by T. R. Ragan
“I think this guy is using a bump key,” Hayley interrupted.
Lizzy and Madeline followed her through the kitchen and to the back door. Hayley pointed to the doorknob. “If you look close enough, you can see tiny scratches. The window next to the door has been tampered with, too, which tells me that’s probably how he got inside the first time. It’s easier to make a bump key if you can get the door open. If he got inside, he could have keys to every door in the place.”
“How does a bump key work?” Madeline wanted to know.
“It’s easy. You just need an old key that fits the lock and a file.”
It was hours later when Lizzy and Hayley joined Kitally upstairs. On the bathroom floor, they found a used syringe that Madeline insisted she knew nothing about. A window repairman was fixing all the locks and making sure every window in the house was secure.
“How’s it going?” Lizzy asked Kitally.
Kitally was in Madeline’s bedroom. “I’m almost done,” Kitally informed them. “One more drawer to check—oh, would you look at this?” Kitally held up a vibrator. “It’s one of those dual-action rabbit thingy-boppers.” She turned it over in her hand. “Huh. I first heard of this thing on a Sex and the City episode. I need to get myself one of these.”
Lizzy looked at Hayley.
Hayley shrugged and walked away.
It was late afternoon by the time they finished. The locks had been changed and the window repairman had just left. Hayley and Kitally were waiting outside. That’s when Lizzy told Madeline it would be a good idea for her to hire all-night security. Lizzy also thought it would be best if she returned to her normal routine. For the next week or so, Lizzy would meet Madeline at seven in the morning for a run in the park.
“I won’t be able to keep up with you,” Madeline said. “I haven’t run in weeks.”
“I’m not exactly breaking any records,” Lizzy told her, “but either way it won’t be a problem since I’ll be doing more looking around than running. If we want to find this guy, we need to get you out of this house.”
“I guess this means we’re going fishing and I’m the bait?”
“Exactly.” Lizzy stepped outside and added, “I noticed a gun vault in your closet.”
Madeline nodded.
“I suggest you keep a gun loaded and close at hand.”
“I will. Thank you for your help. You’re the only one who seems to understand what I’m dealing with here. My family thinks it will all just go away if I pretend it’s not happening and the police have blinders on. I don’t want to give up my life for this maniac.”
Lizzy didn’t know what to say. Three million people were stalked every year. Too many people wanted control and thrived off of making others miserable. She knew what it was like to feel tightness in her chest every time she heard a creak or quicken her pace if a breeze caused a tree branch to sway. Only recently had she learned to relax within the safety of her own home.
Madeline rubbed her arms as if she were cold. “We need to find David and Chris before it’s too late.”
Lizzy’s heart went out to the woman. At this point, they didn’t have much to go by. But sooner or later this man, whoever he was, would start making mistakes . . . Lizzy was counting on it.
CHAPTER 33
Hayley and Kitally left Lizzy at Madeline’s house and drove directly to Roseville and the interview they’d arranged with Andrew Morales, the man footing the bill for their search for his missing brother-in-law, Owen Santos.
Andrew’s wife left a tray of hot tea and cookies on the dining room table for them before she made herself scarce.
Andrew rested his elbows on the table, hands clasped, and said, “What have you found out so far? Any leads?”
“No leads yet,” Hayley said. “In fact, your sister, Robin, doesn’t seem too eager to find her husband.”
Andrew sighed. “She’s angry, that’s all. When I first hired you all to find Owen, I had no idea my sister was so bitter.”
“Because of the other women in his life?” Kitally asked.
“Apparently,” he said. “I can’t imagine it, though.”
“Why is that?”
“He’s not exactly a ladies’ man and I never saw him leave the house much. In fact, I never understood what Robin saw in him. When I would visit, Owen was usually on his computer in the den. He’s quiet, nerdy, hardly ever says two words to anyone other than his fish.”
“His fish?” Kitally asked.
“They have a koi pond in their backyard. If he isn’t on his computer, he’s outside talking to the fish.”
“Talking to them.”
He smiled. “That’s right. Every fish in that pond of his has a name, too.”
Kitally lifted her eyebrows and nodded slowly. “All right then. Only talks to his fish.”
Andrew looked over his shoulder as if to make sure nobody was listening in on their conversation. “Anyhow, like I said, I’d have to see it with my own eyes before I could imagine him taking up with another woman.”
“But then why else would he leave?”
“I guess to start a new life. Robin showed me their bank account. He withdrew two large sums, cleaning out their savings and retirement account only a few weeks before he disappeared.”
“Are you sure he withdrew the money and not his wife?”
He nodded. “Police already checked all of that out. When the bank showed them proof that he was the one who withdrew the money, they dropped the case.”
“If Robin doesn’t want to find her husband,” Hayley said, “maybe we should back off.”
“No,” Andrew blurted, shaking his head. “I refuse to let that man off the hook. He has two daughters who need looking after. They’ll both be in college before long. I love my nieces, but I have my own kids to look after. I don’t care how angry Robin becomes; I don’t want you to stop looking for him. We need to find him. I’m going to make him pay back every cent he took out of that bank account. Most of that money belongs to Robin and the girls. He needs to come back home and be a man, face his responsibilities.”
