Found and Destroyed: The Second Sarah Martin Mystery

by Danelle Helget

  “Hey, it’s me,” I said trying not to slur. The seriousness of the situation and the cold night air was helping with the effects of the alcohol. “I got a facebook message from Cory,” I told him.

  “What? What’d it say?” His voice had become more alert and the TV noise in the background disappeared. I told him word for word what it said.

  “Do you think I should respond?” I asked.

  “Ummmm, not yet. Let me think,” he said with a sigh. “Geez, this guy is dumb. Why would he post his whereabouts to a stranger on Facebook when he knows damn well that the police are looking for him? I want to get the MPD involved and ready for a sting since we know he’s going to be at his brother’s. Crap! It’s like midnight! By the time we get there it’s going to be after 2:00 a.m. He’ll probably be asleep. And I don’t trust the MPD. They’ve screwed this case up from the beginning.”

  “I could respond and say that I’m in for the night, but that I could come tomorrow,” I suggested.

  “Yeah, you could. Why don’t you do that and see what he says. I don’t want to frustrate him or lose him, but if we can find out when he’ll be home that’d be huge. Where are you? I think I should come and pick you up and stick with you for the night. Maybe we can head up there now and be on our way if he says it has to happen tonight,” he was in detective mode again.

  “I’m still at Flash, but that’s fine—you can come pick me up. I’ll have to stop at home and pick up some clothes,” I said thinking about Faith’s appointment in the morning. “Do you want me to respond now or wait for you to get here?”

  “Go ahead and respond. Let me know if he gets back to you before I get there,” Derek requested and then disconnected.

  Logged back into Facebook and responded: “Hey! That’s great news! But I’m down and out for the night. Can I catch ya tomorrow? When’s good for you?”

  I went back into the club. I noticed that Tannya was still dancing with Greg. They looked like they were having fun, but neither knew how to dance. It was entertaining. They did actually look cute together despite the age difference. I swung by the bar and ordered two large waters. When they came I slammed one and left the glass on the bar. The other I took with me over to the high-top table where Kat and Blake were still talking.

  “I just got a call. I have to leave. It’s kind of a family emergency, but not really an emergency. I don’t want you guys to worry but I have to go out of town for a day or two to help clear something up. So I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to cut out early tonight.”

  Just then Tannya swaggered up to the table.

  “Hey, yah!” she said, and set her drink down on the table.

  She reached back to feel for the bar stool behind her. As she touched it she moved to sit, but misjudged the height of the chair and completely missed. She ended up on her ass on the floor! It was a hard thump. Kat and Blake immediately started laughing. I gasped and asked if she was okay, trying not to laugh myself. She jumped up as fast as she could and said, “Yes,” and looked toward Greg’s directon across the room. He hadn’t noticed. She was red-faced and relieved.

  “Yes, yes I’m fine,” she said. “What the heck is my problem today anyhow? Must be these stupid boots. I bet the heel is loose on one of them! Dang boots!” she said.

  “Tannya, I was just telling these two that I have to go out of town for a minor family emergency. It’s nothing to worry about, but I have to leave soon. My ride’ll be here in a little bit.”

  My phone beeped. The text was Derek saying he was going to jump in the shower first and pack then he’d come get me. I responded okay.

  “What’s going on?” Kat demanded.

  All three of them were staring at me. Knowing them like I did, I knew that I was not getting out of there without an explanation. So, I spent the next ten minutes telling them everything about Derek’s sister and Cory, all the way up to the message I’d just sent to him.

  “You’d better be careful,” Kat said. “Meth heads may be stupid when they’re high, but they’re just as crazy in between hits, especially if they need money. Don’t mess around with him.”

  “Cory and his brother both sound scary,” Blake said. “I wouldn’t get involved.”

  “I’ll be careful, plus Derek has my back,” I said.

  “Who’s Derek?” Blake asked.

  “He’s the detective in charge of the case. I’m helping him out, as a friend.”

  “Ha!” Kat said. “Is that what we’re calling him now?” she smiled and took a drink.

  I ignored her and turned to Tannya. “Do you have to leave right away tomorrow?”

  “No. I don’t have to work until Monday morning. Why?” she asked.

