Running on Envy

by Felicity Nisbet

  She was right about that. Still, I asked, “What about boys?”

  “Boys who are jealous of me?”

  “Or angry at you because perhaps you rejected them?”

  “Not likely.”

  Considering how beautiful the girl was, I was more inclined to believe her mother on this one, at least about her being popular with the boys. But we were talking about teenage boys. What did they know? Josh was apparently wiser than most his age. He was definitely enamored with the girl.

  “Do you have a boyfriend?” This time the question came from Charlie.

  I watched both her and Josh’s reaction to the question. Josh was on alert, sitting up taller as if that would improve his hearing. Jillian squirmed in her chair, clearly uncomfortable with the focus of attention on her. Understandable. With a mother so exquisite and apparently needy, she was probably not used to receiving the attention.

  “No, not really. I’ve gone out but usually it’s just with a group of kids, you know?” She glanced at her mother, a hint of pink creeping up her cheeks.

  “Well, if any of you can think of anyone who might be jealous or revengeful toward you, please let me know immediately.” Charlie looked over at me, his expression as solemn as Jillian’s had been a moment ago.

  Once we were all seated, MacGregor told them what he had discovered. “I did manage to inspect the footprints of the kidnapper.”

  “The ones the police found?” Carter asked.

  “Aye. I’m sure they’re the same.”

  “The police let you do that?” Josh asked.

  “Not exactly. I went in through Sharkey’s.”

  “Eddie’s?” Shelby asked.

  “Yes. He’s a good friend.”

  “But isn’t he away on his honeymoon?”

  “His daughter Maureen is staying there.”

  “Oh, of course, I’d forgotten.”

  “How did you know they were the kidnapper’s footprints?” Josh asked. I almost expected him to pull out his notebook and take notes.

  “I can’t be certain, but I’m relatively sure. They were along the water’s edge and no one else has been there but Maureen. They weren’t hers. Also, they came from the neighbor’s property on the south side and continued to the neighbor’s on the north side, the one between your home and Sharkey’s. And they were very fresh.”

  “Did they tell you anything?” Carter asked.

  “Aye, they were definitely running shoes, and judging from the tread, the kind that a serious runner would wear,” MacGregor answered.

  “Which confirms your suspicion that he’s an athlete at the college.” There was hope in Carter’s eyes.

  “We can’t be certain he’s from the college, but we know he’s an athlete, most likely a serious runner which would place him on the track team.”

  Finally there was a flicker of hope in Shelby’s eyes, and I noticed Carter’s breathing become steadier.

  “I have some contacts at the college,” MacGregor continued. “I’ll call them in a minute to see if there are any events or practices we can attend. Hopefully they’re still holding practices this week.”

  “You don’t just question everyone on the team?” Carter asked.

  “Since Malcolm identified the sweatshirt, it’s a lead the police are following up on. We’ll leave the interrogations to them,” Charlie said. “We’ll take a more subtle approach.”

  “We tend to learn more that way,” I added. Mingling. Very useful technique. Perhaps too useful, I thought, remembering the time I had learned more than I wanted to know. I glanced across the room at MacGregor and smiled to myself. Maybe not. Maybe I had learned exactly what I had wanted to know. Otherwise I would very possibly still be with my ex-husband, and I would still naively believe that MacGregor and I were merely former student and professor and good friends.

  Carter’s sigh was in harmony with his wife’s. His arm went across her shoulder and he squeezed her ever so gently. A kind man, I decided. Loving, kind, and gentle. Why did his stepdaughter not feel comfortable with him? My mind shifted to Holly. Would things change between her and MacGregor once he took the role of stepfather?

  “We’ll be sure to find a way to observe the track team.” Charlie glanced across the room at Josh. “Possibly plant Josh in the midst of the team. How’s your running, laddie?”

  Josh smiled. “Not bad.”

  “Good, you may be needed on this one.”

  I did not bring up the fact that timing was not on our side. It was likely that some of these students might have already left town for Thanksgiving vacation. But a college student kidnapping a baby? Why? Money was the only thing that made sense. Still, something didn’t feel right here. Actually nothing did.

  “Jenny and I realized something else,” MacGregor continued relaying his information. “We think there’s a good possibility the kidnapper had intended to run directly out to the street and to his car. We don’t think he planned to run through the properties near the park.”

  “What makes you think that?” Carter asked.

  “He didn’t start running until Jenny and I were outside and running toward him. We were closer to the street than he was. He may have had youth and speed on his side, but he was carrying Ally. If he’d headed directly for the street, there’s a good chance I would have caught him. He wasn’t going to risk that so he took off in the other direction. That way he had a good head start.”

  “What does that tell us?” Carter asked.

  “That he did not intend to take a risk by running through your property and that he only went that far because he was certain he could gain access to the street through your property.”

  “Which means he knows our property,” Carter finished his thought for him.

  “Aye, and that he’s familiar with your yard and the gates.”

  Shelby was shivering now and leaning closer to her husband. Charlie automatically fetched a lap blanket from the hall closet and took it to her. “So, it wasn’t random.” Her voice was scarcely audible as if she was realizing the extent of this invasion into her life, her world, her family. I cringed at the thought of her seeing her home for the first time after the police invasion.

