Poison

by Jordyn Redwood

  “They say a blizzard is coming.” Raven sat at the table.

  Great. Keelyn glanced out the window. It was late afternoon, but the sun began its descent earlier in the day and aspen trees marred its orange glow. In the distance, thinned edges of black, smoky clouds wafted closer like the Angel of Death, their increasing density a cover for the storm that grew in their bellies. The air seemed heavier, colder. Inside the cabin Raven was sitting farther away from the wood stove, and her breath was visible coming from her nose. Keelyn pulled the sleeping bag tighter. Her fingers numb as she stirred her food.

  “Do you think Lee will come for you?”

  Keelyn paused, the spoon halfway between the bowl and her mouth. She set the utensil down, momentarily mesmerized by the three votive candles Raven had lit. Unfortunately, they did little to add to the interior temperature of the cabin.

  “What if he doesn’t?” Keelyn asked.

  The wind howled through the holes where the mortar had chipped and fallen to the ground. Raven tapped at the wood with her knuckles. Small threads of melted wax tumbled down the edges of the half-eaten candles.

  Keelyn shrugged. “I don’t know if he’ll come. I want to believe he will.”

  Raven stroked her neck below her ear lobe then grabbed the fourth cigarette in what seemed the same amount of minutes. The food Keelyn had eaten began to tear at her insides. Raven’s bowl sat untouched. These cues signaled to Keelyn that Raven truly didn’t have a game plan if Lee didn’t show up. Her limbic system was in a state of discontent. The fact that Raven questioned whether or not Lee would come meant she’d been communicating with him somehow.

  That there was a deadline.

  What would it mean for Keelyn if Lee didn’t show up? What was her sister’s ultimate plan?

  “Why do you want him to come?” The words came out thin through her constricted vocal chords.

  “To feel pain like I feel pain.”

  Keelyn swiped at the fluid that dripped from her nose. “Is that why those other men died?”

  “What other men?”

  Keelyn nearly tipped off her chair. “Clay Timmons? Ryan Zurcher?”

  Raven almost spoke and then clamped her lips closed. She rose from the table and made her way into the small bedroom, lay down, and began to cry.

  In her distress, she’d left her phone on the table.

  Chapter 46

  LEE’S VISIT TO THE DNA lab had proved his hunch correct. His body ached with tension and his head throbbed. How did the new puzzle piece help him figure out what was really going on?

  How could he use it to save Keelyn?

  Then came the emergency phone call from Lilly Reeves, who’d happened upon quite a scene in the pediatric unit when she stopped to see Sophia. The hospital was discharging her. In Keelyn’s absence, Sophia was headed back to foster care.

  Lee couldn’t take the thought of Sophia alone with people she didn’t know, her sweet brown eyes full of dread in the arms of a stranger. He needed to protect her. No—wanted to protect her. He’d let Keelyn slip through his fingers. Lee wouldn’t let the same happen to Sophia.

  He rushed up the steps to Sophia’s floor. As he crashed through the doors, he saw Sophia wailing in the arms of a woman in a horrid purple suit. The pediatric nurse and Lilly Reeves followed her at a quick pace. A look of relief washed over Lilly.

  He put his palms up to the woman before she could round the corner to the bank of elevators. “Please, wait. Lilly, I thought the pediatrician said she’d be several days in the hospital on antibiotics.”

  “Her cultures were negative. She didn’t have the bacteria.”

  The social worker looked pensive.

  Lee continued. “Then what caused the fever? The weird rash everyone freaked out about?”

  “Serum sickness—from the antibiotic I gave her a week ago. The symptoms can be managed at home.”

  The woman began to push by Lee.

  He stepped in front of her. “Can we talk about what you’re doing? I’m here to take Sophia home.”

  She raised a questioning brow but tipped her head as she relented. “Why don’t we discuss matters in her room.”

  Once they were back, Lilly eased the door closed. Sophia continued to cry in the stranger’s grip, clawing at her arms and arching her back to be set free. Lee slowed his pace as he neared her.

