Fade to the Edge

by Kathryn J Bain

  “I don’t have time for you right now.” Tracy shoved passed her. The last thing she needed was Patty letting a bunch of reporters know she was paying a ransom for her child.

  “I don’t know why everyone is so angry with me,” Patty’s voice rose an octave. “I only answered that reporter’s questions truthfully.”

  Tracy spun on her. “You interjected just enough innuendo to cast enough doubt on my innocence.”

  “I would never—”

  “You would never what?” Tracy stepped toward her. “Never lie? Never turn on a friend who needed your support when they were at their most vulnerable?”

  “It’s not my fault you don’t know where DJ is.” Patty’s lips curled into a smug grin. “I never lost one of my children.”

  Tracy had spent the past two days suppressing any ripple of guilt from sneaking in. Now it was close to tearing through her barrier. All because of this self-centered devil in disguise.

  “Mrs. Allen.”

  Gilthrope’s voice brought Tracy back to the present. She didn’t have time to tear into this woman now. She turned to leave.

  “DJ was your responsibility, not mine.” Patty followed them. Her sour voice grated on Tracy’s nerves. “Just because you got stoned is no reason to treat me bad—”

  Slap.

  Tracy’s hand stung. It took a few seconds for her to realize what happened. She stepped back, not knowing who was more stunned, her or Patty.

  “You’re going to pay for that.” Tears welled in Patty’s eyes as she caressed her cheek. “This proves how unstable you are.”

  Tracy looked from Gilthrope to Patty then the other customers in the bank. All stared at her wide-eyed.

  “Mrs. Allen, you need to go.” Herman stood in the doorway, the large bag in his right hand.

  “She assaulted me.” Patty’s words echoed in Tracy’s ears as she rushed out. A man held the door open as the manager and Tracy left. “You all are witnesses,” Patty screamed. “And I want a copy of the security tape.” Her booming voice came through the closing door.

  “I didn’t mean to slap her.” Tracy turned to Gilthrope once they were at the SUV. “I’m not usually that type of person.”

  Gilthrope dropped the bag on the floorboard of the passenger side of the car. “I understand completely. She won’t be happy when I tell her she’ll need a lawyer and subpoena to get that tape. By then, it might be copied over.” A grin came over his face. “She’s caused my staff a lot of grief lately about overdraft fees.” He placed his hand by the side of his cheek. “Seems her husband has a gambling problem. But you didn’t hear it from me.”

  Tracy nodded.

  Gilthrope took her hand between his plump fingers and gave them a shake. “Good luck. I hope your son’s home soon.”

  “Thanks.” She ran around and dropped into the driver’s side. After a quick intake of air to calm her nerves, she pulled from the parking lot. Once out of the bank manager’s sight, she took her cell phone from her purse and dialed Jenny’s number again.

  “I’ve got your money. Call me.” Exacerbated, she tossed the phone into the car seat. Heaviness set in along with exhaustion.

  There was only one place to look. “Please let me find something at Jenny’s.”

  Tracy jerked to a stop in the driveway and pressed the code for the security gate. Gary was in Tallahassee this week for meetings, but what about Dad? On Monday’s he usually got picked up for Senior Day. Did he go today with all that was going on?

  She had no choice. This was the only place she might find a hint as to DJ’s whereabouts.

  The money should be safe in the locked SUV with the security gate closed. She hopped out and ran to the front door. After pulling her spare key from her purse, she opened the door and walked inside.

  “Dad? Gary?”

  She did a cursory glance around the house to see if there wasn’t anything lying around that would give a hint as to where DJ was. In the master bedroom, she discovered a note on Jenny’s pillow. Tracy’s heart jumped to her throat when she read the words.

  Scanning the document, she found what she needed.

  I worked in conjunction with Kimi Frazier to make it appear Daniel had kidnapped his own son. However, in the end, she double-crossed me and disappeared with DJ. I’m heading up to Ross Ridge tonight to pay her the ransom she demanded for DJ’s release.

