a small muffled voice answered. “You told on me. You told Daddy where my secret places are.”
Claire’s heart sank. She must have been listening the night before, when she and Turner had talked about Harrie going up on the Ridge.
“I had to, Harrie. I was afraid the CSD would find you up here and take you away from your daddy.”
“They couldn’t used to find me. Now they can, ‘cuz you told them.”
“I only told your daddy, Harrie. And he doesn’t know where the places are. Only that they are up here on the Ridge.”
Claire waited through a long pause. Finally she said, “Harrie, I can’t talk to you like this. Won’t you come out so we can talk properly?”
“I can’t.” The voice broke and became a wail. “I’m scared.”
“Scared about what?”
Again a long pause, this time broken by a quiet mewling from the cave that tore at Claire’s heart. “What is it, honey? You don’t have to be scared. Your daddy won’t let the CSD take you away. Not if you come home with me right now.”
“I’m scared about the man.” The whimpering grew louder.
Claire frowned, pressing herself closer against the warm rock. “What man, honey? You mean Chet? He’s not going to hurt you. He wants to help you.”
“No, not him. The man in the woods.”
Claire’s heart stopped, then started pounding. “What man, Harrie? You mean Mr. Newberg?”
The words came, disjointed and muffled, broken by sobs. But they were clear enough for Claire to hear. And what she heard filled her with dread.
Chapter 8
Claire spent the next few minutes trying to persuade Harrie to crawl out from the cave. Finally the little girl came out on her hands and knees, hugging Melissa and dragging her schoolbag behind her. She was filthy, one knee was badly scraped and she had scratches on her arms and face. But otherwise she seemed unharmed.
Claire spent another ten minutes holding the thin body in her arms, talking quietly until her violent trembling had stilled. Finally the sobs died away, and Harrie seemed more composed.
“Do you think you can come down with me now and talk to your daddy?” Claire asked as she dried the tears with a crumpled tissue she’d found in her pocket.
Harrie nodded, though her blue eyes still held more than a trace of fear. “Is he very mad at me?”
Claire gave her a reassuring smile, knowing the fear was something far more formidable than Turner’s wrath. “No, he’s just frightened and worried. He’ll be very happy to see you.” She would have to warn the child about the police being there, and Chet Warren, she thought, but that could wait until they were closer to the cabin.
Carrying Harrie’s schoolbag, she moved slowly down the hillside, though she had to resist the impulse to run, since she was anxious to relieve Turner’s mind as soon as possible.
“What made you want to run away?” she asked as they neared the woods at the foot of the hills.
“I didn’t want Daddy to lock me in my room. I would hate it if I had to be locked in a room. I would die in there.”
“Oh, honey.” Claire hugged the narrow shoulders. “He didn’t really mean it. He was just worried that you might take off when Chet was around and then they’d say he wasn’t looking after you properly.”
Harrie sighed. “I can look after myself pretty good.”
As Claire remembered what Harrie had told her up on the Ridge, her heart skipped with apprehension. “Well, we’ll talk to your daddy and get it all sorted out, okay?” She just prayed it would be that easy.
She waited until they were on the path to the cabin before telling Harrie about the police. To Claire’s relief, Harrie seemed more concerned about her father than anyone else.
She saw Turner, pacing up and down in front of the cabin under the watchful eye of the deputy, as they rounded the bend. Harrie must have spotted him at the same moment. Apparently forgetting all her anxiety, she rushed forward with Melissa still under her arm.
Catching sight of her, Turner bounded across the grass and swept his daughter up in his arms.
Claire felt a lump form in her throat as she watched him bury his face in the little girl’s shoulder, hugging her silently as he rocked her back and forth.
Harrie wound her free arm tightly around his neck, saying repeatedly, “I’m sorry, Daddy. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I’m sorry, Daddy.”
Claire was glad to see the deputy give them time to enjoy the reunion before coming forward.
“Excuse me, Mr. Mitchell,” he said, patting Turner on the shoulder, “but the detective wants to talk to the little girl.”
Turner lifted his head, and Claire’s heart turned over at the bright sparkle of tears in his eyes. “All right.” He set Harrie on her feet and squatted in front of her.
“She told me what happened,” Claire said, looking at Turner.
He shot her a startled glance, while the deputy looked immediately alert.
“Are we going to need a lawyer?” Turner asked. His voice was perfectly calm, but she saw the fear in his eyes.
“No, I don’t think so.” She gave him a reassuring smile. “Is Chet still here?” she added, looking around for him.
“He’s in the cabin with the detective,” the deputy said.
“I’d like a quick word with him first. He’ll tell us what to do.”
The deputy nodded, then went inside the cabin. Claire took the opportunity to give Turner a brief account of what Harrie had told her.
A moment later Chet came out, a relieved expression on his face. “You found her.”
“Yes, she was in one of her usual haunts.” Drawing him to one side, she repeated quietly what Harrie had told her.
“It will be up to Mr. Mitchell if he wants a lawyer,” Chet said. “But at this point I really don’t think it’s necessary. Under the circumstances, it might be better to let the police know everything as quickly as possible.”
