Breathe…
On a small shelf between the dresser and nightstand, there were several old photographs. One was of his parents, she had always liked them; his mom was laughing, probably about something funny his dad had said. There were frequent barbecues and fun times at their house when she was a child, especially during the summer.
Another photo was of her and Chad—they must be about twelve years old. Katie didn’t remember the photo being taken, but they were in a tree house they had built that summer. Chad still looked the same; cute, happy, and with a mischievous look in his eye. Katie had decided that she wanted to cut her hair short because it always got in the way, and she wore shorts, a T-shirt, and sneakers without socks. Both of them smiled broadly at whoever took the photo.
There were more photos of family and friends, then one of him when he graduated with his EMT license along with a group photo of his firehouse #15.
Katie smiled as she thought how amazing and wonderful it had been to be a part of Chad’s life for so much of it.
Wandering about the room to spread the warmth around her body, she noticed a small notebook on the nightstand. She didn’t know what possessed her to pick it up, but she slowly opened it and flipped through the pages. Neatly folded newspaper articles and printed reports from the Internet about all the cases she had solved were tucked into the pages. There was an article in the Military Times from when she had completed training with Cisco.
It was touching that he had a scrapbook of her accomplishments. It made her realize how much Chad was a part of her life. They had lost touch when she had enlisted in the army, but he never stopped being there for her. She was so lucky, truly blessed, but didn’t really know it until that moment.
Katie looked out the bedroom door and could hear Chad moving around in the kitchen. She put the small scrapbook back on the nightstand. After laying out her wet clothes in the bathroom to dry, she returned to the living room.
Walking into the kitchen, the smell of warm spices filled the air. “What smells so good?” she said.
“It’s a blend of spicy tea leaves I made.”
“Wow, look at you. You buy a cottage and now are an herbalist and a chef.”
“Well, I confess. I learned this from Rob at work. His family is from India and he’s an amazing cook as well.”
He handed her a steaming mug.
“Thank you,” she said, carefully sipping the liquid. “Oh, wow, that’s delicious.”
“Knew you’d like it,” he said, smiling. “You look good in those.” He referred to the navy blue sweatshirt with the firehouse’s emblem on it she now sported.
Katie smiled back but then suddenly realized, “I have to take care of Cisco.”
“All taken care of,” he said.
“What? No, I need to get home.”
“Don’t worry. It’s all taken care of.”
“How?”
“I called McGaven and he and Denise were happy to go over and spend some time with Cisco. He knew where you hid a key. I think he said they were going to watch some action movies—Cisco’s favorite.”
“He did that?”
“Why are you so surprised?”
“I’ve been… difficult to work with recently and I thought he was mad at me,” she said.
“If he was, I couldn’t tell.”
Katie looked down and was upset that she’d allowed things to be left the way they were at the office. “I… I don’t…”
Chad confronted her. “It’s okay. You need to relax and tell me what’s going on.” He steered her to the living room where they sat down.
Katie was overwhelmed and burdened with some of the most intense things, but she didn’t want to whine or dump her problems on anyone. But now, she found herself sitting in front of someone she loved, who was waiting for her to let it all out.
He sat patiently and sipped his tea.
She didn’t know how she did it, but the words came tumbling out as she rattled on about everything. Her work, the cases, her house, her grief over losing her aunt, the confrontation with Hugh Keller, unrest with McGaven, her work conduct, getting written up for her last case, and everything in between.
Once she finished her monologue she watched for Chad’s reaction. He had listened, nodding every once in a while, sometimes he kept her gaze, other times he looked away to give her space to talk, but in the end he was still her best friend and lover.
There was a moment of silence. It wasn’t the uncomfortable kind, but it felt like something was missing and hanging precariously in the balance.
Chad moved closer to Katie and he gently kissed her. “I had no idea that you’ve been balancing all of this. I’m sorry that I can’t help to carry some of your burden. But I’m here. I’m always here.”
“I’m sorry, I had no right to dump everything out on you.”
“You didn’t. You needed to get that off your chest and I’m glad you did.”
Katie looked down. “It actually sounds worse than it is… it’s just… today I think I hit my limit.”
“You can’t go around carrying this kind of weight. I’m surprised you didn’t break sooner. You need a good night’s sleep. Stay here and rest.”
“But I don’t—”
“Let it go, Katie… Tomorrow you’ll feel rested and we can tackle all these things, one… at… a… time. Let it go tonight…”
Twenty-Nine
I stirred the chocolate cake mix until everything had been combined according to the instructions on the box. I wanted to do something nice for my mother, since she hadn’t beaten me in almost a month.
She had even begun to straighten up the house and take garbage out of the rooms. She smiled when I came home from school. It was like a miracle had happened.
I looked at the cake box and made sure I added the eggs, oil, and milk. It was going to be a wonderful cake. There was even ice cream in the freezer too. It was going to be a celebration.
I heard the front door open and my excitement grew.
