by Wendy Tyson
“He’s listed as her boyfriend on Facebook.”
Scott shrugged. “Wishful thinking?”
“How long have they been together?” Mia asked.
“They hung out for four, five months. Kai gets around. I doubt she was the only one he was hanging with. Good looking boy.”
“Mr. Berger, Tammy’s been missing for several days. No one has heard from her. Is there anything you can tell us about where she likes to hang out?” Allison kept her voice soft, non-threatening, but still Scott glanced at Mia.
“You the cops?”
Allison smiled. “Look at my card, Mr. Berger. I’m the farthest thing from it.”
He pulled her card from his pocket and glanced quickly at the front. His foot stopped tapping. “An image consultant? I don’t even know what that is.”
“Like a life coach.”
“Then why do you care about Tammy?”
“She’s my client,” Allison said. “I want to help find her.”
When he didn’t respond, she said, “Can you at least tell me where to find your son? Maybe he knows something.”
Scott glanced at his watch, grimaced and stood. “You asked for it.”
He disappeared into one of the bedrooms. Allison heard grumbling followed by the screech of a chair scraping against the floor, then a loud, “Fuck!” before Scott finally emerged looking sullen.
“Kai’s not a morning person. He works the nightshift, so he’s pretty tired. Go easy on him.” He walked toward the apartment door, the saunter gone now, and paused before leaving. “You should talk to that girl’s parents. That mother’s a holy roller. A wackadoodle holy roller. I got nothing against religion, but don’t go forcing it down other people’s throats, know what I mean?” His shoulder twitched and he made a fist with his left hand. Allison caught a whiff of barely-controlled rage.
“What do you think the mother’s religious views have to do with her daughter’s disappearance?” Mia asked.
“Who the hell knows? A cult? Some sort of honor thing? I’m just saying some people have funny ideas, and Mrs. Edwards is one of those people. Talk to her. Get her alone.”
He left, shutting the door with a bang. Mia looked at Allison, eyebrows arched, as if to say, who’s the wackadoodle? Allison barely had time to shrug before Kai Berger stomped into the room, dressed in a soiled gray t-shirt and a pair of plaid pajama bottoms. Unlike his father, he was tall. His face had a fresh rash of pimples across the chin and cheeks, but when he looked at Allison, she saw a flash of intelligence that gave her hope.
Kai sank into the couch. “Yeah?”
Allison explained who they were. “We want to help find Tammy. Any idea where she might be.”
“Why would I know?”
“You’re her boyfriend.”
Kai shrugged, a gesture that echoed his father’s. “Damn if I know where she is.”
“Has she contacted you?”
Kai’s gaze darted toward the door. “Not since last week, when she was down in Philly.”
Allison said, “With me.”
“Yeah, I guess.” Another shrug. “Look, she called me from the hotel all full of ways she could tell her parents to go fuck themselves. Next thing I know, her mother calls me accusing me of hiding her. She’s always hated me.”
Allison sat on the edge of the couch, across from Kai and as far from a pair of dirty socks as she could get. “Why?”
“Damn if I know. Dad owns a bar, maybe that’s offensive.”
Mia said, “Your father suggested we talk to Tammy’s mother. He said she’s religious. That maybe she had something to do with Tammy’s disappearance.”
“Dad’s crazy. Has been ever since Mom left him.”
“When was that?” Allison asked.
“Three years ago.”
“Do they fight a lot?” Mia asked softly.
“Nah, they just don’t talk. Dad slept with Vicky, his bartender. Mom found out and left him. He’s pissed because she got the better end of the bargain. Lives in a new house, has a new boyfriend. He lives in this shithole. Give him enough time and he’ll tell you all about it himself.”
Allison decided on a different tack. “Have the police contacted you, Kai?”
That made him perk up. “No, why would they?”
“Your girlfriend’s missing. I’d think they would talk to people close to her.”
“Didn’t talk to me. I only heard from Tammy’s mom.”
“What do you think happened to her?”
“How would I know?”
“Do you think she ran away, Kai?” Mia asked.
He looked away. “Nah, why would she?”
“I don’t know. But if she didn’t run,” Allison said, “then something bad may have happened to her. Doesn’t that possibility scare you?”
Kai shifted in his seat. “Yeah, I guess. When you put it that way.”
Mia stood. “Kai, where did Tammy like to hang out? Mall? Clubs?”
“None of those places. She was either singing—choir, studio, at home—or hanging out with me.”
“Where?”
He shrugged. “Wherever. We liked to mountain bike on Snow Mountain. Sometimes we’d hike.”
“Did you come here?” Allison asked.
Kai snorted. “Would you take a girl here?”
He had a point. “Any other friends?”
“My friends were her friends. Sometimes she hung out with her neighbor, Kellie with an ‘ie.’ She’ll tell you that when you meet her. ‘I’m Kellie with an ie.’”
It was clear he didn’t think much of Kellie with an “ie.” “Where does Kellie live?”
“A few blocks from Tammy. Green house, orange shutters. Hard to miss.” He yawned. “Done with me? I gotta go back to bed. Working tonight.”
“Where do you work?”
