by Jamie Hill
“Please keep me posted.”
“Sure thing.” Ben ended the call, more than a little frustrated. He punched up Addie’s cell number one more time and hung up when the voice recording came on.
He got up from behind his desk and hurried to his boss’ office. “Chief, Addie isn’t answering her cell. I spoke with the DA and he said she went home sick.”
Rhodes appeared as confused as Ben felt. “How’d she get there?”
“Exactly what I want to know. He didn’t have any idea.”
“You need to roll. Want to take Olivia or Nick?”
“Not yet. I’ll call in once I’ve checked her place and mine. I guess there’s an outside chance she could be sleeping, but I can’t believe she’d have left without letting me know.”
Rhodes nodded. “Call me.”
Ben jogged from the office, breaking into a sprint when he hit the parking lot. He didn’t stop to explain to any of his coworkers because deep in his heart, he felt something was wrong. He needed to get home, fast. Once again he wished for a flashing light to stick on top of his Jeep.
Speed limit be damned, this time he drove as fast as he safely could. If a cop pulled him over he’d ask the guy to come along. He said a silent prayer that the police wouldn’t be needed.
At Addie’s condo, there was no sign of anything different from the last time he’d been there. He didn’t waste much time looking around, just returned to the Jeep and hot-footed it to his place.
His house appeared quiet from the outside. As Ben hurried in through the garage, he said a silent prayer that Addie was inside, sleeping off a headache or something as innocuous. The living room was dark as he pushed through, heading straight for the bedroom.
It was empty. With fear and anger building in him, he threw open doors and checked every inch of the place. Addie was nowhere to be found.
A green light blinked on his answering machine. Ben paused to look at it. Strange, because no one ever called him on that number. He wasn’t even sure his boss had it. He only kept the phone because his mom had asked him too. She thought landlines were more reliable than cell phones. He wasn’t about to argue, and figured it was a well-spent ten bucks a month if it made her feel better.
Ben pressed the play button on the black box and waited.
“One new message,” the computerized voice said. “Received at twelve-twenty-two p.m.”
The machine clicked and Addie’s voice came on. “Hey, Ben, it’s me. I’m really sorry about this, but things are just happening too fast. I mean, you asked me to marry you after like, two weeks. You’re sweet, darlin’, but I just don’t think we’re meant to be. I know you’re gonna say we just need some time apart to figure things out, and see how we really feel. But I don’t think so. I need space, and not someone who’s gonna smother me. Plus, after all those late nights at the office lately I haven’t had time to breathe, let alone process everything that’s happened. I’m tired. I hope you understand, Ben. Don’t try to call, and please don’t worry about me. I’m strong, and like you said, I don’t need anyone to take care of me. I can handle things just fine. Goodbye, Ben.” The line clicked and the call ended.
Ben dropped into the nearest chair before his legs went out from under him. “Oh, my God. Addie, what have you done?”
* * *
Addie ended the call and burst into tears.
“Oh, stop it.” Cole sat next to her at the small table in the motel room. “It’s not like you loved him or anything. You admitted you’ve only known him a few weeks.”
She didn’t respond, just wiped her eyes.
“Eat before I tie your hands again.” He motioned to the fast food burgers he’d purchased.
She reached for one and unwrapped it, taking a bite. They’d just gotten the food before he checked into the motel, so she knew it hadn’t been tampered with. Not that it matters, if he has any more Chloroform. That stuff had knocked her out for most of the morning. When she woke she’d discovered that they were traveling on a highway and were already at least a hundred miles from home. “Where are we going?” she asked dully. The phone call had drained her. She hoped that she’d peppered her message with enough clues that Ben could tell she was in trouble.
“Why, we’re going home, of course.” He smiled, watching her as he ate.
Addie’s head was fuzzy and she didn’t understand the game he was playing. “Home? You mean we’re driving around for no reason, and then we’re going back?”
He shrugged, sipping a soda. “You’ll see.”
