There was nothing to connect the body to Ella. For the murder to happen the same week as Ella’s accident didn’t seem coincidental. The murder victim turned out to be a college student at UVA as well, but further investigation showed he was also a drug dealer, due to paraphernalia found in his home.
Ella involved with a drug dealer?
Of course, Maven only knew the post-accident Ella, but the girl had been an excellent athlete and an above-average student. Having a little fun was one thing but jeopardizing her dream of the Olympics was another. Ella being involved in drugs seemed unlikely.
Eventually, Maven’s mind slowed down and tiredness seeped in. She slouched down on the sofa to rest.
A knock woke her up.
She peeked through the window. Lizzie. She opened the door.
Lizzie threw her arms around Maven and hugged her. “Oh, my goodness. Are you OK?”
“How did you find out what happened?”
“Paul called me. He said you were still sleeping, so I waited a while, and then I came straight over here to make sure you’re OK. You must have been terrified.”
Maven stepped out of Lizzie’s embrace. “Get in here before we both freeze to death.”
Lizzie took off her coat. “I guess you were still sleeping. Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“Not a problem. What time is it anyway?”
“A few minutes after ten.”
“I can’t believe that, I slept long. Of course, it took me hours to get back to sleep.”
“I’m sure. It must have been terrifying.”
“It was. I wonder how Paul knew I was still sleeping.”
“Probably peeked in the window.”
Her gaze went to the closed curtains. “Well, I did give him a key awhile back.”
“Oh, really.” Lizzie grinned.
Remembering last night and how safe she’d felt in Paul’s arms, she smiled for a moment and then frowned at Lizzie. “We exchanged keys for emergency purposes only.”
“If you say so.” Lizzie gave her a smile that said she didn’t believe a word. “Why don’t you take a shower and get dressed and I’ll cook you breakfast.”
“Sounds like a plan. Then I can tell you what’s going on with Ella.”
“Oh, yeah. I almost forgot about that in all the other excitement. What did you find out on your trip?”
“After my shower.”
24
Still feeling sluggish after last night’s excitement and the exhaustion from her flight, Maven was on the sofa watching TV when the doorbell buzzed.
Lizzie had left an hour earlier.
Paul was at work.
She was surprised to see Sandra Decker standing on her doorstep. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come without calling, but…”
Maven opened the door wider. “Not a problem. Come on in.”
“How are you, Maven?”
Not wanting to tell her about the breakin, Maven simply said, “Everything’s fine. Would you like some coffee?”
“Only if it’s made.”
“It’s not, but that doesn’t matter. I need some anyway. Go ahead and make yourself comfortable.” Maven put together a tray as the coffee percolated and then carried everything into the living room. She chose a seat, sipped coffee, and waited.
Sandra’s cup remained on the coffee table, untouched. “I don’t know what to tell you. I’m afraid for Ella. I’m not sure what she’s involved in. But you’re right, I can’t just turn a blind eye to the fact she’s missing.”
“So, she is missing and not just out on a fling.”
Sandra nodded.
“What about Donald? What does he believe?”
“He’s worried, but probably not as much as me. He told me I’m overreacting.”
“So, why did you keep me from seeing her before she left for the resort?”
“Donald thought it was best. He didn’t want her stressed out over remembering details of the accident. He didn’t want you to bring up the past. He’s a firm believer in moving forward, not backwards.”
Why would he want to keep Ella from remembering?
“It seems odd to me that she was in the middle of that road so late at night. And I think the reason’s important.”
“We were there that night.” Sandra looked at her coffee cup instead of meeting Maven’s gaze.
Maven stared at the woman. “What do you mean, you were there? You were at her house?”
She shook her head. “Not exactly. I wasn’t at her house but at a nearby hotel. There was a swim match that coming weekend. Well, actually I was there. Donald was planning on coming down the next day.”
“Why weren’t you staying with her?”
“Donald said she needed her space. He thought it would be better if we stayed in a hotel.”
“So, you were at the hotel when they called you about the accident?”
“Yes, I was at the hotel. I called Donald right away. He met me at the hospital a few hours later.”
A few hours?
“How did he get there so fast?”
“He’d left that night after work, but he got tired so he stopped at a motel along the way. When I called, he left right away.”
Or maybe he’d been in Charlottesville all along. As soon as she thought it, Maven’s stomach roiled.
It seemed as if Ella was being kept a prisoner in her own home from the first time Maven had met her. Was it possible Donald was the monster chasing Ella through the woods? Now that Ella was an adult and out of the house, had she found the courage to say no more? Maven could see that scenario, but she couldn’t see him using a gun on his own child.
Was Donald keeping secrets? But being an over-protective father was not a crime. Was there something else going on? What about the dead drug dealer from the newspaper article?
“Was Ella involved with drugs in any way?”
“Not that I know of. There’s never been any indication that she was. After what we went through with Micah, we kept a closer watch on Ella.”
“Micah?”
