“Aunt Susie knows it wasn’t Jason either. She thinks it was Cody Price.”
Danny cocked his head, his face reddening. “Susie doesn’t think that.”
April crossed her arms over her chest. “She just told me.”
“Was she sober?”
April opened her mouth, then shut it.
“That’s what I thought.”
“Cody had access to Becky. He could’ve coached Becky to say it was Jason.”
Danny put up his hand. “That’s enough.”
April spoke faster, trying to finish her argument. “He’s like fifty, and he’s never been married. Never had any kids. Did you know that he has a creepy white van?”
“That’s not evidence. Do you have any physical evidence to support your theory?”
“Not exactly, but—”
“Jesus, April. You can’t keep turning this family upside down.”
“You don’t want Jason to be innocent because you took Mom from him.”
Danny clenched his jaw. He spoke through gritted teeth. “You will not talk to me that way.”
April narrowed her eyes at Danny. “You lied about my father for twenty years. Did you plant evidence too? Did you frame my real father so you could have Mom?”
He spiked his spatula on the patio and stalked toward April, grabbing her by her upper arms. “I raised you as my own, and this is the thanks I get?” He shook her as he made his point, his hands gripping like pythons.
April wriggled in vain, her eyes bulging. “You’re hurting me.”
The sliding glass door opened.
“Danny! What are you doing? Let her go,” Michelle said from the doorway.
His grip loosened. Danny let go and stepped back. He dipped his head. A wave of shame passed over his face. “I’m sorry, April.”
“Fuck you!” April ran from the backyard.
“April,” Michelle called out.
“Let her go,” Danny said.
April ran to her car, started the vehicle, and drove away.
Chapter 102: Dangerous Evidence
April drove south on I-99 through the Allegheny Mountains, gripping the steering wheel with white knuckles, still seething. The sun was bright and high in the sky. She glanced at the time on her radio—5:26. Sunset wasn’t until 8:30. She took a left exit toward Duncan Boulevard. She drove for a few minutes on Duncan Boulevard, until the GPS said, “Turn right on Blair Hill Road.” April turned her car onto the narrow two-lane road, past farmland and forest.
A cyclist approached, pedaling toward her in the opposite lane. April rubbernecked as she drove past the man on the bike. “That’s Cody,” she said to herself. He didn’t appear to notice April or her car. She thought about turning around and following him. No. Stick to the plan. You’ll just have to wait until he gets back.
The plan was to call Danny when she made it to Cody’s house, to let him know what she was doing, then to hang up when he inevitably ordered her to come home. She’d have to wait until Cody returned to make that call, otherwise her parents would be at Cody’s doorstep before she even had a chance to confront him.
She’d planned to confront Cody with what Becky and Susie had said, with her phone recording the conversation in her open purse. She’d planned to lie and say that Becky remembered Cody coaching her to blame Jason for the molestation. She would make sure Cody knew that Danny knew where she was to ensure her safety. Hopefully, she’d record him saying something incriminating. At the very least she’d give him a piece of her mind.
April drove past Cody’s house and parked her car alongside the road, after the hairpin turn. She wanted to maintain the element of surprise, so she didn’t want Cody to see her car before the confrontation. She remembered the last time she’d been to Cody’s house. He’d been out for a bike ride then too. His garage might be open again. Maybe I could look around while he’s gone. What if he comes back? He’s a triathlete. He’ll be out for a long time. Even if he does come back early, I’ll hear the garage door. I can slip out the back. … This is crazy. No, this is an opportunity. Danny wants evidence. I’ll find some evidence.
April grabbed her keys and her phone and exited her car. She jogged along the road, then up Cody’s driveway toward the two-story stone house. The left-hand garage door was open. She stopped in front of the open door, catching her breath. She turned around, half-expecting to see Cody on his bicycle. As her breath regulated, she realized how quiet it was, like she was the only person for miles.
