by Jackie D
“Don’t hate. It’s taken years to perfect that formula. So, tell me about your brother.”
“Which one?”
“The cop.”
“He’s a family guy. His wife Melanie is wonderful, and he has two beautiful daughters, Sofia and Gabriela. He plays in a recreation softball league, he likes to—”
“He’s about five foot ten? His hair is graying a bit on the sides, and looks like he stays in pretty good shape?”
Lucy’s heart caught in her throat. She turned to look inside the restaurant, where Grayson’s gaze was fixed. “Holy shit.”
“I presume that blond, athletic looking woman with the cop sunglasses on is Erica Chance?”
Lucy felt her stomach tighten and adrenaline flushed her system. Maybe they won’t see us, maybe I can make it to the bathroom, or maybe I should just go back to San Diego. She kept watching the pair as they talked to the hostess and then moved toward the bar.
“Let’s go say hi.”
Lucy couldn’t turn away. She couldn’t move; she was transfixed by Erica. She hadn’t thought it was possible, but she was even more beautiful than she had remembered. The pictures she had seen of her over the years on her brother’s Facebook page didn’t do her any justice. The longing she had felt for the last decade gripped her insides and twisted. They were walking past the window and they stopped. Diego held his hands up around the eyes, looking through the glass. She turned around in her seat to see Grayson waving at them.
“I literally hate you.”
He kept smiling and waving, trying not to move his lips. “You’ll thank me later.”
The door swung open, and Diego opened his arms, inviting an embrace. Lucy went to him and immediately felt a sense of relief. Diego gave hugs like their father. They were warm, tight, and familiar.
“Mom told me you were coming, but I didn’t think you’d be here yet.”
“We left a day early. I wanted to get to work so I could get back home.”
“You work too much.”
She put her hands on his face. “Look who’s talking.”
Diego stepped around her and extended his hand. “I’m Diego.”
Lucy was sure Grayson was introducing himself to her brother, but she couldn’t hear him. There was a low buzzing sound in her ears, presumably caused by her proximity to Erica. She always thought of Erica as magnetic, and maybe she was right, maybe she actually gave off some sort of frequency Lucy was able to tune in to.
“Hi, Lucy. It’s been a long time.”
Far too long. Before she could say anything, Erica reached down to greet the dancing dog at her feet.
“What’s your name, precious?”
Holly was lapping up every ounce of attention. If she could smile, Lucy thought she would look exactly like she did now. “Her name’s Holly.”
“Aren’t you adorable?”
“She knows it, too.”
Erica stood back up, but she had her sunglasses on, making it impossible for Lucy to know what she was thinking. “How have you been?”
How have I been? I have missed you every single day for the last twelve years. I think about what you’re doing, whether or not you’re happy, who you’re dating. “Good, busy. You?”
“Busy, which isn’t a good thing in my line of work.”
She felt someone come up beside her. “Hi, I’m Grayson.”
Erica shook his hand and lifted her sunglasses to the top of her head. “Erica.”
There they were, those vibrant blue eyes. They were just as wondrous as Lucy remembered. The only thing that had changed was the small crinkle at their edges.
“Yes, I’ve heard so much about you.” He beamed.
Lucy could’ve hit him, and she was going to as soon as they got out of here.
Erica laughed. “I’m sure, but almost none of it’s true.”
Grayson pursed his lips and looked her up and down. “I bet it’s all true.”
Erica looked confused, and the embarrassment Lucy felt was almost enough to make her knees buckle. Luckily, Diego saved her.
“We have to get going. We have a missing person case to work.”
This statement was possibly the only thing that could’ve forced the gears to switch in Lucy’s head. “Missing person? Anything to do with the Claudia Ramos murder?”
Diego pulled his sunglasses out of his front pocket and put them back on. “Easy there, big city reporter. We don’t know what this is yet.”
His attempt to blow her off wasn’t going to distract her. “But could it be?”
The questions were starting to tick off in her head. It was more than a coincidence that there was a murdered woman in this small town and then another missing person within days of each other. She was going to ask another question when an arm came around her waist and a body pressed against her. She knew the smell—vanilla and sunshine. The smell she associated with love, youth, and happiness, and she had never smelled it anywhere but on the neck of Erica Chance.
“It was nice seeing you, Lucy.”
It was a brief hug, and it ended about forty years too soon. Erica said good-bye to Holly and Grayson and started toward the car.
Diego kissed her cheek and followed after Erica. “We’ll catch up later.”
After they were out of sight, she and Grayson sat back down at their table. Emotions popped around her stomach like a pinball machine.
“I see what all the fuss is about.”
“Huh?” She was still trying to figure out what just happened. Had Erica just hugged her or was it all a dream?
“Hello?” Grayson snapped his fingers in front of her face. “Earth to Lucy.”
“Yeah, what?”
He was waving the menu like a fan in front of his face. “You two are H-O-T hot.”
“I wasn’t expecting to see her.” Of course, that wasn’t entirely accurate. Lucy knew she would inevitably run into Erica. What she hadn’t been prepared for was the way her body still reacted to her, her desire and need still fervid at Erica’s touch.
