THE MISSINGS (Aspen Falls Thrillers Book 2)

by Peg Brantley

  Chase hated the term amigo applied to him by this man. “Will you let me know if you hear of anything that will help us?”

  “You now know my identity. You now know of the existence of Santeria practitioners in Aspen Falls. The only reason I would have for getting further involved would be retribution.”

  “And?”

  “Yo no sé. I couldn’t say, Detective. This exposure is filled with reasons to retaliate. But trust me, if something should happen to your suspects you will never know for certain Santeria had anything to do with it. I do not expect to ever have to meet with the likes of you again.”

  Ramirez moved back to his car and hesitated before getting in. “Detective?”

  “Yes?”

  “Leave me out of this from now on. I have nothing more to say to you. But I promise, if you don’t take care of Presley Adams and his clinic, I will.”

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Near Aspen Falls Middle School

  Monday, September 24

  Bobby Carlisle pointed. “There she is.” They’d been sitting out in front of this goddamned school for the last twenty minutes. About time she showed.

  “Which one?”

  “Sammy, open your eyes, man. We’ve only been following her for… how long?” If they were ever caught, it would be his older brother who would bring them down. Sammy had the attention span of a gnat and his IQ was slightly less. But he did have some muscles.

  “You know how long. It’s just that she changes.”

  “Changes what?”

  “Clothes and shit.”

  Bobby squeezed his lips as tight as he could. They’d figured out pretty fast that this teenage bimbo usually had family around her. Friends. She was rarely alone.

  Except for when she wanted a late night out with those friends. Then, for at least a little while, she was alone. They’d seen her sneak out three times in the last two weeks. She was good, but they were better.

  Timing was everything. Sneaking in and out was a little iffy. If she was gonna get caught by her parents, it would be either as she left the house or when she came home. If for some reason the adults heard her while she was trying to get away from the house and they were doing the job, things could get bad fast. Their safest grab would be when she was coming home before she had a chance to do something stupid. Or leaving wherever it was she’d gone to party.

  He wasn’t really worried. Teenagers could be counted on to make stupid decisions. They had enough information on her and when she made a wrong move they’d be there.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  The Greene Home

  Monday, September 24

  Detective Terri Johnson sat in her car in front of the home of Carol Greene and her eight year-old granddaughter, Lily. She fiddled with her radio, then checked her vanity mirror. She rarely wore lipstick but this was a special occasion.

  She was fifteen minutes early. If Terri sat here much longer, one of the neighbors would probably call the police to report a suspicious vehicle. A stalker. It would be a problem. She put her foot on the brake and began to push the button for the keyless ignition. She’d drive around town for a bit. Should’ve thought of that first. Nerves had gummed up her thinking.

  The door of the home opened and Carol Greene waved her in. Crap. Caught.

  Chest tight and heart thrumming Terri waved back, grabbed her purse and took a moment to breathe. This visit was as important to the two people who lived in that house as it was to her. At least the three of them wouldn’t be alone.

  Thank God they wouldn’t be alone.

  Terri set her phone to vibrate and made sure her weapon remained well concealed under her jacket as she exited her car. She pinned a smile to her face and hoped it didn’t come across like a grimace. Terri felt like she had slipped under water and desperately needed to come up for air. She put one foot in front of the other until she got to the door.

  “Detective Johnson, thank you for coming.” The older woman pressed her hands against her thighs and gave them a wipe.

  Carol Greene’s body language bounced into Terri’s consciousness, penetrated the insecurity that surrounded her like a veil of water and released her, throwing her to the surface where she could breathe again. “Please call me Terri.”

  The woman relaxed and took a deep breath of her own. “Terri. Thank you.”

  Mrs. Greene held the door open and stepped aside while Terri entered the living room. The floorboards of the house, a small Victorian like ninety percent of the houses in Aspen Falls of a certain age, creaked under her weight. The home had been lovingly maintained for decades, but time had begun to show through the patches. Carol Greene had raised both a daughter and a granddaughter on her own before her illness. Cancer didn’t leave much time for carpentry.

  “You know Krysta Corinn, our attorney. And you also know Myrna Kittredge with Child Services.” Even though the introductions were unnecessary, Terri appreciated the slow dance toward the reason for her visit. Everyone sat around the dining room table, coffee cups in front of them. A delicate plate in the middle of the table held a carefully displayed pile of untouched cookies.

  Terri glanced around and Myrna Kittredge anticipated her question. “Lily is playing outside with one of our caregivers to give us a few minutes.”

  Krysta Corinn cleared her throat. “Terri, we’re here to make sure we’re all on the same page regarding Lily’s future, and if we’re in accordance, to allow you and the girl to begin to get to know each other. You were instrumental in assuring Lily’s mother a safe place to stay and raise her child when her ex-husband became volatile, a fact important both to Lily’s mother, her grandmother,” she nodded toward Carol, “and to Lily herself. When Carol learned through Ms. Kittredge that you had been trying to adopt a child she contacted me.”

  Terri looked at Carol Greene. “I was so sorry to hear of your illness.”

