by CJ Lyons
"Maybe it's not about money."
Lucy thought about that. "Maybe. Lord knows, Harding has plenty of enemies."
"Can't attack him publicly. Not with such a sympathetic wife. He's practically tripled his business playing off her tragedy." Something about that nagged at Jenna, but the road took a sharp curve and she had to focus on keeping the Taurus from skidding.
She concentrated on driving for a while before broaching the topic she knew Lucy didn't want to discuss. "Even with this, you can't rule out Caine."
Lucy fiddled with the heat vent. "You think a fourteen year old kid with a fourth grade education and no resources is playing Pied Piper with the children of New Hope? Why?"
"Maybe it is about the money. A million dollars is not a huge ransom demand for a man like Harding, but it's an impressive number to a kid. Or maybe he's angry he grew up without a mom and the rest of these kids had one."
"Wait until you meet Karen Harding, you'll re-think that theory." Lucy shifted in her seat, one knuckle rapping against the window in a senseless rhythm. It was barely noon, but felt like the sun had already abandoned them for the day. "Did they make an ID on the girl with Adam at the sheriff's station?"
"The one he took hostage after killing Bob?" Lucy might insist on living in a fantasyland where Adam Caine could do no wrong, but Jenna sure as hell didn't have to join her there. "No. None of the deputies knew her and they said no one at the school recognized her."
"She looked twelve or so. Definitely school age."
"Maybe she's not from around here."
"Then where'd she come from? Appearing at just the right time in just the right place?" Lucy made a small noise of disbelief. "I don't like it."
"You don't have to like it. It just is. We have it on film, Lucy. Adam Caine is responsible for killing Bob. That's all there is to it."
Gravel sputtered as they turned onto the drive leading up the mountain to Harding's house. The sheriff pulled up the curved area looping around the main entrance. There was a black Escalade parked beneath large steel beams jutting out from the bedrock. Jenna pulled in behind the sheriff. The front door was up several dozen wide flagstone steps, shoveled and salted but still icy.
The steel front door was coated in rust too picturesque to be natural. They rang a doorbell. Zeller waited a short minute before nodding to his deputy who banged on the door with the side of his fist.
The door swung open. Harding scowled at them, then swung his head to shout over his shoulder, "See what you did?"
Olivia scurried from the rear of the house, grabbed Lucy's arm, and pulled her inside. "I don't care what you say. He's my brother and I'll do whatever it takes to save him."
"We don't want or need your help," Harding told Zeller. "And certainly not yours," he added to Lucy.
Too late. Zeller and his deputy were already inside, Jenna on their heels. Harding rolled his eyes and closed the door behind them. He stalked into the kitchen without checking to see if they followed. "I have no idea what she told you—"
"How about that you destroyed evidence in a kidnapping?" Lucy said as they arrived in the kitchen to find the windows clean and a bucket on the deck.
Harding didn't even bother with a glance at the window. He leaned forward, the huge granite topped island between them like an executive's desk, and said, "My wife's in a fragile state. No way in hell I'd let her see that."
"Yeah, right. Ask him about the ransom note. Ask him why he didn't call you, Sheriff. Why I had to."
"Go up and check on your mother." His tone was a threat even without the glare he sent Olivia.
"No. I want to know what you're doing to get Darrin back."
Harding bunched his fists on the countertop. "I'm not discussing important business with a child present. Go. Check on your mother."
"Why is it I'm adult enough to take care of every single person in this house when you're not here, which is like, always, but I'm not adult enough to help get my brother back?"
The tension between father and daughter wasn't helping anyone. Jenna wondered who'd back down first. But then both Zeller and Lucy stepped into the fray. Zeller stood beside Harding and Lucy touched Olivia's elbow and led her into the hall. A moment later footsteps echoed up the stairs and Lucy returned holding a sheet of paper by the corner.
"I doubt we'll get any evidence from it," she said as she laid it on the counter where they could all read it.
One million, small bills, unmarked.