He sipped his water. “First of all, we need something stronger than this.” He put the glass down. “Secondly, that’s pretty obvious. Lastly, when are we going to see her again?”
She leaned forward on the table to answer his questions, in order. “Yes, I agree, maybe two or three. Second, I hope it wasn’t that obvious, and last, I have no idea.”
The server had come over, and he ordered two craft beers. “Well, let’s make it happen. How did you survive without me for thirty years?”
She rolled her eyes. She wouldn’t give Grayson the satisfaction of telling him how grateful she was to have him here with her.
She looked up at the sky. She needed a moment to take everything in, but all she could picture were Erica’s eyes. Her memories no longer did them justice. She had forgotten how blue and vibrant they were. The hue resembled the sky after a storm. Blue at the edges, colliding with gray as you looked closer. Her arms were stronger now, not those belonging to a girl on the threshold of womanhood. Erica was strong, solid, and Lucy had relished the feel of her embrace. Lucy had played out this first encounter dozens, if not hundreds, of times before. The outcomes had held a variety of possibilities, but she hoped for this momentary closeness, among many.
Chapter Eight
He watched the whole exchange from his car in the parking lot. He knew Erica Chance and Diego Rodriguez were assigned to the Claudia Ramos case. Even if it hadn’t been in the newspaper, they were the only two detectives in the whole town. What he didn’t know was why they were at his place of employment. He had been meticulous, making sure every angle was covered. So, what had brought them here? Were they trying to run down Claudia’s case or did they know Jessica was missing? He’d had her for two days, so it made sense they were beginning to search.
Momentarily, a bit of panic washed over his body, but it quickly gave way to excitement. The chase would be on now, a battle of wits and planning. He reminded himself they’d only been there for a
few minutes, and if they’d found anything, they would’ve been there longer. He was going to need to do something to throw them off his trail, something that could point them in the wrong direction. Another girl, maybe? It’s hard to fight multiple fires on different fronts. They needed another distraction, and he needed more time with Jessica to make her see how perfect they were for each other. But was it too risky?
He decided he would walk past the patio table, giving the interesting pair of strangers a nod of hello as he moved past them. These two had some sort of connection to the two detectives, which was fascinating. Clearbrook was a town where everyone knew everyone. So where had these two come from? What was the purpose of them being here? Clearbrook wasn’t a vacation destination. Sure, they could just be passing through, but it was off the beaten path, too. And why would anyone travel with an obnoxious little dog? The angry little thing growled its disapproval as he passed by, and it took an exercise in restraint not to kick it into the fence.
It wouldn’t be too difficult to figure out who they were. He would check their receipt after they closed out their bill. People typically didn’t realize just how much information they left behind through their daily tasks. A credit card would give him a first and last name, and if they signed up for a rewards program, he would have an email address and a phone number. After that, he could uncover plenty of personal details. People were creatures of habit, and when they were used to providing so much regularly, asking them to do it again was met without resistance or memory.
He clocked in at the front computer and said hello to the hostess. A pretty little thing, she’d just graduated high school the year before, and she was now attending community college. He’d been able to discover all that simply by listening to her conversations with other staff. He knew the car she drove, who her friends were, and even her favorite food. All the information was there for the taking, for someone who was willing to pay attention, to listen.
It had taken him quite a while to master these skills. Sure, there had been a few missteps along the way, but nothing he would repeat now. He handed the rewards program pamphlet to the hostess. “Make sure you give them one, I don’t want you to get in trouble.”
She took it from him and let out a sigh of gratitude. “Thanks, I always forget these little things.”
“No problem. Be sure to mention the free appetizer they get if they complete it.”
She turned and walked toward the patio door. “I will, thanks!”
He wiped down the bar, feeling amused with himself. People, for the most part, were easy to manipulate. You could get almost anything you wanted by assuming you had their trust. That was the human condition after all, wanting to connect, to feel loved, and heard. He had learned long ago how to get what he wanted by moving around people in such a way they hardly noticed they were doing what he wanted them to. And why shouldn’t he use his talent to his advantage? He needed to make sure these people wouldn’t interfere with his plans. Everyone had a right to protect what belonged to them. Jessica was his now, and he wasn’t going to let anything, or anyone, interfere.
Chapter Nine
Erica mentally scolded herself once in the car. She shouldn’t have touched Lucy, much less hugged her. She wasn’t even sure what had come over her. Lucy had seemed just as surprised to see her. Thoughts, memories, and emotions had flooded her system when she stood up in front of her. Erica had tried to treat her like the stranger she was now, but when she started pressing Diego for information, Erica saw the woman she had thought she would spend her life with. Lucy was fierce, tenacious, and relentless when she went after something. It made Erica happy to know that hadn’t changed.
“I’m sorry. I forgot to tell you she was coming,” Diego said sincerely.
“We’ve had a lot on our minds.”
“Yeah. You okay?”
“It was a long time ago. She’s your sister. That’s not going to change.”
“I just want to be sure. I know she throws you off.”
