Milliken says: That’s probably true. Keep praying, Aggie. It’ll be ok.
Aggie says: It doesn’t feel like it. I should go. I think Tavish is crying again. Night.
Milliken says: Night.
Chapter Fifteen
Tips of the Trade
Thursday, January 22nd
After several days of no school, no structure, and minimal supervision, the children were more than a little restless. Aggie’s nerves, stretched to the point of snapping, seemed to dictate the tone of the house—something she was not particularly happy to realize. The latest victim of her impatience, Kenzie, crumpled into Libby’s arms, wailing that Aunt Aggie hated her now, making Aggie feel like the world’s most unfit aunt-mother.
Whatever Libby said made all the difference. Kenzie raced to her, threw her arms around Aggie, kissed her cheek, and skipped downstairs to play with Luke and the younger children. If only her heart could be as easily soothed.
At the kitchen window, she stared out at the back yard, wondering where her world had gone. What happened to playful children building snowmen or having snowball fights? Where were the kids who couldn’t stand to be away from those dogs— She stared at the dog kennel. What was wrong with Sammie? She wasn’t moving. Miner circled her, sat, and circled her again.
Aggie grabbed her jacket and stumbled across the back yard to the kennel. “Sammie! What’s the matter?”
Miner’s whimpers tore at Aggie’s heart. “What’s wrong with her, boy?”
The dog dashed to her side, raced back to Sammie, nudged his sister, and then bounded to Aggie again. The back door opened, causing Sammie to raise her head expectantly. When Tina stepped onto the porch and called to see what was wrong, the dog dropped her head to her paws again with a huff.
“It’s Sammie. She’s—something.” Aggie returned to the house, dejected. “I think she knows Ellie is missing or something.”
“Sounds crazy,” Tina said, “but considering how much time Ellie spends with her, it’s probably normal. Dogs can sense trouble, right? Some kind of instinct thing?”
She stood at the island, thinking. Should she take the dog to the vet? Could a vet do anything? Probably not. Sammie would be fine when Ellie came back, and if not, well, she didn’t have time to think about a dog at a time like this.
Tina’s phone rang. She gave Aggie a reassuring smile before stepping into the corner to answer questions. “That’s right… mmm hmm…”
Her eyes slid toward the clock—again. It would be an hour before her parents could arrive. Maybe she could just take a drive somewhere. It would help to clear her head if nothing else. One look at Tina gave her the answer she sought.
“Thanks.” Aggie mouthed the word and reached for the keys in the bowl on the hall table. She hurried to tell Luke she was leaving.
In the basement, Luke pushed Ian and Lorna on swings while Cari and Kenzie chased each other up and down the slide. “I’m going to go for a drive.”
“Do you want me to come with you?”
She shook her head. “I need to be alone for a bit or I’ll go crazy.”
“I don’t think alone is a good idea right now, Mibs. There’s someone out there—”
“Talking about it in front of ‘little pitchers’ isn’t exactly the best idea.”
His face looked confused, but suddenly, understanding dawned. “You’re right.” He thought for a moment, his jaw working and his hands catching the chains a little more firmly than necessary as he pulled the swing slings back a little farther. “Considering the possibilities of the motives of the perpetrator’s apparent shenanigans, solitude seems unwise at present.”
Aggie giggled. “That was brilliant. Um…” Her brain felt positively dizzy as she tried to match his over-the-little-ones’-head vocabulary choices. “Considering the alternative is acute mental distress, I—” she shrugged. “Um… disagree with your assessment of risk.”
Luke seemed to be working double-time to formulate a reply when Kenzie said cheerily, “Uncle Luke, Aunt Aggie says she doesn’t agree that there’s much risk.” The child watched as Aggie and Luke exchanged stunned glances and added, “I don’t think you should use words that you don’t understand. That’s what Aunt Tina always says.”
“Regardless of what Tina says, I’m doing it and Luke understands why and will support my decision.”
“Mibs—”
Without a word, Aggie gave him half a smile and dragged herself up the stairs. At the top of the stairs she called down, “Mom and Dad will be here in about an hour. I should be back by then.”
