Paradise Falls

by Jacobs, Jonnie

  “Yes. I watched to make sure she got in safely.”

  “After you got your nails done,” Mimi said, looking daggers at Grace. “What was the purpose in that? Someone could have followed you from the salon. If you’d come straight here from school—”

  “It was a treat for Lucy.”

  Rayna cleared her throat. “If we can—”

  Mimi pointed at Grace. “Maybe if you’d done what you were supposed to and not taken her on some frivolous escapade, this wouldn’t have happened.”

  “If you’d been home when Lucy arrived,” Grace shot back, “it would have made a difference.”

  “You know damn well why I couldn’t be home.” Mimi crossed her arms over her chest. “First you try to destroy my son, and now you’re responsible for my daughter being missing. Just get out of my house. Out of my life!”

  Carl shot to his feet. “Mimi, please. Stop this nonsense. This is not Grace’s fault. She was trying to be helpful.”

  “She went to see Adam today, too. Did you know that? Grace snuck into the hospital to harass him. Your wife is a vindictive and crazed woman.”

  Grace rose from her seat while Carl looked helplessly between the two women. If Mimi hadn’t plummeted from the height of rage to the depths of grief-stricken hysteria in the blink of an eye, Grace would have walked out. But Mimi’s uncontrollable sobbing and the look of desperation in her eyes were a painful reminder of the reason they were all there.

  Grace took her seat again and Carl patted Mimi on the shoulder.

  “I wasn’t there to harass Adam,” Grace said quietly to Carl.

  Detective Godwin said, “If we can focus on Lucy for the moment. What time did you drop her off, Grace?”

  “About four-thirty.”

  “And Mimi, you arrived home when?”

  She blew her nose on a tissue Carl handed her. “Six-thirty. Maybe quarter to seven.”

  Rayna’s partner appeared at the door. “No forced locks or windows,” he said. “And no footprints in the soil at the perimeter of the house.”

  “Who else has a key to your house?” Rayna asked Mimi.

  “No one. Just the kids and the cleaning lady. She’s been with me for years.”

  The questions went on. Cell phone records, computer usage, an inspection of Lucy’s room. Grace was no longer part of the discussion. Her role as the last person to see Lucy had been covered. The emphasis was elsewhere now.

  Grace wondered if Carl would be open to sympathy and comfort from her, or if he’d push her away. And Lucy. Poor, lost little Lucy. Dear God, please let her be safe. Grace recalled the pleasure on Lucy’s face at the nail salon. Whatever Mimi felt about the frivolity of it, Lucy had been delighted.

  “Feel free to call me any time,” Rayna was saying to Carl and Mimi. She turned to her partner. “We have everything we need?”

  He nodded.

  “We’ll be in touch the minute we know anything.” The two detectives let themselves out.

  “I need to call my sister,” Mimi said, and headed for the phone.

  “I’m going to stay here a bit,” Carl said to Grace. “Why don’t you take the car and I’ll drive Adam’s car home later.”

  She moved to hug Carl, but he turned away. It felt like a slap in the face.

  ~~~~

  “Doesn’t the idiot follow the news?” Rayna complained to Hank, once they were in the car.

  “What idiot?”

  “Our killer. He wanted me gone. You held a press conference and said I was gone. Then the creep takes another girl anyway, assuming he took Lucy.” Rayna wasn’t sure why she expected a psychopath to play fairly, but the fact he’d gone back on his word angered her.

  “Maybe he doesn’t believe everything he hears,” Hank said.

  Rayna banged her head against the passenger seat headrest. “I don’t understand what’s happening. I don’t understand where I fit in and what I can do about it.”

  “You’re doing all you can.”

  “But it’s not enough.”

  “Hang in there, Rayna.”

  “Are you channeling the poster in the break room now?” Tacked to the wall over the coffee maker, it showed a very spooked kitten clinging desperately to a precarious looking limb.

  “It’s good advice.”

  ~~~~

  Back at her desk, Rayna shuffled through message slips then checked her email. Suddenly she sucked in a breath.

