Lady in Red

by Stacy Claflin

  He led them down the muddy path, his shoes sticking nearly every other step. Unfortunately, the earlier rainstorm made it impossible to see any of Tinsley’s footsteps. Any evidence would’ve been washed away.

  Alex cupped his mouth. “Tinsley!”

  His daughter and niece also called out for her. Not too far away, the others shouted for her.

  Hopefully, they were getting close. But these woods weren’t all that big. They provided privacy for the homes tucked away, but not much else. It would have been easy for someone to take off with the girl then make a quick getaway in a car. Not that Alex would voice that thought, even though Nick and Genevieve had to be aware of the fact themselves. He didn’t want to crush the girls’ hope.

  “Tinsley!” Alex was yelling so loud, his throat was starting to hurt.

  Everyone continued calling out for her.

  Sirens sounded.

  His shoulders relaxed. “Finally.”

  “Dad.” Ari tugged on his arm.

  He turned to her. “What is it?”

  Fear shone in her eyes. “We’re almost to the end of the woods. What if she isn’t here anymore?”

  Alex played with his wedding ring and considered his wording. He didn’t want to crush their hope, but at the same time, they deserved the truth. “We’ll still find her. She couldn’t—wait. How do you know this is almost the edge?”

  Ari looked away. “Ava and I went exploring with Parker. We didn’t take Tinsley or Hanna.”

  He tilted his head. None of the kids were supposed to have gone through the woods without Nick or Genevieve. But now wasn’t the time to discuss that. He pointed toward the house. “Don’t they wrap around the other way?”

  Ari shrugged. “There’s a ravine not far from here, and on the other side of that, barely twenty feet away is the road.”

  “And how do you know that?”

  “Dad.”

  “We will talk about this later.”

  “I’m trying to find Tinsley!”

  “That’s what we’re all doing.”

  The sirens grew louder, unsurprising if they were actually that close to the road. It felt like miles, but probably because of how dark the night was—though the storm had stopped, the dark clouds blocked the moon and stars.

  “Where’s the ravine?” he asked.

  “Just over here, if I remember correctly.” Ari led them to the left, and Alex kept his light pointed on the ground for any footprints. Even just one could tell them if they were going in the right direction or if Tinsley had been with anyone. It seemed unlikely she hadn’t been taken, though it wasn’t something he wanted to think about.

  Nick and his family had been through enough. This was the last thing they needed—even if they hadn’t also been planning their wedding. When would the police captain and his fiancée finally get a break?

  The sirens moved closer to the house. The other officers would park and make their way into the woods.

  “Should someone meet them at the house?” Ayla asked. “So they know where to look?”

  Alex glanced in the direction of the ravine. “Maybe Nick will meet them. We’re so close to the edge, we should keep going.” He turned to Ari. “Is there a way around the ravine?”

  She nodded. “It’s the only way to get to the road. The hole is too steep. There’d be no way to get out.”

  “Let’s head that way. Maybe Tinsley got lost and headed for the street to find her way back.”

  “But she doesn’t know her way around the woods.”

  “Unless she and Hanna are as sneaky as the rest of you kids.” Alex tilted his head and marched in the direction of the edge of the woods. He didn't know if he hoped she’d gone that way or not. She could’ve found help or someone could’ve driven her away.

  “I found something!” Parker called from the opposite direction.

  Ayla tugged on Alex’s arm. “What should we do, Uncle Alex?”

  He looked back and forth between the direction they were heading and the sound of the teen’s voice. “Let’s see what they found.”

  Ari stood taller. “Or we could split up. You see what Parker found and we’ll keep going.”

  “Nope. If anything, I’d keep going and you would check out what he has. But we’re not splitting up.”

  His daughter groaned but relented. As they neared Ava and Parker, Alex saw that he held something soft. “Another stuffed animal?”

  “Her slipper.”

  Alex’s heart sank. “You’re sure it’s hers?”

  Parker spun it around. “It looks like it, but it’s so muddy, I could be wrong.”

