by Sarah Markel
Pastor Fisk smiled apologetically. “My apologies, Daniela. Do you like living out here? I know it’s quite a change from Marilynn, even though we’re only a few miles away.”
Dani shrugged. She was actually becoming quite fond of the town, but wasn’t so sure Max would agree. Max had grown up in Boise, Idaho, and had never mentioned wanting to relocate.
“It’s okay, I guess. I haven’t done much exploring, but I like hanging out with Melissa and the twins. They took me to Rock Ledge yesterday. It was fun.”
The pastor’s eyes darkened momentarily, and his posture stiffened. “They didn’t take you up to the Lasco house, did they?”
Dani detected annoyance and an undertone of malice in the man’s firm voice. “No, Sir. We just went to the little island and swam for a few hours. Then we went back to my house for lunch.”
Max, sensing they’d stumbled on a sore subject, intervened. “What’s the Lasco house?” she asked inquisitively. She knew what the man was talking about, of course, but thought it better to act oblivious.
“Last year, we found out we had a serial killer living amongst us. He had a house that led down to Rock Ledge, and the kids in town like to sneak up there to gawk. They’re drawn to the evil energy of the place.” Mrs. Fisk explained, “We’ve forbidden Melissa and the boys from going up there.”
“Oh, how horrible,” Max said, feigning shock, “Daniela, I don’t want you going up there, either. Who knows what could happen.”
Dani shrugged and rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’m not interested in seeing where a killer lived.”
Pastor Fisk gave the younger woman a stern look. “Please obey your mother, Daniela. The last few kids who were seen up there have disappeared. I’m sure you’ve heard about the Falls City Five.”
Dani made a show of shrinking away from the man’s gaze. “Yes,” she mumbled, stepping closer to Max.
“Oh, Ezra, don’t frighten the poor girl,” Mrs. Fisk chastised kindly, “Why don’t we step outside and talk? Now that everyone’s left, I’m sure the kids want to get on with their duties and enjoy the rest of the day.”
Mrs. Fisk called to Melissa, Zeke, and Eli, who were patiently waiting by the pulpit. “You three can go ahead and clean up. We’re going to step outside with Ms. Willows and her daughter. Come get us when you’re done.” The trio nodded and moved along to do their chores.
“Mom, can I go help them?” Dani asked. She wanted to get away from the elder Fisk’s, and figured offering to help would be the safest way to make her escape.
“If the Pastor doesn’t mind, honey,” Max replied.
Dani gave the Pastor her brightest, most imploring smile. “Can I, Sir?”
Pastor Fisk chuckled at the girl’s eagerness. Not many teens were willing to help clean the Rectory. “Of course. I’m sure the kids would appreciate the help. The little ones tend to make such a mess.”
Dani waved and hurried off, leaving Max to chat with the couple.
***
“Max,” Mrs. Fisk said, once the trio had settled into the lawn chairs situated under a massive oak behind the Church, “may I ask you a personal question?”
Max crossed her legs and rested her hands on her knees. “Of course,” she said.
Mrs. Fisk glanced at her husband, before leaning forward in her chair. “How old are you? I mean, the kids told us Daniela is in their class, which must make her at least sixteen. You don’t look old enough to have a sixteen-year-old of your own.”
Max smiled softly and toyed with Dani’s wedding band. She’d kept her promise to wear it around her neck, and had no intention of breaking that promise. Dani would be crushed if she did.
“I’m not, really,” she said, working a bit of sadness into her voice. “Daniela is seventeen, I’m thirty-two. Daniela was four when I met her mother. Diane was ten years older than me, and I fell head over heels in love with her. We married when Daniela was six, and I legally adopted her as my own.”
Max and Dani had agreed to stick with the truth when referring to the death of her other mother. The rest of the story could be fabricated as needed, but the woman’s name and cause of death would remain true.
Pastor and Mrs. Fisk’s faces fell with sympathy. “Zeke told us that your wife had passed away,” Pastor Fisk supplied, “We’re so sorry for your loss.”