“You’ve got your phone, right?”
She called back to him before the door shut behind her, “Yep. Call if they get here before I do.”
She didn’t wait to hear more. Grabbing her coat, she carried it with her out the door and to Tina’s car. As usual, she cranked the engine too hard, not having heard it turnover. Silent cars weren’t part of her experience, and each time she drove Tina’s car, she proved it. She waved at Tina, who stood at the window, and rolled down the driveway, dodging reporters who rushed at the car.
Once on the highway, she just drove. Her mind wanted to sing, but her voice choked with every attempt. Aggie punched the CD button, but at the blare of Metallica through the speakers, she hit it again. Tina’s eclectic tastes were rarely Aggie’s preferred options.
She tried praying. Her mind couldn’t formulate the words. She couldn’t sing, she couldn’t cry. Her heart was heavier than it had ever been. Even losing Allie and Doug hadn’t caused such unbelievable pain. Twice, black spots seemed to float in front of her eyes, blinding her for a second or two. Terrified, she pulled over onto the side of the road, shut the car off, and closed her eyes. The black spots were still there—even behind shut eyelids.
Where it came from, she didn’t know, but Aggie exploded in a primal scream that nearly deafened her as it bounced against glass and metal, filling the car. The tears that eluded her earlier now overtook her. Her chest squeezed, her hands tingled from gripping the steering wheel, and the black spots floated through her vision until the last tear fell. Then, as if the Apostle Paul’s scales, they dropped from view, leaving both her eyes and mind clearer than she’d felt since she’d answered Vannie’s panicked call two—no it was three—days earlier.
The clock taunted her. Her parents would arrive soon. She should return home. Aggie started the engine, put the car in gear, and made a U-turn, heading back toward Brant’s Corners. The sheriff’s station outside Brunswick beckoned to her. She pulled into the gravel parking lot and hurried out of Tina’s car and into the station.
“William?” The empty room confused her. His cruiser and corvette were outside, but although the door was open, no one was inside the station.
The door opened behind her before she could call out again. “Ti—Aggie!” He stepped inside, rubbing his arms to warm them.
“Oh, William. I thought maybe you weren’t here.”
“Just taking out the trash. I was coming to your place as soon as Ginny got in to man the phones. We have an interesting development.”
Hope leapt within her. “What?”
“Geraldine hasn’t been home since I spoke with her yesterday. The server cannot serve your restraining order. He’s been trying for nearly twenty-four hours now. We’ve called, Rockland police have done drive-bys—nothing.”
Aggie chewed her lip, trying to think of where the woman could be. “Do you think it means something?”
“Why would she be gone from home for two weeks and then leave again, without word, within hours of her return?” He squeezed the back of his chair in frustration. “She’s involved in this. I know it. I just can’t prove it yet.”
“Ok, that’s good though, right? If she really does have Ellie, then that’s good. We can work with that. For all her weirdness, Ellie is at least safe. She’s not being assaulted—” Her choked sobs belied her confidence. “I’m sorry. I—”
William’s arms wrapped around her
and gave her a big squeeze. “It’s ok, Aggie. You’re right. If I’m right, and I’m sure I am, but I can’t promise it, then she’s safe in that regard. Do you have any idea where she’d take her?”
Wiping her tears away did little to staunch the fresh flow. Aggie shook her head and frowned. “But what about the man? Two different people saw the man and the truck.”
“It makes sense, Aggie. If she’s out of the country, she has a perfect alibi. She buys the right truck, hires someone, and then skedaddles out of the country. I bet the plan was to take her that day all along. She’s gone when Ellie is taken but arrives the next day? It’s too coincidental. There are no coincidences in crime. Ellie isn’t with a stranger for too long…”
William’s explanation faded into the kind of watery garbled nonsense of movies. Her mind tried to hear what he said, but failed. Her forehead must have wrinkled in concentration, because he shook her shoulder gently. “Aggie?”
