Dead End

by Nancy Mehl

  “That’s where they are,” Noah said. “Now let’s hope they’re still alive.”

  While the SWAT officer communicated with the advance team, Noah stared at the house, trying to squelch the nearly overwhelming urge to get out of the SUV and crash through the front door. He knew he had to wait for SWAT to do their job, but the waiting was torture. Had he lost Kaely?

  When Kaely came to, she was lying on the floor. She couldn’t see anything and finally realized her face was covered with blood. She blinked several times, trying to clear her vision. She looked down to see that her hands and feet were bound with red ribbon. Her head hurt so much she cried out in pain.

  “You caused yourself that injury,” a voice said.

  Kaely turned her head even though it hurt. Kenny was sitting in a chair next to her, watching. “Where is Jason?” she asked.

  Kenny gestured toward the makeshift grave he’d dug earlier. “He’s just waiting for you.”

  “No!” Her tears mixed with her blood as she struggled to sit up, but Kenny pushed her down with his foot.

  “I asked our father why the red ribbon and wire angel,” he said, his voice matter of fact as if they were talking about the weather. “He wouldn’t tell me. I don’t suppose you know?”

  “He never told anyone,” Kaely said, her voice raspy and her lips cracked with dried blood. A part of her was ready to give up. Jason was dead. There was no way for the FBI to find them. Maybe it was time to see what heaven was like. Drifting away sounded wonderful. But something rose up inside her. She just couldn’t give Kenny the satisfaction of killing her.

  He held up a piece of wire twisted into two figure eights, resembling an angel with wings. “Fifty years from now, maybe they’ll knock down the apartment complex they’re building here and find you with this in your skeleton fingers. What a story that will be. You’ll be famous.”

  “Kaely, you’re a fighter.” Georgie stood next to Kenny. “Don’t give up. You can’t. Not now. Show him who you are.”

  “‘By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes. Open, locks, whoever knocks,’” she whispered.

  “What?” Kenny said.

  “You’re going to die. It will not happen here, in Darkwater, but it will happen. And soon.”

  “No,” Kaely said. “No.”

  “Sorry, Special Agent Kaely Quinn, but your time is up.”

  Kenny got out of the chair and knelt beside her. His hands circled her neck, and he began to squeeze. Kaely fastened her eyes on Georgie. But Georgie was gone. Someone else stood there. Dressed in white, he smiled at her. She smiled back as she began to lose consciousness.

  Noah waited in the SUV, trying desperately to stay out of the way, but his patience was wearing thin. It felt as if they’d been inside the old house for hours, not minutes. Finally, the SWAT commander stepped out and waved an all clear, meaning the scene was secure. Rather than wait for the SUV to drive up to the house, Noah jumped out and ran toward the front door, tears making it hard to see where he was going. When he reached the porch, he stared the commander in the face, unable to find the words he wanted.

  “They’re both alive,” he said, “but barely. We’ve called for ambulances. They’re on the way.”

  Noah had to grab on to the porch railing to stay on his feet. “Can I see her?”

  The commander hesitated a moment before saying, “All right, but don’t touch her.”

  Noah nodded and forced his feet to move. As he entered the old house, he encountered officers standing near a door that had to be the entrance to the basement. They didn’t say anything as he pushed past them and ran down the stairs. When he saw Kaely lying on the floor, he wanted to pull off the red ribbon binding her hands and feet. But he knew he couldn’t. The EMTs would probably do that and save them for the ME. Not that it was necessary anymore. A few feet away from Kaely, Kenneth Beck lay in a pool of blood, his eyes wide open, looking at nothing. He wouldn’t be taking more lives.

  Noah went to Kaely and knelt next to her. “Can you hear me?” he asked. Her face was covered with blood, one eye was swollen shut, and she had bruises on both sides of her face. Noah wanted to kill Kenneth Beck all over again for the agony he’d inflicted.

  She opened her only good eye and nodded slightly, but then winced.

  “Kenny is dead,” he said.

