by Leona Fox
But life, of course, was not that fair. Soon after Ellen had left for the night Andy received another letter, which lay there until the morning. There was no stamp, which meant the kidnapper was still in town and had been at his door moments ago. Andy ran out into the road and looked both ways, but there was no sign of anything suspicious. He returned to his office and sat at his desk. He tore open the envelope and slid out the letter. Again, it was typed, just like all the others. His jaw clenched as he read the words this devious mind had concocted. Once again, Andy punished himself for not pursuing the kidnapper after Scott had been rescued. He hadn't run away and he hadn't been scared off. He just was waiting for another moment to torture Andy. No longer. He would end this, once and for all.
'Have you forgotten about me so soon? Perhaps you are not as determined as I thought. I assumed you would come after me, and that nothing short of hellhounds would keep you from your destiny. My last letter was meant as a challenge, but perhaps you are too weak to meet it. You are old now and do not have the strength. Perhaps that is for the best. The world is for the young, after all. Unless the young are taken away. If you truly want an end to this, meet me in the morning on the outskirts of town, on the south side, where the river flows out.'
Andy's hand clenched into a fist and the letter crumpled. Without a moment's hesitation he marched to his car and drove to the edge of town, not caring that he may miss the wedding, or that he may not return at all. Shortly afterward, Ellen arrived at Andy's house only to find it empty. She soon found the crumpled letter, however, and read it with a look of horror encased in her wide eyes. Praying that Kelly would forgive her, she jumped back in her car and went to find Andy.
Andy drove like a demon, speeding through the quiet streets. His car roared and disturbed birds as he passed them. They fluttered their wings and rose in the air, scared of this harbinger of doom. The small town disappeared behind him, giving way to nature. He saw the river and followed its course until he reached the field. He stepped out of his car and walked across the soft grass, squinting into the sun, breathing evenly as he had been trained. His body was tense and primed for action, like a panther who was ready to leap upon its prey.
For years he had been plagued by his past and now it had caught up to him in a major way. There was no turning back from it any longer, no wallowing in the bottom of a bottle. He continued walking until he found a man standing at the edge of the river with his hands folded behind his back, gazing toward the horizon. Instantly, Andy went to draw his gun, but was shocked to find it wasn't there. He cursed. The man turned around, slowly. He was completely unremarkable. He wore plain clothes, narrow glasses, and a half-smile.
“I presume you are looking for this?” he said, his accent clipped and his words soft as he pulled out Andy's gun.
“Where did you get that?” Andy barked.
“For a policeman your home security is lacking. I would make some upgrades if I were you,” he said, and pointed the gun at Andy.
“Who are you?” Andy said, body tense, staring at the kidnapper.
“It saddens me that you do not remember me. I am the other victim of your mistake.”
“The other victim?” Andy said, his brow creasing with confusion.
“You are so consumed with your own guilt you do not remember all the details. That is a poor thing for a policeman, especially one who is so loved and respected around here. But perhaps it is much easier to be a policeman in this small fishbowl than to be in the city.”
“Who are you and why did you kidnap that boy? What do you want with me?”
“I really don't think you are in a position to make these demands,” the man said, laughing loudly.
“But I brought you here to tell you my story. Much of it you will be familiar with. I was a child once, you know, and I had a brother. We were very close. We did everything together, and we were best friends. Then, one day, a man took him. I didn't understand really. We did everything together and, yet, in this we were separated. But no matter. The police were onto it. They promised us they would find my brother and bring him back to us. He would be safe. My parents believed you. I believed you but still my brother died.”
“Mikkel,” Andy gasped.
“Ah, yes. I knew you would remember me after I jogged your memory a little. You see, my brother was kidnapped and killed. After that things were never the same. My parents never looked at me the same way because they always saw my brother. Always there was an empty place at the dinner table. We were incomplete.”
“Listen, I'm sorry about what happened with Sami but--”
“Don't you dare say his name!” Mikkel yelled, his calm façade cracking as he waved the gun at Andy in a threatening manner.
“But why would you do all this? Why would you take Scott and become exactly like the man who took Sa...your brother?”
“I never had any intention of killing Scott. The boy was just a pawn. I had to remind you of your failure, of what it was like to be in a race against time with someone of a far superior intellect. I heard about the movie they are making based on your brother's books and I know about how closely they follow your own career. It is not fair that my family was destroyed because of your mistake while you get to live in this small town away from the rest of the world, away from your mistakes.”
“You're right. It's not fair, but there hasn't been a day go by when I haven't thought about your brother and what happened back then. I hate myself for not being smart enough or good enough to save him. I wish I could go back and do things differently but I can't. I only can move forward, that's all any of us can do. You can as well. Live your life, make your brother proud of what you accomplish.”
“Oh, he will be proud. I only have one thing left to accomplish in life, to make the people of this town see you as you truly are. You have blood on your hands and now everyone will know it.”
