“It’s your task force.”
“Right, which we will not have completely in place until tomorrow.”
“And, tomorrow is not yesterday. I got it,” Claire replied.
“You have an idea?” Alex asked.
Claire shrugged. “Depends.”
“On what?”
“Whether you really are Agent By the Book,” Claire answered.
Alex sighed, immediately understanding Claire’s idea. “You do know if Hawk finds out you called someone outside the bureau…”
“Hawk’s not speaking to me,” Claire said. “And, anyway—you and I both know she would do the same thing.”
Alex let her face fall into her hands.
“You don’t agree,” Claire surmised. “Still just think I’m a fuck up, huh?”
Alex pulled her hands away from her face and smiled at Claire. “No,” Alex said emphatically. “I think you’re a good agent who wants to get answers as quickly as she can.”
“Right.”
Alex sighed. “Claire, we can’t. Trust me; I’m tempted to call Jonathan right now. But,” Alex groaned in frustration. “When I saw him the other day, he told me I didn’t need his help. We can’t. How do we explain to the team that we have information before they’ve even seen the cursory evidence? Claire,” Alex shook her head. “That team needs to trust…”
“Everyone trusts you,” Claire said. “Hell, most of them want to be you.”
“This isn’t about me. They need to trust us. They need to trust you.”
Claire nodded. “Do you? Trust me?”
Alex looked Claire directly in the eye. She took a deep breath and released it slowly. “As much as I hate to admit it; yes, Claire; I do. In fact, I trust you with my life.”
“Because of Cass.”
Alex decided that it was time to lay all her cards on the table. “Partly,” she confessed. “Cass is the best judge of character of anyone I know. I’m not going to bullshit you. If we’re going to be partners, honesty is something you should expect from me.”
Claire listened without comment as Alex continued.
“I’m not going to pretend that I understand you. And, I’m not going to tell you that I forgive you for everything. I don’t.”
Claire nodded.
Alex looked at the ceiling and sighed before looking back at Claire. “I do trust you. Cass loves you, Claire. Weird as it is to me—to her? Well…”
“It’s cool,” Claire held up her hand.
“No, you need to hear this, and I need to say it.”
Claire nodded.
“For a long time, I didn’t get it; you and Cass, I mean. Thing is, it’s a lot like me and Dylan.” Alex saw Claire’s eyes begin to water. “Everybody probably thinks I love Dylan because of Cass. That’s partly true. I would’ve loved Dylan even if Cass and I had never been together. I can’t explain it. I never wanted to. He’s just… He’s my son. I know he feels the same way. I’m his mom just as much as Cass. It’s not the same, but it means just as much to us both.”
Claire swallowed hard.
“That’s you and Cass. She’s the mom you lost in a lot of ways. The thing is, Claire, she loves you just as much as she does our kids. I’ve tried to get it,” Alex chuckled. “Some things just are. So, yes—I trust you. Maybe that’s the first step in forgiving us both.”
“What do you need forgiveness for?” Claire asked.
Alex’s smile was tainted by regret. “Plenty,” she said. “You need to believe that you can do this job without going outside the lines again. You need to learn to trust yourself, to trust me.”
Claire stared at Alex silently for a moment. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
“I told you; you’re the boss.”
“Call Agent Remke,” Alex said. “See if he can start working on these photos. Who knows what Kaylee might have captured without knowing it? And, Claire?”
“Yeah?”
“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”
Claire nodded. There were many things for which she felt a need to atone. She and Alex had a sordid past. They had been lovers. They had been adversaries. Ultimately, they had become allies. They had never managed to bridge the divide and become friends. Then again, friendship remained a struggle for Claire. Eleana had been her only true friend for most of her life. Now, she had Cassidy. She’d never seriously considered Alex Toles as a potential friend. Claire had never loved Alex. She had admired Alex. Despite what many people believed, Claire hadn’t seen Alex as a conquest. She had been surprised by Alex’s advances when they had first met, and she’d been flattered. While she never intended to admit it, more than her ego had been bruised when Alex had brushed her aside casually. Claire did not respond kindly to feeling injured or betrayed. The resentment she had harbored toward Alex had caused pain in people’s lives that she now cared for deeply. It had caused Alex pain too. She looked at Alex. “So am I.”
***
“I hate the media,” Alex grumbled.
Claire snickered.
“Laugh it up, Brackett.”
“Yeah, well, for once I am glad you are the boss.”
Alex couldn’t help but chuckle at Claire’s admission. She waited for Agent Aaron Lapper to finish his explanation and introduction of her as the leader of the FBI-led task force. This was not her forte; speaking to the press. But, it was her job. Alex stepped up to the microphone and looked out at the sea of reporters, attempting to avoid eye contact with anyone for too long.
