Second Chances

by Phelps, K. L.

  She reached behind Jason and grabbed two baseball caps from the floor of the backseat. She popped one on her head and the other on Jason's.

  "I don't have a clue what traffic cameras can pick up, but maybe the hats can help a bit."

  She started the car and pulled out of the parking lot. Jason noted that she was driving a little slower, more controlled.

  "What's the plan?"

  She looked over at him.

  "You don't remember any of the plan, do you?"

  He sighed and shook his head.

  "I'm sorry, Julie. My mind is so muddled. I think I can remember bits and pieces, but I can't be certain. That injection you gave me yesterday," he said putting his head in his hands.

  "I'm sorry, Jason, I didn't see that I had any other choice."

  "I know. You did the right thing. It's helping. I am so much better. Everything is so much clearer, but still..."

  Julie couldn't tell if he actually meant it or if he was just trying to make her feel better.

  "So the plan?"

  "Well for the moment, it is just to get away from here. I've got plenty of cash, including what you had before...before agreeing to Cameron's demands. The new identities cost a fortune, but I have been assured they will hold up to decent scrutiny. We'll have to practice our backstories later, but unless we get out of here there won't be a later."

  "Are you sure about Paige?"

  "Jason, I know what she means to you and if there was anything I could do, you know I would. But like I said, I wouldn't even know how to find her. If you think of something, anything, I'd be willing to consider it. For now we need to get out of here."

  He nodded.

  She knew from the expression on his face that he wasn't happy and that his mind was focused on Paige.

  CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE

  Linda looked at Cameron. His face was a mask of rage.

  "They are gone. I saw the way they went, but that was over five minutes ago. What took you so long?"

  He did not answer her question only looked at her and said, "Your phone, I need it."

  She dug in her purse and he snapped it from her hands as soon as she brought it out. He cursed when the password screen came up and glared at her.

  "Nineteen-nineteen," she said, her voice trembling. She had never seen him so angry. She shifted back in her seat a little, moving away from him and towards the door. He noticed and waved his hand as if to say everything was fine, but she wasn't sure she believed him.

  "Whatcha need Linda," came Jimmy's voice over the phone.

  "It's Cameron."

  "Hey boss, I was just about to..."

  "Listen up, I'll be using Linda's phone from here on out. I had to smash mine."

  "What? Why?"

  "Julie snatched Jason and that stupid bitch I had watching over at Ocean View shot a woman there and then called my phone to tell me. I wasn't sure if it could be tracked so..."

  "Hell no. Don't you remember I have almost a hundred percent of your calls rerouted through more lines than you can shake a stick at. Even with someone competent working on it, it would take them hours. All you needed to do was tell me and I would have rerouted that line to a meat packing plant in upstate New York."

  "I wasn't taking any chances. This entire thing is so fucked. Absolutely nothing is going my way."

  "Not true. I was just going to call you."

  "What have you got?"

  "His phone went active a few minutes ago."

  Linda noticed Cameron's body relax immediately.

  "Tell me it is still on and you can track him."

  "It is and I can. I also intercepted his call and listened in."

  "Jimmy, you are amazing. What's the story?"

  "He called some old lady in Michigan looking for some dude named Daniel Perry. Turns out the guy lives close by and according to the signal I am getting off King's phone they are on their way to see him. I'll text you the address."

  "I could kiss you, Jimmy."

  Linda frowned and shook her head.

  "Just doing my job. Anything else you need boss?"

  "Yeah, make sure any connections between us and that idiot at Ocean View disappear. I have no doubt she will try and turn on us. I don't want there to be a damn thing that makes the police even suspect that she may be telling the truth."

  "If it's digital, then I can erase it. I can't do anything about physical records. Are there any?"

  Cameron fell silent for a minute. He tapped the phone against his chin while he thought. "I don't think so. Nothing that would be attached to me anyway. Besides, none of that was in anyones real name anyway."

  "Then consider any digital fingerprints wiped."

  "I do need something else," Cameron said.

  "Name it."

  "I need you to see what you can do about tracking Julie."

  "I'll get right on it."

  "Get back to me when you have something."

  Cameron ended the call. He closed his eyes and let out a loud sigh. He could feel some of the stress draining away. He took comfort in knowing that Jimmy was confident that Doris' call could not be traced back to him and in the fact that they now had a way of tracking Paige. He opened his eyes and looked over at Linda, who was eyeing him timidly. He gave her his best reassuring smile.

  "Thank you," he said as he offered her the phone.

  "I...I think you should hold on to it. Jimmy is going to be calling you back."

  "Yes, of course. I am sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you, Linda."

  She seemed to relax a bit at the sound of her name.

  He reached over and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. He could feel she was still quite tense.

  "You've been a tremendous help, Linda. I hope you know that. And I hope you know just how much I appreciate that. This entire situation has been very stressful and I will not forget what you've done or the loyalty you've shown me."

  She shook her head as if to say it was nothing, but he reached out, gently touching her face and turned her head until she was looking at him.

  "I mean it, Linda. I value your loyalty."

