by Jon Mills
“Made up?”
“Yes, like your abduction attempt. A ploy to draw out who was responsible. Except they didn’t bank on it going as far as it did. Anyway, look into it and give me a call on my cell once you find out.”
He huffed. “Okay, hold on a minute, so now I’m your errand boy?”
She groaned. “Seriously, Bill, you have deep ego issues to work through.”
“I’ll have you know…”
Before he could finish she hung up. She could envision him standing there dumbfounded, unable to believe that someone had hung up on him. He’d probably never had it happen in his whole career.
After making some lunch for her father, cleaning up the house and doing a quick run into town to give some of her mother’s clothes to Goodwill, she got a text back from Goodman to say she could swing by later.
Yes, I have your phone. I’m caught up at the moment. We could have dinner if you like? I should be at my apartment around 5:30. If you want to let yourself in there is a key under a red and brown rock in the yard close to the entrance. I’ve lost my keys so many damn times; I had to have a backup. Help yourself to a beer.
Kara didn’t stay too long in town. Halloween was already in full swing with most of the stores decorated with bats, witches, cobwebs and tombstones outside. Flyers for an evening Halloween Community Party were tacked onto wooden lampposts. Parents were rushing around with their kids taking care of last-minute preparations. The party and costume store that had been there since she was a kid had a giant inflatable pumpkin on top and signs plastered the windows offering twenty percent off everything in the store. People streamed in and out with bags, and the road had several advertising banners strung between the stores. As she sat in her car sipping on coffee watching the world spin around her, she couldn’t help think about that night. Halloween was never the same after losing Charlie. It no longer held the attraction that it once had. Her own son Ethan had suffered for it as well. She’d refused to take him out, which of course had created a point of tension in her marriage with Michael, who kept telling her that she couldn’t live in the past and project her fears onto their son. He was right but that didn’t make it any easier.
Now that Clayton was behind bars would that all change? She hoped so.
After letting herself into Noah’s apartment she slung her bag down and slid open the doors to the balcony. A cool breeze blew against her cheek as she looked out at the lights of Blackmore. From his apartment she could see right across the town to Olympic National Park. With her father having suffered a heart attack and her career at a standstill she was considering moving back, maybe taking a position with Washington Bureau. Until Charlie’s abduction she’d always loved the area. There were few places in the country that brought her close to the evergreen wilderness of the coniferous forest, and the roaring ocean.
Stepping back inside she took out a beer from the fridge and twisted the top off. After, she wandered into the spare room to browse more of the photos that Amanda and Noah had taken. Each one was as striking as the last. Like any curious person, she nosed through a magazine rack by one of the chairs, and pulled open some of the dresser drawers. There inside one of them was a small booklet with the word FAMILY on the front of it. She pulled it out and flipped it open. Inside were photos of them. Some were of their wedding day. Amanda was beautiful. Dark hair, green eyes, petite and slender, the kind of girl any man would have been proud to have brought home to his mother. Noah was beaming. He looked happy, free of worry and the fine lines that now etched his face. Grief had a way of sucking the life out of a person. Kara thumbed through more. There were shots taken in what looked to be Hawaii. They were snorkeling, parasailing and smooching beneath a waterfall. Tucked in among the photos was a snippet from the Peninsula Daily Times about the accident. The paper was worn at the edges. A photo displayed the wreckage. Kara sat there reading it, and was engrossed in the article even as a key turned in the front door and Noah let himself in.
Kara got up and walked over to the door with the album still in hand.
“Hey there.”
Noah tossed his keys on the table and his eyes shifted from her to the album. Without saying a word he walked over and gently took it out of her hand. “So, I guess you know everything now,” he said.
“Sorry. I was just…” Her voiced faded.
He brushed past her and tucked the newspaper clipping she’d set on the dresser back inside and put it all back in the drawer and closed it. He then glanced around the room as if looking to see what else she’d touched — desecrated even.
She thumbed over her shoulder. “You want me to put some dinner on?”
He stood with his back turned and head slightly bowed.
“Actually, I’m… I’m not very hungry.”
Kara drummed her fingers against the frame of the door, nodding slowly.
“Your phone is in my bag,” he added.
“Right.” She went over to collect it. Hoping to shift the mood she thought discussing the case might at least distract his mind. “I spoke with Bill Davis today. Gave him the name of Caleb Weslo. I’m thinking there’s a possibility that he might be among the Polaroids.”
He came out of the room nodding and walked over to the wall and began to move her mother’s boards that were covered in notes and information about the case.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“It’s over,” he said without even looking at her.
“What? But they’re not done investigating. This is just the tip of the iceberg.”
“I meant having this here. I deal with this shit all day, every day and the last thing I need to see when I come home is this staring me in the face. I’m sorry. You’ll need to take it with you.”
“Is this about…” she jerked her head towards the room.
“No, I just want it out of here. Besides now they have Clayton it looks like they will probably uncover a lot more about this man.”
“Right but...”
He folded it up and took some of the paperwork and placed it back in the box.