  “Apparently they knew you and where you lived. I don’t believe it was random.” I didn’t usually speak with such certainty to a client, but this time I felt it was important to do exactly that.

  While MacGregor excused himself and went into Charlie’s office to make some calls, Charlie and I reviewed the list of names with Carter. Although I did not believe the kidnapper was on the list, we both jotted down a few notes on each person. Nothing stood out as suspicious about any of them. I had an odd feeling that the Elliots were not exaggerating when they claimed they couldn’t think of anyone who was jealous or envious of them.

  “We’re in luck.” MacGregor returned to the room, an optimistic tone in his voice. “I spoke with the athletic director of the college. There’s a college fair tomorrow. Informational tents and displays will be set up for their current students as well as prospective students to learn about their programs. Each athletic team will have one set up. While the other departments will have displays of their programs such as art displays and mini performances from their dance and theater programs, all the athletic teams will do a series of brief demonstrations. It’s possible that the kidnapper will attend, but even if he doesn’t, it will give us a chance to meet some of the team members. We can take Josh along as a prospective student. Are you up for that, laddie?”

  “Definitely.”

  “And the athletic director will ask the coach to let you work out with the team for a wee while. Fortunately they’re still in session through Wednesday so you’ll be able to attend Monday and Wednesday practices.”

  “What do you want me to do?”

  “Listen,” Charlie said. “Ask normal questions that any kid would ask who’s interested in attending their college, such as their competition history.”

  “And how cute the girls are,
” I added.

  “Aye, that too. Questions a lad your age is likely to ask. And then just listen. Learn as much about the team members as you can, their personalities, moods, that sort of thing.”

  “I can do that.” He glanced over at Jillian, but she was too distracted to notice, her attention fixed on Shelby. Definitely caretaker to her mother. Cool to her stepfather. I hoped that Maureen was correct and that Jillian and her father were close and that he could give her the comfort she needed.

  It must have been those thoughts and our conversation with Maureen that inspired my next question. But how did I ask it without upsetting Jillian? I had to get her out of the room. The easiest way to do that was Josh. I picked up the tray of food that was sitting mostly untouched on the living room coffee table, knowing full well that Josh would leap to my assistance. As soon as we were in the kitchen, I whispered, “I need you to get Jillian out of here. I have to ask about her father and I don’t want her to be upset by my questions.”

  Josh cringed. Too much to ask of him? Then he smiled. “I could offer to show her my room?”

  “Uh, maybe ask her to take Rocky for a walk with you. That might be better.”

  “Good idea. She really seems to like him.”

  Who could blame her?

  The only thing we had not taken into consideration was her reluctance to leave her mother’s side. “It would be good for you to get a little fresh air,” I coaxed on the tail of Josh’s invitation.

  Shelby too rose to the occasion. “Go ahead, honey. I’ll be fine here.”

  Josh held out Rocky’s leash, and Jillian followed my dog to the front door.

  Once they were out of the house, Charlie said, “Is there something on your mind, Jenny?”

  “I’m afraid so. I have to ask you something, and I thought it would be best if Jillian wasn’t here when I asked it.”

  “What is it?” Shelby clutched Carter’s hand so tightly that I thought his circulation might be cut off, but he did not seem to notice.

  “Where is your ex-husband?”

  “My ex-hus—? He lives here in West Seattle,” Shelby said. “Why—? You don’t think he—? No! That’s not possible! He’d never— Besides which, he’s in Spokane.”

  “It’s okay, darling. Jenny’s just doing her job.” Obviously it was more comfortable for him when the questioning related to his wife’s ex-husband rather than to her.

  “I’m sorry. I just thought I should ask.”

  Shelby shook her head. “I know. I understand. You have to, but I know Greg would never do anything to hurt us, any of us.”

  “If you’re sure.”

  She glanced up at Carter before answering. “We are.”

  “Thank you for making certain Jillian wasn’t here when you asked about her father. She’s very close to him and it would upset her to know you’re suspicious of him,” Carter said.

  “Of course.”

  “But just as the police are interrogating you, they’ll be certain to interrogate your ex-husband,” Charlie told her. “Speak of the devil.” He walked over to open the door at the sound of knocking.

  I was relieved to see Rochelle and Jack. Jack’s sandy blond hair was damp from the drizzle that had just started, and Rochelle’s black hair was even blacker. The pair made good partners. They got along well, with no romantic attraction between them. Best of all, they were both loyal to Charlie.

  “Have you found anything?” Shelby blurted out. “Anything that would help us find Ally?”

  “I’m afraid not. There’s not a single surveillance camera in the neighborhood.”

  I noticed Charlie and MacGregor exchange regretful glances for having dismantled Sharkey’s.

  “You can go home now, Mr. and Mrs. Elliot. Nothing was found at your house,” Rochelle said.

  “We could have told you that,” Carter grumbled. I didn’t blame him. “So, what now?”

