Abduction

by Wanda Dyson

  chapter 24

  Tuesday, April 25

  Karen gave up trying to sleep when she heard Ray in the kitchen and smelled the coffee. Sliding off the bed, she grabbed a robe and joined him.

  “Did you sleep?” he asked, cracking eggs into a bowl.

  Karen shrugged. “I keep thinking about Ted.”

  “What about him?” Ray started whisking the eggs.

  “I don’t think he’s dead.”

  Ray looked at her, studied her, then turned his attention back to the eggs. “What do you think is going on?”

  “I think he ran.”

  Ray set the whisk down and turned around. He leaned back against the counter. “I’m listening.”

  “You know how last night at the prayer meeting Rene said something about trusting what God put inside me? You know, when she was praying.”

  “I remember.”

  “All night, thoughts kept going through my head, and instead of tossing them out the way I usually do, you know, discounting them as foolishness, I paid attention.”

  Ray nodded.

  “You were right. Ted did try to make me feel stupid. So does Dad. And I’m not really stupid. I just felt like they were smarter and I should listen to them because they probably knew what was best for me. But it wasn’t right for them to make me feel stupid.”

  “Hallelujah!” Ray threw both hands in the air and laughed out loud. “She got it, Lord! By Jove, she got it.”

  Karen stared at her hands, her lips quivering. “I’m a little slow—what can I tell you.”

  Ray grabbed a chair and flopped down on it. “No, listen to me. Between you and me, who always got the better grades in school?”

  Karen thought a moment before answering. “I did.”

  He just stared at her, his eyes begging her to think it out and take it one step further. Finally, she smiled. “That makes me smarter than you.”

  Grinning, he jumped out of his chair and threw his arms around her. “You always were, Sis. You just let Dad and Ted convince you otherwise.”

  While it felt good to smile and laugh with Ray, she could feel her smile drifting away. “Ted ran because. . .I think he did something to Jessica.”

  That wiped the smile off Ray’s face. He pulled away from her and dropped back down into his chair. “I have a bad feeling you’re right. Maybe he was jealous of the attention you gave her.”

  “That’s stupid.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  Tears trickled down her face. She didn’t bother to wipe them away. “The police began to suspect him, so he had to run.”

  “I think so, Karen. I’m sorry.”

  Karen shook her head. “I’ve done enough grieving over the past couple of weeks. There’s nothing left for Ted. But Jess. . .”

  “Don’t give up hope, Sis.”

  Karen continued as if she hadn’t heard him. “I never thought him capable of. . .murder, you know? He could be mean and nasty, and he’d put me down and make me feel stupid and ugly, but I never thought in a million years he’d kill someone. And especially not. . .” She couldn’t say it. No God, please don’t let it be true. She closed her eyes to the image, her hands twisting in her lap.

  “Jess could be alive. The police said someone was outside that window. He passed Jessica to someone.”

  Hope grew once again. “You think that person has Jess?”

  Ray nodded. “Yeah, I do.”

  “I can hope for that.”

  He squeezed her hand. “You do that, Sis. You hold on to Jess. The police will find Ted, and they’ll find out who he gave Jess to and they’ll bring her home.”

  Karen felt more tears welling up and swallowed them. This wasn’t the time to fall apart. She’d done enough of that, too. Now she had to be strong. She had to find Jess. She had to find out what her husband had done with their baby. And then she would make sure Ted went to jail for it.

  Lord, help me to be strong. Help me to see that You’re right here with me.

  #

  Matt spent most of the day trying to track down Maryanne Bubeck. He talked to her boss again. He talked to coworkers. No one could tell him anything. They went through her desk but found nothing personal. He called the family references on her employment form. The numbers were bogus.

  After four, her landlady returned. She wasn’t even aware that Maryanne Bubeck was missing and probably wouldn’t have noticed until her rent was due. But the woman let Matt into the apartment. Just in case something bad had happened.

