Facing Evil

by C L Hart

  The Cop’s Worth Millions

  — Detective Abby Stanfield has been hiding out in her million dollar resort...

  Her mouth dry, Sarah had rushed inside and purchased both newspapers, quickly perusing the front page stories. Each word she read echoed loudly in her head as she recalled Abby’s words to her. Some of the information printed in the stories was not quite the way the tall detective had told it, and some of what she had told Sarah wasn’t there at all, but the bones of the stories were the truth. She had to talk to Abby before she saw the stories, but by the time she got back to the resort, Abby was gone.

  Sarah sat alone in her cabin, staring at the unfinished note Abby had left. Just like that, the emotional dilemma that had tormented her had been resolved, and without her input. So why did she feel like someone had kicked her hard in the chest? She scanned the phone number scrawled out in Abby's handwriting. It seemed to be calling to her, but how could she possibly explain to Abby how her name was attached to the byline on those newspaper articles?

  Chapter 12

  “You’re still on medical leave; your suspension has not been revoked,” Lieutenant Banks stated firmly.

  Abby stood in front of her commander’s desk in exasperation. “Then what the hell am I doing here?”

  “When the news of another murder hit the papers, all eyes turned to Ward, but when word got out that we had him under surveillance, all hell broke loose. The press is having a field day at our expense.”

  “Any idea how they found out about the surveillance?”

  “No, but I will have. It wasn’t public knowledge. In the mean time, Ward’s lawyer has informed us that his client is contemplating a lawsuit and our legal department needs some answers before this gets aired on the news and in the papers.”

  Abby shook her head in disbelief. “A lawsuit? I thought he said he wasn’t going to sue.”

  “This isn’t about the incident outside the courtroom; this is about the entire case. His lawyer’s comment is that...” Lieutenant Banks paused, pulling her glasses off to look Abby in the eye. “He says you set Billy up and you fabricated evidence.”

  “What? You can’t be serious! So you didn’t call me back here to work on the case or to work on the new murder?”

  Lieutenant Banks shook her head. “No. Look, all I can say is there are accusations of malfeasance in this case. And if that is—”

  “Okay, just hang on. Are you trying to say we set him up? What about all the evidence at his house? He did it. You know it, and I know it.” Abby was starting to understand why Lincoln had been so upset with her. It wasn’t just the secrets she had held back from him, but the fear of what a lawsuit could do to him professionally and financially. “So now what?”

  “You need to go upstairs and sign over your notes. The legal department wants to get started.”

  “I can work on this, but I can’t work on the cases, is that it?” Abby said bitterly.

  “In a nutshell, yes,” Lieutenant Banks said. “But, I can’t stop you from doing whatever you want to do from your own home and on your own time. You’ve got the prelim paperwork?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then I’ll arrange for Lincoln to have copies of everything.”

  “Thanks,” Abby said sincerely. “But Linc doesn’t appear to want to talk to me right now.”

  “Give him time, Abby. It hasn’t been fun around here, and he has been taking the brunt of it. Now get going. They’re waiting for you upstairs.”

  ♥

  The sunlight had all but faded by the time Abby left the station house. She was bothered by the fact that she hadn’t heard from Sarah, and she hoped there would be a message waiting for her at home. Buck appeared to be sleeping next to the Jeep, but she knew better. With a click of her teeth, her faithful guard dog was on his feet and ready for her next command, but as she approached, he lazily stretched out with a big yawn.

  “Oh, that’s convincing, you big ham.” His tail wagged and he howled a soft reply. The stress of the day and the long drive weighed heavily on her shoulders as she made her way out of town. The canyon in which she lived was about a twenty minute drive away. Once she started up the winding road, it was easy to forget how close the city was. The moment Abby turned into her driveway and the Jeep’s large tires crunched over the gravel, Buck’s tail began to thump loudly against his seat.

  She pulled open the door into her home, and the stale air hit her full force. Dropping her bags where she stood, she started in the kitchen and opened every window and sliding glass door in the converted farmhouse. Three stories tall, the open style house was forty feet high from the kitchen floor to the refurbished beams of the ceiling. The main floor held the kitchen, one of the two bathrooms, the dining room, and the spare bedroom. The stairs angled around the inner hub of the home. Their first stop was the open landing living room. The stairs carried upward to the next small landing, which had room only for her desk and computer, before they turned and headed up to their final destination — her bedroom. Standing next to her dresser, her bathroom was to her left, and to her right she could look down to the open kitchen below.

  Soon a gentle breeze was blowing through the house as Abby stood listening to the numerous messages left on her answering machine. Most were of no importance, or could be returned the next day, a few were from reporters looking for an interview, but none were from Sarah, and that bothered her as she headed up the stairs to unpack.

  Why hasn’t Sarah called?

  The question turned over and over in her mind as she busied herself unpacking. Several times she passed a phone, since there was one on each landing, but it just sat silently, refusing to be intimidated into ringing.

  Only after everything was in its place did Abby realize just how hungry she was. Looking into her empty fridge, she pondered her options for dinner. “Hmmm, something with mustard or salad dressing seems to be the only thing—”

  The phone warbled and she rushed to answer it. Sarah’s smiling eyes were vivid in her memory as she reached for the phone. “Hello.”

