by C. J. Thomas
To distract myself, I focused on the movement of the car. We stopped and started, stopped and started. I wondered how far we’d gone before I woke up. I could be anywhere. We weren’t on the freeway, though—the stopping and starting felt like a street traffic pattern. We were somewhere in the middle of a lot of traffic, a lot of noise.
I decided to fight back. I had nothing to lose, after all.
Once we stopped again—at a light, I guessed—I kicked as best I could, banging my knees against the bottom of the lid of the trunk, over and over. I screamed through the tape until my voice was hoarse.
Nothing happened—at least, nothing I wanted to happen. Instead, we made a quick right, so sharp I rolled without trying to. I hit the side of the trunk painfully, crying out. Then we stopped just as abruptly, jostling me again. I groaned, my muscles screaming in agony, along with the back of my head.
The door opened and closed. My heart leaped into my throat. They were coming. Oh, God, this might be it.
I said another prayer, maybe the hundredth since I woke up, and waited for the inevitable.
A key in the lock.
The lid swung open.
I flinched away from the figure in front of me, my eyes not yet adjusted to the sudden light. I blinked rapidly, trying to get a hold of my senses.
When the face and body came into focus, I couldn’t believe it. I had to be dreaming. It had to be a strange hallucination after the head injury. Anything to make what I saw in front of me not true.
“Surprised?” Margo sneered down at me. I could tell she wanted some sort of answer, but I couldn’t speak. I nodded, instead.
“I knew you would be. For all your smarts, you never figured it out.”
I tried to speak, to plead with her. I didn’t know where we were—it looked like a garage—so I couldn’t imagine her offing me then and there. It had to happen soon, though, right?
Unless she was only bringing me to Austin.
Stop thinking about Austin. It was never Austin.
The voice from my gut turned my blood to ice. I realized it was true. He had nothing to do with it. There were his innocent, sad eyes staring back at me again framed in my vision. He only loved Emelia.
“Getting pretty cramped up in there, I would imagine.” She looked from side to side, scoping out the surroundings. I waited as patiently as I could—where could I go?—while wondering what she planned to do.
“I can’t carry you in over my shoulder. You’re not a big girl, but you’re too big for me. Besides, the clientele in this place tend to mind their business, but there are some things that just can’t be ignored.” She winked conspiratorially, like I was in on the joke. I could only stare at her.
She gnawed one of her fingernails, eyes still moving around. I thought she might be on some sort of speed or other upper, something to make her so edgy.
Either that or she was panicking. That didn’t make me feel very good. A panicky person tended to, well, panic. Do irrational things, and I didn’t want her to panic on me.
“Okay. Here’s what I’ll do. I’m going to untie your legs so you can walk. I’ll leave your hands the way they are. I’ll walk close behind you so nobody sees.”
“My mouth.” I tried to say it, but it came out as a garbled mumble. She got the idea.
“Oh. You wanna talk?” She rolled her eyes.
I widened mine, pleading with her. I needed her to understand. I could hardly breathe, all stuffed up as I was from crying.
“You won’t scream?”
I shook my head vehemently. I wouldn’t push her that far. I wanted to breathe. I wanted to be able to speak to her, too. I had too many questions to let them go unanswered.
I should have known she wouldn’t be gentle. The tearing of the tape pulled my skin, making me yelp.
She leaned into the trunk, eyes blazing. “You weren’t gonna scream,” she hissed, her eyes wild.
“It hurt! It hurt!” I whispered fiercely, wishing I could raise my hands to defend myself. “That’s all! I’m sorry.”
She backed away and I breathed easier. Seeing a knife in her hand set my heart racing again.
“Relax. I’m only cutting the ropes on your legs.” She sounded tired, annoyed. I wondered at her nerves, sounding like that when she was the one who had kidnapped me. “We have a few things to talk over,” she muttered.
I had the feeling she wasn’t kidding, and my insides froze at the thought of what would happen when the talking was over.
Would that be it? My life gone?
155
Dan
HOURS PASSED. Hours of feeling completely helpless.
I was nauseous and couldn’t eat. Wasn’t hungry. Just wanted to find Julia.
Margo and Julia fell off the radar, completely. The phones were still off. I had nothing to go on since the cars tailing her had yet to find her.
I should’ve listened to my instincts when I thought something was off about Margo hanging around outside. I should’ve put a tail on her earlier.
The weight of should have nearly crushed me.
In desperation, I picked up my desk phone to call down to the dispatcher. “I need all cars looking for these two license plates.”
Frank looked over at me while I talked on the phone, requesting the help. When I read off the plate numbers for Julia and Margo’s cars and hung up, he cleared his throat. I closed my eyes, facing away from him, bracing myself for a lecture I had neither the time nor the patience for.
“You’re sure this is the best way to go?”
I turned, glaring at him. “No, I’m not. I don’t know what else to do, though. If you have any ideas, let me know.”
He shrugged. “I don’t. I’m sorry. I just hate to see you so close to this, is all. I don’t wanna see you get in hot water for usin’ our guys to look for your girlfriend.”
