The First Ladies Club Box Set

by J B Hawker

  “What did you find?” Scott asked.

  “Oh, nothing important, I’m sure. Just a plain gray button.”

  “Let me see that,” Scott took the button. “You’re right, there’s no way to say where this came from… although Naidenne’s favorite slacks are gray. Maybe she was here.”

  He paused, and then went on, as though to himself, “She always had, I mean, has a hard time finding slacks long enough for her legs and said those were just perfect.”

  Scott stuffed the find into his pocket, refusing to dwell on the obvious conclusion that the button hadn’t just fallen off. The fabric attached to it spoke of being removed by force.

  The broken back door was boarded up now, so when they completed their amateur version of a grid search on the yard and grounds, they returned to the front door.

  Scott opened the lockbox and removed the door key. He paused before inserting it into the lock and turned to Bunny.

  “Am I being foolish? How can I expect to find anything, if the professionals couldn’t?”

  “Those professionals didn’t have your motivation, remember. You have every reason to think you might see something of significance to only you and Naidenne. But you won’t find it out here on the doorstep. Come on, let’s go inside,” Bunny urged.

  “We made a pretty good detective team a few years ago when we stumbled into that gang of sex traffickers, didn’t we? Maybe between the two of us, we’ll solve this mystery, too,” Scott said, opening the door and letting Bunny enter.

  Rather than going straight to what Bunny thought of as the “blood room,” Scott wanted them to look at each room as if they had no knowledge of what the others had found, so they began in the empty living room, on hands and knees combing the carpet for any small item which might lead to Naidenne.

  “Ouch!”

  “What is it, Bunny?”

  “I ran my finger into the tack strip on the edge of the carpet, sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you…or get your hopes up.”

  “Looks like we’ve hit a wall in here, quite literally. Let’s check out the dining room,” Scott suggested.

  They crawled across the dining room floor without finding anything, before moving on to the kitchen, where there were drawers and cabinets to inspect.

  Other than a couple of broken pencils, a dead cockroach and uncountable mouse droppings, they came up empty-handed. The utility porch was the same, so they headed upstairs to check the bedrooms and closets.

  Scott was purposely avoiding the media room. He wasn’t certain he could hold it together while looking at the blood on the floor, knowing it could have come from his wife. However, when their thorough and fruitless search of the upstairs was completed, they couldn’t put it off any longer.

  Bunny went in first, on tiptoe, as though she thought she might be stepping into pools of blood. Noticing what she was doing, she stopped and looked around, feeling foolish.

  She could see where a section of carpet had been cut out by the crime lab people and where a few faint brownish streaks led up to and away from the missing section.

  “It looks like someone was dragged across here,” Bunny started to say, then seeing the look of dismay on Scott’s face, she hurriedly continued, “I mean, like maybe someone cut their knee or leg and scooted across, like they maybe didn’t notice it was bleeding, or something,” she concluded lamely, looking pained.

  “Sure,” Scott said, keeping his eyes averted from the stains.

  “They lead up to this built-in cabinet,” she said, hoping to divert Scott from her previous blunder.

  He approached the cabinet and began to examine it.

  “That’s odd. There are stains on the cabinet under this shelf, but they stop under the lip of the shelf.”

  “Maybe the shelf was replaced after the stain got there. After all, we don’t know this is the same stain as on the carpet, or even if it is blood.”

  “I suppose you’re right, but it looks strange,” he said, as he ran his hand up the side of the cabinet under the shelf. When his hand bumped the shelf, the board wobbled.

  Scott gave the shelf a tug and it pulled out a bit. He pulled harder and it came away from the cabinet, revealing a square, black hole.

  “What’s that?” Bunny asked.

  Scott stuck his head into the hole and could see a lighter area down at the bottom.

  “Looks like an old laundry chute. Come on, I want to check out the basement.”