“Pizza delivery. A few other odd jobs.” His eyes fluttered, blinked twice. “Saving money to go back to school.”
Allison stood carefully, taking pains not to touch any of the soiled laundry. “We appreciate your time, Kai. Good luck with work and school.” Allison pulled another business card from her purse. “If you hear anything at all about Tammy, call me.”
“Yeah, sure. Whatever.”
Back downstairs, Allison exhaled in relief. She wanted to be outside, away from that cramped apartment and the smells and bullshit of the Berger boys. She took one more look through the glass door that led to the small bar and saw Scott Berger’s leering face through the window. She nodded, and he gave her a smile that sent a chill down her spine.
“What do you think?” Mia said back out in the humid summer air.
“The boy’s lying. They both are.”
Fifteen
Jamie was still asleep when Vaughn snuck out of the apartment that morning. Angela was scheduled to be there until eight and then Mrs. T would relieve her, so he knew that his brother would be okay. He scribbled a note for both women. While Jamie hadn’t said anything directly, Vaughn could tell that these disappearances were weighing on him, making him worry, and that only increased Vaughn’s anxiety. Like he’d told Allison, he needed to do something. He’d texted Allison and told her he’d be late for work. She wouldn’t care. She was the one always urging him to work less and play more.
He started with the boxing gym. A ninety-minute-long workout and a cleansing hot shower helped him clear his mind, get some perspective. Then he headed toward the office so he could clear out the pile of crap he’d been trying to get finished for the last few days. Work and discipline were called for now—and while his mind was occupied with other things, maybe he would remember something that would help, something that would trigger a lead.
Vaughn turned the BMW onto Route 30, which led to Villanova. Traffic had picked up and the roads were congested.
He s
lowed to a stop by a traffic light near a Starbucks and toyed with whether or not to stop for coffee. He generally avoided alcohol and caffeine, but today felt like it warranted an exception. When the light turned, he figured what the hell and made a quick right into the parking lot. Iced coffee. That’s what he wanted.
He pulled next to an old Acura Integra, grabbed his wallet and mobile from the center console and opened the door to the BMW. His wallet fell to the ground. Damn, he muttered under his breath, and reached down to pick it up. It was then that he noticed the white Accord making a u-turn at the traffic light. The car pulled into the parking lot at the hair salon next door and sat idle, facing the Starbucks but barely visible from this angle. Vaughn wouldn’t have thought much of it—guy waiting for his girl or something—but when he glanced back at the car on his way into the coffee shop, he could have sworn he saw someone inside watching him. The back of Vaughn’s neck prickled.
You’re a crazy bastard, he said to himself, and shoved open the door.
Tammy’s neighborhood was quiet this time of day. Allison parked at the end of the street, a block and a half away from the Edwards’ property, and killed the engine. Kai was right: the house was hard to miss. Kellie’s home was a standalone in a neighborhood of twins. A coat of fresh orange paint graced the door, a shade or two off from the peeling orange shutters. A red, white, and blue wreath hung from a nail in the wood. The house itself was a seashore mint green. The forced cheerfulness of the exterior contrasted with a rusty Ford pick-up truck that sat flat-tired in the driveway.
“Holy kaleidoscope, Batman.”
Mia laughed. “Why don’t you go alone? It might be less threatening that way.”
“You’ll be okay?”
“I want to check on Vaughn anyway.”
“I got a text from him earlier. He was going to the gym before work and then going into the office late.”
Mia looked troubled. “Does he know you’re in Scranton?”
Allison felt a stab of guilt. “I left him a note at the office. I was afraid if I told him ahead of time, he’d insist on coming. That didn’t seem like a great idea.”
Mia didn’t say anything. She pulled her phone out of her leather purse. “I’ll wait here.”
Allison climbed out of her car and walked up the steps to the porch. She knocked once. Someone pulled open the door with gusto, and then looked disappointed to see Allison standing there.
“Oh,” said the girl in front of Allison. “I thought you were someone else.”
Clearly, Allison thought. “I’m Allison Campbell. I was hoping to talk to Kellie. Is she home?”
“That’s me.”
The girl didn’t budge from the doorframe. She was average height and maybe fifty pounds overweight. Her ample frame had been poured into skin-toned spandex pants and a clingy print blouse cut low enough to expose a deep valley of cleavage. Her hair was dyed a shade of red that did not exist in nature. Her makeup looked professional: smoky brown shadow and mascara that opened up almond-shaped green eyes. She had beautiful eyes.
“Do you have a few minutes to talk about Tammy?” Allison asked.
She squinted. “Tammy?”
“Tammy Edwards? Your friend?”
“What about her?”
“Can I come in, Kellie?”
Kellie glanced back over her shoulder. She shook her head. “My mom’s sleeping. It’d be better if we talk outside.”
The girl walked out onto the porch and closed the door behind her. She stood with her back against the siding, one pedicured foot against the house. “Tammy’s missing.”
“I know. That’s why I’m here. Do you have any idea where she might have gone?”
“What’s it to you?”
Allison explained her role. “Have the police met with you?”
“No one has met with me. Tammy’s mom called, but that was it.”
“How well do you know Tammy?”
