Jane Doe's Return

by Jen Talty

  Opening her eyes, she sat up and searched his. “I don’t believe that. You’re the kind of guy women flock to.”

  That caught a throaty laugh. “I don’t put myself out there. The women I’ve dated over the last few years haven’t been the marrying type.” His hand ran down the back of her head sending a warm glow all through her body.

  She felt safe and cared for. But who did he really care about? “No serious girlfriends since her?”

  He shook his head. “In the beginning, I was too upset. I took it out on all women. Then I decided to stay away from the intellectual type, until recently.” His smile was playful.

  “You mean women who have a plan.”

  He shrugged.

  “I have a plan.” She pulled away. Even though he said he didn’t want marriage because of a baby, she knew him well enough to know he’d demand it.

  “Really?” He leaned back on the armrest of the sofa, still with that playful smile plastered on his face. She wanted to stuff her foot in his mouth, better yet his foot.

  To her mortification, she let out a little chuckle.

  He lifted his leg and put it on her lap, nudging her ribs. “The plan?”

  “Oh, yeah. Go to Quantico, work with you, catch a killer and then, catch a few more.” She took his foot in her hand.

  “You can do that here, you know?”

  “I’ve got to move on. Too much of the past here.”

  “That’s bullshit.” He yanked his foot from her hand, squirming.

  She grabbed it back.

  “Stop.” He wiggled on the couch, laughing. “Revenge is something I do well.” He lifted both brows.

  She released his foot, for the moment. Tucking her feet under her behind, she welcomed both his feet in her lap. “Someday I’d like to go to work at the national office.”

  “What about being a wife and mother?” His stare was so intense her breath caught.

  “I’ve never really thought about it. Trusting a man with my whole heart isn’t something I’ve spent any time considering and I like my job.” She had to admit to herself, though, that she did trust Travis. Her heart pounded so heavy and fast she thought for sure he could hear it. “Besides, I always worry about the possible hereditary factors in child abuse and alcoholism.”

  “That’s about the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard you say. You, my sweet, would make a wonderful mother. You’re kind, loving, and generous, and it would be a privilege to be loved by you.”

  End of conversation.

  “Well, I’m not the settling down type.” She picked up his feet and pushed them to the floor. “We need to go.” She rose from the couch and moved as fast as she could toward the door. She didn’t want to talk anymore. Why she even brought it up she would never know.

  Except that they might be having a child together.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Travis tapped his watch with his index finger and then held it to his ear. Jeff was late, but Jeff was good at being late. It seemed the only thing he was ever on time for was court, and only by a hair.

  Travis opened the door to his pickup and got out. He needed to stretch his legs. It was almost eight and Jeff should have been at Capri’s a half hour ago.

  Something’s not right.

  He flipped out his cell phone and dialed Steve’s number. “Damn it.” He got the voice mail. Cracking his knuckles, he decided to go in the restaurant. This being one of his favorite spots, it wouldn’t be unheard of for him to just show up for a beer. Besides, he didn’t like the idea of Shauna being in there all alone.

  Entering the bar and grill, he scanned the room. Nothing out of place. Bonnie waved and pointed to the corner booth in the back. Shauna had eyed him the moment he pushed open the door, but didn’t look too happy to see him.

  “What the hell are you doing?” A scowl formed across her pretty face.

  “Steve’s not answering,” he said, as Bonnie brought him a diet cola with lemon. “I don’t like this.”

  Fear flickered in behind her cool blue eyes. “You should go check on him.”

  “Not without you.” He squeezed his lemon and stirred his drink.

  “I need to wait here in case Jeff shows.” She swallowed, looking over Travis’s shoulder at someone entering the bar.

  He followed her stare, but it was just another patron. “We stay together.”

  Silence followed.

  Travis chewed on a piece of ice and tossed a ten on the table, glancing at his watch. “He’s up to something. It’s been too long. I think we need to go.”

  “Where?”

