“He didn’t mention it, but they were headed over to Walmart when we last spoke,” her father replied.
“We should go there, too,” said Beth, adrenalized and feeling a sudden new spark of hope. “Can you call him back and let him know that we’re also on our way?”
“If you want to, sure,” William replied, taking out his phone. “You’d better eat something though. You look like your clothes are about to slide right off of you.”
Beth opened up the cupboard and grabbed a granola bar. “Is this better?”
“It will have to do,” William said, with a disapproving look. “For now. I guess.”
She tore open the wrapper. “I’m going to get my purse. I’ll meet you outside. Hi, Helen,” Beth said, passing her on her way out of the kitchen.
“Hi, dear. What’s going on?” she asked William and Tom.
William explained.
“A psychic? Can I come, too?” Helen asked, looking intrigued.
“If you want to,” William replied. “But, you know how I feel about psychics. I think involving her is a waste of time.”
“Maybe, but I think it’s important to explore all options in trying to locate Lainey,” she replied. “And... it’s better than sitting around here and twiddling our thumbs.”
“She has a point,” said Tom, standing up and pulling out the car keys from his pocket. “Although, this woman better not put any false ideas into Beth’s head.”
“I think we’ll know soon enough if this psychic is a total flake,” William replied with a smirk. “I just hope she doesn’t send us all on a wild goose chase.”
Chapter 10
Carissa
THEY TOOK DUSTIN’S PICKUP to Walmart. Just as they were pulling into a parking spot, he received a phone call from Lainey’s grandfather.
“It looks like the family is going to meet us here,” he told Carissa after the conversation, shoving his phone back into his jacket pocket.
“Good idea,” she replied, staring at the busy store. Even though the abduction had occurred later in the evening, it was shocking that nobody had noticed anything unusual. But then again, people were usually in a hurry, especially at that time of night, or had their eyes glued to their phones.
“You’ve been quiet. Are you picking up anything yet from the land of ‘Supernatural’?” he asked with a little smile.
“No,” she said with a sigh. “I was just thinking about how gutsy the kidnappers were. Taking a child out of a busy store like this. She was drugged, right?”
He nodded. “And it’s believed that Lainey might have known the abductor.”
“Hmm.”
It would make sense. That’s how he would have been able to get close enough to use chloroform, too, which was what she suspected.
They got out of Dustin’s truck and headed inside. Although it was earlier in the day, it was still rather busy, with people shopping for the holidays, and Carissa felt even more pressured to help return Lainey. She couldn’t imagine what it would be like to lose a child, especially around this time of the year. Thanksgiving and Christmas would never be the same for her parents. Of course, nothing would.
When they arrived at the aisle where Lainey had been kidnapped, Carissa was immediately drawn to the rows of Barbie dolls. She picked up one of the boxes and studied it.
“What is it?” Dustin asked quietly.
She looked at him, her eyes sparkling. “Lainey wanted this doll. Badly.”
He nodded. “William mentioned that she’d been pining for a doll and had gotten mad at Beth because she refused to buy it for her. Pretty classic exchange between parent and child in the toy department.”
“Yes.”
Relieved that she was picking up something significant, Carissa’s heart quickened. She closed her eyes and concentrated.
“So, Lainey stomped back here and was putting the doll away when the kidnapper approached her.”
“Yeah.”
“I also feel that she definitely knew this man.” Beth was silent for a while. After a few seconds, she opened up her eyes.
“What?”
She shook her head, frustrated. “Sorry. I’m drawing more blanks again. I’m probably trying too hard.”
“It’s okay. Take your time.”
Beth put the doll back onto the shelf and looked up, toward the ceiling. She knew the store had to have hidden cameras everywhere. “Have you seen the surveillance videos?”
“No. I tried getting the store manager to show them to me yesterday, but he was busy and not very helpful.”
“Maybe Lainey’s parents can talk him into letting us see them?”
“That would be nice.”
She looked around the aisle. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to spend some more time here and see if anything else comes to me.”