“We managed to keep it fairly quiet, but that was the real reason Micah left school. He went to rehab before entering the private school. We never had any more problems from any of the kids, thankfully. Donny was such a good boy. He’s never gotten involved with drugs.”
“That’s good.”
“I like to think that Ella never thought of trying drugs. And her being so involved with swimming helped, of course. You can’t be much of an athlete and do drugs.”
“That’s for sure.”
Sandra left after a while.
Frustrated, Maven was no closer to figuring out where Ella might be.
But Sandra hadn’t known where Ella was, either.
25
Maven sat at the table with a notepad. She was convinced someone in Ella’s family, her father, perhaps, was somehow involved in Ella’s disappearance, and possibly, her accident. But Ella’s friend had said she’d left with a younger man.
Could Donald have tricked someone into helping him abduct his daughter? No doubt, he could pay someone to do just that. He was a powerful man with money. A deadly combination.
Of course, there was the dead drug dealer, and Micah, who’d been involved with drugs in the past. Could Micah have started using again? Micah had seemed fine during her visit to the Decker house before Christmas. The sweet child she remembered from years before was just as likeable now. Still, she couldn’t believe Micah was the culprit. That left Donald Decker. And was it too much of a stretch that he was conveniently out of town at this time?
She wrote the word where on the notepad.
Could the young blond man, with Donald’s instructions, have taken Ella back to the Charlottesville house? But that was a long way from home. Maybe the lake house? Or he could have killed her and left her body in the desert somewhere? If that was the case, nobody would probably ever know.
Ella had known she was in danger and didn’t trust her parents to help
. She’d needed Maven, an outsider, the person with whom she’d established communication.
Maven had to go on the assumption Ella was alive and being kept somewhere against her will. God, if Donald is involved, please don’t let him kill his own daughter. Please let him simply be persuading her to agree not to tell whatever is locked inside her brain. Please, let him let her go to a safe place where she can escape to safety.
But where could he do that?
Sandra said she expected Donald home today. He couldn’t be too far away. The lake house made a lot of sense. In capital letters Maven wrote, THE LAKE HOUSE.
He could keep Ella there for a long time without anyone knowing. He could drive back and forth to see her while paying someone to keep her a prisoner. If anyone wanted to go to the lake house, he could have her moved until it was safe to return. He had the money and time, and he could hire anyone to do it. He could keep her hidden away forever.
Unless someone stopped him.
From their trip in the summer, she knew the lake home was isolated. Maven couldn’t just drive up to the house in the gated community. Security would notice if she went by too many times. Instead, she drove down to the lake and parked in the visitor’s lot. There was a hill and steps up the steep incline. She climbed the hill, moving from tree to tree.
Her foot slipped. Her hands went out to break her fall. Pain traveled up her wrist and to her shoulder. Her face smashed into the frozen ground. Stunned, she wallowed in the icy snow for a few seconds. Get up. She stood, obeying that inner voice. A slight twinge of pain but nothing to worry about. She would be sore in the morning, though. She continued to the top, stopping to catch her breath and to get her bearings.
The trees went for another thirty yards or so and then cleared. Beyond the trees were the backs of several houses. Which one was the Deckers’ home?
She thought back. They’d spent the night at the house. A swimming pool. They’d built it for Ella so she could train even when on vacation. The houses on either side hadn’t had a pool. Their pool had been fenced in…the high fence stood just as she remembered. The afternoon sun had already dipped below the horizon. She needed to wait until dark before she dared to sneak up to the house.
A light came on in the window.
Her pulse ramped up. Someone was there.
Ella? Donald? Sandra had said she expected him home for dinner.
Maybe she could call 9-1-1 and tell them what she thought was happening. She dismissed the idea. Paul had told her she needed proof before the police could get involved.
But what kind of proof?
Once she knew Ella was in there, Maven would do whatever was necessary to see her. To talk to her. To make sure she was OK.
Maven took a step and then stopped. Once she left the trees, she was out in the open. God, keep me safe. She walked on, praying no one would see. Her footsteps sounded like gunshots as they crunched on the frozen snow. The icy cold hit her lungs. Dizzy, her vision turned wavy. This is not the time for an anxiety attack! After deep breaths, her vision returned to normal. She ran the last few steps.
Lights began flashing.
She’d triggered the alarm.
26
Maven ran towards the safety of the trees.
“Stop.” A voice called out. “Or I’ll shoot.”
Ella had experienced this same kind of terror.
Maven was sure of it. She ran harder. A moment later hands grabbed her.
“Stop fighting.” His voice was low and guttural. Like the man who’d broken in her house.
She turned and slugged him in the stomach.
He gasped but only tightened his grasp on her arms. He was stronger and younger.
She didn’t have a chance, but she wasn’t giving up. She lifted her foot and stomped down on his with all her strength.
He yelped of pain.
She tore away and ran towards the trees again.
He cursed and ran after her, his larger footsteps crunching in the snow.
