How she was going to accomplish that remained as unknown as her insight into the attack at the park or the traffic accident or the break-in at her apartment. Although she already had all the human assistance she needed, she realized she had failed to pray for continuing guidance and wisdom. Doing so properly, however, was best accomplished in private, so she asked, “Would you mind if I went to my room to freshen up a bit before supper?”
“Not at all. Where are my manners? Hang on a sec and I’ll show you to your room.”
“I can take her,” Reed offered, stepping in the back door without the dogs. “The furry contingent is playing on the grass.”
“Okay, if you don’t mind.” For some reason Abigail found herself feeling shy.
“Not a bit.” He picked up her suitcase and gestured with his free arm like a courtier in a medieval drama. “After you.”
Abigail had not forgotten why she sought solitude, although if anything could have distracted her it was the handsome K-9 cop. They proceeded down a short hallway, stopping at the end. One look confirmed that the room Lani had prepared for her had been a home office. That didn’t matter. It had a door and blinds on the windows. That was all the privacy she needed.
She paused in the doorway, blocking it and facing Reed. “Thank you. For everything.”
He handed her the suitcase. “If you need anything, just ask. Lani says supper will be in about an hour, but if you want to rest longer, that’s no problem.”
“An hour will be fine,” Abigail said. The small room behind her beckoned as if it wanted her to feel at home. She started to close the door.
Reed backed up. “Okay, then.”
Truth to tell, Abigail didn’t want to close him out, but she needed privacy in order to bare her soul to her heavenly Father. There was so much that she didn’t understand, so many loose ends to the events of recent days, she felt as if she were far beyond her depth and being pulled under by an unseen riptide.
The latch clicked into place. Abigail pressed her back to the closed door and sighed noisily. Her thoughts reached out to God while her body was hit with intense fatigue. She was spent in more ways than mere physical exertion. Her heart was bruised by the way Kiera had treated her, her thoughts were murky and disconnected, and she was almost as bereft as she had been the day she’d decided to run away to escape the unhealthy life her mother had chosen.
After making her way to the narrow bed, she perched on the edge, bowed her head, closed her eyes, folded her hands and whispered, “Oh, Father, I’m so lost. I don’t know how I got here or what’s next. Please, please show me. Help me?”
In her mind she could almost hear, Peace, be still. Wishful thinking sometimes manifested that way when she was overwrought. And yet, there was a certain almost tangible peace flowing over and around her as if she were being wrapped in a cloud of warmth and security.
Abigail resisted the sensation. She didn’t want to be cosseted, she wanted to be useful, in charge, making a difference the way she did in the lives of the teenage runaways who came into her office. She wanted to know what had happened to her and take an active role in bringing her attackers to justice. She wanted...
Truth struck her hard. She wanted to tell the Lord how to run her little universe. Of all the errors she’d made lately, that was undoubtedly the worst, the most foolish.
Turning her thoughts, her deepest heart, back to prayer, she began with an apology. “Forgive me, Jesus. Forgive me. Please. I know you only want what’s best for me.” Abigail inhaled a shuddery breath and let it out slowly. As long as she relied upon her faith, she didn’t need to know the details of God’s ultimate plan.
Trusting Him was the key. It always had been, even when she’d been adrift and living on the streets like the kids she helped. That was when she had come to a spiritual awakening, thanks to several mentors. It had been as if the Lord had lined those believers up in His divine order and introduced them into her life at the exact moment when she was ready to accept the teaching each offered.
Grateful beyond words, Abigail realized that she still could have rejected the faith that now buoyed her up through this tempest. “Thank you, Father,” she said, barely whispering as tears of thankfulness trickled down her cheeks.
Eyes closed, she continued in wordless gratitude, heart and mind. Each day demanded renewed commitment to her heavenly Father, just as each night required that she put her trust in His perfect wisdom and mercy.
Night. Shadows. A memory wafted through her mind like windblown smoke.
Abigail tensed. Almost lost touch with the vision. There were three figures, two tall and one much shorter. The little one stood between the other two and was struggling.
Her eyes popped open. Reality immediately intruded, yet she managed to retain the elusive insight.
Jumping to her feet, she swiped away her tears, hurried to the door and jerked it open to yell, “Reed!”
ELEVEN
Hearing Abigail shout his name sent Reed’s heart into orbit. They nearly knocked each other down when they collided in the hallway.
He grasped her shoulders and set her away so he could look into her face. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She was beaming through a mist of tears. “I remembered something. It was as clear as if I were looking right at it.”
Struggling to control his pounding pulse, he slipped an arm around her shoulders and guided her toward the living room sofa. “Okay. Have a seat and tell me.”
She twisted away, clearly elated. “No! I can’t sit still. Listen. There were two guys at Luna Park that night. And a smaller person, probably a girl or young man. One guy was hanging onto the littler person and she—or he—was struggling to escape. I saw it all. I remember now.”
He wasn’t about to spoil her moment of triumph by mentioning that he’d likely observed the same two adults. Hearing that there had been a younger person involved was a definite breakthrough.
