by Patricia Fry
When Craig observed the man’s defensive manner, he said, “You son’s not in any trouble, sir. He’s a witness in a sensitive matter involving the Hill child. You can sit down there next to Jason if you want.” Once he was satisfied that Jason’s father had relaxed some, Craig turned to the officers and asked, “May I speak to the mother?”
The officers nodded.
Craig moved a straight-back chair closer to her and spoke quietly, “Mrs. Wray, as you know, Tori was not abducted—she ran away. And she ran away for a reason. Do you know what that might be?”
“No. I can’t imagine,” she said, holding both of her daughters close. She tried to look down into Tori’s face. “She has everything she needs and we shower her with love.”
“But she isn’t safe, Mrs. Wray. She doesn’t feel safe in your home.”
Blanche Wray recoiled. “What are you talking about?” she demanded. She looked from one of her daughters to the other. “What’s this all about?”
“It’s Marvin,” Helen said. She started to cry. “He hurts us, Mom. When you’re not home, he hurts us.”
Blanche looked shocked at first, then she said in a relatively calm voice, “He is a little more strict than I am, I know that. But hurt you?” She shook her head. “No, he wouldn’t hurt you.”
“I suggest you hear your girls out, Mrs. Wray. Please,” Craig said.
“Okay,” she challenged, “what does he supposedly do? What do you mean he hurts you?”
“He burned me with ice when I dropped the jelly jar and jelly splattered on his shoes,” Tori said quietly.
Her mother frowned. “Burned you with ice?”
“Yeah,” Helen said, rubbing one of her arms, “ice can burn real bad when someone holds it on your skin for a long time.”
“He tied my ponytail to the doorknob once and…” Tori began to sob, but she pushed through her anguish. “He kept opening and closing the door, Mom, and dragging me. I kept falling and…”
At that, Blanche began to cry. She put both of her arms around Tori and held her tightly for several moments.
“I saw him tie Tori up once,” Helen said. “He made her stay in the closet until just before you got home from work that day.”
Blanche gulped. “In the closet?”
The ten-year-old continued, her voice cracking, “He tried to make me drink bleach. Remember when there were bleach spots on my new skirt? You punished me after you got home because he lied. He said I was playing around with the bottle of bleach.” She looked up at her mother. “I didn’t do it, Mom. He did it.” She began to sob. “He held me down and acted like he was going to pour it in my mouth.”
“He almost electrocuted us,” Tori said. “He wanted us to know what it felt like to get a shock.” Her eyes wide, she added, “He punishes Rusty, too. Remember when Rusty bit him?”
“I remember, but I didn’t know…”
“It was because he was hurting Rusty with some of his tools.”
Blanche Wray looked up at Craig, glanced at the officers, then studied each of her daughters with tears in her eyes. “I can’t believe this. He loves you girls. He only wants what’s best for you. I’m sure you’re exaggerating.”
“We have a witness,” Craig turned to the boy. “Would you please tell Mrs. Wray what you saw and heard that day when Mr. Wray didn’t know you were there?” Craig glanced at Jason’s father, who sat silently, looking down at his shoes.
“Um…he was mad at Tori because she took a Popsicle without asking and he burned her with a match.” He lowered his head. “I heard her screaming and I looked in there and saw it. He held it on her arm for a long time.”
“My God,” Blanche said. “That awful burn you had last month?”
Tori lowered her head.
“That wasn’t an accident?” she screeched. “He burned you?”
She nodded. “With a match.”
Blanche stood and began to pace. “That dirty…” she snarled.
“So do you want to press charges?” one of the officers asked.
“Absolutely, I want to press charges. I want him out of my home now! I’ll sign a restraining order. And the next time I see that man, it had better be in a courtroom.” She fell to her knees in front of her daughters and sobbed. “I’m so sorry, girls. I had no idea. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“He said he would hurt you if we told,” Tori explained, tears streaming down her face.