She wasn’t sure she would see, but Addie was determined to try and focus. She took a drink and finished the cheeseburger in an effort to keep up her strength. She ate slowly, thinking as long as they were occupied he might not realize that they were alone in a room with a queen-sized bed. Cole’s motives were unclear, but she suspected she knew one thing he’d be interested in after a long stretch in prison.
He seemed very interested in the food, and packed quite a bit of it away.
Gazing at him as he ate, Addie noticed how thin he’d gotten. His cheeks were gaunt. Prison food was apparently all it was cracked up to be. No wonder he was chowing down on the greasy, fast food fare.
His wavy blond hair was shorn close to his scalp, and his mustache and beard were just now growing back in. She noticed a few scars on his face, and his arms were bruised in various spots. A tattoo peeked out from under his left shirtsleeve. She couldn’t resist asking, “What’s the tattoo?”
Cole glanced down then back up at her. “It’s a crooked scales of justice. Because the system is crooked. Get it?”
“I get it.” She picked up a second cheeseburger and unwrapped it. Not really that hungry anymore, she nibbled on it in another effort to stall whatever it was he had planned.
“Assistant District Attorney, huh?” He watched her face. “That’s impressive for someone new to the area. Usually you’d have to work your way up through the ranks.”
“I guess they thought I was doing that in Dallas. I saw more cases in two years there than I’ll probably see in a year in Shawnee County.”
“True. So, did you sleep with the DA to get the job?”
She rolled her eyes at him. “Where did that come from? I was never promiscuous. That wasn’t our problem.”
“I suppose you think I was our problem.”
The fact that he even had to ask that question astounded her. There were so many things she wanted to say, but she wasn’t sure how far she could press the issue. He was obviously unbalanced, and she had no idea when or if he might snap. But she wanted to keep him talking, so she treaded lightly. “Part of it, sure. I guess I could have been more attuned to how you were feeling. I’m not sure I understood that until I heard some things you said at the trial.”
“See, there you go! There are two sides to every story. I told my lawyer that. Boy, was he a disappointment.” Cole snorted. “That insanity defense? Ridiculous. Anyone could tell that I wasn’t insane. He kept insisting it was our best chance for acquittal. Was he wrong or what?”
“He was totally wrong. It felt like a desperation plea.”
Cole smiled. “That’s what I told him, the last time I saw him. I let him know how disappointed I was in him. Then I took my knife and slit his throat.” He pulled out his phone and scrolled through it, then held it up for Addie to see the screen.
The gruesome photo showed that the lawyer’s throat had been cut. The man slumped in a chair behind a desk in what looked like his law office. His face was a ghastly shade of pale.
Addie felt the food she’d just eaten rising up her throat. She clasped a hand over her mouth and closed her eyes.
Cole laughed and put the phone away. “He was surprised to see me. Now my parole officer, he wasn’t so taken aback because we had an appointment. He was just startled to see the knife. Would you like to see a picture of him?”
She shook her head wordlessly, still trying to keep the food from charging back up and out.
“You see, Addie,
I’ve had a lot of time to think. I decided it was time to pay back the people who treated me wrong two years ago. There are just a few more names on my list. Then I can rest easy.”
Opening her eyes, she looked at him. “They’ve probably found those bodies by now. Don’t you think they’ll trace the murders back to you? Especially if you had an appointment with the parole officer.”
He nodded sincerely. “I’m sure they will. But by the time they find me it’ll be too late.”
Addie shook her head. “I can’t believe you want to go back to prison! It had to be just awful in there.”
His eyes flashed. “Awful is an understatement. It was fucking wretched. The men in there had committed some of the most disgusting, heinous crimes imaginable. Yet they have this code about what they think is right and wrong. Child abusers don’t stand a chance in general population. But opinions are mixed about guys like me. Some of the guys would give me high fives, because they liked to keep women in their place. Unfortunately, I was housed with another faction. Those guys weren’t so keen on me and my crimes.”