“No problem. I’ll grab a cup of coffee from the snack bar. Would you like something to drink?”
“Sure. Thank you. Coffee sounds good.”
Dustin smiled. “Let me guess – an iced caramel frappe?”
Carissa grinned back at him. “You know what I like.”
He winked. “I’ll be back.”
She watched Dustin walk away and then turned back toward the rows of dolls. “Please. Give me something,” she whispered, closing her eyes again.
AS DUSTIN STOOD in line for the coffee, his thoughts were on Carissa. He missed the hell out of the woman and seeing her was difficult. If anything, she looked more beautiful than ever. Her auburn hair had gotten longer and she’d put on a couple of pounds, which was good, considering the last time they’d seen each other, Carissa had looked almost... gaunt. But now her face had filled out a little and her green eyes were lively again.
He wondered if she’d met someone.
The thought made his stomach twist. Although he wanted her to be happy, he was selfish and knew it. He loved her and the thought of any other guy in her life would never sit well. If only she wasn’t so stubborn. He understood why she was anxious about his job, but he couldn’t give it up. And Carissa knew why.
Dustin thought about his younger sister, Taylor, who’d been abducted when she was nine-years-old. She’d disappeared while riding her bike home for dinner. The police found it on the side of a dirt road, but there’d been no sign of Taylor and no witnesses. It had destroyed their parents and he’d felt like the worst brother in the world. Especially since Dustin had been asked to chaperone Taylor from her friend, Jenny’s house. But, he’d talked his way out of it, claiming that he’d had an important test to study for. Although it had been partially true, he’d simply been too damn lazy.
Afterward, guilt and shame had eaten him up inside. It had gotten so bad that at one point, he’d even contemplated suicide. But, watching his parents drink themselves to death because of their own demons had triggered something deep inside of him. He finally realized that suicide wouldn’t bring his sister back but he could dedicate his life to her. Instead of wallowing in guilt and self-pity, he decided to get into law enforcement in hopes of seeking some kind of justice for Taylor and other missing kids. Unfortunately, he never did find out who’d kidnapped his sister and even Carissa couldn’t give him the kind of answers he needed.
“Sir, what can I get for you?” the clerk asked, snapping him out of his thoughts.
“Oh, sorry,” Dustin said, stepping forward. He ordered the coffee, paid for it, and then headed back toward the toy department. On his way, he met up with Lainey’s family. William made the introductions and then they accompanied him back to the Barbie aisle.
“Did you hear about the missing boy?” William asked as they were walking through the store.
Dustin sighed. “Yeah. I saw the Amber Alert.”
“The police aren’t sure if the cases are related, because Sammy’s a boy and three years older,” he said. A look of disgust crossed his face. “There sure are a lot of crazies out there.”
“Yeah, there certainly are,” he replied, thinking of his sister agai
n and all the other missing children. He wanted kids himself one day, but the truth was the world scared the hell out of him.
“So, Mr. Frazer, Dad mentioned that your psychic friend has helped locate other children?” Beth asked him.
“Call me Dustin, please. And yes, in fact, she just helped find a little girl in Two Harbors last weekend,” he replied.
Beth’s face brightened. “Really? How did she get involved with that?”
“Carissa mentioned that she’d been drawn to Duluth even before the child went missing. She’d had some dreams and premonitions. Unfortunately, the kidnapper still took the girl, but Carissa helped her escape and was able to return her to her family,” Dustin said.
“I heard something about that on the news,” William said, looking impressed. “That was your psychic friend, huh? Carissa, you said?”
“Yes. Carissa Jones,” Dustin replied. “And, she has located other kids too. But, I have to tell you that her premonitions aren’t controllable. She’s going to do what she can to help, but I don’t want to give you any false hope.”
“That’s understandable,” Beth said. “We’ll take what we can get.”
“If there’s one thing I know about Carissa, she’ll do her best to help find Lainey, though. She loves children,” Dustin replied as they rounded the corner and walked toward the doll aisle.
