“I believe him,” he said, noting her jerk in surprise at his words. “I know the police were doubtful, but I believe your son’s story. What concerns me, is that you had somebody checking out this house, following you, and then you reported that someone had been inside. That indicates to me that what your son saw was absolutely real.”
Sylvie’s breath left her lungs in a rush, and she whispered, “Thank you.” Closing her eyes, for just a moment, she reveled in how good it felt to have someone believe them. Focusing on him again, she said, “But, I don’t know what to do about any of this.”
“When I was checking the police reports, I didn’t see a witness drawing. Did they ask him for specific details?”
Nodding, she said, “Yes. David gave a description of what the men looked like and were wearing, but…” As her voice trailed off, it struck her that the police had not asked for more details.
“I’d like to talk to David if you don’t mind,” Mason said, carefully watching the concern and doubt etched into the lines of her forehead. The idea that he would like to erase those lines by smoothing his fingers over her skin struck him, but he battled the idea back as soon as it hit. He expected her immediate refusal, but to his surprise, she nodded.
“Yes…okay.”
“I could—”
“Please, come in,” she said, standing quickly. Pushing her chair back, she reached forward and flipped the simple latch on the screen door. Seeing his surprise, she said, “I trust you. I want you to talk to David…as long as you don’t scare him more than he’s already been scared.”
Pushing open the door, she leaned her head out and called to Mr. Curtis, still standing dutifully by the fence. “Thank you, Mr. Curtis, but Mr. Hanover will be coming in now.”
“You sure?” the older man called out, lifting his cap from his head as he wiped his brow.
“Yes. You get inside where it’s more comfortable. Thank you!”
The two of them watched him amble back toward his house, before Mace turned her way, saying, “He might not be much strength in a fight, but a good neighbor who keeps watch is a great security.”
He observed her smile and was struck again with just how pretty she was. Once more, the desire to keep the smile on her face and worry lines away moved through him. Blowing out his breath, he stepped into the house.
With a practiced eye, he took in the details in one sweep. Living room and dining room in the front. Hall leading to kitchen and den. It was small, but clean and neat. He wondered how she managed with a young boy, but before he had a chance to ponder that further, she turned and said, “I’ll get some lemonade and then we can talk to David.”
She moved to the kitchen and he walked into the living room. The mantle held family photographs but none, he noted, included Ed. It was as though he had been erased from their lives…or maybe he did the erasing before he abandoned them.
After a few minutes, she reentered the room with a tray containing two glasses of lemonade and one of milk, a boy right behind her. He jumped up and took it from her hands, setting it on the coffee table.
Blinking, Sylvie was surprised at the gentlemanly behavior. With her hand on David’s shoulder, she introduced him. David looked up in anticipation, but remained quiet.
Sitting down, she prompted Mason to talk to David to explain why he was there.
David stared, his eyes bright. “You want me to describe the men?”
“Yes, please. I need to you just walk me through what they looked like…in detail. But, make sure to stick to just what you saw. Let’s start with the first man.”
Taking a big drink of milk, David nodded solemnly. “He had gray hair, but not like Mr. Curtis.”
“How was it different?”
“Mr. Curtis’ hair is real thick and all white. This man’s hair was cut short and was gray and kind of thin on top.” David turned his face to her and said, “Like grampa’s hair.”
With a benevolent smile, she lifted her eyes back to Mason. “My father is almost bald on top but he still keeps a few longer hairs to try to make it look like it’s there.”
He grinned and with a nod to David, encouraged him to continue. “And his clothes?”
“He was wearing a suit. It was dark and he had a bright red tie. I remember thinking that Grampa would never wear a tie like that.”
“Anything else? Like, was he tall or short? Skinny or heavy?”
David’s brow knit in concentration before he replied, “I don’t know how tall, but he wasn’t heavy. He was about the same size as the other man in a suit, but shorter than the man who hurt him.”
After having David describe the second man in a suit, he nodded and asked, “Okay, what can you tell me about the third man?”
“He was kind of fat—uh, sorry, Mom.” He glanced at her before looking back at Mason. “Mom doesn’t like me to say that word.”
“It’s okay right now, sweetie,” she said, thinking that her son could use any descriptive word he knew, even if it was not nice.
“Okay, so he was taller and heavier?” Mason confirmed.
David nodded enthusiastically and added, “He wore a blue shirt and blue jeans and one of those orange vests that the construction men wear.” Sitting up straighter, he added, “Oh yeah…also a yellow hard hat like the man in the suit was wearing.”
“Sounds like you had a really good view of them,” Mace noted, opting for a casual line of questioning. Still, he observed Sylvie’s posture stiffening. Ignoring her, he kept his gaze on David.
Once more, David nodded. “It was easy to see them at first but then I got more curious. So, I tried to see them closer.”
Sylvie, who had recognized Mason’s subtle questioning of David’s account, had all objections fly out of her head at her son’s words. Swinging her head around, she gasped. “What? What do you mean you tried to see them closer?” She heard the rise of hysteria in her voice, but surprise and fear took over.
