Gingerbread Man: A Marlow and Sage Mystery (A Nursery Rhyme Suspense Book 1)

by Lee Strauss

  “I’m convinced that Everett’s Many Worlds theory is correct, and I believe I have a way to prove it.”

  I knew the theory: a measurement taken of a quantum object causes an actual split in the universe. The universe is literally duplicated, splitting into one universe for each possible outcome from the measurement.

  A dry lump filled my throat. I swallowed hard. Was Blaine responsible for my being here?

  “Not only that.” He flashed a smug look and continued, “I’m working on a mathematical formula that I believe will open up a gateway of sorts between universes.”

  “You think realm-jumping is really a possibility?” I asked.

  “In theory.”

  “So you’ve never tried it?”

  He cut me an impatient look. “It’s still in experimental stages.”

  “Do you notice anything unusual about the weather, you know, when you experiment?”

  Blaine froze. “Well, actually, now that you mention it.” He tilted his head and eyed me. His gaze took in my clothes, and I could see his wheels turning.

  “Why are you here?”

  “Here in this room?” Or here in this realm?

  “Yeah, sure? Why are you here in this room?”

  “I was late for the Teagan Lake search blitz. So, I just ended up here.”

  He blinked hard. “I heard about the missing girl. Too bad.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, if you don’t mind,” Blaine said. “I’d like to get back to work.”

  “Sure. See you around.”

  He gave me a strange look as if to say, why would that happen? He didn’t know what I knew, that I’d need his help to get home.

  Now wasn’t the right time. After Teagan was found, but not now. I was here for a reason. I had to be.

  I left the physics lab and squinted at the late morning emerald hue. I shoved my hands into my pockets and the fingers of my right hand touched paper. I pulled it out and smirked. Sage had tucked a ten in my pocket when I wasn’t looking. I examined the bill. It was shiny and made of plastic, similar to the money in countries like Canada and Australia in my world. I didn’t recognize the face on it. I realized I didn’t even know who the president was here. I just assumed it would be the same guy, but maybe not. My curiosity was piqued. I should go back and do some digging on Sage’s computer.

  I decided on a long route back. I needed time to think. I used Sage’s ten at a campus sandwich shop and washed down a ham and cheese with a glass of Coke.

  Though populated for the most part, a lot of the paths that went through the area were isolated and off the beaten track. I don’t know what possessed me to take one of these paths. Maybe it was the need to process all the information and all my new feelings where it was quiet.

  I thought about Blaine Tucker and his experiment. Blaine was a pompous ass in both realms, but his experiment was intriguing. He thought it was still a theory, but he must’ve triggered something on the quantum level that caused me to jump. I don’t know why it was me and not him, though. That was another mystery. I needed to pick this Blaine’s brain before I went back to my world, so I could rub my newfound knowledge in Professor Garvin’s face. For sure I would ace my next paper.

  The afternoon sky grew darker, and it smelled like a storm coming. I tensed. Did I have to be wary of all storms or were there special ones for jumping? What was Blaine doing back at the lab? Something that would shoot me off into another realm? There were infinite possibilities. Including the one where I never made it back to my home world.

  I didn’t get a chance to ponder further because the next moment there was a thick arm squeezing tight around my neck. A voice I didn’t recognize said, “Mind your own business.”

  I gasped for breath as the edges of my eyesight grew black.

  44

  

  Sage

  Ben helped to organize everyone into groups of four and we spread out into the different areas that bordered the campus grounds. Ben and I were in the group with Mr. and Mrs. Lake. Ben was going to go with his buddies, but I remembered the look on Marlow’s face when he made me promise I’d stick with Ben. I tugged Ben’s sleeve and pleaded.

  “Please, I need your support if I’m going to spend the next several hours with the Lakes.”

  He had pity on me and I think deep down he wanted to support me or at least protect me. He squeezed my shoulders. “Anything for you, Sis.”