“I’m just happy you told me before…” She stroked her younger child’s hair, then took a deep breath and glanced around the room at the others. “Thank you,” she said, “from the bottom of my heart for finding my girl and bringing her home.”
“It was the cat, Momma,” Tori said, sniffling and wiping her face. She pointed, “That cat right there, Rags. He found me.”
Mrs. Wray looked confused. “A cat?”
“Yes. I got to hold his leash. He’s famous, Momma, he’s a movie star!” Tori exclaimed.
When Craig saw Savannah carrying Lily toward the kitchen, he called out, “Hey, I think these girls would like one of your cat books.”
Hearing this, Adam stepped out of Marissa’s bedroom and asked, “Can we come out? I’ll get the books.”
“Okay?” Craig asked the officers.
One of them responded. “Yes. I think we have what we need for now.” He nodded toward the second officer. “Let’s go.”
“These are paw-tographed,” Adam said as he handed each of the girls a copy of Rags’s books.
Both girls stared suspiciously at the books, then at the cat.
“Yeah, Rags put his paw print in there; that’s his paw-tograph,” Adam explained.
Mrs. Wray gazed at the cat, who sat across the room watching the activity. Her eyes then rested on the dog, who lay at Tori’s feet. She the remaining police officer. “Is it safe for us to go home?”
“Let me check,” he said, moving to the other side of the room to make a call. When he returned, he said, “Yes, Mr. Wray is on his way to jail…evidently shouting all the way.”
Blanche reached out and took each of her daughters’ hands. “Let’s go home girls, where it’s safe, shall we?” She looked down at the dog. “Come on, Rusty,” she called. “You, too.”
Chapter 8
“Well, this is the hard part of our visit,” Savannah said as she and the others headed for the Roberts’s front door to leave late that day.
“So you’re all going in different directions, are you?” Roland asked.
“Sure are.” Craig nodded toward Michael and Savannah. “They’re heading to Connecticut, the Sheridans are driving to Baltimore, and we’re meeting Iris’s boys in New York City.”
Iris smiled brightly. “That’ll be quite a treat for them. They’ve never flown before. When they were growing up, a big trip for us was going to the next town for a milk shake.”
“Well good-bye, and thank you for your wonderful hospitality,” Savannah said, hugging Mabel, then Roland. “I had such a good time.”
The others reiterated Savannah’s remarks and added a few of their own.
“We so enjoyed having you,” Mabel said. “You all mean the world to Marissa, you know.”
Craig hugged the child, who stood by quietly, and he choked up a little. “Well, she’s a special kid.” He wiped at his eyes. “One of a kind.”
After hugging each and every one of their guests, including Rags, Marissa stood at the doorway waving. “Bye,” she called. “Come back anytime…and bring Rags!”
Adam watched as the others walked slowly to their cars, then he turned to face Marissa and her grandparents. “I had a great time. Thank you.”
“Me too,” Marissa said.
Mabel leaned over and put both of her hands on Adam’s cheeks. “We’re just so glad you could be with us.” She stood up and pulled Marissa to her. “Good-bye,” she called, waving. She, Marissa, and Roland watched until the two cars were out of sight.
“That was tough,” Savannah said. “I hated saying good-bye to her.”
Michael grimaced. “I know, hon. But isn’t it great to see her happy and healthy?”
“Yes, it certainly is.” After riding in silence for a while, Savannah turned to Gladys. “Well, are you ready for the next leg of our vacation?”
“Sure am,” she said. “How about you? Are you feeling okay?”
Savannah rubbed her bulging stomach. “Pretty good. A little tired now and then, but otherwise, pretty good.”
****
“There they are! There they are!” Adam shouted the next day when they stepped into a cozy lodge and he saw his father’s identical twin brother and his family. “I know it’s them, Dad, ’cause that guy looks just like you. Doesn’t he, Savannah?” “Yes, he does. That’s your Uncle Keith,” she confirmed as the two families approached one another.
Warm hugs were shared all around.
“Holly, it’s so nice to meet you in person,” Savannah said. “Keith didn’t tell me you were tall.”