I slammed my fists on my desk, standing to face him. “Stop calling her that. Stop dismissing this. I’m not fixing a speeding ticket, Frank. I’m trying to find her. You know she’s missing just as well as I do.”
“I don’t know that. I just know you can’t reach her.”
“Son of a bitch.” I could have murdered him. “No wonder people get so pissed at us when we don’t look into missing loved ones until a day after they go missing.”
I understood, finally, why people got so upset when we told them there was nothing we could do for them. That feeling of waiting, knowing something was wrong but not being able to do anything about it. Being told there was nothing to be worried about when I knew there was.
Hell on Earth.
“I’ve got to do something. Anything. I can’t sit here all day waiting to hear a lot of nothing.”
He nodded slowly. I could tell he felt sympathetic, but I was still irritated. He didn’t know how I felt. He could afford to lecture me on the dos and don’ts of police work when it wasn’t personal. “What are you thinking?”
“I’m not thinking anything. That’s the problem. I’ve got nowhere to go. When I know she’s with Margo but I don’t know where, what can I do?” Just then, an idea hit me. I headed for the stairs.
“Where ya goin’?” Frank called out.
“To see Austin Haynes.”
I didn’t wait for him to give me shit about it. I had a mission. I was finally doing something, feeling worthwhile. Austin was the only other living person with information that could possibly help Julia.
Everybody knew where the office building sat—it was one of the tallest in the city. I headed straight for it, siren blaring. I didn’t bother to park, leaving the car in the half-circle turnaround in front of the skyscraper. A badge flashed in the faces of drivers, security, and anybody else standing in my way was enough to make them step aside.
“Haynes,” I called out to the woman behind the front desk.
“Top floor.” She didn’t even ask who I was. She sounded bored, actually.
A quick elevator ride later, I stood in front of who I guessed was Austin’s
assistant. She looked at me with wide eyes—I guessed she wasn’t used to brusque men barreling into her reception area.
“I need to see Austin Haynes. It’s urgent,” I barked.
“Can I tell him who’s here to see him?” The girl couldn’t be older than eighteen. I wondered if she was just another wannabe actress and thought she probably was.
I flashed my badge; no other explanation necessary.
Her eyes went wide. I saw a lot of fear there and I felt sorry for the kid. I didn’t want her to lose her job because of me. Instead of making her announce me, I marched into Austin’s office.
He was alone, sitting behind a desk as I walked in, then stood when he saw me. “What’s this all about?” he asked, straightening his tie.
I looked around the office. It was tasteful, if not a little large. Some men felt it necessary to compensate. I turned my attention to him.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Haynes. I never told him he could come in—”
“She had nothing to do with it,” I said, smiling broadly. “I’ve always loved a big entrance.”
“Who are you?” I saw recognition in his face, but it was vague.
“Dan Pierce.” I flashed my badge. “Remember me? We met a few nights back, at that party. The twenties party.”
Clearer recognition crossed his face, along with apprehension. His mouth closed. I got the message. He didn’t want to say anything before the girl left. He waved her off and I waited until she left before I said anything else.
“Listen. I know you don’t want to talk to a cop—”
“You’re damn right,” he said, voice strong and bitter. “I know why you’re here.”
“Oh? Why’s that?” What did he know that I didn’t?
He stared at me like I had two heads. “To arrest me.”
I shook my head, smothering the urge to laugh. It was so ridiculous. That was the last thing on my mind. “No. Not at all.”
He didn’t look convinced. “Right.”
“I don’t have a warrant. Nobody does. That isn’t it, and honestly, I don’t have the time to stand here talking it over with you. I’m sort of in a hurry. I’m hoping you can help me.”
He tilted his head to the side, like he was trying to figure out if I could be trusted.
“Please. I need to speak to you. A life could depend on it.” Then I took a chance. “I might lose somebody I care about. I need to help her.”
“Who?”
I decided to answer him honestly. “Julia Mabel.”
He went pale. “I told her. I warned her.”
“I know you did. She told me you did. Nobody could warn her away.”
“What happened?”
“I’m not sure yet. All I know is, she’s missing. I can’t reach her. Nobody can. She went to meet with Margo. I never heard from her after that.”
He shook his head. “I’m not surprised. She was one of the reasons I wanted Julia to stay away from the article.”
“Why didn’t you say anything? Anything concrete, I mean? Vague warnings don’t make much of a difference, especially to someone as tenacious as Julia.”
He looked pained. Instead of answering my question, he added, “That’s why I gave her the texts. Do you know about them?”
I nodded. “Yes, I’ve read them.”
“I knew they were from Margo. I knew she tried to blackmail Emelia. She had the money—so did I—but neither of us wanted to give in. We were on the way to going public. Neither of us wanted to give her the satisfaction she was looking for. It wasn’t her story to tell.”
“Why didn’t you come out and confess this? Why?” I wanted to take him by the shoulders and shake him until his brain rattled. “If you had, Julia wouldn’t have trusted Margo.”
“I know. You don’t know how terrible this makes me feel. Julia’s always been a straight shooter.” He sank into his chair, sighing.
I went to him, leaning toward him over the edge of his huge, walnut desk. “Tell me something I can use. Anything. Please.”
