Missing in Cottonwood Springs

by Dianne Harman

“Linc, I’m worried they may have taken Holly,” she said as she redirected them back to the subject at hand.

  “Let’s go drive around and look for her. Leave a note for her to call us, just in case we miss her, and she shows up here,” he said.

  Brigid nodded and found a piece of paper. She quickly scrawled out a note directing Holly to stay put and to call her as soon as she read the note. After writing it, Brigid took a deep breath to calm herself. She could feel her hands shaking as her mind began to jump to conclusions. Gripping the edge of the counter, Brigid leaned over the paper, silently hoping nothing bad had happened to Holly.

  “Relax,” Linc said as he began to rub her shoulders. “I’m sure she’s fine. Not everything has to end in tragedy. She’s probably on her way home right now. I bet she just took a different way home or something. Try not to worry for now.”

  “I know. I shouldn’t automatically assume the worst. It’s just that I’m so worried, and now this, along with everything else,” she let her sentence trail off.

  “I agree,” Linc said, turning towards her and once again pulling her into his arms. A few unbidden tears streamed down Brigid’s cheeks as she allowed herself to sink into Linc’s embrace for just a few moments, letting everything around them disappear while she caught her breath. Once he was sure she was calm, he released her. “You ready?”

  She nodded and picked up her purse. “Come on, Jett,” she called. Together they left the house, and she shut the door behind them.

  “Brigid, we’ll drive up and down every street if we have to,” Linc promised. “We’ll find her, I promise.”

  As they were walking to his truck, Brigid caught sight of a familiar flashing light on a bicycle. “Holly?” she called out.

  “Yeah?” a familiar voice replied.

  “Oh, thank goodness,” Brigid gasped, as the young girl came into view. She fell against the truck in relief. Jett ran towards Holly, barking and wagging his tail.

  “What’s wrong?” Holly asked, as she got off her bike and walked it up the driveway.

  “We’ve been worried about you,” Linc said in a serious tone.

  “Why? I was fine,” Holly said, completely oblivious to Linc and Brigid’s concern.

  “I told you to get a ride home,” Brigid began. “I told you there are people who have disappeared.” Brigid tried to remain calm, but she couldn’t. After everything that had happened, and then being worried about Holly, she started to cry again.

  “I’m sorry,” Holly said softly. “I didn’t want to bother anyone, and I thought I’d be home before anyone knew any different.”

  “Well, I knew, and I’ve been worried out of my mind,” Brigid said as she rushed over to the young girl. She pulled Holly into a tight hug, squeezing her so tight it was hard for her to breathe.

  “I… can’t… breathe,” Holly gasped.

  “Holly, you really scared us,” Linc said, disappointment clearly showing on his face.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” Holly said, her eyes wide.

  “I’m just glad you’re okay. Next time, when Brigid tells you to get a ride, just call. You won’t be bothering me,” he said.

  Holly nodded as Brigid released her. “It won’t happen again. I promise,” she said.

  “Let’s all go in the house,” Brigid said as she regained her composure. “I still need to call Sheriff Davis.”

  CHAPTER 13

  “Hi Corey, it’s Brigid,” she said after Sheriff Davis answered his cell phone. “I have more information for you.”

  “Great. I just got back to Cottonwood Springs from a meetin’ with some sheriffs from other nearby counties where we was comparin’ notes ‘bout all the people that gone missin’ ‘round here. I fer sure wanna’ talk to ya’ if’n ya’ gots some info fer me. But listen, I’m not too far from your place. I’ll jes’ swing by, and ya’ can tell me in person, okay?” he asked.

  “Not a problem, Corey. I’ll be here,” she said.

  “See ya’ in a few,” he said.

  “So, tell me,” Linc began. “What have you been up to all day? Last I knew you were going to be doing wedding stuff, and now you’re in the middle of another investigation.”

  Brigid thought back to this morning and could hardly believe everything that had happened. She woke up in the morning with the intention of talking to a florist about flowers for her wedding and getting some editorial work done. Instead, she’d ended up roped into a missing persons case and dress shopping. That didn’t even take into account coming face to face with the potential suspects and being scared half to death that Holly had been taken as well.