Doubt moved over David’s face as he slumped down in his chair. “I’m sorry, Mom. I used your phone. I wanted to zoom on them.”
Mace jerked his gaze to Sylvie, whose face registered shock. She looked at him, as well, giving her head a little shake. He opened his mouth to ask her to get her phone but she had already jumped up from her seat.
Sylvie ran to the kitchen where her phone lay on the counter. As she turned to head back, she slammed into Mason’s large body. She would have fallen if it were not for his hands, which darted out to clamp onto her upper arms.
Barely aware he was holding her, she clasped the phone in her hand as her eyes held his. “Here. Here it is.”
“But, Mom,” David called, hurrying into the room. “I just used the zoom on your camera. I wasn’t trying to take their picture.”
Staring into Mason’s eyes, her voice barely a squeak, she said, “My phone’s old and the keys are kind of wonky. I take pictures all the time without meaning to.”
He looked down at the older model phone clutched in her hand, her knuckles white. Calmly, he said, “Let me see it, please.”
She nodded but, frozen in place, did not move, so Mace gently removed it from her fingers. With a few taps, he brought up her photos. There…the last ones…were shots David had taken when he was trying to look through the zoom lens.
His eyes widened, not believing what he was seeing. The photos were slightly fuzzy, but he knew LSI had the equipment to discern the details. With a few more taps, he sent the pictures to his email.
Looking at the dark circles underneath Sylvie’s wide, blue eyes and the strain lines on either side of her mouth, he forced a smile on his face and gently said to David, “I think that’s good for now. You wanna go play while I talk to your mom?”
9
The two of them watched David bound down the hall, then, Sylvie turned to Mason. Her voice a raspy whisper, she asked, “Did he…are there…pictures?”
He nodded, but held on to her phone, not showing the evidence to her. “Yes. I’m sending them to
my company who can work to identify the men he saw—”
“I had no idea he used my phone! I would have turned it over to the police—”
“I’m glad you didn’t,” he interrupted. Seeing her brows lower, he said, “Right now, I’m not convinced that someone isn’t checking to see what reports you’ve made with the police.”
“Someone?”
Shaking his head, he said, “Someone who’s keeping track for the wrong reasons. And, if that person, or persons, knew this was on your phone, you could be in danger.”
Her knees buckled and he snatched her by her arms again, barely keeping her from hitting the floor. He assisted her to a chair and watched as she lifted her hands to cover her face.
Mace watched as Sylvie’s body hitched, realizing she was silently crying. Moving swiftly, he knelt by her chair, bringing his face close to hers, and took her hands, holding them in his own. “What can I do?”
She swallowed, gulping air, and cried, “I almost didn’t believe him. Even when I was swearing to the police that he would never make it up, there was a part of me that wondered if it could have possibly happened.” She raised her head to peer at him. “What does that say about me?”
“I’d say it makes you perfectly normal,” he replied, gaining a confused look from her. “No, really. Most kids his age blur truth with what they see on TV or hear from others at school. I’d be doubtful also.”
“It’s just his level of detail was so complicated for an eight-year-old child. I couldn’t imagine that he was making it up, even when my mind didn’t want to accept it. I don’t let him watch scary things on TV, so I couldn’t imagine where his story could have come from if it hadn’t happened right in front of him.” She pulled one of her hands free from his and swiped at her tears. Inhaling deeply, she let her breath out slowly. “I need to go check on him. I can get us more lemonade.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to say no, thinking he should get back and begin running the photographs through his computers. Plus, the idea of spending more time in the presence of the beautiful Sylvie, was not the best plan. But instead, his mouth opened, and he replied, “Yeah, I’d like that.”
Suddenly, David ran in from the den, peering up at him as he addressed Sylvie. “Hey Mom, can Mr. Hanover play catch with me? I need some help and you’re really not very good.”
“David, I’m sure Mr. Hanover has—”
“That’d be great. I haven’t played catch in a long time.” He followed David toward the back door, passing a visibly stunned Sylvie. With his lips curving into a smile, he headed out to the backyard.
It only took a few minutes for him to realize that David definitely needed some pointers. Working with the young boy, he found he was a very quick learner.
David grinned widely when he caught the baseball in his glove, and said, “You’re a really good coach, Mr. Hanover. Mom tries, but she throws the ball all over the place. I have a hard enough time catching it when it’s thrown straight.”
Mace laughed, and said, “I’m sure she’s trying her best.”
David’s smile left and was replaced with a solemn expression. “Mom does try…she really does. A lot of my friends have moms and dads, so I know it’s hard on her.”
His heart jolted at the wisdom of David’s words. Placing his large hand on his shoulder, he said, “I’m sure there’s nothing more important in the world to her than you. And that makes being your mom easy.”
The smile slowly returned to David’s face as the two of them continued to practice catch.
Inside, with the fresh lemonade made, Sylvie picked up the tray and walked to the door. Staring at the scene in front of her, she watched her son’s look of concentration as he threw the ball and his huge grin when he caught it in return. Sighing, she knew that there were certain things she was not good at and wished his father had wanted to have a role in his life.
