by Amy Gaudette
Chapter 32
The cover of night was slipping away when Brady and his dad finally neared Bundy Harbor. Rays of light colored the sky, reflected off the water.
“Dad. We’re going to be seen in this fishing boat. We should have scuba dived.”
“It’s okay. We have the gear if we need it. Look around. There’s at least two more boats out here. We’re nothing unusual. One more corner, and we should see his yacht. We’ll stay far enough out. We can observe with our binoculars before we commit.”
Brady stared hard at him. “We’ve already committed, Dad.”
Doug didn’t respond. “Get ready. You should be able to see something soon. It’s big enough. Probably stands out like a sore thumb.” He started rowing harder.
Around the next corner, a wide expanse of open water greeted them. Off in the distance, along the western shoreline, a lone dock stretched a far-reaching finger out over the water. On the immediate shoreline an extensive web of steps and floats led to the dock. Brady could see it all, except the one thing he wanted most. Richard’s yacht was nowhere to be seen.
“Dad, his boat isn’t there.” Brady’s voice was panicked.
“Let me see.”
He handed his dad the binoculars. He panned the docks, back and forth. Nothing. Brady’s heart hammered in his chest. He clenched his hands. Were they too late? Something caught his eye on the shore. “Dad, what is it? Where’s the boat?”
“I see a large white object back under the trees. Yeah. Already loaded on a trailer and wrapped, ready to be taken to a boatyard for the winter.”
Brady held his breath. It could only mean one thing — Megan was not on board. Or was she?
“The boat’s been wrapped for a while. There are branches on it and around it from the last big storm we had two weeks ago.” His dad’s eyes said it all. They had lost Megan. Failure weighed down on him like concrete — again . . .
Doug took a deep breath. “Brady, all this means is Megan is not here. I have been in close contact with Richard for the past week. There is no way he had time to take Megan out here without someone knowing. From here, the boat looks like it’s been wrapped for a while. Let’s stay focused on the positive. We have to hold on to hope until we hear differently. For Megan’s sake, we’re going to hold on to hope.” Brady faced him. A small fire lit under his dad, giving Brady a glimmer hope.
He pushed back against the bleakness he felt, and sat up. “Let’s go home, Dad. Maybe we’ll find out more when we get back.”
Rowing again, they changed direction and headed back. The sun soon blazed its full morning light, bathing them in brightness. Brady caught his dad’s resolve and together, they would find Megan. There was no quitting.
✽✽✽
Exhaustion made the hike into the woods even harder on Sam. Thankfully, Gabe led the way. What had started as a primeval path morphed into what seemed a purposefully created jungle. Obstacles hindered every step. Cut trees, rocks, even brush piled up the entire way, until they caught sight of the cabin. The men stopped out of sight of the dilapidated building. With hand signals from Gabe, they silently strove through the undergrowth, surrounding the cabin. Sam noted though the left side wall was precariously leaning, the door had new hinges and a modern lock. New windows still boasted their stickers, left on after installing. Who would do this? And why?
A sickly odor emanated ahead. Sam had no desire to go any farther. Megan couldn’t be here. This darkened hellhole reeked of death. Please God, don’t let her be here.
One of the men called the all clear from the cabin. Sam saw the front door crash to the ground, dust flying every which way. Two men came out and signaled for Sam and Gabe. They left their covering and headed to the cabin. Sam trailed. The odor grew more offensive the closer they came.
“Sam. Why don’t you wait here? No need for you to see what I think we’re going to find here.”
Sam didn’t argue. He sat on a fallen tree and prayed.
A few minutes later Gabe reappeared. His face was grim.
“Megan’s not here. At least not with our initial inspection. But there is fresh blood, as well as . . . what looks like the remains of a body. Possibly very old. We’ll need to bring the field team in for this one.”
Gabe sighed. “At least one thing is for sure, we’ll be putting Richard away if we find any evidence he’s been here.”
Sam was quiet. His heart heavy. Where was Megan? What has she been put through?