  Ayla pulled on Alex’s arm. “It looks like the ones she was wearing earlier.”

  “What should we do?” Parker asked.

  All the kids stared at Alex in expectation.

  Chapter 6

  Alex took a deep breath and looked at Parker. “You and Ava stay here with the slipper. The police are going to need to know exactly where you found it.”

  “You’re the police!” Parker stared him down. “You can see where we are.”

  “But I can’t be on the case.” He turned to Ava. “You have your phone?”

  “Of course.”

  “Let your dad know about this. I’m going to check the edge of the woods near the ravine you kids found.”

  Parker’s mouth dropped and he glared at Ariana.

  “I had to tell him! It might help find Tinsley.”

  “Stop arguing!” Alex spun around and marched in the direction they were originally heading and motioned for Ariana and Ayla. “Come on, you two. Parker and Ava are staying with the slipper.”

  He didn’t bother glancing back to make sure the girls were following him—he could hear their footsteps sloshing in the mud and their worried whispers.

  His ears rang in the quiet. No more sirens, no bickering kids. And what worried him most, nothing from Tinsley. If she were in the woods alone, she’d be crying out for help. Or so he hoped. The girl could also be unconscious somewhere. But given the high rate of abductions in their town, he could hardly deny the ever-more-likely possibility that someone had taken her.

  And if that were the case, he would most assuredly reopen his blog. Those in the kidnapping ring had threatened him to shut it down, but if they were so bold as to take his best friend’s future adopted daughter, all bets were off.

  Alex almost hoped that was the case. He wanted to stick it to them. But even more, he wanted Tinsley back safe.

  Ariana grabbed his hand and stopped walking. “Shh!”

  “What?”

  “Listen!”

  Alex cupped his ears. “Is that whimpering?”

  “That’s what it sounds like,” Ari said.

  “I think I hear it,” Ayla agreed.

  Alex tried to tell where it was coming from. It was almost too quiet to hear, much less to figure out the direction. He crept toward the edge of the woods.

  The sounds grew slightly louder.

  He exchanged wide-eyed glances with both girls. “It could just be an animal. Try not to get your hopes up.”

  “You’re such a kill-joy, Dad.”

  “I’m being realistic,” he said.

  They kept going in the same direction, the whimpering sounding closer with each step. He wanted to believe it was Tinsley, but they were in the woods. It could just as easily be an injured animal. In fact, that might be more likely.

  “Watch out!” Ariana grabbed his shoulder.

  He stopped, and only then noticed the ground in front of him dropped off sharply. His heart nearly exploded out of his chest. “Thanks! I was lost in thought. Should’ve been paying closer attention.”

  “Luckily you have me.”

  “Yeah. You two stay back.” He kneeled and shone the light down into the abyss. “Tinsley!”

  “Dad?” came a small voice from down below.

  “Tinsley!” Ariana shouted.

  “Ari! Help me get out!”

  Relief flooded Alex. H
e rose on wobbly legs and shone the light around, not seeing a way to climb down to her. “Hold on, Tinsley! We need to get your parents.” As he called Nick, he muttered, “And someone with a rope.”

  “Alex, they—”

  “Nick, we found Tinsley!” he interrupted.

  “What?” Nick exclaimed. “Where?”

  Alex described where they were. “She’s stuck at the bottom of a ravine, and we can’t get down there without getting stuck ourselves.”

  “I’ll let the search and rescue team know. They just arrived.”

  “And they’ll have the supplies!”

  “Yes. Stay there.” Nick ended the call.

  Alex stuffed his phone into his jacket. “Hold on, Tinsley! You’re going to be out before you know it!”

  “Help me!”

  “Just hang tight. We’re here, and we aren’t going anywhere.”

  “Who’s up there?” Tinsley called, her voice sounding so small.

  “Me,” Ari called. “And Ayla and my dad. Everyone else is coming. We’ve all been looking!”

  Ayla knelt. “The police are coming, too!”

  “Are they after the lady in red?”

