“And in my case?”
“It’s that and that big heart of yours reaching out to someone who’s suffering.” Renny shrugged her shoulders. “Lame, I know, but I’m sticking by my unprofessional theory.”
“So I have to find a way to decrease the size of my heart and I’ll be cured?”
“Exactly. Expect my bill in the mail.”
“Ha ha.”
“Why is it you’ve never jumped into my head?”
“Hmm. No suppressed deep, dark horrors? I don’t know. Maybe you have a thick block in place to keep them in and me out. That would come in handy in show biz.”
“Never let them see you sweat. One of Eve’s favorite sayings. She taught me early. Doesn’t work so well when you’re trashed.”
It wouldn’t, Summer thought. Another good reason for her to continue to abstain from alcohol. She couldn’t control the process sober. Drunk she’d probably get hit from all sides, sliding into one head after another. She shuddered.
“What?” Renny demanded, rubbing Summer’s arms.
“Just considering what might happen if I got trashed. It’s downright scary.”
“Ever done it? Get trashed, I mean.”
“Once. High school graduation party. I came to in my front yard with my mother standing over me. Took me hours to stop puking and almost three days to feel like I wanted to go on living. Never felt so bad. That is until my mother grounded me for a month. Felt like a damn baby, but hey, lesson learned.”
“So little chance of it happening now, right?” Renny asked, eyebrows arched. “I’d say that’s a useless worry ready to be ditched. Right?”
Summer shrugged, refusing to give in to the smile that wanted to break out. She could be absurd if she wanted to. Hadn’t she earned it? “Awake at four o’clock,” she finally said. “Well, okay, it’s closer to four thirty now, but you get the drift.”
“Not good enough, Baxby” came the quick retort. “You have more important things to worry about. It’s all about priorities. You’re wasting your worrying resource. When you use that up, it’s gone. Then when something big pops up, bam! You’ll be a sitting duck, trying to worry and failing. I see it all the time.”
Her gaze zeroed in on the twitching of Renny’s lips. “Why are you up?”
“Who knows?” Her smile was sly. “But then I’m not the one who has to get up and go to work in four hours.”
“Bitch,” she said, giving in to the smile this time. “Is this some kind of reverse psychology?”
“Only if it’s working. Is it?”
“Seems to be. But then you do have that effect on me. Pushing me back to blue by standing up for me when I’m puking my guts out, promising to kill off asshole cops or staying awake with me when I’m sure you’re sleepy as hell. You’ve got mad skills.”
“Whoa. That’s…I was going to say ‘sweet,’ but the word’s too tame for what you expressed.” She cupped Summer’s face and gave her a tender kiss. “I feel empowered.”
“It’s my truth, Renny.” She gave back the kiss, adding a little more. “Not that I mind the extra points I must be racking up. It must be taking away from the universe I owe you.”
“Just lost ’em.”
“What? No!”
“Oh, yes. Boasting of points makes them worthless.”
“So not fair. After the hard week I had I should get—” She broke off and slapped her forehead. “I’m so stupid! Oh my God. I think I know where he might be.”
“What?”
“Remember Rich talking about his hard week? The tax bill for property he didn’t know he owned? What if his father put the property in Rich’s name?” Summer raced to the bedroom and her cell phone. “Come on, answer,” she said after three rings. “It’s Summer. You need to find out the address of property owned by Rich Slator…Because he mentioned getting a bill for property he didn’t know he owned…No, I don’t have his number…Don’t have his address either. Ask the feds. They know everything about everybody…Yeah, yeah. Just hurry, for Georgia’s sake.” She ended the call and zipped up to ten times ten before the urge to throw the phone across the room faded.
“In his defense he was probably up most of the night,” Renny said from the doorway.
“Shouldn’t be allowed to sleep,” she grumbled. “Not until that monster’s in a cage.” Not until we know if Georgia’s alive or dead, she thought, but she didn’t give voice to the thought as she paced. Saying it would mean she believed there was a chance Georgia was still alive and that was a belief she didn’t want to let in. Couldn’t allow the hope to take hold in case it didn’t come true.
“Is that part of the reason you’re up?” Renny asked, coming closer. “You don’t think you deserve to sleep?”
“If I sleep I’ll dream and I’m tired of dreaming. As wired up as I am now, I wouldn’t sleep anyway. I should go so you can go back to sleep.”
“No. It’s dark. At least stay till it’s light.”
“Renny, my bike has three lights. Bright, bright lights. People might take me for a UFO, but if anyone is out there they’ll see me. Did I mention the reflective striping on my bags and my jacket? My mom bought my gear and she wasn’t taking any chances. I’m always careful.”
“Call me as soon as you get home.”
“How can you go back to sleep if you’re waiting for me to call? Come on, Renny, I’ve ridden in the dark plenty of times.” She took Renny’s hand and brought it to her lips. “Thanks for being concerned. Any chance I can see you tonight?”
“Don’t try to change the subject. I’ll sleep after your call.”
Summer grabbed her jeans, preparing to put them on. “You win. About dinner?”
“I’ll let you know when you call.”
