by Adam Zorzi
He showered, put on his oldest sweats, grilled a steak, steamed broccoli, and poured a new red wine. He ate in front of the TV. Some British game show, but it was just mindless enough to be entertaining. When he finished eating, he loaded and ran the dishwasher. He did a load of laundry, too, including the clothes he had worn that day. His muscles were fatigued from the long run and his book wasn't holding his interest. He went to bed in the guest room about eleven-thirty.
The sound of rain against the windows woke him about three o'clock the next morning. He swung out of bed and padded into the office to make sure the windows were closed. He hadn't turned on the alarm because Jill would be home late. When he looked out the side window, he didn't see Jill's car.
Down the hall, he quietly opened the door to the master bedroom. No Jill. The bed had been made and not slept in. He was unsettled. Jill usually called if she was going to be late. Of course, anything was possible with her now. She could have stayed overnight in Fredericksburg, not wanting to make the drive back to Richmond. Or hell, she could have left him and wasn't ever coming back. He went back to his single bed and fell into a deep sleep.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FIVE
Dan slept until almost noon Sunday. He went downstairs and made coffee. While he waited for it to brew, he sat at the breakfast bar, drank orange juice, and opened the laptop to read the paper. Continued good weather. Cavaliers were doing squat in baseball. Grass seed was on sale at Costco.
He drank black coffee and ate a bowl of cereal. He wondered if he should call Sophia's parents to see if Katie was okay. No, she'd think he was treating her like a baby.
He'd run hard and long yesterday. His calves ached. Maybe he should call the club and see if he could get a half hour massage. That, and some steam, would ease his muscles.
The landline rang three times, but he didn't answer it. He'd stopped answering it months ago. Jill's friends had no problem telling him just what they thought of his cheating if he picked up. There wasn't anyone he wanted to talk to. Katie would call on his cell if she needed him. He wasn't sure what time he was supposed to pick her up if Jill didn't get home in time. Jill had probably told him, but he'd expected her to be home.
At the club, his masseur Orlo noted how tight his legs were. “Did you run a marathon yesterday?”
“No, just harder than I should have in sand. It was gorgeous outside, and I just kept going.”
“Time got away from you, huh? Don't run for a couple of days. Sit in the Jacuzzi. Take some steam. You'll be okay.”
Dan got off the table.
“You've got some big bruises on your right thigh.”
“Yeah, spring cleaning.” He didn't want to admit to Orlo that he'd fallen out of his single bed one night and banged his thigh on the night table. Damn, he missed that king sized bed.
In the locker room, after he'd showered and dressed, he met Henry, his neighbor, who asked if he wanted to play some video games.
“Man, it's too nice to be inside. What else you got?”
“Shuffleboard,” laughed Henry.
“Okay.”
“You're kidding, right?”
“No. I'm on the DL for a couple of days. That works for me. You?”
Henry, who wasn't even forty, and Dan played outside for about an hour. Dan won easily. When they finished, Dan declined Henry's offer of going for a beer.
Dan looked at his watch. “I think I've got to pick up my kid. She's at a sleepover.”
“Where?”
“At the Cruz's. Sophia's birthday, I think.”
“Viv went to that, but she had to be picked up by noon. I think Sophia's grandparents were coming for a family party.”
“Wow. I'd better call. Jill made the arrangements, but she's off on a cycling trial this weekend.”
He hated the look Henry had in his eyes. Henry didn't say anything, but Dan felt his demeanor change to look at him as a bumbling, neglectful parent.
“Later,” said Dan and he walked to his car.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SIX
Dan's stomach fell through the floorboard of his car when he turned into the neighborhood and saw two police cars parked further down the lane in front of his house. An officer was standing in the driveway to prevent entry. A few neighbors had gathered to see what was going on from a respectful distance.
Please, let Katie be okay. He didn't think not picking her up on time would be a problem. He hoped she hadn't walked home by herself. Images of abducted, raped, and murdered children from TV crime shows whirred in his head.
