Under the Willows

by Pamela McCord

“I think they’ll have the whole area covered by the end of tomorrow. They’ll put several cops on it. Maybe when we go up there tomorrow . . . Can you take me to get my truck?”

  “Sure. If we wait until after I drop TJ off at camp.”

  “We don’t have to go at the crack of dawn. It’ll take two or three hours to get there and, the later we turn up, the more time the investigators will have had to turn something up.”

  —

  Of course, TJ would be disappointed we were leaving him behind. But it was a crime scene we were going to and an exuberant kid running around might not be the best for preserving any evidence, not to mention we had no idea what the police may have unearthed.

  I was putting the coffee on when I heard Rob stir. I wandered into the living room with a cheery Good Morning. He groaned as he tried to sit up, finally turning onto his side and sliding his feet off the couch.

  I could sympathize. Every little movement I made was painful, and everything I did took longer, because, well, I was in pain.

  “Need some help?” I asked.

  “I think I’ve got this. I hope I’ve got this.” With a grimace, he righted himself until he was in a sitting position. “Hurts like a bitch this morning,” he said through gritted teeth.

  “Mine does, too, but I’m sure not as much as yours. Pain really takes the energy out of you.”

  “Yeah.”

  “I put clean towels in the downstairs bathroom, and your travel pack is in there, too. There’s a walk-in shower, in case you can manage it. If you even want to.”

  “Probably should make an effort. I feel grungy. Those sponge baths they give in the hospital aren’t really satisfying.”

  “I imagine they’re not. Listen, while you’re in getting ready, I’ll make some bacon and eggs. There’s no hurry. I don’t need to drop TJ off for camp until nine, so take as long as you want.”

  “Thanks,” he said, stiffly getting to his feet. It took him a moment to feel steady before he shambled toward the bathroom, one painful step at a time.

  I woke up TJ for breakfast, watching as he stretched and yawned.

  “She didn’t come,” he mumbled sleepily. “I tried to stay awake, but I couldn’t. She would have woken me up, wouldn’t she?” he asked.

  “I’m pretty sure she would. Maybe she needs a little time to get used to being alone again.”

  “But, Mom, she wouldn’t have to be alone. We’re here.”

  “I don’t think it’s the same, honey, but I’m sure she knows we’re here for her. Give her some time.”

  I ushered him toward the bathroom. I’d washed my face and brushed my teeth before I went downstairs the first time. Now, I pulled my hair up into a messy bun and changed out of the PJs, robe and slippers I’d been wearing and into jeans and a tank top.

  The smell of bacon and eggs brought both Rob and TJ into the kitchen. Rob was still moving slowly, but looked better after a shower.

  Both of us still felt the effects of the days before, with our aches, pains and exhaustion. Moving around should take some of the kinks out. Or so I hoped.

  —

  Rob and I dropped TJ off at the Methodist church and watched as he greeted his friends and climbed on the bus that would take the kids to camp. I waved once more as we pulled out of the parking lot and settled in for the drive to Clarion Lake.

  We didn’t talk a lot the first twenty minutes. Rob sat slumped in his seat, looking out the window. Once or twice, I glanced at him wondering if he was all right.

  Finally, I said, “You’re deep in thought.”

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean to ignore you. My brain is spinning with all the supernatural things we’ve been dealing with. I mean, ghosts?”

  “Yeah. I don’t think I’ll ever look at life the same way again. Never in a million years would I have believed what we just went through was possible.”

  “And what about when Marilee asked about Emma? As odd as it seems, it felt normal . . . ish . . . when you and I talked to Emma, but to find out we weren’t the only ones knocked me for a loop. I don’t know how to process it. I’m used to trying to make puzzle pieces fit. These pieces don’t fit any puzzle I’ve ever seen.”

  “We should write a book. Of course, we’d have to market it as fiction.”

  He laughed. “What? You think no one would believe us?”

  —

  There were several police cars in the clearing in front of the cabin. When we parked and got out, an officer approached us, hand outstretched.

