No Place to Vanish

by Jaden Skye

  Ben laughed a second. “You act like we hit a gold mine, we didn’t. There’s not so much to fill you in on. Only the usual stuff.”

  “What’s usual?” Olivia asked. Ben’s voice had a tone of scorn in it that she didn’t like.

  “A slimy guy and supposedly classy woman get it on down here in the Keys,” Ben responded. “It’s not exactly big news.”

  “It is big news when the woman goes missing, though.” Wayne didn’t seem to like Ben’s attitude either.

  “That’s true.” Ben rubbed his heavy face. “It’s just hot and we’re tired. It’s been a long day.”

  The other detective, Dan, took over immediately then. He spoke simply and respectfully. Olivia felt better listening to him.

  “Most of the people we talked to who saw Victor and Raine said they seemed fine,” Dan reported. “They seemed happy, having a good time. They were seen laughing, dancing in the club and also spotted going together for that late-night swim.”

  “A swim near the underwater wreck?” Olivia asked abruptly.

  “Good question. I didn’t hear that,” Dan replied, smiling at Olivia approvingly. “The two of them were also caught on the surveillance video swimming at the beach that night. The video didn’t show which part of the beach exactly.”

  “And after the swim, what then?” Wayne was all over it. “Any videos of Victor returning alone?”

  “No, nothing like that,” said Dan.

  “There had to be some shots of them coming out of the water?” Wayne demanded.

  “There weren’t,” Dan replied. “They could have come out at another part of the beach. We’ve been trying like crazy to trace Victor’s footsteps that night. No luck. It was too late, no one saw him.”

  “Someone had to see him check out of the hotel the next morning then?” Olivia jumped in. “Or check out later that night? If he stayed around, someone had to see him alone the next day.”

  “There’s express checkout at the hotel.” Dan shook his head. “And no one saw him again after that night.”

  “That’s not good.” Wayne stood up abruptly.

  “They could have gone somewhere else after the swim?” Ben chimed in. “Just because no one saw him alone doesn’t add up to much.”

  “It definitely does, it’s irregular.” Wayne’s eyes flashed. “And besides, we’ve got more than that. Victor’s been caught in an out and out lie. He said he never saw Raine the night after the bachelorette party. He told that to Olivia and also to the police.”

  “I heard that,” Dan quickly agreed.

  Ben shrugged. “So he lied about spending another night with a married lady? Big deal.”

  “It’s a big deal when the lady goes missing, Ben,” Dan repeated.

  “When and where was Victor spotted again?” Wayne needed to know immediately.

  “We found out that he turned up in Miami the next day,” said Dan.

  “Miami?” Wayne flushed. “Victor lives in Key West! What in hell was he doing in Miami?”

  “He goes to the casino up there from time to time, as well as the one in Key West,” Ben chimed in. “People up there know him.”

  “Raine went to both casinos, too,” Olivia murmured. “Were she and Victor seen at the casino in Miami in the past together?”

  “Good question,” said Dan.

  “Victor was up in the casino in Miami without Raine the next day,” Wayne was summarizing. “Just checking to be sure.”

  “Yes, that’s right,” said Ben. “This video on the beach is the last time anyone saw them together.”

  “Or saw her at all.” Wayne was restless, going over and over evidence as if he were chewing on a bone. “It’s odd that Victor was back up in Raine’s hometown without her, the day after she goes missing. He must have gone up there to collect money. Why else would he go?”

  “Could be,” Dan agreed.

  “To collect something! The question is what?” Olivia chimed in.

  “You think he was part of a hit was put out on Raine?” Dan focused in.

  Ben shook his head again then. “A hit? By who? Why? There’s no evidence of it. For all we know Raine sent Victor up to the casino in Miami herself. She could be holed up somewhere down here waiting for him to bring the money to her. For all we know he delivered it already and she used it to escape.”

  That was an interesting theory and it struck Olivia immediately. Victor would then just be the middleman in a chain.