He pulled the knife from his pocket and ran the tip along Addie’s arm. “You’ve heard how some convicts make other guys their bitch?”
Addie held her breath, nodding as she kept her eyes on the knife.
“When you go in there, you never think it’s gonna happen to you. You think, ‘I’m a tough mother fucker. Those bastards won’t be able to touch me.’ Maybe so, if it was one on one. My first night inside, six guys paid me a visit in my room. Not six little scrawny guys either. These were big, macho dudes who spent lots of their free time bulking up in the prison weight room.”
A tear slipped from her eye and rolled down her cheek. “I’m sorry, Cole.”
He studied her face for a moment, then wiped the tear away. “You know one thing they don’t have in prison? Lube. They use spit, and they’re none too gentle, either. That first night I was bleeding when they were finally finished with me. The next day in the community shower I didn’t bleed as much. Eventually I got used to it, or my body did, anyway. I’ll never turn gay, I can tell you that. But they say your mind goes someplace else, to help you get through it.”
She rolled her eyes. Didn’t he realize she’d done the same thing after he’d beaten her up then tried to apologize with what he called ‘make-up sex’? Addie muttered, “Don’t I know it.”
His gaze turned angry and hateful.
She realized she’d crossed a line. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“Addie, Addie, Addie.” Cole made the tsk-ing sound again. “I’m not sure I believe that you’re really sorry. All I can tell you is, if you’re not now…you will be.” He dug the knife tip into the flesh of her forearm and drew blood.
Addie yelped and pulled her arm away.
Laughing, he wiped the blade with a paper napkin and returned the weapon to his pocket.
She grabbed another napkin and pressed it to her arm. The cut stung, but she’d been through worse.
Cole stood and swept what remained of their food and drink onto the floor with one arm. He gathered his things and said, “We’re not going to stay here after all. Let’s go.”
Addie wondered if she could somehow call Ben again. If nothing else, maybe he could get a ping off her cell phone. Provided he knew to look for her. She hoped with all her heart that he’d figured it out. “I need to use the bathroom.”
“Sure. Leave the door open.”
“Okay.” She stood, her mind racing. She might not be able to speak, but if she could dial Ben and leave the connection open, he’d be able to hear them. Addie took a step toward the restroom.
Cole snapped his fingers and held out his hand. “Phone.”
“What?” She tried to act innocent and knew she failed miserably.
“Give me your god damned phone, bitch, and don’t make me ask again.”
She pulled it from her pocket and handed it over.
He placed it on the floor and smashed it with the heel of his boot. “Oh, look! That phone wasn’t so smart after all!” Cole laughed like that was the funniest thing he’d ever said.
Addie’s shoulders slumped as she trudged to the bathroom.
“Door open!” he called after her.
Chapter Eleven
Topeka, Kansas
Detective Rod Eichem glanced at a bulletin that had just come into his office. Something was niggling at him and he tried to figure out why.
“What’cha got?” His partner, Jane Yarrow, peered over his shoulder.
Eichem scratched his chin as he handed the paper over. “A most wanted alert out of San Antonio. The guy is fresh out of prison and they think he sliced the throat of his parole officer before going to Dallas and doing the same thing to the lawyer he’d hired at the time of his trial.”
She read the bulletin. “Now they think he’s headed here? Why?”
“The car he was last seen in was spotted on the highway headed this way.”
“Oh, his ex-wife lives here now. She’s an ADA.”
Eichem’s memory was jogged. “What? I didn’t get that far.” He snatched the paper back and finished reading it. “Oh, shit. This guy, Jessup. He’s not headed here. He is here.” Eichem tossed the sheet on his desk and called up a number in his cell phone. He punched the button to dial, and heard it ring about three times.
“Markham,” the US Marshal answered.
“Ben, this is Rod Eichem. I have news on the guy you called me about the other day. Cole Jessup.”
“What kind of news?”
