Mark walked further into the room. There was a bed, an overstuffed chair sitting in the corner facing the bed, and even a little kitchen table with two chairs at it. There were framed pictures hanging on the wall and everything looked almost normal.
Almost.
Mark felt his heart begin to race as a sick feeling twisted his insides. He had known that Amanda was obsessed with Joseph, but the true extent of that obsession was suddenly, horrifically clear.
“What is this place?” Liam breathed. His voice heavy with the same fear and revulsion that were vying for mastery of Mark.
Every piece of furniture had thick, heavy straps and steel shackles attached to it.
16
Mark stood in the room, struggling to take it all in. Finally he walked slowly over to one of the walls and examined the pictures hanging on it. There was a picture of Amanda wearing a wedding gown and smiling. He didn’t believe he was imagining the hint of madness in her eyes. He moved on to the next photo. It was one of Joseph, clearly a publicity photo, with him wearing a dark suit and a tie. The next photo was another one of Joseph, this time a candid photo. He was half-turned away from the camera talking to someone out of sight. The final photo was of Joseph and Amanda together. Well, not exactly together. It looked like a badly photoshopped picture.
She told the realtor she’d be moving into her fiancé’s house. A cold sweat broke out over his body as he looked again at the picture of her in the wedding dress. There was no doubt in his mind now that he was looking into the eyes of obsession and madness.
“What is this all for?” Liam asked.
“Not what. Who?” Mark turned toward his partner. “There’s a reason Jeremiah and Joseph were stabbed with non-lethal doses of that poison. Amanda was planning on having Joseph kidnapped, and holding him down here. In her sick mind she believed she could make him love her and she would be the one he married.”
“How very Misery,” Liam said. “And with Geanie out of the way, she believed nothing would stop Joseph from loving her.”
“Come on,” Mark said, leading the way up the stairs. He exited outside and approached the officer there. “Any sign of her?”
“No.”
“Alright I need to get pictures taken down in the basement and then I need to clear the cars out of here. I’m hoping she’s coming back to the house and I don’t want to spook her and miss our chance to catch her.”
“Understood.”
He turned to Liam. “Get out an APB on her. If she’s already running or hiding we need to get on it.”
Liam pulled out his phone and took a couple of steps away.
“This woman is extremely unstable,” Mark told the other officer. “I have no idea if she’s armed, but she should be treated as though she were incredibly dangerous.”
Fifteen minutes later Mark and Liam were in the car heading back to the police station. “You know what I don’t like about this?” Mark asked.
“What?”
“The poison. I don’t see someone like her being able to get her hands on it.”
“There was that huge cash withdrawal and the explosion at the bridal shop. It’s likely she did hire someone to kidnap Joseph and kill Geanie.”
“Yeah, that’s the only thing that makes sense. Now, though, we have two people running around who are willing to do heaven knows what next. I have the distinct feeling that we just went from the frying pan to the fire.”
“At least now we have a handle on what’s going on and who is behind it. We can check out friends, family members, see if anyone’s seen her in the last twelve hours or so,” Liam said.
“You’re talking sense, but I’m not sure how much logical behavior we can expect from her,” Mark said. “That’s what scares me. Sane people are predictable. Crazy people aren’t.”
Liam took a deep breath. “I think we can count on one thing, though.”
“What’s that?”
“If she’s that crazy, there’s no way she’s just walking away, heading out of town and disappearing.”
“Why’s that?”
“She won’t leave without Joseph.”
Mark swore under his breath. “I think you’re right.”
Liam opened his mouth then closed it again.
“What is it?” Mark asked.
“I had an idea, but it’s crazy and dangerous. You won’t like it.”
“We might just have to fight crazy with crazy. What do you have?”
“We can try putting a tracker on Joseph and then create a situation in which he could be easily kidnapped.”
“You’re right, I hate that idea. There’s too many variables in play.”
“That’s why I didn’t say anything.”
Mark turned and stared out the window. He sighed. “You might be right, though. At the end of the day that might be our only play. Let’s just hope it doesn’t come to that.”
And for the second time in a week he really wished he believed in prayer.
They made it into the office a few minutes later and Mark made a beeline for his desk. There was a report on it and he sat down to check it out.
“What is it?” Liam asked when he walked over a couple minutes later.
“They couldn’t find any trace evidence on the rose. And there was no poison or anything like that on the thorns.”
“Why is that making you frown?”
“Because that makes no sense. A lot of this doesn’t. Who was the rose intended to be found by? Geanie? Then you would think the assassin would have poisoned it. Joseph? Then why didn’t they dose it with something to knock him out?”
“Too remote for Joseph? Even if it did knock him out it would be hours after the assassin had slipped back out of the house. Unless they planned to snatch him on the way to the hospital or once there...” Liam drifted off.
“He or she could have posed as a paramedic, snatched him right there at the house with no one the wiser.”
Six hours later there was still no sign of Amanda. Mark was beginning to worry that he and Liam had spooked her with their earlier visit. He had tried calling her only known relative, a cousin in Arizona, but the man hadn’t heard from her in months. He was starting to get desperate.