  *

  Judy Falls clicked off her phone and placed it carefully on the counter next to a bowl of quinoa she’d been washing.

  She stood quietly thinking, a furrow forming between her eyes.

  The call was from the State Troopers to let her know her car had been found in a ditch, with flat tires and the interior slashed and ruined. Amazingly, Peggy’s precious purse was still on the back seat. Her friend would be pleased about that, but Ken would be furious with her for losing the car, she knew.

  He had been holding off judgment about her negligence, hoping the car would be found, none the worse for wear.

  Now, she would bear the full weight of his displeasure with her for irresponsibly leaving her keys in the ignition.

  Judy had been enjoying their united spirit about the twins’ puppy episode; both parents relieved their daughters’ truancy sprang from such a simple, childish impulse. And they were in one accord on his choice of discipline, too.

  Judy had been feeling like an adult partner for a change, rather than the oldest of Ken’s wayward daughters.

  If only the car had been recovered in good condition…or it might have been even better if it had never been found, at all. In that case, Ken would have gotten over his annoyance by the time they were resigned to its loss. The insurance would cover the down payment on another car, after all.

  To have it found so soon, totally destroyed, meant her carelessness was still fresh in her husband’s mind. He would probably feel the need to discipline her, too.

  Maybe she should arrange to volunteer at the senior residence now and get it over with.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  The knuckles of Naidenne’s left hand were scraped and bloody from clawing at the drywall with the can opener. Her arm was weak, and her legs were trembling.

  She needed to take frequent breaks, leaning against the wall for support. She had managed to scrape away the paper and only about a half inch into the gypsum plaster on a very small section of the wallboard panel.

  Assessing her progress with growing dismay, she thought she heard something from the other side of the wall.

  Was someone in the house? Had her attacker returned? Or could this be her salvation?

  Naidenne stopped scraping and listened intently, straining to hear.

  What should she do if someone was really out there? If it was the repellent monster who kidnapped and assaulted her, she had to keep absolutely quiet, but potential rescuers would never know she was behind the wall if she didn’t cry out.

  She felt ill with indecision, as both fear and hope struggled within her.

  Hearing definite footsteps on the stairs, she held her breath, still unable to risk being found by her assailant.

  *

  “Don’t rush so, Scott. It’s dark on these stairs. You don’t want to break your neck,” Bunny cautioned.

  Trotting to the bottom of the stairs, Scott stood shining his flashlight slowly in all directions, clearly disappointed by the mostly empty space.

  Without speaking, they did their best to conduct a thorough search in the dark basement, but found nothing except bits of construction trash, spider webs, empty cartons and dirt.

  Bunny slapped her hands together, trying to remove the loose grime.

  Crouched behind the wall, Naidenne was startled by this sound, lost her balance and pitched forward, landing on her right hand and crying out in pain.

  “What was that?” Scott asked. “Did you hear that, Bunny?”

  “It sounded like it came from outside, from ov
er there,” she pointed to the false wall.

  Hearing Bunny’s name in the indistinct jumble of words, but not recognizing Scott’s voice, muffled as it was by the wall, Naidenne cried out, “Bunny? Bunny! I’m here! Help!”

  Her weak voice carried thinly through the plasterboard.

  “That’s Naidenne!” Scott cried. “But where is she? Naidenne! Where are you?”

  “Oh, Scott! I’m here. Behind the wall,” she called, scratching on the plaster with her can opener.

  Scott put his ear against the wall, trying to locate the source of the sounds.

  “Say something, darling. We’re going to get you out. I love you!”

  “I love you, Scott. I’m here. Oh, thank you, Jesus. I’m here!” she cried.

  “Her voice is coming from behind this spot,” Bunny said.

  “We’ve got to break through. Naidenne! I’m going to try to kick the wall in. Move back.”

  “Wait!” she called. “Just a minute…okay. I’m out of the way.”

  Scott began kicking at the space between the tapes on the wall board. His first kick hit a support and set his foot and leg tingling.