  “Welcome home, Abby, I’ve missed you,” a voice said.

  “Fuck you!” she growled into the phone. “What do you want, Billy?” Abby sneered as she glanced down at her watch.

  “Now, Abby, is that any way to treat—”

  It took everything in her power not to hang up the phone. “What do you want, Billy?”

  “What do I want... Oh, how I’ve waited to hear you say that.” Abby swallowed the bile rising in her throat.

  “I want you.” His previously playful voice changed, darkened. “I want you to pay for what you’ve done to me.”

  “For what I’ve done to you? Are you kidding me?”

  “You took it all away from me, Abby. Everything. People are looking at me like I’m some kind of animal. The press is hounding my every move—”

  Abby’s temper cut him off. “You’re a murdering psychopathic bastard whose mind is so twisted you have no idea how sick you are.”

  “I am not sick!” Billy screamed into the phone.

  Abby paused for a moment, realizing she was pushing his buttons. “You’re sick, Billy, and you belong in a gas chamber, or back inside a mental ward.”

  “It’s not going to happen, Abby. I’m smarter than you and you know it.”

  “Are you? I don’t think so. You’ve been lucky. Well, your luck is about to run out. You’re sloppy, Billy.” Looking down at her watch again, Abby calculated the time.

  “I’m not sloppy, Abby, that’s why you never caught me.” Billy became calmer, his voice soothing as he attempted to regain control. “You’ve tried to destroy my life, my freedom, but no more. You had your chance, and now it’s my turn — a whole new game, but with different players this time, Abby. Think you can save them?” He was laughing as the phone went dead.

  Abby looked down at the handset as the line came alive with a dial tone. Walking over to her sliding glass door, she looked out over the flickering lights of the ci
ty. Billy Ward was still playing a game, and a little voice inside her head told her she wasn’t going to like it at all.

  ♥

  It had been a long sleepless night, but it was finally over. She had not heard from Sarah and she had no idea why. Now with a coffee in her hand, Abby stood on her deck and watched the gray skies become orange with the rising sun. Turning away, she padded barefoot back inside for another cup of coffee. As she entered the kitchen the phone rang, and she grabbed it before it could ring again. “Hello,” she said, hoping to hear Sarah’s voice.

  “Abby, Lieutenant Banks. I hate to call you at home, but we have a problem.”

  “Now what?” Abby walked outside and look a seat in one of her deck chairs.

  “Someone with pertinent information is talking to the press. This morning’s lead story...” There was a rustle of paper before Banks spoke again. “It goes into detail about facts of the case that were never released.”

  “Shit.” Abby closed her eyes and ran her fingers through her hair.

  “You do realize with this information leaked, we have next to nothing to go on. Everyone knows what we have and what we don’t have. We’ve lost most of it already.”

  “I know that, Lieutenant.”

  “Abby...”

  The way that her boss said her name told the detective there was more, but she wasn’t sure if she wanted to hear it.

  “It also goes on to say that your last name isn’t Stanfield, and that you had to change it because of something in your past.”

  “Son of a—” Abby jumped to her feet. Her privacy had been invaded and the secrets of her life were being exposed after so many years.

  “Abby, is there something—”

  “Lieutenant,” Abby paused, unsure of what to say, but she took a deep breath and plowed forward. “My parents were murdered when I was very young. The people around me decided it would be best to change my name and send me away...that I’d be safer that way. All right? That’s all anyone needs to know. If they want more, I’ll gladly give you my lawyer’s number.” Abby sat back down in the chair wondering what would happen next.

  “Abby, I’m sorry.”

  “This isn’t your fault. They’re just trying to sell newspapers,” Abby said once she got herself under control.

  “When will you be in?” Banks said to change the subject.

  “If I’m not working, does it matter?”

  “No. I’ll see you when you get here.” With that, Lieutenant Banks disconnected.

  Abby hung up the phone and collapsed into a chair. Her life was unraveling and she had no idea how to stop it. Only then, she realized she hadn’t told her lieutenant about Billy’s call. Looking down at the phone still sitting on the side table, she knew why she didn’t want to. Her mind was too occupied with why Sarah hadn’t called.

  The little voice in her head whispered and she heard it loud and clear. “I have her number,” she said aloud. Taking the open stairs two at a time, Abby reached her bedroom and went to her dresser. Picking through what she had emptied out of her pockets the night before, she found the crumpled paper Helga had given her. Flopping down on her bed, she reached across to her phone and dialed the number. She didn’t realized how nervous she was until she felt the moisture of her palm against the receiver.

  On the second ring, a recorded voice came on the line. “I’m sorry, the number you have reached is not in service. Please check the number and try again, or call your operator for assistance.” She hung up the phone and tried again, but she got the same recording. Looking at the time on the clock next to her bed, Abby dialed the number of the resort. She wasn’t surprised to reach the answering machine, knowing Günter and Helga would be preparing breakfast at the restaurant. She left them a message to let them know that she had arrived home safe and sound. Then she asked if Sarah was still there and if she was, could they tell her to call her. With that, she said her goodbyes and hung up the phone. Grabbing what she needed for the day, Abby headed out the back door.