  “Could have, would have.” Wayne was uneasy. “There’s no time left for speculation. It’s always the money trail. I myself went to the casino in Miami to talk to Dupris a few days ago.”

  Ben stood up beside Wayne. “Dupris hightailed it out of town,” he muttered.

  “Yes, he did,” said Wayne. “He left a day or so before. Did he know what was coming? Dupris held Raine’s debts. Some people think they might even be together. I’d say that’s unlikely, seeing what’s going on between Raine and Victor.”

  “It doesn’t mean Dupris’s not still involved,” said Olivia.

  “What did Victor say he was doing at the casino in Miami the next day?” Wayne was becoming more and more distressed. “Why wasn’t Raine with him? Where did she go?”

  “I heard that Victor was grilled about that a few hours ago,” Ben reported. “He said after the night in Key Largo, Raine wanted to stay down there a little longer. He left and decided to go to Miami.”

  “Why?” Wayne was insistent.

  “Victor said he had a friend to talk to in Miami, that’s all,” said Ben.

  “Who’s the friend? What did they talk about? We have to check anyone who saw him at the casino and see what they know,” Wayne added briskly.

  “It’s all in the works,” Dan added, giving Olivia a long glance. “I heard you were Raine’s good friend,” he added. “I’m sorry.”

  “Yes, that’s right, I was,” Olivia replied. “And I still am. Always will be.”

  *

  “We have to run this by Sean right away,” Wayne said, as he and Olivia left Ben and Dan. “How much did Sean know about what went on with Olivia at the casino in Miami, really? So far he says not much. People there said he never showed up. She usually was there alone. And we still haven’t found out who paid her debts. Was Edward still coughing up the money? Or did Victor find someone to pay them for her?”

  That was hard to imagine, but it could have been. “I’d be careful talking to Sean,” Olivia replied. “He’s really on edge right now. Sean’s become a man with nothing more to lose, he can’t take too much more at the moment.”

  Wayne sighed deeply. “It’ll all come together before long,” he said under his breath. “I feel it. We’re right on the edge of getting that one piece of information that will pull these loose pieces together.”

  Olivia felt that as well. “Listen, let me talk to Sean myself,” she said to Wayne. “I’m working for him, after all. He might feel easier speaking to me right now.”

  “Sure, go for it.” Wayne was pleased with the suggestion. “Go find him at the hotel and talk to him before you go to bed. Do it tonight when he’s edgy and tired. That’s our best shot of having him let it rip and talk to us straight.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

  To Olivia’s surprise, when she returned to the hotel she found Sean sitting outside on the veranda alone, looking at the darkened sky.

  “Can I join you a moment?” Olivia asked as she approached him.

  “Whatever,” Sean answered, not turning to greet her.

  Olivia sat down quietly, not wanting to intrude upon Sean’s privacy.

  “This must be very hard for you,” she said finally.

  “You got that right,” Sean responded curtly.

  “I’m so sorry,” Olivia offered.

  “I’ve been publicly taken for a fool,” Sean went on, his voice filled with both sadness and fury. “How is this going to look to the people who work for our charities?”

  Olivia could understand his concern. “I
f we find Raine alive, perhaps she can explain?”

  “If we find her alive? Has it gotten to that point?” Sean’s voice grew darker. “The police found evidence that she’s dead?”

  “No, they haven’t,” Olivia backtracked.

  “Well, let’s not go there then,” Sean barked. “Let’s not flood the news with more gore than they already have on their plate. They love that stuff, eat it up. Everyone loves to see good people crumbling, don’t they?”

  “Some,” Olivia commented.

  “Most,” Sean replied.

  Olivia sympathized with how Sean was feeling. She’d been through the shock of finding out awful things about a partner herself. Your whole world starts collapsing then, she understood. Olivia longed to ask Sean a few questions, though.

  “May I ask you a few questions?” she asked tentatively.

  “No,” Sean answered suddenly, startling Olivia. “I’ve told everyone the same thing over and over and it’s made me look like a jerk. I said we had a happy marriage. I thought we did. I said I gave her everything she needed. Obviously, that wasn’t true, either.”