He didn’t look at me. He stared out the window instead, at the skyline of downtown LA. “I met Emelia over a year ago, but it wasn’t until we crossed paths at a green energy conference that we connected.” He smiled softly. “Have you ever met a perfect person? She was one. Beautiful, smart, committed. She didn’t care if she rubbed people the wrong way, pissed off somebody in high places. It didn’t matter. She was completely self-assured, certain she was on the right side. She even had the audacity to try and convince me green energy was the way to go.”
I smothered an exasperated sigh. This was going nowhere, while the clock was ticking. I didn’t have time for his trip down memory lane. My heart was thudding a mile a minute and he wanted to go through the early days of their relationship—while I was losing mine.
“Who killed Emelia?” I walked around to the side of the desk, in front of him. Breaking into his daydreams. “Tell me. I know you know.”
His eyes met mine. They were frank, but not forthcoming. “How do you know that?”
“I can tell. If it wasn’t you, there’s only one other person who could’ve done it.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” His face was completely blank, emotionless. I wondered what kind of drugs he was on and considered asking for some. I would have given anything to be so calm. He had to be on meds, something for anxiety after losing Emelia. How else could he affect that air of unnatural calm?
Would I need the same thing after I lost Julia?
No—I wouldn’t entertain the thought.
I clenched my fist, fighting the urge to punch him into telling me what I needed to hear. “Why won’t you talk to me? Huh? Do you want somebody else to suffer the way you’re suffering? Do you want somebody to die, the way Emelia died?”
“Don’t say that.”
“Why not? It’s true. She died, and now Julia’s close to the same thing. I need to find her. I need you to help me. Why won’t you help me?” I had to shock him, get through to him somehow.
“I knew it made me look suspicious, giving her the texts. Warning her against the article. I guess I was too late. I’m sorry.”
I could have screamed. It felt like I was talking to a brick wall.
“It was Margo. Come on, Austin. Just say it. Margo. Margo killed her.”
He wouldn’t say a word, staring out the window again.
“What are you hiding? What are you covering up? Do I need to bring you in for questioning?”
That got his attention and he turned with a slight smile. “You said it yourself, Detective. You don’t have anything to charge me with. You can’t keep me at the station without a charge.”
“I can charge you with obstruction of justice.”
“Give it a try. I’m sure my lawyers would love to hear about that.”
I slammed a closed fist against the desk.
“Can you at least tell me where she is? Margo, I mean?”
“Why would I know where she is?” He sounded afraid.
“Aren’t you dating? Isn’t that the way this is going? Isn’t that why you’re protecting her?”
I didn’t think I’d ever seen a man who looked so twisted, so conflicted. He wanted to talk. I could tell. Something held him back.
“I’m not protecting anybody. There’s no reason to.” I could’ve sworn he was shaking. “I don’t know where Margo is. I haven’t spoken to her all day.”
I scoffed. “Like I can believe a word you say.”
“You can believe that. I haven’t heard a thing from her.” His eyes burned into mine with fierce intensity. His nostrils flared. He was serious.
I stood straight, smoothing down my jacket. “Fine. Play it that way. I hope your conscience serves you when the reports come out—the ones saying Julia’s gone.”
He flinched like I’d hit him, then turned his face away. I fought the urge to spit on the floor, leaving before I lost control of myself. I hardly cast a glance at the frightened young girl behind the
desk as I walked to the elevator, nearly punching the button to return to the lobby. I was barely in control of myself, breathing rapidly, heart racing, palms sweating.
I was the only thing I could control. Everything else spiraled around me while I reached for it, tried to grab it, and failed.
That was it. I had to do whatever it took. I was on my own.
156
Julia
I WELCOMED the chance to get out of the trunk and stretch my legs, though I could have done without Margo dragging me through the garage like an exasperated mother pulling a willful child through the store.
“Hurry up,” she muttered, jerking my arm.
My hands were still bound behind my back, my legs were stiff. I looked around wildly—somebody had to see me, right? Somebody had to see this insanity going down.
Except, the garage was empty.
“Where are we?”
“You’ll find out. Now keep quiet or, I swear, I’ll use this.” I saw a menacing shape in the pocket of her trench coat. It might have been her fingers bent in the shape of a gun, but I didn’t think so.
It was enough to close my mouth.
I realized we were in a hotel—a seedy, sketchy one, at that. The sort of place where nobody looked up from whatever it was they were doing.
They didn’t want to see me walking so close to Margo, her shielding my bound hands. They certainly didn’t want to make eye contact, which I’d hoped they would. Nothing. We might as well have not been there.
Once we reached our tiny closet of a room, she shoved me onto the bed. I landed face first, horrified at my mouth touching the bedspread. I rolled quickly onto my back, then wriggled into a sitting position. I was out of breath by the time I finished, hair sticking to my sweaty face.
She looked me up and down, her face twisted in a sarcastic sneer. She was so far away from the woman I thought I knew, it was like night and day. How could she look at me with such hatred? If not hatred, then bitterness?
“What happened to you?” I asked. I wasn’t afraid anymore. If she was determined to kill me, she would do it no matter what. I wouldn’t cower in silence, never knowing the reason why my life came to such a sudden end.