“Go on,” Reed urged, working to keep his voice even and his tone casual. “What did you do then?”
Abigail deflated like a Mylar balloon on its third day. “I don’t know. I didn’t remember that far.”
“It’s okay,” he was quick to tell her. “These things take time. You’ve made excellent progress. I have no doubt the rest of your memories will return soon.”
“I should have tried to hold on to the vision.”
“Not necessarily. You said you’d done that before with poor results. What you got, you got clearly. That’s a big plus. We didn’t know about the younger person before just now.”
Abigail perked up a little and grasped his forearm. “Do you think it could have been Kiera they were holding? Is that why she was so evasive?”
“That’s one possibility. Another is that she’s the reason you were out there that night. Maybe you were going to meet her, she saw what was happening and split instead of trying to help. You told me she was obviously lying about why she wanted to talk to you at the center. She may have been embarrassed to admit deserting you the other night and wanted to know if you were aware she’d been nearby.”
“You could be right.” Sighing, Abigail looked to Lani, who had frozen in place to listen while holding a bowl of tossed salad. “What do you think?”
“Me? I’m just a rookie, but if this girl Kiera was acting funny after that night, I’d be inclined to peg her as a witness. Most victims put off different vibes. Did she seem afraid?”
“Not as afraid as I still felt,” Abigail replied. “Just leaving my apartment was a major challenge.” She shivered.
Reed slipped his arm around her shoulders without stopping to think first. His instinct for protection insisted, overruling any sense of propriety. Although his sister arched an eyebrow quizzically, he didn’t back down. The flashes of normalcy they were seeing from Abigail were promising, yes, but that didn’t mean she was cured. Until
she could willingly recall the entire incident at the carousel, she wasn’t out of the woods. Figuratively or literally.
He guided her to the kitchen table, essentially turning her over to his sister. “I’m going to make a quick call to headquarters and notify the 60th Precinct, too. They need to be aware that there was a teenage victim involved in the first assault on Ms. Jones.”
Lani was quick to reply. “Gotcha. If you’re going outside to call it in, watch for the pizza man.”
Nodding, Reed pulled out his cell and headed for the front door. Once he was outside he contacted his dispatcher and relayed Abigail’s information, completing the call just as a pickup stopped at the curb. A man balancing a full pizza warmer jumped out and started up the walk.
Reed waved. “What do I owe you?”
He paid, took the hot pie and turned toward the open door, calling, “Thanks!” over his shoulder.
“No problem, man,” the harried driver shouted back.
Reed had time to take only one step before he heard Abigail shriek.
* * *
She clapped both hands over her mouth. That voice. Did it belong to one of her attackers? At first hearing she’d thought so, but now that several seconds had passed she was growing less and less certain. Had the recent glimpse of lost memory triggered an aberration in her reasoning processes? Rather than remembering his voice, had she merely imagined a similarity?
Reed thrust the box at his sister and cupped Abigail’s shoulders. “What happened? You’re shaking.”
“I thought... I thought...”
“You thought what?”
“That man’s voice. It reminded me of someone. He couldn’t have been the guy from the boardwalk, could he?”
“Of course he could.”
“Did you know him? I mean, is he your regular delivery guy?”
“One of them,” Reed told her. “Look, just because he sounded like the man who accosted you doesn’t mean he’s the same one, but there’s nothing to prove he isn’t until we check his alibi for the night you were chased.” He guided her to the sofa. “Sit here while I make a couple more calls.”
Abigail hated to keep following his orders but at the moment, sitting down seemed quite sensible. So did listening to his phone conversation. There was no doubt he was talking to the police, either his own unit or the one responsible for that Queens neighborhood.
“That’s right,” Reed said. “The pizza delivery was just made to my house. I want a check on the driver and his alibi for every night last week. If he was working, I want to know where his route took him.” He listened for a brief minute, then added, “There’s a chance he may tie to the Luna Park incident I worked when we were down there looking for Jordan Jameson’s dog, Snapper.”
Watching his expression, Abigail saw him listen and begin to frown.
“When? Where? Okay, stand by.” Reed cupped a palm over the receiver and spoke aside to her. “What do you know about a kid named Dominic Walenski?”
Her breath caught and she swallowed a gasp. “Why?”
“So, you do know him?”
“Yes. What’s going on?”
“An anonymous caller reported that he’s been kidnapped. When I mentioned Luna Park they told me that’s where he was last seen.”
“Oh, no!” Abigail managed to pull herself together enough to provide background. “Dom looks a lot younger than Kiera but he’s almost her age. They’re both part of a group that hangs out on the boardwalk most of the time.”
“Okay.” Listening to the phone, Reed held up his index finger to signal silence, so she waited. It wasn’t easy. Dom was as much one of her kids as Kiera, maybe more so, considering the off-putting way that girl had been behaving lately. Abigail spread trembling hands wide, palms up, and mouthed, Well?
“All right,” Reed said into the phone. “Jessie and I will stand by.” He ended the call.
“What else did they say?”