  Gram’s? Great, Tracy’s least favorite place in the world, but she had no choice. Tracy dropped the note back on the bed.

  “Tracy? What are you doing here?”

  She turned. Dad glanced at the paper on Jenny’s pillow.

  “I have to go.”

  “What’s going on?” He took her by the arm. “And where’s Jenny?”

  Tracy looked at the floor. “Someone called wanting money for DJ. I need to get it to them.”

  “And Jenny?”

  “I don’t know. I really don’t.” She walked passed him and kissed him on the cheek. “Please, don’t call the police. Kimi said she’d kill DJ.”

  She ran out the door to the SUV. It was time to get to the place that still caused her nightmares.

  Chapter 79

  Kimi finished counting the money. Jenny had greatly exaggerated the amount. Thirteen thousand six-hundred fifty-three was a far cry from nineteen. Tracy would bring more. At least Tommy had a good idea. A hundred grand would last her a long time.

  “Don’t get any ideas.” Tommy jerked the bag away from her. “You’ve got a lot of making up to do screwing me up with Filmore.”

  “This is a better idea. Then you can make your own movies.” She hoped her face didn’t show her true feelings. He had no talent for stories, just for watching people screw each other. She needed to get the money from him once they’d collected it all. Leave him to face the cops for killing Daniel. That would keep him from following her.

  “Plan to get a nice island mansion.” Tommy’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “I’ll be the next Hugh Hefner.”

  It took all her power not to laugh. A hundred grand wouldn’t pay for a lot. At least not for him.

  But for her, it could mean a cheap new car, a hiding place in a city where no one knew her. No men pawing her night and day. Maybe even school.

  Tommy walked the money back into the bedroom.

  “This’ll buy some real nice film equipment. The rest will get us a place down in the Caribbean where the girls run around half-naked.” He came out and bounced down on the sofa next to her. “And all those island men will pay a lot for a blonde like you.” He leaned over and kissed her shoulder.

  She shoved him away. “I don’t want to be your whore. I want to be your wife.”

  He grabbed her by the throat. “You’ll be what I say or I’ll leave you here for Filmore.”

  Anger flared inside her. She had no intention of being pimped out ever again.

  Chapter 80

  Tracy sped around the corner, keeping one eye on the road and another on the rearview mirror for any police officers. She had to be sure, so she pulled onto a side street before getting on the highway. She took a right around the corner, a construction crew blocked part of the road ahead. She pulled into a driveway.

  A blue sedan pulled past. Deputy Thomas was in the driver’s seat.

  He glanced in the rearview mirror. Their eyes met.

  She backed out. Thomas had pulled to the side of the road. A knock on her window startled her. A workman was standing on the other side of her car.

  “Ma’am. Are you all right?” he asked.

  She rolled down the window. “Yeah, but do you think you guys could do me a favor?”

  “Anything for a beautiful woman.” He smiled with yellow teeth.

  “See that man in the blue car?”

  The man glanced over. “Yeah.”

  “He’s my ex and won’t leave me alone. I’m on my way to a hearing for a restraining order.”

  “We can call the cops for you.”

  “If you could slow him down, that
would be best.”

  Thomas got out of his car and headed in her direction.

  “Don’t worry; we’ll take care of him. You get out of here.” The guy nodded over his shoulder to one of his guys.

  “Thanks.” She drove off the way she’d come. Before turning the corner, she glanced behind her. Thomas was taking something from his pocket. Hopefully, he couldn’t be too hard on the guys, and they wouldn’t be upset when they found out she sicced them on a cop.

  Chapter 81

  Mryna pulled the curtains back an inch. No one had come from the cabin in a while. At least all was quiet. She headed out the back door and grabbed the wheelbarrow.

  “Mew.” Ginger popped his head out of the screen door.

  “No. You stay here. I’ll work faster without worrying about you.” She grabbed the cat and carried him to the back room where she shut him up.

  “Mrrrr.” A low growl came through the closed door.

  “You’ll get over it next time you’re hungry.”

