We have been home from the hospital for a few weeks now. Evan has been the best father. He is here more than he is at home, except for the bar. He holds Jackson and just stares in awe. For the first time in a very long time, I am truly happy. I have gone through every storm that has come my way, and now I have my little family. Watching Momma and Daddy with Jackson is a wonderful sight to see. Duke has come around more. He loves Jackson and he is happy for Evan and me.
Evan wants to have dinner to celebrate the birth of our child. This is the first time we will be alone since Jackson has arrived. I get ready for our date, and Evan picks me up around four o’clock in the afternoon. “You look so beautiful,” he says, hugging me tightly. “I try,” I say, laughing. We drive through town past the diner, and into the other side of town. “Where are we going?” I ask, kind of confused because we just passed the restaurant. “I have a surprise for you,” he says. He takes my hand and squeezes it.
We pull into the driveway of a quaint little house. It’s a cute little three-bedroom brick house with a bright red tin roof. I’ve seen it before, but not like this. This is the old McCallister place. It looks like it’s been fixed up. “What’s this?” I ask. “It’s your surprise. This is our home. I’ve spent the past few weeks fixing it up. I originally bought it for me because it was time for me to kind of move out of Dad’s and into my own space. Since Jackson was born and I’m the father, it’s our place now,” he says. Tears well up in my eyes.
I hug Evan. “This is the best surprise ever,” I say. “Come on, let's go inside,” he says and takes my hand. The inside is beautiful. It has an open living room and kitchen, with a sprawling back porch. “We can put up a fence out here. Maybe get a dog. There are new cabinets, and the bathroom has been redone. The floor is walnut,” he says, giving me a tour of our new home.
I walk to the window and look out across the backyard. I imagine a playset for Jackson. Maybe a pool. A large garden. It all seems so real. I have never in my life been so happy. “Lottie,” Evan says. “I turn around and look at him. “Will you marry me?” he asks.
“What?”
“Will you marry me?”
“Oh my god.”
Evan pulls a ring box from his pocket and hits one knee. “You’re the one for me. Since we were kids, I’ve always loved you. Since you came into my life, I have been a better man. Now, we have Jackson, and I want to be the best father to him, and the best man I can for you,” he says. I see a tear stream down his face. “Yes. Yes. Yes,” I scream. I run over to him and he puts the ring on my finger. We hug and kiss and hold each other. I’m so happy.
When we walk out of the house, everyone is here. Momma, Daddy, Samantha, Duke, and Jackson have all come to share this wonderful moment. At this moment, I am truly blessed. Looking around and seeing my family’s happiness, smiles, and tears of joy, I realize that this is what my heart needed. This my friends is my happily ever after.
25
Epilogue
Jackson is growing so fast. He has the best personality. He loves animals, tractors, trucks, and cows, and he is all boy. My beautiful blue-eyed boy. The day is gorgeous, and the sun is shining bright. I watch Evan and Jackson playing in the backyard with our dog. Today he turns two. The first year of his life was a little rough. He had some lung issues and spent time in the hospital. You wouldn’t be able to tell now, he is so full of life. He has the kindest heart and an old soul.
Evan is running the Broken Wagon Saloon full time now that Duke has retired. Duke spends his days working the farm with Daddy, and spending time with Jackson. Momma has been a big help with Jackson. She keeps him when Evan and I work. She loves him and spoils him rotten. She is the best Nana to Jackson, and for that I am thankful.
Samantha’s public relations firm took off the year that Jackson was born. Now, she is one of the largest firms in Alabama and serves the surrounding states. We are all so proud of her. She comes home when she can, and we enjoy visiting her. Our relationship has grown, and we are closer. She loves Jackson and is the best Auntie Sam.
As for me, I decided not to take the job in Chattanooga. I wanted to stay here, for us to be close to family. I opened a small art studio in town. Kids of all ages come in and paint whatever their heart desires. We also offer Sips and Paint for adults. The studio is doing well. I think about Nina often, and I know she is with me always.
It’s weird to me that my life has turned into something that I never thought would happen. I am married, with a son and a wonderful husband. I never knew what real love was till Evan. This is exactly where I am meant to be.