“Yeah, and blond.” She looked into Savannah’s face. “And you have green eyes. Oh my gosh, we could be sisters, except…”
“Except what?” Keith asked.
“Well, I’m not pregnant this year.”
“You even have on the same shoes.” Adam noticed.
The two women broke out laughing when they realized they were both wearing a very similar style sneaker. “Famous Footwear,” Savannah announced.
“Yup,” Holly said, laughing.
Savannah put an arm across Adam’s shoulders. “Holly, Keith…” she started.
Michael interrupted, “I was just about to do the introductions.”
“Go ahead,” Savannah urged.
“This is my son, Adam.” He tousled the boy’s hair. “He recognized you guys right away.”
Adam smiled. “You’re my dad’s brother,” he said, pointing. “You look just like him.”
“Yes,” Michael said, “Keith is your uncle.” He nodded toward Keith’s wife. “And this is your aunt, Holly.”
“And your cousins, Bethany and Cassie,” Keith said, smiling down at his daughters. “Bethany is three and Cassie’s six.”
“Almost seven, Dad,” the child said.
“Hi,” Adam said, shyly.
“Real nice to meet you, Adam,” Keith greeted. “How old are you?”
“Ten.”
Holly gave him a hug, then reached her hand out to Gladys, who said, “I’m the Grammy. Savannah’s mother, Gladys.”
“Grammy, I like that.” After a warm handshake, Holly invited, “Would you like to see your quarters?”
Before anyone could respond, Cassie asked, “Where’s your cat? Dad said you brought a cat. We have cats, but Dad wouldn’t let us bring them.” She cocked her head. “Why did you bring your cat?”
“Cuz he has some book shows to do and we wanted him to go to the birthday party for my friend in Massachusetts,” Adam explained.
Cassie crinkled her nose. “Your cat goes to birthday parties and shows?”
“Yes,” Adam said. “He’s famous.”
Cassie glanced up at Keith. “My dad said he helped make your cat well. He was stabbed with a knife.”
“That’s right,” Michael said.
“Can I meet him?” Cassie asked.
Bethany moved closer. “Me too.”
Adam looked at the younger girls, then asked, “Can I go get him, Dad?”
“Sure. Here’s the key. We’ll be right behind you to get our stuff.” Michael asked Keith, “How long have you been here?”
“A couple of hours. We landed around noon.”
“How are our accommodations?” Savannah asked.
“Great,” Holly said. “This complex belongs to a friend of Keith’s folks. The condos are roomy and nice. Ours is behind this main building, up on a knoll. It’s a great spot. It has four bedrooms and plenty of space for activities and visiting.”
“Cool,” Savannah said.
It wasn’t long before the Iveys had unloaded their car, checked out their accommodations, and put their luggage away. As they got settled in the living room, Keith said, “Oh, Michael, your rented pen arrived. I set it up in the kitchen. I think Rags will be happy in there.” After thinking about it, he chuckled. “Well, maybe not happy, but he’ll be safe.”
“Wine anyone?” Holly offered from the kitchen. She added, grinning, “Sparkling cider for the kids and those who are carrying kids.”
Once they were seated in the living room with their beverages, Savannah asked, “So what’s on the agenda?”
“How about dinner in the main dining room?” Holly suggested. “We can stock up on groceries tomorrow and do some cooking after that, if we want to.”
“Sounds good,” Savannah agreed. She laughed. “A condo with a lobby and a dining room. That’s a new one on me.” She addressed Keith, “So what do you have planned for tomorrow?” Glancing at Holly, she added, “…besides grocery shopping?”
“I thought Michael might show me around his old neighborhood—you know, where he lived with our parents.”
“I’d love to. I’m not sure there’s much to see, but we can take a drive, anyway.”
“Can I go, Dad?” Adam asked.
Michael thought for a moment. “Yeah, maybe you and Cassie would like to go with us, then the gals can shop with just the two littles.”
“Sure,” Savannah and Holly agreed.
