Murder Al Dente

by Nancy Skopin

  The caller was female and sounded like she was on the young side, maybe early twenties.

  “Nope, you’ve got the live-action version,” I said. “What can I do for you?”

  “My name is Jea Solomon. My friend, Loretta Dario, suggested I call you.”

  Loretta is a clinical psychologist who works with the RCPD officers involved in shootings who exhibit signs of PTSD or other trauma. I’ve had a few sessions with her myself.

  “How is Loretta?” I asked.

  “She’s well.”

  “Good. Now that we’ve covered who referred you, how can I help?”

  “My daughter is missing.”

  “Oh. How old is she?”

  “She’s four.”

  “I assume you’ve called the police?”

  “Of course. They put out an AMBER Alert and they’re looking for her, but they don’t have any leads. Loretta thought you would be able to find her.” She sniffled into the phone and my heart softened a little.

  “I’ll do what I can. Will you come to my office and bring a recent photo of your daughter? What is her name?”

  “Her name is Sky. It’s short for Skyamsen.”

  “And what is Jea short for?” I had to ask. It was an unusual name.

  “Wahponjea,” she said.

  “Huh. Native American, by any chance?”

  “Does that matter?”

  “No. I’m just curious by nature.”

  I gave Jea my office address and directions to the marina. She said she could be here within an hour.

  I seldom handle missing person cases, but Loretta was a friend and I couldn’t turn Jea away just because her case made me anxious.

  CHAPTER 9

  Jea arrived shortly after 11:00. She was in her early twenties, five-foot-eight and about a hundred and thirty pounds. Her straight black hair was pulled up in a messy bun, exposing her swan-like neck. She was dressed in denim shorts, a black tank top, and Ecco Track II high top boots. I recognized the boots because I own a couple of pairs. They’re incredibly comfortable and the high tops offer ankle support should you have occasion to kick someone’s ass in the course of your workday.

  From the doorway Jea gave me a cursory glance before slowly approaching Buddy, holding her right hand out, palm down. “I’ve heard about you,” she whispered.

  Buddy wagged his tail and sniffed the proffered hand before giving it a lick. Some guard dog.

  “Loretta told you about Buddy?” I asked, indicating she should seat herself in one of my visitors’ chairs.

  Jea nodded. “She said he was remarkably cognizant. I can see she was correct.”

  “Remarkably cognizant, huh? Sounds about right. I was recently informed that he’s also what’s known as a natural alpha, but he hasn’t let it go to his head. I’m Nikki, by the way.”

  Jea drew her eyes away from my overgrown lapdog and made eye contact with me for the first time. “Thank you for meeting with me,” she said.

  “Of course. Did you bring a photo?”

  Jea took a white envelope from her shoulder bag and handed it across the desk to me. I removed the photo and set the envelope aside. Skyamsen Solomon was an adorable dark-haired four-year-old who looked her age, except for the eyes. If I were more into the metaphysical, I’d say she was an old soul. There was a great well of compassion evident in those soft brown depths.

  “Tell me what happened in as much detail as possible, please.” I took out a legal-size notepad and grabbed a pen.

  “Sky was taken from the preschool she attends. She goes to preschool to socialize with other children her age, but she also has a tutor she works with three days a week. A shaman. She’s already reading at a third grade level.”

  “That’s impressive for a four-year-old,” I said. “Did anyone at the preschool see who abducted her?”

  “One of the other kids said it was a woman, but couldn’t offer much of a description.”

  “Any chance Sky’s dad hired someone to abduct her? Let me rephrase that. Are you and Sky’s father still in a relationship?”

  After a moment’s hesitation Jea said, “Sky doesn’t have a father. At least not in the conventional sense. I’ve never been with a man.”

  “Wow!” I said before I could stop myself. “Sorry. That’s a little surprising.” Jea was a beautiful young woman. Men would certainly be attracted to her.

  “I know it’s weird,” she said, with a shrug. “I guess I just haven’t met the right one yet.”

