Searching for Faith

by Kristen Middleton

He looked over at the other investigators, who were watching from a distance. “Jesus. Fine. Do it.” Jim looked at Alex. “Block their view. If they see her do it, I’ll have to explain why and I’m not in the mood for that right now.”

  He did what Jim asked. “How long has she been dead, Jim? Do they have any idea?” Alex asked, staring down at the girl.

  “Since last night,” Carissa answered for him.

  Jim nodded. “Yeah.”

  Although the child’s spirit was gone, Carissa still picked up fragments of energy and it made her throat tighten.

  Please don’t hurt me…

  She’d begged for her life, out here, in the cold. There’d been a small chase and then, he’d strangled her. Knowing the kind of terror the child had gone through, before dying, Carissa’s almost lost it.

  As if reading her mind, Alex looked away in disgust. “How could anyone do this? Sick bastard.”

  Taking a deep breath, Carissa closed her eyes and concentrated. After several seconds, more things came to her.

  The man picked them up after a soccer game. There’d been two little girls, but he’d left one go.

  “Are you getting anything?” asked the sheriff, getting impatient.

  “Yes. Please, let me concentrate,” she said, not opening her eyes.

  He sighed. “Sorry.”

  More images were shown to her. The child had spent several days in the man’s basement, terrified. He’d tried giving her things, to make her happy.

  Stuffed animals.

  Toys.

  A dog.

  She clenched her jaw. The bastard had used the puppy as bait.

  You’re not Faith…

  She opened her eyes.

  “I think her name was Annie or Amy,” she said, removing her hand from the girl’s forehead. “She played soccer. He picked her up after a game. There was another girl with her, too. But, surprisingly, he let the other one go.”

  Alex and Jim looked at each other.

  She stood up and brushed the snow off of her jeans. “He had a puppy. He used it to draw out the girls.”

  “What else?” asked Alex.

  “He’s passionate about soccer. In fact, that’s how he found her.” Staring into the distance she chewed on her lip. “I’m not sure but… I think he’s much older. He walks with a cane and there was something about arthritis that I was picking up.”

  “I’ll be damned,” said Jim, pulling out a pen and paper. “You didn’t happen to get the perp’s name address, or social security number, did you?”

  “I wish it were that easy,” she replied, staring down at the girl, who looked so peaceful. It seemed so out of place, considering how violent her death had been.

  “Is there anything else you can tell me?” asked the sheriff.

  Pleased that Jim wasn’t brushing off her ramblings, she nodded. “I know the name of his daughter. It’s Faith. He’ll keep searching for her until we catch him.”

  Alex stared at her in surprise. “Faith?”

  “Yes. Does that mean anything to you?” she asked him.

  “No. Are you sure that ‘Faith’ is not just some kind of metaphor that you’re visions are picking up on?” asked Alex.

  “Yeah, maybe the guy is on some kind of, zealous religious quest,” added Jim.

  “He’s on a quest, but religion has nothing to do with it,” she said grimly.

  Chapter 13

  CHLOE FOLLOWED CLOSELY behind Paul and Maddy, as they took the path to her parent’s cabin. Fortunately, management had someone with a snow-blower already clearing the walkways.

  “Can we make a snowman?” asked Chloe.

  “Not tonight,” replied Maddy, glancing back at her. “Besides, the snow is too soft and won’t stick.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Paul, picking up a handful of the white powder. He packed it into his gloved hand and threw it at Maddy’s face.

  “Paul!” she squealed.

  “Okay, maybe it’s a little too soft,” he replied, trying to pick up more snow.

  Maddy quickly leaned down and grabbed a handful herself. Soon all three of them were laughing and throwing snow at each other.

  “Okay. Enough.” Paul smiled as he shook the snow out of his hair. “Two against one. I see how you ladies operate.”

  “Your fault. You started it. Anyway, we’d better hurry,” said Maddy, her cheeks flushed from the cold. “Rachel will start wondering what’s taking so long.”

