Gingerbread Man: A Marlow and Sage Mystery (A Nursery Rhyme Suspense Book 1)

by Lee Strauss

  “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.” I tossed him one of the sandwiches.

  He smiled. “Oh, thanks! I’m starved.”

  “And here’s some clothes,” I added. “I thought you might like something clean.”

  Marlow picked through the jeans, long-sleeved T and fitted boxers with one hand, while stuffing his face with the other. “Whose are they?” he asked with a full mouth.

  “Ben’s.”

  “Boyfriend?”

  I flashed him a look. Guys were guys were guys. “My brother.”

  He swallowed. “Right, you mentioned him.”

  “He’s a senior. Football player.”

  “I’m glad you thought to bring me a belt.”

  I laughed. My brother was quite a bit beefier than Marlow. “Just get dressed before the cops get here.”

  He took another bite of his sub. “They can’t see me, you know.”

  “Who?”

  “The cops. No one can know who I am or that I’m here.”

  Right. Already a Marlow Henry on campus. I saluted. “Okay, Mars.”

  “Mars?”

  “That’s what I’m going to call you. So I don’t have to say Marlow and the other Marlow.”

  “That’s cool, I guess.”

  Marlow, or rather, Mars, disappeared into the bathroom. I finished my sub by the time he emerged. I held back a grin. “You look…”

  “Like a geek?”

  “No, I was going to say…clean.”

  I couldn’t stifle the laugh this time. He looked like a kid in his father’s clothes.

  “Shut up.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Mars returned to Teagan’s laptop and started typing.

  “What are you doing?” I scooted my chair up to him and noted that he definitely smelled better.

  “Might as well use the time waiting to see if Teagan left any other clues.”

  A wave of black washed over me. “Oh my God, I can’t believe I forgot.”

  He turned and raised an eyebrow. “Forgot what?”

  “She got this creepy message last week. Someone called the gingerbread man.”

  I felt him stiffen. “Show me.”

  I scrolled through looking for the message. “She showed the police and they said they’d keep watch.”

  His eyes darkened. “What did the message say?”

  “You’re next.”

  He pushed away from the desk and into a standing position. “You’re next? You’re next?”

  “The police just thought it was a prank because none of the other victims had gotten a warning message. They said they’d watch our dorm. And her.”

  Marlow waved an arm flippantly. “And yet, she’s not here and neither are they. You need to call them again, Sage. Talk to someone else. We’re wasting too much time.”

  His urgency amped up the level of fear I felt from concerned to desperate. My fingers shook as I dialed.

  31

  

  Her vomit got in his mouth. He smacked her so hard she passed out. Just lay on the damp leaves like a rag doll. No fight. No fear.

  No fun in that.

  He lifted her over his shoulder like a sack of flour and carried her back to the parking lot. His was the only car left. He popped the trunk and threw her in.

  He could’ve left her. He could’ve killed her. But he needed her. She was bait.

  He cut onto the highway heading northeast toward the Canadian border. An hour out of Detroit, he turned onto a secondary road and then onto a gravel road almost hidden from view by all the wild brush. He winced as the branches of the overhanging trees rubbed against the roof of his car, but the grove made an excellent cover.

  When he pulled up to the cabin, he heard banging and screaming coming from his trunk. He swore. Should’ve tied her up and bound her mouth. Oh well, a little fight from the girl would add to his excitement.

  He’d leave her there while he scoped out the joint. Hopefully tire her out. Break her will. He grabbed a flashlight from the glove box and flashed it along the exterior of the cabin. The windows were boarded up. The front steps were covered in leaves. The door was locked, but he had a key. He remembered swiping it from his father’s dresser before leaving for college. He had no idea if the old place would even be livable but he knew his father never hunted anymore, not wildlife anyway.

  He thought it might come in handy one day, and sure enough, he had been right.

  The air was cool and crisp. Snow would be falling soon. Could be problematic. He didn’t want the girl to freeze to death while he was gone.