  He reached his arms out. “Please, can I hold her?”

  The social worker eyed him suspiciously as he approached. Sophia leapt for him. He cuddled her close and rubbed her back as the racking sobs eased.

  “And you are?” the woman asked, her nose rose to the ceiling. He knew most social workers were compassionate individuals. This one seemed to be lacking that trait.

  “Lee Watson. I’m Keelyn’s fiancé. I’m helping her take care of Sophia.”

  Lilly caught his eye. He swallowed heavily. Had Nathan told her about Keelyn breaking off their engagement?

  “I haven’t met you before.”

  Lee held out his hand. She took it limply. He released the strands of cold noodles. “Sorry. I’ve been working very hard to find this little girl’s mother. Otherwise, I would have been happy to sit down and chat with you.”

  Her eyes narrowed in question. Is this how people felt when Keelyn observed them? His mind raced through the possibilities of things he could say to convince her she had to let him keep Sophia.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Watson. I’m not comfortable with this whole situation. You’re not biologically related. The child hasn’t been in an entirely safe environment. And considering that the circumstances of Keelyn leaving the hospital are suspicious at best, I think the child would be better off with another family for the short term.” She took a step toward Lee. “Until we get everything figured out.”

  Lee backed up until the cool metal bars of the crib pressed through his clothes. The icy slats sent nervous shots up his spine. His heart hammered.

  This was the beginning. The line in the sand. The starting point of his new life. If he was going to keep Sophia, get Keelyn back, now was the time to start telling the truth no matter what it meant for him in the long term.

  “I am related to her.”

  The woman’s eyebrows furrowed with doubt. Lilly leaned against the wall, her eyes wide.

  “How exactly?” The woman asked, her voice a question of improbability.

  “I’m her uncle. My brother, Conner Watson, is the father.”

  “And you can prove this?”

  “Yes, ma’am, right here. I have the same type of DNA report that your agency considered when you allowed Keelyn to take Sophia. It shows I’m related to her.”

  He reached for the folded piece of paper from his back pocket. She took it from him and uncrumpled the page.

  Lee felt lightheaded as he watched for her reaction. Sophia snuggled her face into his neck, her breath a peaceful whisper as she began to rub her small hand at the stubble on his face.

  An image popped into his mind—of him, Keelyn, and Sophia together. He craved for it to come true. He wanted to be tied to them. He’d give up everything if telling the truth about his past would keep all of them together.

  Her face softened. “And you think you can do this? Care for this young girl until Keelyn returns?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “And your police work?”

  Uncertainty jumbled his thoughts. How could he hold this all together? If he was with Sophia, it wouldn’t help him find Keelyn, and she had twenty-eight hours before Raven’s threat clock timed out.

  Lilly cleared her throat. “Actually, Lee’s made arrangements with me to watch her for the next several days.”

  “And you are?”

  “Dr. Lilly Reeves.” She neared Lee and placed a reassuring hand on Sophia’s back. “Sophia and I know each other pretty well. Keelyn had already spoken to me about this possibility. As you know, her home caught fire and is unsuitable right now to live in. They were coming to live with Nathan and me until other liv
ing arrangements could be found.”

  “And you have what you need to care for a young girl.”

  “Actually, yes. There are two very precious children that visit often, so I’m well stocked. They’re actually close to Sophia’s age. Sophia will be quite comfortable, I can assure you.”

  Lee put on his best charismatic smile. “See, we’re all set.”

  The woman pressed her lips.

  Lee held his breath.

  “Fine.”

  Lee’s spirits soared in welcomed relief.

  “Dr. Reeves, I’ll need your address, and I’ll be stopping by tomorrow to ensure this arrangement is truly on the up-and-up.”

  “Fabulous.”

  It was then Nathan burst through the door, mindless of the situation. “What is it with you two?” He glared at Lee and Lilly.

  Lilly stepped quickly beside him and slid her arm around his. “Nathan,” she said, as a woman would calm a child. “Sophia will be staying with us until Keelyn and Lee figure out what to do.”