  He grabbed Chloe’s hand. “Are you cold?”

  “No,” she replied, staring up at him as they began walking again. “That was fun.”

  “It was fun,” he agreed, winking at her.

  “Can you help me build a snowman tomorrow, Daddy?” she asked.

  “Maybe. We’ll see if the snow is stickier,” he said, smiling down at her.

  It wasn’t a ‘no’ and it gave Chloe hope. “We haven’t made one together in a long time. Usually Mommy makes a snowman with me.”

  He was quiet for a few seconds. “Tell you what - the next one will be made by just you and me. And it will be the biggest, baddest, snowman you’ve ever seen.”

  “Yes!” cried Chloe. “Can we put a hat and scarf on it, too?”

  “Of course,” he replied. “Whatever you want, honey.”

  “I love you, Daddy,” she said, snuggling up against him.

  “I love you, too.” He picked Chloe up and put her over his shoulders, making her giggle in pleasure.

  When they finally reached the cabin, Chloe ran to her bedroom to grab her things to take to Maddy’s. When she had what she needed, she ran back to the living area, but didn’t see Maddy or her father. Hearing laughter coming from her parent’s bedroom, she skipped down the hallway and looked inside, to see what was so funny. What she saw confused her - her daddy and Maddy were kissing. And it wasn’t how friends kissed.

  Frozen in shock, she just stared at them until Maddy noticed her.

  “Oh my God. Chloe,” she said, pushing Paul away. Her face was bright red. “We didn’t hear you.”

  “Why were you kissing my daddy?” Chloe asked angrily.

  Maddy looked at Paul helplessly. “See, you should have told her last week.”

  “Told who what?” asked Chloe, her eyes filling with tears. Something was very wrong.

  “Nothing. Look, sweetie, it was just a friendly kiss,” said Paul, getting down on his knee in front of her. “That’s all.”

  “You had your hands on her private area,” she said, backing away from him.

  “If I did, it was an accident,” said Paul, trying to reach for her. “But, I think you were seeing things.”

  “No. I wasn’t!” cried Chloe, pushing him away. What she’d seen didn’t look at all like an accident. Both he and Maddy had betrayed her mother and the painful realization made her cry even harder. “I want my Mommy!”

  “Chloe. Relax,” said Paul, trying to calm her.

  She turned around, ran out of the room, and then out of the cabin to find her mother. As she raced down the path, back toward the lodge, she could hear her dad calling for her.

  Ignoring him, she continued running until she slipped and fell on the ice.

  “Honey, are you okay?”

  Sobbing, she looked up to see Harold staring down at her with concern.

  Chapter 14

  WHEN ALL WAS said and done, the sheriff changed his mind about having her return with him to the station.

  “Obviously, you weren’t a witness and I don’t believe that you’re responsible for this child’s death. I would like to see your I.D. and get your phone number, however, in case I have any questions,” Jim said.

  “Okay,” she replied, reaching into her purse. She handed him her driver’s license and he walked over to his squad car with it.

  “Hopefully, they’ll I.D. the body soon,” said Alex. “You said that she’s from Duluth?”

  “I believe so. I’m sure the sheriff will learn pretty quickly who she is, especially since thi
s guy let her friend go. Not many cases like that,” Carissa thought about the murdered child’s parents and knew it was going to be a devastating blow for them.

  “So, the little girl in your dreams, the girl we looked at wasn’t her?”

  “No,” she replied.

  “Do you think he has your girl yet?’”

  “I don’t know. Hopefully, not. He had Amy for a few days before he killed her, though. Something tells me that it was a struggle for him, to murder the little girl after he realized she wasn’t his daughter.”

  “Hm. Was there anything else that you picked up on?”

  The fact that he was starting to accept that she really did have psychic abilities made her want to prove herself that much more.

  “Actually, there was one more thing – I almost feel like Faith’s mother may have run off with his daughter and that’s why he’s looking for her. Been looking for her.”