  The apartment had been cleaned out. There wasn’t even any dust in the corners. The landlady was livid that Maryanne Bubeck had moved without notice and huffed and puffed about how she’d better not be expecting any of her security deposit. Matt didn’t think Miss Bubeck would bother to ask for it.

  The landlady allowed him to see photocopies of Miss Bubeck’s rent checks. He then went to the bank. Miss Bubeck had closed her account.

  Another dead end.

  Matt dragged himself back to the station to talk to JJ.

  JJ took one look at him and narrowed his eyes. “What’s wrong with you?”

  “Dead ends on Bubeck. She’s gone. Cleaned out her apartment and her checking account.”

  “That’s not the reason for those dark circles under your eyes. Are you and Paula still fighting?”

  Matt sank down in a chair. “You could say that. She broke up with me.”

  “You didn’t tell me that part.”

  “I didn’t think she meant it at the time, you know?”

  “And she broke up with you because. . .”

  “Because I didn’t call her for a week and when she came here, I accused her of cheating on me with that GQ from her work.”

  “Let me guess: She explained it was innocent, and you didn’t believe her.”

  Matt shuffled his feet. “Something like that.”

  “Figures.”

  Matt glared at JJ. “Look who’s talking. You’re head over heels for Zoe Shefford, and I don’t see you asking her to the prom.”

  “I’m not head over heels. And this isn’t about me; it’s about you and the woman you love. Don’t be an idiot. Call her. Beg her to take you back. Send her roses. Take her to Hawaii. Something. Anything. But don’t lose her. She’s the best thing that ever happened to you.”

  Matt folded his arms across his chest. “I am not begging anyone for anything.”

  “Go ahead; be an idiot. It’s your own life you’re messing up. Have you found out anything more on Ted Matthews?”

  Matt shook his head, grateful to be off the subject of Paula. “Gerry is handling that. But we did talk to Nancy Darrington last night after you left. Did Gerry tell you?”

  “He left me a note. She was with her son.”

  “Yeah. So that’s a dead end, too.”

  “Where do we stand with Maysonet?”

  Matt rolled his head, trying to work the stiffness out of his neck. “Wayne is talking to him today.”

  JJ drummed his fingers on his desk. Matt stood up. “I’m going to go get some food. Wanna come along?”

  “Call Paula.”

  Matt didn’t respond. Instead, he turned and walked briskly out of the office. He didn’t need JJ managing his love life. JJ—the man who couldn’t keep a woman for more than two dates if he tried; the man who couldn’t see where his heart was with a microscope and a map.

  If Paula wanted to dump him, that was her prerogative. He didn’t need her.

  “Hey, Suzie-Q. How about dinner?”

  Patrol officer Susan Meredith looked up at him from her report. “Can’t, sugar. I’m on tonight. Gotta get back out there.”

  “Another time.”

  He punched the button to the elevator, heard it whine and creak, and opted for the stairs. On the way down, he saw Michele going off duty. “Michele, baby. How about some dinner?”

  “Sorry, Matt. Got a hot date.”

  He flopped an open hand over his heart. “I’m crushed.”

  “R
ight.” She smiled and shook her head. “That’ll be the day. Go home to your wife.”

  “Wife? Wife? I don’t have a wife!”

  “Well, if Paula isn’t, she should be. Or is she too smart to take you on for life?” Michele flashed him another smile and disappeared into the women’s locker room.

  “Another comedian.” Matt shoved his hands in his pockets. Too smart to take him on for life. Hah! Paula would have married him in a heartbeat. She was crazy about him. She. . .

  Was gone.

  Matt pushed open the front door and stepped out. Zoe had warned him, but he hadn’t listened. And now Paula was gone.

  #

  Zoe was putting away her dust cloth when the doorbell rang. She looked through the peephole, half expecting JJ to be standing there with a sneering expression on his face and his hands in his pockets.

  She flung the door open. “Dad?”