April scanned the area one more time, listening to the squirrels scurrying on dry leaves and the birds chirping overhead. Then she stepped into the garage, her heart pounding. Cody’s BMW and van were parked inside. April walked through the garage, stopping at the door to the house. Part of her hoped it was locked.
It wasn’t. April stepped inside and shut the door behind her. She walked past the laundry room to the open-plan kitchen, with its massive commercial appliances and an indoor grill built into the center island. She whirled around, searching for anything incriminating. She went to the counter and flipped through his mail. Bills and junk mail, like everyone else.
A 2D replica wooden house hung from the wall, with two hooks at the bottom, holding two key rings. April walked beyond the kitchen, passing a formal dining room to her left, and entered the living room. The floors were shiny hardwood with Oriental area rugs. Much of the furniture was white with glass tables. Everything was sparkling clean and impeccably decorated, like one of his model homes.
To the left of the living room was a family room, with black sectional couches and a sixty-inch television on the wall. The living room and family room were separated by a staircase that led upstairs.
April walked beyond the living room and family room to Cody’s office. A massive mahogany desk dominated the room. A laptop sat open on the desk. It was in Sleep mode. April sat in the cushy leather chair and pressed the space bar, waking the computer. It prompted April for a password. Shit. She had no clue what Cody might use as a password. She riffled through his desk drawers, thinking he might’ve written it down. His drawers were organized to perfection, with every office supply in its place, but no passwords. She stood from the desk and went to the floor-to-ceiling bookshelf. It was filled with hardback books. Not a single paperback. April checked the bindings. A chill ran down her spine. They’re alphabetized. Someone this organized wouldn’t leave incriminating evidence lying around. I need to get out of here.
She left the office, going back the way she came. On the way, a door on the staircase separating the living room and family room caught her eye. Is that a dead bolt? She approached the single door. It resembled a heavy-duty exterior door, and it did in fact have a dead bolt. April tried to open the door, but it was locked. He has to be hiding something behind this door.
Her stomach fluttered. She ran to the kitchen, snatched the two key rings off the hooks, and ran back to the door. She matched the manufacturer listed on the dead bolt, Kwikset, with the same manufacturer on the key. She found three Kwikset keys on one of the key rings. The second one turned the lock.
April flipped on the light, illuminating the white-carpeted stairs going down. She crept downstairs, wondering how much time she had until Cody came back. The basement was an immaculate man cave and a tribute to Pittsburgh sports. Signed Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins jerseys hung from the walls. A black leather sectional wrapped around the room, facing a massive projector screen. Trophy cases lined one wall, filled with triathlon trophies and medals and framed photos of Cody standing at the top of various winner’s podiums, sweaty and smiling. Why would he lock this room from the outside?
April surveyed the room. She saw something on the carpet under the couch. Is that hair? April walked closer to the mysterious hair. She knelt, reached under the couch, and pulled the hair, revealing a doll from under the couch. Holy shit. He doesn’t have kids. She shoved the doll back under. I need to get out of here.
A clanging sound made April freeze, like a deer in
headlights. Where did that come from? More clanging came from the wall behind the trophy cases. April crept to the trophy cases. She leaned toward the wall, listening for several seconds. It was dead quiet, until a clang made her flinch. April called out, “Hello?”
A tiny voice replied, “Hello?”
April’s eyes bulged. “Where are you?”
“In here.”
“In where?”
“My room.”
“How do I get in there?”
“The door.”
“What door?”
“The door.”
“Hold on.” There can’t be another door. This is underground. It has to be here. April checked along the edges of the trophy cases, frantically searching for a hidden door. Between the last two cases were hinges, barely visible, and painted black to match. April tugged on the last trophy case, groaning from the effort, but it didn’t move. She glanced at the carpet. A curved line of compressed carpet came from the outer edge of the last trophy case on the row. She checked the back edge of the last case. Nothing. Then, she slipped her hand behind it and felt a handle. She pulled down the handle, and the trophy case moved an inch toward her. She grabbed the edge and pulled, the case opening on a hinge, like a door, the weight of the case being supported by wheels underneath.