  After giving Linc a play by play of her day, he let out a low whistle.

  “I don’t know how you do it. The situation with Holly was the first time I’ve ever seen you lose your cool and even that wasn’t too terrible. You are amazing,” he marveled.

  “I don’t know about all that,” Brigid said as she brushed away his compliment.

  “It’s true. Things just roll off you like water off a duck’s back. Nothing gets to you. I’m envious. I was stuck behind my computer looking at numbers all day,” Linc grumbled.

  The sound of a car door closing made Jett raise his head from where he’d been laying at both of their feet.

  “Sounds like Sheriff Davis is here,” Brigid said as she stood up and walked over to the door. She pulled it open as he was raising his hand to knock on the door.

  “Hi, Brigid,” he said as he touched the tip of his hat with his hand before pulling it off while he stepped inside. “Linc.”

  “Hello, Sheriff,” Linc said.

  Sheriff Davis turned to Brigid, “So what ya’ got fer me?”

  “Come sit down and I’ll explain,” she said. Once she’d offered him something to drink, and they’d all gotten settled, she began to tell him what she’d found out.

  “I took notes on what MaryAnn and Eve saw which you can read later. Anyway, there are two men who drive the white van. They’re staying at the Star Motel, that seedy motel just outside of town. When Missy, Fiona, and I went dress shopping, I saw the white van parked there. Missy pulled into the gas station next to the motel. I went to the room the van was parked in front of and knocked on the door,” Brigid began.

  “What were ya’ thinking? Ya’ do realize ya’ don’t have a badge, right?” Sheriff Davis asked, horrified.

  “I’m aware of that. I just wanted to see if it was the same men that Eve says she saw standing outside the van, and I’m certain they’re the same guys. Time is of the essence, Corey. I think you should go out to the motel and arrest them. We’ve got to get Olivia back as soon as possible,” Brigid insisted.

  “I agree with ya’ about Olivia, but I can’t jes’ arrest them with no probable cause, ya’ know that,” Sheriff Davis said as he shook his head.

  “You don’t understand, Corey. There’s something special about Olivia that you don’t know about,” Brigid said. “No one is supposed to know anything about it yet.” Brigid didn’t want to tell them Olivia’s secret, but at the same time she felt the sheriff might feel differently if he knew.

  “What are ya’ talkin’ about?” he asked, confused.

  “Look, she wasn’t telling people yet, so this has to stay quiet. She hadn’t even told Mike. Just because she’s gone missing doesn’t mean her private affairs need to be spread all over town,” Brigid began.

  Sheriff Davis nodded. “Okay, I’ll keep it under wraps long as I can. What’s the big secret?”

  Brigid bit her lip before saying, “She’s pregnant.”

  Both men were silent for a few moments as they processed what she’d just told them. Linc was the first to speak, “Well, that’s not good.”

  “No, no it ain’t,” Sheriff Davis said thoughtfully. “Poor Mike.”

  “Now you see why I want you to bring them in?” Brigid asked.

  “Brigid, I understand what yer’ sayin’,” he began, “but ya’ need to understand somethin’. These g
uys ain’t necessarily gonna’ start singin’ jes’ because I slap some cuffs on ‘em. Most likely, they got somewhere they’re keepin’ her ‘til someone else comes to take her away. If we bring ‘em in, and we can’t get ‘em to talk, she may wind up bein’ permanently gone and lost in the wind. We’ll never find her then.” He began chewing on his lip while his eyes drifted off into the distance.

  “Well, in that case, what do you suggest?” Brigid asked. She saw his point, but that didn’t make it any easier to accept. Just the thought of a young woman taken against her will was sickening. The fact that she was pregnant added another layer of concern to an already horrible situation.

  “First we need to watch ‘em,” he said as he continued to think. “Need to see where they go.” He lifted his eyes to Brigid. “Did’ja happen to get a license number on that white van?”

  She nodded and dug out her notebook from her purse. She flipped to the page and showed it to the sheriff. Turning to the radio on his shoulder, he pushed a button. “101 to 107,” he said into it and then waited.

