by Denise Daisy
The detective sat on the edge of the sofa, asking questions and taking notes. Esther took a deep breath as she entered the room.
Melvin Rebold introduced Esther to Detective Russell who stood and shook Esther’s hand but before he could say anything she boldly started the questioning.
“Can I ask you why Taz is now being called a run away? I just heard that piece of crap on the news and it’s ridiculous. Anyone who knows her at all knows she would never run away.”
Detective Russell gave her a courteous smile and then returned to his seat. “I’m wondering how well you do know your friend Miss Goodban.”
Esther thought his tone was quite condescending.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Did you know she was pregnant?”
Esther’s knees buckled and she felt as if she had been punched in the stomach. Her head began to spin, her face grew hot, and suddenly the sound of Detective Russell’s voice seemed miles away.
“Did you know that Felicitas was pregnant?”
Esther found her voice.
“No…..no I didn’t.” She immediately looked over at Ian who refuted her accusing look.
“I didn’t know either and believe me it’s not mine. We never had sex. It was her rules you know.”
Catlin rubbed Ian’s shoulder in pity while Esther looked on glaring. She was about to say her peace but her attention was forced back upon Detective Russell as he continued his questioning.
“So Felicitas didn’t tell you she was pregnant?”
Esther thought for a moment; maybe that piece of information was what Felicitas so desperately wanted to tell her. Then her mind went back to yesterday in the restroom of Gourmet Mudd when she caught Felicitas throwing up. Vomiting was a definite symptom of early pregnancy. Still her devotion to her best friend wouldn’t allow her to believe such an accusation. She lifted her chin displaying perfect posture before she responded.
“No she didn’t because she isn’t. Where did you get that information anyway?”
“I received a phone call this morning from a doctor at the Regenwood Clinic. He said she had come in earlier yesterday for a pregnancy test. He said the test was positive.”
“Well then she must have been raped or something because she is adamant about keeping her purity. She did seem upset yesterday and I found her vomiting in the restroom at Gourmet Mudd. She asked to spend the night and said she wanted to talk to me about something. We were going to talk after the bonfire.”
Detective Russell narrowed his eyes on Esther.
“So she never mentioned another boyfriend other than Ian, or any encounter? Maybe an internet friend or something?”
“No….never. She’s not like that.”
“You mentioned in your statement to the police that she said she saw someone before jumping off the trailer. What did she say exactly?”
“She said: My God it’s him. Then she jumped off and started running.”
“And you have no idea who him is?”
“No. I thought maybe she saw Ian…”
Before she could finish her statement Catlin came to Ian’s defense.
“Ian wasn‘t there. He has an alibi and I am witness to it.”
Esther had enough. She sneered at Catlin, her eyes like two daggers stabbing into her pretense.
“And why don’t you explain to Detective Russell how a seventeen year old high school senior managed to get into an over twenty one night club? Maybe someone should question you. You certainly have a motive for wanting to get rid of Taz since it’s so evident to everyone that you’re after her boyfriend!”
Catlin face turned crimson.
“Esther! Oh my God, how could you say such a thing?”
Detective Russell immediately took back control.
“Miss Goodban are you aware that Felicitas had been secretly visiting her grandmother Rosie Christenberry?
Esther knew her expression gave her away. The question came fast and unexpected leaving her no time to prepare an answer. The name Rosie Christenberry had long been banned from the Rebold home and the details surrounding why were sketchy. Felicita’s memories of her grandmother were vague and she told Esther she was curious as to why the family was forbidden to have any communication with her. Melvin Rebold told his daughters their grandmother was crazy and bent on evil and it was best they consider her dead and never have anything to do with her.
A year ago Felicitas confided to Esther she hired a private detective to find her grandmother. She presented Esther with the address scribbled on a sheet of paper as if it was an ancient map leading to buried treasure. With a gleam in her eye she planned a Saturday afternoon trip to the location. Esther went along on the secret quest as a faithful friend. An hour and a half later they arrived at their destination but Felicitas was too reluctant to go through with the plan; all the years of her father’s morbid warnings played over in her mind and stole her courage. They sat out in front of the location for hours debating on what to do before they decided to head back home. If Felicitas had gone alone, she never told Esther about it.
Esther could feel the stares of everyone in the room; Melvin’s being the most penetrating.
“I knew she found her grandmother but as far as I know she never actually met with her.”
Esther heard Melvin sigh.
“Miss Goodban do you know Felicitas passwords, to her email and face book accounts?”
“Yes.”
“I’m going to need them. I’d like to take a look at her mail and private messages to see if there is any correspondence with her grandmother or someone else her family was not aware of. Maybe someone she met on the internet and kept private.”
Esther didn’t want to give the password out. She felt like she was betraying her friend but if it helped find her in some way….
Detective Russell handed Esther his notebook and pen. She scribbled the word r3m3mb3r and handed it back. It was a strange password. The word remember with the E’s exchanged for 3’s. Once when Esther questioned Felicitas about the meaning of it, she just smiled mischievously and said she would tell her later. She never did.