Again she tried to lighten the mood. “I’m sure they will. In fact I was going to drop by Ray Owen’s home and…”
“Enough, Kara.”
“What?”
“You’re off the case. It’s out of your hands now.”
“But I was going to...”
“It doesn’t matter. You’re just going to cause more trouble, and if they file a complaint…” This time it was him who stopped speaking.
“Cause trouble? You make it sound like that’s all I’ve done since I’ve got here.”
He glanced at her without saying anything as if to indicate that it was true.
She narrowed her eyes. “Just like Bill Davis.” She scooped up her bag and walked towards the door but before she left she turned and pointed at him. “You know — maybe I have been sticking my nose in where it’s not wanted. I’ll admit I stepped over the line and lied to you about having been given the green light by WBI but if it wasn’t for the likes of my mother, myself, or Sam, who I might add is dead because he tried to uncover the truth, maybe County and the FBI would still be walking around with their thumbs up their asses. And as for the photo album. I’m sorry but I highly doubt Amanda would have wanted you moping around for years after her death. She’d want…”
He snapped back cutting her off. “You don’t know what she’d want. You didn’t even know her.”
“No I didn’t. But I know what it feels like to be left behind and to make the choice to pick up the pieces after losing someone.”
With that said, she exited his apartment leaving the door open.
Chapter 37
It was quiet around the table that evening. A somber mood dominated. Unlike all the other homes in the neighborhood, no trick or treaters knocked at their door and it wasn’t because the lights were out. Most parents in the community knew to avoid their home. Gossip traveled fast around Blackmore. Years after Charlie’s abduction a g
roup of kids had shown up but were quickly shooed away by her father. She figured it had got a reputation and one that had stuck for a long time. Janice reached across for a bun and began buttering it. She had joined them for supper but Rob couldn’t because he had to work.
“So you didn’t want to help him tonight?”
“No , you don’t want to get in his way, especially on Halloween. Anyone would think a full moon was out. He becomes super grouchy,” she said, scraping the last of the food from her plate.
“Well, I guess we all have our own reasons for hating the season,” Kara said.
As they were wrapping up and Kara was loading dishes into the sink to clean, her cell began vibrating on the counter. A quick glance at the caller ID and she answered.
“You know you hung up on me?” Bill said.
“Took you this long to phone me back?”
He scoffed. “Listen, not that I should be telling you this but I figured being as you gave the lead, you deserved to hear it. Seems you were right. We got a match on one of the kids in the photos. It was Caleb, and he’s admitted it.”
“And Darryl Clayton?”
“Won’t admit to it. Stupid asshole. If he thinks denying everything including the box in his closet is going to work, he’s got another thing coming.”
“That’s good news, right?” Kara asked.
“I’d say so.” He went quiet. “Listen, maybe I was a little harsh on you before.”
“Davis, no need.”
He breathed a sigh of relief. “Whew! I thought you would make me go through with a full apology.”
They both chuckled.
“No seriously. I appreciate it,” he said.
“You have Sam to thank for that.”
“Give yourself some credit. He might not have gone back had you not pushed the issue with Clayton.”
“Now you’re making it sound like I was to blame. Probably best you stop while you’re ahead.”
He stifled a laugh. “Anyway. Thanks.”
Kara held on to the phone for a few seconds longer after ending the call.
“Any luck?” Janice asked.
Kara turned. “With what?” She was lost in thought.
“The call. Was that Goodman?”
“No. It was…” She trailed off then headed over and scooped up her bag. “Janice, you think you can keep an eye on dad for a while?”
“I’m not a dog,” he replied sipping at his tea.
She waved her off. “Of course, go ahead. I think I’ve got a bone to keep him busy.”
Kara gave her father a peck on the head and he grumbled in his usual fashion.
Under the cover of night, Kara parked two houses down from the Owens’ residence. Sitting in her vehicle she observed parents escorting children from door to door collecting bags of candy. The light inside her porch was on, the storm door closed, and the internal one was open. She could just make out the retiree sitting in a chair beyond the door. Every few minutes she would get up with a bowl in hand and fill up the kids’ pillowcases with candy. On the surface everything looked normal. The house itself was very old with white clapboard siding, and a brick-and-mortar foundation. It wasn’t Ora that was of interest to her but Ray. The driveway was empty, and she hadn’t seen the woman talking to anyone besides the dark brown Lab that occasionally pressed its wet nose up against the window and would bark as more kids made their way up the pathway. She knew there was little chance in hell Ora was going to let her inside at least not without causing a scene. The vibe she got from her the last time was one of distrust. Not many people liked having police show up at their door especially if they felt their son had been ridiculed.
While waiting, Kara was tempted to phone Noah and apologize. She had no right to tell him how he should feel. She wasn’t exactly a role model of how to deal with grief. Her thoughts soon circled around to Ethan. Had she treated him the same way her mother had treated her? Had she kept him at arm’s length, allowing Michael to bear the weight of responsibility just so she could bury herself in work? If she was honest her work really only served to distract her mind from the loss she’d felt as a teen. It had given her a sense of control when so much of her youth had felt out of control.