A crashing of feet in the woods startled Sam. He caught sight of three more men headed toward the cabin. All in uniform. Sam rose. He wanted to return to the hotel, see how Rose was, and check on Brady.
“Gabe!” he hollered to his friend. “I’m going to head back. Are you all set here?”
“Sure, go ahead. I’ll catch a ride with these guys when we’re done. We’ve put out an APB on Richard. Right now it’s just for questioning.”
“Let me know how things go when you get back. Take care.”
Sam hiked back the way they had come. So much had happened in so little time, his head was spinning. The woods felt claustrophobic. It didn’t take him as long to return as it had to get out there. When he emerged he was greeted by full sunshine and a light breeze. He turned his face into it, trying to ease the images and smells he had just experienced. A family played in the park, oblivious to the evil a little over a half mile into the woods. This whole area would be blocked off in no time.
Sam climbed into his car and took off. He called Rose and updated her with as little news as possible.
“Sam. We’ve been waiting for you. Doug and Brady are here. They want to talk to you as soon as you get back.”
“Okay, do me a favor? Order some sandwiches for me and a large smoothie. Anything will do. I’m starving, malnourished, and grumpy.”
Sam heard Rose laugh. If felt good. Normal. Too normal. “Okay, Sam, will do.”
He took a deep breath. He must trust.
Thirty minutes later, Sam pulled into the parking lot at the hotel. He felt like he hadn’t been there in days. Fatigue and stress were wreaking havoc on his body. Getting out of the car, a flash of movement caught his attention. A large brown dog ran down the sidewalk opposite to him. Bear was on the loose.
Sam saw Brady’s face flush red. His disheveled appearance told the story.
“Hey, Brady.” Sam hollered over. “Do you want some help?” Sam ran across the parking lot. Nearing Brady, he saw Bear was attached to the leash again.
“Hi, Sam. Bear has been a . . . well, a bear today.”
Sam chuckled. “How are you?”
They headed to the hotel door.
“Okay. Dad will tell you the whole story. But we went after Megan this morning. Boated all the way out to Bundy Harbor.”
“I take it you didn’t find her.”
Brady ran his hands through Bear’s thick coat. “No. The boat was wrapped and trailered for the winter. The police did get a search warrant. It will be a while before we know if Megan was ever there. So far there hasn’t been any sign of her. Dad and I aren’t giving up hope though.”
“Good. Neither are we.”
“Food is here. We ate, but I could eat more.”
“Then let’s.” The three of them entered the lobby and headed over to the elevator.
“I’m all for shortcuts today,” Brady agreed grimly.
After greeting Rose and Doug, Sam graced the food and they ate in silence. Sam’s phone ringing startled him.
“Hello, Gabe.”
“Hey, Sam. I’m headed back to the hotel. The crew here at the cabin will be working for a few days on this. It’s worse than I imagined. Still no Megan. We’ve sent a blood sample to the lab. We should hear back soon. I also heard from the team out at Richard’s yacht. No evidence she was there. It seems to have been winterized for some time. I guess that’s good news.” Gabe was obviously fatigued.
“Yeah. I’ll pass it on. Thanks, Gabe. We have a pile of sandwiches here if you want so
me when you get back.”
“I’ll take you up on that. See you later.”
Sam hung up.
“No Megan. And no evidence she was at the yacht.”
“What about at the cabin?”
“They’re still working on that. It’s a real old place, and quite a mess. I think it’ll take a while.”
Doug glanced at Brady. “Do you want to head back home with me? I’d like to check on your mom.”
“Uh, yeah, sure. I’ll come back here later.”
He glanced at the others. “Call us if any news comes in.”
“Okay.”
Soon as they had left, Rose took a long look at Sam.
“You need to take a long nap, before you drop.”
Bear ran to the door, woofing again.
“That dog doesn’t know whether it’s coming or going today,” Rose stood and grabbed the leash. “I’ll take him out.”