  Inside, things looked smaller than he remembered. His father had brought him here as a kid a few times, to hunt and fish and play “the game.”

  He flicked a switch. Damn. No lights or electricity. His flashlight skimmed over a kitchen table and chairs, a foldout couch and a chair with worn fabric on the seats, and an area rug. His nose twitched as his footsteps stirred up many years worth of dust.

  There was a cast-iron wood stove in the corner. A pile of wood was stacked beside it. He didn’t have much time. He bent down and got to work.

  32

  

  Sage

  This time I remembered the name of the lady detective, Kilroy, and asked to speak with her directly.

  “I’m not exactly sure when she left,” I said. I could hear the stringy tension in my voice. “But it was at least twenty hours ago if not more.”

  I’d been casting glances at Marlow throughout the call—he sat in Teagan’s chair with wide eyes latched onto me—kind of made me nervous. I turned my back to him and faced the window.

  “Please, she got that threatening text message, remember? I’m really worried.”

  I ended the call and turned back to Marlow.

  “They’re coming?” he said.

  “Yeah. They’ll be here in less than ten.”

  He nodded his head in approval while tapping nervously on his legs. He was a strange yet intriguing creature. If the circumstances had been lighter, I would’ve enjoyed his presence more. As it was, he was a distraction and a complication.

  “So, Mars,” I started. “What are we going to do about you?”

  He stilled. “Huh?”

  “You said you didn’t want them to see you.”

  “Right.” His eyes darted around the room. “The bathroom’s not a good idea, in case they check it.” He pointed to the wall behind me. “Is that your closet?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  “I’ll hide in there. I can keep the door cracked a little so I can see and hear.”

  He took quick strides, easing behind me and grabbed the knob.

  “Hey, wait!” I had personal stuff in there. Plus dirty laundry. It might smell. And I could see a black bra lying on the floor where it had missed the laundry basket. “Let me tidy it first.”

  He huffed. “I don’t care about your mess.”

  Well, I did. I quickly picked up my bra and removed my dirty laundry basket, sticking it beside my bed. I pushed aside the clothes on the hangers, and tossed a couple pairs of shoes that were on the floor onto the shelf. “That’ll give you more room.”

  Marlow stepped inside, but I was still self-conscious of the stale smell and quickly spritzed a shot of my body spray.

  “Gah!” he blurted. “What was that?”

  “Citrus Fresh.”

  “I can’t smell that bad,” he said indignantly. “I just had a shower.”

  “It’s not you. It’s the room.” I placed a finger on my lips. “Shh, I hear something. I think they’re here.

  I shut the door on Marlow, leaving it open just a crack. I heard him stifle a cough and thought I might have overdone it with the spritz. I hoped he could hold it in when the detectives were here. Trying to explain why I had a guy hiding in my closet would be awkward.

  I answered the knock feeling nervous. Like I was committing a crime by hiding Marlow. Maybe I was. I didn’t know what to think anymore. Everything was so confu
sing.

  “Hello, Miss Farrell,” Detective Kilroy said. “You remember my partner, Detective Simpson.”

  “Yes, hello. Thanks for coming.”

  I opened the door wider and stepped aside. Our dorm room wasn’t very big and it wasn’t like I had a couch or anything other than the beds and desk chairs. I’d made my bed, but left Teagan’s the way I’d found it that morning, in case it helped in some way. I didn’t want to disturb evidence.

  The detectives remained standing, each with a handheld device to take notes.

  Detective Kilroy took the lead. “What makes you believe your roommate, Teagan Lake, is missing?”

  “She didn’t come home last night. And it’s strange because she’s the type of girl who doesn’t go out much, and she specifically told me she wasn’t going out last night.”

  “When did you first notice she was missing?”

  “At eight this morning when her alarm sounded and she didn’t turn it off.”

  “Was she home when you came in last night?”