“That’s what I thought,” Claire said, thankful to have her opinion confirmed. She told Turner what Chet had said.
Looking back at his daughter, Turner said quietly, “Will you tell the policeman what you saw?”
Harrie looked frightened. “Will you be there?”
“Of course.” Turner looked at the deputy for confirmation, and he nodded.
“And Claire? I want Claire to be there, too.”
The deputy shrugged. “Don’t see why not.”
He moved back to let them file into the cabin. Turner led Harrie by the hand, with Claire close behind as they walked into the living room.
The wiry man stood and introduced himself as Detective Howard. Then he squatted in front of Harrie and gave her a friendly smile. “So how old are you, princess?”
Hugging Melissa to her chest, Harrie looked surprised. “My daddy calls me that, too,” she said, staring at the detective with wide eyes. “And he calls me ‘kitten.’”
“I like both those names,” the policeman said solemnly. “So what is your real name?”
“Harrie.”
It was the detective’s turn to look surprised. “Harrie? That’s an unusual name for a pretty little girl.”
Harrie gave him a shy smile. “It’s Harrietta. But I like Harrie.”
“Ahh,
” he said, nodding. “Is it okay if I call you ‘Harrie’?”
“Sure.”
“All right, Harrie, you want to tell me exactly what happened last night, starting from the moment you left here?”
Harrie looked up at Turner, her face full of doubt.
“It’s okay, kitten. You won’t get into trouble.” Turner settled his hands on her shoulders.
Harrie looked back at the detective. “It wasn’t ‘xactly night. It was getting to be morning. All the birds were singing. I waited until it started to get light. I don’t like walking in the woods in the dark by myself.”
Detective Howard nodded. “Yeah, that’s not a good idea. I don’t like it, either.”
Harrie looked astonished. “You don’t?”
“Not one bit.” The detective grinned at her. “Okay, Harrie, you left the house when the birds started singing?”
Harrie nodded. “I was afraid Daddy would lock me in my room, and I didn’t want to stay there all day.”
Turner made a strangled sound in the back of his throat, but said nothing.
Claire sent a glance at Chet, who was listening to every word, a rapt expression on his face.
The detective nodded. “I don’t blame you. So what happened then?”
“Well, Daddy told me that if I am anywhere in the woods alone, I should always carry a knife with me.”
Claire closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them again the detective was looking at Harrie with a deadpan expression on his face. Turner’s face was like granite. She didn’t dare look at Chet.
“A knife,” the detective said slowly.
“Yeah,” Harrie said, “I’m real good at throwing them. Daddy taught me how, so I could pr’tect myself.”
“I see,” the policeman said, as if he were used to hearing every day about little girls who know how to throw knives real well.
“So I went to get one to take with me,” Harrie went on, shifting Melissa higher in her arms.
“Go on, Harrie. What happened then?”
“I saw the man from the Landing. Mr. Newberg. He’s mean. He hates kids. So I hid.”
The detective’s face had sharpened, his eyes fixed firmly on Harrie’s face. “So what did you see, Harrie?” he asked softly.
Harrie looked down at the top of Melissa’s head and dropped her chin in the soft fur. For the first time she appeared scared again.
“I saw another man stick a knife in him,” she said, her voice muffled by the fur.
“God,” Turner said in a choked voice.
The cop sent him a swift look, then lowered his gaze back to Harrie. “And then what did you do?”
“I ran,” Harrie said, her voice rising. “I ran real fast, but he ran after me. I thought he was going to catch me. He was right behind me.” Her voice wobbled and a tear crept down her cheek.
Turner bent down and dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “Take it easy, kitten. It’s okay.” He sent a look of anguish at the detective, who gave him a brief nod.
“Just a minute or two more, that’s all.”
Turner straightened, appearing grim.
“Okay, princess, so tell me how you got away from the man.”
Harrie struggled for a minute, then mumbled, “I ran an’ ran and then he fell down and I hid and he ran past me and didn’t see me....” The words ended on a sob.
“That’s okay, honey. Just take a big breath, okay?” The policeman waited a second or two, then said gently, “Harrie, do you think you could tell me what the man looks like?”
She nodded. “I saw him real close. He had long hair, like mine only it looked dirty. And a funny-looking beard. It came right down to here.” She pointed at her chest.
“Did you notice his eyes?”
“I think they were brown. Like Melissa’s eyes.” She held the bear up for him to see.
Detective Howard eyed the bear thoughtfully. “Okay, that’s good. Anything else?”
Harrie nodded. “His two front teeth weren’t there. He was awful old to have no teeth in the front.”
“As old as your daddy? Or older?”
“Dunno. ‘Bout the same, I guess.”
“Was he tall like your daddy?”
“Nope. Smaller.” She glanced up at Claire. “A bit bigger than Claire.”
The detective smiled. “You did real good, honey. Do you think the man saw you look at him?”