“Thanks, Rose. And I think I will go lie down for a few minutes. Call me for anything, okay?”
“Okay, Sam.”
Chapter 33
Back home, silently stoking his anger, Richard paced his living room floor. The insidious pain in his stomach continued its torment until the mayor nearly doubled over, agony contracting within him. The darkness was growing. He caught his breath, stood back up in defiance, and resumed his steps.
Why hadn’t they been in touch with him? Had his men been discovered? It wasn’t possible. He even had Chief Hutchins in his back pocket. The generous yearly donation to his paralyzed son made sure of that. Maybe there wasn’t any information to report yet. It was only ten in the morning. A minute later his cell phone went off. Finally.
“Hello, Hutchins. What’s happening?” Richard demanded.
“Nothing to tell on this end, Richard. Post just reported in from the hotel. No news there. Stanton family is sleeping in this morning. I did see your stock was up. Good news all around.” Chief Hutchins gave a forced laugh.
“Yes, sounds a bit too good.” Richard didn’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but . . .
A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. Peering through the curtains, he saw Beverly Stanton. Richard set down his phone, went to the door and opened it. He was in no mood for company. But he did love to torment her. Beverly the mouse. Prey and predator.
“Well, Beverly. To what do I owe the privilege of this visit? Perhaps to beg for mercy? Are you regretting that I choose others over you?” Beverly stood outside the door. It was obvious she wasn’t taking a step further. She was so pale, so pathetic, the wind could have blown her over.
“Hello, Richard. I thought I would stop by to see if you might be interested in some information that is classified.” Her voice shook. “First, I know you don’t have Megan. If you did, you would have been on an extended vacation on your yacht to sink the body out in the deep. Just as you have done before but will never do again. And I will see to that. Because I’m here to put you out of your obsessive-compulsive, megalomaniac existence.”
Beverly’s voice grew stronger as she continued. Richard’s eyes darkened with rage. Red streaks plastered across his ashen-gray face. He threateningly stepped toward her.
Beverly took two steps backwards but stood her ground.
“Second. Detectives are on their way right now to your yacht to gather evidence of the women who were in your company and never seen again. They will also find your second set of books. And one of your past conquests let the police department know about your cabin. Maybe the ghost of one of your exes? Lastly, and you’ll really like this one, your informants in the police department have turned on you. I guess you don’t always win, do you Richard?”
Her voice sounded unnatural. Her face contorted.
She began shaking uncontrollably as she reached inside her coat pocket.
Richard backed up to his door.
He felt blood pounding through his chest, trying but not making it to his head. He knew she was telling the truth. He could feel the noose tightening. Another round of pain knifed through his abdomen. Sweat beaded up on his forehead. His face took on a deep grimace. A guttural sound came from somewhere deep inside him. He felt his body crash hard on the top cement step and roll over and over until he came to a stop on the ground. He stared unseeing at the sky. Shallow breaths came from his lips. Inside, Richard raged on despite the pain racking his body.
No one was going to get the upper hand on him. No one. He had controlled rage his entire life. Used it to serve his purposes. His father should have seen him. He had gone further than he had ever dreamed. No one was going to take it away from him.
Richard gasped. Blood seeped from his mouth. Briefly a woman standing next to him came into focus.
“Goodbye, Richard. I hope you burn in hell.” Words bounced off of him, but he felt the hatred emanating from them. He momentarily wondered if he could rid himself of her. He hated women. But as soon as the thought came, another took its place.
I am dying.
Richard coughed blood, took one last deep breath. He was gone . . .
✽✽✽
Beverly’s hand shook uncontrollably. Her fingers no longer worked. The small, cold weapon slipped out of her grasp and to the ground. She tried to wrap her numbing mind around what had just happened. Richard looked pale and lifeless on the ground in front of her. Only a few feet away . . . he lay unmoving. Blood dripped from his mouth. She needed to do something, but didn’t know what.