  “So, he’s probably responsible for more than one dead child. I wonder how long he’s been searching for his daughter.”

  “I don’t know. I mean, it’s possible that it’s been years and if that’s the case,” she sighed, “then Faith could even be a grown woman by now.”

  He grunted. “Wouldn’t that be something?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’m curious - how many cases have you helped solve?” Alex asked.

  Carissa thought back. “Officially? About seven. There were a lot of others that I tried helping with, but the police thought I was nuts and brushed me off.”

  “It is hard to absorb. You’ve convinced me though.”

  Carissa smiled.

  “So, how does this work? You have these dreams and then just pack up and go?”

  “Pretty much.”

  “Do you ever get paid?”

  “No. I don’t expect it either.”

  “How do you earn a living then?”

  “Let’s just say that I’ve made some good investment choices.”

  He stared at her in surprise. “Stocks and bonds? No lottery winnings or Vegas trips?”

  She laughed. “No, I don’t gamble.”

  “But, you’ve been able to benefit a little financially from your psychic gifts? That’s good.”

  “Not really. To be honest, my grandmother left me some money when she died. I invested it, but my broker did all the work. I didn’t use my abilities to choose the investments.”

  “So, you lucked out.”

  “Apparently.” Although, Carissa had felt ‘right’ about choosing her broker, however, and assumed there was some kind divine intervention involved. She never had to worry about money, although she wasn’t one to live over her means. She had twenty grand in her savings, her house was paid off, and every month she profited from her investments. Not a huge amount, but enough to keep her doing what she was doing.

  “Let’s just hope that your luck pans out this time as well and we can find this little girl from your dreams, before the killer does.”

  Although she wanted to remain positive, something told her that she may already be too late.

  Chapter 15

  “HERE, LET ME help you up,” said Harold, reaching for her.

  Chloe let him pick her up off of the ground. As he set her back down on her feet, he noticed her tears.

  “Are you hurt?” he asked.

  Wiping her tears with the back of her hand, she shook her head.

  “Chloe, there you are,” said Paul, rushing over to them. “Are you okay?”

  She didn’t say anything.

  “She took a spill,” explained Harold.

  “Oh, honey,” he said, pulling her into his arms. “You had me worried half to death. Don’t ever take off like that, especially when it’s dark out.”

  Chloe went rigid. She was still angry with him. “I want my Mommy.”

  Paul released her. “Mommy’s busy right now. Let’s get you back to the cabin,” he said softly.

  “No. I don’t want to go anywhere with you,” she said, noticing that Maddy was now with them. Chloe glared at her.

  “Sounds like someone is tired,” said Harold. “Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day. Well, I’d best be off. Goodnight, folks.”

  “Goodnight,” said Paul, grabbing Chloe’s hand.

  “Goodnight, Harold,” said Maddy.

  Paul began walking Chloe back toward the cabin.

  “Should I come with?” asked Maddy.

  “No,” said Paul, not looking at her.

  Chloe didn’t say anything to her father and he was also quiet on the way back. When they arrived, Paul reached into his pocket for the keycard and swore. He’d left it inside on the counter.

  “We need to go and get another key,” he said, turning around. “Come on, Chloe.”

  She went with him silently.

  As they headed back toward the lodge, Paul tried talking to her again. “I know you’re angry and you think you saw something… but, you were mistaken, okay?”

  She didn’t reply.

  “I love your mother and I love you,” he said.

  “Then why did you kiss Maddy?” she asked in a frightened voice.

  “It was only a friendly kiss. You need to believe that.”

  Chloe didn’t answer. She knew what she’d seen but wanted to believe her father. The idea that he would kiss Maddy, the same way that he would kiss her mother, didn’t make any sense.

  “I think you just need a good night’s sleep. There’s been too much excitement today,” he continued. “When you’re exhausted, it can sometimes mess with your head.”