  “To find Steve,” Travis said. “Or Lake George. Hell if I know.”

  No sooner were they in the car and driving down New Scotland Avenue, his phone rang. “Brown here,” he answered.

  “Is this Travis Brown?” a female voice asked.

  “Who is this?” He glanced at Shauna.

  “My name is Cilla Regal. I’m a nurse at Albany Medical Center. Steve Ramsey asked that I give you a call. He said it was important.”

  Travis pulled the truck to the side of the road, with the intention to turn around and head to the hospital. “What happened?”

  “He’s been shot and said it was important that you knew.”

  “Shit. Is he okay?” Travis glanced at Shauna, whose body paled.

  “He just went into surgery so we can remove the bullet, but he ranted that I had to call you. I really have to go.”

  “Did he say anything else?”

  “Just that you would understand the situation.”

  “Thanks.” He clicked his phone closed and dropped his head to the steering wheel. “Steve’s been shot.”

  “Jessica,” Shauna whispered.

  Travis stiffened his back, lurching upright. Fear tore open his heart. For the first time in a long while, he had no idea what to do.

  A warm hand squeezed his bicep. “Call Jake.” Her voice was soft, but commanding.

  He looked at her. Tears welled in her eyes as she released his cell phone from his grasp. He continued to stare into her all-knowing eyes as she continued to press numbers on his cell phone.

  “It’s ringing.” She handed the phone to him, pulling out her own.

  The next few moments went by in a haze. He could barely piece together what had happened. Shauna called Scott, who had been informed of the shooting. Travis heard her tell Scott what they suspected along with who she was.

  But the conversation with Jake sent him into a fit of rage. He had to have Jake repeat the words twice. “The Minnie Ha Ha caught fire, Kirk was knocked unconscious, and Jessica is missing,” ripped through his veins like lava flowing from a volcano.

  He flung open the truck door with such force that it slammed shut, barely missing his hand. “Damn it!” He tossed his cell phone to the curb, shattering it to pieces. Uttering numerous curses, he kicked and pounded on his truck.

  “Travis!” Shauna shouted. “Get ahold of yourself.”

  He snapped his head in her direction. She stood about two feet from him with her hands firmly planted on her hips.

  “This isn’t helping,” she said softly.

  “Where did he take her?” Blinded by rage, he took her by the shoulders and shook her. “Damn it! Where did he take her?” he repeated, letting his anger and fear get the best of him. He didn’t think his family could go through this again.

  He couldn’t go through this again.

  “I don’t know,” she said. She just stood there, letting him shake her. “A fishing pole,” she muttered.

  “What?” His body froze and he stared at her.

  She blinked, then shook her head. “I see a fishing pole?”

  “Have you cracked?”

  “In the corner of the room, when I awoke, I saw a fishing pole. I didn’t think anything of it. God. He asked me if I wanted to fish through his file. He said I hooked him.”

  “Talk to me,” Travis demanded.

  “I assumed I was in a hotel room. It looked like one.
A bed, a dresser and a bathroom. I also assumed I was south of Albany since that was the direction of the train. But what if I was at the—”

  “Cabin on the Hudson,” he finished her thought for her. “The article said who owned it.” He cracked his neck and turned from her, trying desperately to remember who owned the cabin.

  ****

  For Shauna, who owned the cabin didn’t matter. Getting to the cabin did. She sat in the passenger seat, gripping the holy shit bar as if she were in a sports car. But not because of his driving. He didn’t drive fast enough for her taste.

  He maneuvered in and out of traffic with ease as he barked out orders and suggestions to his boss and anyone else who would listen. “I’m getting the damn runaround.” He clicked her phone closed and honked the horn.

  “What does Scott say?”

  “Go by the book.” He must have hit the gas as the truck pitched forward, speeding past the white SUV that finally got the hint.

  “Who’s been called?” Shauna wondered how much of her theory was being taken seriously. Scott seemed to take her words as fact, but didn’t seem thrilled by her confession. Actually, he got downright nasty.