Harrie nodded, her face screwing up as the tears started splashing from her eyes. “He shouted at me...and told me to stop but I kept running. I was scared to come back in case he was waiting for me.”
She started to sob into Melissa’s fur, and Turner caught her up in his arms. “I think she’s had enough,” he said, his expression warning everyone he meant it.
“Okay.” The cop stood and patted Harrie on the shoulder. “You did great, little lady. I’m proud of you. You’re a brave little girl.”
“I’m a brave big girl,” Harrie muttered, shuddering on a sob.
Detective Howard laughed. “You bet you are, sweetheart.” He looked at Turner. “You and I need to have a little talk,” he said, his gaze signaling the seriousness behind his words. “Perhaps the lady here can take Harrie somewhere and give her a drink...? She looks real thirsty to me.”
“Of course,” Claire said, moving toward Turner. “Want to give her to me?”
Turner’s gaze met hers briefly and her heart ached once more at the misery in his eyes. He set Harrie down and Claire took her hand.
“Come on, honey,” Claire said, “let’s go put Melissa to bed and then maybe find some ice cream, okay?”
Harrie nodded, more subdued than Claire had ever seen her. Meekly she followed Claire to the bedroom.
Keeping up a determinedly cheerful conversation, Claire got the little girl washed and her clothes changed, then, promising to wash Melissa’s dress, took that off the bear.
Watching Harrie tuck Melissa into her bed and smooth the blanket over it, Claire felt a strong, painful tug at her heart. Harrie had inherited her father’s tenderness.
Pushing away her sadness, she took the child into the kitchen and fed her a large bowl of ice cream. She was rinsing out the dish under the faucet when Detective Howard came back into the kitchen to say goodbye.
Now that the ordeal was over, Harrie seemed to enjoy the policeman’s teasing comments, and even laughed at him when he told her she had a cute nose like a teddy bear.
Chet poked his head around the door and announced he was leaving. “I’ll be back,” he said, and Claire had the feeling that he’d be asking a lot of questions when he did come back.
She was dying to know what the detective had said to Turner. When he came into the kitchen, however, she could tell from his face that it wasn’t anything he wanted to discuss in front of Harrie. Whatever it was, she knew it had upset him a great deal.
“Are you going to open the shop today?” she asked, surprised to find it was only halfway through the morning. It seemed more like late afternoon, with everything that had happened.
“I’d better go and take a look at it,” Turner said, his mind obviously not on his business. “But I need you to do me a favor.”
“Sure.” She looked at him, wondering what was coming.
“I’d like you to take Harrie into town, go to a movie or something. Then take her back to your apartment and meet me there around six.”
“All right!” Harrie said, appearing pleased at the prospect.
Claire gave him a long look. “Of course I will.”
He smiled, a tight smile that told her how worried he was. “I’ll explain later, okay?”
“Sure. You go ahead. We’ll leave as soon as I’ve cleaned up here.”
“No, I want you to leave now. I’ll come with you to the car.”
Her heart started skipping again. She glanced down at Harrie, then back at Turner. She knew now what had put that expression of anguish in his eyes. She understood the reasons behind his odd request. Harrie had seen the man
who had killed Ray Newberg. Harrie was a witness to a murder. Was it possible her life could be in danger?
“I’ll get my purse,” she said quietly, and went into the living room to find it.
Turner said very little as they walked along the trail to the car. He chatted with Harrie, but Claire could hear the tension in his voice.
She could understand it. Her own body was wound tighter than a guitar string. Every rustle of leaves, every chirp, every twig that crunched underfoot jerked at her nerves, and her eyes ached from darting back and forth.
By the time they reached the car, she felt as if she’d just sat through a particularly scary movie. Even Harrie seemed more subdued, barely responding to her father’s comments.
Turner looked over her car carefully before letting Claire unlock it. Then he took the keys from her and examined the trunk. Claire said nothing, but exchanged a glance with him that told him she understood the reason for the precaution.
“It might be a better idea if I meet you in a restaurant somewhere for dinner,” he said when he finally handed her back the keys.
“All right.” She thought for a moment. “The Spaghetti Palace. Harrie likes lasagna.”
“So do I.” He gave her a tight smile. Seven o’clock?”
“We’ll be there.”
He stood back and lifted his hand. “Enjoy the movie.”
“We will,” Harrie said, sounding a little more cheerful. “What are we going to see?”
“Don’t know yet, honey,” Claire said. “But I’m sure we’ll find something fun to watch.”
“Be careful,” Turner said, letting his uneasiness show for a moment on his face.
“You, too.” Claire gave him a determined smile. “We’ll be fine. See you tonight.”
He gave a brief nod, then stood and watched them, until Claire could no longer see him in the rearview mirror.
She chose a comedy movie, and Harrie seemed to forget her fright as she chuckled at the antics of the young stars. Claire, however, saw little of the action on the screen. Her mind was full of what Harrie had witnessed and what it could mean.
The afternoon dragged on, and Claire spent the last hour or so with Harrie in a busy shopping mall, crowded with people, before heading to the restaurant where she’d chosen to meet Turner.
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