“Not much. Apparently the tip came from an anonymous source. Female. Refused to give her name.”
“We need to go. I need to go,” Abigail insisted.
“In due time. Let the beat cops sort it out before we blunder in and cause more confusion. They’re on scene. If they decide there’s anything to the report, Jessie and I will be dispatched.”
Lani interrupted, a pizza-laden plate in each hand. “You’d better eat, then. No telling how long you’ll be gone if you get the call.”
“Not both of us,” Reed insisted, accepting the generous slices. “Abigail is staying here with you.”
“Oh yeah?” Abigail was adamant. “Even if Jessie manages to track some of the kids down they’ll take one look at you and scatter. You may not like it, but you need me.”
“Aren’t you scared?”
She huffed. “Of course I am! I’m terrified. Who wouldn’t be? But that’s no excuse for abandoning one of my kids when he’s in danger.”
“If he is.”
Expecting further argument, she was stunned when Reed thrust the second plate toward her and said, “Then eat. And use a fork so you don’t get Italian spices on your hands and confuse my dog.”
She was going? Reed was including her? Just like that?
Averting her face to hide a flash of victory, she took a place at the kitchen table. Lani provided cutlery and a cold soda over ice.
Well, well, well, Abigail thought. Just when I think I have him figured out, he goes and surprises me. What’s up with that?
A bigger question involved motive. Was Reed taking her along because he thought he would need her, as she’d claimed, or was he simply hoping that a return to the Coney Island boardwalk would further jog her memory? Either was possible. It didn’t matter. As long as she continued to put others first and strive to do the job she was positive had been divinely ordained, she’d be fine.
Peeking over at him through lowered lashes, she realized she was ready and willing to follow him just about anywhere on earth. That admission was terribly unsettling. And patently true.
* * *
The dispatch for Jessie and Reed came a half hour after the initial report. He was in uniform by then. Jessie took one look at her official K-9 vest and harness and began quivering with excitement.
Reed eyed Abigail. She, too, was trembling, though not from eagerness, he concluded. I have to hand it to her. That woman’s got courage.
“Ready?” He was strapping on his gear and checking the extra search and rescue equipment clipped to his vest and tucked into a go-bag.
Abigail’s fingers were laced together at her waist and the knuckles had begun whitening. “I’m ready when you are.”
“Okay. Come on. We’ll go over procedure in the car.”
He felt her following closely as he strode to the blue-and-white SUV. While he loaded Jessie, Abigail climbed into the passenger seat and was fumbling with her safety belt as he slid behind the wheel, grabbed the radio and reported his status.
“Branson leaving Queens. Do you want a code three response?”
“Negative,” the dispatcher broadcast. “Units on scene report that the claims are so far unsubstantiated. Just keep your eyes open.”
“What about a scent package?”
“Reporting party is supposed to meet you at the corner of West Fifteenth and Surf Avenue. She says she will have an article of clothing.”
“Copy.” Reed cleared his throat. “I have an outreach worker ride-along. She knows the Walenski boy personally.”
“You cleared that with Noah?” was loud and clear.
Reed clenched his jaw. “Chief Jameson is aware I’ve been assisting this person in my off-duty time.” He wanted to add that Abigail was up to her pretty blue eyeballs in this hot mess, but refrained. The less said, the better. He’d ask for forgiveness later rather than delay long enough to obtain official permission to include he
r.
“Copy,” the dispatcher said.
He glanced across the front seat at his scowling passenger. “You knew I wasn’t keeping track of you on the department’s dime, didn’t you?”
“I’d guessed as much.” Her slim fingers had returned to their interwoven position.
“Just remember that this time is going to be different,” Reed warned. “When Jessie and I are working you have to stay well behind us so you don’t disturb any scent she picks up. Even a slight breeze can be too much. Got that?”
“Yes, sir. So how am I supposed to help you find Dominic if I’m trailing behind you?”
“Hopefully, whoever gives us the scented article of clothing will be connected to the group he normally runs with. You’ll introduce me and vouch for me then.”
“But...”
The quaver in her voice told him more than words would have. She was every bit as scared as he’d assumed she’d be even though she was putting on a brave front. How long she could maintain that facade was what concerned him.
“I won’t be walking slowly after Jessie strikes a trail. Keep up with us as best you can. Run if you have to. Once my K-9 is committed I won’t stop and wait for you. Understood?”
Abigail was nodding, her gaze wide. “Got it. What if I lose sight of you?”
“Then find the nearest patrol officer and stick to him or her. We’ll return eventually, with or without the Walenski kid.”
He had anticipated an argument he didn’t get. The rest of the drive to Coney Island was uneventful until they approached the rendezvous point and noted the crowd.
Abigail leaned forward and pointed at a gaggle of teens amassed on the street corner. “That’s them! Kiera’s posse. There she is. Standing by the front patrol car. See?”
Reed saw all right. And what he saw was disquieting. If the entire group was worried enough to willingly meet and mingle with the police, chances were good that Dominic actually had been abducted as the caller had insisted.
Trail of Danger Page 10