  This wasn’t the time to press him further and Olivia knew it. “Okay, I’ll call it a night then,” she said, standing suddenly.

  Sean didn’t like that, either. “Sit down! Now you’re going to run away too? You can’t take the truth?”

  “Of course I can take the truth,” Olivia replied. “It just seems you prefer to be by yourself now. You said you didn’t want to answer questions.”

  “That’s right,” said Sean, “but it doesn’t mean I don’t want to talk.”

  Olivia sat back down gingerly, letting him take the lead.

  “Raine’s a good woman,” he began speaking slowly. “Something happened to her. I’m sitting here trying to figure it out. I have no idea how it all ended like this. Life jumps on you from behind when no one’s looking.”

  Olivia found Sean’s words heart-wrenching. She could certainly relate.

  “Yes, it does,” she replied. “It happened to me, too.”

  “I know it did,” Sean said, “that’s why I wanted you on the case.”

  “Thank you,” said Raine. “I really appreciate being involved.”

  “I know you do,” said Sean. “Just let me say one thing to you, though, back off a little. Take it slow.”

  Olivia was startled. “Why? We have to find her.”

  “I don’t mean that,” Sean replied. “Sure, we have to find her, but don’t let the police and detectives draw you into the filth. This is filth we’re looking at now! Just filth. It has nothing to do with what happened to Raine.”

  “Maybe it does,” said Olivia. As she strained to look over at Sean, she saw the veins in his neck protruding and his hands clenched together in his lap. It had to be especially hard for someone who was so prominent for his good works to endure something like this.

  “Filth, filth,” Sean kept murmuring.

  “I don’t call it filth, Sean, I call it life,” Olivia responded. “It happens to all of us sooner or later.”

  “Not to all of us,” he responded. “Not to me and mine!”

  *

  After a few more moments, Olivia left Sean sitting there and went up to her small, slanty room. Fortunately, she had left the windows open wide and a soft breeze was blowing in. After changing into a light nightgown, Olivia fell into bed. The day had been long and exhausting. It was strangely comforting, though, to realize that Raine had stayed right in this hotel. Maybe down the hall, even. What happened to her after she’d gone swimming? The thought filled Olivia’s mind and wouldn’t leave it.

  Olivia closed her eyes then and felt sleep coming as the thoughts revolved around in her mind. Where was Raine now? Did she and Victor fight in the water? Did he drown her by accident? Had her body dropped deep into the ocean and been consumed by the life in it now?

  Olivia fell into a strange fitful sleep then, with vivid dreams. In one dream she saw Raine standing on a hill, beautifully dressed, laughing.

  “Raine,” Olivia called out in the dream, only to see her quickly fade away.

  A little while later, Olivia dreamt that she saw Raine sitting in a strange café, drinking coffee, waving at her.

  Instead of waving back, Olivia awoke with a shock. What were these dreams? Was Raine gone and trying to reach her, telling her she had died? Or was she trying to say she was still close by? Olivia’s heart started pounding wildly as she got out of bed and rushed to the open window.

  “Raine,” she called out, “where are you?”

  But the only answer that came was silence. Silence and the blowing of the lonely breeze.

  *

  Olivia abruptly awoke early the next morning. She’d arranged to meet Wayne downstairs for breakfast, and despite being tired, didn’t have the luxury of sleeping in. There were almost no breaks to be had while working a case. Olivia’s life had become austere and disciplined. It was good for her, though, she realized. Strangely, she liked it this way.

  Olivia showered quickly. One thing she loved about the work was that she never knew what the day was bringing. She slipped into a paisley, linen dress, pulled her hair behind her with a ribbon, and grabbed her bag. But just as Olivia was about to go out the door, her phone rang. No doubt it was Wayne checking on her, making sure she was on her way downstairs.

  Olivia quickly picked up the phone. “Olivia, Olivia,” Wayne was shouting.

  Olivia’s body froze. “What?”