  Myrna rushed back out and pushed the wheelbarrow to the shed. It took several minutes struggling before she maneuvered the body into the tray bed.

  She was already out of breath. As much as she’d like to rest, this was a job that needed finishing.

  “If you hadn’t enjoyed the woods so much, this wouldn’t be an issue.” Her words came out in pants as she pushed the wheelbarrow down the driveway. “But you should be buried in the place you loved most. If the Braddocks hadn’t sold out, I wouldn’t have the worry about burying you on government land. Always messing things up for me.”

  The sun shone overhead but did little to warm the air.

  Myrna walked to the footpath leading to the picnic area with the truck. The man was definitely not sleeping inside. At least he wasn’t around to see what she was doing. On the uneven path, the body and shovel bounced around in the wheelbarrow. She paused at the hole and looked at her bundle, then back at the hole. Tears welled in her eyes.

  “I’ll miss you more than you’ll ever know.” She pushed the body into the hole. “Goodbye, darling.”

  A tear rolled down her cheek. She removed her glove and swiped at her eyes. After a moment of gathering herself, she filled the hole with the dirt she’d removed earlier. Once done, she stared at the mound she’d created.

  “You will be missed, Sonny. You were the best dog a person could ask for.” She looked up at the sky. “Please Lord, take good care of him until Harold and I get up there. Thanks for giving him to us for so long.”

  She brushed at a tear. “By boy.” She tossed him a kiss and returned to her house. A car sounded down the road as she walked from the shed. A silver SUV with Tracy Allen in the driver’s seat. She sped past as if the police were after her.

  Myrna placed her hands on her hips. “Who knows with everything that’s been going on, maybe she is running from the police.” One thing was sure; something was definitely going on in that house across the street.

  Chapter 82

  Tracy slowed as she turned into the private drive. She pulled next to Jenny’s car. On the other side of the Toyota was Kimi’s blue Honda. Her memory flashed back to something Vonnie had said a day or two before—what better place to hide DJ than where she’d never look. And she wouldn’t have come here unless it was absolutely necessary.

  She stared through the trees to the cabin. What was waiting for her there?

  There was a hole in the fence in front of the car. Maybe the woods would be a safer route.

  Who was she kidding? It was just an excuse to not go near the cliff but it’d be faster to go the path. And the faster she went, the sooner she’d have DJ.

  A sprinkle of rain dotted the windshield. It took all her courage to open the door.

  The aroma of fresh pine needles hit her. Everything always smelled so fresh and clean up here.

  She pulled on the bag sitting on the floorboard of the back passenger side. Heavier than she thought. It took two hands to carry it. She got to Kimi’s car and realized she’d never make it. After a second, she gave a huge heave and tossed the bag on top of the Honda causing the small car to bounce.

  If they wanted the money, they could come get it while she got DJ.

  She came to Jenny’s side window. “Haven’t you screwed things up enough without adding to it?”

  Maybe Kimi had her sister hogtied and gagged in the cabin. If so, Tracy had half a mind to leave her that way.

  A Styrofoam cup sat in the console, probably filled with coffee, knowing her sister.

  Tracy straightened. No time to waste. She had to get in there. One step after another led her to the footpath. Her eyes glanced at everything and nothing at once. The sound of rushing water reached her ears. She paused and considered cutting through the woods again. No. She wasn’t good at the woods. The path would be quicker. She knew from memory that water bounced against the limestone rocks about twenty feet from where she stood.

  Her knees weakened.

  The urge to run away grew. A memory from years ago rushed in. She and Jenny arguing. Tracy teasing Jenny about a boy.

  “Jenny and Billy sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G.”

  “I said to stop it.” Jenny’s face was beet red.

  “When do you plan to get married and have babies,” Tracy joked.

  Jenny rushed at her, but Tracy side-stepped her. And Jenny rolled over the side of the cliff.

  The scream.

  “Help me, Tracy.”

  Tracy glanced over the edge to see her sister hanging by one arm. Tracy leaned over and grabbed Jenny by the back of the shirt but her sister was too heavy to pull up.