  Mrs. Lake looked terrible, and that said a lot since I’d never seen her look anything but fabulous in the twelve years I’d known her. Her hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail, her eyes were dull and circled with gray. Her clothes looked like she’d just pulled them out of her suitcase without the benefit of ironing them first. I felt sorry for her.

  Mr. Lake didn’t fare much better, but he hadn’t looked that great for years.

  The idea was to knock on doors, show Teagan’s picture and ask if the occupants had seen her. The point person in each group was to make note of any possible tips. Other groups went around to businesses and hung the posters up on boards and posts. We wanted to get everyone thinking about Teagan and looking out for a sighting or for strange behavior from anyone they knew.

  After two hours I was exhausted. My feet hurt, my lower back ached and I had a raging headache.

  Ben handed me a bottle of water.

  “Thanks.”

  “We’re out of posters,” Mr. Lake said. “I think we should head back.”

  Mrs. Lake almost protested but then just covered her eyes and sighed. Ben drove us back to the campus and said good-bye. He’d made plans to meet his girlfriend, who had a class and was already late.

  “Thanks for all your help,” I called out as he strolled off.

  “Glad to be of help,” he shouted back.

  That left me standing awkwardly with Mr. and Mrs. Lake. Mrs. Lake took my hands. “I can’t thank you enough, Sage.”

  “I wish I could do more.”

  Mrs. Lake hugged me, and I hugged her back. Mr. Lake looked uncomfortable. “I’m going to go use the restroom,” he said.

  That left me alone with Mrs. Lake, the perfect opportunity to ask hard questions. The wind had picked up and I pulled my jacket tighter. “Can I ask you something?” I said.

  “Anything.”

  I stared at the ground feeling like the little girl I used to be and not wanting to talk to the intimidating mother of my friend. But Teagan’s life might depend on this question. “When we asked you the other night, if you had any enemies, you didn’t answer.” I looked up and held her gaze. “Do you?”

  “Sage, what kind of question is that?”

  “It’s a valid question. Someone took your daughter. Maybe someone who has something against you. Or your husband.”

  “That’s ludicrous.” Her hand went to her purse and she pulled out a pack of cigarettes. “I don’t normally smoke, well, not that much, but this…” She stuck the cigarette in her mouth, lit it and breathed in deeply. She let out a plume of smoke and sighed with relief.

  “There is something Teagan doesn’t know, or her father.” She took another drag. “I’m involved with someone.”

  “Another man?” My voice squeaked as I said the words.

  “For God’s sake, keep your voice down. Yes, another man. I’m having an affair, and it’s news that wouldn’t benefit anyone should it get out. I’m trusting you will keep what I say confidential.”

  “Okay.”

  “He’s a little… controlling. He doesn’t like that I’m here with Bill. He hates that we’re sharing a hotel.” She took another drag, dropped the butt and crushed it with her shoe. “I need to get back to Illinois.”

  “Are you afraid of him?”

  Her eyes cut to mine. “He doesn’t have anything to do with Teagan, if that’s what you mean. He’s not a pedophile.”

  Teagan wasn’t a child anymore, but I didn’t say that aloud.

  “What’s his name?”

  “That’s none
of your business. I already told you more than I should. Now, thanks again for your help.”

  Mr. Lake appeared then, and Mrs. Lake slid into the passenger seat of their car. She didn’t wave when they drove away.

  Marlow was probably back at my dorm by now, but I wanted to make a quick stop at Ben’s before heading back. Ben’s dorm mate, Ryan, had a build closer to Marlow’s. I snuck in quietly because where I had been borrowing from my brother, I was stealing from Ryan. I had no way of knowing if I could return what I was about to take, and it wasn’t like I could ask. Eventually, I’d have to take Marlow into the city and shop for clothes. It made me wonder how long I’d have to take care of him. What happens after the Teagan crisis is resolved?

  A bridge to cross later.

  I’d been to Ben’s dorm a few times so I knew my way around. Ryan’s room was cleaner than Ben’s, so I didn’t have to trip over piles of junk on the ground. I moved quickly, taking a shirt from his closet, and a pair of jeans and a pair of boxers from his drawers.