He stopped the car, jumped out, and ran to the first uniformed person he saw.
“Katie. Is Katie all right?” he shouted.
“Mr. Ramsay?” asked the officer in the driveway.
“Yes, yes. Daniel Ramsay. My daughter is Katie, Kaitlyn with a K Ramsay. Is she hurt? Where is she?”
A more senior officer offered his hand and introduced himself as Lieutenant Winston. He had a partner—a detective—who was also introduced.
“Mr. Ramsay, let's go inside.”
“Tell me, please tell me, is Katie okay?” he begged.
The two investigators herded him towards the house and up the front steps. The officer who'd been standing in the driveway took the steps two at a time and handed Lieutenant Winston Dan's keys. Dan had been so crazed with fear he'd stopped the car and hadn't turned it off before he leapt out.
“We're not here about Kaitlyn,” said one of them.
Dan went limp with relief. They grabbed him under his arms, unlocked the door, and led him into the house.
“Is there an alarm code? Mr. Ramsay?”
Dan shook his head. He hadn't turned on the alarm just to go to the health club.
“Is this about Abbie?” he asked longingly.
The two investigators looked at each other. “Abbie? Who is Abbie, Mr. Ramsay?”
“My dog. Our dog. She went missing a while ago.”
“No. We don't know anything about Abbie. Why don't you sit down.” They steered him to a velvet wing chair in the living room. He sat. Velvet bristles brushed his thighs and the back of his knees. He hated this chair.
Winston stayed with Dan while the other got a glass of water from the kitchen. Dan dutifully drank it when offered. He was utterly confused. His stomach muscles were contracting every few seconds. The investigators re-introduced themselves. “Mr. Ramsay, I'm Detective Elba from the Henrico County Police and this is Lieutenant Winston from the Virginia Bureau of Criminal Investigation.” They didn't introduce a uniformed young woman stationed in the foyer by the front door.
Winston looked familiar. Like he'd seen him on TV. What did they want?
“Mr. Ramsay, a vehicle was found parked overnight in Lake Anna State Park off Route 208 in Spotsylvania. It's registered in your name. A blue Kia Sorento. Model Year 2012. Is that your car?”
“Yes,” said Dan. He still wasn't connecting anything. “Detectives, I've got to find my daughter. If you don't have her, where is she?”
“Where is she supposed to be?” asked Detective Elba.
“At a sleepover. I thought I had to pick her up at four o'clock, but a friend at the health club said the kids had to be picked up by noon. I haven't heard from her all day.”
“Where is this sleepover?”
“In Heritage Hills. Sophia's birthday. Sophia Cruz. Her parents are Anthony and Samantha. I've got to call them.” He started to lunge for the landline in the foyer. Winston put out his arm to stop him. “Just a minute.” Winston walked over to the small table where the red light was flashing on the landline. “I'll dial the number. What is it?”
“I don't know. Just press the directory and Cruz will come up. It'll dial automatically if you press Call.”
Winston looked over the phone, made a few motions, and spoke into the phone. He identified himself, confirmed that Samantha Cruz was on the line, and handed the receiver to Dan.
“Samantha? Where's Katie?”
�
��Dan, what's going on? Why are the police at your house?”
“Goddammit Samantha, where's Katie?” He was approaching hysteria. Cold sweat trickled down his neck into his shirt collar. He struggled to breathe.
“She's right here. We expected her to be picked up at noon. We tried calling, but no one answered. We have family guests now.” A hint of indignation colored her tone. Jill never would have gotten the time wrong.
“I don't care about your guests. Is my daughter all right?”
“Yes, Dan, of course she is. She's in the great room with Sophia and her cousins.”
Winston took the phone out of Dan's hand.
“Ma'am. I'd like Kaitlyn to stay there for a while. Don't let her leave, and don't let anyone other than a trooper in a car clearly marked as a Virginia State Trooper vehicle collect her. Be sure to ask for identification. You can call me at this number if anything out of the ordinary happens.”