****
“I’m dying to hear about your day,” Holly said to the men the following evening as the two families relaxed in their large living space.
“There’s not much to tell,” Michael said. He looked at Keith before saying, “We did learn a few…ahem…family secrets, or hints about the possibility of family secrets.”
“Yeah,” Keith said, “we actually ran into some people who knew our parents and some of them were pretty forthcoming with information.”
“Like who and what?” Savannah asked.
Michael cleared his throat. “Well, an old neighbor, who I remember having lived there for maybe a hundred years, was so thrilled to see us together that she couldn’t wait to lay some stuff on us. She was pretty close friends with our mother.”
“What stuff?” Holly asked eagerly.
He thinned his lips and spoke more quietly. “She said it wasn’t Mom who wanted to give up one of us, which is what I thought all these years—it was our father. He convinced Mom that they couldn’t afford two kids.”
Keith nodded. “Mrs. Clarkson believes that our mother died young because of the sadness and guilt she carried about that for the rest of her life.”
“Yeah,” Michael said, “and unbeknownst to me, she went to Colorado to try to see Keith. According to Malinda Clarkson, Mom wanted to make sure he was okay. She said Mom seemed better when she returned, but it wasn’t long afterward that she died.”
“Were you aware that she came to Colorado?” Holly asked her husband. “You didn’t see her, did you?”
“No. Not at all.”
“So she didn’t approach you?” Holly asked. “She must have just watched from a distance or maybe she pretended to be a door-to-door saleswoman and came to your house.”
Keith shook his head. “I sure don’t remember anything like that.” He became solemn. “We went to our parents’ grave. That’s the closest I ever remember being to them. That was pretty weird, actually.”
Michael looked at his brother, then told the women, “We’re driving out to our grandfather’s homestead tomorrow. Do you gals want to go?”
“Yeah, where is it?” Savannah asked. “How far away?”
“It’s about a two-hour drive, as I recall.”
“We’ll need to take both cars,” Holly suggested.
Just then Gladys spoke up. “Why don’t I stay back and fix us a nice pot of potato soup or chili beans for supper tomorrow night—something to warm the tummies? I’ll wat
ch over the small children.”
“Oh, no, we don’t want you to…” Holly started.
“I’d like to,” Gladys said. “Honestly, I’ve been on the go for several days and I’d love nothing more than to laze around here and play tea party with the toddlers.”
“Well, if you insist,” Holly said. “Thank you.” She looked at Savannah. “Then we’ll only need to take one car.”
****
“This is the place,” Michael said, driving onto his grandfather’s farm property the next day and parking.
“Looks like someone lives here,” Savannah noticed.
“Yes,” Michael said, “we were told it’s a single gal. Could be a relative, I guess.”
Adam pointed. “Hey, there’s someone over there, Dad.”
“Where?”
“See, by that old garage.”
“Oh, the barn. Yeah, I see her. Keith, shall we go introduce ourselves?” As the two men drew closer to the woman, they could see that she was stout and sturdy with long dark-brown hair pulled back into a low ponytail. She had a friendly face and rosy cheeks, probably from working out in the cold. Michael figured she was in her early forties. “Hi, I…um…we…”
“Our grandfather used to own this farm,” Keith finally said. “We’re in town for a few days and wanted to come out and take a look around.”
The woman perked up, stared into Keith’s face, then Michael’s, and back again. “You’re twins?” she asked. “Now, who did you say you are?”
“I’m Keith Pettit and this is my brother, Michael Ivey.”
Michael nodded. “I visited Grandpa here over several summers when I was a kid.”
The woman stared. “I don’t remember there being two of you. This is just…well, bizarre. I do remember seeing one of Pops’s grandsons here when my dad and I would visit him.”Michael tilted his head. “You’re the girl who used to ride the horses.”
“Yeah, and you’re the scrawny kid who got such a kick out of feeding the hogs and chickens and riding around on the tractor.” She pointed at him. “You became a veterinarian, didn’t you? I remember Pops telling me that.”