“Pretty well. We’ve been neighbors since elementary school. She’s quiet, but we hang out sometimes.”
“Does she have a wide social circle?”
Kellie looked down at her feet. “Neither of us has many friends. I guess that’s why we hooked up.” She looked up, shyly. “Misfits, you know. Safety in numbers and all that crap.”
Which aligned with what Kai Berger had said. “How about Kai? Do you know him well?”
Kellie made a face. “Kind of. What of it?”
“Do you think Tammy might be with Kai, Kellie?”
“Who the hell knows? Kai and I don’t really hang out.”
“Not at all?” Allison asked the question with kindness in her voice. It was clear from Kellie’s body language that she disliked Kai. Maybe because he bullied her. Maybe because he symbolized something she felt she couldn’t have: a love interest. Either way, Allison wanted to know more about Tammy’s circle of friends. And she had very few avenues from which to glean that knowledge.
“He thinks he’s cool. All intellectual and shit. Doesn’t want to be seen with someone who goes to cosmetology school.” Kellie scowled. “Even though he can’t hold a steady job or manage to stay in school. Doesn’t seem all that intellectual to me. But Tammy really likes him. Yin and yang, maybe. Who knows.”
Allison smiled. She’d taken a liking to Kellie. The girl seemed honest and a little lost. If Allison had to guess, home life wasn’t too easy on Kellie. Sleeping mom probably translated to sleeping-one-off mom. And if there was a paying job in the household, that broken-down Ford truck said it was a thing of the past.
“And anyway, cosmetology school’s not that easy.”
“Did you apply your own makeup?” Allison asked on impulse.
“I did.” The hint of a smile gave life to a pair of sweet dimples.
“Nicely done.” Allison dug a card out of her purse. “Maybe you can come work for me when you’re done with school.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
The front door opened and a disheveled woman in a velour sweat suit stumbled out onto the porch. “Kel-lie?”
“Mom, go back inside.”
“Who’s that?”
“Go back inside. Please.”
The woman, hair a helmet of platinum blonde spikes, shot an unfocused look Allison’s way. “Kellie in some kind of trouble?” Her words slurred together in one intoxicated mélange.
“No. I’m just here to ask about Tammy Edwards.”
“Oh.” And like that, she slammed the door.
Kellie resumed her interest in her own feet. “Sorry,” she mumbled. “My mom’s not well.”
Allison leaned down to catch Kellie’s eye. “Nothing for you to apologize about. Now keep that card. Let me know if you hear from Tammy. And don’t forget to look me up when you’ve finished school.”
Kellie gave her a sideways smile, one that made Allison feel the ache of her own lonely childhood. “I promise. On both counts.”
From the car, Allison caught a glimpse of Tammy’s mom, Jane Edwards, sitting on her front porch, baby in her arms. Allison climbed back out of the Volvo and with a quick explanation to a pensive Mia, headed toward the Edwards’ residence. She approached cautiously, wary of the reception she would receive. It took a moment before Jane noticed her. When she did, alarm distorted her plain features into a mask of wary anger.
Allison held up a hand. “I was in town and thought I would check in.”
Jane Edwards pulled the baby closer to her chest. “Check in for what?”
“To see whether you have any news? And to find out if I can help in any way.”
“You’ve done enough.”
Jane tugged at the waist of her navy blue skirt. She wore another frilly blouse, the off-white collar tied at the throat with a bow. In contrast, the baby was wearing a bright floral dress with ruffled panties and matchin
g pink socks. At the sight of Allison, the little girl stuck her fist in her mouth and sucked contentedly, drool dripping down a chubby chin.
“Have the police been in contact, Mrs. Edwards?”
“Why would they?”
“Tammy’s missing. I’d think they’d want to search for her.”
“I called the local hospitals and morgues. No sign of her. I don’t think this is police business.”
Jane spoke without affectation. Allison watched her face closely. Was she lying, still in shock—or did she really feel that little emotion?
“I could contact local government officials for you, unless you’ve already done that.”
“Please stay out of it, Ms. Campbell.” Jane’s voice was high-pitched, her words coming quickly. “Tammy’s run away. The more I think about it, the more certain I am. No need for the police.”
“Just in case, wouldn’t it be a good idea to search for her? Have the police search?”
“I’m a woman of faith. And no one knows Tammy better than I do. My daughter is rebelling. She’ll turn up eventually. It’s all this nonsense about music and Hollywood. I told my husband that she needs school, marriage, but in the end, he makes the decisions.” Jane stood. The baby reached for her hair with one spit-soaked hand and she pushed the girl’s fist away with a harsh, “Stop that, Isabelle.”
“I need to get Isabelle down for her nap. Please stop worrying about my daughter. She’ll come to her senses eventually, and when she does, we will see to it that she receives the appropriate consequences.”
Allison watched Tammy’s mother go back inside, little Isabelle gurgling happy baby talk over her shoulder. As her mother pushed through the door, the baby opened and closed one chubby fist in Allison’s direction, waving good-bye.
Back in the car, Allison found Mia sitting in the passenger seat with her head against the glass. She wore a dazed expression. Allison felt her stomach twist into ropes. Something bad had happened.