  “Okay, so you, what, went to a sperm bank?”

  She looked down at her folded hands. “Um... no.”

  I decided not to pursue this line of questioning at the moment. It obviously made Jea uncomfortable.

  “I don’t suppose the preschool has surveillance or security cameras. Where was Sky when she was taken?”

  “No, there are no cameras. She was outside. It was recess. There were other children out there, but none of them were near her. Sky’s a bit of a loner. She prefers communing with nature to spending time with other kids.”

  “Does anyone else have your permission to pick Sky up from the preschool?”

  “No one.”

  “Would she get in a car with a stranger?”

  “Sky is very trusting, but we’ve talked about ‘stranger danger,’ and I don’t think she would willingly go with someone she didn’t know.”

  “I’ll need the date and time of the abduction, an address, phone number and contact name at the preschool, and the names of any police detectives you’ve spoken with.”

  “So you’ll take my case?”

  I looked down at Sky’s photo and realized I was already committed. “Yes, Jea. I’ll take your case, but I can’t guarantee the outcome.” Better not to offer too much hope in a situation like this.

  “She was taken during recess, so around ten a.m. on Tuesday the fifth, four days ago. The preschool is held at an elementary school in Palo Alto during the summer.”

  She gave me an address on Amarillo Avenue, and read me the phone number, telling me I should speak with Tama. I noted all the information then repeated my question about the police detectives handling the case.

  Jea took out her wallet and removed a business card, which she handed to me. The detective assigned to the case was Jan Halstaad. She worked “crimes against persons” with the Palo Alto PD. I photocopied the business card and handed it back to Jea.

  “I’d appreciate if you’d give Detective Halstaad a call and let her know I’m working for you.”

  Jea nodded.

  “You haven’t received a ransom demand?”

  “No.”

  Now for the hard question. “Do you have any idea why someone would want to kidnap or harm Sky?”

  Rather than looking taken-aback, she considered the question for a moment, then nodded her head as if coming to a decision.

  “Ms. Hunter, my daughter is... gifted. Sky is what we call an empath. She experiences the feelings and thought processes of those around her. Some would call her clairvoyant, but being an empath is different in that it’s experiential. I can only guess that she was taken because she may have picked up on something, perhaps something dark, that someone wishes to keep hidden.”

  Okay... not what I was expecting.

  “How many people know that Sky has this gift?” I asked.

  “She’s a child and hasn’t yet learned to discriminate about who she confides in. Her social circle is somewhat limited, but if she sensed something from one of the other children at the preschool, I wouldn’t be surprised if she spoke with them about it.”

  “Well, that opens up some possibilities. Do you think Tama would be willing to give me a contact list for the parents of the children enrolled there?”

  “I don’t know. I’ll ask her.”

  “Thanks. Please contact me after you’ve spoken with her. I’d like to get started as soon as possible, and the preschool seems like the best place to start. I’ll also call Detective Halstaad and see what she can t
ell me.”

  “Thank you, Ms. Hunter.”

  “Call me Nikki.”

  “Thank you, Nikki.” Jea took out her checkbook and looked at me. “You need a retainer, right?”

  I thought for a moment before responding. I really wanted to help this woman and her little girl. I told her I could get started for five hundred dollars.”

  I detected a wince before she wrote the check. I hoped I could work fast so I didn’t use up her retainer. Of course, I could just lie about the number of hours required to solve the case.

  I filled in the blanks on my boilerplate contract and printed two copies, which we both signed, accepted Jea’s check, and wrote her a receipt.

  Jea and I exchanged cell numbers, entering them into our phones for easy access. Before leaving, she thanked me again and bent down to stroke Buddy’s soft ears. He nuzzled her hand and wagged.

  I walked her to the door and, without thinking, reached out to shake her hand. After a brief hesitation she clasped my hand firmly and I felt a jolt run up my arm before landing in the pit of my stomach. Jea must have seen the surprise on my face.

  She released my hand and nodded once. “Loretta was correct about you as well. You also have a gift.”

