Abandoned

by Patricia H. Rushford

  “You’re not the only one running against her for Fall Festival Queen. What about Allison and Lisa?”

  Annie tapped her long pink nails on the dash. “You have a point. If it was Charity, she’d probably be doing something to them too. I’m not sure if that makes me feel better. If it isn’t Charity, then who?”

  They drove in silence for a few minutes while they turned into the drive to Trinity’s sports center. Jennie maneuvered down the narrow road, past the construction site of where the church and school used to be, and into the parking lot near the gym.

  Annie turned to look at the new foundation. “I can’t believe how far along they are. They’ve already poured the concrete.”

  “It’s going a lot faster than I thought.” Jennie glanced into her rearview mirror and whistled. “Don’t look now, but that van you were so worried about is right behind us.”

  3

  Annie closed her eyes tight and gripped the door handle. “I knew it. We’re both going to die. I’m sorry I dragged you into this, Jennie.”

  “Get a grip, Annie. This is a public place with all kinds of people roaming around. Which makes it easier for me.” Jennie pulled into a parking space and turned off the engine. “Where’s that license plate number I asked you to write down?”

  Annie handed her a neon pink Post-it Note. The van in question pulled into a spot several spaces down. “Stay here,” Jennie cautioned. “It may not even be the same van. I’ll check it out.”

  Jennie climbed out of the car and approached the teal blue van. It was the same license plate, all right. Jennie walked past the van, then stopped a short distance away, where she could get a view of the driver.

  An attractive, dark-haired woman wearing sunglasses, a pinstriped suit, and high heels scooted out, then leaned back in to get something from the front passenger seat. She pulled out a black briefcase, secured the strap over her shoulder, pocketed her keys, and closed the door.

  Instead of going inside, she walked over to another vehicle—a brown station wagon—then waited for a man with a video camera. Jennie smiled. Annie was definitely imagining things. She hurried back to her own car to give Annie the good news.

  “It’s okay. I don’t think you’re in any danger from the driver of that van. It’s Debra Noble from Channel 22 News. She’s probably here to cover the meet.”

  “Really? Debra Noble?” Annie’s face lit up. “She’s so cool.”

  “You’ve met her?”

  “Uh-huh. She interviewed Lisa, Allison, Charity, and me when we were chosen to run for Fall Festival Queen.”

  “Right. Lisa mentioned that. I wondered at the time why they’d bother with Trinity—we’re not that big a school.”

  “She tied it in to our school spirit and how we’re coming back so strong after the fire. People are interested in that sort of thing. I’ll bet that’s why she’s here. Maybe to let everyone know how we’re doing and that we’re not giving up. We still have a long way to go, of course, but the community and the church have worked really hard. Whenever she talks about us, she tells people they can send donations to the trust fund. Dad says it’s good to keep the story in the news. That way we not only keep getting donations, but we also get volunteers to work on the rebuilding.”

  Jennie nodded. “Well, I guess that part of your mystery is solved. If she’s keeping track of what’s going on at Trinity, it’s no wonder you see her van a lot.”

  Of course, there are others like it, Jennie reminded herself. Teal is a popular color. While she wanted to ease Annie’s mind, Jennie still had not dismissed the possibility that someone other than Debra could be driving a similar van, and that person could be following, or stalking, Annie Phillips. Or Annie could be making the whole thing up to bring attention to herself. Jennie canceled the thought. Annie’s eyes held a genuine look of fear.

  “So, Annie,” Jennie said, “do you feel like someone’s watching you now, or can you relax for a while and enjoy the meet?”

  Her cheeks dimpled in a deep smile. “I’m feeling much better now that I know you’re on the case.”

  Jennie let the comment slide. She didn’t consider this a case by any stretch of the imagination—at least not yet. She did, however, want to pursue the matter. “Good. Listen, I’ve got to go, but I have a plan for tomorrow after school. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Great. Thanks, Jennie.”