“This isn’t going to cost extra, is it?” William asked through the side of his mouth.
Helen elbowed him.
Dustin bit back a smile. “Don’t worry. She doesn’t expect payment. She just wants to do the right thing and find your daughter.”
“I don’t care if there’s a cost or not,” Beth said. “I just want Lainey back and if she finds her, I’ll owe her for the rest of my life.”
Tom, who’d been listening quietly, took her hand. “We both will,” he said quietly.
Chapter 11
Lainey
“COME,” DINA ORDERED. Today she was dressed in black leggings and a sparkly off-the-shoulder white sweater. She had on makeup and her hair fell softly over her shoulders.
Lainey stiffened up. “Why?”
“Come,” repeated Dina, more sternly this time.
Remembering Tara’s warnings, Lainey got out of the bed and timidly walked over to her. She hadn’t been able to leave the bedroom since she’d arrived and wondered what was happening.
Dina mumbled something under her breath and then grabbed Lainey’s hand. She pulled her out of the bedroom and down the hallway, to a long staircase. Dina’s heels clicked loudly on the wood as they descended the steps.
“Where are you taking her?” called a voice.
Lainey looked up to see Tara staring down at them, a funny expression on her face.
Dina ignored the teenager.
“Dina!” called Tara angrily. “What’s going on?”
Reaching the bottom of the staircase, the older woman turned and spoke to Tara in Russian.
“Oh,” Tara replied, her face falling. “Already?”
“Yes. This isn’t hotel,” said Dina, pursing her lips.
Lainey’s heart skipped a beat.
What did that mean?
Were they sending her somewhere?
“Am I going home?” Lainey asked.
Dina smirked. “Soon, yes. New home.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “I don’t want to go to a new home. I want my old one.”
Dina ignored her. “Come,” she said, trying to pull her forward.
“But, I don’t want to!” cried Lainey shrilly.
Growling in the back of her throat, Dina whirled around. “Rules. Don’t forget,” she said coldly.
“Please, I just want to go home!” Lainey begged, trying to pull her hand out of Dina’s.
The woman’s face turned red. “Stop this. Now.”
Lainey twisted her wrist and managed to break free. She backed away. “I want my mom!”
Furious, Dina grabbed her by the arm and slapped her across the face.
Lainey cried out in pain. She covered her cheek and began to sob.
Tara rushed down the staircase. “Dina, what the hell? She’s just a little girl. You don’t have to be such a bitch.”
“Careful,” Dina said, glaring at her. She shook her finger at Tara. “Or... you’ll be next.”
A man suddenly appeared in the foyer. “What’s going on out here?”
“Dina slapped Lainey,” Tara said, still glaring at the other woman.
Letting out a weary sigh, he turned to Dina. “Why?”
Dina raised her chin defiantly. “Misbehaving.”
“She just asked to go home,” Tara snapped. “That’s not misbehaving. It’s being human. Remember what that’s like, Dina?”
She grunted and looked away.
The man leaned down and touched Lainey on the shoulder. “Are you okay, sweetheart? Let me see your face.”
Surprised at the stranger’s kindness, Lainey removed her hand from her cheek and stared at the man. He was nice looking with blonde hair, soft brown eyes, and a friendly smile.
“You’ll be fine. So, you’re Lainey? My name is Kurt, by the way,” he murmured, touching her cheek gently. “Does that hurt?”
Lainey flinched and backed away from the man. She’d heard all about Kurt from Tara. He’d kidnapped her when she was eleven and had taken pictures of her. Naked ones.
Noticing the look of distaste on Lainey’s face, Kurt’s smile faltered. He stood up straight and turned to Dina. “Hands off. We need to take some pictures. You know that.”
Dina sighed. “Fine.”
He stared at her quietly for a few seconds. “You look lovely this evening,” Kurt said in a warmer voice.
Dina’s eyes lit up and she smiled. “Maybe... we have dinner tonight?”