  “101 this is 107,” came a response.

  “107, I need ya’ to see if you can locate that vehicle we was lookin’ fer earlier. I’m gonna’ text you the plate number and probable location,” he said as he pulled out his phone.

  “10-4, do you need me to speak with them?” came the response.

  “Negative,” Sheriff Davis said. “Fer now I want ya’ to jes’ observe. I’ll take over after a while.”

  “10-4, will do.”

  Sheriff Davis finished typing on his phone before looking back up at them. “Didn’t want to say too much over the radio and tip ‘em off. Some of them people have police radio scanners, and I don’t want ‘em knowin’ we’re watchin’ ‘em.”

  “Good thinking,” Linc said in agreement. “You just never know who’s listening.”

  “Exactly. We need the element of surprise on our side with this one. Like I told ya’ earlier, I’ve been talkin’ with the sheriffs from our neighborin’ counties today. A few of ‘em have some people who’ve gone missin’ recently. Some say they ain’t sure if they’re runaways or what since there weren’t any witnesses that they know of.

  “Close by there’s a missin’ boy of around thirteen and a twenty-year-old woman. The boy may jes’ be a runaway. The woman’s car was found broken-down on the side of the highway, but there weren’t no sign of her.” Sheriff Davis shook his head. “For their sakes, I hope they aren’t wrapped up in all of this.”

  “I agree,” Brigid said, “but at the same time I do. That way if we find Olivia, we’ll find those missing persons too.”

  “Not if, Brigid, when,” Sheriff Davis said. “Don’t lose hope now.”

  “I’m sorry, you’re right. When we find them.”

  “I better go so I can watch the van myself. Ain’t that I don’t trust my deputies, but if she’s pregnant, I sure don’t want there bein’ any accidents. I also don’t wanna’ have to share that info with the entire department,” he said as he stood up.

  “Wait,” Brigid said as she stood up too. “Corey, I want to go with you.”

  “Don’t know if that’s wise,” Sheriff Davis began.

  “Look, I’ve seen these guys. I’ve seen the van. You won’t know for sure if it’s the same guys if you don’t let me go,” she explained.

  The sheriff paused, looking at Brigid and trying to decide if it was a wise choice or not.

  “You know she’s going to do what she wants. You might as well let her go with you,” Linc said. “She’s a stubborn one.” He smirked at the last part, almost as if he was proud of her when she was stubborn.

  “Don’t need to tell me that. Well aware of it,” Sheriff Davis said. He debated for a moment longer before finally relenting. “Okay, but bring a jacket with ya’. Likely to get purty cold while we jes’ sit.”

  Brigid rushed to the hall closet and tugged a jacket off of a coat hanger. “Linc, will you…,” she began, but he held up his hand.

  “Say no more. I’ll hang out here until you get back,” he said with a smile.

  She rushed over and gave him a kiss. “Thank you.”

  “Ya’ ready?” Sheriff Davis asked.

  “Definitely,” Brigid answered.

  CHAPTER 14

  The sun had almost left the sky and it was getting darker by the minute. The landscape flew by as they headed towards their destination. While Brigid rode in the unmarked sheriff’s car driven by Sheriff Davis, she let her mind wander to her wedding plans and to the couple of places that she and Linc had narrowed down to go for their honeymoon.

  They were still fairly much up in the air about it, but each one was a location where she’d always wanted to go. She knew it sounded kind of crazy, but she’d written a report on the Alamo when she’d been in high school, and San Antonio was definitely one of the places on her list. To say she was excited was an understatement.

  “So how long ago did ya’ see the van over at the Star Motel?” Sheriff Davis asked, pulling her out of her momentary reverie and back to the present.

  “I’m not sure. It’s probably been about two or three hours,” she admitted. It felt like forever, but it could have been even less. She mentally kicked herself for not checking the time when she’d been there.

  He nodded as he drove through town and headed towards the Star Motel. “That’s not too terrible long,” he stated. “Hopefully my deputy was able to get eyes on the suspect vehicle and make sure they didn’t go nowhere yet.”