“Good afternoon. As Agent Lapper explained, my name is Alexis Toles, and I will be heading this investigation with the assistance of the Connecticut and New York State Police, local law enforcement, and the FBI. Late last evening, The Federal Bureau of Investigation was able to make a positive identification on two sets of human remains found last week in the State Forest on the Glastonbury, Connecticut town line. The remains were identified as those of Melissa Anna Evans and Darla Marie Maynard, both age nineteen. Ms. Evans and Ms. Maynard were reported missing ten years ago on October 3, 2008. They had last been seen in each other’s company near Middleburgh, New York where both kept residence.” Alex looked down at her notes and back at the reporters in front of her. “As you know, over the last two weeks, two other women have been found. Kaylee Peters was discovered in the Ashland-Pinnacle State Forest here in New York after being reported missing from Connecticut the previous afternoon. Two days later, another young woman, Deidre Slocum was discovered in the same State Park where Ms. Peters had been reported last seen. It is the FBI’s belief that two or more of these deaths may be connected. We are asking that anyone with any information regarding the movements of these young women contact the task force at 1-888-234-8869. Again, that number is 1-888-234-8869. We want to thank you for your cooperation and assure you that law enforcement is committed to resolving these cases as quickly as possible.”
“Agent Toles?”
“Yes?”
“Is this a serial killer?”
“We don’t know that yet. That is a possibility; yes.”
“Agent! Three of these women were from the same area. Maybe, it’s a serial killer? How can you ensure the safety of the local community?”
Alex offered the reporter a strained smile. “As I said, we are working every lead, and we will draw our conclusions as we press forward. As for safety; you will find in the press release that Agent Lapper provided, we suggest caution when traveling. Should you require roadside assistance; call the local police and notify them. Do not accept the help of strangers, and do not accept rides from anyone you do not know. That is honestly your best defense.”
“Do you have any leads—at all?” a woman’s voice demanded.
Alex met the women’s gaze with harsh stoicism. “As I said, we are working every lead we receive. If anyone has any information, no matter how innocuous it may seem, we are asking that they contact the task force at the number provided. Thank you.” Alex stepped away from the podium and allowed Agen
t Lapper to step back into her place. “I hate the media.”
“So, you said,” Claire commented. “What now?”
“Back to the pond.”
“You do know that anything under the water isn’t likely to give us much to go on.”
Alex nodded. “Depends on what we find.”
***
“Don’t take this personally, but you look like hell.”
Cassidy laughed. “Thanks, Mom.”
“Are you feeling all right?”
“Oh, I’m fine. Abby and Connor just decided to share their cold with me.”
“Beats worshiping the porcelain God,” Rose offered.
“That it does,” Cassidy agreed.
“So? No morning sickness yet?”
“Nope. No afternoon or evening sickness either. Keeping my fingers crossed. Maybe fourth time is the charm in my case.”
“Leave it to you to set a new trend.”
Cassidy winked at her mother. “How was your weekend with Dad?”
Rose’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “Cassie, for once why don’t you just ask me what you want to ask me.”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, please. How many nights have I taken this brood of yours so that you can ride the wild pony?”
Cassidy nearly choked on her iced tea. “Ride the wild pony?” She laughed.
“Call it what you like. I’ve seen her handcuffs.”
Cassidy rolled her eyes. “Jealousy doesn’t become you, Mom.”
“Ha! See, I knew it.”
“Yes, you caught me. That’s the whole reason I married Alex; you know?”
“I could think of worse reasons.”
“Stop,” Cassidy choked again.
Rose grinned.
“I just want you to be happy,” Cassidy told her mother.
“I’ve told you a million times, Cassie; I was happy long before your father came back.”
“Um-hum, you have. But, are you happier now?”
“You mean now that I have a wild pony of my own to ride?”
“Mom!” Cassidy sprayed iced tea through her nose.
Rose laughed. “I just made it easy for you,” she said.
“I really didn’t need to know.”
“Maybe not, but you sure as hell have been curious. You’ve been throwing hints for five years now.”
“I told you; I want you to be happy, and not so alone.”
“Good Lord, Cassie. You can’t be serious? You do realize that you have four children and Alex living in this house?”
Cassidy chuckled.
“All of whom frequently require Helen or me to babysit. Adding your father to the equation was not a cure for loneliness, it was another reason for wine.”
“Okay, point taken,” Cassidy sipped her iced tea. “How is Dad?”
“You know, you could call him and ask him yourself.”
Cassidy sighed.
“Want to tell me why you’ve been avoiding him?” Rose asked.
“I’m not avoiding him.”
“Okay. Want to tell me why you aren’t making a point to call him and tell him you are expecting again?”
“I figured you would.”
“Well, you figured wrong. Now, what’s going on?”
Cassidy shook her head. “I don’t know if I can answer that.”
“Why don’t you try?”
“It’s… Mom, sometimes I just… It hurts. I don’t know how else to explain it. Watching him with Dylan and Kenzie… Watching him with the twins—I know that I should be grateful. I know that. Sometimes, it makes me so angry I want to scream.”
Rose clasped Cassidy’s hand. “Because you missed so many things with him.”
Cassidy nodded.
“Maybe you should tell him that.”
“I’ve told him plenty.”
“Yes, you have. As I recall, most of that was about how he hurt me. Maybe it’s time you told him just how much he’s hurt you.”