“I think it’s time we switch tactics,” he finally told Liam.
“What do you have in mind?” his partner asked.
“I think we’re going to need Joseph’s help on this one.”
“Want me to go get him?”
“You’d better.”
Half an hour later Liam was back with Joseph and Cindy, which shouldn’t have surprised Mark and yet it did. The four of them set up with a tech guy in one of the interrogation rooms. They were getting ready to track Amanda’s phone once she picked up after Joseph called. If she picked up. She hadn’t answered when Mark had tried the phone earlier. She was so obsessed with Joseph, though, that Mark was willing to bet she’d managed to get his phone number and that when she saw it was him calling she wouldn’t be able to resist answering.
“Are you sure you’re okay to do this?” Mark asked.
“Do we really have any other choice?” Joseph said.
“No,” Mark admitted.
“Then, I’m okay to do this,” Joseph said.
“That was circular,” Liam noted.
Mark glared at him and his partner just shook his head.
Joseph dialed and Mark held his breath, hoping that Amanda would pick up. One ring. Two. Three.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Amanda? This is Joseph Coulter.”
“Joseph?” she said, sounding slightly dazed.
“How are you?” he asked.
“I’m fine, why are you calling?” she asked, suspicion creeping into her voice.
Mark cringed. They needed to keep her on the phone a lot longer and the last thing they needed was her realizing for sure that they were onto her.
“Actually, I’m calling because I never got your RSVP to the wedding. You’re one of just a few I haven�
�t heard back from so I’m calling to find out whether or not you’ll be making it. I need to give the final headcount to the caterer this afternoon.”
“Your wedding? You invited me to your wedding?” she asked, a little breathless now.
“Of course. You got the invitation, right?” Joseph said, sounding impressively concerned.
“No.”
“Oh no, really? Hold on, I’ve got the master address list here somewhere. Yes. I sent your invitation to 1418 Larkspur Drive. You should have received it about four weeks ago.”
“I live at 1413 Larkspur Drive,” she said, clearly distressed.
“Really? Oh, I’m terribly sorry. I must have misread the 3 as an 8 when I was making the list.”
“Th-that’s okay.”
“Well, the wedding is this Saturday at 4 o’clock. I’m sorry that you never received the invitation and it’s such short notice, but do you think you can make it?”
“I’ll be there,” she said.
“I’m so glad to hear that. Do you have a pen and a piece of paper so I can give you the address?” Joseph asked, oozing sincerity.
“I know where it’s going to be.”
“Oh, you do?”
“I saw the announcement in the newspaper.”
“Oh, I see. Well, I’m officially putting you in the attending column. Will you be bringing a guest?”
“A guest?”
“Yes, the invitation, which you sadly didn’t get, said that you could bring a guest if you liked.”
“Oh, um, no guest. Just me.”
“Okay.”
Mark gave Joseph the thumbs up sign. Off to the side Liam was already directing officers to her location.
“Alright, well, I guess I’ll be seeing you on Saturday.”
“Yes, thank you,” she breathed.
Joseph ended the call and then collapsed back in his chair.
“You did great,” Mark reassured him.
“That was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do,” Joseph admitted. “I don’t think I’m cut out to be an actor.”
“Well, you could have fooled me. You were great, really.”
Cindy squeezed Joseph’s hand and he gave her a weak smile.
“Now what?” Joseph asked.
“Now, we wait, and hope for good news.”
Fifteen minutes later Liam’s phone rang. He listened intently for a few minutes before hanging up. “She was at a Starbuck’s across from Stoneridge Mall. When they got there she was gone. They searched the nearby area but found no sign of her. They did, however, find her phone under a table. They couldn’t tell if she dropped it on purpose or by accident. She didn’t talk to anyone inside other than to order a coffee,” he reported.
Mark closed his eyes and tried to swallow his frustration. “Back to square one,” he said at last. He opened his eyes and looked at Joseph. “I’m sorry.”
Joseph shook his head. “Not at all. It was worth a try.”
Cindy leaned forward suddenly. “You said she was at the Starbuck’s across from Stoneridge Mall?”
“Yes, why?”
“There’s a formalwear shop in that mall on the second floor. What if she hung up with Joseph and immediately went to buy herself a dress?”
“It’s a long shot, but if you’re right, she could still be in there,” Mark said.
“I’m on it,” Liam said, whipping out his phone.
Once he was off the phone Mark stood. “Okay, hopefully they find something. For now I’ve got to get you two back to the mansion.”
By the time they were pulling up in front of the mansion Liam had called Mark with the bad news. Amanda had been in the dress store. She’d stayed less than ten minutes, bought a dress, and had been gone before police arrived.
“Well, at least your instincts were right on,” Mark said with a sigh.
“Unfortunately, that’s little comfort at the moment,” Cindy said, feeling the frustration building inside her.
“And it’s a safe bet she’s going to show to the wedding.”