  I was just about to sneak back out when I heard the front door open. Footsteps moved quickly toward me. I could tell by his gait that it was Ryan. I dropped to the floor and rolled under the bed.

  45

  

  Marlow

  My heart skipped as I choked for breath. My assailant flipped me onto the ground. I landed on my stomach with an “oof” as the wind was knocked out of me. For good measure, he kicked me in the stomach. I curled up like a baby, covering my head with my hands, anticipating more, but that was the end.

  I looked up in time to see a blurry vision of my attacker’s back as he disappeared around the corner.

  I raked the rough walkway with my fingers in search of my glasses. Pain ripped through my body as I reached. Finally my fingers brushed over them and I curled a fist around the frames. I groaned. They were busted.

  Good thing I knew my away around, even in the dark, though I did stub my toe a couple times just to add to my already considerable pile of pain. I held my ribs tight. It hurt to breathe.

  I made it to Sage’s dorm, but was disappointed that she wasn’t there. Were they really still out canvassing?

  I washed up in the bathroom, and stared at my blurry image in the mirror. What the hell is going on, Marlow? I thought. Or should I say Mars?

  I played around on Sage’s laptop. In order to see anything I had to wear my busted glasses. The left lens was completely shattered, but the other was merely cracked. I could make out the text if I covered my left eye.

  I typed in “president of the United States.” The current president was none other than Mrs. Hillary Clinton. I laughed at that. In this realm, she beat out Senator Obama with a wide margin.

  I couldn’t find Facebook, but a search took me to a site called Facefacts. Basically the same thing and also founded by a group of Harvard students. I looked up Blaine Tucker. He had a lot of friends. Boasted of many science accomplishments. Had a girlfriend. Not Gina, a different one.

  I searched for Marlow Henry and frowned. His friend list wasn’t nearly as boisterous, and he rarely posted. He liked TV shows I hadn’t heard of, and said he was in a relationship. I saw a picture of him with his arm wrapped around a blond chick. I took a closer look and sucked in a hard breath. The girl’s name was Vanessa Roth. The first victim.

  I did a web search on Vanessa Roth. She’d been raped on campus, but her boyfriend, whose name hadn’t been released, had alibied out.

  Was this Marlow Henry Vanessa Roth’s boyfriend? First of all, kudos to my alter-ego for snagging a girlfriend—Vanessa Roth was cute. But what happened to them? I rechecked Marlow’s Facefacts timeline. No new posts or pictures since the day of Vanessa’s rape.

  Did he break up with her because of the assault? He was an ass if he did. Maybe she broke up with him. That could explain why he was in a foul mood the day Sage went to their dorm.

  My eye ached from squinting so hard. I had to take a break. I checked the time. Almost four o’clock. Where was Sage?

  Tendrils of slippery concern vined through me. I was about to struggle back into Ben’s hoodie, something my ribs did not want to do, and go on my own search for Sage when she finally returned.

  “Where were you?” I asked.

  “Sorry. I know I’m late. I got held up at my brother’s. But here….” She held out an armful of clothes. “These should fit you better.”

  “Not Ben’s?”

  One side of her mouth tugged up in a grin. “No. And don’t ask.”

  I forgot about my ribs when I reached for the clothes and let out a small yelp.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Someone jumped me.”

  Sage’s eyes widened. What?”

  I lifted my shirt to show her the bruising. “I don’t think anything’s broken but my ribs hurt like a bugger.”

  “You need to put ice on that and get it wrapped up.”

  “I can’t go to the doctor.”

  She agreed. “I’ll be right back.”

  Sage returned moments later with a handful of ice cubes wrapped in a tea-towel.

  “Take off your shirt.”

  I blinked at her. What?

  “Mars? I can’t tend to this through your shirt. Do you need help removing it?”

  I nodded numbly. I raised my arms. It hurt like hell. Sage nimbly pulled my shirt over my head and tossed it on the bed. I sucked in a breath as the ice pack hit the heat of my skin.