  “I know,” she mumbled, almost in a whisper. “Where is Jason?”

  “He was dumped into this hole,” a SWAT officer standing nearby said. “I guess Beck was going to bury him, but we pulled him out.” He moved over some, and Noah saw Jason. His eyes were closed.

  “Is he . . . is he still alive?” Noah barely choked out.

  “He’s still breathing, but we need that ambulance ASAP.”

  As if someone heard him, the whine of sirens began to fill the air. Noah put his head near Kaely’s. “Help is here, Kaely. Just hold on. You and Jason are going to make it, you hear me?”

  “Yes, I hear you.” With much difficulty, Kaely turned her head to the side. “Where is he?”

  “Who?”

  “The man. There was a man here. Dressed in white. I saw him, Noah. He was right here.”

  Kaely took a deep breath and passed out.

  Noah hung his head and cried.

  Forty-Two

  Two weeks had passed since Kaely and Jason were rescued from the clutches of Kenneth Beck. She was feeling fine—a few headaches but nothing serious. The wounds on her face and hands were healing as well. Jason had gone home. It was a miracle that Kenny thought he was dead and hadn’t tried to finish the job he’d started.

  As Kaely waited in the small café, her stomach was tied in knots. How would this go? Could she handle it?

  Then she saw an attractive woman coming toward her. She had beautiful chestnut hair, large brown eyes framed with dark lashes, and a perfectly shaped nose. A smile played on her lips as she came to the table and sat down.

  “It’s been a long time,” she said softly. “Thank you for seeing me. I wasn’t sure you would.”

  “I wasn’t certain I would either. I’m sorry to have to ask you to drive all the way to Anamosa. I just didn’t have the time to drive to Des Moines this afternoon.”

  Georganna leaned toward her. “I was happy to do it.” She looked into Kaely’s eyes. “We tried to find you after you moved away, but we couldn’t.”

  “We stayed in Des Moines for a while,” Kaely said, trying not to sound bitter. “As long as we could. But it became impossible. We had to leave.” She paused. “Your parents wouldn’t let you see me.”

  “Kaely, my parents loved you. They still do. But they were shocked. They needed time to digest what happened. And with the media trucks in front of your house . . .” She sighed. “Maybe they made a mistake, but it wasn’t because they didn’t want us to be together. They were just trying to protect me. I’m sorry.”

  Although Kaely hadn’t planned on getting emotional, her eyes filled with tears. “I understand,” she whispered.

  Georganna reached over the table and took her hand. “I’m not sure you do, but I think we can deal with it, don’t you? We’re finally back together. My parents would love it if you came to dinner before you go back to St. Louis. You can meet my husband too. Is that possible?”

  Kaely brushed a tear from her cheek. “I wish I could, but I’m leaving tomorrow, and I have something planned for tonight.” She smiled. “How about I come back in the next couple of months and take you up on your offer?”

  Georganna returned her smile. “I think that would be wonderful.”

  Noah slept until almost eleven. For some reason he was still exhausted. It was as if the release of all the tension and stress from trying to find Kaely had zapped his strength. He forced himself out of bed and made some coffee. He’d already packed almost everything for the trip home.

  Kaely had two appointments before they left. Noah glanced at the clock. She was having an early lunch with Georganna Hobson Williamson now. Georgie. He w
as proud of Kaely for deciding to face her. Kaely was determined not to hide from the past any longer. Dr. Engle had convinced her she could find real healing only by confronting what hurt her.

  He couldn’t stop thinking about something Kaely told him, that someone else was there with her and Kenny. A man dressed in white who smiled at her. Gave her comfort. Was she hallucinating? Was this another Georgie type sighting? Nothing would shake Kaely’s belief in what she saw, and Noah had no intention of challenging her. He’d seen too many odd things lately. He chose to believe that God had answered his prayer. That was all he cared about.