“Isn’t that what every guy wants? His bride and his stalker both in the same place?” Joseph said, forcing a smile.
Cindy was relieved to see that the others had already started setting up for the afternoon barbeque. She’d been able to call everyone that morning who wasn’t staying at the mansion to let them know the barbeque was off. At Geanie’s insistence she didn’t explain about the danger that the couple was in but simply said that Geanie had been injured during the downtown explosion a few days before and was still recovering. It was a bit more than stretching the truth, but Geanie was determined that no one outside those who needed to know be made aware that they had been attacked. She had argued that would just bring publicity that would make everyone’s jobs harder and bring stress and anxiety to their guests which could mar the occasion. Everyone had been gracious, passing along wishes for Geanie to rest up before the wedding.
Dave greeted the car as it pulled up. He was carrying a couple of packages of Caspar hot dogs out toward the barbeque area.
“You’re just in time,” he said cheerfully. “We decided to get this party started sooner rather than later.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Cindy said.
“Got to warn you, though. In my family I’ve won the Annual Fourth of July Croquet Match of Ultimate Glory four years in a row.”
Cindy found herself shaking her head. “You must have a really interesting family.”
“Are you kidding? My parents are both crazier than I am,” he said with a grin.
Mark shook his head as he got out of the car. “I want to check on Traci and then I should get back to the station.”
He headed into the house while Cindy followed Dave out to the barbeque pit adjacent to where the croquet lawn had already been set up. Jeremiah was busy studying one of the mallets.
“Checking for perfect weight and balance?” she teased.
“Thinking that it would make a good weapon,” he said absently.
“How hard would you have to swing one of these to kill someone?”
“Not as hard as you would think.” He turned suddenly toward her, looking slightly flustered. “If it came to that,” he added.
“Well, let’s hope we can keep this a friendly game,” she said with a smile.
“I think that would be best for all concerned, yes,” he said, smiling back.
“Did I miss anything?”
“No. How did things go for you guys?”
“Joseph managed to get her on the phone. They pinpointed her location but missed her.”
“Shame.”
“You don’t sound surprised.”
“I’m not. When are our lives ever that easy?”
She sighed. “A girl can hope, can’t she?”
“We’re about to have company,” he said.
She turned and looked back at the house. People were beginning to pour out of it and they each seemed to be carrying some kind of bowl or platter. “That’s going to be a lot of food.”
“Dorothy and Charlotte were in the kitchen for a couple of hours. I think it’s safe to say that no one’s going to go hungry this afternoon,” he said.
There was a long table set up near the grill and people began to pile the food on there. Finished, they turned right back around.
“More food?” Cindy marveled.
She had guessed wrong. A minute later everyone trooped out carrying folding chairs.
“I really should go help,” she said.
“It’s okay. They all need to feel like they’re doing something, being helpful. You’re more than doing your part.”
“Doesn’t feel like it. It’s weird. There’s nothing to look up, nothing to research. We know who the bad guys are. There’s just nothing I can do to help find them.”
“It’s okay,” he said, putting a hand on her shoulder.
“No, it’s not. I feel useless, like all I can do is sit and wait on other people for stuff. I’m waiting for t
he Pine Springs police to catch the killers. I’m waiting for the New Orleans police to figure out what happened to Gerald. I’m waiting for Gerald to figure out what he was going to tell me about Matthew and Paul.”
“Most of human life is spent waiting,” Jeremiah said. “Waiting at the store, for the weekend, waiting for that next big life event, waiting for the holidays, or waiting for that perfect person.”
“Or waiting for that perfect moment,” she muttered.
“Yes,” he said softly.
She watched as Joseph approached the barbeque with a look of joy on his face. The others were gathering around the food table, laughing and chatting. They were living in the moment, enjoying it as best they could despite everything that had been happening, still might happen.
While she was just...waiting.
She looked up at Jeremiah and he looked down at her with an expression she couldn’t read. Sometimes she could tell exactly what he was thinking. Other times it was as though he was wearing a mask and she couldn’t even get the slightest hint of his emotions, his thoughts. She hated that. It was like there were times when he was shutting her out, though there were less and less of those moments the longer they knew each other. Sometimes she felt like she knew him so well and other times she worried that she didn’t know him at all.
Something had happened to him in his past. That much she was certain of. One of these days she hoped he might actually share with her what it was. Until then, though, there was the mask. Maybe one day he’d finally take it off.
“Uh oh, something’s wrong,” Jeremiah said.
She turned and followed his line of sight.
Mark was heading toward them at a jog and even she could tell that he wasn’t happy about something.
She braced herself for whatever bad news he was about to deliver. She expected him to head over to Joseph but instead he came straight to them.
“What is it, what’s happened?” Cindy asked, heart in her throat.
“I just talked to an officer from the New Orleans Police Department.”
Her chest constricted. Gerald. The call had to have been about him. She felt Jeremiah squeeze her shoulder and she reached up and grabbed his hand.
For His Name's Sake (Psalm 23 Mysteries) Page 16