  I stood there, stunned, as Jea slipped out the door. I looked down at my hand, then I turned to Buddy who had a quizzical expression on his sweet face.

  “You liked her, right?” I asked him.

  Rather than responding to my question, Buddy thumped his tail a couple of times and settled his muzzle on his forepaws. Answer enough, I guess.

  I decided that before calling Detective Halstaad, I owed Loretta Dario a thank you for the referral. Maybe, she could shed some light on this unusual situation.

  CHAPTER 10

  I first met Loretta Dario almost two years ago, not long after the conclusion of that investigation I handled for Jack, when I was forced to kill someone in self-defense. I’d thought I could handle it. I was wrong. I stopped sleeping, lost my appetite, and became hypervigilant. Bill told me about Loretta because I was exhibiting PTSD symptoms and she handled those cases for the RCPD. The truth is, most cops never have to fire their weapon in the line of duty, and no one knows how they will react to taking a life until after the fact. I had reluctantly agreed to meet with Loretta as a last resort. I’d never been to a shrink, and I have trust issues, but talking with her about the event and the resulting trauma had made a huge difference for me. In fact, I’ve since referred friends to her.

  I dialed Loretta’s office number and, to my surprise, she picked up on the first ring.

  “This is Loretta.”

  “What, no patients in need of counseling today?”

  “How are you, Nicoli?”

  “I’m doing great. I just met with Jea Solomon and I have a few questions. Thanks for the referral, by the way.”

  “You’re entirely welcome, dear.”

  “How do you two know each other?” I asked, skirting the edge of confidentiality if Jea was Loretta’s patient as well as a friend.

  “We belong to the same medicine for the earth group. It’s part of the local shamanic community. We’ve grown close.”

  “So you know Sky.”

  “Yes.”

  “Jea told me about Sky’s gift. The empath thing? She believes it’s possible that Sky may have innocently spoken to another child about something she... intuited, which caused the child’s parents to feel threatened enough to abduct her. You have any thoughts about that?”

  “First of all, Nicoli, the reason I referred Jea to you is because you have such powerful intuition.”

  Loretta had, in fact, encouraged me to “build that muscle” but I’d never followed up with her about it. Life kept getting in the way.

  “Is there a second of all?” I asked.

  “Yes, but I’d prefer to discuss it in person. My last client rescheduled so I have an hour open if you‘d like to stop by.”

  “You mean now?”

  “Unless you have something more important to do.”

  It was 11:45 and I had two lunch surveys to do, but I couldn’t ignore the urgency of a child abduction. “Can I bring Buddy?”

  “I insist that you do. I haven’t seen that handsome boy in over a year.”

  “We’re on our way.”

  I hooked Buddy’s leash to his collar and let him water a few shrubs on the periphery of the parking lot, then we got in my Bimmer and headed for Loretta’s. On the way I called Jim Sutherland and asked if he had any agents available who could handle my lunch surveys.

  “No, but I’m free. What are you working on that takes you away from your regulars?”

  I told him briefly about Sky’s abduction and his response was to offer to cover all of my clients until I’d found her.

  “You are the best friend ever,” I said. “I’ll e-mail you my schedule when I get back to the office.”

  Buddy and I made the drive to Loretta’s office, which is also her home, in less than seven minutes. The adorable gingerbread cottage on Jefferson Avenue hadn’t changed since my last visit. I parked on a side street and Buddy and I let ourselves in through the gate in her white picket fence, inhaling the fragrant blossoms in her yard. As we stepped onto the porch I reached out and tickled a set of hummingbird wind chimes. I was about to knock when Loretta opened the door and wrapped me in a bear-hug before stooping down to greet Buddy.

  Like her cottage, the woman hadn’t changed much since I’d last seen her. In her mid-fifties, Loretta is a couple of inches taller than my five-foot-seven, with short salt and pepper hair. Her soft brown eyes belie the shrewdness that lies behind them. Upon meeting her, most people would assume she’s a nurturing, grandmotherly type, which she is, but she is so much more.