The early morning air was moist and unexpectedly warm, creating a dense fog. Even with her headlight Summer had trouble seeing more than a few feet in front of her. The streets were empty and eerily quiet as she made the trek west to downtown. She was glad to get her muscles working. Glad to feel her heart pumping from something other than fear and horror.
As she sped through the dark and the quiet, a feeling of being invincible filled her. For the first time in a long, long time, she believed she could do anything, be anyone she wanted to be. That was so different from a few days before. She wanted, no, needed to remember this feeling, laser it to her memory banks to take out and hold close when doubts set in. She knew herself better now and knew that doubt would set in.
Summer rode onto the sidewalk in front of her building. Swinging a leg over the crossbar, she spotted a familiar figure in the front doorway.
“You out for an early morning ride?”
“Something like that.” Judging by Jay’s eyes and the bulging corner convenience store bag, she figured he was on a munchies run. “You out for an early morning shopping trip?”
His smile was mellow as he held the door open for Summer to enter. “Something like that.” After a couple of tries he managed to swipe his card for access to the elevator lobby. “You hungry from your ride? Got some good eats.” He held up his bags.
“I’m good.” She pushed the Up button. “You’re not working today?”
He shook his head. “Worked this weekend so I could get off. Jake’s b-day today.” He lowered his voice. “We scored some good shit if you wanna, like, you know, partake.”
She covered her laugh with a cough and pushed her bike into the elevator. “I got, like, work later. Tell Jake happy birthday for me.”
“Sure. If you, like, change your mind we’ll be hanging all day. Most likely score some pizza for later.”
“Tempting. Work or pizza. Work wins out.”
“No prob.” He leaned back and closed his eyes, moving his head as if he were listening to music.
When they reached their floor, Summer turned left while Jay turned right. She was at her door before she remembered to check in with Renny. After reassuring her that everything was good, she changed into workout clothes and hit the tre
admill for a long, hard, mind-emptying run.
She was telling herself not to think about the search when her doorbell rang. As she crossed the living room her phone rang, followed by her cell phone. Her first thought was that they’d found Stan. “One second,” she called and checked for caller ID. “Hey, Mom. Was I supposed to call?”
“Have you seen the morning news?”
From the urgency in her mother’s voice Summer guessed it wasn’t good news. “No.”
“Turn it on right now. I’m surprised reporters aren’t at your door. How could they do this to you?”
“Me? Why would they want me?” The doorbell pealed again. “Listen, there’s someone at the door. I’ll call you back.”
“Make sure it’s not a reporter before you open the door. And for God’s sake, turn on the TV.”
Summer grabbed the remote, turned on the TV, then went to open the door. The smell of cannabis surrounded Jay like cheap perfume as he leaned against the doorjamb.
“Hey, remember when that girl went missing and you didn’t, like, watch the news so I had, like, to tell you about it so you’d, like, be safe?” he reeled off, then took a breath. “Well, you need to, like, turn on the news today ’cause you’ve been, like, totally unmasked.”
“Not the news again. I won’t ask you to clarify. It’s obvious you’ve been partying already.”
“Yeah.” He nodded his head, smiling. “But this is some serious shit. That dude said you told the police he had something to do with that girl that went, like, missing. Are you, like, some kind of undercover detective?”
Any other time Summer would have found the admiration in his voice amusing. She left him standing in the doorway and returned to the TV. Sure enough her photo flashed full screen accompanied by a voice reciting information about the accident, the coma, the miraculous recovery and the long time in rehab.
“No, no, no!” was all she could say.
Then her photo was minimized and moved to the top right corner of the screen, making room for a taped interview with Rich. He was seated in what was obviously his living room, flashing that practiced smile of his, as he tried to convince the pretty female reporter he was being persecuted because the police were incompetent. That the cops were basing everything on a supposed psychic, one he had proof was, in reality, a drunk.
Summer clenched her jaw when the photo of her throwing up was flashed on the screen. To think she had been sorry for this asshole, she thought as she rubbed against the tightness in her chest. She had to go up to twenty times twenty before she could take a deep breath. Before she could listen to the remainder of the interview. Then she could only shake her head in disbelief while Rich went on and on about how he was being set up. About how he was being billed for property he didn’t own. Property Summer had purchased in his name to set him up. Even through her growing horror, Summer wondered if Rich were watching the replay. If he was realizing he looked like a raving lunatic answering the reporter’s question on why he was being set up by claiming Summer had a thing for him he didn’t return. “He’s fucking crazy.”
She barely noticed when Jay closed the door and settled on her sofa. How could she when they wisely cut away to a female reporter stationed in front of the police station? When that reporter, her expression somber, reported that Summer Baxby’s psychic involvement in the case had been verified by a confidential source within the police department?
“See, see,” Jay said excitedly, pointing to the TV. “They, like, revealed your secret identity.” His eyes grew wide. “Dude, now the killer, like, knows that you know. Oh, man. You need to chill out at our place till this smooths out? Got munchies, remember?”
Summer looked at him and despite the dire situation almost laughed. Maybe she should take a few hits of whatever he was smoking. Everything would be simpler. She wouldn’t be worried that her life was being turned upside down. That it was now fodder for a sensationalized story by every reporter in north Georgia. She turned off the TV. “Thanks, but no. I have a place to go when I need to.” Which she would, when she figured out what the hell she was supposed to do next.