  “We’re still scouring the neighborhood, talking to all the neighbors within a mile range to see if they saw anything. All the people who were in the park have been interviewed and released, but we have their names if we need to follow up. None of them fit Malcolm’s description of the kidnapper though so no one is being further detained.”

  “What about the track team at the college?” Carter asked.

  “We’re interrogating all the athletic teams,” Jack assured him. “We’ve already begun.”

  That was good as was the fact that they would be checking into all sports. While they were doing that, we would focus on the track team.

  “Have you thought of anyone who might want to harm you?” Rochelle asked gently.

  Charlie scooped up the list of names on the coffee table and handed it to her. “Carter can give you all their phone numbers so you can follow up on them.”

  “All these people would want to hurt you?”

  “No,” Charlie responded. “They can’t think of anyone who would be out for revenge. This is a list of everyone who’s been on their property during the past year.”

  “That’s not what Blaine asked for,” Jack said.

  “It’s what we asked for. Whoever did this knew their property and knew it well. You can interview each and every one of the people on this list.”

  “School assignment, Charlie?” Jack’s smile was indulgent.

  “Exam is on Monday.”

  Jack folded the piece of paper and stuck it in his pocket and turned back to Carter. “If you could get me the phone numbers, we’ll get started right away. But before we can do that, Detective Blaine would like you to return to the house for more questioning. Did you call an attorney?”

  “We don’t have one.”

  “We can give you some names,” I volunteered. That was something I had a lot of, considering that my ex-husband was an attorney.

  Carter shook his head. “It won’t be necessary. We have nothing to hide.”

  “I should warn you, while we did our best to keep your home intact, it is in a state of disarray.” Rochelle flinched as she delivered this news.

  “We expected that.”

  “And they’ve taken your computers,” Jack added.

  The look on Carter’s face indicated that this was something else he had expected.

  “And one more thing,” Rochelle said. “The press is out in full force.”

  Carter stood up and walked over to the window. “Shit.”

  “Would Blaine be willing to do his questioning here?” Charlie asked. “That way the Elliots can stay here until it gets dark. Not that the reporters won’t hang around after that.”

  “I already asked. He said no. But the reporters have no idea you’re over here. They’re assuming you’re in your own house which is why they’re hovering around the front steps.”

  “So, what do we do?” Shelby asked, using the arm of the couch to push herself up.

  Carter rushed to help her.

  “Assuming they don’t know what you look like,” I said, “Maybe you could get home through the back.”

  “How can we do that?” Carter asked.

  “You could cross the street to Sharkey’s and go through his property and come around the back to yours.”

  “Good idea,” Carter said.

  “I’ll call Maureen.” MacGregor pressed her number into his cell.

  “They didn’t see you come over here?” Shelby asked Rochelle and Jack.

  “All of the cops have been going door to door, speaking to neighbors so they probably think that’s what we’re doing.”

  When MacGregor hung up his cell, we all turned our attention to him. “She’ll unlock the door. You can just go in so it will look as if it’s your home. It’s good timing because Josh and Jillian and Rocky are over there. Apparently the reporters saw them out walking and started asking them if they’d seen anything. I’m afraid it upset Jillian so Josh told them they hadn’t seen anything and rushed her over to Sharkey’s.”

  “Why didn’t they come here?” Carter asked.

  “Shar
key’s was closer. He just wanted to get her out of the line of fire.”

  Shelby took a couple deep breaths. “He seems like a thoughtful boy.”

  “He is,” I assured her.

  “Hopefully they’ll . . . become friends,” Shelby said.

  “I’m sure they will.”

  “Jack and I should probably leave first,” Rochelle said. “Then you can wait for a couple minutes before heading across the street.”

  “Are you able to walk with just one person’s help?” Charlie asked. “I’m afraid if there are too many of us, the reporters will know something’s up.”

  Shelby put her weight on her twisted ankle and nodded. “I’ll manage fine.” It was my first glimpse of a stronger Shelby.

  “I think it would be best if Malcolm escorts you across the street. If they have pulled up any pictures of you, and they see you and Carter together, they’ll be certain to recognize you. I’ll accompany Carter a few minutes later,” Charlie offered.

  I stared at my father. There was another reason for this. He knew the reporters would be pestering them and that it was better if he and MacGregor fielded any questions.

  After a promise to keep us updated and to follow up with the list Charlie had given them, Rochelle and Jack left.

  “Why did you give them the list of names?” Carter asked.

  “Because our time is better spent doing other things.”

  “And you don’t think anyone on that list is involved?” Carter was more perceptive than I’d realized.

  “Aye, that too.”

  Carter nodded in acceptance. “Then if it’s not someone we know well enough to have been in our home, who would have done this?”

  Charlie looked to me for an answer. Thanks a lot. I shook my head. “Hopefully we’ll know more once we’ve had a chance to attend that college fair tomorrow.”

  “But we don’t know any college students at this particular school. Unless as the police believe, it was random.” He closed his eyes tightly against the strain of the day and rubbed his forehead. I didn’t need MacGregor’s fancy time-lapse camera to tell me that Carter Elliot had aged unnaturally in one day. “Or someone put him up to it.”