“She used to, but not anymore. I’m okay.” Is that true? Am I okay? Yes, of course I’m okay. Her feeling of unease had nothing to do with Lucy, and everything to do with the cases they were handling. They were dealing with a murder and a missing person. A missing person case that should technically be handled by uniformed police, not her and Diego, since they had enough on their plates. She was doing it because it was Sheila’s cousin, and if she was honest with herself, because gut instinct told her the two were connected. Without any further leads on the Ramos case, though, they were stuck. They’d focus on Jessica and hope it somehow led to a connection. It was weak, and she hated not being more proactive, but everyone they’d talked to hadn’t seen anything, and even the video surveillance cameras hadn’t given them anything solid. All they had to go on was the time she left Starbucks, and then she’d shown up at the Miller Farm.
“That’s the house.” Diego pointed cross the street.
“Which friend is this?”
“Heather Henry.”
A young woman was sitting on the porch swing when they walked up to the house, and Erica recognized her from the pictures. “Heather?”
“Yeah.” Heather didn’t look up.
“I’m Detective Chance and this is Detective Rodriguez. We’re here about Jessica.”
She covered her face and started crying. “You have to find her, please.”
Erica sat down next to her. “That’s what we’re trying to do. What can you tell us?”
She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, which did nothing to slow the tears from falling off her cheeks and onto her legs. “We’ve been friends since high school and we would hang out when she came home on weekends.”
“Do you go to college?”
“No, I mean yes. I go to community college and I work.”
“Okay, when was the last time you talked to her?”
“She called me before she left campus. We made plans to hang out Friday night. She said she would call me when she got to her parents’ house, that her phone was going to die, and she had lent her car charger to her boyfriend.”
“Was any of this out of the ordinary for Jessica?”
“No, she was terrible with her phone. I don’t know how she functions like that. I feel like a piece of me is missing without mine. She said she actually preferred to be without it.”
“Did she mention anything about her boyfriend? Were they fighting, had a disagreement?”
“No, nothing like that. Zack is a good guy, and she never complained about him, in general.”
“Was there anyone that was making her uncomfortable around campus?”
“Not that she told me.”
“Would she have confided in anyone else if something was happening?”
Heather looked at her, appalled. “Do you think she has a stalker?”
“We’re just trying to cover all the angles right now.”
“Um…I think so. I’m her best friend.” She began to cry harder. “What if I missed something?”
“What about when you all hung out here, in Clearbrook? Anything out of the ordinary?” Erica watched Heather’s face as she calmed down and looked like she was really considering the question.
Heather leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. She took deep breaths, trying to get her emotions under control. “There was a group of guys at Junior’s a few weeks ago. They were pretty persistent, but the bartender asked them to leave and they did.”
“Were they waiting for you after? Start anything? Say anything?” Diego pressed.
“No. They weren’t waiting for us or anything like that. The bartender insisted that we wait for him though, and he walked us out. He kept asking Jessica if she remembered him.”
“Did she?”
Heather chewed on the side of her thumb, looking at the ground. “No, she said she didn’t.”
“Do you remember which bartender it was?” Erica asked.
Heather started crying again. “I’m not sur
e. It didn’t seem like a big deal at the time. Do you think it’s a big deal?”
Heather was clearly taking responsibility for her friend’s disappearance. Erica wanted to make her understand that regardless of the outcome, none of this was her fault. “No, Heather, it’s okay. We just want to make sure we talk to everyone possible.”
“Do you remember what he looked like? Anything at all?” Diego asked.
Heather shook her head. “Just a guy, you know? Nothing special or interesting about him. I’m so sorry.”
Erica looked at Diego, and he reached in his pocket and pulled out a business card. “If you think of anything else we should know, please call. No matter how small it may seem, we still want to know.”
“Okay, I will.” She took the card.
“What are you thinking?” Diego sat next to her in the car, running his hand through his hair.
“I don’t think it was a group. Groups are rarely involved with a kidnapping unless there’s a ransom involved. I also don’t think a group of men annoying women at a bar is much of an anomaly, unfortunately. The bartender is interesting.”
“Or he was just doing his job.”
“That could be entirely possible too. Weird that he kept asking if she remembered him, though.”
They headed back to the station. She mentally tried to put pieces together. They had a woman who didn’t appear to have an enemy, a stalker, or even a mad boyfriend. She had a good relationship with her family and wasn’t prone to erratic behavior. She wasn’t heavily tied to social media, so the possibility of meeting someone online was minuscule. All in all, Jessica was an incredibly low risk, as far as a victim was concerned. But yet, here they were, investigating her disappearance. Just like Claudia Ramos. She didn’t want to make assumptions they couldn’t prove, but the similarities were eerie. It was a chilling realization. There was virtually nothing you could do to truly protect yourself from a predator. If they really wanted you, they would find a way to get you. How was she supposed to reconcile that with her line of work? It was like shoveling out a hole in the ground, just to have someone on the other end dumping in dirt. Protecting the innocent was a daunting task, especially when the hunters were so determined. I just have to be better.
