The River Girls

by Melinda Woodhall

  Leo recited the address and said they would see her shortly. He dared a glance at Eden and saw tears streaming down her face. The guilt and pain in her eyes as she looked back at him broke his heart.

  "Oh god, Leo...this can’t be happening. What am I going to do?"

  Leo didn’t know what to say. Would the police be able to track down and rescue the missing girl? Doubt seeped in.

  The police hadn’t saved his mother, and they had never found her real killer. But he couldn’t let his bitterness show. Eden was hurting, and she needed him. He had to stay strong, had to keep the faith. As the rain began to fall, he pressed his foot harder on the gas and raced toward the heart of the storm.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Hope listened to the rain pounding down on the pavement outside the motel. She wondered again if this was all a dream. Just a terrible nightmare that would end soon. But the coarse rope had already rubbed a raw, red circle around her wrists, and she shivered as the stale air blasted from the dusty wall unit under the window making goose bumps appear on her damp skin. No, it all felt too frighteningly real to be a dream.

  She’d been too scared to scream or try to escape as they’d driven out of her neighborhood. She’d huddled in the backseat, her hands tied behind her, with Vinny driving and Hollywood pointing the gun back at her. She could tell that he liked to aim the gun and wave it around. He seemed to enjoy her fear.

  Hope knew it would only take one careless move on his part and she could end up dead. She had tried to stay still, tried not to make any sudden movements.

  They’d come to a stop outside an old, rundown motel that Hope had never seen before. She knew they hadn’t been driving very long, not more than twenty minutes, but as she stared out of the car window, it looked like they were in a whole different town.

  The motel’s dirty walls and trash-strewn parking lot didn’t look like the Willow Bay she knew. An angry-looking man with a ponytail sat on the stairwell. He saw Hollywood step out, and got up and walked over to the car, leaning to stare into the backseat. He raised his eyebrows and then frowned, before turning to talk to Hollywood. They talked in low, angry voices for a few minutes and then the man reached into his pocket and pulled out something that he handed to Hollywood.

  Hollywood had then opened the door and motioned for her to get out. She tried to memorize the surroundings as Vinny guided her toward a room on the ground floor. In the distance she saw a dock and graffiti-covered walls that seemed to lead to some sort of a canal. She would have to find a way to escape, but she needed a plan.

  If I can get away, which way should I go? Is there anywhere to run? Could I follow the canal back to the river and into downtown?

  Before she could see anything else, she’d been pushed inside, and Hollywood had stepped in behind her, closing the door in Vinny’s face. It was now just the two of them in the dim room.

  “You try to scream or run away, and I’ll use this,” he said, brandishing the gun.

  The dark eyes she had thought dreamy when she’d first met him now seemed crazed. His face glistened with a sheen of sweat, and he scratched at the inside of his arm over and over.

  “What do you want with me?” Hope asked, keeping her voice small.

  He looked as if he could erupt in a rage at any minute and she didn’t want to give him any reason to do so.

  “I want to introduce you to some friends of mine, little girl.” Hollywood produced a nasty smile. “I think you’ll like them. And I know they’re gonna like you.”

  “Please, I just want to go home.” Hope felt her eyes fill with tears and blinked hard to stop them from falling.

  “Don’t start that crap already,” Hollywood snapped. “And stop trying to play the innocent routine. I know how you rich girls get around. I’ve had my share of rich bitches, you know, and you’re all the same. Whining all the time. But you aren’t going home any time soon, so just relax and enjoy the ride.”

  Hope recoiled as Hollywood approached, noticing the red marks on his arms as he reached toward her. He spun her around and began to untie her hands.

  “I’ve got something that’ll make you relax all right,” Hollywood muttered as he led her toward the bed, unbuckling his belt. Her knees buckled under her as he pulled the belt through the loops, and she sat back heavily onto the scratchy, blue bedspread, fear coursing through her at the thought of what lay ahead.

  “Watch me,” Hollywood said, pulling out a bag of white powder. “I’m gonna ride the dragon, baby. And once I’m done, you can go for a ride, too. It’ll rock your world, little girl. You’ll never want to go home again.”