“Police in Texas say he slit the throat of his parole officer in San Antonio before going to Dallas and killing the lawyer who didn’t get him off at trial.”
“Fuck me,” Markham swore. “This is the worst news ever.”
“Your girl is still safe, isn’t she?”
Markham sighed. “No, I don’t believe she is.”
* * *
Topeka, Kansas
Ben stood in the bullpen of his office, surrounded by his chief and coworkers. “Here’s the message.” He held his phone out. “I recorded it off my answering machine.”
Rhodes looked at him. “Why didn’t you tell me that you have a landline?”
“I don’t know. I never use it. I guess Addie got the number though. So listen. Here’s her message.” He pressed the play button on his phone.
“Hey, Ben, it’s me. I’m really sorry about this, but things are just happening too fast. I mean, you asked me to marry you after like, two weeks. You’re sweet, darlin’, but I just don’t think we’re meant to be. I know you’re gonna say we just need some time apart to figure things out, and see how we really feel. But I don’t think so. I need space, and not someone who’s gonna smother me. Plus, after all those late nights at the office lately I haven’t had time to breathe, let alone process everything that’s happened. I’m tired. I hope you understand, Ben. Don’t try to call, and please don’t worry about me. I’m strong, and like you said, I don’t need anyone to take care of me. I can handle things just fine. Goodbye, Ben.”
He clicked the recording off.
Olivia touched his arm. “Ben, I’m so sorry.”
Nick cocked his head. “Something doesn’t strike me right about that voicemail.”
Ben pointed a finger at him. “I know, right? Look, I must have listened to it ten times. I wrote it down. She says I asked her to marry her. I never proposed. I asked if she wanted to move in with me. We were very clear about that.”
Nick glanced at the paper. “She called you darlin’. I called her that once and she nearly bit my head off.”
Ben nodded. “She specifically said that she hated that particular term of endearment.”
Nick continued, “What late nights at the office? She hasn’t been there in two weeks.”
“Exactly. And the last thing…” Ben’s voice cracked and he took a moment to compose himself. “I never said she didn’t need anyone to take care of her. I said I’d always be there to take ca
re of her. When she wasn’t sure she could handle all the shit with Cole, I said she didn’t have to handle it by herself anymore.”
Jordan wagged a finger. “That voicemail was a carefully worded message for you, Benji. I think he’s got her.”
Doug stared at Ben’s phone thoughtfully. “She didn’t call your cell because she didn’t want to talk to you. She just wanted to leave the message.”
“I agree.” Ben looked at his chief. “But we need to find out for sure. Could you call the DA and ask him to pull security tapes from his office building this morning? If Jessup waltzed in through the front door, he had to be captured on camera.”
“Will do.” Rhodes went to his office.
Doug said, “What about her cell phone? Have you asked anyone to ping it?”
“I did.” Ben nodded. “When Rod Eichem called to tell me that Jessup brought his killing spree to Kansas, I asked him to run her phone. He’s going to call me back.”
Olivia rubbed her hands over her upper arms. “Jessup sounds like he’s crazy. Killing his parole officer during a scheduled appointment? Why would he do that? He had to know the police would finger him immediately.”
Nick frowned. “There’s only two reasons a man would do something that cocksure. Either he wouldn’t mind going back to prison—”
Jordan added, “Or he has no intention of going back.”
Ben’s head felt like it might explode. “None of this is making me feel better.” His cell rang and it startled him. He glanced at the screen quickly, hoping it was Addie. The ID said Eichem. “It’s the police,” he murmured, and punched the talk button. “Markham.”
“Ben, we got a hit on her cell. It’s at a motel on highway seventy-five north, just across the state line in Nebraska. I’ve called the local police department and they’re going to check it out.”
“Nebraska? Well, hell.” Ben’s mind raced. “Her parents live in Omaha.”
“They’re on a direct route to Omaha. I’ll notify the OPD. Any idea of the parents’ names?”