Detective Russell closed his notebook and placed his pen back into his shirt pocket. He handed his card to Esther.
“If you think of anything else pertinent to the case give me a call,” then he turned to Sharon, “Now I’d like to take a look in your daughter’s room if you don’t mind.”
Esther watched Sharon lead the Detective up the massive staircase for Felicitas room. Everyone sat stoic staring out into space. Ian stood abruptly.
“I need some air.”
Catlin uncurled her legs and started to stand until she caught Esther’s scowl and immediately sat back down. Esther followed Ian out onto the back patio. She felt for him. Everyone knew he was obsessed with Felicitas and had been the moment he first met her. He moved to Nashville a year ago to pursue his music but when he met Felicitas one evening at Gourmet Mudd performing an acoustical concert he was immediately smitten and moved to Murfreesboro so he could be closer to her. He was obviously not the church going type but once he realized what it would take to date the daughter of the town’s most prominent minister he never missed a service. He even tolerated Felicitas strict standards just to be with her. There were rumors that he had put a diamond on lay away and would be proposing at Christmas. Esther’s heart went out to him. If he wasn’t the father of Felicitas baby, then she could only imagine what he must be thinking.
“You okay?”
He glared at her, his copper eyes burning in anger.
“No I am not okay. Taz is missing and worse than that she’s pregnant? How am I supposed to feel?”
“You promise it’s not yours?”
Ian looked perturbed. “Come on Esther. We both know Taz and we both know that’s impossible. I wish it was though….God I wish it was. How could she?”
“You don’t know that she did anything Ian. Willingly that is. It could have been something bad and she
didn’t know how to deal with it. I know that’s why she wanted to talk to me. Damn, I wish we’d have never gone on that stupid hayride.”
Ian sat on a lounge chair and looked out over the garden.
“I wonder how long she has known.”
His statement hit Esther hard. It was true. For the first time she realized Felicitas must have carried this secret with her for at least a month or so, depending how far along she was. Her stomach churned; she felt like crying.
“So what’s up with you and Catlin?”
Ian made a face. “Nothing. She’s just trying to help me.”
“Helping herself is more like it.”
Ian shrugged it off and lifted an eyebrow.
“So you have Taz’s passwords?”
“Uh huh and better than that, her laptop is at my house. She had dropped her things over last night before the hayride.”
Ian’s face brightened at the disclosure.
“Will you give it to me?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t trust anyone right now. How do I know you won’t go there and delete a bunch of stuff? Maybe it was you she saw in the woods. Maybe you and Catlin are working together…”
Ian held his head in his hands.
“Oh my God! Someone has watched way too many crime shows on TV. You think I did something to Taz?”
She didn’t really but decided to remain cautious none the less.
“I don’t know but I’m not taking any chances.”
“Okay fine, let’s look together then you can see I am not hiding anything and maybe we can find out what she is hiding.”
“Fine with me. Let’s go before the Detective realizes I have her computer. Besides I don’t want to be sitting around here anyway.”
Esther suggested they walk around the house instead of walking back through. She didn’t want a barrage of questions about where they were going or what they were up to and more than that she didn’t want anyone to follow. No sooner had they reached their cars than Catlin showed up panting.
“Ian are you leaving?”
“Yes he is.” Esther answered for him. “We are going somewhere and you can’t come.”
Esther was always blunt. She never sugar coated things especially when it came to Catlin.
“Well I rode with him.”
“Well find another ride. You’re not coming.”
Ian shrugged his shoulders. He knew Esther would never divulge the password with Catlin present.
“Sorry Catlin.”
The two pulled away leaving a frustrated Catlin standing in the driveway.
Esther was glad her parents weren’t home. She didn’t want to discuss Felicitas disappearance with anyone and she knew her mother would be all ears wanting to know every detail now that news of her pregnancy had surfaced. She locked her bedroom door then grabbed Felicitas computer bag from the closet and plopped down on her bed. Ian scooted up behind her, breathing down her neck.
She secretly typed in the password cupping her hands around the keys. Ian rolled his eyes and looked away. The page opened up revealing Felicitas facebook account. She checked the messages. There was nothing unusual most of the messages were between her and Ian. There were a few from girls in the purity club. Esther felt a tinge of guilt as she and Ian read each one. These were very private messages from girls confessing some very intimate moments with their boyfriends. Ian chuckled and was convinced he had enough blackmail information where he’d never have to work again his entire life. Esther shook her head in disgust and then clicked on the messages from Ian.
“Just so you know; I am going to read yours too.”
“Fine go ahead I have nothing to hide and then we‘ll read the ones from you.”
“Fine with me.”
Esther read through the messages laughing out loud.
“Gosh Ian you’re such a nerd. I never knew you were so…. cheesy.”