  “I’m glad you picked up immediately,” Wayne was practically yelling.

  “What is it? Tell me!”

  “It’s over. They found her!” Wayne burst out.

  “Found Raine?” Olivia could barely get the words out.

  “Her body washed up in a swamp a few miles away,” Wayne added. “They found her at six a.m. this morning. I just got the news.”

  “Oh no, no,” Olivia gasped.

  “It’s over,” he repeated.

  “Did she drown? Was she killed?” Olivia started crying.

  “I can’t say that for sure, yet.” Wayne tried to compose himself. “It’s possible she drowned. We’ll find out soon, though. Right now they’re collecting evidence and taking the body to the medical examiner.”

  “Body?” Olivia’s alive, wonderful friend had turned into a body. This was no longer a missing person case.

  “Come downstairs immediately,” Wayne insisted.

  “I’m on my way,” Olivia barely breathed.

  *

  A crowd had already gathered outside the hotel when Olivia got down. The minute she arrived Wayne rushed over to her.

  “Come on, we’re going to the swamp,” he breathed.

  Olivia felt herself turn pale. “Is Raine’s body still there? I want to see her, to say good-bye.”

  “I’m not sure,” Wayne answered. “But everybody’s down there now.”

  “Sean? Raine’s father?” Olivia asked, speechless.

  “No, not yet,” Wayne said as he whisked Olivia into a small, dark car waiting for them at the curb. “Sean and Edward are just finding out. Detectives are with them now, talking to them in person. Only law enforcement are permitted at the swamp right now.”

  Wayne and Olivia slipped into the car and it sped off as if on a high-speed chase, down a few blocks, across a big highway and then toward the back of town.

  “Where is this swamp? How did Raine get there?” Olivia breathed as they sped through Key Largo.

  “It’s at the back of the Key.” Wayne was focused and methodical. “It’s not a place you’d go swimming in. Seems most likely her body was dumped.”

  “Dumped? My God, why? By who?”

  “Or it could have floated through the ocean and washed up there,” Wayne mused.

  “Are they sure it’s Raine? She’s definitely dead?” Olivia couldn’t help ask as the car got closer.

  Wayne grabbed Olivia’s hand and squeezed it. “There’s no doubt about it,” he murmured. “I’m really very
sorry.”

  *

  The swamp was cordoned off with long, yellow ribbons when Olivia and Wayne arrived. It was hidden under thick brush, down a sloping hill, not far from an inlet. Wayne showed his identification to an officer there and the two of them were quickly let in.

  Lots of officers were sprawled out all over the place, taking photos and picking up whatever evidence they could find. Olivia hoped she could see Raine one more time. And she also hoped she could not. She was terrified to see Raine’s body and whatever may have been done to it. She was also relieved that Sean and Edward were not here now.

  There was a sickening smell as they got down closer to the muddy water. Olivia wanted to put her hands over her eyes and hold her breath. This was a place where everything festered; all kinds of insects crawled underfoot, mosquitoes buzzed, and the sound of a strange bird rang out.

  “Is she still here?” Olivia asked, breathless.

  “I don’t know yet,” said Wayne. “We’ll see in a minute.”

  “How did she get here?” Olivia had a thousand questions piling over one another in her mind.

  “The ocean could have swept her up here,” Wayne said as he looked the place over. “Or she could have died in the water somewhere else and been washed up on shore.”

  “I can’t stay here long.” Olivia shivered as Wayne put his hand on her shoulder.

  “It’s okay, we won’t have to,” he said. “We just have to get a good look at the place ourselves. You never know what you’ll find at the site of a murder or where a body is found.”

  Olivia wondered what he expected.

  “The body itself is a treasure trove information too,” Wayne continued, “and sometimes there’s something on the body, or that falls close by that gives us just what we’re looking for.”

  Olivia knew that Wayne was looking for hard evidence. He’d need it to put her killer away.

  As they walked further into the center of the area, Olivia looked around wildly to see if Raine was still close by. Was she waiting for them to come and say good-bye to her?