“Cool. I’m gonna, like, head back. You need a place to duck, we got you covered.”
No sooner than she’d shut the door behind Jay than both her cell phone and the landline started up again. She managed to convince her mother there was no need to ride to her rescue, then did the same with Keile, followed by Kevin and Liz. Later she interrupted Juan’s apology, telling him more politely than the situation called for to lose her number, turned off her cell phone and let it fly. The resulting “thunk” as it hit the carpet and skidded under the bed wasn’t very satisfying.
As she paced the living room floor, her only consolation was that Renny was sleeping through the commotion. That she didn’t have to be added to the list of people Summer had to worry about being worried about her. But that wasn’t enough to stop the churning in her head. Everything was screwed up. No, she thought, Rich had screwed everything up. For her, the police and for himself. It wouldn’t be long before an enterprising reporter dug up the connection between Rich Slator and Rich Ralston and then, from there, to Stan Ralston. From there they could get an old photo of Stan and compare it to the person of interest in the Georgia Zackery kidnapping case. Rich was going to get more attention than even he wanted.
Doesn’t really matter, she decided. If Stan kept up with the news, and chances were good that he did, he was probably gone. That hurt to think about, since it meant Georgia was gone as well. Gone before she’d had a chance to live.
She didn’t wipe at the tears as she remembered how Georgia’s eyes had lit up around the puppy. How happy she’d looked at the thought of her grandmother being convinced to keep the puppy. How for that moment she’d been uplifted with hope.
Before she consciously thought about it, she had the pad open and was drawing Georgia with her eyes lit up, a smile on her face. She filled page after page as her imagination took hold. When the mind hop took place, she wasn’t prepared—
“Remember, you make a sound and I’ll kill you. Got me?”
Georgia gave a half nod, afraid of what the man would do if she moved too much. He’d been acting real crazy since he woke her up early and dragged her out of the house. Now she was tied up in the back of his van. They were going somewhere far away, he said. But first he had to take care of some old business. Her belly had hurt at the smile on his face when he’d said that.
She waited a minute after the door slammed to try to get her hands free from the rope. But it was tied too tight and the man came back too soon. She listened to him whistle as they started moving again. If he was in a good mood, maybe she’d get to eat today. Then she’d be stronger to fight him.
“People are stupid. You remember that, little girl. Tell them what they want to hear and you can get anything you want. That stupid son of mine never did learn that.” He chuckled. “Got a nice surprise for him. A family reunion. You behave I might let you get on the swings. For old times’ sake…”
Summer came back with a throbbing head to match the pounding on her door. For a moment she imagined it was Stan come to get her for her part in his discovery. Then she recognized Renny’s voice and hurried to the door. “We have to go to the park,” she said, holding her head. “He’s got Georgia and he’s meeting Rich at the park. The swings. He said he might let her swing for old times’ sake. No,” she said when Renny reached for her cell. “They’ll scare him off. We can call when we get there. Get a description of the van, the tag number.”
Renny nodded and pulled her close for a hard hug. “You should have called me.” She exhaled and released Summer. “That’s all I’m going to say for now.”
They took the elevator to the underground parking area. “Good thing you gave me the code. I saw a news truck pull up. Wonder why it took them so long to get here?”
“The condo’s not listed under my name. It’s under my mother’s maiden name. Have they made the connection between Rich and Stan?
”
“No. They’re too busy digging into your past. They sent a crew to your parents’ place.”
“Shit! I didn’t think of that.”
“Don’t worry. They weren’t home or didn’t answer the door.” Renny sped through a yellow light, doing twenty miles over the speed limit. “You know, if the police are smart, they’re watching Rich. They’ll probably beat us there.”
“Then let’s hope they have enough sense to keep out of sight. One look at them and he’s gone.”
Renny slowed as they reached the parking lot. “White van.”
Summer’s breathing quickened. “She’s tied up in the back. What do we do now?”
“Make the call, then you and I’ll go for a walk. Too bad I didn’t bring Chazz. He’d be perfect cover.”
She reached for her pocket before remembering she’d pitched it after talking to Juan. “No phone.”
“Hang on.” Renny pulled into a spot, then removed her phone from her jeans pocket. “Good thing I put his number in my phone. Vince, it’s Renny Jamison. You’re going to want to get to Central Park. We believe Stan is here and he has Georgia with him. Old white van with license plate number GAF13958. Georgia’s tied up in the back.” She ended the call and turned to Summer. “Ready for a walk?”
“We can pretend to be out for a run,” Summer said. “We’re dressed for it.”
“Gotta stretch first, right? Do we know if he has a gun?”
“Gun? What the hell are you thinking, Renny?”
“That he’s not getting away with another child. That it’s two against one.” She dug around in her glove compartment. “And that we have this.”
Summer’s eyes widened. “What in hell is that?”
“Taser. Strong enough to make him shit his pants according to the package it came in.” Her smile was feral. “Come on. I promise not to move in on him unless it looks like he might bolt.”
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