Seconds went by, a few minutes. Beverley slowly pulled her cell phone from her pocket. She dialed 9-1-1. A quick ring and a brisk male voice began asking for information on the other end. What was her emergency?
“He’s . . . I think he’s dead.”
“Who is dead, ma’am?” The voice pressed.
“Richard. Mayor Richard Dwight.”
“What is your location?”
“21 Omega Park Drive. Piedmont.”
“Who is this? Can I have your name?”
Beverly heard no more. Her mind caved, her body went limp. The gun lay at her side, unused.
Chapter 34
Rose leashed Bear, having to reprimand him more than once to slow down. She worried he may not be feeling well, thus his frequent trips to the dogwalk. Thankfully, the hotel was adjacent to a park decked out in a canopy of maples just beginning their metamorphosis of color. She had strolled through here a few times with Bear. It was a wonderful place to think and pray. Sunlight decorated her path, beaming through here and there. Rose spent a moment giving thanks despite everything that was going on.
Bear meandered one way then another. No destination. After Rose had tired herself out, she turned to head back to the hotel. Startling both Rose and Bear, a squirrel bolted across the path in front of them. Bear stiffened and bolted. Rose nearly tripped over herself, trying to stop him, but to no avail. Bear was on a scent, and there was nothing she could do to stop him.
Frustrated, she moved as fast as she could back to the hotel to see if Sam was up.
She knocked gently on the door, not wanting to wake him if he was still asleep.
“Come in, Rose,” Sam greeted her. He was not alone. Gabe had come in, and Doug and Brady had returned. From the looks on their faces, the news was not good.
“What happened?” Rose asked quickly.
Gabe gave the news.
“Richard was found dead at his home about an hour ago. Cause of death is unknown at this point.”
The room was silent. No one seemed to know what to say. What did it mean? What about Megan?
Rose held back the tears. They weren’t for Richard, everyone knew. Sam looked at Rose. “Where’s Bear?”
Rose startled. “Oh my. I forgot. Bear. He bolted into the woods. I couldn’t stop him. Oh dear, what do we do?”
Brady jumped up too quickly. “Richard’s dead? You’ve got to be kidding me. He gets away without being punished and we still don’t know where Megan is?” Brady’s face was deep red. “I need to get out, I’ll fin
d Bear. He’s probably treed a squirrel.”
Sam joined him. “Me too. We’ll be right back.”
“Take your phone, just in case.” Doug tossed Sam his phone.
No one asked in case of what.
Chapter 35
She dragged her feet painfully. One foot at a time, one step at a time. Over a fallen tree, through a brook, stumbling over rocks. More than once, stopping to rest, to catch her breath. The woods closed in on her. Darkness penetrated further and further. Once too warm, she now felt chilled. Her breath seemed shallow, her heart continued to pound.
Fatigue seemed to call to her, luring her to give in, give up, lay down and sleep. But the daylight was slipping away and the night frightened her more than anything.
A misstep and she was eating dirt. Blood dripped down her chin, she wiped it away, spreading more dirt on her face. Hot tears fell, she lay there, unmoving.
“Megan, look to the light.”
Startled, Megan lifted her head. That voice. She had heard it before. Where?
She sat up and looked around.
“To the light, Megan. Always to the light.” Memories locked away came fumbling one over another until images and voices from the past overwhelmed her. Before, her past was silent, now she couldn’t stop the flow, the smells and sounds and the screams.
She was once again next to the baby in the bassinet. The baby was crying louder and louder until her screams caused Megan to put her hands over her ears. She fussed with the baby’s blankets, looked for a bottle, but nothing she did helped. Yelling came from the doorway. Megan wanted to hide. She couldn’t leave the baby girl. Her sister. Emma. Picking her up and wrapping her in a dirty blanket, she ran and hid in a closet.
The yelling came closer. Voices slurred and drenched with hatred screeched from the other side of the door. The stench of alcohol. Megan stuck her finger in the baby’s mouth, the infant sucked hard, momentarily quiet.