  “I was hoping you’d still stay overnight at my apartment and bring Faith in for her appointment tomorrow,” I said hopefully.

  “Oh, sure! No problem. I can stay with her as long as you like. And if she needs to come back with me on Monday that’s fine too. Whatever you need. It’s no big thing,” she quickly replied.

  “Thank you so much. That means the world to me. And, Kat, if you need to stay at my place tonight you can too.”

  “Okay, we’ll see how the night goes,” she said with a wink.

  I looked down at my phone again. There was a new Facebook message from Cory: Tomorrow, 7:00 p.m. At my brother’s. You know where he lives apparently. I know things too … I know I like that shirt on you. The color is great!

  What the fuck?! My eyes about popped out of my head. Is he here? Oh, my god! My heart was pumping blood so fast that I could hear my heart beat in my ears. I tried not to over react. He’s bluffing. He’s playing with me. I don’t know what to do. Why is he doing this? Is he mad that I found his brother? Does he seriously know what I look like? My mind was spinning a hundred and thirty-five miles an hour. Did he follow me? Does he know I’m with Derek? That I’m helping Derek? What the hell does he want? No. No. He’s just playing with me. What if he’s not? What if he knows what I look like and that I made a fake Facebook page. I couldn’t stop my mind from racing!

  “Hey who’s the message from?” Blake asked with wrinkled eyebrows.

  “Um, no one. I … ah … I … I got to take this. Excuse me for a second,” I said to everyone at the table.

  I walked around the corner of the bathroom wall to block out the noise to try to figure out what I should do. I couldn’t decide if I should respond or call Derek or ignore it. My eyes darted around the filled room, unsure if I’d even recognize him. I knew his size and shape but never really got a good look at his face. He could have dyed and cut his hair too. Shit! I was scared. As I was rereading the message Blake walked up to me.

  “Hey, so you’re leaving us for the night?” he asked with a smile, leaning his arm on the wall.

  “Um, yeah,” I said, trying to regain my composure and act normal. “You’ll be in good hands though. You guys’ll have a blast and close the place down I’m sure.”

  “Yeah, well I’d prefer to close the place down with you,” he said.

  Then he took my face in his hands and kissed me. It was a firm, passionate kiss. It put me into shock. I didn’t see it coming. My eyes were wide open and I was stiff, but it felt really good. And dang-it he smelled good. I had to admit I liked it. I relaxed after a moment and kissed him back. A few moments later he pulled back.

  “I want you to stay here with me,” he said. “I don’t want you to spend any more time with that Derek guy.”

  I closed my mouth when I realized it was still hanging open and swallowed hard. “Umm, I, I, I …” Holy crap. I’m never drinking again! What is going on? Hot cop is on his way, hot investment man is kissing me and crazy meth head is stocking me.

  “I can’t do this,” I finally managed. “I’m seeing someone … I think. And I … I got a lot going on right now.”

  I stumbled over my words while staring at his soft lips.

  “I’m sorry. That wasn’t fair of me to do that. I shouldn’t have done it. I’m sorry. I just
wanted you to know how I feel,” he said apologetically. “It’s the drinks. I guess they made me braver than I normally am. I really don’t want you to leave. I hate when you have to leave. But that was really unfair. I’m sorry.”

  He was rambling and embarrassed.

  “It’s okay. I like you too … It’s just that I …”

  “You got a lot going on right now. I heard,” Blake said with a wink. “Forget it. I’m sorry. I was in the wrong, please forgive me … and excuse me,” he said and gently rubbed past me to the men’s room.

  I stood there for a moment in shock before finally replying to Cory: What? What shirt? You’re funny! See you tomorrow at 7pm.

  As I walked back to the table I took a few deep breaths. Kat and Tannya were still standing there talking.

  “Hey, girl! Where did you and Blake disappear to?” Tannya asked.

  “Nowhere, I was taking a call and he went to the bathroom.”

  “And you smeared your lipstick how?” Kat slyly asked. I instinctively wiped my lip. And Kat burst out laughing. “Seriously! How do you do it? You got Blake and Derek and there was a guy at the bar asking about you too. I have been all over Blake tonight and he can’t look past you for a second.”

  “I’m not interested in a relationship with him. You go for it, Kat!” I told her.