She stared into the secret room, stunned, her mouth an O. The walls were bright white, with several posters of cartoon characters. A small bed sat dead center. A door was open in the back corner, exposing a small bathroom. A few scattered dolls were on the pink shag carpet. Chains hung from one wall, attached to thick steel rings. A little girl stood by the chains, clanging them together. April eyed her wrists, relieved that she wasn’t bound.
The dark-haired girl turned to April and asked, “You wanna play?”
That’s when it all clicked. “Are you Maria?” Before the girl could answer, an inhale of breath made April turn around. She saw a flash of his yellow jersey, followed by his fist. Then everything went black.
Chapter 103: In Over Her Head
Hot pain radiated from the back of April’s head and her jaw. She lay on her side, on hard tile. Her eyes fluttered, opened, and focused. Two boots covered in blue booties stood before her. She tilted her head upward. Cody stood over her, wearing medical coveralls with latex gloves, and goggles around his neck. He smelled like sweat. April groaned and sat upright, her back against the wall. Her right hand was cuffed to one of the chains on the wall.
“There she is,” Cody said, his hands on his hips.
April touched the back of her head with her left hand; it was slick. She pulled her hand back into view. Her fingertips were red with blood.
“You took quite a fall,” Cody said.
April glanced around the room, searching for Maria, but she was gone, and the room no longer resembled a little girl’s room. It was mostly empty now, except for the pink shag carpet that was rolled up and leaning against the wall. A drain was in the middle of the tile floor. The bathroom door was shut. “Where’s Maria?”
Cody smirked. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. It’s just you and me. We have a big night ahead of us.” Cody turned and walked to the carpet leaning on the wall. He hefted it over his shoulder and walked out of the room.
As soon as he left, April quickly checked her jean pockets, keeping an eye on the open door for Cody’s return. Her keys and her phone were gone. Her hands trembled, and her heart pounded in her chest. April rose to her feet and yanked on the chain with both hands, using all her weight to try to dislodge it from the wall. The metal ring that the chain was attached to didn’t budge. Damn it. April tried pulling down on the chain with both hands and pushing off the wall with her legs. The metal ring still didn’t budge. Shit. I need to get out of here. Think. She inspected the thick metal cuff around her wrist. It was fastened by a screw. She tried sticking her fingernail in the flathead screw and turning left, but it didn’t move. It was too tight. God damn it.
April walked as far as the chain would allow, which was three steps from the wall. She scanned the area for anything she could use. Think. The room was barren. Oh my God. I’m in big trouble. She sat on the tile and cried, thinking about how stupid she’d been.
“There, there,” Cody said, as he entered the room.
April looked up and sniffled.
Cody placed a bucket of water and a large jug of bleach in the corner of the room, far out of April’s reach. Then he left the room again. He returned a minute later with a circular saw, a plastic case, and a sheathed knife. He set the items near the bleach.
April stared at the items, wide-eyed, her stomach in knots. He’ll kill me and cut me up. She scooted back until she hit the wall again.
Then, he removed the child-safe covering over the electric outlet, plugged in his saw, and sauntered over to April, the saw in hand. When he got close, he revved the saw in April’s face. She flinched, her head hitting the concrete wall, sending a fresh burst of pain through her already tender head wound.
Cody let off the trigger, the whiz of the blade stopping immediately. He laughed. “This is a bone saw. Fresh blade too. It’ll cut through you like a hot knife through butter.”
April trembled, her voice shaky, still sitting against the wall. “What do you want from me?”
“You’re gonna answer some questions, and you’re gonna tell the truth. For every lie, I’ll cut off a finger.” He pulled the trigger, buzzing the saw in April’s face again.
April leaned away from the saw, her entire body taut.
Cody let off the trigger. “Who knows you’re here?”