Please God, help me. When she entered the woods, Maven made a sharp left turn and ran parallel to the open field, hoping he would run straight. She hid behind a tree, forcing her breathing to slow down.
“You aren’t getting away, so you might as well come out. If you do, I won’t shoot you.” The voice was much too close.
She took a deep breath and ran to the steps down to the visitor’s lot, thankful she’d left the keys in the ignition. If she could make it to her car, she’d be safe.
Footsteps still followed.
The parking lot was only a few more yards.
He grabbed her by the hair. “You almost made it, but almost only counts in horseshoes.” He laughed.
She hit him. He grabbed the fist and laughed again. Then he began to drag her back up the hill. She struggled and fought, but it didn’t seem to affect him.
At the top of the hill, he put am arm around her neck and dragged her across the open field and back to the Deckers’ cabin. He pushed her through the sliding door, and she toppled to the floor.
She didn’t know him.
“Who are you?” he asked. “What are you doing sneaking around here?”
She glared at him.
Bluffing was her only option. “What are you doing here? Who gave you permission to be here? Certainly not the Deckers. Sandra didn’t mention you when I spoke with her today, and she has no idea you’re here, does she?”
Uncertainty flickered in his eyes. “Don’t worry about me. I asked you a question. Who are you?”
“A friend of the Deckers. And you?”
“Really? Then why were you running across the field to get away instead of coming up the drive? You’re lying.”
“Because the gate was closed. No one was there. So I came up from the visitors’ parking lot. Then I saw the light go on and thought someone was breaking in.” She moved to a sitting position.
He glared and then shut the sliding glass door leading to the patio and her freedom. Then he grabbed her arm and pulled her to a kitchen chair. “Sit.” He took a cell phone out of his pocket.
“Oh, good. Are you calling Sandra? She’s not going to be happy about the way you’re treating me.”
A moment later, he began talking. “We’ve got a problem. I found someone sneaking around outside. I don’t know who she is. She won’t tell me her name…I don’t know. She’s probably in her forties, long black hair, kind of short…if you say so.” He pressed a button. “Come on.” He grabbed her arm.
Maven struggled, but his hands remained around her arm.
He unlocked the basement door and then pushed her in. “You wanted to see what was going on in here, now you get to. Hope you’re happy.” He slammed the door.
27
Maven tumbled onto the basement landing, but righted herself with a hand against the wall. A light was on below. She made her way down the steps.
Ella sat on an old sofa. Her eyes widened in surprise and tears began to flow.
Maven rushed over to hug her.
“Why you here?” Ella sobbed. “I…didn’t…want this.”
“Don’t worry about it, sweetie. We’ll get out of this mess together.”
“How find me?”
“Who brought you here? Who’s responsible for you being here?”
Ella shook her head but said nothing.
“Do you know where you are Ella?”
“Lake house.”
“How did you get here?”
Using signs and her voice, Ella explained. “Man came Arizona. Told me Micah needed me. He drove here. No Micah. He put me down here. Locked door. Keeps telling me if I promise not to tell, I free.”
“Do you know him?”
Ella squeezed her eyes shut but signed monster.
Monster. Not allowed to tell about the monsters.
“Who’s the monster, Ella?”
Her eyes still shut, she shook her head. She put her head in her hands and started sobbing. “Can’t…can’
t remember.”
Maven decided there wasn’t a reason to force the issue. The most important thing was to get out of here. She walked around the basement.
No windows or doors.
The only way out appeared to be the door she’d been pushed through. It was locked.
She should have left Paul a note to say where she was going. Or Lizzie, or Sandra. Her phone! She had her cell phone in her pants pocket. She hit Paul’s number. As it started to ring, the basement door opened. Quickly, she tapped the end button and hid it in her pants pocket.
The man stomped down the steps and put out his hand. “Any weapons or phones?”
“No.”
He grabbed her. “Sorry, if I don’t believe you.” He began searching her pockets. It didn’t take long to find the phone. “I thought you said you didn’t have a cell phone. Shame on you for lying, Mrs. Morris.” He laughed. “Not that I blame you. Good try.”
How had he learned her name?
The man made his way back to the steps and turned to look at them from the top. “You shouldn’t have come. Enjoy your last few minutes here on earth. You won’t see the next sunrise. Neither of you.”
Ella jumped off the couch. “No. Not hurt her. I promise. I promise.”
“Too late now, Ella. I might believe you but not her. She’s a troublemaker.” He walked back up the steps.
The room went dark.
Ella began to sob.
Maven hugged her. “We need to stay calm.” Maven made her way up the steps. She felt for the switch and turned the light back on.
Ella’s sobs continued.
Maven tried the door. Locked.
In hindsight, she wished she’d let the call continue or hidden the phone under the couch. She walked down the steps and over to the still sobbing Ella. “We aren’t giving up, but I need you to calm down. You won’t be able to help if you’re this upset.”
Ella nodded and took several deep breaths. The sobs slowed.
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