The door slammed.
I jerked my arm as I was stirring the bowl.
Looking up, I saw my mother. Her face was pale, more than normal, and she looked sweaty even though it wasn’t hot outside.
“What’s wrong, Ma?”
“What do you think you’re doing?” she screamed.
“I… I’m making you a birthday cake like we talked about.”
“I don’t want any stinking birthday cake. I want my stuff. Don’t you understand?” She showed me the inside of her arms which were dotted with horrible purple needle marks.
“What stuff, Ma? I can help you find it.”
“You can’t help with nuthin’.”
She snatched the bowl out of my hands and threw it on the floor. It bounced and the batter splattered out, making a dark mess.
I started to cry.
“You were always such a baby and will always be a baby…” She grabbed her packet of cigarettes and forcefully slammed them against her fist until one came free. With a shaky hand, she raised the cigarette to her lips and slowly pressed the lighter. She couldn’t light it. Rage spilled over and she threw a plate against the wall. She finally got the cigarette lit, and that’s when she tripped on the rug and fell onto a huge pile of newspapers and magazines piled against the wall.
“Ma, you okay?” I managed to say.
“You little shit, you did this!”
I went to her to try and help her up when I noticed a small fire had ignited. I stopped dead.
“Help me up!” she screeched.
I stood completely still, frozen like a statue.
The flame flickered and grew slowly at first—then exponentially, reaching all around with fiery tentacles.
“You did this! Help! Help me you worthless piece of…”
I stood and watched the flames spread until, what felt like seconds later, the entire room was a burning inferno. The heat was overwhelming. Everything in the room was lapped up by the fire. The walls melted.
The drapes blackened.
Mom stopped screaming and rolled into a ball.
I slowly left the room and went to my bedroom and closed the door…
Thirty
Saturday 0910 hours
Katie ran a hard three miles up the Battle Ridge Trail with Cisco at her side. She’d had another great night’s sleep of solid restfulness and felt better about her decision of opening up to Chad. Their relationship had improved from that moment and made her realize that she had been holding on too tight, keeping everything inside.
She was going to meet McGaven at the Twin Rifle Trail around 9 a.m. Wanting to smooth things over with him, she thought that the best thing to do was go for a run. She was a few minutes late, but knew that McGaven wouldn’t mind.
Katie laughed at Cisco’s springy footwork when he saw a squirrel run past and climb up a tree. The area was mostly deserted because of the cooler weather and fewer tourists visiting the area.
She slowed her pace to a light jog as she neared the entrance to the Twin Rifle Trail. She saw McGaven immediately. He was stretching and loosening up for the run as he waited for her.
Cisco ran on ahead and greeted McGaven, jumping around him.
“Hey, didn’t expect to see you, buddy,” he said, petting the dog.
Katie walked up to McGaven. “Hi,” she said.
“Hey.”
“Thanks for taking care of Cisco last night.”
“Anytime.”
“I want to get this out of the way, okay,” she said.
“What’s that?”
“Look,” she said. “Things have been piling up on me and I’m not the best at decompressing or letting things go. And—”
“Wait,” he said. “You don’t have to—”
“Yes, I do,” she interrupted. “That’s not how partners treat each other—or friends, or anyone for that matter. I took liberties and willfully antagonized Keller. And I know it’s not only me that takes the heat from this, it’s you too. I’m skating on some thin ice, so…”
“Katie, I know. With everything you’ve been through…”
“Let’s just put it behind us, okay?” she said.
“Deal,” he said and held his hand out.
She reached to shake it and he pulled her to him in a bear hug.
Laughing, she said, “Okay, okay. Ready to get started?”
“Let’s go.”
They began jogging slowly to warm up.
“You look good,” she said. “I think you’re slimming down.”
“Ah, flattery with get you everywhere.”
They finished their picturesque three-mile circuit through the trees and came back to the beginning.
“That was great,” she said. “You’re doing well.”
“Yeah, I’m feeling better too. It’s trying to find the balance between sitting at a desk and not.”
“I guess I never thought about that because I move around so much.” Katie began her cool-down stretches. She felt fantastic after a good cry, a good night’s sleep, and a morning run in one of her favorite places.
McGaven slowly stretched his calves and quads. “I actually feel pretty good. I can get out of bed in the morning and not groan now.”
“Do you have some time today?” she asked.
“Sure, a little bit. Why?”
“I know it’s Saturday, but I wanted to go and take a look at Elm Hill Mansion. There’s little chance anyone is around and I wanted to get a better look now I know its history.”
Cisco barked twice. His tongue was hanging out and he was having fun running around Katie and McGaven.
“A look, huh?”
“Yeah, what would it hurt?”
“Sure, I’ll meet you both over there and we can have a look around.” He smiled.
“Absolutely. C’mon, Cisco,” she said, moving toward her car as the dog padded along behind her.
“Hey, when are you going to buy a new car?” he called after her.