  He moved his aim down and kicked a four-inch hole through the lower section of wall, and then he dropped to his knees to peer through.

  “Naidenne, are you alright? I don’t see you,” he cried.

  “I’m here, my darling,” Naidenne responded, shuffling into view.

  “Okay, stay back, I’m going to start kicking again,” Scott said with relief and renewed determination.

  By kicking and tearing at the drywall with his hands, he soon had a hole large enough to crawl through to the other side.

  Scott wriggled through, stood up and took his wife into his shaking arms. He and Naidenne held each other tightly, both of them sobbing.

  Bunny peeked through the gap in the wall.

  “I called the Sheriff and an ambulance is on the way,” she said. “I’m going outside to meet them.”

  Getting no reply, she grinned and climbed the stairs, leaving the couple to celebrate their reunion in privacy.

  *

  “But that’s amazing. And wonderful. And just the most marvelous, miraculous news!” Rosamund gabbled, hearing Bunny’s news.

  “You are sure she’s really all right?” she asked again.

  “She seems to be. I don’t know what she’s been through,” Bunny replied while standing in the driveway awaiting the medics. “She’s probably a little the worse for wear, but she was standing and talking. They will check her out at the hospital before she can come home, though. That’s standard procedure, at least on the cop shows. The ambulance and all haven’t arrived, yet, but I didn’t want you to worry a moment longer than necessary.”

  “Bunny, thank you so much for calling. I’m going to start the prayer chain, right now, to let everyone know we can begin praising God for restoring our sister to us,” Rosamund said and hung up.

  Before calling the first person on the church phone chain, she called Len.

  “Hi Rosie,” he responded when his secretary put the call through. “I was just thinking about you. How’s my beautiful bride?”

  “Naidenne is alive! Scott and Bunny found her. Isn’t that wonderful?”

  “Where was she? Is she injured? How did they find her? What happened?” he asked without giving Rosamund a chance to reply.

  “She was at that house where the Presbyterian pastor’s wife had her car stolen. Scott wanted to check out the room with the blood spatters. They found her shut up in the basement. Bunny said she was talking and able to stand, so I’m hoping she’s okay. But, she’s alive, that is the main thing. All our prayers have been answered.”

  “Shut up in the basement? How did they find her, then?”

  “I’m sure Scott will tell us all about it this evening. I’ve got to start the prayer chain, and then I’m going to the hospital to meet them when the ambulance brings her in. Bye!”

  She called the first number on the list, shared the good news, and then dashed out to await Scott and Naidenne’s arrival at the hospital.

  *

  “I just got the call on the prayer chain. Yes, it’s true. Naidenne has been found,” Shirley Griffith said.

  Shirley had phoned Eskaletha to let the First Ladies Club know, right after calling her next number on the chain.

  Eskaletha let out a whoop of celebration before responding to Shirley.

  “Thank you, Jesus! And thank you for calling, Shirley. Do you know where she was found, or any of the details?”

  “I’m afraid not. The prayer chain message was just that our prayers for her safe return had been answered. I’m dying to know all about what happened, too, though. I suppose we just have to be patient. The news should spread pretty quickly, if I know our community.”

  “You’re so right. Well, I’d better do my part to spread the good news. Thanks, again, Shirley, for all your help. It’s been great getting to know you.”

  “Thanks. Same here. Bye,” Shirley said and rang off.

  She called Bunny next.

  Since Bunny had married and moved away, she was no longer on the prayer chain list.

  “Hello?” Bunny answered after only one ring.

  “Hi, it’s Shirley. Have you heard the wonderful news?”

  “If you mean about Naidenne begin found, safe and relatively sound, I sure have. In fact, I was there when she was found,” Bunny said with a satisfied grin which carried plainly through the phone connection.

  “Tell me!”

  “She was being held in the basement of that house where we found the blood and the car thief scared us.”