  “Rob. God, am I glad you’re okay.”

  Rob gave his hand a shake. “Jim, I want you to meet Kelly Harris. Kelly, this is Jim Santos.”

  I shook the extended hand. “Have you had any luck finding Em . . . I mean, were there any other bodies?”

  I looked at Rob. “Sorry, I couldn’t wait to find out.”

  He laughed and turned to Jim. “We’ve been wondering if Marilee was the only victim.”

  “No problem. There’s nothing to indicate there were any others. We’re about to wrap up here. We’ve collected samples from the cages under the tree for DNA testing but, unless it shows otherwise, I think she was the only one.”

  “Oh,” I said, trying to mask my disappointment. “Well, we’re just here to pick up Rob’s truck. Don’t want to keep you.”

  Rob looked at me then nodded at Jim. “I’ll talk to you later, man. Let me know if you find anything.”

  “No problem.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said as we made our way to Rob’s truck. “I shouldn’t have been so impatient. Do you want to stay?”

  “No, I don’t think there’s much I can do here that they can’t.”

  “You’re coming back to my house, aren’t you?”

  “Yeah. At least to pick up my stuff.”

  “Okay, I’ll follow you.”

  —

  He pulled up to the curb and I parked at the side of the house. I watched him get out of the car, checking to see if he needed help but, despite his slow pace, he seemed to be capable of making it to the front door.

  I let us in and headed to the kitchen to put on the coffee. Rob had flopped down on the couch. Driving while wounded could really take it out of you, and we were both exhausted. Coffee might help. If not, I’d suggest a caffeine IV.

  I set the mugs on the coffee table and sank onto the couch next to him. Picking up my mug, I clinked his and said “Cheers.”

  He laughed, grimacing when the pain hit, but gamely leaned forward to clink back.

  “Are you going home tonight?” I asked, watching him sip his coffee.

  “I probably should. I appreciate you watching out for me last night, but I don’t want to take advantage.”

  “It actually is no problem, and I think you should stay. For one thing, the less you have to do for yourself the quicker you’ll get better. Also, I think we should make another attempt to contact Emma, and you might not be up to facing the stairs until tomorrow.”

  He frowned, seeming to contemplate what I’d said.

  “It’s up to you, of course,” I said.

  “Got a couple of Tylenol?” he asked.

  I stood and took a step toward the kitchen.

  “I’m too sore to move anyway,” he said. “I’d love to stay if you really don’t mind.”

  “I don’t mind at all.”

  I brought back the pain pills and a glass of water, then sat down on the couch and picked up my coffee. It felt good to just relax.

  Setting my cup down, I leaned my head back against the cushions. Until I remembered I needed to pick up TJ from camp.

  “Take it easy. I’m going to get TJ and will be back in a few minutes.”

  He started to rise, but I put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. “Just relax. Okay?”

  I grabbed my bag and keys and felt him watching me as I left.

  Chapter 32

  O

  T

  J bounced into
the house ahead of me. “Maybe Emma will talk to us today. Can we go up to my room?”

  He paused. “Hi, Rob. Are you coming with us?”

  “TJ, give us a few minutes to visit before you drag us upstairs,” I said. “Rob needs to rest.”

  “Oh, okay,” he said with the just slightest hint of disappointment in his voice.

  “Hey, buddy,” Rob said. “Did you have fun at camp today?”

  “Yeah! But I wished I could tell my friends all about Emma.” He looked at me. “Mom said I couldn’t.”

  “I know, but not everyone will understand,” Rob said. “Is it so bad for the three of us to have a secret?”

  “I guess not.” He shrugged, and brightened. “Actually, it’s kinda cool.”

  “That it is,” Rob chuckled. “We’ll go up in a few minutes. I’m not sure Emma will come through, though. She didn’t yesterday. I hope she shows up, but don’t be too disappointed if she doesn’t. Maybe she’s just sad right now.”

  “But then we won’t be able to talk to her.”