  She blushed. She opened her mouth to respond, but her throat went dry and she couldn't make a sound. Her body was tingling all over at his touch. She told herself she was being completely foolish, that she was misinterpreting is words and actions again, but still she hoped.

  He let go of her and leaned back in his seat and sighed once more.

  "I think I am going to need a vacation when this is over," he said with a quiet laugh. "Perhaps I should join you in Hawaii."

  Linda's face flushed and her entire body tingled again at his words.

  "Well I guess I can think on that later. For now we need to get back on Paige's trail. Let's go see what we can find out from this Daniel Perry person."

  Paige, Nathan, Julie, Jason, and now this Daniel person. There were way too many loose threads for Cameron's tastes. They needed to start cutting some of them away. In the next seat over, Linda didn't give a thought to any of those people, she was too busy daydreaming of Cameron and her on the beach in Hawaii.

  CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR

  "Daddy what was that noise?" A girl came around the corner. She couldn't have been more than eight or nine. She looked very much like her sister, who was still giggling in her father's arms.

  "Daddy went boom," the little girl laughed.

  "I'm okay, Paige," the man said looking back at the approaching girl.

  Paige and Nathan looked at each other.

  "What happened?"

  "Nothing, sweetheart. I just lost my balance. C...can you take your sister and go play upstairs for a little bit, while I talk to these nice people." He let go of the younger girl, who hopped up and down, looking at Nathan and Paige. She waved and they waved back.

  "Hi. I'm Jenny. I'm three," she said while holding up four fingers.

  Nathan bent down. "Wow, three. You are so big. That is a very pretty dress, Jenny."

  "It was Paige's, but she
's so big she can't wear it no more. That's what mommy says anyway."

  "Well I think it looks wonderful on you."

  The little girl practically beamed.

  "Jenny, go with your sister please."

  Jenny looked at her father on the floor behind her then back at Nathan and Paige. She waved again and then jumped over her father's leg and hopped over to her sister, who took her by the hand. The older girl looked at them, but said nothing, only pulled her sister along after her.

  When they had gone, Nathan straightened up and offered a hand to Daniel. The man took it, but his eyes never left Paige.

  "Mr. Perry," Nathan began, but Daniel waved a hand at him, silencing him.

  He walked up to Paige until they were face to face.

  "My God. You look just like her. H..how..."

  Nathan reached out and grabbed the man as his legs began to buckle again.

  "It's not possible," Daniel said, turning to Nathan for confirmation. "It is just not possible."

  The sound of Jenny's laughter could be heard from above.

  "Maybe we better step outside to discuss this," Nathan said. Without waiting to see if he agreed, he pulled Daniel along with him until they were outside. He helped him into one of the chairs on the porch, the man's eyes never left her. Paige wouldn't meet his gaze.

  "It can't be."

  "Mr. Perry." Nathan said, then stopped. He leaned back against the porch railing. "I honestly have no clue where to start. You obviously know Paige."

  For the first time, Daniel turned his gaze to Nathan.

  "I knew Paige. There is no way in hell that she is Paige. That is simply impossible."

  "Why?" Paige asked.

  He turned back to Paige, tears running down his face.

  "Because I buried her. I don't know what kind of sick joke this is, but..."

  "This is no joke Mr. Perry," Nathan said.

  "No? No? It's been what, sixteen plus years? There is no way, she is Paige."

  "I know it doesn't make any sense, but..."

  Daniel launched himself up from the chair, grabbed Nathan by the front of the shirt and shoved him back into the porch railing, nearly lifting him off his feet.

  "Make any sense? What the hell is wrong with you? Why would you do this? Why would anyone do this to someone?" He shoved a little further, Nathan teetered on the porch railing.

  "Daniel no," Paige said, placing a hand on his shoulder.

  He shook her hand off and released Nathan, who crashed down on the porch.

  "Don't touch me. Don't you touch me."

  "Please, Daniel. I am just looking for some answers."

  The man looked from Paige to Nathan, his eyes wild and red with tears.

  "Why are you doing this to me?"

  "Mr. Perry, we aren't trying to do anything to you, honest. My name is Nathan King and that is P..."

  "No. She is not Paige, she can't be Paige Kendall."

  "I know that seems unlikely and if you'd listen..."

  "Unlikely? Unlikely? No, it's flat out impossible. She can not be Paige Kendall. I was with her day and night until she died. I don't know why you would or what you think you can get out of me by doing this."

  "Wait, Mr. Perry you don't understand this is Paige's sister," Nathan said, deciding to try anything to calm the man down.

  "Bullshit. Paige was an only child. Her father always regretted that."

  "You knew my father?"

  "Would you stop that, I don't believe you. I don't know who the hell your father is, but I knew Paige's father."

  "You knew Paige's father?"

  "Of course, he was almost my father-in-law. Man you two didn't do your homework. I don't know what the heck you expect to get out of this, but whatever con you are running I am not buying it."

  "We aren't running any con, Daniel."

  "Stop talking to me as if you know me."

  Paige realized that he was using the same words she had said to Nathan only a couple of days ago.

  "But I do. I remember our time together at school." Her voice had taken on a surprisingly excited tone.