  Hope stared as Hollywood reached under the bed and pulled out a plastic bag. He waved the gun again and cocked his head. “Now you stay right there while I work my magic. I’d hate to have to use this on you before you get a chance to party.”

  He dumped the contents of the plastic bag on the small, round table under the window. Hope felt a flash of relief. He wasn’t going to touch her, at least not yet. Then her horror returned as she saw him take out a syringe with a needle, a spoon and a lighter before he sat down and blocked her view.

  After a few minutes of preparation, he picked up the belt and wrapped it around his arm, securing it tightly. She turned her head away in disgust when he picked up the needle and jabbed it into his arm. She had to get away. She couldn’t let him stick that needle in her.

  Hope saw Hollywood throw his head back and take a deep breath. Slowly rising off the bed, her legs weak and shaking, she crept behind him, thinking she might be able to make it to the door before he noticed her. She saw his eyes were closed, and she slipped around him, grasping the doorknob with her hand, planning to dash toward the canal if she made it clear of the motel corridor. She thought her heart would burst out of her chest as she twisted and pulled. The door was locked.

  She heard a lazy laugh behind her, and she turned to see Hollywood holding a metal key in one hand, and the little .38 in the other. The belt was loose around his arm now, and his eyes looked heavy, but dreadfully aware.

  “Now it’s your turn, baby.” He picked up the needle again and grinned. “Go on now. Sit next to me and I’ll fix you up. You’re gonna love it.”

  The room wavered in front of Hope, and she thought she might faint. She forced her feet to walk toward the offered chair, but instead of sitting down, she rush into the bathroom and slammed the door closed behind her.

  She reached for the knob and realized with dismay that it didn’t have a lock. But as she looked up she saw that a rusty barrel bolt lock had been installed at eye level. She threw the bolt and turned to look around the small room.

  Her heart sank. There was no window, just a pedestal sink, a toilet and a small, dingy white bathtub that lined the right wall. She was trapped. But at least she had escaped the needle for now. If she just could stay in the bathroom until someone came to rescue her. Fear flooded through her.

  They will come to find me, won’t they? Sage will tell Aunt Eden and the police I was kidnapped, right? She won’t say I ran away?

  Doubt settled in her stomach as Hollywood began to beat on the door. How could Sage have lied to her and Aunt Eden about everything?

  “Open up, Hope!” Hollywood called out, but he didn’t seem mad anymore. The drugs must have calmed him down. “Okay, stay in there if you want, but you don’t know what you’re missing. If you don’t want to party, then I guess I’ll enjoy it all by myself.”

  Hope listened by the thin door, her mind swirling.

  Is he really going to give up that easily? Maybe he’s trying to trick me; maybe he’s planning to shoot the door down. But then why should he? I can’t stay in this little room forever. He knows I’ll have to come out eventually.

  Hope sat on the edge of the tub and pulled a towel around her shoulders. She hugged herself and tried to hear what was going on in the room outside. It was quiet for a few minutes and then there was a hard rap on the motel room door, and she could hear voices. It sound
ed like Vinny. She crept to the door and put her ear against it.

  “Just make sure you don’t damage the goods, man,” Vinny was saying. “Sig’ll be here soon, and you’ll have some explaining to do.”

  “She’s not cooperating,” Hollywood’s vice was slurred. “She doesn’t want to party.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll look after her,” Vinny said. Then the television was turned on and she had to strain to hear what he said next. “I’ll get her to play along. Just leave her alone for now. You stay here and chill, and I’ll be back in a minute.”

  Hope listened to the drone of the television. She couldn’t hear any other sound. She bit her lip and contemplated her next move.

  Maybe Hollywood passed out. Maybe Vinny left the door to the room unlocked. Maybe I can get away before anyone comes back.

  Taking a deep breath, she slowly pulled the barrel back and opened the door an inch. She could see Hollywood sitting slumped on the chair, his head rolled back at an awkward angle and his hands limp at his sides. She couldn’t see the gun. Where was the gun? Had Vinny taken it?