  They entered the building with Annie making a beeline for the bleachers, where Shawn and several of his friends were sitting. Jennie squeezed through the crowd, surprised at the number of students and parents there. The meet was the first of the season. They were facing their biggest rival, Riverside Heights, the largest private school in the area. Trinity had been the largest until the fire. Not wanting to go to school in a remodeled warehouse and being afraid that Trinity had been targeted by extremist groups, a lot of kids had transferred. Trinity may have lost a few students, but they were determined to come back stronger than ever. Jennie felt a fierce sense of pride. If they could win against Riverside, maybe they could make it to the state championships.

  Butterflies fluttered in Jennie’s stomach. She hauled in a deep breath and blew it out through her mouth. Competition like this was new to her. She’d often raced against friends, but only for fun. This will be fun too, she told herself. You just have to concentrate on swimming and forget about the crowds and the cameras.

  “Nervous?”

  Jennie’s thoughts and feet came to an abrupt halt. Gavin nearly ran into her. Gavin Winslow was a good friend and the editor of the school paper. He was about her height—five eight, gangly, and cute in a Clark Kent sort of way.

  “No.” She eyed his poised camera with disdain. “You’re not going to take pictures of me again, are you?”

  “Photos, Jennie. How many times do I have to tell you? They’re photos.” He grinned and pushed his glasses back to the bridge of his nose. “I might take some later. Did you know you are favored to win the 500? Coach Dayton says if you swim at the meets like you do in practice—”

  “Did you need something?” she interrupted. She did know about the stats. DeeDee was expecting a lot from her, which did nothing to calm her butterflies. She didn’t want to hear about her potential again. It just added more pressure. Jennie didn’t know if she could swim under pressure. “I have to change.”

  “I just wanted to wish you luck.” His eyes held a slightly injured look.

  “Thanks. Look, I’m sorry I snapped at you.”

  “No problem. You got first-meet jitters like everyone else.”

  “Yeah … I guess.”

  “Well, you’ve got nothing to worry about.”

  “Except for the fact that I might blow it. What if I freeze up?”

  “You won’t.” He squeezed her shoulder. “I have faith in you.”

  “That’s good, because I don’t have much in myself at the moment.”

  “Jennie—I …” Gavin’s gaze met hers. “There’s something …” He looked away. “Never mind. We can talk about it later. You’d better get ready.” He turned and walked away.

  Grrr. She hated it when people didn’t finish telling you what they started. This is not the time to dwell on it, McGrady. You’ve got a swim meet to think about. Besides, it probably isn’t that important. Somehow Jennie couldn’t quite convince herself of that. Later. You can deal with Gavin and Annie’s problems later. Right now she had to concentrate on getting into her swimsuit and at least making an appearance. As weak as her knees were getting, Jennie wasn’t sure she’d have the strength to do even that.

  An hour later, Jennie stood on the block, preparing herself for the 500 meter. She shook her hands and arms, then adjusted her goggles. The silence just before a heat was nearly as deafening as the cheers that had gone up for the last winner. She reached up and adjusted her swim cap, tucking in a strand of hair she’d missed. I’m
going to be sick.

  No, you’re not! Jennie pursed her lips and sucked in a deep breath. Ready. She poised herself.

  A gunshot exploded through the stillness, scattering her butterflies and sending her adrenaline into another time zone. Jennie’s slim form sliced into the water without a splash. So far so good.

  Before the meet had officially started, Coach Dayton told them they shouldn’t focus so much on winning as on technique and endurance. “Get the job done. I’m not looking for big-time heroes. I’m looking for a strong team.”

  Jennie was a strong swimmer, and she knew it. At her first turn, she was out in front by several seconds. The 500 meter was Jennie’s best event. She’d already raced in the relay. Trinity had lost, but by only half a second. She’d watched the men’s relay and the first segment of diving. So far they were ahead in total points. By the second turn the butterflies and anxiety were gone. Could she push them even farther into the lead?

  Don’t think about that, Jennie reminded herself. Not yet. Dolphins. Think dolphins. Jennie closed her mind to the shouts and whistles coming from the stands and to the swimmers on either side of her. She recalled her glorious weeks in Florida swimming with the sleek and beautiful creatures, racing to keep up with them. Cutting through the water effortlessly, she pursued the dolphins in her mind.