  “No. Well, I didn’t notice. It was dark and as you can see by her covers…” I flung out my hand to direct their vision. “It looked like a body was in the bed.” I didn’t mention that I was somewhat intoxicated.

  Detective Simpson cleared his throat. “Why did Miss Lake ‘never go out’ as you say?”

  “It’s not like she never went out. She just didn’t like to. She has social anxiety issues.”

  “So she’d rather hang out with people she met online?”

  “Sometimes.”

  “Is that how she met Mr. Henry?” he continued, “A.k.a @averagegeek 99?”

  “Yes. But he’s not the reason she’s missing.”

  He cocked a dark brow. “You’re sure of this?”

  I nodded. “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  “Because. Look, it’s not averagegeek you should be looking into. It’s the Gingerbread Man.”

  I went to Teagan’s laptop, woke up the screen and pointed to the message. “Remember this? You’re next.”

  “I understand your concern,” Detective Kilroy said with a smooth voice. “And we share it. We’ll do everything we can to find out who is behind that message.”

  “Are you and Miss Lake close?” Detective Simpson asked.

  “Yes. Best friends from grade school.”

  “But you don’t hang out together much on campus?”

  I hesitated. “No. She’s in the arts program. I’m in math. Our paths don’t cross that much.”

  He studied his tablet like he was trying to make sense of the notes he’d taken. “So, you’re making new friends?”

  “Yeah.” I shrugged. “So?”

  “Is it possible Miss Lake also made new friends, ones she didn’t tell you about?”

  “Yes, I suppose so.”

  He narrowed his dark eyes on me. “Why wouldn’t she tell you?”

  “How should I know? We don’t tell each other everything.” I tried and failed to hold in my frustration. “What does this have to do with the fact that she’s missing now?”

  “We’re just trying to gather information.”

  Detective Kilroy shot him a quick look then asked, “Do you have any idea where she might have gone last night?”

  “To meet her mother at Believe in Beans.”

  “The cafe on the north end of campus?” she asked. “Isn’t it closed down?”

  “Yes, but I don’t think she knew that.”

  “What makes you think she went there?”

  I waved toward Teagan’s laptop. “We scrolled through her messages from last night.”

  “We?”

  Oh man, I screwed up. I forced myself not to glance back at my closet. “No, I meant I. I scrolled through her messages. Here.” I leaned over Teagen’s laptop and scrolled down to the message she got from her mother.

  “Except I don’t think that was her mother.”

  “Why’s that?” Simpson asked.

  “I know Mrs. Lake. If she came here for her daughter, she’d have come directly to the dorm.”

  “Wouldn’t have Teagan known her own mother, too?”

  “Mrs. Lake is very controlling. Teagan doesn’t always see clearly when it comes to her.”

  Kilroy smiled politely. “Do you mind if we take a look at her things?”

  I swallowed, hoping they wouldn’t ask to look at my things.

  “Sure. This is her side of the room. That’s her closet, her dresser.”

  It was disconcerting to watch two total strangers rifle through Teagan’s mess. I felt violated for her, but if they found something that would help…

  Simpson held up a blouse. “This is Teagan’s?”

  I nodded. “It’s okay with you if we take it for the dogs to get her scent?”

  I nodded again, the seriousness of this situation weighing heavier. After about ten minutes, the detectives shared a look, and then Kilroy said, “Thank you for your time. We will continue to investigate and let you know when we find out anything.” She handed me her card. “If you think of anything else, please call.”

  They left, and I sat on the edge of my bed feeling worn out.

  Marlow stuck his head out of the closet, and then stood in the middle of the room. I did a double take. It was weird seeing him in Ben’s clothes.

  “We can’t wait for them,” he said.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Someone has her. Someone with a violent streak. I don’t think the police will move quickly enough.”

  A black knife of fear sliced my heart when he put it into words like that.

  I locked eyes with him, imploring, “But what more can we do?”