As he said this he turned Andy's gun to his head. Andy yelled out, trying to make Mikkel stop, but it was too late. However, Mikkel didn't see Ellen and Scampy running up behind him. Scampy clamped his jaws around Mikkel's leg just as he was about to pull the trigger. Mikkel let out a high-pitched yelp and jerked his leg, trying to shake off the dog, but Scampy only bit down harder. Mikkel's finger did pull the trigger, though. The loud crack of a gunshot thundered through the air, the bullet flying high into the sky. The sound of the gunshot shocked Scampy and he released his grip. Despite the pain flooding through his body Mikkel was of a singular mind, but this time he pointed the gun toward Andy. However, Ellen was quick to move and thumped him around the jaw, sending him flying to the ground. Then Andy rushed forward and forced the gun out of Mikkel's hands.
“Shame you didn't steal my cuffs, too,” Andy said as he slapped them around Mikkel's wrists and told him he was being arrested for the kidnapping. He hauled Mikkel up to his feet and gave an appreciative nod to Ellen.
“I'm surprised to see you here. Don't you have a wedding to go to?” he asked.
“The man I love was in trouble, what else could I do?” she said, and they kissed.
Mikkel groaned but Scampy growled at him. Mikkel went quiet, his leg still throbbing with the pain from Scampy’s bite.
After they dropped off Mikkel at the station Andy and Ellen rushed back to get ready for the wedding. Ellen had about five missed calls from Kelly, so she sent a quick message to say they were on their way. Just before they left, however, Andy pulled Ellen back.
“I just want to say thank you for everything you did for me. I know it wasn't easy and I wouldn't have blamed you if you had left me, but I'm glad you didn't. I couldn't have made it through this without you. I love you, Ellen,” he said, and whisked her into a passionate embrace.
Then the two of them made their way to the park where everyone in the town had turned out for Kelly's wedding. Kelly was standing to the side, waiting for Ellen to arrive. Andy complimented Kelly and then made his way to his seat, nodding at the various people he recognized, including Andrea and Sco
tt. He winked at the boy, and Scott smiled. Finally, after years of torture he was able to put the past behind him and focus on the future and everything good he had in his life. As Kelly began her march down the aisle it wasn't the bride Andy was looking at, it was Ellen, and all the love he had for her flowed through his body.
Ellen, meanwhile, walked proudly behind her friend, enjoying the look on Matthew's face as he looked at his new bride. Kelly took her place beside him and kissed Ellen on both cheeks.
“I'm so happy right now, and even though I know things aren't ever going to be the same after this, I know we're always going to be best friends,” she said.
Ellen wiped the tears from her eyes, then stepped back and watched with delight as her best friend got married.
Volume 9
Part I
A Chilling Conundrum
An East Pender Mystery Book 9
Chapter 1
East Pender was a quiet town, tucked away in the heart of America, ringed by a lush expanse of trees, with the wide Mississippi River flowing through it. The town was largely secluded from the outside world and for most of the people who lived there it was like something out of a dream. Large cities were just a couple of hours away. Not an insurmountable distance, yet they could have been a world away, for East Pender seemed to exist in another realm of space and time.
And yet, for all the peace and tranquility East Pender promised there often were crimes committed, and it was not unusual for the town residents to feel fear creep up their spines as their safety was threatened in numerous ways. Murders, thefts, and corruption had all been experienced by the people of the town and, as such, some had chosen to move away and start a new life somewhere else. But for most they realized that such things would be found everywhere for it is human nature to be fallible. The only hope is for the best of us to band together and remain true to moral ideals.
There was an ineffable quality of the town that made people want to stay; they knew that it was of value to remain in the town because, for all the darkness that slithered its way through the wholesome heart of this traditional place, there was also much light, too. On this occasion, the light of love shined brightly as Kelly and Matthew had joined their souls in matrimony, and the party was in full swing.
It had not been an easy road by any means. Matthew had been haunted by the scars of his previous failed marriage, and Kelly had been shackled by secrets but they had come together and found a way past their fears and doubts. Indeed, their relationship epitomized the symbiotic relationship between light and dark as they had met during the investigation of a crime. From these beginnings their love had blossomed and now Kelly was beaming as brightly as a star.
Initially the two of them only had wanted a small wedding. But due to recent circumstances that had caused a great deal of distress to her friends and other community members, Kelly had decided she wanted to welcome everyone to her wedding. So with everyone in attendance, the entire population of the town was packed into the town hall and spilling out of the doors, of the only building big enough to house that many people.
The ceremony had been wonderful and everyone had applauded when the ring had been slipped on Kelly's finger. Although there were a number of jealous men who had pursued her throughout the years who now were frustrated that another man had won her heart. Of course, this was offset by the relief of the women who had been irked by their husbands' wandering eyes.
This had led to a slight dislike of Kelly, not helped by the artist's flighty nature. This seemed like a new beginning for the town, a new chapter in which they could move on from the recent events and embrace each other as a community. At the heart of it, of course, was Ellen.