“Wha—”
“Did you eat this morning? Sleep last night?”
“Neither. Mom and Dad are coming. I should get home, but is there something I should do? Can do? How sure are you?” As if her mind had the fog wiped from it, the questions flew faster than William could answer. “Should I mention the possibility of Geraldine, or is it too early? It’d really be good for Mom, but I don’t want her to crash harder if we’re wrong.”
“Don’t tell her until we find Mrs. Stuart. I’m sure I can read her well enough to give encouragement at least.”
“So what are you doing to find her? I mean, it’s almost like you’ve got two missing persons now.” Aggie knew she sounded accusatory, but she didn’t care. She wanted Ellie found and preferably yesterday.
“I have a fresh stack of tips—”
The phone rang. William answered it, frowned, and then pumped his fist in the air. “Gimme the address again? Washington. Willis & Foster—children’s department. I’m on my way.”
William grabbed his coat and hat. “Got her. You can call your mom. She was seen with Ellie at that department store downtown. The clerk heard the little girl say, ‘Aunt Aggie wouldn’t approve, Grandmother. It’s indecent. Maybe we should just go get my clothes from home.’” He opened the door as he spoke, gesturing for her to follow, and then locked it behind him.
Half in a daze, Aggie stared at him, blocking his access to the steps. “Really? Someone saw her with Geraldine? That’s good, right? What about the man?”
“They only mentioned a little girl calling someone grandmother and mentioning an Aunt Aggie. The clerk said she seemed a bit irritated about the clothing choice.”
“Wait, she’s not afraid. That’s good! Right?”
“It’s very good,” William agreed as Aggie whipped open her cell phone and called Luke.
“Is Mom there? Ok, well when they get there, tell Dad that Ellie has been seen with Geraldine. He can decide what to tell Mom. Tell the kids to pray for Grandma. I’m going to drive around and see if I can think of places she’d take Ellie.”
“Aggie no!” Two men’s voices echoed in stereo in each of her ears, but she bounced once more, effectively ignoring them.
“I’m going to look! Now it’s not crazy. Now we have a chance. I can’t stand it! I’ve got to try.” With a quick hug for William, she rushed to the car and climbed inside.
While William zoomed toward Rockland, Aggie wasn’t far behind. Slowly, his cruiser pulled away until she no longer saw it. The police would be combing the entire downtown area. They’d probably check the Stuart home too. Where would Geraldine take the girl?
At Willow’s driveway, Aggie pulled off the road and dialed William. “Where is Douglas Stuart? I want to see if he’s seen Ellie lately.”
“I’ve already been there. Even if she has, she won’t be now.”
“I need to do something, William. Where is it?”
Seconds later, with the address programmed into Tina’s GPS unit, Aggie zipped along the highway toward the Loop.
~*~*~*~
Cheers erupted in the Milliken-Stuart-soon-to-include-Sullivan home. Tavish hugged everyone within reach and then scurried into his favorite nook to wait for his sister to arrive home. The little girls raced around the room singing, “Ellie’s coming hoo-oome, Ellie’s coming hoo-oome” and Laird made high fives with Luke. Ian took advantage of their diverted attention and dismantled a shelf of games in the library, creating a mess that everyone would rue when they saw it. Only Vannie was quiet—too quiet.
While the others talked about welcome home banners and enchiladas for dinner, Vannie crept upstairs and closeted herself in her room. Her grandparents arrived with much shouting and shrieking, but she didn’t move. Eventually, Luke’s gentle knock sounded on the door.
“Vannie?”
“Yeah...”
“Are you ok?” Luke crossed the room and sat on her bed, watching the pained expressions cross her face. “Didn’t you hear? Ellie is with your grandmother.”
“I hate her.” The venom in the girl’s voice couldn’t be mistaken.
“Vannie, don’t. Don’t let yourself become bitter.”
“She’s evil! She took my sister! What am I supposed to do, be happy?”
“Happy that she was never in any real danger, yes. Happy that your grandmother is so very lost, of course not.”