“I’m poetic. I’m a song writer you know.”
Esther read thru a few more giggling occasionally.
Ian sighed impatiently.
“So you satisfied now?”
“I never really suspected you, but… you never can tell. I had to check.” Esther was lying but doubted Ian could tell. Esther wondered if maybe Ian had forced himself upon Felicitas and now that she was pregnant he had done something unthinkable to protect his reputation. But then again she knew that was probably not the case since she seriously doubted he actually cared anything about his reputation and for the fact they had been sitting close at the coffee shop and seemed happy only twenty four hours ago.
Ian leaned closer.
“Check her email.”
Esther logged on to her e mail and scanned the inbox; again there was nothing unusual.
She sighed.
Ian gave another order.
“Go to her documents. Maybe she has a diary or something she writes her thoughts in.”
Esther looked at him.
“That seems so intrusive.”
“Whatever! If it helps us find her then we need to do it.”
He was right and she knew it. She pulled up the documents and scanned the tiles. There was one for the Purity Club, several for her homework, one on a Bible study she was doing on the lineage of Christ, and then her eyes saw it! The title of the file seemed to jump from the screen…Nocturnal Journal.
She took a deep breath and clicked her heart raced when she realized it was password protected. She typed in the only password she knew r3m3mb3r and held her breath. The file opened! Ian scooted closer putting his head so near the screen it blocked Esther’s view.
“Ian, do you mind?” She scooted over keeping the computer on her lap. There were many entries in the journal all of them on a separate doc.
Ian pointed to the screen. “Click on the last one….the one dated two days ago.”
Esther opened the document scanning the words and began to read.
“The night it comes and brings the source
The water it stirs and swirls
A cauldron brimming with the force
That draws in other worlds….
I was sound asleep, but in my dreams was wide awake.
Oh, listen! It's the sound of my lover calling!
My love has come for me, and I am his to take
And into the source I will be falling….
Raine came to me again tonight….. I told him I was pregnant. His smile was beautiful when he found out. The omen is true, and the people in the water wait their redemption. He will tell the people in the water their deliverer is on the way…..I must remember I must remember…. We celebrated in the same way we did when we conceived the child. It was bliss all over again. He wants to stay with me to protect us….the deceiver is close oh so close but how could I have known….. Raine said he had to leave but he would come soon and the next time he came we could be together forever….the guardian has come so the shadows have followed and are lurking beware of the shadows….remember….
Esther felt a cold chill sweep over her. She couldn’t believe what she was reading. Parts of the message were cryptic and frightening. This was nothing like Felicitas and suddenly she felt estranged from her best friend. She looked at Ian whose face spoke volumes. She couldn’t tell if he was angry or extremely hurt. She felt for him, it had to be humiliating to find out about his girlfriend this way, especially in front of her. He bit down hard on his jaw and pointed to the screen.
“Open this one.”
“Are you sure Ian?”
He nodded.
“Just open it damn it.”
Esther read aloud again.
“Raine and I were married tonight. It was the most beautiful event of my life. No ceremony no formal liturgies, just he and I under the moon and stars, with God as our only witness we gave ourselves to each other…I need to break up with Ian since I am married…..Raine insist and I will do it if only I can remember….but I can’t drink from the vial just yet.�
��
There was more but for Ian’s sake Esther stopped reading and closed the doc. She opened another and skimmed over the words.
“Raine says I should find my grandmother and talk to her about it, says she knows the story and can help me…he told me to not be afraid of her…..I must find her.”
Esther closed the file.
“Who the hell is Raine?”
Ian ran his hands through his long hair, his eyes wide with rage.
“I feel like I don’t even know her right now. She’s been seeing someone else and having sex! Now she’s pregnant with this mystery man. I’m sure she panicked and ran away to her grandmother’s house, the one place no one would dream of looking.” Ian looked at Esther.
“Did she ever tell you where her grandmother lives?”
Esther didn’t know why but the way Ian asked the question unnerved her and although she knew, she wasn’t going to tell him. She had a slight suspicion he might go wild with rage drive there and take matters in his own hands.
“No, she never told me where she lived only that she had found her.”
Ian sat all the way up and stared at Esther as if he didn’t believe her.
“You know her dad says her grandmother is insane and should be committed.” He narrowed his eyes on Esther. “He said she was dangerous and said she dealt with some pretty dark people and he thought she even communed with the dead. If she did go there she might be in a ton of shit right now.”
Esther knew Ian was baiting her for an address but she wasn’t going to give in to his ominous words.
“She told me her grandmother lived really far away and since her car wasn’t missing I seriously doubt she ran off there.”
They continued their stare down and inspection of each other.
“Taz tells you everything Esther, you sure she never mentioned being with this Raine fellow? You can tell me, I can take it.”
Esther sighed. “I am as shocked and confused as you are Ian. She has never mentioned anyone by the name of Raine. What do you think the journal means and what is it she keeps trying to remember?”