Acknowledgements
I had this crazy idea one day when I woke up that I was going to finally write a book. Here it is. There are a few people I would like to thank for sticking by me through all sorts of things. First and foremost, my husband Andy, who is always up for my crazy adventures. He believes in me when no one else will. To my family, Momma, Adam, and Valerie, whom I love very much. To Jennie Banks, my friend and Editor. You took on this crazy thing and helped me make it the best I could. To my book bestie and beta reader, Amber Beardsley, thank you for sharing my love of books. To my best friend Ericka Benavides, thank you for being on my side.
About The Author
Ashlea Thompson was born and raised in beautiful Alabama. Ashlea loves her family and they are the most important thing to her. When she is not working, she spends her time with her wonderful husband Andy, going on crazy adventures. She also loves to spend time with her fur babies Beau Dean and Bama Jean. She is an avid reader and a lover of Atlanta Braves Baseball and Crimson Tide Football. She is also a member of the Alabama Writer’s Cooperative. She currently resides in Albertville, AL.
1.
Detective Alex McGuire
I am startled awake by the sound of the phone ringing. It's three o'clock in the morning. I feel like I just got to sleep. I fumble around for the lamp, nearly knocking everything off my bedside table. "Sara, you better have a good reason to call this early in the damn morning," I say, "A body has been discovered at Cane’s creek. You might as well get up and get down here. It's a doozy," Sara says. I sigh and tell her I'll be down there in about an hour.
I sit on the side of the bed for a moment. I've seen a lot of murder cases over my time as a detective. Fifteen years on the job, and it still gets me every time. I look over at Vivian, sound asleep. I don't want to wake her; she has been exhausted from her job as a nurse. I get dressed and make my way into the kitchen. I make some coffee and leave a note for Vivian. It's tranquil when I step outside. Vivan and I chose this neighborhood due to the location, with access to good schools, and we aren't far from the city. Luthersville is a bustling city. The crime rate isn't high, and most cases are closed quickly. We haven't had a murder in a while.
When I arrive at Cane's Creek, there are several patrol cars. Officers have cordoned off the area. I take a deep breath and make my way up to the scene. The officer lets me through, and I find Sara. "What do we know?" I ask. She motions me to follow her. "We have what appears to be a twenty-one-year-old white female, about 5'6. Her face had been beaten. The coroner is still working on her now," she says. We reach the bank of the creek and the body. The scene is gruesome, and the smell is atrocious. "What are we looking at here, Doc?"
I ask. Dr. Kenneth Mashburn has worked on several cases with me over the years. "It's not good, Detective. It looks like the cause of death is asphyxiation. We will know more when the autopsy is completed. We aren't sure who she is. We will request dental records. It may be the girl missing last month, but we don't know for sure at this point," he says. Marie Stevens is a woman who was abducted in the middle of the night three weeks ago. Her case has not been solved yet, and her parents have done everything to bring her home safely. Hopefully, if this is Marie, we can bring some closure. "Why don't we get some samples from her father or mother and see what we come up with before we do that. Dental records can take eight weeks. I don't want to wait that long. I will make the call and
go see them this morning," I say.
Kenneth calls me back over and points to her chest. "It looks like some kind of wound." I bend down and study the wound. The shape looks like some kind of crosshair symbol, placed right where the heart would be located. "What could have caused this?" I ask Kenneth. He stands and thinks for a few minutes. "It doesn't look like it's been carved. It looks more like a burn. Like a brand," he says. I stand back up and motion for Sara to come over. I fill her in on what we have found. "Make sure the techs comb the area. Anything that looks suspicious bag it and tag it," I say. Sara nods and goes to give the orders to the crime unit. I write down all the information that Kenneth has given me. It looks like it's going to be a long day.