“We need information,” Hayley said, “but your sister refuses to let us talk to her daughters.”
“I was afraid of that.” He stood. “They’re in the back room with my daughter. It’s my day to pick the kids up from school and keep them until dinner. That’s why I asked you to come today.”
Andrew walked to the back of the house and returned a few minutes later. “This is Abbi,” he said, “and this is her younger sister, Lara.”
He had the girls sit down in the chairs facing Kitally and Hayley.
Abbi, the older girl, aged sixteen, was not happy, while Lara, fourteen, couldn’t keep her eyes off Kitally’s rainbow dread. Hayley found it difficult to believe they were sisters. Abbi had straight black hair framing dark eyes and a set jaw while her sister, Lara, was all smiles and dimples beneath a wild display of curly brown hair.
After Andrew took a seat at the far end of the table, Abbi said, “What’s this about, Uncle Andrew?”
“These women work for the private investigator I told you about. They’re here to ask you a few questions, that’s all. I know your mom doesn’t like to talk about it, but we need to find your father.”
“Why?” Abbi asked.
“Because your father has responsibilities. He took your mom’s savings, the money she needs to put you girls through college. You want to go to college, don’t you?”
Abbi wanted nothing to do with any of this. Definitely her mother’s daughter.
“Don’t you miss your dad?” Kitally asked.
“No,” Abbi said, too quickly.
“I do,” Lara said. “Dad used to tuck us in at night and tell us a new knock-knock joke every day.”
Abbi glared at her sister. “Mom already told you she’d buy you a whole bunch o
f knock-knock joke books.”
“I miss Dad,” Lara shouted. “I don’t know why you and Mom hate him so much.”
“We don’t hate him. You don’t know what you’re talking about. He left you. He left us,” Abbi said. “Why don’t you get that?”
Lara hit the table with her small fist. “This is why I want Dad to come home. You and Mom haven’t been the same since he left. Nothing has been the same. You guys never smile or laugh.” Lara looked at Hayley. “We used to do things together. We all used to laugh all the time.”
While the younger girl continued on with a list of the good ol’ days, Hayley noticed a twitch in Abbi’s jaw. The girl obviously didn’t feel the same way about her father as her younger sister did. She was a cutter. Abbi wore a long-sleeved shirt and when she saw Hayley looking at the collection of crisscross scars on her wrists, she tugged the sleeves lower until her hands were covered, too.
“Let’s all calm down,” Andrew said. He looked at Hayley and Kitally. “Any more questions?”
Kitally looked at Abbi. “I was hoping you could tell us about the last time you saw your dad. What was he wearing? What was he doing?”
Abbi’s jaw clenched.
“Just answer the question,” her uncle prodded, “and then we’re done here.”
“I don’t remember,” Abbi said.
“That’s not true,” Lara cut in. “You told me that the last time you saw Dad he was feeding the fish.”
Abbi blushed. “Yes, I forgot. He was feeding the fish.” She turned angry eyes on her sister. “Why don’t you remind me what he was wearing that day, too? Did I tell you that?”
Lara’s eyes narrowed. “I hate you.”
“That makes two of us.”
Lara shoved her chair back from the table and ran off.
“Girls, girls,” their uncle said, trying to get things under control as he went after the younger sister.
For the first time since she entered the room, Abbi looked Hayley straight in the eyes and said, “Mom is not going to be happy to hear about you two coming to speak with us today.” She came to her feet. “I think we’re done.”
CHAPTER 34
It was Wednesday morning. Early.
Seth slunk low in his seat, surprised to see Madeline running in the park. And she was with a woman he didn’t recognize. A bodyguard? That made him snicker. Madeline’s friend was a tiny thing. Safety in numbers must be what Madeline was thinking. Silly girl. Madeline had stopped running after she lied to her listeners about having a stalker. But now that she really had one, she appeared to be trying to move on with her life as if nothing had changed.
Madeline really knew how to push his buttons.
Without a body, Chris Porter’s wallet wasn’t enough to keep Madeline behind bars. He needed to up his game, make her see who was boss. Madeline should have lost her job by now. Hell, she should be hiding behind locked doors, afraid for her life, not running around the park, free as a bird.
To make matters worse, ever since discovering that Dr. Blair had been taken downtown for questioning, local media had been hanging out at the radio station. Madeline had also retained one of the best attorneys in the area. The bitch was getting more attention than ever. His jaw twitched at the idea that he might have helped boost her ratings.
“Don’t look now,” Lizzy told Madeline, “but when we curve around the park again, I want you to glance at the driver and tell me if the man sitting in the Nissan parked along the curb looks familiar.”
As they came around the corner, Madeline said, “All I can see is a shadow. What do we do?”
“Just hang tight. Keep a steady pace. Whatever you do, don’t let on that you know he’s watching us. When we get a little closer, let’s try to get a look at the license plate number.”