  The three of them exchanged confused glances. But before any of them could say a word, footsteps thundered not far away.

  Alex made eye contact with each of them. “Stay right here, and don’t fall down there.”

  Ari started to say something, but he bolted out into the clearing. “Over here!”

  The group of uniformed men and women raced into the trees.

  Nick ran over to Alex, his eyes wild. “She’s really down a ravine?”

  “Yeah, she—”

  “Is she okay?”

  “It sounds like it. She’s been talking to us.”

  Nick glanced over to the trees. “Can you do me a huge favor?”

  “Anything.”

  “Run back to the house and grab some blankets. Maybe a coat. She’s got to be freezing. Oh, and check on G. She’s giving a statement.”

  Alex nodded. “I’m on it. But first, I need to get Ari and Ayla. Can’t have them getting in the way of the rescue.”

  “Thanks, Alex.” Nick’s eyes expressed deep gratitude.

  “That’s what friends are for. Just glad I could help.” He ran back into the trees, told the girls to follow him, and led them back to the house. He waved them inside.

  In the living room, Sergeant Wu from the department sat on the couch with Hanna and Genevieve, taking notes as she spoke.

  She jumped up and raced over to Alex. “You found her? She’s okay?”

  Alex caught his breath. “She’s in a ravine, but she was talking to us. They’re getting her out now. Nick sent me to bring back some blankets for her.”

  “There are some in the hall closet.” She gestured toward the hallway.

  Alex nodded and raced over, quickly finding them and filling his arms. As he headed for the door, the kids jumped up. He held up a hand. “Wait here. We know where Tinsley is, and the professionals are getting her out. She’ll be back here soon enough.”

  They spoke over each other in protest.

  “He’s right,” Wu said. “We need to get statements from you.” He waved over Sanchez and Fischer. “I need you to get those for me.”

  “Thanks, Wu.” Alex hurried outside and sprinted through the woods. Halfway there, his phone rang, but he couldn’t get to it while carrying the blankets. He’d forgotten to grab a coat, but the covers were enough to warm an army.

  Alex gasped for air and worried that he’d gone the wrong way when he didn’t reach the group after what felt like ten minutes. Had he taken a wrong turn somewhere?

  Then he remembered Tinsley saying something about a lady in red. He should’ve mentioned that to Wu back at the house, but he wasn’t about to turn around. Tinsley would surely explain what she meant once she was safely with her family.

  Alex was about to turn around and try a different path when shouts sounded up ahead. He actually was going in the right direction. It just felt longer than it should have. He turned to the left and came to the group.

  Everything was chaos, but then he saw Nick with his arms around Tinsley. She was covered in mud, had blood on her face, and her hair was sticking out, but she was alive. And clinging to Nick for dear life.

  Alex raced over and wrapped the first blanket around both of them.

  “Thank you.” Nick slunk out of it and wrapped Tinsley. Alex handed him the rest of them, and he bundled her up. Some EMTs Alex hadn’t noticed came over to the found girl.

  Alex stepped aside, relief and exhaustion flooding him.

  Chapter 7

  Ariana rolled over and rubbed her eyes. She jolted, not knowing where she was. Sitting up, she gasped for air and looked around. Tinsley, Ayla, and Hanna slept on the other couches in the living room. Then everything from the night before came flooding back.

  The room was bright, indicating it was pretty late in the morning. Ari took her bag from the floor then dug through it until she found her phone. It was just after ten, so not that late. She stretched and rubbed a scratch on her cheek. Must’ve gotten that while running through the woods to find Tinsley.

  Her chest tightened. Despite what everyone said, it was her fault. She should’ve woken and stopped Tinsley from leaving. Should’ve heard something. Instead, she slept through the whole thing.

  All of it could’ve been avoided if she’d have been a better babysitter. Nick and Genevieve had trusted her, and she’d let them down. Not only had she needed to wake everyone in the middle of the night—included Dad halfway across town—but the police and medics had to come in, too.