Macy's shopping bag, red ribbon, under Christmas tree, atrium Logan Valley Mall before 1pm today.
No excuses unless you want the next note sent with one of his ears.
"Week after Thanksgiving, that mall is going to be crowded with shoppers," Zeller said.
"Stupid girl. I told her to leave it to me."
"Sounds like she thought you weren't planning to pay," Lucy said.
"Of course I'm not planning to pay. I'm not going to reward a criminal for targeting my family. It would only make them think we're weak." His gaze drifted up in the direction of his wife's room. "But it doesn't mean I'm not going to try to catch these bastards. Get Darrin back."
"Then why didn't you call me?"
"Because, Sheriff, we both know ninety percent of your job is writing tickets and doing foreclosures. I'm not about to entrust the safety of a member of my family to you. I called the Lieutenant Governor and he's arranging for an elite team from the State Police to set up surveillance and manage the ransom drop."
"So you're going through with it?" Lucy asked.
"Of course. Not with my money, though. The State Police are providing fake currency that's specially marked." Harding sneered at Lucy and Zeller, making Jenna glad she'd stayed in the background. "I'm not an idiot." His tone implied they were. "I apologize for my daughter getting you out here. I'm sure you have better things to do with your time."
Zeller ignored him and turned to Lucy. "What should we do about the search? If this is for real, we don't want them stumbling across armed kidnappers holed up somewhere."
"What if it's a hoax? Or a con job? Can we risk losing the time?"
Jenna dared a question. "When did the note arrive?"
"Olivia found it when she got up this morning. Around seven. The ketchup was still wet, dripping."
Lucy glanced at Jenna. "No way it could have been Adam. He was on foot headed in the opposite direction."
"And controlling a hostage. That would have slowed him down even more," Zeller added. "I'm canceling the civilians from the search. We'll keep the local law enforcement agencies on the manhunt for Caine and the boys while the Staties take care of the ransom." He frowned, his eyelids drooping. Jenna had the feeling Harding was right. This was more than a small town sheriff could handle.
"The note says nothing about Marty Brady," Lucy said. "Are you going to tell his mother? There are two missing kids, not just one."
"Actually three, if you count the girl," the sheriff muttered.
"Still no ID on her?"
Zeller shook his head.
Jenna walked away. Let them work things out. She was just along for the ride at this point—no weapon, restricted duty, didn't know the terrain. Useless.
She stared out at the gray on gray vista unfolding below the glass walls of the living room. The ceiling was a good twenty feet high, so the sky loomed overhead. Thick gray clouds pressed down on the house, crushing the tiny humans inside. She'd never felt like less of a hero than she did standing there, useless, tracking snow over immaculate hardwood floors.
This trip was supposed to be her stepping-stone to bigger and better things. Instead she felt small and vulnerable, like a kid up too late walking in on their mom and dad having sex and seeing too much of a world they weren't ready for.
Something the sheriff said about kids… Two kids missing. But there were really three. No, four.
She grabbed her phone and called O'Hara. "The little girl, the one from the trailer?"
"Sally?"
"Ye
ah, Sally. Where is she?"
He was silent for a moment. "Not really our problem. I suspect social services or the family knows. Probably with a neighbor or one of Rachel's friends. Her grandparents are still here, hold on and I'll ask them."
Jenna pressed her palm against the cold glass. Holding on.
O'Hara came back on the line a few minutes later, sounding breathless. "They have no idea. Social services is still canvassing the trailer park, but as far as they can tell, no one's seen Sally since Thursday night. Roy said she was gone when they woke up on Friday."
"That's when the thief took his stuff, right?"
"And his truck."
"Do me a favor. Put out a BOLO on that truck and Sally."
"Jenna, if you're right…" He hesitated. "I'd better talk to the sheriff. I'm not sure how much more we can stretch the manpower we have. And the media, they'll just cause panic."