“When I get some time. What’s wrong with the police sedan?”
He laughed, finishing up his stretches.
Katie was exhilarated as she drove to Elm Hill Mansion.
The gate was open, so she slowly drove up the driveway which had been covered with white, large-stoned gravel. She didn’t remember it being that way when the crime-scene investigation was going on. As she reached the top, she pulled over to the farthest side, parked, and cut the engine.
Cisco whined but made himself comfortable, turning several times and then lying down. Katie decided to keep him in the car. He’d had quite the workout and would snooze while she and McGaven took a look around.
Katie stood in front of the car surveying the property. It was one of those types of property that was more beautiful every time you visited. The investors knew a good piece of land would make a fortune with three luxury-spec houses. It was now officially an ongoing crime scene, but they would be wrapping things up soon.
Clouds littered the sky and the wind was mild but cool. Katie zipped up her sweatshirt and pulled up her hood to keep the cold air out and her neck warm.
The three large metal storage containers on the left side of the property had now all been shut. They intrigued her, so she would check them out before they left—giving them a once-over to complete the search. There was no reason to search or document them as part of the crime scene, but it wouldn’t hurt to take a look.
There was one bulldozer and another large piece of equipment still sitting where it had been left. The other oversized work vehicles must’ve been picked up for other jobs. The yellow tape cordoning off the area to the public had been removed.
Katie slowly walked along the large flat stones that led to the main entrance of the mansion, looking up at the missing decorative pieces around the windows and doors and remembering what the house had looked like after it was finished by the Von Slovnicks. The porch they had stood in front of for the photo was almost non-existent now.
Recalling all the historical information from the county archives, she didn’t remember seeing or hearing about why the previous owners wanted to donate this house for the girls and the county.
Where they just being charitable? Philanthropists? Or, was it something more personal?
Sara and Jonathan McKinzie lived there twenty years before donating the house, but there was no other record; no real estate, no other charitable contributions, no photographs of them. McGaven hadn’t found anything about them—yet.
Katie heard a car coming up the long drive, gravel crunching under the tires.
Cisco gave a couple of warning barks, but settled back down again after he knew it was McGaven.
Katie watched him park his large truck next to the police sedan and get out. He gazed around the area before jogging up to greet her.
“Glad you could make it,” she said.
“We should check out those containers.”
“I thought the same thing. Maybe we were hasty?”
“Thinking we should have searched them on our first visit?”
“Maybe. But we can’t officially now.” She turned and headed toward the house.
Keeping up with Katie’s pace, he said, “If we find something, that’s a big if, it can still be used to guide the investigation, just not in a court of law. Right?”
“That’s true.”
“So what’s the plan?”
“Get inside the house, if we can.”
“You want to look at the staircase, am I right?”
“Of course.” She steered them around the right side of the house to the storm door she’d seen on her first visit.
“Where are you going?”
“I think there’s an easier entrance from the basement.”
When they reached the door to the basement, Katie stepped inside and looked around.
“It’s creepy in here,” said McGaven.
“You can say that again, but… don’t please.”
They reached the wooden stairs and headed up, into
the house—taking each step gently in case the old wood splintered or gave way under their weight.
Katie reached the top where there was a big door; she pushed but it wouldn’t budge. She shoved harder—the same result.
“Need some help?” he said, smiling.
She pushed again, resulting in a splintering sound. “I think it’s stuck, not locked.”
“Here,” McGaven said. Stretching up to his full height, he pushed. The door budged an inch. He shoved. The door opened with such a force it slammed open and then shut again.
Pushing it open again, Katie began to move forward into the old house.
McGaven took her arm. “You packing?”
“Of course. You?”
“Yep.” He let go of her arm. “Keep alert,” he said softly.
She nodded and stepped onto the threshold which creaked and groaned beneath her feet. She stopped. Then continued into what appeared to be the kitchen.
Most of the appliances, refrigerator, and built-in shelves had been removed. There were a few open places in the floor where she could see down underneath the house. They were on the first floor where there was a living room, parlor, and a big open area that fitted the fireplace.
Katie remembered the building plans and made her way to where the stairs were located.
“What are we looking for?” McGaven asked.
“I’m not sure.” Slowly moving through the hall, making sure that there weren’t any obvious safety issues or booby traps, she saw a floor-to-ceiling bookcase. It seemed like an odd place to have one. The shelves were empty and the overall condition was better than most of the house.
Katie ran her hand along one of the shelves—it was smooth and solid. She repeated it on a different shelf with the same result.
McGaven was lagging behind.
Judging the distance between the stairs and the back of the built-in bookshelf, Katie estimated it to be three and half feet. Staying focused, she searched for anything that wasn’t supposed to be on the bookcase. A weird scratch, hole, button, lock, and then… she found a slide mechanism beneath her fingers underneath the second shelf.
Last Girls Alive: A totally addictive crime thriller and mystery novel (Detective Katie Scott Book 4) Page 15