  He was hungry and decided to order breakfast. He had plenty of time. Kaely was going to the prison after her lunch with Georganna. Dr. Engle had promised to tell her some things about her father now that she was no longer bound to protect his secrets. Noah shook his head. He could hardly believe they’d considered her a suspect, but at the time they were desperate. They couldn’t reach her that Sunday morning because she’d turned off her phone while she attended an early morning meeting at her church, and she’d kept it off after the church service began. Not really the actions of a deranged serial killer.

  Although Noah and Kaely had talked some, for the most part he’d held off telling her everything he wanted to say. She’d needed the time to heal. But he intended to. This evening they were having an early dinner at Mort’s in Des Moines before they drove the rest of the way home.

  As he picked up the phone to call room service, he wondered if tonight would change the rest of his life. He hoped so with all his heart.

  Kaely headed to the prison after her lunch with Georganna. Although at first seeing her had been a little uncomfortable, they’d soon fallen into a relaxed banter. Kaely felt as if it had been only a day or two since the last time they were together, not two decades. She smiled to herself. She and Georganna had vowed to stay in touch. Kaely had meant her promise to come back to see Georganna’s parents and meet her husband. If a month ago someone had told her she’d be vacationing in Des Moines, she would have called them insane.

  After arriving at the prison, she checked in, and then a guard came to escort her to the area where the staff offices were located. The guard let their presence be known, and a few seconds later, Melanie came down the hallway and let her through the locked door. She smiled as Kaely stepped inside.

  “Good to see you,” Melanie said.

  Kaely had visited the doctor several times since she was rescued from Kenneth Beck. She hoped Melanie would never know that at one time she and Noah truly had suspected she was working with the Copycat Killer.

  Kaely followed her into her office, and Melanie closed the door behind them. Kaely sat down.

  “Coffee?”

  “No, thank you.”

  Melanie poured herself a cup and then sat down across from Kaely. “Are you feeling any better since the last time we met?”

  “I’m good. Still some headaches, though.”

  “And inside?”

  Kaely shrugged. “Not sure. Still trying to deal with things, I guess.”

  The doctor smiled. “That’s honest. No attempt to hide from your emotions.” She shook her head. “You’ve endured a lot.”

  Kaely sighed. “True, but I believe God is bringing me through it. You’ve helped me a lot.”

  “Good. Just make sure you stay truthful with Him—and yourself.”

  “That’s my intention.”

  “Anything you want to discuss before we move on and talk about your father?”

  Kaely hesitated a moment. She was concerned about something. Could she share it with this woman?

  Melanie just sat there, silent. Waiting.

  Finally, Kaely said, “I know research doesn’t back murderous traits being passed down from parent to child, but . . .”

  “But it still worries you?”

  Kaely nodded. It was stupid, and she knew it. But the possibility had haunted her ever since she was a teenager. Knowing she was related to Kenneth Beck had reignited her fears.

  “Can you name one child of a serial killer who followed in his or her father’s footsteps?” Melanie asked.

  “I can name two. Francis Weaver and Michael Kallinger.”

  “Francis was Ward Weaver’s stepson,” Melanie said. “And Michael Kallinger killed along with his father. He was trained to do it.” She appeared to be studying Kaely. “But you know that. What about Melissa Moore and Kerri Rawson? They didn’t turn into serial killers.”

  Kaely knew the doctor was referring to the children of Keith Jesperson and Dennis Rader.

  “No, I realize they didn’t.”

  “Kaely, are you truly afraid you’re going to suddenly start killing people?”

  Kaely shook her head. “No, of course not. But . . .”

  “But what about your children.”

  “Yes.”

  “You know the psychopathic trait isn’t hereditary. What is this really about?”

  Kaely leaned back in her chair. “I guess I could use that cup of coffee after all,” she said.

  Melanie went to the coffee maker, giving Kaely a chance to think. Why did this bother her so much? What the doctor said was true, yet for some reason she’d never been able to shake her fear. Two uncertainties had followed her for years—the fear that she would give birth to someone like her father and the fear of dying young. The second worry had dissipated when she saw the man in white watching her when Kenneth Beck put his hands around her neck. She was convinced she’d seen an angel. The Scripture was true. He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. One of the pens Jason had given her displayed that promise. She’d looked at it so many times, but now it was alive to her. Real.