  Opening the door just wide enough for her to slip through, she tip-toed a few feet and paused, thinking she heard footsteps outside. The door to the room swung open and two hulking men stepped inside. Hope froze and stared in horror at the guns hanging from their belts. She wasn’t sure if they had come to kill her or to save her.

  Both of the men were wearing dark glasses. The older man had wide shoulders and wore a black baseball cap. The other man had dark, slicked-back hair and wore a shiny, gray suit.

  The man in the suit frowned over at Hollywood. “What the hell’s wrong with him, Sig?”

  “He’s a fucking addict,” the man named Sig replied, and grabbed Hope’s arm. He pulled her toward him.

  “So, you’re the new girl, huh?” He inspected her, eyes lingering over her delicate face. “Hollywood was right, Rick. She’s fresh.”

  The other man nodded. “Yeah, she’s not too bad. As long as she doesn’t cause any trouble.”

  “Where’d Hollywood find you, anyway,” Sig asked, his voice hard. “You seem too fresh to be a druggie. And too clean to be a street kid.”

  Hope watched as Rick adjusted his jacket to cover the gun on his hip. She swallowed and tried to speak but couldn’t find her voice.”

  Sig’s pocket beeped. He reached in and pulled out a pack of Camel cigarettes and a cell phone. He glanced at the message displayed on the screen.

  “Shit!” He walked to the door and flung it open. “Vinny! Get in here.”

  Vinny must have been standing guard outside. He stepped inside and nodded at the two big men. “What’s up, Sig?”

  “Watch the new girl. Rick and I have to go. We’ve got major problems.”

  “You got it, man,” Vinny said, waiting for Sig and Rick to rush out before closing the door. He turned a metal key in the lock and dropped the key into his front pocket. He looked over at Hope and smiled.

  “Don’t worry, Hope. I’m not like them. I’m not a druggie, and I’m not a thug.”

  “Then why are you doing this?” Hope asked, her voice wary.

  “It’s a long story, but I owe Hollywood. He’s been like a brother to me, I guess.” Vinny’s smile faded. “Although with a brother like him, who needs enemies?”

  Hope wasn’t sure if he was kidding, but she knew she had to try to win Vinny over. He seemed like the only one that might be willing to help her. If she was nice to Vinny, maybe he’d help her escape. She smiled up at him, about to ask for something to drink, when someone knocked on the door.

  A look of anger flashed over Vinny’s face, making Hope step back. Then, just as quickly, the look was gone, replaced by a reassuring smile.

  “Hold on just a minute,” he said, crossing to the window and pulling the curtain back a little to peer out into the corridor.

  “It’s just Big Red, the motel manager. I’ll get rid of him and be back.” He looked over at Hope and hesitated, before saying, “I’ll be right outside, so don’t do anything stupid.”

  Hope nodded and wrapped her arms around herself, trying to look agreeable.

  I’ve got to make him trust me. I’ve got to convince him to help me.

  Vinny stopped at the door and looked back. He motioned to Hollywood’s slumped form. He put his finger to his lips and whispered, “And don’t wake him up. He can get pretty nasty if he doesn’t get his beauty sleep.”

  Hope nodded again and waited until the door had closed, then walked over to Hollywood and looked down at him. She knew he had a phone in his back pocket. If only she could get hold of it before he woke up. She could call 911 and tell them where she was.

  She could even try to call Aunt Eden. Aunt Eden had saved her before, and she would save her again if only Hope could let her know where she was.

  But as she stood there thinking, Hollywood murmured in his sleep and adjusted his body over the pocket that held his phone.

  Hope sighed and crossed over to the old television set, changing the station to the local news. Maybe they were already looking for her. The screen showed a young, female reporter in a navy-blue raincoat standing in front of a Channel 10 news van. The reporter held an umbrella in one hand and a microphone in the other. Hope turned up the volume, straining to hear the reporter, who was visibly excited.