  “They didn’t look like they were planning on going anywhere when they opened the door,” Brigid recalled. As she brought the men to mind, she felt anger begin to course through her veins. To think they were taking innocent people away from their families and for what?

  “That’s good. Ya’ don’t mind if I grab a quick bite, do ya’? Ain’t had nothin’ to eat since breakfast.” He turned to look at her and she shook her head.

  “Please do,” she said. “You won’t bother me.”

  “You want anythin’?” he asked as he turned off the road and pulled into the drive-thru lane of a local fast food place.

  “No, thank you,” Brigid said. “I’m good.”

  “Suit yourself,” he said as he rolled down his window and began to order. He ordered a patty melt, fries, and a Coke. When he added an extra order of fries and Coke, Brigid crossed her arms and gave him a look.

  Giving her an innocent grin, he chuckled. “What’s that look fer?”

  “You didn’t have to do that, you know,” she said.

  “I know. Don’t worry, I get a discount anyway. If ya’ really don’t want ‘em, we’ll feed ‘em to the birds or somethin’. By the way, the fries are baked, not deep fat-fried, and their patty melts are the best. I always order the baked fries, jes’ so I can justify the rest of it.”

  In a matter of minutes, they had their food and were back out on the road. Corey turned towards the outskirts of town, and Brigid couldn’t help but sigh.

  “What’s up?” Corey asked.

  “I just don’t understand why anyone would take another human being. What’s the point of it all?” She’d been thinking about how worried she’d been that Holly had been taken, and she couldn’t imagine the things that were probably going through Mike Ford’s mind at this point.

  “For a lotta’ reasons, from what I hear. Recently it seems human traffickin’ has become a very lucrative business to criminals,” he began.

  “Why here?” Brigid asked. “I can understand that happening in some of the bigger cities, but why come to a small town? Because we’re easy targets?” She was feeling put out with the whole world at that moment and needed some sort of explanation. What was happening to Olivia? Was she being treated well enough that her baby was still safe, or was it too late? It was all pretty overwhelming and was beginning to make her head swim.

  “Well, kinda’,” he said. “Theory is that people in the city are a bit more cautious these days. Ya’ know how it is when ya�
�� go there. Everyone’s worried about themselves, and ya’ can’t even accidentally bump into someone in the store and say ‘excuse me’ without getting glared at or worse.”

  Brigid nodded. She’d seen some of the same things.

  “These smaller towns, though?” Corey continued, “Folks are friendlier, even to people they don’t know. People leave their doors unlocked, trust people enough to walk up to their vehicles without payin’ much attention to their surroundins’. Think the bad guys have jes’ learned it’s fairly easy to grab someone when they’re more trustin’.”

  Brigid shook her head. “I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing.”

  “I’d say it’s both,” he observed. “Where’d ya’ say they was parked at the motel?”

  “On the back side,” she said. “Kind of on the end. You can see their van when you’re coming from the north.”

  Corey turned into a parking lot across the street from the gas station where Brigid had asked Missy to pull into earlier that day. The business that had originally been there had long ago closed, leaving a shell of a building with a faded ‘for sale’ sign in the window.

  “I don’t see the van,” Brigid said softly.

  “Don’t worry. They’ll come back,” he said confidently.

  As he pulled out a couple of French fries from his fast food bag, Corey took out his phone and began to punch in some numbers.

  “Hey, Pete. Where are ya’?” He listened quietly for a few minutes, occasionally tossing a French fry in his mouth.

  “Yeah, I’m sittin’ in the unmarked over in the old Johnson’s parking lot. Ya’ can head on home now. I’ll let ya’ know if I need ya’ for anythin’. Keep yer’ phone handy.” He put his phone back in his pocket and turned his attention to his patty melt.

  “Have you spoken to Olivia’s husband, Mike?” Brigid asked.

  “Yeah,” Sheriff Davis said around bites of his patty melt. “I let him know earlier we had a few leads we were pursuin’ and that I’d let him know in the mornin’ how those turned out. Doubt if he’s gonna’ get much sleep tonight, though.”