She thought about what Uncle Rob had said and was tapping in the number for Michael to tell him that she’d be on a flight first thing in the morning when white headlights washed over her car. She squinted — it took a second for her eyes to adjust and when they did, she saw a brown Honda roll into the driveway. Fixed on it, she stuffed her phone back in her jacket pocket and watched as Ray Owen climbed out. He looked around nervously then hurried up to the house. Kara pulled out her service weapon and made sure she had a full magazine before sliding it back into the holster beneath her jacket. Although she didn’t anticipate things going south, after the skittish way Ray had acted at the vigil she wasn’t taking any chances.
Before exiting her vehicle she noticed his mother twist in her seat and say something over her shoulder. Even though she never saw Ray she assumed Ora was talking with him as she got up and closed the front door and then the light on the porch went out.
Kara slung her bag over her shoulder and glanced up and down the street before dashing across and making her way up to the front door. She pressed the doorbell and stood back keeping her eyes fixed on the Honda just in case Ray attempted to dart out the side door. From inside she heard Ora holler that she was all out of candy. Kara rang the bell again and a light came on. This time she kept the storm door open and waited until Ora opened her door. Ora adjusted her glasses as she peered out, then scowled and said, “This is not a good time.”
She went to shut the door and Kara stuck her foot into the frame, placing a hand on the door. “I need to talk to your son about a series of abductions, and sketches he’s left.”
“I told you he doesn’t know anything and even if he did they didn’t listen.”
Right then she heard the slam of a door out back. Kara turned and jumped down off the porch just in time to see Ray making a dash for his car. She hurried across and cut him off before he reached it. She thrust out both hands. “Stop! You’re not in trouble. I just want to talk to you. Please.”
Ray bounced from foot to foot looking as if he was contemplating making a run for it. His eyes were wired, and dark like he hadn’t slept in days, and he kept scratching at his neck. Under the dim light from the porch she could see it was marked, bloody and in line with his fingers. Kara fished into her bag and pulled out the handful of charcoal sketches he’d left at the vigils over the years. She held them out.
“You left these behind. Why? What do they mean?”
By now Ora had made her way down the pathway and several parents who had seen the light on were about to bring their children up when they saw the commotion and opted to walk on. Ora shook her head. “I’m going to call the cops.”
Ora turned and made her way back into the house.
“I am a cop,” Kara replied, not taking her eyes off Ray for even a second.
Ray didn’t respond except to stare at her.
“Why did you run?” she asked.
“I…” his voice croaked.
She took a step forward, and he stepped back.
“Look. I need to know. Did you leave one of these at my brother’s vigil?”
Again no response so she dug into her bag, pulled out her wallet and retrieved a photo of Charlie. She held it up and his eyes widened. “You recognize him?”
Frustration was starting to rise in her chest at the lack of response. She shoved the sketches back into her bag along with the photo. “Why did you leave these sketches?”
He began stuttering. “I… t… tried.”
“What?”
Right then her phone began vibrating in her pocket. She put a finger up. “Don’t you go anywhere! We are not done.” She glanced at the phone and saw a text from Noah. She slid her finger over the surface of the screen to bring it up and that’s when she lost it.
&nbs
p; Another kid was taken half an hour ago. He’s abducted another. Call me. Noah.
How? Her pulse sped up, her heart started pounding in her chest and a sense of panic came over her like the night it all happened. She dropped the phone into her bag and her eyes fixed on Ray. Whether it was a gut feeling, or years of instinct gained from working case after case, she knew that somehow Owen was linked to it but the question was how?
She lunged forward and grabbed a hold of his jacket and he cowered like a teenager under the grasp of an authority figure.
“Where have you been tonight? Huh? Tell me.”
Ora came out of the house protesting, holding a cell in one hand. “Let him go.”
Kara shoved him towards the rear of the car and glanced through the windows. “Open the trunk. Now!”
He hesitated, and she shoved him up against the side of the car. “I said now. Open it.” Ray fished into his pockets for keys while Ora continued to berate her and tell her that she was going to press charges. Kara couldn’t have cared less. She was too focused on seeing inside the vehicle. Nervous, Ray dropped the keys.
“Pick ’em up.”
He scooped them up and pushed the key into the lock with trembling hands. He popped the lid open, and she moved him to the right. Inside there was a sleeping bag, a flashlight, rope, a couple of empty bottles of water and a spare tire.
“What is this? Where is he? Huh? Where’s the boy?”
“I… don’t.”
She shoved him towards the house. “We’re going inside for a talk and you are going to tell me everything.” He let out a cry like a child that thought they were about to be punished. Ora attempted to get between them but her feeble hands were no match for Kara who was jacked up on adrenaline, pissed off and determined to get to the truth.
Inside was a narrow hallway. The living room off to the right was larger than it should have been for a home of its size. There were stairs off to the left that went down to a basement, and two bedrooms on the main floor. The first thing that caught her eye as she entered the hallway leading into the living room was that one of the rooms further down had multiple locks on the outside. There were three.