  Keyes strode past her and dropped his suitcase on the floor. “Your mother is safe at the house in Marblehead. And I’m not leaving here until this is over.”

  “Dad, you don’t have to do this.”

  “Yes, I do.” He folded his arms across his chest and gave her a look she hadn’t seen since she was five. “You are my daughter, and regardless of how you feel about me, I happen to love you with all my heart. Now, maybe you can’t find it in yourself to forgive me for a mistake I made twenty years ago, but your mother has and we’re getting married again. In the meantime, someone is threatening my daughter, and no one, no one, threatens my daughter and gets away with it.”

  Zoe stood there gaping. Mom and Dad are getting married again? “You and Mom. Well, that’s. . .great.”

  “I think so. She seems to think so, too. I believe she’s out making me pay for past transgressions with my gold card as we speak.”

  Zoe laughed. “Nah, not Mom. If I know her, she’s using her gold card.”

  Keyes smiled widely. “You’re probably right, just to prove to me that she can.” He opened his arms wide. “Do you think you could handle giving me a hug?”

  Zoe hesitated for a moment. Then she found herself launching into his arms. His embrace felt safe. Just like she was a child. Suddenly she was crying again. What in the world was happening to her?

  “I’ve missed you, Zoe,” he whispered in her ear.

  “I’ve missed you, too, Dad. And I’m sorry for treating you the way I have. I was just so hurt.”

  “I know. I know, baby.”

  The phone rang and her father slowly released her. She backed away from him and picked up the phone. “Hello?”

  “That wasn’t smart at all, calling me a coward. I was going to let you live a little longer, you know. Now I can’t.”

  “You don’t scare me—”

  “I’ll give you one gift before you die.”

  Zoe turned her back to her father. “And what’s that?”

  “Want to know where Amy is?”

  Before she could respond, he hung up. She closed her eyes and set the phone on the table in slow motion.

  “Who was that, Zoe?”

  Zoe shook her head, unable to answer. The killer knew exactly which card to play. Amy. What would she pay for such a thing? What would she risk? Everything. To bring Amy home.

  The killer was very smart indeed. And now she would be forced to play this game his way.

  chapter 25

  Tuesday, April 25

  JJ knocked firmly on Karen Matthews’s front door. He was surprised to find a barefoot man standing there in jeans.

  “Yes?”

  “Detective Johnson. I need to talk to Mrs. Matthews if she’s home.”

  “Come on in. I’m her brother, Ray.” He held out his hand and JJ shook it, liking the man immediately.

  He followed Ray into the living room, where Karen was going through an old photo album. “I’m sorry to disturb you, Mrs. Matthews, but I need to speak to you if I could.”

  “Have a seat, please. You’ve met my brother, Ray?”

  “Yes. Would you prefer we do this alone?”

  Karen shook her head. “Not at all. Ray can be here.”

  JJ took the nearest chair. “Have you ever heard the name Theodore Matthew Bateman?”

  Karen tilted her head and shook it. “I don’t think so, why?”

  “Because that’s your husband’s real name.”

  “I knew the man was up to something!” Ray exclaimed.

  Karen looked from Ray back to JJ. “I don’t understand.”

  JJ scratched one eyebrow, searching for the right words. “What, if anything, has he told you about his family?”

  Karen shrugged. For once, her hands were calmly in her lap, her eyes meeting his without wavering or shifting. JJ made a mental note of the changes to ponder later.

  “Not a great deal. He was an only child. His father died when he was young. His mother passed away in a fire when he was in his early twenties. That’s about it.”

  “Well, some of that is true.” JJ leaned back in his chair, glancing from brother to sister. “Ted’s father died in a car accident when Ted was three. His mother remarried and had another child—a girl, Marsha. When Ted was ten, he murdered his half sister in a rage because he felt she was getting all his mother’s attention.”

  Karen’s hands flew to her mouth, and her eyes widened in horror as the color drained from her face. Ray shook his head as if none of this surprised him.