  The other fear was that her children could turn out like her father. What kind of mother would she be if she saw Ed Oliphant whenever she looked at her child?

  As the doctor poured the coffee, Kaely prayed she could find a way to leave her apprehension behind.

  Forty-Three

  After Melanie gave Kaely her coffee, she sat down, smoothing her dark blue skirt and crossing her legs. “Anything else?”

  Kaely sighed. “I haven’t talked to you about what happened in St. Louis.”

  Melanie frowned, lines marring her smooth skin. “St. Louis?”

  Kaely took a deep breath and told her about the case in St. Louis and the deep betrayal of a friend. Melanie didn’t say anything, just listened. Kaely was grateful. She’d held on to her jumbled emotions a long time and needed to get them out.

  When she finished, Melanie said, “I know this sounds cliché, but how did that make you feel?”

  “I was hurt. Angry. Afraid to trust anyone.”

  Melanie nodded. “Perfectly normal. Almost everyone deals with the fear of trusting people. But your background makes it harder. Children are supposed to trust their parents. They are their foundation. To find out who your father really was traumatized you, so you’re much more sensitive to betrayal. That’s why it’s hard for you to get past the situation in St. Louis.”

  “I’m doing much better after talking with you, but I still can’t seem to shake this deep-seated fear. I’ve prayed and prayed, but it’s still there.”

  Melanie smiled. “God isn’t always on our timetable. You know, sometimes handing our problems over to Him and waiting on His response is all we can do. Some things we can’t fix on our own no matter how hard we try.” She uncrossed her legs and leaned forward. “You seem like the kind of person who wants to find solutions to everything. When you can’t, I think it frustrates you.”

  Kaely nodded. “You’re right.” She brushed away a curl too close to her eyes. “But while I’m waiting on God to deliver me, how do I have close relationships?”

  “Are you thinking about someone specific?”

  Kaely hesitated a moment before saying, “Yeah. Yeah, I am.”

  “Have you prayed about it?”

  “Yes. But I’m not getting an answer.”

  “
You may already have it.” Melanie smiled again. “Be quiet for a moment and listen to your heart. Turn off your mind.”

  Kaely felt a little frustrated. If the answer was inside her, she would already know what to do. But as she sat in the silence, she realized she could do only one thing. Only one path led to peace. Odd how she hadn’t picked up on that before. As she’d said, she’d spent a lot of time praying. Even more time trying to figure things out, but maybe she hadn’t spent enough time just listening.

  “I can tell by the smile on your face that you have an answer,” Melanie said. “Does it bring you peace?”

  Kaely nodded. “The truth is I have to take this chance. I’m even willing to be hurt, but I don’t think I will be. I’m tired of being afraid. And alone.”

  “Good.” Melanie stood and retrieved a file from her desk. “I told you I’d share some things about your father now that he’s gone. Do you want to talk about anything else before I do that?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Okay.” Melanie opened the file. “What do you know about how your father grew up?”

  Kaely shrugged. “Not much. He didn’t talk about his childhood. I understand his mother and sister died when he was young and his father abandoned the family. I know he lived with his grandparents for a while.” She fastened her gaze on the doctor. “I’ll warn you right now, I don’t give much credence to the abused child to serial killer explanation. Lots of abused kids grow up to be useful people. They don’t allow their pasts to determine their future.”

  “Like you?”

  “I wasn’t abused as a child.”

  Melanie sat down, crossed her legs again, and leaned back in her chair, the file balanced on her lap. “You don’t think having a father who goes around killing women behind your back is being abused? Has it been easy dealing with his choices?”

  “No, of course not.”

  “Sounds like abuse to me. And wouldn’t you say you’ve reacted to it? Becoming an FBI behavioral analyst to combat the evil your father created? I would say your life changed in response to your father’s decisions.”