  “I know. We just have to wait and see.”

  I went into the kitchen to refresh Rob’s and my cups.

  “What happened when you went back to the cabin?” TJ asked.

  “Not a thing. They’re almost done with the search for additional victims but haven’t turned up anything,” Rob said.

  “So we stayed about ten minutes then drove back,” I added.

  “But you didn’t find Emma?”

  “No, unfortunately,” I said. “Emma’s remains are up there somewhere and I don’t think she can move on until they’re discovered. So, we’ll try really hard to find her.”

  “That’s really sad.”

  “I know, honey. That’s why she’s probably still around, and we’re hoping she can help us find her.” I took a sip of my coffee, feeling as dejected as TJ.

  Rob cleared his throat. “I heard from one of my neighbors while you were gone. Apparently, the paparazzi are camped out at my condo.”

  “Oh, God. I forgot about them. I wonder why they’re not here, too.”

  “I don’t think the department has released your name yet. Or maybe they think I’m more important.” He said that with a grin and a grimace.

  “You deserved that,” I said, grinning back, resisting the urge to poke him in the side. “It seems like it’s a good thing you’re hanging out here so they can’t find you.”

  “You’re probably right. Maybe in another day or two they’ll move on to the next story and forget about us.”

  “This is a pretty big story, so don’t hold your breath.”

  “I’ll just keep ducking them.”

  “Or maybe you should give them a statement so they can move on.”

  “I’d just be telling them that I can’t comment on an ongoing investigation.”

  “Yeah. Go with that.”

  “You may be right. I’ll arrange to speak to the press at the station so maybe they’ll stop waiting for me at my house.”

  TJ was a little gnat flitting around, anxious to get up to his room and, hopefully, his ghost. He practically sent up a cheer when I set down my mug and stood, and he darted for the stairs.

  Poor guy couldn’t understand why I didn’t dart, too.

  TJ was bouncing on the end of his bed when I got to his bedroom.

  “Can I call her, Mom?”

  “Go for it,” I responded.

  TJ’s chest puffed out proudly and he looked at the Dot. “Emma, are you here?” He looked around the room when she didn’t answer. “Emma, can you come out? We want to talk to you.”

  Nothing happened. TJ’s face fell and he looked at me like I could help. Which I couldn’t.

  We sat quietly waiting for ten minutes. “Sorry, honey, I don’t think she’s coming today.” I put my arm around his shoulders. Of course he shook me off.

  He stood. “I don’t know why she—”

  A soft sobbing came from Alexa as the room grew cold. TJ drew in a breath and pointed excitedly. “She’s here,” he whispered.

  “Are you okay, Emma?” I asked.

  The crying grew louder. “We’re here, honey. Don’t be sad.”

  TJ called down to Rob. “Emma’s here!”

  I wasn’t surprised when he came limping into the bedroom a minute later, holding his side.

  “We saved Marilee, Emma. She’s going to be okay,” I said. “Thanks to you.”

  The sobbing stopped. I know.

  “Emma,” Rob said. “Can you tell us where you are? We want to find you, too.”

  There was silence for a whole minute.

  You won’t ever find me. He put me in the water.

  I gasped and put my hand over my mouth, tears filling my eyes.

  “Then we’ll look in the water. We’ll find you and you can be free to leave that place.”

  No one can help me.

  The room grew warm again and she was gone.

  Rob pulled me up into his arms. “We won’t give up. I promise.”

  He let me go, and I wiped my eyes with the bottom of my T-shirt.

  “How, Rob? How can we find her if she’s in the lake? We don’t have any idea how far out he might have taken her.”

  “We’ll ask Emma if she can give us some clue about where to look.”

  I sank back down on the bed. Rob gently sat next to me. “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “I’m just discouraged.” I wiped my eyes again. “I was so sure that when we found Marilee we’d find Emma. So she could go into the light. It wouldn’t be fair if she saved Marilee and then we couldn’t help her.”