“What if he has a gun? What if he comes after us?”
“If it’s our guy, I don’t think he’ll risk getting out of the car. There are too many people around.”
“I don’t know if that makes me feel better.”
As they drew closer, Lizzy stopped and raised her cell phone as if she’d just received a text. As she tapped out a faux response, she was actually opening the camera app and tapping the screen to zoom in—but instead of a car on the little screen, all she saw was an angry blonde marching toward them.
The Nissan pulled away from the curb and drove off.
Shit.
“That’s Debra,” Madeline said. “What’s she doing here?”
Lizzy frowned, still upset that the car had gotten away before she had a chance to get a good look at the plates. Whoever was inside the vehicle wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. Meanwhile, the agitated blonde was still bearing down on them. “Debra?” she asked.
“David Westlake’s wife,” Madeline said as they waited for the woman to approach.
“David thought you walked on water,” Debra said the moment she was within hearing distance. “There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for you.” Every word was lined with bitterness. “He fixed your car, loaned you money, spent too many weekends being your handyman, but it was never enough.”
Madeline reached out to the woman, as if a friendly hug would make things better, but pulled up short when she saw Debra’s expression. “Debra, what are you talking about?”
Debra Westlake stood about an inch taller than Lizzy. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail. If looks could kill, Madeline would have fallen over dead two minutes ago. Debra’s face was all angry lines and flared nostrils.
“It’s all over the news,” Debra said. “David isn’t the only man in your life who has suddenly gone missing. Your neighbor is also missing and they found his wallet in your house.” Debra stepped closer and shoved Madeline, making her lose her balance. “You killed my husband. What did you do with his body? Tell me!”
Lizzy stepped forward.
“Stay out of this,” Debra growled. “You have no idea what kind of person you’re helping, do you?”
Without giving Lizzy a chance to respond, Debra pulled a CD from her purse and handed it to Lizzy. “Go back to your office and listen to that so you can see what kind of monster you’re dealing with.”
Madeline raked her hands through her hair. “Debra, what is going on?”
Debra tilted her head. “Wide-eyed and innocent until the end, huh?”
This time Madeline didn’t take the bait. Instead, she kept her mouth closed and let the woman have her say.
“I have lawyers, too,” Debra went on. “Thanks to them, I now have recordings of all your shows, Dr. Blair.”
Madeline shook her head.
“Have you told Ms. Gardner here that you asked David to call in and pretend to be your perverted stalker?”
Madeline reached a hand toward the woman as if she wanted to take her in her arms and make the pain go away, but Debra was not having any part of it. She lurched back as if Madeline’s hand were a snake ready to strike, then settled her gaze on Lizzy. “Before my husband disappeared, he’d been acting strange . . . withdrawn. I knew something was bothering him, so I asked him about it. He told me that Madeline had asked him for a favor. She wanted him to call in to her radio show in hopes of getting more people to do the same. David told me that if Madeline’s ratings continued to fall, she might lose her job.
“The worst part of it all,” she continued, “is that I told David he should help her out. What harm could it do him to make a couple of calls?” She wiped her eyes. “He never told me what exactly Madeline was asking of him.”
Debra turned back to face Madeline. “The reason I never pressed the issue and asked him to give me details, Madeline, was because I thought I knew you. Who the hell have I been inviting into my house all of these years? What sort of person have I let play with my children? What kind of lunatic would ask her best friend to call in and pretend to be a perverte
d stalker?”
Madeline said nothing.
“I want an answer.” Debra’s hands shook wildly. “You killed him, I know it! Tell me where you buried my husband after he refused to make any more crazy calls. Tell me!”
“You can’t possibly believe I would ever hurt David.”
Lizzy tried to step between them. “Maybe we should take this back to the house and talk there.”
“Listen to the calls,” the woman told Lizzy, her voice dripping with contempt. “And when you’re done, you might want to take a long, hard look at who you think you’re trying to help. I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re the next one to disappear. She’s just using you like she’s used everyone else in her life.”
Lizzy and Madeline watched Debra Westlake walk away. “Is it true?” Lizzy asked.
“I had nothing to do with David’s disappearance. How many times do I have to say it?”
“That’s not what I’m asking. Is it true that you had David call in to your show and pretend to be a stalker?” Her silence was all the answer Lizzy needed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I was embarrassed. It was a stupid thing to do.”
“Does your boss at the station know what you were up to?”
Madeline shook her head.
Lizzy started walking off.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m done with this.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t work with someone I can’t trust.”
“I’ve told you everything but that.”
Lizzy was fuming. She thought about the wallet, the note Madeline never handed over to the police, the magazine with the cutout letters . . . and now this. Dr. Blair had asked her friend to call in and pretend to be a stalker. She didn’t know what to believe any longer. Debra was right. She didn’t know this woman.
Hearing Madeline following her, she turned to face her. “You better think long and hard about what you’ve done. It was not only an unethical and stupid stunt, it could very well be the reason two people are missing, or worse . . . dead.”