None of that was Jenna's problem. But at least she wasn't useless. Because she finally figured out what had been bothering her all morning. What were the odds that two missing kids from the same small town were fathered by the man who killed Adam Caine's mother?
Chapter 29
"You asked Mr. Harding for a ransom, didn't you?" Adam asked as they drove up to the old fire tower on top of Warrior Mountain, right above the Harding house. It was one of Dad's favorite places. From up here he could watch the entire valley, including the traffic on the main roads in and out.
They went as far as they could on the unplowed road, then Dad turned the van around and parked. He didn't bother to answer Adam's question. Instead, he and Morgan opened their doors and hopped out simultaneously, like a pair of synchronized swimmers. All they needed to do was look at each other and they knew what the other was thinking. It'd never been that way with Adam and Dad. But it had between Dad and Mom.
Had Dad already forgotten her? Forgotten his family? He sure wasn't acting like he cared.
They opened the rear doors to the van. Morgan grabbed a pair of binoculars from a shelf while Dad lifted two campstools from behind the seat. Adam hopped out. This high on the mountain there was nothing to cut the wind. If you stood on your tiptoes you could rake your fingers through the clouds.
At least that's what he thought when he was a kid. Now all he could think about was if the kids were warm enough in the cave and what if they spilled their water or one of them was allergic to Dinty Moore or they burned themselves on the heater or…
"I'll never give them to you. Never." Adam hadn't realized he said it out loud until Morgan snickered. He stood apart from her and Dad, could have run, had his feet turned pointing down the mountain like he was going to, but felt like he needed to make that clear first. It was important Dad understood.
Dad finished setting up the stools. Then he turned and looked at Adam. Adam swallowed hard, wishing he'd run while he had the chance. Usually when Dad did the stare and glare, Adam always broke first, filling the silence with an apology or promise to do better next time. Not this time. This time he stood, hands jammed in his coat pockets, and met Dad's gaze.
Finally, Dad said, "That's fine. I don't need them. All I need is that they're someplace where no one can find them."
"I don't understand. How can you hold them for ransom if—"
"You always were slow on the uptake, weren't you, son?"
Disappointment flooded Adam. That he dared to believe. That he ever believed. "You're not giving them back. You just want the money."
"Since I quit driving, we've been a little short on cash."
"But you always said family is everything."
"Yeah, so?"
Adam brightened. "So you're going to let me go, take care of them? Like they're my own family?"
Morgan skipped through the snow between the two of them, breaking the invisible strands of tension. "No, you idiot. You're not going anywhere. And neither are those kids. Wherever you left them, that's where they're going to die."
Adam's vision blurred and his face went cold as if all his blood slipped out of his body, swallowed by the snow. He glanced down, half expecting to see the snow colored red, but no, still white. Pure and sparkling with crystals on top. He remembered the way Sally laughed and played in it last night.
"No. You can't. They're family." Adam stared at Morgan. He'd never hit a girl, but the way her eyes flashed with merriment, as if this was a game…
"Children, children." Dad's voice held a rumble of amusement. "Morgan stop teasing your big brother. Adam, of course you need to take care of the little ones. There's just one thing I need you to help me with first."
"What's that?"
"Lucy Guardino. You and Morgan are going to bring Lucy to me. It's past time she paid for what she did to your mother."
<><><>
Zeller's phone rang and he turned away to take the call. Harding took the opportunity to approach Lucy. "I understand you spoke with my wife last night."
"Yes." Lucy waited. To her surprise, his expression softened.
"Thank you. She seemed—better. More than she has in a long time. Despite," he gestured at the ransom note now encased in an evidence bag on the counter between them, "everything."
"She's a strong woman. She just needs reminding of that."
He bristled at her words. She understood. She was the stranger here. They'd save the boys or not. Either way, she got to go home to her family.
"I have to go. Meet with the State Police." Harding grabbed his car keys.
"The elite ransom drop team."
"Yeah. But," his gaze lifted towards the second floor, "I don't want to leave her alone. Not with a stranger. Could you stay? Just until we know."