Ed had desired a pretty wife to be at his side, always telling her that it would be important when he was a big deal in the Army. Those days never happened and she felt the brunt of his anger every day. After she had David, he made it evident that he did not want to have a child until his big dreams happened, so she left, divorcing him, without asking for alimony or child support. All she wanted was the freedom to raise David away from a mentally and emotionally abusive father. It had been a while since Ed had come around asking for money, threatening to make her and David’s lives hell if he did not get it. Sighing heavily, she gave herself a shake, forcing those thoughts from her mind. Squaring her shoulders, she walked outside.
Noticing Sylvie coming through the back door, her hands full, Mace immediately stopped and took the tray from her, setting it on the small table. David came over and the three of them sat, sipping the lemonade in the shade. Always wary, his eyes moved around, noting the unsecure backyard and the street to the side, where he knew the vehicle had been parked. There was a fence surrounding the yard, but it was only three feet tall, leaving the backyard completely exposed.
“What happens next?” she asked.
Casting his gaze toward David, he said, “I’ll take the pictures back to my office and use my… um…computers to see if I can get a better idea of who we’re looking at.” Standing, he picked up the tray, and said, “Let’s go back inside.”
As they moved through the back door, David darted into the den, plopping himself in front of the TV. Sylvie rolled her eyes and looked up at him, saying, “I normally don’t let him watch TV so much.”
“Don’t worry on my account. I’m glad he has the distraction so we can talk a little bit more.” Seeing her brow furrow, he moved in front of her, placing his hands on her shoulders. “I believed David’s story but, obviously now that we’ve seen the pictures, we have proof. I want to make sure you’re safe. Would you consider going to a safer location, until—”
“He’s got school,” she protested, her face contorting in indecision. “I don’t know what to do. I want to be safe, but…” She sighed heavily.
“Look,” he said, his hands squeezing gently on her shoulders. “Your safety is the most important thing and I want to see to that.”
Sylvie tried to ignore the feel of Mason’s strong hands on her, but the slight pressure gave comfort. Closing her eyes for a moment, she longed to give her cares over to him. “What do I do?”
Normally decisive, Mace hesitated, seeing her face. “You have virtually no security here. Do you have a friend you can stay with for the night? I can get my men over tomorrow to set up a system.”
“Um…no, not really. I can’t think of anyone and, even if I did, I wouldn’t want to put them at risk.”
With his hands still on her shoulders, he could feel the tension radiating through her body. “We’re already into late spring. When does he get out of school?”
“He has two more weeks, though, the state assessments finished last week. But, this is the time that the kids look forward to so much, with field days and a chance to enjoy school without so much pressure.”
Nodding slowly, he made a decision. It wasn’t easy, given he was battling a surprisingly possessive desire to grab her and David and haul them off to safety. “I, or one of my men, will stay on guard outside at night until we get your security up or we find who is after you.”
Biting her lip, she said, “I hate for you to go to that trouble, but I would be foolish to turn down the offer of help.”
“Good.” Before letting her go, he added, “I’ve got to go into my office and take a look at these pictures. I’ll be back just as soon as I can and will stay the first night outside.” Her eyes widened as they jumped to his and he added, “And please, call me Mace.”
Her lips curved slightly and she nodded. “All right. And, well, I’m just Sylvie.”
“Okay.” Smiling toward the den, he called out, “David, you stay inside with your mom and, tomorrow, I’ll take you to school and then after school, I’ll show you some cool things I will have added to your house to make it super safe.”
David grinned and said goodbye as Sylvie stood with her hands clasped in front of her. “This all seems so surreal,” she admitted.
“I know,” he agreed, “but tomorrow, when you get home from work, I’ll have your house safe and secure.”
She nodded and as he turned to leave, she reached out, placing her hand on his arm. “Mace?”
As he turned around, she hesitated before asking, “Why are you doing this?”
He hesitated, as well, before placing his hand over hers, “Let’s just say, you remind me of someone. Someone I wasn’t able to rescue a long time ago.”
Leaving it at that, he turned and walked back to his SUV, carefully scanning the area as he went.
“Hey, Mace,” Josh called out, sitting at his computer. “I’m just getting the photos from Ms. Gardner’s phone cleaned up.”
Mace walked over to stare at the screen. He had reported in to the others when he got back and, while they had listened to everything with interest, they were particularly intrigued that David had taken pictures, even accidentally.
Leaning over, he watched as Josh worked his magic and brought the pictures up on the large screen, making it clearer with each tap on the keyboard. Staring, his heart dropped in amazement.
“Holy shit.”
The others in the room quickly turned, looking up at the screen, several mirroring his response. There, clearly identifiable, was the missing State Attorney. First, arguing with another man, whose face was never toward the camera, and then, slung over another man’s shoulder...either unconscious or dead.
Mace raced along the road, cutting the time it took to get back to Sylvie’s almost in half. Unable to reach her by phone, he had quickly given commands to his team and jumped into his SUV. They had forwarded the pictures to Detective Martinez along with Mace’s report from talking to David, including the possibility that someone from the local police had been leaking the details.
Vote Then Read: Volume III Page 296