Max pulled a tissue from her purse and dabbed at her eyes. She’d always been able to make herself cry on command, and the skill was working in her favor.
“What happened?” Mrs. Fisk inquired gently. “You don’t have to tell us,” she assured quickly, “but, sometimes talking about a loss helps us to find peace.”
Max nodded and offered the couple a watery smile. “Seven years ago, when Daniela was ten, Diane lost the battle with breast cancer,” she explained, telling the couple the same story Dani had told Melissa.
“That’s terrible,” Pastor Fisk said, shaking his head when Max finished, “It sounds like she was a wonderful woman. I can’t imagine what I would do without my Lilah. Just know, she’s in God’s loving arms, watching you and Daniela from the comfort and eternal safety of Heaven.”
***
“Thanks for helping us, Daniela,” Elijah said, stowing the vacuum cleaner in the utility closet, “you saved us some serious time. We usually end up arguing about who’s going to climb under the pews to pick up all the programs and tissues and crap.”
Dani pulled a small bottle of hand sanitizer from her handbag. “No problem,” she said, coating her hands with the clear gel, “My mom is always making me clean under things. So, what are you all up to today? Now that Church is over, I mean.”
Eli, Zeke, and Melissa shared an uncomfortable glance; one that Dani noted on her phone.
“We, um,” Zeke started, scratching the back of his head nervously, “we clean up the hiking trails near the river. A lot of the tourists like to leave their trash all over, and Dad says it counts as some of our community service hours.”
“Community service?” Dani asked with surprise, “What did you guys do?”
Melissa laughed and led the group into the small kitchenette. “Not that kind of community service, Daniela. We aren’t thugs. Uncle Ezra insists the whole family spend twenty hours a week helping out in the community.”
Dani blushed and muttered a sheepish apology.
“It’s alright,” Eli said, placing the coffee supplies in a cupboard, “Most people who aren’t from the area think the same thing. We’re used to it. What are you doing with the rest of your Sunday?”
Dani shrugged and leaned back against the counter. “My mom is taking me to dinner in Portland this evening. Today would have been my parents’ anniversary. We go out to dinner every year to celebrate, then we finish out the night by watching old home movies and gorging ourselves on ice cream and brownies.”
Melissa and the boys exchanged a glance, before enveloping their friend in a tight group hug.
“Do you want to come with us after school on Tuesday?” Zeke asked, “We’re going to go out to Rock Ledge for a while. There’s only two more weeks before the trail is closed off for the winter.”
“The old lady puts up a chain and No Trespassing sign on the first Monday in October. That way the wildlife isn’t bothered when they are getting ready for hibernation.” Eli opened the door leading to the back yard, locking it behind him when everyone was outside.
“I’ll ask my mom,” Dani said, “but I don’t think she’ll mind. I think she’s got dinner plans that night, anyway.”
“Does Ms. Willows have a hot date already?” Melissa asked teasingly, “Boy, those lesbians sure work fast!”
Dani flinched but chuckled along with her friends. She hated gay jokes, even when they weren’t especially derogatory. She hadn’t lied about her plans for the evening; she and Max were going all the way to Portland to celebrate their anniversary. They’d discussed going to the coast to celebrate, but agreed that losing themselves in the crowd would be a better idea.
Agents Young and Harrison would keep the house under surveillance, as a precaution, until the couple returned. Dani had been adamant, when accepting the case, that she and Max be allowed to celebrate their first wedding anniversary properly. Thanks to Oakley Frost, Max and Dani had a reserved table at a popular gay and lesbian club called Fagulous.
“We’re done, Dad,” Zeke announced as the group joined their parents under the tree, “We’re going to go change and head over to start on the trails by the falls.”
Pastor and Mrs. Fisk thanked the teens and waved as the trio headed off. Dani, pretending to busy herself on her phone, claimed the empty chair beside Max.
“Daniela,” Mrs. Fisk said with a smile at the young redhead, “your mom was just telling us about your tradition. I think it’s very kind of you to help her celebrate the love she shared with your other mom. It speaks volumes to your character, young lady.”