Lucy was surprised to find herself nodding. Somehow she felt like she owed it to Karen. She wasn't sure why. There was no way she could have prevented what the woman suffered through seven years ago. But the way things spiraled out of control every time she visited New Hope, she couldn't help but feel responsible somehow. "Of course. I'll stay."
"Thank you." Harding's business-like demeanor returned. "Well, I'd better get going." He headed down the basement steps and closed the door behind him.
The sheriff hung up. "We've another kid missing. This one's only four and she's been gone since yesterday morning."
"Who?" Lucy asked.
"Rachel Strohmeyer's little girl. Sally."
Rachel? Lucy's stomach turned inside out. "She wasn't in the trailer?"
Zeller shook his head. "And they've checked every neighbor. She vanished. Just like the others." His deputy grabbed the evidence bag with the ransom note and headed out. Zeller hesitated. "Lucy, I think you're right. There's something more going on here. Too many things pulling us in too many directions for it to make sense. If you have any answers, now's the time to share them."
Lucy wished she had an answer. Or even a concrete direction to head in.
"Okay." He sighed, his shoulders heaving as he put his hat on and opened the door. "I'd best be going. You okay staying here?"
"Yeah. Someone should."
With Harding and the sheriff gone, the house echoed with quiet. Lucy wandered through the downstairs until she found Jenna in a study beside the dining room. She was buried in her laptop, reading something, forehead wrinkled.
"Did you know we have another missing kid?" Lucy asked.
"Sally. I know. Did you know she's also the New Hope Killer's child? Just like Darrin. It can't be a coincidence. I'm watching the security footage of Bob's killing, trying to see if there's something we can use to identify this other girl. She's got to be the key."
"Any luck?"
"No. I sent it to Taylor in Pittsburgh in the hopes his techy friends could work some magic. But I haven't heard back from them yet."
"Weird we haven't had a missing person report on her. She's young enough someone should have missed her by now."
Jenna looked up from the computer. "Unless her mom isn't in a position to report her missing." She paused. "I know you won't like this, but what if
the New Hope Killer isn't dead? At least, not his partner. What if he took this girl's mom?"
"I thought you thought Adam Caine was behind all this? There's no way he can be the killer. He was an infant when the oldest case we found happened."
"Maybe he's working with—no, that doesn't make any sense," Jenna interrupted herself. She did that a lot, Lucy noticed. "He'd never partner with the man who killed his mom. Or got his mom killed. Whatever." She blew out her breath in frustration. "I don't know. It doesn't make sense. But it's too much coincidence not to be tied to what happened here four years ago."
"Keep working it. I'm going to check on Karen."
The way Jenna immediately focused on the computer once more, Lucy had the feeling she thought Lucy had the more difficult task. In a way she did. Waiting was always the hardest part.
Karen wore gray today. The color didn't suit her. Made her look more washed out than the white had. She practically blended into the mist shrouding the windows of her bedroom. Lucy wondered if she'd left the room since yesterday.
"Have you eaten? Can I get you anything?"
Karen shook her head. "Olivia made me eat some eggs a little while ago. I think they were eggs. I didn't really taste them, just spooned them in until the bowl was empty and she was happy."
"You need to take care of yourself."
"I need to take care of my daughter." She inhaled slowly, her body expanding then emptying once again. "Better than I did my son."
Past tense. Never a good sign. "You can't give up hope."
"Hope?" Her voice broke on the syllable as if the word was foreign.
"Yes. Hope." Lucy sat down across from Karen, their knees almost touching. "What you endured, what you survived—that takes a rare kind of strength. But I think you've forgotten that. You've forgotten you have that in you. You need to find it again, Karen. For the sake of both your children."
Karen shook her head at Lucy's words, forbidding them, casting them away. "I'm not like you. I can't just grit my way through the fear. It's like suffocating. The only way to get any air is to surrender to it. Then you find just enough to survive. But that's not enough to share."