  “It’s from him,” she said, before she even clicked on the text of the message.

  Hank slid in behind her and read over her shoulder as she opened the email.

  Resign means resign, Rayna. A sham isn’t good enough. You can’t have it both ways.

  “Damn him!” Rayna propped her head in her hands. “I’m going to do it for real. I’ll tell the chief in the morning.” She sat up. “No. I’m going to call him right now.”

  “You can’t do that!” Hank sounded panicked. “I need you, Rayna. I can’t run this investigation alone. Lucy Peterson is missing. We have to find her.”

  “Once I’m gone, maybe he’ll stop.”

  “But what about Lucy? If you resign we might never get him. He’ll win.”

  “What choice do we have?”

  “At least think about it overnight.”

  “No.” She picked up the phone and dialed the chief at home. He’d be waiting for a report on the new missing girl anyway. She gave him a summary of what had happened, and what they’d found, which amounted to nothing.

  “Neighbors didn’t see anything,” she told him. “No forced entry that we can find. The only clue is the toy stuffed dog that was left in the middle of her bed.”

  “And the mother is sure it’s not her daughter’s?”

  “Absolutely.” Rayna took a breath. “There’s something else. I’m turning in my resignation effective immediately.”

  “I can’t let you do that, Rayna.”

  “You can’t stop me. Say it’s stress. Say I’m in rehab. Say whatever you’d like, but make it clear that I’m gone from the department. For real.”

  “I don’t like this.”

  “I don’t particularly like it, either.”

  Stoval sighed. “Is Hank there? Let me talk to him.”

  Rayna heard only Hank’s end of their conversation, but she gathered that Fritz would be elevated to acting detective and that the chief would call in county sheriff investigators to help.

  She stopped listening, slipped out the door, and drove home.

  And cried.

  Chapter 51

  Rayna awoke the next morning with the dull, headachy feeling of a hangover. She’d only had two glasses of wine, but she’d cried hard and long into the night. Tears, like too much alcohol, might make you feel better in the short run, but they caught up with you the next morning. She didn’t even want to think what her face must look like.

  She rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling. The bastard had beaten her. He’d succeeded in driving her from a job she loved. A job that was part and parcel of who she was. Without it, she had nothing left. Everyone and everything she cared about had been taken from her.

  Outside, the wind whistled, rattling the doors. The garden gate flapped on its squeaky hinges. A good day to remain in bed. Something Rayna was now free to do. But already her mind began to race. She couldn’t stay in bed. It was hard enough to stay away from her job.

  Clean teeth and a hot shower went a long way toward restoring equilibrium, and a dab of foundation around the eyes did much to conceal their puffiness. She slipped into jeans and an old green sweater. Over coffee, she perused the paper while simultaneously checking the morning newscasts on TV.

  True to his word, Chief Stoval had wasted little time announcing her resignation. He didn’t offer an explanation, which they’d agreed was the best approach, since there was no satisfactory way to account for her leaving. The lack of a reasonable motive was bound to fuel speculation. Would she ever live it down, or would she be remembered as an overw
rought woman who couldn’t take the pressure?

  It wouldn’t be long before rumors connected her quitting with emotional instability from Kimberly’s murder.

  Maybe Seth Robbins was already on it. His column in today’s paper had focused on the discovery of Terri Lowe’s body. His tone was more subdued and made no reference to police incompetence, but Robbins had managed to highlight his own role in receiving a message from the killer, then alerting authorities to the location of the body. Now that Rayna had left the department, maybe he’d take credit for that as well.

  She turned off the TV, took a small piece of cheese in to the den to feed to Anastasia, and wondered how she would ever fill her day. There were very few people in town she knew. Very few people she was close to at all anymore. Maybe it was time to move, to start over yet again. She’d find something to do that didn’t involve police work. A job where her incompetence wouldn’t have such dire consequences. She couldn’t imagine what that would be. She couldn’t even type, for God’s sake. But there had to be something she could do.