  “Sorry, Buck, duty calls.” The big dog just wagged his tail. “You have to stay here today.” At the word “stay”, Buck dropped his fluffy tail but not his happy face. He gave her a departing bark as she closed the gate behind her. “We’ll play tonight, I promise.”

  Buck sat down and watched his owner disappear down the driveway. Abby didn’t hear his lonesome howl as her Jeep hit the blacktop.

  ♥

  Lincoln was bent over a stack of files and didn’t even look up as she stood next to his desk. Waiting, she finally cleared her throat to get his attention. He looked up at her and then dropped his head back down.

  “What? Aren’t you even going to talk to me?”

  “What would you like me to say?” he asked quietly.

  “Hi, hello, I don’t know, something, anything.”

  “Fine.” He looked up at her. “Hi, hello... Nice resort you got there.” If his words didn’t show his animosity, his icy stare did.

  “Lincoln that’s not fair. At least give me a chance to explain.”

  Throwing his pen to his desk, he leaned back in his chair and folded his fingers over his stomach. “All right, go ahead.”

  Abby did. She explained the death of her parents, the responsibility of her inheritance, and the reasons why her uncle had sent her off to school with a new name. The black detective listened intently to the explanation, but showed no real emotion. When Abby was finished, she looked at her partner in hopes of finding peace between them.

  Lincoln sat silent, pondering what Abby had told him. Finally, after long agonizing minutes, he looked at her. “How many times have I fired my weapon in the line of duty?” he asked solemnly.

  “Once,” Abby answered, confused by the question.

  Lincoln nodded in affirmation and then stood up to look her in the eye. “And that once was to save your life.”

  “Yes.”

  “But you couldn’t trust me enough to keep your secret.” His eyes darkened as he pushed past the stunned, silent woman. Abby watched him as he walked purposefully into the file room, and as she turned to go upstairs, she knew in the pit of her stomach — he was right.

  ♥

  Her day did not improve. All she seemed to be able to think about was Sarah: where she was, what she was doing, and why she hadn’t called. The cell phone attached to her hip had remained silent, and that was starting to gnaw on her. The pending lawsuit should have been the thing uppermost on her mind, but she couldn’t seem to get past her memories of the happy times she spent at the resort and Sarah’s sparkling smile.

  Buried in a mountain of endless paperwork, Abby had no idea of the time until the offices around her grew silent and still. It was late by the time she pulled into her driveway. She had made two stops on her way home. The first was to collect the pile of mail that had been waiting for her at the post office, and the second was to pick up a few groceries. Buck howled a greeting as she balanced her mail on her cast, and then reached for one of the bags of food with her good hand.

  “Hello, yourself,” she said as she made her way to the door. It took several seconds before she negotiated the handle and walked into her silent home. Her eyes went immediately to her answer machine, and to her excitement, the red light was blinking. She put her bag of groceries on the counter and pressed the play button as she thumbed through her mail.

  The first message was from another reporter who wanted an interview, or at least a statement, about the possible innocence of Billy Ward. Abby ignored it and waited for the next voice as she continued opening her mail. The next message was from Helga, and Abby turned to listen as a piece of mail caught her attention.

  “Abby, dear, it’s Helga. Good to hear from you, and glad you arrived safely.”

  Reaching across the stack of mail, she lifted out a familiar looking postcard.

  “Most of those reporters and TV people have left here now, so things are getting back to normal. I guess they heard that you are no longer here," Helga continue
d.

  It took Abby a second to realize it was the same postcard she had mailed to Lieutenant Banks. How did it get delivered here? she thought as she listened to Helga rambling on.

  “I hope you’ve had a chance to talk to Sarah.”

  Abby heard Helga’s words clearly as she flipped over the postcard and saw the writing on the back. Her stomach churned. This was not the postcard she had sent to Lieutenant Banks.

  “I never got a chance to talk to her, dear, before she left with the man who paid her bill.”

  Abby tore her eyes from the block letters written on the post card to stare at the answering machine. Fear sliced through her as she looked back at the postcard. There was only one person who could have sent it to her, and his message was very clear.

  DID YOU ENJOY SARAH’S COMPANY

  AT THE LAKE, ABBY? I KNOW I WILL!

  Chapter 13

  Abby struggled to keep herself calm as she dialed Helga’s number. Over and over she kept telling herself that the man Sarah left with could have been anyone.

  “Hello,” the voice on the other end answered.

  “Helga, it’s Abby.”

  “Hi, dear, how are you? I didn’t expect—”

  “Helga, I need to know about the person Sarah left with.”

  “A nice fellow, quiet though.”

  Abby closed her eyes and prayed. “What did he look like?”

  “He was small, quiet. I couldn’t see his face because he wore a pair of sunglasses and a ball hat.”

  Please, no! Please, no, God, no. The detective’s mind was racing with the thought of Sarah in the hands of Billy Ward. The woman in her was anxious and fearful, but the officer in her forced her to remain calm. “Did he...did he say anything to you?”

  “Let me think. Umm...he said something about how nice the lodge and resort were, I recall that.”