  “…the body of a teenage girl was found in the Diablo River earlier today. Although we are still waiting for an official briefing from the WBPD, if the reports are true, this would be the second victim found in the town of Willow Bay this week. Our sources tell us that the gruesome discovery was made by a local dog walker…”

  Hope stared in horror as the cameras panned out and showed the trees that surrounded the river’s edge. Crime scene tape blocked the reporters and camera crew from getting any closer, but she caught glimpses of the dark water as it lapped hungrily at the soggy riverbank.

  Hope looked toward the closed curtains, imagining the canal beyond. A terrible certainty grew in her mind.

  Those girls had been at this motel, too. Somehow, they ended up dead in the river, and if I don’t find a way out of here, I’ll be next.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Nessa jumped out of her unmarked Dodge and splashed toward the front door of Eden’s house, just as a brilliant bolt of lightning lit up the sky. Yellow crime scene tape blocked her progress, and she looked up to see Officer Andy Fordham waving her around to the side of the house.

  “Over here, Detective,” the young officer called, his face pale and wet under a dark rain jacket. “We had to cordon off the front entrance and the garage until the CSI team arrives, but we’ve set up a path in through the back.”

  “Good job, Andy,” Nessa said, glad she hadn’t contaminated the crime scene by tramping her wet shoes through any evidence that may have been left behind.

  She followed Andy, passing through a wooden fence before reaching the back deck, which led into the house. Leo Steele’s tall, lean frame filled the doorway.

  “Evening, Detective.”

  Nessa considered hiding her surprise at seeing the lawyer, but then decided she didn’t have time to act coy. “What are you doing here, Mr. Steele? Has Ms. Winthrop retained your services?”

  “No, I’m here to support Eden as a friend, not as her lawyer.”

  “Friends, huh? I’m amazed she’ll even speak to you after you represented her sister’s killer,” Nessa said, pushing her way past Leo and stepping into the big, brightly lit kitchen.

  “Eden and I have made our peace.” After a pause he added, “And I’m also here to try to find out who killed Jessica. I don’t think it’s just a coincidence that Eden’s teenage niece has been kidnapped the same week two girls have gone missing, and my client’s daughter has turned up dead.”

  Nessa cringed at his words. Not one but two girls had turned up dead, actually. She knew she’d have to tell both Leo and Eden about Brandi Long, and soon.

  She’d tried to keep the scene off limits to
news crews for as long as possible, to avoid the crime scene being compromised, but the local stations wouldn’t hesitate to interrupt their regular broadcast with this type of breaking news. After all, a dead body could be used to help drive their ratings.

  “Where’s Ms. Winthrop?” Nessa asked Officer Fordham, who had followed her inside. “And the woman who called it in?”

  “They’re in the living room talking to Detective Jankowski,” Fordham responded.

  “Based on Sage Parker’s initial statement we cordoned off the front entrance and the area leading out to the garage. She said two men came up the front walk, stood inside the foyer, and then walked the girl over to the garage. They pulled a car into the garage, put the girl in the car and drove away.”

  “Was she able to identify the car?” Nessa asked, anxious to send out an APB as soon as possible.

  “She just said it was an old silver sedan. Couldn’t give a make, model or license tag number,” Fordham said, frustration obvious in his voice. “Officer Eddings is out canvassing the neighbors to see if anyone may have seen the car.”

  “Good. Let me know right away if you find a witness.” She moved toward the hall and Leo followed her into the living room. She needed to talk to Sage Parker to uncover more details. Nessa realized they had a chance to get an Amber Alert issued if they could provide enough information.

  Eden huddled on a plush, white sofa beside Duke and a boy that looked to be only a few years older than Cole. Nessa realized he must be Eden’s nephew, Devon. She noticed the boy’s eyes were glassy. He didn’t seem to hear Eden’s soft voice as she soothed him, and Nessa decided he must be in shock.

  Can hardly blame him. God forbid one of my boys ever has to face something like this.

  Eden raised her eyes to see Nessa approach, and the raw hopefulness that filled them unnerved her.

  She thinks I’m the one who can find her niece. She’s counting on me to bring the girl home.

  Nessa perched on the edge of the sofa and took Eden’s hand. “I’m so sorry, Eden. I know you’re going through hell right now. But believe me, I’m going to do everything in my power to find your girl.”