  She filled Anastasia’s water bottle with fresh water and then walked to the phone. She needed to tell Cody what she’d done before he picked up some fragment of the truth from others. Well, maybe she didn’t really need to tell him. She supposed now that she was off the case, there was no need to ever speak to him again.

  But she wanted to talk to him.

  Cody answered on the second ring, which surprised her. She’d been expecting to get voicemail.

  “Another girl is missing,” she told him. “Adam Peterson’s sister.”

  “Jesus. When did this happen?”

  “Yesterday. And last night I turned in my resignation. It’s the only way to put a stop to these murders. For whatever reason, I’m a catalyst for the killer.” She told him about the note Robbins had received from the killer.

  “Oh, Rayna. Sweetheart. This isn’t right.”

  Sweetheart. The familiar endearment brought a lump to her throat. Unbidden, warm memories of their time together filled her head. Cody’s naked body lying next to hers, the heat of his breath on her neck, the soft, teasing touch of his hands on her skin. God, was there nothing but loss in her life?

  “Rayna? Are you still there?”

  “Sorry. I guess I’m still working this through. I know it’s what I needed to do, but that doesn’t make it easy.”

  “God, no. I’m not even convinced you needed to do it.”

  “I couldn’t live with myself if another girl disappeared because I was being pigheaded. Stoval has called in the county sheriff investigators. He may even contact the FBI again. I just hope they catch the guy.”

  There were voices in the background on Cody’s end. “I hate to cut you off, Rayna, but I’ve got to go. We’re in the middle of something here. I’ll call you as soon as I can.”

  “No need. I just didn’t want you hearing rumors.”

  “Take care of yourself, Rayna. You’re a remarkable woman. The most remarkable woman I’ve ever met. I know you’ll be okay. It may take time, but you’ll figure it out.”

  “Thanks, Cody.” Remarkable woman? Hardly. But the fact that he’d said so might have made the day seem less bleak, if only it hadn’t sounded so much like a final goodbye.

  Grace called almost as soon as Rayna was off the phone with Cody.

  “Is it true?” she asked. Her voice registered disbelief, and something akin to betrayal. “Did you really resign?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?” Part question, part accusation.

  Rayna hesitated. The fewer people who knew the real story, the better. “It’s personal.”

  “How could you do that? Lucy’s missing and we’re in the midst of a crime wave. You can’t just walk away.”

  “There’s an entire department working on this, Grace.”

  “But why now? I mean, I understand it must be hard for you. Especially after what happened with your own daughter, but—”

  “I can’t talk about it,” Rayna interrupted.

  Grace seemed taken aback by Rayna’s abrupt tone. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”

  “No. It’s not that.” Rayna hesitated again. While Grace wasn’t really a friend, Rayna felt a kinship with her that she hadn’t experienced with many other women in town.

  “When this is all over,” Rayna offered, “I’ll be happy to explain. I just can’t right now.”

  “I guess I don’t understand.”

  “I’m sorry, Grace. How is Carl doing?”

  “I’m not sure. I haven’t seen much of him. He stayed with Mimi last night.”

  A more apt question, Rayna realized, might have been how Grace was holding up. She sounded terrible. “I imagine this is terribly difficult for you,” Rayna said.

  “I’m not worried about anything developing between Carl and Mimi, if that’s what you mean, but I worry about our marriage. The fault lines are so deep, I doubt they can ever be repaired.”

  “Humans are amazingly resilient.”

  “But not infinitely so.” Grace took a breath. “Well, I’ll let you go. Thanks for being there, about Caitlin I mean.”