  “Locals and state police.” Travis hit the steering wheel, jerking the truck to the side. “Damn it. If you had only told me who you were from the beginning.”

  She recoiled at the truth in his words, praying another victim wouldn’t have to suffer all because she never had the courage to come forward. All because she couldn’t identify the man who raped her.

  Her cell phone rang.

  She looked at it and then handed it to Travis, without saying a word. She listened as he talked with Scott, but none of it mattered. They were going to be too late. And she was to blame.

  The truck slowed to a stop next to an unmarked car and three other local cop cars. Travis rolled down the window as she scanned the scene and knew this would be her chance to make sure no more young girls died at the hands of Jeff Wilcox.

  “Agent Brown?” A large man approached the truck.

  Travis nodded.

  “I’m Detective Howard with the State Police. All the lights are off, no car. I’ve got three men in place.” Detective Howard pointed to the trees and somewhere across the yard, but Shauna didn’t see anyone. “I understand your niece is a possible hostage. This is your call.” He stood tall, holding his hand up to the locals to remain where they were.

  Travis got out of his truck and scanned the area. “This is my partner, Agent Morgan.” His tone was professional and completely detached.

  Shauna felt the bile rise slowly up her throat. She swallowed, shaking the detective’s hand, and then pulled away from the two men, who started talking about a plan. Her blood raced through her veins and before she really knew what she was thinking, she was on her belly, making her way toward the cabin.

  Her pulse beat wildly, but her mind worked slowly and with meticulous care. She had to find a way in. She crept under a bush and for the first time she saw two of the three policemen. They were well hidden and it was going to be difficult to get past them. But she had to.

  She felt around on the ground, searching for something to toss. She just needed to get across the small yard and land herself on the riverside.

  The rock she tossed bounced on the ground with a few quiet thuds. The two cops looked at each other, and then one slinked in the direction of the noise while the other backed him up. Without thinking, she was on her feet, running toward the front of the house. Just as she rounded the corner…

  Someone grabbed her.

  “Hello, my kitten.”

  Shauna blinked. Jeff’s hand covered her mouth as he yanked her into the cabin. She shifted her gaze, looking around the small cabin. Where’s Jessica? She wiggled, trying to break free.

  “Still the feisty little feline, I see.” He opened a door.

  Jessica sat in a chair, bound and gagged and looking scared to death. Shauna had to break free. She stomped on his foot.

  “Damn, bitch.” Jeff tossed her in a chair and pointed a gun in her face. “Don’t do it.” He took

  her weapon from her hands and tossed it on the bed.

  “Let her go, Jeff. You’ve got me.” Shauna glanced at Jessica and tried to comfort her with a slight smile.

  Jeff snorted. “What makes you think I want used trash like you?” He ran his hand down Jessica’s cheek. “She’s still young and innocent.”

  “Still?” Shauna hadn’t meant to express her thought out loud.

  He laughed. “I had so been hoping to save her soul, but you and your dick-head boyfriend put a damper on my party. Looks like Travis grew a brain.” Shauna’s skin prickled as he ran the cold butt of the gun down the side of her face. “Put your hands behind your back.”

  “You won’t get away with this.” She did as he instructed, praying Travis and his newfound friend had their plan all formulated. “Travis won’t wait outside for long.”

  “No, I guess he won’t. The question is who will he save?” He pulled the rope tight around her wrists and then started working on her feet. “His lover? Or his niece?”

  “Why are you doing this?” Shauna found herself wanting all the answers.

  He threw his head back and laughed. “God, those office shrinks would have a field day with me.” His face was inches from hers and his breath felt cold against her skin.

  She forced herself to look into the depths of hell. “Tell me,” she demanded.

  He let out a little breath. “I snapped.” An eerie smile broadened his face. “I watched my girlfriend sneak out of her house to go meet someone else.”

  “So you followed them and killed her?”

  His eyes narrowed. “That would be the textbook case.” He rubbed his jaw. “But that’s not quite what happened.”