  “Don’t tell me she was there when we were? Why didn’t she call for help?”

  “I don’t know any of the details about how she got there or what happened before we found her. The EMT’s whisked her away as soon as the ambulance arrived. Scott went with her. I just brought his car to the hospital. I was going inside when you called.”

  “Well, then, get in there and find out everything. And call me tonight, as soon as you can. I’ll wait up.”

  “Sure thing. You know, I haven’t been this happy since before Max died. I just can’t stop smiling. Talk to you later. Bye.”

  *

  In the emergency room, Naidenne was lying on an examination bed with Scott standing at her side. He hadn’t let go of her hand for more than a few moments since finding her.

  The doctor examined her and diagnosed dehydration, exhaustion, exposure, a broken collarbone, a concussion and a badly bruised shoulder, but nothing she wouldn’t recover from, in time.

  The cut on her abdomen was shallow, and while showing some signs of infection, had not required stitches.

  Naidenne was thrilled and thankful to be safe with Scott at her side but wasn’t completely at peace. The doctor hadn’t mentioned how the baby was; not even while checking for evidence of sexual assault, despite Naidenne’s assurance the man had not been able to actually rape her.

  She wanted to ask but did not want Scott to learn their wonderful news this way…if the baby was still all right. If not, then he didn’t need to learn that kind of news under these circumstances, either.

  She’d had it all planned how she would tell him over a special dinner on the evening she was abducted. Her attacker had taken that from her, too.

  They heard a cough on the other side of the privacy curtain before the Portland detective poked his head in.

  “Hello, Mrs. Davidson, I’m Detective Rasmussen. I’d like to ask you a few questions, if you feel up to it.”

  Naidenne began to agree, when Scott interrupted.

  “Do you want to ask her why I kidnapped and brutalized her? Or where she ‘ran away’ to? Or maybe if I’m a serial killer?”

  “Scott, what are you talking about?” Naidenne asked.

  “I’m afraid your husband and I got off on the wrong foot at the beginning of my investigation into your disappearance, Mrs. Davidson. Rev. Davidson, I’m sorry if
my questions offended you. You must understand we have to look at all the angles in a wife’s disappearance.”

  “You had better not treat my wife the way you did me, not if you want our cooperation.”

  “Of course. I will be as gentle as possible. Now, Mrs. Davidson, can you tell me in your own words exactly what happened?”

  *

  Bunny went into the ER to wait until Scott came out, so she could give him his car keys and find out how in the world Naidenne wound up trapped behind a wall in that cellar.

  Rosamund was already in the waiting room, pacing back and forth in front of the doors to the examination rooms.

  “Bunny! Hi. I can’t get any information out of the nurses, except that Naidenne hasn’t been admitted. At least that’s a good sign, don’t you think?”

  “Sure. If she were badly injured, I suppose they would probably want to admit her right away. Why don’t we sit over here while we wait for Scott to let us know what’s going on? All this excitement is making me thirsty. I’m getting a drink from the vending machine. Can I get you something?”

  “No thanks. But we can sit, and you can tell me everything you know. What happened when you got to that house? How did you happen to find her? Was she crying for help?”

  Bunny held up one hand to get Rosamund to pause her questioning and walked over to the machine.

  A cup of hot tea-like beverage in her hand, she sat next to Rosamund.

  “Okay, shoot. But, one question at a time, please,” Bunny said with a smile.

  Taking a calming breath, Rosamund started over, “Start at the beginning and tell me everything you know.”

  “I will, but after that I want to hear all about you and your wedding. Did you and Len actually elope?”

  Chapter Twenty-five

  “Thank you, Mrs. Davidson. You’ve been a big help. In the next couple of days, we will want you to come to the station to sign your statement. At that time, you can take a look at some mug shots. From your description of the man who abducted you, and from fingerprints on those beer bottles we tested, we may know who it is, but we’d like you to confirm.”