  The grandmother nodded.

  “Mrs. Greene, I cannot begin to tell you how honored I am that you would consider allowing me to finish raising your granddaughter. When I worked your daughter’s case I found her to be a woman of exceptional strength when it came to Lily.” She struggled to find the right words. “Your daughter had so much courage. She brought honor to both you and her daughter. Like too many other women she fell in love with a man not worthy of her, and when she discovered her mistake she tried to correct it. She made a decision that cost her life. In many ways I feel like I failed her. Somehow I should have been there. But in my heart of hearts, even with the way things turned out, I know she made the right decision.”

  “Detective Johnson—Terri—I was never more proud of Deirdre than when she made the decision to leave her husband. There’s no way you could have prevented her murder. He would have gotten to her sooner or later. Because of you she at least had a few months of freedom. You helped her realize her value as a daughter, a mother and a woman. She respected you. She would want Lily to have a role model like you. Even if I didn’t have this, this… ” her hand fluttered in front of her chest, “I would want you in Lily’s life.”

  “Does Lily know you’re ill?” Terri asked.

  Carol Greene’s eyes filled with tears, and she nodded. “She’s a smart little girl. She knew something was going on and I’ve never lied to her.”

  A door slammed shut. “Is this her?” All of the adults sitting at the table turned to look at the source of the question.

  Terri saw a girl, tall for eight years old, standing in the doorway, arms crossed. Her chin lifted a fraction at the sudden attention—or it could be Terri had a lot to learn about the stances of little girls.

  Terri tried to swallow—to say something—but her mouth had gone dry.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  The Benavides Home

  Monday, September 24

  Chase was updating the file. He hated paperwork, even if it was at the computer. He thought maybe he’d be able to get home for a few minutes and grab an early dinner with his family before returning
to work.

  Whit knocked on his door and came in. “We’ve got a situation you should be aware of.”

  This can’t be good. “What?”

  “There’s been a fire at the Benavides home.”

  Shit.

  Chase threw his car into park and pushed open the door, searching for any member of the Benavides family. Acrid smoke continued to billow from hot spots around the home. The tidy yard in the front, the part that had not been consumed by fire, had been trampled by those fighting to save the structure.

  He saw Mrs. Benavides sitting off by herself on a lawn chair in the front yard. The tiny woman was bundled into a thick down coat with at least three scarves wrapped around her neck and head. Relief washed over him. He rushed toward her and dropped to his knees.

  “You!” She spat in his face.

  Chase carefully removed his handkerchief, grateful one more time that his wife made him carry them every single day. He backed away from the woman he’d been so concerned about and wiped his face.

  “This all your fault. My daughter dead and now we lose in fire.” The woman sat up straighter. “All you. First Rachelle, and now… this your fire.”

  Chase watched her mouth work, seeking enough saliva for another attack. Before she could work up another round he asked her, “Where’s Elizabeth?”

  “She come home from her walk with Daniel.” The older woman softened. Apparently she liked the detective who had been escorting her daughter the last couple of days. “Then she go to the market for dinner.” The older woman paused and her voice changed. “I need go out to garden to get fresh herbs. Killing frost any day now. We need use.” Ramona Benavidez’s eyes teared as she looked at her home.

  Chase remembered his grandmother. Even in the midst of tragedy, the practical needs of feeding and clothing her family drew her attention. He looked at the smoldering ruin of a kitchen. Using the last of the summer herbs was the last thing she should have been concerned about. No kitchen remained in which herbs could be put to any use. At least she and her daughter were safe.

  Chase excused himself and walked up to the FD captain. “Hey, Pat. What’s your take on this fire?

  “Funny you should ask. No doubt about it, this fire started because someone wanted the house to burn.”

  “How can you know so soon?”

  “You mean other than how fast the flames engulfed the entire structure? Or the heat? And the warning sign on the garage? Walk around to the back and take a look.”

  Chase moved through a group of firefighters. Behind the house, spray-painted on the wall of the detached garage, he read the words “QUIT TALKING BITCH.” Not especially unique but they’d gotten their point across.

  Elizabeth was out of this investigation even if he had to put her in protective custody.

  He went back to talk to the captain.

  “It’s not a total loss, Chase. A small burn area in the front, which we were able to control quickly. Another flash point in the back got most of the kitchen, but the rest of the house probably didn’t even have much smoke damage. Winds don’t usually help us but this time they did.”

  “Other than the graffiti on the garage, can you prove arson?”

  “No doubt. But arson just enough to make a point.” The captain stopped and sniffed. “You know someone who would want to make a point to this family, Detective? Do you know who wrote the message on the garage wall?”

  “We’re working on it.”

  “Work faster. A warning is one thing. Next time I don’t think they’ll be so particular about what burns.”

  Elizabeth Benavides blasted up next to him, her anger and fear melding into a formidable female ready to do her own kind of battle. “What the hell happened? Mamá said I should ask you.”

  “Elizabeth, I appreciate your desire to help. And you have. But that’s over now.”

  “That’s not what I asked you.” She set her jaw. “What are you talking about?”