“Why? What good would it do? That would only hurt him and…”
Rose smiled. “And, you love him. Yes, I know. You have every reason and every right to feel the way you do.”
“That doesn’t make me feel any better about it.”
“I know that too.”
“What about you?” Cassidy wondered.
“What about me?”
“Do you ever feel that way with him?”
“You mean resentful and angry?”
“I guess I do.”
“Sometimes. It’s one of the reasons I can’t live with him. God knows I love him. I don’t think I could ever love anyone else—not even after everything he put me through. I can forgive him. I can’t forget it. He knows that. He loves you, Cassie. You know that. I know that it doesn’t make sense to either of us, but I know he honestly believed he was doing the right thing when he left.”
“I know,” Cassidy admitted. “That doesn’t make it hurt less. You would think I could let it go now.”
“Who would think that?”
“Mom, that was a long time ago.”
“And, some days it still feels like yesterday that he left and yesterday he came back.”
Cassidy closed her eyes. “Alex is worried about Dylan.”
“You mean about him choosing the military.”
Cassidy nodded.
“And, that’s why you’re avoiding your father.”
“I’m not sure that I want to know any more than I already do.”
Rose understood. She had never attempted to wade into these waters with her daughter. Since Jim McCollum’s return, Rose had demanded complete honesty from Cassidy’s father. She’d gotten far more than she had bargained for. She’d never told Cassidy how much she had come to know about Jim McCollum’s past career, nor about what Alex had been engaged in for years. Now, it seemed to her it was time to put her cards on the table.
“You’re worried that Christopher might have used Dylan somehow.”
Cassidy was shocked.
“Oh, I know. I might just know more than you do about some things,” Rose said.
“How…”
“I had a few conditions when your father came back into my life. Honesty was the first.”
“He told you?”
“He told me more than I ever wanted to know,” Rose said. “But I needed to know. So, yes; he told me about the experiments he led. He told me about Christopher—that Alex had concerns about whether Dylan might have been exposed to anything when he was with his father.”
“I want to protect him,” Cassidy said. “Selfishly, part of me is afraid to find out if Chris did anything to him. My God, Mom… He was Dylan’s father. At least, he acted in that role for the first seven years of Dylan’s life. How could he do anything to hurt his son?”
“And, that makes you angry with your father.”
“It does. Rationally, I know that everyone makes his or her choice. Believe me; I know that. I know that in some way the chaos that Dad and Alex’s father were engaged in, Claire’s father, Chris… I know somehow it brought us all together. For that? For that, I am grateful. But that doesn’t change the fact that things he did might have compromised Dylan’s well-being. It compromised mine, Alex’s—Claire’s. Some days I still can’t believe it—everything we’ve all been though, everything I’ve learned. It seems like a spy novel; you know? The government altering people’s thoughts, families colliding because of their parents’ choices and past. It’s insane to me,” Cassidy said. “Then I remember that all fiction has some foundation in truth—even stories that seem wild and outrageous. This isn’t fiction. It’s not a dream. And, in some way I blame him for it—for all of it—even if I know it’s not his fault.”
“I understand,” Rose said. “He will understand too. Talk to him, Cassie. Not for him—for you.”
Cassidy nodded.
“How’s Alex?” Rose shifted gears.
“Stressed,” Cassidy answered.
“I saw the press conference
.”
“She didn’t sleep last night,” Cassidy said. “I’m not sure what had her more anxious—the case or a case of having to face the press. She hates dealing with the media.”
“How are you?”
Cassidy shrugged. “Worried about her.”
“Do you regret encouraging her to go back?”
“No,” Cassidy answered assuredly. “I always knew she would someday.”
“But?”
“I also know that there is danger.”
“Cassie, Alex is excellent at what she does.”
“Yes, she is. But, Mom not every danger comes from the outside.”
Rose patted Cassidy’s hand. “Cassie, we all have demons. Putting them on shelves to avoid facing them down never works. One way or another they always come back to haunt you until you stand up and face them.”
Cassidy closed her eyes again. That was the truth if ever she’d heard it. “I just hope she gets this case solved sooner rather than later.”
“So that she can quit?”
“No,” Cassidy said. “So that she realizes she can continue.”
***
“What do you think?” Claire asked.
Alex grabbed the bridge of her nose and pinched forcefully. “Think? I think we need something to go on. Three sites, Claire—three that we’ve excavated out here that bear resemblance to where we found Melissa Evans and her friend—nothing. Nothing to go on from Deidre Slocum’s murder. All we really have is a bunch of nothing, except for the piling up of dead girls.”
Claire was not accustomed to seeing Alex genuinely frustrated. She watched as a team of forensics experts retrieved items from the pond and looked up at Flat Rock above. “We’re just not looking in the right place,” she said. “Why here? He knows it,” Claire mused more to herself than to Alex. The team had found several partially crushed beer cans in a tangle of vines and weeds underneath the branch that she and Alex had found below Flat Rock. Somehow, they had not made it into the pond. “Those cans will have DNA,” she said.
“Let’s hope that leads to someone—anyone.”
Untold Page 20