  Loretta escorted us into her living room and offered Buddy a bowl of water before pouring two cups of apple cinnamon tea and seating herself in an overstuffed armchair. Buddy drank some of the water and then planted his huge head in her lap, dripping water from his flews onto her skirt. She gently stroked his ears while giving me the once-over.

  “You look well,” she said, seeming to gaze beyond my physical appearance. “You’re happy. I presume Detective Anderson has something to do with that.”

  The depth of her insight made me a little uncomfortable, which caused me to feel a bit defensive, which, in turn, made me cranky. I’m funny that way.

  “Bill and I are living together,” I said. “But that’s not why I’m here. Tell me about Jea and Sky.”

  “Anything specific you’d like to know?”

  “Let’s start with the fact that Jea told me she’s never been with a man and that Sky doesn’t have a father. Is she adopted?”

  “No, dear.”

  “I asked her if she’d been to a sperm bank and she said no, but the question seemed to make her uncomfortable. If Jea’s never been with a man, and she’s Sky’s birth mother, and she didn’t go to a sperm bank, what are we talking about here, an immaculate conception? Or is she a hermaphrodite?”

  I know sarcasm is the lowest form of humor, but I was flying blind, and a child’s life might hang in the balance. I needed all the information I could get, and I didn’t want to have to dig for it.

  Instead of laughing, Loretta beamed at me and said nothing.

  Oh shit. “I was kidding, Loretta.”

  “I know, dear.”

  “You can’t be serious.”

  Loretta silently tilted her head to one side like Buddy does when he’s trying to figure something out. When Buddy does it, it’s adorable, but as much as I respect Loretta, this silent treatment was beginning to annoy me.

  “You really expect me to believe Sky was the product of parthenogenesis?”

  She raised an eyebrow. “What I expect is that you will find and rescue Sky, Nicoli.”

  Right. “Jea told me Sky’s reading at a third grade level. That’s exceptional for a four-year-old. Any idea what her IQ is?”

  “To my knowledge, she’s never been
tested.”

  I was quickly reaching my obfuscation threshold. “What aren’t you telling me, Loretta?”

  “Some secrets are not mine to tell,” she said, with a shrug.

  I speed dialed Jea’s cell number and put my phone on speaker. When she answered, I said, “Jea, it’s Nikki Hunter. I’m with Loretta, and I have a question. Is there anything you wouldn’t do to get your daughter back safely?”

  “Of course not,” she said without hesitation.

  “That’s what I thought. I have you on speaker. I need you to give Loretta permission to answer all my questions about you and Sky.”

  This time she hesitated, sighed, and finally said, “Loretta, please tell Nikki anything she wants to know.”

  “Thanks,” I said. “I’ll call you when I have something to report.” I ended the call and turned to Loretta. “Okay, spill it.”

  Loretta’s eyes widened slightly. She’s not an easy woman to shock. “I had no idea you were capable of being so... ruthless,” she said.

  “When a child’s life might be at stake? You’re right, you have no idea. Now tell me everything you know about Sky.”

  CHAPTER 11

  Loretta took a moment to compose herself. She refilled her tea cup and leaned forward to refill mine. I shook my head. I’m a coffee person. Eventually she spoke.

  “Jea is seventh generation Lakota Sioux.”

  My sig-other, Bill Anderson, is half Lakota Sioux. I wondered if Loretta knew that.

  “So?” I said.

  “Jea is what’s known as a pure vessel. She will assist in ushering in the new age of harmony.”

  “What the hell does that even mean? She’s a saint or something?”

  “No, dear. Purity and harmony include balance. Jea is entirely human. She embraces her creativity, both in her art and in the way she lives her life. Rather than repressing one side of her nature, she embraces both her inner light and her inner shadow, which is where her creativity dwells. Her daughter, Sky, is a catalyst, and that, I’m afraid, is what has made her a target.”

  “What kind of catalyst are we talking about here?”