  “Don’t let me fall. Please.”

  The fear in Jenny’s eyes still haunted Tracy. She shook away the memory.

  Recalling the anger in Jenny’s face, Tracy should have been the one to go over. Her sister hadn’t meant to harm her, just to get her to shut up. Two sisters having a stupid spat. Unfortunately, it was on the edge of a cliff.

  An awful thought rushed in. If she’d let Jenny go that day, DJ would never have disappeared.

  “No,” she almost yelled. No matter what her sister had done, she did still love her.

  What would their relationship be like after this? They’d surely never be close again, not after all this. And what about Jenny’s marriage? Gary’s political career would be over if he didn’t divorce her. Her excuse for taking DJ, to protect him, wouldn’t work to get her out of this. Not with the FBI involved and Tracy didn’t plan to lie for her.

  Whatever happened to her sister was of her own doing. She had no time to worry about her now.

  Tracy inched her way along the right edge of the path as far from the cliff as she could. Her shoulders stiffened when the side of the cabin came into full view. With a glance at each window, she saw no sign of anyone inside, but with all the shades pulled, it would be hard to tell. The building drew her in like a finger calling her forth, and she had no power to deny.

  A branch snapped beneath her foot and something grunted in the woods behind her. She jerked her head back. What was that? Coyotes? Wolves? She hunched her shoulders against the fear and hurried to the side of the cabin.

  Instead of going to the back, she cut through the yard to the front. Burrs from the overgrown grass hooked onto her shoes. Her heart hammered in her chest. She crouched below the windows as she passed, conscious of every sound, including her own breathing.

  She finally rounded the corner to the front. It’d been years since she’d been here. Tall unkempt bushes hid Gram’s front porch, and the blood-red door sent a shiver across Tracy’s shoulders. A chilling menace limped up her spine telling her not to go into that house. But with DJ’s life on the line, she couldn’t listen. The pulsing urgency to save her child would always win out.

  The wind rustled leaves behind her. Bees and other flying insects created an orchestra of music that irritated instead of calmed.

  She scanned the front window. The shades were drawn. Everything appeared dar
k. Nothing indicated her son might be inside. She had little doubt Kimi knew she was there.

  Tracy raced up the steps. Boom. Boom. Boom. Her footsteps were loud in the silent air. She pressed her hand against the glass in the door, but too much grime made it impossible to see inside.

  The doorknob slipped in her palm. Little hairs stood up on the nape of her neck. She could do this. She had to.

  After wiping her sweaty palm on her jeans, she grabbed the knob and turned. The door whispered open. With a deep breath, she stepped inside. The overhead light illuminated the living room in a dull yellow.

  Again, memories flooded in. Sitting on the sofa while Grams read to her and Jenny. The aroma of spicy fried chicken in the air. Every memory collided in Tracy’s mind in the few seconds she stood in the living room.

  She inhaled. The cabin had once smelled of baked goods, but now, it reeked of cigarettes and pine cleaner. Her pulse pounded in her ears. The door slammed behind her. She spun. A strange man was there.

  “Well, if it isn’t the princess.” Kimi appeared from the kitchen.

  Two of them. Something inside told Tracy it’d been a terrible mistake to come up to this cabin by herself.

  Chapter 83

  Tracy moved toward the wall. The man was about twenty-five years of age with a long scratch ran down the side of his face. She suppressed the urge to scream.

  The man reached up and touched his cheek. “Got snagged by a branch.”

  The smell of manly sweat now mixed with the other odors.

  He jerked her purse from her arms and searched it. Dark curls fell over his eyes. “Where’s the money?”

  “Where’s my son and sister?” Tracy’s voice shook.

  “Sister’s in the basement. Seems she has a bad headache.”

  He laughed under his breath though Tracy didn’t get the joke.

  “Where’s DJ?” she asked.

  He jerked his head to the back. “Keep an eye out for cops,” he said to Kimi. He led Tracy to the bedroom at the far end of the cabin where he opened the door.