  “Ted was tried as a child and remanded to juvenile detention until he was twenty-one. Two weeks after he got out, his parents’ house was torched and they died in the fire. No one was able to prove Ted did it, but the police had their suspicions. Ted collected the insurance money, changed his name, and moved.”

  Karen sank back, tears streaming from her eyes. “I married a monster. How could I marry a man and live with him all these years and not know? How could he seem so normal?”

  “That’s the way these people are, Mrs. Matthews. They fool everyone. Jeffrey Dahmer’s neighbors thought he was a wonderful man. These psychopaths make a science out of blending in with society to appear just like everyone else.”

  Karen’s voice shook. “Do you think. . . Do you think he killed my baby?”

  “I don’t think so, Mrs. Matthews. We believe he has her though. Of course, there are any number of scenarios, and we plan to examine them all.”

  JJ hesitated a moment, gathering his thoughts. “We know he was involved with someone else. She’s missing now, too.”

  Karen closed her eyes for a moment. “I suppose I should be upset about another woman, but at this moment, I’m more concerned about my child.”

  “Mrs. Matthews. . .” JJ took a deep breath. “I want to apologize for being so hard on you. Your husband fooled me, too. And that isn’t easy for me to admit. He had me believing you were the one behind your child’s disappearance.”

  She nodded and attempted something close to a smile, but he knew the pain she was feeling made it difficult to smile.

  JJ stood up. “I’d like to ask a favor. I can get a search warrant if you prefer, but I’m hoping you’ll give me permission to go through your husband’s desk, computer, and personal papers.”

  “If it will help you find him and my child, please do. You have my permission. His office is down the hall, second door on the right.”

  #

  “Zoe? Who was that? Was that him?”

  Zoe turned and walked into her father’s arms. “Yes. He was just taunting me. I don’t think it’s time to worry yet.”

  “I’m already worried. I’ve been worried.”

  “Everything is okay.” She stepped back and tried to smile. “I was just about to make some dinner. Are you hungry?”

  “I could eat. But don’t cook. Let’s go out.”

  “Okay. That sounds good. Let me just change my shoes.”

  #

  All the way to the restaurant, Zoe fretted over the haunting words: Want to know where Amy is?

  When they were seated in a booth
at the back of a nearby steakhouse, her father shook out his napkin, placed it in his lap, folded his arms on the table, and looked at her. “Tell me what he said to you, Zoe.”

  Her father looked so much different than when he’d rushed into her house with slumped shoulders and dark shadows under his eyes. There was still worry in those eyes of his, but there was also a sparkle. Something her mother had put there, no doubt. Today he walked with shoulders squared, chin up, and determination streaking across his face the way the gray streaked his hair.

  Zoe busied her hands playing with her napkin, picking up and setting down her water glass, moving silverware. After a few moments, her father reached over and placed one of his hands over hers. Stilling her. Calming her.

  She took a deep breath. “He asked me if I wanted to know where Amy is.”

  He hissed an audible confession of shock. “He knows your weak spot.”

  “Yes.”

  “She’s not there. You know that, don’t you, sweetheart? Those are just bones. They don’t mean anything. Amy is with the Lord.”

  “I know, Dad.”

  His eyebrows rose and she knew she’d managed to surprise him once again. “You do?” he asked.

  “Last night I went to a prayer meeting. I can’t explain what happened there; I just know I couldn’t get enough of whatever God was doing to me.” She lifted her eyes to his. “I know now that Amy is with Him. She has been for a long time.”

  “Thank You, Father,” her dad murmured softly.

  Now it was her turn to raise an eyebrow. “You, too?”

  “Who do you think gave me the strength to wait for your mother all these years? To keep believing that someday I’d have my family back?”

  “I didn’t know.” Zoe reached over and took his hand. It was warm and comforting. Not unlike what she’d felt the night before. Suddenly it dawned on her. “But then you knew my being a psychic was not a good thing.”