  His mouth dropped. Lee shook his head slightly at Nathan, and silently prayed he wouldn’t say anything that would cause the woman to reconsider.

  Nathan stammered over his first few words. “Wha—that’s great.” He stepped away from Lilly, his annoyance plastered back on his face. “Why don’t the two of you have your phones on?”

  Lilly stepped to Lee and took Sophia. “I left mine in the ER. I’m off shift, anyway. I’ll stop by and get it. What’s the problem?”

  Lee grabbed his phone from his pocket as Lilly eased Sophia from his arms. It was powered down.

  He tried to turn it on. “It’s dead.”

  Dread filled his mind.

  “Evan Richter is asking to speak to you.”

  “Who’s that?”

  “The man who was involved with Rebecca Hanson. He wants to make a confession, but he says he’ll only give it to you.”

  Anger fueled Lee’s disbelief. “He can wait until Keelyn is found. Or convince him to give it to another officer.”

  Nathan shook his head. “He says he has information about Keelyn. Something you’ll want to know.”

  Chapter 47

  THE WEATHER THROUGH THE rotted curtains was on the verge of calamity. Raven had been truthful about the threat of oncoming snow. At first when her sister had fled to the small bedroom, Keelyn’s thoughts were on escape. She’d scanned the room for where Raven might have placed the key for the lock to her chain. The dark clouds and hazy sheets in the distance caused her survival instinct to kick in. But even if she broke free, which was better? Alone on the mountain with few clothes and no food and water, or stuck in a hovel with a potential killer?

  Then there was the added heaviness in her chest. Keelyn reached under her clothes and felt the edges of the dressing on her left side. Under her skin was what felt like air bubbles and they popped like Rice Krispies when she pressed. She inhaled deeply but the pain at her side stopped her mid-breath.

  Had her lung collapsed again? Her heart quickened at the thought of running. Her injury along with the weather was as good a restraint as the shackle on her leg.

  Raven’s reaction to learning of the young men’s deaths perplexed Keelyn. Her body language spoke of betrayal and confusion. Nothing made sense anymore, and Keelyn’s usual confidence about her ability to read people began to waver. Then again, psychosis wasn’t supposed to make sense.

  Her heart ached for Lee. For his calm presence. For the warmth of his body to take this bone-chilling cold away. In her mind, she pictured his blue eyes, his tousled blond hair, and the ease of his smile.

  Keelyn stood from the rocker. Within one step, the chain was taut. When she leaned toward the table, her imprisoned leg in the air as she stretched the length of her body toward her lifeline, her fingers reached the edge but were still too far away to grab the phone. She eased back to think.

  The phone sat at the opposite edge.

  It was a circular table.

  Just spin it.

  Keelyn leaned out again, nothing as graceful as a ballerina but effective enough for the task at hand. Slowly, she turned the table and kept an eye on Raven for any movement. Through the door, Raven’s crying had ceased, and Keelyn wondered if she had fallen asleep.

  A few pulls and Keelyn was able to finger the phone into her palm.

  She eased back into the rocker. The phone was turned off. Likely the reason they hadn’t been able to ping her location if Raven sent a few texts then powered it down. The search radius would be large, anyway.

  Keelyn turned the phone on, and her heart sank when the four frames came up to insert the access code. What could it possibly be? Keelyn didn’t know Sophia’s birthday. Considering Raven’s feelings about motherhood, the odds of it having anything to do with Sophia would be unlikely.

  She’d keyed in Raven’s birthday.

  Wrong passcode.

  She marched through all the children in Raven’s family, alive and dead.

  Try Again.

  Parents.

  Phone Disabled. Try again in one minute.

  Keelyn tapped her fingers on the glass.

  What held significance for Raven? When did all her trouble start? It was that day when their father held them hostage. She’d insinuated something unspeakable had happened in the house after Keelyn was rescued.

  She keyed in the year.

  No.

  The date.