  Blake walked back up to the table and smiled at everyone. “I got the next round,” he announced and walked away.

  “None for me!” I said to his back.

  We all stood there watching the dancers on the dance floor until Blake returned with bottled beer for everyone and another water for me. Tannya and Kat walked off arm in arm to the dance floor. After they were out of ear shot Blake slid over next to me, touching his shoulder to mine.

  “Again, I’m sorry. I was way out of line. I shouldn’t have done that, I hope it doesn’t ruin our friendship or our business relationship. I feel awful. I just … I just couldn’t help myself anymore. I know now it was too soon,” he said.

  I could tell he felt awful, his eyes and face were so hurt.

  I smiled gently, “It’s o …”

  “Sorry for what?” came a voice from behind.

  I turned around to see a straight-faced Derek.

  “Geez, Derek! You scared me!” I said taking a deep breath. “Hiiiii!” I said with a forced smile. “Derek, this is Blake O’Connor. Blake this is Derek Richards.” I wondered how much of the conversation he had heard. “Blake’s my financial adviser.”

  They shook hands. From the look of it, Derek’s grip was nice and firm. Neither said anything but both nodded.

  “You ready to go?” Derek asked, as he kissed me on the cheek.

  I was sure it was more for Blake than for me.

  “Actually, I need to talk to you about something. Blake will you excuse us?” I said taking Derek’s arm and walking toward the bathroom with him in tow.

  I paged to the text and handed him my phone. He read it and looked at me shocked.

  “Is there anything else besides these three texts?” he demanded.

  “No, and I scanned the room a little, but I don’t know if I could pick him out of a line up? Do you think he’s here?” I asked. “Do you think he knows who I am?”

  “I don’t know, but I want you to go back over to your table and stay close to your friends. But not too close,” he said in a mean tone. “I’m going to go talk to security, and take a look around. Stay here.”

  “Okay,” I said and walked back to the table where Blake was still standing.

  “Hope I didn’t get you into trouble,” he said.

  “Oh, please. Derek’s a really nice guy. He’s just got a lot of work stress right now,” I told him.

  I watched as Derek went over to a bouncer at the back door and started talking to him. I saw him flash his badge from his hip and the bouncer straightened up and listened intently. I glanced back when I heard Tannya laugh from the dance floor. Greg, it seemed, was off his stool and back out there dancing and Kat was talking with a young guy.

  I told Blake I’d be right back and went to the bathroom. There were two very drunk girls wobbling around by the mirror trying to touch up their makeup. I went into a stall and sat down. It took a while. I’d drunk a lot of water. It seemed to be working too. My buzz was wearing off. I heard the door open and close, and the girls giggled and walked out. All was quiet. I pulled up my jeans, fastened my belt, then took my phone from my purse and stuffed it into my pocket to make sure that if it rang or buzzed I’d feel it. I flushed, threw my purse over my shoulder, and exited the stall as the entire room went dark. I’d heard the switch flick, so I knew someone did it. I froze. Shit!

  “Hello! Turn the light back on. Someone’s in here!” I called out.

  Nothing.

  I quickly felt around in the dark for the stall door. At least I could lock myself back inside there. I pushed the door open, stepped in fast and pushed the door shut. But something blocked it. I pushed harder but it wouldn’t close. I was struggling. Someone was trying to open it as I was trying to shut it. I could smell whoever the person was. They stank like they needed a shower. This isn’t good!

  “HELP! HEEEEELP!” I screamed, hoping someone would hear me.

  I knew that was almost impossible because the walls were vibrating from the music in the other room. No one would hear me.

  Chapter Fourteen

  If I can just reach my phone! With one hand on the door and my shoulder pushed up against it, I grabbed it out. It lit up. I managed to hit a button or two, but I was being banged around so bad that I couldn’t make out anything on the screen. And I couldn’t hold still enough to touch the right buttons.

  “Help me!” I screamed again, out of sheer terror.

  What if it’s Cory? What if he’s high? He’s crazy! He shot his girlfriend. He won’t think twice about shooting me. I pushed as hard as I could on the door, and it finally shut. I quickly felt around for the lock and turned it. It seemed too easy, like the person gave up and let me shut the door. I heard shuffling outside the door.