  “Tell me what happened,” she said.

  “I went to my physics lab, or rather, your version of my physics lab.” It hurt to breathe. It hurt to talk. I had to pace myself out. Sage waited with questioning eyes.

  “There was a guy there working on experiments to do with jumping universes. He talked like it was all just theory and not something he’d tried himself.”

  “He didn’t know you were a jumper?”

  “I don’t think so. He spoke to me like I was the Marlow from this realm. In my realm we’re in the same class. Apparently, in this one, I dropped out.”

  “Weird. What’s the guy’s name?”

  “Blaine Tucker. Do you know him?”

  She nodded her head. “I’ve only really had a chance to meet people in my own study track.”

  “So Teagan wouldn’t have known him either?” I was trying to make the connection between me, Blaine’s experiment, Teagan and the killer.

  “I doubt it,” Sage said. “Teagan’s in the arts program. And she hardly ever went out.”

  “Did you get a chance to talk to Teagan’s mom?”

  Sage shook her head and grimaced. “She’s having an affair. That’s why she didn’t want to talk about it. Teagan doesn’t know, and neither does her husband.”

  “Oh.” I guess I shouldn’t have felt so shocked. Mrs. Lake was hot, and Mr. Lake had let himself go.

  “If this was a random attack, Teagan would be dead, and we’d be at her funeral already.”

  Sage’s shoulders sagged when I said this and I felt bad. I paused for another breath.

  “Going with the assumption that she was targeted,” I continued, “and the Gingerbread Man’s messages support this, who around here did Teagan know?”

  The ice had melted and Sage took the soaked cloth from me. She opened up a mid-sized first-aid kit and removed a roll of gauze.

  “A gift from Mrs. Lake,” she said at my look. “She always wants Teagan to be prepared for any disaster. Teagan has cases of bottled water in her closet, just in case there’s an emergency.”

  I leaned forward in the chair as she began to wrap my chest. I tried to ignore how wonderful it felt to have her fingers trace along my skin. I closed my eyes to her nearness.

  “Well, we talked to Jake and Chet,” she said, answering my first question. I’d almost blanked on what she was referring to. Right. Who did Teagan know? I focused on her words. Her words, words, her words. Not her body, not her fingers. Her words.

  “And Professor Madsen, her philosophy teacher.”

/>   “The TA,” I added. “He said he saw her on the bus, but what if he had been following her. His admission sounded like an alibi, but maybe it was a tease?”

  Sage taped the gauze so it wouldn’t fall and then sat in the chair beside me. “There must be other people we can talk to.”

  “She didn’t mention meeting anyone new?” I asked

  She eyed me. “Other than you?”

  It made me think about the Marlow Henry from this realm. He liked blonds. Was it possible he raped his own girlfriend? Maybe Teagan had been in touch with both of us? Maybe this Marlow had arranged to meet her and succeeded?

  “What’s wrong?” Sage asked.

  “I think we need to ask the resident Marlow Henry a few more questions.”

  46

  

  Teagan

  Teagan had nodded off. A door slammed followed by a round of swearing.

  “You filthy pig.”

  She didn’t bother to look at him. Blood prickled up her arms and legs as he cut through the tape that bound her to the wooden chair. He grabbed her roughly and dragged her down the hall. It felt like a million little sharp knives cutting into her legs, and she cried out.

  He pushed her into the bathroom. “I brought you some food. You don’t get it until you’ve cleaned up.” He placed a bag on the bathroom counter and closed the door. Teagan rubbed her arms and legs vigorously, wincing as her circulation returned to normal. Her wrists and ankles had ugly red marks.

  There were clothes in the bag. Brand new with tags still on. Yoga pants, a sweatshirt. Underwear. She ran the shower and scrubbed herself with soap. Scrubbed, scrubbed, scrubbed. Tears mixed with the hot water. She’d never be clean enough after today.

  Teagan thought about Sage and what she was doing without her there. She thought about her mom and how worried she must be right now. Teagan knew they’d be crazy and doing everything they could to find her.