  Chase read people well. And he knew Elizabeth Benavides knew exactly what he was talking about. “This fire could have killed someone—you know it and I know it. This one? Another warning. A strong one and probably the last. The next time something happens it won’t be a warning. I don’t want that kind of responsibility. Do you?”

  Elizabeth’s face hardened and her eyes squinted into steel. A tear worked its way out of her right eye and crawled down her face.

  “I know this is hard,” Chase said.

  “How could you know? Don’t tell me you know.” Elizabeth choked the words out. “Have you ever lost somebody you loved before you should have?”

  The sun slipped behind the western edge of Cobalt Mountain and they went from dusk to night in the blink of an eye. Chase felt the familiar bruise in his chest.

  The scene was now lit by the numerous headlights of response vehicles and curious bystanders. Chase cleared his throat. “Yes, Miss Benavides, as a matter of fact I have.”

  They stood in silence while the firefighters packed up their gear and prepared to depart. The captain walked up to Elizabeth. “Do you have someplace your family can stay while you make the repairs to your home?”

  “Don’t worry about us. Our neighbors will help.”

  The firefighter touched his hat in a salute and walked away.

  Elizabeth’s father had joined her mother. The couple stood as close together as they could without quite touching. Heads bowed close together for a moment, then turned toward their home, and finally toward their daughter.

  “You might be willing to risk your life, Elizabeth. But are you willing to risk theirs?”

  She brought a fist up and hit him in the chest. Hard. Chase remained still and she hit him again. This time without the force. Without the anger.

  “I will keep you informed every step of the way. But your involvement in this investigation is over. Agreed?”

  An older couple approached Elizabeth’s parents. Pulled them away from their home and began walking across the street. Mrs. Benavides stumbled and supporting arms reached out to steady her.

  “I need you to find my sister’s murderers. I need them to pay.”

  “We will.”

  Elizabeth hesitated. “We are having a service Wednesday morning. You should come.”

  “I will.”

  Chase turned to leave, checking traffic before he crossed to his car. Light from a streetlight spilled over a dark, possibly black, Mustang. He hesitated then changed course. Four strides in the direction of the parked car, it pulled out, did a three-point maneuver and left the scene.

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Aspen Falls Police Department

  Monday, September 24

  Chase hurried into the meeting room and surveyed the other two detectives. Terri appeared fresh but Daniel sagged in the chair and his normally crisp clothes melted into wrinkles.

  “You okay?”

  No response.

  “Daniel, you okay?”

  “What did I miss?” The detective focused mournful eyes on Chase. “Tell me what I did wrong that ended up with Elizabeth’s house burning to the ground.”

  “Her house didn’t burn to the ground and no one got hurt. And you did nothing wrong.”

  Daniel fell silent.

  “I need you both on top of this with me. We have a new number of victims. Twelve.”

  Both detectives sat straighter in their chairs. “Twelve?” In stereo.

  “Thanks to Daniel and Elizabeth, I met with a contact—credible—who knows of eleven missing people from the Hispanic community. With Rachelle Benavides we have twelve.”

  “Names?” Terri asked.

  “Not yet but he’ll get them to us.” Chase tossed his folder on the table. “There’s another thing. I want to know if either of you turn up a connection to a black Mustang.”

  “What’s the connection?” Daniel asked.

  “One direct—a black Mustang was parked on the street across from the Benavides home. When I approached, it took off.”


  “Plates?” Terri wanted to know.

  “Didn’t get a chance to see the license plates. But I did note two occupants. Both white, both male, thirties.”

  “And the indirect?” Daniel asked.

  “Skizzers talked about the Batmobile the night we found the body in the dumpster. Wasn’t the Batmobile black? Could be a Mustang. And someone in a black Mustang has been shadowing my family. May or may not have anything to do with our case. But the coincidence bothers me.”

  “Following your family?” Terri pressed.

  “A black Mustang has shown up often enough that Bond noticed. I don’t know if one thing is connected to the other. Just call me if you see one.” Chase looked at Terri. “What did you get from the ER?”

  “Another list of names, but not quite as many. Orders for blood tests are computerized, and supposedly only the doctors have access, but we all know computers can be hacked, passwords can be discovered, and security can pretty well suck when there’s a computer involved.”

  Daniel laughed. “Almost as bad as when it’s person-to-person.”

  “Touché.” Terri winked at Chase. She’d egged Daniel on with her computer comment and it worked. Daniel Murillo hadn’t worked fraud cases for years without coming away with a healthy respect for the fact that more fraud occurs in person than via technology. He had a hard time trying to convince his fellow detectives, but when a waitress gave Terri back the wrong credit card and then tried to deny it Daniel had new believers.

  “At any rate,” Terri continued, “I have a list of all ER employees, including docs, who have access to the system. They’re required to change passwords every month but we should be able to find our hacker pretty fast. The doctors get a printout every week with their test requests on it. Some are better record keepers than others, but we should be able to find a pattern and someone responsible.”

  “Assuming it’s someone in the ER,” Daniel added.

  “Who else would it be?”