Dani blushed slightly and shifted her attention to the older woman. “My parents were devoted to each other, and to me. I miss my other mom, and spending their anniversary remembering how things used to be helps us both to accept her loss. It also gives us a reason to get dressed up and have a mother-daughter day.”
Max beamed at her wife. She couldn’t wait to get away from Falls City, so she could treat Dani the way a wife should be treated on her first anniversary.
The coast option had been tossed out because the residents of Falls City still frequented the costal towns for another few weeks.
Portland, on the other hand, was almost two hours away from Falls City. The chances of running into a neighbor, especially on a Sunday night, were much slimmer. The couple planned to leave for Portland at two, giving them plenty of time for some shopping and sight-seeing before their evening of dinner and dancing began.
“We should probably get going,” Max said, glancing at the time on her phone, “I want to try and beat the traffic through Salem.”
Pastor and Mrs. Fisk stood and walked the couple to their car. “Will you be joining us next week?” Ezra Fisk asked as Max opened the passenger door for Dani.
“I will be, for sure,” she promised, “but I can’t speak for Daniela. She’s committed to help her uncles on the weekends, while it’s still nice out.”
“Well, we sure hope you stop by, at least for a bit,” Mrs. Fisk said pleasantly.
Dani controlled the urge to roll her eyes, and smiled instead. “I will try, Ma’am,” she replied, “but I think it best not to make promises I can’t keep.”
Pastor and Mrs. Fisk shared a look, their smiles becoming forced. Max shook her head and offered the couple a look that said, Kids, what can you do?
Chapter 8
“What do you want from us?” a young girl’s voice echoed around the room.
The room was damp, stuffy, and dark. The only light permeating the stark blackness coming from a lone night-light. Several tattered old twin mattresses were scattered around the room, each with a thick metal bar cemented to the ground beside it.
The bar was topped with a wide, flat cap that served a dual purpose. Aside from doubling as a small table, big enough for a small plate and a water bottle, the thickly welded cap prevented the shackles from being slipped over the top of the two-foot post.
“Why are you wasting your breath, Frankie?” another voice asked, “No one is out there. Even if there was someone, do you really think he’s going to respond?”
“Shut the fuck up, Gabby, at least I’m trying something,” Frankie snapped. She had no idea where Gabby was at in the room, but then again, she didn’t know where anyone else was either. The girls had been in complete darkness for weeks, with only the dim light as a focal point.
“What’s the point of trying?” another voice chimed, this one gruff and resigned, “We’ve all screamed ourselves hoarse, and no one has found us yet. We don’t even know where we are.”
“I think we’re still in Falls City, Piper,” Frankie replied, trying in vain to once again pry off the top of the bar her leg was chained to, “I can smell the river when that fucker opens the door to bring in our food.”
“That’s your reasoning?” another girl snapped, “You can smell water? Frankie, we live in Oregon. It smells like water everywhere here.”
“You haven’t lived here your whole life like I have, Angelica,” Frankie yelled. She hated Angelica Hinton with a passion, and being stuck in the dark with her was grating on Frankie’s last nerve. “I know what the river smells like. It doesn’t smell like every other creek or river in the area.”
“You’re insane,” Angelica spat.
“Can you guys just stop, please?” asked a fifth, much softer voice, “We’re all scared and want to go home. Arguing and fighting isn’t doing anyone any good.”
The others were quiet for a moment, each trying to think of a way to keep Bailey from having another anxiety attack. She’d only joined the group ten days earlier.
When she’d awoken on that dank mattress in complete darkness, the poor girl had begun to hyperventilate. Piper had managed to coach the girl through a breathing routine, effectively calming the fifteen-year-old enough to regain her composure.
“Sorry, Bay,” Gabby said. The others muttered their apologies and made the effort to keep their voices calm as they tried to formulate a plan of escape.
“Does anyone remember anything about when they were taken?” Frankie asked. They’d had this discussion numerous times, but no one had been able to recall what happened.