  Chloe didn’t want to think or talk about it anymore. It made her feel anxious.

  When they arrived back at the lodge, he brought her inside and told her to sit down and wait in the lounge, next to the fireplace.

  “I’ll be right back. I’m going to run into the bar and grab your mother’s keycard.”

  “I want to come with,” she said, needing to feel her mother’s comforting arms around her.

  “Honey, it will only take me a few seconds. Just, sit still and wait. Don’t go anywhere.”

  “Fine,” she mumbled.

  “Go on. Sit down and wait for me,” he said before disappearing down the hallway.

  Chloe sank down into the sofa, looking up at the tall, stuffed grizzly bear next to the fireplace. Her mother had told her that it had once been alive. With it’s big, black claws, and fierce expression, it scared her a little.

  “Chloe,” said a man’s voice.

  She turned her head and looked at him. Although he was wearing a hoodie and winter jacket, she recognized him but couldn’t remember his name.

  “It’s time to go,” he said, holding out his hand.

  She frowned. “Go where?”

  He leaned down and smiled. “Your dad said that you’ve been having a rough night and asked me to bring you back to the cabin. He said he’d return shortly. He’s having a beer.”

  “A beer?” she asked, frowning. “He said he’d be right back.”

  “He changed his mind. He didn’t want you sitting out here by yourself, so he sent me.”

  She hesitated.

  “Come on,” he said, still holding out his hand. “They’ll be shutting off the lights here in a few seconds. You don’t want to sit alone in the dark, waiting for him when you could be back at the cabin, watching television.”

  Looking up at the bear, she took his hand. She definitely didn’t want to be in the dark with the scary animal staring down at her.

  “Good girl,” he said, smiling as Chloe stood up.

  They stepped outside into the cold darkness and he began leading her toward the parking lot.

  “Wait,” Chloe said, stopping abruptly. She pointed. “My cabin is that way.”

  “I know,” he replied. “We’re taking my car over. I saw you slip and fall. I’d hate to have it happen again.”

  “Okay,” she replied.

  There was another parking lot in front of her parent’s cabin. That
’s where her daddy had parked their truck. It would definitely be easier than walking all the way down the path.

  When they reached his car, he opened up the back door and told her to get in.

  Chloe suddenly felt funny about the situation. “Actually, I think we should just walk. I won’t slip,” she said, remembering how her mother had always told her to never get into a vehicle with anyone other than a family member. Unless… they used the password.

  “Don’t be silly. It will just take a few seconds to drive over there.”

  “Uh, did my daddy tell you the password?” she asked, feeling even more anxious.

  He gave her a puzzled look. “For what?”

  “To get into your car.”

  It took him a few seconds to answer. “No, but he thought that I was going to walk you to the cabin, so it never came up.”

  She chewed on her lower lip. It made sense, but she still felt like she was doing something wrong.

  He leaned down and smiled at her. “You’re not scared of me, are you? Am I really that ugly?” he joked.

  “No,” she said shyly. “But-”

  “Chloe!” hollered her father.

  Chloe turned around and saw him standing outside of the main lodge, looking around. Before she could answer, the man shoved a wet, smelly rag over her mouth and then everything went dark.

  Chapter 16

  HIS HEART RACED as he quickly placed the little girl into the backseat of the car, wishing he’d brought the van that morning. He covered her with a blanket and then stood back up to assess the situation.

  Thankfully, Paul, who was too far away to notice what was happening, turned around and went back into the lodge.

  Shaking with excitement, he quickly got into his vehicle and started the engine. He’d been so lucky. If she’d have given him anymore hesitation, Paul would have arrived and things would have gotten ugly. But, luck had been on his side and he’d gotten his daughter back.

  He glanced back at Faith in the rearview mirror. “It’s just you and me now, Pumpkin. I have some things I need to do tomorrow, but then after that, we’re leaving for good. I’m just so relieved that everything fell into place.”