  “What happened, Jeff?” She used his name in hopes to keep things personal and buy her some time.

  “If you must know, Shelly, my girlfriend, had been saving herself for me. We were going to do it the night of the prom.”

  “But she ran out on you and did it with someone else?”

  “Shut up!” He smashed the butt of the gun into Shauna’s cheek.

  Blood dripped down her face and her eye throbbed. Glancing at a wide-eyed Jessica, Shauna lifted her chin. No way would he make her fall to pieces. “Did you find them together?”

  “No.”

  Shauna stared down at his gun, pointing at her face. “Then what happened?”

  “She must have met him sometime before the prom. She was no virgin when I got ahold of her.”

  “Wait, you have no proof she was cheating on you?” Not that it mattered, but as long as he kept on talking, she’d keep asking.

  “She didn’t bleed. It wasn’t painful and her body rocked with mine like she’d been doing it forever. She even suggested how we do it. When I confronted her, she just told me she watched a few movies and played with herself. I didn’t believe her, so I killed her.”

  “Just like that.” Shauna swallowed.

  “No, not just like that. We fought. She tried to tell me all sorts of lies, but I knew the truth. My mother showed me.”

  “What?” Shauna felt her eyes widen. “What did your mother do to you?” she whispered.

  “She showed me how a virgin wouldn’t behave.”

  The gun pointed in Shauna’s face shook. His finger wiggled against the trigger. Sweat dripped down the side of her face. Jess whimpered and struggled.

  “Jesus,” Shauna muttered, understanding the complexity of the situation. “Where’s your mother now?”

  “Where all the other lost souls are.” He tucked his gun in his pants and pulled out some duct tape. “Hell.” He slapped the tape across her mouth. “I think you’re about to meet your maker, Shauna.”

  She held his gaze, knowing she’d die, but somehow she knew Travis would find a way in and save Jessica. Shauna shifted her gaze to see the young girl. Tears streaked down her face. Quietly, Shauna thanked God she’d been able to
save Jessica from the same fate her aunt had faced. Shauna would die knowing Jeff’s reign as the “Princess Killer” was about to end. Travis and his family would be able to move forward and live out their lives in peace.

  Travis would be able to let go of the past and find someone to share his wonderful, kind heart with. A single tear fell to her lap. There’d been a moment or two she had thought she might be that woman. She breathed slowly, in and out, and waited.

  ****

  “Shit,” Travis spat when he turned to ask Shauna a question. “Damn you.” He raked his hand through his hair.

  “What’s up?” Detective Howard asked.

  Travis twisted his head, then twisted it again, but his neck wouldn’t crack. He nodded in the direction of the house.

  “She wouldn’t?” Howard blinked, looking at Travis as if he were nuts. “And I thought I had to worry about you going off halfcocked. Not her.”

  “This is personal for her, too,” Travis said. “This isn’t going to happen. I’ve searched too many damn years for you, Shauna,” Travis said under his breath.

  “What do you want to do?” Howard asked.

  “I’m going in.” He shrugged and took out his weapon, then checked it over. “The only way you will stop me is to shoot me.” He didn’t look back, just put one foot in front of the other, and in the open, he followed the stone path to the front of the house. Standing at the front door, he took in a deep breath. “I’m coming in, Wilcox.” He turned the handle, held his gun out in front and entered the small cabin.

  Since the sun had already set, his eyes didn’t need time to adjust to the darkness, but his nose needed time to adjust to the smell. The stench almost choked him. When he swallowed, he could taste dead fish.

  With the door to his back, he scanned the room. To the right, a wooden couch with a sailboat lamp sat under the window. To the left, there was a kitchen table, a stovetop and a sink. Ahead were two closed doors. One had to be the bedroom, the other he assumed was a bathroom.

  He took one last look around the room to ensure he wouldn’t get jumped from behind as he took small steps toward the door. This time he remained silent. He cocked his head to the side, listening.