“I don’t think it’s going to happen. There’s too much going on,” Kurt replied. “Yury is in town.”
Dina’s smile fell. “I know.”
“Tell you what, when he leaves I’ll take you someplace special,” Kurt said, tilting his head. “Okay?”
She nodded.
Kurt looked around. “Speaking of Yury, he’s waiting to see both kids. Where’s the boy?”
Lainey’s eyes widened. She didn’t know there was a boy in the house.
“Sleeping,” said Tara. “I just checked on him.”
“Must be because of the chloroform,” Kurt said.
Tara’s eyes narrowed. “Maybe he was given too much.”
Kurt shook his head. “I doubt it. Hawk knows what he’s doing. Dina, go and get him will you?”
Dina groaned. “Why can’t Tara?”
“Because I asked you,” he said sternly.
Grumbling under her breath, Dina stomped upstairs and disappeared.
“I’m going into the kitchen. Take her into the parlor,” Kurt said, walking away.
Tara sighed and turned to Lainey. “Come on.”
“I’m scared,” murmured Lainey. “Who is Yury?”
“A creep, but at least he doesn’t like touching kids.” Tara grabbed Lainey’s hand and gave her a reassuring squeeze.
That didn’t make her feel much better. “Who’s Dina going to get?” Lainey asked.
“A boy named Sammy,” she replied as they began walking down the hallway.
“Was he kidnapped, too?”
She nodded.
When they entered the parlor, Lainey saw a muscular, bald man waiting for them. He wore a blue silk shirt and a chunky gold chain around his neck.
“Ah, yes,” Yury said, nodding in approval when he saw Lainey. “You are a lovely little thing, aren’t you?”
Something about the way he looked at her made Lainey’s skin crawl. She swallowed the lump in her throat and looked away.
Yury took out a cigarette and lit it. “Where is the other one?”
“Dina went to get him,” Tara replied.
“Ah. Good. Well, you’re growing up nicely,” he said, blowing out a cloud of smoke.
His eyes traveled up and down Tara’s figure. “I think we might have better use for you than babysitting. Much better.”
Her eyes widened in alarm. “But, Kurt promised that I didn’t have to do anything -”
Yury snorted. “Kurt? He can’t promise anything. I’m in charge.”
“But,” Tara looked like she was going to be sick, “I’ve done everything that’s been asked of me. He promised.”
“No buts,” he scowled. “You’ll do what I say you’ll do. End of discussion.”
Kurt walked into the parlor with two beers. “What’s going on?” he asked, handing one of the bottles to Yury.
“Tara forgot her place,” Yury replied, twisting the cap off of the beer. “I had to remind her of where it is.”
Kurt glanced at Tara. “I’m sure Tara meant no disrespect. Right?”
“No,” she mumbled, a sullen look on her face.
“I want her doing movies now,” Yury said, sitting back in the sofa. He smirked. “In fact, I think I will bring her back to Grozny with me.”
Tara gasped. “No. No. Please,” she said, her eyes filling with tears. Tara looked at Kurt. “You said that if I was good I could watch the kids. I’ve done everything you asked.”
“Why don’t we talk about this later?” Kurt said, looking uncomfortable. “Right now, we should focus on the upcoming auction.”
Although she didn’t know what they were talking about, Lainey’s stomach filled with dread.
“Yes. Good idea. How much do you think we can get for this little one?” Yury said, nodding toward Lainey.
“Quite a bit, I’m hoping,” Kurt replied, staring at her. “Look at how much we got for the last little blondie. And this one looks almost like a china doll.”
Realizing that they were talking about selling her, Lainey rushed over to Tara and threw her arms around her waist. “Tara, I’m scared.”
“Hey, it’s okay,” Tara whispered, hugging her back. “Everything will be fine.”
“See. This is why we need Tara,” Kurt said before taking a swig of beer. “They trust her and she calms them down.”
Looking for Lainey - A gripping psychological thriller Page 5