The slim, petite woman was standing by, watching the proceedings with her usual caring eye, her observational skills taking in much information through the chaos of the party. Being maid of honor, she was keeping an eye on Kelly and making sure the wedding ran smoothly. Already she had had to deal with a crisis in the kitchen and a problem with the flowers, but nobody was any the wiser.
Her dress was lavender and a single strap ran over her right shoulder, leaving her left one bare. The dress clung to her figure, showing off the benefits of a steady routine of jogging. Her fingers were curled around a glass of wine and her eyes sparkled with delight at having watched her best friend find happiness.
Although somehow, being an observer herself, she felt detached from the environment, as though she was not really there. As her eyes roamed about the hall, she watched as Kelly spoke with the endless queue of people who wanted to congratulate her. Matthew, the groom, was standing with his family, laughing and joking. Kids were running in between the legs of adults, playing their own games, not caring or grasping the importance of the occasion. Ellen's lips curled into a smile as she thought back to a time when she had been that young and the adult matters were of no concern to her. The innocence of a child was a precious thing and something that she missed.
Through the years she had seen much sadness. Perhaps the worst moment of her life was when the veil of illusion had been lifted and she had seen the true nature of the world, but like all things it passed once she decided to be the best person she could be. Her smile widened as she saw little Scott Bishop running around, claiming he was a hero on the way to defeat a villain. After the ordeal of him having been kidnapped it was good to see the boy being a child again, and it reminded Ellen how resilient human beings were.
She had seen a lot of suffering, especially in East Pender, and at times it would have been easy to lose all hope and simply give up but it was on occasions like this that she knew what she was fighting for. She had no real need or obligation to continue helping the police solve crimes. Yet, it had become such an integral part of her life, she couldn't imagine what she would do with her time if she stopped.
Her eyes moved from Scott back up to the adults, most of them lost in their own conversations. There were a few times when her eyes moved to someone who had been admiring her. She never had classed herself as gorgeous but a lot of men had found her attractive, although in her modest way she had put this down to the fact that there were few eligible single women in East Pender. Of course, she had not been single for a long time.
Then her eyes moved to a man who strode through the crowd, a crowd that parted for him instantly. He was dressed in a dark blue suit with a tie that shimmered. His dark hair was cut neatly and his eyes were locked on her. As he came closer she saw his gaze was filled with a ravenous hunger, and a thrill spread through her body, for she knew she was the only one who could fulfill that particular need. Even though they had been apart only for about ten minutes he looked at her as though they had been separated for a lifetime. The electricity that coursed through her body was something she never would grow tired of.
“Seems like you got rid of your little sidekick,” she said, looking down toward Scott, who had raced to the middle of the room.
Andy chuckled, “Yeah, he's a good kid. I thought I'd be stuck with him the whole night but I guess even the chief of police can't compete with a girl,” as he said this both of them looked to the companion standing beside Scott, and they recognized the first flush of romance on the boy's cheeks.
Andy then turned back to Ellen and slipped his arm around her waist. There had been a time when such an act was only a thing of fantasy and only now it was so casual and so normal. His strong arm fit perfectly around her and it was as though her waist had been made for his arm, like it belonged there. They stood in silence for a few moments while they surveyed the scene.
“I'm glad this day has turned out well, Kelly deserves it,” Ellen said.
“I think we all do,” Andy replied, squeezing Ellen tightly.
Ellen looked up at him and rested her head against his arm. Andy had been through a lot recently but the trauma seemed to be behind them.
“You know, I'm not sure I ever did thank you properly for what you did...or if I even can.”
“I'll always be t
here for you, just like I know you'll always be there for me,” Ellen said, “but let's not dwell on that now. We should just enjoy the party. The past is past, let's focus on the future.”
Nothing sounded better to Andy and the two of them stood side by side, watching events around them unfold.
The town hall was used for a variety of purposes, mostly for meetings of the town council. While those were usually dry affairs, this event filled the hall with buoyant sounds of happiness and laughter. An array of circular tables was arranged around the floor, and because the amount of people invited had been a last minute adjustment, the guests had been encouraged to bring their own food and share it with everybody. This led to a varied feast of all manner of foods, from savory snacks to sweet treats.
There had been some tense times in the town over the past few months, and times when the town residents had been at loggerheads with Ellen and Andy, but both were pleased that everyone could come together and celebrate this happy occasion.
Aside from all the other guests there was one in particular who, like the children, was lost in a world of his own. He was tearing into a wide slab of meat that had been given to him especially by the butcher. Scampy, Ellen's dog, was sitting underneath the table, focusing on his meat. A forest of legs passed through his field of vision and it wouldn't be long before he was up creating mischief. He had become something of a mascot for the town. It wasn't long before Scott came up to him and invited him to play. Scampy met this offer with a high-pitched yelp and left an empty bone behind him, scurrying after Scott to join in with the frivolities.
Eventually there came a break in the evening when Kelly was free and able to talk with Ellen.
“What a day,” Kelly said.
“You look happy,” Ellen replied, taking a moment to take care of a piece of Kelly's dress that had become folded in the wrong way.