“The last thing I remember,” Bailey said, her voice trembling with tears, “was sneaking out of my room to go over to the Lasco house. I got a text saying to be there, or the pictures I sent to Zeke would be posted all over town.”
“Same,” the others murmured their agreement. “Except,” Piper said, “I didn’t send any pictures to Zeke. I sent them to Melissa.”
Two of the girls snickered, but Piper wasn’t sure who. She was certain it was Frankie and Gabby, but chose to ignore it. It was no secret that Piper was a lesbian, and there were plenty of rumors about Melissa floating around school.
No one had ever seen the girl with a boy, other than her cousins, but a few of their classmates claimed to have seen Melissa checking out the other girls during gym class.
“I just want my mom,” Bailey whispered into the quiet. Her soft sobs echoed around the silent room, muffled only slightly by the damp mattresses and sweaty bodies.
There was no evidence of ventilation in the room, and the pungent body odor was getting unbearable.
“Me, too,” the others chorused sadly. “Someone will rescue us, Bay,” Piper grumbled half-heartedly. “Fuck!” she squealed when something skittered up her leg. She slapped at the critter, squishing it between her hand and the top of her thigh.
“Another spider?” Gabby asked, her voice tight with fear.
“Yes,” Piper replied disgustedly, “we’re in a dark, damp room. Black widows and all sorts of other creepy crawlers love places like this.”
“Black widows?” Angelica asked frantically, “those are poisonous!”
“I don’t think our captor cares,” Frankie said flatly, “I don’t think our comfort is high on his list of concerns.”
A loud clang reverberated through the room, stopping all conversation. The girls turned toward the sound and shielded their eyes against the bright light that flooded into the space from the open door.
“It’s time to clean up for dinner,” a mechanical, recorded voice said, “Stand beside your tables. No talking. If you try anything stupid, I will shoot you.”
The girls quickly did as they were told. Each had resisted, the first time, only to receive a painful blow to the side of their head.
A moment later, a tall figure stepped through the doorway, pushing a housekeeping cart. The person was covered from head to toe in black, including their hands and face.
The figure stopped in front of Gabby, who glanced around at the others, and a single light bulb snapped on. The room was bathed
in bright light, temporarily blinding the girls.
This was the first time they’d had enough light in the room to see each other, and each of the five frightened teens took advantage of the chance to see their surroundings.
The walls and ceiling of the room were covered with thick layers of foam mats, except for a small circle of wood from which the light bulb dangled. That explained why no one heard their screams. The room had been virtually soundproofed.
Piper noticed that there were more mattresses standing against one wall, beside the door. There were also several more posts cemented to the floor, providing space for more captives. She glanced up at Frankie and Angelica, tilting her head toward the floor. The girls looked down and paled at the realization that their kidnapper wasn’t finished.
“Hands behind your back,” the recorded voice directed.
Gabby swallowed hard, but complied quickly. She turned her back on the figure and clasped her hands behind her. The figure snapped a pair of metal handcuffs on her wrists and took a small clicker from the cart. When the button was depressed, the shackles chaining Gabby to the post snapped open.
The figure took Gabby’s arm and yanked her toward the door. “No one moves. I will kill her in front of you,” the voice said as the person pulled a pistol from the waistband of their pants and held it to Gabby’s temple.
Gabby sucked in a breath and whimpered. “Don’t let me die,” she pleaded with the others, “please.”
The other girls nodded and stayed where they were. They watched with a mixture of fear and curiosity as the figure led the girl from the room and closed the door.
“I can still see you,” the recording announced, “stay put or she dies.”
***
While the others waited with baited breath to see if their friend would return, Gabby was doing her best not to scream.
The figure led her several feet from the door to an old aluminum washtub in the center of the smaller room. A hose was waiting beside the tub, as was a small table with bottles of shampoo and body wash.
“Strip,” said a deep, gravelly voice. The voice was different from the recording. It still sounded digitized, and Gabby assumed her tormentor was using a voice scrambler.