  "Oh you do? Yeah that's a good one. You do realize I haven't been in school for nearly two decades. You on the other hand..."

  "I can't explain that."

  Nathan watched on, he wanted to help, but had no clue just what he could do or say.

  Paige was quiet, her lower lip trembling slightly and she had a far away look in her eyes. "I remember," she whispered and then a sad smile formed on his lips. "I do...my God, I really do remember."

  "Paige?" Nathan asked.

  "You were my first real boyfriend, Daniel."

  He shook his head, dismissing her.

  "Do you remember the week I told my dad I was going to Florida for spring break and instead we went to that little bed and breakfast in Vermont. That...that was my first time."

  He looked at her, his face a mask of confusion.

  "How...how do you know about that? Only three people knew about that. Paige, me and Lindsey."

  "Who is Lindsey?"

  "Paige's best friend at college."

  "My best friend was named Linda."

  The anger seemed to drain out of Daniel. He sat back down in the chair, his eyes tracing every inch of Paige's face.

  "You look so much like her."

  "She is her," Nathan said.

  "No, that is not possible."

  "Believe me I know exactly how you feel."

  "No, you can't. I was with Paige until she died. I was with her day and night. It was agony watching both her and her father."

  "What happened?" she begged.

  He stared at Paige.

  "You aren't going to let this go, are you?"

  She knelt down next to his chair.

  "Please, Daniel. I know you don't know what is going on and the truth is I don't either. Please tell me what happened to your Paige."

  He looked away from her for a minute and then put his head in his hands.

  "It was my fault."

  "What was?"

  "The fire."

  CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE

  "Yeah, it's spiraling out of control. He is so frazzled he smashed his own phone," Jimmy reported.

  A chuckle echoed through the phone, but there was very little humor in the laugh.

  "I can understand that. I am looking at a report of a shooting at Ocean View."

  "Yeah, I think that might have been what pushed him over the edge."

  "So Dr. Merrick actually did spring Jason?"

  "So it would seem," Jimmy said.

  "How wonderful. I'm impressed. What is he doing now?"

  "He's still following Paige."

  "He's actually going to just let Merrick and Kendall go?"

  "He's asked me to try and track them. Which is why I called you."

  "Can you do it?"

  "Honestly, I'm not sure."

  "Now Jimmy you aren't just trying to be modest..."

  "No, seriously. Camera coverage here isn't like it is in a big city and I have to say it looks like Dr. Merrick is more than just book smart."

  "What do you mean?"

  "I have a fix on her car, of course, but it hasn't moved."

  "Abandoned?"

  "That would be my guess. However, with assistance options being as limited as they are, that is only a guess. I've pinged all the trackers that he's placed on her and other than the car, they are all still at her home or her office."

  Another chuckle sounded through the phone.

  "So like I said, I don't know if I can find them, never mind track them. Given the restrictions, I can't use the main computer systems and have to just piggyback on other outside systems, which likely means if I do manage to get some hits, they won't be real-time."

  "Do you think that these two incidents are connected?"

  Jimmy frowned. He wasn't used to being asked his opinion on these types of matters. He was the tech support, field analysis wasn't his specialty. He thought about it for a mom
ent.

  "It seems awful strange for it to be a coincidence and yet I don't think they are connected. Not directly anyway."

  "And you said he still has you tracking Paige?"

  "Of course. You want me to tell him I lost them? Maybe say the connection went dead again?"

  The phone was silent for a moment.

  "No. I don't think so. However, before you share any further information with him, try and run it by me first. I'll decide exactly what he needs to know. Also if anything unusual pops up on any of the police bands, notify me immediately. I already have a clean up team on continuous standby at the naval base for when things get really out of control."

  The line went dead and Jimmy shivered.

  CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX

  "The f..fire?" Paige's voice trembled and she stumbled backwards. Nathan quickly went to her side, but she waved him off and sat down on the porch.

  Daniel nodded. "I always forgot to turn off that damn coffee maker. Paige was the one who always turned it off behind me. She joked that one day I'd burn the house down. I had gotten up early, a couple of us heading to Boston for the day, over to Fenway for the Sox-Yankees game. She slept late. By the time the...by the time the fire alarm woke her, it was everywhere."

  Paige covered her mouth with both hands.

  "They got her out of the house, but the burns and smoke inhalation..." He shook his head before continuing. "Her father was an incredible doctor and he did everything he could, but it was beyond him. He called in favors from specialists, but even they couldn't help. She was put in a burn ward, but it was too late. Infection ran through her. The pain was so intense that they had to induce a coma. When they decided there was nothing more they could do, they let us hold her left hand. It was one of the few parts not covered with burns. Even though they had sedated her, I swear she knew we were there. I swear she would cry when I held her hand, it was her only way to say goodbye."

  Tears were rolling freely down Paige's face, her hands trembling in her lap. Nathan was wiping at his own. He heard the pain in the man's voice and understood it all too well.

  "So you see, there is no way you can convince me that you are Paige. I don't know what kind of sick bastards you are or what kind of game you are playing, but.."