  33

  

  Marlow

  “Tell me about Jake Wentworth.”

  Sage sat on the edge of her bed and leaned back on two hands. “What about him?”

  “In my world, Teagan and Jake walked around campus holding hands.”

  She cocked a brow. “In this world Jake is dating my friend Nora.”

  “Is Nora blond by chance?” I asked.

  “No. Redhead. I really don’t think it’s Jake.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know. I have a feeling. He’s a good guy.”

  I stifled a huff. “Guys like the one who took Teagan look normal. They look like good guys.” I leaned forward, my elbows pressing on my knees, and stared at Sage with intensity, wanting her to get what I was about to say next. “That’s how they get away with it. They hide in plain sight.”

  “Well, I was with Jake and Nora last night, so it couldn’t be him.”

  “All night?”

  “Late enough.”

  I eyed her. “You’re a party chick?”

  “No. Not really.” She folded her arms across her chest defensively. “Sometimes I drink a little.”

  “Like last night?”

  “Yeah, so?”

  “Just, maybe you don’t remember things the way you think you do.”

  She sprung to her feet in agitation. “We’re not going to find Teagan by sitting around on our duffs.” She searched for her jacket, finding it on the floor, having fallen off the back of her chair. She eyed me. “Let’s go.”

  I stood to follow her. “Where are we going?”

  “To ask a few of our own questions.”

  I liked how this girl thought. I was ready to get on with our own investigation. Teagan’s life depended on it.

  I still found it strange to view the world through this soft-green tinted lens. It made me wonder if Sage’s skin was as porcelain as it looked. Flawless, even as her Romanesque nose grew pink in the cold.

  I shook those thoughts off and huddled in under Ben Farrell’s big hoodie. One girl on the brain was enough—especially for my nerdy brain. If I wasn’t careful, I could blow a fuse.

  “You and Teagan don’t seem to be very much alike,” I said. “For best friends.”

  “We used to be more alike. Something happened toward t
he end of senior year in high school. Teagan withdrew more than usual. I had developed a habit over the years to just do whatever she did. If she withdrew, then I did.

  “But, by the time we graduated, I knew I had to branch out on my own or I could risk disappearing.”

  “Like Teagan?”

  “Well, not literally. Just as a person, you know. I hate to say it, but if we hadn’t already applied to be roommates, I would’ve picked someone else. It’s not that I don’t love her, it’s just…”

  “She was holding you back?”

  “Kind of. Teagan’s world is very small and she’s happy with it like that. I wanted to expand my horizons. Not hugely, but some. You know?”

  “Yeah. I get it. My world’s pretty small, too. But not as small as how you describe Teagan’s. I also have a best friend from high school who is my roommate.”

  “The guy with the beard?”

  “Yeah, but not gay.”

  She shot me a questioning look. “You’re gay?”

  “No! The other Marlow and Zed. Maybe. Teagan thought so.”

  “I didn’t pick that up when I talked to them this morning. But it’s hard to tell sometimes.”

  I flipped the hoodie up over my head. To break the wind and to conceal my face. We had entered a populated corridor and I couldn’t risk anyone recognizing me as the other Marlow.

  “Where are we going?” I asked.

  “Where a lot of students hangout this time of day. The dining hall.”

  My stomach grumbled at that. “I don’t have a card.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll take enough to share.” She fluttered her eyelashes teasingly. It made my stomach flip. I tucked my chin in the hoodie and scolded myself. I was here for Teagan. Sage was out of my league, not to mention not even in my world. Focus, man!

  The dining hall was in the same place as the one in my realm. It was a strange sensation because I knew my way around, and everything was where it was in my world, it just looked slightly different. Where the dining hall in my realm was a plain Jane brick building, this one had elaborate wood-crafted designs. Inside, the chatter of the students still ricocheted off the high ceilings, but this one had fancy light fixtures and dark wood decorative beams.