“She’s always done this,” the girl whispered. “She decides she wants something a certain way, swoops in, and takes over. It’s like she runs everything. No one stops her. We’ve been scared to death about Ellie, but she thinks it’s no big deal to come in and take her just because she wants a visit or something.”
“Luke, have you seen—” Ron Milliken’s voice at the door startled both of them. “There you are, Vannie! I didn’t see you when I came in.” He glanced at Luke. “Should I go—”
With a squeeze of her hand, Luke stood and crossed the room. “No, you’re good. Why don’t you talk to Vannie? I think she could use a grandparent’s perspective on what has happened.”
“I—” Vannie stared after Luke, angry and confused. Why had he run out like that? He was usually ready to try to talk with her on any subject.
Her grandfather sat at the foot of her bed and opened his arms. “Come sit with me, Vannie-girl?”
“You won’t make me forgive her.”
“Who?”
“Grandmother Stuart.”
“Aaah, you’re angry with her. I can understand that.”
She smiled at him. Grandpa Milliken always understood. “Luke doesn’t understand.”
“Of course he does. The little girl who will be his daughter, for all intents and purposes, was snatched by Geraldine Stuart and he was prime suspect for long enough for the news to get wind of it. He’ll never live it down—even when a judge finds someone else guilty.”
“But he just told me to forgive her—not be bitter.”
“I can see why he’d say that. It doesn’t hurt anyone but you, sweetheart. Anger, bitterness, unforgiveness—those only hurt you.”
“I remember you telling me when I was Cari’s age that anger could kill another person—inside. Now you’re telling me it only hurts me.”
Her grandfather smoothed her crazy curls as he tried to comfort her. “You remind me of that little girl right now.”
“Which one, little Vannie or Cari?”
“Both… you were a lot like Cari at her age.”
Vannie’s head shot up and stared at her grandfather, shocked. “I was not!”
“You certainly were—still are a little. When I came in the first words you said to me were, ‘You won’t make me forgive her.’ What would Cari have said?”
Her groan escaped before she could recognize and resist it. “Cari would say can’t make me, but it’s the same thing.”
“When I said it’ll only hurt you, I meant it won’t hurt Geraldine Stuart. Aggie isn’t going to let you within five miles of that woman. You can’t hurt her back by being angry or bitter or refusing to forgive her…”
>
“Forgiving hurts when people don’t recognize that they need it.”
“This is true,” he agreed. “Not forgiving hurts more, though.”
“She always gets forgiven,” Vannie complained. “She’s horrible and we all are told to love and forgive her because she’s Daddy’s mother. Well, she was a bad mother to Daddy too. I just wish I could pretend she didn’t exist.”
“Well, after this,” Ron Milliken whispered into her ear, “I think that’s the only thing you can do. Pray for her—sure—but she’s out of your life for good now. She kidnapped a child. That’s a crime, Vannie. An old woman is going to jail, possibly for the rest of her life. She’s going to jail because she’s lonely and has an unhealthy love for her family.” He stared down into the young girl’s eyes. “If you feel anything for her, learn pity.”
Vannie jumped up and rubbed the angry tears from her eyes. “I need to apologize to Luke and say hi to Grandma Millie.” She grabbed his hand. “I can do that at least. Maybe later I’ll be ready to forgive. I’m not there yet. I’m still angry.”
~*~*~*~
“I’m going to need to see the security tape from that area for the time Ms. Farina said they were here.”
William was all business. The young woman who identified Ellie was certain beyond any doubt and apologetic—much too apologetic. “I just can’t believe it didn’t click when they were here.”
“Did she pay with cash or a credit card?”
“Car—no, maybe cash. I don’t know. I had two customers waiting for help and the woman was rude. It flustered me.”
They stood around the store security center, waiting for the technician to find the appropriate section of video. The salesclerk fought to think of any helpful information, but as hard as she was trying, he didn’t credit most of what she said with any validity. Several calls came through, each one with the same message. “We can’t find any evidence of either one of them anywhere.”
Here We Come (Aggie's Inheritance) Page 22