Winston turned his back to give her his direct number and finish the call.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SEVEN
“What's going on? Why can't I see Katie? Why does she have to stay at Sophia's?” Dan's questions tumbled out.
Detective Elba spoke. “Mr. Ramsay, about your car….”
“What about it?” Dan snapped.
“Why is your car there? Was it stolen?”
“No, no, nothing like that.” Why were these guys hounding him about the car when clearly his child was more important?
“Mr. Ramsay, the car was parked overnight. Overnight parking is prohibited without a camping sticker. How did your car come to be there when you're here?”
Dan exhaled. Tension flowed out of him. He sat. “I'm sorry. I didn't understand. My wife drove that car to a cycling trial near Fredericksburg yesterday.”
“One of those three-day events?”
“No, this was a practice not a sanctioned event. It was prep for the one hundred mile race.”
“So, your wife. What's her name?”
“Jill. Jill Carter Ramsay.”
“Mrs. Ramsay is a semi-professional cycler? Does that mean she's on a team? Travels a lot?”
Cycling was hard to explain. Most people only knew about the Tour de France and Lance Armstrong's doping scandal. “No, nothing like that. She's an avid cyclist and member of a local club. They have regional trials to prepare for larger events like the one hundred mile race. This was her first trial with her team since she had surgery just before Labor Day. She doesn't really travel.”
“Just overnights?”
“Not even that. She said she'd be back last night, but I thought she overestimated her stamina to train and drive three or four hours roundtrip, depending on traffic. One of the club members lives in Fredericksburg and offered housing for out-of-towners.”
Elba nodded. “What time do you expect her?”
“Soon. Katie's supposed to be home by now. Jill will want to make sure she's ready for school tomorrow. Jill has work tomorrow, too.”
“She hasn't called to let you know when to expect her?”
“No. I haven't spoken to her since she left yesterday morning.”
Winston moved to stand in front of Dan. “This seems like a rather loose arrangement. Mrs. Ramsay left yesterday, didn't come home last night, and hasn't called. You don't think that's odd?”
Dan probably looked as sheepish as he felt. “We've been having problems. I assumed she needed a night off when she could get one. Katie was at the sleepover. I'd be here if Abbie came home. Jill had an opportunity to relax with her teammates.”
“She didn't tell you what time to pick up Kaitlyn today?”
“She did. I thought four o'clock, but obviously, I got it wrong. I forgot to check the family calendar in the kitchen.” Dan stared at them. Still unsure why they were there. Winston stepped back. “Can Katie come home, now?”
“We have few more questions. Mr. Ramsay, is it possible that she went elsewhere for the weekend? The cycling trip was a cover story? Maybe she met a friend and left her car at the park?” asked the one with a northern accent.
“That's a stretch. She wouldn't need a cover story to go away for the weekend. She worked out at the health club a lot to be in shape for this trial.”
“If she did, do have any idea who this friend might be?” Elba. That was his name.
“Jill has dozens of friends. I don't know them all.” Jill had friends from college, work, and the neighborhood. Her best friends were from her quilting group. Mostly, Jill was outgoing and fun to be with and lots of people considered her their friend.
“Mr. Ramsay, might she have met another man for the weekend?”
Wham. Maybe all that working out had been to get in shape for another man. “Detective Elba, it's possible. I hope not. I hope we're working things out.”
Elba conferred with Winston. “Mr. Ramsay, is there anyone we can call for you? To come sit with you until she comes home?”
“Do you think that's important?”
Detective Elba nodded. “It's not a bad idea.”
“My brother. Rob. Robert Ramsay. His number is on the landline, too. You make the call just like when you called Sophia's parents.” Why did they drag in someone else? Maybe they needed someone to drive him to get the car.
Winston made the call to Rob. “Mr. Ramsay, the message light is blinking. Do you mind if we listen to the messages?