By the time I leave the scene, it's too late to go back home to have coffee with Vivian before she heads to work. I decided to go to the office and get started on the day. I have a mountain of paperwork to go through, and now I have this case to get started on. I shoot a text to Vivian and then set to work. I make a few phone calls and wait for Kenneth to call me with a report. I call Marie's parents. They have agreed to meet with me today. I hate having to have these conversations with victims' families. It never gets easier. Sara comes in at about a quarter past eight. "I have some news. I got the autopsy report from Kenneth," She says, taking a seat in front of me. I lean forward and wait for her to tell me what was found. "Doc says she has been dead for about three days. She died of blunt force trauma to the back of the head. He believes the killer stabbed her for good measure. The wound on her chest was made with a homemade branding iron. I have reason to believe it was made with a coat hanger. Traces of coating were found in the wound," She says. "Ok. I am going over to the Stevens residence around ten to get some samples. Wanna come with me?" I ask her. We swing by the coffee shop on the way to the Stevens' house.
The Stevens lived just north of the city in a sprawling neighborhood known for their large houses and rolling green lawns. The residences in this are primarily doctors, bankers, and the business elite. The crime rate is surprisingly low, and there have not been any significant issues here. The house is a large two-story home with a three-car garage and a large backyard. Mr. Stevens is a businessman who owns a brokerage firm. Mrs. Stevens works for local charities. From what I understand, Marie Stevens is an only child and graduated top of her class. She got into Harvard and was to study law. She was an outgoing individual who loved her friends and her family. The night she was abducted, she was walking home from the country club about three blocks away. There had been a party for the young adults of the community. Marie opted to walk home from the party, as opposed to having someone take her home. We aren't sure if she was specifically targeted or not. If the body found is Marie Stevens, we will start working on finding who committed the crime.
Sara is nervous. This is the first time she has worked a homicide. Honestly, there hasn't been a homicide in Luthersville in ten years. Sara has only been my partner for the past five years. "Don't be nervous. I'll do most of the talking. You can take the samples," I say to her. She nods and knocks on the door. The Stevens' maid answers the door. "My name is Detective McGuire, and this is Sara, my partner. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens are expecting us," I say, producing my badge and I.D. "Right this way," the maid says and motions us to follow her. The house is decorated mainly in white. There are few pops of color here and there. The hallway leading to the living room is full of family photos. There are pictures of Maire in various stages of life. She is a gorgeous young woman.
"Good morning, detectives," Mrs. Stevens says as she enters the room, "Come on over and have a seat. Lorraine, can you please bring our guests some tea?" Lorraine disappears and comes back five minutes later with a tray of glasses and a pitcher. She doesn't speak as she serves our drinks. I find it a bit odd. "Thank you for seeing us today. We have some news on your daughter's disappearance," I say. Mrs. Stevens takes a sip of her tea. "Can we wait for my husband? He should be home any minute. I called him after I spoke to you this morning," She says. She looks very calm right now. In the time I have known her, she has always kept composure. I would be a raving mess. I know Vivian would be too if it were her. We made some small talk about the weather and her various charities. Mr. Stevens arrives about an hour later.
"I'm sorry to keep you guys waiting. I tried to leave the office as soon as I could," he says. He shakes our hands as we exchange pleasantries. We all take a seat and get down to the matter at hand. "At three o'clock this morning, a body was discovered at Cane's Creek. We have reasons to believe this may be your missing daughter. At this point, we are looking at all possibilities. Since your daughter's case has no new information, we want to check and see if we can identify her. We thought it might be quicker to use DNA samples to identify the body. Will you two be willing to submit to a DNA swab?" I say. Mr. and Mrs. Stevens looked at each other and then back at me. "I guess it wouldn't hurt," Mr. Stevens says. "Great, Sara here will be taking the samples, and we will submit them to our lab. We should know if it is a match within the next twenty-four hours. We will let you know the results," I say. Sara stands and begins taking swabs from the mouth of each of them. When we are done, we say our goodbyes. I leave my card with them and let them know that I will call soon.
When we reach the office, I have a note from Kenneth to call him as soon as possible. When I get settled into my office, I call him right away. "Detective. I have some information for you. The cause of death is confirmed. It was asphyxiation second to overdose. We found large amounts of Midazolam in her system," he says. I think for a moment. "So whoever he is, he kept her sedated?" I ask. "Heavily. I took samples to compare DNA. I've sent them to the lab," he responds. "Ok, good. Sara turned the samples from the Stevens in about an hour ago. Hopefully, we will hear back something this afternoon or in the morning," I say. We hung up the phone. I decided to go and take a look at the evidence we have from the beginning. I want to refresh my memory with the information if the results come back positive.