  Yes.

  Anxious energy pulsed through her nerves. She silently fist-pumped her success. Glancing back to the phone, she checked the signal.

  One measly bar.

  She pulled the phone close and through quick trial and error was able to access the text messages. There were several between Lee and Raven.

  There seemed to be a countdown looming. Raven had texted him originally 48 hours. She was malicious with her threats. Taunting Lee to find her. She kept referencing the beginning. The beginning of everything.

  How could Lee possibly determine that meant her mother’s childhood home?

  Keelyn brought up the keyboard and with numb fingers began to key her location to Lee.

  She hit send.

  Message not delivered.

  Tears broached her lower eyelids. She keyed the message in again.

  Message sent.

  Relief flooded over her. Accessing the system again, she deleted evidence of her attempts to reach Lee in case it angered Raven. She waited several minutes for Lee to text back. Something to reassure her he’d received her location. That he was on his way.

  Nothing.

  She dialed 911.

  The call dropped.

  Raven stirred in the bed. Keelyn powered off the phone and stood. More movement from the small bedroom. Keelyn’s heart fluttered as she reached out and slid the phone across the table.

  It teetered close to the edge and threatened to fall off.

  Keelyn sat down.

  The phone stayed put. Raven turned in her direction.

  Their eyes met.

  And as the sun finally set and darkness filled the small home, it appeared Keelyn had one day left to live.

  Chapter 48

  THE MAN WAS PALE WITH a thick bandage on the side of his neck. The respiratory therapist rolled out the ventilator as the ICU nurse tidied up things at the bedside. She set a cup of ice on his bedside tray and harangued him to take just a few chips at a time. She approached Lee and Nathan, a warning look in her eyes.

  “He hasn’t been off the ventilator very long. His voice is weak, and he’s pretty tired. Take it easy on him.”

  Lee nodded affirmation and approached the bed, with Nathan a few steps behind. He held out his hand. The man took it with a surprisingly strong grip. Nathan and Lee each took a chair at either side, trailed by a fellow member of the police department who was going to record the confession for evidence.

  After all the formalities had been completed, the man signaled to Lee the recording was active.

  Lee turned to the fi
gure in the bed. His brown eyes were dark and weary. His black hair slicked with greasy buildup. A hot shower seemed in order.

  “Mr. Richter, I understand you want to make a full confession of your crime.”

  He nodded. Lee tapped his heels into the floor. He could sense Nathan’s admonishment to take it slow but could hardly stay still knowing this man could have information that would help them find Keelyn.

  He wanted to throttle him to get it out.

  “When did you first meet Rebecca Hanson?” Lee asked.

  “We met a couple years ago.” His voice was hoarse. Richter brought a hand to his neck, the pain evident in his eyes. “I was a client of her husband’s. I eventually got to know them and became a friend of the family.”

  Lee looked at the videographer for a sound check. The man gave a thumbs-up. Lee turned back to Evan. “When did the affair start?”

  Evan took a couple of ice chips, letting them melt slowly on his tongue. Lee sat on the edge of his chair. He felt like a lion ready to pounce. Was he torturing him on purpose?

  “About a year later.”

  “Who developed the plot?”

  More ice. Evan smoothed his fingers over his Adam’s apple to coax his muscles to swallow the fluid. “It was Rebecca. She wanted to be free of her family. Liked what we had together.”

  “Her husband took out the life insurance plans on the children,” Nathan interjected.

  “At Rebecca’s insistence. Ask him. One million dollars on each.”

  “What did Rebecca want you to do?” Lee asked.

  “Pose a kidnapping of the three of them. Drop her off at the shelter so it would look like she wasn’t involved. I was supposed to find a place down in Mexico where we would later meet.” The ice seemed to be helping the flow of words. Lee discarded the thought of wanting to chuck it against the wall.

  “Are the children alive?” Lee followed.

  A shadow passed over the man’s face. He choked on his words and sank his head into the pillow and simply affirmed what they already knew with a shake of his head.