  “What do you want?” I asked with a shaky voice.

  No response.

  My heart was knocking hard on my ribs. I tried to take a deep breath and slow it. I listened at the door. I put my ear right against it and tried to breathe quietly so I could hear. It was quiet, but I sensed a presence. I turned to my phone again and it lit up. When I pressed the green phone button it beeped. BANG! The door burst open, hitting me in the head.

  It was dark. Really dark. I’d always hated and been afraid of the dark! It took me a second to realize that my eyes were open. It was so dark. It was noisy and bumpy. That’s when I figured out that I was no longer in the bathroom of the Flash, but in the trunk of a car. I did my best not to panic. I wanted to scream and kick, but I knew it would only waste energy. I tried to feel around for an emergency pull to open the door, but from the sound of the motor, and the smell of the interior, I knew it was an older vehicle and probably didn’t have one. I felt around to see if there was anything else in the trunk with me—another body, a tire iron, my phone. I couldn’t find anything.

  I wondered how long I’d been out, and if anyone had seen me carried out of the club or knew what trunk I was in. I started crying. It felt hopeless, and by the speed of the car I didn’t think the driver was trying to outrun anyone, which probably meant that no one was following him. It was cold in the trunk. What if it’s Cory? What if we’re going back to his brother’s? That was more than a three-hour drive. I was terrified. Who will take care of Faith? She needs me. She needs to go to the vet in the morning! Will Tannya remember that?

  I cried some more, this time more for Faith and less for me. She wouldn’t understand where I’d gone. She’d always wonder what had happened to me. My parents don’t like pets. Will they send her to the pound? Oh, God, I have to survive this! This isn’t fair! I’m tired of people trying to ruin my life! I was pissed. I promised myself that whoever took me would be sorry when they open
ed that trunk. They got the wrong girl on the wrong day! You don’t mess with Sara Martin. Not after the shit she’s been through.

  I prayed hard. It had been a couple of busy weeks and I hadn’t been to church, but I was pretty sure God would understand. I asked him for safety and protection from the evil people who had me, and I asked him for someone to find me. Where’s Derek? Does he know I’m missing yet? Is this a blue Chevy Chevette I’m in? God help me!

  The ride seemed to last forever. The adrenaline had taken over the alcohol, so I least I could function and think straight. I was moving emotionally from scared, to pissed, to scared, and was trying to decide if I should jump out of the trunk and make a run for it, or if I should stay calm and try to escape later, when I knew where I was and which way I should run.

  Ahhh! It was hard to know. I just knew that my mom always said, “If someone ever tries to take you, scratch and bite and scream and yell for help. Try with everything you have to get away, because if you don’t get away fast you may never get away.” Yup, I’m gonna make a run for it as soon as I have the chance! That’s better than spending any time with Cory and his creepy brother. If both of them were on meth, they could be capable of doing anything to me. I was afraid of what they might be planning to do with me and didn’t want to hang around to find out.

  The car was slowing. We made a turn, and then it got really bumpy. Gravel road. I was trying to think of where there was a gravel road anywhere. The problem was I didn’t know how long we’d been driving. I was unconscious for part of the trip. I had no way to know our speed either. Gravel isn’t good. It’s far away from main roads and the city. There were three more turns, and then the car shut off.

  I could hear voices, at least two. I heard two of the car doors slam shut. Crap. Two against one. This is no good. My heart rate was up again in anticipation of the trunk opening. I tried to maneuver my body to get ready for a quick escape. I heard mumbling but couldn’t make out what they were saying. I knew it was two men for sure though.

  I heard a key go into the trunk lock. CLINK! The latch released and up went the lid. I looked up to two men. One was Cory’s slimy brother Kyle, and the other had to be Cory. Same size and shape, and he hadn’t cut or dyed his hair. He looked just like he did in the gas station video, but this time I could see his face. He was nice looking, unlike his brother. His eyebrows were nicely shaped and his skin was clear and clean shaven. He was dressed nicely, too. He must have cleaned up to get into the club. Kyle on the other hand was not. He looked as gross as he did last time, and I could smell him from where I lay in the trunk. It was the same smell from the bathroom.