  She would go at the pace she’d set until the last turn, then push harder. Though she tried not to think that much about winning, she couldn’t stop the desire rising within her. She had always been a fierce competitor. Now was no different.

  When she hit the wall for the last time, she knew she’d won by over half a lap. The only real competitor was her own teammate Kelly Mason, a junior. They gave each other a high five.

  Jennie took her time getting out of the pool. Knowing Gavin, he’d be taking “photos.” As much as Jennie loved winning, she didn’t much like the attention. She pulled off her goggles and swim cap and glanced toward the stands. Sure enough, Gavin had his camera focused on her and Kelly. Kelly hung an arm around Jennie’s shoulder. “Nice job, Jen.”

  “Thanks. You too.”

  With her part finished, Jennie relaxed, and after drying off and slipping on her sweats, she sat with her teammates, watching the diving competition and occasionally stealing glances at the crowd and at Annie.

  Annie and Shawn sat together looking as normal as ever. The TV reporter was squatting down on the floor talking to a man in the front row. Jennie did a double take. Dad? She hadn’t expected either of her parents to show up for the meet. But there they were in the front row. Her mom, Susan; her brother, Nick; and her dad, Jason. Right behind them sat Lisa and her family. Jennie’s aunt Kate and uncle Kevin, Lisa and her little brother, Kurt. Lisa, Nick, and Kurt waved at her, and Jennie waved back, pleased that they’d all come. But why shouldn’t they? They were a close family, with Lisa more like a sister than a cousin. Aunt Kate was Jennie’s dad’s twin sister. Kate’s husband, Kevin, was Jennie’s mom’s brother. Which explained why Jennie looked so much like Kate, and Lisa resembled Jennie’s mom.

  How like them to surprise her like that. She wondered why she hadn’t seen them earlier. Jennie blamed it on nerves.

  Mom, Aunt Kate, and Uncle Kevin were looking at Debra Noble. Dad didn’t seem very happy with the reporter, but he kept talking to her. At that moment, Jennie would have given anything to have bionic ears so she could eavesdrop. Were they talking about the meet or one of Dad’s cases? He was a homicide detective for the Portland police.

  Jason McGrady held up a hand and shook his head, motioning toward the diving platform. Debra pointed to Jennie and smiled. The cameraman swung away from Dad, panned the swim team, then rested on Jennie. She pretended not to notice, focusing instead on the student approaching the diving board.

  When Jennie glanced back at her dad, the reporter had moved away. She, too, was looking at the senior Russ Cassidy, who was getting ready for his next dive.

  Jennie watched as Russ adjusted his stance on the end of the board. He balanced there, his back to the water. After several seconds of heart-stopping silence, he shot high into the air, tucked, executed three turns, straightened, then knifed into the water. Perfect.

  Jennie’s voice joined those of the other Trinity students, and for the next half hour she cheered her teammates on to victory. After the meet, Jennie gladly listened to the accolades of her proud family; then she talked briefly with Debra Noble, but only after the woman stuck a microphone in her face.

  “How does it feel to be a winner, Jennie?”

  Jennie laughed. “Great. Trinity’s the best! But you shouldn’t be talking to me. Coach Dayton deserves the credit.” Behind her the kids were waving and cheering.

  “Between you and your father, McGrady is getting to be a household name in this town.”

  Jennie shrugged, wondering where Debra was going with the interview. Jennie had made the news several times lately in connection with some high-profile investigations.

  “You helped the police track down the arsonist responsible for burning down your church and school. A couple of months back you rescued your little brother from kidnappers. And that’s only the beginning,” Debra said. “I understand you’re an honor student. Now you’re breaking records for your swim team. Is there anything you don’t do?”

  “I don’t answer stupid questions.” Heat crept up Jennie’s neck and into her face as she realized she’d made the comment aloud. She had no idea what had possessed her to be so rude. Reporters could be so annoying.