  She hung up before Rayna could respond.

  ~~~~

  By late afternoon Rayna was bored out of her mind. What the hell did people do with their days if they didn’t work? She’d cleaned out her desk, which needed it badly, and the kitchen pantry, which didn’t. She’d tried losing herself in a book, only to put it down again after two chapters. Probably twenty times during the day she’d reached for the phone to call Hank, to check in, only to pull back. What went on in the Paradise Falls Police Department wasn’t any longer her concern.

  She had tuned in to the radio news at the top of every hour. She imagined most residents of the town were doing the same thing. They were collectively holding their breath, waiting for the latest development.

  None was forthcoming. Lucy was missing. Most likely dead. Dear God, four girls murdered on her watch. A terrible sadness gripped her heart. She wondered if she’d ever feel whole again.

  The doorbell rang, startling her from the depths of her gloom. She opened the door to Hank’s buddy Earl, wearing his trademark lumberman’s jacket and blue knit cap.

  “I hope I’m not disturbing you,” he said.

  Rayna sincerely hoped this wasn’t a social call. Some misguided suggestion on Hank’s part to keep her company. “What can I do for you?”

  Earl seemed hesitant. “I’m kinda’ worried about Hank.”

  That was the last thing she expected. “Worried, why?” She stepped back, inviting Earl in.

  “I’d rather show you. It won’t take long.”

  Rayna’s pulse kicked into overdrive. “Is Hank hurt? In danger?”

  “No, not exactly.” Earl shoved his hands into his pockets and looked down at his feet, but remained outside on the porch. “I keep thinking he might have gotten himself into something. He’s been acting kind of strange lately. Thing is, I don’t want to cause him trouble if it’s not what I think.”

  The man was exasperatingly obtuse. “Okay, let me get my jacket.”

  A steady drizzle was falling as Rayna made her way to Earl’s battered and scratched old pickup. The engine coughed when he started it, and she could tell by the way they bounced along the road that the shocks were worn. She gripped the door’s armrest to hold herself steady.

  He turned left at the end of her street, heading away from town. “Where are we going?” Rayna asked.

  “Not far. I’ll explain after I show you what I found.” He glanced in her direction. “So you actually resigned?”

  “Right.” Rayna wasn’t interested in small talk.

  “I don’t think Hank is very happy about that.”

  “He’s a good detective. He’ll do fine.”

  “I’m sure he will. Unless . . . well, that’s what I want you to see.”

  Earl turned onto a narrow country road, then pulled up in front of an old barn. He got out of the truck
. “Follow me.”

  Rayna pulled out her cell phone. “Maybe I should let someone know—”

  “I don’t think so.” Earl turned and grabbed the phone from her hand. Then he yanked her arm roughly behind her back.

  “What the hell are you doing?”

  “Shut up, Rayna. Do you want to see what I’ve got or not?”

  His face had hardened and his eyes were icy. He twisted her arm harder and shoved her into the barn. The interior was dim, lit only by slivers of gray daylight that broke through gaps in the roof and siding. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust.

  In one far corner she was able to make out what looked like a human form sprawled on the debris-laden floor.

  “Guess who?” Earl wrenched Rayna’s other arm behind her back and marched her closer.

  Lucy! Rayna’s heart was in her throat. “Is she hurt?” Rayna strained to see.

  Earl spun Rayna around, struck her hard across the face, and sent her reeling to the ground. He pulled a knife from the sheath on his belt.

  Pain shot through her right shoulder. She cried out and tried to move, but her leg was twisted under her and she couldn’t straighten it.

  She spit dirt and blood from her mouth. “What’s this about?”

  “You really can’t figure it out?”

  Sure she could figure it out. His concern about Hank had been a ruse. Earl was their killer. Her heart thundered, but she had to stay calm.

  “Let’s talk about this,” she said.

  “There’s nothing to talk about. You needed to learn.”

  Lucy’s leg twitched. Not a lot, but enough to tell Rayna that she was alive. “Learn what?” Rayna asked.

  “A big lesson.”

  “I needed to learn a lesson?” Rayna struggled to understand.

  “I’m hurt you don’t remember me, detective. You’ve forgotten all about me while I’ve spent every day for the past five years remembering you.”

  She’d thought he looked familiar when Hank first introduced him, but Rayna still couldn’t place him.

  “You were just a regular cop then. You’ve done well for yourself in the interval.”

  “San Jose?” she asked.