Dan shrugged again. “Go ahead.” He was certain none of the calls were for him.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-EIGHT
Rob was admitted by Lieutenant Winston. Suzanne had come, too.
“Everybody all right?” Rob eyed the scene curiously. They sat on the uncomfortable rose colored velvet couch across from Dan.
“Thanks for coming. Hey, Suzanne. I don't know what's going on. I think they want me to pick up the car Jill left overnight. Parked illegally.”
Suzanne pounced. “Why would they do that? Where's Jill? Where's Kaitlyn?”
He explained about the cycling trial, his failure to pick up Katie on time, and his uncertainty about when Jill would return.
“Why are two investigators here? State troopers could've just had the car towed.” Suzanne sounded perplexed. “Why did they want us to come over?”
Rob interrupted. “Suzanne, could you round up something to drink, please? Ask the officers if they want anything, too. I'd like iced tea or club soda. Dan?”
“Either one,” Dan said. Suzanne made sense. Why were the cops here?
“Dan, something's not right,” said Rob. He moved to sit on the footstool next to the wing chair. “Think about it. They must think she's done something.”
“Like what? They've already asked if she might have gone somewhere else for the weekend.”
“Did you fight before she left?” Rob's question seemed natural. He knew about Bella.
“Not really. She was fretting about whether we should spend money on gas and I told her to just go. She left and I went back upstairs.”
“No shouting?”
Dan snorted. “We're way past the shouting stage. She cries or looks at me with those haunted eyes. I don't know how much more of this I can take.”
“What do you mean? “
“I can't sleep in the guest room forever. Katie's eventually going to realize it's not because I have sleep apnea and need a noisy machine. If Jill's friends know and their husbands know, then their kids know, too. Kids talk. If she's going to hear that her parents' marriage is on the rocks, I'd rather it be from Jill and me than one of the Mean Girls.”
Rob gave him a blank stare.
“The clique of cool girls at St. Margaret's who pick on younger girls. Jill needs to decide whether she wants to keep our family together or not.”
“Give her a break, Dan. You were screwing Bella for more than a year. You planned to divorce Jill and marry Bella and you told Jill that was your plan. That's not something she's going to get over in what—two months, three months?”
“I know it'
s my fault, but I can't keep beating myself up or letting her beat me up. She ought to know by now if she wants to stay married or not.”
“Have you been in touch with Bella?” asked Rob.
Dan vigorously shook his head. “No. Absolutely not. I promised Jill I'd never speak to her and I haven't.”
“You've been tempted, though, right?”
“Of course, I have. I love her. She's in my skin, but I don't want to put Katie through a divorce. I don't want to have to unwind all our trusts. Jill and I don't have a dime in separate accounts. I thought Jill would forgive me. I didn't realize how devastated she was. She's so young, Rob. She's not even forty. She'd have men lined up for her.”
“What about Bella? Has she been in touch?”
Dan shook his head again. “Not since she sent that email to Jill. I'd forgotten what a temper she has. I was blown away that she contacted Jill.”
“Two club sodas,” said Suzanne as she walked in with a tray, napkins, and two small bowls of nuts. She handed a glass to each of them and turned to offer cola to the officers. She put the bowls down and returned to the kitchen.
“Mr. Ramsay?” Detective Elba came back in the living room. “There's a long list of calls for Mrs. Ramsay, most of them asking where she is and if she's all right. We'd like to go through the list with you.”
Rob spoke before Dan had a chance. “This seems like an awful lot of questions for an illegally parked car. What's really going on?” Dan started to speak. “No, Dan, I don't think you should answer any more questions without a lawyer.”
“Mr. Ramsay, can we go through this list?” persisted Detective Elba.
What was going on? Why was Rob suggesting a lawyer? Why hadn't the car just been towed? Without the structure of a work week, Dan's ability to focus had diminished. Dr. Spellman had increased the dosage of one med, but it hadn't become effective yet.