  Debra laughed. “My, you do take after your father, don’t you?”

  Jennie didn’t know how to answer that. Apparently Debra wasn’t expecting her to, as she went on to congratulate Jennie. “You and your teammates did a terrific job out there today.”

  “Um … thanks.”

  Debra turned toward the camera. Jennie tuned her out, hoping she’d cut Jennie’s sarcastic remark if any of the footage made it to the news broadcast.

  “I’m proud of you, princess.” Dad hooked an arm around her neck and hugged her to him. Jennie hugged him back.

  “You did a great job.” Mom hugged her as well.

  “What do you say we all celebrate with pizza?”

  “Are you sure you can take the time?” Uncle Kevin asked sarcastically, then snickered as if they were sharing some kind of inside joke.

  “What was that all about?” Jennie asked.

  Kate frowned at Debra and the cameraman, who were now focused on Russ Cassidy. “That woman had the nerve to ask your father why he was here watching a swim meet and not out trying to find that serial killer.”

  “You can’t blame her, Kate,” Dad said. “She wants an end to it. There was another murder last night.”

  Jennie looked at her dad. “Another pro-life victim?”

  “I’m afraid so.”

  Jennie frowned. It was the third such killing in two weeks. The first had been a woman who had recently spearheaded an anti-abortion bill. The second was a man who routinely picketed abortion clinics in the area. Notes had been left on the bodies of both victims with a radical pro-choice group taking credit. The issue had created a political firestorm. Pro-choice advocates claimed to know nothing about it and blamed pro-lifers for killing their own so the pro-choice groups would look bad. The pro-life groups argued that the pro-choice people were showing their true colors. After all, if they sanctioned the murder of unborn babies, they were murderers.

  “Let’s not talk about that now,” Jennie’s mom insisted. “I think pizza is a great idea—especially now that I can eat it without throwing up.”

  Jennie picked up Nick, who’d been tugging at her towel. “I’m surprised to see you here. Thought you were sick.”

  “My tummy’s all better. Mom said I could come and watch you swim.”

  “I’m glad you did.”

  That night Jennie had trouble s
leeping. Questions about Annie and Gavin kept clogging her brain. Gavin had wanted to talk to her about something, but he hadn’t called. Maybe it wasn’t all that important. She punched her pillow and turned on the lamp, then picked up her newest mystery and settled down to read.

  After school on Friday, Jennie hurried to her locker, picked up the books she’d need over the weekend, and went straight to her car. Lisa met her there.

  “You ready for our stakeout?” Lisa asked.

  “I guess.” She glanced toward the entrance of the school, where Shawn and Annie waited in Shawn’s BMW. “Let’s go.” Jennie slid into the driver’s seat and leaned across the passenger seat to unlock the door. Once they’d both fastened their seat belts, Jennie started the car, released the emergency brake, and merged with the other cars. She took a right, went two blocks, then made a U-turn and came back. She parked in the shade of a large maple about half a block from the school, facing in the direction Annie and Shawn would eventually drive.

  While Jennie drove, Lisa pulled two pairs of binoculars out from under the seat. When Jennie stopped, she handed her a pair.

  They didn’t have to wait long. Shawn pulled out of the parking lot, eased into the center lane, and made a left turn.

  “No one seems to be following them.” Lisa peered through the glasses.

  “I think that’s about to change.” A beige sedan pulled out of a side street. The driver was a woman with a large mass of blond curls and wearing sunglasses. When Shawn turned at the next corner, the woman followed. Jennie’s pulse accelerated. “Looks like Annie may have been right after all.”

  “You think that’s our stalker?”

  “Only one way to find out. Let’s go.” Jennie set the binoculars on the seat beside her. She had to let three cars pass before she could pull into the traffic lane. She wasn’t worried, though. She and Shawn had worked out a route earlier. When Jennie got to Birch Street, she made a right. The other cars had gone straight. Shawn, having driven more slowly than usual, sat at a light ready to make a left turn onto Douglas Road. The woman was right behind him.