I spend most of the afternoon going through evidence. I made a list of people Marie had been around. I make a plan to talk to the individuals and see if they know any more information. I want to find Marie's killer more than anything now. Seeing the poor girl's body has ignited a fire in me. I am going to do everything possible to solve this case. It's late when I finally leave the office. I hope and pray I can have a whole night of sleep. I have a feeling I am going to need it. Vivian is home when I arrive, and I heat my dinner in the microwave. We sat and talked about the case. I usually don't do that, but I need someone to bounce theories off someone other than Sara. "I just can't imagine. Do you think it's the missing girl?" she asks, sipping on her tea. I shake my head as I put a bite of food in my mouth. "For the family's sake, I hope it is. They need closure. It will be difficult, but there will be peace in it," I say. Vivian shakes her head. We finish up dinner and tea and then head to bed.
"I got some information for you, boss," Kenneth says, standing at the door. I call Sara, and we meet in the conference room. I have most of the information on the open kidnapping case spread out on the table. There isn't much. "Lay it on me, I say. "We don't have the DNA samples back yet. We should have those this afternoon. We found some trace evidence on Miss Steven's body. It's male. The lab is running it through the system now to see if we get a hit. Upon further investigation, we found that Miss Stevens was raped. Several times. There is a lot of scarring. We also found several scars that look like she may have been tortured," he says, handing over the reports. I scan the reports briefly. I have a feeling this is one sick person we have on our hands. "Put a rush on those results. The sooner, the better," I say.
The results came in around four-thirty in the afternoon. I was just about to leave for the day and head home. I take a look and print the report out. It is Marie Stevens. This sends a series of shivers down my spine. It's a relief that we have found her, though a tragedy that we found her dead. It will not be an easy task to deliver this news to her parents. This is the first in a
series of breaks that will come later. The next step is to comb through witnesses and people at the party. I am hoping to find out what happened and piece it together. There is no way to disappear without someone noticing. I called Sara and let her know. We decided to go ahead and tell her parents. Sara meets me at the Stevens home.
When I knock on the door, Mr. Stevens answers the door. "Detectives, we are having supper. What is this about?" he asks. "We have information about your daughter. I apologize for not calling. This is urgent," I responded. We stand there for a moment before he invites us in. We make our way to the dining room. I feel bad for interrupting their dinner. "I apologize for interrupting, but we have the DNA test back," Sara says. The color has drained from Mrs. Stevens' face. "We have confirmed that the body of the young woman found two days ago through DNA testing is that of your daughter, Marie," I say. There is a long silence. Mr. Stevens walks out of the room, and Mrs. Stevens begins to sob. Sara goes over to Mrs. Stevens and consoles her. Mr. Stevens enters the room again. He hugs and holds his wife. I can't imagine what is going through their mind right now. "We will need you to come down to the Medical Examiner's office to identify the body officially," I say. We agree that tomorrow will be fine. I want to give them a chance to be alone and process what we have told them.
The following morning, I met the Stevens at the Examiner's office. I left Sara to sort through and locate individuals to interview. After exchanging pleasantries, we entered the building. Kenneth comes out to greet us. I would be lying if I said this was easy. We enter the morgue, and tears are flowing. My heart hurts for them. Vivian and I don't have children yet, but I know I would be a mess of emotions if it were me. The Stevens family is precisely that. When we enter the room, the body is laid on a table with a sheet over it. Kenneth thought it would be better than having her in a drawer. We approach the table, and Mrs. Stevens reaches over and holds my hand. I squeeze it to let her know that it's going to be ok and that I am there for them. I nod at Kenneth, and he pulls back the sheet. Mrs. Stevens lets out a sob, and her husband places a hand on her shoulder. "That's her. That is our Marie," he says. "Would you like some time alone?" I ask them. They both nod in agreement. Kenneth and I leave the room.
Steel Hearts Page 10