  I sighed and stood up. “I don’t think Emma’s coming back anytime soon, so why don’t we go back downstairs where the coffee is.”

  Shooting TJ a look, I said, “Want to help me get dinner going?”

  He hung his head and grumbled “I guess.”

  “Maybe tomorrow will be better, buddy.” I pulled him in a hug, knowing he was as disappointed as I was.

  I couldn’t help feeling sorry for Rob when I saw the pained look on his face as he contemplated facing the stairs.

  “I know it’s still early, but you could stay up here if you want and I can bring dinner up for you. TJ can sleep in my room tonight and you can have his.”

  Maybe he actually considered my offer, but he responded with, “Thanks, but I’ve already put you out enough. I can make it downstairs.” He started for the door to preclude my arguing with him.

  I kept my mouth shut as I watched him painfully navigate his way down. His knuckles were white as he gripped the bannister.

  “You’re kind of a mess,” I said when he’d settled back on the couch. “I feel sorry for you.”

  He grinned. “I can’t lie. I feel sorry for myself. You wouldn’t think one little hole in your side could hurt this much.”

  “I would,” I said. “My little hole is in my arm.”

  Rob and I l bumped fists.

  —

  TJ had slumped up to bed after dinner, as disappointed as Rob and I were. It was hard to shake off the gloom at what Emma had said.

  Carrying our mugs, Rob and I moved into the family room, each letting out a groan of pain as we carefully sat down side by side on the couch.

  We sipped our coffee in silence until Rob sat forward abruptly.

  “I have an idea. It’s a long-shot, but maybe I can parlay my ‘hero’ status into getting a favor from the department. I’m going to asked Captain Magnusson to drag the lake.”

  “Will he do it?” I asked.

  “It’s a big job, and so far there’s no reason for him to think Brindleson had more than one victim, so it’ll be a hard sell. But I can say that we stopped him as he was about to take Marilee out in the boat, and we believe he was going to dump her in the lake. It’s thin but, like I said, my stock is up after the rescue so maybe I can pull it off.”

  My heart jumped into my throat and I teared
up as I gazed into his gray eyes. He put his hand over mine. “It’s only an idea, and I don’t know if it will work.

  “But at least it’s something.”

  I threw up my hands in mock exasperation. “What are you waiting for? Call your captain!”

  “I might have more luck if I make my request in person,” he said. “You know, give him the old wounded hero hang dog look. I’ll go in tomorrow morning and meet with him.”

  “I’m not going to be able to sleep tonight,” I said and stood up. “But it’s getting late. Why don’t you let me make up the couch?”

  He nodded and moved to a chair while I spread the sheet across the cushions and plopped a pillow on one end and a folded blanket at the other end.

  As he limped toward the couch, I impulsively threw my arms around his neck. Momentarily surprised, his arms went around me and we stood together until I kissed his cheek and let him go.

  He looked down at me. “What was that for?”

  “You’re a good man, Rob Porter,” I said.

  He moved closer as if he meant to kiss me, and I held my breath, but he stopped and smiled awkwardly. “So,” he said. “See you in the morning?”

  I must have looked silly standing there with my mouth hanging open. I cleared my throat and stepped back. “Yeah. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  He watched me walk away, and I glanced back at him as I headed up the stairs, our eyes still connected when I vanished from his sight.

  My heart was beating loudly as I closed my bedroom door and leaned against it. What was happening to me? When my breathing was normal again, I headed down the hall and stuck my head in to check on TJ, who was already asleep.

  There might be more than one reason I wouldn’t get any sleep tonight.

  Chapter 33

  O

  I

  t was after 4 p.m. by the time Rob got back the next afternoon, and I’d already picked up TJ from camp. I waited for the coffee to be done, anxious to hear the results of Rob’s meeting with his boss.

  “Captain Magnusson grudgingly agreed to send out some divers. He felt the need to point out that it was pretty flimsy reasoning on my part but, hey, he’s going for it. I think it helped when I mentioned an older missing child case . . . a little girl named Emma Corning.”