April hesitated for a beat. “My father.”
He smirked. “Which one?”
“The police officer. He’s on his way. If you let me go—”
Cody snatched the chain attached to April’s hand, and pulled it toward the middle of the room, dragging April’s arm and her body with him. He pulled the chain taut, as far as it would reach. April was flat on her stomach now, her right hand straight out on the tile. Cody stepped on her hand with his full weight, causing April to cry out in pain. The bone saw buzzed. “Here goes your first finger.” He bent over, lowering the bone saw toward her hand.
April clenched her fist.
“I’ll just take the whole hand,” Cody said, the saw now millimeters from her wrist. “Unless you wanna retract that lie.”
“Nobody knows I’m here!” The buzzing ceased, and Cody stepped off her hand. April recoiled to the wall, rubbing her hand, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Please don’t do this. I won’t tell anyone. I promise. Just let me go. Please.”
Cody rolled his eyes. “It doesn’t work that way. This is your fault. I was ready for a nice relaxing Saturday night. You ruined that for both of us. Don’t worry. I’ll put you to sleep first.” He walked to the corner, near the bleach. He set down his saw and kneeled next to the plastic case. Cody opened the case, revealing a set of small glass bottles and syringes.
April eyed the syringes. Her voice quivered. “Is that what you do to the girls? Drug and kidnap them?”
He grinned, as he filled a syringe from one of the glass bottles. “It’s a little more complex than that.” He grabbed an elastic tourniquet and walked over to April, still holding the full syringe.
“Are you a racist? Do you hate Latinx people?”
“Latinx.” Cody chuckled, standing over her. “Aren’t you the good little progressive. Not everything in this world is about race. They’re just convenient. It’s a good demographic for what I do. Many illegals work two jobs to make ends meet. They leave their kids alone as a consequence. They’re all afraid to call the police because of deportation. To be honest, I don’t think the police try quite as hard for them either. Your grandfather thinks El Diablo is some unpaid coyote. How fucking stupid can he be? Coyotes are paid up-front.”
April glared at Cody, her tears dry. “Why did you molest Becky? She’s not in your demographic.”
“I almost went to prison on that one. I
lucked out. Your grandmother’s lie put the spotlight on Jason. It’s a good thing children are so easily suggestible. I learned my lesson. I never touch a child who I don’t completely control anymore.”
“So you keep them locked up in here?”
Cody grinned.
“Where are they? Do you kill them?”
“That’s enough talking.” He knelt in front of her. “Give me your arm.”
April squirmed away from him. “No. Please.”
Cody sighed. “We can do this the hard way or the easy way, but it’s happening. You have a choice. You can be awake, while I hack off your limbs, or I can put you to sleep. Either way, this is it for you. You only get to choose whether or not you feel the pain.”
April burst into tears again. She blubbered. “Please. Please don’t do this. I won’t tell. I promise. Please.”
His face turned to stone. “The needle or the saw? You choose.” He set the syringe on the ground behind him and moved into her personal space. He grabbed her right arm by the wrist and pulled it toward him. He took the elastic tourniquet and tied it around her upper arm. Then he turned and grabbed the full syringe from the floor. April cowered against the wall, curled into a ball.
He knelt next to her again. “It’ll all be over soon enough. No pain. I promise.”
April’s vision was blurred by her tears.
Cody grabbed her right arm.
The faint sound of glass breaking came from upstairs.
Cody cocked his head, his eyebrows drawn together. He stood and went to the case, setting the syringe back inside. He grabbed his sheathed knife, removing it from the protective case, exposing the shiny blade. Then he rushed from the room, leaving the hidden door open in his wake. His heavy boots climbed the stairs. A door opened. Grunting and another crash of glass came.
April screamed toward the open door, “Help! I’m down here! Help me!”
Maria moved into her line of sight.
April’s eyes bulged. “Maria. Help me. I need a screwdriver. Do you know what a screwdriver is?”
Redemption Page 29