  And it all could’ve been avoided if she had done her job. Ariana was the responsible one. Everybody trusted her, including her parents after she’d given them every reason not to. Not long ago, she’d been really horrible to her dad when she had been hiding her relationship with Damon.

  Her heart sped up at the thought of him. What would he think of this whole mess? Would he agree with what everyone else had said about it not being her fault? Or would he agree with her, that she could’ve prevented the whole thing?

  Ari sighed and glanced over at Tinsley, sleeping soundly, soft snores escaping her slightly parted lips. Her cheeks, forehead, and arm were covered in bruises and gashes.

  And it was Ari’s fault, despite what anyone else said. She was the one who had been watching the girls. She’d let everyone down. Tears stung the corners of her eyes.

  Footsteps sounded in the hall.

  Ariana turned in the direction and blinked quickly.

  Genevieve stood there in a fluffy bathrobe and with a towel wrapped around her head. She smiled. “Up already?”

  Ari shrugged, couldn’t make eye contact.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah.” She picked at a nail.

  Genevieve sat next to her, bringing a whiff of a sweet floral scent. “You sure?”

  “Yep.” Ariana focused on her nail, though nothing was wrong with it.

  “I get the feeling something’s bothering you. Do you want to talk about it?”

  Ari’s heart thundered. She hesitated, then looked into Genevieve’s gray eyes. “I’m sorry about Tinsley.”

  “Do you still feel responsible?” Genevieve frowned.

  “It is my fault.”

  “No, it really isn’t.” Genevieve put her hand on Ari’s. “Tinsley knew not to go off on her own. I drilled that into her mind all day before you arrived.”

  “Still, I should’ve been able to do something.”

  “While you were sleeping?”

  Ariana took a deep breath. “You and Nick trusted me, but I let you down.”

  “Same thing could’ve happened if either one of us had been out there. Tinsley woke and left. Trust me, she’s as quiet as a mouse when she wants to be. And last night, she wanted to find out who that lady was.”

  “The lady in red.”

  Genevieve nodded.

 
; “Did anyone find her last night?”

  “No, but one of the officers found some imprints of heeled pumps. We know the woman wears a size eight.”

  “So, maybe she’ll get caught?”

  “It isn’t much to go on, but if we can tie her to any other crimes, it’s at least something.” Genevieve squeezed Ariana’s hand. “I’m going to make some breakfast after I dry my hair. Want to help?”

  “With your hair?”

  “Breakfast.”

  Ari’s face flamed. “Right. I knew that. Yeah, sure. If you want my help.”

  Genevieve smiled. “I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t. Give me a few minutes.” She rose, checked on Tinsley, then plodded back down the hall.

  Ari tiptoed over to Tinsley and studied her wounds, guilt still stinging. “I’m sorry.”

  The girl didn’t stir.

  Ariana grabbed her bag then lugged it to the bathroom. Her hair was messy, sticking out in all directions. There was even a twig stuck behind her right ear. She pulled it out and studied her reflection. The reflection of a girl nobody should ever trust with their children.

  Sighing, she pulled her hair back into a scrunchie and washed her face. After that, she changed out of her pajamas into the clothes she’d packed, which had managed to get completely wrinkled along the way. She put on a little makeup so she wouldn’t look like a total freak.

  By the time she got to the kitchen, Genevieve already had out eggs, bacon, and other breakfast foods. She flashed Ariana a bright smile. “Still want to help?”

  “Sure. What do you want me to do?”

  “Would you prefer making omelets or pancakes?”

  Ariana glanced at some chocolate chips in the cupboard. “Can I put chocolate in the pancakes?”

  “You can put in anything you’d like.” Genevieve pulled down a handful of bags, all with different flavored chips.

  “Really?”

  “Have at it. The kids will love you for it.”

  Ari hesitated, then she grabbed some white chocolate and began mixing the ingredients at the island, giving Genevieve room on the stove. They kept the conversation light, and Genevieve didn’t give any indication of being upset with Ariana. She almost seemed like she was trying to prove she didn’t hold the previous night against her.